Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634
Call Breeders' Cup Report
October 28th, 2020
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
CORPORATE P A R T I C I P A N T S
Jim Gluckson
Aidan O’Brien
Josh Gosden
Ken McPeek
Brad Cox
Bob Baffert
Jack Knowlton
Tom Robbins
C O N F E R E N C E C A L L P A R T I C I P A N T S
Frank Angst, Blood Horse
Beth Harris, The Associated Press
Kelly Riley, Brisnet.com
David Grening, Daily Racing Form
Bill Finley, Thoroughbred Daily News
Marcus Hersh, Daily Racing Form
Jonathan Stettin, Past the Wire
Ron Flatter, VSIN
Tim Logan, Albany Times Union
Byron King, Blood Horse
Jay Privman, Daily Racing Form
1
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
P R E S E N T A T I O N
Operator:
Good day, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Breeders’ Cup World Championship Pre-Entry teleconference. At this time, all participants are in listen only mode. Following the presentation, we will conduct a question and answer session. At that time, participants are asked to press star one to register for a question. As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Mr. Jim Gluckson. Please go ahead, sir.
Jim Gluckson:
Thank you, Olivia and good day, everyone. And welcome to the 2020 Breeders Cup World Championships Pre-Entry media teleconference. Thank you for joining us today. We have a number of guests lined up on the call. Aiden O'Brien, Josh Gosden, Ken McPeek, Brad Cox, Bob Baffert and owner Jack Knowlton. Tom Robbins from the Breeders’ Cup Racing Director’s Secretary's panel is also on the line and he'll be available to answer any of your questions about field selection of following the question and answer session with our guests. This marks the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Friday November 6 and Saturday, November 7th at Keeneland. Of course, it’s our second one at Keeneland. We were there in 2015, highlighted by the great run by American Pharaoh to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
This year’s Breeders' Cup will again be televised live on NBC and NBCSN. A couple of more particulars. There are 201 individual horses pre-entered for this year's world championships. 39 of these horses are internationally campaigned, 48 horses have earned automatic starting positions into the Breeders’ Cup through the Breeders' Cup challenge series.
A transcript of this press conference will be available in for 24 hours. As far as our format again, I will bring in each and ask a couple of questions of the guests and then we'll pause for a second and open it up to questions from for the media on the line. So at this point, let's start with our first guests now and bring in Aiden O'Brien. Aiden, good evening. How are you tonight?
Aiden O’Brien:
Very good thanks. Very well, how are you?
Jim Gluckson:
Good. Jim Gluckson here in New York. Good to hear from you, Aiden. Thank you. We thank you very much. And thank you for your participation in this year and this year's Breeders’ Cup in a difficult year. We appreciate the fine international participation this year and for all our owners and trainers and connections. You pre-entered 10 horses, including group one winners, Magical, Circus Maximus and Mogul. Magical has had a remarkable career highlighted by her 7 Grade 1 wins and she's taken three group ones wins this year. Comment on her progress this year and how she's come out from since finishing third in the most recent start in the Champions?
Aidan O’Brien:
You know, we we've been delighted with her, obviously this year, Jim. She ran very well the last day and ground was very heavy in Ascot and she seems to have come out of the race very well.
Jim Gluckson:
2
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Okay. And how – you’ve seen her development. When coming back at age five. Did she surprise you at all?
Aidan O’Brien:
I suppose she's done very well over the winter from four to five physically, and we were looking forward to a senior race this year and when she started racing, it kind of [inaudible]. It was obvious that she had improved again. So she was fine [inaudible], I suppose. She's been racing at the top level at two, three, four, and I suppose. I know we were delighted and obviously we were hoping that the improvement would be there.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Just want to mention about Mogul, was very impressive in winning the Grand Prix de Paris in September. Talk about his development coming up to the race.
Aidan O’Brien:
No, he's in good form as well. Obviously, he's had a busy year. But I suppose his last one was probably his most impressive and he won at the Grand Prix de Paris, like you said. He loves to have a nice ground. He travels very well and quickens well. And we we're very happy with the way he's come out of the race.
Jim Gluckson:
Very good. Well, I think now it's time to open up the questions from the media who are on the line. So let's prepare for this segment, please.
Operator:
Thank you. If you would like to ask a question, please signal by pressing star one on your telephone keypad. If you're using a speaker phone, please make sure your mute function is turned off to allow your signal to reach our equipment. Again, press star one to ask a question. We will pause for just a moment to allow everyone an opportunity to signal. Our first question comes from Frank Angst with Blood Horse. Please go ahead.
Frank Angst:
Hi, Aiden. I was just curious, how much more difficult has international travel been this year and why was it important to continue to support Breeders’ Cup as you have for so many years?
Aidan O’Brien:
Hello, Frank. You know, obviously it has been difficult. In some jurisdictions, the lads had to go a couple of weeks before the horses and all that kind of stuff. And I suppose we weren't able to travel ourselves that much because of restrictions here. The policy here is when you come back to [inaudible], you have to go into two weeks quarantine, so obviously it stopped us from going racing a lot. Obviously, we just [inaudible] that championship races of the whole season worldwide, I think. And the[?] perfect races usually on very fair tracks. And I suppose it's something that everybody look forward to our new year and we think it's very important for the whole, entire industry and all the different racing jurisdictions that everybody can compare their horses and racing for all over the world really. It's – we feel it's an unbelievable initiative and we’re was looking forward and hoping that we will have horses good enough to compete, really.
Frank Angst:
3
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Thanks so much.
Aidan O’Brien:
Thanks. A pleasure, Frank.
Operator:
The next question, it comes from Beth Harris with The Associated Press. Please go ahead.
Beth Harris:
Hi, Aiden. I just wanted to follow up slightly on Frank's question. Did you have any pause at all, or any concern in in traveling for the Breeders’ Cup? As you may have heard, you know, the coronavirus is surging in several areas of the US right now.
Aidan O’Brien:
Yeah, you bet. So I suppose we, we did everywhere we have been and all over the world, and I think we're the same here in Ireland as well, in most countries in England, France and Europe, it's the same. Obviously we're delayed . So that the Breeders’ Cup in America allowed it to happen and made it possible to happen, but obviously everybody has to be careful and very respectful of each other's space and have their own space. And there's the most important thing that everybody stays healthy. And we just felt it's important for the industry and racing and everybody in the business to buy and sell and breed and train, and doing everything just … it is the standard of the Breeders’ Cup is [inaudible] and, and we all compete which is very important for everyone to keep making [inaudible] do their best.
Operator:
Thank you. We will move to our next question coming from Kelly Riley with Brisnet.com. Please go ahead.
Kelly Riley:
Hi. I was really curious about Battleground since after he had missed the Vincent O'Brien National; the fact that he's coming here now off a longer break than would be typical for your two-year-olds coming since he was last seen in the Vintage [June 28 at Goodwood]. So I was just curious about what is he like as an individual, or what is he showing you to give you the confidence to bring him here off that kind of break?
