Month: September 2022

Having proven himself against a solid field of stakes winners, Jun Park and Delia Nash's Sibelius is ready to take the next step in a progression his connections hope land the 4-year-old gelding in the Breeders' Cup this fall.

Sibelius exited his dominating 7 ½-length triumph in the $100,000 Lite the Fuse Sept. 10 at historic Pimlico Race Course in good order, and the son of Not This Time will be aimed at a return to graded competition in the Phoenix (G2) Oct. 7 at Keeneland, where South Florida-based trainer Jerry O'Dwyer plans to keep a small string.

The Phoenix serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 5, also at Keeneland. The Lite the Fuse, Phoenix and Sprint are all contested at six furlongs.

“He's looking good. Obviously he's expected to be a little tired the following day and he was a little bit, but he's back bouncing out there again and we're going to aim him for Keeneland,” O'Dwyer said. “It was a super effort the other day. He was pretty good.”

Sibelius was the only non-stakes winner in a field of six for the Lite the Fuse that included May 21 Maryland Sprint (G3) winner Jaxon Traveler along with Nimitz Class, Quick Tempo, Wendell Fong and Wudda U Think Now. Still, Sibelius was made the 2-1 program favorite for the race and went off at 9-5, just 10 cents more than post time favorite Jaxon Traveler.

Pressed on the lead through a half-mile by Quick Tempo, Sibelius took a 4 ½-length cushion into the stretch when Jaxon Traveler launched his bid but was unable to make up ground as the winner pulled away under a hand ride from Junior Alvarado to finish up in 1:09.30. Alvarado came in from New York to ride Sibelius for the second straight time, following a 3 ¾-length optional claiming allowance triumph Aug. 10 at Saratoga, also sprinting six furlongs.

“It surprised me how easily he won the last race, to be honest. He was taking on some stakes winners. Going into the race I thought it was a very good spot for him to take the next step, but [you're] taking on the likes of Jaxon Traveler who is a very nice horse and ran a hell of a race,” O'Dwyer said. “It's very pleasing when you see your horse win and put a nice horse like that away like he did. I think Jaxon Traveler ran his race, but I just think our horse was the best horse on the day.”

Sibelius made his career debut running second in a maiden special weight last March at Laurel Park, graduated at second asking then went unplaced in three consecutive stakes including the Concern at Pimlico. The Lite the Fuse was his first stakes attempt since finishing sixth in the Robert Hilton Memorial last August at Charles Town.

His effort in the Lite the Fuse earned Sibelius a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 105 and his second straight in triple digits, following a 100 for his race at Saratoga. His numbers have improved each time out for five consecutive races.

“It's going to be a big ask trying to win a 'Win and You're In' race, but if he was to win it the owners would be keen and I'd be keen as his trainer to take a shot [in the Breeders' Cup],” O'Dwyer said. “When they run a career-best Beyer you always want to see them back it up. It gives you a bit of confidence that he's definitely on the improve and going the right way.”

O'Dwyer's confidence is further bolstered by the fact that Sibelius' maiden victory came sprinting 6 ½ furlongs in his only previous try at Keeneland, where he was the narrow favorite over 11 rivals last April.

“You like to see them perform over the course that you're going back running over. I don't have much worries about him going to any track. He's performed well at lots of different tracks now,” he said. “I think this is his year where he's finally maturing, developing and getting stronger and turning into the horse that we thought he might be.”

O'Dwyer started out in the Midwest, winning his first career race at Belterra Park in 2014, before moving to the Maryland circuit where he was primarily based between 2017 and 2021 until relocating to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, to start this year.

“Maryland will always be a special place for me. It really helped get me going and praise God we'll have plenty of more runners there,” O'Dwyer said. “I love being in Florida. It's a great environment. I want to be based there but I still want to be able to travel the circuit and take some nice horses and be able to do the Keenelands and Churchills and Saratogas. That's the main objective and goal.”

