Month: January 2023

Aldana Gonzalez Racing LLC and Lisa and Steve Ballou's Dreaming of Kona was awarded the victory in Sunday's $150,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park following the disqualification of first-place finisher Legacy Isle.

The Mucho Macho Man, a one-turn mile stakes for 3-year-olds, was the first stop on the April 1 Road to the Florida Derby (G1).

David Walters, Dennis Smith, Anthony Smith, and trainer Rohan Crichton's Legacy Island led from start of finish while running a mile in 1:37.55 but was disqualified and placed second following a lengthy stewards' inquiry and a review of an objection by the rider of Dreaming of Kona, Scott Spieth, for drifting out approaching the finish.

The Mucho Macho Man was the first stakes victory for Dreaming of Kona, who finished third in the Dec. 3 Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs following a sharp 5 ½-length debut victory over Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.

“He won his first race so incredibly handily at Presque Isle, but the competition wasn't of this caliber. So, for him to put a performance like this in against this caliber of competition really kind of causes us to recalibrate our thoughts,” Lisa Ballou said.

Legacy Isle was hustled to the lead from the rail post position and quickly opened a clear lead along the backstretch, running the first quarter of a mile in a sharp :22.79 while chased a couple lengths back by Dreaming of Kona. Legacy Isle, with Jaramillo Emisael aboard, continued to show the way following a half-mile in :45.20  while shortening stride somewhat turning into the homestretch.

General Jim, the 2-1 favorite, loomed boldly on the rail at the top of the stretch, but jockey Luis Saez's efforts to find running room in the stretch were repeatedly thwarted by the tiring pacesetter and closest pursuer.

Despite setting fast fractions, Legacy Isle clung to the lead while shortening stride inside the final sixteenth when he drifted into the path of the equally game Dreaming of Kona. Despite falling short of victory by a half length, the Aldana Speith-trained son of Fast Anna was ruled the winner for being the victim of interference.

Dreaming of Kona ($41.40) finished a neck clear of a fast-closing Lord Miles. General Jim finished an unlucky fourth, another three-quarters of a length back.

In his recent Tampa Bay Downs stakes appearance, Dreaming of Kona finished four lengths behind Super Show, who won his fifth race in six career starts while capturing the Limehouse Stakes earlier on Sunday's program.

“I felt really good. I liked the way he broke. The last race he came in third against Super Chow, who won the stakes earlier today, and he got bumped at the break. I was very frustrated by that because I felt like that cost him,” Ballou said. “Today when I saw him break well I felt really good. I liked how Scott put him in that second position. He likes to be kind of in front, but this was the first time he had gone the mile distance, so we were a little bit concerned. I loved his position all the way around. Once they were turning for home I was like, 'He's got this,' because he always likes to surge in the end like that. He just keeps fighting. This is his third race. In the end, he always looks like he's got another 400 yards in him. It's crazy.”

Dreaming of Kona, a gray or roan colt by Fast Anna out of the Maria's Mon mare Pliant, has a 2-0-1 record from three career starts and $113,420 in purse earnings.

The post Dreaming Of Kona Elevated To First In Mucho Macho Man On DQ Of Legacy Isle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Spendthrift Farm LLC and Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc.'s Victory Formation is a perfect three for three after living up to expectations as the heavy 3-5 favorite with his dominating victory in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

Victory Formation, ridden by Flavien Prat, broke on top and was never headed, setting early fractions of :23.20 and :47.75 for the first half mile. He was still well in hand as they turned into the stretch and drew off to win authoritatively by three lengths over his stablemate Angel of Empire, who closed well from seventh. The winning time for the one mile was 1:38.14 on a fast track.

Denington was third and was followed by Western Ghent, How Did He Do That, Ten Days Later, Communication Memo, and C J's Storm.

With the win, Victory Formation, collected 10 points towards eligibility in the May 6 Kentucky Derby (G1) and is now ranked sixth among the top 20 point-earners. Angel of Empire received four points and is ranked 15th. Denington, who already had one point, received three points for third and is now ranked 17^th with four total points. Western Ghent received two points for fourth and How Did He Do That got one point for fifth, but neither horse is in the top 20 currently. The Kentucky Derby field is limited to 20 horses.

Victory Formation, a Tapwrit colt out of the Smart Strike mare Smart n Sot, has earned $282,285 from his three career wins. He returned $3.20 for the win.

Bred in Kentucky Gainesway Thoroughbreds, the bay colt was a $340,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.

Smarty Jones Stakes Quotes:

Winning trainer Brad Cox (Victory Formation): “He's a nice horse. This horse has a great mind. He doesn't overdo it in the morning. He settles and I think the farther the better. He's got a lot of natural speed. He's able to put himself in good position and he was able to turn off and settle and finish up with good strides there. The breeding suggested he would go long. You never really know (go two turns) until they do it. He has to confirm it. We have opinions, horses have the answers. He gave us the right answer today.”

Cox on runner-up Angel of Empire: “Nice horse and the longer they go, the better he's going to get. Excited about him.”

Winning jockey Flavien Prat: “He broke really well. I didn't have much of a game plan before the race. I was just hoping to get him into the race and get a good spot. When he broke so well, he got us into the lead and from the point I was just cruising all the way around. He responded really well when I asked him to make a little move.”

Winning owner Frank Fletcher: “I loved it when I saw the (half-mile) time. I've learned to watch the times. He went in (:47.75) and that's pretty slow. I was worried he had to come out of the 8 (post) position and give a lot of energy. I thought he would be in the lead when he went into the first turn. So, I was watching the time. That's what kind of keys me, how fast they're going. Sometimes, they give out. He seemed to be well in hand.”

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