Breeders’ Cup World Championships Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7

Notes Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020

Contact: Notes Team, 859-250-0358

Sprint

C Z Rocket – In search of a sprint title will be Tom Kagele, Madaket Stables and ’s C Z Rocket, who has won four races in a row for trainer Peter Miller – all since being claimed at Oaklawn Park in April for $40,000. A nine-time winner from 22 starts, he would be the second son of City Zip to land the Sprint after Work All Week’s victory in 2014. He enters off consecutive graded scores in the Pat O’Brien and Santa Anita Sprint Championship and owns a 2-for-2 record at while in the care of previous trainer Al Stall Jr. “He’s doing great,” Miller said. “We’re expecting another big effort. I think he can win on what he’s shown, he’s just got to get a trip in a big field like this. He’s the kind of horse who can adapt to the pace of the race and style of the race. Some horses find a way to lose; he finds a way to win.” C Z Rocket went out with a pony at about 8:45 Thursday and galloped an easy mile on the Keeneland main track.

Diamond Oops – Andie Biancone took Diamond Oops for a jog over the Keeneland track Thursday morning in preparation for a start in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Biancone has been overseeing the 5yo son of ’s daily activities at Keeneland this week while subbing for her father, Patrick Biancone, who had been fighting cancer for several months. Although he is cancer-free now, being in a Covid-19 high-risk group, he opted not to travel from his South Florida base at Palm Meadows Training Center. Andie Biancone, who serves as his assistant trainer and exercise rider, also has represented her father at the and with Sole Volante. “It’s been a crazy year,” said the 23yo Biancone, who admits that her busy schedule has somewhat affected her grades for her online courses at the University of Florida. She’s able to escape all the craziness for a little while, at least, when she climbs aboard Diamond Oops, who enters the Sprint off back-to-back wins in the Phoenix at Keeneland and the Twin Spires Turf Sprint. “Even without winning all those races, he’s special to us. My dad always believed in him and has always been high on him. This past year with my dad getting sick, he’s been my escape. I’ve been getting on him every day. It sounds super lame, but it’s like therapy. He has such a big heart. It’s so amazing being around him,” she said. “I’ve been galloping him for about a year and a half. A couple of months ago, he literally dropped me and he stopped and waited for me to get back on him. He waited for me on the track and I got back on him,” she added. “He’s so intelligent. His last breeze, I got emotional. I was, like ‘What did I do to deserve such an amazing animal in my life?’ ” The versatile Diamond Oops, who was Grade I stakes-placed on turf and dirt last year, ran in the 2019 Dirt Mile, in which he encountered a troubled start and finished eighth at Santa Anita. He came right back to win the 7f Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream seven weeks later and stretched out to finish fourth in the 1 1/8m Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream. He rallied from 12th to win the 5 1/2f Twin Spires Turf Sprint and stalked the pace before kicking in late to win the Phoenix. “He has such a big heart and is so intelligent, he’s like a person. He has a huge ,” Biancone said. “He’s the light in our lives, for my dad, for me.” Biancone would like to see Diamond Oops get a similar trip in the Sprint as he got in the Phoenix. “He’s really versatile. You can cover him easily. He’s a really good stalker. Hopefully, he gets a good break and come with that closing kick,” she said. “When he sees another horse in front of him, it’s game on.” Florent Geroux has the return mount aboard Diamond Oops, who is owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC, Amy Dunne, D P Racing LLC and Patrick Biancone Racing LLC.

