vintage collector
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Morning Actions: A 1 3/8 mile dash at Del Mar with train rider Eddie Quinteros.
Deliberate Actions: Go to the observe for normal gallops. Scheduled for five:45am
Extra data: Centennial Farms returns to Breeders’ Cup for first time in 10 years with Antiquarian in Traditional
Antiquarian can be Centennial’s eighth Breeders’ Cup runner, the primary being Silent Account in 1985. Centennial’s Corinthian received the Dust Mile (Listed) in 2007 beneath coach Jimmy Jerkens.
Based in 1982 and one of many pioneers of horse racing partnerships, Centennial has campaigned many main horses over time. Centennial’s most notable runners are 1993 Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair and Eclipse Award dash champion Rubiano.
Antiquarian, a 4-year-old son of star Preservationist who lately celebrated his one centesimal birthday, joined the record of steady favorites by successful the Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on August thirty first. The Gold Cup is a race the place successful will qualify you for the Traditional. He drew the skin submit in a nine-man discipline.
“Going to the Breeders’ Cup is all the time thrilling, whether or not we win or not,” stated Don Little, Jr., president and co-owner of Centennial. “This yr specifically, we had a stallion stallion that we additionally campaigned. It is a distinctive and uncommon alternative on this trade. It is very uncommon to marketing campaign a G1 winner after which marketing campaign a progeny of a G1 winner.”
Little’s late father, Don Little Sr., began Centennial and rapidly discovered success in top-level racing. Alongside the best way, Little Jr. stated 14 of the perfect horses grew to become stallions.
Preservationist adopted that path after successful the 2019 Woodward (G1) and Suburban (G2). Centennial bought Antiquarian from Preservationist Second Crop on the 2022 Keeneland September Sale for $250,000.
“We are inclined to attempt to purchase one or two progeny of stallions which have bred stallions in campaigns,” Little stated. “We purchased some Unifieds. We purchased some Corinthians as properly. Like many issues in racing, issues do not work out the best way you need them to, however this one did. We needed to purchase the perfect we might consider on the sale, and that is what we did.”
“Dr. Stephen Kerr and Paula Parsons (farm supervisor and yearling coach) have been with us because the starting when my father began the corporate. They had been instrumental. They selected him, we selected him, and we purchased him.”
Antiquarian received the Peter Pan (G3) as a 3-year-old, proving he’s a stakes-worthy horse. After ending fifth within the Belmont Stakes (G1), he was given the remainder of the yr off to get better from a bone bruise. He’s a horse to look at this yr as properly.
“He is making comparable progress to his father,” Little stated. “His father did not win a Grade 1 till he was 6 years outdated, so we’re forward of the sport in the event you put it that approach. Paula (Parsons), who beat him on the Corral, all the time stated he was an athlete. He is large, fairly medium-sized. He is an enormous yearling and was a bit goofy at occasions, however we noticed potential in him. We all the time take our time and let horses inform us what to do. He is nonetheless a light-weight horse. Have a look at this basic. There have been a variety of horses that raced flippantly for eight or 9 races. The perfect factor about watching him develop and progress is that every one his performances have been constant, particularly this yr. It is not notably based mostly on the numbers, however the best way he is been coaching and the best way he is been constantly transferring ahead to this point.”
In The Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs, Antiquarian bounced again within the second half to complete second, 1 1/4 lengths behind 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystic Dan. He once more confirmed a bit extra willpower heading into the wire, ending second by a head within the July 4th Suburban (G2). Antiquarian was not concerned within the early Gold Cup collision during which fellow Todd Pletcher stablemate Thoughts Body misplaced jockey Airado Ortiz Jr. Jockey John Velasquez was relaxed on the backstretch and powerful on the stretch.
An accident shortly after the beginning ended Thoughts Body’s race and likewise affected 2024 Breeders’ Cup Traditional winner Sierra Leone, who completed second, however Little stated Antiquarian confirmed he might stand up to a top-level problem.
“Given the best way he ran, I believe it could have been laborious to beat him it doesn’t matter what the circumstances had been that day,” Little stated. “The numbers show it and we deserve it. We’re in all probability going to be one of many longest pictures on the sphere, however I will take it. We simply should be there. If we did not have confidence that we might make the pictures, Todd would not do it.”
baeza
Coach: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Morning exercise: Dashing round the principle observe
Scheduled Actions: Similar Friday Routine
Quote: “There’s not a variety of pace in racing, everyone knows that,” coach John Shirreffs stated of a doable Traditional setup. “Pace is all the time harmful in any grime race, so I believe it will be fascinating to see who decides the pace. Whoever needs to go, it is only a matter of how a lot they wish to widen the sphere. Others They’re all both closers or stalkers. This race is totally a rider’s race and I do not know if they will actually do it.”I do know Chad has one horse that they wish to decide up the tempo a bit bit for Sierra Leone, however they do not need that horse to get pinched once more, so they’ll attempt to get a bit little bit of pace. Then everybody else will fall into place. ”
Publish place No.2: “This isn’t my favourite spot. Traditionally, horses that have not raced rather a lot wish to have a bit little bit of area as a result of once they get away of the gate, all of them wish to be near the rail. From the primary and second submit positions it may get actually tight there. He is been in a variety of completely different spots now and has fairly a little bit of expertise with it. In Jim Dandy, he had one gap, so I believe he’ll be high quality.”
the alternative mind-set
Coach: Chad Brown
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Morning exercise: Run 1 1/2 miles.
Scheduled exercise: Gallop 1 1/2 miles
Quote: “He was the primary of my horses to exit and did properly.”
depth
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velasquez
Morning Actions: A 1 3/8 mile dash at Del Mar with train rider Danny Wright.
Deliberate Actions: Go to the observe for normal gallops.
Quote: “He’s homebred and has the pedigree Nonna Bella, which suggests stunning grandmother, and she or he has the pedigree Nonna Mia, named after her grandmother, and was named by Stathyrsty, who received the Travers (G1). Again right here I have been competing for 20 years, and now I am beginning to see the pedigree. I raced your dad. I raced your grandmother. It is cool.
“He gave us three nice years. He took us to the Breeders’ Cup three years in a row. He gave us a experience. He paid $35 for the Juvenile and received by seven locations. Final yr he was the favourite to win. It doesn’t matter what he does right here, I am all the time going to say, ‘His greatest profession race was within the Breeders’ Cup race at Del Mar when he ran 22 seconds, 44 seconds and 1:09, and he nonetheless holds that report. Go to second.
“There’s some redemption, however it’s additionally a possibility to replicate on all of the thrills he is dropped at me, my household, all of my buddies, Todd, and Staff Pletcher.” – Mike Lepore, breeder and proprietor.
Coach: Yoshito Yahagi
Morning actions: Strolling, studying within the parade ring
Quote: “Because of yesterday’s work, he’s in good situation. I hope every thing goes properly for Saturday’s race.” – Stability Consultant Yukihiko Araki
journalism
Coach: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Morning Actions: A one-mile dash at Del Mar and a go to to the beginning gate with train rider Mark Witkowski.
Deliberate exercise: Gallop.
Quote: Would you wish to be positioned close to the Traditional? “You do not wish to fall too far again towards the caliber of the horse you are up towards. This horse simply will not cease.” – Michael McCarthy
“We’ll provide you with a recreation plan, and naturally we’ll depart that to Jose. As soon as the gate opens, it is as much as him. He is been very tactical and we have been in a position to get out of there a bit bit in the previous couple of races, with the kickbacks and the form of the race. We’ll simply attempt to get in entrance and bounce again from there and put him in a stalking place.” – Michael McCarthy
thoughts body
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irado Ortiz Jr.
Morning Actions: I ran 1 3/8 miles with train rider Carlos Perez.
Deliberate Actions: Go to the observe for normal gallops.
Quote 1: “It is a fantastic race. It is a robust race. I would not be stunned if one in every of them received. And I would not be stunned in the event that they got here in second or third. I would not be stunned in the event that they got here in second or third.
