• HOPEFUL WINNER RALIS PREPS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE; DARLEY ALCIBIADES WINNER GOMO SIDELINED • STICKSSTATELYDUDE’S HALF-MILE WORK STOKES BREEDERS’ CUP FIRE
HOPEFUL WINNER RALIS PREPS FOR BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE; DARLEY ALCIBIADES WINNER GOMO SIDELINED
Reddam Racing’s Hopeful (G1) winner Ralis worked five furlongs in :59.60 on Friday in his first local move in preparation for the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Oct. 31.
Working after the morning renovation break over a fast track with Drayden Van Dyke aboard, Ralis posted fractions of :12, :35.20 and out six furlongs in 1:13.60. The five-eighths time shared the mark as the best of 14 at the distance.
“Drayden said he had to angle out a bit off the rail because a couple of horses were working in front of him,” said Jack Sisterson, assistant to trainer Doug O’Neill. “He got over the ground well and I chatted with Doug and he was happy about the work.”
Based in Southern California, Ralis ventured to Saratoga to win the Hopeful but on his return to New York for the Champagne (G1) on Oct. 3, he caught his first muddy track and finished sixth behind Greenpointcrusader.
“He caught the slop and he was caught in between some horses after breaking with the leaders,” Sisterson said. “He’s a horse that likes to sit in the pocket and in the Hopeful, he had a target to run at.”
Ralis, by Square Eddie, is scheduled to work again next Friday, but another Reddam runner will not be working at all.
Gomo, winner of the opening-day Darley Alcibiades (G1), will not contest the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The daughter of Uncle Mo will undergo minor surgery to remove a chip in an ankle and receive some time off.
“Mr. (Paul) Reddam already has Land Over Sea for that race,” Sisterson said. “Gomo is a Grade 1 winner and we are going to let her mature over the winter. She’ll be fine.”
Land Over Sea, who has chased likely Juvenile Fillies favorite Songbird home in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier (G1) in her past two starts, is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland Oct. 25. Joining her on the flight will be two other O’Neill Breeders’ Cup hopefuls: Nyquist (Juvenile-G1) and Sharla Rae (Filly & Mare Turf-G1).
STICKSSTATELYDUDE’S HALF-MILE WORK STOKES BREEDERS’ CUP FIRE
Trainer Greg Burchell was eager to see how Sticksstatelydude would work Friday morning in his first drill since finishing fourth in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on Oct. 3.
“If he works good and comes out of it good, we plan on pre-entering,” Burchell had said the day before about the colt by First Dude.
A half-mile work in :47.80 with Lark Carroll aboard provided the answer.
“We will (pre-enter the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile-G1). That’s our plan right now,” Burchell said after the colt produced fractions of :11.80, :23.80 and out five furlongs in 1:01.80.
The Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity was the first start in two months for Sticksstatelydude, who is owned by the Estate of Alvin Haynes, John Ferris, Brad Ward and Beth Burchell.
“It is just maintenance now,” Burchell said. “The Breeders’ Futurity got him tight. The way he trains, he’s a free galloper and goes around there in 2:05, 2:06. Conditioning will be no excuse.”
LIMOUSINE LIBERAL PUNCHES TICKET FOR TWINSPIRES BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT
Katherine Ball’s Limousine Liberal worked five furlongs in :59.60 after the renovation break with exercise rider Silvino Campo aboard for trainer Ben Colebrook.
“He came home well and I think we will go in the (TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup) Sprint (G1) if we can get in,” Colebrook said after Limousine Liberal’s bullet work that included fractions of :36.40 and a six-furlong gallop out in 1:12.60. “He will probably work again next Saturday.”
A 3-year-old homebred son of Successful Appeal, Limousine Liberal has compiled a record of 4-2-2-0 and was second in the Gallant Bob (G3) at Parx in his most recent start Sept. 19. Prior to that, he was second in the NYRA.com King’s Bishop (G1) at Saratoga to Runhappy.
“I’d rather not run against Runhappy, but we’ve been about as close to him as anybody else,” Colebrook said of the winner of the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G3).
WORK TAB
Trainer Todd Pletcher oversaw works of several sets of his horses that included Breeders’ Cup contenders.
In company with Sweet Ella about 6:10 a.m., undefeated Grade 1 winner Rachel’s Valentina (Juvenile Fillies-G1) worked a half-mile in :49.20, producing fractions of :25.40, :49.20 and out in 1:02.80.
“She breezed very well, very typical of the way she goes,” Pletcher said about the daughter of champion Bernardini and Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. “The further she went, the stronger she got. Galloped out really well. Very happy with her. Looked good.”
After the renovation break, Grade 1 winner Curalina (Distaff-G1) worked a half-mile with Race Day in :47.80. Clockers caught the pair in fractions of :12.20, :24.60, :47.80 and out in 1:00.60. (Click here for a video of the work.)
