Bet to win.
Goodwood 2.50 Aldaay – win bet.
Haydock 4.45 Cloudy Dawn – win bet.
Month: May 2021
Unbeaten White Filly Sodashi Will Be Tested For Stamina In Sunday’s Japanese Oaks
The big action at Tokyo this week once again spotlights the females. This time, though, it's the youngsters again, with the second race of the filly triple crown, the Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), scheduled for Sunday, May 23.
The Yushun Himba, otherwise known as the Japanese Oaks, follows the Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) in early April and represents a substantial increase in distance, from 1,600 meters (one mile) to 2,400 meters (1 1/2 miles). Racing shifts from the righthanded Hanshin Racecourse west of Osaka to the spacious Tokyo Racecourse, where races are run to the left.
Many of the entrants who have risen through the ranks to the heights as 2-year-olds last year will have participated in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, and followed this year with the Grade 1 Oka Sho, both over 1,600 meters, both run to the right. The Japanese Oaks is a different test, not only of speed but also of stamina, and stars that have shone brightly until now may find the spotlight shift.
Twenty-one fillies have been nominated the 82nd running of the Japanese Oaks. Eighteen berths are available for a shot at the JPY110 million (about US$1 million) winner's share. The hands-down current star of the field is Sodashi. The pure white filly is unbeaten and has already brought home top prize in two Grade 1 events.
Here is a look across the standouts of the field:
Sodashi: Sodashi's performance is nothing less of spectacular. She's a two-time Grade 1 champion at this young age, and unbeaten from five starts. All but her debut was at the graded stakes level as she jumped from her first outing to two Grade 3 events before taking on the 2-year-pinnacle Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Last out, she captured her second Grade 1 with victory in the Oka Sho. Experience at Tokyo came in her second Grade 3, the Artemis Stakes, but the question this time is whether she can handle the distance. Her winning margins have never been more than a few lengths and in her two G1 wins, she was over the line in first by but a nose, then a neck. It could be her keen sense of competition, but it could be an indication that 2,400 meters, 600 meters longer than she's ever experienced, may be out of her reach. Adding to the questions is the fact that she's the daughter of Kurofune, whose progeny have claimed 40 graded stakes races, but all over no more than 1,800 meters. With her win of the Oka Sho, Sodashi became only the third filly to win the race unbeaten. If she can claim the Oaks, she'll be the 16th to do so with a pristine record, and only the third filly to claim the first two legs of the filly triple crown unbeaten.
“She was strong in the Oka Sho,” said trainer Naosuke Sugai. “Often when there's a lot of Deep Impact progeny in the race, the question is how well others will measure up in a speed showdown. But she really did well amid them. She came out of the race without a scratch and after that has been at the training center nearly the whole time. She has handled all the work we've given her with ease. She's been more than ideal and, in a good way, nothing has changed. She worked with a partner this week and we made sure to not overdo it and just get her breathing right. There were no problems whatsoever. People ask about the distance, but I've had my sights set on the Oaks from her debut and though she was great in the Oka Sho, I know she can handle more ground. I'm hoping she'll listen well to jockey Hayato Yoshida and not get in any fights with him. She has a lot of power, so I think a track that has a bit of cushion to it would be best.”
Akaitorino Musume: The Oaks distance is also a first for Oka Sho fourth-place finisher Akaitorino Musume. She's only been raced over the mile, from which she has three wins from five starts. All her wins have come at Tokyo and include a first-place in the Grade 3 Daily Hai Queen Cup. Unlike Sodashi, who runs on or close to the pace, Akaitorino Musume likes to settle midfield. Her fourth in the Oka Sho was only 0.2 seconds slower than Sodashi's winning time. Also, Akaitorino Musume has a confidence-boosting pedigree. Sired by Triple Crown champion Deep Impact, and light on her feet as he was, the blue-blooded Akaitorino Musume also has good prospects from her dam, five-time G1 champion Apapane, who landed the Japanese Oaks (and the filly triple crown) in 2010. Apapane was also trained by the Miho-based Sakae Kunieda. Jockey Christophe Lemaire is expected to have the ride and it will be his first time to partner the filly.
