The news that upset Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Rich Strike would skip the Preakness Stakes and wait for the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets on June 11 came as a surprise
Month: May 2022
Stitched Goes All The Way In Caesars; Heavenly Hellos Surprises In Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes
Stitched was on a mission in the 17th running of the $150,000 Caesars Stakes, a Listed event, Wednesday, May 18. The 3-year-old colt led from gate to wire with an impressive win in the event marking Indiana's richest turf race of the season at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Ind.
Stitched obeyed orders from jockey Florent Geroux and was out of the gate quickly in the field reduced to five on the rain-soaked turf. The son of Mizzen Mast was on top of the petite field before they passed the tote board the first time, leaving Setna the Wise and Umberto Rispoli to their outside. Stitched continued his dominance down the backstretch as the field of five remained compact. Around the turn, Geroux prepared the sophomore for a big stretch run, and he got it. As soon as he was in the straight away, Stitched took off with a big sprint to the wire, striding out to a two and three-quarter length advantage at the wire. Tommy Bee and Irad Ortiz Jr. finished second over Setna the Wise.
Stitched was the second choice of the field, paying $10.00 for the win. He is trained by Greg Foley and owned by Nathan McCauley, Michael Olszewski and William Minton. McCauley also bred the colt, who is now four for seven in his career and three for three on a wet turf surface.
“This homebred colt is from a mare we raised named Walking Miracle,” explained McCauley. “We named her that because she had a paddock injury that prevented her from being a racehorse, but she was able to be a broodmare. This is her second foal. There's nothing better than having a win with a homebred.”
Stitched was making his first start among stakes company. He came into the race off an impressive win at Churchill Downs in his last outing, placing him on a small two-race win streak for Foley. Foley is no stranger to the Caesars Stakes. He won the stakes under the name of Oliver Stakes the first year it was held over the turf in 2004 with a three-year-old filly named Rich Find. Stitched seems to be following the same regime as his racing career is just getting underway. He made his first start in December at the Fair Grounds.
“This colt has come a long way,” said Travis Foley, Greg's son who serves as the assistant trainer. “I told the owners after his first start wasn't so great that there's talent there, I swear. He gets better and better every day. We were watching the weather all day yesterday and hoping it stayed on the turf. We are blessed with this win today.”
Foley, who is based in Kentucky, has been a longtime participant on the Indiana circuit. He has raced every year since the inaugural season at Hoosier Park in 1995. A multiple stakes winning trainer in Indiana, Foley has won 46 races in 20 years of action at Horseshoe Indianapolis with limited starts.
Caesars Stakes Day is also paired with Empire of Hope, a Caesars Entertainment Racing initiative to bring funding and awareness to racehorse aftercare programs. Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing, made a presentation earlier in the day showing a total of $30,240 that has been earmarked to various organizations this season in their work to assist retired racehorses after their racing careers have completed. “Parade of Champions” is also held to showcase pony horses and outriding horses who have found second careers on the track. Due to rain, the event was postponed to a later date.
Earlier on the card, Heavenly Hellos surprised a field of seven with a strong finish in 14th running of the Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes, a Black Type event. Ridden by Edgar Morales, the longshot filly paid $74.80 for her win over a turf listed as good in a time of 1:38.51.
Heavenly Hellos and Morales left the gate with intentions of moving toward the lead but were swallowed up by horses on both sides with the same intentions. Delightful Moment and Adam Beschizza claimed the top spot early from the outside with Dreamworker and DeShawn Parker sitting right outside of them in second. Morales was able to place Heavenly Hellos in third, three-wide heading down the backstretch of the one-mile event.
Moving into the final turn, Heavenly Hellos held her ground on the outside and every horse in the field was within just a few lengths of the leader. Heavenly Hellos dug in gamely from the center of the track and never let up, rallying past Dreamworker on the inside and fending off Alittleloveandluck with Paco Lopez on the outside to score the win by a neck in the four-horse photo. Alittleloveandluck finished another neck ahead of Dreamworker for second.
“It was a little wet on the inside, that's why we drifted out,” said Morales, who has had a super start to the meet at Horseshoe Indianapolis and earned his 12th win in the stakes. “We got bumped at the start, but they were going a little slow on the lead. We were able to move up and took the outside and she finished strong.”
Heavenly Hellos added her name to the history of the Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes, becoming the biggest longshot to win in the 14-year history of the race. The sophomore filly by Overanalyze paid $74.80 for the win. It was her second win in five starts for 2022 after not reaching the winner's circle last year as a two-year-old. Rey Hernandez trains the three-year-old for Marcus Barbour's Victory Racing Stable. She was a $9,000 purchase from the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and now has more than $130,000 on her card.
“This filly's mother (Rich Find) actually raced here and won a stakes,” said Barbour. “We have been trying and trying to get her on grass. Today was her shot and we were praying it kept on the turf. This filly is made for the turf.”
Rich Find won the first Oliver Stakes, now known as the Caesars Stakes, held on the turf in 2004. The race began in 2003 when the track opened under the name of Indiana Downs, but the turf course was not available until 2004. The female version of the race, the Indiana Downs Distaff, began in 2009 and is now known as the Horseshoe Indianapolis Stakes.
As far as what is next on the agenda for Heavenly Hellos, Hernandez said: “We will enjoy this win and see how she came out of it and decide what our next move is.”
The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-
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Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features All-Turf Sequence From Belmont, Churchill
The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring all-turf races from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs, including the Grade 3 Louisville to close out the sequence.
Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.
The sequence kicks off in Race 6 [3:18 p.m. Eastern] from Churchill Downs, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward. An overflow field features Klein Racing's Hey There, who makes her first start for Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Brad Cox after a debut fifth-place finish going the same distance on April 27 at Keeneland in a race won by the well-regarded Chardy Party. Hey There was away slowly under Colby Hernandez and trailed in eighth before swinging six-wide in the turn and coming up four lengths short. The Country Day filly, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Sunny Isles, is a half-sister to stakes winners Extra Credit and Field Day.
The Wesley Ward-trained Musical Design nearly graduated in her March 16 debut but came up just shy when bested by a nose in a $50,000 maiden claimer at Gulfstream Park. She stepped up to the maiden special weight level in her next outing on April 22 at Keeneland and finished fourth after stalking the pace in second. The field will also see two newcomers make their debut as Air of Authority starts for trainer Brian Lynch and Wings Like Eagles enters for Michael Tomlinson.
The sequence heads north for the second leg in Race 8 [4:41 p.m.] from Belmont Park. A field of 11 New York-breds are set to sprint seven furlongs in a maiden special weight over the Widener turf course. Louis Lazzinnaro's Marinara Sauced will make his debut for trainer Chad Brown and enters from a May 13 half-mile breeze in 51.40 seconds over the Belmont main track.
His rivals will include the Horacio De Paz-trained Independent Paul, whose long series of works at Belmont were topped by a sizzling half-mile drill from the gate in 47.96 over the training track on May 12; and Feathers Road, who finished second in his most recent outing for trainer Linda Rice on April 3 over a muddy and sealed Aqueduct main track.
Action switches back to Churchill for the middle leg in Race 9 [4:55 p.m.] with an overflow field 3-year-olds and up contesting at one mile in a maiden special weight. Classic Mark cuts back to one mile to make his turf debut for trainer Simon Callaghan after a fourth-place effort last out going 1 1/16 miles on April 14 at Keeneland. His best finish in four starts was a third two races back in a maiden special weight going one mile at Santa Anita after he set the pace and weakened to be defeated by 5 1/2 lengths.
Creative Miracle, a first-time gelding, will stretch out and make his first start since a game second in a maiden special weight going 7 1/2 furlongs in August at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The Brad Cox trainee was defeated 1 1/4 lengths after holding a short lead at the stretch call and losing it down the lane to Brits Wit. Blue Devil also enters from a last-out second, hoping to improve from a neck defeat at Turfway Park where he stalked and pounced to come up just shy of the victory. The son of Uncle Mo will be making his first start for trainer Jeff Hiles.
The penultimate leg features New York-bred 3-year-olds and upward sprinting six furlongs in an allowance at Belmont in Race 10 [5:46 p.m.]. Sheriff Bianco will look for his first victory against winners in his first start off a seven-month layoff for trainer Wesley Ward. The son of Speightster finished second in a six-furlong allowance in October at Belmont after breaking his maiden by a length in August at Saratoga Race Course.
Pick Six Racing's Golquist was a debut winner in an off-the-turf maiden special weight for trainer George Weaver on April 8 at Aqueduct. The son of Nyquist went wire-to-wire to earn his first victory by 3 1/4 lengths. Citizen K was also a last out winner in a maiden special weight by a neck for trainer Horacio De Paz in a six-furlong sprint on April 28 at Belmont.
