November, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Girvin’s Faiza Powers To ‘Stardom’ At Del Mar

Sent right to the front after a fast beginning by jockey Flavian Prat, FAIZA (Girvin–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike), a $725,000 2-year-old purchase out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale, hooked up early with Teena Ella (War Front) and outlasted her rival to earn 'TDN Rising Star' status on debut. The pair kept the pace honest, covering the first quarter in :21.92 as Teena Ella, the daughter of four-time champion Beholder, stuck a head in front and the top two pulled several lengths clear of the rest of the field. Though it looked briefly as if Teena Ella might get away, Faiza threatened past the quarter pole with Prat sitting cool while Juan Hernandez was already hard at work on his filly. By the top of the lane, Faiza began to assert her dominance, coming into the final eighth well clear as Teena Ella faded from contention. Lily Poo chased her home from second but was ultimately no match as Faiza hit the wire a wrapped-up 3 1/2 lengths ahead.

The second 'TDN Rising Star' and 16th winner for her freshman sire (by Tale of Ekati), Faiza is out of a half-sister to MGSW and Spendthrift Farm stallion Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) while second dam Pomeroys Pistol, a graded-stakes winner herself, placed in both the GI Prioress S. and the GI Test S. Faiza's yearling half-sister by Cairo Prince recently brought $160,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

4th-Del Mar, $71,000, Msw, 11-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:09.28, ft, 3 1/2 lengths.
FAIZA, f, 2, Girvin
1st Dam: Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy
3rd Dam: Prettyatthetable, by Point Given
$90,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $725,000 2yo '22 EASMAY. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,000.
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Hybrid Eclipse, Recruiter, Twice As Sweet Secure Stakes Wins On Laurel’s Harvest Festival Card

The Elkstone Group's Grade 2-placed Hybrid Eclipse, under a patient ride from Sheldon Russell, split horses in midstretch and went on to earn her second stakes win in Maryland this year in Saturday's $100,000 Thirty Eight Go Go at Laurel Park.

The 12^th running of the 1 1/16-mile Thirty Eight Go Go for fillies and mares was the last of three stakes on a Harvest Festival program following the $100,000 Smart Halo for 2-year-old fillies and $100,000 James F. Lewis III for 2-year-olds, both sprinting six furlongs.

Second to multiple Grade 1 winner Nest in her prior start, the Oct. 9 Prioress (G2) at Aqueduct, Laurel-based Hybrid Eclipse ($8) was entered but scratched from the Nov. 4 Turnback the Alarm (G3) by trainer Brittany Russell to race over her home track, where she is now 4-for-5 lifetime.

“It just seemed like the smart thing to do,” Brittany Russell said. “She loves this racetrack. She's done a lot of good here, so it was nice for her to come back and get win.”

Sheldon Russell found himself uncharacteristically far back on Hybrid Eclipse in the early going as New York shipper Baby Man went a quarter-mile in :23.20 and a half in :47.53, pressed by the 9-5 multiple stakes-winning favorite Malibu Beauty.

Hybrid Eclipse moved into contention after Malibu Beauty went six furlongs in 1:12.29 to take over the top spot, and Sheldon Russell was able to find room between the leader and Berate on the far outside to launch their bid, coming with a steady run to the wire to win by three lengths in 1:40.05 over a main track rated good.

“I was a little unsure, honestly, down the backside. Sheldon looked like he was chugging on her bit and I just wanted to see her kind of engage and run on the bridle and get comfortable,” Brittany Russell said. “Honestly, she really never did. He just kind of stayed on her and she responded. So, whatever it took to get it done, they made it happen.”

Berate stayed up for second, two lengths ahead of 30-1 long shot Champagne Toast. It was a neck back to Malibu Beauty in fourth followed by Click to Confirm, Timonium Distaff winner Breviary, and Baby Man. Grade 2-placed Beguine was scratched.

