Roger Varian is targeting Classics glory as it ‘all clicks’ for Sakheer
Sakheer has Group One targets after routing his rivals in the Mill Reef Stakes, a victory which was leg six of a remarkable 34,838-1 seven-timer for trainer Roger Varian.
Month: September 2022
Faith in Humanity Leads Brown Sweep of Pebbles
Klaravich Stables' Faith in Humanity (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), the lightest-raced filly in Sunday's GIII Pebbles S. at Belmont at the Big A, proved her inexperience was no issue as she led home a Chad Brown trifecta in just her third career start.
Debuting as a 7-5 favorite going two turns on the Monmouth turf July 24, the bay pressed the pace and edged away late for a 1 1/4-length graduation. Stepped right into stakes company, she went clear in the stretch of the restricted Riskaverse S. Aug. 25 at Saratoga before getting run down late by re-opposing stablemate Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) and settling for second.
Made the distant second choice here as the money poured in on Gina Romantica, Faith in Humanity quickly established command and showed the way while traveling comfortably through fractions of :24.13 and :49.55. Confidently handled by Manny Franco moving around the far turn, she cut the corner sweetly into the lane and darted clear entering the final three-sixteenths. Gina Romantica started to get going in the center of the course at the furlong grounds and ate into the leader's margin late, but Faith in Humanity was never in serious danger and held safely on the wire. Bahamian Club filled out the Brown trifecta.
“She was so nice and comfortable on the lead with her ears up,” said Franco. “I think that was the key, that she relaxed for me. I had a lot of horse under me when I asked her to go. I was worried about [Gina Romantica] because she beat me last time and I knew that was the horse to beat, but at the same time I had a good feeling going to the three-eighths pole because I knew I had horse. I knew they'd have to run hard to get me. The turns are pretty good for the horses being near the pace.”
Pedigree Notes:
With the victory, Faith in Humanity becomes the 101st stakes winner and 60th graded stakes winner for Ballylinch Stud's star resident Lope de Vega. She's the second foal to race out of her dam, a half-sister to French G1SW Indonesienne (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}) and three additional black-type performers in France. Her third dam is a half-sister to MG1SW Matiara (Bering {GB}), two other MGSWs and the dam of Australian G1SW Unforgotten (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Unraced dam Sharavana is responsible for a yearling filly by Churchill (Ire).
Sunday, Belmont at the Big A
PEBBLES S.-GIII, $150,000, Belmont at the Big A, 9-18, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:36.36, fm.
1–FAITH IN HUMANITY (FR), 118, f, 3, by Lope de Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Sharavana (GB), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Mydarshaan (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
3rd Dam: Mypreciousprospect, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (€240,000
Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Ecurie Des
Monceaux & Lordship Stud Limited (FR); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Manuel Franco. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $142,500.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gina Romantica, 122, f, 3, Into Mischief–Special Me, by
Unbridled's Song. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($1,025,000 Ylg
'20 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig
Brogden (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
3–Bahamian Club (Ire), 118, f, 3, Kingman (GB)–Daldiyna (Fr),
by Dansili (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-Peter M. Brant; B-White Birch Farm Sc (IRE); T-Chad C.
Brown. $18,000.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 5.90, 1.70, 6.20.
Also Ran: Majestic Glory (GB), A Mo Reay, Miss Carol Ann (Ire), Golden Rocket, Sail By, Breeze Easy (GB). Scratched: Howdyoumakeurmoney, Lia Marina, Saratoga Chrome, Wonka. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
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Canterbury Reports Record Handle, Record Purses At Meet’s Conclusion
Canterbury Park's 64-day meet concluded Saturday with a 13-race program that attracted $2,364,097 in handle.
Business was robust throughout the season at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack, setting a record in total handle with $97,615,998 wagered, a 7.4 percent increase over 2021.
Saturday evening racing, absent since 2019, returned this season, accompanied by large crowds and handle. Average daily handle, $1,525,250, was up 9.5 percent compared to last season.
Record purses were also paid during the meet that was originally scheduled for 65 days of racing but poor track conditions caused the Aug. 7 card to be canceled and an abbreviated program to be run Aug. 6.
A total of $15,715,307 in purses were paid, one percent more than 2021 even though 12 fewer races were run. Field size was consistent with last year with an average of 7.31 starters per race.
Two Phil's was an impressive 9 3/4 length winner of the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile on Saturday. The 2-year-old was ridden by Jareth Loveberry for trainer Larry Rivelli and owners Patricia's Hope LLC and Phillip Sagan. He returned $4.20 to win.
The $50,000 Tom Metzen HBPA Sprint went to Tony's Tapit and owner Jose Silva Jr. The 4-year-old colt was ridden by Ezequiel Lara and owned by Kirk Sutherland. Tony's Tapit, who paid $3.80, won by 2 1/4 lengths.
