Sunday, July 5, 2009

The Breeders' Cup Challenge... ...4 Down & 58 To Go

Precious Passion & Coal Play became the first North American based charges to qualify for Novembers Breeders' Cup.

 

Coal Play, infamous for his performance in last years Haskell Invitational where he set the pace before faltering late against Eclipse award winning champion Big Brown cut back in distance to a mile on Saturday afternoon and was rewarded with an effortless romp. Coal Play collected the lions share of the $250,000 purse and a spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on November 7th.

 

Precious Passion's victory in the United Nations Stakes made Coal Play's effortless romp looked like a 12 hour a day, 6 day a week labour job. Passion raced out to an early lead in the 1 3/4 mile race tallying a twenty length lead before the field had a chance to pass the grandstand for the very first time. Passion continued to toy with the field along the backstretch before cruising to a two length victory. Although the field was closing in on Precious Passion as they passed the grandstand for the second time, nobody including second place finisher Lauro had the racing luck to catch Passion on the front end. Jockey Elvis Trujillo & trainer Mary Hartmann now have a spot reserved aboard Precious Passion for the mile and a half Breeders' Cup Turf on November 7th.

 

Both of Saturday's "Win & Your In" races produced exciting results and sure fire winners with neither Precious Passion or Coal Play really being challenged in their respective races.

 

Next weekend the excitement heads to Arlington Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois for the 5.5 furlong Arlington Sprint Handicap. Calder Racecourse in lovely south Florida will host two "Win & Your In" races this weekend. The 6 furlong Princess Rooney Handicap and  6 furlong Smile Sprint Handicap. All three sprints come with Breeders' Cup guarantees. The Arlington feeds into the B.C. Turf Sprint, the Princess Rooney feeds the B.C. Filly & Mare Sprint and the Smile Sprint Handicap will fill slots in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

 

 

Zoltan Black

 

The Salvator Mile -- Results

 

The United Nations Stakes -- Results

 


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