Hybrid Eclipse joined Brittany Russell in the spring after racing previously for trainer Linda Rice. The 4-year-old Paynter filly ran third in the Obeah at Delaware Park and won the July 2 Caesar's Wish at Laurel in her first two starts for Russell, after which she was purchased from the ELiTE consignment by Elkstone's Stuart Grant for $107,000 at the Fasig-Tipton's July Horses of Racing Age Sale.

“I had her for another client and when she went through the sale and Stuart purchased her, we had some expectations. She's doing exactly what we're hoping she would,” Russell said. “Stuart's been awesome. He's supported me. He's sent us a lot of horses and we've had a lot of bad with the good, so it's really fun to win a stake for him today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Alex Venneri Racing, Hybrid Eclipse is out of the Valid Wager mare Super Plan.

The Thirty Eight Go Go honors the two-time Maryland-bred champion bred and trained by Hall of Famer King Leatherbury. Eight of her 10 career wins came in stakes including the Gardenia (G2), Tempted (G3) and Maryland Million Lassie in 1987 and three consecutive runnings of the Geisha (1988-90).

Recruiter Secures Win In James F. Lewis III

Lynch Racing and Nick Sanna Stables' Recruiter kept his perfect record intact with a third straight victory and first against stakes competition in Saturday's 11^th renewal of the James F. Lewis III.

Favored at 6-5 in a field of six, Recruiter ($4.60) gave jockey Angel Cruz his fourth win from five mounts. Two of them came as a replacement for Laurel's fall meet leading rider, injured apprentice and friend Jeiron Barbosa, also represented by agent Tom Stift.

“It's been a blessed day,” Cruz said. “It's my first time winning four races in one day, so I'm just happy. I want to thank my agent and all the owners and trainers for giving me this opportunity. It's a special day today.”

Recruiter, a front-running winner of his first two starts including a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance Oct. 2 at Laurel, broke running and led briefly before 45-1 long shot Coffeewithchris slipped through along the rail and went the opening quarter-mile in :22.53 while stakes-placed Honeyquist, another projected pace player, settled in fourth.

Cruz confidently ranged up to the front after going a half-mile in :45.29 seconds and never looked back, finishing up in 1:09.70 over a main track rated good to win by 2 ¾ lengths. It was another 2 ¾ back to Honeyquist in second, with Heldish edging Coffeewithchris by a head for second. Tiz No Clown and Riccio completed the order of finish. Where Is Mike was scratched.

“My horse had more speed than Honeyquist. It was a matter of how he broke, and he broke really good so I took it from there,” Cruz said of the Army Mule colt. “It worked out perfect because I could sit off and settle my horse and that's what I did. He settled really good for me.”

Recruiter was bred in Florida by Beth Bayer. His dam is the Medaglia d'Oro mare Lady Halite.

The James F. Lewis III honors the late longtime Maryland horseman and first president of Maryland Million Ltd. He bred and/or campaigned a number of prominent runners in the region, led by 1974 Test (G2) winner Maybelline, Flirtation (G3) winner Heartful and multiple stakes winner Swift Attraction. His daughter, Lisa, is a multiple graded-stakes winning trainer based in New York and Florida.

Twice As Sweet Powers To Smart Halo Victory

Midwest-based Godolphin homebred Twice as Sweet, making her stakes debut racing for the first time outside Kentucky, collared favored pacesetter Dissolute on the far turn and powered through the stretch to a 6 ½-length triumph in the 26^th edition of the Smart Halo.

Ridden by Feargal Lynch for trainer Brendan Walsh, who was in Ireland Saturday, Twice as Sweet ($9) ran six furlongs in 1:10.48 over a main track rated good to earn her second win and first since graduating in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight on the grass at Ellis Park in August.

Second to subsequent stakes winner Key of Life in her prior start, an Oct. 7 optional claiming allowance at Keeneland, Twice as Sweet settled along the rail in second as Dissolute led through a quarter-mile in :22.53. Lynch moved up to the outside of Dissolute midway around the turn and was in command at the top of the stretch, drawing away for an easy win.

