TURF

Turf
Purse: $3,000,000
Distance: 1 1/2 Mile
Surface: Turf

TURF ENTRIES

Post	Horse	ML	Jockey	A	Owner	Trainer
1	Telling (KY)	20-1	J. Castellano	5	Alex Lieblong & JoAnn Lieblong	Steve Hobby
2	Conduit (IRE)	7-5	R. Moore	4	Ballymacoll Stud	Michael Stoute
3	Red Rocks (IRE)	20-1	J. Leparoux	6	J. Paul Reddam	Brian Meehan
4	Allegre (KY)	SCR	J. Velazquez	4	Eagle Oak Ranch, Ron Brewer , Gregory Unruh , Wind River Stables	Brian Koriner
5	Dar Re Mi (GB)	3-1	L. Dettori	3	Andrew Lloyd-Webber	John Gosden
6	Presious Passion (FL)	4-1	E. Trujillo	6	Patricia Generazio	Mary Hartmann
7	Spanish Moon (KY)	5-2	K. Fallon	5	Juddmonte Farms	Michael Stoute
8	Monzante (KY)	30-1	R. Bejarano	5	Jay Manoogian, Gretchen Manoogian & Scott Anastasi	Mike Mitchell

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ALLEGRE (KY)--SCR
Trainer: Brian Koriner
Owner: Eagle Oak Ranch & Brewer & Unruh & Wind River
Breeder: Cynthia Phipps
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Orientate (Mt. Livermore, Dream Team)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Mood Music (Kingmambo, Lead Kindly Light)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-1-9-0-0 (16) 2.56
Age: 4

Allegre has not run a Beyer figure greater than 92 and has been racing at on the grass at Turf Paradise for the past year. In 11 career races, he's not competed in a graded stake race. He does have a closing style like a good turf runner should, and he's won five of nine career turf races--and four of six this year, all on turf.

Last time out, he finished third, beaten less than a length, after going eight wide into the stretch, in a nine horse field that was a cavalry charge at one point. The winner was timed in 1:34 going a mile, so maybe that 88 Beyer is better than it looks.

Trainer Koriner takes over for Mike Chambers, who'd had Allegre for the past year.



CONDUIT (IRE)
Trainer: Michael Stoute
Owner: Ballymacoll Stud
Breeder: Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Dalakhani (IRE) (Darshaan (GB), Daltawa (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Well Head (IRE) (Sadler's Wells, River Dancer (IRE))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-1-11-5-2 (22) 0.76
Age: 4

He won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf.

Prior to his start on July 25, Conduit had been second and third in two 2009 tries.

July 25, Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, 1 1/2 Mile (T). The defending Breeders' Cup Turf winner took this race going away and was timed in 2:28.73 on a course rated good.

Longshot Rockhampton shot to the lead as the three Michael Stoute runners--Ask, Tartan Bearer, and Conduit--tracked the pace from mid-pack.

Rockhampton had a five-length lead entering the stretch, and that's when things quickly changed. Golden Sword took over with just over a quarter-mile to go, then Tartan Bearer surpassed him. But then, Conduit and Ryan Moore edged ahead at the furlong marker, going on to win by 1 3/4 length.

Tartan Bearer was second, and Ask was third, completing a clean sweep for trainer Stoute. A stewards' inquiry left the finish order intact.

Oct. 4, Group I Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Conduit finished fourth. Sea the Stars was a bit rank early and did not get the best possible passage--but he still proved unbeatable in the home straight.

Sea The Stars broke quite quickly from the stalls but soon took a keen hold under Mick Kinane and dropped back through the pack in the first few furlongs as two Aidan O’Brien pacemakers stormed ahead.

Coming down the false straight, Set Sail was still around a dozen lengths clear of the field, with his stablemate Grand Ducal second and French filly Stacelita heading the chasing pack.

Sea The Stars still had everything to do entering the straight, racing some way back and close to the rail, as Dar Re Mi moved up to challenge Stacelita in front.

But once he glimpsed daylight in front of him and engaged top gear, Sea The Stars outclassed his rivals, as most of the audience at Longchamp had hoped he would. The official winning distance was two lengths, registered ahead Youmzain, who once again flew home to collect a third runner-up spot in the Arc.

