Edited Breeders’ Cup Release — It was a busy morning at Santa Anita Park for the international contenders, as all horses have now completed quarantine.
The Charlie Appleby duo of Master of The Seas (IRE) (FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, G1) and With The Moonlight (IRE) (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, G1) exercised together doing a light canter.
Live In The Dream (IRE) (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, G1) breezed on the turf in the hands of race day jockey Sean Kirrane who landed in California Monday night.
“It’s great to be here. He feels great,” Kirrane said. “He did a nice breeze there and I’m very happy with him. We’re delighted with his draw in gate five so let’s hope we have a good final few days’ training before the big day on Saturday.”
Live In The Dream was followed by Valiant Force (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, G1) ridden by Robson Aguier.
“All is good with Valiant Force,” Aguier said. “He had a nice blowout there which will put him in a good place ahead of Friday.”
Inspiral (GB) (Filly & Mare Turf) had a canter on the turf in the hands of race day jockey Frankie Dettori. They were joined by Mosthadaf (IRE) (Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, G1) ridden by work rider Barry Savage. Trainer John Gosden was trackside to watch his two superstars train. Jim Crowley who takes the mount on Mosthadaf will ride him in exercise tomorrow.
“I’m happy with her, we just did a light canter, and all is good,” Dettori said of Inspiral. “She cleared quarantine last night so it’s always good to get them out on the track to get used to the surroundings.”
Bradsell (GB) (Turf Sprint) looked good on the track. He was ridden by Michael Murphy today, but regular jockey Hollie Doyle will ride him Wednesday on the track. Doyle will miss the big race mount on Saturday because of picking up a lengthy suspension in the UK, which is reciprocated in America. Luke Morris takes the ride instead. Doyle flies into California today alongside husband Tom Marquand who takes the mount on Big Evs (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint). They will then fly to Australia at the weekend to ride in next week’s Melbourne Cup.
Mawj (IRE) (Mile) once again looked in good form wearing the hood on the main track. Regular work rider Michael Greig took the mount.
Aidan O’Brien and his entourage were trackside this morning to watch his battalion exercise. As usual, the O’Brien team entered the main track in military formation having a walk and a light canter.
Broome (IRE) (Turf) led the way ahead of Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) (Turf). Arguably the biggest eyecatcher in the string was Auguste Rodin (IRE) (Turf) who looked exceptional in the hands of Rachel Richardson.
King of Steel (Turf) cantered on the main track along with Onesto (IRE) (Turf) who were the final Europeans on the track.
LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP TURF
Horse: Mostahdaf (IRE)
Trainer: John Gosden
Set: 6:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Went to the dirt track, where he jogged clockwise around the track to the turf gap, went on the turf course, following stablemate Inspiral (GB), and then cantered an easy circuit before going into the parade ring for paddock-schooling with Gosden in attendance.
Planned Activity: Expected to have another easy day on Wednesday, second day out of quarantine.
Closer Look: Mostahdaf Aims to Finish 2023 With a Flourish
Shadwell’s Mostahdaf (IRE) looks to end a superb season in proper fashion in Saturday’s $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), a renewal that can hold its own with any in the storied history of the race.
The beautifully made 5-year-old son of Frankel (GB) has won three from four starts in 2023, including a 7-length crushing of the $1.5 million Neom Turf Cup (G2) on Saudi Cup Day (Feb. 25), a 4-length thrashing of Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot (June 21) and an eye-catching 1-length score over Nashwa (GB) and Paddington (GB) (seven Group 1 wins between them] in the Juddmonte International (G1) at the Yorkshire Ebor Festival (Aug. 23). His lone loss came in the 12-furlong Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), in which he finished fourth, 7 lengths behind the world’s top-rated horse, Equinox (JPN).
“He shipped fine and it was quite a long haul,” Gosden said Tuesday morning after the 10-time winner from 16 starts had cantered an easy lap of the turf course. “Horses came from France into England, where we were picked up, then the plane went on to Ireland and we headed off. They’ve settled in well, he and Inspiral, and cleared quarantine at 6 p.m. local yesterday, so this was their first opportunity to see the track.”
Bypassing the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot because of soft ground, he will get his ideal conditions at Santa Anita, but must step up to 12 furlongs for the first time since winning Kempton’s September Stakes (G3) over Polytrack last year.
