August, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Whitmore Seeks Second Forego Score

The hard-knocking Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) captured the 2018 GI Forego S. and, after missing last year’s Saratoga meet, he looks to take home the trophy again in this year’s renewal Saturday. Runner-up in the King Cotton S. at the start of this term Feb. 8, the chestnut captured the Hot Springs S. Mar. 7 and followed suit with a win in the GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 18. He completed the exacta behind Volatile (Violence) in this venue’s GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. last time July 25.

“Pace makes the race as we’ve seen in a lot of these races,” said trainer Ron Moquett. “He’s always good enough to make a big difference but you want him to do it without being put at a disadvantage.”

Also exiting the Vanderbilt are third-place finisher Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) and fourth-place finisher Firenze Fire (Poseidon’s Warrior). A Grade I winner at two and three at Saratoga, Mind Control captured in the GIII Toboggan S. Jan. 18 and GIII Tom Fool H. Mar. 7. He was sixth to subsequent GI Met Mile hero Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Runhappy Carter H. June 6 prior to the Vanderbilt.

Firenze Fire, whose lone top-level victory came during his juvenile campaign, captured the GIII General George S. at Laurel in his final start for Jason Servis prior to that conditioner’s arrest as part of a federal indictment for horse doping. Transferred to Kelly Breen, the homebred was fourth in the Carter, but returned to the winner’s circle at Belmont in the June 27 GII True North S.

A Grade I winner at two in the Champagne S., ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Complexity (Maclean’s Music) romped in an Aqueduct optional claimer in November and was fourth to Omaha Beach (War Front) next out in the GI Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 28. Subsequently shelved, the bay made a victorious return in a one-mile event at Belmont July 2.

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Sister To Wuheida a New Rising Star At Newmarket

Friday’s MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Fillies’ Novice S. at Newmarket played host to a new TDN Rising Star as Godolphin’s A’Shaari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) made a serious impact on debut for the Charlie Appleby stable. Sent off the 3-1 second favourite for the seven-furlong contest, the full-sister to the operation’s GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Wuheida (GB) travelled smoothly on the testing ground held up by William Buick throughout the early stages. Moving smoothly down the outer to gain command approaching the furlong pole, the chestnut burst clear and was being eased late en route to a 3 1/2-length success from Ready To Venture (GB) (Kingman {GB}), with 2 3/4 lengths back to Bellazada (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) in third.

While wide-margin wins on this type of ground can flatter to deceive, the portents are strong that A’Shaari has real potential with her talented full-sibling also scoring on debut over the same course and distance in the same month four years ago. She went straight from her maiden to Chantilly on Arc day where she prevailed in the Marcel Boussac before adding the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and G2 Dahlia S. to her tally and placing in the G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks), Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 7-9 1/2f, Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 7-9 1/2f, G1SW-Fr, GISW-US, GSW & G1SP-Eng, G1SP-Ger, $1,537,519. Appleby said, “A’Shaari has only come to hand in the last few weeks, but handled the ground well as her sister Wuheida did.”

The dam Hibaayeb (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) was also introduced over this track and trip in August 2009 by Clive Brittain and although she took four runs to break her maiden she did so in style in the G1 Fillies’ Mile. Transferred to Godolphin soon after, she was third in the G1 Prix Saint-Alary and won the G2 Ribblesdale S. before recording a career-best success in the GI Yellow Ribbon S. at three before annexing the GII Sheepshead Bay S. as a 4-year-old. A’Shaari is her fourth winner from as many runners and she also has a filly foal by Deep Impact (Jpn) to come.

1st-Newmarket, £5,400, Novice, 8-28, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:27.81, sf.
A’SHAARI (GB), f, 2, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hibaayeb (GB) (G1SW-Eng, GISW-US, G1SP-Fr, $630,316), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lady Zonda (GB), by Lion Cavern
3rd Dam: Zonda (GB), by Fabulous Dancer
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $4,610. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Maker Holds Strong Hand in Sword Dancer

When it comes to Grade Is on the turf in New York, it is typically Chad Brown who has three or four strong entries. However, in Saturday’s GI Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga–a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf–Brown is surprisingly absent and it is Mike Maker saddling a strong trio.

Cross Border (English Channel) appeared to come up up a neck short of likely race favorite Sadler’s Joy (Kitten’s Joy), who won the 2017 renewal of this race, in this venue’s GII Bowling Green S. last time Aug. 1, but was promoted to first after that re-opposing rival was disqualified and placed fourth for interference. Prior to that, he romped by 6 1/4 lengths in the state-bred Lubash S. at the Spa July 22.

