The $250,000, Grade 2 Beldame Stakes Oct. 9 at Belmont at the Big A turned into a public workout for multiple Grade 1 winner Nest as the 1-20 favorite coasted by 9 ¾ lengths.
Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from major races at Keeneland Race Course, Belmont at the Big A and Santa Anita Park on Saturday as some of the nation’s top horses took their final step toward the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 4 and 5 at Keeneland.
The nearest a horse not trained by Bob Baffert could get in the Oct. 8 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park was 24 1/4 lengths behind undefeated winner Cave Rock. That’s because all four of the Baffert runners finished ahead of the other four in the race, with daylight between every one of them.
New York-based trainer Todd Pletcher wasn’t at Keeneland Oct. 8, but the Hall of Famer’s impact on a pair of back-to-back Grade 1 races late in the afternoon was unmistakable.
War Like Goddess made history in the Grade 1 $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Oct. 8 and paved the way for her to potentially make more during the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships next month.
