January, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Lugan Knight Enters Derby Trail in Jerome Win

Lugan Knight (Goldencents) was not going to be denied as he matched strides down the lane with Arctic Arrogance (Frosted) in the $150,000 Jerome S. at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday afternoon. With 10-4-3-2-1 points available to the top 5 finishers on the Road to the 149^th running of the Kentucky Derby, it was Lugan Knight's day to shine.

Sent off as the second choice at 7-2, the colt set front-end fractions of :23.41 at the quarter-mile marker and :47.70 for the half-mile, all as the favorite Arctic Arrogance dogged his track to the outside around the far turn. Entering the stretch, the pair left the rest of the field behind, and dueled gallantly towards the wire. With less than a furlong left to go, the homebred edged a head in front to win the day by a half a length.

After the race, trainer Michael McCarthy said, “I was happy with the way the horse broke. He found himself prominent early and it looked like around the turn he still had a little bit of run. I was not surprised to see how well he dug in down the lane. It looked like he was always just going a touch better than the other horse. You hate to say you're confident, but it always looked like he kept that horse at bay. Just a tough horse and a gutsy performance. I was glad to see he was able to get the mile.”

The Feb. 4 running of the $250,000 Grade III Withers S. with Derby qualifying points of 20-8-6-4-2 could be the next target for this colt. On that prospect, Lugan Knight's trainer said, “We'll see. I'll have to give Dylan a call and ask him what he thinks and go from there. A mile was a question mark for me but it looked like he passed that test today. We'll have to wait and see.”

Pedigree Notes:
Lugan Knight is part of a talented family that includes her second dam Roxy Gap (Indian Charlie), herself a MGSW in Canada, who produced GSW Cafe Americano (Medaglia d'Oro). The winner's dam Sly Roxy has a 2-year-old colt by Mendelssohn and most recently was bred back-to-back to Instagrand.

JEROME S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 1-7, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.77, gd.
1–LUGAN KNIGHT, 118, c, 3, by Goldencents
          1st Dam: Sly Roxy, by Speightstown
          2nd Dam: Roxy Gap, by Indian Charlie
          3rd Dam: Harts Gap, by Saint Ballado
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-BG Stables (KY); T-Michael W.
McCarthy; J-Dylan Davis. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1,
$175,775.
2–Arctic Arrogance, 120, c, 3, Frosted–Modest Maven, by Uncle
Mo. O/B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Linda
Rice. $30,000.
3–General Banker, 120, c, 3, Central Banker–Elusive Jozi, by
Johannesburg. O/B-Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England
(NY); T-James W. Ferraro. $18,000.
Margins: HF, 7, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.55, 1.35, 7.40.
Also Ran: Neural Network, Andiamo a Firenze, Narciso Dali, Valenzan Day. Scratched: Circling the Drain. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Lugan Knight Enters Derby Trail in Jerome Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Spun Intended, Packs A Wahlop Take On Baffert Foursome In Sham

The only horses not trained by Bob Baffert in Sunday's $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) are Spun Intended, a highly regarded maiden for trainer Mark Glatt, and Packs a Wahlop, a two-time stakes winner on turf for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Spun Intended is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line behind Baffert's National Treasure (2-1) in a field of six set for the one-mile Sham, which awards 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a scale of 10-4-3-2-1 to the top five finishers.

Last month at Del Mar when making his second start, Spun Intended ran off to break his maiden by 6 ½ lengths when sprinting 6 ½ furlongs. In his debut at Santa Anita a month earlier, the Hard Spun colt was narrowly edged a half-length by Baffert's Fort Warren.

“He might have won first time but had a pretty wide trip,” Glatt noted Saturday morning.

Spun Intended was bought at last year's OBS March sale for $125,000 by the partnership of Edge Racing and Muir Hut Stables. Glatt said the colt displayed ample ability immediately upon his arrival at Santa Anita last year.

“We bought him and then turned him out for a couple months after the rigors of going through the 2-year-old sale,” Glatt said. “But when he came back in, you could just tell he was a good-minded horse. I don't think he ever missed a beat once he got in my barn.”

Glatt added Spun Intended is a “big horse” and “one of the most impressive things we saw at the sale was that for a big horse, he was very efficient and good-moving horse. He kind of touted himself right from the start.”

The Sham will mark the two-turn debut of Spun Intended, who drew the outside stall and will again have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons.

Pedigree suggests the added distance of the Sham should not be a problem. Spun Intended is out of the First Dude mare Flora Dora, who placed in multiple graded stakes going a route of ground including the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at nine furlongs in 2016.

“First time around two turns, you never know about that, but all indications are it should be fine for him,” Glatt said. “We'll see what happens.”

Spun Intended enters the Sham off of consecutive bullet works. He drilled six furlongs in 1:11 on Dec. 26 followed by a five-furlong move in 58.8 seconds with Smith up on Monday.