The sequence closes out in Race 11 [5:58 p.m.] from Churchill, the Grade 3 Louisville for older horses travelling 1 1/2 miles. Team Block's Another Mystery started his 2022 campaign off with a win in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup in January at Sam Houston for trainer Chris Block. The son of Temple City won in exciting fashion when he and Fantasioso hit the wire together to dead heat for the victory. Another Mystery finished a disappointing eighth next out in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds before regaining good form with a solid second-place effort last out in the Grade 2 Elkhorn, defeated 1 1/4 lengths by the accomplished Channel Maker.
Steep opposition will be provided by the veteran Shamrocket, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Turf Classic at Tampa Bay Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Shamrocket found stakes success earlier in the year with a half-length score in the Sunshine Classic in January at Gulfstream Park en route to a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida in March over the same course. Other challengers include Highest Honors, who makes his third start on grass for trainer Chad Brown; Cellist, who earned a Grade 1 placing in the Belmont Derby last year for trainer Rusty Arnold; and Cavalry Charge, winner of the Grade 3 Fair Grounds earlier this year for conditioner Dallas Stewart.
America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.
NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.
Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, May 21:
Leg A: Churchill Downs – Race 6, maiden special weight (3:18 p.m. Eastern)
Leg B: Belmont Park – Race 8, maiden special weight (4:41 p.m.)
Leg C: Churchill Downs – Race 9, maiden special weight (4:55 p.m.)
Leg D: Belmont Park – Race 10, allowance (5:46 p.m.)
Leg E: Churchill Downs– Race 11, Grade 3 Louisville (5:58 p.m.)
The post Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features All-Turf Sequence From Belmont, Churchill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Casse Trio Star In Woodbine’s Ruling Angel Stakes
Trainer Mark Casse sends out the trifecta of Join the Dance, Mrs. Barbara, and Summertime Magic in Saturday's $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes, at Woodbine.
Set for seven furlongs on the Toronto oval Tapeta, the Ruling Angel, for three-year-old fillies, has attracted six starters, including a strong contingent from the Casse barn.
A bay daughter of Shackleford-Moondancer, Join the Dance, to be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, is currently riding a two-race win streak.
The D.J. Stable LLC sophomore broke her maiden in the final race of her two-year-old campaign last November and then doubled up with a victory in her three-year-old debut on April 23.
Bred in Kentucky by Mike and Pat Freeny, Join the Dance will now join the stakes ranks, bringing a record of 2-2-1 from six starts, all at Woodbine, into the Ruling Angel.
“I thought she ran really well in both of her wins,” praised Casse. “I think her optimum distance is a little bit farther than this race, but she doesn't have a whole lot of options. She's a three-year-old who has already won two races, and beat older horses, so this is a good spot for her.”
After making her past two starts in the U.S., Mrs. Barbara, Canada's champion two-year-old female in 2021, will return to Woodbine looking to emulate her Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes triumph at the end of November.
Bred in Kentucky by Jim Dandy Stable and owned by Spruce Stable, the daughter of Bodemeister-Destroy was fourth in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in March and fifth in the Bourbonette Oaks in early April.
The dark bay filly, sporting a mark of 2-1-1 from eight starts, has been training forwardly ahead of her fourth straight stakes engagement.
“Obviously, she is the most accomplished of the three,” started Casse. “She's training extremely well, and I think she will be extremely competitive in the race. She always shows up. She's tough. And like I said, she's training so well right now.”
Summertime Magic will look to spring forward in her second start and stakes debut.
The daughter of Carpe Diem-Tap Softly had a strong career bow on April 17 at Woodbine, stalking three-wide before seizing control of the five-furlong Tapeta race to notch a two-length win in a time of :57.77.
Casse was most impressed by what happened after the wire.
“I think what stood out was what she did afterwards. If you watch her, she must have galloped out 20 lengths in front. She just kept going. She's one we always thought was a pretty good horse. She's had some minor knee injuries and that has held her back on a couple of occasions.”
Bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton and Silver Fern Farm, the grey, owned by John Oxley, has already caught the eye of her conditioner.
“She's a filly that has a lot of talent, but she's a little short on experience. It may be asking a bit much of her.”
The Ruling Angel is listed as race three on the 10-race card, with a first post of 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app. Live racing resumes Sunday at 1:10 p.m., highlighted by the running of the King Corrie Stakes.
FIELD FOR THE RULING ANGEL
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Join the Dance – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
2 – Outfoxed – Justin Stein – William Mott
3 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Summertime Magic – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires
6 – Urban – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
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