Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park is the centerpiece of an action-packed opening weekend that features seven Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races at the picturesque Arcadia, Calif. track.
Month: September 2020
Breeze On By Seeking Full Sweep Of Florida Sire Stakes Series In Saturday’s In Reality
Stonehedge LLC's Breeze On By will seek a sweep of the 2020 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series Saturday, when the undefeated homebred son of Cajun Breeze takes on eight rivals in Saturday's $400,000 In Reality at Gulfstream Park.
The In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile open-division final for 2-year-olds, and the My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile final for juvenile fillies, will be joined on Saturday's program by the $150,000 FSS Wildcat Heir, a mile race for 3-year-olds and up. All three FSS stakes are for horses sired by accredited Florida Stallions. Supporting stakes will include the $75,000 Armed Forces, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds; the $75,000 My Dear Peggy, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies; and the $75,000 Hollywood Beach, a five-furlong turf dash for 2-year-olds.
Breeze On By captured the $100,000 FSS Dr. Fager at six furlongs Aug. 1 and the $200,000 FSS Affirmed at seven furlongs Aug. 29. The undefeated Ralph Nicks trainee, who captured his July 12 debut, will seek to become the fifth horse to sweep the FSS open division, joining Three Rules (2016), Sir Oscar (2003), Seacliff (1995) and Smile (1984).
“He's a nice horse. The question will be: Will he handle the two turns? That being said, he's done everything pretty handily so far,” Nicks said. “I love young horses. Stonehedge sends them to us early and let us do our job. It's fun to watch them develop. The ones who have talent you can mold into these kind of horses.”
Trainer Ralph Nicks, who won his fourth consecutive running of the Affirmed when Breeze On By romped to victory by 7 ½ lengths, has saddled the winners of eight Florida Sire Stakes series races since 2016.
“I've been blessed with some nice horses. It would be special to put him on the list with the other ones that have swept the series,” Nicks said.
Breeze On By provided Gil and Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge Farm with a 15th victory in the tradition-rich series with his Affirmed score.
The gelded son of Cajun Breeze, who made a rather auspicious debut while capturing a July 12 maiden special weight race at Gulfstream by six lengths, set the pace in the six-furlong Dr. Fager before meeting a strong challenge from Gatsby at the top of the stretch. After Gatsby put his nose in front in mid-stretch, Breeze On By fought back gamely to prevail by a length.
In the Affirmed, Breeze On By was followed to the finish line by Nicks stablemates Big Daddy Dave and Seazan, who are also owned by Campbells, who achieved the superfecta with Kathleen O'Connell-trained fourth-place finisher Top Boss.
While Big Daddy Dave, who finished a distant second in the Affirmed, is scheduled to bypass the In Reality and start in the Hollywood Beach, Seazan will return in the FSS final. After a troubled second-place finish in his debut, the son of Khozan graduated in his second start Aug. 1. Seazan closed from ninth and last to finish third in the Affirmed.
“I honestly believe he is a two-turn horse,” Nicks said. “He'll be picking up lot of ground late. He's going to be even better the middle of next year than he is right now.”
Emisael Jaramillo has the return call aboard Breeze On By, while Samy Camacho is slated to ride Seazan.
Arindel's Gatsby will seek to rebound from a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Affirmed after giving Breeze On By a scare in the Dr. Fager. The homebred son of Brethren broke a step slow from his No. 1 post position before setting a pressured pace and faltering in the stretch.
An impressive winner of his April 12 debut, he rebounded from an off-the-board finish in the June 27 Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs with his gusty second-place finish in the Dr. Fager. The homebred son of Brethren pulled off an upset victory over heavily favored Golden Pal in his April 12 debut at 4 ½ furlongs at Gulfstream, chasing the Wesley Ward-trained odds-on favorite into the stretch before edging clear by three-quarters of a length. Golden Pal has gone on to impress on turf, finishing second in the Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot and winning the Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga handily by 3 ½ lengths.
Arindel and trainer Juan Alvarado will also be represented by Hercules, who debuted impressively at Gulfstream Aug. 29, scoring by 2 ½ lengths despite racing greenly through the stretch.
Cristian Torres has the call on Gatsby, while Hector Berrios has been named to ride Hercules, also a son of Brethren.
Kenneth Fishbein's Boca Boy, who finished third in the Dr. Fager, returns to FSS action Saturday after bypassing the Affirmed in favor of the Proud Man, an undercard turf stakes in which he finished second. Edgard Zayas will ride the son of Prospective.
