Month: February 2023

Weekend Lineup: Champion Wonder Wheel Makes 3-Year-Old Debut

This weekend's live racing action is highlighted by the return of 2022 Champion Juvenile Filly Wonder Wheel. The Mark Casse trainee will make her first start of 2023 in the listed Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, but faces a tough challenge in the form of undefeated Julia Shining. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Julia Shining is a full sister to 2022 Champion Older Dirt Female Malathaat.

A trio of Kentucky Derby prep races are on offer this weekend: the rescheduled G3 Withers at Aqueduct (20-8-6-4-2), the G3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs (20-8-6-4-2), and the listed El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields (10-4-3-2-1).

The Withers, originally scheduled for Feb. 4 but cancelled due to freezing temperatures and high winds, was brought back for this Saturday's card with the same six entrants and the addition of maiden winner Jungfrau. New York-bred Arctic Arrogance adds blinkers in his third appearance in a Derby prep, while Brad Cox ships Hit Shot north for this spot.

G2 Remsen winner Dubyuhnell returns in the G3 Sam F. Davis, facing a field of 11 rivals for his first start of 2023. Locally-trained Dreaming of Kona is an intriguing prospect for owner/trainer Aldana Spieth, wife of jockey Scott Spieth, who will ride the Fast Anna colt.

The El Camino Real offers a free berth to the Preakness Stakes to the winner, and is led by local stakes winner Passarando. Bob Baffert also shipped two entrants north for the contest.

Other significant stakes action around the country on Saturday includes the G3 Gulfstream Turf Sprint and Ladies' Turf Sprint at Gulfstream, the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn, the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita, and two more listed stakes on the Sam Davis undercard at Tampa Bay Downs.

Saturday

4:27 p.m. – Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct

Seven 3-year-olds go in search of Derby points in the rescheduled Withers on Saturday, led by a pair of 8-5 favorites on the morning line.

Arctic Arrogance, who is trained by Linda Rice and will add blinkers for the first time, will be making this third appearance in a Kentucky Derby points race at the Big A. He looks to break through after valiant runner-up efforts in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 3 and the one-mile Jerome on Jan. 7. He is currently 13th on the leaderboard with eight points.

Trainer Brad Cox has sent Hit Show north for this spot, scratching the son of Candy Ride from the G3 Southwest at Oaklawn. The colt won a one-mile allowance race at Oaklawn in his most recent start, and gets the services of Manny Franco.

Juddmonte's homebred Jungfrau [post 3, Dylan Davis] makes his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on the heels of a third-out graduation on Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park. The son of Arrogate was awarded the maiden-breaking win via disqualification.

Andiamo a Firenze enters from a distant fifth-place finish in the aforementioned Jerome for trainer Kelly Breen. The dark bay son of Speightstown, who is a three-quarter sibling to multiple Grade 1-winner Firenze Fire, won the listed Funny Cide Stakes at Saratoga back in August.

Withers Entries

4:48 p.m. – Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs

Wonder Wheel, the 2022 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, is set to make her 2023 debut in Saturday's $150,000 Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The Mark Casse-trained daughter of Into Mischief will face eight rivals in the Kentucky Oaks points race, having posted four workouts at Casse's Ocala training center since her win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Perhaps the primary rival to Wonder Wheel is Julia Shining, a Stonestreet homebred by Curlin out of Grade 1 winner Dreaming of Julia. The 3-year-old filly is a full sister to last year's Breeders' Cup Distaff winner and champion older dirt female, Malathaat. Julia Shining has won both of her career starts thus far, including the G2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct.

Suncoast Entries

5:18 p.m. – Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs

G2 Remsen winner Dubyuhnell has been tabbed as the 9-5 morning-line choice for the Sam F. Davis Stakes, making his first start of 2023 and fourth start overall for trainer Danny Gargan. Jose Ortiz has the mount.

Mark Casse trainee Champions Dream is the second choice on the morning line after his last-out second in Tampa's Pasco. Champions Dream, who closed fast to be second to Zydeceaux by a neck, is “definitely a much better horse now than he was (then),” Casse said. Tyler Gaffalione will ride. Casse also entered Florida-bred allowance winner Classic Car Wash.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has entered Litigate, a son of Blame who most recently finished second in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Luis Saez ships north for the ride.

Tampa Bay Downs trainer Aldana Spieth has entered Oldsmar-based Dreaming of Kona, a stakes-winning gray colt she owns in partnership. Spieth's husband, Scott Spieth, will ride Dreaming of Kona. In Dreaming of Kona's most recent race on Jan. 1 at Gulfstream in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, he finished a half-length behind Legacy Isle and was elevated to the win position via disqualification because Legacy Isle drifted out late, impeding Dreaming of Kona's momentum.

