Better Talk Now Will Defend BC Turf
Kip Deville Looks For Another Mile; Well Armed Aims At Dirt Mile
Oct 21, 2008
Two old favorites, Better Talk Now, a nine-year-old dark bay gelding and the 2004 BC Turf Champion, and Kip Deville, the gray-roan five-year-old BC Mile defending champion, were both pre-entered in their respective Breeders' Cup World Championships races scheduled for October 25.
Well Armed, a five-year-old gelded son of Tiznow, the only Thoroughbred to win the BC Classic in back-to-back years (to date -- Curlin may have something to say about that in a few days), is headed to the Dirt Mile to strive for some sonly honor.
Old Ones -- Better Talk Now and Kip Deville -- Try Again
Better Talk Now will chatter about another victory, or mumble through more blues when he takes on his rivals in the Breeders' Cup Turf, a 1-1/2 miles chase beginning at 6 pm on October 25. Trainer H. Graham Motion believes his charge has had an unlucky year, with near misses and might-have-beens. In eight starts this year, Better Talk Now hasn't had a win, "...but right now he's in top form and we believe he deserves to take another shot," said Motion last week when asked about the gelding's BC chances.
Richard Dutrow, Jr. had hoped to enter one of the year's two top headliners in the BC Classic. Everyone wanted to see Curlin versus Big Brown. Due to Big Brown's hoof injury, it won't happen, but Curlin could equal Tiznow's record, and Dutrow may throw another party for his veteran trainee Kip Deville, who takes a second straight shot at the BC Mile title.
BC Turf Eligibles:
Eligibles, along with their trainers and regular riders, are as follows:
- Better Talk Now --- trainer, H. Graham Motion/jockey, Ramon Dominguez
- Conduit (IRE) --- Sir Michael R. Stoute/Ryan Moore
- Dancing Forever --- Claude R. McGaughey III/Rene Douglas
- Eagle Mountain --- Michael F. De Kock/Kevin Shea
- Grand Couturier (GB) --- Robert Ribaudo/Alan Garcia
- Out of Control (BRZ) --- Robert J. Frankel/Garrett Gomez
- Red Giant --- Todd A. Pletcher/?
- Red Rock Canyon (IRE) --- Aidan P. O'Brien/Colm O'Donoghue
- Red Rocks (IRE) --- Mark A. Hennig/Franki Dettori
- Soldier of Fortune (IRE) --- A. O'Brien/John Murtagh
- Spring House --- Julio C. Canani/John Velazquez
- Winchester --- Dermot K. Weld/Patrick Smullen
BC Mile Eligibles:
- Awesome Gem --- Craig Dollase/Tyler Baze
- Bold Chieftan --- William J. Morey, Jr./Russell Baze
- Daytona (IRE) --- Dan L. Hendricks/Alex Solis
- Goldikova (IRE) --- Freddy Head/Olivier Peslier
- Kip Deville --- Richard E. Dutrow, Jr./Cornelio Velasquez
- Lord Admiral --- Charles O'Brien/Jamie Theriot
- Precious Kitten --- R.J. Frankel/Rafael Bejarano
- Raven's Pass --- John Gosden/Jimmy Fortune
- Shakis (IRE) --- Kiaran McLaughlin/Alan Garcia
- Thorn Song --- Dale Romans/Julien Leparoux
- Us Ranger --- A. O'Brien/John Murtagh
- Ventura --- R.J. Frankel/Garrett Gomez
- War Monger --- William I. Mott/Kent Desormeaux
- Whatsthescript --- John Sadler/Isaias Enriquez
BC Dirt Mile Eligibles:
- Albertus Maximus --- Vladimir Cerin/G. Gomez
- First Defense --- R.J. Frankel/Channing Hill
- Jonesboro --- Randy Moore/Robby Albarado
- Lewis Michael --- Wayne Catalano/Rene Douglas (cross over entry)
- Lord Admiral --- Charles O'Brien/J. Theriot
- Mast Track --- R.J. Frankel/John Velazquez
- My Pal Charlie --- Albert Stall, Jr./J. Theriot
- Pyro --- Steve Asmussen/R. Albarado (cross over entry)
- Rebellion --- H.G. Motion/R. Bejarano (cross over entry)
- Surf Cat --- Bruce Headley/A. Solis
- Two Step Salsa --- Julio Canani/Martin Pedroza
- Well Armed --- Eoin Harty/Aaron Gryder
Entries by order by selection committee, if necessary include:
- Slew's Tiznow --- Doug O'Neill/R. Bejarano
- Slew's Tizzy --- D. O'Neill/R. Bejarano
