Winx won her third Cox Plate in a nail-biter, Kitasan Black was a bold champ in Japan and trainer Aidan O'Brien got his almanac 26th top-level win of the year with a able applicant for abutting year's Derby -- the top account in weekend racing.
In North America, best absorption was focused on Del Mar and the final anniversary of affairs for the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Belmont's final day was asperous out as the billy passes to Aqueduct for the winter. And Churchill Downs took over Kentucky antagonism with a affairs adherent to 2-year-olds.
Pink Lloyd won his seventh beeline stakes hunt at Woodbine and had his trainer singing his praises.
Before we arch to California, let's bright the decks with this:
Australia
Winx did it. Her third beeline Cox Plate, and in course-record time. Her 22nd beeline win. Her 15th Group 1 victory, equaling Black Caviar. The Australian balance record. All with a rather added affecting than accepted 1/2-length achievement over Humidor Saturday at Moonee Valley.
With Hugh Bowman in his approved pilot's seat, Winx raced able-bodied aback in the acreage and outside, out of abeyant trouble. Bowman started to ask the 6-year-old Street Cry adult with about 600 meters to go and she was on alike agreement with the leaders as they straightened for home. As Humidor ranged up to her outside, closing the gap, Winx begin added and was far abundant in advanced at the end. Godolphin's Folkswood was third, 4 1/2 lengths added up the stretch. Winx was timed in 2:02.94 for the 2,040 meters over acceptable turf.
The hunt sparked amazing absorption throughout the island abstemious -- and that with the Melbourne Cup, "the hunt that stops a nation," beneath than two weeks away.
"She's the ultimate professional," Bowman said of Winx. "And she's not accomplished yet."
Trainer Chris Waller, however, tossed out a attention about assumptions Winx is headed to England abutting season. "She'll go alone if she's at her actual best," he said. "We won't accomplish a accommodation until at atomic March."
England
Saxon Warrior had to exhausted aback a backward billow by a alarming Roaring Lion in the final yards to booty Saturday's Group 1 Antagonism Column Trophy at Doncaster, giving trainer Aiden O'Brien his almanac 26th top-level win of the year. The Deep Impact filly additionally provided jockey Ryan Moore his aboriginal achievement in the race, which is the final Group 1 accident of the British collapsed division and a acceptable aboriginal examination of the advancing year's Investec Derby at Epsom.
Saxon Warrior confused to the advanced 100 yards out alone to acquisition Roaring Lion billow to booty the advantage for a few strides. Digging in, Saxon Warrior came afresh to win by a neck. Accession of O'Brien's four starters, The Pentagon, contested the aboriginal beforehand and accomplished accession 2 1/2 lengths aback in third. "I'm delighted," O'Brien said. "He catholic actual able through it and Ryan gave him a abundant ride."
O'Brien came into the hunt angry with the backward Bobby Frankel at 25 top-level wins in a agenda year -- a mark the American trainer accustomed in 2003. As he has throughout the almanac chase, O'Brien accustomed his team. "It's a advantage to be alive with such appropriate people," he said. "We're in a actual advantageous position. We're a baby articulation in a big chain."
The win additional Saxon Warrior's almanac to 3-for-3 and additional his Derby stock. Two of O'Brien's seven antecedent Antagonism Column Trophy winners -- High Chaparral and Churchill -- accept gone on to achievement in the afterward year's Derby. The filly has the ancestry to chase in those hoofprints. His afford is the outstanding Japanese adolescent Deep Impact who is by 1989 U.S. Horse of the Year Sunday Silence. His dam is by Galileo, the ascendant afford in European and UK racing.
Japan
Japan's ascendant Horse of the Year, Kitasan Black, took a big footfall against his looming retirement as he captivated off a bent assemblage by Satono Crown to account out a attenuated achievement in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) Sunday at rain-soaked Tokyo Racecourse. With Yutaka Booty up, Kitasan Black bankrupt a footfall boring and acclimatized into a ground-saving atom rather than his accepted advanced position. That formed to his advantage as the acreage swung into the acclivous amplitude ascend and he begin himself alone on the inside. The Black Tide filly annoyed in the final furlong and drifted out but captivated on gamely to win by a neck. Continued attempt Rainbow Band was third.
"He was a bit too acquisitive today and absent his break," Booty said. "The activity didn't assume to bother him so I absitively to booty the aisle abreast the balustrade at the aftermost corner. He responded beautifully in the amplitude and afore we knew it, we were at the front. He attenuated a little during the continued drive but captivated on well."
Kitasan Black is slated for two added starts afore retirement, including a bid for his additional Japan Cup Nov. 26. "I am acquisitive to be in the winner's amphitheater with him two added times," Booty said.
France
Two Group 1 contest for 2-year-olds were lost, at atomic for the day, as the Saint-Cloud hunt affair was alone afterwards the aboriginal hunt afterwards a continued affair involving hunt officials, trainers and owners.
Both Group 1 contest complex able youngsters alien cross-Channel by trainer Aidan O'Brien. No resolution of the impasse was anon appear but a rescheduling of the contest seemed absurd as some of the all-embracing shippers already were headed for home.
The abandonment, in accession to added inconveniences, beggared some top English and Irish juveniles of the adventitious for a final alpha of the year at the Group 1 level.
Back in North America:
Belmont Park
Off Limits was appropriate on ambition in Saturday's $200,000 Grade III Athenia Stakes for fillies and mares on the grass. With Joel Rosario in the irons, the 5-year-old Mastercraftsman adult raced able-bodied in duke abaft the leaders, came four-wide into the lane and hit the advanced with a furlong to go. A backward bid by My Impression fell a abutting abbreviate and Elysea's World and Penjade rallied from the aback of the backpack to ample the superfecta slots. Off Limits ran 1 1/16 afar on the abutting accommodation in 1:41.73, earning her third beeline win. "The clip was affectionate of apathetic so it was aloof about timing the appropriate move to go to the front," Rosario said.
Eskenformoney outfinished Verve's Tale by a arch for the achievement in Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Turnback the Alarm Handicap for fillies and mares. Birdathewire was accession 4 1/2 lengths aback in third and the favorite, Miss Sky Warrior, achromatic from the beforehand to accomplishment fourth. Eskenformoney, a 5-year-old babe of Eskendereya, ran 1 1/16 afar on the fast clay beforehand in 1:43.12 with John Velazquez in the irons. "Sometimes she doesn't breach absolute alertly but it affectionate of helped us aback they went appealing bound up advanced and Johnny gave a abundant ride," said acceptable trainer Todd Pletcher. "This is her aftermost alpha afore the Fasig-Tipton November sale. She's been a abundant filly for us, actual consistent. A absolute sweetheart to train."
Tom's Ready rallied widest of all about the about-face in Saturday's $200,000 Grade III Bold Ruler Handicap, bent Stallwalkin' Dude in the final sixteenth and went on to win by 3/4 breadth over that rival. Beasley was aloof a adenoids added aback in third and the favorite, Divining Rod, could acquisition alone fifth place. Awesome Banner accomplished aftermost of nine. Tom's Ready, a 4-year-old Added Than Ready colt, got 7 furlongs in 1:22.06 with Rosario riding. "We were a little advanced activity into the stretch," Rosario acknowledged. "We were aggravating to be in the bright because aback the clay hits him a little in the face he doesn't go forward, he aloof stays there. I was aggravating to accomplish him feel comfortable." Bentley Combs, abettor to acceptable trainer Dallas Stewart, said Tom's Ready will be able for the Cigar Mile in hopes of accepting him a Grade I win afore he active to the ancestry shed.
Therapist assuredly ample things out in the final sixteenth in Saturday's $100,000 Awad Stakes for 2-year-olds. Afterwards mostly dabbling abaft the arch trio, the Freud filly assuredly responded to the entreaties of jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., spurted by those in advanced of him and won by 1 length. V.I.P. Code additionally begin his best stride backward and came from alike added aback to affirmation second, a adenoids in advanced of baton Looking Ready. The favorite, War Chest, was seventh. Therapist ran 1 mile on abutting accommodation in 1:35.41, accepting his third win from as abounding starts. "It was a abundant hunt to amplitude him out because it's a one-turn mile," said acceptable trainer Christophe Clement. "He got up actual able so I assumption he can get the distance." Clement said there is no abutting plan for the New York-bred.
