Photo by Hiroki Yamanaka - Honor Code arrives in Japan
HONOR CODE
The most beautiful horse in the world has been installed into his new home at Yushun Stallion Station in Japan. He will now be part of Japan's recent efforts of capturing the best speed leaning stallions that USA has to offer, ensuring continued dirt successes in that part of the world.
FRANKIE DETORI
The popular jockey has secured his ultimate gig at Santa Anita. Mr. Detori will climb aboard Zandon for Chad Brown in the Breeder's Cup Classic. Based on his spectacular guidance with the late performance of King of Steel in the 10f Champion Stakes this past weekend, they appear to form the perfect duo.
Zandon posted his best figures in the 2022 Pennsylvania Derby, a track that was perfect for his breeding. With the combination of his new jockey, who has determination through the roof, and the accentuated bias of Santa Anita (which coincides directly with Parx) this guy now becomes a legitimate underneath player for that Tote Board. This will also get kicked up a notch if Saudi Crown takes a gate as well, ensuring a fast pace to run into. No match for Arcangelo though.
MOONLIGHT
The two year old son of Audible, trained by Todd Pletcher, appears to be on a direct path to massive success on the Derby trail. The way this horse maintained his 2nd position around the 8f Aqueduct track and still had the energy to persevere for the win by 8 strong lengths, running against the grain, shows major promise moving forward on a more suitable bias for him.
This guy is built like a powerhouse for the Kentucky Derby.
DP = 1-4-3-0-0 (8) DI = 4.33 CD = 0.75
Mare Profile = 5-5-10-8-4 Speed = 10 Stamina = 12 Index = 0.96 Triads = 20-23-22
He is also built incredibly well for the track at Santa Anita, a surface which goes with his grain, not against it, like Aqueduct. If he shows up on the roster for the Juvenile, don't let his figures fool you when pitted against Baffert's clan. There is no doubt in my mind that this horse would skyrocket on that particular bias. He would explode.
BAFFERT'S CLAN
Even with the extension of Baffert's ban at Churchill Downs running through 2024, this will not deter the trainer from seeking his non-existent points in the Juvenile. Prince of Monaco and Muth are both loaded for this race and it would take an entry like Moonlight to at least have a raging shot.
Baffert is the king of Santa Anita, mainly because that track overwhelmingly gears itself to 5.5f to 8f races (sprinter's races on a speedy bias) during its meet. It is a quintessential sprinter's paradise all the way around.
As of the writing of this article 10/23, there has been 56 dirt races held during this meet, 49 of which were at distances of 8f and under. The DHC has tracked every single one of those races to date and all pertinent information, including running style, bias leaning, gate, etc. will be posted just prior to Breeder's weekend.
For now, here are the winners from SA as of this weekend with dosage info. The running styles, call info, and bias indicators will be added later and posted as late as possible. Suffice it to say, that as of right now, Baffert is in the driver's seat for the Juvenile.
Speedy Indexes, 3.00 and over, are winning at a 74% clip from 5.5f up to 12f on dirt.
(When chefs are combined with their prominent non-chefs.)
NEWS FROM JAPAN
He's back! This coming Sunday, the Longines World's Best, Equinox, will enter his 7th gate to defend his reigning title. This time, Equinox will compete against Do Deuce once again. This guy defeated Equinox traveling 12f in the Japanese Derby back on May 29, 2022. The Tenno Sho is a 10f contest which should easily put Equinox back in the driver's seat, however, Do Deuce has electrifying speed as well for the shorter distance. Here is Do Deuce in his latest workout. He's on the outside, smoking his mates.
Christophe Lemaire has been booked to accompany Derma Sotagake into a gate for the 10f Breeders Classic. The first of Lemaire's wins in a Santa Anita Breeder's race was in the 2012 Juvenile Fillies Turf, so he is no stranger to that Winner's Circle. He was masterful in this past weekend's St. Leger Stakes with Durezza.
Songline and the Breeders Cup. The talent of this filly is undeniable, but the determination, dedication and convictions of the Japanese connections is unmatched. This video says it all.
THE FIELDS
Pre-entered fields for the 2023 Breeders Cup will be announced live on Fan Duel TV and on the Breeders’ Cup website, Facebook, Twitter X, and YouTube channels on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 9am PT/Noon ET. It's time to get busy!
FIRST MISSION
Eagerly awaiting the next start for this son of Street Sense. Trained by Brad Cox, this horse won his first back in high style after a long layoff after being scratched out of the Preakness. No posted workouts since his win on Oct. 14th but it does appear that the talented horse may be gearing up. He is the spitting image of his half-brother Maxfield and hopeful that he has an opportunity to resume a successful career back on the track.
IT WAS "TRAFFIC!"
Here's one for the books. A couple weeks ago, on Sept 30, at Killarney (IRE) the filly, Ano Manna posted a convincing win in her 8f turf race. It was an easy unimpeded run on the outside to win by 2 lengths. Into the Winner's Circle she went with her jockey, Leigh Roche, who has ridden this girl on four separate occasions. Not 20 minutes later, the horse was stripped of the win and disqualified. Why, you ask?
Turns out that the actual winner was not Ano Manna at all, but it was her stablemate, Indigo Five. The wrong horse was saddled and gated into the wrong race. The trainer, John Feane, was fined for the indiscretion and when asked how he could let this happen, he declared, "I was 10 minutes late getting here to the track. Caught in traffic."
WESTOVER
The son of Frankel, who came in second to both Equinox (Sheema Classic) and Ace Impact (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe), would have been quite the player in the Breeder's Cup Turf. Unfortunately, Westover suffered a career ending injury and has been retired for Juddmonte Farms.
IN MEMORY:
LANGFUHR - (1992-2023)
1996 Sovereign Award Champion Sprinter
2004 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Winner of the 1996 Forego Handicap, Vosburgh Stakes and the 1997 Carter Handicap and the Metropolitan Handicap.
DESERT CROWN - (2019-2023)
2022 Epsom Derby Winner
WINTER MEMORIES - (2008 - 2023)
Eight wins in 12 starts including the Diana Stakes, Beaugay Stakes, the Lake George Stakes.
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