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Carl Spackler Sparkles in Turf Mile; East Avenue Takes Futurity

No gophers, no problem for Breeders’ Cup-bound Carl Spackler in $1.25 million Turf Mile. Bill Murray would have been proud.

Quickly gaining the lead over eight rivals, even-money favorite Carl Spackler scored an impressive victory in the $1.25 million Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland, thus earning a fees-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) next month at Del Mar.

Carl Spackler. Coady Photo.

The Turf Mile was one of three “Win and You’re In” races at Keeneland on Saturday, with East Avenue going gate-to-wire in the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1), while Zeitlos enjoyed a canny trip under Jose Ortiz and whizzed by Spirit Wind late to take the $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) for fillies and mares.

Under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, the 4-year-old Ireland-bred Carl Spackler (so named for actor Bill Murray’s character in “Caddyshack”) led through honest fractions of 23.93 and 47.28 seconds over the firm turf whilst being intently dogged by Talk of the Nation.

Easily dusting that one off at the top of the lane, Carl Spackler appeared briefly vulnerable to a phalanx of would-be challengers, but he simply ignored them and spurted clear through the stretch to hit the wire in 1.34.23, with More Than Looks closing stoutly from last to finish a length back.


“My horse broke alertly … I looked to the inside and nobody was really in any hurry to get going forward,” said Gaffalione. “All the credit goes to [trainer Chad Brown] and his team. They bring these horses ready to run.”

The victory was Carl Spackler’s second straight in a Grade 1, having taken the Fourstardave at Saratoga on Aug. 11, and he will enter the Mile with a 2024 record of four wins in five starts. Overall, the chestnut son of Lope de Vega is 7-1-0 from xx starts, and with the winner’s purse of $589,000 boosted his bankroll to $1,568,475 for eFive Racing Thoroughbreds.

Mountain Bear was third, 1 ¼ lengths behind More Than Looks. Completing the order of finish: Running Bee, Spirit of St. Louis, Kikkuli, Cash Equity, Talk of the Nation and Noises Off.

Breeders’ Futurity: East Avenue a big winner

East Avenue’s victory in the 1 1/16-mile Futurity was a virtual carbon-copy of his pacesetting maiden score in August at Ellis Park, as he rolled through uncontested opening fractions of 23.18 and 46.76 seconds and opened up through the stretch to hit the wire 5 ¼ lengths in front of favored Ferocious, who was fractious in the gate.


His winning time was 1:43.17 and he returned $7.56 for a $2 win bet.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of very good horses the last two years, especially with [owner] Godolphin, and he seemed like he was right up there,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh. “I was just waiting for confirmation. I think he’s a very special horse.”

Thoroughbred Club of America: Zeitlos a winner

In the Thoroughbred Club of America, the late-running Zeitlos benefited from brisk early fractions of 21.54 and 44.57 seconds set by Clearly Unhinged and Spirit Wind, rating kindly behind the dueling duo until tipped to the rail and asked for run by Jose Ortiz in midstretch.

The 4-year-old Curlin filly responded eagerly and drew clear to a 2 3/4-length win over Spirit Wind, earning a fees-paid trip to Del Mar on Nov. 2 for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

 


“She ran as good as she ever has, and what a great day to do it,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen of Zeitlos, who with the victory earned $214,288 for Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel and became racing’s latest millionaire with a bankroll of $1,031,305.

Zeitlos completed the 6 furlongs in 1:09.52 and returned $9.46.

Finishing third, another 2 ½ lengths back, was favored Brightwork, who was followed under the wire by Clearly Unhinged, Run for the Hills and Red Carpet Ready.

 

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