Month: October 2023

Omaha Beach Filly All the Way in Anoakia

The first to the races for her dam, Sandy Bottom gave her freshman sire Omaha Beach (by War Front) his second black-type stakes winner when she went gate to wire in the Anoakia at Santa Anita on Saturday afternoon.

Notching a front-running win at first asking Sept. 10 at Del Mar, the 6-5 choice broke alertly from the rail, once again seized the lead and never looked back as she commanded the pole position through the checkered flag.

“Today, it seemed like she caught a flier [leaving the gate],” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “I was pleasantly surprised to see her put herself where she did. Umberto seemed in command up the backside, it was nice to see him put a little daylight in between him and everyone else coming to the quarter pole. We will keep her at one turn for now. I believe there is a stake in a few weeks time at Del Mar around one turn that may be something to think about. I think six and a half, seven [furlongs] would be her limit. We will find out.”

The winner's dam, who is a half-sister to GIII Beaumont S. heroine Gas Station Sushi (Into Mischief), foaled her only other offspring–a colt–Feb. 24 by Cloud Computing and she was bred to Greatest Honour for next year.

ANOAKIA S., $91,370, Santa Anita, 10-21, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.55, ft.
1–SANDY BOTTOM, 120, f, 2, by Omaha Beach
                1st Dam: Starlit Daydream, by Can the Man
                2nd Dam: Five Star Daydream, by Five Star Day
                3rd Dam: September Charmer, by Septieme Ciel
($145,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-James Daniell and Donna Daniell; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Umberto Rispoli. $54,822. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $104,022.
2–Tambo, 118, f, 2, Enticed–Flatter Me First, by Flatter.($29,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $25,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $70,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-SAF Racing, Neil A. Haymes, James E. McCadden and William Strauss; B-Thoroughbred by Design LLC (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $18,274.
3–Becky's Dream (Fr), 120, f, 2, City of Light–Corporate Queen, by Colonel John. ($15,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O/T-Jose R. Valdez; B-Yeguada Centurion S.L.U. (FR). $10,965.
Margins: 3/4, 3HF, 3HF. Odds: 1.20, 6.80, 4.00.
Also Ran: Dua, Cheeky Gal.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Omaha Beach Filly All the Way in Anoakia appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Gun Runner’s Vahva Best in Raven Run

Closing out her sixth year in the training ranks, Cherie DeVaux added yet another notch on her belt, collecting her first Keeneland stakes victory in Saturday's feature, the GII Lexus Raven Run S. Helping her achieve that goal, DeVaux was represented by GIII Charles Town Oaks winner Vahva (Gun Runner), who was accompanied by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, also aboard in her last-out score in West Virginia.

“I don't know if there are words to really describe that,” said a visibly moved DeVaux following the win. “Our team has really worked hard with all of our horses, especially this filly, and it's just so rewarding.”

Sent off at 5-2 behind 4-5 choice Alva Starr (Lord Nelson), Vahva broke alertly from post 4 and was tucked in along the inside as the favorite raced to the front, carving out an opening quarter in :22.61. Continuing to show the way through a :45.48 half as GIII Remington Park Oaks runner-up Ancient Peace (War Front) forced the issue in a three-wide second while Vahva continued to bide her time in third, Alva Starr rounded the home turn in control and appeared en route to victory. Set down for the stretch run under a strong hand ride by Velazquez, Vahva slowly reeled in the game pacesetter, poked her head in front late and inched away in the final strides to collect her second consecutive graded stakes victory. Dazzling Blue (Into Mischief) was a long way off in third.

DeVaux said, “Johnny and I have had great success this year in stakes races, and I told him, 'There's one thing we haven't done yet, and that's come into the infield [at Keeneland] for a trophy presentation,' so I'm elated that he got that done. It's beautiful [out here].”

