Month: April 2023

‘Maybe She Shocks The World In Four Weeks’: Gazelle Victress Promiseher America Stamps Ticket To Kentucky Oaks

Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom McCrocklin's Promiseher America earned a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure when capturing Saturday's Gazelle (G3) for sophomore fillies going nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In winning the final local prep on the Kentucky Oaks trail, Promiseher America earned the maximum allotment of 100 points towards the prestigious Grade 1 test at Churchill Downs while also providing trainer Ray Handal with his first graded stakes conquest.

“I was watching the replay this morning and watching the coverage,” Handal said. “It's so cool. It's been a long time coming, so I'm happy we finally got it done. And what a way to do it, with a horse now going to one of the biggest races in the country on one of the biggest weekends of the year.”

Handal reported that Promiseher America was nominated to the Oaks following her Gazelle triumph.

“We did that yesterday,” Handal said. “$1,500 to nominate so we went ahead and did that.”

Promiseher America, by 2015 Triple Crown winner and Hall of Famer American Pharoah, entered the Gazelle after making the third time the charm in a local February 19 maiden test going a one-turn mile. She stalked the pace from fourth down the backstretch before taking command at the stretch call and darting away to a 6 1/2-length score.

Handal spoke of how her maiden win encouraged him to take a chance in the Gazelle.

“I've been one to take shots. You only get these restricted races once and if there was a time to swing, this was it,” Handal said. “Every now and then you get lucky, and it worked out here. She's a good young horse, she continues to improve, and I see her taking another step forward. I think she'll get better and who knows, maybe she shocks the world in four weeks.”

Promiseher America will remain at Belmont Park to train for the Kentucky Oaks, according to Handal.

“I'd rather just keep her in her routine here and worry about if she likes the track and adjust things when she gets there. I like keeping them all under one roof as long as possible,” Handal said.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low, Promiseher America is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Promisedyouheaven, whose dam Hurricane Bernie is a half sister to two-time Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection [2012-13]. She was bought for $75,000 at the 2022 OBS spring 2-year-olds in training sale.

On Friday, Handal saddled Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing's Funny How to a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap. The seven-furlong event ended the New York-bred Overanalyze filly's five-race win streak.

Handal said he would likely keep Funny How against graded company for her next start in the Grade 3, $175,000 Vagrancy on May 14 at Belmont Park going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track with the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian on May 6 at Belmont going a one-turn mile as a viable alternative.

“I think we keep going this route until she says otherwise,” Handal said. “More than likely we'll go to the Vagrancy. I guess the Ruffian isn't off the table, but I'm leaning toward the Vagrancy at 6 1/2. It gives her more time. The Ruffian is a little quicker back and plus it's usually a tough race.”

Bred by Hibiscus Stables, Funny How is a half-sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Funny Guy.

Handal has been in notable winning form recently, securing victories in four of his last eight starts. His other two fresh off a triumph include Merrylegs Farm's New York homebred Listentoyourheart, who secured a career-best 100 Beyer in a Friday state-bred allowance going seven furlongs.

The 6-year-old Afleet Alex gelding earned his fourth career victory and first under Handal's care. Previously trained by Christophe Clement, Listentoyourheart won Finger Lakes' Aspirant during his juvenile season. Handal said he would likely try open company with Listentoyourheart.

“I thought he'd run well, but I didn't expect that. I'm lucky we have all his conditions still,” Handal said. “We'll see how he fares against open company.”

Also on Friday, Handal sent out New York-bred Gem Mint Ten to a maiden win at third asking going six furlongs on the outer turf. The sophomore Laoban colt could stretch out for his next start according to Handal, who sung praises on behalf of owners Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing.

“Good for the Adelphi group. I think he wants a little more ground. We'll keep swinging away with him. He looks like one with a future,” Handal said. “The barn is rolling right now. My team and I work hard so it's nice to see it come around for us. It's been a grind. It doesn't ever get easier but it's nice to see the horses running the way they are.”

The post ‘Maybe She Shocks The World In Four Weeks’: Gazelle Victress Promiseher America Stamps Ticket To Kentucky Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Russell Relishing Breakthrough Grade 1 Win Day After Doppelganger’s Surprise Carter Triumph

When trainer Brittany Russell scored the first graded stakes victory of her career in October 2021 with Wondrwherecraigis in the Bold Ruler (G3) Handicap, she had even more to celebrate the next day when she underwent a cesarean section to deliver her second baby.

This time around, day-after celebrations looked a bit different after Russell won her first Grade 1 race with Doppelganger in Saturday's $300,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Maryland-based conditioner was home Sunday, enjoying Easter morning with her two children and husband, jockey Sheldon Russell.

“We're just enjoying the family and we'll have a little Easter egg hunt,” said Russell, with a laugh. “It's just back to reality with the family and worrying about getting back to work this week.”

Doppelganger has given Russell plenty to celebrate, boasting a perfect 3-for-3 record since making his first start for her in January. He scored two allowance victories at Laurel Park traveling 1 1/16 miles and one-mile, respectively, en route to his Carter victory.

“He's a horse with quite a personality and he doesn't know what he's beating, but he knows he's winning and doing a good job,” Russell said.

The son of Into Mischief, who is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm, attained Grade 1 glory Saturday with a perfect rallying trip under Jevian Toledo, who also earned the first Grade 1 victory of his career. Doppelganger tracked in fifth-of-7 down the backstretch under a patient Toledo before swinging three-wide in the turn to make up ground with every stride down the lane and draw away to a 1 1/2-length victory over Repo Rocks.

Russell said she has relived the moment countless times since yesterday.

“He's out with my assistant this morning having a pick of grass and he thinks he's King Kong,” Russell said. “I've watched the race about a hundred times and I'm really proud of him. Toledo rode him so well and I'm just in disbelief honestly. You go up there and you hope things will set up well and that he'll run a big race and get a piece of it. But for him to go up there and win it is just amazing. We're just so proud of him.”

Russell indicated after the race that a logical spot for Doppelganger's next start could be the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park. While she still would like to see the horse back on the track and discuss plans with the ownership group, Russell said the Met Mile remains a practical target.

“He's a Grade 1 winner now, so you kind of want to see if he keeps getting better,” Russell said. “That means we'll have to keep testing him.”

Russell said Uncle Jake, who finished a pacesetting last-of-12 in the Wood Memorial (G2), also Saturday at Aqueduct, emerged from the race in good order.

“He's OK and seems fine this morning,” said Russell. “We'll give him a few days here and probably just try and get him back on track.”

The post Russell Relishing Breakthrough Grade 1 Win Day After Doppelganger’s Surprise Carter Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘I’ve Learned Just To Get There Is Good’: Joseph Takes Aim On Kentucky Derby For Third Time With Wood Memorial Upsetter Lord Miles

Lord Miles, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and piloted by Paco Lopez, returned a whopping $120.50 for his 59-1 upset score in Saturday's Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Curlin colt, a Kentucky homebred for Vegso Racing Stable, finished strongest of all in an all-out battle to the wire while racing to the outside of favored Hit Show with regally bred maiden Dreamlike staying on gamely at the rail.

The rivals came together in the final sixteenth with Lord Miles scoring by a nose over the Manny Franco-piloted favorite Hit Show and the Jose Ortiz-ridden Dreamlike finishing a further head back in third. The pacesetter, Arctic Arrogance, finished 5 1/4-lengths in arrears in fourth, a head better than fifth-place Classic Catch.

Lord Miles survived a stewards' inquiry and jockey objection from Franco to secure the win in the nine-furlong test for sophomores and garner the maximum allotment in the 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier. Lord Miles, who is sixth on the leaderboard with 105 points, covered the nine-furlongs in 1:51.17 and earned a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Joseph has saddled two previous Kentucky Derby runners, including Ny Traffic [8th, 2020] and last year's Florida Derby (G1) winner, White Abarrio, who finished 16th in a race won by 80-1 shot Rich Strike.

“This will be our third Derby in the last four years and I've learned just to get there is good and then hope for the best,” Joseph said. “Last year, with White Abarrio, we thought we'd have a pretty good chance, but it didn't work out the way we wanted. But you appreciate being there and anything can happen in the Derby, like we saw last year with Rich Strike.”

Lord Miles shipped out of Belmont Park by van this morning to return to Gulfstream Park and continue preparations for the $3-million Kentucky Derby to be held on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

“He might have both works here or he could work once and then go to Kentucky, but we'll give it a couple days and come up with a plan,” Joseph said. “He was good this morning. He checked up well, ate up his food and came out of the race well.”

Peter Vegso, a native of Montreal, Canada, campaigned multiple Grade 1 winner Splendid Blended and Grade 1 winner Go Between. More recently, Vegso Racing Stable's multiple graded stakes winner Officiating captured last year's om Fool Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct for Joseph. Vegso Racing Stable also bred Caledonia Road, who was voted 2017 champion 2-year-old filly after winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar.

Joseph said Vegso was over the moon with Saturday's thrilling score by his homebred out of the Majestic Warrior mare Lady Esme.

“He was ecstatic. He's never had a Derby runner before and, for me, that's very important,” Joseph said. “He's been in racing a long time and bred good horses. He's bred a Breeders' Cup winner, so to give him an opportunity to be there is gratifying. At the end of the day, the owners give us these chances and it's our duty to produce for them. It's fulfilling that God blessed us to make it happen.”

Joseph noted that Lord Miles had raced on-and-off the bridle in his races leading up to the Wood Memorial. He made his first three starts at Gulfstream Park, winning on debut traveling six furlongs ahead of a closing third in the Much Macho Man in January. He added blinkers for the Holy Bull (G3) and was a distant sixth before a last-out fifth with blinkers off and Lopez aboard for the first time in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

Joseph credited Lopez for his attentive ride on Saturday.

“He traveled well yesterday, but between the five-eighths and the half, he came off the bridle and it looked like he was almost done, but Paco was able to keep him going,” Joseph said.

The Barbados-born conditioner, a third generation horseman, has become one of the top trainers at Gulfstream Park where he recently defended his title at the prestigious Championship Meet. There, he was able to watch first hand two of his strongest rivals for Kentucky Derby glory in Tapit Trice, who captured Saturday's Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, and Forte, the reigning champion 2-year-old male, who won the Florida Derby (G1) at the Hallandale Beach oval.

Joseph said he has the utmost respect for Forte and Tapit Trice, who are both conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, but is hopeful that Lord Miles can level up once more.

“The more he races, the better he's going to get and he's going to need to improve because Forte is a deserving favorite and Tapit Trice would be my Derby pick if I didn't have a horse in the race,” Joseph said. “I think there's more improvement there. The distance should be alright. The main thing with him is his greenness to stay on the bridle. It worked out much better yesterday because he broke well and was able to stay in the clear. The Derby is going to be a different story with 20 horses. Hopefully, he keeps learning and gets more focused.”

Joseph said Lord Miles would likely thrive at the 12-furlong distance of the $1.5-million Belmont Stakes (G1), the third jewel of the Triple Crown slated for June 10.

“We'll take it one race at a time, but you would think he would definitely like the distance with his running style and being by Curlin, there's a lot of stamina,” Joseph said.

Joseph said Arindel's Florida homebred Knox, who finished eighth in the Wood Memorial, will stay with his string at Belmont Park. The Brethren colt, piloted by Jose Gomez, was hustled into the first turn and bumped with rivals before saving ground down the backstretch. The even effort, finishing 10 lengths back of his stablemate, earned a career-best 78 Beyer.

“He tried. He wasn't disgraced and only beat 10 lengths,” Joseph said. “Down the backstretch, he was more forwardly placed and into the bridle than he's ever been, but from there he tapered away.

“Maybe down on the inside wasn't the best place to be yesterday. But it might have just been his best also,” added Joseph. “We'll leave him in New York and look at a 'starter $50K' first and then take a shot again at the big summer races.”

The victory by Lord Miles was a welcome reprieve for Joseph, who was disappointed to have to scratch C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano's White Abarrio from the co-featured Carter Handicap (G1).

The Grade 1 winner spiked a fever earlier in the week after shipping up from Florida and will now focus on the one-turn mile $175,000 Westchester (G3) on May 5 as a prep for the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park.

“He's been fine, but still coughing a bit,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, that quiets down next week and we can get him back under tack by Wednesday or Thursday and point to the Belmont race [the Westchester].”

The post ‘I’ve Learned Just To Get There Is Good’: Joseph Takes Aim On Kentucky Derby For Third Time With Wood Memorial Upsetter Lord Miles appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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