Cavalryman finished third. Conduit stayed on well in the straight to take fourth place, beaten two heads by the second and third. Dar Re Mi looked for a moment as though she might hit the board, but she was eventually overwhelmed by the colts and finished fifth, beaten about three lengths.

Trainer Stoute was pleased with Conduit's effort. “The champion beat everyone else again! I’m delighted with Conduit, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf was already on the agenda before the race, so we’ll just have to see how he comes out of this race.”



DAR RE MI (GB)
Trainer: John Gosden
Owner: Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber
Breeder: Watership Down Stud
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Singspiel (IRE) (In the Wings (GB), Glorious Song (CAN))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Darara (GB) (Top Ville (IRE), Delsy (FR))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-0-17-7-1 (28) 0.70
Age: 4

She earned her way into the Filly & Mare Turf by winning the 1 1/4-mile, Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes on June 27 at The Curragh. Jimmy Fortune rode in that one.

This year, she's also won the Group 1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks and was second in the Group 3 Totepool Middleton Stakes.

Sept. 13, Group 1 Qatar Prix Vermeille, Longchamp, 1 1/2 Mile (T).  A disqualification cost Dar Re Mi the win after she was moved down to fifth by stewards. Blocked by a wall of horses, Stacelita and then Dar Re Mi moved through a hole during the stretch run. The stewards ruled Dar Re Mi's move interfered with Soberania, who finished fifth. The owner was very upset with the ruling and wondered why anyone would take a horse to France.

The winning time was 2:29.10 on a turf course rated as good.

Oct. 1 NOTE: Racing manager Simon Marsh said, “Dar Re Mi is qualified for the Filly & Mare Turf, but we will see how things go in the Arc before deciding where she goes. She could yet run in the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“We entered her for the Arc back in May with an autumn campaign in mind, and she has delighted us. She has only run four times this season and has finished first in three Group 1's, beating two English Oaks winners and a French Oaks winner, so she really is a great filly and a pleasure to be involved with.”

Oct. 4, Group I Qatar Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, 1 1/4 Mile (T). The filly Dar Re Mi finished fifth. Sea the Stars was a bit rank early and did not get the best possible passage--but he still proved unbeatable in the home straight.

Sea The Stars broke quite quickly from the stalls but soon took a keen hold under Mick Kinane and dropped back through the pack in the first few furlongs as two Aidan O’Brien pacemakers stormed ahead.

Coming down the false straight, Set Sail was still around a dozen lengths clear of the field, with his stablemate Grand Ducal second and French filly Stacelita heading the chasing pack.

Sea The Stars still had everything to do entering the straight, racing some way back and close to the rail, as Dar Re Mi moved up to challenge Stacelita in front.

But once he glimpsed daylight in front of him and engaged top gear, Sea The Stars outclassed his rivals, as most of the audience at Longchamp had hoped he would. The official winning distance was two lengths, registered ahead Youmzain, who once again flew home to collect a third runner-up spot in the Arc.

Cavalryman finished third. Conduit stayed on well in the straight to take fourth place, beaten two heads by the second and third. Dar Re Mi looked for a moment as though she might hit the board, but she was eventually overwhelmed by the colts and finished fifth, beaten about three lengths.

Trainer Gosden said he was delighted with Dar Re Mi's performance. “I’m very proud of her. She ran the best of all the fillies and mares to finish fifth behind the champion of champions. She ran a blinder, and we’re thrilled to be here at this magnificent meeting. She was only beaten three lengths by Sea The Stars. She’s in the Breeders’ Cup, and we may well go there.”



MONZANTE (KY)
Trainer: Mike Mitchell
Owner: Jay and Gretchen Manoogian & Scott Anastasi
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Maria's Mon (Wavering Monarch, Carlotta Maria)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Danzante (Danzig, Bold Captive)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 3-8-11-0-0 (22) 3.00
Age: 5

Oct. 29 NOTE: “In his win (at Santa Anita) on Pro-Ride in the Santana Mile (on March 8, 2008), he ran a 106 Beyer,” trainer Mitchell said several weeks back.

“We’ve been wanting to get him back on this track because of that, but when we ran him in the Mervyn LeRoy at Hollywood Park (in April, 2008), he ran absolutely terrible on the synthetic, but it was the kickback that he didn’t like.

“But his Santana was a really good race. I kind of babied him along and put a race under his belt.” Mitchell was referring to a second by a neck in the one-mile Windy Sands at Del Mar on Sept. 5, 2009, Monzante’s first start since in more than a year.

“Now, I’m able to really drill him for the Goodwood. Joel Rosario is riding him, so he’s taken me over Chocolate Candy. I certainly think I could run in the Clement Hirsch (on Turf) and find an easier group if I wanted to, but I’m excited about facing the caliber of horses in the Goodwood."

Oct. 10, Grade I Goodwood Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 Mile. Monzante finished seventh, beaten 4 /12 lengths by Gitano Hernando. After getting away from the gate in sixth of 10, he was pretty much seventh the entire trip, including a five-wide entrance into the home stretch.



PRESIOUS PASSION (FL)
Trainer: Mary Hartmann
Owner: Patricia A. Generazio
Breeder: Joseph & Helen Barbazon
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Royal Anthem (Theatrical (IRE), Neon)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Princesa's Passion (Marquetry, Sizzlin Sunshine)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 2-2-10-0-0 (14) 1.80
Age: 6

July 4, Grade I United Nations Handicap, Monmouth Park, 1 3/8 Mile (T). On the lead by about 20 lengths in the early going, he broke the course record, timed in 2:10.97. The previous record was 2:12.89 set by English Channel in 2007. The world record for the distance is 2:10.20, set by With Approval at Belmont Park in 1990. Fractions: :45.20, 1:09.81, 1:34.67, 1:59.07.

Mary Hartmann, trainer: “I think it was a super performance. Elvis rides him great. He’s really grown up and matured. Obviously I was worried when I saw the first fractions, but when he’s able to get clear up front he just relaxes nicely. This year, I’m hoping to go to the Breeders’ Cup with him. If all goes well and he stays healthy, it’s very likely.”

Elvis Trujillo, jockey: “This is the way this horse likes to run. He wants to go to the lead, and I’ll let him go as fast as he wants. There is no fighting this horse. I knew we were going pretty fast, but I didn’t see anybody coming after us when I took a look at the top of the stretch. In deep stretch, when the horses started to get closer, he just dug in more. He loves to win.”

Aug. 8, Grade I Arlington Million, Arlington Park, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Presious Passion could not repeat his most recent effort, and in fact, he completely reversed it to finish last.

Gio Ponti split rivals under Ramon Dominguez, took command in upper stretch and drew off late for a 1 1/4-length tally as the 3-2 choice of the fans. The turf was rated good. He was timed in 2:04.19.

Just as Well (19-1) got up for the second spot while finishing a head to the good of the European invader Stotsfold (28-1), a British-bred. Cima de Triomphe (8-1) was fourth, while Einstein (3-1) didn't like the ground and finished fifth. Mr. Sidney (6-1) was sixth. Gloria de Campeao (11-1) was seventh. As expected, Presious Passion (9-2) made the early pace with splits of :23.98 and :48.44 while building a sizeable lead. However, he tired to finish last of eight.

Winning trainer Christophe Clement said he told Dominguez not to worry about pace-setting Presious Passion because, "if you look at him, his best races were at Gulfstream and Monmouth -- two speed-favoring courses. Today, with the rain, it was not that speed-favoring going in."

Oct. 3, Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, Belmont Park, 1 1/2 Mile (T). Presious Passion was scratched. The turf course came up boggy after torrential rain.

Oct. 4 NOTE: Presious Passion was scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Tuesday for the following Sunday’s Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship. “He loves firm going,” trainer Hartmann said of Presious Passion, who was second by a half-length in the 2008 Sunshine Millions Turf at Santa Anita. “We scratched yesterday because it was a deluge.”

Oct. 11, Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship, Santa Anita, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Seeking firm turf, trainer Mary Hartmann and Precious Passion made a trip to California a fruitful one, and they'll stay there for the Breeders' Cup Turf after winning this race.