Aidan O’Brien:
Yeah, he’s a fine, big powerful horse. He's usually a good traveler. He likes a nice ground, and I suppose he started early in the year. He won at Ascot and then he went and won in Goodwood after that. He was prepared to run at the Naas track as well and he coughed getting off the box, so we withdrew him and then we prepared them for the [inaudible] with the ground away of us, we said we would wait. And I said, well, he has been in full training a long time. He has been prepared for two races in between that he didn't run in. So we think and feel that his fitness levels are good and high, and he seems to be in good form. And we think and we hope that the track will suit him and hopefully he'll get nice ground and it's stepping up to a mine for the first time. So we think the experience will do him good, and we learn a lot about them for next year.
Kelly Riley:
Exactly. Well, it’ll be a great story, also being out of Found who obviously enjoyed the track here in 2015 as well. So that would be a wonderful boost to her historical profile as well.
4
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Aidan O’Brien:
Yeah, no, absolutely. And obviously, Found and Unbelievable, this was the first mare[?] and obviously he's by Warfront. So no, it would be brilliant.
Kelly Riley:
Beautiful. Thank you so much. Best of luck. And just finally our condolences on Wichita's very sad loss, so condolences.
Aidan O’Brien:
Appreciate that. Yeah. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
Operator:
Our next question is coming from David Grening with the Daily Racing Form. Please go ahead with your question.
David Grening:
Hi, Aidan. What went wrong with Peaceful in the Sun Chariot Stakes, and what gives you confidence she can bounce back for the Breeders' Cup?
Aidan O’Brien:
Hi, David. She's in good form, David. The ground was very bad in Newmarket. Probably the worst ground that we've seen in Newmarket for a long time, very deep. And we just felt that it just was too deep for her. She came out of the race very well. Well we would put her disappointment on totally down to ground. Really, David.
David Grening:
Is this a distance you think she could excel at? She's mostly been in mile races.
Aidan O’Brien:
Yeah, no, absolutely. She ran very well, also in the French Oaks. I think that was a mile and a quarter. And so I think that's the only other time that she stepped up any further than a mile. So we always felt that this race was going to suit her.
David Grening:
Last question, who will ride her in the Breeders’ Cup?
Aidan O’Brien:
Ryan [Moore], David, is the plan.
David Grening:
Thank you very much.
5
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Aiden O’Brien:
Pleasure, David.
Operator:
Thank you. Our next questioner is Bill Finley with Thoroughbred Daily News. Please go ahead.
Bill Finley:
Yes, hi. My question has already been asked, so I can move on.
Operator:
Thank you for that. We will now move to Marcus Hersh with Daily Racing Form. Please go ahead.
Marcus Hersh:
Hi, Aiden. I wanted to ask about mile horses. Circus Maximus. It kind of looks from the outside like you've been tinkering around trying to get the best out of this horse this year. I think you took the blinkers off for one race and it looked like he just struggled a little to improve off his queen and the start of the year. Could you talk about the way he's gone through this season and what your hopes are for him coming into this race?
Aiden O’Brien:
Yeah. Thanks, Marcus. He’s been in good form since last [inaudible]. The ground, like I said at Newmarket[?] was very, very bad ground, and that didn't suit him. He likes a nice racing surface. He likes an even pace. He likes a flat track, and he loves to get into a battle at the end. So we think and hope that all those things that might suit him. We think he's in good form. He's tough, hardy, consistent miler that gets a mile away[?]. So we think and hope that the conditions that might suit him there.
Marcus Hersh:
And with Lope Y Fernandez, I know you've ran at the mile to start the year and then you quickly cut him back. Is this a case where you think that since he he's comfortable at six and a half or seven and maybe more testing tracks overseas, that a mile with a fairly short stretch within his range?
Aiden O’Brien:
Yeah, we think probably six, seven, maybe seven is his ideal race. We had a race in France in Deauville[?]. It was a [inaudible] on group one and he didn't get to run. So we thought that was going to suit him well, and we thought it would set him up for this race. So obviously when we didn't run him there, we ran him in Ascot over six and the ground was bad. He ran plenty respect with the task and we always thought this mile would suit him on a flat easy track and we tinkered with him and kind of had to have really [inaudible] patiently.
Marcus Hersh:
So would Ryan be on Circus Maximus?
Aiden O’Brien:
6
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
I suppose, yeah. Obviously, Ryan will have the choice. At the moment Circus Maximus is the highest rated horse. But we'll wait and see, but like, obviously, like you said at the moment and like I said Circus is the highest rated at the moment.
Marcus Hersh:
Yeah. And then do you know what other jockey will come for you or if another is coming?
Aiden O’Brien:
Yeah, no, obviously what we usually do is see what we've gone through [inaudible] and how do [inaudible] and all that. Obviously [with] all the horsepower entered, the plan is to run, but they'll do the last piece of work early in the weekend. And there's a lot in scope like everybody does and then we really try and make a plan that way. But I don't think there's just, we've [inaudible] jockeys annually with Maximus.
Marcus Hersh:
Okay. Thank you, Aiden. I appreciate it.
Aidan O’Brien:
Pleasure, Marcus.
Operator:
We will next go to Jonathan Stettin with Past the Wire. Please go ahead.
Jonathan Stettin:
Hello, Aiden. How are you?
Aidan O’Brien:
Hey, Jonathan. How are you? Good, thanks.
Jonathan Stettin:
You had said earlier that Mogul had had a busy year, and I know that you intended to run him in the Arc. Do you think that the extra time off in coming here will be a benefit to him? And, if yes, why?
Aidan O’Brien:
Yeah, I think I definitely won't be any harm to Mogul, but he is a big horse, a powerful horse that takes his races very well and is always very happy to race. We were looking forward to the acquisition because his trail was very good. And he won the [Grand] Prix de Paris but obviously none of our horses got to run that day. The ground was very bad that day, so that wouldn't have been ideal for him or maybe that wasn't too much of a disadvantage, especially coming forward, looking to this race. But we are of course – like this track would suit him. He’s a pacey horse. He loves nice ground, and a flat track suits him. So I suppose to answer your question, I don't think it isn't, and we’re happy with what he's doing that at home at the moment.
Jonathan Stettin:
Has a decision on rider been made they've been made with him yet?
7
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Aidan O’Brien:
No, no. Obviously the plan is for Magical to go there as well. And then what we always do then is we have a discussion with Ryan to see why he's wanting to ride first. And then, and then we go from there, really.
Jonathan Stettin:
Thank you, Aidan. Always a pleasure. Thank you.
Aidan O’Brien:
Pleasure. Thank you very much.
Operator:
Thank you. In respect of time, we will take one final question. And that question is coming from Ron Flatter with VSIN. please go ahead.
Ron Flatter:
Aidan, Magical was retired this time last year, and now here she is coming back for this race. Do you – could you take us through what was going through your mind over the past year and, and just the process of bringing her to this point?
