Will the younger whippersnappers defeat the wily veterans within the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Dash (G1)?
Three-year-olds Jackie’s Warrior and Dr. Schivel are among the top contenders for the six-furlong race Nov. 6 at Del Mar. They are going to face the likes of 7-year-old C Z Rocket , who finished second to Whitmore last year; and 6-year-old Firenze Fire , third last year and making his fifth Breeders’ Cup appearance.
Three-year-olds beat their elders in the Sprint about 25% of the time. Nine 3-year-olds have won in the 37 previous runnings.
Jackie’s Warrior, a Kentucky-bred son of Maclean’s Music , was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite from post 2 at the Nov. 1 post position draw. He is coming off three consecutive one-turn victories, in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam Stakes (G2) and seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the six-furlong Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) at Parx Racing. He received the Amsterdam by 7 1/4 lengths and the Gallant Bob by 6 3/4 lengths. His neck margin within the Jerkens got here after he bobbled at the beginning and raced broad.
Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen trains Jackie’s Warrior for house owners J. Kirk and Judy Robison. Asmussen has saddled seven Breeders’ Cup winners, including2019 Dash winner Mitole .
“Jackie’s Warrior hasn’t missed a beat, in response to Steve,” mentioned Kirk Robison. “He is coming as much as the race rather well, and we’re simply hoping he stays glad and wholesome till race time.”
Although the Robisons, who stay in El Paso, Texas, race a lot of their homebreds in California and spend their summers at Del Mar, Jackie’s Warrior has by no means raced on the West Coast. Asmussen introduced his Breeders’ Cup hopefuls to California early, and Jackie’s Warrior labored thrice at Santa Anita earlier than delivery to Del Mar.
“Steve needed to get him on the market early,” mentioned Robison, who’s wanting ahead to seeing Jackie’s Warrior compete at Del Mar. “Wherever there is a Breeders’ Cup is enjoyable. I have not had many probabilities to run in a Breeders’ Cup with a horse that basically had an opportunity to win, so we’re extraordinarily enthusiastic about this horse.”
Robison paid $95,000 for Jackie’s Warrior on the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale. Jackie’s Warrior final 12 months received his first 4 races, together with the Runhappy Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) stakes. He then completed fourth as the favourite within the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) after attending to the lead within the stretch. He has earned $1,513,964 from his eight wins in 11 begins.
Dr. Schivel has an excellent longer present successful streak, as he enters off scores in his previous 5 races. Three of these got here at Del Mar, the place he is an ideal 3-for-3. At 2 he broke his maiden at Del Mar by 5 3/4 lengths and added the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Dr. Schivel this 12 months earned a “Win & You are In” berth to the Dash along with his victory in Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Stakes (G1).
Mark Glatt trains Dr. Schivel, a son of Violence bred in Kentucky by William Branch and Arnold Hill. Branch races the colt with Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing.
In his last race, Dr. Schivel demonstrated even more dimensions. Not only did he win the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) on the front end rather than his usual off-the-pace style, he did it without a right rein. The rein had come out of its keeper early in the six-furlong test, resulting in the different tactics because jockey Flavien Prat was trying to guide Dr. Schivel with only his left rein. Dr. Schivel managed to stay safe and win the race.
Then there are the veterans.
C Z Rocket, a Florida-bred son of City Zip , was a bargain $40,000 claim by trainer Peter Miller for Tom Kagele, who owns the gelding with Miller’s Altamira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, and Gary Barber. Since then C Z Rocket has won four stakes.
But Firenze Fire is the true Breeders’ Cup veteran. At 2 in 2017, he ran seventh in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), followed by a fourth in the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), fifth in the 2019 Sprint, and third in the 2020 Sprint. Second in his past two races, Firenze Fire will forever be known for the savaging he foisted upon winner Yaupon in the stretch of the Aug. 28 Forego Stakes (G1).
Kelly Breen trains Firenze Fire, a Florida-bred son of Poseidon’s Warrior , for owner/breeder Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable.
With three wins and three other placings in six starts, Spendthrift Farm homebred Following Sea always has been consistent and in cutting back in distance, he may have delivered his best career start to date in the Vosburgh Stakes (G2) Oct. 9 at Belmont Park because the son of 2015 Dash winner Runhappy delivered a front-end score.
OFFICIAL: Post Positions for the $2 Million @Qatar_Racing #BreedersCup Dash at @DelMarRacing.
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— Breeders’ Cup (@BreedersCup) November 1, 2021
Entries: Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1)
Del Mar, Saturday, November 06, 2021, Race 8
- Grade I
- 6f
- Grime
- $2,000,000
- 3 yo’s & up
- 2:38 PM (native)
