11/4 (CD): Breeders' Cup Friday (Final Fields)

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Bobby Flay tweet has Super Espresso (Distaff) and Her Smile (FM Sprint) as Cup entrants, as well as a 'surprise' player..

Those two aren't considered surprises?

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Those two aren't considered surprises?

Them finishing their respective races would be considered surprises.

[Sightseek]

I hope he doesn't mean More Than Real.

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I hope he doesn't mean More Than Real.

He doesn't. . . hopefully more to come.

[NTamm1215]

Could he have either paid the money for Ben's Cat or Shakespeare Shaliyah?

[hockey2315]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Could he have either paid the money for Ben's Cat or Shakespeare Shaliyah?

Nope. . . It's a European horse. Don't want to say more until I talk to him. . .

[hockey2315]

From Thoroughbred Daily News

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay revealed yesterday that he has purchased French listed stakes winner Dear Lavinia (Grand Slam) from owner/breeder Joseph Allen, and will enter her in the Nov. 4 GII Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Flay got his first taste of Breeders’ Cup glory when More Than Real (More Than Ready)--also acquired by private purchase--won the Juvenile Fillies Turf last term. “Dear Lavinia was brought to our attention by bloodstock agent Michel Zerolo, who does a lot of good work bringing horses from Europe to the United States,” Flay told the TDN. “The thing that most impressed us was how consistent she’s been during her first five races--she’s won three times with a second and a third. She’s already a stakes winner, and she’s always right there. We also liked the fact that she’s a late foal, so there’s lots of upside going forward.”

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, the bay finished a close third to G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Elusive Kate (Elusive Quality) in a Listed event at Deauville in July, and most recently annexed the 7 1/2-furlong Grand Criterium de Bordeaux at Bordeaux le Bouscat Oct. 13 (video). Flay said that a defense of More Than Real’s Breeders’ Cup title was not a factor in the decision to purchase Dear Lavinia, explaining, “I’m always on the look-out for young fillies that have some capabilities, and this one just sort of came up at the last second.” Flay’s new acqusition will arrive in the States on Saturday.

Super Espresso (Medaglia d’Oro) and Her Smile (Include) will also carry Flay’s silks on Breeders’ Cup Friday. The former has been pre-entered in the GI Ladies’ Classic, while the latter will go in the GI Filly and Mare Sprint. “I think the Ladies’ Classic is a wide-open race if Havre de Grace goes in the Classic,” noted Flay. “The Filly and Mare Sprint also looks like it will be wide open--Turbulent Descent (Congrats) is very fast and will probably be favored, but Her Smile is just sort of learning to run at these distances. We bought her as a distance filly, but we dropped her back to six furlongs for the GI Prioress S. and she won. I draw a line right through the Charles Town Oaks [last time Sept. 17]--there was a lot of bumping and it’s an odd race with the way the turns are there.”

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by hockey2315

Nope. . . It's a European horse. Don't want to say more until I talk to him. . .

And you've got a good in with Team Valor now too!

[Alan07]

She Digs Me wasn't pre-entered in Juvenile Sprint according to CD Monday notes.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Them finishing their respective races would be considered surprises.

Perhaps he wants to do his part to keep Todd's streak alive.