October, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Workers Dominate Keeneland’s Worktab

The early-morning activity at racetracks across the country was ablaze Saturday, with horses targeting next month's Breeders' Cup races dominating the scene. Well represented at Keeneland, trainer Chad Brown had the bulk of his championship team working on both the main track and the turf.

“Everything went really, really well this morning, considering everything that was going on,” Brown said, referring to the volume of horses that featured 190 works on the main track. “They all did very well and they will have another work next week, but these were serious works today.”

Highlighting his dirt workers was Jack Christopher (Munnings), who worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 in company with GI Champagne S. winner Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (video), could head to the GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint or the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Blazing Sevens is a candidate for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

On the turf, three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) worked five furlongs in company with GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf candidate Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) in 1:01.40 (video). Domestic Spending, who made his most recent start in August of 2021, did not return to the work tab until this past August.

“He worked very, very well this morning and galloped out well,” Brown said of Domestic Spending, who is under consideration for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. “We'll see how he is in the morning and then have one more work.”

Other workers for Brown were: Search Results (Flatter) (Distaff), five furlongs in 1:02.60; Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (Filly and Mare Sprint), five furlongs in 1:00.40; In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs on the turf in :49.80; Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (Mile) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (Filly and Mare Turf), four furlongs together on the turf in :49.20; Raging Sea (Curlin) (Juvenile Fillies) and I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) (Juvenile Turf), four furlongs together on the main track in :48.20; and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (Juvenile Turf), who worked a half-mile on the main track in :48.80 in company with multiple graded stakes-placed Portfolio Company (Kitten's Joy).

Also working in Lexington Saturday, GI TVG.com Haskell S. winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company (video). It was the dark bay's second work since winning the GII Lukas Classic at Churchill Downs Oct. 1.

“It went great,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard for the work. “Everything was smooth. We sat a few lengths off our company. He was dragging me to go and catch them. Going into the stretch, I just kind of gave him his head and let him finish up. He was well within himself, and he pulled up very happy. Everything seems to be going good right now. He's a very exciting horse. His resume speaks for itself. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity.”

Runner up in the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at 94-1, Hot Rod Charlie finished fourth in last year's Classic at Del Mar.

“Charlie is absolutely bouncing around the barn cooling out,” Doug O'Neill's assistant Stephanie Murray said. “You would never guess that he just went out and worked in a minute. He's just on his toes and has really good energy.”

Also working for O'Neill, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint candidate Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) worked five furlongs in 1:00.20 on the all-weather training track. The colt is coming off a second in the Sept. 8 Global Tote Juvenile Sprint S. at Kentucky Downs. On the main track for the West Coast-based trainer, Dirt Mile contender Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) worked in 1:00.40 for five furlongs in company; Filly and Mare Sprint candidate Awake at Midnyte (Nyquist) in a half-mile solo in :49.40; and Juvenile Fillies candidate Vegas Magic (Good Magic) in 1:00.20 for five furlongs.

“Everybody went super good,” Murray said. “Everything went according to plan. They will all work again next Saturday (Oct. 29).”

O'Neill is scheduled to arrive at Keeneland on Friday.

Also on Saturday's worktab at Keeneland: Simplification (Not This Time) worked five furlongs in 1:00 in preparation for an expected start in the Dirt Mile. Also working for trainer Antonio Sano was Laurel Futurity winner Congruent (Tapit), who breezed five furlongs on the firm turf in 1:02.40. He is a candidate for the Juvenile Turf or the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Trainer Jorge Delgado sent his two Breeders' Cup hopefuls out Saturday, with Sprint hopeful Willy Boi (Uncaptured) working a half-mile in :49.80 and Juvenile runner Awesome Strong (Awesome Slew) working a half-mile in :49.80. GI Frizette runner-up You're My Girl (Overanalyze) worked six panels in 1:13.60 with John Velazquez up for trainer John Terranova. She is a candidate for the Juvenile Fillies. Working on the turf, Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) covered three furlongs in :39.40 for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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‘It Will All Be About How He Comes Back’: Gunite Powers To Perryville Victory, Possible For Breeders’ Cup Sprint

Third early under Tyler Gaffalione, Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Gunite easily made the lead coming off the home turn and kicked clear to win the $250,000 Perryville for 3-year-olds Saturday at Keeneland.

