Well Armed holds off Tiago in Goodwood

Trainer Eoin Harty and the WinStar Farm of Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt are going into the Breeders’ Cup Classic Well Armed.

Well Armed joined stablemate Colonel John as a runner in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 25 by virtue of a gritty victory on Saturday in the Grade 1, $500,000 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita’s Oak Tree meeting.

Well Armed ($5.40), the favorite, outfinished Tiago by one length, with Albertus Maximus another three-quarters of a length farther back in third in the field of 10. Aaron Gryder rode Well Armed, who was timed in 1:47.11 for 1 1/8 miles on Pro-Ride.

Of the other better-known runners in the field, Surf Cat was fourth, Spirit One fifth, and Mast Track eighth.

“He just saves all his energy for when it’s needed,” Gryder said. “He’s just a good horse and he showed he doesn’t need the lead to win.”

The Goodwood completed a card on which six Grade 1 races were run, five of which offered automatic berths to Breeders’ Cup races Oct. 24-25 via the Win and You’re In program. The Goodwood provided a spot in the 1 1/4-mile Classic for Well Armed.

Well Armed sat third, just outside leaders Informed and Mast Track, through fractions of 23.26 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 46.81 seconds for a half-mile, and 1:10.31 for six furlongs. As the field moved around the far turn, Well Armed loomed up three paths wide to vie for the lead, and Surf Cat rallied in the four path.

Surf Cat flattened out inside the furlong pole, but Tiago came flying down the center of the track, with Albertus Maximus just inside him. But Gryder deftly guided Well Armed to the middle of the track, believing that Well Armed would reach down and find more when realizing his challengers were advancing.

Well Armed, 5, has won six times in 19 starts. He was second to Go Between in the Pacific Classic in his prior start, and earlier this year was third when chasing Curlin in the Dubai World Cup.

Wait a While punches Breeders’ Cup ticket

The Santa Anita turf course is playing a pivotal role in Wait a While’s career. Saturday, she remained unbeaten in three starts on the course by winning the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for the second time. She won the race in 2006.

Saturday’s race was a prep to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf here on Oct. 24. Wait a While earned an automatic berth to the Filly and Mare Turf, subject to the payment of entry fees.

“Hopefully, she’ll go 4-for-4,” said Michael McCarthy, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher. “Here and Saratoga, she loves.”

It will be easy to support Wait a While in the Filly and Mare Turf after her win on Saturday. Ridden by John Velazquez, Wait a While ($4) ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:59.16, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Vacare. Black Mamba, who raced in traffic on the final turn, rallied to finish third in the field of 10 fillies and mares.

McCarthy credited Velazquez for guiding Wait a While into third-place for the first six furlongs, stalking pacesetter Live Life.

“A lot of credit goes to Johnny,” McCarthy said. “He got her to settle on the first turn.”

Owned by Arindel Farm, Wait a While has won 12 of 23 starts and $2,181,917. She has won three stakes this year, including the Grade 2 San Gorgonio Handicap here in January.

Clement Hirsch – Red Giant sets record

Everything came together at once for Red Giant in the $250,000 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship.

He set a world record of 1:57.16 for 1 1/4 miles on turf, won the first Grade 1 race of his 12-race career, and left John Fort of Peachtree Stable planning for a start in a Breeders’ Cup race here Oct. 25.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Red Giant caught Out of Control in the final furlong to win by a head. The final time eclipsed Double Discount’s course and world record of 1:57.40, set in 1977.

Red Giant had an ideal trip. Velazquez kept the 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt in third for the first mile, well behind You Got Me Rocking, who set a torrid early pace of 23.52 and 45.63 seconds. Out of Control took the lead from You Got Me Rocking on the final turn, but could not hold off Red Giant.

Out of Control finished six lengths in front of Transduction Gold in the field of six. Spring House, the winner of two graded stakes on turf earlier this year in California, finished fourth.

The Clement Hirsch was Red Giant’s second start following a 10-month layoff caused by an ankle injury, according to Fort. Red Giant won the Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga in August in his comeback.

“We wanted to see if we could make the Breeders’ Cup on two races,” Fort said.

Fort said that Red Giant will be considered for the $3 million BC Turf or the $5 million BC Classic on the main track.

