August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Yaupon Fights Off Firenze Fire To Get Forego Win

Yaupon, last-out winner of the Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, survived a stretch duel and an attempted savaging by Firenze Fire to take the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

In a stacked field of graded stake winners like Lexitonian and Whitmore, Yaupon returned to the form he had showed in 2020, darting out to the lead out of the gate in the Forego. Firenze Fire and Chance It went with him, with Firenze Fire holding on to second throughout the seven-furlong Forego. Into the stretch, it was all Yaupon and Firenze Fire, who dueled head and head in the Saratoga straight. Inside the last eighth of a mile, Firenze Fire reached over and attempted to bite Yaupon, appearing to get caught briefly in the Asmussen trainee's bridle before Jose Ortiz was able to straighten him out. Despite that, Ricardo Santana, Jr. was able to keep Yaupon straight and in front, winning the G1 Forego by a head.

The final time for the seven-furlongs was 1:21.74. Find this race's chart here.

“It's very exciting to have a winner of the Grade 1 Forego for the Heiligbrodts [owners]. But the finish made it that much more dramatic. I will watch that replay many times in my future. For that to happen [Runner-up Firenze Fire savaging Yaupon in deep stretch] in a Grade 1 at Saratoga with two horses on the lead, that will be memorable,” Asmussen said after the Forego.

“The last time I took him back, but I know the horse really well. Today, there was no speed in the race, so I decided to go and he's a firing horse so thankfully we got the victory today.” Santana, Jr. told the NYRA Press Office after the race. “That was kind of scary. That never happened to me before and the only thing I can think is don't stop riding.”

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Savage! Yaupon Survives in Wild Stretch Battle in Forego

You had to see it to believe it.

With Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior) savaging favored Yaupon (c, 4, Uncle Mo–Modification, by Vindication) repeatedly down the stretch in Saturday's GI Forego S. at Saratoga, the 2-1 pacesetter battled on gamely along the rail to secure a dramatic head victory. Chance It (Currency Swap) was third.

“I will watch that replay many times in my future,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said. “For that to happen in a Grade I at Saratoga with two horses on the lead, that will be memorable. I was worried he was going to bite Ricardo [Santana, Jr.].”

He continued, “Everybody's always known what a brilliant horse he is, the talent that he's shown and for him to show up today on a stage and beat five Grade I winners was amazing.”

Santana added, “That was kind of scary. That never happened to me before and the only thing I can think is don't stop riding.”

Yaupon led narrowly through fractions of :23.09 and :45.70 with Firenze Fire in hot pursuit, and the stage was set as they turned for home. The two raced shoulder to shoulder in the stretch with Firenze Fire savaging his rival inside the final sixteenth of a mile, biting at his halter. Yaupon never blinked, however, and kept on battling to secure the narrow victory. Three years ago, ironically, it was Firenze Fire who was savaged late by Whereshetoldmetogo (El Padrino) in a winning effort in the GIII Gallant Bob S. at Parx.

Yaupon, a sharp winner of last summer's GII Amsterdam S. at Saratoga, entered off a win over three rivals with a co-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure in Pimlico's Lite the Fuse S. July 4. A perfect four-for-four to start his career, headed by Pimlico's GIII Chick Lang S. Oct. 1, Yaupon concluded his sophomore season with a disappointing eighth as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7. He was eighth once again in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan in his first start this term Mar. 27.

Champion sprinter, 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and 8-year-old fan favorite Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) was pulled up and vanned off with an apparent left front leg injury after finishing fifth and has been retired. He walked onto the van under his own power. “Whitmore is okay and is resting comfortably at the barn,” a Tweet from Moquett Racing read. “Although his injury is small in nature, when he walks out of Stall 19 and gets on the van to go home, it will be as a retired champion.”

Pedigree Notes:

Yaupon, a $255,000 OBS June acquisition (:10), is one of 40 graded winners for leading sire Uncle Mo, a smashing debut winner and 'TDN Rising Star' on the Travers undercard himself back in 2010. Yaupon is the second graded runner out of Modification, whose Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last) was second in both the 2014 GII Del Mar Derby and GII Twilight Derby.

Her unraced 2-year-old filly Royal Flower (American Pharoah) brought $1.2 million from Mike G. Rutherford at last year's Keeneland September sale. Modification, who is a half-sister to GSW Sky Alliance (Sky Classic), delivered a colt by Good Magic in 2020. The 2009 GI Humana Distaff S. third-place finisher was bred to Curlin for 2022. She brought $195,000 from Betz Thoroughbreds at the 2010 KEENOV Sale.

Saturday, Saratoga
FOREGO S.-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.74, ft.
1–YAUPON, 118, c, 4, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Modification (GISP, $166,116), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Swift Alliance, by Afleet
3rd Dam: Stately Bride, by Tom Rolfe
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $485,000 RNA
2yo '19 FTFMAR; $255,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-L. William and
Corinne Heiligbrodt; B-Betz, Lamantia, CoCo Equine, Magers,
Burns (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana, Jr.
$320,000. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-0, $703,264. *1/2 to
Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last), MGSP, $366,705. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus*.
2–Firenze Fire, 122, h, 6, Poseidon's Warrior–My Every Wish, by
Langfuhr. O-Mr. Amore Stable; B-Mr Amore Stables (FL);
T-Kelly J. Breen. $112,000.
3–Chance It, 118, c, 4, Currency Swap–Vagabon Diva, by
Pleasantly Perfect. O-Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, LLC;
B-Bett Usher (FL); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $60,000.
Margins: HD, 2HF, NO. Odds: 2.00, 8.70, 19.20.
Also Ran: Mind Control, Whitmore, Mischevious Alex, Doubly Blessed, Lexitonian.
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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NHC Charity Challenge Has Field Of 60 For 2021 Edition

While the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship Presented by Racetrack Television Network, Caesars Entertainment, and Bally's Las Vegas will crown the best handicapper in the sport, industry accolades will be on the line as a cross-section of notable journalists, analysts, and personalities compete in today's NTRA NHC Charity Challenge presented by Four Roses Bourbon.

A field of approximately 60 are slated to compete for the $5,000 charitable prize pool with $2,500 set to be donated in the winner's name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the other $2,500 going to the winner's charity of choice.

Defending Charity Challenge winner Jude Feld will attempt a title defense and every past winner is expected to participate. The past Charity Challenge champions are Dawn Lupul (2019), Ed DeRosa (2018), Ellis Starr (2017), Matt Bernier (2016), and Bob Neumeier (2015).

This year's complete field, in alphabetical order, with affiliation:

Pete Aiello, track announcer, Gulfstream Park

Frank Angst, features editor, BloodHorse

Jeremy Balan, content editor, TwinSpires.com

Matt Bernier, racing analyst, NBC Sports / In The Money Media

Christina Blacker, host and analyst, TVG

Brian Blessing, radio host, Sportsbook Radio / Vegas Hockey Hotline

Michael Blowen, Old Friends Farm

Mike Brunker, assistant city editor, Las Vegas Review-Journal

Steve Byk, radio host, At the Races with Steve Byk

Zoe Cadman, host and analyst, XBTV.com / Santa Anita Park

Michael Canale, DraftKings

Matt Carothers, host and analyst, TVG

Frank Carulli, professional gambler and former racing analyst

Joe Clancy, ST Publishing

Sean Clancy, ST Publishing

Ed DeRosa, director of marketing, TwinSpires.com / racing analyst, Churchill Downs

Matt Dinerman, track announcer, Golden Gate Fields

Ramon Dominguez, Hall of Fame jockey, broadcaster

Bob Ehalt, freelance writer

Chris “The Bear” Fallica, research producer, College GameDay

Ahmed Fareed, national studio and event host, NBC Sports

Jude Feld, broadcaster and writer, PopeJude.com / Horse Racing Radio Network

Gabby Gaudet, racing analyst and reporter, TVG

Robert Geller, track announcer, Woodbine Entertainment

Jamie Haydon, president, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

Scott Hazelton, host and reporter, TVG

G.D. Hieronymus, retired racetrack video production legend

John Hernandez, track handicapper, Prairie Meadows

Jonathon Kinchen, racing analyst, NYRA / FOX Sports / In the Money Media

Joe Kristufek, racing analyst, Churchill Downs / Fair Grounds

Tom Law, ST Publishing

David Levitch, basketball coach and handicapper, TheHorseCapper.com

Dawn Lupul, holistic health coach and handicapper

Pete Macheska, executive director, FOX Sports

Paul Matties, professional horseplayer, 2016 NHC champion

Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, owner, Gallery Furniture

Jimmy McNerney, track announcer, Ellis Park

Seth Merrow, host, Capital OTB

Jim Miller, director of publicity and on-air analyst, Hawthorne Race Course

Frank Mirahmadi, track announcer, Santa Anita Park / Monmouth Park

Bob Neumeier, retired sports broadcaster

Joe Nevills, bloodstock editor, The Paulick Report

Ron Nicoletti, handicapper, Gulfstream Park

Eddie Olczyk, NHL Lead Analyst, Turner Sports / racing analyst, NBC Sports

Ray Paulick, founder and editor, The Paulick Report

Rich Perloff, host and analyst, TVG

Samantha Perry, handicapper, Monmouth Park

Jay Privman, national correspondent, Daily Racing Form

Sheri Riddoch, handicapper, Woodbine Entertainment

Peter Rotondo, father and bon vivant

Matt Rybaltowski, sports betting reporter, Sports Handle / US Bets / Forbes

Spa Infield Goose, waterfowl and Twitter influencer

Todd Schrupp, host and analyst, TVG

Brian Spencer, handicapper

Ellis Starr, handicapper, Equibase

Vic Stauffer, track announcer, Oaklawn Park

Dan Tordjman, correspondent, America's Best Racing

Dave Weaver, racing analyst, TVG

Similar to the NHC format, players will select one horse to Win and Place in eight races using a “Pick and Pray” format. All selections are due Saturday morning and any scratches will result in the player being assigned the post-time favorite. The player with the highest hypothetical bankroll after the final contest race will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, there will be no playoff; the donations will be split among the winners.

In addition to the charitable prize, Breeders' Cup is offering a $500 credit to the winner's HorsePlayers.com account. The second-place finisher will get a $250 credit with third earning a $100 credit.

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Gamine Easy Victor In Ballerina, Earns Spot In BC Filly & Mare Sprint

In the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Gamine sprinted to her fifth G1 victory, taking the lead early in the seven-furlong stakes and holding off late challenges from Ce Ce and Lake Avenue to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

A last-out winner in the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos, the Bob Baffert-trained 4-year-old filly came into the Ballerina as the prohibitive favorite off of four consecutive victories dating back to her win in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. in early November. Breaking from post one, the daughter of leading North American sire Into Mischief went to the lead as expected, with Estilo Talentoso in second. After a first quarter in :23.20 and a half-mile in :45.60, Gamine and John Velazquez held a three-length lead into the far turn, with Estilo Talentoso still in second and Lake Avenue third.

Into the stretch, with Lake Avenue on the rail and Ce Ce to her outside, Gamine maintained her front-running status, holding off the two closers by a length and three-quarters at the wire. The time for the seven-furlong Ballerina was 1:21.61. Lake Avenue was second, Ce Ce third, with Sconsin, Estilo Talentoso, Truth Hurts, and Casual round out the order of finish.

Find this race's chart here.

The G1 Ballerina is a Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. The winner of Win and You're In events earn a fees-paid guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding Breeders' Cup race.

Gamine paid $2.70, $2.30, and $2.10. Lake Avenue paid $7.10 and $3.70. Ce Ce paid $2.80.

“We were down in the one-hole, so you have to break and go from there. She handled the gate well, broke well and Johnny [Velazquez] put her in the race,” Baffert assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said after the race. “The 23 [second quarter-mile] felt pretty comfortable, 45 was pretty comfortable. [They were gaining on her] slightly, but once Johnny got her to switch leads, I wasn't really concerned. They were moving but we were still running.”

“She just kind of waited and then by the quarter pole, I asked her for what she needed to do, and she got it done,” Velazquez told the NYRA Press office. “I didn't think there was much speed in the race. She's a nice horse to relax. If they went fast, she was going to go fast. If they went slow, she was going to go slow, so that's what I like about her. When she's in the lead, she's in control of herself.”

Bred by Grace Thoroughbred Holdings, Gamine is out of the Kafwain mare Peggy Jane. Consigned by Bobby Dodd, she was purchased by owner Michael Lund Peterson at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic Two-Year-Olds InTraining Sale for $1.8 million. Her win in the G1 Ballerina is her fourth victory in four starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of nine wins in 10 starts and $1,681,500 in career earnings.

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