July, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘I Wanted This More Than You’re Supposed To Want Things:’ Champion Jackie’s Warrior Makes Saratoga History With Alfred G. Vanderbilt Victory

Kirk and Judy Robison's reigning champion male sprinter Jackie's Warrior was hand ridden by Joel Rosario to a two-length victory in Saturday's $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1), a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Maclean's Music bay captured his fifth career Grade 1 score and unprecedented third in successive seasons at Saratoga, following wins in the 2020 Runhappy Hopeful and last year's H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. Jackie's Warrior's Grade 1 ledger also includes a win in the Champagne as a juvenile at Belmont Park and the Churchill Downs this May at its namesake track on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“I was made aware that if he wins today, he's the only horse ever to win a Grade 1 three years in a row at Saratoga,” Asmussen said. “Saratoga – the great racehorses that have won here and he's the only one to do that. I just can't say how much I have wanted that for him and am proud of it and Jackie's Warrior has done it.

“He's the whole package,” Asmussen added. “He just has a tremendous amount of ability and confidence in himself. A game horse.”

According to Equibase records, which date to 1976, Jackie's Warrior's five Spa stakes wins, which includes a score in the 2020 Grade 2 Saratoga Special, put him on equal terms with Irish Linnet for the second-most stakes wins at Saratoga – just one behind the illustrious Fourstardave.

Jackie's Warrior, carrying a field-high 127 pounds, broke alertly from post 4 but allowed Doc Amster, who exited the outermost post 6 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, to mark the opening quarter-mile in :22.39 over the fast main track with Willy Boi tracking in third.

Rosario gave Jackie's Warrior his cue through the turn and the silky-striding bay pounced to the lead to the outside of his rival through a half-mile in :45.17, drawing clear by 4 1/2-lengths at the stretch call en route to a facile score in a final time of 1:09.74.

Kneedeepinsnow rallied from last-of-6 under Ricardo Santana Jr. to earn place honors by three lengths over the Chantal Sutherland-piloted Willy Boi. Rounding out the order of finish were Grade 1-placed New York-bred Ny Traffic, Doc Amster and Long Range Toddy.

The victory marked a record fourth Alfred G. Vanderbilt score for Asmussen following past success with Majesticperfection [2010], Justin Phillip [2013], and Volatile [2020].

Asmussen said the build up to Saturday's record-setting score was intense.

“All kinds of jitters. Beyond belief,” Asmussen said. “I wanted this more than you're supposed to want things. Immortality, a record like that. We owe everything we have to these horses and when one comes along as special as him, you go through the crowd and see all the fans he has. He's the only horse to have ever done that and I'm so proud of him and the whole team. You can't imagine how much this horse means to the barn.”

Rosario picked up his sixth stakes win at the Spa summer meet, adding to scores with In Italian [Grade 1 Diana], Clairiere [Grade 2 Shuvee], Kimari [Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap], City Man [Grade 3 Forbidden Apple], and Big Invasion [Grade 3 Quick Call].

“It was all him. He's a special horse and thanks to Steve and all the people who own him. [I'm] thankful for the opportunity,” Rosario said. “These horses don't come like that every day and he's just incredible. The six horse [Doc Amster] wanted the lead for a little bit, I took him [Jackie's Warrior] outside and it looked like he didn't mind that. [We] got into the turn and he wanted to go and do his thing and he just loves to run. He felt comfortable, so I just let him be and see where he was happy.”

Matt Shirer, trainer of runner-up Kneedeepinsnow, said he was surprised to see his horse so far off the pace.

“I don't know that he really broke that slow, but it just kind of took him a little bit of time to get into stride,” Shirer said. “Once he did at about the three-eighths, he started making a move. I was really happy with the way he ran. I mean, there was no beating Jackie's Warrior, but at least he closed and came running, and he looked good on the gallop out.”

Jackie's Warrior has participated in the Breeders' Cup in each of the past two years, finishing fourth in the Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland and sixth in last year's Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

Asmussen said the talented colt, who returned $2.50, is targeting a return engagement in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Keeneland with his next start coming in the $600,000 Forego (G1), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on August 27 as part of Runhappy Travers Day.

“We expect to run him back here in the Forego and the Breeders' Cup Sprint,” Asmussen said. “Those will be his last two races and then he is off to Spendthrift for his stud career.”

Bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables, Jackie's Warrior is out of the 19-time winning A. P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl. He banked $192,500 in victory, boosting his career bankroll to $2,667,164.

The post ‘I Wanted This More Than You’re Supposed To Want Things:’ Champion Jackie’s Warrior Makes Saratoga History With Alfred G. Vanderbilt Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ridin With Biden Easy Winner Of Deputed Testamony At Laurel, Divine Huntress Among Four To Take Undercard Stakes For MD-Breds

Cash is King and LC Racing's Ridin With Biden, second to First Captain in last year's Dwyer (G3), slowed things down early and came home running for an easy 6 ¼-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Deputed Testamony at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up was the richest of five stakes worth $400,000 in purses on a 10-race program that marked the last of Laurel's three spectacular Saturdays in July featuring a total of 11 stakes worth $1.05 million.

Preceding the Deputed Testamony were four $75,000 stakes restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses. Divine Huntress won the Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies, Spun Glass took the Jameela for fillies and mares 3 and up on the grass, Alottahope captured the Star de Naskra for 3-year-olds, and Justwaveandsmile won the Ben's Cat on turf for 3-year-olds and up.

With regular rider Frankie Pennington aboard for trainer Robert E. 'Butch' Reid Jr., Ridin With Biden ($7.60) completed the distance in 1:50.30 over a fast main track to become a stakes winner in his 15^th start.

“We were fortunate enough to get a good break and get good position early on and I think that really helped us a lot,” Pennington said. “Like me and Butch talked about, [if] a crazy pace goes in front of us we'll sit because he can sit and make a run. We ended up getting out there easy. Butch had him ready and when I asked him for home he really took off.”

Pennington kept a snug hold on Ridin With Biden as they coasted through an opening quarter-mile in :24.60 and a half in 48.94 with only mild pressure from Tappin Cat, who exited a victory in the one-mile Sussex July 7 at Delaware Park in his prior start. Commandeer, racing first time since a fifth in the April 2 Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park, and Grade 3 winner Magic Michael were also part of the early mix.

Plot the Dots came up the rail to get into a challenging position down the backstretch, moving into third after six furlongs went in 1:13.31. Pennington took a quick peek behind him rounding the far turn and had plenty left once straightened for home, opening up through the lane.

Favored at 8-5, Plot the Dots finished second, 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Magic Michael. It was another 1 ¼ lengths back to Treasure Trove in fourth followed by Tappin Cat and Commandeer. Armando R was scratched.

“He caught me by surprise. It looked like he tried to break through the gate once so I thought Frankie must have him really cranked up,” Reid said. “But he settled so nicely for him and put that half a length on them. When I saw the half-mile time I was feeling pretty good at that point.”

A 4-year-old son of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Constitution, Ridin With Biden has placed in all five of his starts since being gelded to start this year, including an open allowance win July 17 at Delaware Park. Last out he was second by two lengths behind multiple graded-stakes winner Tax in the 1 1/16-mile Battery Park July 9, also at Delaware.

“It made him into a completely different horse,” Reid said. “It was just a very wise move by the owners and the management team to do something like that, and it's worked wonders for this horse. He was a little bit of a bad actor back in the stall and he's calmed down so much. He shipped down here perfectly and was great in the paddock, so I couldn't ask for things to be any better.”

The Deputed Testamony returned to the Maryland stakes calendar in 2020 after not having been run since 2008. It pays homage to the last Maryland-bred winner of the Preakness Stakes (G1), who upset Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sunny's Halo in 1983. Bred and raced by Bonita Farm and Francis P. Sears and trained by Bill Boniface, Deputed Testamony also won the 1983 Haskell (G1) and Federico Tesio.

Grade 1-Placed Divine Huntress Earns First Stakes Win In Miss Disco

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Long Valley Stables' Grade 1-placed Divine Huntress, facing fellow Maryland-breds for the first time, battled the length of the stretch with Sweet Gracie to her inside before getting her nose down on the wire to earn her first career stakes victory in the $75,000 Miss Disco.

Ridden by Victor Carrasco, Divine Huntress ($3.20) completed seven furlongs in 1:24.23 over a fast main track to give trainer Graham Motion his second win in the Miss Disco following Majestic Reason in 2018.