“It was a little quicker than I wanted, but he does things so easily,” Glatt said of Spun Intended's final drill. “A work in 58 and change for him is not like 58 and change for most horses. I worked him with a little company and he pulled past that horse. Mike never moved on him. It was about as easy a 58 and change as you are going to get.”

As for Packs a Wahlop (6-1), he'll be trying dirt for the first time since he caught a sloppy track in his debut at Gulfstream Park in June. He was subsequently sent to Southern California and moved to turf where he would win three straight including the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf and Grade 3 Zuma Beach in October at Santa Anita.

Most recently, Packs a Wahlop was sent to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf where he finished eighth at 5-1.

Mullins said switching to dirt for a race like the Sham, which is an official prep for the Kentucky Derby, was part of the long-range strategy for Packs a Wahlop.

“We had planned on running him on dirt after the Breeders' Cup. Obviously if it doesn't work out we'll go back to the grass,” Mullins said.

Owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, Packs a Wahlop is by Creative Cause out of the City Zip mare City by the Day. He was purchased at last year's OBS April sale for $270,000.

In the Sham, Packs a Wahlop will wear blinkers for the first time.

“He likes to be up near the front and we're hoping that helps him get there,” Mullins noted.

Packs a Wahlop will have a new rider in the Sham. With Smith opting for Spun Intended, Ramon Vazquez will be aboard for the first time.

“Ramon has worked him a couple times and really likes him,” Mullins said.

The Sham goes as the featured eighth race on Sunday with an approximate post time of 3:30 p.m. (PT).

The field in post position order with jockey, morning line odds: Newgate, Frankie Dettori (6-1); National Treasure, John Velazquez (2-1); Speed Boat Beach, Flavien Prat (5-2); Reincarnate, Juan Hernadez (8-1); Packs a Wahlop, Ramon Vazquez (6-1); Spun Intended (5-2).

The post Spun Intended, Packs A Wahlop Take On Baffert Foursome In Sham appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Alain De Royer-Dupre Awarded French Legion Of Honour

Retired French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has been elevated to the rank of Knight in the French Legion of Honour.

The award is the highest distinction for French citizens, and is comprised of the following ranks in order of increasing distinction: knight, officer, commander, grand officer, and grand cross. Royer-Dupre, who retired from training at the end of 2021, will be presented with the award in a subsequent ceremony.

De Royer-Dupre told Jour de Galop, “It's good that the racing world is recognised. Certainly, as far as I am concerned, I have gone frequently abroad. We were able to sing La Marseillaise after grand victories in many countries across the world.”

Training out of Aiglemont for His Highness The Aga Khan beginning in 1983 upon the death of Francois Mathet, de Royer-Dupre would go on to train a total of 77 Group 1 winners for HH The Aga Khan and Princess Zahra Aga Khan including seven G1 French Guineas, a G1 Prix Vermeille, six editions of the G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Prix Saint Alary, five G1 Prix du Jockey Clubs and a pair of G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winners.

The post Alain De Royer-Dupre Awarded French Legion Of Honour appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

First Foal Arrives For Gainesway Stallion Raging Bull

The first foal by multiple Grade 1 winner Raging Bull has arrived, Gainesway announced Saturday. Born on Thursday, the filly is out of the mare Astolat, by Camelot, and was bred by Checkmate Thoroughbreds LLC and Raymond Salvatore.

“We're excited to see the first foals by Raging Bull starting to hit the ground,” said Gainesway Stallion Director Ryan Norton. “There's a lot to like about this stallion and we look forward to seeing him pass his traits along to his offspring.”

The son of Dark Angel, a perennial leading European sire of sprinters and milers, Raging Bull dominated the turf at three after winning his debut at Keeneland. From there, he scored victories in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) and Saranac (G3) at Saratoga before capping his 3-year-old campaign with a determined victory in the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar.

At four, he made five starts, all in Grade 1 company, where he placed in the Manhattan (G1), Fourstardave Handicap (G1), and Woodbine Mile (G1).

Raging Bull returned at age 5 to capture the Shoemaker Mile (G1), while earning a 105 Beyer and stopping the clock in 1:32.73. He also placed in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) and Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

At age 6, Raging Bull kicked off his season with a heroic victory in Keeneland's Maker's Mark Mile, posting a 106 Beyer in a final time of 1:33.86. He also placed in the 2021 Woodbine Mile.

Out of the Mr. Greeley mare Rosa Bonheur, Raging Bull was bred by Dayton Investments Limited and foaled in France.

Raced by Peter M. Brant, Raging Bull won or placed in nine of 15 Grade 1 events.

Raging Bull entered stud in 2022 and currently stands for $10,000 LFSN.

The post First Foal Arrives For Gainesway Stallion Raging Bull appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post