Gunite strode across the finish line 3 ¾ lengths to the good of 25-1 Hoist the Gold, the runner-up, while B Dawk rallied from last of seven to take third, another three lengths back.

Time for seven furlongs was 1:23.21 on a fast track. The favorite, Gunite returned $3.24 and could return in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in two weeks time depending on how he comes out of the Perryville.

Provocateur and Of a Revolution vied for the early lead through fractions of :22.38 and :45.82 for a half mile. Gunite, chasing from third, was winding up his rally approaching the five-sixteenths pole, then swept past nearing the stretch to cement the victory.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Gunite has compiled a 4-2-0 record from six starts this year and entered off a victory in the Harrods Creek at Churchill Downs on Sept. 24. His biggest victory of 2022 came in the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga in July.

Chad Brown-trained Artorius, cutting back to sprinting following a sixth-place finish in the Runhappy Travers (G1) at Saratoga, was never a threat in a fourth-place finish.

Overall, Gunite has a 6-4-1 record from 12 starts and $965,934 in earnings.

A Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner, Gunite's dam is the Cowboy Cal mare Simple Surprise.

Perryville (L) Quotes

Steve Asmussen (winning trainer of Gunite): “(He has shown) beautiful consistency. He has performed at the highest levels and continues to impress. (As Keeneland Racing Analyst Scott Hazelton said in the Paddock), he carries himself like he can do this. He's got a confidence. He accepts what's happening and does it extremely well.

This was the first test (regarding whether to go to the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint [G1] in 14 days): How he handles Keeneland. I thought he ran really well. He was very comfortable and looked great over the racetrack. Now it will all be about how he comes back. But we have until Monday (pre-entry deadline) to decide.”

Tyler Gaffalione (winning rider): “It was very easy for him. He's a very talented colt. I'm just so blessed to be able to ride him. I can't thank (trainer) Steve (Asmussen) and (owner) Mr. (Ron) Winchell (of Winchell Thoroughbreds) enough for this opportunity. He's a very special horse. I had a great post, so I just helped him get out there, get him underneath himself, and he does the rest.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of runner-up Hoist the Gold): “We had a great trip from the one hole. We were able to work out a good inside trip. Turning for home, we were right behind the eventual winner. He was just a little bit better than us today.”

Joel Rosario (rider of third-place finisher B Dawk): “He took his time to get out (of the gate) and get into the race in the beginning, but he made a nice move going into the turn. He did his best. He tried really hard. The two horses in front of him were better today.”

The post ‘It Will All Be About How He Comes Back’: Gunite Powers To Perryville Victory, Possible For Breeders’ Cup Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Loggins Will Sit Out Breeders’ Cup

'TDN Rising Star' Loggins (Ghostzapper), who is coming off a game second-place finish in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, will not run in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, reports his trainer, Brad Cox.

Though beaten by fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) last out at Keeneland, Loggins showed that he is one of the top juveniles in training. He was part of a three-horse battle for the early lead before being passed in the stretch by his rival only to fight back gamely in the late going to miss by just a neck. He was also put into tight quarters in the stretch, causing rider Florent Geroux to wage a claim of foul, which was not allowed.

“He ran a big race the other day, was running back in three weeks and he did all the heavy lifting that day,” Cox said. “He responded well and showed that he's a good horse and can be a top colt. But he was a little tired after the race and he had a right to be tired. We put our heads together and thought we want to get this horse to the Kentucky Derby and take a swing at some of the Grade I Derby preps and the Derby itself. So now is the perfect time to take a deep breath with him, kick him out for 45 days and kick him back up in the middle of December. He'll be sent to the Fair Grounds and that's where he'll prepare for his races next year.”

Cox said he might have tried another route if Loggins had not show signs of being tired after the big effort at Keeneland.

