Month: March 2022

Talented Arkansas-Bred Sprinter Gar Hole Could Target Count Fleet

Sporting a four-race winning streak, Arkansas-bred standout Gar Hole returned to the work tab Saturday morning, covering a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer John Ortiz and breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs. The track was fast.

Gar Hole was breezing for the first time since a powerful five-length victory March 5 in the Nodouble Breeders' Stakes for state-bred sprinters. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Gar Hole ran six furlongs in a meet-best 1:09.06. The 4-year-old gelded son of Tekton also became the meet's first four-time winner.

Ortiz and John Gasper, Anthony's racing manager, said next-race plans are pending for Gar Hole, but the gelding is under consideration to face open company for the first time in the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older runners at six furlongs April 16.

“Gar Hole is doing great,” Ortiz said. “Right now, just eating and training very well. Happy has can be in the barn. Right now, just sitting tight. Right now, the Count Fleet is probably going to be a targeted race. That's most likely where we'll head, but we have no rush to get him into open stake company.”

Ortiz entered March with several candidates for the Count Fleet, but that list has been trimmed in recent weeks.

Ortiz said sharp Dec. 18 allowance winner Mucho is receiving a break at WinStar Farm in Kentucky and could resurface this summer at Saratoga. Hollis, who set Oaklawn's 5 ½-furlong track record (1:02.17) in a Dec. 10 allowance race, finished a weakening fourth as the favorite in Saturday's $200,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) at six furlongs. Sandwiched around the track record and another powerful 5 ½-furlong allowance victory was a fifth-place finish in the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older horses at six furlongs Jan. 29.

“The Count Fleet's still not out of the question and he's got to keep competing in here if we want to win it,” Ortiz said.

Top Gunner, a Dec. 5 allowance winner, is scheduled to return in Friday's eighth race, but Ortiz said he doubts he'll be ready for the Count Fleet.

The post Talented Arkansas-Bred Sprinter Gar Hole Could Target Count Fleet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dr. Marbooz Romps Away To Victory At Aiken Trials

An authoritative victory by Sisu Racing Stable's Dr. Marbooz in the City of Aiken Trophy was a highlight among five Thoroughbred races Saturday at the 79th annual Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track in Aiken, South Carolina.

The Aiken Trials are a rite of spring in the area, and an estimated crowd of 10,000 were on hand for the festivities, which were canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19. The day also included pony races, a ladies sidesaddle race, tailgaiting, and the induction of the late Arlington Park owner Richard L. Duchossois into the Aiken Training Track Ambassador's Club.

New York-bred Dr. Marbooz, ridden by Kathleen Hogan, won by a wide margin from his lone rival, Fearless Kitten, Dede Biles of the Aiken Standard reported. He finished 4 ½ furlongs in :57 4/5. The two squared off after the scratch of So You Are.

A 5-year-old Bourbon Courage gelding, trained by Brad Stauffer, is a homebred Carolyn Karlson of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. His win was especially meaningful.

“I was there when he was foaled,” Karlson told the publication about Dr. Marbooz, who has won races at Belterra Park and Finger Lakes. “I toweled him off.”

Trainer Peter Pugh sent out two winners Saturday: Livingstone and Say It Loud, both guided by Bernie Dalton.

Livingstone, a 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile gelding, won the 4 ½ furlong Coward Trophy in :59 2/5, and Say It Loud, a 3-year-old Midnight Storm gelding took the Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy in :54 1/5. Both are owned by Cherry Knoll Farm.

Two-year-old filly Time for Ta Kela, owned by Allen Poindexter, captured the Von Stade Trophy under Ismael Gonzalez. The Iowa-bred daughter of Not This Time, trained by Cary Frommer, finished a quarter mile in :25 4/5.

Jett North Racing's Shinook, a 2-year-old Protonico filly, captured the quarter-mile Gaver Trophy with Crystal Ryan aboard for trainer Marcus Ryan. Time was :23 2/5.

The post Dr. Marbooz Romps Away To Victory At Aiken Trials appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Blazingbellablu Named Washington Horse of the Year

Blazingbellablu (Grazen) became the sixth 3-year-old distaffer to be named Washington Horse of the Year when she was recognized during the Washington Thoroughbred Champions Annual Awards and dinner held at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn Saturday. A homebred for Petra Lewin's Rainbow Meadows Farm and trainer Charlie Essex, the filly won the Kent S. at Emerald Downs last July.

Also honored during Saturday's ceremony: 3yo champion Coastal Kid (Coast Guard); 2yo champion Cobra Jet (Curlin to Mischief); 2yo filly champion Koron (Nationhood); champion older horse and champion sprinter Papa's Golden Boy (Harbor the Gold); champion older female Itsallinthenotes (Ministers Wild Cat); and champion turf horse Harbored Memories (Harbor the Gold).

Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Pabst, breeders of Koron, were named 2021 Washington breeders of the year and their stallion Conveyance topped the state sire list. Both titles are awarded by earnings.

Brookie Girl (Proud Citizen), who produced Papa's Golden Boy, was named the state's leading broodmare.

Retiring Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (WTBOA) General Manager M. Anne Sweet became the 23rd recipient of the S. J. Agnew Special Achievement Award for her nearly 44 years of service to the WTBOA and the Washington Thoroughbred industry.

Trainer Marshall Allen's efforts to help save longtime horse owner Jim Foulkes last year on the Emerald Downs' backside were acknowledged with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America White Horse Award.

The post Blazingbellablu Named Washington Horse of the Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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