The $250,000, Grade 2 Beldame Stakes Oct. 9 at Belmont at the Big A turned into a public workout for multiple Grade 1 winner Nest as the 1-20 favorite coasted by 9 ¾ lengths.
Month: October 2022
‘We Thought He Had A Good Shot’: King Cause Cruises Wire To Wire In Knickerbocker
Nice Guys Stables' King Cause may have been the oldest horse in a 10-horse field, but the 7-year-old son of Creative Cause pulled off a 14-1 upset to land his first graded stakes victory in Sunday's $150,000 Knickerbocker (G3) at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
Ridden by Kendrick Carmouche for trainer Mike Maker, King Cause made his 33rd lifetime outing in the Knickerbocker, arriving from a close runner-up effort in a September 14 handicap at Kentucky Downs. The win was his third this year, adding to an optional-claiming score two starts back at Del Mar and a stakes win over synthetic in the Kentucky Cup Classic in April at Turfway Park.
Breaking sharply from post 4, King Cause was rushed up to the front by Carmouche to establish command exiting the chute, claiming a one-length advantage over last year's Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct with multiple graded stakes winner Pixelate in third through an opening quarter-mile in :25.33 over the firm turf.
The field bunched up into the first turn, causing Eons to steady, but King Cause remained well clear to lead the field to the half-mile call in :50.90. With the field separating more down the backstretch, Safe Conduct and Pixelate inched closer as Field Pass was ready to make his move on the outside from fourth position. King Cause came under light coaxing from Carmouche through three-quarters in 1:14.87 and began to draw away from his rivals, maintaining a steady rhythm as the field rounded the final turn.
King Cause, under right-handed encouragement from Carmouche, sprinted down the lane with a clear advantage and held off the all-out duo of Pixelate and Safe Conduct, posting the two-length victory in a final time of 1:50.06 for 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf course.
Pixelate was game to the wire and got up in time to nail Safe Conduct by a nose and secure place honors. Field Pass finished a neck back in fourth with Public Sector, Lonesome Fugitive, Eons, Pao Alto, Dynadrive and L'Imperator rounding out the order of finish.
Steve Spielman of Nice Guys Stables said he believed in his horse.
“He was in good form and his numbers fit here. We thought he had a good shot,” said Spielman. “He's had some bad racing luck, but the horse always puts a good effort in. He likes to be on the front end and he got the right trip and Kendrick did a great job. He got the right fractions and he's tough when he's on the lead at the top of the stretch.”
Spielman said that King Cause is no stranger to beating the odds, recalling how the dark bay overcome an illness that almost claimed his life after a win at Saratoga in August of 2020.
“He ships well. He's an amazing horse. He got real sick awhile back and we saved his life. He was out for over a year and he's paid us back in spades,” said Spielman. “I've got to thank Burleson Farm for putting all this time into keeping this horse alive. He had a rare infection that they couldn't get rid of. It was right after the Saratoga race. This horse has come back and rewarded us. He's the gift that keeps giving.”
Now an eight-time winner from 33 starts, King Cause had previously contested seven graded events but failed to hit the board, his best finish a fourth in the 2018 Grade 3 Los Alamitos Derby. This year, the veteran gelding has held good form, finishing in-the-money in 6-of-9 starts, including his two stakes victories and a troubled third-place finish in the Bensalem Match Series in June at Parx. Since joining Maker last September, he has hit the board eight times from 12 starts.
Carmouche, who rode King Cause in the Bensalem Match Series, said he was appreciative for the opportunity to ride him again.
“I'm just glad Mike Maker gave me a shot back on this horse,” said Carmouche. “In Philadelphia, I rode this horse and got bottled up a little. I thought he should have won then.
“Coming into today's race, [there was] not a lot of speed,” Carmouche added. “I figured let me break sharp and see where I'm at. Those guys took a hold, and I was able to walk as slow as I can and make myself a winner. He exploded home. After those fractions, you have to expect him to come home fast.”
Bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones, King Cause banked $82,500 in victory, boosting his total purse earnings to $601,228. He returned $32.80 for a $2 win wager. His dam is the Street Cry mare Street Mate.
Jose Ortiz, aboard the Mike Stidham-trained runner-up Pixelate, said he knew King Cause was a threat after riding him to a victory at the Big A last November.
“Mike's instructions were to break running and be as close as I could,” Ortiz said. “I felt I was following a good horse [King Cause]. I rode that horse one time here and he loved it. I was happy with my position throughout the race, but the winner was much the best today and I was second best.”
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Baffert Colts by Justify Run 1-2; Winner named ‘Rising Star’
Bob Baffert, whose juvenile colts made up the superfecta in Saturday's GI American Pharoah S. led by 'TDN Rising Star' Cave Rock (Arrogate), unveiled yet another potential superstar Sunday at Santa Anita in the form of Zedan Racing Stables Inc.'s $600,000 OBSAPR acquisition Arabian Lion (Justify). The :10 flat breezer was pounded down to 3-5, with workmate Elwood Blues (Justify) next in the betting at 5-2. The wagering public got it right. Arabian Lion emerged with the early advantage as Elwood Blues rushed up in between foes to be second as they entered the bend. Arabian Lion posted a half in :44.90, shrugged off his seemingly much smaller stablemate fully by midstretch and strode out a three-length winner worthy of the 'Rising Star' tag. Elwood Blues held second to complete the exacta for his trainer and Triple Crown-winning sire, who of course was also a 'Rising Star' for Baffert and who has now sired four horses from his first crop to earn this publication's distinction. Arabian Lion is his sire (by Scat Daddy)'s 18th individual winner.
The winner's third dam is none other than legendary runner and producer Personal Ensign. Arabian Lion's dam Unbound (Distorted Humor) began her career in Japan before being imported by SF Bloodstock and running second in a restricted sprint stakes at Belmont. She was later sold for $310,000 at KEENOV '15 in foal to Tiznow. After failing to produce a foal in the next two seasons following Arabian Lion, Unbound visited Frosted this term. Unbound's stakes-placed full-sister Mary Rita is responsible for a standout juvenile colt in her own right–her $550,000 son Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro) took to the turf when annexing the GII Pilgrim S. a week earlier.
6th-Santa Anita, $62,000, Msw, 10-9, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.78, ft, 3 lengths.
ARABIAN LION, c, 2, Justify
1st Dam: Unbound {SP, $359,826}, by Distorted Humor
2nd Dam: Possibility, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Personal Ensign, by Private Account
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. *$600,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR.
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Malathaat Rolls To Victory in ‘Win and You’re In’ Spinster
Malathaat lived up to her favoritism Sunday at Keeneland in winning the $600,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) for fillies and mares.
Grabbing the lead for John Velazquez entering the stretch, the 4-year-old Curlin filly pulled away to score by 5 ¼ lengths while covering 1 1/8 miles 1:51.05 on a fast track. She returned $2.88.
Army Wife rallied from last to take second, and Played Hard, who led early, checked in third. Reigning champion older dirt female Letruska finished fifth while bidding for a repeat win in the race.
The Spinster is a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), and Malathaat earned an automatic, fees-paid berth for the Nov. 5 race at Keeneland. She was third in last year's edition of the race at Del Mar.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malathaat is a perfect 3-for-3 at Keeneland, winning the Central Bank Ashland (G1) in 2021 and opening her 2022 campaign with a victory in the Baird Doubledogdare (G3). Her overall record stands at 9-3-1 rom 13 starts and $2,750,825 in earnings.
Owned by Shadwell Stable, Malathaat was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. Her dam is the A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.
QUOTES
Todd Pletcher (winning trainer of Malathaat): “It's great when you have one in their third year of training and you get to know them pretty well and kind of know what they like. You could tell that this year she's a bigger, stronger version of last year's self and needed a little more training. That's why last year we opted to go from the Alabama (G1) to the Breeders' Cup. But (this year) we thought with an older, more mature filly that's carrying more condition, that a prep race in between was more appropriate.”
On realizing the pace didn't develop as expected: “I was concerned there wasn't going to be a whole lot of pace. My biggest concern was that Letruska might get loose on the lead, and when she wasn't, there was at least some entertainment there. I thought that helped, and it looked like (jockey) Johnny (Velazquez) was always very comfortable.”
On having the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland: “She seems to love the track here. She's three for three here now, so that's always encouraging, to know one handles the surface well.”
John Velazquez (winning jockey): “The first quarter of a mile I knew was slow. Then when the other horse (Letruska) got down inside, it was like, 'OK, there's at least going to be a little bit of pace,” and he (jockey Tyler Gaffalione) kind of held his position going into the backstretch. At the half-mile pole, I had to make my decision, whether to stay behind that horse or go around him and make sure I put a little bit of pressure by the three-eighths pole. I got there a little bit too soon. I was a little hesitant to get to the lead a little too soon. By the quarter pole, I saw Tyler was tapping on the horse (Letruska), and I thought, 'You know what, I'm going to pass him and hopefully that discourages him.' Then (Malathaat) kept running today. Normally when she gets to the lead she slows down, and she did, but at the same time she was running a little bit. Right at the wire, she (moved sideways) and she almost left me at the wire. But she was much the best today. Thanks to (trainer) Todd (Pletcher) and the whole team for a great job.”
Luis Saez (rider of runner-up Army Wife): “She had a pretty good break. That was the spot we were looking for. She made a pretty nice move at the half mile. We thought we were going to be right there with the winner, but she kept going. Malathaat is a big, good filly.”
Joel Rosario (rider of third-place finisher Played Hard): “She broke really well on top. It was a good trip. I was going down the backside and I just stayed where I was because those two horses came and challenged me. She kept fighting, though, and I thought it was a good race for her.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of fourth-place finisher Letruska): “She missed the break and it took her out of her game.”
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