Month: July 2021

Smooth Like Strait, Going Global Headliners In Saturday’s Del Mar Stakes Doubleheader

Del Mar will present a stakes doubleheader Saturday with the 48th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes being one of the offerings and the 54th edition of the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Stakes being the other.

The pair of black type, added-money affairs will highlight an 11-race card that has a first post of 2 p.m.

The Eddie Read, named for Del Mar's long-time publicity director, has drawn a field of seven solid older stakes aces, including Cannon Thoroughbred's Smooth Like Strait and LNJ Foxwoods' United. They'll run a mile and one-eighth on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course in Race 8 on the program.

Then the San Clemente, named for the Orange Country beach town just above the Marines' Camp Pendelton base north of the track, will go forth with a dozen 3-year-old fillies in the gate for a one-mile spin on the grass that is scheduled to be Race 10.

The Irish filly Going Global, a stakes winner of all four of her U.S. starts this year, appears a stout choice and surely the one to beat in the San Clemente, which serves as a key prep for the track's championship race for sophomore fillies – the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks at nine furlongs on Saturday, Aug. 21.

Here's the field for the Eddie Read with weights and riders: OXO Equine's Vintage Print (121, Adam Beschizza); United (121, Flavine Prat); Agave Racing Stable or Sam-Son Farm's Say the Word (123, Mike Smith); Agave Racing Stable or Sam-Son Farm's Count Again (121, Joe Bravo); Amerman Racing's Award Winner (123, Juan Hernandez); Smooth Like Strait (125, Umberto Rispoli), and Brinkerhoff or Grayson Jr.'s Restrainedvengence (121, Tyler Baze).

The San Clemente lineup looks like this: Perry and Ramona Bass' Pizzazz (120, Kyle Frey); Dubb, Gevertz or Nentwig, et al's Going Global (1232, Prat); Bernsen, Lambert or Hale's Founder's Day (118, Baze); Branham or Naify's Freedom Flyer (120, Victor Espinoza); Slam Dunk Racing or Platts' Tetragonal (120, Bravo); Strand Beach's Equilove (120, Ricky Gonzalez); Derrick Fisher's Jibber Jabber (118, Geovanni Franco); Roncelli Family Trust and Roney's Dramatizer (118, Edwin Maldonado); Kaleem Shah's Madone (123, Henandez); Schumer or Screnci's Karakatsie (118, Kent Desormeaux); SF Racing's Nimbostratus (120, Abel Cedillo), and Harris Farms' Closing Remarks (123, Rispoli).

Smooth Like Straight, trained by Mike McCarthy, comes into the Read off a front-running tally in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 31. The handy 4-year-old by sprint champion Midnight Lute is a seven-time winner who has banked $933,823 and could take a bunch of catching Saturday.

United has won eight races and more than $1.5 million over a 19-race career thus far. The 6-year-old gelding by Giant's Causeway won the Eddie Read last year.

In the San Clemente, Going Global, a daughter of the Irish stallion Mehmas, won only one of four starts in her native land as a 2-year-old, but has done nothing but win with her shift stateside. She is conditioned by Phil D'Amato.

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Notable US-Breds in Japan: July 24, 2021

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Hakodate and Niigata Racecourses:

Saturday, July 24, 2021
1st-HAK, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
FIFTY CHEVY (c, 2, Tapit–Stopchargingmaria, by Tale of the Cat), a debut fourth going this distance at Tokyo June 13 (video, gate 2), attracted a final bid of $825K last fall at Keeneland September from Yuji Hasegawa, the same owner who gave $1.5 million for Vanishing Point, a full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella, at the same auction 12 months prior. Winner of the 2014 GI CCA Oaks and GI Alabama S. for owner Mike Repole, Stopchargingmaria was a $3.15-million buyback at that year's FTKNOV sale before being purchased privately by Louise and Kiki Courtelis' Town and Country Farms. Upset winner of the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, the mare remained in training through her 5-year-old season and was knocked down to Three Chimneys for $2.8 million at FTKNOV in 2016. She was most recently acquired by Whisper Hill Farm for $4.4 million with this foal in utero at the 2018 FTKNOV sale. Three-year-old filly Stillchargingmaria (Pioneerof the Nile), a $1.9-million graduate of FTKNOV and her dam's first produce, won her maiden at Lone Star Park this past April. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC & Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY)

