Another Drysdale Gelding Is Bound for Breeders’ Cup

For the second consecutive day at Santa Anita, a gelding trained by Neil Drysdale cemented himself a spot in Breeders’ Cup XV on Nov. 7 at Churchill Downs.

Following Gold Land’s victory in Saturday’s Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup, which earned him a spot in the BC Sprint, heavily-favored Hawksley Hill had a successful prep for the Mile with a victory by a neck over 12-1 shot Mr Lightfoot in the $274,000 Oak Tree Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Ridden by Alex Solis, the 5-year-old Rahy gelding and 7-10 choice overcame a slow early pace by running the final quarter of a mile in 23 seconds to remain perfect on the Santa Anita turf course. He had won the Arcadia and El Rincon Handicaps earlier in the year.

“I knew I had a lot of horse and I waited until the last eighth of a mile to really let him run,” said Solis. “I thought I could get ‘em any time I wanted, but [Mr Lightfoot] got a little tough on me.

“He’s a nice horse and he proved it again today.”

Making his first start since finishing fifth in the Fastness Handicap on May 23, Mr Lightfoot, the longest shot in the field of five, was helped by the fact he was able to set 25 1/5, 49 3/5 and 1:13 2/5 splits under Chris McCarron. He wound up nearly two lengths ahead of Magellan, then came 3-1 second choice Joe Who and Floriselli.

Owned by Dave and Jill Heerensperger, Hawksley Hill won for the 13th time in 32 starts and the $166,200 payday pushed his earnings past $1-million ($1,012,168).

“This was a nice prep for him because he only ran two furlongs,” said Drysdale. “They just walked the rest of the race. It was run a like a French race.”

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Jockey Gary Stevens completed a memorable weekend with a stakes sweep at Woodbine in Canada.

A day after riding Silver Charm to victory over Free House in the $500,000 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita, Stevens captured both the $1-million Canadian International with Royal Anthem and the $400,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes with Zomaradah.

Making his first start in North America after winning three of four in England, Royal Anthem, who is a half-brother to Sharp Cat, led all the way in the International for owner Prince Ahmed Salman’s Thoroughbred Corporation and trainer Henry Cecil.

At the finish, he had two lengths on defending champion and 3-2 favorite Chief Bearhart and completed the 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:29 3/5. He paid $5.50 as the second choice.

A 3-year-old, English-bred filly, Zomaradah, the 5-1 third choice, skimmed the rail throughout to win the Taylor by two lengths over 17-10 second choice Tresoriere in 2:02 1/5 for the 1 1/4 miles. She’s owned by Darley Stud Management and trained by Luca Camani and the win was her third in six starts.

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Trainer Wayne Lukas won the $439,600 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity Sunday at Keeneland, but it wasn’t with the 2-year-old colt the public expected.

While 9-10 favorite Yes It’s True had to settle for third, Cat Thief, a 6-1 shot and Lukas’ other entrant, clicked in his stakes debut, beating 2-1 second choice Answer Lively by a neck in 1:44 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Owned by Bill Young’s Overbrook Farm, the son of Storm Cat won for the second time in six starts under Pat Day, five weeks after losing as the odds-on favorite in an allowance sprint at Belmont Park.

“I haven’t ever had a horse come as far in 45 days as this colt has,” said Lukas. “I told Pat in the paddock that we weren’t just filling the gate, that he had a legitimate chance. The way Cat Thief had been training, I really thought he had a big chance.”

Yes It’s True, who had won five of seven coming in, but who had lost the Futurity at Belmont Park last month as the 1-5 favorite, finished 3 1/2 lengths behind Answer Lively.

Despite the defeat, he is expected to be among a large contingent for Lukas in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. “If I had to enter tomorrow for the race, I think I would enter all five [Cat Thief, Yes It’s True, Time Bandit, Tactical Cat and Mountain Range].”

A race earlier, Lukas scored another upset, winning the $157,150 Phoenix Breeders’ Cup with 10-1 shot Partner’s Hero. Ridden by Calvin Borel for owner Willis Horton, the 4-year-old Danzig colt rallied from last to beat Pyramid Peak by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:09 1/5 for the six furlongs.

Horse Racing Notes

Silver Charm left Sunday morning for Kentucky to begin preparing for the $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic. . . . Score Quick, who finished third in the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, injured his left foreleg in the race and will probably be retired, according to trainer Mel Stute. “He pulled up bad and we think it was a flare-up of an old sesamoid injury,” said Stute. . . . Military, who won the Oak Tree Turf Championship two weeks ago, left Sunday morning for Kentucky and he is being pointed for the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Turf. . . . Hal’s Pal, who was second behind longshot K.J.’s Appeal in last Friday’s $500,000 Meadowlands Cup, is scheduled to return in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.