A winner in her third career start at Churchill Downs last November, the $280,000 Keeneland September buy finished third behind Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in her stakes bow in the Dec. 26 Untapable S. before finishing fourth to that classy filly again in the 1 1/16-mile GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 18. Cutting back to 6 1/2 furlongs for a Keeneland optional claimer in April, she was beaten narrowly by next-out stakes winner Positano Sunset (Goldencents) and came right back to score at the same distance at Churchill May 5.

Prior to her Aug. 25 Charles Town Oaks score, she finished a respectable third behind the ill-fated Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) in Belmont's GIII Victory Ride S. July 8. Velazquez was aboard for her two most recent races prior to the Raven Run.

“We took the same approach [as the Charles Town Oaks, also seven furlongs but around two turns],” explained Velazquez. “She came running and we tried to get a good position. Obviously, we knew the speed horse [runner-up Alva Starr] was going to be really tough to beat. Cherie has done a great job with the horse and gave me the opportunity to stay with her.”

He added, “Everything worked out good. I got close to the heels of the horse in front (Alva Starr), held my position and when I pulled her out, she responded. That's all you can ask of the horses. She was there for me, and she did it all.”

Pedigree Notes:
Stakes-winning Holiday Soiree, who also finished third in the GI Humana Distaff, was secured by Rock Ridge Thoroughbreds for $160,000 at Keeneland November in 2021. The 14-year-old mare will be re-offered at next month's Keeneland sale under the Warrendale banner. Since her purchase, she produced a filly by City of Light in 2022 followed by a Nyquist filly this term. She was bred back to City of Light.

Saturday, Keeneland
LEXUS RAVEN RUN S.-GII, $349,375, Keeneland, 10-21, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.28, ft.
1–VAHVA, 118, f, 3, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Holiday Soiree (SW & GISP, $405,642),
                                by Harlan's Holiday
                2nd Dam: Try to Remember, by Include
                3rd Dam: Casanova Striker, by Smart Strike
($280,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Belladonna Racing, LLC, Edward
Hudson, Jr., West Point Thoroughbreds, LBD Stable LLC, Nice
Guys Stables, Manganaro Bloodstock, Runnels Racing, Steve
Hornstock and Twin Brook Stables; B-Woodford
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-John R.
Velazquez. $211,575. Lifetime Record: 10-4-2-2, $873,810.
*1/2 to Signal From Noise (Arrogate), SP, $163,990.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Alva Starr, 120, f, 3, Lord Nelson–Sittin At the Bar, by Into
Mischief. O-P. Dale Ladner; B-Brett A. Brinkman & P. Dale
Ladner (KY); T-Brett A. Brinkman. $68,250.
3–Dazzling Blue, 118, f, 3, Into Mischief–Blue Violet, by Curlin.
($500,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Juddmonte; B-WinStar Farm, LLC
(KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $34,125.
Margins: HF, 12HF, HF. Odds: 2.53, 0.90, 7.77.
Also Ran: Apple Picker, Lily Poo, Lady Radler, Ancient Peace. Scratched: Nom de Plume, Simply Stated.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Gun Runner’s Vahva Best in Raven Run appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Extra Little Bit’: Saez Gets Best From Raise Cain For Narrow Perryville Triumph

Former classic starter Raise Cain prevailed by a head over Dr. Venkman after a stretch-long duel in the $250,000 Perryville on Saturday at Keeneland.

Trained by Ben Colebrook and ridden by Luis Saez, Raise Cain covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.58.

Verifying and Confidence Game zipped an opening half-mile in :45.69 with Dr. Venkman racing three-wide just behind the leaders and Raise Cain saving ground in fourth.

On the turn, Dr. Venkman went after the top two with Raise Cain tipping off the inside and moving just behind Dr. Venkman.

At the top of the stretch, those two hooked up with Raise Cain owning the initial momentum to stick his head in front only to have Dr. Venkman battle back to hold a narrow edge through the lane until Raise Cain pushed by for good in the final 20 yards.