“She's a pretty nice filly, very straightforward. She ran into a good one last time. This filly does everything nice. She's turf or dirt,” Lynch said of the Kentucky-bred daughter of Candy Ride out of the Tapit mare Snowbell.

“I don't think she had a troubled trip. I think she just got forced a little bit wide last time,” he added. “Today it was ideal. She just gave me a lead into the straight and when I turned her loose she just went about her business.”

Miss Georgie held off 24-1 long shot Gormley's Gabriela by a neck for second with Diamondsifyoudo fourth, followed by Dissolute, Shiny Slam and Bound by Destiny, who entered the race with a 4-0 record including back-to-back stakes. Maryland Million Lassie winner Chickieness was scratched.

Smart Halo, by top Maryland sire Smarten, won the first race on the inaugural Maryland Million Day program in 1986, beating In the Curl by a neck in the Lassie to cap a perfect 3-0 campaign. Bred in Canada by E.P. Taylor and owned by Sam-Son Farm, Smart Halo was trained by Canadian Hall of Famer Jim Day.

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G1 Phoenix S. Hero Ebro River Will Stand At Haras de la Haie Neuve In 2023

Juvenile Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}–Soft Power {Ire}, by Balmont) will stand at Haras de la Haie Neuve in 2023, Jour de Galop reported on Saturday evening. The Al Shaqab Racing colourbearer's fee will be announced at a later date.

Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, the chestnut was sold for €75,000 during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to Charlie Gordon Watson on behalf of Al Shaqab. Trained by Hugo Palmer, Ebro River graduated at Doncaster at second asking in May of his 2-year-old year, and then won the Listed National S. at Sandown later that month. He scored the biggest win of his career in the Curragh's G1 Phoenix S., and was also third in the G1 National S. in his next start. Kept in training at three, the son of Soft Power won the Listed Queensferry S. His record stands at 15-4-0-1 and $294,567 in earnings. A half-brother to the stakes-placed Strong Power (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), the colt is from the same family as dual Group 1-winning sprinter and sire Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}).

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Flightline, Born From The Heart of a Lyon

Within minutes of Flightline crossing the wire in another jaw-dropping victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the question buzzing across the racing world was whether we would get the chance to see him race again. Many argued against his retirement, saying racing needs a hero and, at least right now and for the foreseeable future, he is certainly it.

Some 16 hours later, we got our answer. The unbeaten sensation was retired to the Lane's End stallion barn, where he is already in high demand. Many were saddened to see their hero ride off into the sunset (though I have no doubt he will remain in the headlines for many years to come). However, what those people don't realize is racing still has the hero it needs, and her name is Jane Lyon.

First of all, without Jane, there is no Flightline. Along with her trusted team, Jane picked out his dam Feathered and, in true Jane Lyon fashion, fought off all comers to secure the mare she wanted. The Arkansas native and her brain trust chose Tapit for the mare's 2017 breeding and on March 14, 2018, Flightline was born in a deep bed of straw at Lyon's beautiful Summer Wind Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. I'm sure Lyon was right there to towel the colt off and mark him with her lipstick.

It took more than choosing the right mare and stallion to create Flightline. It was also the top-notch care, extreme attention to detail and, most importantly Jane and her giant heart. She loves every single animal on her property with everything she has, especially her foals, who all get plenty of carrots, kisses and sweet words from their breeder throughout their life at Summer Wind. Jane keeps track of them all long after they leave the farm and welcomes them back home if they ever need a soft place to land.

Jane makes sure everyone in her employ is aware of the kindness she expects her horses to be shown. She always says you can teach horses with sternness and punishment or with love and kindness, and she chooses the latter. Her outlook and endless devotion create horses who are good-minded, very people friendly, smart and kind. Flightline has been described to have all these attributes.

I know what you're thinking. There are plenty of owners and breeders who love their horses and are kind to them. You're right. But I assure you, none of them are like Jane Lyon.

Jane is a bright light in an industry that has been plagued with darkness, especially over the last few years. She always says I oversell her, or I'm biased, when I describe her to others, but I have yet to find one person who disagrees with me. Jane is as kind and generous to people as she is to her animals, always offering a kind word and her signature million-dollar smile to everyone she meets.

Jane happily shares her farm, elite broodmares and regally bred foals with any horse lover, which is how I came to know her. The first time I spoke to Jane was a phone interview after American Pharoah won the Triple Crown. It was just two years into my career, and we had a lovely, 30-minute conversation about her pride and joy Littleprincessemma, after which I realized my recorder had missed it all. Embarrassed, I called back, and Jane graciously went through it all again. I had the pleasure of interviewing Jane a few more times over the next few years, and she was equally gracious each time, always remembering my name. In 2018, the opportunity came to do a story that would bring me to Summer Wind, a dream come true, and she welcomed me with open arms.

The first time I stepped foot on Summer Wind, a farm I now know as well as my own neighborhood, it was just six weeks after Flightline was born. I can't say I remember him from that day or knew I was looking at a future superstar as my focus was on his barnmate Triple Tap, a half-brother to my hero at the time, American Pharoah. What I did know however, is I was among greatness at Summer Wind, both human and equine.

Jane Lyon & Flightline | Sarah Andrew

I ended up spending the entire day with Jane, even witnessing the foaling of Princess Arabella's 2018 Union Rags colt. Long after the interview had ended, we chatted away like old friends. It is an anomaly among horsewomen. When they recognize a kindred spirit whose passion for horses burns as bright as their own, it bonds them instantly and that is what happened that fateful day in Georgetown.

Ever since that day, Summer Wind has become a regular stop on my frequent trips to Kentucky. I spend at least one day of my trip driving through the farm with Jane looking at (and feeding carrots to) racing's past and future stars, wondering which of the beautiful foals before me will be the next McKinzie, Moonshine Memories, Chasing Yesterday, Game Winner or Flightline.

While neither Jane, myself, nor anyone else could have ever predicted Flightline would become what he did, it does not surprise me that a horse like that came off Jane's farm. And, in my opinion, there is no one that deserves it more.

Jane has faced plenty of adversity throughout her life and has been tested time and time again, but that is her story to tell. What I will tell you though, is she is as fierce as she is kind and doesn't let anything keep her down for long. Jane has put in plenty of time, effort, sweat, tears and, of course, love to get to be the highly respected breeder, and person, she is today.

I've met a lot of great people over the past decade working in this industry, but there is no one like Jane. I have never seen another horsewoman of her stature lay in the stall with a motherless foal and stroke her to sleep, giving her the motherly love she was lacking, like Jane has on more than one occasion. She takes in every stray dog dropped at her doorstep and provides them a dream life. She claims any Summer Wind-bred she finds running at a cheap track somewhere and brings them home to live out their days in her retirement field. She opens her door and her heart to anyone I or any other friend asks to bring along for a one-of-a-kind day at Summer Wind (as well as the Littleprincessemma fans who reach her office manager). She cooks for three people as if she has 10 coming for dinner, so she can also feed her staff as a mother feeds her children. She will go above and beyond to help anyone in need and always puts others before herself.

Jane's most endearing quality is her humility. In fact, she will probably hate that I spent so many words gushing over her in such a public forum, but I assure you all, every one of them is true and well deserved.

The other day, a friend of mine, who has met Jane on two occasions now, said, “the world doesn't deserve Jane,” after I told her a heart-warming anecdote about Jane from earlier that day. I told the same story to another friend, whom I brought along for one of those very special Summer Wind days, and her response was, “we need more people like Jane in this world.” They both could not be more right.

Jane is one of the few truly kind, genuine and selfless people left in this world. When things in the industry get a bit dark and I begin to get discouraged, I look to Jane and see everything that is good in this sport. She gives me hope and reminds me why I love racing.

So, while I'll miss seeing Flightline on the racetrack as much as everyone else, I'm just so glad those of us in racing still have a hero among us in Jane Lyon. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what she gives us next.

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