April, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Red-Hot Rosario Rides Kimari To Her Initial Grade 1 Victory In Madison Stakes

Winning his fourth consecutive graded stakes on Saturday's program at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., Joel Rosario rode Ten Broeck Farm's Kimari to a popular victory in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes. The 4-year-old filly by Munnings came from just off the pace to win by about a length as the 3-5 favorite, covering seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:21.53. She paid $3.40 to win.

Estilo Talentoso, a 50-1 outsider, and Bell's the One finished in a dead heat for second, with Sanenus fourth and pacesetter Mundaye Call fifth in the field of seven older fillies and mares.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Kimari was winning for the sixth time in 10 career starts. Two of her losses came at Royal Ascot in England, where she finished second in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes in 2019 and second again in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup in 2020. Kimari has won on turf or dirt and on fast tracks and sloppy tracks. She was coming off an easy win in the slop at Oaklawn in the Spring Fever Stakes on Feb. 21, her first start since a third-place finish in the Music City Stakes on turf at Kentucky Downs.

The Madison victory was her first in a Grade 1 race.

Rosario had Kimari in a perfect spot throughout the Madison, sitting just off the lead of Mundaye Call through opening fractions of :22.90, :45.58 and 1:09.29. She took command inside the furlong pole and held sway by three-quarters of a length.

Rosario earlier won the G2 Appalachian Stakes on turf aboard Jouster for Todd Pletcher, the G2 Commonwealth aboard Flagstaff for John Sadler and the G1 Ashland Stakes aboard Malathaat for Pletcher.

Post-race quotes:

Joel Rosario (winning rider of Kimari)

“I wanted to sit a little bit behind the other horses. After she threw her head around a little bit, she was fine. (After she settled), she was running for me then, comfortable, just waiting to let her go.”

Wesley Ward (winning trainer)

“She was a little bit rank. She broke better than she usually does, which put her right into the race. On paper, there really wasn't a lot of speed up front. Everything went our way. As soon as she turned for home, he (Rosario) started riding her. I was a little worried the last part; I wasn't sure seven-eighths (of a mile) is really her game. But this is her track, and this guy (Rosario) is on fire. So we had all the luck with us today.”

Corey Lanerie (rider of Bell's the One, who finished in a dead heat for second with Estilo Talentoso)

“I was very proud of her. Neil (Pessin) brought her over and she was ready, as ready as you can get one for not running. She ran her heart out for me. I'm disappointed we didn't win but very happy with the way she ran. I'm looking forward to her next race, I think she's going to improve more and more.”

Neil Pessin (trainer of Bell's the One)

“(The winner) had a race on us this year. We were coming off the bench. That and maybe if we could have bounced to the outside instead of being inside between horses. I think she's a little better if she's out. That being said, the winner ran a big race. Hopefully we can turn the tables on her over at Churchill (in the Derby City Distaff-G1 on May 1.).”

Paco Lopez (rider of Estilo Talentoso)

“Ran a huge race.”

The post Red-Hot Rosario Rides Kimari To Her Initial Grade 1 Victory In Madison Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rosario Roll Continues With Kimari in the Madison

The temperatures were on the cool side Saturday in Central Kentucky, but jockey Joel Rosario was hot. As in en fuego. The Dominican sensation had ridden, in succession, Flagstaff (Speightstown) to victory in the GIII Commonwealth S.; Bound For Nowhere (The Factor)–who was drawn somewhere in the middle of Versailles Road–to win the GII Shakertown S.; and produced 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) at just the right time to snatch the GI Central Bank Ashland S. Rosario completed a spectacular stakes four-timer in the day's penultimate race, riding Ten Broeck Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Kimari (Munnings) to absolute perfection in the GI Madison S.

Not always the quickest away from the stalls, the $152,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling jumped well–indeed, almost too well–as she raced freely through the early stages while tracking second favorite Mundaye Call (Into Mischief) through an opening quarter-mile in a modest :22.90. Stalking the Audubon Oaks winner into and around the turn, Kimari claimed that one under a hold at the three-sixteenths marker, was asked for more speed entering the final furlong and was more or less ridden hands-and-heels to the victory. Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music) bid three wide in upper stretch and stayed on nicely to dead-heat for second with Bell's the One (Majesticperfection).

