April, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Grade I-Placed Curlin Filly Graduates at Keeneland

3rd-Keeneland, $100,000, Msw, 4-10, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.99, ft, 1 1/4 lengths.
DISTINCTLYPOSSIBLE (f, 3, Curlin–Funny Proposition {GSW, $230,295}, by Medaglia d'Oro) closed off nicely to be second on her six-furlong debut at Saratoga last August and was last seen finishing runner-up to Juju's Map (Liam's Map) when last seen in this track's GI Darley Alcibiades S. in October. A slight drift in the markets saw the bay jump at a fairly generous even money Sunday and she hit the ground running before being securing a rail-skimming spot by the time they reached the first turn. Nursed along while drafting in behind pacesetting Al Qahira (Cairo Prince) down the backstretch, Distinctlypossible pushed away from the fence to deliver her challenge three abreast at the entrance to the short stretch. Though she began looking for the wire passing the sixteenth pole, she kept on well enough to best the running-on Miss Yearwood (Will Take Charge) by 1 1/4 lengths. A $200,000 Keeneland September yearling, Distinctlypossible was hammered down to Pete Bradley's Bradley Thoroughbreds for $670,000 at last year's OBS April Sale after working an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 while never switching her leads. The winner's dam was a $275,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate and went on to win the GII Fleur de Lis H. in the John Oxley yellow and pale blue colors. She is the dam of four winners from as many to race and foaled a colt by Oxley's Darby Dan-based Flameaway (Scat Daddy) in 2021 before returning to that stallion. Sales history: $200,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $670,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GISP, 3-1-2-0, $157,350. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Bradley Thoroughbreds, Gary Finder, Belmar Racing & Breeding LLC, Tim and Anna Cambron & Team Hanley; B-John C Oxley (KY); T-Chad C Brown.

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Zandon ‘All Good’ Following Blue Grass Win

It was all smiles Sunday morning in trainer Chad Brown's barn following the 2½-length victory by Jeff Drown's Zandon in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1), which secured a spot in the starting gate for the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1) May 7.

“Everything is all good with him this morning,” said Baldo Hernandez, who is overseeing Brown's Keeneland string. “He ate up everything last night.”

Brown had indicated after the race that Zandon would remain at Keeneland for the time being before going to Churchill Downs “maybe a couple of weeks before the Derby.”

Another horse that could go to Churchill with Zandon is Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta's Dolce Zel, who finished second in the Appalachian (G2).

Should she go to Louisville, Dolce Zel could point to the May 6, $500,000 Edgewood (G2) to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

“She came back good,” Hernandez said. “That was a good filly (Spendarella) that beat her.”

The post Zandon ‘All Good’ Following Blue Grass Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Stars’ Out in Oka Sho

Stars on Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn) closed from off the pace to get her nose down in front of Water Navillera (Jpn) (Silver State) in Sunday's G1 Oka Sho at Hanshin, the first leg in the Japanese Triple Crown for fillies. The victory marked the first black-type score for the Shadai homebred.

The filly settled in midpack as Kafuji Tetragon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) showed the way with Water Navillera in close pursuit. As the field constricted turning for home, Water Navillera gained control passing the furlong pole as Stars on Earth eagerly searched for racing room a few lengths behind. Finally finding a seam while brushing with rival the lates stages, Stars on Earth dug in late and made it up in time to edge Water Navillera at the wire. Race favorite and Tulip Sho victor Namur (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) had a wide trip near the rear after breaking from the widest stall and improved her position slightly before hitting the straight but lacked a final kick, finishing 10th.

“I'm just so glad that she actually snatched the win at the end–I knew we had caught up but couldn't tell who'd won,” said winning jockey Yuga Kawada, who last won the race in 2014 with Harp Star (Jpn). “I'd been aware during workouts that she was a bit difficult to control but besides keeping that in mind, the plan today was to stay in mid-pack and let her run in a comfortable rhythm. It was definitely her strength and determination that shone and gave us the win today. I'm looking forward to how she develops from here.”

