BREEDERS’ CUP CHALLENGE SERIES
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series presented by America’s Best Racing continues today & tomorrow with an action-packed lineup of 14 “Win and You’re In” races. On deck today are four races from Keeneland, the Belmont Derby from Belmont Park, and for the first time ever, the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico Race Course! Then, the fun continues tomorrow back at Keeneland and from abroad at ParisLongchamp.
Tune-in to NBC beginning at 4:30 PM ET for coverage of the Preakness, while the action from Belmont Park & Keeneland can be seen on TVG. Then, NBCSN will bring you more live racing from Keeneland on Sunday beginning at 4:30 PM ET.
Invincible Spirit’s Nazeef Triumphant in the Sun Chariot
Nazeef | racingfotos.com
Afforded a break after running ninth in Deauville’s Aug. 23 G1 Prix Jean Romanet, this term’s G1 Falmouth S. heroine Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) doubled her elite-level tally with a game victory in Saturday’s G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. at Newmarket. Handily placed in fourth from flagfall, the 17-2 chance was ridden along to challenge passing the quarter-mile marker and kept on resolutely under a continued drive to deny G1 Prix Rothschild runner-up Half Light (Ire) (Shamardal) by 1 1/2 lengths. G1 1000 Guineas second Cloak of Spirits (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) held every chance from the foot of the hill and ran on well to finish a neck down in third, a half-length in front of G1 Matron S. victress Champers Elysees (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) in fourth.
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN SUN CHARIOT S.-G1, £235,000, Newmarket, 10-3, 3yo/up, f, 8fT, 1:42.21, hy.
1–NAZEEF (GB), 129, f, 4, by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
1st Dam: Handassa (GB) (SW-Ire), by Dubawi (Ire)
2nd Dam: Starstone (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Star (GB), by Most Welcome (GB)
O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden; J-Jim Crowley. £133,269. Lifetime Record: 10-7-0-2, $409,959. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Half Light (Ire), 129, f, 4, Shamardal–Northern Melody (Ire), by Singspiel (Ire). O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Henri-Alex Pantall. £50,525.
3–Cloak of Spirits (Ire), 126, f, 3, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Pivotique (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum (IRE); T-Richard Hannon. £25,286.
Margins: 1HF, NK, HF. Odds: 8.50, 14.00, 28.00.
Also Ran: Champers Elysees (Ire), Terebellum (Ire), Lady Bowthorpe (GB), Feliciana de Vega (GB), Billesdon Brook (GB), Veracious (GB), Final Song (Ire), Lavender’s Blue (Ire), Peaceful (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. (by TDN)
Le Havre’s Wonderful Tonight Prevails in the Royallieu
Wonderful Tonight | Scoop Dyga
Chris Wright’s Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) defeated subsequent G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay victress Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) in Deauville’s Aug. 16 G3 Prix Minerve and collected a career high with a game performance in Saturday’s G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp. Successful tackling 10 furlongs at Saint-Cloud in one of two juvenile starts, she reappeared this term to run fourth in Newbury’s June 13 Listed Abingdon Fillies’ S. and second over 12 furlongs at this venue in the July 23 Listed Prix de Thiberville. The well-backed 49-10 favourite broke smartly and raced in second before settling third along the backstraight. Slipping up the inner to lead into the straight, she came under pressure when threatened by Pista (American Pharoah) at the quarter-mile marker and, despite rolling around on the front end, was driven out to deny that persistent rival by 1 1/4 lengths. Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) was another Aga Khan contender to the fore at the death and ran on well from mid division to finish five lengths off the front pair in third.
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX DE ROYALLIEU-G1, €180,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-3, 3yo/up, f/m, 14fT, 3:11.22, hy.
1–WONDERFUL TONIGHT (FR), 122, f, 3, by Le Havre (Ire)
1st Dam: Salvation (GB), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Birdie (GB), by Alhaarth (Ire)
3rd Dam: Fade (GB), by Persepolis (Fr)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€40,000 Ylg ’18 ARAUG). O-Christopher N Wright; B-Ecurie de Montfort & Preaux (FR); T-David Menuisier; J-Tony Piccone. €102,852. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, €164,740. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pista, 122, f, 3, American Pharoah–Mohini (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). ($675,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Scott Heider; B-Lynch Bages Ltd (KY); T-Joseph O’Brien. €41,148.
3–Ebaiyra, 122, f, 3, Distorted Humor–Ebiyza (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan’s Studs SC (KY); T-Alain de Royer-Dupre. €20,574.
Margins: 1 1/4, 5, 1 3/4. Odds: 4.90, 5.20, 6.30.
Also Ran: Mashael (Fr), Passion (Ire), Kalifornia Queen (Ger), Palomba (Ire), Paix (Ire), Miss Yoda (Ger), Monica Sheriff (GB), Manuela de Vega (Ire), Spirit of Appin (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. (by TDN)
