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2009 BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES CONCLUDES THIS WEEKEND WITH SIX EVENTS AT FOUR TRACKS

The 2009 Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series reaches its conclusion this weekend with six “Win and You’re In” races to be contested at four tracks – Calder in Florida, Keeneland in Kentucky, Newmarket in England, and Woodbine in Canada.

The run-down for the Breeders’ Cup Challenge events are as follows: J.P. Morgan Chase Jessamine (Keeneland Oct. 15); Canadian International (Woodbine Oct. 17); E.P. Taylor (Woodbine Oct. 17); Nearctic (Woodbine Oct. 17); Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (Newmarket Oct. 17); and Spend a Buck Handicap (Calder Oct. 17).

The three Woodbine races will comprise the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge – Presented by Emirates Airlines” live ESPN2 telecast, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

NORTH OF THE BORDER ACTION

Woodbine will host three “Win and You’re In” races on Saturday. The $2 million Pattison Canadian International will provide its winner with an automatic starting berth to the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 7. The $1 million E.P. Taylor, the filly and mare counterpart to the Canadian International, will afford its winner a place in the starting gate of the $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 6. Woodbine’s $500,000 Nearctic is a Breeders’ Cup qualifier for the $1 million Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 7.

The 1 ½-mile Canadian International could very well be a rematch of the top four official finishers in the grade I Northern Dancer last month. Arlington Million winner and the Jonathan Sheppard-trained JUST AS WELL, who won the Northern Dancer upon the disqualification of first-place finisher MARSH SIDE, is expected to run. Marsh Side who was placed fourth, and QUIJANO (placed second) and CHAMPS ELYSEES (placed third) are also anticipated to square-off in the grade I Canadian International.

SPICE ROUTE, the runner-up in last year’s Canadian International, will take another crack. The Roger Attfield-trained Spice Route finished fifth in his last start, the Nijinsky in July, and emerged from the race with a pulled muscle in his back.

Hence its name, the International is also expected to draw some foreign-based horses. Among them are JUKEBOX JURY, the winner of Germany’s group III Prix Von Europa, and BUCCELLATI, fourth in France’s group II Prix Foy in his latest out.

The grade I E.P. Taylor is likely to feature the Michael Matz-trained PRINCESS HAYA who upset champion Forever Together in the grade 2 Canadian last month. Local runners who could make an impact are the Canadian’s third-place finisher, MUCH OBLIGED, and LADY SHAKESPEARE, a 3-year-old who won the Ontario Colleen for her fourth consecutive score for Attfield. Attfield could also be represented by Irish-bred MEKONG MELODY, the winner of the recent Flaming Page over 12 furlongs on yielding ground. ROSES ‘N’ WINE, another stabled at Woodbine, is possible after easily winning the Algoma Stakes over Polytrack in her last start.

A likely Euro invader is 2008 Irish Oaks winner LOOK HERE.

The grade II Nearctic at six furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up is likely to draw FIELD COMMISSION, JUNGLE WAVE, and HERO’S REWARD, among others.

This year, Jungle Wave won the grade 2 Play the King and was fourth in the grade I Woodbine Mile. Hero’s Reward won the 2007 edition of the Nearctic. Field Commission cuts back in distance after finishing sixth in the Woodbine Mile where he was beaten less than five lengths.

FINAL EUROPEAN QUALIFER AT NEWMARKET

Saturday’s Emirates Champion Stakes at Newmarket is a Breeders’ Cup Qualifier to the $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The big news across the pond Sunday was that trainer Aidan O’Brien confirmed Irish Derby winner FAME AND GLORY as a surprise starter for the Champion Stakes.

The Racing Post reported that English wager-taker William Hill quickly reacted to the news by installing Fame and Glory, who finished sixth in the Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 4, as their 4-6 favorite.
Among the other possible contenders for the group I Champion Stakes, a 10-furlong race for 3yos & up, are ZACINTO, SARISKA, PIPEDREAMER, TWICE OVER, NEVER ON SUNDAY, DOCTOR FREMANTLE, and SET SAIL.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Zacinto, second to Rip Van Winkle in the group I Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot last out and the likely Champion favorite, is more likely to target the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile rather than the Turf, if his connections opt to make the trip across the pond.

English and Irish Oaks winner Sariska, trained by Michael Bell, is not Breeders’ Cup nominated. Her connections bypassed supplementing her to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe due to the fast ground.

The John Gosden-trained Pipedreamer, seventh in last year’s Champion Stakes, exits a win in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp Oct. 3 following a four-month break.

The France-based Never on Sunday won the group I Ispahan this year for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

KEENELAND’S JESSAMINE PROVIDES JUVENILE FILLY TURF BERTH

Thursday’s J.P. Chase Morgan Jessamine will serve as a launching pad to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf.

