Month: December 2022

This Wednesday, Dec. 28, youth is spotlighted in the Hopeful Stakes, what is now the last Grade 1 event of the Japan Racing Association year.

The entrants are not the only ones debuting on the Grade 1 level. Five new sires have their first progeny to take on the top – Declaration of War, Beach Patrol, 2004 Satsuki Sho runnerup Real Steel, and Satono Crown and Satono Diamond, both with two G1 victories apiece.

Together, the Hopeful Stakes, Hanshin Juvenile Fillies and the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes, bring the number of JRA Grade 1 events (all on turf, all in December) open solely to 2-year-olds to three, with the last two held currently over the mile at Hanshin. The Hopeful Stakes is run over the same distance and at the same venue as the Satsuki Sho, the first and shortest of the three 3-year-old classics that comprise Japan's Triple Crown.

On Wednesday, races will be held at both Nakayama and Hanshin. The Hopeful Stakes will be the 11th race (of 12) on the Wednesday card at Nakayama. Note that the post time is 3:25 p.m., 15 minutes earlier than usual for Grade 1 events.

Here's a look at some of the expected popular choices:

Gastrique – The Just a Way colt Gastrique is now two for two, after swiftly pocketing his first big test with victory in the G2 Tokyo Sports Nisai Stakes (1,800, Tokyo) Nov. 19. Slow away in both his starts (both over 9 furlongs, both at Tokyo), his lightning-fast late kick has seen him home the winner. In four of the last five runnings of the Hopeful Stakes, the eventual winners were no further back than fourth position at the top of the stretch years. Gastrique's superior late speed, however, may prove him one of the exceptions. Calm and cool, he is also expected to be able to handle the extra furlong. A big colt, it remains to be seen how he will fare over the tighter turns of Nakayama and his first race to the right. It should also be noted that, in the last five runnings since the Hopeful Stakes became a Grade 1 competition, only one graded stakes race winner (Contrail in 2019) has won the race. Hailing from the stable of the Miho-based Hiroyuki Uehara, Gastrique will also be bucking a Hopeful Stakes 5-year winning streak by Ritto-based horses.

Trainer Hiroyuki Uehara said: “He moved really well in his work on Dec. 14 and displayed nice footwork even once he was past the finish line and to the backstretch, which showed even more how much he has improved. He ran on the outside and his time was still very good. In his debut, he was slow out of the gate and traveled on the far outside, yet won. Then in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, he kept up with the pacesetter and wasn't bothered at all by being in with the pack. That was his first time in among them too. When a horse comes up on him from behind, it really gets his competitive spirit fired up and he doesn't want to let anyone past. He really shows his tenacity. Looking at his track work and how he moves, I'd say he shouldn't have a problem with a right-handed track and seeing at how, in track work, he is determined to catch up to a runner in front, the 2,000-meter distance should be OK. His condition has improved. I expect him to give us a good race here too.”

Mikki Cappuccino – Mikki Cappuccino is unbeaten in his two career starts thus far, both over 2,000 meters, the first at Tokyo and the most recent (Dec. 3) over the Nakayama 2,000 in the Habotan Sho. Though that race included no other Hopeful Stakes nominees, Mikki Cappuccino's winning margin of 3 1/2 lengths over the Hopeful Stakes course alone bodes well. He missed the break and raced from a rear position but was six off the front at the top of the stretch, and a time of 34.6 seconds over the final 3 furlongs brought him home a winner. His sire Epiphaneia had two wins at the distance, including a G3 and was runnerup in the 2013 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas). Keita Tosaki has ridden both Mikki Cappuccino's starts and is expected up on Wednesday. Ritto-based Yoshito Yahagi, currently leading JRA trainers with 56 wins this year, also leads for overall wins of 2-year-old events.

Yahagi said: “Watching his two races, even I find his performances remarkable. He didn't start too well in the Habotan Sho and there was a lot of jostling going on in the first half, but that too was probably a good experience for him. In short, he's talented all around, in training, in racing, and not just in one particular area, but overall. To be honest, before his debut, I hadn't thought he'd come this far. The time between his last race and this one is perfect. He stayed at the training center and had his last serious fast work on Dec. 21. I had Keita Tosaki ride and they worked alone on the flat. My instructions were to run solidly to the end and his time and footwork were good. His last race sharpened him up. This time it's a G1 and there are lots of strong horses and horses with excellent racing sense, so it's not going to be an easy race. But his ability is extremely high and I'm very excited.”

