September, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

2023 Aqueduct Fall Meet Features 33 Stakes Worth $6.385 Million

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced the stakes schedule for the 2023 fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which will offer 33 stakes, 10 of them graded events, worth a total of $6.385 million.

Following the conclusion of Belmont at the Big A fall meet which spans Thursday, September 14 through Sunday, October 29, the 31-day Aqueduct fall meet will run from Thursday, November 2 through Sunday, December 31.

The Aqueduct fall meet will be highlighted by the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward on Saturday, December 2. The lucrative Cigar Mile Day program co-features the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen going nine furlongs for juveniles as well as the nine-furlong Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for juvenile fillies. Also slated for the card is the Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward traveling a one-turn mile over the main track.

The stakes action begins on Friday, November 3 with the listed $150,000 Turnback the Alarm for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going nine furlongs and the listed $150,000 Discovery for sophomores traveling the same distance. The stakes action continues Saturday, November 4, with a pair of $120,000 turf sprints in the Atlantic Beach for 2-year-olds and the Stewart Manor for juvenile fillies. The Sunday, November 5 program will offer a pair of listed $150,000 one-mile dirt routes with the Nashua for 2-year-olds and the Tempted for juvenile fillies.

The following weekend will see a trio of graded stakes events, including the Grade 3, $200,000 Pebbles for sophomore fillies going one mile on the turf on November 11, which was previously run during the Belmont Park fall meet. The card will also feature the Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith for 3-year-olds and upward going 11 furlongs on the grass. On Sunday, November 12, fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward will contest the Grade 3, $300,000 Long Island going 11 furlongs over the grass while 3-year-olds and upward will line up for the listed $150,000 Artie Schiller – a one-mile turf test.

Stakes action resumes on Friday, November 17 with a pair of turf stakes, including the $150,000 Autumn Days for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going six furlongs and the $120,000 Tepin for juvenile fillies traveling one mile.

The following day will see an action packed program of four stakes events, including the Grade 2, $250,000 Hill Prince for sophomores going nine furlongs on the turf which was previously run during the Belmont fall meet. The day also features the listed $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship for 3-year-olds and upward going six furlongs, as well as a pair of six-furlong main track stakes for New York-bred juveniles in the $100,000 Key Cents for fillies and the $100,000 Notebook.

Sunday, November 19 will feature a pair of turf stakes in the $120,000 Central Park for juveniles traveling one mile, as well as the $150,000 Forever Together for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going 1 1/16 miles.

Thanksgiving weekend will feature a pair of Grade 3 events carrying a $200,000 purse in the Fall Highweight Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward going six furlongs on Friday, November 24 and the Comely for sophomore fillies going nine furlongs on Saturday, November 25.

The popular New York Stallion Stakes Series (NYSSS), open to progeny of eligible New York sires, returns to the Big A with four divisions offered this December. Sunday, December 3 will feature the $125,000 NYSSS Thunder Rumble for 3-year-olds and up sprinting seven furlongs on the main track, as well as the $125,000 NYSSS Staten Island for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at the same distance.

Saturday, December 9 will feature the $120,000 Garland of Roses for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going six furlongs. The NYSSS returns for a pair of $500,000 stakes for juveniles on Saturday, December 16 with a lucrative card that will see eligible New York-sired fillies contest the NYSSS Fifth Avenue at seven furlongs, alongside the NYSSS Great White Way going the same distance.

Following a 10-day break from December 18 to December 27, the stakes schedule concludes with the $100,000 Bay Ridge for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going a one-turn mile on Thursday, December 28 one day before the $100,000 Alex M. Robb for 3-year-olds and up at the same distance. Rounding out the yearly stakes action are the listed $150,000 Gravesend for 3-year-olds and upward going six furlongs on Saturday, December 30 and the listed $150,000 Queens County for 3-year-olds and upward going nine furlongs on Sunday, December 31.

For the complete Aqueduct fall meet stakes schedule, please visit NYRA.com.

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Canuck Racing Club Continues To Build Momentum During Sales Season

The quartet of Ontario-bred yearlings Canuck Racing Club purchased at last week's Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Division) Canadian Premier Yearling Sale are the same age as the club itself which has burst onto Ontario's racing scene in the past 12 months, building an impressive stable, and making up for what it lacks in service time with a deep conviction to achieve its own lofty goals.

The brainchild of three childhood friends who grew up in Montreal, Quebec, Canuck Racing Club is run by Donato Lanni, Mark Halloran, and Rob van Blokland who are now based in Kentucky, Ottawa, and Montreal, respectively.

Lanni is one of North America's leading bloodstock agents, having bought champions such as Arrogate and Authentic. Halloran and van Blokland have been partners in their business advisory and leadership development firm for two decades leveraging backgrounds in HR, networking, marketing, and communications.

“We've known each other for 40-plus years,” said Halloran. “We wanted this club to make its mark on Canadian horse racing while transforming the sport of kings and queens into the sport of friends.”

The friendship shared by the three managing partners is emblematic of the spirit they want Canuck Racing Club members to feel as they engage in their horse ownership journey.

“It's easy to get a group of people together, pool some money, and buy a horse,” said van Blokland. “The way we approached this is much more than just ownership. It's a 24-7 club experience connecting member-owners to racing's rich history and brilliant horsepeople, their process and strategies, and a whole lot of fun.”

The seed that grew into Canuck Racing Club was planted during the years Halloran managed several 'one horse at a time' syndicates for Thoroughbreds that Lanni bought to race with friends in Canada.

Ontario-bred gelding Clayton was the most successful of those horses. He was on the 2020 Triple Crown trail, finishing third in the Queen's Plate, second in the Prince of Wales Stakes, and fifth in the Breeders Stakes.

There had always been talk about doing something more, and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the time was right for a venture that promised unique and unforgettable experiences, and van Blokland was brought on to help with the club's marketing and communications.

“It all starts with Donato,” said Halloran. “He's the best in the business at what he does, but he's a sentimentalist at heart. Like us, he's proudly Canadian and he wants to build something great here together.”

In 2022, Canuck Racing Club dove headfirst into the game. Responsible for all thoroughbred-related decisions, Lanni purchased eight yearlings for the club in Ontario and Kentucky, including four at the 2022 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.

Cementing the club's commitment to racing in Canada, all eight of the yearlings they purchased were Ontario-breds and the club has already tasted victory with its freshman group.

Souper Speedy filly Vandoo gave the club its first victory with a win over the boys in a maiden affair on July 29 at Woodbine Racetrack, and War Painter has hit the board twice in two maiden special weight attempts.

Canuck Racing Club also bought into Enjoythesilent, a Silent Name (JPN) gelding who ran a game sixth in the King's Plate, despite starting from the far outside post position in the 17-horse field.

While on-track success is the ultimate goal, Canuck Racing Club's approach to communicating every step of a Thoroughbred's journey has provided members with memorable experiences before their horses even make the races.

“Spending the day backside at our trainer Kevin Attard's stable and at the training track was even better than the races,” shared club member Carter Wilkie. “Hearing Kevin and Donato talk about how the horses are maturing and where they plan to race them next and why gives you a whole deeper appreciation for the sport and these athletes.”

Those backstretch visits are part of an overall package that members consider a form of experiential investing. Another example is the club's visit to the 2023 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale where club members rode shotgun with Lanni as he inspected yearlings, spoke with breeders, and ultimately bid on horses.

“There is such a wealth of knowledge in our crew,” said van Blokland. “The beauty of hanging with pros like Donato, Kevin, and Dave Anderson is it is that you get the insiders to give you their tremendous insight first-hand.”

Canuck Racing Club signed for four yearlings, including forming a partnership with Terra Racing Stables on Hip 113. Reflecting their commitment to excellence, the Souper Speedy filly out of Ghostzapper mare Kin's Ghost was one of just four horses to hammer for $100,000 or more.

“We have elite vets and an awesome trainer supporting the best bloodstock agent in the game who is also your fellow co-owner,” said Halloran. “It's hard for others to access that. And while we provide it all within a fun atmosphere, let's be clear, we're here to win.”

One year into their story, Canuck Racing Club has already achieved some of their short-term goals such as winning races, infusing energy into the game, and creating a club culture that appeals to industry veterans and first-timers alike.

