3 minute read
Many horses got their entries to the Breeders' this weekend.
Starting off with Friday in Keeneland, their opening day. The Phoenix Gr 2 over 1200m went to Hoist The Gold on 6/1 from Nakatomi and Bango. Then the Jessamine G2 over 1300m turf saw Buchu win by 3 ¼ lengths so she could be California bound. And a slight upset in the Gr 1 Alcibiades where the win went to Pletcher's Candied under Luis Saez with V V's Dream who started favourite second and early favourite Brightwork not in the frame. Emery did not run here – see under BAQ below,
Saturday's Keeneland card started off with the Gr 2 Woodford over 1100m turf and the win went to Azarte 11/1 for Michael Trombetta and Joel Rosario. Our Shot was second and Beer Can Man third. The Thoroughbred Club of America Gr 2 over 1200m saw Yuugiri 18/1 score an upset over Wicked Halo. The First Lady Gr 1 1600m turf saw Gina Romantica upset the odds-on favourite In Italian with Evvie Jets 20/1 third. The Claiborne Futurity Gr 1 over 1700m went to the favourite Locked. Timberlake was scratched from this so see BAQ for where he ran.
Sunday saw the Gr 1 Spinster over 1800m go to the favourite Idiomatic with La Da Vida 4 ½ lengths away in second. The Bourbon Gr 2 over 1700m turf went to Can Group on 29/1 from Noted.
Belmont at the Big A – BAQ for short – saw the Joe Hirsch eventually run without any major upsets as favourite War Like Goddess won and Soldier Rising was second but 4 ½ lengths away. The Frizette Gr 1 over 1600m went to Just FYI the cleverly named daughter of Justify, with Central Avenue 18/1 second and Life Talk third. Emery had been scratched from the Alcibiades to run here where she started favourite but alas didn't finish in the frame. The Belmont Turf Sprint 1200m saw Big Invasion scratched and a new favourite Today's Flavor won with Thin White Dove second and Wit third.
The Champagne was where Timberlake finished up after being scratched from the Futurity at Keeneland and this was a happier result as he won from General Partner and Dancing Groom. The Jockey Club Derby over 2200m turf saw both Measured Time and Webslinger scratched so that messed up our selections. Only 5 ran and Lost Ark was the winner.
At Santa Anita the Argentinians are happy as Didia won and thus got the entry to the Breeders'. Anisette was second and Juncture third. The American Pharoah Gr 2 1700m went to the favourite Muth with the nicely-named Wine Me Up second on 9/1 and Be You third.