Hearts Concerto – From a stunning debut win by 8 lengths over the Chukyo 2,000, Hearts Concerto lept to the graded level in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, Tokyo) on Nov. 19. Though he was slow at the break and disappointed as the race favorite, his third-place finish was only 0.2 seconds behind winner Gastrique. The Heart's Cry-colt is a full brother to Nasuno Symphony, a filly who also hailed from the Miho stable of Ryo Takei. Nasuno Symphony topped 11 colts and one filly in finishing fifth in the 2017 Hopeful Stakes. This will be Heart Concerto's first time racing to the right.

Trainer Ryo Takei said: “He missed the break in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes and was left behind, and that really hurt, but he was very eager to run. His preparation after that race has all gone smoothly. On Dec. 14 we had him chase and catch another horse in morning work and it was his first time that he wasn't able to catch the training partner. His time was good though and on the flat he didn't move on his own, so I'd like to work on that with him. He doesn't have that problem on the hill course, but on the flat, he's too laid back and won't run seriously. But, we should have that remedied by the race. We also gave him gate practice but he still wasn't consistently good at the break, so he'll need more practice. If he's late away, this time he'll have more time to recover. He could be a little leaner, but he's just 2 years old. On Dec. 21 he worked over 6 furlongs on the flat and he was much lighter on his feet, very much on his toes, very forward. I think the extra distance is a plus and the conditions are better for him here.”

King's Reign – Fielded by the Miho-based Takahisa Tezuka, King's Reign posted 3-1-1 in his three starts to date, two in the summer in Hokkaido and his most recent in the Hyakunichiso Tokubetsu over the Tokyo 2,000 on Nov. 6. He is by Rulership, who excelled over 10 furlongs, and out of the Deep Impact mare Touching Speech, who captured the 2015 Rose Stakes (G2, 1,800, Hanshin) and finished a close third behind two older fillies in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup that same year.

Trainer Takahisa Tezuka said: “He never looks that good in morning work, but when he goes to a race, you can see he has good racing sense. He still has a lot of maturing to do and he's only going to really get good later on. He's still soft in places and his overall body is immature. But he gave us his best performance ever in the Hyakunichiso Tokubetsu last out. He had some time off at the farm, and he's not in bad shape even though his morning work isn't very flashy. I'm not worried about Nakayama, but he still has to improve, a lot. We'll just have to see how well he can do for now amid this competition. I think if he gives it what he has now, there won't be much difference between him and the others. Key will be how well he can do amid a large field, how he'll fare at a new venue, and whether he'll be able to keep up with the pace. I hope the ground is fast for him. He's an agile horse so I wouldn't want him to be too far outside.”

Top Knife – A son of the American-bred, Irish-trained Declaration of War, winner of three G1s in England, Top Knife won the listed Hagi Stakes over the Hanshin 1,800. He then finished second in the Radio Nikkei Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000) to the front-running Gruner Green, who evaded the interference suffered by a third of the field at the top of the stretch. Top Knife displayed excellent racing ability and did a fine job of coming to within a head of the winner.

Trainer Mitsugu Kon said: “He was in excellent shape for the Kyoto Nisai Stakes, and I thought he would give a good performance. But, unfortunately, he encountered interference in the final turn. That too is racing. Still, he was able to gain ground on the inside in the final stage and did give a show of strength in the homestretch. I think it was a good race. He's learning a lot about racing from the jockey. During this period, he's maturing faster than I had expected him to but he has always been cool and collected. He's improving step by step and there haven't been any problems. His strongpoint is that he learns on his own. If you race him, he learns it in one race. He worked under the jockey on Dec. 21 behind another horse who is in great shape now, so this one didn't shine next to him but his movement was fine. He'll learn more racing each time out. I'm looking forward to seeing how well he'll measure up in a G1.”

Gruner Green – After a 3-1 at Tokyo over 9 and 10 furlongs, Gruner Green captured the Radio Nikkei Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000) at Hanshin wire to wire on Nov. 26. He's a son of Lovely Day, who was given the Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes over the mile and finished seventh, but later went on to excel at distances of 2,000-2,400 meters. Gruner Green is a half brother to Verde Green, winner of two G2 events (both over 2,200 meters).

