Breeders' Cup at Arlington Park horse racing in Illinois

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Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Contact: Notes Team (847) 385-7472/7473

$2 Million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade I)
World Thoroughbred Championships
Three-Year-Olds and Up
1½ Miles (Turf)
Ballingarry -- Trainer Laura de Seroux got her first look at the 3yo colt in the flesh Tuesday morning in the quarantine barn and liked what she saw.
"He's absolutely gorgeous," said de Seroux of the colt who was flown in from France the previous evening for the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf. He was purchased by a group headed by Chicagoan Sid Port and transferred to de Seroux after winning the Canadian International Championship at Woodbine Sept. 29 for trainer Aidan O'Brien. He has since prepped at Chantilly with an assistant to de Seroux.
"He feels good, is very bright and loves to travel," said de Seroux. "He's a very big elegant horse with an enormous shoulder and intelligent head. His dapples are popping out, and he's the picture of health. He's a late developer and will only get better with age."
De Seroux said she would tack-walk the colt Tuesday afternoon and again Wednesday morning before he clears quarantine at 2 p.m. and joins her two California shippers, Azeri and Dublino, in Barn 12.
Majority owner Port, 91, is a hometown favorite. A long time horse owner, Port played basketball for the University of Illinois and graduated there in 1933 before earning a Juris Doctorate Degree from DePaul University. He founded Lawson Products, Inc. in 1952 and later became an art benefactor in Chicago.
Blazing Fury -- The fourth-place finisher from last year's Turf was declared from Saturday's renewal late Tuesday morning after apparently sustaining an injury while galloping one mile at Belmont.
Trainer Jimmy Toner notified Breeders' Cup racing officials at approximately noon (CT).
Denon -- Denon, who arrived in Chicago on a Monday flight from New York with five other Bobby Frankel-trained Breeders' Cup participants, got familiar with his new surroundings at Arlington Park's Barn 12 by walking the shedrow Tuesday morning. Another walk was scheduled for later in the day.
Denon was put through his final workout before Saturday's Turf before Monday's flight. The 4yo Pleasant Colony colt worked 5f at Belmont Park in company to the outside of a stablemate with exercise rider Rudy Rodriguez in the saddle. The official clocking was 1:01 2/5.
"Denon, he never runs too hard, so I don't have to worry about him," Frankel said. "He's had a nice four weeks since his last race."
Owned by Flaxman Stable and Edmund Gann, Denon collected the third Grade I win of his career with a half-length triumph over Blazing Fury in the Sept. 29 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont. Earlier in the year, he won the Charles Whittingham Handicap at Hollywood Park, and was victorious in the Hollywood Derby there last fall.
Denon will be ridden by Edgar Prado on Saturday.
Falcon Flight -- The 6yo horse will be on the last flight for the Breeders' Cup, and that is the way trainer Donald Burke II wants it. Falcon Flight will arrive at Arlington Park around 8 or 9 p.m. Thursday on a Federal Express flight from California.
Burke explained his thinking after the horse galloped 1 ½ miles on the main track at Hollywood Park Tuesday.
"Absolutely, it's by design," said Burke of the late arrival for his first Breeders' Cup starter. He elected to pass on Tuesday and Wednesday California flights offered by Tex Sutton.
"John Wooden said 'Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,'" said Burke of the legendary UCLA basketball coach. "There are two reasons for shipping Thursday; (1) the climate change is dramatic, so why come in a day or two earlier and risk getting sick; and (2) we did it this way before three previous trips to Arlington, and he ran well each time. If it's not broke, why fix it?"
Falcon Flight won the 2001 Stars & Stripes Breeders' Cup Handicap and 2002 Arlington Handicap on the turf before finishing a close fifth in the 2002 Arlington Million despite a nightmarish trip.
Burke, 36, took out his trainer's license in Feb. 2001, when owner Gary Tanaka sent him five horses, including Falcon Flight.
Falcon Flight is scheduled to work on the Santa Anita turf Wednesday with jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who will ride him Saturday.
Golan -- The 4yo Irish-bred, who has not started since running second in the Juddmonte International at York on Aug. 20, cleared quarantine Tuesday morning and went for a walk around the Arlington stable area and racetrack with exercise rider Roy Carter aboard.
"We just wanted to give him a look around," said Stuart Messenger, assistant to trainer Michael Stoute. "We let him trot a bit to loosen up, stretch his legs. I was very pleased with the way he traveled."
Golan, a son of Spectrum, runs best fresh, as he showed in his first start of 2002 when he won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in July after a seven-month layoff.
Stoute was due in at Arlington Tuesday afternoon. Golan will be ridden by Kieren Fallon.
