July, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘If He’s Ready, He’ll Run’: Casa Creed To Point For Fourstardave Repeat

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's 7-year-old multiple Grade 1 winner Casa Creed proved he is still at the top of his game with a one-length score over Grade 1 winner Annapolis in Saturday's Kelso (G3) at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Jimmy Creed bay earned his third graded win traveling one-mile over the Spa's inner turf, adding to scores in the 2019 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) and last year's Fourstardave Handicap (G1).

It's fitting that the evergreen Casa Creed will now point to a title defense in the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1) on August 12 which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.

Fourstardave, a New York-bred gelding, won at least one race at each year at Saratoga from 1987-1994, including the 1988 Albany, the 1989 and 1991 West Point Handicap, as well as consecutive runnings of the Daryl's Joy (G3) in 1990-91. In 1996, the Daryl's Joy was renamed the Fourstardave to honor the horse that made 21 starts at the Spa.

Casa Creed has made seven starts at Saratoga, dating to his second-out graduation as a 2-year-old in August 2018 in an off-the-turf sprint. He added the Hall of Fame to his ledger as a sophomore and finished third in consecutive runnings of the Fourstardave in 2020-21.

“He's now run six years in a row at Saratoga and won four times,” said co-owner Lee Einsidler of LRE Racing. “That's beyond remarkable. He's a horse owner's dream come true. It's hard to imagine you would have a horse at 7 years old that's still at the top of his game. He's taken us around the world and, honest to God, we're so fortunate to have him in our life. He's like one of the family.”

The $105,000 purchase at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale has banked more than $2.1 million through a record of 32-8-5-5, including consecutive scores in the 2021-22 Jaipur (G1) sprinting six-furlongs at Belmont Park. He finished a close second in both the 2022-23 1351 Turf Sprint (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia and was fifth in last year's Al Quoz Sprint (G1) at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Einsidler credited trainer Kenny McPeek for selecting Casa Creed as a potential prospect.

“Kenny said to me, 'I know you want to run in Saratoga, and this one will get you there. He could be either grass or dirt,'” Einsidler recalled. “But you could never imagine you would have this horse on the track for six years. You buy a horse and hope he can get to the races — and some don't even make it to the races. But you can never buy a horse at any price and think they would run over 30 times, make over $2 million and take you around the world a couple of times.”

Luis Saez provided Casa Creed with a picture-perfect ride on Saturday, tracking to the outside of 4-5 mutuel favorite Annapolis before making an early move for the lead through the far turn. Casa Creed swooped beyond the pacesetting Big Everest to establish a half-length lead at the stretch call and staved off the bid of Annapolis to stop the clock in a final time of 1:35.51. The victory garnered a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Einsidler said much of Casa Creed's success is down to Mott's meticulous horsemanship.

“Bill Mott is special. I was with him early this morning and he puts his hands on every horse in the barn,” Einsidler said. “He goes over every horse personally. He's an amazing trainer and a very close friend. He's really managed Casa Creed brilliantly. He gave him a lot of time off after winning the Hall of Fame as a 3-year-old and put him away thinking he'd be even better as an older horse and he came back the next spring and was a monster. We're happy to run him three or four times a year and just take good care of him.”

Einsidler said Casa Creed exited his stylish Kelso score in fine fettle and will hopefully be ready for a fourth Fourstardave attempt in one month's time.

“We're going to train him like he's going to be in the race. It comes up maybe a week quicker than we'd like, but if he's ready, he'll run,” Einsidler said. “He was perfect this morning — looked fabulous and doing great. He's come out of the race in perfect order, and if he's doing good we'll be there in mid-August.”

Casa Creed has made three previous Breeders' Cup appearances, finishing off-the-board in both the 2020 Mile (G1) at Keeneland and 2021 Mile at Del Mar and ninth in last year's Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland. With the Turf Sprint being contested at five furlongs this year at Santa Anita, the rugged bay will again point to the Mile as a year-end target.

Whether or not Casa Creed returns as an 8-year-old to race for a seventh straight summer at the Spa remains to be seen as the ownership group has already been approached about potential stud opportunities.

“We've had some inquiries. Not that he couldn't race next year, but we'll see,” Einsidler said.

And for those looking to find a potential Casa Creed of their own, it's worth noting that his dam, Achalaya, has a New York-bred filly by Authentic listed as Hip No. 227 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred Yearling Sale slated for August 7-8.

The post ‘If He’s Ready, He’ll Run’: Casa Creed To Point For Fourstardave Repeat appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘A Longevity Milestone’: Ness Reaches 4,000th Career Win At Laurel

Morris Kernan Jr., Yo Berbs, and Jagger Inc.'s 3-year-old filly Sing Scat led from start to finish and pulled away late to score her second straight win and give trainer and co-owner Jamie Ness his 4,000th career victory in Sunday's opener at Laurel Park.

