Wandering Eyes

John Sadler handles questions about his Breeders' Cup record with the same aplomb he does his barn: patience, thoughtful analysis, and the belief in his methods. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday’s Insights features a daughter of a G2 Queen Mary S. heroine. 12.50 Newmarket, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, f, 7fT JADEERAH (GB) (Frankel {GB}) debuts in the silks of her owner-breeder Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the John Gosden stable which handled her dam Maqaasid (GB) (Green Desert). She beat Churchill’s dam Meow (Ire) (Storm Cat) in the 2010 G2 Queen Mary S. before going to be third in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 1000 Guineas and it is probably no coincidence that her trainer has chosen this race in which her daughter Nawassi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was successful 12 months ago. View the full article

‘TDN Rising Star’ GAME WINNER (c, 2, Candy Ride {Arg}–Indyan Giving, by A.P. Indy) cemented his status as the year’s top juvenile colt and kept his perfect record in tact with a determined victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs Friday. Hammered down to even-money favoritism, Game Winner raced three-wide in mid-pack as fellow ‘Rising Star’ Complexity (Maclean’s Music) clicked off opening splits of :23.24 and :46.87 with GISW Knicks Go (Paynter) in tow. Progressing up the outside on the backstretch, Game Winner ranged up three-wide outside of new leader Knicks Go in the lane and gamely battled past that rival who came out on him multiple times in mid-stretch. Game Winner determinedly surged clear late to win by 1 3/4 lengths. This is the second win in this event for Gary and Mary West, who teamed with Bob Baffert to capture the 2013 renewal with New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire}). An impressive debut winner at Del Mar Aug. 18, Game Winner proved he was the Baffert runner to watch when defeating his more fancied stablemate Roadster (Quality Road) in the GI Del Mar Futurity S. Sept. 3. He passed his two-turn test with aplomb with another dominant score in the GI American Pharoah S. at Santa Anita Sept. 29. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0. O-Gary & Mary West; B-Summer Wind Equine (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

