Breeders' Cup Hopes

Monday October 26 marked the day where trainers across the world signed and delivered their Breeders' Cup Pre-Entry Forms with the hopes of bringing home a champion. Wherever home may be.

A wide-ranging cast shows up year after year for the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup is the only place you can find Rick Dutrow and Aidan O'Brien in the same paddock. Jonathan Sheppard and Bob Baffert in the same sentence. Goldikova and Forever Together on the same backstretch. Anyone with a horse remotely close to the World Series of horse racing, is knocking on the Breeders' Cup's door.

Bullsbay, Cherokee Artist, Smart Seattle and Zilva are all potentially first time participants of the Fall Classic.

Bullsbay already has a name plate at the head table. After winning the August 8 Whitney Handicap, he has earned himself an invitation to the Grade I $5,000,000 Classic. In a year where the Breeders' Cup lost America's most accomplished horse, Rachel Alexandra, they also lost the world's best in European superstar Sea the Stars.

Convenient year to "Win & You're In", Bullsbay.

The 5-year-old son of Tiznow was also be pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Cherokee Artist has been away from the racing scene since his career-best triumph in the Presque Isle Mile at Presque Isle Downs on September 13. The freshening has done him well in the recent past as he won that $200,000 stake off a similar 7-week layoff.

The Cherokee Run 4-year-old is pre-entered solely for the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile.

Separating Smart Seattle and Zilva's introductions in two different paragraphs won't seem right. I wouldn't even know how to. The two, both Pennsylvania bred Augustin fillies, train together, and give away nothing to their 'rival-stablemate', if you will. After all, their bloodlines cross...We'll get there.

Zilva, being by Successful Appeal, initially does not read "extra distance". Well, don't just read the headlines, read the article! Her second-dam is Sofitina, who is out of the brilliant mare, Waya. Waya won the Man O' War, Prix de l'Opera, Diana, Turf Classic and the Flower Bowl among others. Zilva, seems to carry much of her bottom half as she won first time around two-turns at Saratoga, followed by a gaining fourth in the Grade I Alcibiades at Keeneland.

Smart Seattle is by Smart Strike, who's runners seem to love the green. Smart Seattle has not strayed from the litter. In her two turf starts, she won sprinting and second, beaten 1 1/4-lengths in her first route attempt. Her bottom half suggests she would not win sprinting, being that steeplechase gelding, Nationbuilder is a half brother. So much for that.

Smart Seattle's second-dam is Seattle Way. Seattle Way is out of, you guessed it, Waya.

Call them what you want to, but call them serious.

Both fillies are entered to the Juvenille Fillies Turf while Zilva has a cross entry to the Juvenile Fillies.

Fillies Highlight Week(end)

Smart Seattle has prepped for the $150,000 Jessamine over the Keeneland turf, since her second place finish in the P.G Johnson stakes at Saratoga September 3. That day has come. And they'rrrrreee off....the turf. The rain continues to fall over Keeneland like the inevitable ticker-tape parade for the New York Giants down Broadway come February.

The Smart Strike filly dazzled in her debut stopping the clock in 1:02.2 in her 5 1/2 furlong sprint. She was sent off as the favorite in her second start, the P.G Johnson. On just three weeks rest she could not catch the loose-on-the-lead Tapitsfly, and missed by 1 1/4 lengths.

To this point, her two lifetime starts have been nothing short of impressive and she will tackle the polytrack for the first time in hopes of a Breeders' Cup appearance.

Smart Seattle's work partner is Zilva, who finished a credible fourth, in the Grade I Alcibiades less than one week ago.

On Saturday, Shared Account will run for her biggest purse yet in the respected Grade I Queen Elizabeth II. The 3-year-old filly will also face her toughest field to date with the likes of American Oaks winner Gozzip Girl, Ontario Colleen winner Lady Shakespeare, Garden City winner Miss World and Pucker Up winner Hot Cha Cha.

