Month: July 2023

A ‘Pirate’s Life For Him: Son Of Omaha Beach Is Newest ‘TDN Rising Star’

Few Todd Pletcher first-time starters fail to live up to their billing if they break as 1-5 favorites and Pirate (Omaha Beach) kept that trend rolling with a three-length win to graduate at Saratoga and become the Spa's first 2023 'TDN Rising Star' and the first for his freshman sire (by War Front).

Never under the radar, the 2-year-old half-brother to GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) took all the money and quickly silenced any doubt about his inside draw with a quick beginning under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. Arteta (Take Charge Indy) joined him in a sprint to the front and the pair stayed in close quarters through opening fractions of :22.26 and :45.70. Tucked against the rail around the turn, Pirate kicked on as his rival faded back and was set down with a furlong to run. Second-time starter Just Steel (Justify), a $500,000 KEESEP yearling, chased him to the wire but was never a threat, as Pirate sailed to the easy win.

“He got away alertly, but they put a lot of pressure on him early,” said Pletcher. “I thought it was a good performance and very professional like he's been since we got him.”

All things equal, Pirate will be considered for the seven-furlong GI Hopeful S. Sept. 4.

“We'll play it by ear. Normally we'd wait for the Hopeful, but we'll see how things go,” said Pletcher, who saddled 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) to victory in last year's renewal.

The fourth overall winner for Omaha Beach, Pirate is a half to the aforementioned National Treasure along with Ultimate (Speightstown), SW, $362,556, recent winner of the Iowa Sprint S. Treasure is herself a half to a pair of graded-stakes performers as well as MSW Inspired (Unbridled's Song), the dam of GSP Carmel Road (Quality Road) and the dams of Vow (Union Rags), an impressive allowance winner at Horseshoe Indianapolis July 6 and Blum's Top Secret (Uncle Mo), a 5 1/2-length maiden winner at Ellis Park last month. Under the third dam is MGSW/GISP Multiple Choice (Mt. Livermore) and GI Clark H. victor Leofric (Candy Ride {Arg}). Treasure is responsible for a yearling filly by the Blum-bred Horse of the Year Authentic named Renoir and was bred to Quality Road for a full-sibling to National Treasure in 2023 but failed to produce a live foal.

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 7-15, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.89, ft, 3 lengths.
PIRATE, c, 2, Omaha Beach
                1st Dam: Treasure, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Proposal, by Mt. Livermore
                3rd Dam: Lady of Choice, by Storm Bird
Sales History: $350,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Harrell Ventures, LLC and Starlight Racing; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

 

The post A ‘Pirate’s Life For Him: Son Of Omaha Beach Is Newest ‘TDN Rising Star’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Frankie Dettori And His Manager, Peter Burrell, Part Ways

Jockey Frankie Dettori and his manager of over 30 years, Peter Burrell, will no longer be working together according to published reports.

Dettori, who is retiring at the end of the year, began working with Burrell in 1987, besides a brief split in 2007 and 2008. Dettori's career has been highlighted by a trio of champion jockey titles and big-race wins on an international scale, but also for his 'Magnificent Seven', where he won all seven races at Ascot in 1996. Besides assisting Dettori with his storied career on the track, Burrell has also aided the Italian with his career away from the races. Among other projects, the jockey released a film, Dettori, in 2021.

Burrell told The Sun, “I've not too much to say other than we both felt that we wanted to explore other avenues. I have other projects that I now want to spend more time on and I'm looking forward to it. It's been a great thirty year run and we remain great friends.”

The post Frankie Dettori And His Manager, Peter Burrell, Part Ways appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rafael Hernandez Hits Milestone 3,000th Career Win Woodbine

Rafael Hernandez, a former Canadian champion jockey, reached his 3,000th career win Friday when Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry's homebred Bill Needle scored in the fourth race at Woodbine.

Hernandez urged the 4-year-old Distorted Humor gelding to lead nearing the final furlong and he kicked clear to win the 1 1/16-mile maiden optional claiming event by 2 1/2 lengths, providing his rider the milestone.

A Woodbine mainstay for the past several years, Hernandez currently ranks second by wins and purse earnings among riders at the Toronto-area racetrack, with 35 victories and $1,543,421 in earnings through Friday.

He has tallied more than 140 stakes wins during his career and won Canada's Sovereign Award as Outstanding Jockey in 2020. Overall, Hernandez' 15,756 career mounts have banked more than $62 million in purses.

Hernandez enjoyed a highly successful year in 2022, winning 135 races, including 17 stakes, with notable victories including the Fury Stakes, Woodbine Oaks, and Queen's Plate (G1) with Moira, who was named 2022 Canada's Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly; Grade 2 Nassau with Crystal Cliffs (dead heat with Lady Speightspeare); Grade 2 Royal North with Boardroom; Grade 2 Dance Smartly with Wakanaka; and Grade 3 Mazarine with Renegade Rebel. His mounts bankrolled purse earnings of more than $6 million.

A native of Puerto Rico, where he attended jockey school for two years, Hernandez started his riding career at Fairmount Park near St. Louis in 2004 and won the riding title there in 2005, and proceeded to win it eight out of nine years. Career highlights include winning seven races on Fairmount's eight-race card on May 20, 2014.

Hernandez relocated to Gulfstream Park during the mid-2010s, and following a stint on the sidelines in 2016 to recover from injuries sustained in a three-horse spill at Gulfstream, he shifted his tack to Woodbine, where he has reigned among the leading riders.

The post Rafael Hernandez Hits Milestone 3,000th Career Win Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights