Ag Bullet is ready for the BC Turf Sprint (seen here after winning the Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar with Umberto Rispoli up). (Ernie Belmonte/ Past the Wire)
BC’25: Friday Around the Track
Breeders’ Cup Notes
As the Breeders’ Cup Juveniles step into the starting gate today we take a last look at other contenders for Saturday at Del Mar.
FANDUEL BREEDERS’ CUP MILE
FORMIDABLE MAN
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: John Velazquez
Friday Activity: Galloped 1m
Planned Activity: Does not go to the track the morning of the race.
The Quote 1: How does he compare with his sire, City of Light, who you also trained:“Both big, strong horses. Have similar looks. Light bay horses with black socks. Very kind horses. Very eager to train. Both have a tremendous turn of foot. He’s a tribute to his sire, between his looks, his attitude, his demeanor and his ability.” – Michael McCarthy
The Quote 2: His PPs show that he relishes Del Mar, where he is unbeaten: “We have a little bit of course knowledge here. Del Mar has been a place where he’s thrived and he hasn’t had to take his racetrack with him, but we’re certainly glad that the Breeders’ Cup is down here this year.” – Michael McCarthy.
PREVAGEN BREEDERS’ CUP TURF SPRINT
AG BULLET
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Jockey: John Velazquez
Set: 4:55 a.m.
Friday Activity: Galloped
Planned Activity: May jog Saturday morning
The Quote: “She needs to get a good trip. She will be stalking but Johnny (Velazquez) knows what to do. She is doing good right now, so darned good.” – Richard Baltas
PNC BANK BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE SPRINT
PRAYING
Trainer: Robbie Medina
Jockey: John Velazquez
Set: 5:45 a.m.
Friday Activity: Galloped under Jamie Lopez
Planned Activity: Will not go to the track Saturday morning.
The Quote: On paper, there appears to be plenty of speed, and I see Praying being maybe 3, 4 or 5 lengths off it. She’s outside (post 10) and that is where she likes to be.” – Robbie Medina
SWEET AZTECA
Trainer: Richard Baltas
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Set: 5:45 a.m.
Friday Activity: Galloped
Planned Activity: May jog Saturday morning
The Quote: “She will be stalking. She is doing good like (Turf Sprint) Ag Bullet. They are both tough races.” – Richard Baltas
BREEDERS’ CUP DIRT MILE
TOUCH OF DESTINY
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Luis Caceres
Friday Activity: Galloped 1m.
Planned Activity: Does not go to the track on the morning of the race.
The Quote 1: “He’s an interesting prospect for us. Has come from Uruguay. He’s been here since late this summer, and it seems like he’s settled in nicely now. The first couple weeks kind of took him just a little while to kind of get the hang of things, but he’s in a nice routine now and a nice groove.” – Michael McCarthy
The Quote 2: “He’s a nice horse to be around. Has a big following in Uruguay and does everything right. I can’t tell you how he’ll fare. I’m not sure how top-class Uruguayan company stacks up to top-class American company. But the horse is giving us all the right signals that he’s been a pleasure to be around.” – Michael McCarthy
The Quote 3: Have you worked him in company with Journalism?: “He’s trained with him more than once, and has certainly held his own. I’m excited to see what he can do here. He might need a race here, an American style of race to get the hang of things, but he’s been a quick study. Seems like he trains with a lot of integrity and has a lot of class.” – Michael McCarthy.
JOHN DEERE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
ULTIMATE LOVE
Trainer: Mike Trombetta
Jockey: John Velazquez
The Quote: Mike Trombetta arrived at Del Mar Thursday afternoon following a trip to Italy. The undefeated Ultimate Love can cover the cost of the trip with a victory in this afternoon’s John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“We had the trip planned for two years,” Trombetta said. “We could not go in the summer because we are so busy, so we made it for October.”
Ultimate Love is perfect in three starts and will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez out of post 1.
“Numbers-wise she fits. She’s the third choice,” Trombetta said. “It’s a big test and I hope she gets a clean trip and a fair shot. Johnny gets on her for the first time. I reached out to (Velazquez’s agent) Kieran (McLaughlin) about riding her and he got right back to me and that indicated we were heading the right direction.”
