Bet to win.
Warwick 3.15 France De Reve – win bet.
Warwick 4.20 Anywayyoulookatit _ win bet.
Leicester 2.35 Able Kane – win bet.
Wolverhampton 4.25 Victory Rose – win bet.
Month: September 2020
Keeneland Grads Making Presence Felt in Russia
While the marquee horses and seven-figure fireworks are long since in the rear-view mirror when the Keeneland September Sale–the largest of its kind in the world–reaches its later books, there are still horses to be sold, even as the demand for those youngsters could begin to wane. Several years ago, in an effort to drum up interest in the latter stages of the sale, officials at the Lexington auction house began mining smaller, off-the-beaten-path markets, and those efforts have borne fruit in places like Russia, where Lyudovik (Constitution) became the fourth Keeneland graduate since 2014 to prevail in the $55,000 Russian Derby (RUS-G1, 2400m) at the historic Central Moscow Hippodrome last month.
“Dating back to long before I was here, we have made a concerted effort to find owners and trainers in emerging markets to get them to come and buy their Thoroughbreds here at Keeneland,” said Chip McGaughey, son of Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who joined Keeneland in 2015 and acts as a liaison to these smaller racing jurisdictions. “Obviously you can see that it’s had dividends with the success we’ve had in certain of those markets.”
Lyudovik, who became his sire’s second winner overall when graduating at first asking in domestic Group 3 company at Moscow last May, was bred by Pope McLean, Marc McLean, Pope McLean, Jr. and Phil Hager and was purchased out of the 2018 September sale for $40,000 by Marc-Antoine Berghracht’s M.A.B. Agency on behalf of his client Edward Mordukovich.
“Mr. Mordukovich is very keen on pedigrees and especially stallions and he follows American racing much more than I do,” the French agent explained. “The Constitutions are pretty special-looking horses and I said to him, ‘We must buy one.’ He quite liked that horse too, so we decided to go for one.”
He continued, “Most of the racing in Russia is on dirt, and for that reason, I like to buy those horses in America at Keeneland. Conditions [in Russia] can be pretty tough and sometimes it isn’t very easy keeping them sound, so I would not be very keen on those big, scopey kinds of horses. I probably tend to focus more on the European-type horse, but those that have a pedigree for dirt.”
A winner of two of his four starts at two, Lyudovik–a son of Speightlass (Speightstown)–returned from an 11-month absence to finish a strong second in a local Group 2 over 2000 meters July 25 and accounted for fellow KEESEP grad Whiskey Lemon Bars (Lemon Drop Kid–Film Maker {Dynaformer}, $40,000 yearling purchase) by a half-length in the Derby Aug. 16 (see below, SC #4). Other Keeneland-sourced winners on the Derby undercard included General Palace (Palace Malice, $33,000 ’19 KEESEP–video–#8) in the Criterium S. (RUS-G2, 1600m) and Gold Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}, $50,000 ’18 KEEJAN, video–#3) in the City of Moscow S. (RUS-G2, 2400m).
“He’s always complaining about the horses we bought that didn’t turn out, and I say to him, ‘Hang on, what about this one? What about that one? What about Lyudovik?’ and he goes, ‘You’re right,'” Berghracht said of Mordukovich. “And then we won the Derby and everything is fine. He’s a character. He’s a big fan of horses, he loves the game. He also races Standardbreds and Arabians. He’s a great ambassador.”
WATCH: Lyudovik winning the 2020 Russian Derby at Moscow
Also on behalf of Mordukovich, Berghracht signed a ticket on a son of Commissioner just two hips prior to purchasing Lyudovik during session nine of the 2018 September Sale. Snapped up for just $6,000, Bud’ Geroem broke his maiden in a domestic Group 2 race over the metric mile last September and added the Season Opening S. (RUS-G3) at nine furlongs first off the layoff May 17 (video, #6).
“We have a limited budget for Russia–we’re used to spending between $20,000 and max $70,000 or $80,000,” Berghracht commented. “So Lyudovik was right in the middle of our range.”
In most any line of business, the repeat customer is coveted, and given the success of Keeneland graduates in Russia, the clients are only too happy to return, hoping that lightning will strike twice. In a COVID-abbreviated racing season in 2020, some 32 Keeneland sales graduates have won Russia’s major events–10 at Group 1 level, 15 Group 2 winners and 12 Group 3 winners. And, in what was almost certainly a landmark achievement for the country, Tuz (Oxbow), a $7,000 graduate of the 2018 September sale who won his two starts at Pyatigorsk Racecourse by a combined margin of nearly 40 (yes, 40) lengths, ran a blinder to be second in the Listed Al Bastakiya S. at Meydan in Dubai this past March (video).
“It’s a competitive landscape. Everyone wants to have their market share and American Thoroughbreds have proven to excel on dirt surfaces around the world,” McGaughey said. “If they have success and their industry grows, they may start out just buying $5,000 horses, but that is twenty $5,000 horses that maybe otherwise would not have had a home. As their market continues to grow, they’re going to be inclined to come back to that source of success they had initially.”
Just five years ago, Russian interests acquired 60 horses for gross receipts of $1.7 million ($28,333 average), not an insignificant sum of money deep into the sale. Last year, they purchased no fewer than 112 horses for $4.1 million ($36,607 average). McGaughey is confident the trend will continue in a positive direction.
“The industry over there is definitely growing and they have made strides,” he said. “They’ve been working to try to become part of the IFHA [International Federation of Horseracing Authorities], the French PMU has set up their tote system and simulcasting throughout different regions.”
Foreign participation at this year’s September Sale is likely to be limited by travel restrictions currently in place, but McGaughey expects Russian interests to remain just as active as years past.
“With the pandemic, international sales are going to be down, but optimistically for the Russian market, there are currently no travel restrictions for Russian nationals coming into the United States,” he explained. “The majority of people I’ve spoken to are coming. There are a few exceptions, as the Russian Consulates are closed and are not issuing new visas at the moment, so some of them won’t be able to participate. But 90-95% of those planning to come over are still coming.”
The post Keeneland Grads Making Presence Felt in Russia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Pessin: Derby City City Distaff Winner Bell’s The One Likely To Train Up To Filly & Mare Sprint
Lothenbach Stables' classy sprinter Bell's the One, the narrow victor of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (Grade 1) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5, will search for Breeders' Cup glory in the $1-million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Nov. 7, according to trainer Neil Pessin.
Bell's the One, ridden by Corey Lanerie, stormed from off the pace to defeat 2019 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress by a scant nose on the wire of the Derby City Distaff. The victory vaulted the Majesticperfection filly to one of the top contenders for the season-ending championship event at Keeneland.
“This filly amazes us every time because how hard she tries,” Pessin said. “It was an unbelievable stretch drive in the (Derby City Distaff) with a very classy filly in Serengeti Empress. It was a great horse race.”
Pessin reported Bell's the One is likely to bypass Keeneland's local prep for the Filly & Mare Sprint, the $200,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) on Oct. 3, and will train up to the Breeders' Cup.
The post Pessin: Derby City City Distaff Winner Bell’s The One Likely To Train Up To Filly & Mare Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
The Pep-Talking Groom, Willy, and a Queen’s Plate Crown
This article was originally published at www.ontarioracing.com. Republished with permission.
As she walked the sturdy one-eyed colt over to the Woodbine paddock for the biggest race of his life, Siobhan Brown, almost every step of the way, patted the bay known as “Willy” and whispered words of encouragement.
“Everyone thinks I'm crazy,” started the groom who has worked in the barn of Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll for the past three years. “I pep talk my horses all the way through their races – from the time they leave their stall to the moment they break from the gate.”
The walk from Barn 39 to the paddock on September 12 was different than any other trek Brown had taken in her horse racing life.
