Keeneland Runners Exit Saturday Stakes in Good Order

Agave Racing Stable, ERJ Racing, and Madaket Stables' Bowies Hero is scheduled to return to his home base at Santa Anita Park Oct. 10, according to Josh Flores, assistant to trainer Phil D'Amato.

"He finally got a clean trip," Flores said of Bowies Hero's three-quarter-length victory in Saturday's $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland that earned the 5-year-old a spot in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita. "He is good this morning. Ate up well, walked out of the stall fine, and went back in for a nap."

Diamond Oops, who finished second, could go to the Breeders' Cup, said trainer and part-owner Patrick Biancone.

"After they run a big race, they can either go up or they can go down," Biancone said. "We will see. We may go to California, but part of the ownership is from Hong Kong, and we could go to the (grade 1 Hong Kong Mile Dec. 8). We can't do both."

Suedois, the 2017 Shadwell Turf Mile winner who was beaten a nose to finish second in this year's race, is headed back to Europe today via Huntsville, Ala., according to Matt Ennis, assistant to trainer David O'Meara. Suedois, fourth in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar, will not go to this year's World Championships, Ennis said. The O'Meara barn will be represented in the Mile by Lord Glitters, who qualified by winning the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Uni Exits Record-Setting First Lady in Good Order 

Robert LaPenta, Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, and Bethlehem Stables' Uni came out of her course-record-shattering performance in the $400,000 First Lady Stakes (G1T) in good order, according to Whit Beckman, assistant to trainer Chad Brown.

"That was pretty impressive," Beckman said of Uni, who covered the mile on firm turf in 1:32.87. Her time was nearly a second and a half quicker than the boys ran in the Shadwell Turf Mile an hour later.

"That was a topic of conversation last night at dinner," Beckman said. "That's about a seven- or eight-length difference. Firm or soft, it doesn't matter. She can run on any surface."

Immediate plans for Uni have not been determined, Beckman said, adding that beaten favorite Rushing Fall, who finished fourth in the First Lady, also came out of the race fine. Saturday marked the first time Rushing Fall lost in five Keeneland starts.

Runner-up Juliet Foxtrot is scheduled to rejoin trainer Brad Cox's string Oct. 7 at Churchill Downs. Cox said he would talk with owner Juddmonte Farms Monday to discuss future plans for the 4-year-old homebred.

Cox picked up his second Breeders' Cup Challenge winner in two days Saturday when Arklow won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Belmont Park. At Keeneland Friday, British Idiom dominated the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1).

Maxfield to Remain at Keeneland Following Breeders' Futurity

Trainer Brendan Walsh was still basking in the glow Sunday morning of the 5 1/2-length victory by Maxfield in the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1).

"I think he galloped out a lot better than I did," Walsh said with a laugh. "I'm paying for it this morning."

The victory gave Walsh his first grade 1 score and earned Maxfield a berth in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). 

"He will probably stay here at Keeneland and then go out three or four days ahead of time," Walsh said.

Walsh is no stranger to Santa Anita. He saddled Cary Street and Scuba to victory in the Marathon Stakes (G2) on World Championships undercards in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

Favored Gouverneur Morris, who finished second to Maxfield, came out of the race fine. Trainer Todd Pletcher said via text that there are no firm plans for the colt, pending discussion with ownership.

Roger Horgan, assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, said Shadwell Stable's Ajaaweed, fourth in the Breeders' Futurity, will stay at Keeneland and maybe point for the Oct. 27 Street Sense to be run at a mile at Churchill Downs.

Thoroughbred Club of America Winner Spiced Perfection Back at Churchill Downs

Spiced Perfection, winner of Saturday's Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2), returned to trainer Peter Miller's string at Churchill Downs after the race and is scheduled to fly to California Thursday to begin preparations for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) to be run Nov. 2 at seven furlongs.

Spiced Perfection is cataloged to sell Nov. 6 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as a racing or broodmare prospect. She is consigned by ELiTE, agent.

Miller said Spiced Perfection grabbed a front hoof when she stumbled at the break and still overcame that to post a head victory in the six-furlong race. Spiced Perfection is owned by Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch.

Stonestreet Stables' Dawn the Destroyer rallied from last to get second and may stay at Keeneland a bit longer, according to Roger Horgan, assistant to McLaughlin.

"They are thinking Breeders' Cup with the filly, and seven-eighths is right up her alley," Horgan said. "Six furlongs was too short for her."

Lael Stables' Chalon, fourth as the favorite in the Thoroughbred Club of America, "was a little flat yesterday but good this morning, and that's the main thing," trainer Arnaud Delacour said.

Woodford Stakes Winner Stubbins to Return to California 

McShane Racing's Stubbins, winner of Saturday's Woodford Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G2T) is scheduled to return to Southern California this week to rejoin trainer Doug O'Neill's barn for a possible start in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 going five furlongs.

"He's good this morning, and he looks like he never even ran," said Jack Sisterson, who is overseeing his former employer's horses at Keeneland.

Stubbins rallied for a three-quarter-length victory over Leinster in the 5 1/2-furlong race.

"I didn't think he would get caught. He just got outrun," said Rusty Arnold, who trains Leinster for Amy Dunne. "He came out of the race fine, and he will love the five-eighths (in the Breeders' Cup)."

Breeze Easy's Imprimis, who finished third as the favorite, is scheduled to return to trainer Joe Orseno's base at Gulfstream Park. Orseno indicated the Breeders' Cup remained a consideration.