5th-HAK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m
POISON ARROW (c, 2, Arrogate–Crosswinds, by Storm Cat) fetched $750K at last year's Keeneland September sale, making him the most expensive of 41 of the late stallion (by Unbridled's Song)'s first-crop yearlings to sell (from 59 through the ring) in 2020. The Mar. 31 foal is a half-brother to $725K KEESEP grad Current (Curlin), a Grade III winner on turf as a juvenile, and to Weep No More (Mineshaft), who upset the 2016 GI Central Bank Ashland S. The chestnut's granddam is Juddmonte's Flute (Seattle Slew), winner of the 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. and subsequently the dam of Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), a Grade III winner and four times placed in Grade I company on the grass. “We were really happy when he was so well accepted,” Hinkle Farms' Henry Hinkle told the TDN's Brian DiDonato after the colt's sale. “We got a lot of compliments on him. He's one of the nicest colts we've ever brought up here to sell.” Filimbi is also responsible for a member of Arrogate's first crop, the 2-year-old colt Calloway Peak, who is in training at Saratoga. B-Hinkle Farms (KY)

 

 

6th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
FUJIN SHOJO (f, 2, Speightstown–Big Raven {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}), a $235K KEESEP acquisition, is sadly the lone produce of her dam, a daughter of GSW Devil By Design (Medaglia d'Oro), who produced GISW Competitionofideas to the cover of Speightstown in 2015. The progeny of the WinStar stallion have long been coveted in Japan, as he is the sire to date of 33 winners from 37 starters, including GISW mare Mozu Superflare; Matera Sky, a Group 3 winner at home, runner-up in the 2019 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen and twice an unlucky loser of the Saudi Sprint; and three additional black-type winners. B-John D Gunther Eurowest Bloodstock & Tony Chedraoui (KY)

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Gary Sciacca Eyes Win Number 1,000

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – For sure, trainer Gary Sciacca knows the score. He is well aware and very proud of the fact that he is closing in on a personal milestone: 1,000 career victories.

A month shy of 40 years since he saddled his first runner at Belmont Park, Sciacca is sitting on 997 wins. Five Alarm Robin (Fed Biz) moved the 61-year-old New York stalwart a step closer with her victory at 11-1 on the opening day of Saratoga season.

Leaning against a rail at the barn that has been his base of operations at Saratoga for 25 years, Sciacca said that he started paying attention to his win total a year or so ago.

“I was saying, 'Boy, I'm pretty close,'” he said. “When you're at 700 or 800, nah, but when you get to like 50, 60…and then you are on three. Three is like a reality, you know. Then you come here opening day and the first one you run wins. That made it three. So it's kind of hitting home a little bit.”

Sciacca finished second with his first starter, Page Six, on Aug. 27, 1981. Nine races later, on Oct. 21, 1981 at Aqueduct, Proud Northern became his first winner.

Sciacca did not hesitate when asked what getting to 1,000 wins will mean to him.

“A whole lot,” he said. “A lot of people can't get to that spot in New York. It ain't like we are winning them at Finger Lakes or Suffolk Downs or something. To win a thousand here; they've all been here or in California with a couple. It's been good. It would be very nice to win it here in Saratoga. That would be a little special.”

Since there is no off-season, horsemen often say they will reflect on their accomplishments at some time on the future. Yet Sciacca said he has thought about getting to this milestone.

“If you go back to when I started out here, all my friends are retiring,” he said. “Nobody has really made that many wins. Of course, the big outfits have. A guy like me, it means a lot to. A lot of memories. A lot of big races. Between Saratoga Dew and Subordination, those are the big ones. We won two Belmont meets.”

Charles Engel's New York-bred filly Saratoga Dew was Sciacca's first star. Unraced at two, she won eight of 11 starts in 1992, including two Grade I races, the Gazelle and the Beldame, was second by a nose to November Snow in the GI Alabama, and become the first New York-bred to win an Eclipse Award. In the New York-bred awards, she was the champ of two divisions and the Horse of the Year.

“She was one of the best,” he said. “She launched me into the limelight.”