Black Seventeen captures Vosburgh

Black Seventeen pulled off a major upset Saturday, winning the Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh at six furlongs on a very sloppy track at Belmont Park.

The longest shot in the seven-horse field at 23-1, Black Seventeen outdueled Fabulous Strike for the biggest win of his career.

Those two hooked up in a fierce speed duel, with Black Seventeen ($49.60) prevailing by head.

It was the second graded win for Black Seventeen to go with his Grade 2 victory in the Carry Back Stakes at Calder in July 2007.

“It was a long way to come to be 23-1,” said California-based trainer and co-owner Brian Koriner. “When he won at Calder, he won on this kind of a racetrack. He’s a big horse who has been rounding into form.”

He was also a long way from his home base at Santa Anita, which presented the Grade 1 Ancient Title, also at six furlongs, on Saturday.

“They have the new synthetic surface, and I didn’t want to have to guess what it was going to be like,” Koriner said. “There is a lot of quality speed in California, and when I saw my draw here, I was happy.”

From the outside post, jockey Clinton Potts was able to sit off the early speed battle between Fabulous Strike, J Be K, and First Defence.

Potts moved his colt on the turn, eventually engaging Fabulous Strike in a fierce battle to the wire.

“He always tries really hard for me,” Potts said.

Fabulous Strike, who won last year’s Vosburgh, ran a terrific race, overcoming the rail, a speed duel into a very hot pace, and a shoe that he tore in the paddock.

“He ran with a shoe that was sprung on him the whole way,” said trainer Todd Beattie. “Considering that, it was a good effort. It sure looked like he gave me as much as he could.”

It was only the second start of the year for often injured Fabulous Strike.

“He ran hard,” said jockey Ramon Dominguez. “He was pressured all the way. He sure did try hard to not get beat.”

Black Seventeen was timed in 1:09.77.

Kodiak Kowboy was third, followed by Rockerfeller, J Be K, Lucky Island, and First Defence.

Curlin Wins Breeders Cup

The Breeders’ Cup Classic became a real possibility for Curlin on Saturday after the reigning Horse of the Year splashed his way to the record books, winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park.

Curlin rallied past Wanderin Boy inside the eighth pole en route to a three-quarter-length victory. The $450,000 first-place prize enabled Curlin to become North America’s all-time leading money earner. His total of $10,246,800 moved him past Cigar, who finished with $9,999,815.

About an hour after the race, Barbara Banke, wife of owner Jess Jackson, said Curlin was to ship to Santa Anita on Sunday morning to begin getting acclimated to that track’s new Pro-Ride synthetic surface. The Breeders’ Cup Classic will be held at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

“We’re thinking about it,” Jackson said by phone, regarding the Breeders’ Cup.

Before Banke’s announcement, Steve Asmussen, trainer of Curlin, said the money record was what he really wanted this year.

“This is what I wanted,” Asmussen said in the winner’s circle. “I really did. Him being all-time money winning horse, what a great ring it has to it. I’m very thankful to [Jackson] to give us the opportunity to do it in a race like this and I think for him to be at that mark with an authoritative victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup means a lot.”

Curlin became the ninth horse to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup in back-to-back years, joining the likes of Skip Away, Slew o’ Gold, Kelso, Shuvee, Nashua, Dark Secret, and Mad Hatter. The Gold Cup is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program.

Under Robby Albarado, Curlin got away in fourth but then was fifth straightening away down the backside. Midway down the backside, Curlin dropped back to sixth, because Albarado didn’t want him to be too wide.

Albarado then split hoses entering the far turn and was third, outside Merchant Marine and Wanderin Boy, who ran a mile in 1:36.70.

Wanderin Boy was three wide turning for home, and Curlin was forced to go five wide. At the eighth pole, Curlin forged his way past Wanderin Boy and under a vigorous hand ride from Albarado came home a winner for the 11th time in 15 starts. Curlin, a son of Smart Strike, covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.93 and returned $2.80.

“I had to sacrifice some position and suck on in to be able to save ground before I got to the turn, and it worked out beautiful for me,” Albarado said. “Curlin put in his patented run around the outside, and I got that same feeling every time.”

Wanderin Boy finished second in the Gold Cup for the second time in three years, and added Curlin to the list of champions he’s run second to along with Bernardini, Invasor, and Lawyer Ron.