August, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Maurice de Gheest Headlines on Sunday

Deauville hosts its second Group 1 contest of the August festival on Sunday, with the 6 1/2-furlong ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest representing a niche for the staying sprinters of which Godolphin's Naval Crown (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is prominent. Coming of age this term with success in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. June 18, he beat everything that re-opposed from that contest again in Newmarket's G1 July Cup July 9 only to find Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) too strong. Some of them are here too, but this is a new challenge with several new rivals entering the mix in a race in which he was only eighth on contrasting testing ground 12 months ago. Charlie Appleby is happy that the surface will be different this time. “We know that conditions in France are there to suit–he loves quick ground and has run well over seven furlongs in the past. Based on his form this year, he looks the one to beat,” he said.

How Far Can Harry Go?

If there is one with the capability of reaching these heights in one swoop it is Clive Cox Racing's Harry Three (GB) (Adaay {Ire}), who looked every bit in the mold of some of his trainer's better sprinters when taking the Listed Prix Kistena over six furlongs here July 10. That was a step up from his win in a competitive York handicap June 11 and there is no telling where his limit lies. “He's progressing quickly, but this is a huge step up,” Cox said. “He's full of confidence and he's shown solid form on the track. He's travelled and arrived early and the journey went well which I'm pleased about, given the complications that can arise with that at the moment. He's growing up all the time and becoming more experienced and I think he deserves this step up.” Last year's G2 Prix du Calvados winner Accakaba (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is another intriguing prospect among the 3-year-olds, with her strong closing effort when fourth in this venue's seven-furlong G1 Prix Jean Prat marking her as a talented performer July 10.

Minzaal's Time?

Shadwell's history with top sprinters is a rich one and the latest big gun among them could be the Owen Burrows-trained Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who has taken a while to deliver on the deep promise of his 2-year-old campaign but who seemed to come of age last time when beating Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) in the G3 Hackwood S. at Newbury July 16. “He's come out of Newbury great–there is another month until the Haydock Sprint Cup, so this fits in nicely,” his trainer said. “He was very strong at the end at Newbury, so I don't feel the extra half-furlong will hinder him at all. He's been Group 1-placed at two and Group 1-placed at three, so it would be lovely if he can get his head in front for one.”

Toy Takes Aim At Dusseldorf Classic

Narrowly denied in the Irish Oaks, Ballydoyle's Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes to Dusseldorf to gain compensation in the G1 Henkel Preis der Diana and augment the remarkable record of top-level winners out of her dam You'resothrilling (Storm Cat). Heading the home defence is Stall Nizza's June 19 G2 Oaks d'Italia winner Nachtrose (Ire) (Australia {GB}), whose half-sister Nightflower (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) was second in this in 2015, and Gestut Rottgen's July 3 G3 Mehl Mulhens-Trophy scorer Well Disposed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-sister to the G1 Deutsches Derby hero Windstoss (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}).

Click here for the fields.

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Longshot Dynadrive Earns First Stakes Win In Lure Stakes Thriller At Saratoga

Flying P Stable and James Schurman's Dynadrive outdueled Sifting Sands to the wire in a thrilling stretch run to capture Saturday's $135,000 Fasig-Tipton Lure Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

The 5-year-old Temple City gelding made his first start for trainer Tom Morley last out, upsetting an optional-claimer at 10 furlongs on the Belmont Park turf at odds of 45-1 under returning rider Eric Cancel. Dynadrive, a veteran of 24 starts, secured his first career stakes win in the Lure, this time at odds of 23-1, with a brave stretch-drive thrust to capture the 1 1/16-mile Mellon turf test restricted to older horses yet to win a graded stakes this year.

The New York-bred millionaire Somelikeithotbrown was gunned to the lead by Irad Ortiz Jr. from the outermost post 8, marking off fractions of :22.78 and :46.05 with Canadian Classic winner Safe Conduct tracking in second, six lengths back, over the firm going as Dynadrive sat a distant next-to-last.

Dynadrive traveled with purpose through the final turn, knifing between rivals at the top of the lane, as Sifting Sands, under Manny Franco, launched his bid to the inside of Safe Conduct. Sifting Sands was in front at the stretch call as Dynadrive continued to advance, finding space between the retreating Somelikeithotbrown to meet up to the inside of the new leader. The two rivals battled the remaining furlong to the wire with Dynadrive prevailing by a head in a final time of 1:39.83.

It was another 1 ½ lengths back to Duke of Hazzard in third with Public Sector, Safe Conduct, Somelikeithotbrown, South Bend and T D Dance completing the order of finish.

The victory marked the second Saratoga stakes score for Cancel.

“There was a lot of speed in the race with the horse on the outside. I just tried to get him to relax,” Cancel said. “I got him where I really wanted to be and everything just worked out very well.

