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.

Kemo Sabe: Cherokee Artist Breaks Onto Stakes Scene

Cherokee Artist had no problem continuing the hot streak Herringswell finished Saratoga with when the 4-year-old took the Presque Isle Mile in Erie, PA on Sunday night.

Sent off at as the third choice, Jeremy Rose settled the Cherokee Run colt third through the first 1/2 mile. Then the Mack Robinson homebred decided to carry the jockey through an eye-catching move around the far turn that he was able to sustain to the wire in the $250,000 stakes.

Cherokee Artist came out of a near-miss in Presque Isle's July 26 $100,000 Leeward Stakes. After that he was freshened up for seven weeks and came back with his a career-best performance on Sunday night.

After the race, Graham mentioned the November 7 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile over Santa Anita's synthetic main track as the main target for the bay colt.

The Summer Of The Bull

On the morning of August 8, the Saratoga backstretch's buzz surrounded the 8-year-old Commentator's chances for a third Whitney title. The son of Distorted Humor merited the attention as over the years, he has stamped Saratoga as one of his favorites.

Little attention was being payed to his rivals in that day's Whitney. Among them were, Macho Again, Smooth Air, Asiatic Boy, Dry Martini, Tizway and Bullsbay.

Come post time, the fan-favorite Commentator and Smooth Air were the co-favorites, a tad over 2-1 a piece. Macho Again and Dry Martini followed them at 3-1. Tizway was 10-1, and Bullsbay was a field-high 18-1.

As the seven older horses broke in order, Commentator dictated a 46.1 half-mile as Tizway chased a length off that pace. Smooth Air sat just off Tizway as there was a long way back to Bullsbay under a confident Jeremy Rose. Dry Martini followed Bullsbay as Macho Again, like usual planned to do his running in the stretch.

After 6-furlongs, Tizway had decided that was it for him, Smooth Air soon after threw in the towel. That left the two-time Whitney winner alone on the lead. Then Bullsbay decided he wanted to keep the Nick Zito trainee a two-time winner. Bullsbay began to roll with a move that could not haven be kept up for the remainder of the race. Could it? Just after the quarter-pole, the strapping son of Tiznow collared the 8-year-old. They were at even stride for only that long. The longest shot on the board led by 2-lengths passing the eighth pole as Macho Again passed a tired Commentator for second. Bullsbay strutted under the line a winner in the Grade I $750,000 Whitney Handicap.

Written off in part due to a mediocre polytrack effort last out at Hollywood Park, Bullsbay rewarded backers with a $39.60 win profit on a $2 bet. On August 8, the public had been introduced to who the barn-employees call 'The Bull' or 'Bully' rather than Bullsbay. This was The Bull's day.

Just 28 days later, The Woodward stakes was to be run on that same Saratoga oval, at that same Whitney distance of 1 1/8 miles. The crown in the older-male division had been passed around like a baton throughout the spring and summer so why not take a stab. A win would put him at the top of a few well sought-after lists.

Then the bomb was dropped. Sensational 3-year-old filly Rachel Alexandra was to run. It was almost like the competitive and hard-trying 5-year-old horse knew she was going. He was ready to take her on. In his own way, Bullsbay told Graham, and those at Fair Hill that he wanted a crack at her. He was ready to go, just 4-weeks after a career best performance.

Once the dark bay gave his connections the green-light, it was on.

September 5 rolled around and again, the now-Whitney champion was being ignored. That does not seem to phase him. His mind was made up already, he was going to run his race- as hard as he could.

As #2, Bullsbay was led out to the historic racetrack, the cheers were loud and present, although the large-majority of them were for #3, Preakness and Haskell winner, Rachel Alexandra. Jockey Jeremy Rose set the record straight as he whispered in the muscular 5-year-old's ear, "They're cheering for you."

As Bullsbay was transferred to the pony-person, it was again up to him. Like sending your son onto the school bus-you're nervous, he's not. 31,000 fans rocked the Saratoga grandstand as Bullsbay had made it to the show. Everyone who cared a lick about racing was watching. Everyone who was a fan, was there.

As they broke the betting favorite, and crowd favorite, Rachel Alexandra hurried through a first quarter mile in 22.4 and a half in 46.4. The super-filly made it clear early, if she was going to win, she was going to run fast for 9-furlongs. She laughed at Da' Tara, and shrugged off Past The Point like he was a mosquito on the far-turn. Then came The Bull. Bullsbay collared her, as the filly dug in, never losing an inch Bullsbay was all out. The filly had some in reserve. She went to the well and found gold, more run. Bullsbay, not gaining or losing an inch was soon matched by Macho Again and they chased the winner together. Macho Again, who had again saved it all for the end squeaked passed Bullsbay for second as the Whitney winner held even for third, well ahead of the rest.

The media, the horsemen, the fans. They're calling Rachel Alexandra the best. She might be. She's a freak, that's well documented. Bullsbay, coming off a career effort, arguably matched his performance just 28 days later. Nobody can take anything away from the newest Grade I champion in the Herringswell barn.

Say what you will going into the Woodward about his sensational Whitney. 'Out of the blue' or 'a fluke', is what the media and experts flirted with. The Woodward effort showed he is this type of horse, worthy of this type of competition.

Photos Over Words To Describe The Bull..