Brightwork maintains her perfect record in the Spinaway (G1) Sep. 3 at Saratoga (NYRA/Coglianese)
Master of The Seas Gallops, Pointing Towards G1 Coolmore Turf Mile
Prospective Fields for Fall Stars Weekend Stakes
Keeneland Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.— WSS Racing’s undefeated Brightwork completed her major preparations for next Friday’s $600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) by working a half-mile in :48.60 over a fast track Friday morning.
With Ricardo Santana Jr. aboard, Brightwork produced fractions of :24.60, :48.60 and galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:01.40. Last Friday here, Brightwork produced a best-of-20 half-mile in :47.
“That was very perfect, and I am grateful that Ricardo made the drive over from Louisville both times to work her,” trainer John Ortiz said. “Last week was a good drill for speed, and this morning was to maintain that speed.”
Brightwork won at first asking here in the spring, followed that with a victory in the Debutante (L) at Ellis Park then took the Adirondack (G3) and Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga.
Ortiz is pointing another runner to next Friday’s stakes in 4 G Racing’s Crown Imperial. Winner of the Pepsi Untapable Stakes at Kentucky Downs, Crown Imperial is considered probable for the $350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November. Crown Imperial worked a half-mile in :49.20 at Churchill Downs Friday morning.
Master of The Seas Gallops, Pointing Towards G1 Coolmore Turf Mile
Godolphin’s Master of The Seas (IRE), easy winner of the Sept. 16 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1) in his most recent start, made one trip around the main track early Friday morning with Diogo Dias aboard for trainer Charlie Appleby.
Chris Connett, the traveling lad here with Master of The Seas, said the 5-year-old arrived at Keeneland Wednesday from Woodbine, where he posted a 3¾-length victory in the Woodbine Mile. Master of The Seas is being pointed to next Saturday’s $1 million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1).
Prospective Fields for Fall Stars Weekend Stakes
With a week to go until the opening of Keeneland’s 17-day Fall Meet, fields are beginning to take shape for the Oct. 6-8 Fall Stars Weekend, which will offer 11 stakes worth $5.55 million.
Eight races are Breeders’ Cup Challenge tests (*) that award the winners fees-paid berths into corresponding races at the 40th World Championships, which will be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita.
According to Keeneland Stakes Coordinator Allison De Luca, here are the prospective fields for the stakes:
Friday, Oct. 6. Entries taken Monday, Oct. 2
*$600,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1), 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles: Brightwork (trainer John Ortiz), Candied (Todd Pletcher), Crazy Cami (Mike Maker), Our Keepsake (D. Wayne Lukas), Shimmering Allure (Kenny McPeek), V V’s Dream (McPeek), Wine On Tap (Todd Pletcher).
*$350,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2), 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs: Baytown Bear (Paul McEntee), Doctor Oscar (Tim Padilla), Hoist the Gold (Dallas Stewart), Manny Wah (Wayne Catalano), Nakatomi (Wesley Ward), Sibelius (Jeremiah O’Dwyer). Possible: Bango (Greg Foley).
*$350,000 Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland November, 2-year-old fillies, 1 1/16 miles (turf): Abeyance (Eoin Harty), Bella Haze (Carlos Santamaria), Crown Imperial (Ortiz), Smooth Waves (Maker), Time to Dazzle (Mark Casse).
Saturday, Oct. 7. Entries taken Monday, Oct. 2
*$1 Million Coolmore Turf Mile (G1), 3-year-olds and up, 1 mile (turf): Annapolis (Pletcher), Atone (Maker), English Bee (Graham Motion), Master of The Seas (IRE) (Charlie Appleby), Up to the Mark (Pletcher). Possibles: Carl Spackler (IRE) (Chad Brown), Gear Jockey (Rusty Arnold), Stitched (Foley).
*$600,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles: Awesome Road (Brad Cox), Django (McPeek), Just Steel (Lukas), Locked (Pletcher), Northern Flame (McPeek), The Wine Steward (Maker), West Saratoga (Larry Demeritte).
$750,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 mile (turf): Evvie Jets (Mertkan Kantarmaci), Gam’s Mission (Cherie DeVaux), In Italian (GB) (Brown), Jumbly (GB) (Joseph O’Brien), New Year’s Eve (Brendan Walsh), Whitebeam (GB) (Brown).
*$350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 6 furlongs: Last Leaf (Eddie Kenneally), Sharp Hero (Bradley Ross), Wicked Halo (Steve Asmussen). Possibles: Static Fire (Brian Lynch), Yuugiri (Rodolphe Brisset).
$350,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by FanDuel, 3-year-olds and up, 5½ furlongs (turf): Arzak (Mike Trombetta), Eye Witness (Ward), Kaufymaker (Ward), Live In The Dream (IRE) (Adam West), Our Shot (John Terranova II). Possible: Gear Jockey (Arnold).
Sunday, Oct. 8. Entries taken Tuesday, Oct. 3
*$600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1), 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, 1 1/8 miles: Bellamore (Santamaria), Malloy (Catalano), Misty Veil (Maker), Nest (Pletcher), Secret Oath (Lukas). Possibles: Hidden Connection (Bret Calhoun),Le Da Vida (CHI) (Ignacio Correas IV).
*$350,000 Castle & Key Bourbon (G2), 2-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles (turf): Coin Miner (Keith Desormeaux), Nomos (Pletcher).
$250,000 Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select, 2-year-olds, 5½ furlongs (turf): Bledsoe (Ward).