Trainer Ikuo Aizawa said: “I hadn't expected him to take the lead in his most recent start. He did a great job of winning. He was tense, but there was no problem in the race. In the race before that he'd raced in second position. He can hold back or go to the front. He stayed at the training center where we could keep a good eye on him and we recorded his first time on Dec. 14 and he had a hard workout on Dec. 21. I think Nakayama will suit him. He's fully recovered and looking good. He breaks well and being able to race from a forward position is a strongpoint. From the way he races and his bloodline, the change to Nakayama should be good. After this race, I plan to give him some time off so I hope he'll get some good results here. He'll be up against one of the horses that beat him in his debut race, but at the time, he was short one hard workout. I think he'll be able to hold his own. I'm hoping he'll give a performance that will open up opportunities for next year.”

Phantom Thief – Horses debuting at Hanshin have won the Hopeful Stakes for the past 4 years straight, and Phantom Thief (Harbinger), unbeaten in his two starts, was a standout in his debut over the Hanshin 1,600. Next up, he captured the Nojigiku Stakes (Chukyo, 2,000) by 2 lengths. He's a half brother to Lupinus Lead, a filly 1 year his senior who has notched 4 wins, 1 second and 1 third in 8 starts and has reached the open class. Expected in the saddle is Yuichi Fukunaga, who tops all jockeys with his record seven G1 2-year-old wins, Fukunaga has one final chance to make it eight before his retirement at the end of February.

Assistant trainer Takayuki Nagi said: “He ran a strong race on Sept. 24 (winning over the Chukyo 2,000 in the Nojigiku Stakes). Even though he circled on the outside, it was a good race. He had some issues and apparently didn't like the kickback but he moved in to race amid the pack, which was a big accomplishment. He went to the farm and returned 2 months before this race. They took good care of him at the farm but we wanted to do the training here. On Dec. 14, we had him work alongside another horse and it was a little tough for him to keep up. I think it was good hard workout for him. And he'll surely improve. On Dec. 21, the jockey rode and checked how well he listened, his maneuverability and his balance and his lead changes in the finish. Everything was good. On the 25th, he had a run up the hill course to let off any pent-up frustration. He has gotten a lot of work and will surely go into the race in good shape. He's extremely smart and I get the impression his early training was very good. He has a huge stride and can run effortlessly. I think he does better with distance and, to be honest, I think a bigger course would suit him better. The change to Nakayama should be OK though and I expect him to improve from here on out. Even with it a G1, I have my expectations up.”

Others of interest:

Despite being the only runner to suffer interference in the Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nisai Stakes (G3, 2,000, Nov. 26), the Kitasan Black-sired Wurttemberg managed to finish in third place (0.2 seconds off the winner). His 2-1 at Kokura over 1,800 meters also shows him adept over tighter courses. The Real Steel-sired Fate, who also hails from the stable of Yoshito Yahagi, won his debut and returned 3 months later to finish fifth (half a second slower than winner Gastrique) in the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes (G2, 1,800, Nov. 19). This, however, will be his first test over a clockwise course. J Palms is one of two hopefuls with only one previous start. J Palms is a half brother to 2021 Hopeful Stakes winner Killer Ability and displayed ample talent acing his debut over the Tokyo 2,000 on Nov. 5.

The post Japan: Unbeaten Colts Square Off In Wednesday’s Hopeful Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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It will be a bigger and more mature version of Rustlewood Farm, Inc.'s Grade 2-winning homebred Pappacap that shows up Saturday at Gulfstream Park to launch his comeback and wrap up his sophomore season facing older horses for the first time in the $125,000 Mr. Prospector (G3).

The Mr. Prospector for 3-year-olds and up sprinting seven furlongs is the fourth of six stakes, five graded, worth $850,000 in purses on an 11-race New Year's Eve program that begins with a first post of 12:10 p.m.

Pappacap won the six-furlong Best Pal (G2) in his second career start last summer and ended his juvenile season with runner-up finishes in the American Pharoah (G1) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) to stamp him as a Kentucky Derby (G1) prospect.

By Gun Runner, who followed his 2017 Horse of the Year campaign with a career-ending victory in the 2018 Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream, Pappacap has gone winless in six starts this year, running third in the Jan. 22 Lecomte (G3) and second in the Pat Day Mile (G2) May 7 and Woody Stephens (G2) June 11.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Pappacap has not raced since finishing fourth in the 6 ½-furlong Amsterdam (G2) July 31 at Saratoga. He returned to the work tab in mid-November at Casse's Ocala farm and has had three timed breezes since Dec. 10 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“At one time we thought he was a Derby prospect, and that just didn't work out. His last race at Saratoga, we cut him back a little and he ran OK but … something hit him in his eye and after the race he couldn't even open his eye. We kind of felt like his last race was not a true indication of his ability,” Casse said.

