Month: June 2022

Casa Creed Right At Home in the Jaipur

Sent off at a fraction of the 10-1 mutuel he returned to his supporters 12 months ago, Lee Einsidler's LRE Racing and Mike Francesa's JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) enjoyed a beautiful inside trip in defense of his title in the GI Jaipur S. Saturday afternoon and, once tipped out a furlong from home, ran down an alibi-free favorite Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) to score at 4-1.

Making his U.S. reappearance on the back of strong turf sprint efforts in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, Casa Creed settled in about a midfield position as 14-1 True Valour (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) cut out a reasonable tempo of :22.36 for the opening section in advance of Arrest Me Red, who would have been giving Irad Ortiz, Jr. any number of positive vibes while matching motors to the outside.  Ridden for luck by Luis Saez, Casa Creed remained hard against the hedge as they raced into the final quarter mile and took advantage of an opening inside of the mare Change of Control (Fed Biz) with a furlong and a half to travel. Roused right-handed at the eighth pole, Casa Creed was steered out into the three path at and closed powerfully–particularly after switching his leads–to be along in time. True Valour held nicely for third, with Change of Control the long-odds superfecta kicker. The victory secures Casa Creed a fees-paid berth into this year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Casa Creed stretched back out to a mile to be third to Got Stormy (Get Stormy) in the GI Fourstardave H. last August and was fifth to Gear Jockey (Twirling Candy) in the GIII Turf Sprint at Kentucky Downs Sept. 11 before running on to be eighth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. The bay rallied to run recent G1 Yasuda Kinen heroine Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) to a neck in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint Cup in Riyadh Feb. 26 and was exiting a respectable fifth behind A Case of You (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 26. The latter heads to next Saturday's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. on the final day of the Royal Ascot meeting.

Pedigree Notes:

The lone Grade I scorer for the under-appreciated Jimmy Creed, Casa Creed is out of an unraced daughter of four-time graded winner Wild Heart Dancing (Farma Way), the dam of MSPs Unbridled's Heart (Unbridled's Song) and Leopard Rock (Speightstown). Third dam Star of Wicklow was responsible for GISW Man From Wicklow (Turkoman). Achalaya is the dam of Jimmy Creed's 2-year-old full brother, a yearling by Omaha Beach and a filly by Horse of the Year Authentic foaled Apr. 15.

Saturday, Belmont
JAIPUR S.-GI, $400,000, Belmont, 6-11, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:07.44, fm.
1–CASA CREED, 124, h, 6, by Jimmy Creed
               1st Dam: Achalaya, by Bellamy Road
               2nd Dam: Wild Heart Dancing, by Farma Way
               3rd Dam: Star of Wicklow, by Fast Play
($15,000 Ylg '17 OBSWIN; $105,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-LRE
Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC; B-Silver Springs Stud,
LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Luis Saez. $220,000. Lifetime
Record: 26-6-4-4, $1,428,308. *1/2 to Chess's Dream (Jess's
Dream), GSW, $174,315. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Arrest Me Red, 124, c, 4, Pioneerof the Nile–Maraschino
Red, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Lael Stables;
B-M. Roy Jackson (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $80,000.
3–True Valour (Ire), 120, h, 8, Kodiac (GB)–Sutton Veny (Ire),
by Acclamation (GB). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (19,000gns Wlg
'14 TATFOA; €100,000 2yo '16 GBMBR; $225,000 6yo '20
FTKHRA). O-R. Larry Johnson; B-Mr P. O'Rourke (IRE); T-H.
Graham Motion. $48,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 2. Odds: 4.20, 1.85, 14.50.
Also Ran: Change of Control, Whatmakessammyrun, Greyes Creek, Gregorian Chant (GB), Smokin' Jay, Omaha City, Gear Jockey, Scuttlebuzz, Filo Di Arianna (Brz), Chasing Artie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Casa Creed Right At Home in the Jaipur appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Unbeaten Jack Christopher Overwhelms In Woody Stephens Triumph

In a display of dominance and perfection, Jack Christopher kept his record untarnished Saturday and won his first race at the highest level in capturing the $400,000 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) by 10 widening lengths at Belmont Park.