LOUISVILLE, KY–The Europeans left it until the last chance they had to record a victory on the Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday card, but Godolphin’s Line Of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) ensured Team Europe didn’t go home empty handed on the opening day of Churchill Downs’s two-card extravaganza, coming home a dramatic winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The Europeans had already been shut out in the GI Juvenile Turf Sprint and the GI Juvenile Fillies Turf, and for a few anxious moments in the Juvenile Turf it looked like it would be more of the same as Uncle Benny (Declaration of War) and Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) battled it out down the stretch. Suddenly, Line of Duty came swooping down the outside and hit the lead in the dying strides. Having bumped Uncle Benny in the midst of his move, however, Line of Duty-winner of the G3 Prix de Conde last out–had to endure a lengthy inquiry before being declared the official winner. He therefore enjoyed a better fate than his dam, Jacqueline Quest (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), had done under similar circumstances in the 2010 G1 1000 Guineas; she crossed the line first but was disqualified and placed second for interference. Charlie Appleby has extended his enviable record at the Breeders’ Cup; he recorded a first winner with a first starter in this race in 2013 with Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), and can now claim three winners from five starters after Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) took last year’s GI Filly & Mare Turf. Interestingly, Appleby also ran Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) in this race last year. He finished just sixth that day behind Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), but would of course go on to win this year’s G1 Investec Derby. (Click here for a pre-Breeders’ Cup feature on Charlie Appleby by Chris McGrath) Line of Duty was a member of the first draft of Galileo yearlings purchased by Godolphin at last year’s Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, his pricetag 400,000gns. He wasn’t the only Tattersalls October graduate to win on Friday’s card; Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), farmed by Klaravich Stables, Chad Brown and Mike Ryan from Book 1 last year for 200,000gns, stayed unbeaten in three outings with a sparkling victory in the GI Juvenile Fillies’ Turf. When Seth Klaraman’s Klaravich Stables crossed the Atlantic to harvest from Book 1 last year, it may have looked like an unusual move for a stable that has become synonymous with dirt success in the U.S. But one must not forget that the man at the helm at Tattersalls was Klaravich’s primary trainer Chad Brown, who was on the ground at Park Paddocks for the first time selecting the horses himself, and Klaraman was simply playing to the strengths of the man who has an undeniable stranglehold on grass racing at the highest level in the U.S. Brown and Klaravich, who worked with agent Mike Ryan, brought home six yearlings from Book 1 last year ranging from 100,000gns to 400,000gns, and the experiment began to look like a smart move at Saratoga in August when one of the those fillies, Newspaperofrecord, romped by 6 3/4 lengths in a turf maiden and was named a ‘TDN Rising Star’. The gamble looked brilliant on Friday when she scored by the same margin at Churchill Downs to hand Klaravich his first Breeders’ Cup trophy. That effort followed a 6 1/2-length score in the GII Miss Grillo S. at Belmont in September. “Seth’s given me an unbelievable amount of trust to really make the final call when we acquire horses or sell horses, and we have a team that helps us, led by Mike Ryan,” said Brown. “He’s our chief bloodstock adviser, and we’re really partners in deciding ultimately what gets purchased for Klaravich Stable.” Brown, who had won his first-ever Breeders’ Cup races in this event in 2008, said he was confident he could source superior turf talent from Europe. “We decided to go over [to Tattersalls] and try a new market because we’re always looking to change our model a little bit, and studying the races over here–yes, I’ve had success in this race before with the American-bred horses, but I also have a division of my stable where I get a lot of imported horses that we try to buy or owners just send to me from Europe.” “Just thinking forwardly, I said to Seth, ‘would you be open to buying some yearlings [in Europe]?’ Part of his business model is not buying horses that are racing already. We try to buy our own horses unraced, a yearling or 2-year-old almost exclusively, and developing them ourselves. So if we want to have some of these European-bred horses that I feel on the average just have better blood for running on turf courses–like this today and at a high level all over the world–then we’re going to have to go in and buy some unraced ones. He said, sure, we’ll go over there and try it. Lucky enough, Mike Ryan was on my short list when I got there, and we went over it and narrowed it down to the horses that really fit for Seth.” At 200,000gns, Newspaperofrecord represented the median of last year’s Klaravich Book 1 haul. None of the other purchases have yet started, but that didn’t dissuade the team from returning this year, where they bought 10 for between 40,000gns and 325,000gns through Mike Ryan. Those included two more by Lope de Vega as well as the progeny of proven sires like Sea The Stars (Ire), Dansili (GB) and Invincible Spirit (Ire), as well as exciting up and comers like Australia (GB), Kingman (GB) and Golden Horn (GB). Asked if Newspaperofrecord could be classified as a superstar after her third straight visually impressive victory, Brown said, “She’s well on her way. I think that today she showed how good she really is. And for her to win as easy as she did is remarkable. So I’d say right now she’s well on her way.” “I’m more reserved about saying superstar and such until they’re a little deeper into their career and seeing how far they can really go. Obviously, this is a horse that’s done everything we’ve asked and she’s done it really easy. I don’t think I’ve ever trained a horse that after their first three starts we never let her run. I don’t believe the horse has been let to run yet.” View the full article

Game Winner overcame a wide trip throughout and contact from runner-up Knicks Go in the stretch to draw away late and win the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) by 2 1/4 lengths at Churchill Downs Nov. 2. View the full article

In his first top-level try, Godolphin's Line of Duty (IRE) rallied in deep stretch to secure a narrow victory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Lael Stables' No Dozing notched his first graded stakes win with an emphatic 9 3/4-length score in the $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap (G3) Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Godolphin’s LINE OF DUTY (IRE) (c, 2, Galileo {Ire}-Jacqueline Quest {Ire}, by Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) became the 75th Group 1 winner for his superstar sire Galileo with a thrilling success in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Bet down to 7-2 from a 10-1 morning-line while adding Lasix for this American debut, the chestnut kept a watchful eye on pacesetter Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown) from mid-pack, riding the rail through a first half-mile in :48.46. Swung out to the center of the course to make a run in the lane, Line of Duty came flying up the outside to tag Uncle Benny (Declaration of War) and Somelikeithotbrown on the wire, winning by a half-length in 1:40.06. He had to survive a stewards’ inquiry after exchanging a bump with Uncle Benny in the final sixteenth. It was the 28th top-level win of the season for Godolphin and their 11th this year with trainer Charlie Appleby. Second in his first two attempts, debuting at Sandown July 6 and then at Haydock July 21, Line of Duty broke through at third asking at Goodwood Sept. 4. He followed suit with a win in Chantilly’s G3 Prix de Conde S. Oct. 1. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, O-Godolphin; B-Triermore Stud (Ire); T-Charles Appleby. View the full article

