May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

What’s In A Name? Seize the Night, Someday Is Today, Caravel, Que Sera Sir Ralph, Heresy

As for intriguing names of winning horses, that was the week that was.

Let's start with the seminal power of those two immortal little words Carpe Diem ('Seize The Day'} from Ancient Rome prince of poets Horace (65-8 BC)–also responsible for Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori ('It is sweet and fitting to die for the homeland'), written only a few years after having run away, throwing the shield on the ground, at the battle of Philippi (42 BC).

Two horses creatively honored the WinStar stallion Carpe Diem (by Giant's Causeway out of Rebridled Dreams by Unbridled's Song): Churchill Downs 5-14 2yo winner SEIZE THE NIGHT (by Carpe Diem out of Candle Maker by Tapit) cleverly switched day with night with some help from his dam's name, while Charles Town 5-13 3yo winning filly SOMEDAY IS TODAY (by Carpe Diem out of Any Day Now by Smart Strike) sounds like an eloquent exhortation based on both father's and mother's names.

Then we have the nautical congruity of the name of Pimlico's The Very One S. triumphant speed merchant CARAVEL (by Mizzen Mast out of Zeezee Zoomzoom by Congrats). Caravels, Portuguese-developed ships that were “agile and easy to navigate” (according to Wikipedia), ventured across the oceans in the 13th century with notorious epoch-making results. The mizzen mast is the aft-most (or last) mast of many sailing ships, lower in height and well suited to carry a relatively small lateen (triangular) sail in those adventurous caravels.

The name of Golden Gate 3-year-old winner QUE SERA SIR RALPH (by Haynesfield out of Norah's Kitten by Kitten's Joy) is a phonetical little masterpiece of wordplay–Doris Day would approve of it and maybe smile her famous smile.

Down Under winner HERESY (AUS) {by Street Boss out of Montsegur {Aus} by New Approach {Ire}) carries a cunning name. The Chateau de Montsegur is a former fortress in the Ariege department in southern France. Its ruins are the site of a razed stronghold of the Cathars, unorthodox Christians that were persecuted as heretics by the Catholic Church between the 12th and the 14th centuries. Godolphin namers, do not make me work this hard–this was a tough one, I almost missed it.

And, last but absolutely not least, we have our brilliant Preakness winner. A few people have noticed a possible link with a precious Napa Valley Chardonnay–and this number includes the national daily newspaper USA TODAY, who ran a story before the race about the 10 Preakness participants, ranking their names for “originality, prestige and more” (Concert Tour was first, the winner fourth). The ultimate origin of the very name ROMBAUER is not clear and may be never known, but, in any case, the name has a great sound to it: it evokes 'roar' and 'rumble' and 'blast'. It is greatly suited to a sporting spectacle: not for nothing, “Rombo Di Tuono” ('Roar of Thunder') was the nickname of Italian soccer legendary goal scorer Gigi Riva. Never ask for whom the crowd roars: it roars for the winner, dark horse or not.

5th-Churchill Downs, $99,058, Msw, 5-14, 2yo, 5f, :58.81, ft, head.
SEIZE THE NIGHT (c, 2, Carpe Diem–Candle Maker, by Tapit) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. O-Willis Horton Racing LLC; B-Cove Springs Farm LLC (KY); T-Dallas Stewart.

Someday Is Today, f, 3, Carpe Diem–Any Day Now, by Smart Strike. Charles Town, 5-13, (S), 6 1/2f, 1:19.94. Lifetime
Record: 2-1-1-0, $26,145. B-Schiano Racing Inc. & Carpe Diem Syndicate (WV). *$50,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $30,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT

THE VERY ONE S., $100,000, Pimlico, 5-14, 3yo/up, f/m, 5fT, :56.21, fm.
1–CARAVEL, 122, f, 4, Mizzen Mast–Zeezee Zoomzoom, by Congrats. ($330,000 RNA 3yo '20 WANOCT). O/B/T-Elizabeth M Merryman (PA); J-Florent Geroux. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-2, $212,872.

Que Sera Sir Ralph, g, 3, Haynesfield–Norah's Kitten, by Kitten's Joy. Golden Gate Fields, 5-14, 1 1/16mT, 1:47.03. Lifetime Record: 8-1-0-2, $31,154. B-Richard James & Roberto Gonzalez (CA).

Heresy (Aus), f, 2, Street Boss–Montsegur (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $267,703), by New Approach (Ire). Morphettville, 5-15, David Coles AM S.-G3 ($99k), 1200mT, 1:10.78. B-Godolphin Australia (NSW). *1ST STAKES WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN.

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Record €2.6m Sponsorship Contribution From Irish EBF

The Irish European Breeders' Fund will contribute its highest level of sponsorship with its allocation devoted to races set to increase to €2.6 million in 2021. The largest sponsor of Irish racing, the EBF has already contributed €52 million since the foundation of the Irish European Breeders' Fund in 1983. The funding will be spread across 320 Flat races and 160 National Hunt races, all carrying EBF conditions.

The popular Median Sires Series will comprise of 26 races, each worth a minimum of €25,000, while the Irish EBF Ballyhane S., now in its second year, will have a minimum prize fund of €200,000.

The €695,000 Irish EBF Auction Series, formerly co-sponsored with Foran Equine, will be run by the Irish EBF with all prize-money levels upheld from April to October. The series consists of 25 qualifiers and a final at Naas on Oct. 17 worth €120,000 final.