Campaigned by Jim Bakke, Gerry Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, Jack Christopher tallied his fourth victory from as many starts while providing trainer Chad Brown and jockey Jose Ortiz a second Grade 1 win on the Belmont Stakes Day card following their win with Regal Glory in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) two races earlier.

Jack Christopher was hustled to the front from the gate and settled just off Provocateur, who took charge and laid down fractions of :22.61 and :45.38 for a half mile while leading by a half length. He snatched command at the quarter pole and drew off under a hand ride in the final sixteenth for the facile win.

Pappacap, racing in third early, came on to take second, outfinishing Provocateur by 1 ¾ lengths.

A Munnings colt, Jack Christopher covered seven furlongs for 3-year-olds in 1:21.18, notching his first Grade 1 victory.

“I felt really good as he was coming down the lane,” Brown said. “When Jose slipped to the outside of the other speed horse –and that was the only thing I was worried about–was Provocateur potentially hounding us the whole way and maybe softening us up from a tricky post, but once Jose was able to extract himself and get this horse out in the clear, I didn't see any way the horse could lose.

“This horse is an exceptional talent. This is my 15th year of training and I've never had a dirt horse with this much pure brilliance. He reminds me a lot of [2004 Horse of the Year] Ghostzapper when I worked for Bobby Frankel. He's a brilliant horse that can probably run any distance.

“What a relief to get a clean trip. There was plenty in the tank there. It gives me a relief. The race didn't look like it was that grueling and hopefully he'll come out of it fine.”

Ortiz said Jack Christopher got a “very nice and easy” trip.

“When I took a peek back, I was ready to let him go and did a little bit. He was very impressive today. We got a fast track.

“This is why we work hard and wake up every day. We dream about these kinds of races and he's a very nice horse. Hopefully, he stays healthy and we keep doing it.

“I don't know if he would've held the distance [in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby]. If he would've won the Breeders' Cup and won preps then maybe, but that's horse racing.

“He's pointing to the Haskell [G1, July 23 at Monmouth Park]. We'll see what happens after today. We'll see how he came out of today and see going forward.”

Jack Christopher returned $2.70. The $220,000 winner's share of the Woody Stephens purse increased his lifetime bankroll to $841,400.

Bred by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Jack Christopher is out of the Hal Ours mare Rushin No Blushin.

Liz Crow, who bought Jack Christopher for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Yearling Sale in 2020, said: “[Munnings is] a sire I've always loved and had a lot of luck with. We've had quite a few nice Munnings. I saw the horse at the October Sale and I saw him at the Fasig-Tipton September Showcase Sale [2020]. He RNA'ed [for $145,000] in the first spot but I really liked him and bid on him.

“When I saw him again in October, he was a bigger and stronger version of what I saw in September, so I was pretty firm on wanting to get him bought. It was funny because [co-owner] Jim Bakke wanted a filly and not a colt. I called Brad Weisbord, who manages him on a day-to-day basis, and said, 'Please can we buy this horse? I love him.' He said, 'Okay, go to $125,000.' We went to $135,000 and asked for forgiveness instead of permission and Jim said, 'No problem.' ”

The post Unbeaten Jack Christopher Overwhelms In Woody Stephens Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Clairiere All Heart To Defeat Malathaat In Ogden Phipps; Champ Letruska Fades To Finish Last

Stonestreet Stables homebred Clairiere posted a 9-2 upset in Saturday's Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park, battling last year's 3-year-old Champion Malathaat all the way down the stretch to win by a head. The 3-5 favorite, champion mare Letruska was pressured early and faded to finish last in the five-horse field.

