LITTLE ROCK — Mixed bag
Eldaafer is one of eight defending or returning Breeders’ Cup winners competing this weekend.
The 7-year-old gelding won the 2010 Marathon and will be making a fourth consecutive appearance in the 1 3/4-mile race.
“He knows what his job is and he does it very well,” trainer Diane Alvarado said. “God willing, he’ll race again next year. He’s doing really good and he’s the soundest horse in my barn.”
The $500,000 Marathon today attracted one of the most eclectic fields in this Breeders’ Cup. It includes Atigun, third in the Belmont Stakes in June; the mare Sense of Purpose from Europe; and two horses from South America.
“All I can say is that’s wide open,” Alvarado said.
Finally meeting
Trainer Todd Pletcher did his best to keep Dreaming of Julia and Kauai Katie separated as long as possible.
With the season coming to an end and the division title on the line, the undefeated stablemates finally meet today in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies for 2-year-olds.
Both are 3 for 3 and are owned by the Stonestreet Stables founded by the late Jess Jackson, who won the 2009 Horse of the Year title with a filly, Rachel Alexandra.
“The owners are blessed with a couple of very talented fillies,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Just looking at how the race set up, and the way both fillies were doing, we felt like it was the right thing to do to give them both the opportunity in this spot.”
Both won major stakes at Belmont Park in their latest outings with Dreaming of Julia taking the Frizette and Kauai Katie winning the Matron.
As impressive as their resumes are, the Pletcher duo fall short of Executiveprivilege, the 2-1 favorite who brings a 5-for-5 record for trainer Bob Baffert to the showdown.
Sports, Pages 21 on 11/02/2012