Social Equality, Honesto and The Red Man round out the field.
The post Breeze On By Seeking Full Sweep Of Florida Sire Stakes Series In Saturday’s In Reality appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
FSS My Dear Girl Contender Princess Secret ‘Doesn’t Like To Lose’
Princess Secret is probably the most talented filly in Saturday's My Dear Girl at Gulfstream Park, but the daughter of Khozan is without a doubt the most battle-tested entrant in the $400,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes final at Gulfstream Park.
The My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile two-turn test for 2-year-old fillies, and the In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile open-division final for juveniles, will be joined on Saturday's program by the $150,000 FSS Wildcat Heir, a mile race for 3-year-olds and up. All three stakes are for horses sired by accredited Florida Stallions. Supporting stakes will include the $75,000 Armed Forces, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds; the $75,000 My Dear Peggy, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies; and the $75,000 Hollywood Beach, a five-furlong turf dash for 2-year-olds.
Owned and trained by Daniel Pita, Princess Secret had things pretty much her own way in her May 7 debut, in which she shook off mild early pressure and drew off to a four-length triumph. Since then, the daughter of Khozan has had to fight for everything she's gotten, including a hard-fought victory in the $200,000 Susan's Girl, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series Aug. 29.
“She has a will to fight in every race. She doesn't like to lose. Even when things don't go her way, she finds a way to overcome it or almost overcome it,” Pita said. “You could make an argument that if a couple things went her way, we might be talking about an undefeated filly.”
In her second career start, Princess Secret showed her grit when she took on the boys in the first allowance race of the year, overcoming considerable bumping at the start while rallying to second. She set a pressured pace before being caught by Go Jo Jo Go in the $100,000 Desert Vixen, the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes, but battled back to save the place.
“Things happen in races and you have to deal with those things. It's unfortunate when things don't go your way,” Pita said.
In the Susan's Girl, Princess Secret bumped with Go Jo Jo Go shortly after the start, rushed up to set a pressured pace, and edged away to victory by three-quarters of a length over late-running Oh Deborah.
Pita is confident that Princess Secret will show the same talent and determination around two turns Saturday.
“Any doubt we might have had about her getting a mile and a sixteenth was eased in her [Sept. 18) workout. She went six furlongs in 1:14-and-change very easily with a long, long gallop-out, strong gallop-out,” Pita said. “I think she will have no issue with the mile and a sixteenth. If she's good enough to beat the field, that's a different story. I don't think distance is going to be the factor that will get her beat.”
Miguel Vasquez has the return call on Princess Secret, who was purchased for $30,000 at the 2019 OBS October sale.
Stonehedge LLC's Oh Deborah is set to make her third career start in the My Dear Girl, after debuting with a 3 ¼-length victory July 19 and finishing second in the Susan's Girl, in which she battled through the stretch with Princess Secret before settling for second.
“She missed a lot of time. She hurt herself in the stall and missed the first leg and also missed training for 10 to 12 days, so I think that might have compromised her a little,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “That being said, she ran pretty darn good. We expect her to run well.”
Samy Camacho has the call aboard the daughter of Winslow Homer.
Nicks is also slated to saddle Bell Racing LLC's Big Rings for a start in the My Dear Girl. The daughter of The Big Beat debuted with a nine-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 6.
Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount on Big Rings.
Michael Yates-trained Go Jo Jo Go will also represent Stonehedge LLC in the My Dear Girl. The daughter of Khozan broke her maiden at 21-1 while winning the Desert Vixen in her fourth career start, rallying from well off the pace to win by 1 ¼ lengths.
Leonel Reyes has the record mount Saturday.
Ashley Quartarolo's Lilac Lace is scheduled to make her first start in the Florida Sire Stakes series after debuting with a 1 ¾-length debut victory at Keeneland July 19 and finishing fourth in the Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga Aug. 12.
Edgard Zayas is slated to ride the Anthony Quartarolo-trained daughter of Hi Cotton.
Karl Glassman and Cathi Glassman's Restofthestory is set to make her FSS debut in the My Dear Girl after graduating from the maiden ranks in her second career start. The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained daughter of Jess's Dream, who held gamely to finish second in her debut after engaging in speed duel, romped to victory by 3 ½ lengths Aug. 29 under Angel Arroyo, who has the return call Saturday.