Firenze Fire – Mr. Amore Stable’s Firenze Fire galloped 1 1/8m Thursday morning in preparation for his fourth career Breeders’ Cup start in Saturday’s Sprint at Keeneland. The 5yo son of Poseidon’s Warrior will make his first Breeders’ Cup start for trainer Kelly Breen, who accepted him and approximately 20 Mr. Amore Stable runners into his stable last winter. “It took a while for me to see the horse because of the pandemic. I was in Florida. My assistant, John Attfield, sent me pictures and videos to show me how well he looked. I’ve seen him race before, but it was a while before I laid eyes on him,” said Breen, who recently saddled Firenze Fire’s 3yo sister, Firenze Freedom for an allowance win at . “He’s a nice looking horses. He’s got a lot of muscle. He’s straightforward. He trains well. He does everything we ask of him.” Firenze Fire has won two of five starts for Breen with two subpar showings coming over off tracks. He made his first start for Breen with a fourth-place finish in the June 6 Carter Handicap on a sloppy Belmont strip and won his first race for his new trainer three weeks later in the True North over a fast Belmont track. Firenze Fire was beaten 2 lengths while finishing fourth in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga before running 11th over a sloppy track at Saratoga in the Forego. “The only bumps in the road I’ve had with him were on off tracks. He doesn’t like the mud,” Breen said. “You throw those couple races out and he’s as honest as they come.” Firenze Fire rebounded from his Forego disappointment with a 2 ¾-length victory in the Vosburgh at Belmont, which was a “Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race. “We were extremely excited when he won a ‘Win and You’re In’ because there’s no contemplating, because you’re going once you’ve got a ‘Win and You’re In’ under your belt,” Breen said. “He showed that he belonged, and the ‘Win and You’re In’ stamps your ticket to the Breeders’ Cup.” Breen wouldn’t have had to contemplate long to determine that Firenze Fire deserves a shot at a Sprint victory Saturday. “I look at the Thoro-Graphs and the Ragozin sheets. He runs fast. His bounce numbers seem to be on an off track, and his numbers are fast enough to put him in there with this bunch,” he said. Firenze Fire, who captured the Champagne at 2, finished off the board in the 2017 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile at Del Mar. He finished fourth in the Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs in 2018 and fifth in the Sprint last year at Santa Anita. Breen will also be seeking his first Breeders’ Cup success after notching third-place finishes with 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler On Ice (2011 Classic) and multiple graded-stakes winner Pants on Fire (2014 Dirt Mile). “Pants On Fire reminds me of this horse. Pants on Fire didn’t win a stakes as a 2-year-old and this horse did, but he won a stakes as a 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7yo,” Breen said. “Knowing a little about what it takes to keep a horse going at an older age reminds me a lot about Firenze Fire.” Jose Lezcano, who was aboard for his Vosburgh score, has the return call aboard Firenze Fire in the Sprint.

Frank’s Rockette – Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.’s fast 3yo filly Frank’s Rockette will take on the boys Saturday in the Sprint, putting her four-race win streak on the line. A daughter of Into Mischief, the homebred enters off victories in New York’s Victory Ride, Prioress and Gallant Bloom – the latter two in one-sided fashion. On Thursday, she galloped 1m over the Keeneland main track. “She’s very good,” trainer Bill Mott said. “History shows that the 3-year-old fillies have had some success in this race. Three or four times fillies have won the Sprint and she can sit off the pace. She doesn’t have to be on the lead. In a race like this, it won’t be hard to find a stalking spot.” Previous female winners of the Sprint include 3yo Very Subtle (1987), 4yo Safely Kept (1990) and 5yo Desert Stormer (1995). Xtra Heat was a good second as a 3yo to Squirtle Squirt in 2001.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Bell’s the One – Bell’s the One got reacquainted with familiar surroundings Thursday morning. The 4yo daughter of Majesticperfection has plenty of previous experience with the Keeneland surface including her victory in the 2019 Raven Run and third-place effort in the Madison in July. “She jogged a half mile and galloped about three quarters of a mile on the main track,” trainer Neil Pessin said. “She will do the same on Friday and then just walk on race day. She has been at Keeneland many times so it is not like she has to get used to the surroundings. We are usually here in April and October. She is pretty good about shipping and this is no exception.” In her most recent start, Bell’s the One was victorious in the Derby City Distaff on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. Pessin’s plan for Bell’s the One to stay at his Churchill Downs base as long as possible came to fruition Wednesday when she arrived around 9:30. Entrants for Saturday’s races were required to be at Keeneland by 10 a.m. that day and Pessin joked for a month that she would arrive at 9:57. “I am not sure exactly what time it was, but I know it was before 10,” Pessin said. “I wanted to keep her in her routine and in her environment as long as I could. It is best to ship in way in front or as close to the race as possible. If I had (a lot) of horses going, I would have shipped in two weeks ago to get acclimated.” She drew the far outside post position in the field of nine for the Filly and Mare Sprint. “I’d rather not have the outside post but she will take back and then make her late run,” Pessin said of his first Breeders’ Cup starter.

