Weekend Review: Breeders' Cup Challenge Updates and Pennsylvania Derby
by Patricia Woo | Sep 27 2010
This weekend was a busy one in the horse racing world. Four Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" races were run overseas on Saturday, Sept. 25, with berths to the
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Juvenile Turf,
Juvenile Fillies Turf and
Breeders' Cup Mile going to the winners. Also, some of the leading 3-year-olds in the nation went head-to-head in the $1M Gr. 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing.
At Moonee Valley in Melbourne, Australia, 3-year-olds and up seeking a guaranteed berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint took to the grass in the $500,000 Group 1 Manikato Stakes. Under jockey Glyn Schofield, favorite Hay List dominated the race despite a poor start. Trained by John McNair, the 5-year-old briefly battled with Reward For Effort before drawing away for an easy 2 ½ length victory in the 6-furlong race.
Ascot hosted three "Win and You're In" races at 1 mile on Saturday. In the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes for 2-year-olds, the Henry Cecil-trained Frankel continued his impressive juvenile campaign with a runaway 10-length victory. Under jockey Tom Queally, Frankel made a bold last-to-first move that saw him overtake all rivals in the turn for home and then extend his lead for a visually stunning win – and an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
White Moonstone, too, continued her winning ways in the Group 1 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile but had much tougher rivals in Theyskens' Theory and Together. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Frankie Dettori, the 2-year-old daughter of Dynaformer raced at the back of the pack while Theyskens' Theory clung to the lead as the field turned for home. Together made her move as White Moonstone moved up from the rear, and the two converged on the leader. White Moonstone took over the lead and then held off Together for the win. Despite the victory, White Moonstone will not go on to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; instead, she will winter in Dubai.
Dettori earned another win at Ascot - this time in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes aboard 3-year-old Poet's Voice, who narrowly held off Rip Van Winkle in a thrilling blanket finish along with Red Jazz. Poet's Voice, also trained by Saeed bin Suroor, will now be pointed to the Breeders' Cup Mile. A surprise was the disappointing finish by Makfi, who defeated defending Breeders' Cup Mile champion Goldikova earlier this year; the 3-year-old Dubawi colt hit the wire in fifth and will now be reevaluated before his next race is determined.
At Parx Racing - formerly Philadelphia Park - top 3-year-olds were in action in the $1M Gr. 1 Pennsylvania Derby. The 1 1/8 mile test featured Preakness Stakes runner-up First Dude and Jim Dandy Stakes winner A Little Warm, but the day belonged to third choice Morning Line, trained by Nick Zito. Under John Velazquez, the son of Tiznow set the pace ahead of First Dude and Exhi. A Little Warm made his move on the outside on the final turn, coming out ahead, but could not hold off a re-rallying Morning Line or First Dude. In the final strides, Morning Line emerged the leader and was followed to the wire by First Dude and then A Little Warm to round out the top three. Morning Line has now earned $674,800 from six starts and has a record of 3-2-0.
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