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Aug. 7 (UPI) -- With fewer than three months to go to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita, weekend racing delivered guaranteed spots in the two big events on the program. White Abarrio upset the Grade I Whitney at Saratoga to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic and Adare Manor won the Grade I Clement Hirsch at Del Mar to qualify for the Breeders' Cup Disaff on a weekend that also had some heavy turf competition.
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Overshadowing the big wins, a spate of equine fatalities, two at Saratoga and another in Australia, cast a somber aura over the weekend. Two came in important feature races.
Elsewhere on the international scene, "Glorious Goodwood" wound up rather ingloriously with the final three races canceled because of torrential rain and sodden ground. It wasn't much better for Group 1 events in Germany and France.
Let's dive right in anyway.
Classic
The 3-year-old division has been a kaleidoscope of ever-changing contenders this year and now the older horses look like providing a similar confusing, albeit fascinating, picture.
Going into Saturday's $1 million Grade I Whitney at Saratoga, reigning Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile champ Cody's Wish was seeking his seventh straight victory and looking like the king of the heap.
Maybe it was a troubled start or the extra furlong or just the "Graveyard of Champions" curse that attends the Spa, but when the dust cleared, it was White Abarrio not only winning, but winning by a stunning 6 1/4 lengths and looking like he was ready for more. Zandon was second and Cody's Wish third.
White Abario, a gray, 4-year-old Race Day colt, had only a single victory since winning the Florida Derby and was last seen third in the Grade I Met Mile, won by Cody's Wish. He was 10-1 on the tote for the Whitney, but dominated, shadowing pacesetter Giant Game into the stretch before jetting off to win.
Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., noting the race was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic, now fewer than three months away, said the timing is perfect for White Abarrio.
"All you have to do is read his [past performances] and you'll see the more time he gets between races, the more he shows up," Dutrow said. "I'd be willing to wait four months or five months to run him."
Speaking of the 3-year-olds, Sunday evening's $500,000 Grade III West Virginia Derby was never going to settle anything in that division.
It did throw up another contender, though, as Red Route One took over late in the three-turn, 1 1/8-mile race and got away to win by 3 lengths.
The Gun Runner colt, from the familiar Winchell Thoroughbreds, Steve Asmussen connections, easily blew by the early speedsters, West Coast Cowboy, One in Vermillion and Raise Cain to win to the first time since the Bath House Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April.
With second-place finishes in the Grade III Southwest and Grade II Rebel and a fourth in the Preakness, Sunday's win has to put him on the rather extensive list of quality 3-year-olds.
That's doubly true as Raise Cain won the Grade III Gotham and finished a respectable eighth in the Run for the Roses.
Turf
Trainer Chad Brown has another good one in Program Trading. The British-bred Lope de Vega colt ran his record to 3-for-3 with a determined victory in Saturday's $600,000 Grade I Saratoga Derby Invitational.
After fighting for the lead, Program Training shook loose of rival Lion of War only to find Webslinger rallying to put his head in front in the stretch.
With Flavien Prat up, Program Trading fought back gamely through the final sixteenth and won by a head. It was another 1 1/2 lengths to Grade I Belmont Derby winner Far Bridge in third.
Brown was dubious about contesting the third race in the series, the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby on Oct. 7 at Belmont Park, citing the 1 3/8 miles.
"I'm not sure," he said. "That's an awful long way to go. We're just going to enjoy this win here. He's only ran three times and he's 3. I'm hoping to have this horse for many years down the road."
Sunday's $150,000 Grade III La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar also was restricted to 3-year-olds and showcased Maltese Falcon, an Irish-bred who entered winless, but seems to be catching onto the program.
With Juan Hernandez up, the Caravaggio gelding tracked the early pace kindly, surged to the lead in the stretch and was ridden out as a 1-length winner. Panic Alarm and Agency filled the trifecta as Maltese Falcon ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:44.20.
