Breeders' Cup Bulletin: Tuesday

FOR PLETCHER, MILE BEST FOR LIAM'S MAP

It has been a decision widely criticized across social media, but trainer Todd Pletcher Tuesday explained that a number of factors were considered when deciding on a start in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile for the wildly talented Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) over a potentially more valuable date in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic 24 hours later.

“It was a difficult decision, because he's a gifted horse,” said Pletcher, whose most recently of his seven Breeders' Cup titles came courtesy of Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday) in 2012. “He's probably capable of running in multiple different races, but we know he's a brilliant miler. By the nature of his campaign, he never had the opportunity to run at a mile and a quarter. We felt that a race as prestigious as the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, as brilliant as he's been, it's the right fit for him.”

Five-for-seven in his career, the $800,000 Keeneland September purchase won a June 19 optional claimer over Belmont's one-turn mile, then ran too good to lose the GI Whitney S. Aug. 8, going down by a neck to GI Breeders' Cup Classic aspirant Honor Code (A.P. Indy). Despite the taxing effort, the gray was back on four weeks' rest for the GI Woodward S. and proved not for catching with a 4 3/4-length defeat of stablemate Coach Inge (Big Brown) and Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) in third.

“He's a very fast horse,” Pletcher continued. “He has the ability to carry it over a distance of ground. That's what separates the good ones from the really good ones. There aren't many horses you see capable of ripping off 23, 36, 1:09 [fractions] and still have something left.”

At even-money, Liam's May is the second-strongest favorite of any of the Breeders' Cup races. Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) is the 4-5 favorite in the GI Longines Turf.

'CHATTERBOX' SITTING ON A CHAMPIONSHIP

Fletcher and Carolyn Gray's I'm a Chatterbox (Munnings) is set to conclude a busy sophomore season in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, and with a positive performance facing her elders for the first time, trainer Larry Jones believes the chestnut can cement a divisional championship.

Never out of the top three in her seven previous runs this season, the homebred was placed behind fellow Eclipse Award candidate Curalina (Curlin) after interfering with that one in the late stages of the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga in July, but she bounced back with a comprehensive success over Calamity Kate (Yes It's True) and Peace and War (War Front) in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx Racing Sept. 19.

I'm a Chatterbox | Keeneland/Coady

“We feel like we are on top right now,” said trainer Larry Jones, who for all his success has never saddled a Breeders' Cup winner and has been represented by just four runners. “If you look at all the 3-year-old fillies, we are the lowest morning-line odds of those in the Breeders' Cup, so someone thinks we are the best 3-year-old filly in the country. I do believe she is the most consistent in the country. She's had a long year and with a good performance I think she should get it. ”

Three days after working five furlongs in 1:00 2/5, I'm a Chatterbox was one of several horses that opted for the all-weather training track Tuesday over the rain-affected main track. I'm a Chatterbox will need to work out a trip from the one hole Friday, but Jones is leaving the real decision making up to his rider.

“As far as the race goes and breaking from the one-hole, I won't tell [jockey Florent Geroux] what to do,” Jones explained. “There are speed horses in there and there are horses slower than us, so it may be one of those deals where we get squeezed back and farther back than where we like to be. That's the bad thing about breaking from the [the rail], you may not get a free run–but we'll see. Florent knows what to do and we're not going to panic.”

WET WEATHER SUITS TEPIN

Facing by far the toughest test of her career, Robert Masterson's Tepin (Bernstein) will gladly accept any intangible advantage, the prevailing soggy weather being one such example.

“This is Tepin weather. She loves it. I'll take the cold and rainy any day for Tepin,” said seven-time Sovereign Award-winning trainer Mark Casse, who finished in a three-way tie for leading trainer honors at Keeneland's recently concluded fall meet.

Remarkably consistent this term, the bay is unlucky not to have posted a record better than her four wins and a pair of seconds from six starts. Wire-to-wire winner of the GII Distaff Turf Mile May 2, she settled off the pace and pounced late for a half-length success in the GI Just a Game S. on the Belmont S. undercard June 6. She dropped a pair of narrow decision behind GI Filly/Mare Turf chances Hard Not to Like (Hard Spun) and Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in the GI Diana S. and GII Ballston Spa S., respectively, but atoned for those defeats in a big way, winning the GI First Lady S. over the course and distance by a whopping seven lengths.

“She really likes this course,” said Casse. “Some horses don't take to it because it's just a little different. Over the years, I've had some horses that were really good turf horses that would run good and always had real consistent form, and then would come here and run terrible, and then run at Churchill and run well. It's just the make-up of it. It's got a lot of sand, I guess. There are definitely horses that won't run on this turf course. But we know she will.”

ANOTHER BUSY WEEKEND FOR BROWN

New York-based conditioner Chad Brown has won five Breeders' Cup races–all on the turf–since breaking through in 2008, including the trio of Lady Eli (Divine Park), Dayatthespa (City Zip) and Bobby's Kitten (Kitten's Joy) last year at Santa Anita.

“When you win one Breeders' Cup race you have to be very thankful. They are so hard to win,” Brown said Tuesday morning from Keeneland. “To win three in a year last year was just remarkable. A lot of luck involved. Great horses at the right time, the right trips and it all came together.”

After saddling a leading 10 and 11 runners in each of the last two seasons, respectively, the former Bobby Frankel protégé is set to tighten the girth around a dozen horses this time around.