Grade 2 winner Azar (Juvenile Turf-G1) and Thrilled (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1) worked a half-mile together in :48.60 with fractions of 11.80, :23.80, :48.60 and out in 1:01.40. (Click here for a video of the work.)
These and a number of Pletcher’s other Breeders’ Cup contenders at Keeneland are now having their second and third works over the track.
“The horses seem to be settling in well and have been working well over the track,” he said. “Hopefully that’s an advantage come race day.”
Pletcher said Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Got Lucky would have one breeze prior to the Distaff. …
G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Frivolous, with trainer Vicki Oliver aboard, worked a half-mile in :47.80 in preparation for a run in the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on Oct. 30. Fourth in the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) in her most recent start, Frivolous posted fractions of :11.80, :24.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20. Oliver described the work as “fantastic” and said Frivolous would work again next Friday. …
R3 Racing’s Bailoutbobby, a candidate for the $200,000 Marathon to be run at 1¾ miles on Oct. 30 on the undercard of the first day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 for trainer Doug O’Neill. Keeneland clocked caught Bailoutbobby in fractions of :12.60, :24.20, :36.80 and out six furlongs in 1:13.80. …
Two winners of Keeneland stakes worked at Churchill Downs for trainer Mark Casse with an eye toward the Breeders’ Cup.
Robert Masterson’s Tepin, winner of the First Lady (G1) and headed for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) against males on Oct. 31, worked a half-mile in :50 under Julien Leparoux.
Leparoux also worked John Oxley’s Airoforce, winner of the Dixiana Bourbon (G3). Airoforce, working in company with third-place Bourbon finisher Siding Spring, covered a half-mile in :48. Both colts are pointing to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) on Oct. 30.
Also working for Casse was opening-day maiden winner Conquest Stables’ Conquest Big E, who worked five furlongs in 1:00 under Shaun Bridgmohan in company with Conquest Windycity.
Second to Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner Brody’s Cause in his debut, Conquest Big E is being pointed to the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Oct. 31.
Trainer Kenny McPeek worked a couple of his Breeders’ Cup-bound 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs. Dothraki Queen, runner-up in the Darley Alcibiades (G1), worked five furlongs in company in 1:01, and Rated R Superstar, third in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), worked five furlongs in company in :59.60 with Calvin Borel up.
GALLOPING OUT
Trainer Arnaud Delacour said Lael Stables’ Ageless, winner of last Friday’s Buffalo Trace Franklin County, continues to improve after suffering a deep cut below her left hock in the race. “She is doing good and hasn’t dropped any weight,” Delacour said of the mare, who remains at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington. “I’d like to get her back here to the barn, hopefully in the next couple of days.” …
Dave Rock, assistant to trainer Graham Motion, said Augustin Stable’s Holiday Star came out of his victory in Thursday’s Sycamore (G3) in good order. Plans for a next start for the 5-year-old Harlan’s Holiday gelding, who also won the Sycamore last year, are undetermined.
STAKES PROBABLES
Here is the list of probable starters for upcoming stakes as compiled by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman and Stakes Coordinator Allison DeLuca: SATURDAY, Oct. 24 (Entries taken Wednesday, Oct. 21) $150,000 PIN OAK VALLEY VIEW (G3) Probable: America Mon Amie, Calypso Beat, Cara Marie, Don’t Leave Me, Havanna Belle (IRE), Include Betty, Miss Double d’Oro, Mrs McDougal, Osaila (IRE), Pine Needles, Prado’s Sweet Ride, Rainha Da Bateria, Stormy Regatta, Sunset Glow, Tiger Ride.
FALL MEET LEADERS Through Oct. 15 (10 days of racing)
Jockey Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses Julien Leparoux 52 11 9 4 $857,972 Corey Lanerie 65 10 8 9 $739,815 Florent Geroux 60 4 6 10 $741,190 Shaun Bridgmohan 30 4 3 2 $170,835 Mitchell Murrill 18 4 2 2 $80,109 Jose Lezcano 9 4 0 2 $333,843
Trainer Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses Mark Casse 22 8 2 2 $632,254 Wesley Ward 15 5 4 2 $161,558 Kenny McPeek 24 4 3 4 $269,124 Dale Romans 22 4 2 6 $495,935 Kiaran McLaughlin 6 4 0 1 $188,555 Todd Pletcher 23 3 3 3 $470,562 Eddie Kenneally 12 3 2 2 $111,803 Chris Richard 10 3 1 3 $57,706 Randy Morse 8 3 1 0 $80,520
Owner Wins John C. Oxley 5 Godolphin Racing (Lessee) (Mohammed Al Maktoum et al) 3 Maggi Moss 3 Calumet Farm (Brad Kelley) 2 Conquest Stables (Ernie Semersky and Dory Newell) 2 G. Watts Humphrey Jr. 2 Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey 2 Shadwell Stables (Hamdan Al Maktoum) 2 Susan and Jim Hill 2 V-Leaf Stables (Vince Foglia) 2
