GI Breeders' Cup Turf

Every few years the Eclipse Award goes to a horse (always a turf horse) who ships in from overseas--usually fresh--and wins a Breeders' Cup race and our designated voters make the horse an American champion. I remember going down to New Orleans 25 years ago to watch the 9-year-old gelding John's Call (Lord At War {Arg})--a people's horse if there ever was--be named champion turf horse after watching him win the Sword Dancer (by nine lengths) and the Man o' War. Unfortunately in the GI Breeder's Cup Turf he got...

A Grade III stakes race that is on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' isn't exactly the easiest place for a trainer to start his career, but that's what Nick Vaccarezza, 25, will be doing when he sends out Golden Afternoon (Goldencents) in Saturday's Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The 25-year-old trainer is in this position because his father, Carlo, has decided to step away from training to focus his attention on trying to save racing in South Florida. The situation could be dire because of the tenuous future of...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the second victory of Rebel's Romance in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. Another Turf Title For Rebel's Romance Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) delivered his second GI Breeders' Cup Turf in three years at Del Mar for trainer Charlie Appleby on Nov. 2 (video). He also took out the 2022 renewal at Keeneland. A Group/Grade 1 winner in Hong Kong, the UAE, and Germany besides his...

European shipper Jayarebe (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) died following the running of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf. The 3-year-old finished the race, but collapsed during the gallop out. According to a statement put out by the Breeders' Cup, Jayarebe suffered what appears to have been a cardiac event.  He was immediately attended to by a team of veterinary experts led by Dr. Brent Cassady, but unfortunately passed away. His jockey, Sean Levey, was uninjured. "Our thoughts and condolences go out to Jayarebe's connections and the many fans whose lives he touched,"...

Marathon specialist Next (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 Wednesday morning at Turfway Park and, as long as things stay on track, he will start in a Breeders' Cup race, reports trainer Doug Cowans. It was Next's first work since his 10-length romp in the Sept. 21 Greenwood Cup at Parx. "The update is that he breezed well this morning," Cowans said. "We'll see how he comes out of the work and if all goes well he'll be nominated to both the [GI Longines Breeders' Cup] Turf and...

Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile, upset winner of the GII California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, returned to the work tab Sunday with an easy four-furlong move on the main track in :51.40. Trainer George Papaprodromou said he was happy with the work and reaffirmed Cabo Spirit is pointed to the $5-million Breeders' Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar. In the 1 1/4-mile John Henry, Cabo Spirit was able to set a modest pace under Abel Cedillo was never headed en route to a...

Amo Racing's G1 Champion S. victor King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has been given the go ahead to travel and contest the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita next weekend. According to Amo's Kia Joorabchian, the massive grey is likely for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, of which the Champion S. was a "Win and You're In" on QIPCO British Champions Day. "We've been monitoring him all week, I've spoken to Roger [Varian] almost every day and I went to see him this week," Joorabchian told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast...

Group 1 winner Onesto (Ire) (Frankel {GB}--Onshore {GB}, by Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is bound for the Breeders' Cup next month, will stand at Haras d'Etreham in 2024, the French stud announced on Tuesday. Bred by Diamond Creek Farm in Ireland, the Fabrice Chappet runner was a debut winner at Chantilly in September of his 2-year-old year and won the G2 Prix Greffulhe in his second start at three. Fifth in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, he claimed the Grand Prix de Paris last July and the colt...

The going sticks will get stuck and with the rails down or out, the Saturday graded stakes lineup trucks in with heaps of sod for your turf racing enjoyment. Whether you are a dabbling duck or one that takes a deep dive, there is something for everyone as the Downs--Kentucky and Colonial--plus Woodbine Racetrack and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, all feature high-level grass action. KENTUCKY DOWNS GRADED SIX PACK The uniquely designed turf course at Kentucky Downs cards the most graded stakes this Saturday, which will lead off with...

LEXINGTON, KY--This was a day that seemed to hang suspended, if not quite on a single hair of his tail, then certainly on the fate of a single horse. Even the gale that blew through the afternoon had a portentous quality, as though the very elements were anticipating some complementary melodrama of wind and fire from Flightline (Tapit). Yet history is often made not to a blaring fanfare but in quiet increments--and the 39 steps taken by the Breeders' Cup since its inauguration in 1984 here brought the Europeans to...

Multiple Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) are adapting well to Lexington in advance of their Breeders' Cup engagements on Saturday at Keeneland, according to trainer John Gosden. Aiming for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, the Prince Faisal colourbearer has won three times at the highest level in France, Dubai and the UK. Mishriff enters off a 13th in deep ground in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Frankie Dettori was aboard Mishriff, while Hollie Doyle was in the irons for...

Tuesday marked the first day the seven-strong Aidan O'Brien string got a taste of the Keeneland track ahead of the two-day Breeders' Cup on Nov. 4-5. Leading the Coolmore partners septet after their quarantine period was Group 1 winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and G3 Derby Trial S. hero Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who both line up in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and will leave from stalls four and three, respectively. Second in the 2021 Turf to Godolphin and Charlie Appleby's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Del...