Donato Lanni will have a busy weekend at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships which attract the best male and female thoroughbreds to compete in Grade 1 races at a variety of distances on both turf and dirt. The 2022 event runs Friday and Saturday (Nov 4th-5th) and all eyes will be on Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky to watch the world’s best race for their share of $31 million in purses and awards. The event includes 14 races, including nine on Saturday leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Set to test their mettle against the elite in the sport, the following Breeders’ Cup competitors were all bought by Donato for clients and syndicates:
(Friday races)
Last Call: Kentucky-bred Last Call punched her ticket to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a come-from-behind victory at the Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes on September 17th at Woodbine. The longest shot on the board in the field of eight juvenile fillies surged to victory in the “win and you’re in” race for the Breeders’ Cup and a date with other 2-year olds, destiny, and legendary European jockey Frankie Dettori. Donato’s X-Men Racing 2 and SF Racing own Last Call after Lanni bought her for just $30,000.
Cave Rock: A son of North America’s all-time richest thoroughbred Arrogate (also bought by Donato), Cave Rock was sensational winning his first three starts by a combined 16 1/2 lengths for trainer Bob Baffert, a five-time winner of the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for 2-year olds that Cave Rock competes in on Friday.
National Treasure: Bred in Kentucky and trained by Bob Baffert, National Treasure takes on his stablemate Cave Rock on the dirt track in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Speed Boat Beach: Acquired for $200,000, this colt runs in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for 2-year olds. Speed Boat Beach was a lights-out first time maiden winner on dirt and made a scintillating impression with a front-running, 1 ¼-length triumph on September 10th in a 5 ½-furlong dirt race at Del Mar where he set a track record.
(Saturday races)
Moira: The world’s best female grass horses age 3-years and up compete in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Saturday afternoon. Trained by Kevin Attard and representing Canada, Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate winner Moira will race two turns for a $2 million purse. Moira races for Donato’s X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing. Legendary European jockey Frankie Dettori will ride Moira who will be running in Donato’s own colours: green and white silks that pay tribute to Lanni’s long-time friends, his high school (St Thomas in Pointe Claire, Quebec), and his St T Zulu Rugby teammates (represented by the Zulu shield and two spears).
CZ Rocket: The 8-year-old gelding might be overlooked in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Saturday afternoon, but CZ Rocket is a proven performer who has won 12 of 34 races lifetime and earned more than $1.6 million during a career that began in 2017.
War Like Goddess: Lanni bought Multiple Graded Stakes Winner War Like Goddess for owner George Krikorian for $30,000 and she has earned over $1.6 million on the track to date. Already one of the leaders in her division, War Like Goddess‘ impressive win in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes officially earned her spot to take on the 3-year old boys in Saturday’s G1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf and a shot at a $4 million purse.
Good luck to Donato, Kevin Attard and all of the owners!