Month: June 2022

Juddmonte's Obligatory brings a three-race win streak into Friday's $300,000 Bed o' Roses (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares at Belmont Park on the second day of the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Obligatory completed her sophomore campaign in November with a 2 1/4-length score in the one-mile Chilukki (G3)  at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old Curlin bay out of the stakes-winning Macho Uno mare Uno Duo picked up where she left off, posting a three-length score in her seasonal debut in the Hurricane Bertie (G3) in March at Gulfstream Park.

Last out, the improving gray closed from seventh, 11 lengths off the pace, to win the Derby City Distaff (G1) by three-quarters of a length on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard at Churchill Downs.

Obligatory, with Jose Ortiz up, settled last of 7 in the Derby City Distaff as Just One Time blitzed through splits of :22.36 and :44.95 over the fast main track. Ortiz angled Obligatory six-wide for the stretch run and rallied determinedly down the lane to secure the narrow score.

That deep-closing score came on the heels of a more prominent effort under Tyler Gaffalione in the Hurricane Bertie where Obligatory was 2 1/2-lengths off the pace at the half-mile call before drawing clear by three lengths in the stretch run.

Mott said he was somewhat concerned with a potential lack of pace Friday's compact four-horse field.

“Her advantage is if there's a fast pace. There's a couple horses in there that could go – but it's not 44 speed,” Mott said. “She has been ridden closer. Down at Gulfstream there was no pace in there and Gaffalione kept her closer and she went on and won.”

Obligatory worked a half-mile in company in :47.88 Sunday over the Belmont dirt training track in company with Casa Creed, who will look to defend his title in Saturday's Jaipur (G1) over the Widener turf.

Ortiz retains the mount from the inside post aboard Obligatory, who won the Eight Belles (G2) in April 2021 at Churchill before a close second to Search Results in the Acorn (G1) last June at Belmont.

Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent Scuderi, and Parkland Thoroughbreds' Bella Sofia could be the speed of the race for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

The 4-year-old Awesome Patriot dark bay captured the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga and the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at Belmont with prominent efforts in a productive sophomore season that culminated in a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) in November at Del Mar.

Bella Sofia made her seasonal debut a winning one last out with a hard-fought nose score over the Mott-trained Frank's Rockette in the Vagrancy Handicap (G3) traveling 6 1/2-furlongs on May 14 over Big Sandy.

Rodriguez said he was proud of Bella Sofia's effort to win the Vagrancy off the layoff.

“When a filly like that comes along and fights the way she did it's impressive,” Rodriguez said. “The other filly already had a head in front and then she came back and put a head in front of her. It's very special. Those type of horses don't come along often.”

Rodriguez said he was a little concerned about coming back on short rest but is pleased Bella Sofia can race out of her own stall.

“She loves Belmont and she's at home, so that's a plus,” Rodriguez said. “She's a very tough filly and she's in top form right now.”

Bella Sofia worked a half-mile in 49.05 Sunday over Big Sandy in her final prep for Friday's test.

“She went nice and easy. It was a maintenance work and she was very comfortable,” Rodriguez said. “I clocked her in 49 and change. That's what I was looking for.”

Luis Saez, who has guided Bella Sofia through 6-of-7 starts, will be charged with working out a winning trip from post 3.

“I don't think she really needs the lead but she always breaks good, so why take the speed away from her,” Rodriguez said. “Speed is dangerous any day of the week. If she breaks good, we can take it from there. If somebody goes, we can sit.”

Glass Ceiling, trained and co-owned by Charlton Baker with Michael S. Foster, has won four straight races, including her last two in graded events.

The 5-year-old Constitution mare has proven to be an astute claim after being haltered for $40,000 out of a third-place finish in May 2021 at Belmont. She has since posted a record of 9-5-2-1 for her current connections led by scores in the Barbara Fritchie (G3) in February at Laurel Park and the Distaff Handicap (G3) last out on April 9 at the Big A.

Dylan Davis retains the mount from post 2.

Rounding out the field is Amsterdam Two Stables' Easy to Bless for trainer James Ferraro. The 4-year-old Flat Out bay has posted a record of 20-9-5-1 and enters from a half-length score over a sloppy and sealed main track on May 19 at Belmont Park.

Jacqueline Davis has been aboard for the last four starts, including a 9 3/4-length score in the Xtra Heat on New York Claiming Championship Day at the Big A, and keeps the mount from post 4.

The Bed o' Roses is slated as Race 3 on Friday's 11-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. (ET).

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Stayers will have their chance to shine in Friday's eighth running of the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2), a two-mile Widener turf marathon for older horses on the second day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

The Belmont Gold Cup has been won the past four years by representatives from as many European nations, including Ireland's Baron Samedi, France's Amade, England's Call To Mind and Germany's Red Cardinal.

Two of those countries put forth serious challengers once again in German Group 2 winner Loft and multiple listed-winning British-based runner Outbox, who will test the stamina of a sextet of North American runners.

German invader Loft represents the same trainer-jockey team of Marcel Weiss and Rene Piechulek, who rocked the racing world in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) with 72-1 winner Torquator Tasso. Loft is expected to be a far shorter price at Belmont Park, which is not the only difference between the two stable stars of the Weiss yard.

“Torquator Tasso is quite a lazy horse and some of the handicap horses he trains with really can't get him fit enough, so he needs a few races, but Loft is different—he is very easy to train and doesn't need a lot of work,” said Julia Romich, assistant trainer to Weiss. “He's in great condition now and doesn't require any special distance or ground. He has been perfect so far leading to this race. You never know until you try to ship a horse like this, but we know that we have good German horses running right now and he's coming into this off a Group 2 win against them. The owner has also had success shipping to over there, as well.”

Owned by Gestut Ittlingen, whose Lauro won the 2008 Grade 2 Sky Classic at Woodbine, the lightly raced son of Alderflug [also the sire of Torquator Tasso and recent Group 1 winner Alenquer] is a grandson of In The Wings, who won the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) over the Widener in 1990.

Loft won last month's Group 2 Oleander-Rennen over two miles on a right-handed, good-to-firm course at Hoppegarten. The run was just his seventh outing and fifth for Weiss, having been previously in the care of Andreas Wohler, trainer of the aforementioned Red Cardinal. Loft, assigned 122 pounds, exits the inside post under Piechulek.

“I think the two miles is perfect for him and he will run well with the American race style,” Piechulek said. “Soft ground is even better for him, but it doesn't really matter that much with him if it is firm ground. I think he can place and maybe win. He likes races with a good pace, but he can place himself up close or behind, and I think he is even better this year and has been improving every race.

“Last year was a great year with the Arc win and this is the same trainer, though a different horse, obviously,” Piechulek continued. “It's another story and experience to enjoy. I've never ridden in America and have tried years ago to and it didn't work out. On days like this and a race like this; to be there with a good horse who has a good chance, I'm very excited for that.”

Hambleton Racing XXXIII's Outbox brings substantial class lines, but enters off a subpar effort for trainer Archie Watson in the Group 3 Aston Park at Newbury over 12 furlongs, finishing last of six.

In February, the son of Frankel won the listed $1 million HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar and last summer he defeated Group/Grade 1 winners Logician and Desert Encounter in the listed Fred Archer–both also over 12 furlongs. Two races back, he finished third in the Group 2 Jockey Club, just three-quarters of a length astern Yibir. The seven-time winner from 27 starts steps up to the two miles for the first time since finishing fourth in a Kempton handicap in January 2021. He will be ridden by regular pilot Hollie Doyle from post 4, carrying a field-high 124 pounds.

“Outbox is a very adaptable horse and we know he handles the traveling. I'm hopeful he will run a big race in the Gold Cup,” Doyle said. “His previous run was disappointing, but every horse is entitled to throw in a bad one. His win in Qatar was excellent and if he can produce another run like that, it would be great. I have ridden in America before, but never at Belmont, so I am thoroughly looking forward to getting to know the track and being involved in such a prestigious race meeting.”

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher won the inaugural Belmont Gold Cup in 2014 with Charming Kitten and this year has a leading fancy in Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Alex Daigneault's Abaan, who won the H. Allen Jerkens over two miles and Grade 3 W. L. McKnight over 12 furlongs this winter at Gulfstream Park. The son of Will Take Charge will drop in grade from the Man o' War (G1) four weeks ago, where he finished fifth. Luis Saez has the ride from post 2 touting 122 pounds.

“He's already won at two miles,” Pletcher said. “He's doing well and we're looking forward to getting him back at a distance he's proven at.”

Colonel Stable and Jonathan Wilmot's Cibolian [post 6, Flavien Prat, 118 pounds] enters off a troubled fourth-place finish in last month's Louisville (G3) over 12 furlongs for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. Last summer, he was third in the listed Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park over the same trip and will be stepping up in both distance and class.

“I took a shot last time,” Brisset said. “I entered him late and he was 20-1. We had a good draw so we hugged the rail the whole way around and when it was time to go, he couldn't really find his way out. He could have won based on what the jockey said. He had a lot of trouble. If you look at the gallop out, it looks like he went by everyone and kept on going. You never know, but he has run two mile and a half races this year.”

Canadian classic winner British Royalty [post 3, Joel Rosario, 118 pounds], who races for Bruce Lunsford and trainer Barbara Minshall, will be looking to add the Belmont Gold Cup to his Breeders' triumph last fall.

Daniel Alonso's Novo Sol [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.,118 pounds] was Group 1-placed in Brazil before coming to America and finishing third in the Grade 2 Pan American in April at Gulfstream.

Allowance winners Strong Tide [post 5, Dylan Davis, 120 pounds] and Box N Score [post 8, Manny Franco, 118 pounds] complete the lineup.

The Belmont Gold Cup is slated as Race 8 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 1 p.m. (ET).

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Kirk Robison and Judy Robison's reigning champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior appears to be the one to beat as he makes the third start of his 4-year-old season in Friday's $300,000 True North (G2) at Belmont Park.

Friday's 11-race card marks the second day of the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival and features five stakes, including the New York (G1) at 10 furlongs on turf for older fillies and mares; the $400,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2) at two-miles on turf for older horses; the $300,000 Bed o' Roses (G2) at seven furlongs over Big Sandy for older fillies and mares; and the $200,000 Intercontinental (G3), a six-furlong turf sprint for older fillies and mares.

Jackie's Warrior brings a 14-10-1-1 record and earnings in excess of $2.3 million to the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and upward. A Grade 1 winner at two, three, and four, the son of Maclean's Music has registered a total of five triple digit Beyer Speed Figures at least once each year in training.

Jackie's Warrior raised the curtain on his 2022 campaign with a three-quarter length win in the Count Fleet Sprint(G3) on April 16 at Oaklawn Park, and returned off three week's rest to win the Churchill Downs (G1) at its namesake track on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Last year, the talented colt post four graded stakes victories, including a hard fought win against Life Is Good in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. This was the third Grade 1 victory of his career after capturing the 2020 Hopeful at Saratoga ahead of that year's Champagne at Belmont.

Jackie's Warrior finished an uncharacteristic sixth as the heavy favorite in last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint. That effort didn't stop him from earning championship honors at the end of a memorable season, providing his Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen with his third Champion Sprinter.

Asmussen, who also campaigned champion sprinters Kodiak Kowboy [2009] and Mitole [2019], expressed desire to double up on Eclipse Awards with the talented Jackie's Warrior.

“It's a rare opportunity to be able to return an Eclipse champion. Obviously, I'm very grateful to Kirk and Judy Robison for that opportunity,” said Asmussen, who won the 2006 True North with Anew. “He's just a brilliant horse, he's absolutely brilliant. He's everything you would want in a racehorse mentally or physically and it's quite obvious how fast he's been. He has a tremendous attitude, a true racehorse. He has maintained his Grade 1-winning form this year, and the only difference we're looking for this year is to finish it off by winning the Breeders' Cup.”

Asmussen, who also trained Maclean's Music, said a young Jackie's Warrior reminded him of his sire.

“He very much reminded me of him early and now he's his own horse. Maclean's Music was our attraction to him from the beginning,” Asmussen said.

Joel Rosario, a two-time True North winning rider, has piloted Jackie's Warrior in all but one of his starts, and maintains the mount from post 3. Jackie's Warrior will carry a field-high 124 pounds, six pounds more than each of his five rivals.

Trainer Rob Atras will saddle Mr. Phil, who takes a major step up after winning three straight allowance optional claiming events.

The 5-year-old Mr Speaker gelding was claimed for $32,000 by Atras for owner Sandford Goldfarb in late February and has made every start for his current trainer a winning one. Following a one-length victory at Aqueduct going 6 1/2 furlongs, Mr. Phil cut back a half-furlong to defeat next out graded stakes winner Jaxon Traveler on the same surface. Mr. Phil arrives at the True North off a career-best 101 Beyer, which came going seven furlongs on May 22 at Belmont.

Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount from post 1.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott saddles Baby Yoda in search of his first True North win since millionaire Richter Scale won the 1998 edition. The 4-year-old Prospective gelding registered an astonishing 114 Beyer when defeating his accomplished stablemate Olympiad last summer at Saratoga. Since then, Baby Yoda added several stakes placings to his resume, including a third in the Grade 2 Vosburgh last October at Belmont Park and a distant second to Flightline in the Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita in December.

After a close second in his 2022 debut in Tampa Bay Downs' Pelican, Baby Yoda defeated starter allowance company twice going six furlongs in Kentucky. He is owned by Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber and Jerold Zaro.

Luis Saez picks up the mount from post 4.

Trainer Chad Brown will seek his first True North victory with Klaravich Stables' Sound Money. Never worse than third in his last seven starts, the 4-year-old Flatter colt last raced in the Grade 3 Westchester on May 7 at Belmont Park, finishing five lengths behind Cody's Wish over the sloppy and sealed track.

Sound Money, who races with blinkers off, will exit post 6 under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Night Time comes into the Ture North off his victorious 2022 debut, sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs in an allowance optional claimer over a sloppy and sealed Churchill Downs main track. The 5-year-old chestnut son of Majesticperfection finished second in all three of his starts last season, including runner-up efforts at Saratoga behind eventual Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West and talented Beau Liam.

Owned by Marc Holliday's Blue Devil Racing, Night Time is trained by Dale Romans, who captured the 2007 True North with Will He Shine. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride from post 5.

Completing the field is the Uriah St. Lewis-trained and owned War Tocsin, who finished a last-out third in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint on May 21 at Pimlico two starts after a close second at 48-1 odds in the Grade 2 General George in February at Laurel Park.

Dexter Haddock ships in to ride from post 2.

The True North, which honors W. Deering Howe's 1945 Fall Highweight winner, has seen previous winners Groovy [1987], Speightstown [2004] and Roy H [2017] go on to be crowned Champion Sprinter in their respective years.

The True North is carded as Race 9 on Friday's 11-race program. First post is 12:50 p.m. (ET).

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