Bodenheimer, two others nab Breeders’ Cup bids to cap Keeneland’s opening weekend
Keeneland’s annual Fall Stars Weekend is in the books, having provided horse racing enthusiasts a glimpse at some of the Thoroughbreds who will compete during the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at the Lexington track Nov. 6-7.
On Sunday, Bodenheimer won the Grade 2, $150,000 Indian Summer Stakes, earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Bet down by post time to 4-1 from morning-line odds of 12-1, Bodenheimer in his turf debut took the lead at the quarter pole under Brian Hernandez and held off fellow 4-1 third choice Cowan, paying 10.20 for the win.
“We are so thrilled because this means we have an opportunity to take him to the Breeders’ Cup,” trainer Valorie Lund said. “I’ve never had a 2-year-old that I thought early in the year was good enough. But when this colt started breezing, I thought, ‘He is good enough,’ so that is where we are going.”
Lund said Bodenheimer will prepare for the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Ashwood Training Center in Lexington.
In Sunday’s eighth race, 2-1 favorite Mutasaabeq pulled away in the stretch under Luis Saez to easily win the Grade 2, $200,000 Bourbon Stakes, locking up a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
In the final Breeders’ Cup prep race of Fall Stars Weekend, Saez steered 9-1 choice Valiance to an upset win in the Grade 1, $400,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes to secure a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Valiance shot past 6-5 favorite and 2020 Kentucky Oaks champion Shedaresthedevil in the stretch, then held off 8-5 Ollie’s Candy at the wire.
Keeneland will host one more Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” prep contest, the Grade 2, $150,000 Jessamine Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, which will be race No. 7 on Wednesday’s eight-race card.
Saturday’s late Breeders’ Cup preps
Grade 1, $400,000 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity: Essential Quality scored a dominant win in the the 1 1/16 miles contest for 2-year-olds, locking up a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. A son of multiple graded stakes winner Tapit, Essential Quality broke as the heavy 9-5 favorite and finished more than 3 lengths ahead of long shot Keepmeinmind, much to the delight of trainer Brad Cox.
“We’ve had some very nice 2-year-old fillies, but this is probably the best (2-year-old colt) I’ve had as far as talent goes. He’s our first Grade 1 winner as a 2-year-old colt. He means a lot to us,” Cox said. “He showed us from day one that he’s special, very talented ... He’s a very green horse. That was my concern today — could he put it all together? And he did. He pulled up a bit on the backside. He’s got some learning to do. If he can figure it out, he’s a serious animal.”
Grade 1, $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile: Brazilian-bred Ivar made a stunning move late, passing two rivals in the stretch and pulling off an upset win in the 1-mile turf contest for 3-year-olds to claim a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The Shadwell field opened up when 5-2 morning-line favorite Halladay was scratched because of inflammation in his ankle and Ivar, who broke from the outside post at 14-1 odds, took advantage. He paid $30.80 for the win.
“Down the backside, he got in such a good rhythm, was so relaxed,” jockey Joe Talamo said. “I was all smiles turning for home when I took him out there. He just exploded.”
After a successful run in Argentina during which he scored three major victories and was named champion 2-year-old last season, Ivar finished fifth in his North American debut in an allowance contest at Churchill Downs in May. He has now won two of his last three races in the U.S. He finished third in the Tourist Mile Stakes at Kentucky Downs in September.
Shadwell winner to prep in Lexington
Trainer Paulo Lobo reported Sunday morning that Ivar came out of his upset victory in the Shadwell “very well” and had returned to his home base at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington.
With his impressive run in the Shadwell, Ivar gave Lobo and jockey Joe Talamo their first Keeneland stakes victories. It marked Lobo’s first Grade 1 win since 2004.
Lobo will keep Ivar in Lexington to prepare for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, which will be run at Keeneland on Nov. 7. Lobo said Ivar would have two or three works at The Thoroughbred Center and return to Keeneland during Breeders’ Cup week.
Fall Stars handle
While it appears the lack of fans at the track has depressed wagering on Keeneland’s races early in the Fall Meet, plenty of money is still being thrown around.
On Saturday — the highlight of Fall Stars Weekend which included five graded-stakes races — a total of $248,754.10 was wagered on-site at Keeneland. That’s a far cry from the corresponding Saturday during the 2019 Fall Meet, when 26,567 fans packed the facility and nearly $1.9 million was wagered on-site.
But the big picture tells a different story. Keeneland’s total mutuel handle on Saturday — which includes money wagered on the track’s races through simulcasting and the internet — was $15,882,148.95. That was about $2.5 million less than last year’s total mutuel handle on Fall Stars Saturday.
Friday’s total mutuel handle was $11,774,190.33, down just $52,055.26 from the opening Friday of last year’s Fall Meet.
Keeneland 2020 Fall Meet
When: Through Oct. 24 (no spectators allowed)
Race days: Wednesdays through Sundays
First post: 1:05 p.m.
This story was originally published October 4, 2020 at 6:02 PM.