But they're just getting started. The club's red and white silks are here to stay, and as more members join and their horses continue to move forward, Canuck Racing Club wants to establish itself as a major player in Ontario's racing industry.

“At the end of the day, it's our owners who really make all of this possible,” added Halloran. “So, while we're building our business and club on the talent and work ethic of a really solid team, it's being done with a members-first mindset. Along the way, we're hoping to cultivate a new generation of horsepeople who grow to love this sport and appreciate the remarkable contributions that Canada's legendary thoroughbreds, owners, and breeders have made to global racing.”

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Second Chances: Connections ‘Remain Very High’ on Quality Road Colt Following Educational Debut

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

After working in company with his elder graded stakes-placed stablemate Slip Mahoney (Arrogate) in an Aug. 19 move for trainer Brad Cox over the Oklahoma training track, there was plenty of chatter behind Air of Defiance (c, 2, Quality Road–Faypien, by Ghostzapper) heading into his Saratoga debut.

Despite proving no match for the jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light) across Union Ave. six days later, Air of Defiance lost little in defeat while gaining some valuable racing experience in the process.

Drawn on the fence over a muddy and sealed track, the 5-1 second choice lunged at the start and rushed up beneath Ricardo Santana, Jr. to race in third in the early stages.

The Gold Square LLC colorbearer began to drop back sharply following an opening quarter in a swift :22.02 and was heading the wrong way while under a ride rounding the far turn in the six-furlong affair.

Left with a ton to do as they straightened for home, Air of Defiance began to figure it out in the stretch. He was guided off the fence down the lane, split rivals shortly thereafter and finished with interest to complete the exacta, albeit 11 1/4 lengths adrift the aforementioned Todd Pletcher-trained first-time starter. Air of Defiance earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

The son of Quality Road brought $400,000 from Al Gold's advisor Joe Hardoon out of the Eaton Sales consignment at last year's Keeneland September sale.

Air of Defiance's dam Faypien, a graded winner around two turns and also the runner-up as the favorite in the 2017 GI Test S. at the Spa, realized $875,000 from breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings at the 2018 FTKNOV sale.

The Quality Road over Ghostzapper cross has also produced GSW Guest Suite. Air of Defiance is bred similarly to Quality Road's GISWs Abel Tasman, City of Light and Spring Quality.

“We are hoping to run Air of Defiance Oct. 1 at Churchill,” Gold said. “He lost to a monster of Pletcher's. I'm hopeful he breaks a little better next time and the experience of his first race will enable a better outcome. We remain very high on the horse.”

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ParisLongchamp: Fabre Preps Duo For Autumn Targets

Ahead of the weekend's thrillers, Thursday offers the warm-up with the G3 Prix des Chenes and G3 Prix d'Aumale acting as stepping stones for the major 2-year-old contests of the autumn. Fabre's 10 wins in the Chenes and six in the d'Aumale mean that his representation has to be taken seriously and the former, which is restricted to the males of the generation, sees him saddle Baron Edouard De Rothschild's TDN Rising Star Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}). Taking on Julien Dubois and Jean-Philippe Dubois' G3 Prix Francois Boutin winner Grey Man (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), the homebred who looked cut from Classic cloth on his Saint-Cloud debut is unbeaten at seven furlongs or further with his only blip coming over an inadequate six at Chantilly in July.

In the d'Aumale, Mlle Moliere (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) steps up to the plate for De Rothschild and Ecurie Skymarc Farm and the master of Chantilly. She was impressive when doubling her tally in Deauville's 7 1/2-furlong Prix du Mezeray conditions event at last month's festival and is one of five of the seven fillies holding unbeaten records. They include Shadwell's Alshinfarah (Ire) (Noble Mission), who has won at Doncaster and Haydock and accounted for the impressive subsequent winner Remaadd (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) in the latter contest.

Trainer Kevin Philippart De Foy is hoping for a bold show from the half-sibling of the classy Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}) moving up to a mile. “The family stayed much further and her half-sister ran over a mile and a half in the Arc,” he said. “Noble Mission stayed further as well, so I'm not worried about running over a mile and the ground should suit her. She travelled over there well and it will be interesting to see her against a stronger field.”

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