Month: September 2023

The undefeated Grade 1 stakes winner Program Trading and Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes hero Gigante headline a field of 11 3-year-old turf specialists assembled for the 20th running of the Grade 3, $500,000 New Kent County Virginia Derby, the closing day feature at Colonial Downs.

The purse for the 1-1/8 miles turf race is up $200,000 from last year's renewal. The Virginia Derby is one of six stakes races scheduled for Saturday's expanded 11-race card which wraps up the season at the New Kent oval.

Klaravich Stables' Program Trading has begun his career a perfect three for three, culminating in a head victory in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in upstate New York after registering an allowance win at Belmont Park in June and a maiden tally in his debut in May. The son of Lope de Vega is trained by four-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown and will be ridden by Flavien Prat from the far outside post 11.

Gigante, who races for the partnership of Iapetus Racing and Diamond T. Racing, rallied from last to score an upset 22-1 victory in the Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes which was being held in Virginia for the first time on August 12. The son of Not This Time, who has never raced beyond 1-1/16 miles, is attempting to become the first Virginia-bred to capture the local Derby. He is conditioned by Steve Asmussen, the all-time leading trainer in Thoroughbred racing. Cristian Torres has picked up the mount and will be riding Gigante for the first time in the Virginia Derby starting from post two.

The top two finishers in Laurel Park's tightly contested Bald Eagle Derby August 13 will clash again here. Wertheimer and Frere's Dataman got the best of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Ari Gold by three-quarters of a length in the 1-3/16 miles stakes. The former is a Tapit gelding trained by Graham Motion — who is looking to join Todd Pletcher, Dale Romans and Bill Mott as a three-time Virginia Derby winning conditioner. The latter is a Medaglia d'Oro colt trained by Pletcher who late in his freshman campaign, collected a maiden turf win at Aqueduct and a win in the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream. Jorge Ruiz has a return call on Dataman, who drew post five while Jose Ortiz will pilot Ari Gold from post 10.

Gary and Mary West's Salute the Stars took a three-race win streak into the G1 Haskell Stakes July 22 where he finished seventh. The Candy Ride colt had won the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth in his prior start which followed an allowance win at Churchill and a maiden win at Ellis Park. Sheldon Russell rides the Brad Cox trainee from post four.

One additional graded stakes-placed sophomore is among the 11 entrants – Cheyenne Stable's Mondego (Trevor McCarthy, post 6), who finished third in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby two starts back for trainer Christophe Clement.

The remainder of the field with jockey and post listed is: Klaravich Stables' Activist Investing (Feargal Lynch, seven); Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Steven Schoenfeld's Freedom Trail (Antonio Gallardo, post one); West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration (Kendrick Carmouche, post nine); Three Diamond Farm's Laurel Valley (Horacio Karamanos, post eight); and Robert J. Hunt's Runaway Storm (Colby Hernandez, post three).

About Colonial Downs

Colonial Downs Racetrack, in New Kent, Virginia, hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – the Secretariat Turf Course, the widest turf course in North America at 180 feet wide and on a 1 1/4-mile dirt track, second in length to only the world-famous Belmont Park. The Colonial Downs Group, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates Rosie's Gaming Emporiums® in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, Vinton, and Dumfries which offer innovative historic horseracing (HHR) gaming technology and full card simulcasting as well as Rosie's Game Room in Collinsville, which features a limited selection of some of their best HHR titles plus full card simulcasting. The 2023 live racing season, which consists of 27 days from July 13 through September 9, is highlighted by the Grade 1 Arlington Million, Grade 1 Beverly D. and Grade 2 Secretariat Stakes on August 12 and the Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby on September 9. The Beverly D. is a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win & You're In” race.

The post Undefeated Program Trading, Secretariat Hero Gigante Headline Virginia Derby At Colonial Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Trainer Jose D'Angelo couldn't be happier with Bentornato leading up to Saturday's $100,000 Dr. Fager at Gulfstream Park, where the undefeated son of Valiant Nature will face nine rivals in the first leg of the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

“He's in peak of condition,” D'Angelo said.

That was not the case, however, leading up to the first two starts of his career, a late-rallying debut victory July 1 and a runaway triumph in the Proud Man Stakes Aug. 12.

Minor issues interrupted his training while preparing for his debut, while a fever left the strapping colt a workout short for the six-furlong Proud Man.

“From the start, we knew we had a very nice horse,” D'Angelo said. “He was a little green the first time out. For the second race, the stake, he got a fever three weeks before the race, so he had only two workouts. He won the stake on just two workouts. That's why I know we have a very nice horse.”

Bentornato, who has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for the Dr. Fager, may have been short of conditioning in his five-furlong debut, but his wide rally didn't come up short. He defeated next-out winner Big Effect by a neck. Distant third-place finisher Dewy's Beast also won his next start at Colonial Downs.

Despite less-than-ideal preparation, the D'Angelo trainee looked sharp in the Proud Man, in which he overcame early bumping to show the way into the stretch and draw off to win by 4 ¼ lengths.

Emisael Jaramillo, who was aboard for both victories, has the return mount.

Trainer Juan Alvarado is represented in the Dr. Fager by three entrants that were all first-out winners who raced at Saratoga in their second starts. BC Racing LLC's Dickens, who won his 4 ½-furlong debut June 10 by two lengths, finished third in the July 15 Sanford (G3) after setting a pressured pace. BC Racing LLC's Jive, finished seventh in the Sanford after winning his five-furlong debut May 19. Arindel's Lasso, who rallied from well back to capture his June 3 debut by 3 ½ lengths, raced evenly while finishing fourth in the Aug. 12 Saratoga Special (G2).

Dickens, a son of Adios Charlie who is rated second on the morning line at 4-1, turned in a bullet workout in his final preparation for the Dr. Fager while breezing a half-mile in 47 seconds from the gate.

“Dickens is fast out of the gate, but I don't think he needs the lead. Ideally, he's stalking some speed, but if he's up there it won't be a problem for him,” BC Racing LLC's Brian Cohen said.

Dickens and Lasso had been workmates while preparing for their respective debuts.

“Lasso, he's a green horse with a lot of ability. We'll put blinkers on him coming back here and I think it will move him forward and put him in the game,” said Cohen, Arindel's stable manager.

Edgard Zayas, who has ridden both Dickens and Lasso in all of their races, has been named on Dickens for the Dr. Fager. Hector Diaz Jr. has the mount on Lasso. Edwin Gonzalez, who rode Jive for his debut score, returns aboard the son of St. Patrick's Day.

Stonehedge LLC's Gentle Breeze, who finished second in the Proud Man, will seek to turn the tables on Bentornato Saturday. The Ralph Nicks-trained son of Cajun Breeze overcame bumping at the start of the Proud Man to rally for second. He previously graduated in a $25,000 maiden claiming race by 12 ¾ lengths over a muddy track.

Leonel Reyes has the return call aboard Gentle Breeze.

Nicks is also scheduled to saddle Northshore Drive for the Dr Fager. He is a son of Fort Loudon, who swept the 2011 FSS series, and is owned by Jacks or Better Farm, Inc., the FSS series' leading owner.

Donald Ming's Ninja Star is scheduled to make his first start at Gulfstream Park after breaking his maiden at first asking at 5 ½ furlongs and finishing second in a six-furlong allowance over Presque Isle Downs' all-weather surface.

Sonny Leon has the call on Ninja Star, who will be saddled for the first time by Scott Acker.

Donald Mensh and Laurie Plesa's Raging Fury, a son of Ami's Flatter who rallied to win his debut by a neck Aug. 5; Lawson Racing Stables' Sound of the Beast, a son of The Big Beast, who graduated Aug. 12 in his second start; and Cammarota Racing LLC's Secret Lover, a son of Khozan who finished third in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga in his second start, round out the field.

The post Gulfstream: Undefeated Bentornato In ‘Peak’ Condition For FSS Dr. Fager appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

R Harper Rose is scheduled to make her stakes debut in Saturday's $100,000 Desert Vixen at Gulfstream Park with just one-race experience. But, oh, what a race it was.

Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing LLC's filly, who will face seven in the six-furlong first leg of the 2023 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-old fillies sired by accredited Florida stallions, demonstrated abundant talent and immense potential while making her debut at Gulfstream Aug. 5. Out of a mare by Grade 1 sprinter Yes It's True, the daughter of Khozan ran to her breeding, breaking on top and extending her lead to 6 ¼ lengths at the finish of the 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race.

“She trained like a good horse, but obviously they have to show it on race day,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “She ran even better than she trained. We never let her run in the morning. We worked her with nice horses before she ran. Each time, she was well in hand.”

R Harper Rose, a $60,000 purchase at the OBS March sale for 2-year-olds in training, was no surprise to bettors who made her their 4-5 favorite in her debut. She has been installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the six-furlong Desert Vixen.

“She's trained well. She's come back with two easy works. She makes everything easy. She's fast and she's talented. She's in good order,” Joseph said. “She's uncomplicated. She'll work however you want to work her, as fast as you want, as slow as you want. She has a good mind.”

Joseph is also scheduled to be represented by Christian Cruz's She Has Class, who will make her first start for Gulfstream's leading trainer after winning one of four starts.

Edgard Zayas has the return call on R Harper Rose, while Miguel Vasquez is scheduled to ride She Has Class for the first time Saturday.

Soldi Stable LLC's Welcome Back enters the Desert Vixen after debuting with a victory against winners Aug. 5 over Gulfstream Park's all-weather surface. The daughter of Adios Charlie rallied from last in a field of six that included stablemate Escape Room, the 3-5 favorite, to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

“We put her in the allowance to run with her workmate,” D'Angelo said. “She looked so good. She was a little green in the gate and to saddle, but she showed she has quality.”

Welcome Back, a 25-1 longshot winner, hit the gate while leaving from her rail post position.

“She's a nice-looking filly, very tall, big. She's training very good right now,” D'Angelo said.

Edwin Gonzalez has the return call aboard Welcome Back, who is rated second on the morning line at 3-1.

Arindel, whose homebred Lynx captured last year's Desert Vixen and Susan's Girl before falling short of a FSS sweep in the My Dear Girl, will be represented in this year's Desert Vixen by Mist. The homebred daughter of Brethren graduated in her fourth career start Aug. 20 while stretching out to 6 ½ furlongs.

“We always thought a lot of her. We think she's a filly that wants to go longer, but she's been getting better and better,” Arindel's stable manager Brian Cohen said. “She ran her first race, and she got sick. Maybe we ran her back too quick. I thought she could have won two back. Then, she put it together last time.”

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount on the Juan Alvarado-trained Mist.

Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing LLC and Laurie Plesa's Epona's Hope enters the Desert Vixen off a troubled third-place finish in the six-furlong Sharp Susan Stakes, in which she encountered bumping at the start and a very wide trip. The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained daughter of Adios Charlie closed off the pace to win her debut at 4 ½ furlongs at Gulfstream July 7 under Edgar Perez, who will once again be aboard Saturday.

Trainer Ralph Nicks is scheduled to saddle Fields of Green for Jacks or Better Farm Inc., the FSS series all-time leading owner, and Kitty's Pretty for Stonehedge LLC, which has also enjoyed considerable success in the series. Fields of Green easily graduated in her second start while dropping into a $25,000 maiden claiming race. Kitty's Pretty, a daughter of Khozan who won at first asking, finished off the board in the Sharp Susan.

Hector Diaz Jr. has the call on Fields of Green, while Leonel Reyes will ride Kitty's Pretty for the first time.

Ramiro Rosas-Medina's Florinda, who won one of her first four starts before finishing fourth in the Sharp Susan, will be ridden by Sonny Leon. Angel Rodriguez trains the daughter of Gone Astray.

The post Gulfstream: R Harper Rose Expected To Blossom In FSS Desert Vixen appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post