Aiden O’Brien:
Yeah, I suppose Ron, she’d done very well over the winter and obviously she was to go to [inaudible] this year, but we had the chat with the lads and we told them how well she'd done and this are deciding to [inaudible]. And physically, she just really changed over the winter and, and they felt, and it was worth letting her take a chance to have another year. Everything about her was right. She was very sound and mind was very good. So obviously we would delay it that they made that decision really. And, and I suppose we started to race then early in the year and she went from race to race really. She's an amazing filly. We’re very lucky to have her, really.
Ron Flatter:
Is it safe to say this will be her last race?
Aiden O’Brien:
It's possible, but I don't know. Like she also is [inaudible] for Hong Kong, in early December. So we, I suppose, we would see how things go and what we usually do is take them home and have a good chat about it for ten days after the race, what we'll want to do, where the next races or whatever wants to do. That's usually what we do usually.
Ron Flatter:
Thank you, Aidan. Safe travels.
Aiden O’Brien:
Pleasure. Thanks very much. Thanks so much. Thank you.
Operator:
8
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Mr. Gluckson, I will turn the conference back to you.
Jim Gluckson:
Well Aidan, thank you very much for taking the time this evening with us. We're glad that you and your horses are coming over and we wish you the best of luck and safe travels, and we'll see you soon. Thanks very much.
Aiden O’Brien:
I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Bye bye.
Jim Gluckson:
Aiden O’Brien, everyone. Thank you. We're going to move right now to our next guest, who's John Gosden. John is on the line and we'll talk to him right now. Among John's great winners of The Breeders' Cup over the years; he won at the inaugural [Breeders’ Cup] who actually won their very first year with Royal Heroine, and he of course won the Breeders' Cup Classic with Raven's Pass and Enable, the great Enable taking the 2018 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. John, good evening. Thanks for joining us.
John Gosden:
Good evening.
Jim Gluckson:
Jim Gluckson here at the Breeders' Cup. How are you this evening?
John Gosden:
We're fine. Thank you. A little wet here in England, bit dark already, but no, we're all well, and looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup.
Jim Gluckson:
Outstanding. Well, let's get right into it. You have Lord North who won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and gained the automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup turf. Can you talk about his development since his last race?
John Gosden:
Well, his last race unfortunately was run on a quagmire, which wasn't a lot of help to him nor to who was in the same race was Magical. She also found the track far too deep. We'd have record rain here in October. So both with the Arc in Paris, and then with our Champion still[?] here, you were running in the deepest ground I've ever seen, and it was that drying out ground, which becomes very sticky, very gluey. It's better, maybe when it rains and it's looser and wetter, but he couldn't handle that. Prior to that, he ran a lovely race. Third in the Juddmonte international at York, and obviously won the Prince of Wales, but we're looking forward to running him here. We worked nicely this morning with Frankie Dettori on him. And so planning to … the plane leaves, Stansted Airport here which is just North of London, between us and London leaving on Friday.
Jim Gluckson:
9
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Very good. Just a comment on Terebellum. She won the Dahlia Fillies at Newmarket earlier this year and was recently fifth in the Sun Chariot. How did you rate that performance?
John Gosden,
Again, we had this record rainfall and it was very, very soft ground for Newmarket. They seldom called it heavy and that was the description they were giving on the day. So she found that a little bit testing. Her, probably, you know, her she's obviously won the grade two this year. Her best run was probably in Queen Anne against the colts, against the boys over the straight mile of Ascot, Royal Ascot when she went down ahead to a very good colt that Aidan trained. So, you know, she's in top form, ready for this race and she'll be then heading to the breeding sheds afterwards.
Jim Gluckson: Very good. All right, John, let's I'm going to open up the line now for the assembled media on the call. So let's move into that segment if we can, please.
Operator:
Of course. Once again, to our audience, if you would like to ask a question, please press star one. Now we will go to our first caller and that is Bill Finley with Thoroughbred Daily News. Please go ahead.
Bill Finley:
Yes hi, John, thanks for joining us. And could you please go through what is different this year for you, your staff and your forces to be able to come to Keeneland because of COVID-19 what's required of you, of US authorities and also what's required of you, I guess when you get back in the UK?
John Gosden:
Well, obviously, you know, I’ve been telling to stay put myself here, but we've obviously been training under COVID-19 restrictions all year. Everything, all the usual stuff. Everybody knows since social distancing mask, et cetera. We're not in a high-risk area. So some of that is what we call tier two, tier three, and France has great sways of that and Spain, in which you know, far more restrictions we've had. We've been able to race since Monday, 1st June 2020. And we, you know, we have raced in France and in Germany as well as across the UK. I've tended not to go to Ireland because that’s been a 14-day quarantine for any people when you get there, which is pretty hard to play, unless you want to take a horse in Ireland, leave a load of staff, then just deliver most of them off a plane or off a van.
So we've only been racing between England, France and Germany.
As regards to coming there [to the Breeders’ Cup], everyone's gone out of their way to make it feasible for us. I've been most impressed with the protocols put in place and how helpful everyone's been. And it's not easy, but my staff had all COVID-19 tests yesterday and they were all negative. So they will be planning to fly tomorrow. They're not allowed to come on the horse plane and then be meeting the horses when they get to Keeneland. So look, there's all, and I'm sure there'll be a lot of protocols there on the ground. I know that jockeys aren't allowed into the barn, so that'll stop Mr. Dettori trying to train them all from in the barn. We'll have to meet him outside, but look, we are living in this strange world now and we just have to get on with it.
Bill Finley:
Very good. Thank you, John.
Operator:
10
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Our next question comes from Frank Angst with Blood Horse, please ahead.
Frank Angst:
Hey John, just to follow up a little bit on that, with all those challenges that now exist, why was it important for you to continue to support Breeders' Cup?
John Gosden:
Well I've been a passionate believer in it obviously, since we started at Hollywood Park. I remember so many people turn up, we ran out of programs and we ran out of food, but it was a great day and phenomenal racing that day as well with the classic, finishing the classic. And obviously I've always had my heart and then from all the way through and when I've been able to come back and race here from Europe, when you bring the right horse and it's at the end of our year, the European year very much. So you have to be careful you have your horse still fresh enough. A lot of these have done a bundle of racing. I mean, that's was found out with Dancing Brave when he'd been through the whole program from February. To the time he got to November, it was a dance too far in the heat of Santa Anita. But look, it's such a wonderful, wonderful international event. And if you ever have a horse capable of going there and belonging in a race, there’s nothing more than to run in a Breeders' Cup.
Frank Angst:
Was it more difficult keeping horses on schedule this year for an event like this?
John Gosden:
It’s been a bit of a nightmare year, really. You know, a lot of us are getting horses ready in the spring, and then there was no late March, April, May racing. None of that took place. And we did manage to get started Monday, 1st June 2020, and we ran our first legs at the Triple Crowns. And we managed to run Royal Ascot on its dates with nobody there, so there was no top hats and big hats and beautiful clothes, none of that. But we got the racing done. The horses sort of enjoyed it because they had no distractions with bands and noise.
