Win and You’re In for Some, Not for All
By Dan Illman
When the Breeders' Cup implemented the "Challenge Series" in 2007, many racing insiders scoffed. While the concept of "Win and You're In" made for a catchy marketing slogan, it didn't exactly translate to Breeders' Cup entries for Challenge race winners.
Here's a case in point from the race conditions for the 2010 Arlington Sprint Stakes, a "Win and You're In" event for the Turf Sprint Division:
"...The Arlington Sprint has been selected as one of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Races. The winner of the Arlington Sprint will be entitled to automatic entry into the 2010 running of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) subject to the payment of all Breeders' Cup nomination, pre-entry and entry fees..."
Basically, if you win, you're in. Unless you aren't willing to part with the steep entry fees associated with the World Thoroughbred Championships. Then, you're out.
In 2007, the Breeders' Cup Challenge consisted of a reasonable 24 races. Four challenge race winners (Ginger Punch, Curlin, English Channel, and War Pass) returned to capture Breeders' Cup races at Monmouth Park.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge became more and more bloated over the last couple of years. In 2008, there were 55 races with five winners (Forever Together, Zenyatta, Stardom Bound, Raven's Pass, Maram) coming back to enjoy World Thoroughbred Championship triumphs at Santa Anita.
The following season, the Challenge grew to 62 races with some of them bordering on the absurd. The Cleanevent Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley in Australia was a "Win and You're In Event" for turf sprinters. It held as much relevance as an allowance race in Japan would have on the Queen's Plate. Of the 62 races, three Challenge winners (California Flag, Informed Decision, and Zenyatta) duplicated their successes at the Breeders' Cup.
Still, the Challenge Series has produced its share of Breeders' Cup champions. Our job is to try and find some trends.
Woodbine will host six Challenge races this year. On September 18, juvenile fillies will contest the Natalma Stakes (G3-C) at one mile on the turf. Their male counterparts will race that afternoon in the Summer Stakes (G3-C) at the same distance.
The Natalma became part of the Challenge series in 2008. That year, Natalma winner C Karma ran directly in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly Turf without the benefit of another prep and finished eighth. Laragh, fifth in the Natalma for trainer Mark Casse, returned to race 25 days later for new ownership at Keeneland. After winning the Jessamine Stakes, Laragh placed third in the Juvenile Filly Turf for trainer John Terranova.
In 2009, the Natalma runner-up, Jungle Tale, returned to finish fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Elusive Galaxy, an Irish invader that placed fourth in the Natalma, finished eleventh. The best Breeders' Cup showing from the 2009 Natalma crew came from Biofuel. Seventh in the Natalma, she returned to win the Mazarine Stakes (G3-C) over Woodbine's polytrack before finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Pro-Ride.
The Summer Stakes has bounced around the calendar in recent years. In 2008, it was run in early October, only three weeks before the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. It's possible that the quick turnaround had an adverse effect on Grand Adventure and Skipadate. Those two completed the exactor in the Summer but returned to finish tenth and eleventh, respectively, in the Breeders' Cup.
Last year's running of the Summer was pushed back to September 19 and the extra time to recover from the race may have aided Bridgetown. A son of Speightstown trained by Kenneth McPeek, Bridgetown won the Summer in "ridden out" fashion before finishing a game second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Becky's Kitten, second in the Summer, ran ninth at Santa Anita. This season, let's follow the Natalma runners that go on to improve in an additional prep before their date with destiny at Churchill Downs. As for the boys, an additional prep is preferable, but not necessarily essential, for a good run in the Breeders' Cup.
The Woodbine Mile (G1-C), one of the crown jewels of Canadian racing, will be held on September 19. A stiff one-turn turf test, the Mile is an excellent Breeders' Cup prep. Ventura, second in the 2008 Mile for Bobby Frankel, returned to win the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in outstanding fashion. Kip Deville, fifth as the beaten favorite in that year's Mile for Richard Dutrow Jr., returned to form with a runner-up finish behind the immensely-talented Goldikova in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
Last year, the Woodbine Mile was moved up to September 20. Ventura was back for more. After winning the Mile, she ran a game second in defense of her Filly and Mare Sprint title. Ferneley, the 2009 Mile runner-up, finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
The Woodbine Mile places an emphasis on both speed and stamina. Ventura excelled turning back in distance for the Breeders' Cup, but a good Woodbine Mile horse always deserves consideration in its Breeders' Cup counterpart.
The other three "Win and You're In" races run at Woodbine do not have good track records as Breeders' Cup prep races. As for reasons why, let's blame distance and date.
The Nearctic (G1-C), to be run on October 16, is a demanding six-furlong grass dash with Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint implications.
In 2008, four of the Nearctic runners returned to race in the Breeders' Cup. The winner, True to Tradition, finished seventh. Runner-up Rouse the Cat ran twelfth. Heros Reward, fourth in the Nearctic, ran one worse at Santa Anita. Storm Treasure, the Nearctic's fifth-place finisher, cracked the trifecta with a third-place finish for trainer Steven Asmussen.
Last year, the Nearctic was pushed forward 13 days to October 17 and the timing of the race relegated it to an improbable Breeders' Cup prep. A three-week return to the races is simply too much to ask for these speedballs and none of the 11 Nearctic starters in 2009 attempted the Breeders' Cup.
