Aug. 27, 2020 Countdown to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships Newsletter Advisory: This is the first of nine weekly news releases focusing on the horses and races leading to the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7 at Keeneland. For more information, please visit www.breederscup.com. The Breeders’ Cup will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN. You can follow all the contenders’ activity leading up to the Breeders’ Cup with Equibase’s free “Road to the Breeders’ Cup” Virtual Stable notification service. Maximum Security wins TVG Pacific Classic (G1) - Eclipse Sportswire photo 8 . 2 7 . 2 0 PAGE 1 Tiz the Law, Maximum Security are Leaders for Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Glory at Keeneland While there’s still plenty of heavy lifting left, a scintillating matchup between superstar 3- year-old TIZ THE LAW and handicap leader MAXIMUM SECURITY in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) -- which could potentially decide Horse of the Year -- has racing fans eagerly awaiting the 37th Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland Race Course Nov. 6 and 7. Racing’s championship weekend will visit Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., for the second time after a historic first appearance in 2015, and with 14 races and $35 million in purses and awards, as always, the Breeders’ Cup will be a must-see event. The $7 million 1 ¼-mile Classic is the centerpiece and closing act to the two-day Breeders’ Cup extravaganza, and Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law looms a worthy leading actor, as he’s captured the imagination of the racing world with his dominant wins and working-class connections. The New York-bred son of Constitution has been untested in a 4-for-4 campaign this year for trainer Barclay Tagg, which includes easy Grade 1 wins in the Belmont Stakes (G1) in June -- the first leg of this year’s Triple Crown, which was turned upside down due to the Coronavirus pandemic -- along with the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in April, and Runhappy Travers at Saratoga Aug. 8. Tiz the Law, who is 6-for-7 lifetime, will look to take the second leg of the Triple Crown in the Kentucky Derby Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs, and his connections have long indicated the Classic is the end of the year goal, even if their colt is successful in Louisville, and in Pimlico’s Oct. 3 “Win and You’re In” Preakness Stakes (G1), which is a newly minted automatic qualifier for the Classic. Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s Maximum Security, rated No. 1 in the latest Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, would be a strong Classic favorite any other year, as he’s seemingly as good as ever for new trainer Bob Baffert after being transferred from Jason Servis’ barn in mid-March. The 4-year-old son of 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day earned an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic with his victory in last Saturday’s “Win and You’re In” TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar (G1, see race recap below), to go with Del Mar’s July 25 San Diego Handicap (G2) in his first start for Baffert. Maximum Security, who is 10-for-12, also crossed the line first in last year’s Derby before ultimately being placed 17th due to interference off the far turn. He won the inaugural Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February before the West’s transferred him to Baffert. A three-time winner of the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, Baffert indicated Maximum Security could have one more start before a Classic run, or simply head straight to the race. “I’ll see how he is in a week or so. I could even wait until the Breeders’ Cup,” Baffert said. Should Maximum Security run one more time, a logical spot would be Santa Anita’s Sept. 26 Awesome Again (G1), which also is a “Win and You’re In” for the Classic. Baffert also has WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., and SF Racing’s IMPROBABLE who earned a berth into the Classic with his win in Saratoga’s “Win and You’re In” Whitney on Aug. 1. The 4-year- old son of City Zip went just 1-for-7 at 3 but has taken his game to a new level in his last two starts, as he won the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) in June at Santa Anita before the Whitney. Improbable, 6-for-13, could prep for the Classic in another qualifier, Belmont’s Oct. 10 “Win and You’re In” Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). G M B Racing’s TOM'S D'ETAT was upset in the Whitney after blowing the start but rallied to be third and had already earned a starting berth into the Classic when he won Churchill’s “Win and You’re In” Stephen Foster (G2) in June for trainer Al Stall Jr. The 7-year-old son of Smart Strike has gotten better with age and was arguably the best in the division before the Whitney, 8 . 