Leading all the way with his fun-to-watch, sprinting-away style, Presious Passion extended a two-length margin first time down the stretch to a five-length advantage down the back. Leaving the second turn, Precious Passion still led by about 2 1/2 lengths and kept up the heat all the way to the finish line under Elvis Trujillo.

Medici Code, at 6-1, and Spring House, 5-1, finished second and third while not challenging the winner, who was timed in 1:59.13. Times Gone By was fourth.

The fractions set by Precious Passion weren't outrageous. He clicked them off in :24.30, :47.55, 1:11.58, and a mile in 1:35.46.

Mary Hartmann, winning trainer:  “The race went pretty much as I expected. We’ll stay here and go to the Breeders’ Cup. The mile and a half is better for him. We needed good weather and firm turf. That’s why we came here from New York. We got here Wednesday. We’re in the Paco Gonzalez barn.”

Elvis Trujillo, winning rider: “Everything went good today. This horse stayed very relaxed. When (Black Astor) was a late scratch, that was good for us. I wasn’t worried about the distance, because this horse gives 100 percent. He tries hard at a mile and one eighth or a mile and a quarter.”


RED ROCKS (IRE)
Trainer: Brian Meehan
Owner: J. Paul Reddam
Breeder: Ballylinch Stud
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Galileo (Sadler's Wells, Urban Sea)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Pharmacist (IRE) (Machiavellian, Pharaoh's Delight(IRE))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-0-11-4-0 (24) 1.53
Age: 6

The six-year-old is set to bid for a fourth consecutive appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, having been also third to English Channel at Monmouth Park in 2007 and tenth behind Conduit at Santa Anita last year, when in the care of Mark Hennig. He won the Turf at Churchill Downs in 2006.

Red Rocks was returned to trainer Meehan’s stable following a pair of lackluster efforts at Gulfstream Park and Nad Al Sheba, but his handler has been hopeful that the Paul Reddam-owned son of Galileo can return to the sort of form that saw him defeat Curlin in the Grade I Man O’War Stakes in 2008.

Sept. 24 NOTE: “We rested Red Rocks up and have just been getting him ready to get back to a racecourse," Meehan said. “I would be reasonably confident that we can get him back to his best. He’s one of those horses who has always been full of class and he has been working well at home. We will see how he goes on his racecourse return before deciding where to go with him, but the Breeders’ Cup Turf is certainly an option for him at the moment.”

Red Rocks holds an entry in the final European race of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, the Group 1 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 17. The winner of the 10-furlong contest automatically qualifies for the Turf.

Sept. 27, Group 3 Grosvenor Casinos Cumberland Lodge Stakes, Ascot, 1 1/2 Mile (T). Red Rocks finished fourth, beaten three lengths by Mawatheeq. The race was timed in 2:27.33 on good to firm turf.

The chart call: "Mid-division, headway on inner 3f out, soon ridden, chased leader well over 1f out until final furlong, stayed on same pace."


SPANISH MOON (KY)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): El Prado (Sadler's Wells, Lady Capulet)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Shining Bright (GB) (Rainbow Quest, Bourbon Girl (GB))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-4-18-10-0 (38) 1.00
Age: 5

He was mentioned as a Breeders' Cup Turf candidate in mid-September.

Spanish Moon was banned from racing in the United Kingdom from May to November 2009 for unruly behavior at the gates. Maybe his name should be Football Hooligan.

Nevertheless, this El Prado offspring was touted as a top middle distance performer following a close second in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba in March, and a pair of victories in France, including a decisive win in the Group 2, 12-furlong Prix Foy at Longchamp on Sept. 13.

European racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said on Sept. 17, “Spanish Moon also has the Breeders’ Cup as an option. We are thinking about the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the moment and there’s also the Pattinson Canadian International, which could lead to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. There is also Hong Kong to think about.

“The idea is to have him on song for the top international races and the Breeders’ Cup obviously comes into the equation. I thought he ran really well in the Prix Foy considering that was his first appearance since the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (June 28) and he was a bit rusty. That run should bring him on a ton.”





