Month: October 2020

Fayette: Wet Track Could Be Problematic For Tax Off The Layoff

The only time Tax has run at Keeneland was two years ago in a $50,000 maiden claiming race. The stakes will be much higher Saturday when the now 4-year-old gelding goes postward in the 63rd running of the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2).

“He's doing well,” said trainer Danny Gargan, who claimed Tax out of that Keeneland race. “I gave him three months off (after the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap-G2) because he really hadn't had a break.”

Now owned by the partnership of R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable, Tax won the Jim Dandy (G2) and the Withers (G3). He also finished second in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Discovery (G3).

“I had targeted this race (Hagyard Fayette) because I like the mile and an eighth (distance),” Gargan said. “I didn't want to go a mile and a quarter right off the bench.”

One concern of Gargan's for Saturday is the strong possibility of rain most of the day and the chance for an off track. In Tax's only off-track race, he was 14th in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve.

“That one probably shouldn't count because it was more like a swamp,” Gargan said.

The post Fayette: Wet Track Could Be Problematic For Tax Off The Layoff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Looking for ‘Magic’ in the QEII

Newcomer Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) marked her U.S. debut with an emphatic score in the Sept. 19 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and will try to remain undefeated at the highest level in this country in Saturday’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland. A winner of one of three starts in France for trainer Fabrice Chappet and owner Haras du Saubouas, the English-bred returned off an eight-month layoff to take ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix Vanteaux in May before finishing runner up in the G1 Prix Saint Alary at Chantilly in June. Transferred to her new trainer Arnaud Delacour following a fifth in the July 5 G1 Prix de Diane, the Lael Stables runner overcame a wide trip to win the 10-furlong Oaks Sept. 19 and will reunite with Javier Castellano, who was aboard for her U.S. unveiling.

Fellow Grade I-winner Red Lark (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) also tries to add another top tier tally to her record. Winless in three starts in Ireland last term, the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners runner won her second U.S. start going nine furlongs on the Santa Anita turf in February before finishing off the board in her next two black-type appearances at that Arcadia oval. Second in the GIII Wilshire S. June 20, the Paddy Gallagher trainee was third–beaten a length–in a Del Mar optional claimer July 12 before attaining a career high in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 22.

One of two fillies by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah in the field, Sweet Melania kicked off the season with a wire-to-wire win in Belmont’s one-mile GIII Wonder Again S. June 20 before getting nipped in the Aug. 28 GIII Lake George S. at Saratoga. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Robert and Lawana Low representative already has registered a win over the surface, having taken last fall’s GII Jessamine S. at Keeneland.

Also, sired by American Pharoah, Harvey’s Lil Goil tries to recapture the form that saw her win the nine-furlong GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs. Third returning to the dirt for the 10-furlong GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 15, the Bill Mott pupil just missed by a neck in the Dueling Grounds Oaks over 10 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10. Mott also saddles Belmont Oaks runner-up Antoinette (Hard Spun).

The post Looking for ‘Magic’ in the QEII appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Woodbine Pushes Back Friday Post Time Starting Oct. 16

Woodbine Entertainment announced today that Friday post times for its live Thoroughbred race cards at Woodbine Racetrack will move to 4:35 p.m. ET, effective Oct. 16.

Live racing action from the back half of Woodbine's Friday cards will be featured on TSN's Racing Night Live as the dynamic horse racing series returns this fall on Canada's Sports Leader and moves to the marquee timeslot of 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. ET. The two-hour broadcast will also showcase live Standardbred racing from Woodbine Mohawk Park. 

Woodbine Thoroughbred post times remain unchanged for Thursdays (2:15 p.m.), Saturdays (1:10 p.m.) and Sundays (1:10 p.m.).

For more information on Woodbine racing, please visit Woodbine.com.

The post Woodbine Pushes Back Friday Post Time Starting Oct. 16 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights