Friday (November 3rd) may be the Breeders’ Cup kickoff day, but there is a great $30,000 Virginia-bred allowance race at Laurel just before the “Cup” races kick off at Del Mar. This is part of the new “sprinkled” program introduced recently by the HBPA & VTA that offer Virginia-bred or sired horses a chance to compete in restricted races throughout the year at tracks in in Maryland or West Virginia.

The Phil Schoenthal trained River Deep is 2-1 early favorite among ten horses entered in the one mile turf race, which  goes off at 4:30 PM. The 3 year old Arch colt collected a maiden special weight triumph October 23rd at Laurel and has now bankrolled over $50,000 from six starts. River Deep was bred by Morgan’s Ford Farm & F and F Stable.

The Scott Lake trained Galaxy Express is the next choice at 3-1. The 3 year old Cosa Vera colt has a pair of seconds & thirds from ten starts this year, good for $23,805 in earnings. He was bred by Lady Olivia at North Cliff.

Mr. Magician, owned and bred by Larry Johnson, was best in a $22,000 waiver claiming race at Laurel August 19th. Photo by Jim McCue.

The entry of Mr. Magician and On the Wings Of, both bred by Larry Johnson, is the third pick at 7-2. The former is a 5 year old Street Magician gelding and the latter is a 3 year old Bodemeister colt. The Mike Trombetta trainees offer a varied of experience. Mr. Magician has 26 starts and $83,430 in earnings while On the Wings Of has only four career starts.

Jump Ship, a 5 year old Jump Start gelding, is 6-1 early. Bred by Althea Richards, the six digit earner ($106,218) has competed in a trio of recent Virginia-bred stakes races. Jump Ship finished 4th in this year’s Hansel, 4th in this year’s Edward Evans and 2nd in last year’s Bert Allen Stakes. He has made 30 career starts.

Bourbon and Beer was the best of 10 horses in a maiden claimer at Laurel December 16th. Photo by Jim McCue.

Bourbon and Beer is 10-1 and ships into Laurel on a nice roll. The 4 year old Pioneerof the Nile gelding has been either first or second in each of his last five starts at Penn National. He was bred by Sam English II and is trained by Hugh McMahon.

Fly E Dubai, who finished third in this year’s Punch Line Stakes, is 12-1. Bred by Carlos Moore & Gillian Gordon Moore, the 3 year old E Dubai gelding will be making his 12th start of 2017.

Trustifarian, bred by the Run Aweigh Stable, broke his maiden June 24th in a Virginia-bred race at laurel. Photo by Jim McCue.

Trustifarian, 15-1 early, is a 3 year old Albert the Great gelding. He won his first start June 24th in a Virginia-bred maiden special weight race at Laurel. He was bred by the Run Aweigh Stable and is trained by Patrick Neusch.

Dream of Peace and Virginia Royal round out the field of ten. The former is a 3 year old Cosa Vera gelding who was bred by Lady Olivia at North Cliff and the latter is a 7 year old Inner Harbour gelding who was bred by John Sellers. Both breeders also own their horses. They are 20-1 and 30-1 on the morning line respectively.

Virginia-bred and connected horses are sure to have an impact on this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Championships at Del Mar, where 13 “Cup” races are scheduled between Friday and Saturday. The Distaff, Juvenile Turf, Sprint and Turf will have the Commonwealth represented well.

Virginia-bred Stellar Wind will conclude a spectacular racing career Friday in the $2 Million Distaff. She will face 7 other elite fillies and mares in the 9th race at 7:35 PM. Stellar Wind will be ridden by Victor Espinoza and is the early 5-2 favorite. The 5 year old Curlin mare will seek redemption for a loss in last year’s Distaff, the only blemish in her six most recent Grade I starts. She prevailed this year in the Clement Hirsch, Beholder Mile and Apple Blossom Handicap and in 2016’s Zenyatta and Clement Hirsch Stakes. She enters the Distaff with career earnings of $2,233,200 from 15 starts. Stellar Wind is out of the Malibu Moon mare, Evening Star, and was bred by Peggy Augustus’ Keswick Stables & Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Inc.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, outside, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Catholic Boy is a 2 year old Kentucky-bred that is trained by Jonathan Thomas, son of Virginia Equine Alliance’s Track Superintendent, John Dale Thomas. The More Than Ready colt will compete Friday in the $1 Million Juvenile Turf, scheduled as the 8th race at 6:50 PM. He enters the race 2-for-2 in his young career and comes in fresh off a triumph in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga. Catholic Boy, who is out of Song of Bernadette by Bernardini,  previously broke his maiden July 20th at Gulfstream. He is 12-1 early and will face a full field of freshmen.

