INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Unzip Me will be pre-entered later this month for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint against males at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, trainer Marty Jones said on Friday.
The winner of five turf sprint stakes, Unzip Me, a 4-year-old filly, won the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Handicap at Hollywood Park on Sept. 30 in her most recent start.
“We’d like to run in the Breeders’ Cup,” Jones said. “I’d say we’re seriously looking at it. It’s where we’d like to go.”
Jones said that Unzip Me will be pre-entered on Oct. 25. He said no plans have been finalized for a jockey. Owned by a partnership, Unzip Me has won 9 of 15 starts and $504,513.
Quinonez retains mount on Richard’s Kid
Richard’s Kid will be ridden by Alonso Quinonez in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6, trainer Bob Baffert said on Saturday.
Quinonez rode Richard’s Kid for the first time to a win in the Goodwood Stakes on Oct. 2, a leading West Coast prep for the BC Classic. Richard’s Kid closed from last in a field of seven to win the Goodwood by a half-length.
Baffert said that Quinonez is a good fit for Richard’s Kid.
“I think he’s very capable,” Baffert said. “He’s got that closer’s style.”
Richard’s Kid has won his last two starts, starting with the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 28.
Twirling Candy will await Strub series
The Breeders’ Cup races will not feature Twirling Candy, trainer John Sadler indicated on Saturday.
Twirling Candy was fourth as the favorite in his stakes debut against older horses in the Goodwood Stakes, and will be pointed for the Strub series for 4-year-olds of 2011 at Santa Anita this winter.
The first leg of the Strub series is the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes over seven furlongs for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26. Twirling Candy has won 4 of 5 starts, including two turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Del Mar – the Oceanside Stakes and Del Mar Derby.
Trio of Breeders’ Cup prospects work out
Three Breeders’ Cup candidates worked a half-mile at Hollywood Park on Saturday.
Dakota Phone, the winner of the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July and third in the Goodwood on Oct. 2, worked in 49.20 seconds, and is a candidate for the BC Dirt Mile.
Awesome Gem, the winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup in July and fifth in the Goodwood, worked in 48.40 seconds. Trainer Craig Dollase said another work next week will determine whether Awesome Gem starts in the BC Classic.
Where’s the Remote, second in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Turf Championship on Oct. 3, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds, and is being pointed for the BC Dirt Marathon on Nov. 5.
Zenyatta eager to do more than jog
Zenyatta jogged a mile on the backstretch training track on Saturday, her first exercise since a five-furlong workout on Thursday.
Unbeaten in 19 starts and bound for a defense of her title in the BC Classic, Zenyatta will have two more workouts at Hollywood Park this month before being sent to Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.
During Saturday’s jog, Zenyatta seemed to want to do more under exercise rider Steve Willard.
“She wanted to do something,” he said. “That’s her.”
