BREEDERS’ CUP GEARING UP – FRIDAY – DAY ONE, four races, Saturday –
Canadian fillies DIXIE MOON and AMI’S MESA have arrived where the ‘turf meets the surf’.
Both Woodbine-based, Canadian/Ontario bred owned and trained gals are trained by women, Catherine Day Phillips and Josie Carroll.
Ami’s Mesa had a long trip and was sleepy on Tuesday…note from Woodbine Media:
Ivan Dalos’ Ami’s Mesa got her first feel of the Del Mar racing surface Wednesday morning as she galloped before the renovation break with trainer Josie Carroll looking on from the backstretch viewing stand.
“She had a 12-hour van ride to Louisville (Ky., from Toronto) just to get to the plane,” Carroll said of the filly who arrived here Monday afternoon for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. “When we came out yesterday morning, it was 50-50 whether she would go out and she was sound asleep in the stall, so that was that.”
Ami’s Mesa is undefeated in four starts in 2017 with all victories coming on all-weather surfaces at Woodbine and Presque Isle Downs.
“The only question for her is the dirt,” said Carroll, who is making her first visit to Del Mar. “She breezed a couple of times on it and breezed well, but she runs on the all-weather, so why switch?”
Luis Contreras, who has been aboard for all four victories this year, has the mount Saturday and will break from post 14.
“Well, she won’t get any dirt in her face right off the bat,” Carroll said.
DIXIE MOON jogged and galloped and then schooled in the Del Mar paddock with groom Nicki Brolly and Day Phillips – photo by Todd Phillips:
LUIS CONTRERAS is sore but okay after a bad spill in the last race at Woodbine on Wednesday night, His mount, the colt CRY IN THE WILD fell into the stretch Luis crashed tot he ground. His agent Gary Kemplen reports the rider is okay and is headed to the Breeders’ Cup. Cry in the Wild was not moving when he was put in the van.
Ami’s Mesa races on Saturday while Dixie Moon is in the first Breeders’ Cup race, on Friday.
Canadian CHARLES FIPKE was dealt a hefty fine in the form of 2 jockey fees by the Del Mar stewards because Joel Rosario was confirmed to ride Forever Unbridled in the Distaff but Fipke switched to John Velazquez:
http://www.drf.com/news/owner-must-pay-two-jockey-fees-forever-unbridleds-run-breeders-cup-distaff
Patrick Husbands will ride Ontario bred WONDER GADOT in the Juvenile Fillies on the dirt for owner Gary Barber. The Mark Casse-trained filly won the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine in her last start.
There are plenty of other Canadian breds in the races including HEART TO HEART, the pride of Alberta’s Terry Hamilton and breeder Darrell Bauder. Thehorses.com offer this item:
http://thehorses.com/news/thoroughbred/item/2294-heart-to-heart-in-breeders-cup-mile
On the European front, and there are A LOT of European starters, in particular in the 2-year-old races on grass, jockey Ryan Moore talks about his mounts on Friday:
Thoroughblog will have full selections for Cup races beginning tomorrow.
DEL MAR OPENED ITS CROSBY MEETING on Wednesday and after just one day, the main track seemed to favour inside and horses close to the pace while the turf course also played well for inside runners. Let’s check today’s racing for more clues.
DEL MAR BREEDERS’ CUP FRIDAY POST TIMES – WAGERING MENU
BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF 5:25 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD PICK 4
BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE 6:05 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD PICK 4
BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF 6:50 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD
BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF 7:35 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER SP DD SupHi 5
Race 10 8:17 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER
SATURDAY POST TIMES – WAGERING MENU
BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES 3:00 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD
BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT 3:37 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD PICK 4
BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT 4:14 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD
BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF 5:00 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD PICK 6
TWINSPIRES BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT 5:37 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD
BREEDERS’ CUP MILE 6:19 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD PICK 4
BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE 6:58 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER PICK 3 DD
BREEDERS’ CUP TURF 7:47 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER DD
BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC 8:35 p.m. WPS EX TRI SUPER SupHi 5
