~ England’s Rose Comes Back In The Goldikova
~ Twilight Derby Grass Greener For War At Sea
~ Longtime Bloodstock Agent Friedlander Passes
ARCADIA, Calif.—World traveler Hot Rod Charlie, prepping for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic and a meeting with unbeaten Flightline on Nov. 5, worked five furlongs at Keeneland Saturday for Doug O’Neill in 1:00.80. Winner of five of 18 races and earner of $5,556,720, the hard-hitting son of Oxbow defeated Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike by a head last out in the Grade II Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs on Oct. 1.
Goldikova Suits Returning England’s Rose
John Shirreffs’ England’s Rose is scheduled to make her first start in almost six months this Saturday in the Grade II Goldikova Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at a mile on turf.
The six-year-old English Channel mare last raced May 1, rallying for third in the Grade III Wilshire Stakes after a slow start.
“She’ll work this week and if all’s well, we’ll enter,” said Shirreffs. “The mile and the grass here suits her and she seems to bounce back really well.”
England’s Rose has been ridden in nine of her 10 races by Victor Espinoza, who has the Goldikova call.
The $200,000 Goldikova is one seven stakes races Saturday offering more than $1 million in purses, $1,030,000 to be exact.
The others are the Grade II, $200,000 Twilight Derby for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf; the $100,000, Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes for three-year-old fillies at a mile on turf; and the $100,000 Senator Ken Maddy Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course.
Also, the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile for two-year-old California-breds at seven furlongs; the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies for Cal-breds at seven furlongs; and the $80,000 Lure Stakes for three-year-olds and up at a mile on turf.
The Goldikova is named for the 2010 European Horse of the Year that won the Breeders’ Cup Mile three straight years, 2008 through 2010, was Eclipse Award winner as female turf champion in 2009 and 2010 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
She won 17 of 27 races earning $7,176,551 and died at the age of 15 on Jan. 5, 2021.
Turf Specialist War At Sea In Twilight Derby
At Sea, winner of three straight grass races before finishing a solid third on Sept. 3 in the Grade II Del Mar Derby despite stumbling, re
Bred for the green, the son of the Danzig stallion War Front out of the Street Cry dam Serene Melody has run on turf
“There were no races for him since his last race and the Twilight Derby,” trainer Ron Ellis said in explaining the two-month hiatus. “Since we’ve put him on the grass, he’s become a different horse. We bought him knowing he was mostly a grass horse.”
Longtime Bloodstock Agent Friedlander Passes
Condolences to family and friends of longtime bloodstock agent Murray Friedlander. A close friend of HOF trainer Ron McAnally, Friedlander, who had long and distinguished career in racing, brokered deals on many McAnally stakes winners, including Sid and Jenny Craig’s Epsom Derby winner Dr. Devious. Friedlander was believed to have been in his late 90s.
FINISH LINES: GoingGlobal, seeking her second consecutive win in Saturday’s Goldikova Stakes before she will be retired and put up for sale, worked five furlongs on the training track this morning in 59.60 for Phil D’Amato. Cave Rock, undefeated son of Arrogate in three starts including the Grade I American Pharoah by 5 ¼ lengths Oct. 8 for Bob Baffert worked six furlongs Sunday in a bullet 1:11.20, fastest of five drills at the distance. In all there were 231 recorded workouts, 70 on the training track . . . There have been 40 claims so far this meet, Rip City bringing the top price of $80,000 when taken by Doug O’Neill from Mike Puype . . . Peter Miller, winning at a 27 percent clip, leads O’Neill in the trainers’ race, 11-8, while Ramon Vazquez has a 17-13 lead over Juan Hernandez among jockeys. . . Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Monday through Thursday. Live action resumes on the meet’s penultimate weekend, Friday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m.
Stable Notes by Ed Golden
Photo: Hot Rod Charlie in a October 15 work at Keeneland. Coady Photography
