Month: November 2022

Who's the Star, a 4-year-old son of Tonalist, lived up to his name once again in winning the $177,050 Autumn Stakes (G2) Sunday at Woodbine.

Trained by Mark Casse for owner M Racing Group LLC, Who's the Star came into the 1 1/16-mile main track race for 3-year-olds and up having notched two stakes scores in his past three races.

And while it didn't appear he would be able to pull the rabbit out of his hat this time, a little late race magic and a strong ride from Emma-Jayne Wilson added another stakes title to the bay's stat sheet.

Mighty Heart, Canada's two-time Horse of the Year (in both 2020 and 2021) was guided to the front into the first turn, followed by Treason, Harlan Estate and Money Printer, while Who's the Star sat last in the field of 10.

After taking his rivals through an opening quarter in :23.59, Mighty Heart was quickly engaged by Treason, who then struck front en route to a half reached in :46.78.

Treason and Mighty Heart continued their tete-a-tete into the turn for home with the former gaining the upper hand as the field straightened for home.

Midway down the lane, War Bomber came calling and wore down the leader, but was confronted soon after by Who's the Star, seventh at the stretch call and rolling.

At the wire, Who's the Star got up to record a half-length triumph in a time of 1:41.10 on the Tapeta. War Bomber was second, Novo Sol was third, and Treason fourth.

“Inside speed was playing, it's been playing good on the inside all week,” said Wilson, who was joined by her daughters, Avery and Grace, in the winner's circle. “But speed started to carry a lot more and I was a little bit concerned. But on paper, there was a lot of conflicting speed as well. When they cut the half in :46 and change, my guy's going to come running every time. He comes home fast, and he came home fast today.

“He's huge. He's not a small horse, so he takes a little bit to get his legs underneath him. Some horses, they can quicken really fast within two jumps, some horses quicken a little longer. He takes a little longer to get going, but when he does, that kick is vicious.”

It was Who's the Star's sixth lifetime win, accompanied by a second and two thirds from 16 starts.

Who's the Star, sent off as the 3-1 choice, paid $8.50 for the win. The gelding was bred in Kentucky by Oscar Penn and John R. Penn, who sold him to Golden Star Farm for $375,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale. Produced by the Carson City mare Shine Forth, he has banked $331,431.

The post ‘That Kick Is Vicious’: Who’s The Star Unleashes Torrid Late Rally To Win Woodbine’s Autumn Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rosedown Racing Stables' Champions Dream overcame a troubled start to notch his first graded stakes victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. in Sunday's  $150,000 Nashua (G3), a one-mile main track test for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Danny Gargan, Champions Dream improved from a distant fifth-place finish in the Champagne (G1) on October 1 at Aqueduct where he was bumped at the start and never threatened over the sloppy and sealed going. On Sunday, the gray son of Justify was not deterred by a rough beginning and went widest of all to claim the three-quarter-length victory. His other win was an impressive wire-to-wire debut maiden score sprinting seven furlongs in September at Saratoga Race Course.

“He's only run three times. The second time he had a really bad trip, too,” said Gargan. “Today, he learned how to overcome it. Today is the first time he learned how to finish. First time out, he won pulled up and didn't know how to finish. You don't know if they're going to do it at that level and run home until they're forced to. He figured it out.”

Champions Dream broke a step slow from post 3 in the compact field of five and was forced to steady after running up on the heels of pacesetter Prove Right when American Speed moved inward from post 5. American Speed tracked in second to the outside and the Manny Franco-piloted Full Moon Madness settled in third along the rail through an opening quarter-mile in :23.10 over the fast main track.

Rounding the turn, American Speed dropped back as Full Moon Madness made a bid two-wide of Prove Right through a half-mile in :46.25. Full Moon Madness was all-out down the lane to collar a stubborn Prove Right at the eighth pole, but Champions Dream, who was third at the stretch call, continued to find more four-wide in the center of the track. The pair of favorites matched strides at the sixteenth pole before Champions Dream took the advantage and drew away to post the victory in a final time of 1:39.17.

It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Prove Right, who finished eight lengths ahead of American Speed. Torrone, who was never involved, was eased home to complete the order of finish. Signator was scratched.

Gargan said he was proud to see Champions Dream overcome the poor start.

“He broke a little flat-footed today. He's fast and we thought we'd be on the lead,” said Gargan. “Down the backside, Irad said he almost clipped heels and fell. The six-horse came over on him and he had to check. I was worried for a minute.

“Obviously, he didn't like the mud the last time we ran him and you never know when you have a horse that's been speedy, how they're going to run when they come from off of it,” Gargan added. “Irad said he was sitting out there waiting to make his move. He was wide throughout, but he ran really good today.”

The win marked a sweep of Aqueduct's Sunday stakes for Ortiz, who piloted Good Sam to victory in the $150,000 Tempted earlier on the card. Ortiz said Champions Dream showed courage in victory.

“The plan was to be on the lead or close, but he missed the break so I had to go to 'Plan B.' I had to take a hold,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “When he felt the outside horse come over, he was a little green and made a step in and almost clipped heels. After that, I took a hold of him and he relaxed and came back to me. After that, I took my time with him.”

Gargan added Champions Dream will now likely be freshened, while promising Belmont at the Big A maiden winner Dubyuhnell is possible for the $250,000 Remsen (G2) on December 3 at the Big A, offering 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points towards the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) next May at Churchill Downs.

“I'll run Dubyuhnell in the Remsen. He broke his maiden here,” Gargan said. “They're workmates and pretty similar type horses. I'll take him [Champions Dream] down to Florida and he'll get a little break now and then shoot for some races down there.”

Champions Dream, who was bred in Kentucky by John C. Oxley, banked $82,500 in victory and improved his record to 2-0-0 from three starts. He returned $4.70 for a $2 win wager. Out of the Tapit mare Dancinginherdreams, the colt was a $425,000 purchase from consignor Parrish Farms at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Franco said the Michelle Nevin-trained Full Moon Madness, who stretched out from three starts at sprint distances, tried his best under new circumstances.

“I had a good trip. The pace was fast and I was able to sit inside,” said Franco. “My horse was traveling so well. It was his first time running the distance, so I think he ran a really good race.”

The post ‘Today, He Learned How To Overcome It’: Rough Start No Problem For Nashua Winner Champions Dream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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