“We just decided to give him a break. He'd been going long and hard from a 2-year-old, running in the Breeders' Cup and then trying to make the Derby. He's come back bigger and stronger than ever,” he added. “He's training extremely well right now.”

Both Casse and his South Florida-based assistant, Nick Tomlinson, have been impressed with the way Pappacap has flourished with the time off. He drew Post 4 in a field of 12 and will have the services of jockey Joel Rosario.

“Nick probably hadn't seen him since he had him when he broke his maiden as a 2-year-old. He's changed. He's matured and he looks great,” Casse said. “He's been running against some good horses, he's training really well and I put him in this spot. He was ready to run, and I wanted to run him.”

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who captured his first Championship Meet title last winter, entered the pair of County Final and Wind of Change. Ken Copenhaver's County Final will be racing for the first time since being claimed for $80,000 out of a determined head victory sprinting five furlongs Nov. 11 at Churchill Downs.

The gelded 4-year-old son of Preakness (G1) winner Oxbow, placed third in the 5 ½-furlong Da Hoss on the Colonial Downs turf Sept. 6, has one second in two previous tries at seven furlongs. He was fifth in his most recent attempt in a June 25 optional claiming allowance at Churchill.

“The horse is training well. Seven-eighths doesn't seem to be his best distance but training-wise he's showing that it shouldn't be a problem,” Joseph said. “Going on his form, that's a concern, obviously, but we figured we would train him and see how he does and he's sold us in his training to give it a try.”

County Final won the 2020 Tyro at Monmouth Park and has placed in four other stakes including the 2020 Bashford Manor (G3) and 2021 Woodford (G2). Jose Ortiz will ride from Post 11.

“He's held good company and he's run some races fast enough at different distances that would be good enough to win the race,” Joseph said. “The seven-eighths is a question mark, but the way he's training we felt like he deserves a shot.”

Daniel Alonso's Wind of Change is looking to snap a seven-race losing streak dating back to his victory in the six-furlong Mr. Prospector last May at Monmouth Park. A Group 3 winner in his native Brazil, this will be the 7-year-old son of Forestry's third straight attempt at Gulfstream's Mr. Prospector having run fourth in 2020 and fifth last year.

“He's never delivered the way we thought that he'd deliver,” Joseph said. “We're going to ride him a bit differently this time and be a little more patient with him. There's no reason why he stops in his races because he doesn't do that in the morning, so we're going to be riding him a bit different, tactical-wise. We worked him that way and he worked lights out. Hopefully that could be the trick to getting the job done.”

Edgard Zayas gets the riding assignment from Post 6 on Wind of Change, entered to make his 29th career start but only his third this year. He exits back-to-back thirds in optional claiming allowances at Gulfstream, the latter going a mile Nov. 12.

“He had some time off and once he came back it was just the way the races fell on the calendar,” Joseph said. “He's held really good company and he's run some good races, he just hasn't broken through at the graded level. I still strongly believe that he could break through at the graded level, so hopefully this weekend is his chance.”

Godolphin homebred Prevalence won the seven-furlong Commonwealth (G3) over a sloppy Keeneland surface April 9 and will be making just his second start since finishing seventh in the Churchill Downs (G1) May 7. Trained by Brendan Walsh, he returned to be fourth in an open 6 ½-furlong allowance Oct. 19 at Keeneland and has been working steadily at Palm Meadows since. He is three-for-four lifetime at Gulfstream, winning his first two starts by 11 ½ combined lengths and rolling by 4 ¾ in an optional claiming allowance March 5.

Rounding out the field are multiple stakes winners Speaking, Steal Sunshine and Surly Furious; Sibelius, winner of the Sept. 10 Lite the Fuse at Pimlico; Dean Delivers, first or second in eight of nine tries at Gulfstream including a runner-up finish in the Feb. 5 Swale (G2); Uncle Ernie, riding a two-race win streak; and last out winners No Que No and Seal Beach.

The post ‘Bigger And Stronger’ Pappacap Returns In Saturday’s Mr. Prospector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained O'Connor and Skippylongstocking will be in action in Saturday's $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) at Gulfstream Park, seeking a chance to join stablemate White Abarrio in field for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

Fernando Vine Ode's O'Connor, a Group 1 winner in Chile, and Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking, who finished third in the 2022 Belmont Stakes (G1) are scheduled to face six rivals in the Harlan's Holiday, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up that will co-headline Saturday's Gulfstream card with the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up that will serve as a prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio, who captured the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) this year, is scheduled to train up to the Pegasus World Cup, which will highlight the Jan. 28 program at Gulfstream Park, along with the Pegasus World Cup Turf and the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G3).

O'Connor, the 8-5 favorite on the morning line, turned in a highly promising U.S. debut at Gulfstream Park Oct. 16, rallying from off the pace in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance to score by six lengths and going away.

“Going into his debut, he came with a good resume. But not knowing much about Chilean racing as far as the form lines, it was hard to gauge,” said Joseph, the defending Championship Meet titlist. “He trained like a really good horse going into the race and he ran like a good horse.”

O'Connor is a Chilean-bred son of Boboman, the 2006 Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) winner for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. The 5-year-old winner of 10 of 19 career starts won the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) at 1 ¼ miles in April two starts prior to shipping to the U.S. and making an eye-opening debut.

“I was very impressed with his 'W.' If anything, he kind of exceeded expectations, the way he won,” Joseph said. “I was a little concerned the distance was going to be too short for him. He's a horse that wants a mile and an eighth, mile and a quarter. To see him make that move early enough, it gave me confidence in him.”

O'Connor's Chilean form and his U.S. debut were flattered by Super Corinto, an Argentine-bred import from Chile who captured a Dec. 6 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream in his second U.S. start. The Amador Sanchez-trained Super Corinto defeated O'Connor in his Chile finale in the Gran Premio Hipodromo Chile (G1) following a second-place finish in the Premio Latinoamericano. O'Connor's victory at Gulfstream was flattered further upon runner-up Octane's subsequent victory in a Tampa Bay Downs stakes.

“He's going in there with a good chance. He's going to step up and face better horses this time, so he needs to come up with a little improvement this time,” Joseph said. “If he repeats his race from last time, he'll be tough.”

Skippylongstocking ran respectably in two legs of the Triple Crown, finishing third in the Belmont Stakes (G1) after pressing the early pace and racing evenly to finish fifth in the Preakness (G1). The son of Exaggerator went on to capture the West Virginia Derby (G3) before most recently fading to ninth in the Sept. 22 Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

“He's a horse who always tries hard and is pretty consistent except his last race. Since we sent him two turns, he's been very consistent around two turns,” Joseph said. “His last race, apart from it being against top competition, was probably a long race at the end of his long campaign. We've freshened him after that, and he's had a steady series of works. I expect him to run well.

“He's versatile. If the pace is not too fast, he's capable of being within a few lengths of it and if it's faster, he'll sit further back,” Joseph added.

Edgard Zayas has the return mount aboard O'Connor, while Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on Skippylongstocking, who is 4-1.

Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric's Simplification (5-1), who has held his own against Grade 1 company in five of his last six starts, returns to Gulfstream Park, where he finished third after pressing the pace in the Florida Derby. The son of Not This Time captured the Mucho Macho Man and the Fountain of Youth (G2) during the 2021-2022 Championship Meet.

Simplification finished a late-closing fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and sixth in the Preakness. In his most-recent start, the Antonio Sano trainee finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) following early trouble.

Junior Alvarado is scheduled to ride Simplification for the first time Saturday.

Sumaya U. S. Stables' Pioneer of Medina is among three in the Harlan's Holiday field that saw Triple Crown action. The son of Pioneerof the Nile was never a factor in the Kentucky Derby after earning his way into the field with a third-place finish in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Pioneerof the Nile is coming off an optional claiming allowance victory at Churchill Downs Nov. 17.

Defending Championship Meet titlist Luis Saez has the return mount.

Cheyenne Stable LLC's Cooke Creek will seek to regain stakes winning form in the Harlan's Holiday following three subpar performances. The Jeremiah O'Dwyer-trained son of Uncle Mo had launched his career with back-to-back wins at Delaware Park before in-the-money finishes in the Nashua (G3) and the Jerome.

Jorge Ruiz has the call.

Gary Barber and partners' South Bend, a veteran graded-stakes performer trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, enters the Harlan's Holiday on a nine-race losing streak that began with a second-place finish in the 2021 Harlan's Holiday. The 5-year-old son of Algorithms finished third, beaten by a neck, in a Churchill Downs allowance.

Miracle's International Trading Inc.'s Strike Hard and Arindel's Clapton round out the field.

The post Chilean Group 1 Winner O’Connor ‘Exceeded Expectations’ In U.S. Debut, Targets Harlan’s Holiday En Route To Pegasus World Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Colonel Liam, unraced since the spring, will be in familiar surroundings when he makes his long-awaited return as a prelude to the Pegasus World Cup in Saturday's $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The Fort Lauderdale for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on Gulfstream's new turf course is the richest of six stakes, five graded, worth $850,000 in purses on an 11-race New Year's Eve program and serves as a local prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 28.

First race post time is 12:10 p.m.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Colonial Liam is the two-time defending champion in the Pegasus Turf having beaten one of his stablemates each time, Largent in 2021 and Never Surprised in 2022. His presence did not scare off the competition in the Fort Lauderdale, which attracted an overflow field of 13 including fellow graded-stakes winners City Man, Decorated Invader, King Cause and Pao Alto.

“It's an exciting time, obviously,” said Jacob West, racing manager for owners Robert and Lawana Low. “He has incredibly patient owners who are willing to do this. They are sportsmen and they love to watch their horses run and they're excited to get him back and see how he does.”

Colonel Liam has raced five times at Gulfstream with four wins and a third, his other victories coming in his April 2020 career debut as well as the December 2020 Tropical Park Derby as his Pegasus prep. He followed up his 2021 Pegasus win with triumphs in the Muniz Memorial (G2) and Turf Classic (G1).

“That's obviously a big factor to it,” West said. “There was no rush to bring him back because we knew ultimately getting him back down to Gulfstream was going to be what he wanted. It's all kind of coming into play now.”

This year Colonel Liam has raced only twice, capturing his second straight Pegasus Turf in his first start since finishing eighth in the 2021 Manhattan seven months prior. He has not been out since running ninth in the March 26 Dubai Turf, returning to the work tab at Palm Beach Downs where he shows eight timed breezes since early November, most recently going a half-mile in 49.74 seconds Dec. 24.

“It's horse racing. You have to load them up in the gate and let them bust out of there and see how they do, but by all accounts from speaking with Todd and getting the feedback from his team and watching some breeze videos, it seems like after his little rehab stint he's come back in good shape,” West said. “We've just got to see how he runs on New Year's Eve.”

Colonel Liam was entered in an optional claiming allowance Dec. 15 at Gulfstream, where he was the first of three also-eligibles in an overflow field of 15. He ultimately was scratched when the race was rained off the grass to the all-weather Tapeta course.

Pletcher has previously won the Fort Lauderdale with Largent (2020), Mshawish (2015) and Silver Medallion (2012).

“He's doing great. He's been training well,” Pletcher said. “We wanted to get a prep race into him before the Pegasus Turf and it didn't work out with the allowance race so we ended up in the Fort Lauderdale. He drew a pretty wide post, but hopefully he can work out a trip from there.

“He's always run some nice races at Gulfstream,” he added. “He's been sharp in his breezes and feeling good. He's run well off the layoff before; hopefully he's able to do that again. We'd love to have him run well and move forward for the next one.”

Colonel Liam drew Post 12 in the Fort Lauderdale and will retain the services of Irad Ortiz Jr., aboard for six of his seven career wins including both Pegasus Turf victories. He's the 8-5 morning-line favorite.

“He drew the 12 hole which wasn't ideal, but hopefully he can overcome a bad post and show up,” West said. “This isn't the main goal. The main goal would be the Pegasus, so hopefully we get a good run and we'll see how he comes out of it and go from there.”

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles' City Man is a 5-year-old son of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Mucho Macho Man that enters the Fort Lauderdale off back-to-back stakes wins against New York-breds in the 1 1/8-mile Ashley T. Cole and 1 1/16-mile Mohawk at Aqueduct, the latter Oct. 30.

“He's been really training well and seems to be on top of his game right now, so we thought we would give it a go and run here in the Fort Lauderdale and if all goes well take a shot on Pegasus day in the turf race,” co-owner Dean Reeves said.