Sunday's affairs was canceled due to a able littoral storm across-the-board into Continued Island. The two stakes, the Chelsey Flower for 2-year-old fillies and the Pumpkin Pie for fillies and mares, will be run abutting weekend as antagonism switches to Aqueduct.
Keeneland
The Player eased by pacesetting Neolithic in the amplitude run to acreage Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Hagyard Fayette Stakes by 3 lengths. Neolithic captivated additional with McCraken a added 10 lengths up the clue in third and the Favorite, Honorable Duty, advertisement aftermost with a non-effort. The Player, a 4-year-old Street Hero colt, ran 9 furlongs on a awkward clue in 1:48.16 with Calvin Borel up. "We anticipation he would go a mile and an eighth and today he showed it," said Buff Bradley, acceptable trainer and a allotment owner. "You never apperceive until you get bottomward there and do it. Calvin rode him perfectly. Turning for home, we acquainted like we were activity to win it." McCraken's trainer, Ian Wilkes, said he was annoyed with the accomplishment off a continued blow and still affairs to run the filly aback in the Grade I Clark Handicap Nov. 24 at Churchill Downs.
The Fayette assured Keeneland's abatement affair and apparent the end of Mike Battaglia's administration as the track's television analyst. The adept said he will abide to accomplish the morning band and accord in added means as able-bodied as "hang about the columnist box."
Churchill Downs
The Accompanying Spires clue kicked off the abatement affair with a agenda alone for 2-year-olds. The accompanying $200,000 Spendthrift Adolescent Stakes contest were belted to juveniles sired by a Spendthrift adolescent who stood at any Spendthrift acreage in the 2014 season.
In the Juvenile, Fight On dueled his way to the beforehand and the fought on to abound by a abbreviating arch from Captivating Moon. Dream Baby Dream, O'Malley's March and John Tippmann were all aural 1 breadth of the champ in a absolute finish. Fight On, an Into Mischief colt, covered 7 furlongs on a fast clue in 1:24.87 with Ricardo Santana Jr. in the irons.
In the Adolescent Filly, Sultry trailed best of the acreage into the turn, beforehand forth the central and collared pacesetting Mia Mischief in the final sixteenth, acceptable by 1 1/4 lengths over that one. It was accession 6 lengths aback to Aerial Assets in third. Sultry, by Malibu Moon, accomplished in 1:24.51 with Corey Lanerie aboard.
The complete $80,000 Rags to Riches Stakes for fillies went to Monomoy Girl, who led all the way for jockey Florent Geroux and won by 6 1/2 lengths. Queen Mum exhausted the added eight with Foxtrot Sally forth for third. Monomoy Girl, a Tapizar filly, got 1 mile on the capital clue in 1:36.29 with Geroux up.
Gotta Go got activity aloof in time to outfinish Lone Sailor and win the $80,000 Street Sense Stakes for 2-year-olds by a head. Bravazo led the acreage into the stretch, again achromatic to accomplishment third, 3 1/4 lengths added back. Gotta Go, a Shanghai Bobby colt, accomplished in 1:37.48 for jockey Chris Landeros.
Santa Anita
Lull stalked the clip set by a 92-1 attempt in Sunday's $100,000 Grade III Autumn Miss for 3-year-old fillies, took over aback that one had abundant and went on to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Chocolate Coated, Storm the Hill and Tapped were abutting in that adjustment for the accessory placings. Lull, a Claiborne Farm-Adele Dilschneider homebred by War Front, ran 1 mile on abutting accommodation in 1:32.66. "I didn't anticipate we were activity that quickly," said acceptable addition Flavien Prat. "I wouldn't say that we were walking but I didn't anticipate we were activity fast. I assumption she has a lot of acceleration because I was aloof canoeing about and aggravating to accumulate her relaxed." Lull won the Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint at that key meeting, again was third in the Buffalo Trace Franklin County at Keeneland afore branch west.
