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ZENYATTA, MINE THAT BIRD HEADLINE SENSATIONAL
BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SATURDAY ON ESPN CLASSIC;
JUDDMONTE SPINSTER FEATURED SUNDAY ON ESPN

Defending Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic winner ZENYATTA will go postward as the prohibitive favorite in Saturday’s Grade I $300,000 Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita Park in an attempt to notch her 13th career tally from as many tries. The daughter of Street Cry (IRE) has won all 12 of her previous starts, and will seek to match Personal Ensign’s historical undefeated benchmark by scoring her 13th win against major competition. The Lady’s Secret is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge automatic qualifying race for Ladies’ Classic.

The Lady’s Secret headlines a 2 ½ hour live ESPN Classic telecast (5:00-7:30 p.m. ET) of the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge – Presented by Emirates Airline” show from the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita. The broadcast will also include coverage of the $350,000 Goodwood Stakes, featuring Kentucky Derby winner MINE THAT BIRD; the $150,000 Oak Tree Mile (gr. II); and from Keeneland Race Course, the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. I) and the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I). (Coverage of the Goodwood and Lady’s Secret will also be shown ESPN or ESPN2 in between college football coverage. Details to be announced on Wednesday.)

Zenyatta’s stablemate LIFE IS SWEET may wind up posing her stiffest test in the Lady’s Secret, as that Pam and Marty Wygod mare is nominated to both the Lady’s Secret and the Grade I Yellow Ribbon on the turf course that same afternoon. Also slated as potential challengers are ALLICANSAYIS WOW, beaten twice by Zenyatta thus far in her 2009 campaign but most recently second against males in the Grade II Del Mar Mile, and ANABAA’S CREATION (IRE), an unlucky second beaten just a head by the late charging Zenyatta in the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on August 9.

MINE THAT BIRD headlines the Grade I Goodwood Stakes, a “Win and You’re In” event for this year’s Classic. He will make his first start against older horses in the Goodwood, and will attempt to find his way back into the winner’s circle for the first time since that early May upset under the Twin Spires. Jockey Calvin Borel will regain the call on the son of BIRDSTONE, whose lone effort over the Santa Anita main track resulted in a 12th-place finish in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Mine That Bird’s main challenges are expected to come from RICHARD’S KID, an upset winner of the Grade I Pacific Classic over the Del Mar main track last month, and PARADING, a Grade II winner who was most recently fourth in that Pacific Classic. The 2008 Travers hero, COLONEL JOHN, who was fifth in the Pacific Classic, is also likely to contest the Goodwood, as are graded stakes winners TIAGO, INFORMED, and CHOCOLATE CANDY.

Tommy Town Thoroughbred LLC’s WHATSTHESCRIPT (IRE) and Robert and Janice McNair’s COWBOY CAL appear the most likely to run in the Grade II Oak Tree Mile for a spot in the Grade I TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile by way of a score in this “Win and You’re In” event.

KEENELAND OPENING WEEKEND HAS BIG BREEDERS’ CUP IMPLICATIONS
JUDDMONTE SPINSTER HEADS SUNDAY CARD ON ESPN

A full plate of Opening Weekend stakes at Keeneland will kick off with Friday’s Grade I Darley Alcibiades Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies “Win and You’re In” event headlined by Nancy Mazzoni’s SHE BE WILD, conditioned by Wayne Catalano. SHE BE WILD is a daughter of freshman sire OFFLEE WILD, and has run her career record to a perfect 3-for-3 at Arlington Park, culminating with a win in the Grade III Arlington-Washington Lassie.

The Ken McPeek-trained BEAUTICIAN figures to post the sternest test to SHE BE WILD, having most recently run second in consecutive Saratoga races to division leader HOT DIXIE CHICK.

Saturday’s action includes Grade I racing in several Breeders’ Cup divisions, and includes a quartet of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races. The Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile offers an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile, while the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity offers a similar spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The winner of the Grade I First Lady is assured a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the heroine of the Grade II Thoroughbred Club of America will be welcome in the gate for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The Grade I Shadwell Turf Mile is likely to get JUSTENUFFHUMOR, who aims for his seventh win in a row since being switched to the lawn and has rattled off consecutive Grade II scores in New York. MR. SIDNEY, most recently 6th in the Arlington Million, is also likely to contest the Shadwell Turf Mile, and he owns a Grade I win over the Keeneland turf course from April 2009. STERWIN, third in the Woodbine Mile last out, is also possible.

A spot in the starting gate for the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will be up for grabs when 2-year old runners head postward in the Grade I Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity. Grade II winner BACKTALK is expected to headline this group. A multiple graded stakes winner, he was most recently fourth behind Dublin in the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga. DIXIE BAND, another juvenile from the Wayne Catalano barn, is possible, as is STATELY VICTOR, a dominant winner in a turf sprint at Saratoga in his last start.

The Grade I First Lady is expected to draw its defending champion and 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner FOREVER TOGETHER, who is likely to be heavily favored over a solid group of grass runners. Among those slated to face her is DIAMONDRELLA (GB), one of only two runners to have beaten FOREVER TOGETHER this year, when she got the better of that foe in the Grade I Just A Game on Belmont Stakes Day. ACOMA, a dull sixth on the Delaware main track, is expected to put her perfect 3-for-3 grass record on the line in the First Lady as well.

Sunday’s action includes the Grade I Juddmonte Spinster and the Grade III Bourbon Stakes, “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic and Juvenile Turf, respectively. Both races will be featured on the ESPN Breeders’ Cup Challenge – Presented by Emirates Airline telecast, from 5-6 p.m. ET. ICON PROJECT will headline the Spinster off a 13-length romp in the Grade I Personal Ensign in her last start, and this will mark her first try over a synthetic surface. GINGER BREW, a multiple stakes winner on synthetic surfaces, will challenge.

The Bourbon is expected to draw stakes winner GLEAM OF HOPE, recent turf allowance winner FAMILY FOUNDATION, and SCOTTKEITH’SKITTEN, well-beaten in his last, but a good winner at Saratoga in his only career turf try.

BIG JUVENILE IMPACT LIKELY FROM BELMONT

DUBLIN, the winner of the Grade I Hopeful at Saratoga, will head postward as the likely favorite in Saturday’s Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge automatic qualifier for the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Expected to face the Hopeful winner are GUN ROCK, SUPER SAVER, ASPIRE, and HOMEBOY KRIS, and possibly others. D’FUNNYBONE, winner of the Grade II Saratoga Special and Futurity is likely to skip the Champagne in favor of training directly up to the Juvenile, according to trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.

AWESOME MARIA is likely to head postward in the Grade I Frizette on the same card as the Champagne Stakes, while WORSTCASESCENARIO was considered something of a possibility for that race. The Frizette winner earns an automatic qualifying berth into the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

COUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A list of the upcoming major stakes races this week:

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC DIVISION

Oct. 10 - $350,000 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. Run at 1 1/8 miles.

BREEDERS’ CUP LADIES’ CLASSIC DIVISION

Oct. 10 - $300,000 Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. Run at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

Oct. 11 - $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster at Keeneland. Run at 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP TURF DIVISION

Oct. 10 – $300,000 Jamaica Breeders’ Cup at Belmont. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Oct. 11 - $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. 1 ¼ miles turf.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DIVISION

Oct. 10 - $300,000 Yellow Ribbon at Oak Tree Santa Anita. Run at 1 ¼ miles on turf for fillies and mares.

TVG BREEDERS’ CUP MILE DIVISION

Oct. 10 - $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. Run at 1 mile on turf.

Oct. 10 - $400,000 First Lady at Keeneland. Run at 1 mile on turf for fillies and mares.

Oct. 10 - $150,000 Oak Tree Mile at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. Run at 1 mile on turf.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT DIVISION

Oct. 11 - $300,000 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. Run at 6 furlongs.

BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT DIVISION

Oct. 10 - $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America at Keeneland. Run at 6 furlongs for fillies and mares.

GREY GOOSE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE DIVISION

Oct. 10 - $400,000 Champagne at Belmont. Run at 1 mile for 2yo.

Oct. 10 - $500,000 Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Run at 1 1/16 miles for 2yo.

Oct. 11 - $250,000 Grey Breeders’ Cup at Woodbine. Run at 1 1/16 miles for 2yo.

GREY GOOSE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES DIVISION

Oct. 9 - $500,000 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland. Run at 1 1/16 miles for 2yo fillies.

Oct 10 - $400,000 Champagne at Belmont. Run at 1 mile for 2yo fillies.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE TURF DIVISION

Oct. 11 - $125,000 Bourbon at Keeneland. Run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 2yo.