Catholic Boy won his first graded stakes at Saratoga August 30th.

Sadler’s Joy is owned and bred by Lauren and Rene Woolcott of Woodslane Farm in The Plains, Virginia. The talented 4 year old son of Kitten’s Joy will compete in Saturday’s $4 Million Longines Turf, the 11th race on the card at 7:37 PM. The stakes will immediately precede the $6 Million Classic. Sadler’s Joy is 12-1 early and will face 13 other foes on grass. Just over two months ago, he authored a thrilling last to first stretch drive comeback to capture the Grade I Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga. Most recently, he finished fourth in the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic September 30th at Belmont. Sadler’s Joy has earned $882,480 this year and $1,027,968 in his career. He is a Kentucky-bred and is out of the Dynaformer mare, Dynaire.

The gang from Woodslane farm cheered Sadler’s Joy to victory in the Grade I Sword Dancer from the Ponies & Pints OTB in downtown Richmond.

Drefong was the 2016 Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter and seeks to score back-to-back wins in the $1.5 Million Twin Spires Sprint.

Drefong, co-bred by Virginia Anthony Warrender, won the Grade I Forego at Saratoga August 26th. Photo courtesy of NYRA.

Ten horses will go to post in Race 8 Saturday at 5:37 PM, and Drefong is the 5-2 favorite. Virginia Anthony Warrender co-bred the 4 year old Gio Ponti colt, who has bankrolled over $1.5 million from only 8 starts. In addition to last year’s “Cup” victory, he has earned Grade I triumphs at Saratoga in the Forego Stakes this year and in the King’s Bishop last year. The Bob Baffert trainee is out of Eltimaas by Ghostzapper.

The following appeared on National Steeplechase Association’s website and was written by Don Clippinger.

Charles C. Fenwick Jr.’s Doc Cebu marked himself as a premier timber horse Saturday when he surged past front-running Grand Manan and drew clear easily to an 11 3/4-length victory in the $75,000 International Gold Cup.

Armata Stables’ Grand Manan, the defending winner of the 3 1/2-mile International Gold Cup, overcame some near-mishaps to finish second, 21 1/4 lengths ahead of Kiplin Hall’s Rodriguez.

The International Gold Cup, the fall’s richest timber race, was the co-feature of the International Gold Cup meet at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains. Stonelea Stables’ Balance the Budget, a multiple stakes winner, wired the $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2) over hurdles.

Doc Cebu won the 2017 International Gold Cup with rider Hadden Frost.

The International Gold Cup was another big day for champion trainer Jack Fisher, who continued to add to his National Steeplechase Association record purses with Doc Cebu’s win and a victory by Bruton Street-US’s Preseli Rock in the $40,000 Steeplethon Stakes. Fisher had established a record exceeding $1.2-million when Mr. Hot Stuff won the Grand National (Gr. 1) a week earlier.

Haddon Frost rode both winners for Fisher.

The International Gold Cup, contested on a lush course rated as good, shaped up as expected on a bright, breezy afternoon in northern Virginia. Grand Manan is a front-runner, and Doc Cebu possesses sufficient speed to set the pace or to lay off it.

Grand Manan went to the front, with seven-year-old Doc Cebu close behind him. The front-runner gave jockey Darren Nagle a few anxious fences, though, as the eight-year-old banged some fences and broke away at least two top rails.

On the second circuit of the Great Meadow course, Rodriguez made his move under Jack Doyle and briefly seized the lead, but Doc Cebu was in control at the last fence and drew away under a hand ride. He ran the 3 1/2 miles in 6:57 2/5.

The International Gold Cup was the Hard Spun gelding’s fourth win of the year from five starts over timber—he finished second at the Queen’s Cup in April in his only other start. He won the Willowdale Steeplechase in May and the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup on Oct. 14, both by multiple lengths.

The International Gold Cup’s $45,000 first-place purse raised Doc Cebu’s 2017 purses to $96,600, and he now sits comfortably atop the timber leader board. He made his first timber start, a maiden win at My Lady’s Manor, on April 15.

“He’s so consistent,” said owner Fenwick, a champion timber jockey who rode Ben Nevis to victory in the Grand National at Aintree in 1980 and to a plaque in America’s Racing Hall of Fame.

