Nashville

The brilliantly talented Nashville, who had been under consideration for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, kicked off Saturday's action with a jaw-dropping performance that smashed a track record posted by MGISW A. P. Indian (Indian Charlie) in the 2016 GII Still Keenon Ogden Phoenix S. The bay garnered the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction when he cruised home by 11 1/2 lengths in the Saratoga slop first out Sept. 2, and he crushed allowance foes by 9 3/4 lengths over track and trip Oct. 10, good for a 101 Beyer Speed...

J Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), likely favorite for Friday's GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile, was among nine Steve Asmussen trainees aiming for championship weekend to work at Keeneland Sunday morning. The undefeated 2-year-old went four furlongs in :48.80 (9/25). "He had a nice, easy half-mile," Asmussen said. "I thought he moved well over the race track. The circumstances were excellent today. We're very excited about running him on Friday." Sunday's work was Jackie's Warrior second over the Keeneland surface. He also went five furlongs in 1:00.20...

Thoughts I had while perusing the pre-entries for what promises to be a terrific Breeders' Cup? What are the chances that Swiss Skydiver is named Horse of the Year? It now appears almost certain that Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will go in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff instead of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. "At this point we are going in the Distaff unless there is a late defection from the Classic," trainer Ken McPeek told reporters Saturday morning. The Classic field is loaded, so running Swiss Skydiver in the Distaff,...

Runhappy Debutante S. winner, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies hopeful, and 'TDN Rising Star' Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) has been supplemented to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which will be held Nov. 9-18. Crazy Beautiful was last seen finishing second in the Oct. 2 GI Darley Alcibiades S. behind unbeaten Simply Ravishing (Laoban). She was also second in the GIII Pocahontas S. Sept. 3. Denali Stud will consign the filly, who will appear in Book 1 of the sale. Also supplemented is Downside Scenario (Scat Daddy), the dam of...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency WELL-BRED TRIO DEBUT AT BELMONT 3rd-BEL, $63K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:26p.m. Michael Tabor's THE GIRL HERSELF (American Pharoah) is one of three blue-blooded fillies making their career bow in this test. Out of Grade I winner Circle of Life (Belong to Me), the bay is a half to Grade I-winning sire Circular Quay (Thunder Gulch) and MGSP The Roundhouse (Fusaichi Pegasus). Juddmonte homebred Nubian (Pioneerof the Nile) also looks to open her account here. The bay is a daughter of European champion Special Duty...

Nashville (c, 3, Speightstown--Veronique, by Mizzen Mast) set sharp early fractions in the Saratoga slop on debut Wednesday afternoon and ran away and hid from his three overmatched rivals in the stretch en route to a 'TDN Rising Star' performance. The $460,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate, campaigned in partnership by CHC INC. and WinStar Farm LLC, sported a pair of flashy bullets on his worktab for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, including a five-furlong spin in :58 4/5 (1/20) from the gate at the Spa Aug. 9. The 1-5 favorite...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PRICEY SPEIGHTSTOWN DEBUTS AT THE SPA 3rd-SAR, $72K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:49  p.m. China Horse Club and WinStar's NASHVILLE (Speightstown) makes his career bow in this five-horse affair. The $460,000 KEESEP purchase hails from the family of GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Giacomo (Holy Bull); MGISW Tiago (Pleasant Tap); and GSW & MGISP Stanwyck (Empire Maker). TJCIS PPs