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Tom Law 
We’re less than a week out until the Breeders’ Cup rolls out the purple carpet at Santa Anita Park for the 33rd World Championships. Still plenty of action across the country and around the world and it’s all covered in this week’s Saturday Special presented by Pin Oak Stud, home of Alternation, Broken Vow and Cowboy Cal.
The stars will be out in force in less than two weeks time when the Breeders’ Cup World Championships returns to Santa Anita Park for a record ninth time and for the sixth time since 2008. Pre-entries for the 13 Breeders’ Cup races were announced Wednesday and the group of 185 includes the likes of California Chrome, Tepin, Arrogate, Songbird, Stellar Wind and Beholder along with a sizable contingent from overseas.
It’s the showcase event that ex-racehorse advocates and enthusiasts all over look forward to attending. In the past few years, its popularity has soared, and this year’s event should prove to be one of the biggest and best yet. The Retired Racehorse Project’s $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover is set for this week at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Maryland Million, Empire Showcase, a strong Saturday card at Keeneland; who says all the preps and the actual Breeders’ Cup World Championships pull all the air out of the balloon. Another big day on tap and we’ve got the action covered coast-to-coast and around the world in Saturday Special presented by Pin Oak Stud, home of Alternation, Broken Vow and Cowboy Cal.
Leave it to my great friend, running buddy and former Lexington assistant fire chief Rick Jordan to get philosophical on the roughly 75-mile drive from Lexington to Clermont, Kentucky, last Friday.
While a crisp breeze swept through the mare barn at Sunset Hill in Woodbine, Md., Friday afternoon, Smash And Grab stood quietly on crossties as owner Sabrina Morris finished tacking for their dressage school, making final preparations for their venture to the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park later this month.
Jimmy Toner knows that winning at Keeneland for longtime owner John Phillips isn’t an absolute requirement. He also knows too well that it is coveted and desirable for the man who heads up the Phillips Racing Partnership and runs the legendary Darby Dan Farm located not far from Keeneland’s back gate.
La Coronel whistled while she worked – and galloped and jogged – this summer at Saratoga. She’s since shed the habit, but still whistled in a slightly different way Wednesday at Keeneland Race Course.
Larry Jones knows the score as it pertains to next month’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park. Al Stall Jr. knows it, too, along with another score line that didn’t come out in his favor and one that quite frankly he’s happy not to revisit.
Edgar Prado’s phone rang; on the other end of the line was a man he’d shared great success with over the years who asked a simple question.
“Where are you going on the 8th?” Graham Motion asked.
“Wherever you need me to be,” Prado replied.
