Kentucky-breds set to shine on Breeders’ Cup Future Stars Friday
November 5, 2020 November 5, 2020
Back to Our News PageThe Breeders’ Cup returns to Keeneland and kicks off on Friday, Nov. 6, with five races for the juvenile set. Kentucky-breds are prominent throughout the $7 million program and are led by undefeated Grade 1 winners Princess Noor and Dayoutoftheoffice in the $2,000,000 Juvenile Fillies (G1), and Jackie’s Warrior and Essential Quality in the $2,000,000 Juvenile (G1).
Princess Noor made news even before she showcased her talent on the racetrack, selling for $1,350,000 to top the OBS Spring Sale in April. Gary Young, agent, signed the ticket on behalf of owner Zedan Racing Stables on the daughter of Not This Time out of the Wilko mare and Grade 3 winner Sheza Smoke Show. The sale price was the highest in the history of the sale for a juvenile by a freshman sire.
Bred by International Equities Holding Inc. and trained by Bob Baffert, Princess Noor is untested in her three lifetime starts. A 6 ½-length winner of the seven-furlong Del Mar Debutante (G1) in her second start and an 8 ¼-length winner of Santa Anita’s Chandelier S. (G2) at 1 1/16 miles in her most recent start, Princess Noor has been listed as the 9-5 favorite. Her regular pilot Victor Espinoza will be in the irons, and they will start from the outside in post position No. 7 in the compact field.
Co-second choice on the morning line in the Juvenile Fillies is undefeated Grade 1 winner Dayoutoftheoffice. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Into Mischief—Gottahaveadream, by Indian Charlie, has only experienced good days at work. She took down top prize in the one-mile Frizette S. (G1) at Belmont Park in her last start and romped by six lengths in winning the Schuylerville S. (G3) at Saratoga before that. Bred by Siena Farms LLC and campaigned by Siena Farm LLC and Blazing Meadows Farm, Dayoutoftheoffice is trained by Tim Hamm.
Jackie’s Warrior headlines the Juvenile, a race that Kentucky-breds have to themselves—all 14 entered hail from the Bluegrass State. The son of Maclean’s Music out of the A.P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl owns back-to-back Grade 1 victories, having captured the seven-furlong Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga Sept. 7 and the one-mile Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont by 5 ¼ lengths in his previous outing.
A Keeneland September sale yearling, Jackie’s Warrior is owned by Kirk and Judy Robison and was bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables. Steve Asmussen conditions the bay colt who is perfect in four career starts. Jackie’s Warrior will be making his first two-turn start in the Juvenile and will break from position No. 7 under Joel Rosario.
Essential Quality enters the Juvenile off an impressive 3 ¼-length win in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in his initial try around two turns. He graduated by four lengths sprinting at Churchill downs in his career debut Sept. 4 for trainer Brad Cox. The gray son of Tapit—Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality is a Godolphin homebred.
Kentucky-breds figure to have a say in the outcomes of the other three Breeders’ Cup events on Future Stars Friday. Kentucky-bred Outadore, by Outwork, is the leading earner in the field for the $1,000,000 Juvenile Turf. The gray colt, owned by Breeze Easy LLC, bred by Deann and Greg Baer, and trained by Wesley Ward, has banked $334,100 in his first two starts which include a win in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs.
Mutasaabeq, a Shadwell Stable colorbearer who won the Bourbon S. (G2) at Keeneland for trainer Todd Pletcher, also figures to attract attention in the Juvenile Turf. A $425,000 Keeneland November graduate, Mutassabeq was bred in Kentucky by BlackRidge Stables LLC and has won two of three starts.
Seven Kentucky-breds will contest the $1,000,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2), the first Breeders’ Cup race of the day, and six will go postward in the $1,000,000 Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).