Horse Racing News for Sunday 10-27

Did you know? The oldest thoroughbred race in North America is the Queen’s Plate in Canada, which started in 1860. It predates even the Kentucky Derby by 15 years, making it the oldest continuously run horse race on the continent!"

In today’s email:

• Churchill Downs Kicks Off 135th Fall Meet Today

• Breeders' Cup Distaff: Thorpedo Anna Preps

• Breeders' Cup Clocker: Snowyte Shines After Fog Delays Morning Workout

• Tarifa Edges Out Gun Song for a Narrow Victory in the Mother Goose

• Hit Show Clinches Third Straight Graded Stakes Win in Fayette Stakes

Today’s Links:

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CHURCHILL TODAY

Churchill Downs Kicks Off 135th Fall Meet Today

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky’s racing action shifts from Keeneland to the iconic Churchill Downs on Sunday, Oct. 27, as the historic track opens its 135th Fall Meet.

Spanning 26 days, the Fall Meet will run five weeks, Wednesday through Sunday, until Dec. 1. Racing begins at 1 p.m. ET each day, with an exception on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, when races start at 11:30 a.m. ET.

The meet opens with the 20th annual “Stars of Tomorrow I” program, spotlighting promising two-year-old horses. Sunday’s opening card features the 12th running of two key races, the Street Sense and the Rags to Riches, both part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series.

This Fall Meet will host a 16-race stakes schedule, offering a cumulative purse of $5 million, and promises an exciting season for fans and participants alike.

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BREEDERS CUP NEWS

Breeders' Cup Distaff: Thorpedo Anna Preps for Final Showdown

Thorpedo Anna, the remarkable four-time Grade 1 winning 3-year-old filly, wrapped up her final preparations for next Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff with a solid five-furlong work in 1:01.24 over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track. Under the guidance of exercise rider Danny Ramsey, she maintained pace with the 4-year-old gelding Denington, edging ahead in the final strides and galloping out powerfully in 1:15.43 for six furlongs.

“She’s as impressive as ever,” said trainer Kenny McPeek, noting her high energy and readiness to perform. “She could have done more, but it wasn’t necessary. She cooled down smoothly, still full of spirit.” Having recently captured the Grade 1 Cotillion and previously claiming victories in the Kentucky Oaks, Acorn, and Coaching Club American Oaks, Thorpedo Anna has dominated her competition this year. Her journey to Del Mar begins this Sunday, where she’ll aim to cap her phenomenal season in the Distaff.

With last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Idiomatic sidelined due to injury, Thorpedo Anna stands as the likely favorite in the 14 Breeders’ Cup events. Though McPeek expressed empathy for Idiomatic’s connections, he acknowledged the lighter competition ahead. “Would racing against her have been exciting? For sure. But this certainly makes the task easier.”

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Meanwhile, McPeek’s Kentucky Derby winner, Mystik Dan, marked his return to the work tab at Keeneland, breezing three furlongs in 36.20 seconds, signaling his readiness for a potential early 2025 comeback at the $3 million Pegasus World Cup in January.

Whether it’s Thorpedo Anna’s final sprint or Mystik Dan’s road back to competition, McPeek’s stable is set for thrilling performances.

Breeders' Cup Clocker: Snowyte Shines After Fog Delays Morning Workouts

DEL MAR, Calif. — A dense fog blanketed Del Mar early Saturday morning, causing an unusual suspension of workouts. The track, hosting this year’s Breeders’ Cup, remained closed from 5:30 a.m. until after the renovation break, creating an eerie and atmospheric morning. By 7:45 a.m., the fog had cleared, revealing perfect conditions for morning workouts on the fast main track and the freshly opened turf course.

Snowyte (Juvenile Fillies) impressed most among the dirt workers, firing off four furlongs in a swift 23.03 seconds, 46.99, despite a minor lead switch inside the sixteenth pole. She held strong energy through her gallop-out, continuing three-quarters in 1:14.64, and showed excellent adaptability in her new surroundings.

