September 24, 2020 C OUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEWSLETTER Advisory: This is the fifth 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 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. Santa Anita Opens, Anchors Second-Busiest Challenge Weekend The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series kicks into high gear this weekend, as 11 automatic qualifiers for racing’s World Championships will be run, with Santa Anita Park, in Arcadia, Calif., hosting seven on its Opening Weekend. The “Win and You’re In” action is not only coast-to-coast, with Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. hosting one race, but it’s a global affair as well, as Newmarket in Suffolk, England, and Hipodromo da Gavea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil also get in on the action. Air quality concerns due to the wildfires that broke out in the mountains above Santa Anita postponed the meet opener one week to this Friday, which means things will start off on a fevered pitch, as three of the seven “Win and You’re In” races are Grade 1’s. The highlight will be Saturday’s $250,000 Awesome Again (G1), which will award the winner an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The five-horse field is headlined by Gary and Mary West and the Coolmore conglomerate of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Mrs. John Magnier’s MAXIMUM SECURITY. 9 . 2 4 . 2 0 PAGE 1 Maximum Security winning TVG Pacific Classic Eclipse Sportswire photo Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Awesome Again will mark Maximum Security’s third start for trainer Bob Baffert since being transferred from Jason Servis’ barn. The 4-year-old son of 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner New Year’s Day won the San Diego Handicap (G2) at Del Mar in July and earned a free berth into the Classic when he won the “Win and You’re In” TVG Pacific Classic (G1) Aug. 22. Maximum Security is 10-for-12 lifetime, including a win in the inaugural Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in February, and figures to be odd-on for the race. Maximum Security’s price won’t be as short as initially thought however, as Baffert decided to run WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing’s IMPROBABLE, who would be odds-on himself, if not for his stablemate. The 4-year-old son of City Zip rates just a notch below his more heralded barnmate, as he qualified for the Classic when he won Saratoga’s “Win and You’re In” Whitney (G1) Aug. 1, to go along with the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita in June. Improbable, who was fifth in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last year at Santa Anita, is 6-for-13 lifetime C R K Stable’s MIDCOURT was second to Maximum Security in the San Diego and third in the Pacific Classic, and will try him again for trainer John Shirreffs. The 5-year-old son of two- time Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) winner Midnight Lute is 5-for-13 lifetime and won the local San Pasqual (G2) in February. SLEEPY EYES TODD enters off a dominant 7 ½-length win in 9 . 2 4 . 2 0 PAGE 2 the Charles Town Classic (G2) on Aug. 28. The field is completed by California-bred TAKE THE ONE O ONE, who captured a 1-mile allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar in his last start on Aug. 22. Quartet of Qualifiers Anchor Awesome Again Card While the Awesome Again may get top billing, there are four other Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races Saturday at Santa Anita, with the $300,000 American Pharoah (G1) offering a starting berth into the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), while the $300,000 Rodeo Drive (G1) Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, G1), $200,000 Chandelier (G2) (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, G1), and $100,000 Speakeasy (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint) also serve as automatic qualifiers. The American Pharoah, run at 1 1/16 miles, is led by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert E. Masterson’s SPIELBERG, who will look for his first career victory for trainer Bob Baffert. The 2-year-old son of Union Rags was second on debut at Del Mar in August and then second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 7, and figures to improve a great deal as he’ll try two turns for the first time. Pam and Marty Wygod’s homebred WASPIRANT, another son of Union Rags, got two turns in his second start and broke through with a maiden win at Del Mar Aug. 29 for trainer John Shirreffs. Others include WESTON, who won Del Mar’s Best Pal (G2) in August but was a distant third in the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1), and NOTABLE EXCEPTION, an impressive Arlington Park debut winner. The Rodeo Drive, at 1 ¼ miles, has seven entered in a race that could sort out the Southern California filly and mare turf ranks. Calvin Nguyen’s BODHICITTA (GB), a 4-year-old daughter of Showcasing (GB), won Del Mar’s Yellow Ribbon (G2) Aug. 8 for trainer Richard Baltas, while Slam Dunk Racing and James Branham’s MAXIM RATE, a 4-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate, won Del Mar’s Aug. 16 CTT and TOC Stakes for trainer Simon Callaghan. LADY PRANCELOT, winner of the last year’s American Oaks (G1) and second by a neck in the Sept. 5 John C. Mabee (G2) at Del Mar, along with stakes-placed runners CATCH THE EYE, MUCHO UNUSUAL and PRETTY POINT, have also been entered. The Chandelier, at 1 1/16 miles, could have the strongest favorite of the weekend, as Zedan Racing Stables’ PRINCESS NOOR, who has been 3-5 in both starts for Baffert, will likely be as short as 1-5 when she tries two turns for the first time. The 2-year-old daughter of Not This Time easily won her debut at Del Mar in August then dominated the Sept. 6 Del Mar Debutante (G1) by 6 ½ lengths. Princess Noor, who cost $1.35 million at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training 2020, would further her status as the favorite for the Juvenile Fillies with another easy win. Princess Noor will face MAKE MISCHIEF, VARDA, ILLUMINATION, MISS COSTA RICA, and VARDA. 9 . 2 4 . 2 0 PAGE 3 The Speakeasy, at 5 ½ furlongs, drew nine runners for an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2): THE GREAT ONE, NO PEDIGREE, BASQUE MAN, COMMANDER KHAI, AMANZI YIMPILO (IRE), FURY KAP, WYFIRE, WINDY CITY RED AND FEATHERS (IRE). Zenyatta, Sprint Championship Close Out Weekend Sunday’s “Win and You’re In” action sees the $200,000 Zenyatta (G2), which will award an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1), and the $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2), which offers a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, close out the weekend. The Zenyatta, at 1 1/16 miles, will be led by Gary and Mary West’s homebred FIGHTING MAD, who has won two straight for trainer Bob Baffert and already earned a Distaff berth when she won Del Mar’s Aug. 2 “Win and You’re In” Clement L. Hirsch (G1). The 4-year-old daughter of 2013 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner New Year’s Day is 5-for-8 lifetime, including the local Santa Maria two-back in May, and looks like a strong favorite. Michael Tabor and Alice Bamford’s HARVEST MOON, a daughter of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Uncle Mo, who is 3-for-4 lifetime, will step up and face older stakes foes after beating fellow 3-year-old fillies in Del Mar’s Aug. 22 Torrey Pines (G3) for trainer Simon Callaghan, while multiple graded stakes winning sprinter HARD NOT TO LOVE will look to break a three-race losing for trainer John Shirreffs. HANG A STAR, MESSAGE, PROUD EMMA, and SHAGHAI TRUFFLES could also run in the “Win and You’re In” Zenyatta. The Sprint Championship, at 6 furlongs, will be led by Dan Agnew, Rodney Orr, Jerry Schneider, and John Xitco’s COLLUSION ILLUSION, who already earned a Sprint bid when he won Del Mar’s Aug. 1 Bing Crosby (G1) for trainer Mark Glatt. The 3-year-old son of Twirling Candy beat fellow sophomores in the Laz Barrera (G3) at Santa Anita in June and is 5-for-6 lifetime. Stakes winners C Z ROCKET, who gained a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) when he took the Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 29. DESERT LAW, FLAGSTAFF, and GIANT EXPECTATIONS could also start. Belmont Tunes Up with Vosburgh Belmont Park’s heavy lifting comes the weekend of Oct. 10, when it will offer five “Win and You’re In” races, but Saturday’s $150,000 Vosburgh (G2) gets them into the fray and will award an automatic starting berth into the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Run at 6 furlongs, the Vosburgh has a six-horse field, with Ron Lombardi’s homebred FIRENZE FIRE among the favorites.