August, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Graveyard of Favorites’ Strikes Again As Chi Town Lady Sweeps to Test Upset; Matareya 3rd

The 'Graveyard of Favorites' claimed another victim Saturday at Saratoga, as Joel Rosario guided Castleton Lyons' Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) to a last-to-first 17-1 upset of overwhelming favorite Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Longines Test S. at the Spa.

Debuting with a three-length score last April at Keeneland, the chestnut went unseen for over four months, but returned with an impressive conquest of the Bolton Landing S. on turf. That had been her last trip to the winner's circle, however, as she concluded her juvenile campaign with a sixth against males in the GIII Futurity S. and a fourth back on dirt in Keeneland's Myrtlewood S. before running last behind Matareya in the Apr. 10 GIII Beaumont S. in Lexington and second in a Churchill allowance May 19.

Having to be backed out and re-loaded after acting up in the gate Saturday, Chi Town Lady settled at the tail of the field as Hot Peppers (Khozan) ran out to a clear lead and Matareya settled in a clear fifth over the recently-sealed track. Hot Peppers clicked off splits of :22.54 and :45.28, while Matareya slipped through at the rail nearing the lane before switching out in early stretch to challenge the pacesetter.

The outcome appeared a fait accompli approaching the eighth pole as Matareya drew on even terms, but Chi Town Lady was just getting going, and soon emerged as a major threat to the dueling leaders after Matareya had a tougher time than expected putting away Hot Peppers. The three came together and bumped at the sixteenth pole, but the contact was inconsequential, as Chi Town Lady had built up a full head of steam by then and kicked clear late, giving Rosario back-to-back graded wins on the card. A brief inquiry was posted, but no action was taken.

“We got lucky. She had been training great and I was looking at this race after her last race in my mind and gave her a little time because she started coming from behind,” said winning trainer Wesley Ward. “I had Joel work her here a couple of times and she was just working phenomenal. I told the owners we were probably going to be running a 30-1 shot, but I wanted to take one shot from way back and do what she's been asking me to do, which is make a big charge and a big grind. We were hoping for a second or third–a graded placing–to see if the race fell apart, and here we are in the winner's circle. She's come a long ways. I just think that I had to kind of learn to listen to her to where she wanted to go easy the first part and come on late. This will be her running style from now on.”

“They went fast in front and she came with a run. That was an amazing race,” added Rosario. “It looked like they came out a little bit and I ran into them a little bit [in the deep stretch bumping incident], but it looked like they were coming more from the inside. My horse was kind of on the wrong lead at that point and I was correcting her trying to keep her straight. She did great.”

As for the beaten favorite, both trainer Brad Cox and jockey Flavien Prat said Matareya didn't handle the track, sealed after mid-day rain.

“My first thought was I didn't think she was traveling that well down the backstretch,” Cox said. “Flavien thought the same, she wasn't really taking them up there. I thought he did a good thing at the three-eighths pole by dropping her down to the inside. It's probably a sign of her just not getting a hold of the track. No excuse really. I think she's a very good filly. Obviously she showed up on maybe not a favorable surface for her, and she still ran a good race.”

“[The rain] changed the track and she never felt comfortable or happy on it,” Prat concurred. “She broke well and after that she spit the bit right away and I never got myself into a nice rhythm and she was just struggling.”

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Chi Town Lady becomes the seventh graded stakes winner and first Stateside top-level winner for 2013 GI Haskell Invitational S. and GI Wood Memorial S. hero Verrazano. Sold from Coolmore to Brazil's Haras Old Friends in 2019, Verrazano was represented by two Group 1 winners in Chile last year. Chi Town Lady is the first black-type performer from four foals to race thus far out of Toni's Hollyday, whose 2-year-old son Quincy Cafe (Mendelssohn) earned his diploma last Sunday at Laurel. Toni's Hollyday also has a yearling Liam's Map colt and foaled a filly by Game Winner this term before being bred to Not This Time.

