March, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

O’Brien Charts Plans for Classic Hopefuls

Aidan O'Brien outlined plans after several members of his team galloped Saturday, chief among them G1 Futurity Trophy winner Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), undefeated in three starts at two, and MGSW Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who was last seen finishing second in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National last September. Campaigned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, the pair are likely to reappear in the Apr. 30 G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

“Luxembourg was in the first lot and everything went very well,” said O'Brien. “He did everything very nicely and he finished off nicely and Ryan [Moore] seemed very happy with him.”

Of his stablemate, he added, “I was very happy as well with Point Lonsdale. Seamus [Heffernan] said he relaxed and quickened nicely and you'd have to be very happy.”

“You'd have to see how they come out of it, but we're thinking of aiming both of them at Newmarket.”

Also included among the first grouping of gallopers were Star Of India (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

“I thought they could be Irish Guineas horses,” he said. “They won't go to Leopardstown for the Trial now, because it comes too quick. The two could go for the [May 21 G1] Irish Guineas or they could go to France for the [May 15 G1] French Guineas like [2021 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner] St Mark's Basilica and step up to a mile and a quarter after that.”

Heading the fillies Saturday was undefeated G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. winner Tenebrism (Caravaggio).

“Tenebrism worked very well. Ryan was very happy with her. They went a strong seven [furlongs] and she came home very well. She will go straight for the [1000] Guineas [May 1].”

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Front-Running Two Emmys Coasts Clear In Muniz Memorial

Two Emmys led at every point of call before bounding away in the stretch to win the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Second in last year's edition of the race, the 6-year-old English Channel gelding gave a tour de force performance this year, winning by 2 1/2 lengths from Santin.

With James Graham aboard for trainer and co-owner Hugh Robertson, Two Emmy's was timed in 1:49.83 for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf.

Two Emmys led by about 1 1/2 lengths while setting easy fractions of :25.94 and :49.83 through a half mile with 2-1 favorite Santin loping along in second in the nine-horse field.

Widening his advantage to about four lengths at the quarter pole, Two Emmys set off for the finish line and won unchallenged.

Cavalry Charge checked in third.

Two Emmys, who is also owned by Wolfe Racing, won for the first time in three starts this year and improved to 5-8-1 in 20 career starts and earnings of $765,708.

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Son of Hot Dixie Chick Earns Rising Stardom

Well-related Stonestreet Stables product Marsalis (Curlin–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) stepped forward off a stellar debut outing to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction Saturday at Fair Grounds. Beaten a head and 5 1/4 lengths clear of third in a salty GII Risen Star S. day heat won by Todd Pletcher-trained invader Momentous (Speightstown) Feb. 19, the Steve Asmussen pupil was off at 3-5 and soon showed why.

Off at 3-10 while breaking from the fence, the $340,000 Keeneland September RNA broke well but had to work a bit early to eventually make the front narrowly. He doled out an opening quarter of :21.76, and was challenged through a :44.80 half by longshot Lagoon (Runhappy) as that one launched a sweeping move. Marsalis re-broke at the head of the lane, put his stubborn foe away by midstretch, and was wrapped up late to don cap and gown by 2 1/2 lengths. Vinco (Quality Road), last year's $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic topper, bounced back from a non-show last out to complete the exacta. Lagoon checked in fourth.

Marsalis is the sixth foal out of his connections' speedy 'Rising Star' Hot Dixie Chick, winner of the 2009 GI Spinaway S. and already the dam of Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), MGSW, $1,038,500; and 'Rising Star' Union Jackson (Curlin), MSW & GSP, $273,874. The former took the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. Jan. 30 and was most recently a close second in the GII Azeri S. two weeks ago; while the latter, who stands at Sequel Stallions in New York, was represented by his first black-type winner earlier this month. Hot Dixie Chick is also a half to 2017 GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and Grade II winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile). She produced a Constitution colt last term before being bred back to both Tapit and Quality Road.

A 'Rising Star' himself, Curlin has now sired 20 horses to earn that moniker. For more on Marsalis as part of Steve Sherack's Second Chances series, click here.

7th-Fair Grounds, $65,000, Msw, 3-26, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.40, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
MARSALIS, c, 3, Curlin
1st Dam: Hot Dixie Chick (GISW, $343,252), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Above Perfection, by In Excess (Ire)
3rd Dam: Something Perfect, by Somethingfabulous
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $50,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. *$340,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP.

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Favored Olympiad Makes It Look Easy In New Orleans Classic

Favorite Olympiad took charge in early stretch and cruised clear to win the $500,000 New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Ridden by Junior Alvarado for trainer Bill Mott, Olympiad was two lengths clear of Proxy at the finish line and covered 1 1/8 miles in in a swift 1:47.74.

Off at 3-5 odds, Olympiad pressed pacesetter Promisekeeper, who laid down fractions of :23.69 an :47.46 through the opening half mile. Six furlongs went in 1:35.66 before Alvarado gave the cue at the quarter pole and the winner spurted away. Proxy rallied from fourth to take second.

Promisekeeper held on for third, 2 3/4 lengths back.

Olympiad won the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) last month at Fair Grounds, setting a track record of 1:42.01 for 1 1/16 miles. The bay son of Speightstown, campaigned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods, has only finished worse than second once in his seven race career – a troubled fourth-place finish in last year's Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct.

Mott said the goal for Olympiad, who is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Tokyo Time, is to take another shot at winning at the highest level.

“We'd like to get him in a Grade 1 and get the job done,” Mott said.

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