In many years, the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1)—where older horses meet the best 3-year-olds with $6 million on the line—decides Horse of the Year honors, but this year the title already could be settled in favor of Justify. Or is it? View the full article

Breeders’ Cup day at Churchill Downs will conclude with the one-mile GII Chilukki S., which has attracted a field of eight fillies and mares. Divine Miss Grey (Divine Park), favored on the morning-line, is coming off a runner-up effort behind GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin at Lucky) in the Oct. 6 GI Beldame Invitational. The 4-year-old filly aired by 7 3/4 lengths in the Dr. James Penny Memorial S. at Parx last timeout Sept. 8. Berned (Bernardini) bested Divine Miss Grey to win the July 29 GIII Molly Pitcher S. She was sixth in the Beldame. Shenandoah Queen (Henny Hughes)–sixth in last year’s Chilukki–stormed home an 8 1/2-length winner of the Aug. 24 Tranquility Lake S. at Del Mar. She set the pace before settling for third behind Distaff contender Vale Dori (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}) in the Sept. 30 GI Zenyatta S. View the full article

Let go as one of the roughest chances in the field at 36-1, OXY LADY (f, 2, Oxbow-Renaissance Lady, by A.P. Indy) came with a rally into the final eighth of a mile and pulled away late to record a daylight victory in Friday’s GIII Tempted S. through the fog at Aqueduct. The homebred showed decent speed from the gate and ultimately sat a covered-up trip from the box seat into the turn. Right on the heels of the leading trio nearing the lane, she was switched out four wide in upper stretch, was in front just inside the furlong and came away to become the second graded winner for her GI Preakness S.-winning sire (by Awesome Again). A debut second in the slop at Indiana Grand Aug. 15, the bay won her maiden first time long at Belterra Park Sept. 3 and was exiting a close third in a one-mile Keeneland allowance Oct. 10. Oxy Lady was giving former Doug O’Neill assistant Jack Sisterson his first graded winner out on his own. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1. O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Jack Sisterson. View the full article

With polish well beyond her years, the 2-year-old daughter of Cross Traffic shot to the lead, then relaxed on the front end. In her first try around two turns, she easily put away her followers en route to a 5 1/2-length victory. View the full article

JAYWALK (f, 2, Cross Traffic–Lady Pewitt, by Orientate) took the field from gate-to-wire to capture her second top-level victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Friday beneath the Twin Spires. Sent off at 5-1 in this first try around two turns, the $190,000 KEESEP buy went straight to the head of affairs, clicking off opening splits of :23.26 and :46.76 with favored Bellafina (Quality Road), ‘TDN Rising Star’ Restless Rider (Distorted Humor) and Vibrance (Violence) all close behind. Restless Rider and Bellafina looked like they might make a race of it as the ranged up outside the pacesetter turning for home, but Jaywalk still had plenty left in the tank and cruised home to a decisive score in 1:43.62. Restless Rider held second over Vibrance and Bellafina was a well-beaten fourth. Runner-up to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Nonna Madeline (Candy Ride {Arg}) on debut at Monmouth June 23, Jaywalk romped by 7 1/2 lengths next out in the mud at Parx July 24 and captured Delaware’s White Clay Creek S. Aug. 22. She entered this off a decisive 5 3/4-length success in the GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 7, which she also took in wire-to-wire fashion. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0. O-Cash is King LLC & DJ Stable LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds (KY); T-John Servis. View the full article

Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables got its first Breeders' Cup victory when Newspaperofrecord dominated in the Breeders' Cup Fillies Turf (G1T), winning by 6 3/4 lengths. View the full article

