Month: May 2023

Fresh off of the biggest win of his career going 1 1/4 miles on turf last month at Santa Anita, 5-year-old Offlee Naughty proved much best as the favorite stretching out to 1 1/2 miles Saturday in the $100,000 San Luis Rey (G3) at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

Ridden for the first time since his career debut in June of 2021 by Umberto Rispoli, Offlee Naughty overcame traffic trouble around the final bend to win by 1 ¼ lengths while getting the finishing the distance in 2:24.87 on firm turf.

With a hillside start down Santa Anita's unique Camino Real Turf Course, Offlee Naughty was next to last, about 11 lengths off lonely pacesetter Opry after the first quarter mile. With Opry fully committed, Offlee Naughty remained unhurried and was fourth by about seven lengths at the rail when forced to steady off the heels of Dicey Mo Chara about five-sixteenths of a mile from home. With Opry shortening stride, Offlee Naughty proved his mettle as Rispoli pointed him outside Dicey Mo Chara, whom he gradually overtook well inside the sixteenth pole with Brazilian-bred Planetario charging late to complete the exacta.

The 8-5 favorite in a field of seven older runners, Offlee Naughty paid $5.20 for the victory

“I was trying to go around, I saw Juan (Hernandez, aboard Dicey Mo Chara) in front, so I was trying to sneak in,” said Rispoli. “I came to the top of the stretch and (my horse) switched his lead and he was the better horse today.”

Owned by James and Donna Daniell, Offlee Naughty, a 5-year-old full horse by Flashback out of the Offlee Wild mare Acting Naughty, notched a second consecutive graded stakes win while improving his overall mark to 5-1-1 from 17 starts. Fourth in last year's San Luis Rey in his stakes debut, Offlee Naughty entered this year's edition off victory in the Charles Whittingham (G2), his first career stakes win, April 8 at Santa Anita. He picked up $60,000 for Saturday's triumph, increasing his earnings to $370,645. He was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables Inc.

“He's been back and forth across the country a couple of times (and) he got really good before he got here,” said trainer Michael McCarthy, who has also campaigned Offlee Naughty in Kentucky and New York. “I thought his race the other day was really good, where at the eighth pole, he found another gear. Today, he kind of chucked around the turn and lost a little bit of momentum, (but) we were able to go ahead and find another gear and get the job done.

“This win is for Jim Daniell and his wife.”

A Group I winner in Brazil, Richard Mandella's Planetario, who was a close fifth in his U.S. debut going 1 1/8 miles on turf June 18 at Santa Anita, flew late under Hector Berrios to overtake Dicey Mo Chara by a neck on the money.

Trained by Leonard Powell, English-bred Dicey Mo Chara was third-best on the day and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Opry.

Fractions on the race were :23.95, :47.50, 1:11.55, 1:35.42, and 2:00.22.

The post ‘He Found Another Gear’: Offlee Naughty Proves Best In San Luis Rey appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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John Guarnere always had high expectations for Howgreatisnate, even though the gelding had never won going two turns.

“I thought he was a Kentucky Derby (G1) horse,” said Guarnere, whose horses race in the name of Imaginary Stables.

Howgreatisnate won't make any of the Triple Crown races, but he could be bound for the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park after surging to a stirring victory by a head in Saturday's $100,000 Long Branch Stakes on opening day at the Jersey Shore track.

Shipped from trainer Elizabeth Dobles' base in Palm Meadows, Fla., Howgreatisnate overcame a wide trip and then nudged clear under jockey Jairo Rendon's urging to get by Offaly Cool in deep stretch. It was another three lengths back to Ninetyprcentmaddie in third.

“I always believed the horse could go a distance,” said Dobles, who gallops many of her horses. “I loved his short races. He was phenomenal going short. I think he can be a better horse going longer. The only concern was I didn't want him to get checked. I watched his last race (the Private Terms at Laurel) and he got checked a few times. Once he gets checked he loses his interest.”

Howgreatisnate, a Kentucky-bred son of Speightster out of Bee Dees Bid, by Tapit, was making his first start for Dobles after being shifted from the barn of Andrew Simoff two months ago. After going 4-for-4 at a 2-year-old last year – all sprints – Howgreatisnate stumbled and lost the jockey in the Gotham (G3) in his first start at 3 March 4 at Aqueduct and then was a troubled fourth in the Private Terms at Laurel on March 18.

“John wanted to run the horse in a few races and they decided it would be best to send the horse to me so I could point to the races John and I agreed to,” said Dobles.

In her initial exuberance following the victory, Dobles said the horse's next start would be in the Haskell on July 22.

“No, wait — we're going to take him back down to Florida and let him recover from this race and then see how he is,” she said.

As a result of the victory, Howgreatisnate receives free entry and start fees to the Haskell.

Sent off at 5-1 in the field of six 3-year-olds, Howgreatisnate was fifth and wide through fast opening fractions of :22.68 for the opening quarter mile and then 1:10.87 for six furlongs set by longshot No Confession in the one-mile and 70-yard race.

Howgreatisnate, Offaly Cool, and Ninetyprcentmaddie were then stacked across the track entering the final turn, with Howgreatisnate and Offaly Cool getting clear of the rest.

Offaly Cool opened a one-length lead in midstretch before Howgreatisnate surged on the outside.

The winning time was 1:41.21.

Even-money favorite Slip Mahoney was a non-threatening fourth.

“I was a little wide the first turn, but the trainer told me he likes to be clear, so I was able to get him outside and clear,” said Rendon. “Even though this is his first win around two turns I wasn't worried about him getting the distance. Elizabeth does such a great job I knew she would have him ready. He was trying to lug out a little bit late but he showed he has a lot of heart.”

Dobles, who started training in 2016, owns one graded stakes win to her credit, with War Story winning the 2019 Harlan's Holiday (G3) in 2019. Guarnere made the trip from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to watch Howgreatisnate at Monmouth Park in person.

“I was worried the first turn. He was going with them and then was shuffled back,” said Dobles. “I liked the way (Rendon) took him to the outside to kind of get him away from the field. I saw going into the turn that they were moving quick. Usually he waits to make a move but I saw all of them go to the front and it worried me early. But battling down the stretch he showed his heart.”

Howgreatisnatewas bred in Kentucky by B. D. Gibbs Farm LLC. Guarnere bought him for $67,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, where Greenfield Farm consigned him. The bay gelding has a 5-0-0 record from seven lifetime starts and $228,900 in purse earnings.

The post Howgreatisnate Wins Long Branch Battle At Monmouth, Could Target Haskell appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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