Odds by Brad Free, comments by Mary Rampellini
Frosted Kiaran McLaughlin 105-107-123 8-5 BC Classic or BC Dirt Mile, Santa Anita
McLaughlin said Frosted, who has secured berths in the Classic and Dirt Mile, will train up to BC with race TBD
Runhappy Laura Wohlers 102-108-104 2-1 G3 Ack Ack, Oct. 1, Churchill
Winner of last year's BC Sprint shows series of published works in Kentucky in preparation for 4-year-old debut in Ack Ack
Bradester Eddie Kenneally 72-100-101 8-1 Lukas Classic, Oct. 1, Churchill
Kenneally said Bradester also under consideration for BC Classic; secured berth for Classic with win in Stephen Foster
Upstart Rick Violette 103-97-98 10-1 G2 Kelso, Oct. 8, Belmont
Coming off third-place finish in Whitney, Violette said horse would target Kelso and is candidate for BC Dirt Mile
Gun Runner Steve Asmussen 102-92-99 12-1 G2 Pennsylvania Derby, Saturday, Parx
Winchell Thoroughbreds, which co-owns Gun Runner, and Asmussen teamed to win BC Dirt Mile in 2012 with Tapizar
Anchor Down Todd Pletcher 93-98-105 15-1 G2 Kelso, Oct. 8, Belmont
Pletcher, who won last year's BC Dirt Mile with Liam's Map, said Anchor Down's status TBD after Kelso
TamarkuzKiaran McLaughlin 102-79-99 20-1 G2 Kelso, Oct. 8, Belmont
McLaughlin said Tamarkruz could develop into candidate for BC Dirt Mile depending on performance in Kelso
Texas Chrome J.R. Caldwell 96-95-89 20-1 G3 Oklahoma Derby, Sunday, Remington
A six-time stakes winner who has run well against Gun Runner and American Freedom could be considered for BC Dirt Mile, per Caldwell
Gun Pit Caspar Fownes NA 30-1 BC Dirt Mile, Nov. 4, Santa Anita
Multiple stakes winner in Hong Kong to train up to BC Dirt Mile, per release from the Hong Kong Jockey Club
Firing Line Simon Callaghan 82-34-104 30-1 BC Dirt Mile, Nov. 4, Santa Anita
Callaghan said Firing Line, who last raced in July, still being considered for BC Dirt Mile, but training schedule will have to go "perfectly"
I believe Texas Chrome is now confirmed...
And Bradester goes in the Lukas Classic at CD Saturday. He'll likely face Noble Bird, among others...
Under normal circumstances I would say Runhappy is a huge bet against in the Ack Ack, but they are having trouble even filling the race. Only 2 other possible entrants as of yesterday.
Well, they got a couple more to oppose Runhappy (plus the fields for the other CD races):
ACK ACK (race 9, post 4:49 ET)
1. Iron Fist
2. The Truth or Else
3. Tom's Ready
4. Mr. Z
5. Runhappy
6. Schivarelli
LUKAS CLASSIC (race 10, post 5:20 ET)
1. Natchez
2. Honorable Duty
3. Breaking Lucky
4. Hawaakom
5. Rocket Time
6. Noble Bird
7. Bradester
8. Fear the Cowboy
9. Bullards Alley
JEFFERSON CUP (race 7, post 3:47 ET)
1. Torontes
2. Seeking the Soul
3. Surgical Strike
4. One Mean Man
5. Bondurant
6. Barahona
7. Madtap
8. Zapperini
9. Conquest Daddyo
10. Keystoneforvictory
I don't understand why they're running Run Happy in the mile. Wouldn't you
want to see how far he'll stretch out before a BC race?
Quote from: Senator L on September 28, 2016, 02:02:18 PM
I don't understand why they're running Run Happy in the mile. Wouldn't you
want to see how far he'll stretch out before a BC race?
Isn't the Ack Ack a mile? I think Mattress Mac and his Merry Band of Monkeys are loony tunes, but a one-turn mile progressing to a two-turn mile isn't the worst progression I've seen. It would have been great if he could have went 7f first, had he been ready for the Forego, but it is what it is.
Thanks, for some reason I thought it was 7F
He sure does have a lot of talent. Horses like him
make me ponder the importance of the trainer
Well, RUNHAPPY hurts the bridgejumpers finishing off the board at 1/5 in his prep race.
1st: Tom's Ready $11.80 $5.20 $6.40
2nd: Iron Fist ................$6.40 $12.40
3rd: Schivarelli .......... ................ $18.00
4th: Runhappy
Stevens has mount on Runhappy in Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Quote from: Senator L on September 28, 2016, 02:02:18 PM
I don't understand why they're running Run Happy in the mile. Wouldn't you
want to see how far he'll stretch out before a BC race?
EXACTLY - WHY???
Quote from: Dusty on October 03, 2016, 11:12:12 PM
EXACTLY - WHY???
Don't the Runhappy connections have an eye on the Stronach Pegasus @ 1-1/8th in January?
Seems only logical they try and be successful at a mile first, no?
Yes they do. And he is probably headed there no matter what happens in the BC.
ARCADIA, Calif. – Firing Line, second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, will miss the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 after falling behind in recent training.
Quote from: stark on October 09, 2016, 08:04:27 AM
ARCADIA, Calif. – Firing Line, second in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, will miss the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4 after falling behind in recent training.
Isn't it time to see what kind of stallion offers are awaiting in New Mexico?
Ron Ellis reports that TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint favorite Masochistic is "right on schedule" for the $1.5 million race at six furlongs on Nov. 5. "Everything's perfect," the trainer said. "He worked (one) 12 and three the other day and he'll work again on Thursday." Ellis put to bed earlier reports, saying Masochistic is not a candidate for the Dirt Mile
A shame that Upstart missed the Kelso, but hopefully he at least makes the Cigar Mile if not the Dirt Mile.
Kaleem Shah's Dortmund will be heading to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4 as opposed to the Classic, trainer Bob Baffert told the Daily Racing Form on Tuesday.
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/breeders-cup/dortmund-headed-breeders-cup-dirt-mile-not-classic/
Looks to me like Mr. Baffert is going to have a very big day indeed!
Runhappy returned to the track for the first time since a fourth-place finish in the Oct. 1 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) the morning of Oct. 12 at Keeneland, working a mile in 1:38 4/5. Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens was flown in from California for the drill.
Owner James McIngvale also flew in from Houston to oversee the work.
"He's dead fit, boss," Stevens told McIngvale back at the barn after the move. "He's where he needs to be. I had trouble pulling him up...he actually worked about a mile and an eighth."
Runhappy stood on the track for awhile with a lead pony and then Stevens jogged him around the track clockwise once before turning to get into his work. The track reported Runhappy went a half-mile in :46 2/5.
"His speed is there," Stevens said. "There's no doubt about his stamina, either. I have a clock in my head and I thought he started in :11 4/5 and then went another eighth in :11 3/5. After a half-mile I let him fill back up with air and he took off again. I thought he went the mile in 1:37 or 1:37 2/5. He finished strongly."
Stevens has not been aboard Runhappy since they teamed to win the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) last Dec. 26 at Santa Anita Park.
"He's an adult now," he said. "His cardio is just so good. When he got back to the barn, his ribcage wasn't even moving."
To bad Dortmund will not get another shot at Chrome.
Maybe in the Pegasus.
Hmmmm.....
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert this week said Dortmund would run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, but another major decision regarding that horse is pending.
Baffert said Rafael Bejarano would not ride Dortmund in the Breeders' Cup, but he had yet to decide who would replace him.
Quote from: stark on October 14, 2016, 11:04:53 AM
Hmmmm.....
ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert this week said Dortmund would run in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, but another major decision regarding that horse is pending.
Baffert said Rafael Bejarano would not ride Dortmund in the Breeders' Cup, but he had yet to decide who would replace him.
I've never been enamoured with Bejarano on a speed horse so I think this is a good move. It would be nice if it would be Martin Garcia since he seemed to fit the horse well. I'll put money on another Martin.....Pedroza.
Quote from: curtis on October 14, 2016, 12:13:57 PM
I've never been enamoured with Bejarano on a speed horse so I think this is a good move. It would be nice if it would be Martin Garcia since he seemed to fit the horse well. I'll put money on another Martin.....Pedroza.
Good pick, you can bet Richie will be on the phone! I'll guess a couple of others, I recall Flavien Prat working Dortmund down at Del Mar, and Stuart Elliott gets a new lease on life from from Baffert, we'll see.
zoecadman @zoecadman 41m41 minutes ago Arcadia, CA
Great to Martin Garcia back aboard a Baffert worker. Will be interesting to see who rides Dortmund - those two are a good team ??
Co-owner Ron Winchell says "90-percent" chance Gun Runner in DM. Says there would have to be "mass defections from the top" to go in Classic
Makes sense.
1 Vyjack Philip D'Amato Flavien Prat 10-1
2 Tom's Ready Dallas Stewart Joel Rosario 12-1
3 Dortmund Bob Baffert Martin Garcia 6-5
4 Point Piper Jerry Hollendorfer Mario Gutierrez 20-1
5 Accelerate John W. Sadler Tyler Baze 20-1
6 Texas Chrome J. R. Caldwell C.J. McMahon 20-1
7 Runhappy Laura Wohlers Gary Stevens 3-1
8 Tamarkuz Kiaran P. McLaughlin Mike Smith 8-1
9 Gun Runner Steven M. Asmussen Florent Geroux 9-2
Quote from: Man o Taz on October 11, 2016, 08:24:25 AM
A shame that Upstart missed the Kelso, but hopefully he at least makes the Cigar Mile if not the Dirt Mile.
Upstart was just retired to Airdrie. Read on Bloodhorse and drf...
TimeformUS consensus says toss Runhappy... I wasn't going to play him anyway so away he goes.
The long shots in this one for me are Vyjack (likely my top pick) and Texas Chrome who may offer huge value underneath. Gun Runner is another I will use; his post is the only real detriment.
So, most likely 1,3,6,9 ex box and then Vyjack at ~8/1 or better...
Dortmund is the most obvious and likely winner, but I'm going against his terrible price. Will likely box him with Vyjack, Gun Runner, and Texas Chrome for the exacta. Vyjack is my top pick due to his strong late pace and he should get an optimal set up. He will also save ground from post 1, and he's in near career form right now, having just blown them away a G2 stakes field at a mile (on turf). Texas Chrome is not a win candidate for me, but I think he could be strong value underneath, particualrly if the early pace is swift. Despite the class hike, he is tough, on the improve and he'll be a bomb price. Gun Runner might be my top pick if not for the post... I'll still use him somehow.