Stars on Earth, a winner in her second career start at Tokyo last October, entered the Oka Sho off a pair of runner-up finishes in 2022 in the Jan. 10 G3 Fairy S. and G3 Queen Cup S. Feb. 12.

Pedigree Notes:
The Shadai homebred is one of two foals out of Southern Stars (GB), a minor winner out of grass champion mare and French Highweight 3-year-old filly Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}), a winner of a sextet of Group 1/Grade I races, including the G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) and GI Beverly D S. That earner of over $2.3 million has also proven prolific in the breeding shed, foaling Japanese champion 2 and 3-year-old filly Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and G3 Schon Glanz (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). With Sunday's Classic victory, Stars on Earth becomes the second Group 1 winner for Duramente and the third group score for the Japanese champion.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
OKA SHO (JAPANESE 1000 GUINEAS)-G1, ¥287,420,000, Hanshin, 4-10, 3yo fillies, 1600mT, 1:32.90, fm.
1–STARS ON EARTH (JPN), 121, f, 3, Duramente (Jpn)
1st Dam: Southern Stars (GB), by Smart Strike (CAN)
2nd Dam: Stacelita (Fr), by Monsun (Ger)
3rd Dam: Soignee (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WINNER, 1ST GROUP WIN; 1ST GROUP 1
WIN. O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm; T-Mizuki
Takayanagi; J-Yuga Kawada; ¥157,594,000. Lifetime Record:
6-2-3-1. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: F.
2–Water Navillera (Jpn), 121, f, 3, Silver State (Jpn)–Shining
Sayaka (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn). O-Masato Yamaoka;
B-Fushikida Farm; ¥59,884,000.
3–Namura Clair (Jpn), 121, f, 3, by Mikki Isle (Jpn)–Sun Queen,
by Storm Cat. O-Mutsuhiro Namura; B-Tanikawa Farm;
¥36,942,000.
Margins: NO, HF, NK; Odds: 13.50, 5.20, 13.50.
Also Ran: Circle of Life (Jpn), Pin High (Jpn), Personal High (Jpn), Belle Cresta (Jpn), Alluring Way (Jpn), Sublime Anthem (Jpn), Namur (Jpn), Presage Lift (Jpn), Kafuji Tetragon (Jpn), Cross Majesty (Jpn), Voller Blute (Jpn), Anegohada (Jpn), Lilac (Jpn), Raspberry Mousse (Jpn), Lovely Your Eyes (Jpn).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

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Epicenter, Echo Zulu Breeze at Churchill

With less than four weeks remaining until the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's duo of top contenders Epicenter (Not This Time) and Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) returned to the worktab Sunday at Churchill Downs for the first time since their respective victories two weeks ago in the GII Louisiana Derby and GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter, the potential favorite in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01 flat (7/22) Sunday at 5:50 a.m. while his stablemate, L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' champion filly Echo Zulu breezed 20 minutes prior and completed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 (5/22).

Epicenter, with exercise rider Wilson Fabian up, worked outside of fellow 3-year-old Guntown (Gun Runner) through fractions of :13 2/5, :25 2/5 and :37. The duo stayed together for most of the breeze and completed six furlongs in a comfortable 1:14 3/5 and were up seven furlongs in 1:29 2/5.

Bettors tabbed Epicenter as the 9-2 favorite in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Saturday prior to the runnings of the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and GII Wood Memorial S.

Echo Zulu, with Fabian in the saddle, worked inside of debut maiden special weight winner Belle Rebelle (Upstart) through opening fractions of :13, :24 2/5 and :36. The duo galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5.

Unbeaten Echo Zulu was named champion 2-year-old filly in 2021, capping off her undefeated season with an emphatic 5 1/4-length score in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). She dug in during the late stages of the Fair Grounds Oaks to hold off Hidden Connection (Connect) by a scant nose in her 3-year-old debut.

Echo Zulu is a perfect five-for-five and is one of several fillies that could vie for favoritism in the Kentucky Oaks.

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