Uberleben: A length and a nose behind Cool Cat in the 2,000-meter Grade 2 Sankei Sports Sho Flora Stakes (her most recent race), just a bit further off the top in the Grade 3 Flower Cup and only 0.1 seconds behind Sodashi in the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies, Uberleben has always been in the picture, just not in the winner's circle. In fact, she failed to make the Top 3 only once in her six starts thus far, in the Grade 3 Artemis Stakes over the Tokyo mile. With her far-off-the-pace running style, it's ground she's been wanting, the more the better, just like her sire, the six-G1 champion stayer Gold Ship. Jockey Mirco Demuro, who rode two of her last three starts, is expected in the saddle.
Fine Rouge: A filly by Kizuna, Fine Rouge has only four starts behind her, but has figured in the money in all and won two of them. Started over a 1,200-meter sprint, she broke her maiden next out with a furlong more, then aced the Grade 3 Fairy Stakes over the mile. Last out was the Oka Sho, where she crossed the line in third place only 0.1 seconds behind Sodashi. Based at Miho, she's already well traveled, starting at a different venue each time she raced. Tokyo is where she notched her first win, but 2,400 meters is a huge leap up. She has shown versatility and good racing sense and owns a mean final kick. Though her dam was a winning sprinter, her Derby-winning sire, and Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga in the saddle gunning for his fourth Oaks victory, should help her to stay the distance.
Stellaria: Another Kizuna filly who has impressed and one that is taking on her first Grade 1, is Stellaria. She hasn't reached the heights of several of the other competitors, but she has finished in the top three in all but one of her six starts and has recorded the field's top speed over the final three furlongs in all but one as well. She's been consistent over a range of distances from 1,400 to 2,000 meters and has proven well-suited to the Tokyo course, where she picked up a second in the Begonia Sho and, following a slow break, a sixth-place finish 0.3 seconds behind the winner in the Grade 3 Queen Cup, both over the mile. She is primed with a 1:58.0 win of the Wasurenagusa Sho over the Hanshin 2,000 meters. In the last 10 runnings of the Oaks, three fillies (including Loves Only You in 2019) coming off a win of the Wasurenagusa Sho, went on to win the Oaks. Although Yuichi Fukunaga rode her last four races, this time Stellaria is to be partnered with jockey Yuga Kawada for the first time. Kawada, who has 10 graded wins so far this year, last won the Oaks in 2012, when he joined up with Gentildonna for the first time.
Kukuna: Her sixth in the Oka Sho was the only time this daughter of King Kamehameha missed the board. Kukuna has done well in two Grade 3 races at Tokyo, a second to Sodashi in the Artemis Stakes, and a close third in the Queen Cup. Though Kukuna has only been raced over 1,500-1,600 meters, she is out of the Deep Impact mare Culminar, who, in 2015, was second in the Oka Sho and third in the Oaks only 0.2 seconds off the winner. The extra distance should be welcome and young jockey Takeshi Yokoyama, who made his debut as a jockey only four years ago but already No. 7 in the JRA Jockeys Rankings, is slated for the ride.
Others to keep an eye on are:
Cool Cat, a big Screen Hero filly weighing in at 506 kg last out, captured the Grade 2 Flora Stakes. Following her winning debut, she has done better each time she's gotten more ground and looks to welcome the extra two furlongs. Her ability to race from a number of positions and her suitability to Tokyo should work in her favor. The Orfevre-sired Slyly returned after two and a half months, looked much improved and finished second in the Flora Stakes. Further improvement is expected. Tagano Passion, by King Kamehameha, is 3-1-1 over starts in the 1,800-2,000 meters range and coming off a win of the Sweetpea Stakes over the Tokyo 1,800 meters. Art de Vivre, also with only three starts, all over the mile, finished fifth in the Oka Sho and is 1-2 at Tokyo. With the trip from Ritto, her condition on raceday will be key.
