Month: July 2023

Goodwood: English Rain? Courage Mon Ami

While the 2023 English summer staggers on in dour misery, Britain looks to the Qatar Goodwood Festival which in terms of the weather is a far cry from its prior “Glorious Goodwood” standing but in terms of thoroughbred quality is up there with any of its counterparts. This week, we get to see the Royal Ascot heroes Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and the likes of Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) and Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}), to name a few. If the rain that presaged the action at Ascot last week continues, soft-ground specialists will be the order of each day with the opening fixture set to take place on good-to-soft, soft in places.

That makes the G1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup even more of a stamina test than usual, which should be no hindrance to Wathnan Racing's Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami given how strongly he saw out that race over a further half a mile. Pointed here instead of the same connections' 3-year-old option Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), the Gosdens' unbeaten representative has experience of this tricky circuit having won a handicap here in May.

“John [Gosden] was keen to train both him and Gregory for the race and soft ground or probable soft ground swayed the decision towards running Courage Mon Ami, while Gregory will now take a different route, with his main aim being the St Leger,” the owners' racing adviser Richard Brown said. “He's back in trip, but he won there impressively before the Gold Cup and we know he handles the track. I don't think it will be a problem coming back to two miles, it was always the question before Ascot if he would he stay two and a half.”

Fourth here last year, Mick and Janice Mariscotti's Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is back an improved horse and has just 3/4 of a length to turn around with Courage Mon Ami from the Gold Cup. Oisin Murphy believes the high-class veteran has conditions in his favour to do so. “All the signs at home are positive and I think this two miles will suit him better than the two and a half at Ascot,” he said. “I don't think the quick ground was a problem in the Gold Cup as he obviously let himself down on it, but we know from his past form that he enjoys some dig in the ground, so that's a plus for him.”

Also helped by the rain is Ballydoyle's Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who bounced out of the Gold Cup in which she was fourth to win last Sunday's G2 Curragh Cup. “She loved the ease in the ground at the Curragh,” Aidan O'Brien said. “She comes out of races on fast ground perfectly, which suggests it does not bother her, but she appears much better with an ease in the ground.” In a deep renewal, the first four home from the G2 Yorkshire Cup re-oppose with the winner Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) a fresh horse and the runner-up Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) back on a more suitable surface after flopping in the Gold Cup.

Marco Botti is hoping that Giavellotto can repay the resisted temptation to run at the Royal meeting. “He won well at York and it has always been the plan to skip the Gold Cup at Ascot and go to Goodwood,” he said. “He is well and his prep has gone to plan, we think he is fit and he looks in good order. We know he stays and we're looking forward to it. Two miles is not an issue, but we felt the Ascot Gold Cup may have stretched him a little bit. He settles well and he looks a stronger horse than last year. I just worry about the ground, I hope it will be nice ground for everyone and not extremes. Good-to-soft would be what he wants.”

All Boxes Ticked For Kinross…
Also on Tuesday is the G2 World Pool Lennox S., the next in the sequence of seven-furlong features which have been enhanced in recent years and which now provide a welcome narrative throughout the season. One of the finest in this category is Marc Chan's TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has the rain and return to the trip over which he is most comfortable to suit. He also has Frankie Dettori back on board, with the partnership temporarily ruptured by a spurious riding ban in the G1 July Cup in which the high-class gelding again showed his versatility to be third. Having beaten Creative Force (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2021, he was an unlucky second 12 months ago so this is clearly his bag. “There is no doubt this is his best distance,” Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said of the Ralph Beckett yard's stalwart, who is set to be an integral part of Dettori's farewell tour. “He likes the course and he's justifiably the favourite, even though that doesn't mean he will win the race.”

Of this year's 3-year-olds, Wathnan Racing's G3 Greenham S. winner and G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains runner-up Isaac Shelby (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks tailor-made for this after finishing fourth on ground that was too fast in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot. “He's back to seven and hopefully that will see him in his best light,” Richard Brown said. “He got lit up and things didn't really go to plan at Ascot. I'm not trying to use an excuse and saying he would have won there, but back in trip and back in grade here, he should be thereabouts.”

Revived by a gelding operation last year, Cheveley Park Stud's TDN Rising Star Audience (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) showed what he is capable of when making all in Newmarket's G3 Criterion S. and the stud's Chris Richardson is hoping he can back that up. “This race is the natural progression really and he came out of the Newmarket race well. He has not been straightforward, but gelding seems to have worked and we are now seeing what we were seeing on the gallops but not on the racecourse. It was just one of those rather frustrating things, but it was lovely to see him bounce back and follow up the previous win with such an emphatic success.”