TELLING (KY)
Trainer: Steve Hobby
Owner: Alex Lieblong & JoAnn Lieblong
Breeder: Darley
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew, Weekend Surprise)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Well Chosen (Deputy Minister, Chosen Lady)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 8-14-20-0-0 (42) 3.20
Age: 5

Aug. 15, Grade I Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/2 Mile (T). On firm ground, Telling pulled off a 33-1 shocker and sparked a dollar super payout of $38,822. Good old Better Talk Now was second at 11-1, Brass Hat was third at 14-1 and Gentleman Chester finished fourth at 26-1. Favored Grand Couterier checked in fifth at 5-2.

Telling won by two lengths after saving ground. He was timed in 2:25.43. Brass Hat was a length behind Better Talk Now, and Gentleman Chester and Grand Couterier were another half and neck back, respectively. Quijano was sixth, another 6 1/2 lengths behind.

When the gate opened, Lauro came out fast and was soon engaged in a duel by Musketier and Americain. The trio ran through a fast half-mile in 46.80 seconds and a mile in 1:36.02.

Telling, along with Quijano, ran along close up behind the first flight with a wide gap to Rising Moon and even a greater one to the deep closers.

When the field reached the far turn for the second time, Rising Moon moved into contention, while Telling briefly dropped back to seventh along the rail. On the turn for home, the leaders were finished, and Javier Castellano found a seam between Rising Moon and Quijano and shot to the lead under strong urging. Ramon Dominguez desperately tried to reach him with Better Talk Now.

Telling was an Arkansas invader with no races in such rarified air. Trainer Hobby is a successful trainer at Oaklawn Park.

Javier Castellano, winning jockey: “He broke sharp, and I covered up. I covered all the way in the race and tried to wait for one kick. I knew the best two horses in the race always come from behind. I just wanted to make the right move to get the job done. I had the perfect trip; I saved all the ground in the race.

“I give a lot of credit to my agent (Matt Muzikar), he picked the mount.  I didn’t know anything about him.  The only thing was I saw that the last two races were very interesting.  The last race at Arlington (Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, July 11), he finished fifth and he ran huge.  He gave a big run to the jockey the last time, Fernando Jara, I learned a lot from that trip."

Steve Hobby, winning trainer: “The owner picked it out. We (entered) a small stake in Chicago and we scratched to run in this. I figured it was the time to try now. This is my first time in Saratoga. He was training so well, and he really moves up in the mile and a half. We figured if he can’t do it now, he’ll never do it.”

Alex Lieblong, winning owner: “We knew were in tough. We didn’t think we were over our heads. I thought coming up here with the jockey colony you have, it wasn’t going to be a problem (getting a rider).  It’s fun having a horse like this, but it’s hard to find mile and a half races. Steve does such a wonderful job with the horses.”

Lieblong is from Conway, Ark., 30 miles outside Little Rock. He owns a farm. “My wife and I rodeoed when we were kids. She was a barrel racer and I was a calf roper and a clown.”

Lieblong said he had never been to Saratoga before, and he had a flight out of town Saturday night. “After this,” he said, “I don’t know if I’m going to make it.”

Sept. 30 NOTE: Going into the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational: “The one thing is, Gio Ponti hasn’t been a mile and a half, and my horse loves it,” Hobby said.

Oct. 3, Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, Belmont Park, 1 1/2 Mile (T). Telling made one move, but he floundered a bit on the really boggy turf course. Telling, who finished third, was moved down a notch for interfering with Grand Couterier in the stretch.

Maybe 43-1 longshot Interpatation was just building up to it. Meanwhile, Gio Ponti failed to sustain a winning move on a boggy Belmont Park turf course.

Interpatation led almost all the way, lost the lead to Gio Ponti in the stretch, then came again to win by 1 3/4 length. Interpatation went to the front right out of the gate and led the field through turgid early fractions of :26.01, :54.22 and 1:22.20 under Robby Albarado. Meanwhile, Gio Ponti geared up from off the pace. The winner's final time for 1 1/2 mile was 2:41.22.

Interpatation had not won a race in more than two years, but in the 2006 edition of this race he was fourth, in 2007 he was third, and in 2008 he ran second.