NEWS
Spirit One to face talented field in Goodwood
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 6:57 PM
SPIRIT ONE
Four Footed Fotos
by Jeff Apel
Spirit One (Fr) will make his first start since winning the Arlington Million Stakes (G1) in his North American debut in the $500,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1) on Saturday at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meeting.
The Goodwood is the most lucrative of six Grade 1 races worth a combined $1.9-million in purses that will be contested on Saturday at the Arcadia, California, track. The races will serve as previews for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held on October 24-25 on Santa Anita's newly installed Pro-Ride synthetic surface.
The winner of the 1 1/8-mile Goodwood receives an automatic starting spot in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 25 as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series. Spirit One previously earned a starting spot in the $3-million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on October 25 by winning the Arlington Million, a 1 1/4-mile turf race on August 9.
Trained by Philippe Demercastel for owner-breeder Kamel Chenboub, Spirit One made his first 17 career starts in France. The Anabaa Blue colt won the Prix Exbury (Fr-G3) on March 15 at Saint-Cloud and entered the Arlington Million off a runner-up finish in the La Coupe (Fr-G3) on June 14 at Longchamp.
Spirit One will face ten challengers, including multiple Grade 1 winner Tiago and Grade 2 winners Well Armed, Surf Cat, Zappa, and Tres Borrachos.
Well Armed defeated runner-up Surf Cat by 1 1/4 lengths to win the San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 19 at Del Mar. Trained by Eoin Harty for owner-breeder WinStar Farm, Well Armed enters off a runner-up finish in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) on August 24 at the oceanside track.
Surf Cat is winless in three starts for trainer Bruce Headley since capturing the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (G2) on April 26 at Hollywood Park.
Tiago earned his only win in six starts this season in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 5 at Oaklawn Park. John Shirreffs trains the Pleasant Tap colt for owners Jerry and Ann Moss.
Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:
1. Zappa (Afternoon Deelites), Joel Rosario, 124, John W. Sadler;
2. Tres Borrachos (Ecton Park), Tyler Baze, 121, C. Beau Greely;
3. Informed (Tiznow), Martin Garcia, 124, Doug F. O'Neill;
4. Surf Cat (Sir Cat), David Romero Flores, 124, Bruce Headley;
5. Slew's Tiznow (Tiznow), Alonso Quinonez, 121, Doug F. O'Neill;
6. Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great), Garrett K. Gomez, 124, Vladimir Cerin;
7. Well Armed (Tiznow), Aaron T. Gryder, 124, Eoin G. Harty;
8. Tiago (Pleasant Tap), Mike E. Smith, 124, John A. Shirreffs;
9. Spirit One [FR] (Anabaa Blue [GB]), Ioritz Mendizabal, 124, Philippe Demercastel;
10. Mostacolli Mort (Hold for Gold), Martin A. Pedroza, 124, Julio C. Canani; and
11. Mast Track (Mizzen Mast), John R. Velazquez, 124, Robert J. Frankel.