Me and Mr. C got home a neck in front of Cellist in a battle of long shots in Sunday's $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Cup at Ellis Park. Seige of Boston was third, and the favorite, Get Smokin, settled for fourth.
Me and Mr. C is a 5-year-old Khozan gelding trained by Mike Maker, a wizard on the circuit. With Gerardo Corrales up, he finished 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in course record time of 1:57.94. The win was his third in a row and 10th from 33 starts.
He has not yet contested a graded stakes, but qualified for the $1 million Grade II FanDuel Turf Cup, a "Win and You're In" for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf on Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs. That race is run at 1 1/2 miles.
Wadsworth took a late lead in Saturday's $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby at Ellis Park and held off a bold late bid by Highway Robber to win by a head. Anglophile, also running from far back, was just another neck back in third.
Wadsworth, a Quality Road gelding, got 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.30 with Florent Geroux up. He backed up his last-out win in the American Derby over the course and qualified for the $1 million Grade III Dueling Grounds Derby on Sept. 3.
Smokin T, Dakota Gold and Portfolio Company all rallied to fight for the lead in the lane in Saturday's $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at Saratoga with Smokin T winning by a neck. Dakota Gold was second by a nose.
Smokin T, 4-year-old War Front colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on yielding turf in 1:43.64. John Velazquez rode the Shug McGaughey trainee.
"We could always go to Kentucky Downs," McGaughey said about plans for Smokin T. "But I'd like to see him bounce back so I can run him here" in the $150,000 Bernard Baruch on Sept. 4.
Filly & Mare Turf
Safeen drove past pacesetting Bling inside the sixteenth pole in Sunday's $300,000 Grade III Pucker Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Ellis Park and ran on to win by 1/2 length over that rival. Freydis the Red was third, another 1 1/2 lengths back.
Safeen, a daughter of War Front, ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.83 with Luis Saez up for trainer Eddie Kenneally. She now has three wins, a second and three thirds from seven starts.
The race is a transplant from the late, lamented Arlington Park's schedule.
New Year's Eve returned to the winner's circle for the first time in 15 months with a six-wide rally that got her home first by 3/4 lengths in Sunday's $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Ladies Turf Mile.
The Kitten's Joy filly, trained by Brendan Walsh, was coming off a fourth-place finish in the tough Grade I Just a Game at Belmont Park and finished fourth in last year's Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs.
Sunday's score qualified her for the $1 million Grade III Castle Hill Gaming Ladies Turf at 1 mile Sept. 9.
Turf Mile
Hozier dueled with Fuerteventura through the late going of Saturday's $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Millions Turf Stakes at Ellis Park, and then edged away in the final yards to score by 1/2 length.
Hozier, a 5-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, completed the 1 mile on firm going in 1:34.28 for jockey Alex Achard and trainer Rodolphe Brisset, earning a spot in the $2 million Mint Millions Sept. 2.
Conman stole away from five rivals in the stretch run of Sunday's $100,000 (Canadian) Hamilton Stakes for 3-year-olds at Woodbine and won by 3 1/4 lengths. Lifetime of Chance was second, with Eyes on the King completing the trifecta.
Conman, a Constitution gelding, ran 7 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:28.65. Patrick Husbands rode for trainer Mark Casse.
Turf Sprint
Cogburn caught pacesetting Nobals well inside the sixteenth pole in Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Troy Stakes at Saratoga and rolled on to a 3/4-length victory.
Thin White Duke was up for third as reigning Breeders' Cup champion Caravel's win streak ended at five with a fourth-place finish.
Cogburn, a 4-year-old colt by Not This Time, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on soft turf in 1:03.70. Ricardo Santana Jr. rode for trainer Steve Asmussen. Now 6-for-10, he got his first graded stakes win.
One Timer made his move outside rivals turning for home in Sunday's $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Turf Sprint at Ellis Park and was along in time to win by 1 length over Let My People Go.
One Timer, a 4-year-old Trappe Shot gelding trained by Larry Rivelli, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in a quick 1:00.67 under E.T. Baird, earning a guaranteed spot in the $1 million Grade II Ainsworth Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
One Timer won the Grade II Franklin-Simpson stakes at the all-turf track last year.
Bay Storm got through inside rivals in the stretch run of Saturday's $200,000 Kentucky Downs Preview Mint Ladies Turf Sprint at Ellis Park and held off Quaria Comet to win by a neck.
A 5-year-old Kantharos mare, Bay Storm ran 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:01.24 with Florent Geroux riding for trainer Jonathan Thomas. She finished second in last year's Mint Ladies Sprint at the old Dueling Grounds course and qualified for this year's $1 million Grade II renewal Sept. 9.
All That Magic, the odds-on favorite, was all out to hold off Train to Artemus in the closing strides of Sunday's $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park but got the job done, winning by a nose. Can't Buy Love was third.
All That Magic, a 4-year-old Fast Anna filly, conjured up a 1:03.37 time for 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf. Nik Juarez rode for trainer Kathleen Demasi. It was the fourth straight win for the filly, who worked her way up from a $40,000 claimer June 9.
Outlaw Kid was along just in time to edge front-running Silent Reserve by a neck in Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Vice Regent Stakes for Ontario-breds at Woodbine.
The 4-year-old Violence gelding, with Kazushi Kimura in the irons, ran 5 furlongs on firm turf in 56.20 seconds, getting his fourth win from 10 starts.
Distaff
Adare Manor tracked pacesetting Elm Drive through most of Saturday's $400,000 Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar, took over when that rival faded and held off Desert Dawn for a 1-length victory. Elm Drive held third.
Adare Manor, a 4-year-old Uncle Mo filly, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.33 with Juan Hernandez riding for trainer Bob Baffert. The victory was Adare Manor's fourth straight and worth a "Win and You're In" spot in November's Breeders' Cup Distaff.
"I was hoping to be on an easy lead," said Baffert, who won his record 158th Del Mar stakes race. "I knew the one [Elm Drive] is a really fast filly. You want to stay close to her. Sort of took our filly out of her game a little bit.
"He had to keep riding her the whole way but, at the end, she's a big, long jumping filly and she just got going there at the end. We're happy with the win. We got a Grade I."
Duke of Love rallied to a short lead at the top of the stretch in Sunday evening's $200,000 Grade III West Virginia Governor's Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and held on bravely inside challenger Surly Furious to win by 3/4 length.
The favorite, O'Connor, raced well back in the field and a late big could only secure third, another 5 1/4 lengths in arrears.
Duke of Love, an Ontario-bred filly by Cupid, ran 1 1/16 miles on a good track in 1:43.39. Luis Contreras was in to ride for trainer Josie Carroll.
Sprint
Swirvin stalked the pace in Saturday's $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park, worked into contention around the sixteenth pole and kicked away to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Super Chow was second, 1 1/2 lengths better than Recruiter.
Swirvin, a Girvin colt, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.08 for jockey Trevor McCarthy. He improved to three wins from four starts for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous rallied to her third straight victory in Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga.
Pretty Mischievous appeared to be relegated to second by previously undefeated Maple Leaf Mel, but the latter fell while being eased up just before the wire with a badly damaged right front leg. She was euthanized on the track.
Clearly Unhinged and Munnys Gold were second and third as Pretty Mischievous, with Tyler Gaffalione up, won her seventh race from nine starts.
"I don't want to say a lot, to be honest," said Pretty Mischievous' trainer, Brendan Walsh, who declined to bring his filly to the winner's circle. "I'd rather leave it. It's just cruel what happened."
On Sunday morning, Walsh presented the winner's floral blanket to Maple Leaf Mel's trainer and namesake, Melanie Giddings.
"We all got in this because of our love for the animals," Walsh said. "They may think we're doing this or we're doing that, but we genuinely care for them. I've never seen the place so somber [as)]this morning or even after the races yesterday."
On Sunday at Saratoga, Ever Summer was fatally injured on the third turn of a turf allowance race for fillies and mares and also euthanized on the track. In the same race, Frivole was pulled up on the second turf and vanned off.
Juvenile Fillies
Brightwork looks like a star in the making after scoring her third win without a loss in Sunday's $200,000 Grade III Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.
The Outwork filly, trained by John Ortiz, won by 5 lengths over the favorite, Here U Come Again despite a bobble at the start.
She took the lead a furlong and a half from the finish and got home in 1:16.85 for 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track. She won her first start Keeneland in April and followed that by taking the Debutante Stakes at Ellis Park July 2.
Carmelina came with a late bid to win Saturday's $150,000 Keswick Stakes at Colonial Downs by 1/2 length over Beachfront Breeze.
Carmelina, a daughter of Maximus Mischief, ran 5 furlongs on a fast track in 58.39 under Mychel Sanchez, got her second win from three starts. She also was a fading fifth in the Grade III Schuylerville at Saratoga.
Going Up won going away in Saturday's $150,000 Hickory Tree Stakes at Colonial Downs. The Mineshaft gelding had to fight for the early lead, but once on the engine, he was gone, winning by 6 3/4 lengths.
Jubawithatwist was best of the rest, with the favorite, King Kontie, third.
The Ron Potts trainee won at first asking at Presque Isle Downs, then was third in the Victoria Stakes on the Woodbine all-weather.
Around the world, around the clock:
England
Highfield Princess was on a roll late in 2022 before finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
There was no disgrace in that outcome, but niggling doubt began to sink in early in the new year as the 6-year-old finished second to Azure Blue in the Group 2 Clipper Stakes, second to Bradsell in the Group 1 King's Stand at the Royal meeting and third behind two long shots in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at the end of that same Royal week.
On Friday at Goodwood, the Night of Thunder mare was taking no prisoners and leaving no doubts as she powered to a 3-lengths victory in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.
Granted, the runner-up, White Lavender, won't be mistaken for Bradsell, but it was a statement performance, nonetheless, and a likely lead-in to the likes of the Nunthorpe at York, the Flying Five in Ireland, the Prix de l'Abbaye or a return to the Breeders' Cup.
Also Friday at Goodwood, Epictetus, under Frankie Dettori, blew by heavily favored Nostrum and Ryan Moore inside the final furlong to win the Group 3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes by 1 length.
And hot favorite Hamish rallied strongly at the end of 1 1/2 miles to win the Group 3 l'Ormarins Kings Plate Glorious Stakes by 4 lengths from pacesetter Jack Darcy -- his third straight Group 3 victory.
Saturday was not a day for a picnic at Goodwood with the rain pelting down and the going heavy. Through all that, it was Sumo Sam who led the whole 1 3/4 miles of the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes for fillies and mares and kept running to an 8 1/2-length victory.
The others struggled with the sodden turf, which was coming up in chunks under hooves.
It was all good for the winner, a 3-year-old Nathaniel filly who scored just her second victory in a huge step up from finishing fifth of eight in a Class 3 handicap at Ascot on Bastille Day.
It also was good for jockey Tom Marquand, who picked up the ride at the last minute when Neil Callan was unable to make weight. Marquand proceeded to repeat the performance that got Quickthorn home first in Tuesday's Goodwood Cup at the front end of the festival.
The going was so bad that the final three races of the day, and the meeting, were abandoned. Ed Arkell, Goodwood's director of racing and clerk of the course, said changing and inaccurate weather forecasts complicated the already challenging situation.
France
King Gold dueled with the favorite, Spycatcher, through the final 50 meters of Sunday's Group 1 Prix Maurice du Gheest at Deauville and took a narrow lead, only to find Spycatcher mounting a comeback effort in the final strides to get within a short head at the end.
Late-running Saint Lawrence finished just a neck short of Spycatcher in third in a race run over turf rated "very soft." It was a breakthrough effort for King Gold, a 6-year-old by Anodin, who won for the fourth time in five starts while climbing the class ladder rather quickly.
"This horse had a few issues when he was younger," winning trainer Nicholas Caullery said. "But I think spending the winter in Dubai really helped him mentally, and something has really clicked." King Gold had two thirds and a sixth in minor events at Meydan during the winter.
Germany
Muskoka steadily wore down a stubborn Kassada to win Sunday's Group 1 Henkel-Preis der Diana or German Oaks at Dusseldorf by a neck. Kassada appeared to have the race tucked away while running through a heavy rain only to yield in the final strides to Muskoka.
The Sea the Moon filly, with Lukas Delozier up, covered 1 3/8 miles on soft turf in 2:21.92. The event was contested primarily among locals but France-based Sea the Lady managed to snag third, giving sire Sea the Moon a sweep of the three top positions.
Sea the Moon, by Sea the Stars, counted the 2014 Deutsches Derby among his victories.
Australia
Saturday's Group 2 Missile Stakes at Rosehill was billed as a peek at the AUS$20 million Everest chances of I Am Me and Big Parade, but ended with tragedy and question marks.
Big Parade apparently suffered a shoulder fracture during the stretch run and careened into rival Golden Mile, nearly forcing that one through the fence. Video showed the fence bowing inward as Golden Mile was forced into it.
Golden Mile managed to remain upright and was pulled up uninjured after the race but Big Parade was euthanized on the course.
I Am Me, meanwhile, was in front of the incident and the only runner left with a chance. She went on to win the 1,200-meter heat.
I Am Me, a 5-year-old I Am Invincible mare, strung together four straight wins last season before finishing seventh when pushed up the ladder to the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate in February.
Meanwhile, back in North America:
Del Mar
Carmelita's Man outfinished favorite King's River Knight by 3/4 length in Saturday's $150,000 California Dreamin' Stakes for state-bred fillies and mares. None Above the Law was third.
Carmelita's Man, a 6-year-old mare by Mucho Macho Man, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.00 with Tiago Periera in the irons.
Santa Rosa
Ascendancy rose to the occasion in Saturday's $75,000 Luther Burbank Stakes for fillies and mares, tracking the early pace before rallying late to score by 2 1/4 lengths. Ever Smart led much of the way and held on for second.
Ascendancy, a 4-year-old filly by Classic Empire, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.21 with Alexander Chavaz up.
Louisiana Downs
Saturday's card featured six $75,000 legs of the Louisiana Cup for state-bred steeds.
Nora G led most of the way to a 3/4-length victory in a parade of long shots in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Odds-on favorite Free Like a Girl finished eighth, and a 50-cent trifecta ticket returned $3,152.40. (Marty McGee: "It's an easy game.")
Otherwise, Star Moment came from off the pace to win the Distaff by 1 3/4 lengths, Woods N Water stalked and pounced to win the Turf Classic by 1/2 length and X Clown racked up another upset victory in the Sprint, leading all the way.
In the juvenile ranks, Strong Promise continued to show great promise with a 2 1/2-length victory in the Juvenile. Tap Galore danced home first by the same margin in the Juvenile Fillies, defeating the favorite, Diamond Deal.
Emerald Downs
Freightline led most of the way to a 3 1/4-length victory over Bourbon Dancer in Sunday's $65,000 WTBOA Lads Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings.
The Coast Guard colt ran 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:18.11 for jockey Alex Cruz.
Appeal Factor, a daughter of The Factor, won the companion Lassies Stakes by 4 lengths from Mocktails Anyone, reporting in 1:18.58 with Silvio Amador up.
Ruidoso Downs
Community Leader drew off late to win Sunday's $118,038 Rio Grande Senor Futurity at New Mexico's mountain track by 3 1/4 lengths over Higher Ed. Community Leader, a Diabolical gelding, ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.96 with Felipe Valdez up for trainer Todd Fincher.
Mark It Down, a daughter of Marking, led all the way to a 1 3/4-length triumph in the Senorita Futurity, timed in 1:06.50 with Oscar Ceballos in the irons.
