October, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘He Just Continues To Get Better’: McCarthy Excited About BC Juvenile Turf Opportunity With Unbeaten Endlessly

Trainer Michael McCarthy could have two runners in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 3 at Santa Anita after Endlessly and Ngannou ran one-two in Sunday's G3 Zuma Beach for 2-year-olds going a mile on turf.

Endlessly, ridden by Juan Hernandez, won the Zuma Beach by 2 ¼ lengths after overtaking his pacesetting stablemate in the final furlong. Ngannou, with Antonio Fresu up, finished 1 ¼ lengths clear of third-place finisher Grand Mo the First.

McCarthy reported all was well with both colts Monday morning.

“It was another professional effort from Endlessly,” McCarthy added. “It seems like he just continues to get better with racing.”

Endlessly will enter the Breeders' Cup with a perfect 3-for-3 record. Prior to the Zuma Beach, the son of Oscar Performance beat maidens going a mile on turf July 30 then returned to win the G3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf on Sept. 10.

All three of Endlessly's wins have been by exactly 2 ¼ lengths.

“Don't really know what to make of that,” McCarthy said.

Endlessly is a homebred for Amerman Racing.

As for Ngannou, he remains a maiden after two starts. The Mendelssohn colt was beaten a half-length as the favorite in his debut going a mile on turf at Del Mar Sept. 10 prior to the Zuma Beach.

“I thought the runner-up ran a very respectable race,” McCarthy said. “It looks like he's on the improve. Things are coming together with him. We'll see where this leads.”

It could lead to Ngannou taking a crack at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, McCarthy confirmed.

“We'd have to think about pre-entering,” he said.

McCarthy added another option for Ngannou, a $120,000 auction purchase campaigned by Wells Watson, would be the $150,000 Qatar Golden Mile at a mile on turf on the Breeders' Cup undercard Nov. 3.

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Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Launches 2023 Hay Drive With Matching Gift From Santulli Family

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has received a $60,000 matching gift from the Santulli Family Foundation to launch the 2023 Hay Drive.

The TRF Hay Drive is one of the most important campaigns for the organization. It ensures the herd off 425 retired racehorses are given the support they need through the winter months. The TRF's goal to help fill the hay lofts is $120,000. It is critical with rising costs at all of the TRF farms, to meet and surpass the goal.

The Santulli Family Foundation, under the stewardship of Richard and Peggy Santulli, has pledged to match every dollar donated to the TRF, up to $60,000. This means that each contribution made by supporters of TRF will have double the impact.

“We are deeply grateful to the Santulli Family Foundation for their unwavering support of our mission,” said Kelly Armer, Executive Director of the TRF. “This generous matching grant will help us provide the necessary care to retired racehorses, ensuring they live their retirement years in comfort and happiness.”

To give to the Hay Drive please visit: www.trfinc.org/haydrive

About TRF: Founded in 1983, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a national organization devoted to saving Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete at the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse, and slaughter. As the oldest Thoroughbred rescue in the country, the TRF provides sanctuary to retired Thoroughbreds throughout their entire lifetime.

Best known for its pioneering Second Chances Program, the organization provides incarcerated individuals with life-changing vocational training through an accredited equine care and stable management program. At eight correctional facilities across the US, including one juvenile justice facility, this program offers second careers to its horses and a second chance at life for program graduates upon release from prison.

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‘She Just Grew Up’: Lucky Girl Rushes Late To Capture Monday’s Swingtime Stakes

Far back early and with a fast pace to run at, it was conditions to order for Irish-bred Lucky Girl, who rallied furiously to get up and win Monday's $80,000 Swingtime Stakes at Santa Anita Park by a half length, getting one mile on turf under Joe Bravo in 1:34.07.

One of three Phil D'Amato trainees in a field nine fillies and mares three and up, Lucky Girl was next to last, about 10 lengths off her well-fancied stablemate Hamwood Flier in the run around the first turn and with splits of 22.95, 45.14, 1:09.01 and 1:21.80 to run at, she was able to overcome a six length deficit with an eighth of mile to run, as she collared Freedom Flyer near the wire.

A two-time ungraded stakes winner here at one mile on turf early in her 3-year-old campaign, 4-year-old Lucky Girl had kept good company since, but was winless in her last seven starts, finishing a close fourth in her most recent assignment, the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf Aug. 12 at Del Mar.

Off at 6-1, she paid $15.40, $7.60 and $5.20.

“I think just giving her time off from (age) two to three, that's what really helped her and just maturity,” said D'Amato. “I have to give my wife Sherrie a lot of credit for this. She's learned to gallop her in draw reins, and I think that has helped her a lot as well. I think you can see her progression from her races earlier in her career to now.

“She just finished better and she used to be kind of a filly to make a big move around the turn and flatten out late. Now she's (sustaining) that run all the way through to the wire.”

Owned by Panic Stable, LLC, Lucky Girl, who made her 4-year-old debut two starts back and her third start for D'Amato today, notched her third stakes win and improved her overall race record to 14-3-0-1. With the winner's cut of $55,200, she increased her earnings to $189,863.

“If you see her earlier races, she used to run halfway through the race and was very anxious,” said Bravo. “I felt confident going into the gate because she was so relaxed and in control of herself. She just grew up into the filly that we thought she could be.”

Trained by Leonard Powell and ridden by Antonio Fresu, Freedom Flyer wrested the lead inside the sixteenth from Unbridled Mary but was no match for the winner on the money. Off at 13-1, Freedom Flyer paid $10.40 and $6.60 while finishing second by 1 ¼ lengths.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Unbridled Mary mounted a big rail rally, overtaking Hamwood Flier an eighth of a mile out, but she wasn't able to finish with the top two. Off at 8-1, she paid $6.80 to show while finishing a head in front of Eddie's New Dream.

Idle since Dec. 4 of last year, Hamwood Flier, who won last year's Swingtime, broke through the gate prior to the start and after setting fast fractions, was done turning for home as the 8-5 favorite.

Racing resumes on Saturday with first post time at 1 p.m. Entries will be taken for Saturday on Wednesday morning and be available at santaanita.com later in the day.

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