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<h2>Cocktails & Conversation Welcomes Racing Analyst And Trainer Andie Biancone To Wednesday’s Show</h2>
WHAT:&nbsp; “Cocktails & Conversation,” the virtual happy hour series, is back on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The eighth episode of the season will feature racing analyst and horse trainer Andie Biancone. The episode will be hosted by Britney Eurton and Nick Luck of NBC Sports who will be joined by renowned mixologist and creator of Breeders’ Cup’s official cocktails Mark Tubridy.

This week will feature a fall inspired cocktail - PSL. This coffee-based beverage is made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, First Light Coffee Whiskey, amaro, cream, and pumpkin spice syrup.

WHO:&nbsp;Andie Biancone, the daughter of horse trainer Patrick Biancone, trains a string of her father’s horses and works as a reporter and racing analyst for TVG. Andie recently brought a group of horses to Del Mar over the summer, while also covering the races for TVG. She has campaigned numerous horses for the Biancone stable including Diamond Oops, the talented gelding with over $1.4 million in earnings, and will oversee “Win and You’re In” Darley Alcibiades Stakes contender Infinite Diamond for Fall Stars weekend at Keeneland. 
WHEN:&nbsp;Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT
WHERE:&nbsp;Live streams can be viewed on Breeders’ Cup’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/breederscup">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BreedersCup">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWZuaUWzzl60uclgZ9QsOJw">YouTube</a> channels. 
HOW: To learn more about the virtual happy hour series, watch past episodes, and to support those in need, please visit <a href="https://www.breederscup.com/convos">BreedersCup.com/Convos</a>.
ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes. The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 championship races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, will be held on November 4 and 5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, and will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

Race Order and Wagering Menu Announced for 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships

/news/2021/race-order-and-wagering-menu-announced-for-2021-breeders--cup-world-championships

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The Breeders' Cup announced today the official order of races and wagering menu for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6 at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, Calif.

Cocktails & Conversation Welcomes Racing Analyst And Trainer Andie Biancone To Wednesday’s Show

<h2>A Closer Look at 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Hopeful Blazing Sevens
 </h2>
Article courtesy of America's Best Racing;&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
The fields for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders’ Cup World Championships really begin to come into focus in summer and fall and this regular feature will offer a snapshot profile of one of the previous weekend’s standout stars.
Blazing Sevens punched his ticket to the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a win in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes Oct. 1 at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. The Champagne has produced four 2-year-olds that went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in the last 15 editions: War Pass (2007), Uncle Mo (2020), Shanghai Bobby (2012), and Good Magic (2017). The first three listed both races while Good Magic used a runner-up finish in the Champagne as a springboard to Breeders’ Cup success.
Like his sire, Good Magic, Blazing Sevens is on target for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for trainer Chad Brown off an impressive effort in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. Unlike his sire, who ran second in the Champagne in 2017 before winning the Juvenile, Blazing Sevens heads to the World Championships off a win by 3 ¼ lengths as the co-longest shot in the field at 8.50-1.
Blazing Sevens made a terrific first impression when winning his debut July 24, 2022, at Saratoga Race Course by 6 ¼ lengths to earn an 85 Equibase Speed Figure and a 78 Beyer Speed Figure. He then finished a distant third, beaten by 12 lengths, in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes on a sloppy track at Saratoga Sept. 5. That uninspired effort on a sloppy track at Saratoga no doubt led betters to look elsewhere in the Champagne on Aqueduct’s main track, but Blazing Sevens provided a compelling reminder that every dirt main track plays differently when rain turns it muddy or sloppy.
The dark bay or brown colt appeared much more comfortable on the sealed-sloppy main track at Aqueduct despite trailing the six-horse Champagne field early. He moved up between horses in the final half-mile of the one-turn-mile race, angled to the outside under jockey Flavien Prat, and finished with a powerful rush to surge well clear.
While the other runners were slowing down significantly after a moderate pace, Blazing Sevens had plenty left in the stretch with a final eighth of a mile in 12.41 seconds, which was about half a second faster than runner-up Verifying. Blazing Sevens earned a career-best 95 Equibase Speed Figure and 91 Beyer Speed Figure in the victory and cemented his credentials as a top contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile while earning an expenses-paid starting spot via the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. He looks like a serious win candidate for several reasons:<ul><li>With five weeks between his final prep race and the Breeders’ Cup, Blazing Sevens should have plenty of time to recover from a career-best race.</li><li>Blazing Sevens’ speed figures are competitive with the rest of the 2-year-old male division, although like most hopefuls he would very likely need to improve to win Nov. 4 at Keeneland.</li><li>He’s bred to handle stretching out to two turns as his sire, the aforementioned Good Magic, won the 2017 Juvenile en route to an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male and then ran second in the 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. His dam (mother), Trophy Girl, by Warrior’s Reward, also was a winner around two turns.</li><li>While many might assume that tactical speed is extraordinarily important in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – and it certainly doesn’t hurt – closers, stalkers/closers, and stalkers have won 11 of the last 20 editions of the Juvenile. It’s a race often won by 2-year-olds who prefer to rally from off the pace.</li><li>Thirteen of the last 20 winners entered off of victories, nine were Grade 1 winners, and 11 entered off of open-length wins … so Blazing Sevens checks quite a few boxes.</li></ul>
“He’s been a wonderful horse to get along with. He’s all class,” Brown said of Blazing Sevens. “I want to thank Pete Bradley for picking him out and John and Carla Capek, the owners. This is their second year in owning horses and they’re lovely people, very deserving. If he comes out healthy, it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup.”<iframe style="width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dOT-XRZK11g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Defending Champion Torquator Tasso Among 20 Runners in Sunday's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe

/news/2022/defending-champion-torquator-tasso-among-20-runners-in-sunday-s-qatar-prix-de-l-arc-de-triomphe

A Closer Look at 2022 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Hopeful Blazing Sevens

<h2>Epicenter Rises to No. 2 and Derby Winner Rich Strike Enters The Top 10 In Latest Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings</h2>
Undefeated Flightline Maintains Overall Lead
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 4, 2022) ― Winchell Thoroughbred’s Travers Stakes (G1) winner Epicenter moved into second place, and Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike entered the top 10 for the first time, while the undefeated Flightline retained his overall lead in this week’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings.
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 5. 
Flightline, owned by Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing, LLC, received 290 votes. Trained by John Sadler, Flightline has won both the Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) this year. Flightline worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.04 at Santa Anita Park on Saturday in preparation for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. 
The 3-year-old Epicenter, trained by Steve Asmussen, hopped over Life Is Good and into second place this week with 281 votes. The 4-year-old Life Is Good, making his first start since winning the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 6, won Saturday’s 1 1/8th-mile Woodward (G1) at Aqueduct by 1 ¼ lengths. Owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC, and trained by Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good earned 217 votes. 

Zedan Racing Stable’s Taiba, winner of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) for trainer Bob Baffert, rises one spot to fourth place with 188 votes. Olympiad, owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable LLC, and LNJ Foxwoods, dropped one position to fifth place with 181 votes.&nbsp;Olympiad, trained by Bill Mott, has won six of seven races this year, including Saratoga’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

Boat Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss’ Hot Rod Charlie, who defeated Rich Strike by a head in Saturday’s Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, is in sixth place with 164 votes. Country Grammer, who finished second in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, is in seventh place with 97 votes. 
Rich Strike, owned by RED TR-Racing, LLC, and trained by Eric Reed, enters the top 10 at No. 8 with 61 votes after his hard-fought runner-up spot in the Lukas Classic. Gold Square LLC’s Cyberknife, winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), is in ninth place with 46 votes. 
Another horse joining the top 10 for the first time, following his frontrunning victory in the Awesome Again Stakes, is Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s 4-year-old Defunded. Also trained by Baffert, Defunded is 10th place with 30 votes. 
The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 11. consisting of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. A list of voting members can be found here.
In the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order. 
 
Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings – Oct. 4, 2022* <table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Horse</td><td>Votes</td><td>First Place Votes</td><td>Previous Week</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Flightline</td><td>290</td><td>29</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Epicenter</td><td>217</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Life Is Good</td><td>217</td><td>0</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Taiba</td><td>188</td><td>0</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Olympiad</td><td>181</td><td>0</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Hot Rod Charlie</td><td>164</td><td>0</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Country Grammer</td><td>97</td><td>0</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Rich Strike</td><td>61</td><td>0</td><td>16</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Cyberknife</td><td>46</td><td>0</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Defunded</td><td>30</td><td>0</td><td>Not Rated</td></tr></tbody></table> *Note – The Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track at Keeneland, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.
ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
Breeders’ Cup Limited administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.
The 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The Championships will be televised live by NBC Sports. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.

