Month: July 2023

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Ryvit brings a five-race win streak into Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomores at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the Competitive Edge colt needed four starts to graduate, overpowering a restricted maiden special weight field in March at Oaklawn Park. But the $70,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Yearling and HORA Sale graduate hasn't lost since, taking the Bachelor in April at Oaklawn, the Grade 3 Chick Lang in May at Pimlico and the Maxfield last out on July 2 over a sloppy and sealed main track at Ellis Park.

Asmussen said Ryvit, who has won his last three outings in frontrunning fashion, has overcome issues with the starting gate to develop into a win machine.

“We started him early last year and he had a weird incident at the gate where it didn't come open smoothly, and that caused quite a bit of an issue with him. It took him three more races to get that out of his head,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen has won the Amsterdam a record six times, scoring for the Heiligbrodts with Bwana Charlie [2004] and Yaupon [2020] as well as with Santana Strings [2005], Holy Boss [2015], Jackie's Warrior [2021] and Gunite [2022].

“Ryvit just wins,” Asmussen said. “The Amsterdam has been good to us and hopefully it continues to be.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr. has the call from post 5 aboard Ryvit, who is assigned a co-field high 124 pounds.

Drew's Gold won his first four career starts before finishing a prominent second last out to Arabian Lion in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun on June 10 at Belmont Park.

Trained and co-owned by James Chapman with Stuart Tsujimoto, the Violence ridgling has outrun his $25,000 purchase price at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, banking $302,620 led by wins in the Jimmy Winkfield in February at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Gold Fever in May at Belmont Park. The latter effort garnered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

Chapman said he was confident that Drew's Gold would step up and perform in the Woody Stephens and the dark bay, despite lunging at the break, responded with a strong effort when second at every point of call to earn a career-best 106 Beyer.

“I told everyone coming out of his win that he was going to jump again and that's what he did. Who would have thought you could run a 106 Beyer and get beat,” Chapman said. “It was his first time seven-eighths and it was his first time in a graded race out of open races and that horse came back from running long at Pimlico and ran a good race. He got beat, but to me he didn't get beat. He ran his best race and did what he was supposed to do – he just didn't get the money.”

Jose Ortiz, who guided Drew's Gold [122 pounds] through a half-mile breeze in 47.88 seconds over the Spa main track Thursday, picks up the mount from the inside post.

AMO Racing USA's undefeated New York Thunder [post 6, Tyler Gaffalione, 122 pounds] will make his dirt and graded-stakes debut for trainer Jorge Delgado.

The Nyquist colt made his first two starts sprinting five furlongs at Gulfstream Park, graduating by 6 1/2-lengths in November over synthetic ahead of a 1 3/4-length score in December over turf.

The $130,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase enters from a gate-to-wire 7 1/2-length romp on April 30 in the Woodstock, traveling six-furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta.

New York Thunder is out of the Midshipman mare Start Over, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Degree of Risk. His third dam, Surf Club, produced 2012 Grade 1 Forego-winner Emcee.

SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan's multiple graded-stakes placed Gilmore [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 118 pounds] will look to make the grade for trainer Brendan Walsh.

The Twirling Candy bay closed to finish third last out in the Woody Stephens, finishing 2 1/2-lengths back of the victorious Arabian Lion while earning a career-best 104 Beyer.

“He ran great,” said Walsh of the Woody Stephens effort. “This is a cutback for him, but he is sharper. I thought he ran a lot sharper in the Woody Stephens – he was a lot closer to the pace than he had been. He was running at the end.”

By Twirling Candy and out of the Henny Hughes mare My Surfer Girl, the $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase finished second in the nine-furlong El Camino Real Derby in February over the Golden Gate synthetic when in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Gilmore has made his last four starts for Walsh, including a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Bay Shore in April at Aqueduct and a rallying effort to finish third in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Walsh said Gilmore has continued to develop and, like his fellow Amsterdam contenders, will be hopeful of using this race as a springboard to the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 26 at the Spa.

“He seems like he's improving,” Walsh said. “It's a nice race for him and if nothing else, it's a good race to take him to the Allen Jerkens if you look at the big picture.”

Rounding out the field are Grade 3 Bay Shore-winner Joey Freshwater [post 2, Jose Lezcano, 124 pounds], who adds blinkers for trainer Linda Rice; and the graded stakes-placed Deer District [post 3, Martin Garcia, 118 pounds] for trainer Dale Romans.

The Amsterdam is slated as Race 10 on Friday's 11-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

The post Streaking Sophomore Sprinter Ryvit Faces Challenge From Grade 1-Placed Drew’s Gold In Amsterdam appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Nine turf sprinters – older female type — will match up Friday at Del Mar in the annual renewal of the Daisycutter Handicap, an overnight test carrying a $100,000 purse at five furlongs on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course.

Eleven fillies and mares have entered the dash, but only nine can run at any one time on the turf course due to safety concerns.

Possible favorite in the grass gas could be Stonestreet Stables' Twilight Gleaming, a now 4-year-old daughter of the British sire National Defense. The quick lassie sped to a half-length victory in this same race last year, outrunning five rivals under top rider Juan Hernandez. That rider has another commitment in this year's edition of the turfer, so Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith steps in to take over the controls.

Here's the full field for the Daisycutter from the rail out with riders:

1. Twilight Gleaming;
2. Tom's Regret (Kyle Frey);
3. Sassy Nature (Edwin Maldonado);
4. Unbridled Mary (Hector Berrios);
5. Amy C (Umberto Rispoli);
6. Xmas Surprise (Joe Bravo);
7. Wide West (Juan Hernandez);
8. Tony Ann (Kent Desormeaux), and
9. Princess Adaleigh (Ramon Vazquez).

On the also-eligible list are Secrets Told (Antonio Fresu) and Kitty Kitana (Giovanni Franco).

Wide West, a 3-year-old filly by European super sire Frankel, enters the dash off a pair of turf sprint victories at Gulfstream Park in Florida this spring. She's been training steadily for veteran conditioner Thomas Proctor and draws California's top rider. She definitely bears watching.

The Daisycutter is Race 7 on an eight-race program. First post Friday will be 4 p.m.

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Wondrwherecraigis, second as the favorite in each of the previous two runnings, figures to garner plenty of attention again when he returns for the third consecutive year chasing an elusive victory in the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Saturday, July 29 at Laurel Park.

The 32nd renewal of the six-furlong De Francis for 3-year-olds and up is the headliner on a 10-race program featuring five stakes worth $500,000 in purses including the $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Alma North for fillies and mares 3 and older sprinting 6 ½ furlongs.

Rounding out Saturday's stakes action is a pair of $75,000 events restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses – the Star de Naskra for 3-year-olds and Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies, both contested at seven furlongs. Post time is 12:25 p.m.

Named for the late president and chairman of both Laurel Park and historic Pimlico Race Course, the De Francis' illustrious roster of winners includes Hall of Famer Housebuster; fellow sprint champions Cherokee Run, Smoke Glacken, Thor's Echo and Benny the Bull; and Lite the Fuse, the race's only two-time winner (1995-96).

Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso's 7-year-old gelding Wondrwherecraigis finished first by three-quarters of a length in the 2021 De Francis, then a Grade 3, but was disqualified to second behind Jalen Journey for interference after drifting out in deep stretch. Rather than earn his and trainer Brittany Russell's first graded win on their home track, he stepped up in his next start with a front-running triumph in the Bold Ruler (G3) at Belmont Park.

Wondrwherecraigis, racing for the first time in 113 days following a trip to Dubai for the $2 million Golden Shaheen (G1), was beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Beren in last year's De Francis but was two lengths clear of fellow Grade 3 winner Pickin' Time in third. In his other four lifetime starts at Laurel, Wondrwherecraigis is 4-0 including a victory in the 2022 Fire Plug as a prep for his trip overseas.

“It's always nicer running in your backyard. He is a tough, tough horse at Laurel,” Elkstone's Stuart Grant said. “It would be very nice to have him come back. It's actually more cool to win a race, then lose it the next year and win it the next year than it is to win it consecutively, because it means you're racing really well for three straight years. We're excited about 'Craig' every time he runs.”

Wondrwherecraigis enters this year's De Francis not having run in 71 days, since finishing sixth after chasing the pace in the six-furlong Maryland Sprint (G3) May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course on the undercard of the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1). The son of Munnings opened his 2023 season with a determined head victory in an April 13 optional claiming allowance at Laurel.

“'Craig' is an interesting character. Just when you think that's it, he hasn't run as well as we've seen him run in the past or he's not training that well, he fires off a bullet and wins a race,” Grant said. “Sometimes he's training so well and you send him out there and he just runs fair.

“I've given up trying to figure out Craig,” he added. “He doesn't owe us anything. He's been a very, very good horse to us and we're just going to keep him happy and keep him running and, when it's finally time to call it quits, we will take good care of him the rest of his life.”

Following the Maryland Sprint, where he surpassed $500,000 in purse earnings, Wondrwherecraigis returned to the work tab with a bullet half-mile in 48 seconds June 17. He has had two more four-furlong breezes, most recently in 48.40 July 22. Sheldon Russell gets the riding assignment from Post 2 in a field of seven.

An eight-time career winner from 17 starts, Wondrwherecraigis earned his first stakes victory in the 2021 Tale of the Cat at Saratoga over multiple stakes winner My Boy Tate. In 2020 he ran third in Belmont's Gold Fever and fourth in Saratoga's Amsterdam (G2), the latter behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Yaupon.

“We always expect great things,” Grant said. “I hate to be unfair to him and always expect his 'A' game, but hopefully he brings his 'A' game in the De Francis and we'll see what happens.”

