February, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Classic Empire’s Angel Of Empire Sprouts Wings In Risen Star

Represented by a trio of well-meant sophomores in Saturday's GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds–including the top two favorites–trainer Brad Cox's march to the first Saturday in May continued with an upset victory by the Albaugh Family Stable's Angel of Empire (Classic Empire).

Second by three lengths behind his re-opposing and favored stablemate Victory Formation (Tapwrit) in the one-mile Smarty Jones S. Jan. 1, Angel of Empire raced in a ground-saving eighth as the field of 14 rounded the clubhouse turn beneath the lights. The 13-1 chance began to make his move between runners as West Coast invader Harlocap (Justify) took on pacesetter Determinedly (Cairo Prince) as previously unbeaten and forwardly placed Victory Formation began to tire following testing early fractions of :23.34 and :47.50. Two Phil's (Hard Spun), last term's GIII Street Sense S. winner, took over briefly from the tiring front runners as they straightened with Angel of Empire and his other Cox-trained stablemate Tapit's Conquest (Tapit) beginning to roll down the center with longshot Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) making a move of his own along the fence. Angel of Empire had the best final kick of them all, however, and sealed the deal by a length over the 16-1 Sun Thunder. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Two Phil's in third.

Angel of Empire, a debut winner going a mile in the Indiana slop Aug. 9, was sixth second out over the Kentucky Downs lawn Sept. 8. Freshened, Angel of Empire returned a dominant winner in an Indiana allowance prior to his aforementioned runner-up performance in Hot Springs. The Risen Star was his first attempt beyond a mile. He earned 50 points for a new total of 54 on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, putting him at the top of the leaderboard.

“Physically, it looks like he can run all day,” said Cox, who earlier in the program scored the 2,000th win of his career. “We could see that last summer when we got him ready to run. We started him a mile at Indiana and it worked out. We had a little pace to run at today and it worked out well. It's five weeks to the Louisiana Derby and we'll look at that, all the Grade 1s will be in the conversation. We'll let the dust settle and see how he comes out of it. This is a horse that we thought as the months go by he'll get better and he has.”

Pedigree Notes:

Angel of Empire made it four graded winners and two on the day for young sire Classic Empire. His dam Armony's Angel, a maiden of eight career starts, is also represented by the 2-year-old colt Third City (Collected) ($23,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase by Kenneth R. Kachel) and a yearling colt by Classic Empire. Armony's Angel, a half-sister to GSW Conquest Big E (Tapit), brought $67,000 from co-breeder Black Diamond Corp. carrying her first foal Angel of Empire at the 2019 KEENOV sale. Angel of Empire becomes the first stakes/graded winner for his broodmare sire To Honor and Serve.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
RISEN STAR S. PRESENTED BY LAMARQUE LINCOLN AND LAMARQUE CRESCENT CITY FORD-GII, $400,000, Fair Grounds, 2-18, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.47, ft.
1–ANGEL OF EMPIRE, 122, c, 3, by Classic Empire
                1st Dam: Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve
                2nd Dam: Seeinsbelieven, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Coragil, by Metfield
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($32,000
RNA Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Albaugh
Family Stables LLC; B-Forgotten Land Investment Inc & Black
Diamond Equine Corp (PA); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Luis Saez.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $330,000. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sun Thunder, 122, c, 3, Into Mischief–Greenfield d'Oro,
by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. ($400,000 Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $495,000 RNA Ylg '21
FTSAUG). O-R.T Racing Stable & Cypress Creek Equine;
B-Southern Equine Stables, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$80,000.
3–Two Phil's, 122, c, 3, Hard Spun–Mia Torri,
by General Quarters. ($150,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP).
O-Patricia's Hope LLC & Phillip Sagan; B-Phillip Sagan (KY);
T-Larry Rivelli. $40,000.
Margins: 1, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 13.70, 16.60, 5.70.
Also Ran: Tapit's Conquest, Single Ruler, Harlocap, Crupi, Curly Jack, Victory Formation, Shaq Diesel, Silver Heist, Private Creed, Quiet as Midnight, Determinedly.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Lukas-Trained Last Samurai Posts 8-1 Razorback Handicap Upset

Willis Horton Racing LLC's 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner Last Samurai proved he's a horse for the course when he came from off the pace to win his third overall Oaklawn stakes in Saturday's $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) before a Hot Springs, Ark., crowd of 35,000.

