Horse Racing News

The Breeders' Cup Classic is worth considerably more than the Breeders' Cup Mile, no more so than in the case of Gio Ponti, who is under consideration for both races.

Not that one has anything to do with the other, but when a full field of 14 3-year-old fillies ran last fall in the Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland, the Grade 2 race was dominated by huge longshots.

Nine-year-old Brass Hat will square off against 8-year-old Musketier and 7-year-old Presious Passion in a compelling 16th running of the $100,000 Sycamore.

Cloudy's Knight has been retired after an old injury flared up, ending a terrific racing career in which the 10-year-old gelding earned more than $2.5 million, was voted a champion in Canada, and barely missed winning a Breeders' Cup event.

Runco saddled three stakes winners on Saturday night's 25th West Virginia Breeders' Classic program for West Virginia-breds at Charles Town, highlighted by a 57-1 upset by the 4-year-old colt Sea Rescue in the featured $500,000 Classic.

Mad Flatter won the first graded race of his career and in the process earned an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by virtue of his easy 6 1/4-length triumph in the $100,000 Spend a Buck Handicap.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Joshua Tree barely held off two other European raiders, Mores Wells and Redwood, to capture the Grade 1, $2 million Canadian International at Woodbine Saturday.

Mad Flatter won the first graded race of his career and in the process earned an automatic berth in the Saturday, Fantastic Pick won for the third time in his last four starts in the $150,000 Oak Tree Derby.

Reggane trailed the field of 10 with slightly more than five furlongs to run but launched a steady rally which carried her to a one-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine.

The betting public expected Harmonious to win Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup, making her the favorite over the likes of Evening Jewel and Check the Label.