• WITH PREP UNDER HER BELT, SALAMA READY FOR LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF • WORK TAB
WITH PREP UNDER HER BELT, SALAMA READY FOR LONGINES BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF
It is on to the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) for Maria Santa Stable’s Salama following her U.S. debut here last Saturday.
“That was always the plan: to get a race in her rather than breeze up to a race of that caliber,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said. “It is tough enough as it is.”
Racing for the first time in 16 weeks, Salama finished second in an optional claimer at the Distaff distance of 1 1/8 miles.
“The chart said she was getting to the winner,” LoPresti said of Salama, who was three-quarters of a length short of catching Lavender Chrissie. “I wish she could have won by three-quarters of a length. She came out of the race well and was full of energy after the race.”
Salama earned a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with her victory in the Clasico Cesar del Rio (G3) in Peru on June 21. She arrived in LoPresti’s barn July 27.
“She’s a 3-year-old and she’s done nothing wrong,” LoPresti said of the Desert Party filly who has compiled a record of 9-5-2-2. “The owners are realistic. She won a ‘Win and You’re In’ race, so it is all paid for, so why not take a chance?”
Julien Leparoux, who has ridden five Breeders’ Cup winners, was aboard Salama on Saturday and is expected to have the mount in the Oct. 30 Distaff.
“That’s the plan for him to ride her back,” LoPresti said. “He liked her when he breezed her the first time (Oct. 1) and he liked her in the race.”
The Distaff will be a considerable step up in class for Salama, purchased at Keeneland’s 2013 September Yearling Sale, but LoPresti is embracing the challenge.
“I imagine we will be 20-1 in there,” LoPresti said. “But without Beholder in there, it could be anybody’s race.”
Beholder, the top older mare in the country, is expected to take on males in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Oct. 31. The deadline for pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup is Oct. 19.
WORK TAB
LNJ Foxwoods’ Nickname, winner of the Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park in her most recent start Oct. 3, worked five furlongs in company with Wild Man in 1:01.80 early Monday morning over a fast main track. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Nickname has earned a berth in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Oct. 31.
STAKES PROBABLES
Here is the list of probable starters for upcoming stakes as compiled by Racing Secretary Ben Huffman and Stakes Coordinator Allison DeLuca: SATURDAY, Oct. 17 (Entries taken Wednesday) $250,000 LEXUS RAVEN RUN (G2) Probable: Ahh Chocolate, Bar of Gold, Eloquent Tribute, Hot City Girl, Kathballu, Miss Ella, Paid Up Subscriber, Sarah Sis. SUNDAY, Oct. 18 (Entries taken Thursday) $125,000 ROOD & RIDDLE DOWAGER (G3) Probable: Ceisteach (IRE), Honey Lake, Kitten’s Point, Lady of Gold, Llanarmon, Naples Gold. Possible: Uchenna (IRE).
FALL MEET LEADERS Through Oct. 11 (eight days of racing)
Jockey Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses Corey Lanerie 54 8 7 6 $704,817 Julien Leparoux 40 6 9 3 $733,171 Florent Geroux 50 4 5 7 $712,740 Shaun Bridgmohan 26 4 2 2 $156,049 Jose Lezcano 9 4 0 2 $333,843
Trainer Starts Wins 2nd 3rd Purses Mark Casse 16 6 1 2 $565,228 Wesley Ward 14 4 4 2 $143,558 Dale Romans 20 4 1 6 $484,558 Todd Pletcher 20 3 2 3 $447,192 Kiaran McLaughlin 5 3 0 1 $153,755