The Pattison Canadian International (G1-C), at 1 1/2 miles on the grass, is also a physically-demanding race right on top of the Breeders' Cup. As such, it generally attracts Europeans that aren't interested in competing in the Cup as well as local horses attempting to earn points for national year-end honors. In 2008, only one of the 10 entrants, Frankel's Champs Elysees, ran in the Breeders' Cup. After finishing third in the International, Champs Elysees ran eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Pro-Ride.
Last year, the International was contested on October 17, and none of the eight runners competed in the Breeders' Cup. The E. P. Taylor Stakes, at 1 1/4 miles on turf for fillies and mares on Canadian International afternoon, is also a tough spot for connections looking to strategically space prep races prior to the Breeders' Cup.
In 2008, when the Taylor was run 24 days before the Breeders' Cup, it could be considered a valuable prep. Although the 2008 winner, Folk Opera, finished eighth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, third-place finisher Sealy Hill returned to run a gallant second for the Casse barn at Santa Anita.
Moved forward to October 17 in 2009, none of the eight Taylor representatives raced in the Breeders' Cup.
In summation, let's follow horses that exit the early Breeders' Cup Challenge races at Woodbine. Lightly-raced juveniles in events such as the Natalma and Summer may be good bets at Churchill Downs while Woodbine Mile runners usually provide a nice bang for the buck in the Breeders' Cup.
Dan Illman is DRF.com's Handicapping Editor. He recently released DRF’s newest DVD Trip Handicapping, and has also authored Betting Maidens & Two-Year-Olds. He has worked for Daily Racing Form since 1998, and was a handicapper in the daily paper from 2000-2005.
World Class Racing at
Woodbine this Fall
By Chris
Lomon
It’s a race that truly is, in every sense, world class.
Over its 72 runnings, the Pattison Canadian International (PCI) has produced some truly memorable moments in racing, and crowned some of the sport’s finest champions along the way. The Grade 1, $2-million classic has a long and storied history since the race was first contested in 1938.
Moved to the turf in 1958, the PCI continually draws some of the biggest names in the sport to Canada’s Showplace of Racing.
The legendary Secretariat took the International in 1973, the final race of his career, one that produced 16 wins from 21 starts. Other notable winners since it switched to the grass include Youth in 1976, Dahlia in 1974, All Along in 1983, Sky Classic in 1991, Sulamani in 2004 and most recently, Champs Elysees, in 2009.
The Juddmonte Farms' homebred charged down the middle of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch to nail Jukebox Jury near the wire and win another thrilling renewal of the PCI last year.
With jockey Garrett Gomez aboard the son of Danehill-Hasili, Champs Elysees, who had been placed in seventh throughout the mile and one-half race, came flying on the far outside and was able to get up in the final jumps for a half-length score in 2:28.36.
It was Juddmonte's third win in Canada's richest horse race, after taking the 1990 edition with French Glory and the 1994 renewal with stakes record-holder Raintrap in 1994. But it was the first win for the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel and Gomez.
Immediately after the race, Garrett O'Rourke, Juddmonte Farms manager in Lexington, Kentucky, confirmed that Champs Elysees was retired to their stud, Banstead Manor in England.
Champs Elysees, who is a full brother to Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winners Banks Hill and Intercontinental, became the 21st favourite to win the International since 1958, but the first since Sulamani in 2004.
This year, the Pattison is slated for October 16, a day that also includes two other Grade 1 events: the $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes and the $500,000 Nearctic Stakes. All three races are part of the Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ concept. A score in one of the events earns the victor a berth in their corresponding event at the Breeders’ Cup, set for November 5 and 6 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Since 1958, 25 Pattison champions have been four-year-olds. Twelve three-year-olds have reached the winner’s circle, while 11 five-year-olds have made the trip to the winner’s circle.
From a geographical perspective, 27 U.S.-bred horses have won the International, nine Irish-breds have been successful, while seven British-breds and six Canadian-breds have worn the International crown.
Post eight has also been kind to starters. Eight winners have had that post since 1958. Post five has spawned six winners, while post six has sprung five winners.
Since it was first run, only four horses have won the International on two occasions. The most recent was Majesty’s Prince, who hit the ‘double’ in 1982 and 1984.
Eight fillies or mares have been victorious, Infamy being the last to win it, the triumph coming in 1988.
Who will win this year’s edition of the PCI? The whole world will certainly be watching to get their answer.
Five Furlongs with Catherine Day Phillips
By Chris Lomon
This issue, trainer Catherine Day Phillips is in the Five Furlongs ‘saddle,’ offering her thoughts on her favourite food and her early tastes in music.
One of the most prominent female trainers in North America, Day Phillips has enjoyed success both in Canada and the U.S.
| Q. | What is the first section you turn to in the Saturday paper? |
| A. | “The Sports section. So I can see what’s going on in the racing world.” |
| Q. | What is the first CD/Album you ever remember purchasing? |
| A. | “That’s easy. Donny and Marie Osmond. It was an old 45 single. It was called, I’m a Little Bit Country, I’m A Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll. ” |
| Q. | What fictional character would you most like to have coffee with? |
| A. | “Tigger. He’s bouncy and he seems very happy.” |
| Q. | What is your favorite food? |
| A. | “I would say Filet Mignon.” |
| Q. | What Toronto tourist attraction would you most like to go to that you haven’t been to in a while? |
| A. | “I haven’t been to the C.N. Tower in a really long time. I’d like to go there.” |