A strong challenge to Wondrwherecraigis could come from Lea Farms' Lightening Larry, who earned his graded-stakes credentials with a 12-1 upset of the 2022 Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico in his only prior trip to Maryland for South Florida-based trainer Jorge Delgado, who maintains a summer string at Monmouth Park.

“He won my first graded-stakes for me, so I'll always have a very nice memory of him,” Delgado said. “He's doing good. I think since he came to Monmouth he loves the weather here and he loves the surface to train every week, so that's making a big difference.”

Also under consideration for the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G2) the same day at Saratoga, Lightening Larry has won back-to-back six-furlong stakes – the Mr. Prospector May 29 at Monmouth and Delaware Park's Alapocas Run July 1 – by six combined lengths. He has not finished worse than third in five races this year, including a season-opening victory in the Jan. 14 Sunshine Sprint against fellow Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park.

“We've put him in races to build his confidence. He's put up good numbers and he's running fast times, and he's happy,” Delgado said. “He's in very good shape and state of mind right now. I think he's going to be competitive anywhere he goes. The way he's training right now, I believe he's one of the best older sprinters in the country.”

Six of Lightening Larry's seven lifetime wins have come at the De Francis distance. In his two losses this year he was third behind multiple graded-stakes winner Candy Man Rocket in the Gulfstream Park Sprint Feb. 25 and second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths, in the NYRABets Sprint March 26 at Tampa Bay Downs.

“When Candy Man Rocket won, [Lightening Larry] was kind of outrun in the beginning by a horse that ended up finishing last, so he couldn't run his style that day. He still ran a good race to be third,” Delgado said. “At Tampa he ran really fast fractions and he got nailed in the end. Pretty much he's perfect to me. He's been 100 percent in the money, running in stakes races. The fact that he's won three stakes races is major. We're happy with the horse right now and the effort he gives us.”

Daniel Centeno will ride from Post 6 as the 126-pound topweight, giving from two to six pounds to his rivals.

Synthesis, owned and trained by New York-based David Jacobson, is a 10-time career winner with eight seconds and eight thirds from 47 starts seeking his first stakes victory. Scratched from the July 22 Wolf Hill at Monmouth, a 5 ½-furlong turf dash, the 7-year-old gelding exits a runner-up finish at odds of 20-1 in the seven-furlong John A. Nerud (G2) July 1 at Belmont.

“His last race speaks for itself,” Jacobson said. “On any given day he's capable of running a big race. I just hope he'll be able to handle the field that's dealt him next week.”

Synthesis has raced once before at Laurel, running fifth to stablemate Stage Left in an off-the-turf edition of the 5 ½-furlong King T. Leatherbury April 29. He has one second and two thirds in four lifetime tries going six furlongs, the most recent a fifth in the 2022 Fall Highweight (G3) at Aqueduct.

Claimed for $40,000 out of a win last June at Los Alamitos, Synthesis ran third in the 2018 Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar in the summer of his juvenile season. Angel Cruz rides from Post 3.

“I think he'll be running at the end. I wish it was a little further. Six and a half or seven-eighths is really his best distance, but he can get it done at three-quarters,” Jacobson said. “He's won 10 races. It's always important to know where the wire is, that's for sure.”

Pocket 3's Racing's multiple stakes winner Threes Over Deuces tries the De Francis for the second straight year after running fifth in 2022. The consistent 8-year-old gelding has been third or better in 39 of 57 starts, nine of them wins, the latest a last-out optional claiming allowance triumph sprinting six furlongs at Delaware Park June 14.

Xtreme Racing Stables' 5-year-old Sir Wellington was a stakes winner at both 2 and 3 and has placed in four other stakes for two-time Canterbury Park leading trainer McLean Robertson. The son of Palace has alternated wins and losses in his last four races, taking an open six-furlong allowance June 6 at Delaware andfinishing second to Lightening Larry in the Alapocas Run.

A.R.D. Racing Stables' Holy Synchronicity is entered to make his 27th career start and first in stakes company in the De Francis. The 4-year-old Holy Boss gelding was a 2 ½-length optional claiming allowance winner sprinting seven furlongs June 17 at Laurel, returning to be beaten a head by stakes-placed Backnthewoods when second going six furlongs July 2, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of 2021 Tom Fool (G3) winner Chateau.

Completing the field is Clover Hill Racing's 5-year-old Maryland homebred gelding Ladneedsahandler, exiting a popular two-length victory in an off-the-turf restricted allowance sprinting 5 ½ furlongs July 2 at Laurel.

In addition to a stakes-filled program, De Francis Day will also feature Tacos & Tequila starting at 1 p.m. in the apron tent. Individual tickets cost $50 and include all you can eat tacos; margaritas; non-alcoholic beverages; $2 betting voucher; daily program and a front-row seat to live racing action.

Persons must be 21 and older to attend. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: https://am.ticketmaster.com/marylandjockeyclub/tacosandtequila

The post ‘An Interesting Character’: Wondrwherecraigis Returns For Third Straight Year In De Francis Dash appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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