Wandering Eyes

Less than a week from his expected start in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs, Catholic Boy gave Javier Castellano another tout of confidence during a strong five-furlong work in 1:01 Oct. 28. View the full article

SEEK AND DESTROY (f, 2, Verrazano–Search and Seizure, by War Chant), bidding to become the first stakes winner for her freshman sire (by More Than Ready), went right to the front and never looked back en route to a three-length tally in this rained-off event. The $425,000 KEESEP yearling had broken through by 9 1/4 lengths last time in a off-the-turf Oct. 8 maiden special weight, and was 5-2 here drawing in as a “main track only” entrant. Hollywood Glory (Maclean’s Music) took second over stablemate Take Ten (Uncle Mo). Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0. O-e Five Racing Thoroughbreds. B-William B Harrigan (Ky). T-Chad C Brown. View the full article

In 1972, I owned a fledgling public relations firm in New York City which had most of its clients in Atlanta, mainly because my silent partner lived and worked there and recommended our services. One day he called and told me that there was a man I needed to see because he needed our public relations expertise. He told me he was the president of an advertising firm in Atlanta–Burton, Campbell and Kelly–and they were located at the top of the Peachtree Center tower and that his name was Cot Campbell. My partner, who shared my horse racing enthusiasm, told me that this man was going to change Thoroughbred racing, but needed our help. I wondered whether a man who was in charge of (I found out later) the largest advertising agency in Atlanta needed anyone’s help, but I called, made an appointment and sat down with him. I asked him why he thought we were meeting, and he told me that he understood I was interested in horse racing and he’d just been fooling around with some partners and some horses and I dropped my jaw and was taken in. After he drawled on for about 10 minutes, I stood up, offered him my hand, and said, “Mr. Campbell, you don’t need my help, or anyone else’s, at all.” He invited me to dinner and we became fast friends. After abandoning public relations in the mid-1970s, I became a freelance writer specializing in travel, business and horse racing, and during that time, I interviewed Cot many times and included his ideas in many articles, and also in personal profiles. He introduced me to his wonderful wife Anne, who became a dear friend of mine and my wife as well, and we were privileged to be invited to the original Dogwood Farm in Greeneville, Georgia, for an overnight stay. How cool. Our friendship remained strong and fast and whenever we crossed paths at sales or the races, I would bow to him and greet him, “Mr. Campbell,” to which he would always reply in a booming voice and with a tongue in his cheek no doubt, “Ah, The Great Fierro.” I would hasten to the nearest hiding place, of course. After becoming a member of the National Turf Writers, I would always write his name into the ballot as a person who deserved an Eclipse of Merit because, don’t you know, W. Cothran Campbell changed the game. That he is a 2018 member of the Hall of Fame helps, but to me, Cot Campbell was the man thousands and thousands of race horse owners should bow to in a moment of thanks for his prescience, and determination, and tenacity, to let the little man and woman into the fun of it. And he was the fun of it. (They should rename a Grade I race at every racetrack for him). This has been a terrible year for yours truly in terms of the passing of four of the most influential people on my career. First Paul Schosberg, who set the stage and the tone of New York’s breeders to set their own agenda; then Bill Graves, who knew who you were as soon as he looked at you (and you were fortunate if he winked); and then Rick Violette, who changed New York racing forever. And now, Cot Campbell, my friend, you changed the game and thrilled our hearts, and wore that cocky hat just right. Mrs. Campbell always made sure of that. May you rest in peace. View the full article

Every farm is looking for an angle. But how many rivals must now look at Craig and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud and concede that the Bluegrass is a little “greener” on that side of the fence? No less than any other kind of husbandry, tending foals and their mothers comes down to the land and the hands. Yes, you are always working with Nature–but you can’t leave absolutely everything to her. Otherwise there would be no point to the business. You have modern science behind you, and generations of lore beyond that. With that in mind, Denali can be credited for recently contriving a twin edge that sounds unique in both aspects. First, the hands. Last month, Denali’s yearling and sales manager Donnie Snellings was named the 2018 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year by his professional body in Kentucky. So far as the Bandoroffs are aware, they now have the only operation in Central Kentucky with two recipients of this immensely meaningful award–given among peers, remember–active on their payroll. The other is Denali manager Gary Bush. Both men are sons of respected horsemen. So there’s the lore right there. But then there’s the land; the land, and the science. Denali has recently added another 85 acres of it, taking the estate past 750, with the goal to better serve their customers by having more land under management and the ability to expand their client base, if the opportunity arises. And it is the way the Bandoroffs and their son Conrad have addressed an incidental challenge, in terms of infrastructure, that highlights the second distinction now setting Denali apart. Because the barn on the new parcel has been adapted to operate entirely off the power grid. “One of the innovative things we’ve been doing, which I don’t think anyone else has done, is make a big investment in solar,” Craig Bandoroff explained. “I started after seeing it, and learning about it, on Respite Farm–owned by our good friends and clients, Mike Cavey and Nancy Temple, the breeders of Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) and Champagne Room (Broken Vow)–and it now covers 75% of our farm. “When we bought this additional acreage, it had a barn on it, and we started talking to the electrical company about what it would cost just to get the power line there. And, with technology making these batteries more affordable, honestly we’ve be able to put it in, off the grid, for less.” And this, note, is a win-win situation: the conscience satisfied in tandem with the business. On the one hand, as Conrad Bandoroff put it: “My dad has always had a little bit of a green toe, in the sense that he’s very much an outdoors man and a great caretaker of the land.” On the other, if you’re playing a long enough game, the investment makes an awful lot of financial sense. “We’ve spent maybe $300,000, but you can recover the capital cost over 10 years,” Craig said. “I do have a love of the environment, and that matters to me. But it was knowing that Conrad was going to come in here some day, and keep this place going, that made it economic sense too. Because after 10 years, it’s free energy.” Moreover the project was brought within reach by a 30% federal tax credit, and a 25% grant from the Department of Agriculture. The Bandoroffs assessed the usage of each barn to determine which might warrant the investment and now have solar coverage in seven of nine barns on the two main farms; four barns and the office in the broodmare division, and the two primary barns in the yearling division. The system is called net metering. Any energy generated surplus to immediate use is sent to the power company and credited to your account. When you need an input of energy–at night, say, or in seasons of poor weather–the power company provides it, and deducts it from your account. (Some states, but not Kentucky, pay for excess energy.) “So the idea is that at the end of the year, you come as close to zeroing out as you can,” Craig explained. “I think it’s something lots of farms could take advantage of. We’re set up for it, with all these open areas the sun can get to. It’s not like we’re in the middle of the forest. The way it works, we generate excess energy from about May until October, and then after that we have to use the power company’s energy. The idea is that at the end of the year, you didn’t send them too much and they didn’t send you any more than you need. It’s a big capital investment, up front, but over time it’s going to repay itself–and I can tell you it’s kind of fun to walk out there, every once in a while, to read the meters and say: ‘You know what, I’m sticking it to the man!'” Even this far-sighted investment pales, however, in comparison with the value of leaders like Bush and Snellings. In a way the addition of Snellings to the Ted Bates roll of honor complements his employer’s own nomination, this year, to The Jockey Club. “It’s as good as it gets,” Craig said, of recognition by one’s peers. “You work hard for these things, and I know Donnie will have trouble making the speech that night–it’ll be very emotional. He has been here 10 years. His father [Don] was, amongst other things, yearling manager in the heyday of Spendthrift. So Donnie grew up with it, he has this strong background, everybody knows him. And when he became available, I felt like I was picking up a first round draft choice. “This place isn’t the biggest, but it’s too big for one person, so we’ve always had this division with the yearlings on a separate piece of land. The babies come to Donnie after the November sale and he oversees the raising of them, and runs our sales unit: he hires the help, he puts it together, we get the horses and show up and Donnie keeps it going like a well-oiled machine.” Conrad stresses that Snellings has also been “a fantastic mentor and teacher to a lot of young individuals trying to make their way in the industry.” But now the whole team must put its shoulder back to the wheel for the next cycle: father and son will this week, respectively, preside over the Denali consignments at Fasig-Tipton and Keeneland, breaking off to jump in a car and root for Restless Rider (Distorted Humor) in the Fillies’ Juvenile at the Breeders’ Cup. The GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner was consigned by Denalli when sold for $150,000 at Keeneland last September. There will never be any resting on laurels, however. Hence the pioneering investment in alternative energy; and hence the value placed on senior staff such as Bush and Snellings being able to light a path for the next generation. “I’m very proud of the team we’ve put together and the facilities we’ve built,” Craig said. “There are lots of people in the consigning business that are very successful and don’t have farms. But having the farm is really important to me: I enjoy raising the horses, I enjoy the land, and I think when I hand this thing off to Conrad at some point he’s going to be in great shape. “None of us is getting any younger, and someday he will have to put a team together like I have. And look, it’s the key to any company’s success. You don’t do it yourself, you set the culture, you give them the tools. So you have to have the right people in the seats on the bus. Unfortunately the reality of the business is that people come in and people go out. But you always have to hope that you can attract somebody willing to raise their horses the right way, and put them in the right kind of places. We’re proud to be considered one of those places.” View the full article