With leading rider Cristian Torres in the saddle, Last Samurai got off to a slow start and was forced to settle near the back of the field as Long Range Toddy took the early lead through an opening quarter mile in :23.74. West Will Power, the 8-5 favorite, was eager to run and split horses to take control before a half mile in :47.33. He battled head and head with Law Professor around the turn and into the stretch before being collared in the final furlong by the winner, who drew off to win by 1 ½ lengths over the favorite. Law Professor held on for third. The winning time was 1:42.19 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.

“He got an excellent ride from Cristian (Torres),” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “We wanted to make sure he had a place to run. That's all we asked him. We said he might not get away very well and he didn't. We just said, 'Give us a place to run. He'll keep coming. Don't quit on him.' That's exactly the way the race unfolded.”

Rated R Superstar, the 10-year-old veteran stakes winner, was fourth and was followed by Hero Status, Long Range Toddy, Keystone Field and Fifth Season Stakes winner Ginobili, who had a rough trip.

Last Samurai, a 5-year-old Malibu Moon horse, improved his record to 5-4-4 in 23 starts and has now earned $1,607,639. He returned $18.80, $6.40 and $3.60 at odds of 8-1.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. first post. There will also be a special Presidents' Day Monday card starting at 12:30 p.m. and featuring the annual Oaklawn cap giveaway.

Stakes Quotes:

Winning jockey Cristian Torres, Last Samurai: “Honestly at the start, when he broke a little slow, I was worried just a little bit. But when I saw there was a lot of pace in front of me, I didn't panic. He got the position the way I wanted and I was just waiting until the hole opened. As soon as it opened up and I asked him, he was there for me. Everybody saw the way he finished.”

Winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Last Samurai: “He got an excellent ride from Cristian (Torres). We wanted to make sure he had a place to run. That's all we asked him. We said he might not get away very well and he didn't. We just said, 'Give us a place to run. He'll keep coming. Don't quit on him.' That's exactly the way the race unfolded.”

Jockey Joel Rosario, second on West Will Power: “He did everything he could. Broke a little bit slow. Going into the first turn, he looked like he was in a good spot. The horse that ran us down (Last Samurai), he ran a good race.”

Trainer Rob Atras, third with Law Professor: “I thought Jose (Ortiz) gave him a good ride. On the (second) turn, I thought we were in a good position to win. That's all you can ask the rider to do and the horse to do.”

The post Lukas-Trained Last Samurai Posts 8-1 Razorback Handicap Upset appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Pioneer Of Medina Game Winner Of Mineshaft At Fair Grounds

Sumaya U.S. Stable's Pioneer of Medina tallied his first graded stakes win Saturday after gamely battling between rivals in the late stages and prevailing by head in the $250,000 Mineshaft (G3) at Fair Grounds.

The 4-year-old Pioneerof the Nile colt, the favorite and making his season debut, was winning for the fourth time from 12 career starts and entered off a runner-up finish in the Harlan's Holiday (G2) Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park.

For Saturday's effort, Pioneer of Medina returned $7.60 after covering the Mineshaft's 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.59 on a fast track with Luis Saez aboard.

Mr. Wireless finished second, a half length in front of third-place finisher Run Classic.

Pioneer of Medina, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, earned the $150,000 winner's share of the Mineshaft purse, increasing his lifetime bankroll to $446,370. He was third in last year's Louisiana Derby (G2) at the New Orleans track after finishing fourth in the Risen Star (G2) in his stakes debut.

Bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding Inc., Pioneer of Medina was produced by the Eskendereya mare Lights of Medina.

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Classic Empire Filly Makes the Grade in Royal Delta

Saturday's GIII Royal Delta S. looked like a rematch of last March's local GII Davona Dale S., with New York-bred Classy Edition turning the tables on favored foe Kathleen O. after enjoying a decided tactical advantage early.

