Local Trainers, Handicappers Give Selections for Breeders' Cup

Oct 31, 2019 Kevin Kerstein,Churchill Downs Communications

There are more than 40 horses competing at this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships with local ties including 19 horses that were based at Churchill Downs. Several trainers and handicappers have been watching and studying the local contenders and gave their selections:

Phil Bauer (Trainer): “I’m most looking forward to seeing Dennis’ Moment. I think he’s a very special horse and has shown the same, if not more, talent than Not This Time.”

Tim Glyshaw (Trainer): “I’m excited for Vickie Foley’s horse (Hog Creek Hustle). This horse has some of the same storylines as my previous Breeders’ Cup runners because he is coming from a smaller stable.”

Bill Berry (Churchill Downs Gap Attendant): “Steve (Asmussen)’s big two, Midnight Bisou and Mitole, look really tough to beat in both of their races.”

Buff Bradley (Trainer): “I think Covfefe should be pretty tough to beat and I’m rooting for Street Band as well.”

Norm Casse (Trainer): “Dale Romans’ horse (Dennis’ Moment) is very special. This horse has done everything the right way in his career and looks extremely talented.”

Ed DeRosa (Brisnet.com Handicapper): “Identifying a best bet is always a tricky business. I see Dennis’ Moment and Sistercharlie as the most likely winners between the two days but at or around 6-5 on both is hardly exciting. One horse I am excited to bet is Owendale in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This horse is going the right way and seems poised to deliver on the promise that encouraged trainer Brad Cox to run in the Preakness. In a year where the handicap division has not separated itself, Owendale can step up to win.”

Joe Kristufek (Churchill Downs Handicapper): “I love Stubbins in the Turf Sprint. Two races back he closed against the speed bias to finish second at Kentucky Downs and last time out he overcame a tough trip to prove his class at Keeneland. He won at this trip earlier in his career at Santa Anita, (Flavien) Prat is a good fit and the price is right at 12-1. His stablemate Legends of War also has a big shot. Looks like Doug O’Neill is holding pocket aces.”

Scott Shapiro (BetAmerica Handicapper): “Six furlongs is a bit shorter than ideal for Catalina Cruiser but he should get a great trip off a lively pace and be full of run late.”

The following locally based trainers and jockeys are set to compete at this year’s Breeders’ Cup:

Trainers:

--Tom Amoss: Serengeti Empress (Distaff, 12-1)

--Rusty Arnold II: Gear Jockey (Juvenile Turf, 20-1); Totally Boss (Turf Sprint, 5-1); Leinster (Turf Sprint, 8-1)

--Steve Asmussen: Wicked Whisper (Juvenile Fillies, 7-2); Shoplifted (Juvenile, 20-1); Snapper Sinclair (Dirt Mile, 30-1); Mitole (Sprint, 9-5); Engage (Sprint, 15-1); Midnight Bisou (Distaff, 6-5)

--Bret Calhoun: Mr. Money (Dirt Mile, 6-1)

--Mark Casse: Peace Achieved (Juvenile Turf, 10-1); Proven Strategies (Juvenile Turf, 30-1); Two Sixty (Juvenile Fillies, 15-1); Perfect Alibi (Juvenile Fillies, 10-1); Got Stormy (Mile, 7-2); War of Will (Classic, 20-1)

--Ignacio Correas: Blue Prize (Distaff, 6-1)

--Brad Cox: Andesite (Juvenile Turf, 12-1); British Idiom (Juvenile Fillies, 7-2); Covfefe (Filly and Mare Sprint, 2-1); Arkow (Turf, 12-1); Owendale (Classic, 15-1)

--Vickie Foley: Hog Creek Hustle (Sprint, 20-1)

--Larry Jones: Street Band (Distaff, 10-1)

--Eddie Kenneally: Abscond (Juvenile Fillies Turf, 15-1); Scabbard (Juvenile, 8-1); Girls Know Best (Turf Sprint, 20-1)

--Mike Maker: Chimney Rock (Juvenile Turf Sprint, 10-1); Zulu Alpha (Turf, 20-1)

--Ron Moquett: Whitmore (Sprint, 15-1)

--Bill Mott: Channel Maker (Turf, 10-1); Yoshida (Classic, 8-1); Elate (Classic, 6-1)

--Dale Romans: Dennis’ Moment (Juvenile, 8-5)

--Dallas Stewart: Seeking the Soul (Classic, 20-1)

--Brendan Walsh: Vitalogy (Juvenile Turf, 10-1)

Jockeys:

--Sophie Doyle: Street Band (Distaff, 10-1)

--Tyler Gaffalione: Cambria (Juvenile Turf Sprint, 12-1); Dawn the Destroyer (Filly and Mare Sprint, 20-1); Leinster (Turf Sprint, 8-1); Got Stormy (Mile, 7-2); War of Will (Classic, 20-1)

-Brian Hernandez Jr: Seeking the Soul (Classic, 20-1).