Other notable workouts included Post Time (Dirt Mile) working in tandem with Saddle Up Jessie, completing four furlongs in 48.70 while maintaining an easy stride. On the turf, Juvenile contenders Tigerish and Scipio completed five furlongs together, both finishing in 1:02 and showing solid stamina.

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The workout day also saw Turf Sprint favorite Cogburn and Sprint favorite Skelly out early under foggy conditions, showing their readiness to compete. Meanwhile, Geoglyph (Mile) made a strong impression in blinkers after the fog lifted, moving powerfully and showing he’s primed for next

Belmont at the Big A

Tarifa Edges Out Gun Song for a Narrow Victory in the Mother Goose

Tarifa ($6.10) claimed a hard-fought win in the Grade 2, $242,500 Mother Goose Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, edging out favored Gun Song by a head in a thrilling stretch duel.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Tarifa utilized aggressive tactics to secure her first win since March. The Brad Cox-trained filly led from the gate, battling to maintain her edge against Gun Song, who pressed forward under John Velazquez. Despite a shoe mishap when bumped by Pretty Ana at the start, Tarifa held her ground, clocking a half-mile in 48.86 seconds and six furlongs in 1:13.49.

At the top of the stretch, Velazquez gave Gun Song the signal, briefly taking the lead. But Prat urged Tarifa to dig deep, and she responded, fighting back to secure the win by a head. Pretty Ana, finishing strong from last, took third, just half a length ahead of Dorothy’s Dreams.

Tarifa, owned and bred by Godolphin Racing, now has five wins from nine starts. Her victory in the Mother Goose came with an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.78.

“I wanted to switch things up and get her in the race early,” Prat told NYRA. “She broke well, and despite losing some momentum from a shoe incident, she made the lead and traveled comfortably. At the top of the lane, it looked like we were beaten, but she fought back hard.”

Velazquez, confident turning for home, acknowledged that he thought Gun Song had the race won: “I thought I had her when we came off the turn, but Tarifa fought back well.”

This victory adds another stakes win for Prat and continues a strong season for the talented Tarifa.

KEENELAND

Hit Show Clinches Third Straight Graded Stakes Win in Fayette Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hit Show extended his winning streak with a hard-fought victory in the Grade 2, $350,000 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday. The 4-year-old colt prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Bolzy, marking his third consecutive graded stakes win and showing his potential as a strong contender in the older horse division.

Returning $3.58 to his backers, Hit Show has showcased his ability since his 3-year-old season, which included a win in the Grade 3 Withers and a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. He went on to place fifth in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes, establishing himself as a consistent performer among elite competition.

After a couple of unplaced finishes late last year, trainer Brad Cox decided to give Hit Show a break. The colt returned to racing in May, with an allowance win at Churchill Downs. However, a puzzling seventh-place finish in the Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows followed, leaving Cox uncertain of what went wrong despite Hit Show’s strong training.

“He was a very good 3-year-old, just maybe a cut below the top,” Cox said. “It was time to give him a break. He came back strong, and I’m not sure what happened at Prairie Meadows, but he’s been sharp since then.”

Hit Show rebounded quickly, claiming victories in the Grade 3 West Virginia Governor's Stakes and the Grade 2 Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs. In each win, he displayed a pattern of edging out his competitors by narrow margins, something Cox attributes to Hit Show’s preference for running with another horse close by.

“Once he makes the lead, he tends to ease up, letting others come closer,” Cox noted. “But Florent [Geroux] says he responds when pressured, and that’s what keeps him in front.”

Ridden by Geroux, Hit Show settled in fifth early on in the Fayette, tracking the pace set by Bolzy through six furlongs in 1:12.09. Navigating between horses, he gained the lead in the stretch, edging away from Bolzy to finish the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.33 on a fast track.

Behind the top two, Uno Mas Bourbon finished third, four lengths back, followed by War Campaign, Heroic Move, Trademark, Howling Time, and Grand Aspen.

With the Fayette complete, Cox confirmed that Hit Show’s next target may be the Grade 2, $600,000 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29, a logical step to solidify his place in the older horse division.

As the Keeneland fall meet wraps up, racing moves to Churchill Downs, where a 26-day meet begins Sunday, promising more high-stakes action.