Davis Entries

The post Weekend Lineup: Champion Wonder Wheel Makes 3-Year-Old Debut appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland To Re-Offer Six September Sale Yearlings

A half-dozen recently turned 2-year-olds–four colts and two fillies–originally sold for a cumulative $4.85 million at last year's Keeneland September Sale, are being reoffered by Keeneland, the auction house announced Friday. Offers will be accepted from Feb. 27 through Mar. 1. Details on the horses and the offer process are available here.

Each of the six horses is currently in training in Ocala with David Scanlon or Niall Brennan and are available for in-person inspection by appointment. Contact info may be accessed at the link above.

The six horses were acquired by Richard Knight Bloodstock during the September sale. Tattersalls also re-offered 17 horses earlier this year purchased by Knight for gross receipts of better than 11 million guineas at last year's October Yearling Sale.

“These horses are actively in training with David and Niall and should fit well into anyone's program, particularly end-users who are looking at summer and fall racing opportunities,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Prospective buyers in the Ocala area are welcome to inspect the horses in person. We also encourage those participating remotely to view the walking and training videos on www.Keeneland.com/reoffer.”

Horses at Scanlon Training Center:

  • Colt by Constitution out of Grade III winner Cozze Up Lady (Cozzene); half-brother to GISW Kimari (Munnings); originally purchased for $1.3 million;
  • Colt by Omaha Beach out of Grade III winner Daisy (Blame), purchased for $400,000;
  • Colt by Street Sense out of Bambalina (Bernardini) whose second dam is champion Perfect Sting (Red Ransom), a $725,000 acquisition.

Horses with Niall Brennan Stables:

  • Colt by Twirling Candy out of Danceforthecause (Giant's Causeway) who is a half-brother to Canadian champion Say the Word (More Than Ready) and Grade II winner Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}), originally sold for $300,000;
  • A Justify filly out of GSP Fully Living (Unbridled's Song), a $1.05-million purchase;
  • A Gun Runner–Just Wicked (Tapit) filly whose full-sister Wicked Halo won the GII Lexus Raven Run S. and GII Prioress S., a $1.1-million sale.

“Given the quality of these individuals and the interest they have attracted both in September and now, we feel an invitation to make an offer is the best way at this time to ensure a fair and transparent process for prospective buyers,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.

Current pedigree pages, walking and training videos and pre-sale veterinary X-rays and endoscopic video submitted to Keeneland's online Repository are available at the link aboe. Veterinary exams were conducted on each horse as of Feb. 2. A second veterinary exam will be done within 10 days of sale, and those results will be available in the online Repository. Information on the 2-year-olds will be updated on www.keeneland.com/reoffer through noon on Mar. 1.

Offerors are encouraged to inspect fully any horse they may seek to purchase. Horses will be sold on an “AS-IS” basis, subject to the terms of the Bill of Sale available at the website.

The post Keeneland To Re-Offer Six September Sale Yearlings appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Lookin At Lucky’s Tall Boy Breaks Maiden In UAE 2000 Guineas

Calumet Farm's Tall Boy (Lookin At Lucky) broke his maiden in stirring fashion, running out a length winner of the G3 UAE 2000 Guineas Presented by Nakheel over Shirl's Bee (Bee Jersey) for trainer Doug O'Neill and jockey William Buick at Meydan on Friday evening.

Sitting just off the Charles Fipke runner after leaving the chute, the chestnut edged closer as noses pointed for home. Refusing to give his rival a breather, the pair locked horns in earnest by the 600-metre mark. Throughout the stretch drive, it appeared that Tall Boy was moving the better of the duo, but Shirl's Bee was dogged against the fence and pushed him all the way through the final furlong, as the winner inched away late. Mr Raj (Bolt d'Oro) closed to take third.

“We were going a good pace and I didn't expect to be where I was, as he struggled for pace early in America,” said Buick, winning this race for a third time. “He showed guts, good attitude and I expect connections will have one eye on the [G3] UAE Derby after that. Once we turned into the straight I felt him grow an inch and he gave me plenty in response.”

Although winless prior to his trip to Meydan, the colt has been slugged it out with some of the biggest names in the California 3-year-old division. He ran fifth when unveiled in the wake of 'TDN Rising Star' and subsequent dual Grade I-winning Juvenile Cave Rock (Arrogate) and Practical Move (Practical Joke) at Del Mar on Aug. 13. Dropped in for an $80,000 tag, he improved with a closing second in a maiden claimer still at the seaside oval on Sept. 5, and rallied for third behind fellow 'Rising Star' Spun Intended (Hard Spun) back in maiden special weight company there on Nov. 26. In his final start of 2022, Tall Boy ran fourth in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity to Practical Move in late December, and Friday's victory was O'Neill's second in the race after Fore Left (Twirling Candy) in 2020.

Pedigree Notes

Bred by Rockingham Ranch, the February-born colt was picked up by Calumet from Paramount Sales for just $40,000 as a Keeneland November weanling. He is the 72nd stakes winner for his GI Preakness S.-winning Coolmore Ashford sire. His unraced dam has fillies of 2021 and 2022 by Liam's Map, and Gun Runner, respectively. O'Neill signed for the former on behalf of Del Mar Group for $100,000 out of last autumn's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, also from Paramount.

