Breeders’ Cup Beckons For Friday Runners

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Each of the three graded stakes contested on FallStars Friday at Keeneland earned the winners a fees-paid berth into their respective races at the Breeders' Cup meeeting Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, and the horses' connections indicated that it's all systems go for Del Mar in four weeks' time.'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) crossed the line second in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes, but was elevated to the victory by the stewards, who ruled that she was interfered with by Percy's Bar (Upstart) seriously enough to merit a disqualification. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who was winning his 73rd stakes at Keeneland, indicated that the Spendthrift homebred would press on to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Halloween.She is likely to face a rematch with Percy's Bar at the seaside oval.“She came back great,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “She thinks she won, so we didn't tell her any different. We'll see how she is doing and check the flight availability to decide when to ship to Del Mar. Probably as late as possible.”Imaginationthelady (Not This Time) led home a 1-2-3 finish for her world-class stallion in the GII Jessamine Stakes, carrying Frankie Dettori to a 10-1 upset over Infinite Sky and a tough-trip 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Time To Dream.“Frankie gave her a good ride and she learned a lot more from this than when she won first out at Kentucky Downs and went right to the front,” said trainer Brendan Walsh, who celebrated a three-timer on opening day.The victory was the first in stakes company in America for owner Mark Dobbin.“He's Irish and based in New York,” Walsh said. “He sent me a filly a few years ago named Storm Miami (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who runs Monday at Presque Isle Downs, and then he sent me American Sonja (GB) (Tasleet {GB}), who runs for the second time for me in the [GIII] Waya [Stakes Sunday] in New York.”All things equal, Imaginationthelady heads to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Halloween.The veteran Nakatomi (Firing Line) punched his ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with an irresistible last-to-first rally in the GII Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes. The 6-year-old was third in the 2023 Sprint on the back of a runner-up effort in the Phoenix. The chestnut was sixth in last year's Sprint after finishing a distant second in the Phoenix.“He's like [20-year NFL quarterback] Brett Favre. He keeps going the older he gets,” said trainer Wesley Ward. “We don't run him very many times a year. I think that's what keeps him excited when he comes over [for the race]. He only has a few starts, so that's contributing to him wanting to do it.”The post Breeders’ Cup Beckons For Friday Runners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.