Day 1 of the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships is in the books and all sources wagering on the Keeneland card was $50,285,986, an 11% decrease from last year’s record Friday handle of $56,517,228 at Santa Anita Park. On-track handle was over $1.1 million, pretty good considering there were no fans in attendance.
There were plenty of people in the stands and trackside and along the walking ring for Future Stars Friday and at least one winner’s circle had some 35 people celebrating.
Godolphin homebred Essential Quality (Tapit – Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality) overpowered his rivals in the stretch to win Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Keeneland.
Sent from post 5 under Luis Saez as the 7/2 second choice, Essential Quality sat well off the early pace in mid-pack and watched Dreamer’s Disease outkick everyone for the lead heading into the clubhouse turn.
With Classier and the 4/5 favorite Jackie’s Warrior giving closest watch, Dreamer’s Disease posted opening fractions of :22.58, :45.31, and 1:10.48.
Jackie’s Warrior made his move midway through the far turn and advanced to the lead near the 1/4 pole, but Hot Rod Charlie – at 94/1 the longest shot on the tote – ranged up three-wide and took command halfway home.
Saez began advancing Essential Quality while cornering and had him in prime position to rally down the middle of the lane, which he do so quite willingly.
To the lead inside the 1/8 pole, the Brad Cox trainee denied Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) by 3/4 of a length while completing the 1 1/16-mile fast dirt route in 1:42.09.
“I had a perfect trip, a beautiful trip,” Saez said. “My horse broke so well. He was in the right spot. I knew there was going to be a lot of speed, so we were in the right spot. At the 3/8, he gave me that kick, so I knew we had a chance to win the race. He can run all day. He’s a nice horse.”
Hot Rod Charlie’s nearly-successful upset attempt saw him finish 1 1/4 lengths ahead of a streaking Keepmeinmind, who rallied from last of 14 and pushed a fading Jackie’s Warrior off the board in fourth.
Rombauer, Dreamer’s Disease, King Fury, Sittin On Go, Reinvestment Risk, Calibrate, Camp Hope, and Likeable completed the order of finish.
Essential Quality’s win was his third from as many career starts after his maiden-breaking debut score at Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), the latter held over this same course and distance. The Tapit colt has now earned $1,335,144.
“It was a tremendous effort by this horse,” said Cox, who also saddled Aunt Pearl to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) just one race prior. “Luis stayed after him the whole way. He overcame a lot today. He’s a nice colt. Distance is no issue with him. He’ll run all day. I’m very proud of him and I’m so happy for the Godolphin organization. What a horse. At the 3/8 pole, Luis stayed after him pretty good and I was hoping he wouldn’t flatten out, but he stayed on. He’s a tremendous horse, has an amazing amount of stamina.”
Essential Quality returned $9.40 to win, $6.20 to place, and $4.40 to show. Hot Rod Charlie brought back $51.60 to place and $24 to show, while Keepmeinmind paid $11.20 to show.
The colt is the fourth foal and first winner for stakes-placed Delightful Quality.
VEQUIST surges in Juvenile Fillies for Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and breeder Swilcan Stables
Vequist, ridden by Joel Rosario, wins the Juvenile Fillies on Breeders’ Cup Championship Friday at Keeneland on November 6, 2020, in Lexington, Kentucky. (Candice Chavez/Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM)
Gary Barber had two chances to win Breeders’ Cup races with two-year-olds by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist on Future Stars Friday. Canadian fans hoped it would be with Gretzky the Great in the Juvenile Turf but that colt faded to sixth. Later, Barber got his win anyway as VEQUIST (Nyquist – Vero Amore, by Mineshaft) charged to victory in the 1 1/16 mile Juvenile Fillies.
Trained by Butch Reid’ Vequist skimmed the rail in the stretch to steal victory from loose leader Dayoutoftheoffice in Friday’s $2 million Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland.
Vequist broke from post 2 under Joel Rosario as the 6/1 fifth choice in the field of 7 and was forwardly-placed heading into the clubhouse turn.
Settling just inside of the 9/5 favorite Princess Noor, Vequist watched as Dayoutoftheoffice posted opening fractions of :23.30, :47.12, and 1:11.32.
Princess Noor made her bid midway through the far turn, but her attempt fell flat as Dayoutoftheoffice kept on going.
Rosario left Vequist pinned to the rail as she advanced past rivals in the stretch, including sliding inside the pacesetter at the 1/8 pole.
Drawing off late, Vequist crossed 2 lengths clear while completing the 1 1/16-mile fast dirt route in 1:42.30.
“I tried to save ground,” Rosario said. “It was hard for her in the turn because I had a horse outside me, but she did great. I never gave up my position. As soon as I asked her, she went on with it. It was a very good performance.”
Tough luck Dayoutoftheoffice settled for second, just a nose past a late-running Girl Daddy at the wire.
Fourth went to Simply Ravishing, who broke poorly from the gate and never fully recovered before taking fourth, another nose behind the pair ahead of her.
Princess Noor, Crazy Beautiful, and Thoughtfully completed the order of finish.
Vequist’s win was the second of her career following the Spinaway Stakes (G1) 2 starts back and improved her overall record to 4-2-2-0 with $1,235,500 earned for co-owners Swilcan Stable (who also bred her), Gary Barber, and Wachtel Stable. Her victory here mirrored the same success that her sire, Nyquist, enjoyed over this same course and distance in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).
“She really thrived on this air and the weather,” Reid said. “She looked great coming in. I knew we would be laying up close. She’s a sharp filly. She doesn’t mind the inside, obviously. I don’t know that you ever have that kind of feeling, but we knew she was doing very well and we know she’s a very talented filly.”
Vequist returned $15.20 to win, $6.80 to place, and $4.40 to show. Dayoutoftheoffice brought back $5.20 to place and $3.60 to show, while Girl Daddy paid $3.80 to show.
Vequist is the 3rd foal and 3rd winner for her dam who was a stakes placed winner.
Golden Pal is really fast
Golden Pal, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., wins the Juvenile Turf Sprint on Breeders’ Cup Championship Friday at Keeneland. (John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup/CSM)
Ranlo Investments homebred Golden Pal’s immense talent helped him overcome his greenness to win Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Keeneland.
Golden Pal (Uncle Mo – Lady Shipman, by Midshipman), sent from post 14 as the 4/5 favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr., broke like a shot and was immediately a multiple-length leader after just a few steps into stride.
Ortiz Jr. had to tap the brakes and settle Golden Pal, who veered a bit as he neared the far turn, and momentarily allowed his rivals to close rank.
Once he was allowed to run again, however, Golden Pal quickly took off and reestablished a lengthy advantage by the time the field straightened for home.
Though he appeared to grow a bit leg-weary late, Golden Pal held on to win by 3/4 of a length, completing the 5 1/2-furlong good turf sprint in 1:02.82 and giving both Ortiz Jr. and trainer Wesley Ward back-to-back race titles.
“He’s a really nice horse,” said Ortiz Jr. “He did the hard job. I just sat on him, waiting for the time to go. He ran great. He really has a lot of potential.”
Cowan outkicked Ubettabelieveit for second by 1 length, while Lipizzaner held off After Five and County Final by a nose and a neck for fourth and fifth, respectively.
Momos, Bodenheimer, Dirty Dangle, Windy City Red, Mighty Gurkha, Second of July, Into the Sunrise, and Blame the Booze completed the order of finish.
Amanzi Yimpilo, Gypsy King (Also Eligible), and Trade Deal (Also Eligible) were scratched.
Golden Pal’s win was his second straight following the Skidmore Stakes and improved his overall record to 4-2-2-0 including a narrow defeat in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.
“He’s just amazing,” Ward said. “I got a little worried on the backside. Irad kind of lost a little momentum there and took a pretty good hold of him, but then he just accelerated down the lane. When he accelerated past the 1/4 pole, I knew we were OK. I got a little worried on the last part and was hugging onto my son, but we got there. He’s a champion colt.”
Golden Pal returned $3.60 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.60 to show. Cowan brought back $8 to place and $5.80 to show, while Ubettabelieveit paid $8.60 to show.
Fire at Will drops bomb in Juvenile Turf
Umberto Rispoli, riding Abarta, nearly falls off his horse during the Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America. (Bill Denver/Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM)
Three Diamonds Farm’s Fire At Will (Declaration of War – Flirt by Kitten’s Joy) used a powerful stretch move to spring the 30/1 upset in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America (G1) at Keeneland.
Ignored on the tote as he broke from post 7 under Ricardo Santana Jr., Fire At Will sat a prominent stalking position while saving ground in third.