Balance the Budget wires Ferguson

Balance the Budget and jockey Mark Watts went to the lead early in the 2 1/4-mile Ferguson and dared his four opponents to catch him if they could. They could not.

Julie Gomena-trained Balance the Budget swaggered off to a gaping early lead of roughly 30 lengths and let his pursuers get within five lengths near the final fences. But the eight-year-old Bellamy Road gelding laughed off the challenge from Irv Naylor’s Charminster and drew away again to win by 9 1/4 lengths.

Charminster, ridden by Carol-Ann Sloan, finished second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of S. Rebecca Shepherd’s Curve of Stones. Schoodic, winner of the Virginia Gold Cup’s David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) in the spring, finished fourth.

Preseli Rock’s Steeplethon

Fisher kicked off yet another big October afternoon when Preseli Rock fought past Boogie Biz to win the three-mile Steeplethon by seven lengths. Boogie Biz was second, and Steeplethon specialist Saluda Sam finished third, another five lengths back. Irish-bred Preseli Rock ran the Steeplethon distance in 5:55 flat.

The following piece on Virginia-bred Stellar Wind Appeared in Thoroughbred Daily News October 26th. 

The quality of horses on offer at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale is so high, standing out in the crowd is not always easy. For Lane’s End, when it comes to consigning Stellar Wind (Curlin) (Hip 153), among others, that will not be an issue.

“She’s a collector’s item among the sale offerings,” said Allaire Ryan, Lane’s End’s director of sales. “Throughout her career she’s shown athleticism, soundness and honesty, and those intangibles are everything anyone could want in a broodmare prospect, on top of a proven pedigree.”

By leading sire Curlin, Stellar Wind is out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Evening Star and hails from the same family as additional Grade I winners Mor Spirit and Great Hunter.

Hronis Racing’s Stellar Wind and jockey Victor Espinoza, outside, outleg Beholder (GaryStevens), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Zenyatta Stakes, Saturday, October 1, 2016 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.
© BENOIT PHOTO

Stellar Wind has lived up to her name throughout her career, and she seemingly only gets better as she ages. To date, she has won 10 of 15 career starts, nine of which have come in graded stakes company, and six of which have been in Grade I stakes.

In 2015, Stellar Wind won the Eclipse Award for champion 3-year-old filly after posting four graded stakes victories and finishing just a neck behind Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Last year, Stellar Wind took on multiple champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) on several occasions and bested her twice, in the GI Clement L. Hirsch Stakes and the GI Zenyatta Stakes. Although she was consigned to the November sale, her connections decided to race her another year, and she has amply rewarded them.

Stellar Wind kicked off this year’s campaign with a win in the

GI Apple Blossom S. at Oaklawn Park, and then she returned to California to win the GI Beholder Mile Stakes and repeat in the Clement L. Hirsch. With her earnings standing at more than

$2.2 million, she is undefeated this year and will take her third shot at the Breeders’ Cup in November.

“From a marketing standpoint, Stellar Wind speaks for herself,” said Ryan. “Her owner and trainer deserve the upmost respect for their care and management. She’s beloved by all, and Lane’s End is proud to be a small part of her story in her transition from the racetrack.”

Although she is 5 years old, Stellar Wind is consigned as a racing or broodmare prospect for potentially intriguing reason.

“There’s a unique possibility that her career could continue through January 2018, if she were to run in the $16 million,

GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational before retiring to farm life,” said Ryan.

Of course, Lane’s End will have plenty of quality horses on offer, and another one of its highlights is also tied to Curlin. Offered as Hip 26, Calamity Kate (Yes It’s True) is out of the Tiznow mare Justmeandmyshadow, who in turn is a half-sister to Grade I winner and sire Officer. She is carrying her first foal after being bred on an early cover to Curlin.

“Calamity Kate is a testament to K & G Stables’ highly successful breeding and racing program,” said Ryan. “She showed early, consistent talent on the track for Kelly Breen while competing in multiple graded stakes as a 2 and 3-year-old.”

On the track, Calamity Kate finished second in GII Demoiselle S. to end her juvenile campaign. The following year, she notched the biggest victory of her career in the GIII Delaware Oaks before running a game second in the GI Cotillion S.

“Calamity Kate comes to the sale as a graded stakes-winning maiden in foal to the two-time Horse of the Year and classic-producing sire Curlin,” said Ryan. “Naturally she should generate a high level of interest leading up to the sale.”