Andrew and Rania Warren's Raise Cain is a Kentucky-bred son of Violence out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemon Belle. Winner of the one-mile Gotham (G3) by 7 1/2 lengths at 25-1 odds this spring at Aqueduct, he was unplaced in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Perryville marked his second stakes victory and improved his record to 13-3-2-1 while boosting his earnings to $577,066 with Saturday's $153,063 check.

“His only wins were around one turn,” Colebrook said. “He got us to the (Kentucky) Derby and he's been such an overachieving horse, he really deserved it. I think (jockey) Luis Saez made the difference. He rode him great. I mean, all the riders have ridden him well, but Luis gives you that just extra little bit. That's probably what we needed today.”

Andrew Warren paid $180,000 to acquire Raise Cain at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Warrendale Sales consigned him.

Raise Cain returned $14.88 for the win. Dr. Venkman, sent off as the favorite under John Velazquez, finished 1¼ lengths in front of Post Time in third.

It was another 5½ lengths back to Loyal Company with Verifying and Confidence Game completing the order of finish.

The post ‘Extra Little Bit’: Saez Gets Best From Raise Cain For Narrow Perryville Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Touch’n Ride Promoted To Ontario Derby Win After Foul

After a claim of foul by Twin City (Klimt) which took place at the first turn against Solo Album (Curlin), Touch'n Ride (g, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Niigon's Touch, by Niigon) was promoted to the winner's circle in Saturday's Ontario Derby.

The bay gelding won over the Tapeta in Toronto by 5 1/4 lengths at second asking July 30 before running a well-beaten fifth in the King's Plate Aug. 20. Winning the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown Oct. 1 in the Breeders' Stakes by a nose over SW Elysian Field (Hard Spun), Touch'n Ride was installed as the 2-1 favorite here.

With an even beginning, the Layne Giliforte trainee settled to the outside mid-pack just before the first turn as Solo Album cutoff Twin City to set the pace. Clocking all the fractions throughout, the leader held sway along the rail up the backstretch, continued into the final turn and with the field bearing down on him, crossed the wire by a length ahead of Touch'n Ride.

Once the steward's took down Soul Album, he was placed fifth, with Cool Kiss (Kantharos) finishing second, Twowaycrossing (English Channel) third, as Twin City was moved to fourth.

“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.”

Pedigree Notes:
This was the 57th graded stakes winner for Candy Ride (Arg). Out of SW Niigon's Touch, who is also responsible for Breeders' S. hero Neepawa (Scat Daddy), the winner has a weanling half-sister by Justify who was foaled Apr. 1. Her dam was bred to Twirling Candy for next year.

Saturday, Woodbine
ONTARIO DERBY-GIII, C$179,300, Woodbine, 10-21, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:48.93, ft.
1–TOUCH'N RIDE, 122, g, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg)
         1st Dam: Niigon's Touch (SW, $204,615), by Niigon
         2nd Dam: Laser Touch, by Touch Gold
         3rd Dam: Laser Hawk, by Silver Hawk
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Chiefswood Stables Limited (ON); T-Layne S. Giliforte; J-Kazushi Kimura. C$108,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, $317,257. *1/2 to Neepawa (Scat Daddy), SW, $307,222. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cool Kiss, 120, g, 3, Kantharos–Hot Kiss, by Philanthropist. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (C$40,000 RNA Ylg '21 CANSEP). O-Newtop Stables, John E. Russell and Joseph Depaulo; B-Phoenix Racing (ON); T-Michael P. De Paulo. C$36,000.
3–Twowaycrossing, 120, g, 3, English Channel–Double Guns Girl, by Langfuhr. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B/T-Roger Attfield (ON). C$18,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3HF, NK. Odds: 2.40, 25.10, 34.25.
Also Ran: Twin City, Solo Album, Forever Dixie, Stanley House, American Blaze, Velocitor. Scratched: Souper Blessing.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Touch’n Ride Promoted To Ontario Derby Win After Foul appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights