Royal Ascot Runs, US Action Aplenty and Peru Hits the 2014 Breeders' Cup Picture
Peru offered its first ever Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race, and the annual Friday and Saturday Royal Ascot races were also run this past weekend. A few two-year-olds showed promise in other events, and could bear monitoring for the three 2015 Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing events held in the United States next year. Also, there were multiple races in the US which could significantly impact several horse racing divisions before the year is out. In other legal horse betting action, The Pizza Man delivered once again, three-year-olds Walk Close and Mark My Way scored victories in $100,000 races, and the horses chasing Telescope needed exactly that to see the front-runner, as the four-year-old colt won an important race against a tough field by a full 7 lengths.
First Ever Peru Entrant Set for 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships
The 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships round out the major horse racing calendar every year in the United States. Held this year at Santa Anita Park, the Breeders' Cup is globally considered the most impressive international year-ending group of races. Combining 14 events with more than a $27 million purse, Breeders' Cup action will take place this year on October 31 and November 1. As Los Angeles hosts the 31st event for the third straight year, we know at least one horse that will be there. Valiant Amelia guarantees that a Peruvian entry will make the Breeders' Cup Championships for the first time ever, as the five-year-old mare won for the fourth time in six starts at Sunday's $200,000 Group 3 Clasico Cesar Del Rio, at Hipodromo de Moterrico in Lima, Peru. First place was awarded an automatic entry into this year's Breeders' Cup, as well as a $40,000 travel allowance.
Rizeena, Cursory Glance Take Royal Ascot Friday Races
In Friday Royal Ascot action, three-year-old filly Rizeena took the Group 1 Coronation Stakes by 3/4 length. The horse looked like the best of the field the whole way, and the United States hopeful Rosaland stumbled harshly at the start, even dropping its jockey Kieren Fallon. Cursory Glance required more than that as the two-year-old filly won the Group 3 Albany Stakes while walking away from the field. Running most of the race in the middle of the pack, over the final furlong Cursory Glance showed power, and was improving the lead at the wire. Undefeated in 2 races this year, that talented two-year-old bears watching for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness stakes and Belmont Stakes Triple Crown races in 2015. Eagle Top was victorious in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings in Friday Royal Ascot racing, and three-year-old Hartnell won the 2 mile Queen's Vase there.
Saturday Royal Ascot Events Crown Slade Power and Telescope
Saturday's Royal Ascot events saw Slade Power winning by 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Due Diligence in the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes. Also in Royal Ascot action on Saturday, the previously mentioned Telescope provided easily one of the most impressive races of the weekend, found anywhere on the globe. Taking the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes by 7 lengths going away, the Irish-bred Telescope now has 4 wins and 4 seconds in 8 career starts. Another couple of two-year-olds which bear watching for the 2015 Triple Crown events are Bessie's Boy and Conquest Tsunami. Both of those strong, young horses stormed past their competitors this past weekend, winning by 6 and 7 3/4 lengths respectively. Bessie's Boy easily won the $100,000 Tremont Stakes for two-year-olds at Belmont Park, with Conquest Tsunami claiming Saturday's $125,000 (Canadian) Victoria Stakes at Woodbine. Conquest Tsunami has now captured 2 victories in 2 starts.
The Pizza Man Delivers a Victory in Mixed US Action
Walk Close was better than close, winning Saturday's $100,000 Wild Applause Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Belmont Park. The Tapit filly fought off Wave the Flag to win by just a nose. Also at Belmont, Mark My Way could not find the way early, stumbling at the start of the Sunday $100,000 Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Stakes for three-year-olds. Eventually finding solid footing, Walk Close defeated second-place Free Mugatu by 1/2 length. In the Churchill Downs $65,000 Roxelana Stakes for fillies and mares this past Saturday, Speedinthruthecity was crowded most of the race, and looked to be an also-ran. However, jockey Julien Leparoux was able to sneak to the outside, where the four-year-old filly absolutely exploded, taking the victory by 4 3/4 lengths. And at Arlington Park, The Pizza Man delivered a tasty win in the $100,000 Black Tie Affair Handicap for Illinois-breds. Stalking the pace early, The Pizza Man tasted victory by 1/2 length over Tazz.
