January, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

More Maker in Pegasus World Cup Turf

Trainer Mike Maker had already saddled the first three finishers in the GIII William L. McKnight as well as the winner of the GIII Fred W. Hooper S. earlier on Gulfstream Park's card, and he added his second $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. trophy Saturday as well-backed Atone (Into Mischief) kicked home impressively from midpack to best GISW Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) by 3/4 of a length. Speaking Scout (Mr Speaker), a last-out winner of the GI Hollywood Derby, was third.

The winner, bet down to 7-2 off a 12-1 morning line, most recently took an Aqueduct optional claimer going this distance Nov. 10. Acquired for $130,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July HRA sale after originally racing for his breeder Godolphin, the bay was fourth in this race last year amidst four other graded stakes placings. He was second in the GIII WinStar Mint Million S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10, and was eighth two back in Keeneland's GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. Oct. 8. Ivar was second in that race.

With 2022's Eclipse-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. seeking a fourth win (third graded and second for Maker) on the card, Atone found a good midpack spot along the fence behind solid splits of :23.26, :47.30 and 1:11.36 with Ivar on his right flank. Ivar moved first as Atone had to wait for clear sailing, but Ortiz seemed unconcerned as he eased his mount to the outside as noses pointed for home. Ivar briefly looked the winner as he struck the front in midstretch, but Atone gobbled up ground to reel him in late.

“It was perfect, every step of the way,” Ortiz said of his trip. “I was so happy. I was following a live horse, Wit (Practical Joke), and then by the three-eighths pole the horse that I had to beat was outside of me, so I had to take two or three strides to let him move before I made my move. I waited, but at the same time I tipped my way out so when I hit the clear my horse was there. All the credit goes to the horse.”

The 30-year-old added, “I'm just enjoying the moment and what is happening in my career right now. I have to thank my agent Steve Rushing for doing a great job and thanks to all the owners and trainers for supporting me. They make me the happiest man in the world to be honest. I'm living the dream.”

Maker won the second running of this race in 2020 with Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}), and for good measure, just minutes before Atone's victory, took a state-bred Aqueduct maiden special weight with sophomore colt Maker's Candy (Twirling Candy).

“It feels great to win. It doesn't get old,” said Maker. “Irad looked like he wanted to be forwardly placed out of the gate and it looked like a couple of others had the same idea. He settled in nice, saved some ground and got lucky to get some racing room when it counted… He was a hard-luck horse last year. He's always been right there, and today was his day.”

He added, “It's been a great day, and I've got two more tonight at Turfway.”

Carl Fiebig, a partner in Three Diamonds Farm, said “All the credit goes to Mike and his staff. Irad is an Eclipse Award winner for a reason. It was flawless execution. Most importantly, for the Wycoffs, this win is for them. We're glad to be a small part of this. For myself and my family to be a part of this, I just want to thank Jordan and Kirk [Wycoff] who put a lot of energy, money and everything into this business and I'm glad to see them rewarded on days like this.”

Pedigree Notes:

A product of two of the most important stallions of the last few decades, Atone is his sire's 59th Northern Hemisphere graded winner, but just the second from that group out of an A.P. Indy mare. A.P. Indy is the broodmare sire of 121 graded/group winners worldwide.

Atone's dam, a daughter of GISP Folk, was a stakes winner and graded-placed routing on the dirt. She has a 3-year-old filly named Rekindled (Nyquist) who has been working towards a debut at Tampa Bay Downs, and Captivativ Lass sold to Mark Dodson at KEENOV '21 for $50,000 carrying an English Channel colt. She was bred back to Good Magic. Douglas Arnold bought Atone's 4-year-old half-sister Way of Life (Street Boss) for $11,000 at the recent Keeneland January sale in foal to Astern (Aus).

Saturday, Gulfstream
PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S. PRESENTED BY QATAR RACING-GI, $981,400, Gulfstream, 1-28, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.19, fm.
1–ATONE, 123, g, 6, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Captivating Lass (SW & GSP, $133,225), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Folk, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Polish Style, by Danzig
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN,
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($130,000 4yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Three
Diamonds Farm; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael J. Maker;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $558,000. Lifetime Record: 23-7-4-4,
$1,179,146. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ivar (Brz), 123, h, 7, Agnes Gold (Jpn)–May Be Now,
by Smart Strike. O-Bonne Chance Farm, LLC & Stud R D I, LLC.;
B-Stud Rio Dois Irmaos (BRZ); T-Paulo H. Lobo. $186,000.
3–Speaking Scout, 123, g, 4, Mr Speaker–Miss Scout,
by Pleasant Tap. ($10,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $3,000 Ylg '20
OBSOCT). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Mike Abraham
(KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $93,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, NK. Odds: 3.80, 3.70, 24.00.
Also Ran: Lady Speightspeare, One More Bid, King Cause, Master Piece (Chi), Wit, Good Governance (GB), Hurricane Dream (Fr), Decorated Invader, City Man. Scratched: Steady On, Who's the Star. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Unbeaten Faiza Holds Off Pride Of The Nile In Las Virgenes