Lane’s End is certainly not new to consigning top-class horses to the November sale. Last year, it was the leading overall consignor by gross with $26 million to its credit, while the next closest consigner finished at $22.4 million. It was the third time the operation has achieved such a feat.

On its way to that figure, Lane’s End consigned three seven-figure mares, led by Grade I winner My Conquestadory (Artie Schiller), offered as part of the Conquest Stables dispersal, who hammered down for $1.5 million. She’s Not Here (Street Cry {Ire}) followed close behind at $1.3 million, and Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy) went for $1.075 million.

Consigning the overall sale topper is also one of Lane’s End’s multiple achievements. It has succeeded in that arena several times, most recently with Awesome Maria (Maria’s Mon) who brought $4 million in 2013. While competition for this year’s title will be fierce, it is easy to believe Stellar Wind will be in the mix.

“November is an ideal placement for Stellar Wind as a sale prospect,” said Ryan. “It’s on the heels of the Breeders’ Cup, and Lexington is the international stage for buyers and sellers of breeding stock at this time. She’s at the forefront of the offerings this sale attracts.”

SCHOODIC HEADS FERGUSON MEMORIAL (GR. 2)

by Don Clippinger / October 25, 2017 / Published in News

Edith Dixon’s homebred Schoodic, a talented but headstrong multiple stakes winner, will shoot for a second straight victory at Great Meadow Race Course when he lines up Saturday for the International Gold Cup’s $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial Handicap (Gr. 2).

The 2 1/8-mile Ferguson will be the featured hurdle race of the 34th annual International Gold Cup at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains, Va. First post time is noon, and pari-mutuel wagering will be offered on all races.

Trained by Jack Fisher, Schoodic won the Virginia Gold Cup’s David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) on May 6 before two subpar races: a fifth in the Radnor Hunt Races’ National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3), a race he had won in 2016, and a seventh in Saratoga Race Course’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) on July 27.

A crowd of 40,000-plus is expected at Saturday’s International Gold Cup.

Sean McDermott will ride the seven-year-old Tiznow gelding, who was pulled up in last year’s Ferguson Memorial.

Schoodic shares the 156-pound highweight with Irv Naylor’s Charminster, who won the 2016 Semmes and then was second in both the Ferguson Memorial and this spring’s Semmes. The Irish-bred 11-year-old most recently finished sixth in Belmont Park’s Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1). Carol-Ann Sloan will ride for trainer Cyril Murphy.

Trainer Julie Gomena will saddle Stonelea Stables’ Balance the Budget, a multiple stakes winner who won this year’s Tryon Block House Handicap on April 15. Mark Watts has the mount on the Bellamy Road gelding, most recently second in a Saratoga handicap.

Balance the Budget carries 152 pounds, as will Amy Taylor Rowe’s Maserati, who won last year’s Queen’s Cup MPC ’Chase for novices before going to the sidelines after finishing fifth in that year’s Smithwick Memorial. Reigning champion jockey Kieran Norris rides for trainer Leslie Young.

Diplomat won the 2015 “Zeke” Ferguson. The stakes is a Grade 2 event this year. Photo by Betsy Burke Parker.

Here is the field for the $75,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 2). The horses’ handicap weights, which are influenced by their National Steeplechase Association ratings, are in parentheses at the ends of their profiles.

Balance the Budget. 2009 ch. g., Bellamy Road—Every Day Is Good, by El Corredor. Owner: Stonelea Stable. Trainer: Julie Gomena. Jockey: Mark Watts. Breeder: Liberation Farm & Oratis (Ky.). 2017 NSA record: 4-1-2-0, $49,800. 2016 record: 4-1-1-0, $51,600. 2015 record: 7-1-1-0, $37,250. Won 2017 Tryon Block House Handicap after setting most of the pace, then finished second in Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial ratings handicap. Finished fifth in Saratoga’s A.P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) and was second in Saratoga handicap. Kicked off 2016 season with victory in $75,000 Carolina Cup, a novice stakes, then was seventh in Saratoga’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) and sixth in Saratoga handicap. (152).