Both Malathaat and Clairiere were bred by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet; Shadwell Stable purchased Malathaat for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling sale, while Banke retained Clairiere to race.

“What a great win, two great Stonestreet mares to the wire,” said Clairiere's Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.”She's racing royalty and proved it today.”

Clairiere's dam, Cavorting (Bernardini), won the Ogden Phipps for Stonestreet in 2016. Now a five-time winner from 13 career starts, Clairiere has earned a total of $1.8 million on the racetrack.

The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin completed 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track in 1:41.10, ridden to perfection by jockey Joel Rosario. The Ogden Phipps was a “Win and You're In” for the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), so Clairiere earned a fees-paid berth and travel expenses to the World Championships this November at Keeneland.

Search Results was extremely sharp out of the gates, beating Letruska to the front as that pair left the chute for the one-turn race. Letruska tossed her head and insisted she be in front of that rival, forcing her way to the lead and blowing through a first quarter mile in 22.75 seconds. Search Results stayed right on her heels in second, while it was a 10-length gap back to Malathaat, Bonny South, and Clairiere.

After a half in 45.23 seconds, Search Results began to move up alongside the leading Letruska. Letruska threw in the towel immediately, allowing Search Results to turn for home with a three-length advantage.

However, both Malathaat and Clairiere were opening their strides for the run down the stretch. Malathaat had her head in front as the pair took over from Search Results, but Rosario and Clairiere fought all the way to the wire and were able to finish a head in front. Malathaat had to settle for second, while Search Results was several lengths back in third. Bonny South finished fourth, while Letruska was eased to finish fifth and last.

Assistant trainer Scott Blasi greets jockey Joel Rosario after Clairiere's win in the G1 Ogden Phipps

The post Clairiere All Heart To Defeat Malathaat In Ogden Phipps; Champ Letruska Fades To Finish Last appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Clairiere Picks Up the Pieces in Ogden Phipps to Cap Curlin Exacta

Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S. may have only attracted five horses, but it was the “right” five with champions Malathaat (Curlin) and Letruska (Super Saver), Grade I winners Clairiere (Curlin) and Search Results (Flatter) and MGSW Bonny South (Munnings). After a knock down, drag out fight on the front end between Letruska and Search Results, it was left to the two Stonestreet Stables-bred fillies, Clairiere and Malathaat, to decide it in the lane. In the end, it was Clairiere, carrying her breeders' famed gold and burgundy silks, who got her head on the line first.

Defending Ogden Phipps winner Letruska was hammered down to 3-5 favoritism to repeat here with Malathaat the 3-1 second-choice and Clairiere behind them at 9-2. Clairiere broke sharply, but was quickly out-footed by an over eager Search Results and the typically speedy Letruska. Search Results gained a narrow advantage with the chalk glued to her tail through a :22.75 opening quarter and over a dozen lengths back to the remaining three, led by Malathaat. Clairiere inched up to confront Malathaat as the top two, now on even terms, blazed through a :45.23 half-mile. Search Results overtook Letruska at the five-sixteenths pole as Clairiere and Malathaat began to wind up on the outside. That duo overtook a tiring Letruska in early stretch and set their sights on Search Results. That Chad Brown trainee put in a valiant effort, but the early pace caught up with her in late stretch. Malathaat seized command with Clairiere on her outside shoulder, but it was clear Clairiere had more momentum. She forged past a determined Malathaat in the final strides to secure a narrow victory.

“It was very special, especially with a field like this,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “It was a wonderful experience. 1:41 for a mile and a sixteenth. Is that even possible? They were rolling. The separation they got from the three-eighths to the quarter-pole worried me a bit. The first half, you think, 'perfect'. But when those fillies continued to separate I became concerned. They flew home. 1:41 flat [1:41.10]. They didn't stagger. They had to run.”

