Anticipation Builds for the Breeders’ Cup
Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders’ Cup photo
Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that this weekend will conclude, in earnest, the 2024 racing season. It has been one of the most memorable and meaningful that we can remember at Mill Ridge. We have celebrated 4 Grade 1 winners this year!
To put that in perspective, when a horse is born they have a 0.2% chance of winning a Grade 1…at Mill Ridge we are striking at just over 3%. To have the opportunity to associate with such incredible athletes is what calls us from bed each morning, and to see them victorious at the highest level why we keep working.
We are so fortunate that two of these four are competing this weekend, with RAGING SEA running in the Breeders‘ Cup Distaff and SEIZE THE GREY running in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. It goes without saying that we are counting the minutes until their races.
Be aware, this is not a handicapping note. My thoughts and feelings on the races are not objective, they are entirely biased to what I hope happens.
We start tomorrow at 11:15 PDT (2:15 EST) with the 3rd race, the Goldikova. We have the great fortune to present KATHMANDU (#9) at the Fasig Tipton Night of the Stars sale on Monday night. She was purchased and is owned by our dear friend Sam Sangster. She is a phenomenal filly who was just beaten a head in the Grade 1 French Guineas earlier this year.
No rest for the weary as we move into the 4th race. We are presenting the mother of WAYS AND MEANS, who is a three year old taking on the older mares for the first time, for sale on Monday night. She is really an amazing filly; she was so game as a two year old. She injured herself and came back this year fitter and faster than ever…she is going to be a freak. If she doesn’t win, we will be pulling for VAHVA. We are offering her older sister at Keeneland on Tuesday…VAHVA is amazing and and her sister SIGNAL FROM NOISE an incredible prospect.
Fifth race is going to be brilliant. COGBURN set a world record for 5 furlongs on the turf. He is a freak. However, we are offering AG BULLET for sale on Monday. AG (chemical symbol for Silver) Bullet…and she is freaky fast. She is a serious filly and we are so hopeful she can go into the sale a champion.
Sixth race…RAGING SEA. This maybe the most fun race of the day with THORPEDO ANNA lining up against older mares for the first time. THORPEDO ANNA is an absolutely brilliant filly. She nearly beat the boys in the biggest race of the season the Travers in Saratoga…she is just incredible. However, we raised RAGING SEA, who is super live in the race. RAGING SEA won her first race as a two year old at Saratoga in a most inspired fashion. She was a good two year old, but this year as a four year old she has really come alive winning three in a row including the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. She is so tough and so game, if THORPEDO ANNA is off her game just a touch RAGING SEA storms home.
We take a break for a few…hopefully raising a glass from a few winning pictures, looking forward to the last race. The Dirt Mile will be my most anticipated race of the day as SEIZE THE GREY lines up right next to OSCAR PERFORMANCE’S son TUMBARUMBA. Both are coming into the race in great form and hopefully sitting on a big performance. TUMBARUMBA has been waiting for a fast track all season…he should get one tomorrow and at 30-1 in the morning line…maybe we can get lucky.
Breeders Cup Day one was incredible, full of brilliant performances…counting minutes til post time Saturday, what a blessing.
Cheers,
Price
