LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 1 1/4-mile distance of the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic could be an obstacle Saturday for several horses. It should pose no problem for Drosselmeyer, winner of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes last year who is 15-1 on the morning line in the richest race of Breeders’ Cup weekend.
Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Drosselmeyer is 1-for-6 since the Belmont victory, but the 4-year-old seems to be rounding into form. He was second behind Flat Out most recently in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. And he can handle this track, scoring his first win at Churchill Downs in 2009.
“Drosselmeyer’s first couple of races this year were very mediocre, but since the middle of August he’s had a reawakening,” Mott said. “He trained very well and ran very well in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Flat Out was clearly an easy winner. We ran hard to beat everybody else. We’re just hoping he’ll continue to improve off that race.”
Drosselmeyer reunites with Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith for the first time since the Belmont victory.
Eye on the prize, or cup.
Stacelita has been battling an eye injury as she prepares for the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf on Friday as the 2-1 early favorite.
She came out of her victory in the Flower Bowl at Belmont with an infected left eye. As a precaution, Stacelita has been training with a clear plastic cup over the eye to prevent further irritation or damage. Trainer Chad Brown is considering keeping the cup on for the race.
“A couple of days after the last race, the eye was a little puffy and ended up with a little ulcer,” he said. “We’ve been treating that and cleared it up but it’s not quite 100 percent yet. It’s a tough area of the body to heal for anybody, horse or human.”
After a successful career in her native France, the 5-year-old has run three times in the U.S., all Grade 1 stakes. She was third in the United Nations against the boys at Monmouth Park before winning two races against fillies and mares: the Beverly D at Arlington Park and the Flower Bowl.
Charging ahead.
Owner Mike Repole named Stopshoppingmaria for his wife Maria, who favors boutiques over backstretches.
“While I’m here right now, she is picking out all her shopping places for today and tomorrow,” Repole said. “She’s only packed like nine dresses for two days. I think she’s going to change every Breeders’ Cup race. She brought 12 pairs of shoes. Today when I left, I said, ‘You want to come to the barn?’ She said, ‘I need shoes.’ “
Repole previously had a filly named Stopspendingmaria, and he promises to continue the trend.
“Every year I’m going to name a filly after her shopping habits . . . but it kind of backfired in that it motivates her to shop even more to live up to her reputation,” Repole said.
