Month: February 2022

Broberg Pointing Win-Machine Greeley And Ben Toward Whitmore Stakes

Win-machine Greeley and Ben could be in line for a class hike following the 8-year-old gelding's latest victory at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., his owner/trainer, Karl Broberg, said Wednesday afternoon.

Under Reylu Gutierrez, Greeley and Ben was a 1 ¾-length winner of a starter-allowance sprint for older horses last Monday, the gelding's 12th victory in his last 13 starts. Greeley and Ben covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.60 and paid $3 as the heavy 1-2 favorite.

“He really surprised me,” said Broberg, the country's winningest trainer in 2014-'19. “I don't know. I'm probably going to screw it up by putting him in the Whitmore. He just deserves the chance. He always tries.”

Broberg was referring to the $200,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) for older sprinters March 19. Greeley and Ben had been based at Delta Downs, but Broberg said the gelding will remain at Oaklawn to prepare for a possible start in the Whitmore, which is the final major local prep for the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 16. Broberg's Oaklawn division is overseen by assistant Kevin Martin.

Broberg won a four-way shake, or blind draw, to claim Greeley and Ben for $10,000 last March at Oaklawn. The son of Greeley's Conquest captured 11 races in 2021, including 10 for Broberg, and was North America's co-second-winningest horse (at least one start in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico), according to Equibase, racing's official data gathering organization.

Greeley and Ben had a nine-race winning streak snapped with a runner-up finish behind Just Might in the $150,000 Thanksgiving Day Classic Stakes Nov. 25 at Fair Grounds. Greeley and Ben returned to win the $75,000 Sam's Town Stakes Jan. 8 at Delta Downs and the $75,000 Stonerside Stakes Jan. 30 at Sam Houston in his other two starts this year.

“That's the dream,” Broberg said, referring to the Whitmore. “That's actually why I sent him up there in that starter. If he did it the right way, I told myself I would consider it. He did it the right way.”

Overall, Greeley and Ben has a 19-5-1 record from 30 lifetime starts and earnings of $592,998.

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Pinehurst Strong In Front-Running Saudi Derby Win

Pinehurst, winner of the Runhappy Del Mar Futurity (G1) last summer, scored a front-running triumph in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby Presented by Al Rahji Bank (G3) Feb. 26 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.

Coming off a second in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) Jan. 20 at Santa Anita, Pinehurst overcame his wide post 11 in the 14-horse field to grab the lead early with pressure from I Am Magic and Consigliere in close pursuit.

With a slim lead into the straight, Pinehurst dug in and held strong for a half-length win from Sekifu, with fellow Japanese runner Consigliere taking third.

Pinehurst, a son of Twirling Candy out of Giant Win, by Giant's Causeway, with Flavian Prat aboard, covered the one-turn 1,600 meters in 1:38.12 and paid $4.40 in North American pools. He closed 2021 with a fifth in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) Nov. 5 after taking the Del Mar Futurity by 4 1/2 lengths.

“He is all speed,” said Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, said of Pinehurst. “He was very good at the gate and did what he needed to do. He got a clean break and if you are going to beat us, you have to pass us, and he was able to stay in the lead the whole way. They [the Japanese] were coming again; well, they had enough for the day, so spread it around! Luckily he had enough heart and stamina to hold off the Japanese.

“This was our expectation. We came over here with a serious horse and he seemed to handle everything well–the shipping, the paddock, the van to come over for the race, the gate. Well, he left the gate running. I couldn't be happier.”

Baffert said the UAE Derby (G2) on the Dubai World Cup card March 26 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse was likely next for Pinehurst.

Pinehurst is campaigned by a large partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Donovan, Catherine, Golconda Stable, Siena Farm. Bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John John D. Fielding, his record improves three wins from five career starts.

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Lone Rock To Bypass Dubai, Point To Oaklawn’s Temperence Hill

Millionaire multiple Grade 2 winner Lone Rock is staying home.

After being considered for a race next month in the Middle East, trainer Robertino Diodoro said Lone Rock will instead remain at Oaklawn in  Hot Springs, Ark., and be pointed to the $150,000 Temperence Hill Stakes for older horses at 1 ½ miles April 2.

Diodoro decided to keep Lone Rock at Oaklawn after the gelding finished a non-threatening sixth under regular rider Ramon Vazquez in the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses Feb. 12. The 1 1/16-mile Razorback was Lone Rock's possible prep for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) March 26 in the United Arab Emirates.

“As the day went on that day, it got colder out, so then it got more speed biased because they couldn't put water on the track,” Diodoro said, adding the Razorback was also “little bit short” for the gelding. “Lone Rock, Ramon said he didn't even get a chance to get warmed up and galloped out a long way. Just unfortunate there.”

Lone Rock was coming off a three-quarter length victory over stablemate Thomas Shelby in the inaugural $200,000 Tinsel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 18.

Lone Rock flourished in marathon events last year, finishing second in the Temperence Hill before winning the $130,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, $400,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, $120,000 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga and the $250,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) Nov. 6 at Del Mar in which he set a 1 5/8-mile track record (2:42.61). The Isaac Murphy and Brooklyn were all 1 ½ miles. The Birdstone was 1 ¾ miles. Lone Rock also won a 1 ½-mile allowance race at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting.

Diodoro said Lone Rock and Thomas Shelby exited the Razorback in good shape. Thomas Shelby finished second, beaten a neck by Plainsman, in a stirring stretch battle.

“Thomas Shelby ran his guts out,” Diodoro said.

Diodoro said next-race plans are pending for Thomas Shelby. The Curlin gelding, still seeking his first career stakes victory, races for M and M Racing (Mike and Mickala Sisk), Oaklawn's leading owner the last four meetings.

“I've shed a few tears after a win,” said Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2020. “I don't think I have after a loss. But that day, I was about ready to bust a few tears.”

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