“We have a good group here,” said Brown. “It's going to be tough. Most of my races are on the turf and it seems like the Europeans brought some of their best horses this year. So it's going to be a tall order, but my horses are really doing well. It's a good group, a good solid group. I don't know that I have a real standout in the race that I think is unbeatable, like a Lady Eli, but I see horses in here that can win if they get the trip, they take to the Keeneland turf and you get that much-needed racing luck.”

The Brown stable is three strong for Saturday's GI Filly & Mare Turf, including Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy). Runner-up to her stablemate Dayatthespa at Santa Anita last season, she makes the final start of her career before going under the hammer at Fasig-Tipton Monday. Brown will also send out GI Beverly D. S. upsetter Watsdachances (Ire) (Diamond Green {Fr}) and wild-card Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy).

ALL EUROS ACCOUNTED FOR

With the Monday evening arrival of the seven horses that will represent Ballydoyle at this weekend's Breeders' Cup meeting, all European representatives are now on the grounds at Keeneland.

The Ballydoyle contingent, led by GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Gleneagles (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) arrived in Lexington at approximately 9:45 p.m. and were bedded down in the quarantine barn. Other passengers on the flight over included Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Juvenile Fillies Turf); Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Longines Turf); Hit It a Bomb (War Front, Juvenile Turf); Shogun (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) (Juvenile Turf); War Envoy (War Front, Las Vegas Dirt Mile); and Waterloo Bridge (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}, Sentient Jet Juvenile). The David Wachman-trained Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who is expected to go favored in the Filly & Mare Turf, was also on board, and all horses are expected to clear quarantine late Wednesday, with a first visit to the track planned for Thursday.

Golden Horn | Keeneland/Coady

Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who will be trying to become the first to complete the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe/GI Breeders' Cup Turf double, and his John Gosden stablemate, GI Juvenile Turf hopeful Cymric (Kitten's Joy), got a feel for Keeneland for the first time Tuesday morning, as the duo was out for a gentle canter over the Keeneland all-weather training track. Barry O'Dowd is overseeing the work of the pair ahead of Gosden's arrival Wednesday evening, and reported that they had traveled well from England.

“The trip over was uneventful,” O'Dowd reported. “They have both settled in well. They just had light exercise today and will do much the same tomorrow. The trainer will decided if they do more later in the week, when he gets here.”

Frankie Dettori, looking to add to his 11 Breeders' Cup victories, has been in Lexington since Monday evening and is looking forward to the weekend.

“I have come out earlier than usual to get a feel of Breeders' Cup week,” the Italian commented. “I have got a nice book of rides, so we'll see what happens. Obviously Golden Horn is the big one, but I ride a lot with chanced, and to win any Breeders' Cup race is huge.”

Dettori, who will partner defending champion Judy the Beauty (Ghostzapper) in the Filly & Mare Sprint and G1 Diamond Jubilee S. winner Undrafted (Purim) in the GI Turf Sprint, last tasted victory on Breeders' Cup weekend on Dangerous Midge (Lion Heart) in the 2010 GI Turf at Churchill Downs.

SHARP SET FOR BC BOW

Trainer Joe Sharp has been out on his own for a little more than a year now, and the young conditioner will be represented by his very first Breeders' Cup starter in the form of Ken & Sarah Ramsey's Sapphire Kitten (Kitten's Joy).

Sharp, who previously served as assistant to Mike Maker, has had a successful 2015 season, having saddled 75 winners from 416 runners (18%), with stable earnings of over $2.7 million. The barn suffered an unfortunate loss when Shore Runner (More Than Ready), claimed for $62,500 earlier this year before winning a pair of turf sprint stakes at Saratoga, suffered a catastrophic injury in the rained-off GIII Woodford S. Oct. 3.

“It's great and a dream come true for me,” Sharp said. “We exceeded our expectations this year and even though it's bittersweet because we lost Shore Runner earlier this meet and thought he could win the Turf Sprint, hopefully [Sapphire Kitten] will get it done for us.

“She's doing fantastic,” he continued. “I think she's really getting good at the right time. She's lightly campaigned, which is a huge advantage moving forward. The Kitten's Joys are usually tough and the horse who beat us had already gone two turns.”

A maiden winner going six furlongs over the tricky configuration at Kentucky Downs Sept. 16, Sapphire Kitten came with a wide bid, but was just outfinished byf Harmonize (Scat Daddy) in the GIII Jessamine S. at Keeneland Oct. 7.

BC OPENS SEATING FOR WEEKEND

Officials at the Breeders' Cup today announced that just released prime seating and dining locations are now available to the public for Friday and Saturday at the World Championships at Keeneland.

Fans can get right into the Breeders' Cup action in two exclusive locations by purchasing in either the Grandstand Loge box seating section with a finish line view right with the owners and trainers participating in the Breeders' Cup or in the Phoenix Room on the fourth floor with a private indoor table with views overlooking the paddock.

For the first time, Breeders' Cup is offering seating in both the Grandstand Loge and the Phoenix Room as single-day purchasing options. Patrons are not required to buy tickets for both Friday and Saturday in these areas. Limited seats are available.

“We have satisfied the demand for all of our horsemen participating in this year's event and now are providing the public the chance to get great seats for this weekend,” Robert N. Elliston, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “When tickets went on sale back in March, the response from the public was unprecedented. Now fans have the chance to purchase some of the best seats in the house.”

Tickets for both the Grandstand Loge section and the Phoenix Room can be purchased online at www.breederscup.com/tickets or through the Breeders' Cup call center at 877-849-4287.