“She broke better than she usually does, which put her right into the race,” said trainer Wesley Ward, who also saddled Bound For Nowhere earlier in the day. “On paper, there really wasn't a lot of speed up front. Everything went our way. As soon as she turned for home, [Rosario] started riding her. I was a little worried the last part; I wasn't sure seven-eighths is really her game. But this is her track, and this guy [Rosario] is on fire. So we had all the luck with us today.”

Named a no-brainer 'Rising Star' when galloping home a 15-length winner on debut over this main track two years ago, Kimari was a dual stakes winner sprinting on the turf that season, then won the Purple Martin S. on the dirt at Oaklawn before finishing a bang-up second against the boys in the G1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last June. Rested off a slow-starting third in the Sept. 15 Music City S. at Kentucky Downs, she returned to the main track to romp by 4 1/4 lengths in a sloppy-track renewal of the Spring Fever S. in Hot Springs Feb. 27.

Pedigree Notes:

Kimari is the 19th graded winner for Munnings and joins A.G. Vanderbilt H. hero El Deal and Cotillion S. and Delaware H. victress I'm A Chatterbox as his Grade I winners. Kimari's dam was herself a Grade III winner, having annexed the Chicago H. at this same seven-furlong distance in 2013, and was purchased by China Horse Club for $300,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The dam of the 2-year-old colt Imola (Quality Road), Cozze Up Lady was barren to Always Dreaming for 2020 and foaled a Constitution colt this past Feb. 15.

Saturday, Keeneland
MADISON S.-GI, $300,000, Keeneland, 4-3, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.53, ft.
1–KIMARI, 118, f, 4, by Munnings
1st Dam: Cozze Up Lady (GSW, $407,169),
                                by Cozzene
2nd Dam: The White Lady, by Johannesburg
3rd Dam: Maha Al Iman, by Pulpit
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN.
'TDN Rising Star'. ($152,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL). O-Ten Broeck Farm, Inc.; B-China Horse Club International Limited (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Joel Rosario. $180,000. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Eng, 10-6-2-1, $758,777. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
(DH) 2–Bell's the One, 120, m, 5, by Majesticperfection
                1st Dam: Street Mate, by Street Cry (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Day Mate, by Dayjur
                3rd Dam: Possible Mate, by King's Bishop
($155,000 Ylg '17 FTKJUL). O-Lothenbach Stables, Inc. (Bob
Lothenbach); B-Bret Jones (KY); T-Neil L. Pessin. $45,000.
(DH) 2–Estilo Talentoso, 118, f, 4, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Bazinga Baby, by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Elizaveta, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Carezza, by Caro (Ire)
($77,000 Ylg '18 FTKOCT; $95,000 RNA 2yo '19 OBSAPR;
$15,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-Juan Arriagada; B-Mile High
Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Juan Arriagada. $45,000.
Margins: 3/4, 2 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 0.70, 4.30, 50.80.
Also Ran: Sanenus (Chi), Mundaye Call, Fair Maiden, Sconsin.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Rosario Roll Continues With Kimari in the Madison appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bernardini Longshot Caps Pletcher Exacta in Wood Memorial

Calumet Farm homebred Bourbonic (Bernardini) was well deserving of his 70-1 odds on paper, but came flying late to nail stablemate Dynamic One (Union Rags) on the line in Aqueduct's GII Wood Memorial S.

Away well from post three, Bourbonic was unhurried early, trailing the field as fellow 70-1 shot and familiar foe Market Maven (Super Ninety Nine) dictated terms, setting early fractions of :24.88 and :50.18 with Weyburn (Pioneer of the Nile) breathing down his neck and Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}) close behind. Weyburn drew even with the pacesetter as three-quarters went in 1:14.98 with Bourbonic still biding his time, well behind the rest of the field. Weyburn took control at the top of the lane with Dynamic One ranging up menacingly to his outside and Crowded Trade (More Than Ready) coming alive in the four path. Meanwhile Bourbonic had just one rival beat with plenty left to do. Dynamic One disposed of Weyburn in mid-stretch, but Crowded Trade still posed an imminent threat as he continued to gain on the leader. However, Bourbonic was just finding his best stride on their outside, gobbling up ground in the final sixteenth to deny his stablemate in a photo finish. Crowded Trade completed the trifecta with Weyburn holding on for fourth.