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Claiming Period to Cash Tickets in NJ Extended
The claiming period for pari-mutuel tickets and vouchers has been extended from six months to 12 months in the state of New Jersey thanks to a bill enacted by the New Jersey State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy May 11. “We appreciate the continued support that Gov. Murphy and our state legislators have shown for horse racing throughout the state,” said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development, LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. “This legislation provides a much-need grace period for people who were unable to cash winning tickets or vouchers due to the impact of COVID-19.” The legislation stipulates that, “winning outstanding pari-mutuel tickets purchased from the beginning of Sept. 16, 2019 and ending on the date of the end of the Public Health Emergency declared by the Governor in Executive Order No. 103 of 2020 and as extended shall be eligible to be claimed and shall be payable during the period ending one year following the end of the Public Health Emergency.”
The post Claiming Period to Cash Tickets in NJ Extended appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
Pletcher-Trained Belmont Stakes Trio Show Strong Gallop Outs In Friday Breezes
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent a trio of Belmont Stakes contenders in Bourbonic, Known Agenda and Overtook to breeze on Big Sandy on Friday morning at Belmont Park.
Headlined by the 153rd running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 5, this year's three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival kicks off on Thursday, June 3 and will include 17 stakes races in total, with eight Grade 1 races to be contested on Belmont Stakes Day.
Known Agenda, piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., worked outside of Grade 1 Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap contender Dr Post, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, covering five-eighths in 1:02.54 over the fast main track.
“I thought it was a good progressive breeze that should bring them both forward. In particular, I liked the way they galloped out,” said Pletcher. “I had them out in 1:14.4, 1:27.1 and 1:41 for the mile. I thought we accomplished what we were hoping to.”
Known Agenda, winner of the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in March, worked without blinkers. Last out, after leaving the inside post in the Kentucky Derby, the Curlin chestnut closed from 17th to finish ninth.
“Sometimes he breezes with them, but we're saving them for the race,” said Pletcher. “Sometimes, you get a little more bang for your buck if you don't overuse them.”
Known Agenda was a maiden winner at second asking traveling nine furlongs in November at the Big A, and followed with a third in the Grade 2 Remsen in December at Aqueduct.
After finishing fifth in his seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs, Pletcher added blinkers to Known Agenda who promptly won an optional-claiming route on February 26 at Gulfstream by a widening 11 lengths ahead of his Florida Derby score.
Dr Post, owned by St. Elias Stable, hit the board in consecutive nine-furlong Grade 1s last summer when second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont Stakes and third in the Haskell won by Authentic by a nose over Ny Traffic at Monmouth Park.
The Quality Road bay launched his 4-year-old campaign with a prominent score in the Grade 3 Westchester traveling a one-turn mile at Belmont Park on May 1 that garnered a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure.
Pletcher said the colt has demonstrated star qualities.
“He certainly hinted at that last year,” said Pletcher. “He was a good second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont and an unlucky third in the Haskell, in my opinion, to Authentic. His form has certainly held up very well and the break that he got has served him well. He seems to be training as well as ever. I thought his comeback in the Westchester was good and should be a good prep for the Met Mile.”
The Met Mile, part of the loaded Belmont Stakes Day card, is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November at Del Mar.
Calumet Farm homebred Bourbonic, winner of the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in April at the Big A, worked a half-mile in company with Overtook in 48.82.
Overtook, with Manny Franco in the irons, worked inside of Bourbonic, guided by exercise rider Hector Ramos.
“They went off a touch quick but finished steadily,” said Pletcher. “I particularly liked the way they galloped out. I had them out seven-eighths in 1:27 and 4. I was pleased.”
Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith's Overtook graduated at third asking traveling a one-turn mile in December at the Big A. Following a closing second in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers in February at Aqueduct, the Curlin bay returned off the layoff to finish a flat third in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Peter Pan on May 8 on Big Sandy.