“To be honest, I knew I had it,” added Cancel regarding the close finish. “I had a lot of faith in my horse. He ran a huge race out of the layoff and he came 200 percent today, so I was expecting this performance from him.”

It was the first stakes win of the meet for Morley, who has won with his last three starters at the Spa after posting a double on Wednesday with Charge Account and Dot's Dollar.

Morley was quick to credit his Belmont staff for having Dynadrive ready for his Spa stakes debut.

“We got the horse in and had a number of little issues we needed to wind out. Nothing really physical, more mental,” Morley said. “He was a horse that wanted to be tremendously aggressive in his morning training. We were trying to get him to slow everything down. He has done very, very well in our barn. My guys at home at Belmont have done a great job with him.”

Dynadrive's last stakes appearance came in an off-the-board effort in the Grade 2 Turf Cup in September at Kentucky Downs when in the care of trainer Mike Maker. He was claimed for $62,500 two starts later by his current connections and trainer Robertino Diodoro for whom he made two starts this winter.

Jav Provenzano of co-owner Flying P Stable said the win was extra special as Dynadrive is a half-sibling to graded-stakes winner Tell Your Daddy, who is also trained by Morley,

“Today, I got really lucky because I have the half-brother, but I also have a half-sister, a 2-year-old filly [Astrila] that's with Bill Mott,” Provenzano said. “Every time they keep doing something good, I keep making more money without even racing the filly. It's been awesome.

“I can't knock any trainer, but not every trainer can figure out every horse. I knew Tom had 'Daddy,' so I told Robertino that I'd like to move the horse and see if things change,” added Provenzano, regarding the trainer switch. “I do that with all my trainers, I'll move a horse here and there. He [Morley] was the best choice of all my trainers because he had the half-brother and Robertino pointed out that he had a little EPM going on, so we had to get him medicated and give him some time off. He came around.”

Morley noted that the strong early pace benefitted Dynadrive.

“He's been showing more and more natural speed in his morning works without overdoing it. I felt that if they went a good pace in here, it might set up nicely. That was wonderful for me to see those fractions, only Pegasus could have held on doing that,” Morley said.

Trainer Chad Brown, who won last year's edition with Flavius, was represented by 8-5 mutuel favorite Public Sector, a multiple graded-stakes winner at the Spa for Klaravich Stables; and Peter Brant's 6-1 chance Sifting Sands, who had won 2-of-3 starts on the Saratoga turf heading into Saturday's test, including last year's restricted Better Talk Now.

Manny Franco said Sifting Sands was game in defeat.

“He always runs well for me. I think he likes the course here, too.,” Franco said. “He was giving me his all. He [Dynadrive] got to the inside and caught me by surprise a little bit. But my horse was game.”

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, Dynadrive, out of the Rockport Harbor mare Harbingerofthings, banked $74,250 in victory, while improving his record to 8-5-2 from 24 starts. He returned $48 for a $2 win ticket.

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Flightline Breezes Bullet Five Furlongs At Del Mar

Flightline put in another work at Del Mar Saturday, blistering the five furlongs in a bullet :59, the fastest of 65 timed moves at the distance at California's seaside track.

The workout was the colt's third at Del Mar and fifth since his dominant win in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) June 11 at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old Tapit colt, unbeaten in four career starts, worked alone and cut out fractions of :24.10, :35.40, and :47.20 and galloped out in 1:11.40.

Trainer John Sadler said afterward he planned to work his rising star the next two Saturdays at Del Mar as they continue preparations for the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) on September 3 at Del Mar.

Flightline, whose record includes a 12 3/4-length victory in an entry-level allowance race last summer at Del Mar and the Runhappy Malibu (G1) in December at Santa Anita, is campaigned by Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing.

The colt has been installed as the 3-1 favorite for the first of two future wagers on this year's $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), to be run November 5 at Keeneland. The first future wager opened Friday and closes Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

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Hideyuki Mori Makes First Trip to Saratoga Sales

One of the first people at Saratoga to meet Fasig-Tipton's representative from Japan, Mariko Seki, was Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor, who wasted no time in promoting Hip 174 from their consignment. “Let those Japanese owners know that his 2-year-old half-brother, Psy Breaker (Uncle Mo), won very impressively in Japan on Aug. 6.” Seki opened the Japanese Racing Association website and showed Taylor a video replay of Psy Breaker breaking his maiden. “Come and see his half-brother by Audible in Barn 10,” said Taylor.

Seki is making her first visit to Saratoga, and is at the sale to assist one of Japan's top agents and trainers, Hideyuki Mori, who is also making his first visit to the Saratoga Sales. Mori has attended many international sales and has had runners as far apart as Dubai and California. In Japan, he is known as a “Sensei,” a title of respect for his considerable achievements. Saturday morning, he spent five hours, from 7:00 a.m. to noon, and inspected every yearling making up the 215-head catalogue. He said he would be back Sunday morning to make up his short list.

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