Turnerloose heads Jessamine; 11 invited to QEII Challenge Cup

Today’s Keeneland media notes penned by the track’s publicity department (Coady Photography photo above of Turnerloose taking Kentucky Downs’ $500,000 Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies under Florent Geroux.

• UNDEFEATED TURNERLOOSE HEADS OVERFLOW FIELD FOR JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE
• ELEVEN FILLIES INVITED TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP PRESENTED BY DIXIANA
• DREAM SEASON CONTINUES FOR ARRIAGADA AND ESTILO TALENTOSO
• BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE PICK 6 OFFERED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
• GALLOPING OUT
• PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES
• KEENELAND WINNERS, STAKES PERFORMERS, LEADING JOCKEY AMONG ENTRANTS IN NEXT WEEK’S THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER
• FALL STARS WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

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UNDEFEATED TURNERLOOSE HEADS OVERFLOW FIELD
FOR JPMORGAN CHASE JESSAMINE

Dawn and Ike Thrash’s undefeated Turnerloose heads a field of 14 2-year-old fillies plus two also-eligibles entered Friday for next Wednesday’s 31^st running of the $200,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Scheduled as the final race with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time on Wednesday’s eight-race program, the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Trained by Brad Cox, Turnerloose won at first asking going a mile at Ellis Park on July 16 and came back to score a 5-length victory in the Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies (L) at a mile at Kentucky Downs.

Florent Geroux, who has been aboard for both victories, has the mount Wednesday and will exit post position three.

The field for the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Kneesnhips (James Graham, 118 pounds), California Angel (Rafael Bejarano, 118), Turnerloose (Geroux, 120), Ontheonesandtwos (Joe Talamo, 118), Roughly a Diamond (Luis Saez, 118), Bhoma (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Rigby (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118), Queen Judith (Julien Leparoux, 118), Decree of Love (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118), Misthaven (IRE) (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Opalina (Edgard Zayas, 118), Dressed (Flavien Prat, 118), Boxing Day (Adam Beschizza, 118), Diamond Wow (Mike Smith, 118). Also-eligibles: Blissful (Luis Saez, 118), Haughty (Joel Rosario, 118).

ELEVEN FILLIES INVITED TO QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP
PRESENTED BY DIXIANA

Eleven 3-year-old fillies have been extended invitations for the 38^th running of the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana to be run Saturday, Oct. 16 at 1 1/8 miles on the Keeneland turf course.

Trainer Chad Brown, who is tied with Jimmy Toner and John Veitch for the most victories in the race with three, conditions two invitees: Klaravich Stables’ Technical Analysis (IRE) and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta’s Shantisara (IRE).

Technical Analysis has victories in the Lake Placid (G2) and Lake George (G3) at Saratoga on her resume, while Shantisara has won two of three starts since coming to the U.S. from Europe. She won the Pucker Up (G3) at Arlington and the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park.

Three European-based runners are among the invitees. They include Empress Josephine (IRE), who is entered in Saturday’s First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare. Trained by Aidan O’Brien and owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Empress Josephine will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Together (IRE), who in 2011 ran second in the First Lady and came back a week later to win the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.

Other European runners are James Wigan’s Cloudy Dawn (IRE), a Group 3 winner in France trained by William Haggas, and Katsumi Yoshida’s Nicest (IRE), who was third in the Irish Oaks (G1) in her most recent start for trainer Donnacha O’Brien.

Other invitees are Three Diamond Farm’s Army Wife, trained by Mike Maker; Michael De Broglio’s Burning Ambition, trained by Brad Cox; Harris Farms’ Closing Remarks, trained by Carla Gaines; G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Flippant, trained by Vicki Oliver; Charles Fipke’s undefeated Lady Speightspeare, trained by Roger Attfield, and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TOLO Thoroughbreds’ Queen Goddess, trained by Michael McCarthy.

DREAM SEASON CONTINUES FOR ARRIAGADA AND ESTILO TALENTOSO

In Estilo Talentoso’s lone start at Keeneland, the daughter of Maclean’s Music was dismissed at 50-1 odds in the Madison (G1) during this year’s Spring Meet. All she did that day was finish in a dead heat for second with Grade 1 winner Bell’s the One, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Kimari.

Her price figures to be considerably lower Saturday, when she goes postward in the $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2).

“I had worked for John Ward here before, and I have to say I teared up a little bit walking into the Paddock (for the Madison),” trainer Juan Arriagada said Friday morning. “After the race, I was so happy.”

Now owned by the partnership of Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Little Red Feather Racing and BlackRidge Stables, which purchased her one race after the Madison from Arriagada, Estilo Talentoso arrived at Keeneland Thursday afternoon from Delaware Park, where her trainer has 20 horses.