High Chapparal -- The 3yo son of Sadler's Wells, a strong third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after a three-month layoff, was scheduled to arrive at Arlington Tuesday afternoon after a flight from Ireland with seven other Aidan O'Brien-trained horses.
The Irish-bred won both the Epsom and Irish Derbys in June, and was making his first start since June 30 when he ran in the Arc on Oct. 6. He was beaten 1 ¼ lengths by winner Marienbard. Mick Kinane, who has been aboard his last two outings, has the mount again Saturday.
Perfect Soul -- On the eve of his final workout before Saturday's Breeders' Cup Turf, Perfect Soul galloped 1 ½ miles Tuesday morning at Woodbine Race Course in Canada.
Trainer Roger Attfield has a 5f breeze scheduled for Wednesday. Following the workout, the lightly raced 4yo will be prepared for a van ride to Chicago.
"This will just be a maintenance five-eighths down the lane," Attfield said.
With just five career starts, the 4yo Irish-bred son of Sadler's Wells is the most lightly raced horse in the Turf.
John Velazquez has the mount Saturday.
The Tin Man -- The 4yo gelding was flown in from California Tuesday and was stabled in Barn 10. Trainer Richard Mandella was scheduled to arrive later Tuesday.
"He's worked his way up to being an important horse," said Mandella of The Tin Man, who recorded his first Grade I victory in the Clement Hirsch Memorial Stakes Oct. 6 at Santa Anita in his last start to earn a trip to the Breeders' Cup.
"The Tin Man is on the Yellow Brick Road," quipped Mandella of the horse than owner-breeder Ralph Todd named after watching a rerun of "The Wizard of Oz" on television.
The Tin Man is expected to be a pace factor with With Anticipation.
The Tin Man did not start until September of his 3-year-old year because of a bowed tendon as a 2-year-old. Mandella said he would prefer firm turf for the race.
With Anticipation -- Five-time Grade I winner With Anticipation had a strong 1 ¾-mile gallop at Saratoga Race Course on Tuesday morning under exercise rider Kate Fitzpatrick. The exercise came one day before his final workout in advance of Saturday's Breeders' Cup Turf.
"The officials at Saratoga were nice enough to reopen the turf course just for us for Wednesday's workout," trainer Jonathan Sheppard said. "It was closed after last Wednesday. We're going to take a lead horse with him, which is what we usually do before he has a serious type of work. The idea is to get a nice, fairly crisp five-eighths into him."
Following the workout, the 7yo gelding will be transported to Arlington Park on Thursday via Sheppard's private van.
"He'll spend the night at Saratoga to recuperate from his workout, walk around early Thursday and then leave 7 or 8 o'clock in the morning to get there sometime that night," Sheppard said. "He's a real experienced traveler, so the long ride shouldn't be trouble. He's been to Tokyo and back, so a trip to Arlington will feel like a short hop to him."
Regular rider Pat Day will be in the irons Saturday.
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Monday, October 21, 2002
Contact: Notes Team (847) 385-7472/7473

$2 Million John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade I)
World Thoroughbred Championships
Three-Year-Olds and Up
1½ Miles (Turf)
Ballingarry -- Trainer Laura de Seroux will see the 3yo colt for the first time in the flesh Tuesday after he is flown in from France tonight.
Ballingarry was purchased by a group headed by Chicagoan Sid Port shortly after winning the Canadian International Championship Sept. 29 at Woodbine for Aidan O'Brien. He was shipped back to Europe and has prepped for his return to North America in France.
"Jeffrey Ford, my assistant, has been with him at John Hammond's yard at Chantilly," said de Seroux. "He said the horse has adapted well to our feed and showed no effects from the travel. He worked three-quarters Saturday at L'Aigle."
Kent Desormeaux will ride Ballingarry for the first time in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf.
Blazing Fury -- The 4yo gelding galloped 1 ¼ miles at Belmont Park Monday and will gallop all the way up to the race. He'll ship to Chicago on a planeload of Breeders' Cup horses leaving New York Wednesday.
"His best races have been off 8 to 10 days from a work," trainer Jim Toner said. "This last work on the 15th will be 11 days. Why change what's worked?"
That work was 5f in 1:02 2/5 over soft ground. "That was a good move for him," Toner said.
Jose Santos will ride Saturday; Emmanuel Davy is his exercise rider; and Jose Miguel Estrada is his groom.
Denon -- Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel worked each of his seven Breeders' Cup participants Monday, including Turf contender Denon.
The 4yo Pleasant Colony colt covered 5f at Belmont Park in 1:01 2/5 under exercise rider Rudy Rodriguez.
"I worked all of them and they went great," Frankel said. "It was just what I was looking for. No one looked better than the other because they all went perfect."