Named a 'TDN Rising Star' off her dominant Saratoga debut at two, Classy Edition dominated in a pair of restricted stakes downstate that fall before suffering her first defeat at the hooves of Kathleen O. She was subsequently fourth in the GIII Gazelle S. at the Big A in April, but resurfaced to drub first-level open optional claiming foes going a mile here Jan. 11, good for a 96 Beyer Speed Figure top.

Late-running Kathleen O. fell out of the gate, but Classy Edition broke cleanly and was wrapped up by Irad Ortiz, Jr. as they cruised through opening splits of :25.28 and :50.15. Ortiz gave his mount her cue to pick it up rounding the bend, and she took a narrow advantage heading for home as longshot Tap Dance Fever (Tapiture) tried to stay with her and the chalk revved up out wide. Classy Edition swatted away Tap Dance Fever at the quarter pole, and Kathleen O. narrowed the gap in the lane, but Class Edition's edge proved insurmountable.

“She was going good on the backside. We were going slow but she was close to the lead,” Ortiz said. “I let her do her thing and she did the rest.”

Winning conditioner Todd Pletcher said, “I was pretty pleased. We got to a good spot and it looked like Irad had a lot of horse, just waiting to pull the trigger… We really thought highly of her. She showed quality. She ran a good second in the race here and then needed some time off. She came back really well. I thought her comeback race was excellent. We kind of had a little tactical edge today and she was able to get it done.”

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
ROYAL DELTA S.-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 2-18, 4yo/up, f/m,
1 1/16m, 1:45.15, ft.
1–CLASSY EDITION, 120, f, 4, by Classic Empire
   1st Dam: Newbie, by Bernardini
   2nd Dam: Changeisgonnacome, by Cherokee Run
   3rd Dam: Top Tip, by Lost Code
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'
($550,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). O-Lawana L. & Robert E. Low;
B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $91,140. Lifetime Record: 7-5-1-0, $372,790.
*1/2 to Newly Minted (Central Banker), MSW, $516,738;
1/2 to New Girl in Town (Boys At Tosconova), MSP, $172,505.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross
pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Kathleen O., 120, f, 4, Upstart–Quaver, by Blame.
($8,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000
2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway
Thoroughbreds LTD & Bridlewood Farm, LLC (KY); T-Claude R.
McGaughey III. $29,400.
3–Don't Get Khozy, 120, m, 6, Khozan–Get Noticed, by Graeme
Hall. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($10,000 Ylg '18 OBSOCT).
O-Imaginary Stables; B-Special Effort Farm, Laura Colon &
Michael Colon (FL); T-Elizabeth L. Dobles. $14,700.
Margins: 1 3/4, 4, HF. Odds: 1.10, 0.90, 76.30.
Also Ran: Tap Dance Fever, Soul of an Angel, Midnight Stroll,
Jungle Juice (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Classy Edition was her sire's priciest first-crop juvenile at $550,000 after a good-looking :10 1/5 breeze at Timonium, and became his third graded stakes winner–the previous two also sold as 2-year-olds that term (Morello, $250K at the same sale; and Interstatedaydream, $175K at OBSAPR), and Angel of Empire made it four in Saturday evening's GII Risen Star S. She is one of 39 worldwide graded winners out of mares by top broodmare sire Bernardini and is bred Pioneerof the Nile over Bernardini like GISW Matareya and from the same Unbridled line as highest-level winners out of Bernardini mares Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) and Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map). Angel of Empire is out of a mare by Bernardini's son To Honor and Serve.

The winner's dam Newbie was a first-level allowance winner in the Empire state, and also produced $500,000-plus MSW Newly Minted (Central Banker). The daughter of SW/GSP Changeisgonnacome was a $320,000 in utero purchase by Chester and Mary Broman at the 2008 Keeneland November sale. Newbie has an unraced 3-year-old colt named Pharoah Lake (American Pharoah) and a yearling colt by Vekoma. She was barren to Curlin for 2023.

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