Littlelightomine and Sleepingonthejob are Breeders' Cup Champions

Sleepingonthejob opened the 2010 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships with a stunning victory in the inaugural running of the Breeders' Cup Marathon. Sent off at odds of 8-1, Sleepingonthejob settled in just behind the pace and continued that way for the first 8 furlongs of the 1 3/4-mile race. The distance proved to be no obstacle for the three-year old, however, as he began picking off horses with five furlongs to go. A.P. Loverchic took over the lead coming out of the far turn, but could not hold off Sleepingonthejob in the final yards. Sleepingonthejob finished two lengths ahead of A.P. Loverchic. Hellhoud was third.

The three-year old son of Tribal Rule was purchased last year as a Triple Crown prospect, but struggled to find his stride in several of his races. It was never a lack of talent, but the Skybound team was concerned that we would never be able to find how to channel that talent. "Before the fall racing season, we went back an re-evaluated all of his past performances," said Skybound owner and general manager Lark Johnson. "We noticed that a lot of his best finishes--that is, the ones where he came back feeling like he was on top of the world--were at longer distances. He had a win during his two-year old season at 12 furlongs, and so we tried in him a Marathon prep where he finished really close. I'm so glad that he's hitting his stride in such a big way."

Sleepingonthejob has now won three times in 28 career starts and has career earnings of $86,445.

Littlelightomine was the 3-1 second choice in the Juvenile Fillies, but that was her only second place for the day. Skybound's young star took to an early lead, keeping the pace very sensible for most of the race. At the top of the lane some of the other fillies challenged, but they were no match for Littlelightomine. She drew away to reach the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead of second-place finisher Yoshi in a sparkling winning time of 1:43.5.

"We just can't wait to see what she'll do next year," said Johnson. "She's a wonderful filly to have around the barn. She definitely deserved this win."

Littlelightomine has four wins in eight career starts, two of them Grade 1 stakes including the Juvenile Fillies. She has only finished off the board once. The purse from this race boosts her career earnings to just under $140,000.


In what will most likely be the last start of her career, Let It Rock finished a competitive third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff. She has now finished on the board in 9 of 12 career starts including three wins, all at the Grade 1 level. Her career earnings total nearly $85,000.

Let It Rock and Bachelors Button headed to Breeders' Cup

Bachelors Button cemented his position as one of the leading handicap horses when he defeated 11 rivals to earn his third Grade 1 win and a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The four-year old son of Trippi stalked the pace for most of the race, then found a hole by the rail and charged forward to finish a neck ahead of Sirocco. His career earnings have now passed $70,000.

Let It Rock also earned a free pass to the Breeders' Cup with her win the Lady's Secret Stakes at Keeneland. The five-year old daughter of Merryhall has been lightly raced all year, but has only finished worse than second one time. This win was her second Grade 1 victory of 2010 and her third lifetime. She sprung from mid-pack to defeat second-place finisher Cappucino Royal LD by three-quarters of a length. Her lifetime earnings are now nearly $65,000.

Skybound, Inc. will now be sending five serious contenders to the Breeders' Cup on November 27th. In addition to Bachelors Button and Let It Rock, Littlelightomine earned a Win and You're In victory a few weeks ago in the Frizette Stakes and will be competing in the Juvenile Fillies. Sleepingonthejob is headed to the Breeders' Cup Marathon after a very close second-place finish in the Fall Championship Stakes at Turfway Park, and Animated Performer will make the final start of her career in the Breeders' Cup Turf.


Kudos to these other Skybound and Skybound-related horses on their performances at the Last Chance raceday:

• Optimus and Comedienne were each second in their allowance events.
• Shine On Me by Count On Me won an allowance race on turf.
• Runaway Coaster by The Devils Ride placed 3rd in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes. We hope that her connections consider sending her to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
  

Royal Inferno takes flight in Sky Classic

Six-year old Royal Inferno added another stakes win to his record when he blew away five rivals in the Sky Classic Stakes (G2) at the Woodbine Season Finale on October 31st. After stalking the pace for the first half of the race, he inched forward on the final turn and sprinted past the pacemakers to finish two lengths ahead of second-place finisher Sticky Situation. The earnings from the race boost Royal Inferno's lifetime earnings to nearly $50,000.