And look, we've got through our whole program. We went and run the Derby and the Oaks on Saturday, 4th July 2020. So they wound up running a month late and we ran the Eclipse [at Sandown] the day after. We had the York and the big Goodwood meetings. And the thing is, we know it's not a sustainable way of operating. It's certainly not for the racetracks because for them, their revenue streams are cut right back. So we just hope that we'll get through this winter and come out the other side and be able to return to some normality, but everyone's been very resilient, but for training the horses, yes, you certainly, you could get off on the wrong foot and it has been what we call it a very constituted[?] season.
Frank Angst:
Thanks so much.
Operator:
Thank you. Our next question is coming from David Grening with The Daily Racing Form. Please go ahead.
David Grening:
11
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Hi John, with Terebellum, I know the ground. What type of ground do you think she prefers? And when you look at her three races prior to the Chariot where you said the heavy ground was no good. What – how do you evaluate those three?
John Gosden:
Well she’s like most horses on tertiary?, likes what we call good ground. I mean, good, good to firm. I think Keeneland, you know, would be like that. We have to be a touch careful because it's, you've had the full meet there. Then you, I know they bring the rail out a bit, but then you, you do have a lot of rain season in the breeding program. And obviously see when we were there five years ago with Golden Horn, we had a massive amount of rain and unfortunately the track slightly fell apart and it was very loose. So I hope that doesn't happen this year. I think your weather forecast seems a whole lot better and she'd be very happy on the surface if it doesn't ride in any way loose or false, but that can sometimes happen if a sand base track gets an awful lot of wear.
David Grening:
Does Frankie rider?
John Gosden:
Yeah, Frankie rides her. Absolutely.
David Grening:
All right. And then I was wondering what Mehdaayih, on the too deep [inaudible], you sent her hoping to get in, or?
John Gosden:
Actually she ran in the Prince of Wales’s and she ran really nice well into it. And then the race that day, she ripped her back in the race. So probably leaving the gate and she didn't run that great. And we had whole time off with us. So only just managed to get her back to the races the other day. She ran valiantly on very testing ground over the mile and a half and ran a really good race, just basically struggled for fitness on it. It was so deep and having not run for such a long time, but she's coming out of the race in great order. She's a little bit of a wild card if you like, but she has plenty of ability. And she comes to the race remarkably fresh with only two races in the whole year.
David Grening:
So you'll send her hoping to get in to the field?
John Gosden:
Well I think she’s in the [Longines Breeders’ Cup] Turf. She's going to be running in the mile and a half turf. At the moment she's on the also-eligible I believe Tarnawa’s[?], which is to the turf, her first preference. Half Light, who's flying over as ran second in the grade one here the other day, she gets into the race. We could then get left on the also-eligible. So we've just made a commitment to run in the Turf over the mile and a half. She stays a distance very well, and I'm perfectly aware it's a high class race, but hopefully with that, there might be a little less traffic problems with slightly less runners.
David Grening:
Thank you, John. Good luck.
12
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
John Gosden:
Thank you.
Operator:
Our next question comes from Beth Harris with The Associated Press. Please go ahead.
Beth Harris:
Hi, John, just to clarify, you will be traveling to Keeneland?
John Gosden:
No, I'm not going to be traveling to Keeneland. No. I have a full team going, but I won't be there myself sadly this year. I just, at the moment with everything going on, I've got an awful lot to run here and I got fabulous people going, so I'll leave it to them. And Mr. Detorri, he likes to play trainers too, so he can do both jobs.
Beth Harris:
Okay. Thank you.
Operator:
Thank you. And that was our final question at this time. Mr. Gluckson?
Jim Gluckson:
Wonderful. All right, so well, John, thanks so much for taking your time this evening. Have a good night.
John Gosden:
Pleasure. You too. Bye.
Jim Gluckson:
Thank you. Bye bye. John Gosden, everyone. Thank you. We'll move on now to our next guest here. Let's see if we can put together with Ken McPeek?
Operator:
Mr. McPeek has joined.
Ken McPeek:
I’m here.
Jim Gluckson:
Kenny, good afternoon. Jim Gluckson here. How are you, Kenny?
Ken McPeek:
13
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
I’m doing super, thanks.
Jim Gluckson:
Good. Good. Kenny, why don’t we get right into it here. Pre entered Swiss Skydiver, Preakness winner, a tremendous season, pre-entered first for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff and second choice for the Longines Breeders' Cup classic. Can you discuss the process for this decision?
Ken McPeek: Well I believe she's the only filly or only horse that's ever had win and you’re in both races, if I'm correct. I'm not sure that any other horse has done that. We went ahead and took advantage of the fact that she's able to pre-enter in both without any fees. And we figured we'd take a look and see what the Classic looked like. We haven't had an opportunity to sit down and study the past performances yet, but we're going to do that in the next probably 24-48 hours and get clarity on what direction we're going.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Very good. And her development since the Preakness?
Ken McPeek:
She's just a real tough filly. It seems as if every race she keeps coming out of them stronger and stronger, she put in another fabulous breeze last weekend and just let her stretch her legs, what I call a “happy half” and she'll have something similar this coming weekend assuming the racetrack’s in good order, but she's a really easy filly to keep. I hear John Gosden ran his twice this year and here we are going on race ten, and she just seems to love what she does. So it's a really special filly to be around.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Just a quick comment on Crazy Beautiful for Juvenile fillies?
Ken McPeek:
Any other season in our barn, this would be a top contender. This is a very, very good filly. We represent Phoenix Thoroughbreds here, and you know, her workmate has been Simply Ravishing. And the two of them are both high class fillies, but Crazy Beautiful’s got a chance here. She's going to have to step up her game a notch, but a high quality filly and runs hard every time.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Well, Ken, we have some media on the line that I'm sure anxious to ask you some questions. So let's turn it over to the questions from the media at this point.
Operator:
Thank you. At this time, if you would like to ask a question, press star one on your telephone keypad. Our first question is coming from Bill Finley with Thoroughbred Daily News. Please go ahead.
Bill Finley:
[inaudible]
Ken McPeek:
14
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
You're breaking up a little bit. I think you're asking me to read into the first preference.
Bill Finely:
Yeah, correct. Yeah.
Ken McPeek:
Yeah, I do think that that's the first logical choice if you, if you don't know who all the competitors are in the Classic, but we still, it isn't a decision set in stone yet. It's just simply a … it gives us the ability to look and check out the other race and offset all along the Distaff. I mean, me and Peter Callahan have said we’ll likely spot as a Distaff, but we're not going to rule out the other race until we've had a chance to analyze who else is running and how the pace scenario may set up. So there's still a little bit of time and we don't have to make a firm decision until Monday, 2nd November but I assume we'll probably make it in the next couple, three days.
Bill Finley:
Very good. Thanks, Ken.
Operator:
Thank you. Our next question comes from Jonathan Stettin with Past the Wire, please go ahead.
Jonathan Stettin:
Hello, Ken, how are you?
Ken McPeek:
Great, thanks.
Jonathan Stettin:
You know, so Swiss Skydiver has had an unbelievable campaign this year and she's going into her tenth start. Obviously she's doing great and not showing any signs, but, but despite that, is there ever any concern in a situation like this that it could be, you know, that one too many races where they just kind of regress a little bit or no concerns about that at all with her?
Ken McPeek:
No, I don't have any concerns at all. She – we watch her feeds really close. We watch all our horses feeds. I think the better they eat, the better they run. She's been so consistent with that. And we have a relatively uncomplicated routine with her and I think she's into a nice patterns and I think she can hold it. I don't think there's a concern at all. If she were to ever back out of the feed tub, or if I thought that she was showing some fatigue, then we would certainly skip a race and choose to wait if we needed to. But she dragged us to these races to be honest. And so many times I've said, well, I’ll skip one and then I'll wait. And then you can't hold her down in the barn. And my staff say you better run her again, boss, because she wants to go. So here we are.
Jonathan Stettin:
That sounds good. Thanks Ken and best of luck in the cup.
15
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Ken McPeek:
Thank you.
Operator:
Thank you. Before we move to our next caller, if you would like to ask a question, press star one now. Our next caller is Tim Wilkin with Albany Times Union. Please go ahead.
Tim Wilkin:
Kenny, can you just quickly say the pros and cons of each race there in relationship to Swiss Skydiver?
Ken McPeek:
Well, I really like her at a mile and a quarter would be the pro for the Classic. But also know it's a deeper race on paper. And I don't think that – well, another pro would be that she's going to get a bit of weight off in the Classic as well. And actually, I'm not even sure what those numbers are right now. So that's a couple of reasons to go that direction. You know, Monomoy Girl will definitely be the horse to beat in the Distaff and we know that and if we can, you know, step up our game and she's certainly a top filly and you wouldn't think that that race is going to be easy either and it's not supposed to be. So like I said, we got to, we've got to study it and we'll come to a conclusion soon here.
Tim Wilkin:
Thanks, Kenny.
Operator:
Thank you. And there are no further questions at this time. Mr. Gluckson, I will turn the conference back to you as we work to connect our next guest speaker.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Well, Kenny, I appreciate the time this afternoon and good luck to Swiss Skydiver and your all your horses next week. Thanks a lot.
Ken McPeek:
Thanks, Jim. All right.
Jim Gluckson:
Thank you. Kenny McPeek, everyone. All right. We're going to then now try to bring in here Jack Knowlton.
Operator:
And he has not joined us quite yet, sir. It'll be another moment before we come online.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. We will get back to Jack again. This call is being recorded and of course we have a transcript. I think I mentioned earlier in 24 hours, I think Kenny mentioned about the two horses, the same horse,
16
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
winning Breeders’ Cup challenge races in two different divisions. We know Vekoma did that too for the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Operator:
We now have Mr. Jack Knowlton with us.
Jim Gluckson:
Wonderful. Jack, Jim Gluckson in here in New York. How are you today?
Jack Knowlton:
I’m fine. How are you, Jim?
Jim Gluckson:
Good. Good. Thanks so much for joining us today, representing the core Sackatoga Stable with Tiz the Law. Tremendous season for you and the team, Jack. This is like strike – getting a lightning to strike again after Funny Cide years ago. Why don't you just take us through and just mention what kind of year it's been for you personally and for the Sackatoga?
Jack Knowlton:
You know, given the circumstances and the pandemic and all that for the 35 partners and Tiz the Law and Barclay Tagg and his team, it's been a rewarding year to have a horse Tiz the Law. When you know, [winning] grade one races and run second in the Kentucky Derby, no fans at, you know, the Belmont or you know, the Florida Derby. At least we were able to get to some of our team at you know, the, the Travers and a lot of the people at the Derby. So it's been an incredible year. And we've got one more race that we're looking forward to.
Jim Gluckson:
Thank you. Can you comment on his physical progress since the hard run in the Derby and deciding to not go to the Preakness, of course, and then train up to the (sic) Belmont. ( Breeders’ Cup). How has that worked out for the horse thus far with you and Barclay?
Jack Knowlton:
Been in communication with Barkley, you know, if not every day, every other day, I spoke with him this morning and he is just glowing in his description of how Tiz is doing down there. You know, for Barclay – And for Barclay to, you know, take off out in New York three weeks to be down there with him that it came [inaudible] with this you know, stable farm in line, also the groom[?] of Tiz and to have Heather iSmullen], the exercise rider down there, huge commitment of Barclay and unprecedented in the, you know, 20 plus years that I've been with him. But I think he feels that you know, it's, there's an opportunity that he can't let pass by, do everything you possibly can do to have the horse ready for a big run on a Saturday at the Breeders’ Cup.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Excellent. All right, Jack, I think we have some media on the line that would be interested in asking you some questions. So let's turn it over for questions from the media, please.
Operator:
17
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Thank you. Once again, if you would like to ask a question, you may press star one on your telephone keypad. Now please hold for a moment as we compile your responses. We will go to our first question coming from Tim Logan with Albany Times Union. Please go ahead.
Tim Wilkin:
Hey Jack, can you just talk a little bit about the field now that it's coming into focus a little bit, even though most people who was going to be in there and your thoughts on this field?
Jack Knowlton:
Well, I think the one question that kind of remains open is, you know, whether Swiss Skydiver going to go into Classic or not. I mean, just about everybody that you know, you read about or talk to feels that it's one of the deepest Classics in a while. Clearly you know, the three Bob Baffert horses including Authentic who beat us in a Derby, two older horses with Improbable and Maximum Security, it's you know I think he calls it his dream team. I call it the Baffert Brigade, and the other horse that you know, seemingly is typically mentioned within the top echelon for the Classic is Tiz the Law.
So, you know, we're you know, obviously thrilled to have a horse of Tiz’s stature and accomplished what he's accomplished. There are some other horses in there that you look at some other races, like Tom’s d’Etat that you know, are outstanding horses as well. So I think, you know, on paper, and obviously we don't run the races on paper, but on paper, I think it looks like a tremendous race. And you know, as just about everybody recognizes, there's not an awful lot. I don't think it's going to separate the top horses for sure. And you know, who's going to get the, get the trip. What's the base going to be like? Just a lot of questions. The weather looks like it's going to be good, should be a fast track. So hopefully that's the way it turns out.
Tim Wilkin
Thanks, Jack.
Operator:
Thank you. And as a reminder, you may ask a question by pressing star one now. Gentlemen, at this time, there are no additional question.
Jim Gluckson:
Jack, just to follow up. What is your travel plan for the Breeders’ Cup?
Jack Knowlton:
I'm going to be coming in on Monday and you know, be able to you know, be around all week, which I'm looking forward to spend some time with Barclay and Heather and a couple of the other partners are going to be coming in early and get to go see Funny Cide at the [Kentucky] Horse Park and you know, do some things like that. So that's what I'm looking forward to.
Jim Gluckson:
All right, then. Well, Jack, we look forward to seeing you at the Breeders’ Cup next week, and thanks for taking the time to join us today. Have a good afternoon.
Jack Knowlton:
18
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
All right. Thank you. Bye bye now.
Jim Gluckson:
Thank you. Jack Knowlton, thank you. All right. Let’s work with our next guest. We have now on the line with us trainer Brad Cox, who has excellent chances and a few races here for in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships with Monomoy Girl, Essential Quality and Aunt Pearl, just to mention a few horses here. Brad, Jim Gluckson here. How are you this afternoon?
Brad Cox:
Great, Jim. How you doing?
Jim Gluckson:
Good. Thanks for joining us today. It's been a great story with Monomoy Girl to come back this year after missing last year and in a prime position that she is in. Can you – I’d like you to start on commenting about what this year has meant to you and her development.
Brad Cox:
Well, as far as getting her back to the races, I mean, it's been – it was a long road. You know, we had a couple of setbacks at 2019 and it's been a lot to us, our staff and everyone that's involved with her to get her back to the races. And you know, for her to be able to compete as a grade one level one, when a grade one was you know, really amazing for us as a team to be able to give back – for her to be able to get back to that point. And honestly, we feel like she's a better this year than she was at 2018. So you know, just it means a lot to us and our staff and obviously the owners for her to be able to not only make it back, but be able to compete at the grade one level means it means a lot.
Jim Gluckson:
And what is your [her] work schedule from now until the Breeders’ Cup?
Brad Cox:
Right now I'm thinking we will breeze on Saturday. We do have some weather coming in tonight, which there'll be Thursday. It'll probably affect our training Thursday morning, a little bit. We don't have anything scheduled to work. We're just kind of hoping the weather gets in and out and it'll open up our schedule. We'll have our normal Friday, Saturday breeze schedule with our Breeders’ Cup horses. Right now think should possibly have to move our Friday horses to Saturday and hoping our Saturday horses stay Saturday. They have to go to Sunday or whenever it's no big deal, but right now she'll breeze on Saturday. Monomoy will.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. And as I mentioned earlier, excellent chances here with the Essential Quality in the Juvenile and with Aunt Pearl in the Juvenile Fillies [Turf]. Comment on each of them please.
Brad Cox:
Essential Quality, obviously has a race over the Keeneland track; he trained there had been in the summer. So he's familiar with Keeneland. He's back at Churchill since his [inaudible] Breeders’[ Futurity] victory. He's had two very nice works since his last race. And we think the sky's the limit with this horse. He's a very
19
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
talented cult. He showed us a lot from day one and, you know, hoping everything goes well, gets a good trip. And you know, he'll be in the mix. He’s a very nice colt.
Aunt Pearl, a very fast filly, able to carry your speed around her turns. Another one that has experience at Keeneland. Obviously won there last time, and she was another one that trained there in the spring and summer. She's had a really, really nice work last weekend. Last Friday, I should say at Churchill. She's one slated to work this Friday. Once again, if the weather detracts, not the way we feel it needs to be, well, we'll move it to Saturday, but she she's doing well. And you know, she's very, very, very talented filly.
Jim Gluckson:
Very good. Well at this point let's open it up for questions from the media that are on the line. Brad.
Brad Cox:
Okay.
Operator:
Thank you. If you would like to ask a question at this time, please press star one on your telephone keypad now. Again, press star one now to ask a question. We will go to our first question and that is coming from Bill Finley with Thoroughbred Daily News. Please go ahead.
Bill Finley:
Hey, Brad. Thanks for joining. We had Ken McPeek on earlier and he kind of indicated that he's leaning towards the Distaff with Swiss Skydiver, but no final thoughts yet. He said wonderful, glowing things about Monomoy Girl. I wonder what you think about Swiss Skydiver, and if you could take off your trainer hat and put on your racing fans hat, what might've show down between these two great fillies mean for the sport and how exciting might it be?
Brad Cox:
Well I think it would be fantastic for racing if they were to meet up in the Distaff. I mean, obviously you're talking about us formerly three-year-old champion trying to become, you know, champion older mare. And then obviously that filly, I think is definitely the leaderboard as on the leaderboard and will probably take- home championships filly honors. So, it would be a really good matchup. I mean, you know, from standpoint of being a fan, I think, and I am a fan of racing, so I think it would be a tremendous matchup and I would look forward to it.
Bill Finley:
Very good. Thanks Brad.
Brad Cox:
Thank you.
Operator:
Thank you. Our next question comes from Byron King with Blood Horse. Please go ahead.
Byron King:
20
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Hi Brad. Thanks for taking the time for us. I appreciate it. I had two questions. I'll just ask them both and then you can address them both, but let's start with Monomoy Girl. I was hoping that you could just kind of reflect on her great career she provided you with your first grade one in the Ashland, if I'm not mistaken. And now I believe you're tally all the way up in two short years up to I think, 15 or thereabouts and potentially, you know, this being her last start, if she goes through the sale at Fasig-Tipton, just kind of put into words, number one, what she's meant to you. And then secondly, I was hoping you could expand on Essential Quality, a colt you train for Godolphin. Of course Godolphin last year had to, unfortunately they didn't get to make this race with Maxfield, and of course you did not have Maxfield with Brendan Walsh, but if you could just talk about getting back to this race for them and your relationship with Godolphin and how long you've trained for them and getting to the juvenile for that team?
Brad Cox:
Well, the first question Monomoy Girl you know, words really honestly can describe it. I don't have enough time nor do you guys in order to, you know, as far as Monomoy Girl, what she's done for my career and several other peoples. You know, she means the world to us. You know, we'll see if she sells. I mean, we're, I think we got to get through the race on Saturday, before she's offered on Sunday, as far as you know, a decision on, you know, what kind of number they're going to want for her or, you know, they would entertain racing her through the end of the year or even through 2021. So I think there's a lot of question marks as far as that goes, but you know, she means a lot to us. She's, you know, we’re very proud of what we've accomplished with her and what … you know, it's been – the last year and a half – the last two years, I guess you would say, you know, the highest of the highs and some very lows points with her in 2019 with a couple of setbacks. But you know, she means the world to us very fortunate to have her. And she's honestly put us in a position to have an opportunity to have almost eight, hopefully eight, nine horses in the Breeders’ Cup this year. I think, you know, horses like her, you know, definitely kickstart your career and get you to a different level as far as competing at the greatest stake in grade one level. So she, you know, she started all that for us and, you know, we're very fortunate to have her around really, I mean, three years later. We've had her for three years and we won our first grade one, two and a half years ago with her. So she means a world to us.
Onto the second part, Essential Quality, I mean, he’s a very talented colt. Anytime you can win a grade one around two turns in your second start, you know, you have you have a lot of talent. And he showed that his first start and his start. So, you know, the sky's the limit with him and you know, very well-bred Colt. And as far as Godolphin, and we've been training for Godolphin a couple of years. This is our second group of two- year olds that we have received from them. So we we've been with them, I guess nearly two years. I think it'll be two years in this next spring. And it's been it's been a great, great relationship so far.
I mean, very great, you know, great people to work for understand the game. You know, I deal with Jimmy Bell and Dan Pride and they just, you know the class act take the bad news as well as they do the good news. So, I mean, I think that's the biggest thing with a trainer, what you're looking for and owners, and they they've just, you know, definitely gave us some very nice horses to work with. You know, aside from Essential Quality, we've had Hieronymus and Shared Sense and some really nice colts for them. A couple others, Inspector Frost that we’re expecting bigger and better things out of. [inaudible] won on his comeback race. Keeneland looks like he's going to be a horse ho hopefully this is going to compete at the greatest stake level in 2021. So you know, just very fortunate to have horses for such a classy outfit and you know, they obviously have well bred horses and it's been very, very – it's been an honor actually to work for them and, you know, hopefully you know, Essential Quality’s a horse that can lead, you know, it'll end up in their stallion barn at someday alongside the other great stallions they have like Frosted and Nyquist and Street Sense. So hopefully that's something that you know, he can, we can get him over there at some point. Hopefully we can run him a few more years before we get into all that, but you know, very, very fortunate to be working with those guys.
Byron King:
21
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Thank you, Brad.
Brad Cox:
Thanks, Byron.
Operator:
We will move to our next question. And that is coming from Jay Privman with Daily Racing Form. Please go ahead.
Jay Privman:
Hey, Brad. I had questions regarding your two Dirt Mile entrants. First off with Knicks Go. If you could just sort of go through the process of having run very early in the year, and then the time off you know, preceding the one comeback race, and then regarding Owendale, when we'd spoken a couple of weeks ago, you said you thought he might go straight to the Clark [Handicap] and obviously that's changed. And just wondering what you know, what the reasons were for deciding that the Dirt Mile was a better option at this point, please. Thanks.
Brad Cox:
As far as Owendale goes, we'll make a decision this weekend after his work Saturday. That's what we're planning on doing is working him Saturday. He breezed really well with Monomoy Girl last week. And he's worked with her a couple of times, probably four or five times throughout the year this year, and he worked well with her. She probably had the best of him late in the work, but he galloped out similarly well, so I feel like he's doing well. If we don't land in the Breeders’ Cup [Dirt] Mile, we're pointing for the Clark, which is 20 days later. I'm not saying he wouldn't run in both, but we just kind of have to look at the mile. We want to look at the mile and see, you know, who else is going to run. Obviously, we're planning on running Knicks Go. So, you know, we'll make a decision after he works.
We're 100% committed with Knicks Go. He's you know, we picked this horse up, back in the winter. He showed us a lot of the mornings training him. We felt very confident in running him. You know, he's very accomplished horse prior to us having him, and then obviously for him to have [inaudible] advanced[?] condition it was a very, I thought strong race at Oaklawn that day from a standpoint of quality in the field. He ran a huge race and made, I mean, just really kicked on and away from, I thought a good group of horses. We're pointing him for a race there in April, He had a setback, required a minor surgery, talks of retirement tire retiring him. He does have some value as a stallion, having won a grade one at two. Spoke with [first name inaudible] Park that runs the Korean Racing Authority. And I, my comments were to him, you know, he asked me, I said, yeah, if the horse comes out surgery and he starts training, bring him back. I'd love to bring him back and give him an opportunity and I'm glad they did. They chose to bring him back.
He's trained extremely well, just like he did last winter. Once again, on a very accomplished horse to be setting there with the three [inaudible] condition. We took advantage of it there at Keeneland. We thought he had run big. He was training excellent. For him to break the track record, never really expected that, but he did. And you know, obviously he loves Keeneland and you know, you know, honestly before the race that never crossed my mind running him in the dirt mile, but after the performance and, you know, just seeing the time we had, I believe it was right at five weeks, close to five weeks between that performance and the British[?], the dirt mile. I thought, you know, if he gets in, we can take a shot here and he could be effective. I mean, he has early speed. Once again, he likes Keeneland and we're going to get the short stretch. So I think he'll be a factor.
Jay Privman:
22
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Great. Thank you very much.
Brad Cox:
Thanks, Jay.
Operator:
Our next question is coming from Bill Finley with Thoroughbred Daily News. Please go ahead.
Bill Finley:
Hey, Brad, I wanted to get you to elaborate when you said earlier. Raising the possibility of the Monomoy Girl could race next year. We know she's in the sale, but could you just go through what the owners have told you and, and, you know, again, sort of elaborate on whether or not that is a possibility?
Brad Cox:
Other than what I said, Bill, I can't really say anything other than, I just think they have it in the back of their mind if she shows up and runs extremely well in the Distaff, it could be a possibility that they would like to campaign her in 2021, just given the fact you know, she did not race as a as a four year old. This is basically the four-year-old season. And for I guess you'd say mare turn five, turning six you know, somewhat lightly raced. She was so I just, you know, I, I think a lot is going to hinge on what happens Breeders’ Cup Day. So, you know, I think, I think there's going be a meeting at some point you know, after the Breeders' Cup that night, or probably the next day, at some point, we're going to have to, you know, get a game plan ready and see what happens. I think a lot of it just hinges on her performance at Breeders’ Cup Day.
Bill Finley:
Very good. Thanks, Brad.
Brad Cox:
Thanks Bill.
Operator:
Thank you. And At this time, there are no additional questions. Mr. Gluckson?
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Well, Brad, thank you very much for taking the time this afternoon to answer the questions for the media. Best of luck to you next week at the Breeders' Cup with a very formidable team. Have a good day now.
Brad Cox: Thanks, Jim. Talk to you soon now. Bye.
Jim Gluckson:
Thanks, Brad. All right. Now we'll prepare for our next guest. Next guest is Bob Baffert Pre-entered three for the breeders' cup classic, and we'll just wait right here for a second.
Operator:
23
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
And we have Mr. Baffert connected.
Jim Gluckson:
Bob good afternoon or good morning. Jim Gluckson here for the Breeders’ Cup. How are you today?
Bob Baffert:
Oh fine, thank you.
Jim Gluckson:
Great. Bob, an excellent year for your three runners among your three runners for the Breeders’ Cup Classic: Improbable the top rated horse in the Longines Breeders' Cup rankings this year, Breeders’ Cup classic rankings, Maximum Security TVG Pacific classic winner, And of course Authentic the Kentucky Derby winner. Taking them one at a time here going back to Improbable who ran fifth and last year's Breeders’ Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile has now climbed the ranks to be a top of the older horses in the country. Can you comment on what you've done to make him that special horse this year, as far as training is concerned and to get him where he is today?