If Simon Callaghan believes in deja vu, he’s sure experiencing a heady dose of it right now. This time last year, Callaghan had in his barn the favorite for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies–Moonshine Memories. After breaking her maiden, the daughter of Malibu Moon harvested all available scalps in a couple of top flight 2-year-old contests, the GI Del Mar Debutante S. and the GI Chandelier S. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies was the next assignment, and for some who were looking to nail down a sure bet for the two-day spectacle, Moonshine Memories was their gal. Cut to 12 months later, and Callaghan has in his barn the favorite for this year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies–Bellafina. After breaking her maiden in the GII Sorrento S. in August, this daughter of Quality Road harvested all available scalps in a couple of top flight 2-year-old contests, the GI Del Mar Debutante S. and the GI Chandelier S. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies is her next assignment, and for some who are looking to nail down a sure bet for this year’s two-day spectacle, Bellafina is their gal. “This is a better filly,” admitted Callaghan, an ex-Brit, one morning at Santa Anita recently, about the younger of his two stablemates. “[The Juvenile Fillies] is just the perfect kind of race. She’s coming into it in great form, and I feel that she’s the deserving favorite.” Rewind once again to last year, and Callaghan’s contender deviated from script, breaking sharp to lead the field for the first half of the race before dropping back through the pack. Her trainer, however, notes some important distinctions between the two that leaves him hopeful for recompense. “They’re two very different types of fillies,” he said. “In hindsight, that distance was probably a little bit too far for Moonshine Memories.” While Moonshine Memories is cut more from the pocket-rocket mold of racehorse, precocious and speedy, Kaleem Shah’s Bellafina is rangier, scopier–a horse to pin hopes for the future on. “I mean, I think with all the Quality Roads, they just get better with age,” said Callaghan. “She’s actually really grown, muscled up, and she’s developed physically from race to race. She looks like a 3-year-old colt almost already. She’s a big, strong, tough, masculine type of filly. I believe she’s just going to keep getting better and better. I think we will probably see the very best of her when she’s a 3-year-old.” Take nothing away from her 2-year-old career, mind you. A decent second on her debut at Los Alamitos in July, she returned a reformed pupil next time out in the Sorrento S. at Del Mar, disposing of a large field by 4 1/4 lengths, leading virtually gate-to-wire. Next up came the Del Mar Debutante S., when she put a five-strong field to bed in similar fashion. After that, she came back to produce an even more visually impressive performance in the Chandelier S. “Everyone said that the final quarter [of the Chandelier] wasn’t very fast, but the track was so deep that day and they went off fast and there was nothing really catching her,” Callaghan said. “She can only beat what’s put in front of her and I think she’s answered every question.” A “smart filly” not shy of advertising her well-being–“she can be a little tough to gallop because she just wants to get on with it”–the key, he said, to the Chandelier was the manner in which she relaxed around the two turns. “We’ve seen, obviously in the races in the summer, that she’s got lots of natural speed, but she had yet to prove her stamina over the extra distance.” All of which bodes well for the Juvenile Fillies, over 1 1/16 miles, and a race that–surprisingly for a Breeders’ Cup that’s turned into something of a popularity contest–has come up a little light in numbers, with just 11 pre-entries. Not that Callaghan confuses quantity for quality. “I don’t think it’s going to be that big of a field, but I think the fillies that are going into it are all really good,” he said. “I think it’s a going to be a very good race.” Top of the pack is Kenny McPeek’s Restless Rider (Distorted Humor), impressive winner of a big-field GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland last time out. “She’s the one that worries me the most.” Gary Contessa’s Sippican Harbor (Orb) beat Restless Rider in this summer’s GI Spinaway S. While Tom Amoss’s Serengeti Empress (Alternation) proved well named in the GII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs, storming away with the race like a runaway freight train. “It’s tough when you’re trying to equate the form here on the West Coast to the East Coast–you don’t really know,” Callaghan said. “But we’ve got lots of respect for the other fillies in the race, naturally.” Hovering as a proverbial and literal dark cloud over the whole two-day event is the meteorological unpredictability of Kentucky in November. “[Rain is] obviously a possibility when you go back east this time of year, but I really don’t feel an off-track would be something that would inhibit her chances,” he said. “I know a few of the sons and daughters of Quality Road have won on off-tracks. With this filly, I just don’t think it’s a problem.” If it isn’t indeed a problem, and Bellafina performs as connections expect she does, it would add a tasty garnish to what has already proven a very satisfying season for Team Callaghan. Aside from Bellafina’s exploits, he has sent out Kaleem Shah’s American Gal (Concord Point) to nab Grade I honors in the Humana Distaff S. at Churchill Downs. He’s also picked up graded stake trophies with Beau Recall (Ire) and Treasuring (GB), horses by Sir Prancealot (Ire) and Havana Gold (Ire) respectively–perhaps not the most fashionable of stallions back home in Europe, where they stand, and yet, “sometimes you get those sires that, maybe like you said, aren’t top shelf, but they come to California and they just really sort of seem to improve,” he explained. A good season made great by a Breeders’ Cup win? What trainer would turn their nose up at that? For Callaghan, it would mark his first Breeders’ Cup victory after just eight full seasons with a license. But there’s another major contest equally as alluring to any self-respecting handler. And Callaghan singled out a couple of his 2-year-olds that have him dreaming of a return to Churchill Downs next May. One of them, he said, is a colt by Algorithms called Value Play. “He’s the one that we have high hopes for.” The other is a Will Take Charge colt called Stretford End who ran a fine second on his debut in September. “I think he’s going to be a really nice horse for the future as well.” A Derby win would, of course, be vindication for a narrow eclipse in the race more than three years ago, when Firing Line came within a head of spoiling American Pharoah’s Triple Crown coronation before it had even begun. “Looking forward to seeing how he does at stud,” said Callaghan, about his former charge. “I think he’s got a chance to really throw some good horses. You know, the whole Derby experience just makes you want to get back there again. This time of year, it’s always really hard to tell who’s the best, but….” and he let the thought trail off. All that, however, is for the distant–and yet not too far-off–future to determine. More immediately, there’s the events of next weekend to contend with. Whatever happens, Callaghan will afterwards give Bellafina a little R & R, “just let her sort of decompress. She’s obviously already achieved a lot, and we’ll just take our time with her and work backwards from the [GI Kentucky] Oaks, probably look to be having one or two races prior to the Oaks.” As it happens, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies has a good record when it comes to the Oaks–in 34 runnings of the 2-year-old contest, the race has produced 11 winners of the filly’s Classic. Though only two, Silverbulletday and Open Mind, have clinched both. “I really feel that we’re bringing the best horse we have into the Breeders’ Cup this year,” said Callaghan. “I think we’ve learned a lot and I think this year we can pull it off.” View the full article

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner behind the fast-growing King Power Racing string, is feared dead after a helicopter crash on Saturday evening. Srivaddhanaprabha, the CEO of Thai duty free shopping company King Power International Group, is also the owner of Leicester City Football Club. His helicopter left the club’s ground following Saturday’s match but shortly after take-off witnesses saw the helicopter start to spin before crashing in the car park just outside the ground and bursting into flames. As of Sunday afternoon, Leicestershire Police had still not been able to number of casualties involved, and there has been no official confirmation of Srivaddhanaprabha’s death, though it is believed that he was one of five people on board the helicopter. King Power Racing’s significant contribution to British racing first became apparent at the Goffs London Sale of 2017, where, through bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, the owner bought six horses for just over £2 million—almost half that sale’s aggregate. Donald was subsequently kept busy for King Power Racing at last year’s yearling sales, assembling what has in recent weeks started to look like a decent team of runners. Many of those yearlings went into training with the operation’s principal trainer Andrew Balding, with some also going to Richard Hannon and Ralph Beckett, and the agent has been similarly active at recent sales. At the start of the year, Balding had 20 2-year-olds and 14 older horses under his care for King Power Racing. They include this season’s dual Group 2-winning miler Beat The Bank (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}) and Donjuan Triumphant (Ire) (Dream Ahead), who was third in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint nine days ago. On the day of the crash, King Power Racing’s Morando (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), a 290,000gns purchase by Donald at last year’s Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale, dead-heated with Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) for victory in the G3 St Simon S., while juvenile Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) won at Doncaster and Fox Tal (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) took third in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. All three horses are trained by Balding, who on Friday sent out another 2-year-old, Good Birthday (Ire) (Dabirsim {Fr}), to win at Newbury. To underline the level of Srivaddhanaprabha’s investment, the three juveniles respectively cost 625,000gns, 475,000gns and €500,000 as yearlings, while the filly King Power (GB), a Frankel (GB) half-sister to the Oaks winner Talent (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) who was fifth on debut on Saturday, was a 2.5 million gns purchase. In Britain this season, King Power Racing has had 56 individual runners, 32 of which have won 41 races between them. Bye Bye Hong Kong (Street Sense), who had been set to run in Sunday’s G1 Criterium International at Chantilly, was declared a non-runner as a mark of respect. View the full article

While the rain and a track that looked more like peanut butter than dirt kept most Breeders' Cup contenders from working Saturday, the promise of a clear forecast sent them skittering to the Churchill Downs main track in the wee hours of Oct. 28. View the full article

Less than a week out from his expected start in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs, Javier Castellano got another tout of confidence from his versatile partner Catholic Boy during a strong five-furlong work in 1:01 Oct. 28. View the full article

Godolphin’s much-documented upturn continued apace at Chantilly on Sunday, when the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) provided his sire with a weekend group 1 double in the Criterium International. Keen initially in third with Christophe Soumillon intent on getting a lead on the inexperienced Sept. 19 Yarmouth maiden winner, the 4-1 shot drifted left when sent in pursuit of Hermosa (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) but once straightened swooped on that 7-5 favourite 150 metres out en route to a 3/4-of-a-length success, with Graignes (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) a neck behind in third. ROYAL MEETING (IRE), c, 2, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Rock Opera (Saf) (Ch. 2-y-o Filly-SAf, G1SW-SAf & SP-UAE, $115,777), by Lecture) Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €148,246. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Rey de Oro, the 2017 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) winner, rolled smoothly down the stretch at Tokyo Racecourse Oct. 28, taking the lead inside the final 100 meters and win the Tenno Sho (Autumn, G1) by 1 1/4 lengths. View the full article

After a speedy workout in the dark Oct. 28 at Santa Anita Park, Speedway Stable's Collected is set for a trip to Churchill Downs, even if he doesn't end up in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) field. View the full article

Sunday’s G1 Prix Royal-Oak produced an unsatisfactory outcome, as while no racing fan would begrudge the journeyman stayer Holdthasigreen (Fr) (Hold That Tiger) his moment in the spotlight there was an incident after the first six furlongs that almost certainly affected the outcome. As the field crossed Chantilly’s all-weather track, Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) tried to run out and took the favourite Brundtland (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) with him with the pair losing several lengths. Shortly after, the 6-1 shot Holdthasigreen took over the lead and despite the efforts of Brundtland in the straight was always in control and had a 3/4-of-a-length advantage at the line over Called To The Bar (Ire) (Henrythenavigator), with Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) finishing strongly to be a further short neck behind in third. Brundtland was only another short neck away in fourth, a head in front of Flag of Honour in fifth lending some doubt as to the reliability of the result as a strict measure of the merit of the main protagonists. HOLDTHASIGREEN (FR), g, 6, by Hold That Tiger—Greentathir (Fr), by Muhtathir (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O/B-Jean Gilbert & Claude Le Lay (FR); T-Bruno Audouin; J-Tony Piccone. €199,990. Lifetime Record: 27-12-4-4, €690,625. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. View the full article

Jack Wong Ho-nam had his best day as a senior jockey at Happy Valley on Sunday and the 25-year-old hopes a mixture of success and hard work can help him increase his “selling point”. Wong landed a double with victories aboard Starlit Knight and Almababy, with Starlit Knight’s success seeing Wong post his first winner since the opening day of the season and only his third since graduating from his apprenticeship in June. Wong said he has found himself in no-man’s-land to... View the full article

Legendary jockey Douglas Whyte has further marked himself as the most successful rider Hong Kong has seen, notching up his 1,800th winner on Sunday – with no plans of stopping any time soon. The 46-year-old, who experienced his first stint in Hong Kong during the 1996-97 season, brushed aside retirement rumours, with his passion for horses and winning burning as strongly as when he first arrived. “I’ve been here a long time but I think any jockey that achieves that many... View the full article

On a perfect Hong Kong afternoon, many were left wondering why there aren’t more Happy Valley day meetings. The once-a-season occasion is a great change of pace from Sha Tin, with a different atmosphere to a typical Wednesday night (no band for starters), and it is relished by most people involved. Racing in the heart of town on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon – who wouldn’t want more of that? There is a simple explanation for it though. “Field sizes is the key issue... View the full article

The full-brother of dual Group One-winning sprinter Slade Power secured his maiden victory at Happy Valley on Sunday. The Richard Gibson-trained Nordic Warrior (by Dutch Art out of Girl Power), was bought by the Jockey Club for €450,000 (HK3.94 million) at the Arqana Deauville Yearling Sale in 2016 before being sold again at the Hong Kong International Sale for HK$6 million. Slade Power won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and the July Cup at Newmarket in 2014. The three-year-old... View the full article

After an illness knocked her out of consideration for the Del Mar Oaks Presented by The Jockey Club (G1T), Toinette made an impressive, victorious return to the races Oct. 27 in the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. View the full article

Keeneland concluded its 2018 Fall Meet Saturday with a record all-sources wagering over $144 million. All-sources wagering on live racing at Keeneland (not including whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) totaled $144,309,944 for the 17-day Fall Meet, which ran Oct. 5-27. The figure surpassed the previous record of $139,660,204 set during the 17-day 2013 Fall Meet. The total increased 18.57 percent from the $121,712,702 posted for last year’s 17-day Fall Meet. Average daily all-sources wagering of $8,488,820 rose 18.57 percent from $7,159,571 in 2017. “The quality of Keeneland’s racing program is reflected in the record wagering we experienced this Fall,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Full, competitive race fields representing the nation’s top owners, trainers and jockeys attracted the support of fans across the country. We thank the Central Kentucky community, our horsemen and corporate partners for a very gratifying racing season.” Keeneland set Fall Meet wagering records for single-day all-sources handle and Pick Four and Pick Five pools on Fall Stars Oct. 6. Total all-sources handle of $17,122,465 surpassed the previous Fall Meet single-day record of $15,926,396 set Oct. 8, 2016. Additionally, Keeneland set Fall Meet wagering records for the Pick Four and Pick Five, both recorded Oct. 8, 2016. The All-Stakes Pick Four handle of $737,408 broke the previous record of $479,166. Wagering on the All-Stakes Pick Five totaled $619,106 to best the former record of $496,723. On-track attendance and wagering fell 10.63 percent to 241,806 from last fall’s near-record 270,555. Average daily attendance was 14,224 versus 15,915 in 2017. On-track wagering totaled $16,419,870, a decrease of 6.69 percent from last year’s $17,597,035. Average daily on-track handle was $965,874 compared to last fall’s $1,035,120. Ken and Sarah Ramsey won their 21st leading owner title at Keeneland with six wins during the Fall Meet. Eclipse Award winners, the Ramseys are the all-time leading owners at Keeneland by number of races won and meet titles won. Seven-time Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher closed the meet with nine wins to claim his fifth leading trainer title at Keeneland. Mike Maker was second with eight victories. Eclipse Award-winning jockeys finished 1-2 in the rider standings. Tyler Gaffalione recorded 15 wins during his first full meet of riding at Keeneland to earn leading rider honors. Finishing second with 12 victories was Julien Leparoux. View the full article

Leofric rewarded his connections' faith Oct. 27 with a hard-fought victory over Prime Attraction in the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland. View the full article

With a stunning last-to-first performance over the Woodbine oval, Thor's Rocket blasted to the wire to win the $100,000 Overskate Stakes and take home his first win in two years. View the full article

Cot Campbell, whose Dogwood Stable provided a successful model for making Thoroughbred ownership more attainable and inclusive, died Oct. 27 at his home in Aiken, S. C. He was 91. View the full article

