Woodward a G1 Breeders' Cup tune for Life Is Good

The name of the race is different. Just like the race track.

But in one respect, the way Life is good Preparations for his upcoming involvement in the Breeders' Cup are similar to his path to the 2021 World Championships.

A year ago it was a paid practice against three overwhelmed rivals, only two of whom finished the race, in the mile Kelso Handicap (G2) that propelled the son of forward Into disaster en route to the $1 million Massive Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). As the 1:20 favorite that September afternoon, he won by almost 5 1/2 lengths Belmont Parkhe went on to win the Dirt Mile by a slightly larger margin of 5 3/4 lengths.

Some of those elements will come into play again on October 1, when CHC and WinStar Farm's multiple Grade 1 winner will be a massive favorite over four pedestrian rivals in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1). Belmont at aqueduct.

“You can’t control things like field size. They run against those who are there. You try to choose the right place for your horse and hopefully Life Is Good reinforces those skills,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He ran great to win the Whitney (Stakes, G1) and we’re excited to have him running on Saturday.”

There's more at stake for Life Is Good on Saturday, both literally and figuratively. The Woodward is a richer Grade 1 player compared to the Grade 2 Kelso and the ultimate target for the $4 million Breeders' Cup earner is the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) , which will see a highly anticipated showdown with the undefeated airline expected.

“Flightline is a great horse and couldn’t be more impressive than he was in the Pacific Classic (G1), but we have always believed strongly in Life Is Good,” Pletcher said.

The 4-year-old Life Is Good has won eight of 10 career starts and holds practical Grade 1 victories this year in both the Whitney on Aug. 6 and the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes on Jan. 29. Presented by 1/ST BET (G1) , two of the most essential stakes of the year for older horses. Still, he sits second in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association top-10 poll behind Flightline, a unanimous No. 1 pick after a stunning 19 1/4-length victory earlier this month in the TVG.com Pacific Classic (G1).

The Woodward was probably a better fit for a classic like Life Is Good when the fall meet at Belmont Park was moved to Aqueduct due to construction on the track in Elmont, NY. At Belmont, the Woodward was contested over a one-turn distance of 1 1/8 miles, while Saturday's race at Belmont at the Massive A meet will be run over the same distance of 1 1/8 miles but about two turns.

Given this configuration, and with Life Is Good and regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. breaking out of the railing on Saturday, the handsome bay stallion should be able to control the pace while conserving ground, reflecting the gargantuan challenge facing his opponents stand, even enlarged.

Life Is Good, bred by Gary and Mary West Stables from the USA Distorted humor The mare Beach Walk was purchased for $525,000 from Paramount Sales consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Life Is Good is her second foal and first stakes winner. Her three youngest foals are not yet in the race: 2-year-old filly Live well (Accuse ), a yearling Candy ride colt and a 2022 Into Mischief colt.

Pletcher will saddle two of the five starters and send Cypress Creek Equine, Arnold Bennewith and Spendthrift Farm's Keep me in mind a 4 year vintage Laoban Colt who finished fifth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) on September 3rd Saratoga Racetrack.

A Grade 2 winner at 2, Keepmeinmind has won just two of 13 starts but has two seconds and two thirds in graded stakes, including two placings in Grade 1 stakes for original trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Photo: Coady Photography

Law professor wins the Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs

Twin Creek Racing Stables' Law professor will continue to transition back and forth from grass to dirt. A winner of the FanDuel Tapit Stakes on turf at Kentucky Downs last time out for coach Rob Atras, before that Constitution The gelding finished ninth in the Oaklawn Mile (G3) and second in the dirt San Pasqual Stakes (G2) and had a fifth-place finish in the grassy Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T).

The field also includes owner/trainer Uriah St. Lewis. Informative who won the Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3). Monmouth Park with odds of 14:1. Last year, the son of Bodemeister won the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth with a 79-1 stunner.

Rounding out the list of five starters is owner/trainer David Jacobson's third-place finish Thomas Shelby A Lure Gelding who emerged optional winner on his last attempt at Monmouth.