Saturday, Saratoga
LONGINES TEST S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-6, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.87, gd.
1–CHI TOWN LADY, 118, f, 3, by Verrazano
                1st Dam: Toni's Hollyday (SP, $119,047), by Harlan's Holiday
                2nd Dam: May Day Vow, by Broken Vow
                3rd Dam: May Day Bluff, by Pine Bluff
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Castleton Lyons; B-Castleton Lyons, Kilboy Estate & Gavin Tierney (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Joel Rosario. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-0, $417,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hot Peppers, 120, f, 3, by Khozan
                1st Dam: Friends Pro, by Friends Lake
                2nd Dam: Mama's Pro, by Proper Reality
                3rd Dam: Mama Cielo, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $16,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso; B-Brent & Crystal Fernung (FL); T-Rudy R. Rodriguez. $100,000.
3–Matareya, 124, f, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
                1st Dam: Innovative Idea (GSW, $229,343), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Golden Velvet, by Seeking the Gold
                3rd Dam: Caress, by Storm Cat
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $60,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 9 3/4. Odds: 17.00, 6.40, 0.30.
Also Ran: Sterling Silver, Wish You Well, November Rein, Elm Drive.
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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Provocateur Takes Advantage Of Rail Opening, Scores In Monmouth’s Jersey Shore

Given a perfect set-up with a stalking trip behind dueling leaders, jockey Jairo Rendon only had one difficult decision to make midway through the turn of Saturday's $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Should he loop outside with Provocateur or wait for the rail to open?

The decision turned out to be an easy one when the rail provided an opening too tempting to pass up, allowing the Todd Pletcher-trainee to slip through easily on the way to a two-length victory over an unlucky Witty in the six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds.

The winning time was 1:08.81.

“When the rail opened up, if he didn't shoot in there the way he did he might have not won,” said Anthony Sciametta, who oversees Pletcher's division at Monmouth Park. Jairo rode a great race. He had to use the opening on the rail when he did. Ideally, he wanted to sit and go around them. But when it opens up like that and you have the chance to take it you have to go for it – and Jairo did just that.”

Owned by My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift, Provocateur had a rail trip behind Defend and Lightening Larry as those two went at it through an opening quarter of :21.67 and a half in :44.04.

By the middle of the final turn, Rendon just had to figure out which way to go – inside or out – with a horse that was full of run.

“I didn't want to get involved with the speed too early,” said Rendon. “I was able to take hold and sit behind that early duel and when the rail opened I took advantage of it. That's what you have to do when the rail opens like that. I was ready to go outside but when the rail opened the way it did I had to take it.

“I was happy when I saw those early fractions and where I was sitting just off the speed. I just had to ask him to go and he did.”

Provocateur, a $600,000 yearling purchase, recorded his second stakes victory and third win in eight career starts. Prior to the Jersey Shore Stakes, the son of Into Mischief out of Cayala, by Cherokee Run, was a fading third in the Woody Stephens (G1) on June 11.

“This horse's last race was tough,” said Sciametta. “But the two starts before that he showed his ability in both races.

Witty, breaking from the rail, hesitated at the start, spotting the field five lengths before rallying from last in the eight-horse field to get second, 1½ lengths ahead of longshot Speaking.

Provocateur return $10.80 to win.

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War Like Goddess Defends Glens Falls Title; May Try Males in Sword Dancer

War Like Goddess, the $30,000 OBS June buy turned star turf marathoner, defended her title in Saratoga's GII Glens Falls S. with characteristic ease Saturday at the Spa, requiring little urging from Joel Rosario to pick up her eighth victory in 10 starts and sixth graded score in her last seven outings.

Opening her career with a pair of triumphs going long on the Churchill turf in the fall of 2020, the Bill Mott trainee ran fifth making her stakes bow in the GIII The Very One S. last February at Gulfstream before reeling off four consecutive graded successes, including dazzling wins in the Glens Falls and GI Flower Bowl S. here last summer. She removed any remaining doubt as to her quality when finishing a hard-fought, narrow third to champion Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and captured her second straight renewal of Keeneland's GIII Bewitch S. Apr. 29 in her only start of 2022 before Saturday.

Made the favorite for the sixth consecutive race, this time as a 2-5 chance, War Like Goddess found a cozy midpack spot as longshot Key Biscayne (Brethren) was afforded an easy lead and dictated terms through fractions of :25.26, :51.53 and 1:17.51. There was still no sense of urgency or change in the plot as the mile split went up in a dawdling 1:42.33, and trailer Flanigan's Cove (Kitten's Joy) was the first to push her chips in with a wide move into contention around five-sixteenths out. The heat then picked up nearing the lane as Petricor (GB) (Frankel {GB}), War Like Goddess and Flanigan's Cove stacked four deep along with the pacesetter, but Rosario sat typically chilly on the chalk until the furlong pole. Finally cutting her loose as Temple City Terror dove to the inside to challenge, Rosario mildly pushed out War Like Goddess, who asserted herself in deep stretch to edge away from Temple City Terror and clear second choice Virgina Joy, who grabbed third.