Woodbine
Clickity Clack got her adenoids bottomward on the wire aloof in advanced of Avie's Mineshaft in Sunday's $225,000 (Canadian) Princess Elizabeth Stakes for Canadian-foaled 2-year-old fillies. Safe to Say was accession 4 1/2 lengths aback in third. Clickity Clack, a babe of Silent Name, ran 1 1/16 afar on the all-weather clue in 1:46.06 with Rafael Hernandez up. "I approved already to get out, but I had horses alfresco and I absitively to aloof delay for the aperture to accessible up and that's what happened," Hernandez said. "The aperture opened inside, went through, and she was still running."
Pink Lloyd swept to the beforehand in the lane in Sunday's $125,000 (Canadian) Overskate Stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds and up and drew off smartly to win by 4 lengths. Jack's Escarpment was best of the blow with Roxy's Vision third at a big price. Pink Lloyd, a 5-year-old Old Forester gelding, ran 7 furlongs on the all-weather clue in 1:21.73 with Eurico Da Silva riding. It was his seventh beeline stakes win of the Woodbine meeting. "I'm not speechless," said acceptable trainer Robert Tiller. "I'm activity to say it appropriate now: I can't bethink the aftermost horse that's won seven stakes in a row, the 126 pounds with the Beyers (Speed Figures) he's had. If he's not the greatest sprinter in Canada and he's not the best horse in Canada, I accord up. What are we declared to do for an acclamation here?"
Moonlit Promise rallied from next-last of seven to booty Saturday's $125,000 (Canadian) Ontario Fashion Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths from adolescent late-runner Minks Aprise. Code Warrior was third. The favorite, Stormy Victoria, alien in from New York for the hunt and accomplished aftermost afterwards a amplitude adventure that resulted in the awkwardness of the battling who impeded her. Moonlit Promise, a 4-year-old filly by Malibu Moon, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather clue in 1:09.06 with Gary Boulanger in the irons. She has won four of six starts this year at the Toronto course.
Santa Anita
Sharp Samurai had to action for the beforehand in Saturday's $200,000 Grade II Twilight Derby but, already on the lead, the Aboriginal Samurai gelding pulled abroad to a 2 3/4-lengths victory. Big Account was additional and Bowies Hero was forth for third. Sharp Samurai, with Gary Stevens in the band for trainer Mark Glat, ran 9 furlongs on abutting accommodation in 1:45.36. It was his fourth beeline win with three of those graded stakes. "Mark said we ability accept run him on the amiss Saturday and I said the aforementioned thing," Stevens commented. "If he stays acceptable and continues to improve, I anticipate Mark will accept the advantage to run him in the Breeders' Cup Mile or the Breeders' Cup Accommodation abutting year."
Top of the Game tracked the clip in Saturday's $70,000 Comma to the Top Stakes, confused to booty a big beforehand in the amplitude and captivated well, acquisition Hoppertunity by 4 1/4 lengths. Irish Freedom was third Top of the Game, a 4-year-old Desert Party gelding, ran 1 mile on a fast clue in 1:37.09. Hoppertunity was authoritative his aboriginal alpha aback finishing sixth in the Dubai World Cup on March 25.
Hawthorne Hunt Course
My Bariley rallied from able-bodied off the clip in Saturday's $100,000 Hawthorne Derby, formed his way amid rivals in the lane and was forth in time to column the agitated win by 3/4 breadth over Blue Sky Kowboy. Adonis Creed was third and the favorite, Voodoo Song, achromatic from the beforehand on the bendable accommodation and accomplished fifth. My Bariley, a Mizzen Mast gelding, ran 9 furlongs on the off activity in 1:56.07 with Santo Sanjur in the band for trainer Tony Granitz.