Cot Campbell, founder of Dogwood Stable, passed away Saturday afternoon at his home in Aiken, South Carolina. He was 90. Campbell was a pioneer in racing partnerships and Dogwood runners included Classic winners Palace Malice, winner of the 2013 GI Belmont S., and 1990 GI Preakness S. winner Summer Squall. Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Racing in August. View the full article

Robert LaPenta’s So Alive (Super Saver) appeared to be struggling with the muddy surface at Keeneland most of the way around, but he came alive late to register a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy victory Saturday. A half-brother to GII Wood Memorial S.-winning stablemate Vino Rosso (Curlin), $842,500, the juvenile was hammered down to 3-2 favoritism for this career bow for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has been on fire at the Keeneland fall meet. A bit slow to get going, the bay saved ground near the back of the pack as the runaway leaders zipped through a first quarter in :22.22 and a half in :45.97. The $160,000 KEESEP buy appeared to be spinning his wheels at the top of the stretch, but suddenly kicked it into high gear in the final furlong, weaving between rivals late to get up just in time for a neck success. Tapizars Secret (Tapizar) completed the exacta. Breeder John Gunther bought Mythical Bride for just $42,000 at the 2011 Keeneland November Sale and she has been quite productive for his operation. Her second foal Vino Rosso was a $410,000 yearling and was a contender on this year’s Triple Crown trail. His part owner Mike Repole bought Mythical Bride’s yearling colt by Pioneerof the Nile for $350,000 at KEENOV last term and resold him to Coolmore for $575,000 at this year’s KEESEP sale. The 10-year-old mare produced an Uncle Mo colt Apr. 30 of this year and was bred back to Curlin. Mythical Bride is a half-sister to MSW & GSP Flaming Heart (Touch Gold), who is the dam of MGSW & GISP WinStar sire Commissioner (A.P. Indy) and GSW & GISP Laugh Track (Distorted Humor). 5th-Keeneland, $65,582, Msw, 10-27, 2yo, 6f, 1:11.21, my. SO ALIVE, c, 2, Super Saver 1st Dam: Mythical Bride, by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Flaming Heart, by Touch Gold 3rd Dam: Hot Lear, by Lear Fan Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. O-Robert V. LaPenta; B-John D. Gunther (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. View the full article