Epicenter Rises To No. 2 and Derby Winner Rich Strike Enters The Top 10 In Latest Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings

<h2>Where to Eat and Drink, What to Do When Visiting Keeneland
 </h2>
Article courtesy of Noel Michaels of America's Best Racing;&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
Are you a horse racing fan that is planning a trip this fall to Keeneland Race Course, either for the fall meet and/or the Breeders’ Cup? If you answered yes, you are not alone. As host of the 2022 World Championships, Lexington, Ky. will surely be a popular travel destination for horseplayers and racing fans from far and wide this season.
Whether you are a repeat visitor or a frequent visitor to the greater Lexington area, this may very well be the first trip to Keeneland you’ve made since the pandemic, and you may not be up to speed on the latest offerings on the local hospitality scene. And so, here are some spots to be aware of that are new and wonderful in an around Lexington to make a part of your upcoming trip to Keeneland, plus some tips on where to stay and some fun things to do while you are there. The Breeders’ Cup is what it’s all about, but if you are visiting Keeneland, the races aren’t the only game in town.
WHERE TO EAT
New and Notable
East End Tap and Table
333 E. Main St., Lexington
859-785-2511
East End Tap and Table is a casual gastropub and tap house near the heart of the city that serves classic American dishes with an international twist. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner with good cocktails and a rotating beer list. Happy hour weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. offers a variety of great food and drink specials. This establishment receives a certified Seal of Approval from ABR’s resident central Kentucky foodie, Greg Charkoudian.
Frank and Dino’s
271 W. Short St., Lexington
859-303-4007
Frank and Dino’s is located in downtown Lexington in the Security Trust building, serving up traditional Italian recipes with fresh ingredients in a nostalgic Italian-American yet cosmopolitan atmosphere. The restaurant boasts a vast wine selection, which you can enjoy in the dining room or in the bar area, which features live music on select nights. They offer 50% off food and drink specials for happy hour until 6:30. Frank and Dino’s is co-owned by Carlo Vaccarezza, a longtime horse owner, breeder, and trainer based in south Florida.
ItalX
160 W Main St., Lexington
859-407-5100
ItalX promises elevated contemporary Italian cuisine with quality ingredients and inspired service in a space that is warm and inviting. It’s located downtown at City Center, the hotel and business development that opened in early 2020 and is getting back up to full activity after the height of the COVID pandemic. ItalX serves dinner six nights a week and lunch on weekends, with plenty of wines, cocktails, small plates, and pasta entrees and desserts made from scratch. Vegetarian and gluten-free options also available.
Old Favorites
Lockbox
167 W. Main, Lexington (corner of Upper and Main)
859-899-6860
Enjoy hearty food at this popular restaurant on the ground floor of the 21C Hotel (already booked for Breeders’ Cup) that serves seasonal local dishes for breakfast and dinner, plus brunches on weekends. You will have a selection of wines and inspired cocktails to go along with a variety of salads, and entrees such as steak frites, grilled quail, catfish, and the Lockbox cheeseburger, all served in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Epping’s on Eastside
264 Walton Ave., Lexington
859-971-0240
For a higher-end dining experience that should not disappoint, Epping’s on Eastside offers steak, chicken, pork, and fish entrees with a local-first mindset with ingredients sourced from the region’s faming community. Located in a renovated historic building on Lexington’s Warehouse block, this is a sophisticated space offering a top-notch dining experience for dinner six nights a week, with brunch on weekends. Weekly events are offered, such as wine dinners, live music nights, and happy hour specials weekdays from 4-6 p.m.
Keeneland Track Kitchen
Keeneland Race Course
4201 Versailles Road, Lexington
859-254-3412
You don’t have to be a horseman to enjoy breakfast or lunch at Keeneland’s Track Kitchen staring at 6 a.m. daily, but you certainly might end up rubbing elbows with trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, and other race fans at this iconic attraction. If you are staying near the racetrack and visiting Keeneland, you truly don’t know what you are missing if you haven’t been to the Track Kitchen, which is open to the public on the Keeneland backstretch all year long. Located near the barn area, just follow the on-site signage and look for the black water tower. You’ll be glad you did. Online ordering is available.
WHERE TO DRINK
