Azeri Bled Internally During Defeat

Azeri, the reigning horse of the year whose winning streak was ended at 11 in Sunday’s Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap, bled internally during the race and also exited with an elevated white blood count.

Trained by Laura de Seroux for owner Michael Paulson, Azeri finished third in Sunday’s race but was moved up to second after the disqualification of Elloluv.

“She’s having her lungs scanned, and we’re doing a trachea wash,” De Seroux said of Azeri, whose only two losses have come at Santa Anita.

The trainer hopes Azeri will be ready to defend her title in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 25.

*

Entries will be taken this morning for the $500,000 Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, one of five graded stakes to be run this weekend at Santa Anita.

Toccet, who will make his first start in California since he won the Hollywood Futurity last fall, is among eight considered probable for the Goodwood, a Grade II at 1 1/8 miles.

Defending champion Pleasantly Perfect, Joey Franco, Fleetstreet Dancer, Grey Memo, Reba’s Gold, Star Crossed and Taste Of Paradise are also scheduled to run.

*

Congaree, who worked six furlongs in 1:12 Wednesday morning for trainer Bob Baffert, will be ridden by Patrick Valenzuela in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

*

William Reed, who owns Perfect Drift, indicated there is a chance his 4-year-old could show up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Trainer Murray Johnson has been saying in recent weeks that Perfect Drift wouldn’t be shipped to Santa Anita for the Grade I.

“We’re looking at it; it’s kind of on the radar, but not a whole lot,” Reed told the Thoroughbred Times. “I think Santa Anita is going to favor a front-running horse, so that would work against us.

“The main thing all along has been what’s best for the horse. If it seems like going to Santa Anita would be best for him, then we’ll go.”

Unbeaten in four starts on dirt in 2003, Perfect Drift defeated Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs in June and upset Congaree in the Kentucky Cup Classic last month at Turfway Park.

*

Trainer Wayne Lukas won his first stakes at Oak Tree in six years when 2-1 favorite Race For Glory rolled to a seven-length victory in the $80,850 Cavonnier on Wednesday.

Four races later, House Of Fortune, the 9-10 choice, beat 9-2 fourth choice Nicole And Ben by 2 1/2 lengths in the $80,550 Cover Gal Stakes.

Both the Cavonnier and Cover Gal were restricted to 2-year-olds bred in California.