“He can compete with anybody. We're excited about having him in the race,” he added. “It's obviously going to be very competitive and a very tight race, but we got Joel [Rosario] back on him and that's a good combination.”

Among Rosario's wins aboard City Man are the Mohawk as well as July 15 Forbidden Apple (G3) at Belmont and April 9 Danger's Hour at Aqueduct, each going one mile. Overall, City Man has won eight of 25 starts with nearly $872,000 in purse earnings and will be making his Gulfstream debut. City Man is 9-2.

“I think Gulfstream's turf course is in good shape and hopefully the weather cooperates. I think the distance is perfect for him,” Reeves said. “He's training really well and coming into this race in good shape. We want to run this and the Pegasus Turf and then maybe give him some time off after that.”

City Man's Christophe Clement-trained stablemate Decorated Invader, a Grade 1 winner of nearly $581,000 in purses owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, William Sandbrook, William T. Freeman and Scarlet Oak Racing, is the lone also-eligible in the race.

Like City Man, the connections are hoping to draw into the field to use the Fort Lauderdale as a prep for the Pegasus Turf.

“He's traditionally been more of a miler, but with his running style I think you'll see him a little more forwardly placed than he has been in the past,” West Point executive vice president Tom Bellhouse said. “I think that's one of the goals is to use the tactical speed he has more. If things go well, obviously there's the big race in a month. It just kind of determines which path we'll take with him as we move forward.”

Decorated Invader won the 2019 Summer (G1) at Woodbine in his third career start. He captured the Pennine Ridge (G2) and National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) in 2020 but raced just twice in 2021 before going to the sidelines. The 5-year-old Declaration of War horse returned after more than a year away Sept. 24 at Pimlico, finishing second in an optional claiming allowance.

Since then, Decorated Invader won a similar spot going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 23 at Woodbine before finishing fourth last out over yielding turf in the one-mile Artie Schiller Nov. 13 at Aqueduct under jockey Kendrick Carmouche.

“It was kind of a soft turf and a soft pace. His stablemate kind of went out to the lead and I think with the scratches, the whole race is a toss,” Bellhouse said. “I think in a perfect world he'd have been sitting closer. Kendrick was kind of told to make one run, and the whole dynamic of the race went against him. But he's been down in Florida and training great. It's a nice field and it'll be a great indicator of where we go next.”

Clement has won the Fort Lauderdale twice, with Summer Front (2014) and Statesmanship (1998). Decorated Invader is 15-1.

Trainer Mike Maker, who won the Fort Lauderdale with Shining Copper in 2018, entered the pair of King Cause (5-1) and Shadow Sphinx (12-1). Nice Guys Stables' King Cause is a multiple stakes winner of more than $601,000 in lifetime purses that exits a front-running two-length triumph in the 1 1/8-mile Knickerbocker (G3) Oct. 9 at Belmont Park. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Shadow Sphinx was claimed three starts back for $62,500 and has run second in each of two races for Maker, closing but coming up a half-length short in the Nov. 13 Artie Schiller.

Maker won the Pegasus World Cup Turf in 2020 with Zulu Alpha.

No trainer has won the Fort Lauderdale more than Hall of Famer Bill Mott, whose eight victories began with Kings River in 1988 and included five of six runnings between 1996 and 2002 with Classic Campaign his most recent in 2007. He will be represented Saturday by Diversified Pedigree Acquisitions, Inc.'s Carpenter's Call (30-1), winner of the 1 1/16-mile Peach Street over Presque Isle Downs' all-weather surface Aug. 22 and third in the one-mile Appleton (G3) April 2 on the Gulfstream turf.

Wertheimer and Frere's Pao Alto (12-1) was bred in France and raced primarily in Europe, winning the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (G2) Feb. 18 in Qatar. Trained by Graham Motion, he made his U.S. debut in the Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup (G3) Sept. 10 at Pimlico, taking a lead into the stretch before settling for second behind Set Piece. Since, he has run eighth in the Knickerbocker and third in the Artie Schiller.

Also entered are graded-stakes placed Good Governance (12-1), Tango Tango Tango (20-1) and Winfromwithin (15-1); stakes winner Kentucky Ghost (10-1); Marwad (30-1), third in the July 30 Bear's Den at Gulfstream; and Street Ready (10-1).

The post ‘Main Goal Would Be The Pegasus’ Turf: Colonel Liam Launches Comeback In Saturday’s Fort Lauderdale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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