The second dam, the winning Golden Peach, by GI Belmont victor Touch Gold, is a half-sister to Grade III winners Squadron A (Unbridled's Song) and Belgravia (Mr. Greeley), as well as the three-time graded-placed Persuading (Broken Vow). Qualique (Hawaii {SAf}), out of fourth dam Dorothy Gaylord (Sensitivo {Arg}), claimed the GI Demoiselle S. in 1983.

 

Friday, Meydan, Dubai
UAE 2000 GUINEAS PRESENTED BY NAKHEEL-G3, $150,000, Meydan, 2-10, 3yo, 8f, 1:37.32, fs.
1–TALL BOY, 121, c, 3, by Lookin At Lucky
1st Dam: Madame Mayra, by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Golden Peach, by Touch Gold
3rd Dam: Peaks Mill, by Stalwart
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. ($40,000 Wlg '20
KEENOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Rockingham Ranch (KY); T-Doug
O'Neill; J-William Buick. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 5-1-1-1,
$122,186. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shirl's Bee, 121, c, 3, Bee Jersey–Shirl's Soul, by Perfect Soul
(Ire). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Charles
Fipke (KY); T-Doug Watson. $30,000.
3–Mr Raj, 121, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Sonja's Angel, by Smoke
Glacken. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. ($70,000
RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; €86,773 2yo '22 GOFMAR). O-Ahmad
Bintooq Al Marri; B-John B. Penn (FL); T-Ahmad bin Harmash.
$15,000.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, 9HF.
Also Ran: Legend Of Cannes, Eye On The Prize (Arg), Magic Petition, Talentum, Tiger Nation, Morning. Click for the Video.

 

The post Lookin At Lucky’s Tall Boy Breaks Maiden In UAE 2000 Guineas appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Keeneland To Reoffer Six September Sale Yearlings

Keeneland has announced it will reoffer six 2-year-olds – four colts and two fillies – originally sold as yearlings at the 2022 September Yearling Sale.

Details on horses and the offer process are available at Keeneland.com/reoffer. Keeneland invites offers to be made on each horse beginning at 9 a.m. ET, Monday, Feb. 27 through noon on Wednesday, March 1.

All six horses are currently in training in Ocala, Fla., with David Scanlon and Niall Brennan and are available for in-person inspection by appointment. Contact information for Scanlon and Brennan is listed on Keeneland.com/reoffer.

Horses at Scanlon Training Center:

– Colt by Constitution out of Grade 3 winner Cozze Up Lady, by Cozzene. Half-brother to Grade 1 winner Kimari.

– Colt by Omaha Beach out of Grade 3 winner Daisy, by Blame. From the family of multiple graded stakes winners Smart Bid, Ratings and Fugitive Angel.

– Colt by Street Sense out of Bambalina, by Bernardini. Second dam is champion Perfect Sting.

Horses with Niall Brennan Stables:

– Colt by Twirling Candy who is a half-brother to Canadian champion Say the Word and Grade 2 winner Rideforthecause. Out of Danceforthecause, by Giant's Causeway, and from the family of Hall of Famer Dance Smartly, Canadian champion Dancethruthedawn and leading sire Smart Strike.

– Filly by Justify out of graded stakes-placed Fully Living, by Unbridled's Song. Half-sister to Untreated and Ballet Dancing, both graded stakes-placed in 2022, and from the family of champion Halfbridled.

– Filly by Gun Runner who is a half-sister to 2022 Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run and G2 Prioress winner Wicked Halo. Out of Grade 2 winner Just Wicked, by Tapit.

“Given the quality of these individuals and the interest they have attracted both in September and now, we feel an invitation to make an offer is the best way at this time to ensure a fair and transparent process for prospective buyers,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said.

Current pedigree pages, walking and training videos and pre-sale veterinary X-rays and endoscopic video submitted to Keeneland's online Repository are available at Keeneland.com/reoffer. Veterinary exams were conducted on each horse as of Feb. 2. A second veterinary exam will be done within 10 days of sale, and those results will be available in the online Repository. Information on the 2-year-olds will be updated on Keeneland.com/reoffer through noon on March 1.

Offerors are encouraged to inspect fully any horse they may seek to purchase. Horses will be sold on an “as is” basis, subject to the terms of the Bill of Sale available at Keeneland.com/reoffer.

“These horses are actively in training with David and Niall and should fit well into anyone's program, particularly end-users who are looking at summer and fall racing opportunities,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Prospective buyers in the Ocala area are welcome to inspect the horses in person. We also encourage those participating remotely to view the walking and training videos on Keeneland.com/reoffer.”

The post Keeneland To Reoffer Six September Sale Yearlings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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