Is Iberian Of The Right Vintage?
In the G2 Nicholson Gin Vintage S., Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud's Newbury novice scorer Iberian (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of the less-exposed types who was spared the beating by City Of Troy (Justify) that the Hannon stable's solid yardstick Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) had to endure in the G2 Superlative S. Richard Ryan, racing manager for Teme Valley, said of the former, “We're hopeful we have a nice horse and this race will answer a lot of questions. He is an impressive horse at home and Charlie [Hills] is having a great season with his two-year-olds.”
“He looks to have a number of promising horses, so we are in the slightly excited camp until proven otherwise,” Ryan added. “Although it is probably going to be wet at Goodwood, it's unwatered and well maintained for this meeting and probably with it being the first day, it won't have the same issues the July Course had at the time with conditions in the pouring rain.”

One of the eyecatchers of the Royal Ascot 2-year-old events was Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's Golden Mind (Ire) (Galileo Gold {GB}), a half-brother to the fellow Richard Fahey-trained star Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) who was finishing to real effect when third in the Listed Chesham S. over this seven-furlong trip. He gets the Dettori treatment and Fahey has a special wish. “He's a horse that is improving the whole time, he's a bit of a laid-back character and with racing he's going to get better,” his trainer said. “He's in good order and I would love Frankie to ride me a winner before he retires, he's a legend.”

Paddington Set For Select Sussex…
Only five will take on this season's sensation Paddington in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S., the feature race of the meeting, with the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S. and G1 Eclipse S. hero scaring off much opposition. One who hasn't been spared is Cheveley Park Stud's G1 Fillies' Mile, G1 Coronation S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois heroine Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}), while soft ground means that Shadwell at least have an outside chance of another surprise with the William Haggas-trained Aldaary (GB) (Territories {Ire}).

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Unified Filly Runs Away with Ellis Park Maiden

6th-Ellis, $70,000, Msw, 7-31, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.17, ft, 7 3/4 lengths.
CONDON CANDY (f, 2, Unified–Sweetness 'n Light, by Distorted Humor) broke well enough to go on and set the pace from two off the rail, drawing away from her rivals at the three furlong marker. Widening her advantage while being kept to her task, Condon Candy made the margin 7 3/4 lengths over Regal Humor (Kantharos), who would come on from midpack to claim second after bouncing off runners at the break. A half-sister to Stormy Sky (Sky Mesa), GSP, $223,932–who delivered a 2023 filly by Knicks Go–Condon Candy also claims the dam of SP Sweetest Princess (Cairo Prince) as a half-sibling. The victress here is the most recent to the races for her experienced dam, being the eighth from nine of age, and has a pair of half-brothers in the wings–a yearling by Global Campaign and a 2023 colt by Game Winner. Sweetness 'n Light visited Nashville for 2024. This is the extended female family of MGSW-Brz Isaformer (Temple City); MGISW Octave; MGSW Belle Cherie; and track record-setter MSW Zestful. Sales history: $70,000 RNA Wlg '21 KEENOV; $70,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Baron Stable; B-Dailey Bloodstock, LLC & Tommy Wente (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.

 

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Backstretch Dinners Draw a Crowd in Saratoga

Sunday evening dinners have always been a hit among the many backstretch appreciation events that go on throughout the Saratoga race meet, but this summer the affair has become an ever bigger attraction now that Morrissey's Lounge and Bistro at the Adelphi Hotel is catering the weekly celebration.

Every Sunday just before 6 p.m., upbeat music and savory smells reach Union Avenue as a crowd gathers at the Marylou Whitney Pavilion. With dozens of volunteers on hand, the vast smorgasbord of food remains open until 8:30 so that workers who were busy in the later races on the day's card have plenty of time to join the party and sit down for a warm meal.

The team at the Adelphi has planned a different cuisine for each week and attendees are always eager to find out what will be on the menu.

“We work with all fresh food and ingredients and we cook everything to order,” said the Adelphi's Director of Restaurants Patrick Toomey. “We picked different theme nights–like Mexican, Carribean, and Southern–so we have a lot of fun with it. I love the community that you see back here. I love to hear the chatter and see their faces enjoying good food.”

The Adelphi Hotel is owned by the Roth family of LNJ Foxwoods Stable and their partner, fellow horse owner and philanthropist Michael Dubb. Toomey said that when the Roth family was first presented with the opportunity to support this event, they were eager to participate.

“The Roths have been big backstretch contributors before in other ways at different tracks and this was an easy one,” he said. “We were definitely going to give it our all and provide great dinners here every Sunday night.”

After the passing of his wife Marylou Whitney in 2019, John Hendrickson has remained active in supporting a multitude of backstretch initiatives. In addition to the organization of the Sunday evening dinners, as a tribute to his late wife he funded construction for the Saratoga Backstretch Clinic, which is also new this year and is located across from the pavilion.

“We've been doing [dinners] for 16 years as part of the Backstretch Appreciation Program that Marylou and I started,” Hendrickson said. “Marylou always said that this should be the summer place for everyone. They should have the best food and now they have the best health care as well.”

This summer, the Sunday evening dinners have been attracting crowds upwards of 500 backstretch workers.

“This year, there's new energy,” said Hendrickson. “Everybody dresses up and everybody is happy. It's first-class food. The Roth family is very generous and they've really put on a great show.”

