Hall of Fame Trainer King Leatherbury: A Maryland Legend
presented by
Road to Breeders’ Cup: Sneak Peek at Final Preps in New York, Florida, California
Racing
Songbird (center, red and white jockey silks) won the 2015 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Park early in a Hall of Fame career that included a subsequent victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. (Eclipse Sportswire)
While racing at Keeneland during the upcoming weekend takes the spotlight with eight “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup races scheduled over its three-day Fall Stars weekend, there are seven more qualifying preps on tap in New York, California, and Florida as well, which makes for a truly spectacular first full weekend of October in North American horse racing.
The winner of each Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race receives an automatic berth to the corresponding World Championships event, with entry fees waived and travel expenses provided. The 40th annual Breeders’ Cup is scheduled for Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in California.
Santa Anita hosts three “Win and You’re In” preps on Saturday, while three more are slated for Belmont at the Big A in New York on Saturday and Sunday and one will run at Gulfstream Park in Florida on Saturday. In addition, there are a handful of other races at these tracks and elsewhere that, while not official Breeders’ Cup qualifiers, have had an impact on determining results at the World Championships through the years.
(Two “Win and You’re In” races originally scheduled for last weekend at Belmont at the Big A – the Pilgrim Stakes and Miss Grillo Stakes – were moved to this Wednesday due to torrential rain in New York, and an important turf stakes that is not an official prep – the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes – was rescheduled to this Saturday. Read about them here.)
Enjoy this final preview of “Win and You’re In” qualifiers and other big races for the weekend, as we continue to count down (only one month away!) to Breeders’ Cup 2023.
Where: Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct), Queens, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7
How to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
War Pass (Rick Samuels/BloodHorse)
Why it’s important: First held in 1867, the Champagne, currently contested at one mile, has been the key race for New York-based horses pointing to the Breeders’ Cup. Five juveniles have won both the Champagne and the BC Juvenile in the same year: Fly So Free (1990), Timber Country (1993), War Pass (2007), Uncle Mo (2010), and Shanghai Bobby (2012). On top of that, several also-rans in the Champagne improved to win the Juvenile in their next start – two examples being Rhythm in 1989 (runner-up in the Champagne) and Good Magic in 2017 (ditto).
Best winner during the Breeders’ Cup era: Uncle Mo gets a slight edge over War Pass among the five dual winners. The latter horse, owned by Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, was unbeaten and dominant at 2 but tailed off at 3 while only racing three times, and then died before establishing himself as a stallion. Uncle Mo likewise was hampered by health problems and could not fully realize his potential after a brilliant 2-year-old season, but he did win two more stakes races at age 3 and lost a third by a nose. His 2-year-old races were something to behold, as the Indian Charlie colt romped by 14 ¼ lengths in his Saratoga debut, routed the opposition in the Champagne by 4 ¾ lengths, and then was equally impressive in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, coasting to a 4 ¼-length victory. Uncle Mo has since become one of the leading sires in North America.
Last year’s results: Blazing Sevens rallied from off the pace in the Champagne to post a mild upset, and then ran a creditable fourth in the FanDuel Juvenile at Keeneland. He finished second in the Preakness Stakes earlier this year.
2023 field: The projected Champagne field is headlined by Fierceness, a maiden winner by 11 ¼ lengths at Saratoga that races for Uncle Mo’s connections of owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher.
Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7
How to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Nyquist (Eclipse Sportswire)
Why it’s important: This race was first held in 1970 and has gone through three name changes to currently honor 2014 race winner and 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah. That budding superstar won what was at the time named the FrontRunner Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths but missed the Breeders’ Cup, while Texas Red, who finished third in the FrontRunner, dominated the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his next start. Five horses in total have won the American Pharoah Stakes and the BC Juvenile in the same year, starting in the inaugural World Championships year of 1984 with Chief’s Crown. The others are Capote (1986), Nyquist (2015), Game Winner (2018), and Corniche (2021).