“Todd [Pletcher] asked me what I was going to do and I told him I wouldn't move,” said winning rider Kendrick Carmouche. “I was just going to sit, sit, sit, sit and hopefully get out the last quarter of a mile. I knew he would go on from there. My horse was in a good stride. Each pole I was picking them up one by one without even asking. I'm thrilled for Calumet Farm. I won my first Grade I with True Timber in the Cigar Mile for them and now I won the Wood for them. These past six months of my career have just been what you dream of.”

“We felt like both horses were coming into the race in good order and we always had high hopes for Dynamic One,” said Pletcher, who was winning his sixth Wood Memorial. “He's a horse that's just starting to put it all together. I was pleased with how they were coming into it, but with Bourbonic, it was Mr. Kelley of Calumet, who said he'd like to try a race with Derby points in it. They're always game to take a chance. We always felt this horse [Bourbonic] would handle added distance. He was able to get a perfect trip and sit back and make one late run. He was able to get there just in time. It was a big effort.”

As for Dynamic Force, the conditioner said, “The one thing we were concerned about is if he made the lead he might idle a little bit. Jose [Ortiz] said he tried to time it as well as he could and he was hoping the leader would carry him to the wire more than he did. It was another step forward for him.”

The one-two finish gives Pletcher four possible GI Kentucky Derby contenders as he was represented by GI Curlin Florida Derby hero Known Agenda (Curlin) and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. runner-up Sainthood (Mshawish) during last weekend's prep races.

“I'll talk to all the connections and see what everybody wants to do but that was the purpose of being in today's race; take a shot and see who would step up and fortunately it worked out,” Pletcher said.

Sixth in his seven-panel unveiling on the Belmont main track in October, Bourbonic didn't run a step when trying two turns on a yielding turf course at Aqueduct Nov. 14. Breaking through by 4 3/4 lengths when dangled for a $50,000 tag going a mile on the Aqueduct main track Dec. 6, he posted a narrow victory in a starter optional claimer over track and trip Jan. 17. The homebred entered this off a runner-up finish to re-opposing Market Maven in a sloppy optional claimer at Parx Feb. 23.

Pedigree Notes:

Bourbonic is the 48th graded winner and 80th black-type scorer for the ultra-consistent Bernardini. He also provides Afleet Alex with his fifth graded victor and ninth black-type winner as a broodmare sire. Calumet Farm purchased GII Delaware Oaks heroine Dancing Afleet for $170,000 with Bourbonic in utero at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. She failed to get in foal to Mineshaft the following season, but produced a filly by Calumet's Ransom the Moon in February of 2020. The 11-year-old mare was bred to both Oxbow and Ransom the Moon last spring. The winner is also a half to MGSP Avant Garde (Tonalist).

Saturday, Aqueduct
WOOD MEMORIAL S. PRESENTED BY RESORTS WORLD CASINO-GII, $750,000, Aqueduct, 4-3, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:54.49, ft.
1–BOURBONIC, 123, c, 3, by Bernardini
        1st Dam: Dancing Afleet (GSW, $286,250), by Afleet Alex
        2nd Dam: Mrs. Vanderbilt, by Citidancer
        3rd Dam: Hey Up There, by Cormorant
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Kendrick
Carmouche. $400,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-0, $465,880.
*1/2 to Avant Garde (Tonalist), GSP-UAE, MGSP-USA,
$269,745. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dynamic One, 123, c, 3, Union Rags–Beat the Drums, by
Smart Strike. ($725,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable,
Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stable; B-Phipps Stable (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. $140,000.
3–Crowded Trade, 123, c, 3, More Than Ready–Maude S, by
Jump Start. ($185,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Klaravich Stables,
Inc.; B-Forging Oaks LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $75,000.
Margins: HD, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Odds: 72.25, 15.60, 2.90.
Also Ran: Weyburn, Brooklyn Strong, Prevalence, Risk Taking, Market Maven, Candy Man Rocket.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Distorted Humor’s Soothsay Upsets Santa Anita Oaks