But nothing, not a one-eyed horse, not a $1 million purse, not contesting the iconic Queen's Plate, and certainly not the odds suggesting a victory was a longshot, was going to alter the pre-race game plan Brown always employs.
“Renee [Dockstader] helped me bring Mighty Heart over. She had prepared [Mighty Heart owner] Larry Cordes' two other horses, so it was really special for me to have her come over. We've bonded through his horses, so to have both of his grooms bringing his Plate horse over was amazing. When we were walking through the tunnel – we were going so slowly – Renee kept saying, 'We've got to hurry up!' And I said, 'No… this is his speed and we're not going to run the race before we get there.'”
As the trio continued their journey to the paddock, Brown readied the 3-year-old Ontario-bred, making his stakes debut, for what was waiting.
“I said, 'Willy, there are going to be a lot of cameras. There is going to be a lot of excitement. I know you're ready to go, but you need to listen to your jockey. You're going to go in the gate, you're going to get a clean break, and you're going to listen to Daisuke [rider, Fukumoto]. You're going to find a good spot early and when you come home, you just go, buddy.'”
The Nova Scotia native didn't know just how prophetic her words would be.
But there were still other matters at hand before track announcer Robert Geller would send the 14 horses on their way.
Brown was ready for all of it.
“We were in the paddock and Mighty Heart gets a little stressed out when he hears the voices of people that he knows. He got excited and we calmed him down. Everyone in our group had gone outside to the walking ring, and we were walking him around the paddock, telling him it wasn't time for him to go outside yet. Every time we'd go by and he'd see outside, he thought it was time to go.”
Carroll, who won the 2006 Plate with Edenwold and the 2001 running with the filly Inglorious, legged-up Fukumoto as Brown made her way to the grandstand to the spot she always stands in whenever a horse of hers runs.
“Go get 'em, Willy,” she said as he disappeared from her sight.
The next time she saw Mighty Heart was moments later in the post parade.
His body language spoke volumes to Brown. She liked what she was seeing.
“He looked amped up. He looked fantastic. I walked back over to my usual spot by the stairs, well back from the fence, and just past the finish line. I was nervous. It seemed like forever in the minutes before they went into the gate.”
Brown exhaled as the 14 horses began their journey over the Woodbine Tapeta.
When the field passed the wire for the first time, Fukumoto, in his first Queen's Plate, had guided 13-1 Mighty Heart from post 13 to the rail and to the front.
Looking at the tote board and seeing the brisk early fractions, a quarter-mile in :23.57 and a half in :47.61, Brown became concerned.
At least she was for a moment.
“I thought, 'What are you doing in the lead, buddy? It's a long race.' When the cameras zoomed in on him in the backstretch, I could see Daisuke wasn't pulling to hold him back, but he wasn't pushing him either. I thought they looked good. They looked relaxed.”
But there was still plenty of ground to travel.
Around the turn for home, Mighty Heart's rivals came calling to his inside and outside.
“They were starting to catch up and I thought, 'Oh, no.' Too many times, your horse is in the lead and they end up getting caught.”
Despite not being able to see all of them, Mighty Heart heard them, and braced for the challenge of his much more seasoned foes, ready to test his mettle against more highly regarded contemporaries.
For the woman who had requested to be his groom this year, it was a mix of nerves, excitement and crossed fingers as the real running began.
As the son of Dramedy shifted into another gear after leading nearly every step of the way in the 1 1/4-mile Canadian classic, Brown, tears streaming down her cheeks, put her arms out and shouted, 'Run to me, Willy.'
And that's just what he did.
Mighty Heart winning the Queen's Plate under Daisuke Fukumoto
Mighty Heart crossed the wire a 7 3/4-length winner in a time of 2:01.98, the second fastest Plate run since 1957.
“I just lost it. I just cried and cried. I was so excited. There is a video of me and I sound like a wounded seagull at a fast-food restaurant. I've never hit an octave so high in my life. I must have yelled “Willy” a hundred times. I couldn't get anything else out. My knees buckled and down I went. I got back up. I never thought I'd ever have a horse in the Queen's Plate let alone win it.”
