March, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

English Channel’s Far Bridge Earns ‘Rising Star’ Nod at Gulfstream

Calumet Farm's unbeaten homebred Far Bridge (c, 3, English Channel–Fitpitcher, by Kitten's Joy) kicked home impressively for 'TDN Rising Star' honors in a grassy optional claimer at Gulfstream Park Saturday.

The bay was a head better than the promising Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) over the same course and distance on debut Jan. 21. Carl Spackler returned to earn a 'Rising Star' tag of his own with a smashing, 8 3/4-length maiden victory here Feb. 25.

Hammered down to 1-2 here, Far Bridge raced under cover passing the grandstand for the first time. He was in no hurry racing toward the rear through an opening quarter in :22.99 and had his work cut out for him entering the far turn. All dressed up with nowhere to run at the top of the stretch, he knifed his way through rivals in the stretch and unleashed an explosive turn of foot to score by 3 1/2 lengths over Harry Time (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}).

This is the second 'Rising Star' for the late, perennial leading turf sire English Channel. The English Channel over Kitten's Joy cross is also responsible for GISW Channel Cat; MGSW Spooky Channel; Canadian champion 2-year-old colt, GSW & MGISP Admiralty Pier; and GSW English Bee.

Far Bridge is the most recent produce for winning Calumet homebred Fitpticher, who died in 2021.

9th-Gulfstream, $72,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 3-11, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.14, fm, 3 1/2 lengths.
FAR BRIDGE, c, 3, by English Channel
                1st Dam: Fitpitcher, by Kitten's Joy
                2nd Dam: Teenage Temper, by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Pleasant Temper, by Storm Cat
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $85,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Christophe Clement.

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Skippylongstocking Battles Back To Win Challenger

Skippylongstocking rebounded with aplomb from a lackluster performance in his previous start when scoring a convincing victory in the $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes (G3) Saturday on the Festival Day card at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 4-year-old Exaggerator colt, seventh in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) January 28, was ready to win Saturday. He pressed early pacesetter Trademark from second, then took charge nearing the homestretch before longshot Surly Furious asserted himself along the rail. Knuckling down for Irad Ortiz Jr., Skippylongstocking battled back and kicked clear in the final furlong, scoring by 3¼ lengths.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owner Daniel Alonso, Skippylongstocking returned $3 for the victory after covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.52.

Surly Furious, the longest shot in the field at 26-1, was narrowly denied second by Tax, who outfinished him by a head.

Bred in Kentucky by Brushy Hill from the War Chant mare Twinkling, Skippylongstocking improved his overall record to 5-1-3 from 16 starts and $862,810 in purse earnings.

Challenger Stakes Quotes

Winning trainer Saffie A. Joseph Jr.: “He looked pretty good the whole race and then at the top of the lane, the 5 (longshot Surly Furious) shot through and it scared me. I was worried (Skippylongstocking) wasn't going to kick in, but Irad (Ortiz, Jr.) knew what he had and gave him a perfect trip. This is a consistent, hard-trying horse. He's probably not a true Grade 1 horse, but he's a very good Grade 3, Grade 2 horse, and maybe one day he might get the Grade 1 win he deserves. We threw a pretty hard campaign at him last year, and he bounced back from it and is still in good form.”

Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.: “At that point (when Surly Furious grabbed the lead), I didn't want to make the first move. When my horse made the lead, he kind of waited a little and I see the 5 moving inside, and I was so happy to see somebody . I know then (Skippylongstocking) would keep going, and at that point I didn't move but when I asked him, he did really well.”

Ronnie Allen Jr., jockey on third-place finisher Surly Furious: “I got a little excited for a minute. He ran his butt off.”

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Quality Road Colt Cruises in Columbia

Talk of the Nation blew away local optional claiming foes last out Feb. 4, and did the same to stakes company here. Off as the chalk breaking from the far outside, the dark bay hopped a bit at the start but was pushed along by Samy Camacho to track from fourth while hung a bit wide. Scrubbed on to assert three deep entering the lane, he seemed to be stuck in neutral for a few strides while figuring out his leads, but as soon as he found his footing he zoomed home with a powerful burst to win going away. Mo Stash, last seen finishing fourth at almost 52-1 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 4, was a clear-cut second.