Gamine – Michael Lund Petersen’s front-running 3yo filly Gamine will try older horses for the first time as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Filly & Mare Sprint. The daughter of top sire Into Mischief had a routine 1 ½m gallop under exercise rider Humberto Gomez. She and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will start from the outside post in the field of seven Saturday. After finishing first in her first two starts, Gamine turned in an jaw-dropping 18 ¾-length victory in her first stakes race, the Acorn on June 20 at Belmont Park. “I knew she could win, but I didn’t know she was going to do that,” trainer Bob Baffert said. Baffert said that Velazquez apologized for letting her run so fast and win by so many lengths, but that he was forced to turn her loose because she was fighting him. “That was pretty spectacular,” Baffert said. “And the Test was another where she really just cruised around there.” Gamine finished third as the 7-10 favorite in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4. She subsequently tested positive for trace amounts of a legal medication that is not permitted to be in the system on race day. Earlier this year at Oaklawn, Gamine also had a positive postrace test for trace amounts of lidocaine, a legal therapeutic that cannot be in the system on the day of a race. While Baffert has several of his stars in the Breeders’ Cup, he said Thursday that the Filly & Mare Sprint is a race that has special significance to him. “You know what would mean a lot? I want to see Gamine,” he said. “What she’s been through, I want to see Gamine win that race.”

Serengeti Empress – Trainer Tom Amoss was very pleased with Joel Politi’s Serengeti Empress, as she had her first gallop over the Keeneland main track Thursday. The multiple G1-winning 4yo filly prepares for her swan song in the Filly & Mare Sprint and will be one of the favorites in the 7f affair. Serengeti Empress will go into the Breeders’ Cup having last breezed on Oct. 29, going 4f in 48.60, and will not do much more than an easy gallop leading into the race, per her conditioner. “She likes to separate her works from her race and in her last work, she worked very well,” Amoss said. “There are a copule things we think we’ve learned from her along the way and one of those is to separate her races from her works like that. With some horses it puts them on edge, but with her, it doesn’t. She’s very smart and knows when it’s game time. She has been around the block and is on the engine right now, and that’s good.”

Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile

Art Collector – It has been nearly four months, but Bruce Lunsford’s Art Collector has returned to the scene of his biggest victory, the Blue Grass here in July. Trainer Tom Drury brought Art Collector to Keeneland Wednesday morning from the Skylight Training Center in Goshen where Drury maintains his stable. Fourth in the Preakness in his most recent start Oct. 3, Art Collector has put in three works since that effort with two coming over the all-weather surface at Skylight with a dirt work in between at Churchill Downs. “He has been doing great since the Preakness,” Drury said of Art Collector, who is the 6-1 co- third choice on the morning line for Saturday’s Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. Brian Hernandez Jr., who has ridden Art Collector in his past seven starts, has the mount Saturday and will break from post one. “Being in the one hole, he is going to have to bounce out of there so horses don’t come over on him,” Drury said. “I think he will be forwardly placed and then it will be up to Brian to work out a trip.”

Jesus’ Team – Grupo 7 C Stable’s Jesus’ Team visited the starting gate and galloped on the main track Wednesday as he continued his preparation for a start in Saturday’s Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile. It will be the first start against older horses in stakes competition for Jesus’ Team, who is trained by Jose D’Angelo. Jesus’ Team drew post 11 and will be ridden by Luis Saez who was aboard for the colt’s third-place finish in the Jim Dandy. “The 11 is a good post,” D’Angelo said. “Our plan is to come from the back to the front and from the 11, we can get good position going into the first turn.” D’Angelo, a 30-year-old native of Venezuela who has been training in the United States for a year and a half, brought Jesus’ Team to Keeneland on Oct. 9 following a third-place finish in the Preakness. “He has gotten better every day and he has had two good works here,” D’Angelo said. “For me, this is a great experience and I want to do the best I can for the horse.” D’Angelo said there is plenty of interest in his horse back home in Venezuela. “My friends and the Venezuelan people are very happy for Jesus’ Team to be in the Breeders’ Cup,” D’Angelo said. “They will be rooting for him. All we need now is to hear ‘They’re Off.’ ”

Mr Freeze – Mr Freeze’s race record is bookended by Keeneland victories. He launched his career with a triumph at the 2018 spring meeting and most recently captured the Fayette on Oct. 10. The 5yo son of To Honor and Serve also was second in the 2019 Fayette. Mr Freeze arrived at Keeneland on Monday after training for Dale Romans at his Churchill Downs base. He has galloped every day at Keeneland and added standing in the starting gate to his routine Thursday. Romans as agent purchased Mr Freeze for $75,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale. He has since banked more than $1 million for Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister with a 6-4-2 record in 16 starts.

Rushie – Jim and Donna Daniell’s Rushie galloped under Osman Cedeno for a fourth consecutive morning at Keeneland since arriving Sunday from trainer Michael McCarthy’s base at Santa Anita. The trip to Keeneland is his second of the year as he finished third behind Dirt Mile rival Art Collector and Distaff contender in July’s . Javier Castellano will be aboard for the third time Saturday and will break from post seven at morning line odds of 20-1. “He is as live a 20-1 shot as you will ever see,” McCarthy said. “He is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile (at Churchill Downs), he has had a race over the track and he has a favorable post,” McCarthy said. “Plus, he is training better than he ever has.”

War of Will – War of Will will go in a new direction after the Dirt Mile. The winner of the 2019 Preakness and three other graded stakes will ship to Claiborne Farm in nearby Paris to prepare for his life as a stallion. His sire stands at the same farm for an advertised stud fee of $150,000. War of Will’s fee will be announced at a later date. “People ask me all the time how I feel about him leaving, but I am happy to see him going on to his new career,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He is going to the same farm as his father which I think is quite nice. I am fine with it; I am ready for him to go on to his next career.” War of Will is no stranger to Keeneland where he won the Maker’s Mark Mile in July. He also was based here before and after the Preakness. He arrived from Churchill Downs Wednesday and jogged this morning at Keeneland.

TVG Juvenile presented by Aftercare Alliance

Camp Home/King Fury – While trainer Kenny McPeek is mostly getting attention this week for his two fillies Swiss Skydiver and Simply Ravishing, among the favorites for the Longines Distaff and Juvnile Fillies, respectively, it wouldn’t hurt his feeling to pull the upset in the Juvenile with either Camp Home or King Fury. Camp Home was impressive in his only race to date, a 4-length victory in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Oct. 25, while King Fury won the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill the same day after a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 3. “Both are coming back on a quick turnaround, but I think they’ll handle it fine,” McPeek said. “Camp Home was very impressive last out. He’s really talented. I know he’s unproven and it’s a big step up, but the fact that we’re local and didn’t have to ship helped in our decision (to run). (Owner) Scott (Leeds of Walking L ) wants those type of horses. We’ll see how good he is. Depending on how he runs, we’ll probably just use it as base for next year. He still needs some seasoning.”

Essential Quality – Godolphin LLC’s undefeated Essential Quality continues to give his connections confidence as he prepares to make just his third start in the Juvenile. He had an easy 1 1/2m gallop Thursday after the renovation break. “He’ll need to move forward in this race and I think he’s capable,” trainer Brad Cox said. “I like what I am seeing. He’s very forward in his movements. We shipped him in four or five days before the Breeders’ Futurity and we’re doing something similar now. If he shows up like he did that day, he’ll be tough.” Essential Quality is the 4-1 second choice to 7-5 favorite Jackie’s Ready, but does have the advantage of a race at Keeneland and around two turns. “I think it’s worth something,” Cox said. “I’m not saying we’ll hit the wire first, but the experience is definitely worth something. Our horse won going three-quarters and for him to stretch out in his second start in a Grade 1 was extremely impressive. He’s given us that much confidence to do those things with him. We’ll need him to step up again.”

Jackie’s Warrior – J. Kirk and Judy’s Jackie’s Warrior comes into the Juvenile having won all four of his previous starts including the Hopeful at Saratoga and Champagne at Belmont. He was deservedly installed as the 7-5 morning line favorite, but he has one test he hasn’t passed yet – running around two turns. However, his regular rider Joel Rosario isn’t worried. “He’s a very talented horse,” said Rosario, who won the Filly & Mare Sprint on Covfefe and the Mile on Uni (GB) last year to bring his total to 11 wins in the championship event. “I’m just happy for the opportunity that (trainer) Steve (Asmussen) and the owners have given me to ride him. We’ll see what happens with the two turns, but I’d be surprised if he couldn’t handle it. I don’t think it will make a difference to him.” Jackie’s Warrior is one of 12 mounts Rosario will have in this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

Likeable – Likeable comes to the Juvenile off an 8 ¼-length front-running victory in a 1m maiden special weight race at Belmont Park on Sept. 19. In his only other start, the son of was a close second in a 7f maiden race at Saratoga that originally was carded for the turf. In the Juvenile, he has post four in the field of 14. “That is a good post for him,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He was away alertly in his last start and I anticipate that with a clean start he will be forwardly placed and get good position in the first turn.” Likeable was purchased for $350,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable. Breeder Stonestreet Stables then bought back in and joined the partnership.

Juvenile Fillies

Crazy Beautiful/Simply Ravishing – The Kenny McPeek-trained duo of Simply Ravishing and Crazy Beautiful, the first- and third-place finishers in Keeneland’s Alcibiades both had “uneventful” mornings, coming out separately to school in the paddock before galloping 1 1/2m. “Everything’s good,” McPeek said. “It’s been an uncomplicated week.”

Dayoutoftheoffice – With another spin around the Keeneland oval and a schooling session in the paddock in the books, the final bit of fine tuning was completed by Dayoutoftheoffice Thursday as she aims to keep her record unblemished when she starts in the Juvenile Fillies. “Everything went perfect,” trainer and co-owner Tim Hamm said of his charge. Dayoutoftheoffice is set to break from post three in the seven-horse field for the Juvenile Fillies and while she doesn’t need to be on the lead, Hamm expects to see the daughter of Into Mischief right up in the first flight. “Once that gate opens, you can sit here and make a strategy depending on who breaks clean, who stumbles who comes over on who … but it’s really in the rider’s hands,” Hamm said. “We’ve got a good post for her. There is a little bit of speed inside of us. We’ll see what the others do. She’s going to be forwardly placed, she’s that kind of horse, but as to exactly where, it’s going to depend on what everyone does.”

Princess Noor – Zedan Racing Stables’ unbeaten Princess Noor had a routine morning Thursday with a 1 ½m gallop under exercise rider Humberto Gomez. In her three career starts, Princess Noor has shown herself to be an above-average talent. Purchased a 2yo for a sale-topping $1.35 million Princess Noor has won by a combined 17 ¼ lengths and is the 9-5 morning line favorite. Trainer Bob Baffert said he thinks she has a good chance to win under Victor Espinoza, but noted that he’s not the only trainer enthusiastic about his horse in the race. “In the Juvenile Fillies there are some good fillies in there,” he said. "If you talk to every trainer if sounds like that winner’s circle is going to be pretty crowded.” In her most recent start, Princess Noor cruised to an 8¼-length victory in the Chandelier Stakes on Sept. 26 at Santa Anita.

Vequist – The high energy Vequist has flaunted all week was still on Thursday morning when she galloped twice around the Keeneland track in her last bit of exercise before Friday’s Juvenile Fillies. “She’s ready,” assistant trainer Ginny Reid said with a grin as the daughter of Nyquist made her way off the track. Vequist will have Joel Rosario in the irons when she leaves from post two in Friday’s test and Reid would expect to see the dark bay filly not far off whatever fractions are being thrown down up front. “I would say up close, she doesn’t need the lead,” said Reid, who has been overseeing Vequist’s preparations for her husband, trainer Butch Reid, this week. “When she won the Spinaway, she sat off them. Once we leave the paddock it’s in (Rosario’s) hands.”

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