October 22: Early Breeders' Cup
Arrivals Thriving at Lone Star (October 22, 2004)-
All 13 of the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships
contenders stabled at Lone Star Park galloped on the main track
Friday and appear to be thriving in Grand Prairie, Texas. The connections
of Roses in May, Kitten’s Joy, Afleet Alex, Dynever and Wonder
Again all expressed pleasure with how their horses have developed
since arriving in Texas early this week.
Roses in May (pointing to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic
– Powered by Dodge) and Kitten’s Joy ($2 million John
Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf) each got a 1 ½-mile gallop
Friday after the renovation break. Whitney Handicap winner Roses
in May went first at about 8:30 a.m.
“He’s getting used to it here,” said exercise
rider Faustino Orantes. “He keeps getting better and better
day by day.”
Roses in May acted up on his way back to the barn, asserting himself
by bucking repeatedly on the horse path.
“He can be a little arrogant,” Romans explained. “He
thinks he’s the boss.”
Kitten‘s Joy came out immediately after his stablemate and
impressed onlookers with his appearance.
“He’s been great, too,” Orantes said. “He’s
also getting better and better.”
Afleet Alex ($1.5 million Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile)
galloped two miles at 6:30 a.m. Exercise rider Sam Cabrera said
the Hopeful winner “went really good.” Earlier, Afleet
Alex got a little feisty and reproved Cabrera for refusing him extra
hay.
“He busted me in the stomach with his head,” the jockey
said.
2003 Lone Star Derby winner Dynever had another long jog and gallop
at 7 a.m.
“It was a good gallop this morning,” said Christophe
Lorieul, exercise rider and assistant to trainer Christophe Clement.
“He seems very happy. He eats well and he likes the track.”
The connections of Wonder Again ($1 million VO5 Breeders’
Cup Filly & Mare Turf) were apprehensive about sending her to
Texas after a disturbing shipping experience in 2002 that ended
with a disappointing fifth in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
The mare is thriving in Grand Prairie, however, and had another
strong 1 ½-mile gallop with Manu Davy up.
“She just about pulled my arms off,” Davy said.
Other Friday Morning Preparations:
Gold Storm ($1 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint) galloped
1 ½ miles at 6:30 a.m. for trainer C.W. “Bubba”
Cascio. “They’re in trouble,” said Dewey Smith,
former Quarter Horse jockey and Cascio’s regular exercise
rider. “He’s doing really good.”
Bwana Charlie (Sprint) schooled at the gate in addition
to galloping, said trainer Steve Asmussen. The winner of the Amsterdam
Stakes behaved well, as he always does, according to starter Ross
Von Hemel.
Royal Regalia (ranked first among those not selected to
the $1.5 million NetJets Breeders’ Cup Mile) galloped an “easy
half-mile,” according to trainer Justin Nixon. “He settled
in real nice. He’s eating real well and doing everything right.
We’re here and we’re going to train him like he’s
in.”
Others who galloped Friday morning: Sense of Style ($1
million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies), Magistretti
(Turf), Indy Groove (Fillly & Mare Turf), Domestic
Dispute (Mile/Sprint) and Culinary (Juvenile Fillies).
Bay Marvel (Sprint) was entered for Thursday’s eighth
race at Lone Star Park, a $34,000 starter allowance. The 5-year-old
gelding is unlikely to run in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup
Sprint but the door remains open until Saturday. “I’d
say right now it’s about 70% we’ll go in the starter,”
owner Bobby Beck said. “We have to make a decision tomorrow.
It probably makes a lot more sense to go in the starter, but we’re
going to wait and see how it comes up.”
In Other Breeders’ Cup News:
Corey Nakatani’s mounts for the Breeders’ Cup, according
to agent Nick Cosato: Dynever (Classic), Sarafan (Turf), Elloluv
(Distaff), Blackdoun (Mile), Roman Ruler (Juvenile), Megahertz (Filly
& Mare Turf), Sprint (Pt’s Grey Eagle) and Sweet Catomine
(Juvenile Fillies).
Known Flight Arrivals
SATURDAY, OCT. 23 (PRIVATE CHARTER FROM
ALBANY, NEW YORK) – Birdstone (Classic) and Sun King (Juvenile).
SUNDAY, OCT. 24 (NEW YORK/KENTUCKY) –
Abbondanza (Sprint), Artie Schiller (Mile), Bellamy Road (Juvenile),
Bowman’s Band (Classic), Dance Away Capote (Graham Motion),
Mr O’Brien (Mile), Society Selection (Distaff) and Storm Flag
Flying (Distaff).
MONDAY, OCT. 25 (CALIFORNIA) –
Blackdoun (Mile), Katdogawn (Filly & Mare Turf), Moscow Burning
(Filly & Mare Turf), My Cousin Matt (Sprint), Our New Recruit
(Sprint), Personal Rush (Classic), Pleasantly Perfect (Classic),
Sharp Lisa (Juvenile Fillies), Singletary (Mile), and Sweet Catomine
(Juvenile Fillies).
MONDAY, OCT. 25 (ENGLAND/IRELAND/FRANCE)
– Antonius Pius (Mile), Diamond Green (Mile), Mona Lisa (Juvenile
Fillies), Nebraska Tornado (Filly & Mare Turf or Distaff), Ouija
Board (Turf or Filly & Mare Turf), Powerscourt (Turf), Scandinavia
(Juvenile), Six Perfections (Mile), Wilko (Juvenile), Whipper (Filly
& Mare Turf) and Yesterday (Filly & Mare Turf). This flight
will arrive into Dallas Love Field around 3:30 p.m. CT.
TUESDAY, OCT. 26 (KENTUCKY) - Azeri (Distaff
or Classic), Champali (Sprint); Clock Stopper (Sprint), Consolidator
(Juvenile), Freefourinternet (Classic), Runway Model (Juvenile Fillies),
Silver Tree (Mile) and Stellar Jayne (Distaff).
TUESDAY, OCT. 26 (NEW YORK/KENTUCKY)
– Bare Necessities (Distaff), Better Talk Now (Turf), Cuvee
(Sprint), Fantasticat (Classic), Film Maker (Filly & Mare Turf),
Honor and War (Mile), Request for Parole (Turf), Shaconage (Filly
& Mare Turf), Soaring Free (Mile) and Strut the Stage (Turf).
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27 (CALIFORNIA) –
Elloluv (Distaff), Hollywood Story (Distaff), Island Fashion (Distaff),
Kela (Sprint), Light Jig (Filly & Mare Turf), Musical Chimes
(Mile), Pt’s Grey Eagle (Sprint), Roman Ruler (Juvenile),
Sarafan (Turf), Special Ring (Mile), Star Over the Bay (Turf) and
Whipper (Mile).
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 27 (NEW YORK) –
Ashado (Distaff), Balletto (Juvenile Fillies), Funny Cide (Classic);
Ghostzapper (Classic), Midas Eyes (Sprint), Mustanfar (Turf), Newfoundland
(Classic), Nothing to Lose (Mile), Proud Accolade (Juvenile), Ready’s
Gal (Juvenile Fillies), Riskaverse (Filly & Mare Turf), Speightstown
(Sprint) and Super Brand (Filly & Mare Turf).
DOWN THE SRETCH
Classic contender Perfect Drift will arrive at Lone Star Park by
van on Monday following a 16 to 17-hour trip from his base at the
Trackside Training Center in Louisville, Ky...The lone Breeders’
Cup participant who’s connections have yet to make public
their travel plans is Sis City, a surprise pre-entry to the Juvenile
Fillies on Wednesday...Breeders’ Cup FanFest will present
Texas...The Experience this weekend at Lone Star Park. The experience
runs Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The celebration of all things Texan
will feature cowboys, roping, live music, artisans, celebrity cook-offs,
beer and wine tastings and more in the Courtyard of Champions Tent.
Cooking competitions will showcase Tex Mex cuisine on Friday, barbecue
on Saturday and chili on Sunday. Tickets are $10 at the tent...Twenty
tethered hot air balloons will light up the Grand Prairie sky during
Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup FanFest Hot Air Balloon Glow
at 7 p.m. in the Lone Star Park parking lot. The public is welcome
to walk among the balloons and converse with pilots and crew at
the free event...New inductees to the Texas Horse Racing Hall of
Fame will be honored Saturday night at a dinner in Lone Star Park’s
Champions room. This year’s Thoroughbred honorees are Will
Farish, owner of Lane’s End Texas and Nelson Bunker Hunt,
three-time Eclipse Award winner as outstanding breeder.
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