Next Shares lands BC Mile berth with 23-1 Shadwell victory
LEXINGTON, KY (Oct. 6, 2018) – Michael and Jules Iavarone, Jerry McClanahan, Christopher Dunn, William Marasa, Ritchie Robershaw and Mark Taylor’s Next Shares rode a rail-skimming trip to a 3¼-length victory over Great Wide Open (IRE) to win the 33rdrunning of the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) before a sun-baked Saturday afternoon crowd of 24,142.
Next Shares wins the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile under Tyler Gaffalione. Coady Photography
The day featured five graded stakes worth $2.35 million, including four Breeders’ Cup Challenge races in which winners earned automatic berths in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs Nov. 2-3.
Keeneland smashed its Fall Meet Pick Four and Pick Five wagering records, both set on Fall Stars Saturday in 2016. Today’s $350,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Four handle of $742,450 broke the previous record of $479,166. Wagering on the $250,000-guaranteed All-Stakes Pick Five totaled $619,106 to best the former record of $496,723.
Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Next Shares covered the mile on a turf course labeled good in 1:36.97 to earn a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) to be run Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. He gave Gaffalione his first Keeneland stakes victory.
Other “Win and You’re In” victors were KRA Stud Farm’s Knicks Go in the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds; Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ A Raving Beauty (GER) in the $400,000 First Lady (G1) for fillies and mares; and Juddmonte Farms’ Golden Mischief in the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for fillies and mares.
Also securing a graded stakes victory Saturday afternoon was Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Bucchero, who successfully defended his title in the $200,000 Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select.
In the Shadwell Turf Mile, Heart to Heart and Voodoo Song raced through fractions of :23.37 and :47.14 as Gaffalione bided his time in midpack. On the far turn, Heart to Heart disposed of Voodoo Song and opened a daylight margin turning for home where he drifted slightly to the outside.
Gaffalione took advantage and shot Next Shares through the opening, quickly established command and never was threatened in the run to the wire.
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Archarcharch out of the Evansville Slew mare Two Dot Slew, Next Shares improved his record to 20-5-4-2. Saturday’s $600,000 check hiked his earnings to $1,067,697.
Next Shares returned $48.80, $22.20 and $13. Great Wide Open, ridden by James Graham, returned $58.60 and $26.60 with Qurbaan finishing another 1½ lengths back in third under Mike Smith and paying $7.40 to show.
It was another half-length back to favored Analyze It with Big Score, Mr. Misunderstood, Synchrony, Almanaar (GB), Heart to Heart, Multiplier, Bound for Nowhere, Voodoo Song and Imperative following in order.
Knicks Go Slam Dunks Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Field at 70-1
Knicks Go captured the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at 70-1 odds. Coady Photography
Knicks Go, sent off as the longest shot on the board at 70-1 in the field of 13, grabbed the lead out of the gate and never was threatened in romping by 5½ lengths over Signalman to win the 105rd running of the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) for 2-year-olds.
The first Grade 1 winner for trainer Ben Colebrook and jockey Albin Jimenez, Knicks Go covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:44.23 to earn a berth in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.
Knicks Go’s $142 win mutuel eclipsed the previous mark of $74.60 that Dawn of War paid in winning the race in 2005.
While Knicks Go shot to the front out of the gate, favored Dream Maker was bumped and clipped heels at the break to be last the first time under the wire.
Knicks Go opened a daylight margin going into the first turn and clicked off fractions of :23.67, :47.59 and 1:12.68 while under no pressure at any stage of the race.
The victory was worth $300,000 and increased the Keeneland sales graduate’s earnings to $330,515 with a record of 4-2-0-1. The Maryland-bred son of Paynter is out of the Outflanker mare Kosmo’s Buddy.
Knicks Go returned $142, $50.40 and $18. Signalman, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $12.60 and $7.20 with Standard Deviation finishing another three-quarters of a length back in third under Javier Castellano and paying $4.40 to show.
Sombeyay was another 1½ lengths back in fourth and followed in order by Derby Date, Mr. Ankeny, Fluminense, Everfast, Tobacco Road, Moonster, Borracho, Dream Maker and Unionizer.