--Julien Leparoux: Bolo (Mile, 30-1)

--Miguel Mena: Peace Achieved (Juvenile Turf, 10-1)

--Gabriel Saez: Mr. Money (Dirt Mile, 6-1)

--Ricardo Santana Jr.: Shoplifted (Juvenile, 20-1); Heavenhasmynikki (Filly and Mare Sprint, 20-1); Snapper Sinclair (Dirt Mile, 30-1); Mitole (Sprint, 9-5)

Churchill Downs will simulcast the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Southern California’s Santa Anita on Friday and Saturday. Churchill Downs will run 10 races those days beginning at 2 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., respectively. The first 5,000 fans in attendance on Saturday will receive a free 2020 Churchill Downs Wall Calendar, presented by Humana. The colorful calendar features major event listings and vivid and memorable images from the Kentucky Derby and around the historic racetrack.

A simulcast of the 10-race “Future Stars Friday” card from Santa Anita will begin at 1:45 p.m. and the Breeders’ Cup will cover Races 5-9 (4:12-7:03 p.m.). Championship Saturday’s 12-race program at Santa Anita will commence at 1:07 p.m. with the Breeders’ Cup on Races 4-12 (Breeders’ Cup starts at 2:55 p.m.). It will culminate with the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) at 8:44 p.m. In addition to the simulcasts interspersed between live races, Churchill Downs will present two stakes races on Saturday, Nov. 2: the $200,000 Chilukki (GIII) for fillies and mares at one mile and $120,000-added Bet On Sunshine Overnight Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

When live racing concludes on Friday at 7:17 p.m. and Saturday at 8:10 p.m., simulcast wagering on the Breeders’ Cup will continue in the ITW area on the second floor of the Clubhouse, as well as reserved dining spaces and the Horsemen’s Services Center. Customers who attend Churchill Downs on Friday will be able to advance wager on the entire Championship Saturday program from Santa Anita. There is no advance wagering on-track Thursday for the Championship Friday program.

MYLADYCURLIN MADE 5-2 FAVORITE IN CHILUKKI, RECRUITING READY 5-2 CHOICE IN BET ON SUNSHINE – Saturday’s stakes doubleheader at Churchill Downs will feature the 34^th running of the $200,000 Chilukki (Grade III) where Sather Family’s multiple stakes winner Mylady Curlin was tabbed as the 5-2 morning line favorite while Sagamore Farm’s speedy Recruiting Ready will take the stage in the $120,000-added Bet On Sunshine as the 5-2 choice.

The one-mile Chilukki is slated as Race 8 with a post time of 6:42 p.m. while the six-furlong Bet On Sunshine is carded as Race 10 at 8:10 p.m. Churchill Downs will have a special late post of 2:15 p.m. on Saturday to run intermittent with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita.

In the Chilukki, Mylady Curlin (8-5-1-2—$422,605) will cut back in distance following her third-place effort in the $200,000 Locust Grove (GIII) in September. Trained by Brad Cox, Mylady Curlin’s last four starts took place at distances of 1 1/16 miles or greater and the Chilukki will be the first time the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin will compete around one turn since Feb. 1 at Oaklawn.

The complete field for the Chilukki from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, weight and morning line odds): Sally’s Curlin (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans, 118, 4-1); Mylady Curlin (Shaun Bridgmohan, Cox, 121, 8-5); Still There (Jon Court, Dane Kobiskie, 121, 6-1); She’s Pretty Lucky (Declan Cannon, Eddie Kenneally, 121, 20-1); Divine Queen (Calvin Borel, Buff Bradley, 121, 3-1); Chocolate Martini (James Graham, Tom Amoss, 121, 4-1); and Cairenn (Miguel Mena, Graham Motion, 121, 5-1).

Two races later, Sagamore Farm’s multiple stakes winner Recruiting Ready will lead a competitive field of 10 sprinters to the post in the Bet On Sunshine. Trained by Stan Hough, the speedy Recruiting Ready (24-8-3-5—$725,264) dominated a six-furlong allowance contest in September at Churchill Downs by 2 ½ lengths in a final time of 1:08.10. The 5-year-old son of Algorithms recently finished fourth, defeated just 1 ¼ lengths to $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) entrants Engage and Whitmore.

The field for the Bet On Sunshine from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, weight and morning line odds): Mr. Crow (Joe Rocco Jr., Ben Colebrook, 120, 12-1); Do Share (James Graham, Norm Casse, 124, 5-1); Zipp On By (Abel Lezcano, Rey Hernandez, 120, 20-1); Batterbatterswing (Declan Cannon, Ted Lucas, 120, 30-1); New York Central (Channing Hill, Steve Asmussen, 124, 6-1); Recruiting Ready (Lanerie, Hough, 124, 5-2); Cowboy Creed (Robby Albarado, Nevada Litfin, 120, 50-1); Bobby’s Wicked One (Miguel Mena, Al Stall Jr., 124, 3-1); Wilbo (Chris Landeros, Chris Hartman, 122, 8-1); Mr. Jagermeister (Leondro Goncalves, Valerie Lund, 122, 9-2).

DOWN THE STRETCH – The Single 6 Jackpot was hit Wednesday for $19,066.60. The wager will begin in Race 5 on Thursday and the jackpot will be reset. However, there is a carryover of $4,067 in the $1 Super High 5 in Race 10. The 10-race program will get underway at 1 p.m. … Trainer Mike Maker is three wins away from 400 career victories at Churchill Downs while his main clients, Ken and Sarah Ramsey are three wins away from 500 career wins at Churchill Downs. … Trainers David Fawkes and Randy Morse are two wins away from 1,000 career victories. Fawkes has two entries on Friday at Churchill Downs and four at Gulfstream Park West while Morse has three entries at Churchill Downs.