Last year’s Jessamine winner, Laragh, went on to finish a narrowly beaten third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Among the probables and the likely favorite in this year’s running of the Jessamine, a Breeders’ Cup qualifier, is HATHEER whose full sister, Habaya, finished second in the 2008 Jessamine. Habaya later won the grade III Miesque at Hollywood Park.
Owned by Shadwell Stable and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Hatheer won a turf race at Saratoga at the Jessamine distance of 1 1/16 miles.
Both Hatheer and ZODIAC GIRL were meant to run in last weekend’s Miss Grillo at Belmont Park. That race was originally intended to be a “Win and You’re In” for the Juvenile Fillies Turf but its status changed when the race was taken off the turf due to heavy rain.
Zodiac Girl is trained by Chad Brown, who saddled Maram to win last year’s inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
The Jessamine field in post position order and with riders: DREAMINOFJOSEPHINE (E.T. Baird), WHYDAH (John Velazquez), HOUSE OF GRACE (Mike Luzzi), OSCAR DE LA THORN (F.A. Arguello Jr.), SMART SEATTLE (Jeremy Rose), WAYNETTA (Robby Albarado), HATHEER (Alan Garcia), CANADIAN STORM (Miguel Mena), JONMIL’S EDGE (Jesus Castanon), POORTOWN PRINCESS (M. Guzman), AVY BABY (James Graham), and LISA’s KITTEN (Julien Leparoux).

WINNER OF CALDER’S SPEND A BUCK WILL EARN DIRT MILE BERTH

Calder’s $100,000 Spend a Buck, a grade III, for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles, drew 17 nominations.

Among the possible to be gunning for a starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile are CINNAMON ROAD, IMAWILDANDCRAZYGUY, MAMBO MEISTER, and MOTOVATO.

The Marty Wolfson-trained Motovato is a horse for the course at Calder, having won three of four starts at the Florida track. His latest victory took place there in the Primal Stakes, a race he won by nearly six lengths.

Cinnamon Road, trained by Milton Wolfson, is coming off a victory in the off-the-turf Needles. The 3-year-old was awarded the victory upon the disqualification of the winner, Temo’s Dream, another Spend a Buck nominee, for interference. Cinnamon Road is a winner of five of 11 starts this year.

The Bill Kaplan-trained Imawildandcrazyguy is another who relishes Calder. He sports a record of 5-6-7 in 25 starts there.

The Phil Gleaves-trained Mambo Meister has been butting heads – and picking up checks – in graded turf company this year and finished second to Justenuffhumor, a sensational turf miler, in the grade II Fourstardave at Saratoga. It’s been since September 2008 when Mambo Meister last ran on the dirt – a seventh-place finish in the Super Derby. Four of his six lifetime wins, however, have come on dirt, and all of his wins have come at Calder.

Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entries to be Announced Oct. 28

Pre-Entered fields for all 14 Breeders’ Cup World Championships races will be released on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m. ET. A national media teleconference will follow at 1 p.m. ET

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COUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

A list of the upcoming major stakes races this week:

BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC DIVISION

Oct. 16 - $350,000 Meadowlands Cup at The Meadowlands. Run at 1 1/8 miles for 3yos & up.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP TURF DIVISION

Oct. 17 – Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Run at 1 ¼ miles on turf for 3yos & up.

Oct. 17 - $2 million Pattison Canadian International at Woodbine. Run at 1 ½ miles on turf for 3yos & up.

Oct. 17 - $150,000 Calder Derby at Calder. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3yos.

Oct. 18 - $100,000 Knickerbocker at Belmont Park. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3yos & up.

EMIRATES AIRLINE BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF DIVISION

Oct. 17 - $1 million E.P. Taylor at Woodbine. Run at 1 ¼ miles on turf for fillies and mares.

Oct. 17 - $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Run at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3yo fillies.

Oct. 17 - $100,000 Athenia at Belmont Park. Run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares.

TVG BREEDERS’ CUP MILE DIVISION

Oct. 18 - $125,000 Bryan Station at Keeneland. Run at 1 mile on turf for 3yos & up.

BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE DIVISION

Oct. 17 - $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap at Calder. Run at 1 1/16 miles for 3yos & up.

SENTIENT JET BREEDERS’ CUP SPRINT DIVISION

Oct. 17 - $150,000 Perryville at Keeneland. Run at about 7 furlongs for 3yos.

BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT DIVISION

Oct. 17 - $500,000 Nearctic at Woodbine. Run at 6 furlongs on turf for 3yos & up.

Oct. 17 - $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. Run at about 6 ½ furlongs on turf for fillies and mares.

BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF DIVISION

Oct. 15 - $150,000 J.P. Morgan Chase Jessamine at Keeneland. Run at 1 1/16 mile on turf for 2yo fillies.