Best winner during the Breeders’ Cup era: Nyquist dominated his 2-year-old season and extended an unbeaten streak all the way through the 2016 Kentucky Derby before checking in third in the Preakness Stakes – but that said, the best among the above quintet is Chief’s Crown. The son of Danzig first emerged in New York during summer 1984 with three stakes wins including the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the Grade 1 Cowdin Stakes at Belmont Park, and then shipped to California for a two-race visit that saw him win what was at the time called the Norfolk Stakes by 1 ½ lengths and then the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park by three-quarters of a length over Tank’s Prospect. The Roger Laurin trainee and Eclipse Award winner as 1984 champion 2-year-old male came back to win six of 12 starts at age 3 in 1985, including the Travers Stakes, and he competed in all three Triple Crown races, finishing third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Preakness (by a head to Tank’s Prospect), and third in the Belmont Stakes.
Last year’s results: Cave Rock dominated the American Pharoah by 5 ¼ lengths as the 2-5 favorite and based on that was the post-time 0.47-1 favorite in the FanDuel Juvenile at Keeneland, where he came in second by 1 ½ lengths to Forte.
Where: Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct), Queens, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7
How to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Echo Zulu (Eclipse Sportswire)
Why it’s important: The companion race to the Champagne has been even more productive in sending winners on to Breeders’ Cup glory, as eight fillies have won both the Frizette and Juvenile Fillies in the same year, starting with Meadow Star in 1990 and followed by Flanders in 1994, Storm Song in 1996, Storm Flag Flying in 2002, Indian Blessing in 2007, My Miss Aurelia in 2011, Jaywalk in 2017, and Echo Zulu in 2021. In addition, star performers Open Mind (1988) and My Flag (1995) ran second in the Frizette and then won the Juvenile Fillies.
Best winner during the Breeders’ Cup era: We’ll have to set aside the superior Personal Ensign from this discussion, as the Hall of Famer won the Frizette in 1986 but did not run in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, instead returning at age 3 and 4 to compile a perfect 13-for-13 career that ended with a win in the 1988 Distaff that is still talked and written about today. Among the “great eight” listed above, it’s a tough call to pick between Meadow Star, Storm Flag Flying, Indian Blessing, My Miss Aurelia, and Echo Zulu. Had Meadow Star retired after her win in the 1991 Mother Goose Stakes – aka “the Mother of all Gooses” – she would be an easy choice as that win was the 11th in her first 12 starts. But the Carl Icahn-owned filly would go winless in her final eight races, so with that in mind, we’ll go with 2007 winner Indian Blessing. The Bob Baffert trainee won all three races at 2 by a combined 13 ¼ lengths, and then racked up seven more graded stakes in 2008 and 2009, three of them Grade 1s. The similarities between Indian Blessing and current star Echo Zulu are striking, as they were (are) formidable speed horses who performed best when kept at distances a mile and shorter. Echo Zulu, with a record of nine wins in 11 starts heading into this year’s PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, could end up atop this list.
Last year’s results: Chocolate Gelato won the Frizette by a length but was a no-show in the NetJets Juvenile Fillies, finishing 12th. Frizette third-place finisher Leave No Trace outran her 25.81-1 odds in the Juvenile Fillies to check in second behind Wonder Wheel.
2023 field: Probables for this year’s Frizette include Saratoga maiden winners Candied, Life Talk, and Just F Y I.
Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7
How to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
Why it’s important: This 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies was named the Oak Leaf Stakes until 2012. It’s the final West Coast prep for freshman females en route to the Juvenile Fillies, and six fillies have won both the Chandelier and Juvenile Fillies in the same year: Pleasant Stage (1991), Phone Chatter (1993), Halfbridled (2003), Sweet Catomine (2004), Stardom Bound (2008), and….
Best winner during the Breeders’ Cup era: Easily the best dual winner, Songbird exploded on the racing scene in 2015 – first at Del Mar where she posted a dominant maiden win and then another blowout in the Del Mar Debutante. Then in the Chandelier, she toyed with seven opponents in a 4 ½-length romp. Sent to Keeneland for a tougher assignment in the Juvenile Fillies, the Rick Porter-owned filly made it look just as easy, leading from gate to wire and winning by 5 ¾ lengths. Songbird trained on to win her first seven starts at age 3 before suffering her first career defeat by a nose in the 2016 Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff to the great Beholder, truly a finish for the ages. Carrying credentials of 13 wins in 15 starts and over $4.6 million in earnings, Songbird joined the Racing Hall of Fame two months ago as one of the very best female dirt horses of the modern era.