Remington Oaks Stable and trainer Steve Dwoskin's Alluramore, who finished fourth in the both Desert Vixen and the Susan's Girl to kick off her career; NBS Stable's Splash Cash, who captured a six-furlong maiden race at Prairie Meadows Aug. 19; A 1 A Racing's Tamiami, a Todd Pletcher-trained debut winner who finished off the board in the Dr. Fager; and Arindel's Freak, a maiden who finished third in the Desert Vixen, are also entered in the My Dear Girl.
The post FSS My Dear Girl Contender Princess Secret ‘Doesn’t Like To Lose’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Shared Sense Tabbed As 5-2 Morning Line Favorite In Sunday’s Oklahoma Derby
A competitive field of nine horses were drawn Wednesday morning for Sunday's Grade 3, $200,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park, with Indiana Derby winner Shared Sense being made the 5-2 morning-line favorite.
The 32nd Oklahoma Derby is set for the 10th race of 11 on Sunday. The stakes-laded program of action begins at 3pm with the Oklahoma Derby set for 7:12pm. All times are Central.
The three horses with top earnings in the field are close in talent and in odds with Dean Martini at 7-2. He comes in as the winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and the top money earner in the field of nine horses at $393,202. Rowdy Yates, trying to become only the third Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby (Clever Trevor in 1989 and Shotgun Kowboy in 2015), is second in earnings with $346,556, and listed as the third-choice in the morning line at 4-1 odds. He will carry the colors of L and N Racing of Tulsa, Okla., and will be the hometown favorite, having won two stakes races over the Remington Park track as a 2-year-old last year. The favorite, Shared Sense, is third in earnings at $327,745.
Here's a closer look at your 2020 Oklahoma Derby field:
1 – Salow, 15-1
Owner: Tony Caver and D.K. Strickland of Cordova, Tenn.
Trainer: Terry Brennan
Jockey: Iram Diego
Undefeated Kentucky-bred colt by Distorted Humor, out of the Five Star Day mare Eve Giselle, is very lightly raced. He is two-for-two lifetime and both victories came over the turf. He won a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park in July at the Hallandale, Fla., track. He then followed that up with a win greensward at the first-level allowance level as the 2-1 favorite at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas on Aug. 2. He won his maiden race by 2-3/4 lengths and then scored by one length in allowance-company. He hasn't raced since Aug. 2, but has a bullet work at a half mile at Double M Training track in Arkansas, just outside of Hot Springs. He covered a half mile in :49.80 seconds breezing on Sept. 7. This will be the colt's first try in a stakes race. Earnings of $48,600.
2 – Creative Plan, 8-1
Owner: M and M Racing of Colleyville, Texas
Trainer: Karl Broberg
Jockey: Orlando Mojica
Another entrant with more experience on the turf than the dirt, but has shown a willingness to win. The gelded Kentucky-bred son of Creative Cause, out of the Divine Park mare Let's Park, has won four-of-seven in his career, two wins on the grass and two on the dirt or off-track. Five of his seven starts have come on turf courses. Both times he has started on the main track, he was a winner, however. His first win came on the turf course at Fair Grounds in New Orleans in a maiden claiming $30,000 race and he came home 3-1/4 lengths in front. His other three wins have come in allowance or allowance-optional claiming conditions at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Canterbury Park in Minnesota. His main track wins have both come at the one-mile distance. In his only stakes try, he ran third in the $100,000 Mystic Derby at Canterbury on July 15, beaten only one length. Trainer Karl Broberg has been the winningest conditioner in the country for six years. Earnings of $74,265.
3 – Rowdy Yates, 4-1
Owner: L and N Racing of Tulsa, Okla.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Stewart Elliott
Trained by Steve Asmussen, the leading trainer in the country by money earned this year and 15-time leading trainer and all-time winningest trainer at Remington Park. Asmussen is a Hall of Famer nationally and in Oklahoma. He is a two-time winner of the Eclipse Award for top trainer in the country. This colt by Morning Line, out of the Yes It's True mare Spring Station, has won 5-of-11 starts lifetime, four of those in stakes races. He is a two-time stakes winner over this track surface, taking the $100,000 Oklahoma Classics Juvenile on Oct. 18, 2019, at six furlongs and the $75,000 Don McNeill Stakes on Nov. 15, 2019. Both of his local stakes triumphs were against fellow Oklahoma-breds. Other than his Oklahoma stakes wins, he also took home the $100,000 Ellis Park Juvenile on Aug. 19, 2019 and the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby at Sunland Park on Jan. 26 this year. Owners L and N Racing have sent out Lookin at Lee, who ran second in the Kentucky Derby, and Echo Town, a top sprinter/miler in the country this year.
