Month: October 2023

Touch'n Ride crossed the wire second, but was placed first after Solo Album was disqualified in the $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) on Saturday at Woodbine.

Solo Album, breaking from the outside post, Twin City, and Velocitor, who won the Prince of Wales Stakes – the middle jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown – vied for the early lead in the 1 1/8-mile Tapeta event for 3-year-olds, as slight 2-1 choice Touch'n Ride sat just off the trio into the first turn.

Twin City, with Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, had to check sharply into that first turn, as Solo Album crossed over to take command and then hold a 1½-length advantage over Velocitor through an opening quarter in :23.79.

It was Solo Album still on top through a half in :48.49, followed by Velocitor, Touch'n Ride and 5-2 second choice Stanley House, who had quickly moved from sixth into fourth.m

As the nine-horse field entered the turn for home, Solo Album was still on top but found herself in the crosshairs of Touch'n Ride, who looked to reel her in but was unable to collar the filly. Cool Kiss, at 25-1, arrived late on the scene, as did 34-1 Twowaycrossing.

Solo Album crossed the wire a length clear of Touch'n Ride, who was a further 1¼ lengths ahead of Cool Kiss. Twowaycrossing finished fourth.

The final time was 1:48.93.

Wilson and Twin City's trainer Stuart Simon both claimed foul against Sahin Civaci, aboard Solo Album, which was accompanied by a stewards' inquiry.

Solo Album was subsequently placed fifth while Twin City moved into fourth position. Forever Dixie, Stanley House, American Blaze and Velocitor rounded out the order of finish. Souper Blessing was scratched.

“When I checked in the program with a bunch of closers, but he has a natural speed from the beginning,” said winning jockey Kazushi Kimura. “I'm trying to stay close, and he did it today. Still, was too much pressure all the way, but he is a very nice horse. He tries so hard.”

The son of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Niigon mare Niigon's Touch, trained by Layne Giliforte for owner-breeder Chiefswood Stables, debuted this July at Woodbine and finished third. One race later, the bay gelding broke his maiden and then finished fifth in The King's Plate on August 20.

Unraced at 2, Touch'n Ride, who arrived at the Ontario Derby off a victory in the Breeders' Stakes, the final jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown series, on Oct. 1, is now 3-0-1 from five lifetime starts.

“I'm really proud of him,” said Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey Robert Landry, now General Manager of Chiefswood Stables. “Earlier in the year, we didn't even nominate him to the Triple Crown. He was a slow developer. In April, Layne and I watched him work together and I said, 'We may have made a mistake not nominating him.' You know, you've got to let the horses tell you and he did, and he ran a tremendous race. We'll give him a little break now. He's done a lot. We'll give him a chance to get bigger and stronger and bring him back next year.”

Touch'n Ride paid $6.80 for the win.

The post Touch’n Ride Elevated To First In Ontario Derby Via DQ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Leon King Stable Corp.'s Bentornato maintained his perfect record Saturday while powering to a 2¾-length victory in the $200,000 Affirmed, the second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series at Gulfstream Park.

The seven-furlong Affirmed co-headlined Saturday's 11-race program with the $200,000 Susan's Girl, a seven-furlong stakes for fillies won by R Harper Rose, in the series for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions.

The Jose D'Angelo-trained Bentornato, who had previously rolled to a FSS first-leg victory in the $100,000 Dr. Fager Sept. 9, is on course for a bid to sweep of the Florida Sire Stakes series in the $300,000 In Reality at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 2 at Gulfstream.

On Saturday, Bentornato had to survive an objection and stewards' inquiry concerning crowding during the backstretch run to claim his fourth career win without a loss. The son of Valiant Minister broke alertly to vie for the early lead before jockey Emisael Jaramillo successfully managed to rate the speedy colt just to the outside of early pacesetter Esperon.

With weakening inside pressure, Bentornato assumed a clear lead on the far turn and showed the way into the stretch after briefly being challenged by Sound of the Beast. Hurricane Nelson made a late bid to the outside and Mattingly cut the corner into the stretch to enter contention, but Bentornato shook off the mild challenges and drew away to victory.

“I am so happy. We were so high on him,” D'Angelo said. “We were prepping him, not for this race but for the next one because maybe it will be harder for him. He responded very well. He didn't look too sharp and need to have the lead. Going two turns, maybe he will get slower fractions and he will be better.”

Bentornato ($3.60) collected his third straight stakes victory after running seven furlongs for the first time in 1:23.50, a final time built on fractions of 22.59 and 45.50 seconds for the first half mile.

“He's 4-for-4, but he's still a little green,” said D'Angelo, whose undefeated colt dropped over to the rail in the stretch before changing leads late. “He always wants to go close to the rail, but we can improve that.”

Mattingly, a stakes winner on Tapeta, finished second in his dirt debut, a neck ahead of Hurricane Nelson.

D'Angelo swept the first legs of the Florida Sires Stakes series with Bentornato and Welcome Back, who captured the $100,000 Desert Vixen for fillies. Unfortunately, Welcome Back was scratched from the Susan's Girl after sustaining a minor injury Friday night while kicking a stall wall. D'Angelo said undefeated Welcome Back will be ready to compete in the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the third leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series.

Bred by Tanma Corp, Bentornato was produced by the Put It Back mare Her Special Way and was a $170,000 purchase by Champion Equine at the OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consigned him.

The post Bentornato Survives Objection, Inquiry To Prevail In Affirmed, Stays Unbeaten appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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