Pletcher said Overtook, a $1 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, should appreciate the added distance second time off the shelf.
“He's a steady, one-run kind of horse and the Peter Pan didn't develop with much pace. I thought considering that he actually ran pretty well,” said Pletcher. “I think having a race under his belt should help him. Of course, this will be a much more difficult task but he's well-bred for the distance and we're hoping that's the key for him having success.”
Bourbonic, a dark bay Bernardini colt, rallied last-to-first under Kendrick Carmouche at odds of 72-1 to notch a record upset in the nine-furlong Wood Memorial. Last out, the late-running bay exited the outermost post in the 19-horse Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and improved belatedly along the rail to finish 13th.
Woodford Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm and Rock Ridge Racing's Promise Keeper, a 2 1/4-length winner of the Peter Pan, worked a half-mile in 48.62 in company with multiple graded stakes winner Colonel Liam on Belmont's dirt training track.
Pletcher said Promise Keeper is likely to target the nine-furlong Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby on June 26 at Thistledown, but will keep the Belmont Stakes under consideration.
“He was in company for a half-mile with Colonel Liam in 48 and change. I thought it was a good work,” said Pletcher. “It seems like he's maintained form since the Peter Pan. Right now we're leaning towards the Ohio Derby but we wanted to keep him in position to keep an eye on the Belmont. He worked well enough this morning that we'll continue to keep an eye on it.
“It would be interesting to try him a little further,” added Pletcher. “But right now the Ohio Derby seems to make sense.”
The 3-year-old Constitution colt, bred in Kentucky by co-owner Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds, entered the Peter Pan from a dominant 5 1/2-length score in a nine-furlong optional-claimer on April 8 at Keeneland.
Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam is pointed to the Grade 1, $700,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan, a 10-furlong turf test for older horses on Belmont Stakes Day.
The 4-year-old Liam's Map gray is on a four-race win streak that includes scores in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream, the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic in March at Fair Grounds and the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 1 at Churchill Downs.
Earlier this week, Shadwell Stable announced they would bypass the chance to compete against males in the Belmont Stakes with undefeated Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat and instead focus on a pair of Grade 1 targets at Saratoga in the nine-furlong $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 24 and the 10-furlong $600,000 Alabama on August 21.
The Curlin bay, out of Grade 1-winner Dreaming of Julia, captured the Grade 1 Ashland on April 3 at Keeneland in her seasonal debut ahead of a neck score over Search Results in the Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs.
“She had two good races four weeks apart,” said Pletcher. “Looking at the long term plans, she'd just lost a little weight doing that. We felt while it would certainly be intriguing, and from a talent standpoint she fits with the colts, it just felt a little risky going into the Belmont and if it was a hard race on her we could have potentially lost a couple opportunities with her this summer.”
Pletcher said Malathaat, who completed her juvenile campaign with a Grade 2 Demoiselle win in December at Aqueduct, is a special talent.
“She's a terrific filly to train. She's very intelligent and she obviously has loads of talent on top of it,” said Pletcher. “She galloped super this morning. She looks well and is eating well.”
WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Sainthood finished 11th last out in the Kentucky Derby. The dark bay son of Mshawish, out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Hero, worked a half-mile in 49.09 last Sunday on the Belmont inner turf.
Pletcher said Sainthood will breeze again on turf this weekend with an eye to a grass debut in the nine-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Pennine Ridge on May 29.
“I thought he breezed well on the grass,” said Pletcher. “We'll take him back out there tomorrow for one more turf work. Given his pedigree, we had the turf in mind all along.”
Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One, runner-up in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, finished 18th in the Grade 2 Kentucky Derby last out.
Pletcher said Dynamic One will likely make his return to racing action at Saratoga.
“He'll probably have his first breeze next week and would most likely have his next start at Saratoga,” said Pletcher. “We just want to freshen him up a little bit after the Derby.”
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