Schoodic. 2010 b. g., Tiznow—Aunt Henny, by Hennessy. Owner: Edith R. Dixon. Trainer: Jack Fisher. Jockey: Sean McDermott. Breeder: Edith R. Dixon (Ky.) 2017 record: 4-1-0-0, $47,000. 2016 record: 7-1-2-0, $60,150. 2015 record: 4-0-2-2, $58,000. Won 2017 David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) at Virginia Gold Cup after fall in Temple Gwathmey (Gr. 3), then was a dull fifth in Radnor’s National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3), a race he won in 2016. Finished seventh in A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1). (154)

Maserati (Brz). 2015 record: 2-2-0-0, $30,000. 2009 bk. b. or br. g., Point Given—Lady Celina (Brz), by Roi Normand. Owner: Amy Taylor Rowe. Trainer: Leslie Young. Jockey: Kieran Norris. Breeder: Fazenda Mondesir (Brz). 2017 record: No starts. 2016 record: 3-2-0-0, $78,250. 2015 NSA record: 2-2-0-0, $30,000. Won 2016 Queen’s Cup MPC ’Chase and Fair Hill’s Valentine Memorial Ratings Handicap, then was fourth in Saratoga’s A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1). (152)

Curve of Stones 2011 gr. or ro. g., Arch—Exceptionally, by El Prado (Ire). Owner: Sarah Rebecca Shepherd. Trainer: David M. Bourke. Jockey: Open. Breeder: Audley Farm (Va.) 2017 NSA record: 4-0-0-0, $600. 2016 NSA record: 3-2-0-0, $56,400. Finished sixth in 2017 Parx handicap and Virginia Fall handicap. Was pulled up in Saratoga’s Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes. Pulled up in 2017 Fair Hill ratings handicap after ninth in Virginia Gold Cup flat race. Won maiden victory at 2016 Virginia Gold Cup and came back two weeks later to win $35,000 allowance hurdle at Radnor. (140)

Charminster (Ire). 2006 b. g., Broadway Flyer—Monteleena, by Montelimar. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Carol-Ann Sloan. Breeder: Raymond Cahalane (Ire). 2017 record: 4-0-1-1, $27,500. 2016 record: 6-1-2-1, $93,000. Began 2017 with solid second in David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2), a race he won in 2016, and then was third in Radnor’s National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3). Brushed in A. P. Smithwick Memorial (Gr. 1) and finished sixth. Finished sixth in Lonesome Glory Handicap (Gr. 1). (154)

Alajmal. 2008 b. g., First Samurai—Alattrah, by Shadeed. Owner: Gregory D. Hawkins. Trainer: Janet Elliot. Jockey: Michael Mitchell. Breeder: Shadwell Farm (Ky.) 2017 record: 4-0-0-1, $3,500. 2016 NSA record: No starts. 2015 record: 4-0-0-0, $6,000. Pulled up in Virginia Fall’s Randolph D. Rouse Memorial. Finished third in 2017 Georgia Cup optional allowance hurdle, then was pulled up in David Semmes Memorial (Gr. 2) and lost rider in National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3). Missed 2016 season. Bookended his 2013 season with victories in the Carolina Cup and Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup (Gr. 1). (144)

DOC CEBU SUPPLEMENTED TO INTERNATIONAL GOLD CUP

The third Off Track Betting Center operated by the Virginia Equine Alliance will open soon in Chesapeake, inside Buckets Bar & Grill. The OTB is located in the busy Great Bridge section of town at 228 N. Battlefield Boulevard just before the draw bridge heading south.

The main dining room/lounge at Buckets will show a combination of horse racing & sports.

The OTB will feature three separate areas — the existing Buckets dining room/lounge, an OTB room with a separate entrance and its own bar, and an adjoining pool room that will offer simulcasting as well. All totaled, Buckets will have 52 televisions!

The pool room at Buckets features 18 televisions and several self betting terminals.

Work continues to progress rapidly and a tentative opening date has been set for Wednesday November 1st, in time for that weekend’s Breeders’ Cup Championships from Del Mar. Stay tuned to facebook pages from both the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and Virginia Horse Racing for timely updates.

Buckets is located in the Battlefield Shopping Center in Great Bridge, anchored on the south end by the CHKD Thrift Store.

When heading to Buckets, look for the Battlefield Shopping Center on the right hand side. Buckets is located in there next to the Sunrise Breakfast Shoppe and CHKD Thrift Store.

The Meadow Event Park, birthplace of Secretariat in Caroline County, Virginia, will hold a “Remembrance of Penny Chenery” on Sunday October 29 from 2 – 4 pm. The event will take place in Meadow Hall mansion and is open to the public with limited seating.