Boasting a record of 16-3-9-3 that includes a victory in the Bed o’ Roses (G3) at Belmont Park, Estilo Talentoso had her only off-the-board finish in her most recent start in the Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga.

“In the Ballerina, the plan was to chase Gamine and after the race you find out you were wrong,” Arriagada said.

“Tomorrow I will tell (jockey) Jose (Ortiz) to let her do what she wants to do and make her run when she is ready.”

The Thoroughbred Club of America is a “Win and You’re In” race that provides the winner with a fees-paid berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

“We will see what happens,” Arriagada said. “It is a tough race and I don’t want to think about what might not happen. I have traveled to a lot of places with her, and I will keep her in my heart the rest of my life.”

BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE PICK 6 OFFERED
ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY RACES

Keeneland and the New York Racing Association have partnered on the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 that features Saturday and Sunday races from here and from Belmont Park that are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Presented by America’s Best Racing.

The minimum bet for the wager is $1 with a 15 percent takeout and mandatory payout of the net pool. Wagering on the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country.

Free Equibase past performances for the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 will be available for download. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6:

Leg A: Oct. 9 – Belmont, Race 5 – Vosburgh (G2)

Leg B: Oct. 9 – Keeneland, Race 8 – First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare

Leg C: Oct. 9 – Keeneland Race 10 – Keeneland Turf Mile (G1)

Leg D: Oct. 10 – Belmont, Race 5 – Futurity (G3)

Leg E: Oct. 10 – Keeneland, Race 9 – Juddmonte Spinster (G1)

Leg F: Oct. 10 – Keeneland, Race 10 – Castle & Key Bourbon (G2)

GALLOPING OUT

Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach talks to several trainers about their horses in Fall Stars Weekend stakes:

Tom Amoss on his Sunday starters: Roman Poet in the Indian Summer (L) Presented by Keeneland Select and Dowaigic Chief and Martini’nmoonshine in the Castle & Key Bourbon (G2).

Brian Lynch on Classic Causeway in Saturday’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and click here to see him discuss Red Danger in the Castle & Key Bourbon.

Kenny McPeek on Envoutante in Sunday’s Juddmonte Spinster (G1) and Lucky Boss and Tiz the Bomb in the Castle & Key Bourbon.

PROSPECTIVE FIELDS FOR UPCOMING STAKES

BUFFALO TRACE FRANKLIN COUNTY (G3) (Entries taken Sunday, Oct. 10; race Friday Oct. 15) – Probable: Ambassador Luna (trainer Ben Colebrook), Campanelle (IRE) (Wesley Ward), Catch a Bid (Joe Sharp), In Good Spirits (Al Stall Jr.), Jakarta (Mike Maker), Strong Odor (Maker), Time Limit (Maker), Violenza (Ian Wilkes), Yes It’s Ginger (Greg Foley).

QUEEN ELIZABETH II CHALLENGE CUP (G1) PRESENTED BY DIXIANA (Entries taken Wednesday, Oct. 13; race Saturday, Oct. 16) – Invitees: Army Wife (Mike Maker), Burning Ambition (Brad Cox), Closing Remarks (Carla Gaines), Cloudy Dawn (IRE) (William Haggas), Empress Josephine (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien), Flippant (Vicki Oliver), Lady Speightspeare (Roger Attfield), Nicest (IRE) (Donnacha O’Brien), Queen Goddess (Michael McCarthy), Shantisara (IRE) (Chad Brown), Technical Analysis (IRE) (Brown).

KEENELAND WINNERS, STAKES PERFORMERS, LEADING JOCKEY
AMONG ENTRANTS IN NEXT WEEK’S THOROUGHBRED MAKEOVER

Horses that competed at all levels at Keeneland and the track’s former leading jockey Rosie Napravnik are among the entrants for the $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium Presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, to be held Oct. 12-17 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Keeneland is a major sponsor of the event designed to inspire the retraining of racehorses for other activities. The competition features disciplines such as jumping, working ranch, polo, trail riding, dressage, barrel racing and free form of choice.

Three horses entered in the competition each won two races at Keeneland: Bellarmine, Granny’s Kitten and Proven Warrior.

Bellarmine raced for eight years and made 75 starts before retiring with a record of 14 wins and earnings of $542,362 for several connections, including Magdalena Racing and Kenny McPeek at Keeneland. The son of Magna Graduate, now 11, notched his first career win at Keeneland’s 2013 Spring Meet and returned the following April to capture an allowance race. He won the 2016 Borgata Stakes at Delta Downs.

Granny’s Kitten, a 9-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy, won allowance races at the 2016 Spring and Fall Meets for breeders Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker. He won six races in 32 starts with earnings of $480,928. He won the 2017 Col. E.R. Bradley (G3) at Fair Grounds and 2016 Alphabet Soup at Parx Racing.

