Belmont Park in New York and Santa Anita in California played host to 10 G1 races that featured many of the leading contenders for most divisions of the Breeders Cup program on November 1.
BELMONT PARK
JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP: The 3YO colt Tonalist returned to the scene of his Belmont Stakes victory in June to score by 1.75 lengths for trainer Christophe Clement over the 10 furlongs. He beat 5YO entire Zivo and the 4YO Long River to gain an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Classic. His record now stands at four wins ands three placings including the G1 Travers Stakes from eight starts for US$1,802,000 earnings.
FLOWER BOWL INVITATIONAL: The 5YO mare Stephanie's Kitten scored by a 1.25-lengths for trainer Chad Brown in the 10 furlongs feature for filis and mares, beating 6YO mare Abaco (and 5YO mare Viva Rafaela. It was the fourth G1 win for Stephanie's Kitten among 8 wins and three placings from 18 starts for US$2,274,104 earnings. Stephanie’s Kitten will now head to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC: The 5YO gelding Main Sequence, an English Derby placegetter, registered his third consecutive G1 victory when scoring by a neck for trainer Graham Motion in the 12 furlongs feature. He beat 5YO gelding Twilight Eclipse and 6YO entire Imagining. His seven wins also include the G1 Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes and G1 United Nations Stakes and six placings from 17 starts for US$1,648,386 earnings. Main Sequence is being aimed at the Breeders' Cup Turf.
VOSBURGH INVITAIONAL: The 5YO gelding Private Zone scored by a neck for trainer Alfredo Velazquez over 4YO entire Dads Caps and the 5YO Palace for back-to-victories in the six furlong sprint. His record now stands at six wins and six placings from 17 starts for US$874,920 earnings.
BELDAME INVITATIONAL: The 5YO Belle Gallantey romped home by 8.25-lengths for trainer Rudy Rodriguez in the nine furlong feature for fillies maresgs. She beat 3YO filly Stopchargingmaria and 4YO mare Endless Chatter for hers sixth win and placings from 42 starts for US$1,111,270 earnings.
SANTA ANITA
AWESOME AGAIN STAKES: North America's latest superstar Shared Belief kept his perfect record intact when scoring by a neck for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer in the 9 furlongs feature, beating 5YO entire Fed Biz and 4YO entire Footbridge. His record now stands at seven winsincluding the G1 Hollywood Futurity and G1 Pacific Classic. Shared Belief will now start again before the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 1.
ZENYATTA STAKES: Dual Eclipse Award winner Beholder scored by 0.75-length for trainer Richard Mandella in the 8.5 furlongs feature for fillies and mares. She beat 4YO mares Tiz Midnight ansd Iotapa (for hers econd successive Zenyatta victory. Her 10 wins also include the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff and G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies for US$3,368,300 earnings. The Distaff will again be her target this year.
CHANDELIER STAKES: Bernardini filly Angela Renee scored by 1.5-lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher in the 8.5 furlongs feature for 2YO fillies, beating Conquest Eclipse and Danette. This was the maiden stakes success for Angela Renee who took her record to 2 wins and 2 placings from 4 starts.
RODEO DRIVE STAKES: Juddmonte Farms-owned 4YO mare Emollient scored by a half length for trainer Bill Mott in the 10 furlongs feature for fillies and mares over 5YO mare Parranda and Irish Mission for her fourth G1 win. Emollient six wins include the G1 Spinster Stakes, G1 Coaching Club American Oaks and G1 Ashland Stakes plus four placings from 17 starts.
FRONTRUNNER STAKES: A 2YO ridgling American Pharoah scored by 3.25-lengths for trainer Bob Baffert in the juvenile feature over 8.5 furlongs, beating Calculator and Texan Red for successive G1 victories after his porevious success in the G1 Del Mar Futurity from 3 starts.