Off as the even money favorite, Bob Baffert-trained Faiza saved ground early and took command a quarter mile from home en route to a half length score over Pride of the Nile in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, Faiza remained unbeaten in three starts while getting a flat mile in 1:38.46.

Attentive to the pace, Faiza, a $725,000 2-year-old in training sale purchase last May, was third, 1 ¾ lengths behind pacesetter Sweet Trouble three furlongs from home and was all-out to hold off the late charge of the Doug O'Neill-trained Pride of the Nile who was gaining ground wide-out.

Idle since taking the G1 Starlet Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos Dec. 10, Faiza paid $4.00, $2.60 and $2.10 in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.

“I'd like to thank Bob Baffert and the owner for the opportunity and support,” said Vazquez, who was aboard Faiza for the first time today with regular rider Flavien Prat away to ride today at Oaklawn Park. “I wanted to get out in the clear and put my filly in a good position. She's a nice filly, when I asked her, she responded really well. She's amazing.”

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Faiza is by Girvin out of the Smart Strike mare Sweet Pistol. With the winner's share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $342,000.

A close fourth around the far turn, Pride of the Nile, with Juan Hernandez up, split horses a quarter mile out and despite lugging in some late, finished like a filly that will appreciate added distance. Second to Faiza in the Starlet, Pride of the Nile was off at 7-2 and paid $3.40 and $2.60.

Customarily far back early, Justique rallied from last but never threatened the top two while finishing third, 2 ½ lengths behind Pride of the Nile.

The second choice at 2-1, Justique, with Victor Espinoza up, paid $2.40 to show.

Fractions on the Las Virgenes were 22.41, 47.04, 1:11.92 and 1:25.12.

The Las Virgenes is a Kentucky Oaks qualifying points race with 20-8-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers. However, because Churchill Downs Inc. has banned Baffert from participating at its tracks until this July, his horses are not eligible to earn qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby or Oaks, so only the second through fifth place finishers earned points.

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Smart Pointer Wingmen Sets Record At Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale

Wingmen (Ire) (Kayf Tara {GB}) sold for a new Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale record when making £250,000 to Gordon Elliott Racing/Bective Stud.

Sold as lot 8 and offered by Elliott's Cullentra House Stables, the bay won a point-to-point at first asking going three miles at Ballycrystal on Jan. 23. Out of the winning hurdler Raise You Five (Ire) (Flemensfirth), the €47,000 Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale grad turned €88,000 Derby Sale purchase is from the family of Listed Christmas Hurdle winner Dramatist (GB).

“He is a very nice horse, and Gordon thinks a lot of him,” said buyer Eddie O'Leary, who sat with Elliott, who will continue to train the 5-year-old gelding. “He is a big raw horse, he won't begin to see the best of him until next year, he has been bought on behalf of Bective Stud.”

Another first-out winner, Sao Carlos (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) (lot 18), who won a bumper on Boxing Day, went to Lisa Hales acting on behalf of her father, John, for £190,000. Consigned by Olly Murphy's Warren Chase Stables, the 5-year-old gelding is out of a half-sister to G2 Aintree bumper winner Diamond Sal (GB) (Bob Back) and three other black-type horses.

“He will probably be for Dad, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and John Driver, the same syndicate that owns Hermes Allen,” said Hales. “This horse has got an amazing walk, an amazing presence, he is substantial and looks like a chaser for the future, and that is what we like.

“In fact, I backed him when he ran and before I knew he was coming here; I thought he put in a great run then.”

Magic Dawn (Ire) (Doyen {Ire}) (lot 14), from the draft of Michael Hickey's Sunnyhill Stud, was also knocked down to Aidan O'Ryan and Gordon Elliott for £185,000. A full-sister Magic Daze (Ire) (Doyen {Ire}), the G2 Mares' Novice Hurdle runner-up at Cheltenham, Magic Dawn was an impressive bumper winner at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

Hickey said, “Magic Dawn is a gorgeous mare, has great presence, is a great walker and has a magic temperament. She needed her first run but four winners came out of that race and then she won very well on her second start. I think she has a huge future.

