Deep Field Update: Breeders’ Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky.-After two full days of world-class racing the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships concluded on Saturday with the stunning finish of Flighline in the Classic. "We came. We saw and we conquered." In a nutshell, exercise rider and assistant trainer Juan Leyva summed up two weeks in Kentucky for Flightline, who on Saturday delivered…

Breeders' Cup Notebook: The "Math" of the Aftermath (Breeders' Cup 2022 / Coady Photography) From the Breeders' Cup Media Team: Europeans, New York-based Runners Dominated World Championship Weekend Horses based primarily in Europe and New York accounted for 11 of the 14 victories in the 39 edition of the Breeders' Cup 14 World Championships this…

LEXINGTON, Ky. - In 2015, American Pharoah showed the world his greatness by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Race Course after sweeping the Triple Crown earlier in the year. The Classic will be run again at the venerable Kentucky racetrack as the talented Flightline will look to add to his growing resume where he takes on seven…

Will this weekend's Breeders' Cup Classic serve as the crowning moment for a horse that will go down in the history books, or will it be the setting for a major upset? We'll find out Saturday evening at Keeneland, which will host horse racing's World Championships for the third time and welcome one of the sport's biggest stars in recent memory. The…

Sharp Aza Tack ran off to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth on July 30. Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO Breeders' Cup Notes/Edited LEXINGTON, Ky.-R3 Racing's Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Sharp Aza Tack galloped 1 1/8 m over Keeneland's all-weather training track Wednesday morning with exercise rider Connor Murray aboard. The…

Pletcher-trainee Atomically out for a breeze at Keeneland Wednesday morning. Coady Photography Breeders' Cup Notes/Edited LEXINGTON, Ky.-Trainer Todd Pletcher's 12 Breeders' Cup victories have come from nine races, but one race missing from that resume is the NetJets Juvenile Fillies (G1). He will have two chances to alter that statistic Friday…

Awake At Midnyte - With her first Breeders' Cup start quickly approaching, Reddam Racing's Awake At Midnyte continues to train well, galloping 1 1/8 miles Thursday morning at Keeneland under exercise rider Connor Murray. Trainer Doug O'Neill is sending the filly out into a star-studded Longines Distaff field on Saturday where she will be running…

Epicenter - Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter continues to thrive in his training as he had another strong gallop Thursday morning under Roberto Howell leading into Saturday's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland. Should he win, he'd be the third Classic winner for his trainer Steve Asmussen and the second with a 3-year-old. He won the…

Breeders' Cup Notebook: A Look-In at Classic Contenders (Epicenter on Thursday morning at Keeneland / All Photos by Coady Photography) From the Breeders' Cup Media Team: Classic Look-In: Epicenter - Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter continues to thrive in his training as he had another strong gallop Thursday morning under Roberto Howell leading…

Chop Chop out of the track Wednesday morning. Coady Photography Breeders' Cup Notes/Edited LEXINGTON, Ky.- Trainer Brad Cox will attempt to win his second Juvenile Fillies when he saddles Selective's Chop Chop as the 4-1 favorite. The City of Light filly is going off a very narrow loss to Wonder Wheel in the Alcibiades Stakes at Keeneland. "It was…

Epicenter - Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter continued to impress in his gallops as he went out shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday at Keeneland. The 3-year-old went 1 1/2 miles under regular exercise rider Roberto Howell. "He's just a fabulous horse," said trainer Steve Asmussen, who is seeking a third Longines Breeders' Cup Classic victory. "I…

Blue Stripe capturing the Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar Aug. 7. Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Notes LEXINGTON, Ky.-The ladies are getting ready to throw it down in theLongines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) breezing, walking the shedrow, schooling in the paddock and just getting used to Keeneland (unless the won a race…

Awake at Midnyte - Trainer Doug O'Neill reported "all good" for his Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) contender Awake At Midnyte after she galloped 1 1/8 miles under exercise rider Connor Murray Tuesday morning at Keeneland. She is a 3-year-old daughter of champion Nyquist who was also trained by O'Neill to Breeders' Cup success in the 2015…

Epicenter in his Oct. 30 work at Keeneland. Coady Photography Breeders' Cup Notes LEXINGTON, Ky.-Keeneland is a busy place this week with horses getting in gallops and schooling in the gate and paddock. Epicenter, Flightline, Happy Saver, Life Is Good, Hot Rod Charlie, Rich Strike and Taiba were all out and about. Epicenter - Winchell…

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Flightline has given John Sadler plenty to smile about this year, and his prospects look good for the trainer maintaining it. The unbeaten horse is the 3-5 morning-line favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic and will start the $6 million season finale from the No. 4 post position on Saturday at Keeneland. The 4-year-old bay…

Quickquestion. What was Rich Strike's most impressive race? Not-so-quickpause. Take away the trappings of the Kentucky Derby, of the 80-1 odds thatmade Rich Strike the second longest shot in the race's pari-mutuel history towin it. "That'sa good question," trainer Eric Reed said this week at Churchill Downs, where hehas been preparing his growing…

KY Derby Winner Rich Strike May Find Riches Again in Saturday's G2 Lukas Classic (Rich Strike / Photos by Holly M. Smith) From the Churchill Downs Media Team: Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is back at Churchill Downs and trainer Eric Reed is hoping his prized colt will notch a third-career victory beneath the historic Twin Spires in Saturday's…

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is back at Churchill Downs and trainer Eric Reed is hoping his prized colt will notch a third-career victory beneath the historic Twin Spires in Saturday's $500000 Lukas Classic (Grade II). "Every time he comes to Churchill he's ready for game time," said Reed, who regularly ships the Kentucky…

Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is back at Churchill Downs and trainer Eric Reed is hoping his prized colt will notch a third-career victory beneath the historic Twin Spires in Saturday's $500000 Lukas Classic (Grade 2). "Every time he comes to Churchill he's ready for game time," said Reed, who regularly ships the Kentucky Derby winner 85 miles…

It was likely the final day of training for all of the participants in Saturday's $750000 Stephen Foster (Grade 2). All seven contenders took to the Churchill Downs track to gallop Friday morning. Juddmonte's Mandaloun, the 2-1 morning line Foster favorite, had a strong 1 ½-mile gallop around 7 a.m. The 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner was ridden by…

There is one important face you won't see in the winner's circle photographs from this year's Kentucky Derby. Perhaps one of the most vital parts of the team, Rich Strike's regular exercise rider Gabriel Lagunes watched the race from the clocker's tower on the Churchill Downs backstretch. "I cried after he won," Lagunes said. "Before the race,…

The principal action for Kentucky Derby 148 occurred more than 2000 miles west of Churchill Downs Thursday morning as Santa Anita Derby (GI) winner Taiba worked six furlongs in 1:12.80. "It was very straight forward," trainer Tim Yakteen said. "He worked three-quarters from the five-eighth pole. It was a typical Taiba work and we accomplished what…

As Time Goes By/Private Mission - Amazingly, for all his success in Breeders' Cup Championships as the winningest with 17 victories, Bob Baffert will be seeking his first victory in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff when he sends out two starters in the nine-furlong event this Saturday. Private Mission, a once-beaten sophomore, will be…