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Monday, October 30, 2006

Breeders' Cup Distaff Odds Favor Fleet Indian

Odds on the 2006 Distaff say Todd Pletcher has yet another winner in the shape of the aptly-named 5-year-old mare, Fleet Indian. This daughter of Indian Charlie and Hustleeta has galloped to victory in all six starts of 2006, after finishing up with back-to-back victories in 2005. Given this outstanding record, it's not difficult to the 2/1 odds on Fleet Indian for November 4th (current Breeders' Cup odds).

On the other hand challenger Balleto hasn't had a won a race in a couple of years, although she's come been the runner-up in four of her last five races -- last time losing by a head to none other than Fleet Indian. Trainer Tom Albertrani says that Saturday's Distaff would be a great time for her to break her losing streak -- no doubt! The odds have her at 27/5.

This re-match of Belmont's Beldame Stakes promises to bring a lot of excitement to the Distaff. And don't forget Phipps Stable's Pine Island, also at 27/5. Under the tutlege of Shug McGaughey this 3-year-old has seen wins in her last two races, including Saratoga's $600,000 Alabama Stakes.

Both Pine Island and Fleet Indian worked on Sunday, with Fleet Indian breezing five furlongs in 1:02 4/5, and Pine Island posting 1:01 1/5 for her five-furlong breeze.

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Monday, October 23, 2006

Breeders' Cup Entries: 18 Horses for Pletcher

Trainer Todd Pletcher has pre-entered 18 horses in the Breeders' Cup races to be run at Churchill Downs on November 4th.

Yikes!

Here are the horses Pletcher has entered (in race ordered), and the Breeders' Cup betting odds for each horse (if known at this time).

Pletcher HorseBreeders' Cup RaceBetting Odds
Cotton BlossomBreeders' Cup Juvenile Filliesn/a
OctaveBreeders' Cup Juvenile Filliesn/a
Awesome AlleyBreeders' Cup Juvenile Filliesn/a
Circular QuayBreeders' Cup Juvenilen/a
Scat DaddyBreeders' Cup Juvenilen/a
King of the RoxyBreeders' Cup Juvenilen/a
Honey RyderBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf14/1
Wait a WhileBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf7/2
Quiet RoyalBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turfn/a
Friendly IslandBreeders' Cup Sprintn/a
Fleet IndianBreeders' Cup Distaff2/1
Spun SugarBreeders' Cup Distaff11/1
Pool LandBreeders' Cup Distaff9/1
Go DeputyBreeders' Cup Turf13/1
English ChannelBreeders' Cup Turf19/4
Icy AtlanticBreeders' Cup Turfn/a
Flower AlleyBreeder's Cup Classicn/a
Lawyer RonBreeder's Cup Classic18/1

Think Pletcher is too busy to look after all of these fine race horses? Think again. On Sunday Pletcher put 14 of these 18 horses through their paces at Belmont Race Track.

There's more to horse training then Todd Pletcher, of course. Also seen working their ponies at Belmont was John Kemmel, who ran recent Woodward Stakes victor and Classic contender Premium Tap five furlongs in 0:59 4/5, the best of 78 at that distance. Shug McGaughey also made a showing with his Distaff contender Pine Island, running six furlongs in 1:15 2/5.

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Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Pride Won't Run in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare

Breeders' Cup contender Pride won't be running in the 2006 Filly and Mare Turf, said Pride's trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre on Tuesday. Pride recently galloped to victory in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket, following close on the heels (or should that be hooves?) of her victory in the Prix de l'Arc on October 1st.

Owner Sven Hanson would have been required to shell out big time for the unnominated Pride, and this probably played a role in the decision not to run her at the Cup. At an additional $180K for the Filly & Turf, and $270 for the Turf, Hanson's looking more favorably now at the Japan Cup on November 26th in Hong Kong.

Also on the Filly & Mare front, no decision yet from the trainer of Vacare, Chris Block, as to whether or not the unbeaten winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup will be running on the 4th. The final decision will be taken by Robert Lothenbrach of Lothenbrath Stables, who has only run Pride once anywhere else besides nearby Arlington Park -- and that in her QEII win!

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