The Break Room and Elkhorn Tavern
1178 Manchester St., Lexington
These two establishments are among several in Lexington’s hopping Distillery District, just west of downtown off of Manchester Street and following alongside the Town Branch of Elkhorn Creek. The Break Room is a classic dive bar, while the Elkhorn is a showcase for cocktails made from Barrell House Distilling products. Both places also serve food and feature live music. Other nearby places to check out are a location of the popular Goodfellas Pizzaria chain and, across the street, The Burl for live music and classic arcade games.–Patrick Reed
Creaux
310 W. Short St., Lexington
859-469-8960
This Big Easy-inspired cocktail bar has a relaxed vibe through most evenings until the DJ starts around 11 p.m. on weekends, when the energy picks up. Before that, stop for a drink and a bite (gumbo, fried fish, beignets are on the menu) and especially check this place out for live music, again ending around 11. Creaux books excellent jazz and r&b bands from the area on Friday and Saturday.–Patrick Reed
WHAT TO DO
If you are visiting Lexington for the Keeneland fall meet or for the Breeders’ Cup and have a few extra days to enjoy some of the sights and attractions in the area, read onward for some entertainment options that may be appealing for horseplayers.
Keeneland Race Course
4201 Versailles Road, Lexington
859-254-3412 and 800-456-3412
The 2022 Keeneland fall race meet will feature 17 live Thoroughbred racing dates, Wednesdays through Sundays from Oct. 7 to Oct. 29. Keeneland will attract big fields and quality horses befitting its status as the world epicenter of Thoroughbred horseracing. Gates open daily at 11 a.m. Plus, this year racing will extend another weekend at Keeneland as racing returns for the Breeders’ Cup World Championship meeting on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 4-5. Keeneland began requiring ticket purchases in advance as COVID-19 restrictions eased up and caps daily attendance – check their website and/or call ahead for availability.
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail
The Lexington area is the world capital of bourbon whiskey, and there are 15 bourbon distilleries located within 45 minutes of the city. No visit to the area would be complete without vising at least one bourbon distillery, or taking a tour of multiple distilleries, many of which are not located far away from Keeneland. Among the many, many bourbon distilleries you might want to visit in closest proximity to Keeneland are Woodford Reserve, located at 7785 McCracken Pike in Versailles, Ky., and Four Roses, located at 1224 Bonds Mill Road in Lawrenceburg, Ky.
Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington
859-233-4303
Lexington is the horse capital of the world, and if you drive out of town in any direction you will soon find yourself in horse country surrounded by rolling hills and pristine Kentucky bluegrass. Most of the big farms like the famous Claiborne and Calumet and many, many more offer tours of the horse farms, either as scheduled public tours or on a call-ahead and make a reservation basis. Perhaps the best option for a day trip is the world-renowned Kentucky Horse Park, which is a showcase of museums, and exhibits where you can see 50 different breeds of horses and visit the Hall of Champions, which is the current residence of former equine athletes such as Funny Cide and Point Given. You can also visit the Memorial Walk and see the final resting place of horses such as Man o’ War and memorials to horses who were former residents of the park like Alysheba, Cigar, Forego, Go For Gin, and John Henry.
HOW TO GET TO LEXINGTON
Keeneland and Lexington are accessible via two Interstate Highways including I-75 to/from Cincinnati to the north and Knoxville to the south, and the east-west I-64 which connects Lexington to Louisville. Most people who visit Lexington will fly into Blue Grass Airport, which is conveniently located right across from Keeneland on the other side of Route 60 (Versailles Road).
As for hotel options, there are of course, many places to stay in Lexington/Fayette Co. and surrounding towns, but it’s best to plan your trip as soon as possible with the knowledge that most of the higher-quality lodging in Lexington is already sold out for Breeders’ Cup weekend, and many rooms are booked already for weekends in October when Keeneland is holding its traditional meet.
Blue Grass Airport
4000 Terminal Drive
An Official Partner of the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships, Blue Grass Airport is served by five commercial airlines offering 16 non-stop destinations at a terminal that neighbors Keeneland. New flights have been added for Breeders’ Cup weekend serving Denver, Houston, and Washington Dulles on United as well as flights between Lexington and New York LaGuardia on Delta.