“I don’t know what it is about Saratoga, but he seems to flourish up here,” said Maker’s assistant Nolan Ramsey. “Not only does he show it in his past performances, but physically the horse does well up here. His coat looks great and he really enjoys his training. We nicknamed him ‘The Machine’ because he just really gets into his training. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it is about Saratoga, but he likes it up here.”

His stablemate Aquaphobia (Giant’s Causeway) is the latest example of Maker’s success at the claim box. Haltered for $62,500 in January, he won the Old Man Eloquent S. in the claiming crown Feb. 17 and was fourth next out in the GII Mervin Muniz Memorial S. at Fair Grounds Mar. 21. Runner-up in the Sunshine Forever S. back in Hallandale May 9, the bay was fourth in Churchill’s GII Wise Dan S. June 20 and captured the GI United Nations S. at Monmouth last out July 18, good for a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.

Completing the Maker trio is Marzo (Medaglia d’Oro), also claimed for $62,500 back in August of last year. Capturing the GIII Sycamore S. at Keeneland in October, the gelding was third in his seasonal bow in the GIII John B. Connally S. at Sam Houston Jan. 26. Seventh in the Mervin Muniz, he was subsequently shelved and resurfaced in the Bowling Green, where he set the early pace before fading to fifth.

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A Decade Later, Zenyatta Still Racing Royalty

Whether you choose to believe them or not, people always said that she knew where the finish line was. And there was never any denying the intelligence of four-time Eclipse champion and Horse of the Year Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}).

She was quirky and a bit high-strung, and she made a hobby out of throwing exercise riders in the mornings. Her dance when she hit the track during warmup, whether it was to toy with her fans or to release adrenaline, and her ability to switch gears as she weaved between foes and charged down the lane towards the wire were all the elements that made Zenyatta, well, Zenyatta.

Now almost 10 years since that heart-wrenching day at Churchill Downs that kept her just short of a 20-race perfect record, the 16-year-old broodmare still has the same bright eye and the presence of a champion.

“Zenyatta’s probably the most intelligent horse on the farm,” said Jenn Laidlaw, the broodmare manager at Lane’s End Farm. “She knows that she’s important and she knows who she is. She has a real presence about her.”

The Hall of Famer can spot a camera from a mile away and when she spies someone approaching her paddock, she presents her hind end to the fence and awaits expectantly for a good scratching, pawing impatiently if it is not received in a timely manner.

Zenyatta’s exceptional talent on the track has yet to be seen in her offspring, with her first foal Cozmic One (Bernardini) running unplaced in five starts, but now succeeding in the show ring. Her other son Ziconic (Tapit) also never visited the winner’s circle.

But in the next few years, there is new opportunity for Zenyatta’s progeny to succeed.

Her daughter Zellda, a 3-year-old filly by Medaglia d’Oro, is in training under John Shirreffs and recorded her latest breeze on July 13, going four furlongs from the gate at Del Mar.

And this year, a second daughter arrived to carry on the family name.

Zenyatta foaled a filly by Candy Ride (Arg) on May 17.

“She’s been a superstar since day one,” Laidlaw said of the foal. “She popped up and started walking within an hour. She’s been healthy. She’s been happy. She hasn’t put a foot wrong since she’s been here. She’s got a great body and is a fairly correct foal, really typical for a Candy Ride. She’s probably my favorite of Zenyatta’s foals.”

Laidlaw added that this filly has the same gregarious personality as her mother.

“She knows who she is,” she said. “She’ll stand, she’ll pose, she knows when the camera is on her. She enjoys being groomed and she enjoys everybody giving her attention.”

Laidlaw has held various positions at Lane’s End over the last 10 years and has been present for Zenyatta’s entire broodmare career.

“With a foal at foot, she’s a great mom,” Laidlaw said. “She loves other foals. She usually has the other foals around her. She’s just a really smart mare and is great to be around.”

Laidlaw also said she enjoys witnessing the interaction between the champion mare and her adoring fans.

“When the fans get the opportunity to meet her, they’ll just start crying,” she said. “It’s really heartwarming to see how much she affected people’s daily lives and how much they love her. There are stories people tell you about how she’s helped them through situations or how she gave them motivation. We have a girl that works here and [Zenyatta] is what brought her into the industry. She absolutely loves this mare.”

Zenyatta was bred back to Candy Ride this year, and her filly this year will soon be weaned. The Hall of Famer isn’t in the spotlight quite as often nowadays as she was a decade ago, but she will always be racing royalty.

“I think Zenyatta being special is different for different people,” Laidlaw said. “Obviously she was a great race mare, but she just really got you excited every race she was in. She’s an outstanding horse for this industry, to bring people in and get them excited. Everybody loves her.”

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