“The intention was to race her and, if she won a little race, cover her and keep her for breeding. However, we started to train her and she was showing that bit extra–when she won she just became too valuable for us to keep. We do have to balance the books.”

“She couldn't have been more impressive when she won, and the family speaks for itself,” said Mouse O'Ryan, who bought the mare for KTDA Racing, who has horses with Elliott. “We will be aiming her for something like the Aintree bumper.”

At the close of trade, 30 of the 40 lots offered (75%) sold for a gross of £2,406,000. The average rose 2% to £80,200, while the median decreased the same amount to £67,500 (-2%). Of those sold, seven horses made six figures or better.

Matthew Prior, Tattersalls Head of Sales, said, “I am delighted that this first sale of the year has produced such a positive result with a record-breaking top price and seven horses fetching over £100,000.”

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Repo Rocks Scores Dominating Toboggan Triumph

Double B Racing Stables' Repo Rocks, expertly handled by Andrew Wolfsont, drew off to an 8 1/2-length score to make the grade in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 5-year-old Tapiture gelding is now a perfect 3-for-3 for trainer Jamie Ness, entering from a pair of stakes wins under Wolfsont at Parx, taking the Let's Give Thanks in November and the Blitzen last out on January 4 over a sloppy and sealed main track.

“I knew it was a tough race, so I was extremely happy,” said Stephen Fox, managing partner of Double B Racing Stables. “I knew if he came out with his best, he would have more than a shot. It's three in-a-row now, all with Andrew on him. So, I'm very excited about him. I'm very, very happy to win a graded stakes and that I was here for it.”

Pirate Rick, racing on short rest from a sharp optional-claiming win here on Sunday, set the Toboggan tempo, marking the opening quarter-mile in 22.86 seconds over the fast main track with stakes-winner Little Vic tracking from second position and Repo Rocks saving ground in third.

Pirate Rick reached the half-mile in 45.76 as Little Vic loomed large to his outside and Wolfsont angled Repo Rocks off the rail late in the turn to launch a three-wide bid. Repo Rock, full of run, opened up by four lengths at the stretch call and surged clear of his rivals to stop the clock in 1:23.42 with Little Vic completing the exacta by 1 1/4-lengths over the late-running multiple graded-stakes winner Drafted.

Pirate Rick, Three Two Zone, Synthesis and Milton the Monster rounded out the order of finish. Double Crown, who is cross-entered Monday at Parx; and Wendell Fong, who is cross-entered Sunday at Laurel Park and Tuesday at Parx, were scratched.

The victory marked the first graded win for Wolfsont, who said the race set up perfectly for Repo Rocks.

“I knew the two pacesetters would be up front and I thought maybe one other would be there,” Wolfsont said. “I was hoping I would only be laying a couple lengths off like I was, so I was feeling very confident on the backside and in the turn. Once I saw the outside speed horse [Little Vic] making his move, I just said, 'I've got a lot of speed it looks like – it's time to angle him out and ask him.' As soon as I showed him daylight, he just took off. I felt like I moved too soon, but he just had so much horse and he finished well.”

Wolfsont boasts a 6-4-1-0 record aboard Repo Rocks, including a sharp optional-claiming score in April at Belmont Park.

“When I won on him at Belmont, he stumbled and then I got into him,” Wolfsont said. “I think since Jamie Ness has had him – this start and last start – he's been sharp out of the gate and that's helped. He's obviously finished strong as well.”

Repo Rocks picked up his first graded placings last year at the Big A for trainer Juan Vazquez with a runner-up effort to Drafted in this event ahead of a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap in March. The consistent sprinter moved to the barn of Gregory DiPrima and added a third-place finish in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud to his ledger in July at Belmont. He joined the Ness barn following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler in October at Belmont at the Big A.

Little Vic, piloted by Carlos Olivero for trainer Juan Avila, captured the City of Laurel in November at Laurel Park and entered from a runner-up effort in the Gravesend here on December 30 when defeated a nose by Drafted.

“It was a fast pace, but my horse was running,” Olivero said. “He [Repo Rocks] just ran too fast for us.”

Bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, Repo Rocks banked $82,500 in victory while improving his record to 32-7-6-6. He returned $22.40 for a $2 win bet.

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