Stepping up into graded company fresh off a debut maiden victory over six furlongs, SOOTHSAY (f, 3, Distorted Humor–Spellbound, by Bernardini) was given a tremendous ride by leading jockey Flavien Prat, met the late-stretch bid of favored Beautiful Gift (Medaglia d'Oro), and went on to a gutsy victory in Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks in Arcadia. While Beautiful Gift and Moraz (Empire Maker) took the bulk of the betting and battled up front in a rematch of the GIII Santa Ysabel S., Soothsay tracked those two from behind. The opening quarter of :24.34 and the half in :49.04 passed uneventfully until Soothsay suddenly made a bold move, catching a hole at the rail and surging through in an instant to seize the advantage. Moraz and Beautiful Gift made a line of three turning for home, but Moraz was the first beaten, leaving her two rivals to settle it. Soothsay had a half-length on Beautiful Gift three-quarters from home and held sway despite the pressure on the outside. Beautiful Gift dogged her all the way to the wire, but the less-experienced Soothsay would not be denied. Prat gave her two right-handed reminders in early stretch and vigorously hand rode her the rest of the way home to secure a half-length win. The field had been reduced to four after the Saturday morning scratch of Doug O'Neill's longshot Brilliant Cut (Speightstown).

“We expected a lot of her from the first start and from that start until now, she just grew up,” said Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. “You kind of see it happening. Otherwise, we wouldn't do something like this. If you watched her last workout, you could see how serious she was. We'll see about the [GI Kentucky] Oaks. We asked a lot of her to do this, so we'll make sure we pare back whatever we need.”

Soothsay received 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks with the Santa Anita win.

The Santa Anita Oaks was only Soothsay's second lifetime start and her first with any distance. In a case of deja vu, Soothsay followed the hoofprints of Mandella's Paradise Woods (Union Rags), who, in 2017, broke her maiden in a sprint and went straight to victory in the Santa Anita Oaks. That filly would become a MGISW and bank over $1 million. Soothsay bulleted Feb. 19 with five furlongs in :59 2/5 (1/32), then debuted a week later with a sound win over this track at six furlongs. She got her second bullet of the year Mar. 26–six panels in 1:11 2/5 (1/8)–just over a week before the Oaks.

Pedigree Notes:

Veteran sire Distorted Humor is responsible for Soothsay and 159 other black-type winners. Soothsay marks the 28-year-old WinStar sire's 70th graded winner. While his progeny have won all three Classics and have won or placed in a number of Breeders' Cup events, he has yet to have a winner of the Kentucky Oaks. Like Distorted Humor, Soothsay's dam, Spellbound, doesn't lack quality. She won the 2014 GII La Canada S. for Mandella and is by stellar broodmare sire Bernardini, who counts Soothsay as his 48th stakes winner out of a daughter. Spellbound, a half to MGSW Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid), hails from the same family as 2018 Broodmare of the Year Stage Magic (Ghostzapper) and $4.4-million yearling Shah Jehan (Mr. Prospector). She has a 2020 filly by More Than Ready and delivered a Mar. 11 colt by Street Sense.

Saturday, Santa Anita
SANTA ANITA OAKS-GII, $392,000, Santa Anita, 4-3, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.35, ft.
1–SOOTHSAY, 124, f, 3, by Distorted Humor
                1st Dam: Spellbound (GSW, $231,750), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Layreebelle, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Voodoo Lily, by Baldski
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Claiborne
Farm, Perry R. Bass II, Ramona S. Bass & Adele B. Dilschneider;
B-Raydelz Stable (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella; J-Flavien Prat.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $276,600.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Beautiful Gift, 124, f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Sea Gift, by A.P.
Indy. O/B-Baoma Corporation (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $80,000.
3–Moraz, 124, f, 3, Empire Maker–Malvinia, by A.P. Indy. O-Don
Alberto Stable; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W.
McCarthy. $48,000.
Margins: HF, 5 1/4, 8HF. Odds: 4.20, 0.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Javanica. Scratched: Brilliant Cut.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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