Month: July 2023

Mandella Rules Out Travers; Mulling Options with Geaux Rocket Ride

Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) exited his victory in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. in good order, trainer Richard Mandella reported Sunday. The victory earned the lightly raced colt an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and Mandella said he has several routes to consider to get to that Nov. 4 race at Santa Anita.

The Sept. 23 GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx, the Sept. 2 GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar and the Sept. 30 GI Awesome Again S. at Santa Anita are all on the table. While Geaux Rocket Ride would be facing just 3-year-olds at Parx, he would face older horses in both California options.

“I'll think about all of those races and about running against older horses,” Mandella said.

Mandella has ruled out another trip east for the Aug. 26 GI Travers S. at Saratoga.

“I think it's too much to think about, taking him to Saratoga,” Mandella said. “He's young and he's not raced very much and we've pushed him along to get to this point. I don't like the idea of bringing him to Monmouth, bringing him back to California, and then coming back for the Travers. We pushed him to this point and we don't want to keep pushing. The Travers doesn't seem like the right thing to do.”

A debut winner at Santa Anita in January, Geaux Rocket Ride was second in the Mar. 4 GII San Felipe S., but was knocked off the Triple Crown trail when a fever caused him to miss the GI Santa Anita Derby. He returned with a win in the June 4 Affirmed S. and was earning his first graded score in the Haskell.

Asked if having the Breeders' Cup at his home track of Santa Anita would give Geaux Rocket Ride an advantage in November, Mandella said, “It does if you're fast enough. We think he's fast enough and so far he's passed every test. But that's another step up to get to the Classic and it's against older horses so we'll just have to wait and see if he leads us there.”

Geaux Rocket Ride and the Bob Baffert-trained Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), the third-place Haskell finisher, were scheduled to ship back to Southern California Tuesday.

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Travers Remains Primary Objective For Kentucky Derby Winner Mage

From the moment Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage crossed the wire third in the Preakness (G1), the connections had their minds set on the $1.25-million Travers (G1) on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

Following a hard-fought second in Saturday's TVG.com Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park, co-owner Ramiro Restrepo said the 1 1/4-mile Travers remains the primary objective for the Good Magic colt.

Owned in partnership with OGMA Investments, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH and trained by Gustavo Delgado, Mage settled in between horses in sixth going down the backstretch of the Haskell while odds-on favorite Arabian Knight controlled the pace. Mage appeared poised for victory at the top of the stretch with Pin Oak Stud's Geaux Rocket Ride also launching a rally. Mage battled gamely in the stretch run, but could not reel in Richard Mandella-trained Geaux Rocket Ride, who won by 1 3/4 lengths.

Mage's Haskell effort garnered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, and reminded Restrepo of the colt's runner-up effort in the Florida Derby (G1) in April at Gulfstream Park, where he finished one length behind champion 2-year-old male Forte, who is targeting Saturday's  $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at the Spa.

“Sometimes, you get a win without winning. It gave us a lot of Florida Derby feels, kind of the same mentality,” Restrepo said by phone Sunday morning. “It was an eerily similar run to the Florida Derby, and hats off to Richard Mandella and Pin Oak. They ran a great race yesterday.”

Mage graduated at first asking going seven furlongs on January 28 on Gulfstream Park's Pegasus World Cup undercard. The 3 3/4-length win prompted his connections to try the Fountain of Youth (G2) in March at the South Florida oval where he finished a distant fourth to Forte as well as Kentucky Derby alumnus Rocket Can and Cyclone Mischief en route to the Florida Derby.

Mage took his connections on quite the ride when capturing the 'Run for the Roses' at 15-1 odds. The triumph fulfilled one part of their dreams, with the other part being a triumph in the Travers.

Restrepo said a Travers win would be equally as important to Delgado. The most recent horse to complete the Kentucky Derby-Travers double was Jim Tafel's homebred Street Sense in 2007.

“For us, the horse has been realizing our dreams since Day One,” Restrepo said of Mage. “Everyone in horse racing knows the Kentucky Derby is the holy grail and he got us the win there. That's been a huge dream fulfilled. Gustavo's greatest success other than winning the Kentucky Derby has been winning the (2016) Test (G1) at Saratoga (with 55-1 longshot Paola Queen). He's run up there for multiple summers there with a barn of horses. He loves Saratoga and the Travers is probably his second biggest goal.”

Restrepo, a fifth generation horseman who turns 45 on Travers week, also holds Saratoga in high regard.

“I've only missed three Saratogas in my life. I've hot walked there. I've led horses over to the paddock at Saratoga,” Restrepo recalled. “The Travers is a dream, and having your colors on that canoe in the infield pond is a dream, having your colors painted on the jockey statue is a dream. Sam Herzberg of Sterling Stables is a native New Yorker who loves Saratoga and the CMNWTLH boys [Chase Chamberlin and Brian Doxtator] appreciate the tradition and history of Saratoga. For all of us, the Kentucky Derby and the Travers are our two biggest goals. From the moment he crossed the wire at the Preakness, that was our mindset – how can we get this colt to the Travers?

“Our horse has run in four straight Grade 1s, hit the board in the other three, including an American classic,” Restrepo continued. “The Travers would be his fifth straight Grade 1. It's been four amazing efforts put forth and hopefully the Travers is the fifth.”

Restrepo reported that Mage would likely ship to Delgado's string at Saratoga on Monday.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert Clay's Grandview Equine partnership and raised at historic Runnymede Farm in Paris, Kentucky, Mage is out of the graded stakes-placed Big Brown mare Puca and was bought for $290,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He has banked in excess of $2.4 million and boasts a 2-2-1 record from six career starts.

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‘We Thought She Could Be Special And That’s Where The Name Came From’

He may hail from a family that will forever be associated with one of Ireland's most famous jumps horses but trainer Pat Foley has been making a name for himself on the Flat of late and sent out the well-named Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) to record an emphatic debut success at Leopardstown last week. 

That performance put Special Wan slap bang in the shop window and, while Foley admitted that she is likely to continue her career for new connections eventually, he also revealed that his owner Jim Browne could be tempted to up the filly in class before agreeing to sell. 

He said, “There have been plenty of phone calls since Leopardstown, plenty of interest. I'm not one hundred per cent sure if there is a deal done or not but we could run her in the Platinum Stakes at Cork if she's not sold. I'll leave that up to Jim. He is in the business of selling but he could be tempted to run this filly in the listed race before letting her go.”

A light went out in Irish racing when Foley's father Tom, one of the game's true gentlemen, passed away at the age of 74 in 2021. Tom trained the legendary jumper Danoli, who became the people's horse in the 1990s by winning 17 races all told, many of which were at the big festivals and in front of jam-packed stands full of his adoring fans. 

Pat's first victory since taking over the licence from his father was achieved with Special Wan's half-brother Yermanthere (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}) and he also sent out the half-sister Yerwanthere (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}) to win on debut at Leopardstown before selling to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for Joseph O'Brien

The family has been good to Foley and Browne, who operates under the banner of Kilnamoragh Stud, and has clearly found a diamond in the rough with the broodmare Fast Jazz (Ire) (Frozen Power {Ire}).

Foley said, “She has been a fantastic broodmare for Jim. Fast Jazz has produced three winners for us and none of them have been by the most fashionable sires so the mare is definitely putting plenty of ability in them. They are a very straightforward family to train and they all have a great attitude on them. We've been very lucky with them.

“Jim only has a few broodmares but he does very well with them. He bred Tango Flare (Ire) (Fulbright {GB}), Simply A Breeze (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) and Bounce The Blues (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}). He has a lovely setup at Kilnamoragh Stud.”

He added, “Fast Jazz has a lovely 2-year-old filly by Bungle Inthejungle (GB). We broke her last year and she's due back to us next week with a view towards possibly running her at the back end but we could always wait until she's three. She's a big scopey filly. He has a yearling colt by Profitable (Ire) and the mare is in foal to Blue Point (Ire) so there's plenty more to come from her.”

Foley is no different to the majority of trainers in Ireland in that selling potential stars like Special Wan is a necessity to keep the business in lights. While his first big-race win was recorded over jumps when stable stalwart Rebel Gold took the Dan and Joan Moore Memorial at Fairyhouse this year, Foley endeavors to maintain a Flat arm to this famous nursery of National Hunt talent. 

He said, “The yard is full at the minute, thank God. We have a mixture of everything and all of the winter jumpers are back in and we have a team for the Flat as well. It has been a great mixture and we'll be hoping to have a few more Flat horses next year and have the yard 50-50 between Flat and National Hunt if we could. Even with a filly like Special Wan, there is an international market out there for horses like that. When it came to selling on the Flat over the past couple of years, we've had phone calls from America, Australia, Hong Kong, all over the place. It's very important to be dual purpose and you have to be selling one or two horses every year to keep everything going. From a training point of view, you'd love to be holding on to horses like Special Wan to show that you can do the job but unfortunately you need to sell for the whole thing to make business sense.”

Regardless of where Special Wan goes next, Foley says that he is convinced that the filly will live up to her name. 

He said, “Her work has always been brilliant. Even as a 2-year-old, she could have run but we were a little bit worried about the ground when it got very soft. Jim is a very patient man and, if he thinks there is any reason not to run, he would rather wait until everything is perfect. We are lucky that way and thankfully it paid off. 

“We liked Yerwanthere a lot but this filly was working even better as a 2-year-old. We thought she could be a bit special and that's where the name came from.”

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Nest Returns with Stylish Victory in Shuvee

Nest (Curlin), off since finishing fourth in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, was second in the betting to Clairiere (Curlin)–who already had a pair of Grade I victories to her credit this termr–but it was the returning champion who sailed under the wire first in the GII Shuvee S. at Saratoga Sunday. Sent off at 4-5, Nest broke on top, but allowed Pistol Liz Ablazen (Daredevil) to take over and spurt to a clear lead on the first turn. That longshot took the field through fractions of :24.82 and :49.87 as Nest tracked from second, just ahead of 3-5 favorite Clairiere. Nest rolled up to challenge the pacesetter midway on the far turn and, getting the jump on Clairiere, scampered clear into the stretch. The favorite tried valiantly to run her down, but Nest was always finding more late for an easy score.

“More than worth the wait,” winning co-owner Mike Repole said of the victory. “At the end of the day, you want a horse like this best for the last four races of the year, not the first four. She had a huge 3-year-old campaign. We wanted to get her back in June on Belmont day [in the GI Ogden Phipps], but Todd [Pletcher] just thought she needed a little bit more time. Going a mile and an eighth after eight, nine months off against a horse like Clairiere, that was real impressive. They could have gone around two more times, she wasn't going to be passed. Todd did an amazing job, give him credit. [Jockey] Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] is just Irad. No one better than him right now.”

Pletcher was more than satisfied with last year's champion 3-year-old filly's return to the races.

'I'm super proud of the filly,” he said. “She's all class and it's nice to see her come back and get back on track. We got a bit of a delayed start, but she showed she's still in top-class form.”

He continued, “I have so much respect for Clairiere, and I know how good she is–she's one of those that the race is never over. You can feel like you have a two-length lead and she just keeps coming at you. I was watching her intently and knowing she was going to make a big run at her. Nest was able to quicken away from her and keep to task. Super effort beating an older mare like that, as accomplished as she is.”

Nest, who won last year's GI Ashland S. and was second in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Belmont S., is now three-for-three at Saratoga. She won last year's GI Coaching Club American Oaks and GI Alabama S. at the Spa before coasting to a 9 3/4-length victory in the Oct. 2 GII Beldame S. at Belmont Park.

Nest could put her unbeaten Saratoga record on the line in the Aug. 25 GI Personal Ensign S.

“We'd like to run back in the Personal Ensign, if we think that's enough time,” Pletcher said. “The ultimate decision will be what we do for a prep for the Breeders' Cup [Distaff]. Do we go back to New York like we did last year or possibly the Spinster at Keeneland. Obviously, we have to suss out how she comes out of it. My initial assessment is she came back with pretty good energy.”

Aron Wellman, CEO of co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, was looking forward to the challenge of doubling up at the Spa two years in a row with Nest.

“The Personal Ensign would be the logical spot,” Wellman said. “She certainly seems to like it here. It's a tough combination. The Shuvee to the Personal Ensign and the CCA Oaks to the Alabama are two tough combinations. Not many fillies have done it. It's hard no matter who you are. We had some good fillies win the CCA Oaks and not be able to win the Alabama, some good fillies win the Shuvee and not win the Personal Ensign. She'll prove herself in a different class if she's able to do it.”

The Shuvee gave Eclipse Thoroughbreds its second graded victory of the weekend, following Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire})'s win in the GII San Clemente S. at Del Mar.

“Pretty special,” Wellman said of the double. “The main thing is keeping our partners happy and delivering the goods to them. They deserve it. If it's not for them to put the money to buy these horses, there's no Eclipse. Two really special fillies in a very short time span on two coasts. I'm just really humbled and in awe. At some point, you just really try to sit back and slow time down a bit so you can appreciate the greatness.”

Pedigree Notes:

Marion Ravenwood, also the dam of Grade I winner Idol (Curlin) and stakes winner Lost Ark (Violence), sold in foal to Curlin for $2.6 million to M.V. Magnier at last year's Keeneland November sale. Barren in 2021 or 2022, she produced a full-brother to Nest this year and was bred back to Into Mischief.

Sunday, Saratoga
SHUVEE S.-GII, $186,000, Saratoga, 7-23, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:50.72, ft.
1–NEST, 122, f, 4, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598),
                                by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Nureyev's Best, by Nureyev
($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House; B-Ashview Farm &
Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$110,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3-year-old filly, MGISW,
12-8-2-1, $2,083,050. *1/2 to Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile),
MSP, $156,155; 1/2 to Lost Ark (Violence), SW, $242,600; Full
to Idol, GISW, $426,964. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Clairiere, 124, m, 5, Curlin–Cavorting, by Bernardini.
O/B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen. $40,000.
3–Skratch Kat, 118, f, 4, Arrogate–Wave Theory, by Smart
Strike. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Rigney Racing, LLC; B-Fred W. Hertrich lll & John D. Fielding
(KY); T-Philip A. Bauer. $24,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 10, 9 3/4. Odds: 0.85, 0.75, 17.50.
Also Ran: Pistol Liz Ablazen.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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