“They were sitting on a bunch of them early, but I guess late she had a little more kick than the rest of them,” said Mott. “You always worry about if they're going fast enough up front to give her a enough pace and you don't want them to have to wrestle with her to keep her back off the pace. Joel did a good job. He has good hands and the filly responded to him and when he asked her to go on, she was there for him.”

“She's a nice horse and easy to ride,” added Rosario. “The pace was slow, but the whole time I had confidence in her and when I turned her loose and wanted to go she went. She was running really nice for me and I just had to stay with her like that. She felt the confidence at that point and I just went with that. She's just amazing. Even before I rode her, when Julien [Leparoux] used to, I remember she just always had that kick at the end. I'm very happy with the ride.”

Mott revealed that a first try against males in the Aug. 27 GI Sword Dancer S. could be in the cards next for War Like Goddess due to the downgrading of the Sept. 3 Flower Bowl to a Grade II for this year.

“We missed the New York Handicap, we got forced into missing that because of some training issues. Now we'll look at the Flower Bowl, most likely, or maybe even the Sword Dancer,” the Hall of Famer said. “We'll see. [The Sword Dancer] is a mile and a half and it's a Grade I. She's a Grade I winner already, but unfortunately the Flower Bowl has been a Grade I since I've been in New York and they downgraded it, which is a very big disappointment. There have been some real top fillies run in the race.”

Pedigree Notes:

The first back-to-back winner in the 27-year history of the Glens Falls, War Like Goddess is one of 12 Grade I/Group 1 winners for champion turf sire English Channel, who died from a sudden illness at the age of 19 last fall. She is the first foal out of dam Misty North (North Light {Ire}), who sold for just $1,000 to Charles Yochum at Keeneland November in 2019 prior to any of War Like Goddess's exploits. Responsible for an unraced 3-year-old Red Rocks (Ire) filly named Thecradlewillrock and a juvenile colt by Bal a Bali (Brz) named North of Bali, Misty North was not reported bred in 2020 or 2021 before visiting Curlin this season. Third dam Romanette was a SW/MGSP and produced thrice Group 1-placed Blush Rambler (Blushing Groom {Fr}).

Saturday, Saratoga
GLENS FALLS S.-GII, $250,000, Saratoga, 8-6, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/2mT, 2:29.33, fm.
1–WAR LIKE GODDESS, 122, m, 5, by English Channel
1st Dam: Misty North, by North Light (Ire)
2nd Dam: Misty Gallop, by Victory Gallop
3rd Dam: Romanette, by Alleged
($1,200 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $1,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP; $30,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-George Krikorian; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Joel Rosario. $137,500. Lifetime Record: GISW, 10-8-0-1, $1,217,184. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Temple City Terror, 120, m, 6, Temple City–It Takes Two, by More Than Ready. ($22,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Pocket Aces Racing LLC; B-Upson Downs Farm (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $50,000.
3–Virginia Joy (Ger), 124, m, 5, Soldier Hollow (GB)–Virginia Sun (Ger), by Doyen (Ire). (€975,000 3yo '20 ARARC). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Gestut Auenquelle (Ger); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 14.70, 3.30.
Also Ran: Flanigan's Cove, Key Biscayne, Treasure Tails, Petricor (GB). 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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Havre de Grace’s Saint Tapit Goes Two-for-Two at the Spa

8th-Saratoga, $115,000, Alw, 8-6, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, 7f, 1:23.90, gd, 1 1/2 lengths.
SAINT TAPIT (c, 3, Tapit–Havre de Grace {Horse Of The Year, Ch. Older Mare, MGISW, $2,586,175}, by Saint Liam) graduated by four lengths on debut at Belmont June 26 and was favored at 8-5 to repeat here in this first try against winners. With the track freshly sealed after rain poured down over Saratoga, the blue-blooded chestnut tracked from a two-wide third through a :22.93 opening quarter. He drew even with the leader as the half went up in :45.74 and remained on even terms while some four wide turning for home. Saint Tapit kicked it into overdrive halfway to the wire, splashing clear to win by two lengths over a late-running Anejo (Freud). Whisper Hill Farm owner Mandy Pope went to a record-setting $10-million to acquire Horse of the Year and now Hall of Famer Havre de Grace at the 2012 FTKNOV sale. She has produced five winners from five foals of racing age with the most accomplished thus far being GSW Graceful Princess (Tapit), $264,474. Havre de Grace was barren when bred to Justify for 2020, but produced a colt by the Triple Crown winner in 2021. She was not bred back following that colt, but visited Into Mischief this spring. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $112,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher.

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