It was the first win for Divine Huntress, a daughter of Divining Rod, since taking a January 19 optional claimer at Parx in her 3-year-old debut. She had been facing graded stakes company in her previous four starts, finishing fifth to Interstatedaydream in the 1 1/8-mile Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 20 at Pimlico and second behind Matareya in the one-mile Acorn (G1) June 11 at Belmont Park.

Little Bit of That, making her stakes debut, broke sharply and quickly established the lead with Petition Prayer to her outside and Divine Huntress in the clear in third. Sweet Gracie moved up along the rail to get into second as Little Bit of That went a half in :46.18, with Divine Huntress poised three wide.

Divine Huntress moved past Little Bit of That at the top of the stretch but Sweet Gracie was a determined foe inside, and the two raced to the wire together as Petition Prayer came flying with a late run but finished third, a neck behind Sweet Gracie.

Alottahope Dominates In Star De Naskra Victory

No Guts No Glory Farm's Alottahope became a stakes winner in spectacular fashion, handing previously unbeaten Super Love his first defeat while powering to a 15-length triumph in the $75,000 Star de Naskra.

Owned and trained by Jerry Robb, who won the 2004 Star de Naskra at Pimlico with Move to Strike, Alottahope ($5.40) finished up in 1:22.91 over a fast main track, the third-fastest of 11 times the race has been run at seven furlongs. It has primarily been contested at six furlongs and was held at one mile in 1985.

Alottahope, a younger half brother to eight-time stakes-winning mare Street Lute, and jockey Jevian Toledo were content to sit off the a pace set by his Robb-trained and co-owned stablemate Al Loves Josie, ridden by Xavier Perez. Super Love entered the race with a perfect 3-0 record but broke awkwardly and then rushed up to join the leaders but was unable to get around Al Loves Josie on the backstretch and raced in third.

Alottahope, second to turf and dirt stakes winner Joe in the 2021 Maryland Juvenile, continued to press Al Loves Josie until taking over the top spot leaving the far turn and had nothing but daylight in front of him, sprinting clear of his rivals through the lane.

Buff Hello, the 2021 Maryland Million Nursery winner, got up to be second by 2 ¼ lengths over Al Loves Josie.

Jockey Horacio Karamanos lodged a claim of foul against Toledo for interference on the backstretch, but it was disallowed.

Late-Running Justwaveandsmile Takes Ben's Cat

Steve Newby's Justwaveandsmile came with a strong late run on the far outside to pass 3-5 favorite Grateful Bred and Grade 3 winner Jaxon Traveler and earn his third consecutive win and sixth in a row on the turf in the $75,000 Ben's Cat at Laurel Park.

The victory marked was the first career stakes win for jockey Jean Alvelo as well as Justwaveandsmile, a son of Secret Circle owned by Steven T. Newby.

“[It's] more than amazing. It's a dream come true,” Alvelo said. “You come in here every morning and work horses and try to do the best you can. I really do appreciate all the help from Dale and the owner. I'm more than excited.”

Front-runners Grateful Bred and Jaxon Traveler could not hold off Justwaveandsmile's late flourish on the far outside. The gelding ran 1:04.46 over a Kelso turf course rated good to edge Grateful Bred by a neck, with Jaxon Traveler a length back in third.

Justwaveandsmile returned $13.40. He notched his eighth win from 17 career starts.

Spun Glass Breaks Through With Stakes Win In Jameela

Larry Johnson's homebred Spun Glass split horses in midstretch and held off a host of late challengers including defending winner and stablemate Ellanation on the far outside to earn her first stakes victory in the $75,000 Jameela.

It was the fifth career win for Spun Glass, a 5-year-old daughter of Hard Spun, and third with jockey Feargal Lynch aboard.

Lynch was unhurried on Spun Glass as Golden Can sped through a quarter mile in :22.70 and a half in :47.81 with two-time turf sprint stakes winner Can the Queen giving chase to her outside. A gap between the top two opened as they came down the stretch and Lynch put Spun Glass through to get to the front, powering home by 1 ½ lengths in 1:04.28 over a Fort Marcy turf course labeled as good.

Ellanation, like Spun Glass trained by Michael Trombetta, raced far back early before making a big late run on the far outside to edge 35-1 long shot Island Philo by a head for second.

The Jameela was the fourth race this year for Spun Glass, seventh behind Can the Queen in the May 20 The Very One at Pimlico in her first start in nearly eight months. With Saturday's win her record improves to five wins from 17 lifetime starts.

The post Ridin With Biden Easy Winner Of Deputed Testamony At Laurel, Divine Huntress Among Four To Take Undercard Stakes For MD-Breds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Epicenter Erupts Late in Jim Dandy

Epicenter (Not This Time), a too-good-to-be-second as the favorite in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S., stamped himself as the horse to beat in the 'Mid-Summer Derby' with a powerful, last-to-first victory in Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga.

Zandon (Upstart), making his first start since a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was 1 1/2 lengths back in second after racing prominently. Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), a last out winner of the GIII Ohio Derby, was another half-length back in third. The GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) tired to finish a disappointing fourth after setting the pace.

“It's extremely rewarding off two tough races to bring him back in the winner's circle where we think he belongs,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “[In] a four-horse field, it's always a lot of mobility. I was very happy with the solid, steady pace–I think that :48 and one, :12 for every eighth of a mile is what we're targeting.”

Epicenter established himself as the favorite on the first Saturday in May following impressive victories in both the GII Risen Star S. and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. He will have another chance at his first Grade I victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at the Spa Aug. 27.

“What I loved about it is the fact that [there is] another eighth in the Travers,” Asmussen said. “It was his first race ever over Saratoga and we know what's on the menu next. We want to be as ready as we possibly can for it.”

Drawn on the rail following a late scratch in the four-horse field, the even-money favorite surprisingly trailed the quartet as Early Voting led them into the clubhouse turn with his stablemate Zandon tracking from second. Still in fourth with positions unchanged through fractions of :24.22 and :48.28, Epicenter, a $260,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, began to make his move as Early Voting was ridden as they hit the quarter pole. Well out in the clear at the top of the stretch, the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC colorbearer launched down the center in eye-catching fashion to power past his three formidable rivals in style.

“He was very comfortable and with the scratch of the one horse [Western River], that put him in the one hole and he [Joel Rosario] made a decision early not to try to be squeezed up in there,” Asmussen said. “Once he eased him out of that spot, Epicenter was carrying Joel very comfortably the whole way down the backside. I was a little concerned how far back he was, but they threw up the middle fraction, they stayed at :12 [for the next eighth of a mile] and didn't back it up in his face. He had a shot from there. When he eased him out at the head of the lane, he was travelling really pretty.”

Pedigree Notes:

Taylor Made's Not This Time continues to cement his spot atop the third-crop sire list, getting yet another graded win with Epicenter's Jim Dandy. With just over 9% stakes winners to foals in his first two crops, he is more than holding his own among the top 10 leading sires in North America for the year as well. His 19 black-type winners–eight graded–also include GISWs Just One Time and Princess Noor. Both Epicenter and this spring's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner/GI Curlin Florida Derby third-place finisher Simplification are out of mares by Candy Ride (Arg), a still-active top Lane's End stallion who has 31 stakes winners out of his daughters.

Winner of Arlington Park's 2010 Hatoof S. as well as third in that track's GIII Pucker Up S., Silent Candy was a $130,000 Keeneland November purchase by Westwind Farms in 2014. Her 2-year-old Always Dreaming colt went through the OBS March ring after working in :10.1, then brought $140,000 from Carolyn Wilson as a private sale. Silent Candy has a yearling Tapiture filly and an Outwork filly foaled Mar. 14. before being bred back to Not This Time.

Saturday, Saratoga
JIM DANDY S.-GII, $558,000, Saratoga, 7-30, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.99, ft.
1–EPICENTER, 122, c, 3, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Silent Candy (SW & GSP, $182,208), by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: Silent Queen, by King of Kings (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Soundproof (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
($260,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC;
B-Westwind Farms (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario.
$330,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 9-5-3-0, $2,270,639. Werk Nick
   Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zandon, 124, c, 3, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by Creative
Cause. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown; B-Brereton C.
Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $120,000.
3–Tawny Port, 120, c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Livi Makenzie, by
Macho Uno. ($430,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peachtree Stable;
B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $72,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 2.70, 8.70.
Also Ran: Early Voting. Scratched: Western River. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Jackie’s Warrior Makes History in Vanderbilt

Champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) made history in jaw-dropping fashion in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga Saturday, becoming the first horse to win Grade I races in three consecutive seasons at the upstate New York track.

