May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pyfer Getting Her Mounts Out Of The Gate And Into Winner’s Circle

Jessica Pyfer set what is believed to be a record in California last Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia by becoming the first female apprentice rider to win four races in one day.

The 23-year-old Denver native won the second race on Rakasasah, the third on Joe Don Looney, the seventh aboard Lofty and the ninth on Sweet Devil.

The step-daughter of leading trainer Phil D'Amato, Pyfer has 31 victories, good for sixth in Santa Anita's jockey standings.

“We're excited, but we never thought it could be a record for apprentices,” said her agent, Brandon O'Bryan.

“We were happy with winning four,” added O'Bryan, a third-generation agent, following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, George, and his father, Craig, who represents Juan Hernandez.

“It always helps to have the support of the leading trainer in your corner,” Brandon said, “but Jessica is well-liked and very talented. I think her best trait is getting horses out of the gate.”

And getting them to the wire first, too.

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Walsh-Trained Extravagant Kid Tunes Up At Keeneland For Upcoming Royal Ascot Trip

DARRS Inc.'s veteran Extravagant Kid, who last won the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (G1) Sponsored by Azizi Developments during the March 27 Dubai World Cup card, is preparing to compete at another prestigious international racing event: Royal Ascot in England. The 8-year-old gelding, who has won 15 of 50 starts and earned $1.58 million, is being considered for two races at Royal Ascot: the five-furlong King's Stand (G1) on June 15 and the six-furlong Diamond Jubilee (G1) on June 19.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Extravagant Kid on Saturday turned in his third work at Keeneland since his Dubai performance, covering 5 furlongs in 1:02.20 in company with stakes-placed winner Lontano over a fast dirt track.

Clockers caught him in fractions of :11.80, :24, ;36, :49.60 and 1:02.20.

“He worked great. He's doing good,” Walsh said about Extravagant Kid, who would be the trainer's first starter at Royal Ascot. “Looks like he came out of the race in Dubai good and got back in good shape.”

The fact that Extravagant Kid handled the trip to and from Dubai so well gave his connections confidence in sending him to Royal Ascot.

“If it worked out good going to Dubai, why wouldn't it work out going to England?” Walsh said. “He shows that he's good enough to take on those kind of horses.”

Walsh said Ryan Moore, who rode Extravagant Kid to his Dubai victory, will ride the gelding at Royal Ascot. Extravagant Kid is to accompany the contingent of horses trained by Wesley Ward on the flight from Indianapolis.

Another Saturday worker at Keeneland for Walsh was Godolphin's Maxfield, who was clocked in :49.80 for a half-mile in his first work since winning the April 30 Alysheba (G2) Presented by Sentient Jet at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old son of Street Sense is scheduled to make his next start in the June 26 Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill.

“Maxfield is doing great,” said Walsh, who has around 40 horses stabled at Keeneland. “He worked nice, and we're back on the go and on to the next spot.”

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Godolphin Quartet Work Ahead of Belmont Festival

A quartet of Godolphin-owned Belmont Stakes Racing Festival starters–Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Desert Peace (Curlin), Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire})–breezed at Belmont Saturday morning.

G2 UAE Derby-winner Rebel's Romance, who is pointed to the GI Belmont S., breezed on the fast main track in company with GII True North S. contender Desert Peace. Hitting the track at 5:30 a.m. with Michael Metcalfe aboard Rebel's Romance and Patrice Pot on Desert Peace, the pair was caught by NYRA clockers in 1:01.05, galloping out in 1:14.

“They went out early at 5:30 to try and get a good track,” said trainer Charlie Appleby's traveling assistant, Sophie Chretien. “They worked six furlongs and the time was good. They're getting better in their fitness. Rebel stayed at the back of Desert Peace, we didn't want to ask him too hard. But he traveled much better than last time and went out seven-eighths.”

The breeze was a follow-up to the pair's half-mile work in :50.54 Wednesday over the Belmont main track.

“It's normal for them,” said Chretien of the quick return. “It was an easy first breeze and we need to carry on with the race in two weeks. They will go again Wednesday and after that we'll see where we are.”

Summer Romance and Althiqa breezed six furlongs in company on the firm inner turf with the former tracking outside of the latter and finishing up very strong in 1:14.20.

“The fillies went to the grass for the first time today and had a good, strong piece of work,” said Chretien. “They had a good blow. They needed it. I liked the way they moved on the grass. It's been a dry week and the grass is good. They will go again next Saturday.”

Summer Romance and Althiqa finished first and third, respectively, last out in the nine-furlong G2 Balanchine S. Feb. 18 at Meydan and are expected to make their next starts in the GI Longines Just a Game S. June 5.

Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith will have the call aboard Rebel's Romance, Althiqa and Desert Peace, while Luis Saez will ride Summer Romance.

The festival, which runs from June 3 through June 5, will encompass 17 stakes, including eight Grade Is on Belmont S. Day.

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Japan’s France Go De Ina Settles In For Belmont Stakes Attempt

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina, trained by Hideyuki Mori, visited the Belmont Park main track for the first time on Friday to begin preparations for a start in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.

The 62-year-old Mori said the Kentucky-bred France Go de Ina was settling in well to his new surroundings after arriving at Belmont on Monday following his seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Preakness under Joel Rosario.

“It's been 15 years since I've been here. I forgot how big it was,” said Mori with a laugh Saturday morning on the Belmont backstretch via translator Kate Hunter. “It looks like he has settled in well and is in very good condition. He looks like he has got all his weight back from after the race and all the travel.”

Bred by Kidder Betz, B & K Canetti and Jim Betz, the Japan-based France Go de Ina was purchased by the conditioner for $100,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for owner Yuji Inaida.

In addition to trying to collect a $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont Stakes, France Go de Ina will look to provide Mori with his first win in North America with his eighth starter.

Mori traveled Ski Captain to Churchill Downs in 1995 to finish 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in his first venture to North America. The well-respected conditioner has been represented at the last two Breeders' Cup World Championships with Matera Sky [8th, 2019 Sprint], Full Flat [5th, 2019 Juvenile] and Jasper Prince [14th, 2020 Sprint].

France Go de Ina (by Will Take Charge) is a two-time winner at Hanshin Racecourse, including a maiden score on November 28 and an allowance coup on December 19. France Go de Ina entered the Preakness from a sixth in the UAE Derby following a poor start.

Mori said France Go de Ina should improve off the Preakness effort after extensive travel en route to Baltimore for his attempt at the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“He was good at the beginning but he seemed to get a little tired at the end,” said Mori of the Preakness effort. “He went from Dubai to Japan and then Japan to the Preakness and he probably needed the race to be more fit for the Belmont.”

Mori said France Go de Ina is bred to enjoy the stretch out in distance to 12 furlongs.

“He's out of a Curlin mare, so we're hopeful he'll be able to stay the distance,” said Mori. “He will probably have a serious work on Tuesday or Wednesday before the race. He'll canter in the mornings and continue to build stamina.”

Discussions on who will ride France Go de Ina in the Belmont Stakes are ongoing.

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