West Coast Breeders’ Cup Preps
October 3rd 2011 05:06
A contribution by Vicki L Vinson for Thoroughbreds Worldwide and RacingWrite.
Words and photography by Vicki L Vinson.
West Coast Breeders’ Cup Preps
It was Saturday October 1st the first day of a weekend full of preps coast to coast for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup races in November at Churchill Downs. This write up will feature the West Coast prep races run at Santa Anita Park. All four stakes on the card were part of the “Win and You’re In” challenge races for the Breeders’ Cup. In the past these races were run under the banner of the Oak Tree Racing Association during a Fall meeting held under a leasing agreement with Santa Anita, now through a mutual agreement between Oak Tree and Santa Anita the races will continue on this year with the same names and retain their graded standings. Now the Santa Anita meeting is being referred to as the Autumn meeting noticeably some of the employees were having trouble remembering the this.
Creative Cause wins the Norfolk now it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
First off was the Norfolk Stakes for 2 year olds run on the dirt around two turns at 1 1/16 miles. Heavy favorite for the race was the Bob Baffert trained Drill, Bob is well known for his success with promising 2 year olds. As the horses broke from the gate mid-stretch in front of the grandstand taking an early lead was Ruler of Dubai with jockey Mike Smith on board. Slipping into a comfortable stalking spot in second was the gray Creative Cause with Joel Rosario up. Drill settled in mid-pack heading into the first turn and down the backside. As they came out of the final turn Creative Cause had a clear lead and drew away in the stretch, with Drill closing late for second and Ruler of Dubai hanging on for third. Creative Cause is by Giant’s Causeway out of the Siberian Summer mare Dream of Summer. He is trained by Mike Harrington for owner Heinz Steinmann. Drill had previously earned a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by winning the Del Mar Futurity in September, so now he will have a traveling buddy on the road to Kentucky.
A true closer Zazu swings wide to maneuver past traffic for her win in the Lady’s Secret
Next on the card was the Lady’s Secret named after the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret. The race had been won by the popular mare Zenyatta for the last three years. Zenyatta’s owners were on hand again this year with their 3 year old gray filly Zazu. Showing how competitive this field was 3 of the filly/mares had already won berths to the Breeder’s Cup Ladies’ Classic including Blind Luck, Ask the Moon and Ultra Blend. Zazu was sent off as the second choice behind perennial favorite Blind Luck, both fillies have a similar running style and together trailed the field until the final turn. Zazu appeared to get the jump on Blind Luck, but regrettably the favorite failed to fire with her normal late kick and was eventually eased by jockey Garrett Gomez in the final furlong of the race. Closing from mid-pack to finish second behind Zazu was Ultra Blend and getting up for third was Great Hot. Zazu is by Tapit out of the Mr. Greely mare Rhumb Line, she is trained by John Sadler and was ridden by Joel Rosario.
Jockey Chantal Sutherland helps Game on Dude prove his win in the Santa Anita Handicap wasn’t a fluke
The third stakes race on the card was the Goodwood named for Oak Tree Racing Association’s sister operation at Goodwood Race Track in Chichester, England. Morning line and post time favorite for the race was Game on Dude who settled into a comfortable spot in second place going into the first turn. Midway through the backstretch Game on Dude took over first and appeared to use little effort in maintaining that position for the win. Closing from the rear of the pack and just missing by ½ a length at the end was the 8 year old Awesome Gem finishing second. Running a steady third throughout the race was the Bob Baffert trainee Coil. Game on Dude ran a straight course this time out unlike his controversial win in the Big Cap earlier in the year. He is also trained by Bob Baffert for a partnership of Diamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust and Mercedes Stable. If Game on Dude goes on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and you were at Santa Anita this day and filled out an entry form you will be winning part of a $250,000 cash prize in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Ownership Challenge.
Yellow Ribbon winner Dubawi Heights makes her way through the Santa Anita paddock area.
A few races later it was time for the last stakes race of the day the Yellow Ribbon Stakes starting part way up the downhill turf course and once around the oval at 1 ¼ miles for fillies & mares. Yes you guessed right the race name was taken from the old song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”. The leader right out of the gate was Turning Top but in close pursuit was eventual winner Dubawi Heights. Turning onto the stretch Dubawi Heights took over first from the early leader and closing from 8th was Cozi Rosie missing the win by a narrowing ¾ of a length. Another length back also closing late was Harmonious in 3rd. Dubawi Heights is trained by Simon Callaghan and was ridden by Joel Rosario, making it a profitable day for the jockey with three stakes wins. Next up for Dubawi Heights we’ll expect to see her in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf race.