NEWSPAPEROFRECORD (IRE) (f, 2, Lope de Vega {Ire}–Sunday Times (GB), by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) took her perfect record to three-for-three with a simply sensational front-running victory in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday. Earning the ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod with a 6 3/4-length romp over yielding sod in her 1 1/16-mile unveiling at Saratoga Aug. 19, she was equally dominant next out with a 6 1/2-length success in Belmont’s GII Miss Grillo S. over another yielding course Sept. 30. Hammered down to 3-5 favoritism to repeat at the World Championships, Newspaperofrecord did not disappoint. Seizing the early advantage, the bay loped along comfortably, clocking early fractions of :24.06 and :48.58. Still under a hand ride turning for home, the bay shot clear instantly when Irad Ortiz shook the reins at her at the top of stretch, sauntering home to a seemingly effortless eight-length victory in 1:39 flat. Longshot East (GB) (Frankel {GB}) completed the exacta. This victory is trainer Chad Brown’s fifth in 10 runnings of the Juvenile Fillies Turf. His past winners are Maram (2008), Lady Eli (2014), who was also piloted by Ortiz, New Money Honey (2016) and Rushing Fall (2017). Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0. O-Klaravich Stables; B-Times of Wigan Ltd. (Ire); T-Chad Brown. View the full article

IT’S one of the biggest days in Australian racing with Group 1 glory and Melbourne Cup spots on offer in an action-packed day. View the full article

WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Racing's Bulletin made every call a winning one in the inaugural $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. The son of City Zip traveled the 5 1/2 furlongs over a good turf course in 1:05.54. View the full article

1st-AQU, $70K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 11:00 p.m. ET OXO Equine’s Larry Best stretched ti $1.25 million to acquire CAMBIER PARC (Medaglia d’Oro), a daughter of Canadian Horse of the Year Sealy Hill (Point Given). A three-time Eclipse winner and Breeders’ Cup runner-up, Sealy Hill is also responsible for Canadian champion Hillaby (Distorted Humor) and Grade III winners Belle Hill (Sky Mesa) and Gale Force (Giant’s Causeway). TJCIS PPs. 7th-AQU, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:24 p.m. ET Shug McGaughey is represented by one of his many blue-blooded Phipps homebreds in first timer PERFORMER (Speightstown). Out of GSP Protesting (A.P. Indy), the chestnut hails from the family of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account), MGISW millionaire My Flag (Easy Goer) and her champion daughter Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat). Centaur Farms homebred Itgot Grandma (Congrats) also makes his career bow in this spot. Out of MSW Gottcha Last (Pleasant Tap), the chestnut is a half to GSW & MGISP American Freedom (Pulpit) and MGSW & GISP Gottcha Gold (Coronado’s Quest). Al Goldberg unveils Colts Neck Stables homebred The Right Path (Quality Road). He is out of an unraced half-sister to MGSW & MGISP sire Fed Biz (Giant’s Causeway); and SW Spun Silk (A.P. Indy), the dam of GISW Joking (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs. 7th-SA, $50K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 6:00 p.m. ET Mick Ruis saddles Spendthrift Farm’s $650,000 KEESEP buy DRINK TO THAT (Bernardini) in this career bow. The dark bay is a half-brother to Canadian champion and GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filllies upsetter Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor); and SW & GSP Cross the Line (Line of David). Simon Callaghan sends out a pricey second timer in $600,000 FTFMAR purchase Stretford End (Will Take Charge). The chestnut came up a neck short in hia Sept. 29 Santa Anita debut behind the Bob Baffert-trained Improbable (City Zip), who came back to romp in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Friday and become the newest ‘TDN Rising Star.’ TJCIS PPs. —@CDeBernardisTDN View the full article

Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}), who has enjoyed a stellar year with his progeny including with five-time Group 1 winner Laurens (Fr), sees his fee rise to €100,000 at Haras de Bonneval in 2019. He stood for €75,000 in 2018. A champion stallion in France last term, the bay also has Australian Group 2 winner Aylmerton (Aus) to his credit, as well as G1SP City Light (Fr) among others. Commanding the highest fee among the five Aga Khan stallions however, is Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who will stand again for €135,000 at Gilltown Stud in Ireland. The sire of 2018 G1 Irish Oaks heroine and MG1SW Sea of Class (Ire), the 12-year-old is joined by MG1SW Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who will command €10,000 at Gilltown. The Aga Khan’s roster is rounded out by Haras de Bonneval stallions and G1SWs Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Dariyan (Fr) (Shamardal) at €12,000 and €8,000, respectively. View the full article

Bulletin goes wire to wire to win the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 1:05.54. View the full article