A $470,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream buyback last term off a :10 1/5 breeze, Talk of the Nation easily handled just two rivals while sprinting on the Big A dirt Nov. 11. Joe Allen was listed as the colt's sole owner at that point, but the China Horse Club apparently bought back in before he finished last of sixth going a mile on the Gulfstream dirt Jan. 8. He earned a strong 85 Beyer for that bounce-back effort last time Feb. 4.

China Horse Club paid $1.3 million for 2016 GII Yellow Ribbon H. winner She's Not Here that Keeneland November. The mare is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to none other than Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}) and MGISW Balance (Thunder Gulch). The family was in the news again recently when another half-sister to the trio produced GII Rebel S. winner Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}). She's Not Here has a 2-year-old filly by Uncle Mo and a yearling colt by Improbable. She aborted to the latter for 2023.

COLUMBIA S., $75,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 3-11, 3yo, 1mT, 1:33.45, fm.
1–TALK OF THE NATION, 120, c, 3, by Quality Road
               1st Dam: She's Not Here (MGSW, $450,453),
                              by Street Cry (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Where's Bailey, by Aljabr
               3rd Dam: Vertigineux, by Kris S.
($470,000 RNA 2yo '22 FTFMAR). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN.
O-Joseph Allen LLC & CHC INC.; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Claude R.
McGaughey III; J-Samy Camacho. $45,000. Lifetime Record:
4-3-0-0, $107,770.
2–Mo Stash, 118, c, 3, Mo Town–Making Mark Money, by
Smart Strike. ($130,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-BBN Racing, LLC;
B-Rhineshire Farm LLC (KY); T-Victoria H. Oliver. $15,000.
3–A Western Yarn, 118, c, 3, Eastwood–Basket Stitch, by
Tiznow. ($45,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Mark B.
Grier; B-Equivine Farm LLC (PA); T-Arnaud Delacour. $7,500.
Margins: 2HF, 3 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.20, 4.30, 11.20.
Also Ran: Freedom Trail, Summer Bee, Sendero, Smoke Lightening, Lights of Broadway, Naga's Boy. Scratched: Worthington.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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‘Doing Good’: Tyler’s Tribe Breezes Bullet At Oaklawn Toward Comeback

Working after the renovation break Saturday morning at Oaklawn Park, Iowa-bred sensation Tyler's Tribe moved closer to his 3-year-old debut by recording a five-furlong bullet (1:00 flat) for co-owner/trainer Tim Martin of Hot Springs.

The clocking was the fastest of 32 timed moves at the distance.

Tyler's Tribe, under regular rider Kylee Jordan, breezed with stablemate Joe Frazier and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

The work was the third for Tyler's Tribe since he received a break of approximately one month following a third-place finish in the Advent Stakes for 2-year-olds at 5½ furlongs Dec. 9 at Oaklawn. Martin said he backed off the multiple stakes winner after he bled during the race.

“Doing good,” Martin said. “I'm just kind of working him and seeing where we're at. Working him and scoping him and he's looking good so far.”

Martin said he hopes to run Tyler's Tribe again before the Oaklawn meeting ends May 6, but added he has no specific race in mind for the gelding's 3-year-old debut. Tyler's Tribe worked three furlongs in :36.40 Feb. 18 and a half-mile in :48.60 March 4.

“I want to make sure he's right,” Martin said. “Work him five-eighths this weekend. He's come back doing good and scoped clean every time. We're good, knock on wood.”

Tyler's Tribe won his first five career starts, all dirt sprints at Prairie Meadows in Iowa, by a combined 59¾ front-running lengths before being eased after bleeding in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

From the first crop of millionaire Grade 1 winner Sharp Azteca, Tyler's Tribe has a 5-0-1 record from seven lifetime starts and earnings of $320,169. A $34,000 yearling purchase, Tyler's Tribe is a four-time stakes winner for Martin and co-owner Thomas D. Lepic.

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