The exceptionally fast 1-5 favorite backed off after leading in the early stages and let 22-1 outsider Doc Amster (Midshipman) set the pace. Guided to the outside of that overmatched rival by Joel Rosario, the $95,000 KEESEP yearling graduate cruised up with devastating ease to hit the front approaching the quarter pole.

Kept well out in the clear at the top of the stretch, Jackie's Warrior simply cantered home under a hammer lock to dominate by a deceptive two lengths. Kneedeepinsnow (Flat Out), a savvy $80,000 claim back in April, ran on well to complete the exacta.

Jackie's Warrior, now five-for-five at Saratoga, won the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. at two and a memorable throwdown over the brilliant Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in last summer's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S.

“Unbelievably relieved,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I was made aware that if he wins today, he's the only horse ever to win a Grade I three years in a row at Saratoga. Saratoga–the great racehorses that have won here and he's the only one to do that. I just can't say how much I have wanted that for him and am proud of it and Jackie's Warrior has done it.”

He continued, “He's the whole package. He just has a tremendous amount of ability and confidence in himself. A game horse.”

A disappointing sixth as the heavy favorite in last November's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, the J. Kirk and Judy Robison colorbearer has been perfect in four attempts since having a knee chip removed ahead of his 4-year-old season.

His 2022 campaign also includes wins in the GI Churchill Downs S. May 7 and GII True North S. at Belmont last time June 10. The GI Forego S. at Saratoga Aug. 27 will be next.

“We've mapped out his races this year when he came back in training,” Asmussen said. “We expect to run him back here in the Forego and the Breeders' Cup Sprint [in November at Keeneland]. Those will be his last two races and then he is off to Spendthrift for his stud career.”

Pedigree Notes:

A sole North American crop for U.S. MGSP and Chilean sire A. P. Five Hundred led to the birth of hard-knocking 19-time winner Unicorn Girl, who brought $45,000 as an OBS 2-year-old in 2007. The next time the hammer fell on an official sale for her was in 2020 at Keeneland November, when her price was upped–as the dam of Jackie's Warrior, at that time a MGISW 2-year-old colt–to $850,000 from buyer Arthur Hoyeau. Unicorn Girl didn't have a 2021 foal, but produced a Mar. 18 filly by Into Mischief this year and has been bred back to Quality Road. Her 2-year-old American Pharoah colt, who brought $600,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November sale from M.V. Magnier, has not been named but is nearing a race, having last worked at Saratoga July 24, getting five furlongs in 1:00.25 (2/27). Jackie's Warrior is currently the only U.S. black-type winner out of a daughter of A. P. Five Hundred, although his daughters have also produced two Chilean stakes winners.

Hill 'n' Dale's Maclean's Music, who made the most of his one career race start with a 114 Beyer for the win, has 25 black-type winners from his seven crops of racing age. Jackie's Warrior is one of his six graded winners and one of his four Grade I winners. The powerful nick of Maclean's Music's sire, Distorted Humor, over A. P. Five Hundred's sire, A.P. Indy, is well recognized and both Jackie's Warrior and Maclean's Music's GI Preakness S. winner Cloud Computing follow that formula.

Saturday, Saratoga
ALFRED G. VANDERBILT H.-GI, $350,000, Saratoga, 7-30, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.74, ft.
1–JACKIE'S WARRIOR, 127, c, 4, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred
                2nd Dam: Horah for Bailey, by Doneraile Court
                3rd Dam: Horah for the Lady, by Rahy
($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk & Judy Robison; B-J & J
Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $192,500.
Lifetime Record: Ch. Male Sprinter, 16-12-1-1, $2,667,164.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
2–Kneedeepinsnow, 117, g, 6, Flat Out–Michelleinhearts, by
Lion Heart. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE.
($42,000 Wlg '16 KEENOV; $130,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Jeremy
Sussman, Ten Strike Racing & Cory Moelis Racing LLC; B-BWB
Bloodstock, LLC & WDS Bloodstock (KY); T-Matt A. Shirer.
$70,000.
3–Willy Boi, 120, g, 4, Uncaptured–Shining Moment, by
Yes It's True. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 2yo '20 OBSOCT).
O-Bill Cosgrove; B-Ocala Stud & William J. Terrell (FL); T-Jorge
Delgado. $42,000.
Margins: 2, 3, 1. Odds: 0.25, 22.40, 8.00.
Also Ran: Ny Traffic, Doc Amster, Long Range Toddy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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