Bob Baffert:
Yeah. You know what? He always showed a lot of talent as a three-year old, but, you know, he wasn't really mentally mature, physically mature. You know, we always refer to him as a Little Justify. Yeah. Because, you know, he's a beautiful mover and he just athleticism is just, you know, the way he covers –goes over the ground and his mechanics, but what a difference a year makes. And he's just really finally put it all together and I'm just happy that they kept him on training an extra year and, and you know, dealing with Elliott Walden and, and WinStar farm may you know, we set up a little, you know, schedule for him and it's worked out perfectly.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Very good. I just think going out into Maximum Security, what is his schedule in between now and the Breeders’ Cup?
Bob Baffert:
They will all breeze one more time this weekend, Saturday and Sunday for those three. And then they ship out on Tuesday early morning. I think they're arrived there about noon, I think.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. And Authentic, you know, since the Preakness, an outstanding effort how has he taken now, preparing for this race?
Bob Baffert: He actually came out of it really well, you know Authentic, he's another one that, you know, he's mature and he was a late foal and he, you know, he would make a wonderful four-year-old, but you never know what's going to happen, but he's a good race. I mean, he shown, he had his moment. I was disappointed in his Preakness run. I think he's a horse that he's still a little bit green and he can be tough to ride sometimes, you know, he’s … like sending him to the Derby and he got behind there a little bit and then wouldn't engage in it. He'll do that. He did that at the Haskell where, you know, he was running really well, and really shut him down. He shuts himself down. It's hard to get him going again. And so and I think he
24
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
you know, he, I think he ran a good race, but the mare [Swiss Skydiver], she you know, she got the best, she got the first move on him and he just couldn't get by her. So he's going to have to, you know, improve and I think he will, but he needs to be ridden aggressively away from the game.
Jim Gluckson:
All right. Well, Bob of course – won the Breeders’ Cup Classic consecutively, all with three-year-olds. So we'll see what happens this year. Now I think it'd be time to open up to the questions from the media. So let's move on to that section, please.
Operator:
Thank you. If you would like to ask a question, please signal by pressing star one on your telephone keypad. Now please hold for a moment as we compile your responses. Our first question is coming from Jonathan Stettin with Past the Wire. Please go ahead.
Jonathan Stettin:
Hello, Bob, how are you?
Bob Baffert:
Fine, thanks.
Jonathan Stettin:
When you have three horses in the class second, and two of them appeared to be early pace type horses, what insight can you give us into the rider instructions before the race and how you look for that to play out?
Bob Baffert:
Yeah, that's a good question. You have Maximum Security, I think last time we were sort of chasing some really speed that was, we knew was not really solid, real class [inaudible]. And I think post position and the break is going – that'll tell the story. And so I’m going to – these riders are going to be on their own. They know their horses well. Saez knows Maximum Security better than anybody. And he told me last, when he rode him last time, he just wasn't – the man, he left there and he was chasing and struggling, and we would've been, you know, if it could have been it over, we would have just taken it back a little bit. And but it was, it was a crazy pace and Improbable you know, Drayden [Van Dyke] saw what was happening, he just let them go, and then he came and got him. So, you know, I think it's going to be these jockeys, they know their horse and they're going to ride the way they feel, play the break.
Jonathan Stettin:
Thanks, Bob. Good luck.
Operator:
Thank you. And once again, as a reminder to our audience, if you would like to ask a question, you may press star one now. Our next question is coming from Beth Harris with The Associated Press. Please go ahead.
Beth Harris:
25
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Hi Bob.
Bob Baffert:
Hey Beth.
Beth Harris:
You know, when you think back to March when the pandemic really hit and everything started shutting down, everybody was just kind of suspended there for a while to where we are now, is it just a bit of a victory for the sport that that, you know, we're even going to be able to even have a Breeders’ Cup and have the Europeans and everybody get together even without fans?
Bob Baffert:
Yeah, I agree with that because it was looking so gloomy when everything shut down and I really didn't think California mad –, so they shut us down and I shut a lot of my horses down and so and then to be able to come, I mean, I'd be every day, like the Kentucky Derby, I really didn't think we were going to be able to run it. I really thought it was what, a shame, just like those poor kids that, you know, training for the Olympics. They shut them down for a year. I mean, it's got it was devastating for everyone. And so I feel really fortunate that we got to reopen and this is happening and don't complain, just enjoy that we're even – we're running, you know, and that's one thing I learned from it.
Beth Harris:
Thanks.
Operator:
Our next question is coming from Frank Angst with Blood Horse. Please go ahead.
Frank Angst:
Hey, Bob with Authentic, just how strange is it to be going from Triple Crown races right into the Breeders’ Cup. And is that going to be a challenge for him, or are there things that you like about that schedule?
Bob Baffert:
Well, I mean, I would've, you know, you prefer to give them more time, but I don't think it's going to affect him very much. I think he's a horse that … the thing about my horses they have before they even run, they have a pretty good foundation on them. And so he's got a great foundation. When the pandemic started in Santa Anita, when the racing stopped, I stopped on him and I think it affected him for the Santa Anita Derby. And so, but then we got him going again, and so he's a very talented horse. He's quirky, he's a little quirky, you know. He looks at things and hears things, but you know, coming into this race, he's doing really well. I mean, and my three-year-olds have won this race and, but he's up, you know, he's up against horses like Improbable and Maximum Security. They're serious horses too. And so but he can run. I, you know, it's harder to separate them right now. But I think, you know, if they have to bring their A game. There's a lot of, you know, what I love about the Breeders' Cup is that it's all about the best horses, the best jockeys, and there's good horses in there. I'm not just, I have my three, they're very tough, but there's some other good horses in there. So you've got Tiz the Law and, you know, he's, I have a lot of respect for him. And so, but, you know, I really think that, they're going to be passing out the championships that day and this is going to be a key race.
Frank Angst:
26
CNDAL_Breeders’ Cup Limited 2010634 – Breeders' Cup Teleconference, October 28th 2020
Thank you.
Operator:
Thank you. And at this time there are no additional questions. Mr. Gluckson?
Jim Gluckson:
Yes. All right. Well Bob, thanks so much for joining us today for the pre-entry call and we look forward to seeing you next week and best of luck with your travels to Lexington.
Bob Baffert:
Thank you, and thanks for having me. And let’s have a great Breeders’ Cup.
Jim Gluckson:
Thanks Bob. Much appreciated. Bob Baffert, everyone. Alright, at this time I wanted to see if there are any, we want to see if there's any questions for Tom Robbins representing the Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors and Secretaries panel about the makeup of the fields. So if there are any questions for Tom, we’d like to start that process now.
Operator:
Thank you, sir. To ask you a question at this time, press star one on your telephone keypad. Once again, that is star one to ask a question. And there are no current questions at this time.
Jim Gluckson:
All right, well, Tom's off the hook then. That completes our call for today. Again, the transcript of this call will be posted on BreedersCup.com within 24 hours. And I want to thank all of our guests: Aidan O’Brien, John Gosden, Ken McPeek, Jack Knowlton, Brad Cox, and of course, Bob Baffert and Tom Robbins to be with us today. Have a good day everyone, and we'll see you soon. Thank you very much.
Operator:
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, and thank you all for your attention. This concludes today's conference. You may now disconnect.
27