April, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Alexandroupois Centre Stage On Sunday

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway in September won by the yard's Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two years earlier.

Moore's Choice…

From the family of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), staying is going to be Alexandroupolis's game and Ryan Moore places his confidence in him ahead of the unlucky Criterium Arqana runner-up Denmark (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Mohawk Chief (Quality Road), who captured the seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in October won by the stable's former talented Galileo duo Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Star Of India (Ire). Surprisingly, this renowned Derby trial has only supplied the Blue Riband winner once since 2002 and that was Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), not among the 11 Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to prevail which include subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire).

A Familiar Tale…

O'Brien and Moore combine earlier on the card with another 'TDN Rising Star' in Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., which unlike the proceeding G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. is light on overall quality. Ridden too forcefully when second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August, Hans Andersen again did too much early when fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Given that he had beaten that peer in his maiden at the Currragh, more patient tactics might see him regain his spark in a weak-looking renewal of this recently-upgraded contest.

The Story Is Still Young…

If the 2000 Trial lacks strength-in-depth, that cannot be said of the following 1000 Guineas Trial which could have a bearing on the picture for the Newmarket Classic and again it is Ballydoyle who feature prominently with the G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing in mind the improvement her dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) found from two to three, it could be that she is still some way off a peak and it would be no surprise if she can make a leap as the 2005 winner Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) did from here to Newmarket. The stable also has the 10-length Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri (Justify), while opposition to Ballydoyle includes Martin Schwartz's highly-regarded Roscommon auction series race scorer Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and John Oxley's Naas maiden winner Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) from the always-to-be-respected Paddy Twomey and Joseph O'Brien stables, respectively.

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Sioux Nation Represented By First U.S. Stakes Winner in Cutler Bay

When the markets opened for Saturday's Cutler Bay S. at Gulfstream Park, the tote read 1-9 on the U.S.-debuting Behind Enemy Lines (GB) (Sioux Nation) and the early action proved spot on, as the bay enjoyed a smooth trip and pounced late to become the first American stakes winner–and fifth overall–for his successful young sire (by Scat Daddy).

Last seen dominating a Dundalk all-weather maiden for Joseph O'Brien and previous owner Justin Casse, Behind Enemy Lines was a bit tardy from the stalls, but recovered to race on the back of pacesetting Drinking Problem (Gormley) and nicely covered up down the backstretch. Going comfortably into the final three furlongs, he was steered out and around favored Harry Time (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}) nearing the stretch and kicked home smartly to score cozily at final odds of 16-5.

Behind Enemy Lines went through the Tattersalls sales ring on two occasions, selling for 88,000gns as a weanling in late 2020 and for 90,000gns during Book 2 of the auction house's October Yearling Sale the following October. He was among the first group of horses ticketed for the inaugural Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up Sale last March (see below for under-tack video), but was led out unsold on a bid of just over €173,000. He was a well-beaten ninth in a six-furlong grass maiden at the Curragh last August before breaking through last time. Behind Enemy Lines is the second black-type winner to emerge from the 2022 Goffs Dubai Breeze-Up, joining this year's Listed Al Bastakiya S. winner Go Soldier Go (Tapiture).

From the extended female family of Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Mawj (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and SW & MGSP Modern News (GB) (Shamardal), the winner is kin to the 2-year-old colt Looking Bere (Fr) (Le Brivido {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Whitecliffsofdover (War Front). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

CUTLER BAY S., $145,000, Gulfstream, 4-1, 3yo, 7 1/2fT, 1:30.35, fm.
1–BEHIND ENEMY LINES (GB), 118, c, 3, by Sioux Nation
1st Dam: Autumn Snow (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire)
2nd Dam: Epic Similie (GB), by Lomitas (GB)
3rd Dam: Epitome (Ire), by Nashwan
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. (88,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 90,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT; €173,228 RNA 2yo '22 GOFDUB). O-Rockingham Ranch, Talla Racing LLC & David A Bernsen; B-The Brigadier Partnership (GB); T-Jack Sisterson; J-Jose L Ortiz. $87,203. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $94,672.
2–Anglophile, 118, c, 3, English Channel–Trustmore Lovemore, by Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-LFG Racing, LLC; B-Upson Downs Farm & Louie W Wright (KY); T-Brian A Lynch. $28,130.
3–Dunedin, 120, c, 3, Munnings–Faith in Cathy, by Hold Me Back. ($140,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-NBS Stable; B-Parkway Farm Inc. (KY); T-Kelsey Danner. $14,065.
Margins: 2, NK, 3/4. Odds: 3.20, 16.60, 3.70.

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It’s Almost Time For Keeneland: Prospective Fields For Ashland, Blue Grass, Six Other Opening Weekend Stakes

A total of eight stakes worth a combined $4.05 million will be run next Friday and Saturday during the first two days of Keeneland's Spring Meet. The following is a list of prospective entrants in those races compiled by Stakes Coordinator Baley Hare.

April 7 races. Entries taken Tuesday.

$600,000 CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND (G1) – Defining Purpose (trainer Kenny McPeek), Guns n' Graces (Chad Brown), Julia Shining (Todd Pletcher), Pride of the Nile (Doug O'Neill), Punchbowl (Brad Cox), Wonder Wheel (Mark Casse). Possible: Effortlesslyelgant (Norm Casse)

$400,000 KENTUCKY UTILITIES TRANSYLVANIA (G3) – Andthewinneris (Wayne Catalano), Freedom Trail (John Terranova II), Mi Hermano Ramon (Mark Glatt), Mo Stash (Vicki Oliver), Webslinger (Mark Casse) and Wonderful Justice (GB) (Brad Cox). Possible: Nagirroc (Graham Motion).

$400,000 LAFAYETTE – Corona Bolt (Cox), Determinedly (Mark Casse), Hurricane J (Paulo Lobo), Lugan Knight (Michael McCarthy). Possible: Damon's Mound (Michelle Lovell), Invulnerable (Joe Sharp).

April 8 races. Entries taken Wednesday.

$1-MILLION TOYOTA BLUE GRASS (G1) – Blazing Sevens (Chad Brown), Classic Car Wash (Mark Casse), Hayes Strike (McPeek), Major Blue (D. Wayne Lukas), Mendelssohns March (McPeek), Tapit Trice (Pletcher), Verifying (Cox). Possible: Raise Cain (Ben Colebrook), Scoobie Quando (Colebrook), Sun Thunder (McPeek).

$600,000 MADISON (G1) – Maryquitecontrary (Shug McGaughey), Yuugiri (Rodolphe Brisset). Possible: Caramel Swirl (Bill Mott), Goodnight Olive (Brown).

$400,000 APPALACHIAN (G2) PRESENTED BY JAPAN RACING ASSOCIATION – Alluring Angel (GB) (Jorge Abreu), Be Your Best (IRE) (Horacio De Paz), Beautifulnavigator (IRE) (McPeek), Heavenly Sunday (Cox), Papilio (IRE) (Mark Casse), Pleasant Passage (McGaughey). Possible: Sabalenka (Whit Beckman).

$350,000 SHAKERTOWN (G2) – Caravel (Cox), Johnny Unleashed (Eric Foster), Mister Mmmmm (Catalano), Our Shot (Terranova). Possible: Oceanic (Jordan Blair), Stitched (Greg Foley).

$300,000 COMMONWEALTH (G3) – Heart Rhythm (John Ortiz), Hoist the Gold (Dallas Stewart), Long Range Toddy (Stewart), Nakatomi (Wesley Ward). Possible: Eastern Bay (Lynn Cash), Sir Alfred James (Cash).

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‘I Love The Way She Is Training’: Caravel Breezes At Keeneland Toward 2023 Debut Against Males In Shakertown

Qatar Racing Limited, Marc Detampel, and Madaket Stables' Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) winner Caravel had her final tuneup Saturday morning for her 2023 debut in next Saturday's $350,000 Shakertown (G2) when she breezed a half-mile in :48.20 on Keeneland's all-weather training track with exercise rider Edgar Quinteros aboard.

“You can't do it any better than that,” Tessa Walden, assistant to trainer Brad Cox, said of the drill, fastest of four timed moves at the distance on the synthetic surface.

“We called an audible Friday and just galloped on the all-weather and pushed the work back a day,” Cox said Friday morning before heading to Oaklawn Park for the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Caravel, who in her most recent race defeated males in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 5 at Keeneland, is scheduled to face males again in the Shakertown at the Lexington track.

“(The Shakertown) has been the plan for the comeback all along. I love the way she is training,” Cox said of the 6-year-old Mizzen Mast mare, who returned to the work tab Feb. 18 with the first of six works over the all-weather surface at Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky prior to her work Saturday morning at Keeneland.

A 10-time stakes winner with four graded stakes victories, Caravel is undefeated in two Keeneland starts, capturing the Franklin (G3) during the 2022 Fall Meet prior to her victory in the Breeders' Cup.

The prospective field for the Shakertown (with trainer): Caravel (Cox), Johnny Unleashed (Eric Foster), Mister Mmmmm (Wayne Catalano), Our Shot (John Terranova II). Possible: Oceanic (Jordan Blair), Stitched (Greg Foley).

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