Breeders' Cup: Havre de Grace likely to enter Ladies' Classic as backup

October 12, 2011

Although Havre de Grace is being pointed to the Breeders Cup Classic against males on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs, her trainer, Larry Jones, said she most likely also will be entered in the Ladies Classic, to be run Nov. 4.Jones, speaking at Keeneland after his arrival here Sunday, reiterated that the Classic is the preferred target for Havre de Grace for both he and owner Rick Porter. The decision to enter the Ladies Classic could not even be described as Plan B. Its more like Plan Z. But Jones is keeping the option open, just in case.Look, if we draw the one hole and we know that the horse who drew the two hole is known for bolting to the inside, or the forecast calls for torrential rain for Saturday and a nice day on Friday, Jones said of the possible, but unlikely, scenarios that would re-route Havre de Grace to the Ladies Classic.But if it looks like the Ladies Classic will overfill, we will not enter, Jones said, emphatically. We are not going to enter if it might knock someone out.Final entries must be submitted, and post positions will be drawn, for all 15 Breeders Cup races on Oct. 31.Havre de Grace will train at Keeneland for the next three weeks, Jones said, before moving over to Churchill Downs.She doesnt need much, he said. She gallops plenty fast, and she gallops packing me, so she certainly stays fit.The prospective field for the Ladies Classic is headed by the 3-year-old fillies Its Tricky, Plum Pretty, Royal Delta, and Zazu. But there are several older female runners pointing to the race, the newest being Aruna, who won the Spinster on Sunday.Ask the Moon, who disappointed in the Ladys Secret at Santa Anita following two Grade 1 wins at Saratoga, also is scheduled to run, trainer Marty Wolfson said Wednesday.She was sick coming out of that race, Wolfson said. Everything was out of whack. She had a high white count. Shes now turning the corner, but she was really knocked out. Shes at Keeneland now and will work early next week.