Sporting Post photographer Candiese Lenferna is on her first visit to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
While she has hardly slept since departing King Shaka International Airport in Durban on Saturday afternoon, she filed a short report late Monday, lauding the professionalism of the operational set-up of one of the world’s premier racing festivals, and the warm hospitality of her hosts and the American people.
Candiese will be keeping us in the very heart of the action as we build-up to the weekend.
The SA flag alongside some power players on the Del Mar grandstand on Monday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
South African speed champion Isivunguvungu has drawn at gate 10 for the $1 million Prevagen Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday.
Isivunguvungu at Del Mar on Monday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The 6yo son of What A Winter won the Listed Da Hoss Stakes at his only US start and now takes on the big guns.
Trainer Graham Motion said after the draw allocation that Isivunguvungu has plenty of speed around him, which could help him in the 1000m contest.
The favourite Cogburn (9) is on his inside and second favourite Bradsell is drawn at gate 12.
Fellow South African challenger Beach Bomb, who also races out of the Motion yard, drew at gate 11 in the $2 million Makers’ Mark Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The race is run over two turns, a distance of 2200m.
Drakenstein star Beach Bomb goes through her paces at Del Mar on Monday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
In the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, four-time Group 1 winner City of Troy will be making his dirt track debut.
The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify will be ridden by Ryan Moore from gate 3.
“We always talk very highly of him,” said O’Brien, who has a stellar record of 18 previous wins in the World Championships but is chasing his first win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic after 17 prior attempts.
“Obviously, he was by Justify, so there was always a big chance that he would (run well) on the dirt. He has a very brave heart… He has a very high cruising speed, tactically, very quick… He was a horse we always dreamed about that maybe could be very competitive in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher saddles Fierceness (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness enters the Classic off a victory in the Travers Stakes (Gr1), his third Grade 1 victory, with the first coming in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year at Santa Anita Park – a win that solidified championship honors as the top 2-year-old of 2023.
John Velazquez has the mount from post 9 aboard the son of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (Gr1) winner City of Light.
Third choice on the morning line at 6-1 is Forever Young, a winner of six of seven starts trained by Yoshito Yahagi. Ryusei Sakai has the mount Saturday from post 1.
Forever Young will jump from gate 1 on Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Completing the field in post-position order are: Highland Falls (post 2, 20-1), Mixto (post 4, 30-1), Senor Buscador (post 5, 30-1), Derma Sotogake (JPN) (post 6, 20-1), Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (post 7, 12-1), Pyrenees (post 8, 30-1), Tapit Trice (post 10, 30-1), Sierra Leone (post 11, 12-1), Arthur’s Ride (post 12, 15-1), Newgate (post 13, 20-1), and Next (post 14, 8-1). Rattle N Roll is listed as an also eligible (30-1).
Hollywoodbets will be pricing up today. More reports to follow.