Words and photography by Vicki L Vinson.
West Coast Breeders’ Cup Preps
It was Saturday October 1st the first day of a weekend full of preps coast to coast for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup races in November at Churchill Downs. This write up will feature the West Coast prep races run at Santa Anita Park. All four stakes on the card were part of the “Win and You’re In” challenge races for the Breeders’ Cup. In the past these races were run under the banner of the Oak Tree Racing Association during a Fall meeting held under a leasing agreement with Santa Anita, now through a mutual agreement between Oak Tree and Santa Anita the races will continue on this year with the same names and retain their graded standings. Now the Santa Anita meeting is being referred to as the Autumn meeting noticeably some of the employees were having trouble remembering the this.
Creative Cause wins the Norfolk now it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
First off was the Norfolk Stakes for 2 year olds run on the dirt around two turns at 1 1/16 miles. Heavy favorite for the race was the Bob Baffert trained Drill, Bob is well known for his success with promising 2 year olds. As the horses broke from the gate mid-stretch in front of the grandstand taking an early lead was Ruler of Dubai with jockey Mike Smith on board. Slipping into a comfortable stalking spot in second was the gray Creative Cause with Joel Rosario up. Drill settled in mid-pack heading into the first turn and down the backside. As they came out of the final turn Creative Cause had a clear lead and drew away in the stretch, with Drill closing late for second and Ruler of Dubai hanging on for third. Creative Cause is by Giant’s Causeway out of the Siberian Summer mare Dream of Summer. He is trained by Mike Harrington for owner Heinz Steinmann. Drill had previously earned a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by winning the Del Mar Futurity in September, so now he will have a traveling buddy on the road to Kentucky.
A true closer Zazu swings wide to maneuver past traffic for her win in the Lady’s Secret
Next on the card was the Lady’s Secret named after the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and Horse of the Year Lady’s Secret. The race had been won by the popular mare Zenyatta for the last three years. Zenyatta’s owners were on hand again this year with their 3 year old gray filly Zazu. Showing how competitive this field was 3 of the filly/mares had already won berths to the Breeder’s Cup Ladies’ Classic including Blind Luck, Ask the Moon and Ultra Blend. Zazu was sent off as the second choice behind perennial favorite Blind Luck, both fillies have a similar running style and together trailed the field until the final turn. Zazu appeared to get the jump on Blind Luck, but regrettably the favorite failed to fire with her normal late kick and was eventually eased by jockey Garrett Gomez in the final furlong of the race. Closing from mid-pack to finish second behind Zazu was Ultra Blend and getting up for third was Great Hot. Zazu is by Tapit out of the Mr. Greely mare Rhumb Line, she is trained by John Sadler and was ridden by Joel Rosario.
Jockey Chantal Sutherland helps Game on Dude prove his win in the Santa Anita Handicap wasn’t a fluke
The third stakes race on the card was the Goodwood named for Oak Tree Racing Association’s sister operation at Goodwood Race Track in Chichester, England. Morning line and post time favorite for the race was Game on Dude who settled into a comfortable spot in second place going into the first turn. Midway through the backstretch Game on Dude took over first and appeared to use little effort in maintaining that position for the win. Closing from the rear of the pack and just missing by ½ a length at the end was the 8 year old Awesome Gem finishing second. Running a steady third throughout the race was the Bob Baffert trainee Coil. Game on Dude ran a straight course this time out unlike his controversial win in the Big Cap earlier in the year. He is also trained by Bob Baffert for a partnership of Diamond Pride, Lanni Family Trust and Mercedes Stable. If Game on Dude goes on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and you were at Santa Anita this day and filled out an entry form you will be winning part of a $250,000 cash prize in the Breeders’ Cup Classic Ownership Challenge.
Yellow Ribbon winner Dubawi Heights makes her way through the Santa Anita paddock area.
A few races later it was time for the last stakes race of the day the Yellow Ribbon Stakes starting part way up the downhill turf course and once around the oval at 1 ¼ miles for fillies & mares. Yes you guessed right the race name was taken from the old song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”. The leader right out of the gate was Turning Top but in close pursuit was eventual winner Dubawi Heights. Turning onto the stretch Dubawi Heights took over first from the early leader and closing from 8th was Cozi Rosie missing the win by a narrowing ¾ of a length. Another length back also closing late was Harmonious in 3rd. Dubawi Heights is trained by Simon Callaghan and was ridden by Joel Rosario, making it a profitable day for the jockey with three stakes wins. Next up for Dubawi Heights we’ll expect to see her in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf race.
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