Outadore went to the lead and, with Gretzky the Great giving closest watch, posted opening fractions of :23.64, :48.12, and 1:12.60.
Before the first turn there was much crowding causing several horses to check hard and Umberto Rispoli on Aberta nearly fell off and then rode around the turn without his irons.
Straightening for home still on the lead, Outadore soon came under pressure from Fire At Will, who tipped off the rail at the top of the stretch and was running furiously toward the front.
Taking the lead at the 1/8 pole, the Mike Maker trainee pulled ahead late to win the 1-mile good turf route by 3 lengths in 1:35.81.
Battleground, the 7/2 favorite, rallied to take second by a neck over Outadore, while Cadillac and Sealiway rounded out the top five.
Gretzky the Great, The Lir Jet, Devilwala, Ebeko, Mutasaabeq, Go Athletico, Public Sector, Abarta, and New Mandate completed the order of finish.
Barrister Tom and Harlan Estate were scratched as Also Eligibles.
Fire At Will’s win was his third straight following the With Anticipation Stakes and the Pilgrim Stakes (G2), improving his record to 4-3-0-0. The Declaration of War colt, purchased for $97,000 as a yearling, has now earned $657,932.
“We have been high on him since Day One, and with each race, he’s gotten better,” Maker said. “It’s very satisfying to get Three Diamonds Farm their very first Breeders’ Cup win.”
Fire At Will returned $62.40 to win, $24.40 to place, and $14 to show. Battleground brought back $5.60 to place and $3.80 to show, while Outadore paid $7.60 to show.
The colt is the first foal of unplaced Flirt, a half sister to Summer Stakes (G1) winner Decorated Invader.
Fire at Will, ridden by Ricardo Santana, Jr., wins the Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America. (Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup/CSM)
Aunt Pearl (Ire) is a Gem
November 6, 2020: Aunt Pearl, ridden by Florent Geroux, wins the Juvenile Fillies Turf on Breeders’ Cup Championship Friday at Keeneland on November 6, 2020: in Lexington, Kentucky. /eb305e//Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM
Given an easy lead from the start, trainer Brad Cox’s Aunt Pearl took the field from gate to wire in Friday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland.
Aunt Pearl (Lope de Vega – Matauri Pearl (Ire) by Hurricane Run (Ire) shot out of post 5 under Florent Geroux as the 5/2 favorite and went straight to the lead, then outkicked Campanelle for sole command heading into the clubhouse turn.
Straightening out on the backside with a lengthy lead, Aunt Pearl posted an opening 1/4-mile time of :22.55 but was able to take a crucial breather and mute the tempo down to an opening 1/2-mile in :47.30.
Straightening for home still unchallenged, Aunt Pearl drew off only mild encouragement to win by 2 1/2 confident lengths and completed the 1-mile good turf route in 1:35.71.
“I know she is extremely fast,” said Geroux, who has been aboard Aunt Pearl for every start. “I just tried to get away good. She was off to a flying start. She went pretty quick early on, and after that, I tried to get her to relax. On the backside, she came back to me. When I asked her, she had plenty left. She’s extremely talented. I think the sky is the limit for her.”
Mother Earth rallied strongly in the late stages to take second by a neck over Miss Amulet, while Campanelle faded to fourth, just a head past Plum Ali.
Completing the order of finish came Spanish Loveaffair, Editor At Large, Madone, Oodnadatta, Nazuna, Invincible Gal, Alda, Royal Approval, and Union Gables.
Aunt Pearl’s win was her third from as many career starts, having broken her maiden at Churchill Downs in early September before setting a new stakes record over the local lawn in the Jessamine Stakes (G2). The Irish-bred daughter of Lope De Vega, purchased for almost $360,000 as a yearling, has now earned $652,784 for co-owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Peter Deutsch, Michael Kisber, The Elkstone Group, and Bethlehem Stables.
“That was a devastating performance,” said Cox, who also saddled Essential Quality to win the TVG Juvenile (G1) one race later. “She is an amazing filly. Very proud of her. Speed is her weapon and she knows how to use it. I was pretty confident when I saw the :47 and (Geroux) obviously knows her well.”
Aunt Pearl returned $7.20 to win, $5.40 to place, and $3.80 to show. Mother Earth brought back $19.60 to place and $10.40 to show, while Miss Amulet paid $6.40 to show.
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