Queen’s Plate Winner Moira demoted from second to eighth for interfering with EP Taylor Stakes (G1) on 8 October at Honeysucklewill pick up legendary European driver Frankie Dettori for a tentative start in Manufacturer Mark Breeders’ Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Cup on November 5 in Keenelandaccording to coach Kevin Attard and ownership management partner Donato Lanni.
Dettori was also given away in Attard’s other Breeders’ Cup boot car, Last call , during November 4 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Moira raced for Lanni’s X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables and SF Racing. X-Men Racing 2 and SF Racing own Last Call.
“We are very excited. We are very excited – not to get him once, but to get him twice,” Lanni said.
He called Dettori “the greatest”, noting the racer’s worldwide achievements, including winning more than 500 group races, including 14 Breeders’ Cup races. Only Mike Smith, John Velazquez, Jerry Bailey and Joel Rosario have won more Breeders’ Cup events.
Dettori replaces Woodbine-based Rafael Hernandez on two fillings.
Moira, a 3-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper , won Queen’s Plate under Hernandez, but she ran into traffic problems during her grass debut on EP Taylor. She was disqualified for diving inside in the lower section of Hernandez, which forced Luis Contreras, who rode on Lemista , for a sharp test, and his mount stumbles gently. Moira seemed threatened in the middle of the pitch in tight quarters before leveling the gap at the end once again the void became a reality.
“It’s part of the business. The next day, I got over it,” Lanni said. “But she showed us that A, she likes grass, and B, she’s a competitor. She belongs.”
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The trip was fraught with trouble and the disqualification resulted in Moira being disqualified as a black level 1 and graded. When the Breeders’ Cup race is oversubscribed, the “Win and You Are” qualifiers and the top scorers take up half the field and a selection committee determines the other starters.
Moira wins Queen’s Plate under Rafael Hernandez at Woodbine
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf lineup looks controversial, with more than a dozen prospects for the 1/16-mile race, led by 1st place winner Peter Brant In Italy , trained by Chad Brown. The field could grow before previous entries are due next week.
“If she gets in, great. I hope she does. I don’t take it for granted,” Lanni said.
Connections do not need to wait for news about the start point for the Last Call. The English Channel The goofy 2-year-old earns an automatic spot on the Juvenile Lawn when, under Hernandez’s guidance, she upsets Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (G1T), a Breeders ‘Cup’ Win and You’re In”. That race gave her her first win after she showed promise with second and fourth places in her first two starts.
Lanni credited Attard for the bold decision to try her at Natalma after he was encouraged by the progress she had shown in her training.
The last call upsets the Natalma . Shares
Attard said he plans to have Moira and Last Call record their final workouts leading up to the Breeders’ Cup at his home in Woodbine before sending them to Kentucky at the end of the month. Last Call and Moira raced exclusively at Woodbine.
Moira is known for his high form on race day. She lost two of her shoes after misplaced rowing before dominating Woodbine Oaks earlier this year.
“At the barn and around the track, she’s always been good. I hope that part continues as normal for her,” Attard said. “Obviously, on race day with the crowd around, that’s when you’re going to have to try harder with her at that point.
“But on the Taylor EP, she was at her best that day. She seemed to have taken a few steps in the right direction in that sense. She was a slut with a few quirks. So we just need to leave her in charge, let her think she’s in control of the situation. I think she’s happiest that way.”
Attard has had two Breeders’ Cup starts before: Calgary Cats who finished fourth in the 2016 Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita . Parkand Starship Jubilee, who tripped and overthrew Florent Geroux at the start of 2020’s Filly & Mare Turf in Keeneland. Neither Geroux nor Starship Jubilee were injured.
“It’s horse racing,” Attard said. “When you’re in the game long enough, you’re going to experience highs and lows. Obviously, that’s one of the lows of the lows at that stage.
“We feel very fortunate to be back right now. We have two chances, two good chances. Hopefully Lady Luck is on our side, I guess.”
The incredible technical part of Donato Lanni and his team to secure Frankie’s biggest weekend in the race; SF feels very lucky to be a small part of the X-Men. @DonatoLanni and @kevin_attard have done a remarkable job in developing these two potential champions. #X MEN
– Tom Ryan. (@TomRyanKY) October 18, 2022
Canada-born Lanni, who has realized her dream of winning the Queen’s Disc with Moira, is excited to share her upcoming experience with the many Canadians in X-Men Racing, as well as with other partners from SF Racing and Madaket Stables.
One of the sport’s most successful blood dealers, Lanni chose Moira and Last Call for partners, believing they were a good fit for turf and synthetic racing at Woodbine. Moira was purchased by Lanni for $150,000 from Hidden Brook shipment through Keeneland September 2020 Sale, and Last Call was a $30,000 purchase at Keeneland from Four Stars Sales shipment in 2021.
“This is their first Breeders’ Cup,” Lanni said of the X-Men Racing team. “It would be fun for these people.”