"After the workouts, we got them ready for the plane and they should get [to Chicago] around 2 o'clock. I'll be in town this afternoon, too."
Frankel, who won his first Breeders' Cup race last year in the Sprint with Squirtle Squirt, will ride Edgar Prado on Denon.
Frankel has started nine horses in the Turf. His best finish was a second with Theatrical, who finished second, a neck behind Manila in 1986. He also has four thirds: Quest For Fame (1992), Luazur (1993), Dushyantor (1998) and Timboroa (2001).
Denon, a strong U.S. representative, posted a half-length win the Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park on Sept. 29, his third Grade 1 win since arriving in the U.S. from France last fall.
Falcon Flight -- The 6yo horse galloped 1 ½ miles at Hollywood Park. "He will work a half-mile on the turf at Santa Anita Wednesday and ship Thursday afternoon on a Fed Ex flight," said trainer Donald Burke II.
"(Groom) Julio Roca and I will accompany the horse on the flight. We should arrive around 7 or 8 p.m. and just walk up to the race."
Patrick Valenzuela has the mount.
Falcon Flight has shown an affinity for the Arlington Park turf, winning two of three starts on it. He won the 2001 Stars & Stripes Breeeders' Cup Handicap and 2002 Arlington Handicap, and finished a bad-luck fifth in the 2002 Arlington Million.
Asked about his first Breeders' Cup starter, Burke chose to quote former boss Charlie Whittingham. "Hope for the best and expect the worst," said Burke.
Golan -- The 4yo Irish-bred, trained by Michael Stoute, arrived at Arlington Park late Monday night after a flight from England and was bedded down in the quarantine barn. The son of Spectrum, second in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in his most recent start on Aug. 20, won his only other start this year, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 27.
Ian Willows, assistant to Stoute, reported the trip was trouble-free and the horses shipped without incident.
High Chapparal -- The 3yo son of Sadler's Wells, third last out in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after a layoff of more than three months, is scheduled to arrive at Arlington Tuesday evening after a flight from Ireland. Aidan O'Brien trains the Irish-bred colt, who made a strong impression earlier this year when he won the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby. Mick Kinane rides.
Perfect Soul -- Perfect Soul, the lightly raced 4yo colt who seeks his first stakes win in the Breeders' Cup Turf, is scheduled to arrive at Arlington Park from Canada on Wednesday night, according to trainer Roger Attfield.
"We'll work him Wednesday [at Woodbine Race Course] and he'll travel [by van] that evening," Attfield said. "He worked three-quarters last Wednesday in 1:13 2/5 around the dogs on the turf course. I was pleased. He'll just get a nice breeze down the lane Wednesday."
Attfield, who will arrive on the scene Thursday, has secured the riding services of New York-based jockey John Velazquez.
The Irish-bred son of Sadler's Wells finished fourth in the Canadian International on Sept. 29 after a runner-up effort in the Niagara Breeders' Cup, both 1 ½-mile turf races. He began his career in June with three successive wins. Overall, Perfect Soul has banked $280,020 in five starts.
Attfield nearly won the 1990 Turf when With Approval finished a half-length back of In The Wings. Perfect Soul will be the 62-year-old conditioner's 10th Breeders' Cup participant.
The Tin Man -- The 4yo gelding walked at Santa Anita after working 5f on turf in 59 4/5 Sunday. "He worked a little better than what I was looking for, and that could be a good sign," said trainer Richard Mandella.
The Clement Hirsch Memorial Stakes winner at Santa Anita Oct. 6 will be flown from Ontario Airport in California Tuesday. Mandella will also fly east Tuesday. Mike Smith has the Turf call.
With Anticipation -- Multiple Grade I winner With Anticipation, the oldest Turf participant at age 7, is completing preparations for Saturday's race at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard plans to breeze the $2.1 million earner 5f on turf Wednesday. He'll be privately vanned to Arlington Park on Thursday afternoon.
"He worked on turf last Wednesday inside the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga," Sheppard said. "It was actually a mile well outside the dogs, but his wasn't officially clocked until the last five-eighths (1:04 2/5) because he started off at a two-minute lick.
"He did it very nicely, finished well and didn't seem to be blowing too much. The workout would have been equivalent to 1:02 and change if he was on the rail. It was just what I was looking for."
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day, who won the 1987 Turf on Theatrical, retains the mount.
With Anticipation, who finished seventh at odds of 7-2 in last year's Turf, won three consecutive Grade 1 races this summer -- the United Nations Handicap, Sword Dancer Invitational and Man o'War -- before finishing sixth in the Turf Classic Invitational in his last start at Belmont Park on Sept. 29.
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