Should Sibelius earn his way to the Breeders' Cup, it would be the first starter in the World Championships for O'Dwyer, who began as a jockey in Ireland and England before coming to the U.S. to gallop for trainer Al Stall Jr. and subsequently working for trainers Bill Mott, Michael Matz and Andrew McKeever until going out on his own.

O'Dwyer's best horses include multiple stakes winner Needs Supervision and V.I.P. Ticket as well as 2019 Remsen (G2) winner Shotski, his lone graded-stakes triumph to date. He also trains 3-year-old stakes winner and 2021 Nashua (G3) runner-up Cooke Creek, who will rejoin him at Keeneland following some time off.

“Those are the days you want to be taking part in. That's why we do this,” O'Dwyer said. “We're all in it for the big days and the exciting days and that's where we want to be. That's what gets you up every morning, having a horse like Sibelius there. It took a while for him to come around, but I always did like him. I think he's a later-developing horse that's just reaching his full potential.”

The post After Career-Best 105 Beyer, Sibelius Poised To Give Jerry O’Dwyer First Breeders’ Cup Starter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There's nothing quite as satisfying for a Thoroughbred trainer as a plan that comes together with a promising 2-year-old. That's the case with Power Attack, a son of War Dancer trained by Kent Sweezey, who takes aim at Saturday's $500,000 purse in the Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Nownownow, at a mile on the grass, highlights the final weekend of the meet at the Jersey Shore track.

“It has kind of been our plan all along to get to this race with him,” said Sweezey. “I'm actually surprised we got here – shocked in a way – because it's horse racing. I'm excited about the opportunity.”

The Nownownow has attracted a field of 10, and because it's a big-money grass race, trainer Chad Brown enters with a horse that, on paper, will be the one to beat. Oxymore is 2-for-2 lifetime, winning a pair of grass sprints in New York.

But Sweezey likes his horse's chances for a variety of reasons. He owns a win and two seconds from three career starts, making him the most experienced horse in the field. He is convinced that Power Attack wants two turns as well, even though all of his career starts have been at five furlongs.

“I actually do not think sprinting is his game,” said Sweezey, who splits divisions between Monmouth Park and Gulfstream. “From what I see he is very much a two-turn horse. He's training great. He looks awesome. I want nothing more than to win one of Monmouth Park's biggest races.”

Sweezey came close to doing that earlier in the meet, when Epic Bromance finished second at odds of 72-1 in the Grade 1 United Nations. The Brown-trained Adhamo, the 9-5 favorite, wound up winning by 1½ lengths.

But these are 2-year-olds, which means anything can happen and trainers can dream big.

Power Attack, co-owned by Tee-N-Jay Farm and Sweezey, has already far exceeded his $20,000 yearling cost. He was second in his debut in Maiden Special Weight company at Belmont Park on June 9 on the dirt, then won a state-bred Maiden Special Weight race on the grass at Belmont on July 8. He ran into a buzzsaw in the Tyro Stakes at five furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park in his last start when he was a well-beaten second to Sharp Aza Tack, who went on to be second in the $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile at Kentucky Downs.

“When we bought him I didn't think he would have the speed that he does,” said Sweezey. “We sent him to Thorostock (in Ocala, Fla.) with Nick Sallusto and they broke him. Nick kept calling me saying `I like this horse.' I was like `Come on, Nick. Be honest with me. Just tell me the truth.' He said `No, I really like this horse.' ”

Kendrick Carmouche, who was aboard the colt's first two career starts, will be in for the ride.

“These are 2-year-olds, so you never know,” said Sweezey. “A couple of them have gone two turns but a lot of them have not. We have the most experience with three races. Some horses only have one. And we have yet to finish worse than second.

“I'm looking forward to this. This is what we have been pointing to since the beginning of the season. When I look at the field I see us getting a good trip. I think he has enough speed to put us in the first flight and hopefully some of those horses are not meant to go that far.”

Admission and parking are free for the final two days of the meet. First race post time Saturday and Sunday is 12:15 p.m.

The post Sweezey Aiming High With Power Attack In Monmouth’s $500,000 Nownownow Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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