Littlelightomine wins ticket to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies

Littlelightomine (Sabre the Moment - Super Shine, by Kris S) headed a quartet of Skybound winners today when she earned her first Grade 1 win in the Frizette Stakes. She came from off-the-pace to defeat eight rivals, finishing 3/4 of a length in front of Winterborne Racing's Gotherdaddysmoney. The victory also gave Littlelightomine a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 6th through the IJC's Win and You're In program.

After a several-month layoff, Let It Rock returned to the track in tremendous fashion when she nosed out Skeptical for a win in the Grade 1 Beldame Stakes. It was the daughter of Merryhall's first win since 2009. In 2010 she has been second in four starts, so her gutsy win in the Beldame has given the Skybound team a vote of confidence heading into the Breeders' Cup, where Let It Rock will likely start in the Distaff.

Other winners of the day were Storm Warning (Storm the Fire - Space Cadet, by Hello Houston), who broke his maiden in a 6.5 furlong event for two-year old colts and geldings, and Countdown (Count On Me - Hushabye, by Quiet American), who earned his second career win in an allowance race.

More highlights:

• Promises Promises finished 2nd out of 12 in her first start in allowance company.
  
• Girls in Love, a Skybound-bred filly now racing for Serenity Racing, broke her maiden at six furlongs against seven other two-year old fillies.
• Shine On Me, another Skybound-bred and daughter of Count On Me, finished third in a turf sprint for older horses.
  

Several winners at Belmont Park opening weekend

Bachelors Button's win in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes was the cherry on top of three other wins earlier in the day at the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meet Kick-off and Saratoga Summer Wrap-up. The four-year old brought home his second Grade 1 win of his career ahead of a deep and full field of 11 other horses.

Animated Performer found her stride over the longer distance in the Bowling Green Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2). The victory was her first of the season, following several disappointing finishes over slightly shorter distances. The five-year old daughter of Pikepass will pursue a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Other winners of the day were Skipthesemantics, who earned his second win in an Allowance event for non-winners of two races, and Inamorato, who broke his maiden against five competitors.

Other highlights of the day included:

• Siren's Song finished 3rd in her second start in stakes company.
• Littlelightomine finished 3rd in her first Grade 1 stakes attempt in the Spinaway Stakes
  
• Dear Buddha, a Skybound graduate, finished third in the Bowling Green Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2)
• Runaway Coaster, a daughter of The Devils Ride, finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Garden City Breeders' Cup Stakes
  

Two winners at the IJC Product Placement Stakes Day

Of seven on-the-board finishes at the August 31 IJC Product Placement Stakes Day, two winners came home the shining stars.

Sardonyx (Olympic Torch -- Jewel of Charm, by Silver Charm) earned her first win of her career when she defeated a short field of three rivals in the event's opener. The two-year old filly found her stride in the six furlong turf race, closing to win by half a length. It was her first start at a distance longer than 5 furlongs and on turf.

Petit Sirah earned her second win in five career starts in a seven furlong turf allowance. The four-year old daughter of Drawnandquartered -- No Sedona (by Hadif) also won her maiden under the same conditions.

Other notable finishes of the day included African Holiday's second place in the Grade 3 Faygo Stakes behind a Skybound graduate, Dear Buddha. Color Me Naughty was second in the Dasani Stakes (G3), and Littlelightomine earned her second stakes placing with a third in the Montana Silversmiths Stakes (G3).

Bachelors Button earns first Grade 1 win with style

Bachelors Button defeated a short but impressive field to achieve his first Grade 1 victory in the Solstice Cup on August 10. He defeated reigning Horse of the Year Farfalle and multiple Grade 1 winners Sirocco and Somerset in the 10 furlong event.

The son of Trippi - Derrynane (by Affirmed) has now won 5 of 24 starts, 3 of them during his 4-year-old season. His career earnings are now $37,713.

Also a winner at the Winterborne Sunstroke Meet was Skipthesemantics, who earned his second win in five starts in an 8 furlong allowance event. Alabama Blues and Let It Rock also finished 2nd in Grade 3 and Grade 1 stakes events, respectively.