Where to Eat and Drink, What to Do When Visiting Keeneland

Road to the 2022 Breeders' Cup: All Eyes on Keeneland for Fall Stars Weekend

<h2>Chocolate Gelato Delivers Sweet Victory in Frizette, Major Dude Takes Pilgrim

 </h2>
Article courtesy of BloodHorse. Image courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire.
Repole Stable’s Chocolate Gelato fought off a determined You’re My Girl coming out of the turn to win the $400,000, Grade 1 Frizette Stakes by a length on a sloppy main track at the Belmont at the Big A meet held at Aqueduct Oct. 2. The victory earned the 2-year-old daughter of Practical Joke a spot in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. gave Chocolate Gelato a patient ride along the rail in the early going of the one-turn mile Frizette, when You’re My Girl served as pacesetter through opening fractions of :23.14 and :46.90. As the field entered the turn, Ortiz weaved through horses and came around to the outside of You’re My Girl to take the lead entering the stretch. You’re My Girl did not taking being passed quietly and re-rallied under Joel Rosario but could not catch the leader. The final time was 1:38.57.
Trainer Todd Pletcher said the Frizette gave him confidence that Chocolate Gelato would have no trouble handling the Juvenile Fillies distance of 1 1/16 miles.
“She settled through and handled the mile really well. I liked the way she turned off, and it gives you the impression two turns is going to be within her range,” he said. “I think she got there a little bit early and was waiting a bit. (You’re My Girl) didn’t give up; that’s a nice filly. She fought back, so I was proud of our filly for staying on to the wire. That was a nice field she beat.”
Chocolate Gelato finished third in her debut July 14 at Saratoga Race Course. In her second start Aug. 14, she won gate to wire by 8 ½ lengths.
Ortiz said the filly is still learning and got a lot of the race.
“I had to work a little more aggressive on her, but she kept responding and got the job done,” he said. “I let her do her thing and she was moving already so I said, ‘Alright, it’s time to go,’ and I didn’t want to get in her way. I had a lot of confidence in her. She’s a nice filly, so I ride her with confidence. When I asked, she was there for me.”
Besides being a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Race, the Frizette is a points race for the 2023 Longines Kentucky Oaks. Chocolate Gelato earned 10 points for next spring’s Oaks.<iframe style="width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wyda7uQeAKg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
 


<h3>Major Dude Handles Surface Switch in Pilgrim</h3>
Spendthrift Farm’s Major Dude had made his first three starts on dirt with some success, winning his debut at Monmouth Park back in July and running third in his most recent start, the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth on Aug. 27. But trainer Todd Pletcher decided to exercise the son of freshman sire Bolt d’Oro on turf twice at Belmont Park in advance of a start in the $200,000, Grade 2 Pilgrim Stakes on the Oct. 2 card at Belmont at the Big A, and that change in surfaces proved to be beneficial, as Major Dude posted an upset win over favored I’m Very Busy, earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in the process.
Sent off at odds of 10.20-1, Major Dude sat in third through six furlongs before angling out in the far turn and taking the lead in early stretch. I’m Very Busy, the 3-4 favorite, rallied in the middle of the yielding turf course but ran out of real estate and Major Dude prevailed by length. Final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:46.60.
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. felt confident in his colt’s chances early in the race.
“At the half-mile, I think I can go by those horses whenever I want to,” said Ortiz, Jr. “I feel like my horse switched off on the backside and saved a lot of energy for the end and I took some time.
“I worked the horse and I thought he loved the grass,” added Ortiz, Jr. “He felt really good on it and worked really well on the bridle. He handled [softer going] really well. He got the job done, so I can’t complain.”
Major Dude, a Spendthrift homebred, improved his career record to two wins in four starts with earnings of $165,250.
“He’s a colt that we’ve really liked from the very beginning,” said Pletcher. “He was one of the first to come in [this year]. He was training well on the dirt and we gave him a couple opportunities and we just kind of got the feeling that we weren’t getting everything that we thought we had. So, I saw a couple of Bolt d’Oros were running well on the turf and said, ‘Let’s work him on the turf.’ Then it was like, OK, that’s what we were hoping to see. I’m not surprised he stepped up today. He’s always been a very professional, straightforward colt. I’m happy he found what he was looking for."

