Breeders’ Cup release

Seven Former Champions to Compete

ARCADIA, Calif., – Led by reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, Japanese sensation Casino Drive, the undefeated super filly Zenyatta, Irish standout Duke of Marmalade, and seven former or defending champions, a record 180 horses, including stars from Ireland, Great Britain, France, United Arab Emirates, Japan and Argentina, have been pre-entered for the 25th Breeders’ Cup World Championships, to be held on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 at Santa Anita…

(Edited Belmont Park report)

After 69 starts, $2,977,130 in purses won, and nearly 80 miles of dirt and turf, the finish line for Evening Attire finally arrived last month with the announcement of his retirement. To honor the hugely popular 10-year-old gelding’s great career, the New York Racing Association will host “Evening Attire Day” at Belmont Park on Saturday, October 25.

Tracksideview.com
and edited Belmont Park report

IEAH Stable’s co-owner Michael Iavarone said Big Brown has been retired after sustaining an injury during a workout Monday at Aqueduct in New York. Big Brown will enter stud at Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys farm for the 2009 breeding season.

(Edited Oak Tree at Santa Anita report)

ARCADIA, Calif., – In an unorthodox approach to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Japan’s unusual 3-year-old, unbeaten Casino Drive, prepped for the $5-million Classic on Oct. 25 with a convincing victory in a $52,000 allowance race over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride synthetic surface.

(Edited Hawthorne report)

Far back early and seemingly out of contention, Richard Ravin’s Irish-bred Strait of Mewsina rallied from last to first to win a blanket finish in the 44th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Hawthorne Derby by a neck over Cherokee Triangle. It was only a head back to Snoose Goose in third. The overwhelming favorite Adriano finished fourth, beaten about a half-length for the top prize. Mr. Mischief was a head further back in fifth.

Francis LaBelle Jr.
Belmont Park

Jane M. Schosberg’s Sunshine for Life, allowed an uncontested lead under jockey Channing Hill, got away with a soft pace Saturday afternoon and held on for a half-length upset victory in the 31st running of the Grade 3, $110,300 Athenia Handicap for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on Belmont Park’s firm Widener turf course.

(Breeders’ Cup release)

LOUISVILLE, Ky., – The Breeders’ Cup and Churchill Downs, Inc. announced that the 2010 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be held at historic Churchill Downs for a record seventh time.

The 27th Breeders’ Cup, Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious global event – currently consisting of 14 races held over two days with purses totaling $25.5 million – will be run on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, and will be televised live on ESPN, ABC and…

(Edited Oak Tree at Santa Anita report)

ARCADIA, Calif., – As the only female ever to compete in Oak Tree’s $250,000 California Cup Classic presented by City National Bank, the victory aspirations of favored 4-year-old filly Romance Is Diane were dashed Sunday at Santa Anita in the closing strides of the day’s mile-and-one-eighth centerpiece by the appropriately named Mr. Chairman.

Francis LaBelle Jr.
Belmont Park

Charles E. Fipke’s Tale of Ekati, winless in four starts since taking the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 5, ended his losing streak Sunday with a one-length victory over You and I Forever in the 139th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Jerome Handicap for three-year-olds at a mile on Belmont Park’s main track.

Ron Correll
Senior columnist

Carriage Trail turned the Juddmonte Spinster into a laugher on Sunday when she ran away from a quality field to win by seven-and-three-quarter lengths in track-record time of 1:46.77 for the mile-and-an-eighth race at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.