The final race day began with 14-time leading trainer Mac Robertson and Joel Berndt in a deadlock with 60 wins each. Robertson won race 2 and Berndt race 5 resulting in a tie for top honors.
Harry Hernandez, in his first season at Canterbury, won the Thoroughbred riding title with 79 wins, 29 more than second leading rider Luis Fuentes.
Thoroughbred owner honors went to Bob Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables Inc., setting records for both wins and purses for an owner in a season. Lothenbach of Wayzata, Minn. won 55 races and earned $1,520,776 in purse money.
Midnight Current, undefeated this season in five starts, was voted Horse of the Meet. She earned $151,800, the bulk of which came from wins in the $100,000 Princess Elaine Stakes and the $50,000 Minnesota Turf Distaff. Midnight Current, a 4-year-old Minnesota-bred filly, is owned bred by Lothenbach and trained by Berndt.
Canterbury Park's 2022 Horse of the Year and divisional champions:
- Horse of the Year – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables LLC; trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Sprinter – Doctor Oscar (owner: Peter Mattson; trainer: David Van Winkle)
- Older Filly or Mare – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables LLC; trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Older Horse – Thealligatorhunter (Peter Mattson and Tim Padilla; trainer: Tim Padilla)
- Grass Horse – Midnight Current (owner: Lothenbach Stables LLC; trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Love the Nest (owner: Lothenbach Stables LLC;: trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Three-Year-Old Filly – It's Her Time (owner: Estate of Warren L. Bush; trainer: Mac Robertson)
- Two-Year-Old – It's Bobs Business (Lothenbach Stables LLC; trainer: Joel Berndt)
- Claimer – Optimal Courage (owner: Byron Lindaman and Silva Racing LLC; trainer: Miguel Silva)
Leading Thoroughbred Jockey: Harry Hernandez, 79 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Trainer: TIE Joel Berndt and Mac Robertson, 61 wins
Leading Thoroughbred Owner: Lothenbach Stables Inc., 55 wins
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David Cox On How Baroda Stud Are Aiming To Stand Out At Tattersalls Ireland
If a major part of a trainer's job is to place horses in the right races, then a consignor must select the right sale for their offerings, which is exactly what David Cox of Baroda Stud gets right more times than not.
Baroda have had some well-received yearling drafts in Britain and France this autumn and Cox is quietly optimistic of breaking into the top bracket of the September Yearling Sale at Tattersalls Ireland this week with his 21-strong draft.
“It's all about trying to make your horse stand out. No matter what sale you go to, you want to be in that top 10 to 15 per cent,” Cox said at the end of a busy day showing at Barn G at Tattersalls Ireland on Sunday.
“You have to think about what physical you have, what pedigree you have and then try and make your horse stand out wherever you send it. All of the yearling sales so far this year, the top end of the market has been very strong, so, if you can position yourself to be in the top 10 to 15 per cent of that market, you are going to get well-paid.
“Take our horses at this sale for example, we have a broad arrangement of sires there; we've sharp types and staying types, so we've something for everyone. A lot of the breeze-up men and women, they didn't really do a lot of shopping in Britain this year because of the expenses involved, but they will shop here.”
He added, “This is a good sale. It's an Irish sale as well, which is important, because we need to support the Irish sales as well as the English ones.”
It being an Irish sale is a relevant point. There was a noticeably small representation of Irish trainers at the Premier Yearling Sale at Doncaster and the Somerville Sale at Tattersalls UK but Paddy Twomey, Ado McGuinness and many more were spotted doing some early legwork on Sunday.
Travelling horses to and from Britain has become far more expensive since Brexit and, according to Cox, is a major factor in when it comes to trainers, agents and owners deciding where to select the raw material from.
However, judging by the footfall at Tattersalls Ireland on Sunday, a good 48 hours before the sale commences on Tuesday, trade at the first Irish yearling sale of 2022 should be strong.
“Even for ourselves,” Cox explained, “sending yearlings to the sales in Britain has become extremely expensive. The cost is roughly double what it used to be and, if you don't sell one and have to bring it back, it's far from ideal.
“If you were to look at the amount of British runners in Ireland this season, I can only imagine that it is much less than what it used to be, and that's because of the costs in travelling these horses and the hassle that comes with Brexit.”
On his hopes for the week ahead, he added, “There aren't many Irish trainers who splash out at the yearling sales and buy on spec. There aren't many Richard Hannons over here and, to be honest, there are less and less trainers buying on spec on the whole.
“It's more agents, owners and syndicates who are doing the buying but the yearling sales have been strong so far this year so I'd be positive heading into this week.
“We've had a lot of footfall today, there's plenty of English over, which is great so I think this sale will go well.”
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