Golden Gate Fields
Multiplayer tracked the clip in Saturday's $75,000 Pike Abode Dancer Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, got through forth the central in the amplitude drive and prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths. Cash Cannon was additional with Neon Gypsy 1 1/2 lengths added aback in third. Multiplayer, a Giant's Causeway filly out of the Dynaformer adult Style Squad, ran 1 mile on acceptable accommodation in 1:39.93 with Juan Hernandez in the irons. It was her additional win from four starts. She was third in the Del Mar Adolescent Fillies Accommodation Sept. 4.
Indiana Grand
Jersey Justice belted accomplished pacesetting Sky Writer to booty the beforehand in Thursday's $100,000 Indiana Futurity for state-bred 2-year-olds and captivated off a backward bid by Jova to win by 1 length. Sky Writer accomplished third. Jersey Justice, a Jersey Town filly accomplished by Tom Amoss for buyer Maggi Moss, ran 1 mile and 70 yards on a fast clue in 1:41.41 with Deshawn Parker in the irons.
Flurry drew off in the amplitude run of Thursday's $100,000 Miss Indiana Stakes for state-bred adolescent fillies, acceptable by 3 1/2 lengths. Obsolete was second, 1 1/4 lengths to the acceptable of Shyla. Flurry, a babe of Old Fashioned, accomplished the 1 mile and 70 yards in 1:44.68 beneath Marcelino Pedroza.
Express Run rallied accurately through the lane to acreage Wednesday's $150,000 Frances Slocum Stakes for Indiana-bred fillies and mares by 3 1/4 lengths over Whistle Stop with Hay Little Bit blockage in third. Express Run, a 4-year-old babe of Unbridled Express, ran 1 1/16 afar on a fast clue in 1:44.06 with Jon Court benumbed for trainer Bernie Flint.
Huntstown rallied amid horses from able-bodied aback in the acreage to booty Wednesday's $150,000 Too Much Coffee Stakes for state-breds by 1/2 length. Mr Manning was second, 3/4 breadth to the acceptable of Operation Stevie. Huntstown, a 6-year-old gelding by Unbridled Energy, ran 1 1/16 afar in 1:43.04 with Parker up.
Zia Park
Saturday was New Mexico Classic Cup Day with a few American Quarter Horse contest brindled in amidst the admired Thoroughbred stakes. The clue was fast but some of the continued shots were faster.
Hute, a 3-year-old Western Gambler gelding, captivated off a backward run by Shining Source to win the $180,000 Classic Cup by a abutting at allowance of 26-1. Hush's Storm was third as Miguel Fuentes Jr. guided Hute over 1 mile in 1:38.44.
Kimbell, accomplished at allowance of 16-1, outfinished Bobbi's Flight in the $170,000 Fillies and Mares Stakes, acceptable by 1/2 length. The favorite, My Bikini Fell Off, was alone a abutting added aback in third. Kimbell, a 4-year-old Western Gambler filly, accomplished 1 mile in 1:39.70 with Tracy Hebert up.
Forger, the favorite, got the beforehand in the amplitude in the $170,000 Sprint and captivated on to win by a abutting over Citizen Geller with Perty Dirty Dude accession abutting abaft in third. Diabolical Dame, the odds-on favorite, bare the abounding 6 furlongs to get the bigger of Tijuana in the $140,000 Distaff Sprint, acceptable by a arch and accession abutting from late-running Bryn's Fancy Pants.
P J's Gold, at allowance of about 30-1, bent pacesetting admired Hollywood Henry in the final strides of the $140,000 Adolescent and won by a adenoids over that rival. Fast Gator, the favorite, led all the way in the $140,000 Lassie for 2-year-old fillies and won by 3 1/2 lengths over Poseidon Aquarius.
My Mirage, at 12-1 odds, stalked the clip in the $140,000 Derby Championship for 3-year-old colts and geldings, again drew off to win by 2 lengths from late-running Thunder Dome. Sidewinder Sally, let go at allowance of about 20-1, was forth from mid-pack to win the $140,000 Oaks Championship by 3 lengths over Waltzing Attila.
For the record, three of the four Quarter Horse contest additionally were won by continued shots.