“It was soft on Champions Day and we decided to skip that,” Gosden said. “We’ve come here and he’s been training a long time, racing in February in Saudi Arabia and raced in the Arc de Triomphe the autumn before on bottomless ground, so he’s a horse whose races have been spaced a certain way because that’s how they came up. He’s in good form and he seems happy to be here. He’s handled all this well so far and he’s quite a character, this guy. He’s got a lot of vibrancy about him.
“He’s stepping up in trip, like Inspiral, but it’s quick ground and you’re downhill the first part of the race with tight turns on the oval. I found when I trained here that when horses can go a distance in Europe, they can go farther here.”
Jim Crowley, aboard for his Ascot, Saudi and Kempton victories, rides from post 9.
Horse: Shahryar (JPN)
Trainer: Hideaki Fujiwara
Set: 7:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: Had an easy canter around the turf course after an ample warmup. Unlike most of the Japanese, he did not school in the parade ring today and promptly went back to the quarantine barn, noticeably full of energy and arching his neck for a positive impression.
Planned Activity: Scheduled to possibly blow out down the lane, as is often the Japanese plan on Wednesdays before a big race.
Closer Look: Shahryar Aims to Rebound in Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf
Sunday Racing’s Shahryar (JPN) is coming to the close of what has been a rather phenomenal career by any standard, but he is not resting on his proverbial laurels, of which he has plenty. The Japanese collectively do not send a horse of his caliber across the Pacific in order to enjoy the cocktail party afterward — they are here to take home another big prize with a charge who has already racked up $8,337,425 in prize money.
Winner of the $5 million Japanese Derby (G1) in 2021 and $6 million Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) in 2022, the nearly black son of Deep Impact (JPN) enters in subpar form and off a throat surgery, but said circumstances have not stopped his connections from believing that the four-time winner deserves every right to once again take on the world’s best. Even with a somewhat complicated travel process and exiting two losses by a combined 28 1/4 lengths, hope springs eternal.
“It wasn’t ideal to fly from the east side of Japan because we are based on the west side of the country, but it wasn’t the worst-case scenario and he is in great form,” said trainer Hideaki Fujiwara through a translator. “We believe that American turf will very much suit him. (World’s top-rated horse) Equinox (JPN) was also in the Tenno Sho, so that’s definitely one reason we came to Santa Anita.
“We are always aiming at international Grade 1s on the global stage, outside of Japan, because he is already a Japanese Derby winner.”
Big stages, indeed, as Shahryar has twice raced on Dubai World Cup night and was a respectable fourth in the 2022 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. He has yet to contest the World Championships, but the Breeders’ Cup is in his blood as much as his form. Not only did he best 2021 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Yibir (GB) when taking the Sheema and finish ahead of 2020 Breeders’ Cup Turf fourth Lord North (IRE) in his Ascot run, but his dam Dubai Majesty won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, while grandsire Sunday Silence landed the 1989 Classic and third-dam Epitome annexed the 1987 Juvenile Fillies.
Fifth behind Equinox in his Sheema defense attempt this year, he returned as one of the major players in a salty edition of the Sapporo Kinen (G2) in August, but shockingly faltered to lose by 20 lengths. It was subsequently discovered that he had a throat issue that required surgery. He has since returned to training, reportedly thrived and seeks—in only his third run—to right the wrongs of what may be his final season.
“He is moving very well,” Fujiwara said. “It was touch and go, timing-wise, but the surgeons and vets worked hard on it to get him fully recovered. Now he is in his best form in his training. Hopefully he shows his best form in the race.”
Cristian Demuro, aboard for his Sheema victory and fresh off his second Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe win, has the call from the rail post.
Horse: Up to the Mark
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Set: 5:30 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped approximately 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Dominic Merrit.
Planned Activity: Will gallop approximately 1 1/4 miles.
Closer Look: Surface Switch Pays Off for Up to the Mark
At this time last year, Up to the Mark had lost his most recent race by 10 lengths and was being prepared for his next start, which–as the even-money favorite–he lost by 5 1/2 lengths. In mid-December, following a fourth-place finish by 9 lengths, his record was 1-0-1 for five starts with earnings of $83,400.