A Raving Beauty Controls the Pace to Win First Lady
A Raving Beauty won Keeneland’s Grade 1 First Lady. Coady Photography
A Raving Beauty grabbed the lead at the break, inched clear at the head of the stretch and then had enough left to hold off Dona Bruja (ARG) by a neck to win the 21st running of the $400,000 First Lady (G1) for fillies and mares Saturday and earn a berth into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) at 1 3/8 miles on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by John Velazquez, A Raving Beauty covered the mile on a turf course labeled good in 1:37.78. It marked the second victory in the First Lady for Brown and Velazquez, who teamed to win the 2014 running with Dayatthespa.
A Raving Beauty led the field of nine through fractions of :24.40, :49.11 and 1:13.76 with Valadorna, stablemate Quidura (GB) and Crown Walk (GB) in closest pursuit. At the head of the lane, A Raving Beauty slipped away from her rivals and then held on for her second Grade 1 victory of 2018. Previously, she won the Just a Game at Belmont Park.
The victory was worth $240,000 and vaulted A Raving Beauty into millionaire status with a bankroll of $1,018,555 and a record of 22-6-3-3. She is a 5-year-old German-bred daughter of Mastercraftsman (IRE) out of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Anabasis.
A Raving Beauty returned $8.40, $4.80 and $3.60. Dona Bruja, ridden by Declan Cannon, returned $11.40 and $7.40 and finished 2¼ lengths in front of Indian Blessing (GB) who paid $8.80 to show under Feargal Lynch.
Crown Walk was another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Valadorna, Insta Erma, favored Quiodura, Off Limits (IRE) and One Liz.
Golden Mischief Posts Narrow TCA Victory
Juddmonte Farm’s Golden Mischief earned a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in Keeneland’s Thoroughbred Club of America. Coady Photography
In the Thoroughbred Club of America, Golden Mischief earned a berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run at 7 furlongs on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs by holding off Chalon by a neck.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Golden Mischief covered the 6 furlongs on a fast main track in 1:09.39. It was the first victory in the race for Cox and Geroux.
Vertical Oak led the field through fractions of :22.74 and :45.68 with Happy Like a Fool applying token pressure while Chalon raced three wide and Miss Sunset rode the rail in fourth.
Approaching the stretch, Golden Mischief was fifth. In the lane, Geroux took Golden Mischief to the inside and split Vertical Oak and Miss Sunset to forge to the lead and have enough left to hold Chalon, who finished second in the race for the second consecutive year.
An objection lodged against Golden Mischief by Vertical Oak’s jockey for interference in deep stretch was disallowed by the stewards.
The victory was worth $150,000 and increased Golden Mischief’s earnings to $668,150 with a record of 21-10-3-0. Golden Mischief is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief out of the Carson City mare Lanai City.
Golden Mischief returned $11, $6 and $3.60. Chalon, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $5.40 and $4 and finished a length in front of Vertical Oak, who paid $4.80 to show under Ricardo Santana Jr.
Favored Miss Sunset finished another neck back in fourth and was followed in order by Happy Like a Fool, Awestruck, Rich Mommy, Curlin’s Approval, Torrent and Crazy Sweet.
Bucchero Holds Off Will Call to Repeat in Woodford Presented by Keeneland Select
Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Bucchero won Keeneland’s Woodford Stakes for the second straight year. Coady Photography
In the Woodford, Bucchero got a ground-saving trip early as Rocket Heat sped through uncontested fractions of :21.80 and :44.77. Entering the stretch, Bucchero zoomed past on the outside, turned back a bid from Extravagant Kid and then held off a fast-closing Will Call by a half-length.
Trained by Tim Glyshaw and ridden by Fernando De La Cruz, Bucchero covered the 5½ furlongs on good turf in 1:04.04.
Bucchero became the fourth horse to win the Woodford in consecutive years. The others were Morluc (2000-2001), Sgt. Bert (2005-2006) and Silver Timber (2009-2010).
The victory was worth $120,000 and increased Bucchero’s earnings to $937,936 with a record of 30-11-6-3. Bucchero is a 6-year-old Indiana-bred son of Kantharos out of the General Meeting mare Meetmeontime.
Bucchero returned $8.40, $4.40 and $3.20. Will Call, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, returned $6.20 and $3.80 and finished a half-length in front of Extravagant Kid, who paid $4 to show under Corey Lanerie.
It was another neck back to Angaston, who was followed in order by Win Lion Win, Rocket Heat, Undrafted, Vici, Kid Perfect, Done Deal and Machismo.
Racing continues Sunday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET highlighted by the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares, one of three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races. The others are the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon (G3) and $200,000 Indian Summer.
