“That field is an incredible field”. “You couldn’t find a stronger field”.
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Officials from the city of Lexington, University of Kentucky, the Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland, which is hosting its first-ever championships this Friday and Saturday, all were on hand for the unveiling of the John R. Gaines plaque at Thoroughbred Park, as were members of his family, including widow Joan Gaines and son Thomas.
“He looked fantastic (in training) and I really feel good about the way he’s coming into this race”, said Baffert. “The horse is doing great”.
Triple Crown winning jockey Victor Espinoza shares a laugh before…
The Breeders’ Cup Festival will bring many people downtown this week.
With two Breeders’ Cup victories over females on her four-year resume, Beholder was entered in the Classic instead of Friday’s $2 million Distaff after posting dominating victories in all five of her races this year, all Grade 1 stakes, including an 81⁄4-length romp against the boys in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August. Gary Stevens will ride Beholder, the second choice at 3-1 for the Classic. Richard Mandella’s Beholder has won 15 of 20 career starts and is trying to join Zenyatta as the only mare to win the Classic, a distance test at 1 1/4 miles. Even though American Pharoah gave no signs of wear and tear over a campaign that saw him win six times before the Travers – including, of course, the tough Triple Crown – there was a few worry. American Pharoah goes for the grand slam in his last career start before retirement. The feeling here, though, is that the race will come down to the two favorites, with American Pharoah, well rested from the Triple Crown and his two summer journeys to the East Coast, giving his fans one last thrill to remember him by. She captured the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly. He is scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Tuesday.
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Untapable has won 9 of her 17 races, including the 2014 Kentucky Oaks, and earned $3.8 million, and a Distaff repeat with the approximate $1.1 million winner’s purse would have pushed her bank account close to $5 million.