Across Ireland, 95% of 2-year-old maidens and 33% of 3-year-old maidens receive EBF support, as well as a series of 3-year-old and upwards fillies' handicaps and four €125,000 premier handicaps on Irish Champions Weekend.

More than 50% of the annual National Hunt budget will be aimed at enhancing the mares' programme.

“I would like to thank all the Irish Stallion Farms, large and small, who fund the Irish EBF and put us in a position to increase the annual sponsorship of Irish racing and allow us to continue to provide many valuable options to owners and trainers of horses of both codes,” said John O'Connor, chairman of the Irish EBF.

“The Irish EBF board would also like to sincerely thank Foran Equine for their wonderful support over the last four years with the Auction Series. It has quickly grown and established itself as a prominent feature on the Irish Flat racing programme and we are delighted to be in a position to maintain prize-money levels this year with the ongoing support of Horse Racing Ireland.”

Commenting on the enhanced contribution from the EBF, leading trainer Ger Lyons added, “We landed the €120,000 auction final last year with Ecliptical after targeting it since its inception. The horse was an €18,000 purchase as a yearling, so this series offers our owners a real reason to stay on board season after season. It was a huge thrill for Vincent Gaul, who is a long-standing owner and always has several horses in training at Glenburnie. The lucrative pot on offer in the Irish EBF Ballyhane race combined with all the median sires races gives us plenty to aim for with our string of 2-year-olds. The fact that prize-money levels will be maintained this season is great news and we really appreciate the investment and ongoing support from the Irish EBF and HRI.”

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Sconsin Wheels Back To Face Short Field In Winning Colors

Lloyd Madison Farms' Grade 2 winner Sconsin along with Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' seven-time winner Frank's Rockette top a compact field of six filly and mare sprinters that entered Saturday's $150,000 Winning Colors (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

The Winning Colors, run at six furlongs, is the featured event Saturday night for Downs After Dark – Country Saloon presented by Budweiser. The evening features 11 races, live music, line dancers and more. First post is 6 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the featured Winning Colors goes as Race 5 at 7:57 p.m. Also on tap Saturday night is the $110,000 Keertana Overnight Stakes, run at 1 ½ miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up. The Keertana is slated as Race 9 at 10:11 p.m.

Sconsin exits a gallant effort behind top sprinter Gamine in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. The 4-year-old homebred daughter of Include was victorious in last year's $300,000 Eight Belles (G2) for trainer Greg Foley. Through 11 starts, she's recorded three wins, three seconds and one third with stout purse earnings of $453,512.

Sconsin drew post No. 4 in the Winning Colors and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Chief among Sconsin's main rivals in the Winning Colors is the speedy Frank's Rockette. The multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Into Mischief started her 4-year-old season with a victory in the $150,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn and finished second to Edgeway in the $250,000 Carousel. Frank's Rockette has been nearly flawless in her 13-race career with seven wins and five runner-up efforts. Her only off-the-board finish came in last year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) against colts and geldings.

Florent Geroux will ride the Bill Mott trainee from post 2.

The complete field for the Winning Colors from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Rising Seas (Corey Lanerie, Ben Colebrook); Frank's Rockette (Geroux, Mott); Tipsy Gal (Colby Hernandez, Dallas Stewart); Sconsin (Gaffalione, Foley); Bayerness (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux); and Headland (Martin Garcia, Steve Hobby).

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday evening calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 80s.

General admission to Downs After Dark is $12 and it includes a reserved seat on the first floor and official program. No one under the age of 18 will be admitted to the track unless they are accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Limited premium dining packages are available starting at $69 per person. Outdoor-third floor box seats are on sale for $27 per person. Reserved seating can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.

Bal Mar Equine LLC's multiple stakes winner Dalika leads a field of 10 fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday night's $110,000 Keertana Overnight Stakes, run at 1 ½ miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Keertana is carded as Race 9 with a post time of 10:11 p.m.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Dalika has six victories in her 20-start résumé with solid purse earnings of $404,005. In her last victory, the 5-year-old mare won the $100,000 Al Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds, named in memory of Stall Jr.'s father. Other stakes wins on her ledger are the $75,000 Blushing K.D. and $184,000 One Dreamer.

Miguel Mena has the call from post No. 10.

The complete field for the Keertana from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Naomi Broadway (BRZ) (Joe Talamo, Paolo Lobo); First Course (Drayden Van Dyke, Vicki Oliver); Ya Beauty (GB) (Julien Leparoux, Eric Reed); Temple City Terror (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh); Pass the Plate (Rafael Bejarano, Paul McGee); Tweety Show (Julie Burke, Ron Isbell Jr.); Sursum Corda (Corey Lanerie, Ian Wilkes); Delta's Kingdom (Florent Geroux, Bill Mott); Cambeliza (James Graham, Arnaud Delacour); and Dalika (GER) (Mena, Stall).

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Oxted Among 42 July Cup Entries

The G1 Darley July Cup, scheduled for day three of the Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket July 10, has attracted 42 entries, led by trainer Roger Teal's defending race champion Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}).

The 5-year-old, a close fifth to Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October, has run well without greeting the judge in two starts this term, a runner-up effort to Summerghand (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket Apr. 15 and a third behind Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G2 Clipper Logistics S. when last seen at York May 12.

Trainer Brendan Walsh has engaged Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 27, while trainer Wesley Ward could also be represented by 3-year-old filly Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. at the Royal meeting and the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville. Aidan O'Brien has entered a trio of runners–Battleground (War Front), Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

The six-furlong July Cup forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

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