<iframe style="width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yRtaWUxHDM0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Chocolate Gelato Delivers Sweet Victory in Frizette, Major Dude Takes Pilgrim

<h2>Blazing Sevens Wins Champagne to Earn Breeders' Cup Berth, Pleasant Passage Upsets Miss Grillo
 </h2>
Article courtesy of BloodHorse;&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
When trainer Chad Brown opted to run Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens in the $500,000, Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at the Belmont at the Big A meet on Oct. 1 instead of the longer, two-turn Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 8 at Keeneland, he didn't plan on interference from meteorologists.
"I was planning to go the Breeders' Futurity but then I called an audible last week after his work," Brown said. "I thought he was a real Breeders' Cup candidate and was dying to get him around two turns, but I rather have the five weeks of rest (before the Breeders' Cup). So, I decided to ship him here (for the Champagne) and, sure enough, the hurricane came north, and I was just sick over it the last few days since I had already committed to run here."
Brown's concerns centered on Blazing Sevens' last race, when he ran on a sloppy track in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and finished third but was a distant 12 lengths behind the victorious Forte.
Clearly, as it turned out, Spa slop and Big A slop are different surfaces as Blazing Sevens relished the wet-going at Aqueduct and rallied from last in the field of six while splashing to a 3 1/4-length victory over Verifying in the $500,000 Champagne for 2-year-olds and securing a free spot in the Nov. 4 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
"Maybe it was a Saratoga thing. I'm not really sure about the last trip, why he didn't fire. He didn't run bad, but he wasn't himself," Brown said. "Today he moved through it perfectly"
The victory gave Brown back-to-back Champagne wins and four since 2016, but it was a second-place finish in the stakes in 2017 that added to the emotion of the moment for the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer. Five years ago, Brown sent out Good Magic to finish second to Firenze Fire in the Champagne, only to have Good Magic win the Juvenile and be named the champion 2-year-old male.
On Saturday, Brown savored his role in sending out the juvenile who became the first Grade 1 winner for first-year sire Good Magic, now a stallion at Hill 'n' Dale Farm.
"It's such a reward because Good Magic was very unlucky in the Champagne to lose to a Jason Servis (trained) horse, which is a real head-scratcher," Brown said. "This was some good karma for us that his son was able to get his head in front in the Champagne and win like he did."
Brown is hoping Blazing Sevens can mirror his sire at the Breeders' Cup, where Good Magic rolled to victory in his first try around two turns.
"He's looking for two turns, this horse," Brown said about Blazing Sevens. "I can't wait to get him around two turns. You just need everything to go right. He's got some time with five weeks. We have to get through a lot of hurdles. He needs to ship good, get a good post and all those things. This isn't our first rodeo, so hopefully he can emulate his daddy and cap off a championship year with a win in the Breeders' Cup."
A patient ride by Flavien Prat paid off in the one-turn mile as he kept Blazing Sevens at the back while Andiamo a Firenze set the early fractions of :23.32 and :47.09 while leading by a length over 1.55-1 favorite Gulfport, who was second as the even-money choice in the Hopeful.
Leaving the quarter pole, the field tightened up as Gulfport collared a tiring Andiamo a Firenze only to have debut winner Verifying move up inside of him and Blazing Sevens swoop into contention from the far outside.
Verifying, a son of Triple Crown winner Justify, forged to a half-length lead at the eighth pole but could not fend off a strong late surge from Blazing Sevens.
Sent off at 8.50-1 odds, Blazing Sevens ($19) was timed in 1:37.07 for the mile over the sloppy, sealed course that he handled with aplomb this time around.
"I could tell he hated the track (at Saratoga)," Brown said. "The fact that he got third and galloped out OK was amazing because (jockey Manny Franco) told us that day he hated the track and that he never felt good under him. These young horses, you're always learning about. They're going to catch different surfaces. These are inexperienced horses and you're going to learn a lot about them as you go. Sometimes it's going to go your way and other times you're going to have to retreat. Today, it went our way and this horse moved forward."
Verifying was second by 1 1/2 lengths over Gulfport, who finished third.<iframe style="width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dOT-XRZK11g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<h3>Pleasant Passage Scores Frontrunning Victory in Miss Grillo</h3>
Belmont at the Big A hosted a total of two Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" races on Saturday's card, with the $200,000, Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies offering a qualifying berth into the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland in Nov. 4. The upset winner of the Miss Grillo was Pleasant Passage for trainer Shug McGaughey with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Sent off as the fourth betting choice at 9.60-1 in a six-horse field, Pleasant Passage went right to the lead from the start and held off favorites Free Look and Be Your Best to win the race by three quarters of a length. Final time was 1:45.25 for 1 1/16 miles run over a yielding turf course. 
Pleasant Passage was making just her second career start after having won her maiden race at first asking in a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Saratoga by a neck on Aug. 21. Pleasant Passage came from off the pace for her maiden win, but she changed tactics and went straight to the lead in the Miss Grillo and never looked back.
“She ran well in her first start from a little off the pace coming up the rail, McGaughey said. "She was very professional. Today, there wasn't any speed in the race and she had trained sharp off her last race. Irad let her do her thing when she broke and he rode a good race on her.” 
Pleasant Passage paid $21.20 to win. Free Look was second for trainer Chad Brown with Flavien Prat aboard. It was another two lengths back to the 6-5 favorite, Be Your Best, trained by Horacio De Paz and ridden by Jose Ortiz, in third.<iframe style="width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/12WtgcIGZVM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>

