February, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Morello Romps In Jimmy Winkfield; Gotham Could Be Next Stop

Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Craig Taylor and Victoria Taylor's Morello swooped to an emphatic score in Sunday's rescheduled $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The Jimmy Winkfield was initially slated for last Sunday's card which was cancelled due to the impact of a powerful winter storm in the New York City metropolitan area.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and piloted by Jose Lezcano, Morello broke sharp from the outermost post 5, settling in third position as Hagler punched his way to the front through an opening quarter-mile in 22.60 seconds over the good main track.

Hagler led the field to the turn with Life Is Great stalking in second and Beast Or Famine advancing along the rail. Morello made an early wide move prompting Life Is Great to pop outside of Hagler mid-way through the turn to take command after a half-mile in 45.55.

Morello continued to make up ground outside of Life Is Great and surged clear down the lane en route to a five-length win in a final time of 1:23.30. Life Is Great completed the exacta by 4 1/2-lengths over Beast Or Famine with Dance Code and Hagler rounding out the order of finish.

A $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase, the Classic Empire chestnut entered from an impressive 4 1/4-length debut score over next-out winner Inevtabl Conection in a six-furlong maiden special weight on November 27 at the Big A.

“He broke very good today. Last time, he broke a little slow but today it was good, Lezcano said. “He was in the bridle the whole way and was really going like a good horse. I didn't have to touch him with the whip or anything. I just let him go. He had the same kick as last time.”

Dave Lyon, founder and managing partner of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, said he was impressed with the effort by the colt he named after Tom Morello, guitarist for the rock band Rage Against the Machine.

“This was the plan all along. Sprint him, then take him to seven,” Lyon said. “The allowance race we were looking at didn't go, but we thought this would be the right race to move forward. It looked like by the way he galloped out he could go longer. He handled this field pretty well and we're excited for the future.”

Lyon said he will speak to Asmussen and his Belmont-based assistant Toby Sheets about a potential start in the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham, a one-turn mile for sophomores on March 5 at the Big A offering 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

“I'm going to let Steve and Toby make that decision, but I think it's a realistic spot. I don't think he needs too much time,” Lyon said. “That race is on March 5, so we'll talk to the guys who lead the charge in the training barn and make a decision on that. We're excited, we think we have a good quality horse.”

Bred in Kentucky by Robert B. Tillyer and Dr. Chet Blackey, Morello banked $55,000 in victory while remaining perfect through two starts. Sent to post as the 7-5 mutuel favorite, Morello returned $4.80 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Thursday at the Big A with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Source of original post

Luttrell Joins Preferred Equine Marketing

Austin Luttrell, with a background in both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries, has joined the team at David Reid's Preferred Equine Marketing. Luttrell served as an assistant to trainers Christophe Clement and Kiaran McLaughlin, and was a manager at Denali Stud and Donamire Farm. He also worked for Magic Millions in Australia as a bloodstock consultant. Luttrell has owned, bred and trained Standardbreds, winning his first race as an owner/trainer at his hometown track, the Red Mile and he formed and managed the Cats by 90, LLC partnership.

“I'm incredibly excited for this opportunity to work with Preferred Equine,” Luttrell said. “Preferred is a pillar in the harness racing industry, and has a growing presence in the Thoroughbred business. They operate on the highest level of quality and honesty.”

“I have tremendous respect for David Reid and the amount of hard work he puts toward getting each horse through the auction ring. I believe my dual-breed background will allow me to build on our great reputation while bringing fresh faces and ideas into both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries.”

Reid added, “I'm excited that Austin has agreed to join our Preferred team and I look forward to his contributions to our growing organization. With his dual-breed background and excellent work experiences with leading trainers and sales companies around the globe, he brings valuable knowledge that will help service our clients' needs into the future.”

The post Luttrell Joins Preferred Equine Marketing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘As Good As He’s Ever Looked’: Flightline Breezes Half-Mile For March 5 San Carlos

Undefeated and unchallenged Flightline, a horse on everybody's radar, continued to prepare for his 4-year-old debut in Santa Anita's Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes March 5, working a half-mile at the Arcadia, Calif., track on Sunday in :47.80 under Juan Leyva.

Former jockey Leyva is assistant trainer to John Sadler, who conditions the undefeated son of Tapit, winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes by 11 ½ lengths on Dec. 26 and his three races to date by a combined margin of 37 ½ lengths.

“He went very well, looked super, as good as he's ever looked, going a half-mile in 47 and four and (galloping) out (five furlongs) in a minute flat, effortlessly,” Sadler said.

“We're right on track for the San Carlos (at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Malibu).”

As to Flightline's growing reputation, Sadler said, “I don't think it would be braggadocios to say he obviously is on everybody's radar in racing, because he looks like such an exceptional horse.”

As dominant as he is in his races, Sadler said the $1 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase is a sweetheart under the shed row.

“He's nice around the barn,” Sadler said. “He can be tough on the race track, but around the barn he's very nice.”

Source of original post

Holy Bull Winner White Abarrio Likely To Await Florida Derby

C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio, a thoroughly professional and dominating winner of Saturday's $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) is likely to return on the Road to the Triple Crown in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

“We talked it out over at dinner [Saturday] night, and I'd say it's not set in stone, but he's going to straight to the Florida Derby. We don't have to decide now, but everyone was kind of on the same page to go straight to the Florida Derby,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “The spacing works well. He runs well fresh, and hopefully, it will set him up for the Kentucky Derby (G1) to run his best.”

The Holy Bull, which headlined a program with five-graded stakes for 3-year-olds, was the first graded stakes on the Road to the Curlin Florida Derby. The $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) will be the final prep for Gulfstream's premier Triple Crown prep March 5.

Making his first start since finishing third in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, White Abarrio was obviously ready for his return to action despite missing a pair of workouts in preparation for the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.

“I'm very excited that he won as nicely as you could ask a horse to win a race, and it was the prep with the most depth so far. To be able to come out victorious, it was amazing,” Joseph said. “We had a little setback going into the race. We missed a couple works. You would think he should improve off that. He got a 97 Beyer [Speed Figure]. Just to think he could improve off of that – it's a good feeling.”

The son of Race Day broke sharply to obtain ideal position outside pacesetter Galt into the first turn and rated nicely under Tyler Gaffalione as the longshot pacesetter set fractions of 23.93 and 47.31 seconds for the first half mile. White Abarrio took over on the turn and pulled away to score by 4 ½ lengths over Simplification, the 7-2 second choice who rallied gamely after missing the break and trailing the field early. Mo Donegal, the 8-5 favorite, made a late surge to finish third after breaking slowly and racing in traffic early.

“When you have speed like that and can stay well, you put yourself in a good spot,” Joseph said. “Speed kills in dirt racing. To have that and also have the stamina to go long, it's a strong combo to have.”

After running 1 1/16-miles in 1:42/80, White Abarrio galloped out strongly under Gaffalione, who called on an outrider for assistance in pulling the winner up.

“That's what you want to see when a horse goes two turns, because you've got to get a mile and a quarter. He's done everything so far that it seems like it's within his reach,” Joseph said.

White Abarrio was purchased privately by brothers Mark and Clint Cornett following his eye-catching Sept. 24 debut victory at Gulfstream, in which he scored by 6 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs.

“Mark Cornett called and said he bought a horse. I said, 'Wow, you bought that horse? He was very impressive,'” Joseph recalled. “He said, 'I bought him and vetted him already, just go pick him up when everything is cleared.' He didn't tell me he was going to buy him.”

The gray Kentucky-bred colt went on to win a mile optional claiming race by four lengths on the lead at Gulfstream before finishing third behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club.

“He's an athletic horse. He's very light on his feet. He's a beautiful-moving horse. It carries over to race day, which is the main test. He saddles very professionally – cool, calm,” Joseph said. “He can get a little keen in the morning. When he gallops, he can get a little keen in the morning, but when you work him in company, he'll relax. It's a good attribute to have – to have speed but the ability to rate.”

Trainer Antonio Sano reported that Simplification had a 'very good' morning following his remarkable recovery from a horrible start, in which he broke last as he tossed his head as the gates opened. The son of Not This Time, a front-running winner of the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man, raced three and for wide to work his way up to second under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

“In the front or behind, he's a good horse. The horse that won is an excellent horse. If my horse breaks good, the race could be different,” Sano said. “The good news after the race is that he is a good horse, on the front or from behind.”

Simplification will be pointed to the Fountain of Youth. Sano saddled Gunnevera for a second-place finish in the 2012 Holy Bull before his stretch-running winner of $5.5 million went on to win the Fountain of Youth.

Source of original post