BULLETIN (c, 2, City Zip–Sue’s Good News, by Woodman) captured the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint with a wire-to-wire victory to kick off the Breeders’ Cup action at Churchill Downs Friday. Catching a flyer from the stalls, the 4-1 shot ticked off an opening quarter in :23.19 with ‘TDN Rising Star’ Chelsea Cloisters (First Samurai) hot on his heels. Chelsea Cloisters confronted the flashy chestnut colt on the far turn and looked him in the eye for a stride or two before Bulletin shrugged her off and charged clear to win in 1:05.54. Chelsea Cloisters held second over So Perfect (Scat Daddy). The $250,000 KEESEP buy was the second straight stakes winner of the day for City Zip and these owners, following Street Sense S. romper Improbable. Bulletin showed promise from the start, donning cap and gown by seven lengths when unveiled in Gulfstream’s Hollywood Beach S. Sept. 29. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O-WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing; B-CresRanLLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

The familiar connections of trainer Bob Baffert and owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and SF Bloodstock, all involved in Triple Crown winner Justify, have a promising 2-year-old in Improbably, winner of the Nov. 2 Street Sense Stakes. View the full article

IMPROBABLE (c, 2, City Zip–Rare Event, by A.P. Indy) justified his 4-5 odds and the hype that has been surrounding him since before his debut with a dominant victory in the Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs, earning the ‘TDN Rising Star’ nod in the process. A neck winner as the heavy favorite in his six-panel debut at Santa Anita Sept. 29, the $200,000 KEESEP buy got off to a slow beginning and was quite eager in mid-pack, rushing up on heels through sharp early splits of :22.27 and :44.96. Finally able to be tipped out on the backstretch, the flashy chestnut ran much more comfortably in a two-wide fourth and glided up to take command from Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) at the top of the lane. It was all over from there as Improbable effortlessly sailed clear under Drayden Van Dyke to win for fun by eight lengths in 1:35.61. Trophy Chaser held second. O-WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing; B-St George Farm LLC & G Watts Humphrey Jr. (KY); T-Bob Baffert. View the full article

One year before Hollywood took temporary charge of the 1991 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Belmont Park hosted a day impossible to script. Sunny conditions would contribute to the downfall of Europe’s champion sprinter Dayjur (Danzig), ably abetted by the tenacity of Safely Kept (Horatius), but the latter’s win in the GI Sprint was tempered by the spills of Shaker Knit (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and Mr Nickerson (Slewpy). A more sickening sight was yet to unfold; the horror of Go For Wand (Deputy Minister) succumbing to injury in front of the stands, deep into her epic duel with Bayakoa (Arg) (Consultant’s Bid) for the GI Distaff, will be forever etched in the memory of those that witnessed it and nothing, surely, could lift the gloom. Hollywood was summoned, but declined the absurdity. Lester Piggott was 54 years old and just 12 days back out of retirement–discounting the briefest of dallies in, of all places, Peru earlier that year–before getting the call from fellow veteran maestro Vincent O’Brien to partner the Classic Thoroughbred project’s Royal Academy (Nijinsky II) in the GI Mile. Regular rider John Reid, who had guided the bay to that July’s G1 July Cup over Newmarket’s straight six furlongs, had suffered a broken collarbone and Piggott was entrusted with guiding the sophomore around a full turn for the first time in seven career starts. Asked beforehand if his riding style might be adapted to suit conditions, he quipped, “No, still one leg each side.” Old stone face would not be fazed. Royal Academy drew the one hole and, after finishing second in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, was stepping back up from sprint distances, having also chased home Dayjur in Haydock’s G1 Sprint Cup seven weeks prior to his date with destiny. Skipping a beat at the break and trailing all one dozen rivals initially, auto-pilot kicked in for his wizened accomplice and the partnership picked off rivals without expending a trace. Royal Academy was still on the bridle and gaining ground when enduring an awkward moment coming off the home turn and Piggott was in full crouch thereafter. Sixth straightening up and fourth passing the furlong marker, the soon-to-be 55-year-old instinctively knew what was required for a safe landing and his mount’s willingness was not for negotiation. By now, the jockey was in trademark mode and his rapid-fire application of the whip when all seemed lost wrested a neck victory from Itsallgreektome (Sovereign Dancer) in the final stride. “The most satisfying winner I ever rode,” Piggott would later admit. Indeed. (video) View the full article

Polydream, the 5-1 morning-line favorite, was scratched from Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) after he returned to the barn lame after training the morning of Nov. 2. View the full article