Proven Warrior, an 11-year-old son of Yes It’s True, competed for eight years and made 74 starts. He banked $316,770 with 19 wins for a variety of owners and trainers. Ackerman Racing and Chuck Peery had him for the Keeneland victories.

Another Makeover entrant with Keeneland connections is Imperative, who was unplaced in the 2018 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) in his lone Keeneland start during a 50-race career in which he earned more than $3 million with seven wins. Half of the Bernardini gelding’s earnings came via triumphs in two runnings of the Charles Town Classic (G2) in West Virginia. He had several owners and trainers throughout his racing career, most recently Paolucci Racing and Imaginary Stables and trainer Anthony Quartarolo. Imperative is 11.

Napravnik, the leading rider at Keeneland during 2013 and 2014 Fall Meets, has focused on retraining Thoroughbreds since retiring in late 2014. A regular participant in the Thoroughbred Makeover, she is based in Simpsonville, Kentucky.

At the Thoroughbred Makeover, Keeneland again is sponsoring the Arrival Exam and Finale Jogs, the most prominent equine safety and welfare initiatives at the event. The Arrival Exam requires each horse to have proof of current vaccinations, vitals (temperature, respiration and heart rate) within a normal range, be scanned for a microchip that has been registered with The Jockey Club, pass a walking soundness exam and score a 4 or higher on the Henneke Body Condition Scale (the industry standard for assessing a horse’s condition and fat coverage).

More than 100 entrants will be offered for sale via private contracts between buyers and sellers at the on-site Makeover Marketplace. https://www.tbmakeover.org/rrp-tb-makeover-classifieds/buy-a-tb-makeover-horse

For more on the Thoroughbred Makeover, visit https://www.tbmakeover.org/

FALL STARS WEEKEND SPECIAL EVENTS

All year

Official Keeneland Tours. A variety of guided walking tours showcase Keeneland’s Thoroughbred racing and sales operations. Click here for more information.

Every race day (Oct. 8-30)

The new Keeneland Turf Pick 3 wager will be offered on the final three turf races each race day. The minimum wager is $3 and will follow the same rules as the traditional Pick 3. The new wager has a 15 percent takeout, the same low takeout as Keeneland’s popular Pick 5 wager.

Keeneland Select Handicapping Challenge. Sport of Kings, the free horse racing contest website, has this new free online handicapping contest for casual fans and serious horseplayers. The contest requires participants to make mythical selections on two Keeneland races for each day of the meet. Two seats to the 2022 NTRA National Horseplayers Championship will be awarded. To sign up, click here.

Every Friday and Saturday of Fall Meet

The Hill. At this popular tailgating area, fans can watch and wager while enjoying the racing action from the Jumbotron and wagering tent, while food trucks and live music presented by The Burl create a festive atmosphere. No ticket or reservation is required for The Hill.

Friday, Oct. 8

$200,000 Guaranteed Friday Pick 4 Presented by TVG.

Friday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 10

The Keeneland Shop Presents “Meet the Maker” at Milliners Corner with Christine A. Moore Millinery.

Every Saturday of Fall Meet

Sunrise Trackside. This free Saturday morning program is geared toward families and offers a unique view of Thoroughbreds during training hours. Children’s activities from 8-10 a.m. include a meet and greet with Keeneland mascot Buckles, along with face painting, games and more. Fans can purchase coffee and donuts while watching horses train. The Keeneland Track Kitchen at the east end of the stable area (with no track view) is open for breakfast that includes “grab and go” and seating options. A 30-minute Paddock demonstration by the Secretariat Center, a premier reschooling facility that showcases adoptable Thoroughbreds and is located at the Kentucky Horse Park, begins at 10 a.m. Mini tours of Keeneland will be available at the Welcome Stand in the Paddock.

Saturday, Oct. 9

Jockey Autograph Signing. Fans will meet active and retired Keeneland riders and Hall of Famers in an event that benefits the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Signing takes place near the Paddock from 11 a.m. to noon. Former jockeys scheduled to appear: Donna Barton-Brothers, Jamie Bruin, Don Brumfield, Mike Bryan, Jean Cruguet, Pat Day, Carl Faulconer, Sandy Hawley, Mike Manganello, Chris McCarron, John Oldham, Shane Sellers, Alex Solis, Mickey Solomone, Kaoru Tsuchiya-Hawley and Charlie Woods. These items may be purchased with all proceeds benefiting PDJF: hats ($30), Keeneland posters ($20), jockey goggles ($15) and autograph books ($10). Fans also may bring their own items to be signed ($5 per item; maximum of two items).

$300,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Saturday Pick 5 and $400,000 Guaranteed All-Stakes Saturday Pick 4.

Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10

Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Pick 6, featuring races on both days from Belmont Park and Keeneland.