Every evening with the exception of Saturday night when racing runs late, an event is on the schedule for the backstretch workers. In addition to the Sunday evening dinners, Wednesday night bingo also draws a crowd. These events are made possible through the work of the Race Track Chaplaincy and the Backstretch Employee Services Team (BEST) in New York.

BEST'S Program Director Nancy Underwood said that events like the Sunday dinner allow their team to check in on members of the backstretch community and invite new workers to join their community.

“We really try to create a sense of community and we're able to do that because of John and his donors,” said BEST's Program Director Nancy Underwood. “Everything we do with this population is really about trust and relationship building. We believe that a connected person is a healthier person. We bring everybody together. We're able to serve them, celebrate what they do and really appreciate what they do for the industry.”

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De Francis Winner Lightening Larry ‘Doing Fine’ After Delgado Trainee Was Vanned Off For ‘Precautionary’ Reasons

Lea Farms' Lightening Larry, who ran his stakes win streak to three with a half-length victory over fellow Grade 3 winner Wondrwherecraigis in the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Saturday at Laurel Park, returned to Monmouth Park where trainer Jorge Delgado reported Sunday he is 'doing fine.'

Lightening Larry came from off the pace on a main track where speed had been holding to run down pacesetting Wondrwherecraigis and prevail in the prestigious six-furlong sprint, adding his name to the likes of Hall of Famer Housebuster and champions Cherokee Run, Smoke Glacken, Thor's Echo and Benny the Bull as De Francis winners.

“I'll tell you what, I won a Grade 2 [July 28] in Saratoga, but I think it is way tougher to beat Brittany Russell in Maryland,” Delgado said of Wondrwherecraigis' Laurel-based trainer, the state's overall leader in wins (72) and purse earnings ($3.143 million) this year that earned a fourth career individual title during the Preakness Meet in May at historic Pimlico Race Course.

“[Lightening Larry] always shows heart,” he added. “He's a very straightforward, honest horse. He's been magnificent in his career. He doesn't care where he runs or who he runs against, he just tries every time. He's had a beautiful career. He's got a strong win percentage. He's been doing really good for us, thankfully.”

Lightening Larry had galloped out and was jogging back to the winner's circle following the De Francis when jockey Daniel Centeno stopped and dismounted in upper stretch. The 4-year-old Florida-bred Uncaptured colt stood patiently while being hosed off and walked calmly on to a waiting horse van to be taken off the track.

“He came back in good shape,” Delgado said. “I was a little concerned because they vanned him off and when I spoke to the state vets there they were just doing the precautionary things they have to do. He came back last night. I saw him walking this morning and we checked him with the vet and he's doing fine. He'll be all right, so that was a big relief.

“As far as his mood and desire, he's a straightforward horse and he's always playing and biting and stuff like that. Nothing has changed,” he added. “He ate all his feed last night and he was just enjoying the morning. It was a beautiful morning in New Jersey, and he was out enjoying the weather and everything.”

Centeno settled Lightening Larry in third behind Wondrwherecraigis, who posted fractions of 21.84, 44.65 and 56.75 seconds in his third straight De Francis after being second each of the prior two years. Lightening Larry was able to collar the leader in the final furlong and prevail in 1:09.29.

“He loves to win, and yesterday he showed it. I don't think it was an ideal race for him. There wasn't too much pace in the race, and he was closing from a little outside even if it was a five-horse field,” Delgado said. “I thought [Wondrwherecraigis] had a little advantage over him because he was the only sort of speed and he was on the inside. In the stretch and by the eighth pole, he targeted that horse and said, 'I'm going to win,' and he passed the horse. He's a pretty cool horse. He knows where the wire is, and he enjoys what he does.”

Lightening Larry has eight wins, six in stakes, and $607,080 in purse earnings from 18 starts. Delgado took over his training last March and together they have been third or better in nine of 11 races including prior stakes wins in the 2022 Chick Lang (G3) and this year's Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park, Mr. Prospector at Monmouth and Delaware Park's Alapocas Run.

The Chick Lang at Pimlico marked the first graded triumph for both horse and trainer, who since added the 2022 Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream Park with Willy Boi, also owned by Lea Farms, and Saratoga's Amsterdam (G2) with AMO Racing USA's New York Thunder.

“He's the kind of horse that always makes you look good. It doesn't matter what track it is, or what day or what stake. Nothing matters to him,” Delgado said. “He just goes to the race and he's a true warrior. He has a heart that a majority of horses don't have. I have a really good chemistry with him. He likes to run and for the barn he's a very special horse.”

Delgado, based primarily in South Florida with a summer string at Monmouth, has not plotted out a next start for Lightening Larry.

“Thankfully there are plenty of options,” he said. “I will try to look for something in five to seven weeks. He runs basically every four weeks, maybe less days this time, and he responds. I think between this race and the next race I would like to give him an extra couple of weeks and bring him back in 100 percent shape.”

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