“If he'd bounced out of his last race and was, the term is tearing the barn down, we might think differently,” he said. “But I didn't see that. We saw a horse that was tired and to try to put him through two works to get him ready for the Breeders' Cup would have been tough. When you go to the Breeders' Cup you have to be on top of your game and I didn't see that happening with him coming out of the Breeders' Cup as tired as he was. It would have been three races in seven weeks and that's a lot.”

In his debut, Loggins won a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs by 8 1/2 lengths to earn Rising Star status.

“I think he's a big-time talent,” he said. “That's why we did what he did. He's a very fast horse and has a big future. He's an exciting prospect for next year.”

Loggins may have set an unofficial record for having the most owners, in his case 10. They are Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers Racing LLC, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing Stables, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC and Winners Win.

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Uncle Mo’s Celestial City Shines in Hill Prince

Made the lukewarm 38-10 favorite for Saturday's GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct, Stuart Janney III's Celestial City (Uncle Mo) found his best stride entering the final eighth of a mile and outfinished Mackinnon (American Pharoah) for a maiden success at the stakes level.

Exiting a local allowance victory Sept. 24, having previously dead-heated for the place spot behind the GI Breeders' Cup Mile-bound 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) in a paceless renewal of Saratoga's GIII Saranac S. three weeks prior, Celestial City bobbled slightly at the start and dropped straight out the back, then was taken hold of by Jose Lezcano to sit second last out of the stretch. A touch keen as the speed dropped away through the middle stages, Celestial City nevertheless managed to save every inch of ground and had no stone in his path as he scraped paint around the second turn. Committed to that inside passage, Celestial City got a dream run through along the rail into the stretch, pressed away from the inside and into the three path at the furlong grounds and quickened up nicely for the victory. Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) closed well for third.

“I think he's learning now and I think we've learned a little something today with him not breaking well,” said winning trainer Shug McGaughey, remarkably winning his first Hill Prince. “He got farther back than I thought he would, but he made a pretty explosive run so maybe that's what he wants to do.”

A maiden winner at second asking this past March, the bay narrowly missed in the May 29 Jersey Derby and was a good third in the Aug. 5 GII Hall of Fame S. at the Spa. Adding blinkers for the Saranac, Celestial City finished 5 1/2 lengths behind the front-running Annapolis before returning to winning ways last time.

McGaughey said the winner would be considered for the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar Dec. 3.

“I'm not ready to stop as long as he's saying 'go,'” the Hall of Fame conditioner said.

Pedigree Notes:

Celestial City, who is out of a winning half-sister to GISW Hymn Book (Arch), becomes the 84th stakes winner and 46th graded winner for his versatile stallion. This is also the family of Janney III's GISW Data Link (War Front). The cross of Uncle Mo over A.P. Indy-line mares is responsible for the likes of Grade I winners Mo Donegal and Mo Town and additional graded winners Modernist and Mopotism. Lunar Evening is the dam of the yearling colt Waxing Moon (Candy Ride {Arg}) and a weanling colt by Mastery. She was most recently bred back to Uncle Mo.

HILL PRINCE S.-GII, $300,000, Belmont The Big A, 10-22, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:50.27, fm.
1–CELESTIAL CITY, 118, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
                1st Dam: Lunar Evening, by Malibu Moon
                2nd Dam: Vespers, by Known Fact
                3rd Dam: Sunset Service, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Stuart
Janney, III LLC (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III; J-Jose
Lezcano. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 9-3-2-2, $347,920.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mackinnon, 118, c, 3, American Pharoah–Scat Means Go, by
Scat Daddy. ($200,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $285,000 2yo '21
FTFMAR). O-ERJ Racing, LLC, Madaket Stables LLC & Dave
Kenney; B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Chad C.
Brown. $60,000.
3–Grand Sonata, 120, c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–A. P. Sonata, by
A.P. Indy. ($125,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O/B-Whisper Hill
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, NO. Odds: 3.80, 4.00, 5.00.
Also Ran: Wicked Fast, Constitutionlawyer, St Anthony, Nantasket Beach, Limited Liability, Be Better, Unanimous Consent (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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