“I am hoping they go head-to-head on the entrance of the straight. I am about 20 lengths forward of the remainder of the horses, so I will simply wait and see. I will see one in every of them within the winner’s circle and I will go see the opposite one within the barn.”
“It is very thrilling. It is nice to be on this place with two probabilities on this race. However there’s additionally a bit little bit of emotion. It is like once they had been working final Friday, we knew it was going to be their final job. We simply noticed them gallop immediately. Tomorrow they will come. It is the final time I’ll see them gallop. And it is the final time I’ll be right here on Saturday and see them race within the paddock for the final time. I believe they’re working for one another, for the steady, and for my household, my buddies and in some ways the followers as properly. ” – Mike Lepore, on Thoughts Frames and Depth.
Quote 2: Have you ever seen the perfect of Mindframe? “Apart from the Jockey Membership Gold Cup (G1) when he could not make it for apparent causes, he is solely completed second twice. Just one horse, Dornoch, has overwhelmed him.
“Dornoch beat him by half a size on the Belmont, and Dornoch beat him at Monmouth. This jogs my memory a bit of Uncle Mo and Keep Thirsty. Keep Thirsty received the Jim Dandy (G2) and he was within the shadows till he received the Travers (G1). Mindoff I believe Rehm has a bit little bit of that, however he is raced Sierra Leone twice. He raced him at Belmont and he got here in.”He was second with Stephen Foster in June and Leone was third, so I believe he is been beneath the radar a bit bit, however I believe we have seen the perfect of him each time. ” – Co-owner Mike Lepore.
Quote 3: On the prospect of Fierceness and Mindframe retiring after the Traditional: “I do not get too emotional, however I simply attempt to benefit from the moments with these horses. Each horses are very particular to me and my household. These are once-in-a-million-year horses, and I personal them each on the similar time. It is fairly particular. They’re each nice horses.” – Mike Lepore.
Morning exercise: Run 1 1/2 miles.
Exercise schedule: Similar as Thursday
Quote: “I backed him as much as the wire after which went on for a mile and a half. He feels actually good. He is a extremely good child.” – Train rider Morgan Karvalek
Sierra Leone
Coach: Chad Brown
Morning exercise: Run 1 1/2 miles.
Scheduled exercise: Gallop 1 1/2 miles
Quote: “He went on the market immediately and galloped a mile and a half and navigated this observe very properly. All my horses appear to love this observe.” – Chad Brown
Coach: Invoice Mott
Life went on for Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott on the backstretch at Del Mar Thursday morning, although the Breeders’ Cup Traditional was in his rear view.
Three-year-old famous person Sovereignty lay in his stall the morning after he was faraway from the Traditional on account of a fever. He was a 6-5 favourite on the morning line.
Mott stated the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winners improved on Thursday. He stated the temperature of the sovereignty is regular.
“However he’s being supported with some medicines for remedy,” Mott stated. “His blood work appears actually respectable, nothing scary.”
Mott stated he is always receiving well-wishes from individuals, whether or not in individual, by telephone or by textual content message.
“Individuals are apologizing, however there is not any must apologize,” Mott stated. “Individuals who have been within the recreation for a very long time have commented to me and I stated, ‘Look, we have all been by means of it.’ We have all been by means of some disappointments, not simply towards the favorites within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional, however definitely we have all been by means of it.”
Mott, who’s now only a fan of the Traditional, stated he thought defending champion Sierra Leone could be “robust” and that Endlessly Younger would have an enormous affect on the end result. He additionally stated he anticipated large efforts from the three-year-olds within the working, particularly Journalism and Baeza, who competed towards Sovereignty this yr.
There aren’t any clear plans as to when Sovereignty will depart California or what’s going to occur subsequent to the Godolphin-owned and produced son of Into Mischief.
“I hope he can run once more subsequent yr,” Mott stated. “We’ll in all probability know inside a couple of days what our plans are for subsequent yr.”