Where: Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7
How to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Ce Ce (Eclipse Sportswire)
Why it’s important: This dirt sprint for females at Gulfstream is named after the first Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, Hall of Famer Princess Rooney. It was first held in 1985, the year after Princess Rooney’s Breeders’ Cup victory, and has had an influence on the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on occasion since the latter race was first held in 2007. Only one filly/mare (see below) has won both the Princess Rooney and the Filly and Mare Sprint in the same year, but Dubai Majesty (2010) and Musical Romance (2011) both improved off of non-winning efforts at Gulfstream to take the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint later in their respective seasons.
Best winner during the Breeders’ Cup era: Bo Hirsch’s Grade 1-winning mare Ce Ce had finished fifth in the 2020 Longines Distaff but started targeting shorter races early in 2021, and she dominated the Princess Rooney (held in July) by 3 ¼ lengths to earn a “Win and You’re In” bid for the Filly and Mare Sprint held at Del Mar. The daughter of Elusive Quality finished third to speed merchant Gamine in a Grade 1 at Saratoga and then won the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita in the interim, and was sent off at odds of 6.20-1 against odds-on Gamine for the Breeders’ Cup rematch. Under a patient Victor Espinoza, Ce Ce stalked a hot pace set by Gamine and Bella Sofia and was in perfect position to rocket past the tiring leaders in the stretch, winning by 2 ½ lengths.
Last year’s results: Ce Ce picked up her second consecutive win in the Princess Rooney and also won the Chillingworth again heading into her bid for a Filly and Mare Sprint repeat. She finished fourth at Keeneland and was then retired to the breeding shed.
Where: Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif.
When: Saturday, Oct. 7
How to watch: FanDuel TV
“Win and You’re In” for: Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf
Why it’s important: This turf race for fillies and mares has sent a handful of runners to good showings in the Breeders’ Cup, but to date no winner has gone on to capture the Filly and Mare Turf – or the Breeders’ Cup Mile or Turf, for that matter.
Best winners during the Breeders’ Cup era: Marketing Mix, a versatile and well-traveled Medaglia d’Oro mare owned by Glen Hill Farm, won the 2012 Rodeo Drive and then finished three-quarters of a length behind Zagora in the Filly and Mare Turf, also held at Santa Anita. Four years later, Avenge won the first of two consecutive editions of the Rodeo Drive and in her next start set the pace and had enough left to finish just a length behind 1-2 finishers Queen’s Trust and Lady Eli (separated by a nose) in the Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
Where: Belmont at the Big A (Aqueduct), Queens, N.Y.
When: Sunday, Oct. 8
How to watch: FS2
“Win and You’re In” for: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Four Wheel Drive (Eclipse Sportswire)
Why it’s important: This turf dash for juveniles was added to the Challenge Series in 2018, the same year the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint was first held.
Best winner during the Breeders’ Cup era: Four Wheel Drive is the only horse so far to win both the Futurity and the Juvenile Turf Sprint. The Wesley Ward trainee won the Futurity at Belmont Park by three lengths and then the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita by three-quarters of a length, with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the saddle for both races.
Last year’s results: The 2023 Futurity winner, Nagirroc, did not compete in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, opting to stretch out in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He ran a good third at 39.87-1 odds behind European invaders Victoria Road and Silver Knott for trainer Graham Motion.
Other important races:
The Beldame Stakes for fillies and mares held at 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Belmont at the Big A is not a Challenge Series qualifier for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but its history is deeply intertwined with that World Championships event. Nearly every year, it seems, a filly or mare comes out of the Beldame and hits the board in the Distaff, and four females have won both races in the same year: Lady’s Secret (1986), Personal Ensign (1988), Beautiful Pleasure (1999), and Royal Delta (2012). What a quartet!
The Caesars Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes, also at Belmont at the Big A, was first held in 2019 as part of the New York “Turf Triple” series, and in 2021 3-year-old Godolphin-owned gelding Yibir shipped over from England to win the 1 ½-mile race (held at Belmont Park) by a comfortable 2 ½ lengths. Trainer Charlie Appleby kept Yibir in the U.S. for a start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, and was rewarded with a win at odds of 8.50-1 after the gelding rallied from 13th of 14 runners to prevail under William Buick.
Related News
most popular