Blazing Sevens Wins Champagne to Earn Breeders' Cup Berth, Pleasant Passage Upsets Miss Grillo

<h2>Defunded Earns Breeders’ Cup Classic Berth in Awesome Again
 </h2>
Article courtesy of BloodHorse;&nbsp;Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportswire
Most horses enjoy spending the summer at Del Mar, but not Defunded.
“He was a compete wreck at Del Mar,” said trainer Bob Baffert.
Once back at Santa Anita Park, Defunded reversed his attitude. Coming off two unplaced efforts at Del Mar, Defunded responded to being back “home” with a front-running win in the $301,500, Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 1. And while he didn’t turn in a performance to rival the absent Flightline’s 19 ¼-length domination in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Defunded beat a field that included Country Grammer, Royal Ship, and Express Train, who finished second, third, and fourth to Flightline.
Baffert entered four in the 1 1/8-mile race, which offers a “Win & You’re In” berth to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic. Bettors backed Country Grammer, who earlier this year won the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, down to 11-10 favoritism. Royal Ship and Express Train were the second and third choices, followed by Defunded at 5-1.
With Juan Hernandez aboard Country Grammer and Abel Cedillo, Defunded’s regular jockey, on Baffert-trained High Connection, Baffert named Edwin Maldonado on Defunded.
“I think he’s a really good rider, and he rides my horses really well,” Baffert said. “He rides them with confidence. I love to put him on speed horses. He’s so smooth out of the gate. He just gets horses running away from there.”
Maldonado did just that in the Awesome Again, breaking Defunded on top. The rest of the field left him alone through the first part of the race as Defunded completed the first quarter-mile in :22.67 and a half-mile in :46.70.
Slow Down Andy, a California-bred 3-year-old coming off a turf win in the Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby, stumbled badly at the start, but got back into the race for jockey Mario Gutierrez. He ranged up close to Defunded on the backside, yet Defunded held him at bay. Slow Down Andy gamely took another run at him around the second turn, an effort that ultimately proved futile.
Defunded kept to his task all through the stretch, expanding what had been a length lead through most of the race to 1 ¾ lengths at the wire in 1:49.38. Country Grammer came on to grab second from Slow Down Andy by a half-length. It was another 4 ½ lengths back to Express Train in fourth.<iframe style="width: 500px; height: 281px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nNq-k53qKdo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
 “Bob told me I had a great shot in this race, so put him on the lead,” said Maldonado. “And when Bob says you have a shot, you have a shot.”
Baffert noted that Country Grammer “didn’t have that punch like he usually has today – he could be getting a little tired.”
Baffert trains Defunded for longtime clients Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman, who led all owners at the recent Del Mar meeting, despite Defunded not contributing to the cause. The Awesome Again was Defunded’s first stakes win, and he gave Baffert his eighth win in the race.
At Del Mar, Defunded finished seventh in the San Diego Handicap and sixth in the Pat O’Brien Stakes.
“He just couldn’t handle that paddock down there,” said Baffert. “He had a complete meltdown.”
The question arose as to whether Defunded would like Keeneland, where this year’s Breeders’ Cup is being held.
“We don’t know yet,” admitted Baffert. “We know it’s a Win and You’re In. We’re going to think about that and,” – Baffert smiled and added – ”look at the competition. I don’t know if he’s mentally capable of handling that Keeneland paddock. I’m not sure. Right now we’re just going to enjoy this win.”

Defunded Earns Breeders’ Cup Classic Berth in Awesome Again

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