With main stable rider Jaime Rodriguez aboard, 2-1 favorite Sing Scat ($6) was hustled to the front from the gate in the 1 1/16-mile claiming event for fillies and mares who had never won two races and was never headed, leading comfortably throughout and coming home under a hand ride in 1:44.86 over a turf course rated as good.

The victory was the 27th in the month of July for Ness and extended his win streak to 17 calendar days between Laurel, Delaware Park and Parx Racing that dates back to June 30. It was also the second career milestone Ness has reached at Laurel, earning his 2,000th win with Caylee's Song on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2013.

“Luckily, we weren't [waiting] for very long. It came pretty fast,” Ness said. “It's kind of a longevity milestone, I guess you'd call it. We've been doing this a long time. It means you've been doing it a while. I remember being right here for 2,000. Seems like it was yesterday.”

Ness becomes the 16th trainer to reach 4,000 wins in North America and ranks 13th among active trainers behind Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's record 10,199 and counting. The 48-year-old Ness won No. 1,000 Sept. 23, 2010 at Presque Isle Downs with Afleet Ashley, and picked up No. 3,000 Feb. 18, 2020 at Parx with Late Breaking News.

“The last thousand went pretty quick,” Ness said. “The first win was tough. I went like 0-for-30 or 40 and was like, 'This is hard.' I just wanted to win one race when I first started. I had bad horses and didn't do a good job with the ones I had, so it took a while before I won a race.”

After graduating from South Dakota State University, the Heron, S.D. native took a job in the media relations office at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, where he won his first race with his 33rd starter, Blue Rocket, Aug. 21, 1999. Ness began training full-time in 2004 and over the years has expanded his operation to nearly 200 horses currently including 140 in training.

“I'm good at horse training, but I'm terrible with all the bookwork and that kind of stuff,” Ness said. “There's a lot more than just showing up in the winner's circle. There's a lot behind the scenes. They say it takes a village. It takes a community when you run a big stable like I've got.”

Ness has had 300 or more winners in a season four times, leading the nation with 395 in 2012 and ranking in the top six nine times since 2008, including second in 2010 and 2011 and third each of the past two years. He is coming off a 2022 campaign that saw him win 326 races and a career-high $10.3 million in purses.

Entering Sunday Ness had 168 wins and more than $5.8 million in purses from 688 starters in 2023, pushing his lifetime bankroll over $79.5 million. He owns four career graded stakes wins, two coming this year with Repo Rocks in Aqueduct's Toboggan (G3) and Belmont Park's Westchester (G3).

“We've been steady, that's the thing. We've been consistent and steady for the last little while,” Ness said. “[Wins are] all the same to me. Obviously, the graded-stakes are important but they all feel almost the same. This is my job and I approach it that way. It's on to the next. If you keep humble and keep on to the next, you might get another thousand down the line here.”

Ness has dominated the trainer standings at Delaware and Parx in recent years and has also won six meet titles in Maryland, including Laurel's winter stand to open 2023. Others have come at Laurel fall in 2011 and 2012 and historic Pimlico Race Course's 2012, 2015 and 2019 spring stands.

Heading into Sunday, Ness was the leading trainer at both Delaware Park and Parx and tied 16-16 with Brittany Russell in Laurel's summer meet standings after Starship Laoban ($4.80) gave Ness No. 4,001 in Sunday's third race, also with Rodriguez up.

“I'm fortunate. [This] is something I would do even if I didn't get paid,” Ness said. “It's my hobby, it's my passion and it's my job. Very few get to do that, so I feel blessed to be able in that position.”

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Nest Tunes Up for Shuvee, Pretty Mischievous on Track for Test

Nest (Curlin), last year's Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly, tuned up for her expected seasonal debut in the July 23 GII Shuvee S. with a four-furlong work in :50.00 (13/38) in company with unraced stablemate Onlooker (Street Sense) over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Sunday.

“It was a good work and a nice, strong gallop out. She seemed to keep going,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, Nest has been off since finishing fourth in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. During her championship campaign, she won the GI Alabama S., GI Ashland S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks. She was also second in the GI Belmont S.

Nest was initially targeting the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont Park in June for her 4-year-old debut, but Pletcher said he is confident the filly is ready to run off the long layoff.

“We expect big things from her always,” Pletcher said. “It's a lot to ask of her, but she ran well in her debut going a mile and a sixteenth and she's basically run well pretty much every start of her career. Hopefully, we have her fit enough to perform well and this is the first step towards big goals.”