When Brown was finally reunited with Mighty Heart in the winner's circle, she reached up, gave him a hug and said, “I knew you could do it, Willy.”
In the aftermath of the Plate triumph, it wasn't non-stop elation for the horse's connections, Brown included.
There was still work to be done.
“It's still kind of surreal. After the race, it was amazing. People were coming to the barn and taking pictures. Then it hits you … we did it. I thought to myself, 'Siobhan, you are so stupid.' I had changed out of my nice Plate clothes for a baggy t-shirt, so I could get my work done. I had him run in the Plate and then we had two horses run in the race after. You wanted to celebrate, but we had business to do.”
Just like Brown did the next morning.
“I got about two hours sleep Saturday night because I was so excited that I couldn't fall asleep. I got up at 2:30 on Sunday morning and went to the barn for another race we had that day. I had to put the day before on the back burner and focus on getting the job done again.”
Thankfully, she's had plenty of reminders of the big moment in the following days.
While the tears have stopped, Brown, even if she's not always aware of it, is still sporting a wide smile.
“I come back down to earth, trying to treat it like any other race, then someone mentions it, and I start glowing all over again. Probably one of my favorite moments was when Josie was giving Daisuke the leg-up for the race, and the horse moved right into him. I had to hold the horse steady, and I thought, 'Are you trying to be like the horse [Authentic] from the Kentucky Derby and knock everybody over?' I'm glad he didn't.”
Mighty Heart was simply content to bowl over his Plate competition.
The signature victory has thrust the horse into the spotlight, at Woodbine and beyond.
Brown, who began working as a groom in 2016, was recently interviewed by CBC News Nova Scotia, an opportunity for her to share recollections of a horse racing fairytale come true.
But there's much more to the story than just a one-eyed horse winning the longest continually run race in North America.
“My aunt, Helen, had passed away, and that's why I moved out here to Toronto. People will always tell me that she's watching over me. Leading up to the race, I was having all of these weird signs. I'm not one to believe in that, but a little part of me does. I was filling the horses' water buckets and I thought I saw a piece of hay floating in one of the buckets. I went to scoop it up and throw it away, but it stuck to my finger. I let out a scream when I realized it was a praying mantis. I grabbed a towel and picked it up.
“I went home and did a Google search – I had put him on the grass – and some people say it's a sign of good luck because the mantis is praying. I said, 'I'll take it.' It was only the second time I had seen one in my life. The day of the race, I had gone outside to talk to two other grooms, and one of them told me to hold still. There was an eyelash on my face and she told me I had to make a wish. They told me they knew what it was, but not to say it out loud. So, I said it in my head. And the wish came true.”
The number of people on the Woodbine backstretch coming to Barn 39 has wound down over the past couple of days.
Whether he's alone or with others at his side, Brown believes Mighty Heart might have some measure of what he accomplished.
“I think so. He's so funny. He has so much personality. When people walk by and call to him, you can tell how much he likes it. He's easy to love. I'm so glad I asked Josie that I could be his groom. His other groom didn't come back this year, so I was able to take him. I love his personality … there's just something about him, and I think everyone that's come to congratulate him also sees that.”
Brown is hoping people unfamiliar with horse racing might see it too.
“This is a story that shines a positive light on our industry, the sport that so many of us love. From the outside looking in, there is some negativity associated with it. But, we love our horses. We love when they win, but it's about so much more than that. This horse, he is a perfect example of what makes racing wonderful. He beat the odds in so many ways and he's found a new following. People love those underdog stories and he is one of them. He's a horse that people enjoying talking about.”
Mighty Heart is also a horse that seems to appreciate a good pep talk, even if he doesn't hear every word.
“He couldn't hear me when he was getting close to the finish in the Plate, but I told him, 'Run to me, Willy.' And I like to think that's exactly what he did.”
The post The Pep-Talking Groom, Willy, and a Queen’s Plate Crown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