Though Engel decided to move Saratoga Dew to another trainer the following year–she never raced again–Sciacca's success with the filly was a boon for his stable. He won his first Belmont Park meet title in 1993 with 31 victories. Klaravich Stables' Subordination (Mt. Livermore) made his first start for Sciacca as a 2-year-old at Saratoga in 1996. In 21 starts over three seasons of racing, he won 11 of 21 starts, eight of them graded stakes and finished with $1.2 million in purse earnings.

“Subordination took me to Breeders' Cup,” Sciacca said. “Took me to Del Mar, where we won the Eddie Read, a Grade I. Took me to Hollywood Park, that's no more, and won the Hollywood Derby.”

Among the horses that Sciacca trained for NFL Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells's August Dawn farm were Saratoga Snacks and Bavaro.

Sciacca said that during his most successful years he typically had a stable of 40 to 45 runners. These days he has 24 to 30 in his barn.

Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, Sciacca was introduced to racing in his youth. His uncle was a trainer. He worked his way up in the business and started his stable with six horses.

“When I got a shot to train some horses I took it,” he said. “Actually, the game has been very good to me. What a place. I'm very fortunate to be in New York. To have the No. 1 racing in the country, to be brought up in that is pretty good. To win 1,000 races here is great.”

The post Gary Sciacca Eyes Win Number 1,000 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Cross Country Pick 5 Features Action From Saratoga, Woodbine, Monmouth

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring action from historic Saratoga Race Course and stakes competition from Woodbine Racetrack and Monmouth Park.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Woodbine will commence the sequence with the Grade 2, $175,000 Nassau for older fillies and mares going one mile on the turf, in Race 6 at 3:43 p.m. Eastern. Jolie Olimpica, a Group 1-winner in her native Brazil, will complete for trainer Josie Carroll as part of a 12-horse field. Abscond, the winner of the Grade 1 Natalma at Woodbine two years ago, is also entered. Merveilleux, the winner of the $250,000 Wonder Where at Woodbine in October, is also part of the field.

The first of three races at Saratoga will make up the second leg, as a six-furlong maiden sprint for juveniles will go off in Race 6 at 3:55 pm. Chileno, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, ran fourth as the favorite in his debut in June at Churchill Downs. But the $375,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase will look to make amends, breaking from post 4. Other big-priced yearlings from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in the field include the Chad Brown-trained Watasha [$450,000], who will be making his first start. Volcanic [$230,000] ran fourth last month at Churchill in his first start and will break from post 8 for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, while Faith Runner [$300,000] makes his bow for conditioner Dallas Stewart out of post 6.

Monmouth will get in on the action in Race 9 as a field of New Jersey-bred 3-year-olds and up will compete at one mile on the turf in the $85,000 Irish War Cry Handicap at 4:05 p.m. Optic Way, second in the John J. Reilly Handicap on Independence Day at Monmouth Park, will go for trainer Derek Ryan, drawing post 2. Prendimi, third in the Reilly, will rematch Optic Way, drawing post 9 for trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr.

Saratoga will close out the Cross Country Pick 5 with the final two legs, starting with a full field of 12 in a 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf contest for 3-year-olds in Race 7 at 4:29 p.m. Space Launch, the third-place finisher in the Awad in October at Belmont, is 1-0-2 through his first three career starts for trainer Christophe Clement and drew post 11. Hombre, trained by Barclay Tagg, won going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Belmont last month in his maiden-breaking victory. He will depart post 4.

The finale will be Saratoga's Race 8 at 5:03 p.m., when Split Then Double will try to play a winning hand in the one-mile inner turf contest for maiden fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. The Brown-trained Split Then Double enters off back-to-back runner-up efforts at Belmont Park. Baby Blythe, trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, was third in her debut in December at Aqueduct Racetrack and enters off a seven-month layoff to make her sophomore debut.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, July 24:
Leg A: Woodbine – Race 6, G2 Nassau (3:43 p.m.)
Leg B: Saratoga – Race 6 (3:55 p.m.)
Leg C: Monmouth– Race 9 Irish War Cry Handicap (4:05 p.m.)
Leg D: Saratoga – Race 7 (4:29 p.m.)
Leg E: Saratoga – Race 8 (5:03 p.m.)

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