“It is only fitting that we should honor Mom at The Meadow, her family’s former home and the place where it all began,” said Kate Chenery Tweedy, Mrs. Chenery’s daughter. “This is where Granddaddy’s dream took root and where Mom, on entering the Thoroughbred racing business, earned her spurs.”

Mrs. Chenery managed Meadow Stable after her father, Christopher Chenery, became ill, and she oversaw the racing careers of both Riva Ridge, winner of the 1972 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. A well-loved figure in her own right, Mrs. Chenery was a champion of Thoroughbreds and women in business and sports. The 2010 movie Secretariat featured Diane Lane as Penny. It chronicled Secretariat’s 1973 campaign for the Triple Crown as well as Penny’s struggle for respect and success as a woman in racing. She died on her father’s birthday September 16 at her Colorado home. She was 95.

“Penny maintained her ties to The Meadow and this community throughout the years,” said Leeanne Meadows Ladin, Secretariat tourism manager. “She was enormously supportive of our efforts to preserve the historic legacy of The Meadow and develop the Secretariat Birthplace tour program. This memorial service is our way of offering a hometown tribute to this great lady and great friend.”

The program will feature remarks by Kate Tweedy and video clips by Penny’s son John Tweedy. Guests will be welcome to participate by sharing their own memories of Mrs. Chenery and Meadow Stable. Meadow Stable memorabilia will be on display in the mansion.  Penny’s last racehorse, Groundshaker, a great-great granddaughter of Secretariat, will be in the paddock by the historic barns, weather permitting.

Those planning to attend the event should enter Meadow Event Park at Gate 2 and park in Lot M near the mansion. For further information, please contact Leeanne Ladin at lladin@meadoweventpark.com

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Directions: Take the Doswell exit (exit 98) from I-95 and head east on Rt.30 past King’s Dominion theme park for 1.5 miles.  The entrance to the Meadow Event Park at GATE 2 will be on the left.

Attention horseplayers — Mark your calendars! The Breeders’ Cup Championship races are right around the corner. Del Mar will host the two day spectacle on Friday November 3rd & Saturday November 4th.

For planning purposes, Friday’s four “Cup” races will be held between 5:25 – 7:35 PM and Saturday’s nine “Cup” races are slated to go from 3:00 – 8:35 PM. These are east coast times. The $2 Million Distaff closes out Friday’s card and the $6 Million Classic ushers out Saturday’s stakes bonanza. All “Cup” races will be televised on NBC Sports Network and Saturday’s “Classic” will be on NBC itself from 8-9 PM.

Del Mar’s first race Friday is at 2:25 PM and at 1:10 PM on Saturday. Races 6-9 are “Cup” races Friday and races 4-12 are “Cup” events on Saturday.

There are three OTB locations in Virginia where fans can bet all the action. The two Richmond sites are at Ponies & Pints downtown (in Shockoe Bottom) and at Breakers Sports Grille (west end) and a new OTB location will open in Chesapeake the week of the Breeders’ Cup. Buckets Bar & Grill is in the Great Bridge neighborhood at 228 N. Battlefield Boulevard. The phone number at Buckets is 757-842-6767.

Not convenient to Richmond or Chesapeake? Virginia residents can wager the action on line via four partner companies. Visit TVG.com, Xpressbet.com, TwinSpires.com and NYRABets.com to sign up and fund your account. Most will have great Breeders’ Cup sign-up deals!

Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza worked champion Stellar Wind six furlongs at 6:30this morning in 1:13.60 for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 3, the penultimate breeze at Santa Anita for the daughter of Curlin before her move south for the Big Dance.

Stellar Wind breezing at Santa Anita October 14th. Photo by Zoe Metz.

Trainer John Sadler worked Stellar Wind in company with That’s a Lady, who was timed in 1:14.20.

“It was a good work for her,” Espinoza said of the Distaff favorite. “The track was a little slow so the time was good. She’s getting ready. She’s going in the right direction right now and she’s doing good.”

Also working for the Breeders’ Cup were Pacific Classic winner Collected for Bob Baffert (six furlongs in 1:14 for the Classic) and Accelerate for Sadler (six furlongs in 1:14 flat for the Dirt Mile).

Sadler expects to give Stellar Wind one more breeze at Santa Anita before shipping to Del Mar, while Richard Mandella has a similar agenda in mind for Paradise Woods (Distaff) and Avenge (Filly & Mare Turf).

“They’ll have one more work here and maybe one small one at Del Mar,” Mandella said.