He continued, “It was heart, soul and guts, absolutely. What can you say about her? She is racing royalty by Curlin out of Cavorting. I think she's even better this year. She was a wonderful filly last year, but as a 4-year-old, she's faster now than she was then. This is a tremendous stage to do it on. The head went our way this time. I think it is absolutely beautiful that she and Malathaat were that close together the entire race. They are great mares. Unbelievable mares. How proud Stonestreet should be that they bred both of them.”

As for what's next, the Hall of Famer said, “The horse goes to Saratoga next, looking at the [GI] Personal Ensign. The [GI] Breeders' Cup Distaff is the main goal.”

“I always felt Clairiere was coming on strong and if she got a little bit of pace she would do it, and she did it,” said Stonestreet principal Barbara Banke. “She got pace and she did it. I was happy to see Malathaat right behind her. Those are two Stonestreet homebred Curlin fillies. You can't beat that.”

“She was tough to beat and for a second I thought she got me, but she really responded and we got lucky we got it,” said Joel Rosario. “I started by following Johnny [Velazquez aboard Malathaat] for a bit and turning for home it looked like I may never go by, but she did go by.”

As for the runner-up, trainer Todd Pletcher said, “Johnny said she kind of lost focus the last sixteenth of a mile. It's probably time to think about some blinkers, which we've had in the back of our minds for a while. It caught him off-guard because usually if she has a horse next to her, she'll stay focused, but the last 100 yards she saw something and kind of came off the bridle. It's a big effort.”

Clairiere announced herself last year with a win in the race named for her birthplace's most famous resident, the GII Rachel Alexandra S. She was ultra consistent in her next five starts, never finishing worst than fourth, including a second to GI Kentucky Oaks winner Malathaat in the GI Alabama S. last August. She got her well-deserved Grade I next out in the Sept. 25 GI Cotillion S. at Parx and rallied from well back to be fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 6, one spot behind Malathaat. Kicking off 2022 with a dominant optional claimer score at Fair Grounds Mar. 16, the homebred came in second to another Eclipse winner in Letruska in Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Pedigree Notes:

Clairiere is one of 18 Grade I winner by the mighty Curlin. She is the first foal out of MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Cavorting, who won this race in 2016 for the now-retired Kiaran McLaughlin. That Stonestreet colorbearer is one of 14 mares by the late Bernardini to produce a Grade I winner. Her second foal, the now-3-year-old filly La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro), won the Silverbulletday S., making that two black-type winners from two to race for the star mare. Cavorting's 2020 colt Judge Miller (Curlin) summoned $550,000 at KEESEP form Muir Hut Stables. She was barren when bred to Quality Road for 2021 and was bred back to Into Mischief, but has no live foal reported yet for this year. Out of GSW Promenade Girl, Cavorting is a half to GSW Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and MGSP Thirstforlife (Stay Thirsty).

Saturday, Belmont Park
OGDEN PHIPPS S.-GI, $480,000, Belmont, 6-11, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:41.10, ft.
1–CLAIRIERE, 122, f, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Cavorting (MGISW, $2,063,000), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Promenade Girl, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Promenade Colony, by Pleasant Colony
O/B-Stonestreet Stables LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 13-5-4-2, $1,799,592. *1/2 to La Crete (Medaglia d'Oro), SW, $159,460. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Malathaat, 124, f, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Dreaming of Julia (GISW, $874,500), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Dream Rush, by Wild Rush
                3rd Dam: Turbo Dream, by Unbridled
($1,050,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Shadwell Stable; B-Stonestreet  Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. $100,000.
3–Search Results, 122, f, 4, by Flatter
                1st Dam: Co Cola (GSP), by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: Yong Musician, by Yonaguska
                3rd Dam: Alljazz, by Stop the Music
($310,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 6 3/4. Odds: 4.80, 3.15, 5.30.
Also Ran: Bonny South, Letruska.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Clairiere Picks Up the Pieces in Ogden Phipps to Cap Curlin Exacta appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights