Trainer Chad Brown has already won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf a record five times, and he appears headed back to the $1 million race Nov. 3 at Santa Anita Park with Hard to Justify.
Month: October 2023
Relative Of Gio Ponti Set For Thurles Unveiling
Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a relative of Grade I sire Gio Ponti (Tale Of The Cat).
14.15 Thurles, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 8f 11yT
Aidan O'Brien trainee GUSHING (American Pharoah), a $435,000 Keeneland September graduate, is a daughter of GIII Cardinal H. third Antonia Autumn (Bernstein), herself a half-sister to seven-time Grade I-winning sire Gio Ponti (Tale Of The Cat) and GI Gazelle S. third Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon). She is accompanied by Ballydoyle stablemate and 500,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase Gleaning (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who is out of a half-sister to G2 Prix Greffulhe victor and G1 Grand Prix de Paris third Ocovango (GB) (Monsun {Ger}). O'Brien won the 2019 renewal of this heat with subsequent G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine and G1 Prix de Diane and G1 Matron S. placegetter Peaceful (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
13.52 Salisbury, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's MATSURI (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a half-brother to G3 Darley S. victrix Feliciana De Vega (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), was the joint-second highest-priced lot at last year's Tattersalls October Book 2 sale when knocked down to Roger Varian for 700,000gns. His rivals include fellow newcomer Promethean (Fr) (Intello {Ger}), who is a David Menuisier-trained half-brother to G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud hero Morandi (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
14.25 Salisbury, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 8fT
Andrew Balding trainee MACH TEN (IRE) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), another debutant for Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, is kin to dual Group 3-winning G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) runner-up Djumama (Ire) (Aussie Rules). He is confronted by 10 rivals here including fellow debutant Sir Galahad (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who is a James Ferguson-trained son of G2 Blandford S. victrix and G1 Oaks and G1 Prix de l'Opera third Katiyra (Ire) (Peintre Celebre); and Roger Varian incumbent Joycean Way (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), who is a once-raced half-brother to this term's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. runner-up Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
14.57 Salisbury, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 213yT
INVERSION (GB) (Frankel {GB}), a half-brother of this year's GI Diana S. heroine Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) who hails from the yard of Harry and Roger Charlton, is one of two Juddmonte contenders in this nine-runner contest. Opposition includes the operation's Kempton novice victor Qirat (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), who is a half-brother to Ralph Beckett stablemate and G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) out of G1 Matron S. heroine Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
15.27 Salisbury, Nov, £10,000, 2yo, 6f 213yT
Juddmonte homebred INDELIBLE (IRE) (Shamardal) is a Ralph Beckett-trained daughter of six-time elite-level heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and encounters seven rivals in this first go. She is kin to a trio of black-type performers headed by G3 Sandown Classic Trial and G3 N E Manion Cup victor Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Opposition includes Bjorn Nielsen's twice-raced High Handed (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}), who is a half-sister to G1 Coronation S. and G1 Matron S.-winning matriarch Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), from the Brian O'Rourke stable.
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Late-Running Anisette Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth In Saturday’s Rodeo Drive
A dedicated deep closer that's unbeaten in three stateside starts, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' English-bred Anisette tops a field of eight fillies and mares three and up going a mile and quarter on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Rodeo Drive is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race Qualifier, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf here on Nov. 4.
Trained by Leonard Powell, Anisette comes off a pair of dazzling stakes wins at Del Mar, taking the G2 San Clemente at one mile on turf by 2 ½ lengths on July 22 and followed by a sensational 2 ¾ length score at a mile and one eighth on grass in the G1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 19.
Although both of those wins came versus sophomore fillies, Anisette rallied for a three quarter length win versus older fillies and mares in her U.S. debut, a one mile turf classified allowance here on May 29.
Far back early in all of her three of her Southern California starts, she registered consecutive improving Beyer Speed Figures of 80, 88, and 91 and although she may be dependent upon a solid pace at a mile and a quarter, she has thus far exhibited a brilliance that should carry the day with Umberto Rispoli engaged for the third consecutive time.
With Rispoli opting to stick with Anisette, Juan Hernandez will take over on the consistent Harris Farms homebred Closing Remarks. A 5-year-old California-bred mare by Vronsky out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove, Closing Remarks rallied for a solid 1 ¾ length tally going a mile and one eighth on turf in the G2 John C. Mabee Stakes on Sept. 9 and prevailed by a neck in the G2 Yellow Ribbon at Del Mar Aug. 12.
Trained by Carla Gaines and favored in both of her Del Mar wins, Closing Remarks has proven effective rallying from far back, mid-pack and as she demonstrated in the Yellow Ribbon, when she lays close to a legitimate early pace. A three-time graded stakes winner, Closing Remarks has three wins from 14 tries over the Santa Anita lawn and is enjoying her best year ever, winning three out of her seven starts and banking $462,500.
With an overall race record of 22-6-5-4, Closing Remarks has career earnings of $861,320.
THE GRADE 2 RODEO DRIVE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
- Turnerloose—Antonio Fresu—122
- Anisette—Umberto Rispoli—122
- Juncture—Mike Smith—122
- Closing Remarks—Juan Hernandez—126
- Stoic Luna—Hector Berrios – 122
- Didia—Vincent Cheminaud—124
- Neige Blanche—Diego Herrera—122
- Symphony Perfect—Abel Cedillo–122
First post time for a 10-race card that will include three other stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
The Rodeo Drive Stakes will be part of the first-ever Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick Six, which will combine three races from Keeneland and three from Santa Anita. The wager has a $1 minimum and a player-friendly 15 percent takeout.
The post Late-Running Anisette Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth In Saturday’s Rodeo Drive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
‘TDN Rising Star’ Agate Road Earns BC Berth In Pilgrim
Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's AGATE ROAD (c, 2, Quality Road–Yellow Agate, by Gemologist) saved his best for last, as he found his best stride inside the final furlong and edged away to take Wednesday's GII Pilgrim S., earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Santa Anita for the Nov. 3 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in the process. Favored at 2-1 off a Saratoga 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy maiden victory that really had to be seen to be believed, the $650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was content to sit one from the tail as the outposted Spirit Prince (Cairo Prince)–a latest third in the GIII With Anticipation S. Aug. 31–crossed and cleared all the inside traffic to lead through an opening quarter in :23.51. Quietly ridden down the back by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Agate Road was asked for some acceleration as the field hit the turn, but was consigned to an overland run and lost some ground. Spun wide into the stretch, Agate Road began to zero in on the front-runners with less than a furlong to travel and did his best work through the wire. The final time for the 8 1/2 furlongs was 1:42.83. Fulmineo (Bolt d'Oro) knifed through late for second ahead of the dead-heating Liam's Journey (Liam's Map) and Spirit Prince. Sales history: $650,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. O-Repole Stable & St Elias Stable; B-CHC Inc (KY); T-Todd Pletcher.
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