“He’s a horse that trained very impressively before his debut, which he won, at Saratoga,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Then we got a little bit frustrated with what he did after his maiden win. After his last his last dirt race at Aqueduct, I said, ‘You know, I think this might be a turf horse.’”
It turned out to be a brilliant call by the Hall of Fame trainer. Up to the Mark has proven to be a different horse on the grass. Since the surface switch he has won five of six starts – three in Grade 1 races – and brings a three-race winning streak into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
Following that December dirt loss, Pletcher sent the horse to his winter training base in Florida at Palm Beach Downs and prepared him for a grass race. The first test came in a 1-mile optional claimer on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. Send off at 12-1, he came from well off the early pace and won by 4 lengths.
“I thought it was one of the most impressive first times on the turf, for a horse that I’ve seen in a long time,” Pletcher said. “He delivered a huge kick that day and drew away very impressively. From that point on we knew where his future was.”
Up to the Mark, co-owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, won again on March 4 at Gulfstream at 4-5 odds. Pletcher sent the son of Not This Time to Keeneland for the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) and he ended up third, missing second to Godolphin’s globe-trotting star Modern Games (IRE) by a neck.
On Kentucky Derby Day, May 6, Up to the Mark won the 1 1/8-mile Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs. Five weeks later, on the Belmont Stakes undercard, he won the 1¼ miles Manhattan (G1). Up to the Mark was off until the Coolmore Turf Mile on Oct. 7 at Keeneland, where he nipped Master of The Seas (IRE) by a nose.
After considering the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), Pletcher and the owners opted to run the colt in the 1 1/2-mile $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“We just feel like the strength of his race in the Manhattan at a mile and a quarter and the firm ground in California that the mile and a half is what he’s best suited for,” Pletcher said.
Up to the Mark’s running style over the grass has made him so effective.
“The real key is the way he settles,” Pletcher said. “He was very relaxed in the Coolmore Mile early on, which allowed him to deliver that big kick. And he did the same thing in the Manhattan. And also the Turf at Churchill. He turns off, he can gallop and then he can accelerate. As long as he does that, going a mile and a half, we feel confident that he can get that distance.”
BIG ASS FANS BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE
Horse: Skippylongstocking
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Set: 7 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 11/2 miles with exercise rider Josue Garcia.
Planned Activity: Will gallop 1 1/2 miles, may also go to the starting gate.
The Quote: “I feel like we have a better chance in the Dirt Mile over the Classic. Cody’s Wish is a deserving favorite, but, after that, I think we stack up pretty well. There was quite a bit of consideration given to the Classic; obviously we pre-entered in it. We just wanted to go in the race where we thought we had the best chance. If we can win the Dirt Mile, we would rather do that than run third or fourth in the Classic.” – Saffie Joseph Jr.
PNC BANK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Horse: Three Witches
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Luis Saez
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 1/8 miles under Josue Garcia.
Planned Activity: Will gallop between 1 1/8-1 1/2 miles, possible to school in the paddock and gate.
The Quote: “Her last race (a win in the Princess Rooney (G3) was her Breeders’ Cup. It was important to get that Grade 3 on her resume. I talked it over with Bob (owner Edwards of e Five Racing Thoroughbreds) and we decided to give this a shot. Realistically, she is going to have to improve to even hit the board. In the Princess Rooney, we went in trying to hit the board and we won it. You never know.” – Saffie Joseph Jr.
PREVAGEN BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF
Horse: Agate Road
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Set: 7:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped approximately 1 1/4 miles under exercise rider Dominic Merrit.
Planned Activity: Will gallop approximately 1 1/4 miles. Time TBD.
The Quote: “He ran OK on the dirt in his off-the-turf debut, came back with an impressive win in the maiden and then I thought it was really impressive to win the Pilgrim (G2). One of the trends that day, with all the rain that they’ve had in New York, that the turf course was not playing kindly to closers. He was able to overcome that bias and delivered a big turn of foot late to win going away. We’re excited about his future.” – Todd Pletcher
Horse: Can Group
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped one time around the track, went through the paddock.
Planned Activity: Repeat Tuesday exercise.
The Quote: “I liked the way he ran when he won the Bourbon (G2) (at Keeneland). He is going to have to deal with a little less ground, but he deserves to be here. He reminds me of a horse I trained a few years back named Airoforce (2015-17). Like Can Group, he broke his maiden at Kentucky Downs, he also won the Bourbon and he finished second in the Juvenile Turf. He only got beat by a neck.” – Mark Casse
Horse: My Boy Prince
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped one time around the track, went through the paddock.
Planned Activity: Repeat Tuesday exercise
The Quote: “After he finished second in the Summer (G1) (at Woodbine), we brought him back in the Cup and Saucer. I hemmed and hawed about not running, but I thought it was a nice spot and he was going to have to do a little something anyway. He won as easy as a horse can win (4 ½ lengths). More importantly, the next day you could not keep him on the ground. He’s a pretty nice horse. He will be on the lead in this one.” – Mark Casse
BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Horse: Buchu
Trainer: Phil Bauer
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Morning Activity: Walked shedrow day after arriving from Kentucky.
Planned Activity: Gallop Wednesday and Thursday. Bauer arrives Wednesday night.
The Quote: “The continents will collide in this race. It is always interesting to see them come together and see who can be best on that day.” – Phil Bauer
Horse: Dreamfyre
Trainer: O.J. Jauregui
Set: 8 a.m.
Morning Activity: Had final workout for the race at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 27 and has been galloping here since arriving at Santa Anita.
Planned Activity: Will continue to gallop during the week.
Closer Look: Dreamfyre Has Jauregui Dreaming Big
“Every time I give her a chance to do something, she’s proved me right.” That’s how conditioner O.J. Jauregui sums up the unbeaten three-race career of his prize filly, Dreamfyre, one of 14 entered in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
“I’ve always liked this filly,” said the Northern California conditioner who operates a 25-horse stable. “She’s only surprised me once, though, and that was in her very first start. I had only worked her one time — at 5 furlongs — and put her into a small stakes race against colts at Pleasanton.” Running against winners, she showed the field of seven her heels, scoring a 3-1/2 length victory. “That’s when I knew I had something special,” Jauregui added.
Osbaldo Jauregui, known to all his friends as O.J., has literally grown up around the racetrack, telling everyone he was introduced to the backstretch at the age of 1. His father, Pete, was an exercise rider for many years, and that exposure was all he needed to pursue a life at the racetrack.
O. J. was introduced to Dr. Robert Baker, at the time a renowned veterinary surgeon who established the first private equine surgery in Chino, through an internship program. After two years, Dr. Baker encouraged O.J. to go back to school and pursue an equine medical career. However, O.J. declined, owning to his love of racing and the life on the backstretch and got a job, first as a hot walker and later as stable manager for several successful trainers.
“I paid attention to everyone and tried to learn something,” he stated. “Even though I never worked for Charlie Whittingham, I would see him and ask him questions. He taught me a lot. So did all the people I worked under, like John Sadler, Steve Miyadi, Armando Lage and Bill Spawr.”
O.J. began his own training operation in earnest in late 2005 and saddled his first winner in January of the following year. He has never looked back.
Jauregui is currently having his most productive season, winning at a 24 percent clip. Dreamfyre is a big part of that. All three of the daughter of Flameaway’s wins have come in stakes. After her debut, he “gave her a shot” in the Sorrento Stakes (G3) at Del Mar and she won impressively. For her next start, she was switched to grass and stretched out over two turns, capturing the Surfer Girl Stakes (G3) on the same surface and at the same distance as Friday’s 1-mile race.
“I cross entered her in both grass races (Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf Sprint), because I didn’t know which spot would fit her best,” he added. “When I ran her in the Surfer Girl, I thought if she finished second or third, we’d go in the sprint. But, she won it at a mile, so we’re going in the longer race (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf). She has tactical speed, so I think she can rate if they’re going too fast early.
“She really loves to run and is still improving.” Listed at 15-1 on the morning line, Jauregui notes, “It would be a dream to win a Breeders’ Cup race. It’s a very tough race, but I keep giving her a chance, and she continues to overcome the odds.”
BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF SPRINT
Horse: Amidst Waves
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Set: 7:45 a.m.
Morning Activity: Galloped 1 mile under exercise rider Raul Munoz during first morning at Santa Anita. Shipped from New Jersey on Monday.
