February, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

GSP Marshman to Return in Prix Sigy

Group 2 placed Marshman (GB) (Harry Angel {Ire}) is expected to mark his seasonal return in Chantilly's G3 Prix Sigy over 5 1/2 furlongs Apr. 17. Victorious in his first two starts, including an 8 1/2-length score at Thirsk last August, the Karl Burke trainee finished runner-up in York's G2 Gimcrack S. before checking in fifth behind Blackbeard (Ire) in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket in September.

“He came out of the [Middle Park] lame in front,” explained Nick Bradley, managing director of owner Nick Bradley Racing.

“He was suffering with sore shins throughout his 2-year-old campaign, which is just something that can happen with 2-year-olds, particularly ones which come from the breeze-ups. So, when he went downhill in the Middle Park, I expected him to hang but he hung more than I thought he would. He was keen at the beginning of the race as well and everything went wrong, but we still managed to finish [fifth] in a Group 1.”

According to Bradley, the sophomore is approaching his first official work of the season.

“He's been back in since December time,” Bradley continued. “Karl was raving about the horses in general and Marshman was kind of top of the pile. He has not done any serious work as yet though.”

Bradley added that Marshman will be targeted at many of the top sprints this season.

“We're not going to be drawn into stepping him up in trip for the Guineas or anything like that, we very much see him as a sprinter. I find a lot of those breeze-up horses run over a shorter distance than their pedigrees suggest due to the way they have been trained early in their careers. But, hopefully, we are going to win the [Sigy] then we can look at races like the G2 Sandy Lane [Haydock], G1 Commonwealth Cup [Royal Ascot] and the G1 July Cup [Newmarket]. Those sorts of races will be his targets and the aim is to win as many group races as we can.”

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Wood Memorial ‘Not Out Of The Question’ For Elevated Gander Winner Neural Network

Klaravich Stables' Neural Network earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure in Saturday's $100,000 Gander, a one-mile test for New York-bred sophomores, where he was elevated to victory after crossing the wire second to a drifting Maker's Candy.

The son of Cloud Computing rated in fourth and stalked the pace set by D'ont Lose Cruz down the backstretch and was kept wide by jockey Manny Franco to make his bid for the lead at the top of the lane. The Jose Gomez-piloted Maker's Candy pounced from second position to take command from D'ont Lose Cruz at the eighth pole with Neural Network gaining with every stride to his outside. Maker's Candy drifted out in the late stages and impeded Neural Network's path, crossing the wire first but subsequently disqualified and placed second for interference.

It was the first stakes victory for Neural Network, who entered from a distant fourth-place finish in the Jerome against open company on January 7 over the same course and distance. There, he trailed in last-of-7 at the half-mile call and made a mild bid to be defeated 9 1/4 lengths by Lugan Knight.

“He ran very well and obviously he was herded out in the lane and the right call was made,” said Brown of the Gander. “It's nice to get him back on track.”

The Gander was Neural Network's first start with blinkers, something Brown said was key to his improvement.

“We've always thought a lot of this horse and it was uncharacteristic of him last time,” said Brown. “He was uninterested that day and didn't care for how the track was. We put a little blinker on him and he seemed to work a little sharper in his works.”

Brown added he will take his time in choosing a next start for the dark bay colt, but noted that the nine-furlong $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8 is, “not out of the question.”

“I have no plans yet for him, but we'll see how he trains moving forward,” said Brown.

A $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale purchase from consignor Legacy Bloodstock, Neural Network is out of the Street Cry mare Lapinski, a half sister to stakes winner Sunset Wish. He now boasts a 2-0-0 record from three career stats and $102,500 in total purse earnings.

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Slip Mahoney Works for Gotham

Gold Square LLC's Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) tuned up for the Mar. 4 GIII Gotham S. with a four-furlong work in :48.87 (6/54) over the Belmont training track Saturday. The gray colt worked in company with unraced stablemate Global Image (Liam's Map).

“It wasn't as quick to watch it, but they moved pretty well,” said Dustin Dugas, trainer Brad Cox's Belmont-based assistant. “It was really good and he came out of it in great shape and we're all systems go. Trevor [McCarthy] was happy with him and he's going to ride him Saturday.”

Slip Mahoney will be making his fourth lifetime start and his stakes debut in the Gotham. He broke his maiden by a determined head at Aqueduct over the Gotham's one-mile distance last time out Jan. 21.

“He showed personal growth and mentally and physically, he's one that's still figuring things out,” Dugas said of his progression between starts. “He plays around a lot and still needs to mature, but right now, he's just doing it off of raw talent. He's getting there, and with each breeze, you can see him mature. He's not regressing and doing things proper.”

Cox is also expected to be represented in the Gotham by Ten Strike Racing's Eyeing Clover (Lookin At Lucky), who is unbeaten in two starts and is coming off a 9 3/4-length optional-claiming victory at Fair Grounds Jan. 28. The chestnut colt worked five furlongs at Fair Grounds in :59.80 (2/35) Saturday and is expected to ship into Belmont Park Tuesday.

The Gotham awards the top-five finishers 50-20-15-10-5 qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Derby.

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“He’s As Good A Horse As I’ve Had’: Ness Has Carter, Met Mile On Spring Radar For Repo Rocks

Double B Racing Stables' Repo Rocks garnered a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for his impressive 3 1/4-length score in Saturday's $125,000 Stymie, a one-turn mile for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jamie Ness and piloted by Andrew Wolfsont, Repo Rocks was boxed in behind rivals in third position before finding a way out late in the turn and bounding away to an impressive score over Grade 1-placed Miles D. Sent to post as the even-money favorite, Repo Rocks carried 124 pounds, giving a six-pound advantage to each of his five rivals.

“It wasn't the best trip, but in a short field that happens. Fortunately, we overcame it,” said Ness, who would have preferred to set the tempo. “Yesterday, I was worried they might bunch up on him if we took back. Maybe next time there will be a little more speed in the race and we can target a couple horses. Every race is different.”

Repo Rocks returned to his Parx Racing base in good order and is likely to cut back slightly in distance for the seven-furlong $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) on April 8 at Aqueduct.

Ness said if Repo Rocks continues to progress, a long-term target would be the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.

“All options are on the table, but we're going to try and focus on New York,” Ness said. “The Carter would be great and the Met Mile if we're good enough. Right now, that's what we want to do, but we'll see how it comes along.”

The 5-year-old Tapiture gelding is undefeated since joining the Ness stable, taking the Let's Give Thanks in November and Blitzen on January 4 at Parx ahead of an 8 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) on January 28 at the Big A that garnered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure. Wolfsont has piloted Repo Rocks throughout the four-race all-stakes win streak.

Repo Rocks posted a record of 2-2-2 from 11 starts last year, including a second in the Toboggan and a third in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3), both at the Big A, as well as completing the trifecta in the John A. Nerud(G2) at Belmont Park while in the care of trainer Juan Vazquez. He made seven starts for conditioner Gregory DiPrima from April through October before joining Ness.

“He's as good a horse as I've had. Usually, to get a horse like this, I have to get him through the claim box,” Ness said. “I'm just happy to have him and I'm glad he's a big, fit, and sound nice-training horse. Hopefully, he continues that way. We have a nice stable of blue-collar horses, so to get a nice stakes horse like this is special for us.”

Bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, Repo Rocks improved his record to 8-6-6 rom 33 career starts and purse earnings of $639,621.

The post “He’s As Good A Horse As I’ve Had’: Ness Has Carter, Met Mile On Spring Radar For Repo Rocks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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