In stark contrast to weather patterns plaguing the central and eastern part of the country, Saturday morning in Arcadia, California dawned sunny and warm as several Breeders’ Cup contenders put in their final works ahead of the Championships next weekend. Heading the cast was Classic favorite Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) (video), who went six furlongs under John Sadler assistant Juan Leyva in 1:12.80. The four-time Grade I winner covered five furlongs in 1:00.80 with a seven furlong gallop out of 1:26.20, according to Santa Anita clockers. Sadler also sent undefeated GI Dirt Mile favorite Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags) (video), who negotiated five furlongs in :59.80; and GI Filly & Mare Sprint contender Selcourt (Tiz Wonderful) (video) the same distance in 1:00.40. Both Catalina Cruiser and Selcourt have recorded back-to-back graded stakes wins heading in next week’s races. All three horses are scheduled to depart for Kentucky today, as is Sadler. “Accelerate’s work was super-duper, but all went really well,” enthused Sadler. “It was a good morning. I’m happy with all of them.” Bob Baffert has another busy day Saturday, highlighted by workouts by Classic contenders Gary and Mary West’s West Coast (Flatter) and Watson/Pegram/Weitman’s McKinzie (Street Sense). West Coast (video) breezed four furlongs in company with unraced juvenile Trojan Magic (Twirling Candy). They were timed in :47.20 and :47.40, respectively. McKinzie , in company with Dabster (Curlin), covered five furlongs in a minute flat while his year-older stablemate completed the task in :59.60. McKinzie was partnered by Joe Talamo, who would ride last year’s GI Pacific Classic winner Collected for Baffert in the 10-furlong test should the colt draw into the field. Drayden Van Dyke worked West Coast. Also working for Baffert Saturday, GI Filly & Mare Sprint favorite Marley’s Freedom (Blame) (video), in tandem with workmate Super Sol (Awesome Again), went four furlongs in a bullet :47 flat. They were the fastest of 53 drills at the distance. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer sent out Juvenile aspirants GI American Pharoah runner-up Gunmetal Gray (Exchange Rate) and recent maiden scorer Dueling (Violence) at Santa Anita Saturday morning. The duo completed their respective tasks in :48.60 and :49.40. “Both riders were happy,” Hollendorfer said, alluding to Flavien Prat on Gunmetal Gray and Freddie Rodriguez aboard Dueling. “We’re all set to go.” The 2-year-olds are scheduled to ship early today, while Hollendorfer will leave on Monday. Prior to Santa Anita’s first race Friday, Classic longshot Pavel (Creative Cause) worked seven furlongs in 1:26.45 under regular rider Mario Gutierrez. Winner of the June 16 GI Stephen Foster H. at Churchill Downs, the Doug O’Neill trainee recorded fractional times of :24.87, :49.87 and 1:14.37. “He’s got a win over the track, so we’re looking at all the positive aspects,” O’Neill said. “He’s had a little breather since the Pacific Classic [a distant second to Accelerate Aug. 18] and he’s doing well.” Working in company over the muddy Churchill Downs main track, GI Breeders’ Cup Classic contender Axelrod (Warrior’s Reward) and Vibrance (Violence), slated to contest the GI Juvenile Fillies following a runner-up finish in the GI Chandelier Sept. 29, completed their championship preparations with a half-mile move in :48.40 Saturday morning. Internal fractions for the work were :12.20, 24.20, :36.20 and with both going out five furlongs. Dual graded stakes winner Axelrod rounded out six furlongs in 1:14.60; and Vibrance in 1:14.80, according to Churchill Downs Clocker John Nichols. “I just wanted them to stretch their legs,” trainer Michael McCarthy explained. “Conditions were not ideal weather wise but I knew they would do a good job with the track. I was more than pleased with the works.” Runner-up in the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 22, Axelrod was partner by jockey Jose Ortiz in yesterday’s work and will be reunited with Joe Bravo in the Classic. Tommie Lewis, David Bernsen and Magdalena Racing’s GI Breeders’ Futurity runner-up Signalman (General Quarters) completed his GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile preparations with a four-furlong move in :47.60 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. Breezing with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. in the saddle, Signalman began his work one length behind stablemate Math Major (four furlongs in :48) through opening splits of :11.60 and :23, before finishing one length in front on the five-furlong gallop out in 1:01 and completing six furlongs in 1:15. Impact Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables’ Reflect (Trappe Shot) worked five furlongs in 1:00 over a track rated as sloppy after the first renovation break Saturday morning. Accompanied by Jose Ortiz aboard, Reflect carved out fractions of :12.40, 23.40, 35.40, :47.60 and 1:00 with gallop-out times of 1:13.60 and 1:27.80 for six and seven furlongs. “I liked it; she did it pretty easy,” said Julie Clark, assistant to trainer Keith Desormeaux. “Jose liked her last week too [a half-mile in :48.40 Oct. 20]. He said she does it so easy and feels like there is another gear there.” Ortiz will ride the Oct. 5 GI Alcibiades runner-up for the first time in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Trainer Tom Amoss confirmed Saturday that G M B Racing’s Lone Sailor (Majestic Warrior) would be entered in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. Winner of the GIII Oklahoma Derby last time, Lone Sailor was pre-entered in the Classic as well as the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but Amoss said the determining factor was the pace setup for the Classic. James Graham, who has ridden Lone Sailor five times including the Oklahoma Derby victory, will have the mount in the Classic. Calumet Farm’s Derby Date (Will Take Charge) worked a half-mile in :48.20 Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. It was the third fastest of 24 at the distance on the day. Previously sitting on among the also eligibles, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee appears likely to enter the GI Juvenile fray following the defection of Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy), who is now expected to enter in the Street Sense S. Nov. 2. View the full article

Helmet (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), sire of this year’s G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire), will relocate from Dalham Hall Stud to Gestut Fahrhof in Germany for the 2019 breeding season, according to Racing Post. Helmet was a dual Group 1 winner Down Under at two and added the G1 Caulfield Guineas at three. Thunder Snow is one of seven stakes winners for his sire, and his lone Group 1 winner. He lines up in next weekend’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Helmet’s Anda Muchacho (Ire) won a Group 2 in Italy last weekend. View the full article