Planned Activity: Will gallop again under direction of trainer George Weaver, who was traveling Tuesday. Time TBD
The Quote: “All three (Weaver horses) of them are doing well so far. They shipped well, they are eating and they are ready to run. – Peter Gulyas, assistant trainer.
Horse: Crimson Advocate
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: John Velazquez
Morning Activity: Galloped 1m under exercise rider Raul Munoz during first morning at Santa Anita. Shipped from New Jersey on Monday.
Planned Activity: Will gallop again under direction of trainer George Weaver, who was traveling Tuesday. Time TBD
The Quote: “All three (Weaver horses) of them are doing well so far. They shipped well, they are eating and they are ready to run. – Peter Gulyas, assistant trainer.
Horse: No Nay Mets (IRE)
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Morning Activity: Galloped one mile under exercise rider Raul Munoz during first morning at Santa Anita. Shipped from New Jersey on Monday.
Planned Activity: Will gallop again under direction of trainer George Weaver, who was traveling Tuesday. Time TBD
The Quote: “All three (Weaver horses) of them are doing well so far. They shipped well, they are eating and they are ready to run. – Peter Gulyas, assistant trainer.
Closer Look: Weaver Holds Three Aces in Juvenile Turf Sprint
It was not by design that trainer George Weaver will saddle 25 percent of the field Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Weaver will send the two fillies, Amidst Waves and Crimson Advocate, and a colt, No Nay Mets (IRE) – with seven stakes wins between them – into the five-furlong $1,000,000 race that opens the Breeders’ Cup weekend.
“It has to do with a horse more than me or anything else,” Weaver said. “We just happen to get those horses and that’s what they are.”
Amidst Waves, is a Midshipman filly who won the Colleen at Monmouth, the Bolton Landing at Saratoga and finished second by a nose to males in the Indian Summer at Keeneland on Oct. 8. Crimson Advocate, a daughter of Nyquist, will be making her first start since winning the Queen Mary (G2) at Royal Ascot on June 21. Houston Astros star third baseman Alex Bregman is the principal owner of No Nay Mets, a No Nay Never colt, whose three wins in four starts were in stakes. His only setback was a ninth in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot.
Walsh smiled at the suggestion that he was evolving into a turf sprint trainer.
“We’re just trying to get our owners into stakes-caliber horses that have chances to take us to races like the Breeders Cup,” he said. “It just so happens this year that we’ve got the turf sprinters. Whenever you get a chance to run those type races, turf or dirt, short or long, it’s exciting.”
Amidst Waves was ready to run in early May and has three wins and a second in five starts.
“She’s put together a nice resume. She’s never really run a bad race,” Weaver said. “She was fourth first time out on the dirt. Ever since then every race she’s run has been good. She deserves a shot at the Breeders Cup.”
Crimson Advocate also started on dirt in her debut, finishing fourth on April 26. Weaver tried her in the Royal Palm Juvenile Filly at Gulfstream Park on May 13 and she easily won the Royal Ascot qualifier. She held on to win the Queen Mary by a nose under John Velazquez and has not raced since.
\Weaver said she did not have a setback and has been training steadily at Saratoga for the race.
“I wanted to give her a break,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve had that race in mind. She’s come along really nicely. And she deserves to be in there as well.”
No Nay Mets was a pinhooking prospect for Bregman, who has a life-long interest in the sport, has started a racing and breeding operation.
“He was in a 2-year-old sale and they didn’t end up getting what they thought was fair money for the horse so he kept him and raced him,” Weaver said. “Luckily, I happen to be the beneficiary of that.”
Weaver said he was asked if he could get the colt ready in 17 days for the male Royal Ascot qualifier at Gulfstream Park.
“I’m never one to say no,” he said.
In his racing debut, No Nay Mets win by 3 ½ lengths. He ended up 7 ¼ lengths back at Royal Ascot. Since then, he’s won stakes at Monmouth Park and Colonial Downs.
“A nice, easy horse to train,” Weaver said. “He’s very classy. Understands what his job is. He’s fast. Knows how to go over there and get it done.
“Not really sure what happened over at Ascot. Maybe he just needs to be put into the race like he has been over here in the States. Maybe he just didn’t handle that course. Anyway, other than the Ascot race, he’s been pretty impressive. He’s won by open lengths in all three starts in United States. It’s not going to surprise me if he does that again.”
