Tom Pedulla provides takeaways from a racing weekend highlighted by a pair of Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence Races value $2 million every at Kentucky Downs and massive closing playing cards at Del Mar and Colonial Downs.
PERFECT TRIP: Not a lot had gone proper for Todd Pletcher-trained Grand Sonata throughout a seven-race shedding streak that included six graded-stakes races. Then, with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for the 1 ½-mile FanDuel TV Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes, it abruptly did. The 5-year-old son of Medaglia d’Oro loved a dream journey in denying Freeway Robber by a half-length in a course-record 2:24.93. Bred and owned by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm, Grand Sonata was despatched off at odds of 15.39-1, which didn’t faze Gaffalione. “He’s only a actual cool horse,” the jockey mentioned. “He’s simply had loads of dangerous luck and tough journeys. However (Saturday) all the pieces opened up after we wanted it and he completed the job properly.” Grand Sonata earned a fees-paid berth to the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 2 at Del Mar with the win.
SIZZLING PERFORMANCE: The Ainsworth Turf Dash Stakes figured to have an awesome favourite in Cogburn. In his remaining prep for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Dash, he took quick command and dominated the six-furlong contest. Khaadem, his closest pursuer, was 3 ¼ lengths behind. The 5-year-old son of Not This Time stopped the teletimer in 1:07.68, not removed from the observe report of 1:07.41. He had already taken care of locking up a spot within the Turf Dash by setting a North American report of 59.80 seconds within the June 8 Jaipur Stakes Offered by Resolute Racing at Saratoga. His newest tour de drive provides him a 3-for-3 report this season heading into the World Championships. “For him to validate the shape he has proven all yr lengthy in his turf sprints could be very particular,” mentioned Steve Asmussen, his Corridor of Fame coach. “I beloved how good the sphere was and everyone was right here. He confirmed how unbelievably quick he’s.”
HUGE AFTERNOON: Manny Franco is greatest recognized for his constantly strong performances on the New York circuit. He took his present on the street to Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., on Saturday – with large outcomes. Franco piloted seven winners, 5 of them in stakes races. He credited his psychological preparation. “Each time I come ready with a superb thoughts, which provides me a superb likelihood to win races,” he mentioned. His most vital victory got here astride Deterministic, who obtained up by a neck within the $504,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby. It was the primary victory in three begins since coach Christophe Clement took the 3-year-old son of Liam’s Map off the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve path and shifted him to the turf.
DOUBLE THE FUN: Asmussen didn’t get the outcome he hoped for when Tiztastic debuted with a fifth-place end on the grime at Saratoga July 27, so he determined to attempt the Tiz the Regulation colt on grass at Kentucky Downs. The reward was nearly absolutely better than what he might have anticipated. Tiztastic eked out a slim victory within the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Sunday for his second victory on the observe in 10 days. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. was impressed by what he felt beneath him within the Juvenile Mile. “He was shifting so clean and so good,” he mentioned. “I felt like I had horse each step of the way in which and I simply bided my time.”
DEL MAR WRAP-UP: Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert secured his first Del Mal summer season season coaching title since 2003 and he did it in fashion, wrapping up the crown when Gaming, beneath Flavien Prat’s heady experience, rallied to supply Baffert along with his report 18th Del Mar Futurity victory Sunday. In 76 begins, Baffert trainees completed within the cash a outstanding 73 p.c of the time. Juan Hernandez earned his third consecutive using title whereas Hronis Racing was a runaway winner as main proprietor with 12 victories, eight greater than 5 different possession teams. Wagering remained regular at $502,985,000 with a median each day deal with of $16,225,000.