After her impressive run in the Grade II Lake Placid, Shared Account inherited the lead in the Grade I Garden City over a boggy Belmont grass course. Have yet to run over a solid course, the Pleasantly Perfect sophomore may encounter a soft going f0r the fifth consecutive race.

In the Queen Elizabeth II, Shared Account breaks from the five hole just outside of potential favorite Gozzip Girl. Edgar Prado to ride.

Checking In With Herringswell

Zilva a close fourth in Grade I Alcibiades

Facing winners for the first time, 2-year-old Zilva adjusted rather easily to her stern competition. Placed nicely by Jeremy Rose, the Successful Appeal filly saved ground and got caught in a bit of traffic throughout the stretch. When given slim daylight, Zilva (18-1) gained ground and was unlucky to get nosed out of third by Amen Hallelujah.

Fugitive Angel, tried polytrack earlier on in the afternoon and took to it rather well. The Alphabet Soup filly finished second to Orchestrator (previously beaten by Zilva) in a Maiden Special. The Augustin homebred donned blinkers for the first time and showed some keen early speed. It is plausible to believe she will sharpen after wearing the shades and showing speed in just her second start.

Skylighter takes turf on

In her first start for Herringswell, Skylighter (Sky Mesa) ran a respectable 4 lengths off Grade I winner Cocoa Beach over the Saratoga grass in the listed De La Rose. Saturday night she gives the green stuff another go of it in the Grade III Violet Stakes at Monmouth.

Kendrick Carmouche to ride.

Silver Reunion sparkles in work

3-year-old Harlan's Holiday filly, Silver Reunion breezed 5-furlongs over the Fair Hill tapeta on Saturday morning in 1:01.3. Silver Reunion, who is being pointed toward the October 23 Pin Oak Valley View at Keeneland, tickled her morning-pilot.

"When she gets going, she gives you that feeling like 'nobody can get me', regular rider Lisa Davison said. "I just love the way she's going. Sitting on her is amazing. She is scaring me the way she has relaxed. I think she's maturing. It's a great feeling to breeze this one."

Keeneland Up Next, Action Spread Out As Well..

The last time Fugitive Angel and Zilva were seen at the races, one of them flirted with a waltz down Union Avenue, while the other nearly took a dip in the infield's pond.


Friday we'll see the two again, under their familiar green and white shirted riders.


In her debut at Saratoga, Fugitive Angel looked properly placed under Julien Leparoux before she boared outward and threw away any chance she had in the maiden special weight event. Under the frenchman, the Alphabet Soup filly was able to somewhat get back on track and managed to beat three just 6 1/2 lengths off the winner. The George Strawbridge homebred, rightfully so, wears blinkers for the first time.


Her stablemate and fellow homebred Zilva comes out of a maiden-breaking performance where she sandwiched herself between the rail and runner-up Orchestrator. Trying the grass for the first time, Zilva showed more than just talent while gradually squeaking through a slip of daylight. Friday, she'll face winners for the first time in the $500,000 Grade I Darley Alcibiades on the Keeneland polytrack. Jeremy Rose takes the return ride.


Back up I-95, Ennis will tussle for favoritism in the $75,000 1 1/16 Dover Stakes for 2-year-olds at Delaware Park. The Joseph Shields homebred, brother to stablemate Cozy Cottage and ex-Herringswell runner Arcata, upset a field of 11 in his debut going 6-furlongs at Delaware. The Medallist colt stretches out an extra two-and-a-half furlongs in his second start. In terms of pedigree, Ennis should adapt well to the added distance. Daddy won the 1 1/16 Dwyer as a 3-year-old and siblings Arcata and Cozy Cottage both won routing.


Lavender Sky returns to a distance she has ran mighty well at in the past, the classic grass filly distance of 1 1/4 miles. At Belmont on Friday the $65,000 Possible Mate is ran for older fillies over the Belmont lawn. In her first start under the Herringswell flag, the Mt. Livermore 5-year-old stayed well off the layoff traveling 1 1/16 miles at Delaware Park. All signs indicate, she appreciates a tad further.