2 7 . 2 0 PAGE 2 though clearly he’ll be given a pass after losing all chance early on. Tom’s d’Etat, who is 11- for-19 lifetime, could prep for the Classic in Keeneland’s Oct. 10 Fayette (G2), a race he won last year. The rest of the handicap division pointing to the Classic include major graded stakes winners BY MY STANDARDS, CODE OF HONOR, and TACITUS with European turf standout BENBATL (GB) also a potential candidate, while the 3-year-olds are clearly in flux, with both the Derby and Preakness still remaining on the calendar. Saratoga’s Sword Dancer to Award Turf Berth The weekend “Win and You’re In” action kicks off Saturday at Saratoga with the $500,000 Sword Dancer (G1), which will award an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. Run at 1 ½ miles, the Sword Dancer, which drew eight horses, is led by Woodslane Farm’s homebred SADLER’S JOY, one of the most consistent long-distance turf runners in the U.S. over the past several years for trainer Tom Albertrani. Sadler’s Joy, a 7-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy, has won four graded stakes, including the 2017 Sword Dancer, in a career that has amassed over $2.5 million in earnings. The veteran has also performed quite well in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, running fourth in the race at Del Mar in 2017, third at Churchill Downs in 2018, and prepped for the Sword Dancer with a win (only to be disqualified for stretch interference and placed fourth) in the local Bowling Green (G2) on Aug. 1. Wachtel Stable, R.A. Hill Stable, Gary Barber, and Reeves Thoroughbreds’ CHANNEL MAKER has tangled with Sadler’s Joy for the better part of three seasons and will be back for more for trainer Bill Mott. The 6-year-old son of Breeders’ Cup Turf winner English Channel is 5-for-34 lifetime with over $2.2 million in earnings. He was second in the Sword Dancer in 2018 and fourth last year and enters off a third (moved up from fourth) in the Bowling Green. Augustin Stable’s newcomer CORELLI should attract plenty of support for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The 6-year-old son of 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner English Channel was a close third in the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 18 in only his second U.S. start and for Thomas, and is 3-for-12 lifetime. Stakes performers HIGHLAND SKY, PEDRO CARA (FR), AQUAPHOBIA, MARZO and CROSS BORDER also have been entered for the “Win and You’re In” Sword Dancer. Dirt Mile Bid on the Line in O’Brien at Del Mar Later Saturday evening Saturday at Del Mar, the $150,000 “Win and You’re In” Pat O’Brien (G2) will award an automatic starting berth into the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Run at 7 furlongs, the O’Brien drew a field of eight, with Tom Kagele’s C Z ROCKET leading the way for trainer Peter Miller. C Z Rocket, an overnight stakes winner earlier in his career for trainer Al Stall, has been a reclamation this year since being claimed by Miller for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park in April. The 6-year-old son of City Zip is 3-for-3 for his new connections and enters off a win in an optional- claimer at Keeneland July 12. C Z Rocket is 7-for-20 overall and could use the O’Brien as a springboard to not only Dirt Mile, but also the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Lane’s End Racing and Hronis Racing’s FLAGSTAFF will garner plenty of support for trainer John Sadler. The 6-year-old son of 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Speightstown is 5- 8 . 2 7 . 2 0 PAGE 3 for-13 lifetime. He won Santa Anita’s San Carlos (G2) in March and was recently second to heavyweight McKinzie in Santa Anita’s Triple Bend (G2) June 20. LAW ABIDIN CITIZEN, recently third on Aug. 1 in the Del Mar’s Bing Crosby (G1), a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and local stakes winner VERTICAL THREAT, also are entered for the “Win and You’re In” Pat O’Brien, as are BLAMEITONTHELAW, GIANT EXPECTATIONS, MANHATTAN UP, and P R RADIO STAR. *** Juddmonte International Stakes winner Ghaiyyath (IRE) York Racecourse photo News and Notes Ghaiyyath Secures Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win in Juddmonte International Godolphin’s streaking superstar GHIAYYATH (IRE) demonstrated why he has been the dominant horse in Europe this year when he earned an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, capturing York’s Juddmonte International (G1) on Aug.