Also working at Saratoga Sunday, GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) went four furlongs in :49.00 (11/91) over the Oklahoma training track for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner/breeder Godolphin.

“She worked great and I'm very happy with her,” said Walsh. “It was just a half and we'll do more with her next week–she doesn't need to overdo it. She's doing good.”

Following her win in the nine-furlong Oaks, Pretty Mischievous cut back to 1 1/16 miles to win the GI Acorn S. last time out June 9. She will shorten up even further for her next start, the seven-furlong GI Test S. Aug. 5.

“She's got bags of natural speed, so I think the timing is very good,” Walsh said of the cut-back. “We were able to give her a little more time between races and we've always kicked around the idea of shortening her up, so this seems like a good opportunity. She's a good horse, and most of them when they're that good can go two turns or shorten up. She's just got that natural speed, so why not try to utilize it? We can always go back to two turns if it doesn't work.”

The post Nest Tunes Up for Shuvee, Pretty Mischievous on Track for Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Maiden Winner Freudmein In With Big Shot In New York Derby

The past performance lines, as well as the morning line, make it very clear that Maker's Candy is the horse to beat in Monday's $150,000 New York Derby, the 50th running at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

Take into consideration the colt's connections of trainer Mike Maker and jockey Jose Ortiz and there's little doubt the stakes-winning Maker's Candy will be the prohibitive favorite in the seven-horse field of state-bred 3-year-olds.

A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-olds in training sale purchase last year, the Twirling Candy colt won the Mike Lee Stakes, ridden by Ortiz, on May 29 at Belmont Park and finished first, but was disqualified for interference, in the Gander Stakes on Feb. 25 at Aqueduct.

And Maker won the 2022 edition of the New York Derby with Barese.

What's not to like about Maker's Candy?

Locally based trainer Chris Englehart isn't handing the winner's trophy to Maker's Candy just yet. Englehart, the perennial leading trainer at Finger Lakes, believes Freudmein may be up to the challenge when in the annual 1 1/16 mile New York Derby is run as the eighth race on Monday's nine-race
program. First-race post time is 1:15 p.m. (ET).

Freudmein scored on the sealed slop at Belmont on May 20, breaking his maiden by 11¾ lengths as the favorite to earn an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. It was his first victory after second and fourth in his first two starts.

While it took three starts before Freudmein made his first visit to the winner's circle, Englehart always has been high on the homebred son of Freud out of the dam Colormein, by Mr. Greeley.

“Right from the start of his breezing we could see Freudmein had a lot of potential,” Englehart said. “It didn't matter who we breezed him against he would beat them. I was extremely impressed with his maiden win; he just glided over the slop.”

Having trained almost 4,700 winners in a 40-year career, Englehart knows quality when he sees it. And having trained horses for My Purple Haze Stables for more than 20 years, he'd like nothing more than to win the New York Derby for owner Wanda Polisseni who resides in the Rochester
suburb of Fairport, New York.

Polisseni, through her My Purple Haze Stables, has enjoyed success in Thoroughbred and harness racing. The New York Derby would be a crowning achievement with Thoroughbreds.

“It would certainly mean a lot; Wanda has won a lot of stakes with her trotters and we have won a few minor stakes together, but nothing like this,” Englehart said, whose best finish in the New York Derby came in 2021, when Purple Hearted finished second.

Another key component in the team is jockey John Davila Jr. Recently inducted into the Finger Lakes Hall of Fame, Davila is a three-time winner of the New York Derby, with one per decade. He won the 1996 edition with Carr Tech, the 2003 running with Traffic Chief, and 2015 edition with
Force.

While Freudmein does hail from a family of sprinters, Englehart believes the colt can stretch out.

“He trains like he wants to run farther,” said Englehart, a 2017 inductee into the Finger Lakes Hall of Fame. “He has missed some time training, but the New York Derby only comes around once so we're taking a shot.”

Freudmein's siblings enjoyed significant success. Colormepazzi (by Mission Impazible) earned $240,562 and Colormepompom (by Pomeroy) bankrolled $256,805.

The field for the $150,000 New York Derby with (morning-line odds, trainer, jockey):

1 Tacony Road (15-1, Tim Murphy, Nazario Alvarado)
2 Allure of Money (4-1, Michael Ferraro, Luis Perez)
3 Mo Trump (12-1, Michael A. Ferraro, Jacky Davis)
4 Freudmein (3-1, Chris Englehart, John Davila Jr.)
5 Tiz Lucky (15-1, Beth Miller-Saul, Keiber Coa)
6 Maker's Candy (1-1, Michael Maker, Jose Ortiz)
7 Wynn Giant (10-1, Jeffrey Englehart, Heman Harkie)

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