4 – Liam, 15-1
Owner: Red Lane Thoroughbreds and JSM Equine of Lexington, Ky.
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Lane Luzzi
Another lightly raced Kentucky-bred colt, showing only three starts lifetime, but winning his only try around two turns last time out. This colt by Liam's Map, out of the Street Sense mare S S Pinafore, broke his maiden at 1 mile-70 yards by a full length in near wire-to-wire fashion. He began his career as a 2-year-old at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, sprinting six furlongs and finishing sixth, beaten five lengths. He improved in his second start, running second on Aug. 29 at Remington Park, his debut as a 3-year-old with maidens. Trainer Danny Pish stretched him out to a route race and he was the winner at 4-5 odds. Liam tries a stakes race for the first time. Earnings of $22,996.
5 – Shared Sense, 5-2
Owner: Godolphin Racing of Lexington, Ky.
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Richard Eramia
This Kentucky-bred colt by Street Sense, out of the Bernardini mare Collective, won the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Indiana Grand on July 8 as the 5-2 favorite. He has been first or second in five-of-nine starts lifetime. Has not been out since running fifth to Art Collector in the Ellis Park Derby on Aug. 9, but has worked forwardly at Churchill Downs at Louisville, Ky., since. Trainer Brad Cox is currently second in the country in money earned with his horses pocketing more than $11 million, second only to Asmussen's $14 million-plus.
6 – Code Runner, 10-1
Owner: Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Lindey Wade
This Kentucky-bred colt by Honor Code, out of the Rock Hard Ten mare Nereid, was nominated to the Kentucky Derby, but never made it to the gate for the “run for the roses.” He did, however, compete in two graded stakes races this year, trying his wares in both the Grade 1, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby. Code Runner was soundly defeated by two in this field while in Ohio, both Dean Martini and Rowdy Yates, but you can never discount horses out of Asmussen's barn. His best finish in stakes-company was a fifth-place finish in the $100,000 Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town in West Virginia on Aug. 28. Earnings of $89,887.
7 – Avant Garde, 6-1
Owner: Gelfenstein Farm of Ocala, Fla.
Trainer: Jesus Lander
Jockey: Luis Quinonez
This gelded Kentucky-bred son of Tonalist, out of the Afleet Alex mare Dancing Afleet, is riding a four-race win streak at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla., but all four victories have come in lesser company than he will face in a stakes race. Winning this race and the $120,000 portion of the purse would make possibly make him the “claim of the year.” Gelfenstein Farm claimed him for $10,000 out of a maiden race in Florida on Jun 10. Since the claim, trainer Jesus Lander has led him to the winner's circle in four races in a row, three of them around two turns. He has yet to race against stakes horses, but there's something to be said for a horse that likes to win and win easily. His four victories have come by a combined 17 lengths. His shortest victory margin has been 3-1/4 lengths. Earnings of $70,900.
8 – Mo Mosa, 8-1
Owner: Perry and Denise Martin
Trainer: Michael Maker
Jockey: Ramon Vazquez
This Kentucky-bred colt by Uncle Mo, out of the Eskendereya mare Roughing, competed in both the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby and the Grade 1, $500,000 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark. He did not fare well in those two huge races, but gets into this race off a win by 4-1/4 lengths in first-level allowance-company Aug. 22 at Ellis Park in his last start. He was a Kentucky Derby nominee but was moved off the Derby trail after poor performances in those graded stakes. Broke his maiden by 5-3/4 lengths at Turfway Park in northern Kentucky at the one-mile distance and won comfortably last time out at one mile by 4-1/4 lengths on Aug. 22 at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. Earnings of $78,020.
9 – Dean Martini, 7-2
Owner: Raise the BAR Racing and David Bernsen
Trainer: Thomas Amoss
Jockey: David Cabrera
This Kentucky-bred colt has two wins lifetime and nine in-the-money runs from 11 starts. Owned by Raise the BAR Racing and David Bernsen, who also owns a computer wagering business in Point Loma, California. This 3-year-old gelding by Cairo Prince, out of the Friends Lake mare Soundwave, won the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 27, beating Storm the Court (ran third), who was last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner. He followed that with a sixth-place run in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby.
Remington Park racing continues this week with a special Wednesday-Sunday night schedule. Wednesday through Saturday first post is 7:07pm with nine races each night. On Sunday, Oklahoma Derby Day, there will be 11 races starting at 3pm.
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