Month: June 2023

Skinner To Scratch From Affirmed

Trainer John Shirreffs told the Santa Anita notes team Saturday that C R K Stable's Skinner (Curlin) would be scratched from Sunday's $100,000 Affirmed S. at Santa Anita.

The decision was made following a Saturday morning gallop over the Santa Anita main track.

“I just wasn't happy with the way he jogged,” the conditioner said.

Skinner, a $40,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $510,000 OBS April juvenile, broke his maiden in his 3-year-old debut in February and finished third to Practical Move (Practical Joke) in both the GII San Felipe S. and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby.

The bay was green-lighted for a run in the GI Kentucky Derby May 6, but was withdrawn from consideration two days prior to the race with an elevated temperature. Skinner was back on the worktab as soon as May 14 and had logged two additional breezes since then.

Skinner's defection leaves a field of five for the Affirmed, led by 8-5 morning-line favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), last seen finishing second in the San Felipe Mar. 4.

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Skinner Scratched From Sunday’s Affirmed After Saturday Gallop

Skinner, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby (G1) four weeks ago, has been scratched from Sunday's $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Trainer John Shirreffs made the decision to withdraw following a gallop on the main track Saturday morning. He notified the Santa Anita racing office of the scratch at about 9:30 a.m. (PT).

“I just wasn't happy with the way he jogged,” Shirreffs said from Clocker's Corner.

Skinner was the 9-5 second choice on the morning line behind Geaux Rocket ride, the 8-5 favorite trainer Richard Mandella. Hall of Famer Mike Smith was set to ride Skinner for the first time.

Skinner has not raced since a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8. The Curlin colt was scratched from the Kentucky Derby two days before the 1 ¼-mile classic due to an elevated temperature.

Following the illness and return trip to Santa Anita, Skinner was back on the work tab May 14, seven days after the Kentucky Derby. He had worked three times for the Affirmed, including a five-furlong move in 1:02.20 on Sunday.

Owned by C R K Stable, Skinner was Grade 1-placed as a 2-year-old while still a maiden. He earned his diploma here in his sophomore bow Feb. 12 and came back to be third in the San Felipe (G2) on March 4 prior to the Santa Anita Derby.

The post Skinner Scratched From Sunday’s Affirmed After Saturday Gallop appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Pretty Mischievous Drills Towards Acorn

'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), last-start winner of the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 5, breezed a half-mile in :47.87 over the Belmont main track at 6:45 Saturday morning in advance of a start in Friday's GI Acorn S. at Belmont Park. The Godolphin homebred worked in the company of the dual graded-stakes placed Gilmore (Twirling Candy), who is expected for Saturday's GI Woody Stephens S. on the Belmont S. undercard.

Trainer Brendan Walsh was duly pleased with his filly's final serious piece of work.

“That's typical of her,” Walsh commented. “I think she even went :47 4/5 in her work before the Oaks as well. She's been doing well since then. Everything seems spot on for her.”

The Acorn will be contested over a one-turn 8 1/2 furlongs for the first time this year, having been lengthened from a mile, and Walsh is not concerned about the cutback to one bend.

“I don't think it'll be a problem at all,” Walsh said. “It should work out well for her. She has plenty of natural speed, which is required in this type of race.”

Gilmore was runner-up in the GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct Apr. 8 and cuts back to a sprint off a sound third in the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill May 6.

“I thought he worked great, too. That was a great work for him,” Walsh said. “He's not the most generous worker in the morning, but he worked fine. I didn't want him to go head-to-head with her because I thought they would have gone too fast.”

 

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