Breeders' Cup in Play for New York Winners

Bruce Lunsford's homebred Art Collector  was reported to be in good order the morning after his Sept. 25 Woodward Stakes (G1) victory at Belmont Park, his third consecutive victory since moved to the barn of Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

"Art Collector ran great. It was a very gutty effort and he did everything right," said Mott's Belmont-based assistant Leanna Willaford. "He looked great this morning and is already on his way back up to Saratoga."

Following the Woodward on Saturday, Mott did not rule out stretching the 4-year-old Bernardini colt another furlong for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

"I don't know what we have to lose. I'll run him a mile and a quarter," Mott said. "I'll talk with Mr. Lunsford, he makes the final decisions, but a mile and an eighth hasn't been a problem for him," Mott said.

Mott was also represented in the Woodward by Don Alberto Stable's homebred Forza Di Oro , who finished fifth.

Willaford said Forza Di Oro, who one start earlier was third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, might appreciate a turn back in distance. The 4-year-old returned from a layoff in July at the Spa to win an allowance optional claimer at the Woodward's distance.

"That's a thought. We might have to regroup with him," Willaford said. "It looked like with his win up at Saratoga that he was going to go on, but he is a Speightstown  ."

Jack Christopher Eyes BC Juvenile

Rising star Jack Christopher  passed the grade 1 test with flying colors in Saturday's Champagne Stakes (G1), stretching out to a mile after winning at six furlongs on debut Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

The 2-year-old son of Munnings   secured a "Win and You're In" entry to the 1 1/16-mile TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) Nov. 5 at Del Mar. 

"We were obviously very pleased with the race," said Brown's Belmont-based assistant Dan Stupp. "He ate up well last night and we're happy with how he looked this morning."

Jack Christopher, owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, will face a new test going two turns with a start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the horizon. 

"The way he was able to relax and rate and with his running style, why not? He didn't do anything that would stop us from trying. He handled the extra ground very well," Stupp said. 

Arrest Me Red to BC Turf Sprint

Lael Stables' homebred Arrest Me Red  left trainer Wesley Ward pleased after defeating his elders in Saturday's Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes (G3T). The 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile colt will now point to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

"It's nice when a plan comes through," Ward said. "He came out of the race great and scoped clean, so off we go."

Transferred to Ward's care at Keeneland for a sophomore campaign, the sizable colt breezed six times over the main track before the conditioner shipped him to Saratoga where he trained forwardly on the Oklahoma Training Track's turf.

"He's a beautiful horse. We got him here at Keeneland and he had several workouts but wasn't very impressive at all," Ward said. "He was getting outworked and for a big, sturdy bugger you'd expect a lot more because he's a sturdy and imposing-type horse. He's like a big tank. I put him with just average horses and they bested him in the mornings.

"We got him up to Saratoga on the turf and away he went," Ward continued. "There's horses for courses and horses for surfaces and this guy is a grass specialist."

Ward is likely to have a big presence in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with Golden Pal , Campanelle , and Kimari  all under consideration.