Month: December 2023

Wolfie’s Dynaghost Takes Prairie Bayou On Front End

Woodslane Farm's well-traveled homebred Wolfie's Dynaghost returned to Turfway Park Saturday night and held off a late bid by Cellist to win the 28th running of the $125,000 Prairie Bayou Stakes.

Wolfie's Dynaghost, who triumphed in the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic March 25 at the Northern Kentucky track, completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.51 under jockey Tyler Connor for trainer Jonathan Thomas.

The speedy Wolfie's Dynaghost had no early pace pressure as the field broke from the starting gate, and Connor was able to rate him through composed early fractions of :24.17 and :47.27 through a half mile. Around the far turn, Wolfie's Dynaghost extended his lead to two lengths while clocking six furlongs in 1:10.87. However, in the stretch, Wolfie's Dynaghost began to get leg weary and had to hold off the big, late strides of Cellist. Calling on all his reserves, he dug down deep and held off that rival by a head for the victory.

Wolfie's Dynaghost was well-backed in the wagering and closed as the heavy 4-5 favorite. He returned $3.98 for a $2 win wager. Runner-up Cellist finished 4¼ lengths in front of third-place finisher Hush of a Storm.

Like the King, who won the 2021 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), completed the superfecta and was followed in order by Kitodan, Tiz the Bomb, Leave It to Kitten, and Ocean Atlantique.

Wolfie's Dynaghost, who entered off a victory in the Autumn (G2) Nov. 5 at Woodbine, banked $74,814 for his victory in the Prairie Bayou to improve his overall earnings to a stout $923,719. His impressive career record stands at 25-10-2-5.

Kentucky-bred Wolfie's Dynaghost is a 5-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire.

Thomas reported Saturday morning on the Horse Racing Radio Network that Wolfie's Dynaghost would likely receive some time off before his 6-year-old campaign and could defend his title in the Kentucky Cup Classic.

Next year's Prairie Bayou Stakes was one of four local stakes contests that were upgraded by the American Graded Stakes Committee. The race will now be a Listed event along with the Big Daddy and Latonia Stakes. The Kentucky Cup Classic also received an upgrade from a Listed race to a Grade 3.

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Baffert-Trained Wynstock Pulls 13-1 Upset In Los Alamitos Futurity, Favored Stablemate Third

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his eighth Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in 10 years on Saturday, but it wasn't with the 2-year-old most were expecting.

Wynstock, the longest-priced entrant of the trio Baffert saddled in the $200,000 race, led virtually all the way at 13-1 odds, then survived a stewards' inquiry to earn his second consecutive win since he was stretched out.

The victory was especially sweet for Baffert because Wynstock, a New York bred son of Solomini and the Flatter mare Timberlea, is owned by Dr. Edward Allred, the owner of Los Alamitos, and F. Jack Liebau, the vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. He was bred by Empire Equines LLC.

After beginning his career by disappointing twice as the favorite in races at 6½ furlongs, Wynstock dominated maidens by 7½ lengths going a mile Oct. 15 in his first collaboration with jockey Kyle Frey.

The surprising result – the chestnut was also 13-1 that day – enabled Frey to retain the mount in the Los Alamitos Futurity, and Wynstock responded with a half-length victory over 4-1 second choice Stronghold. The Baffert-trained Coach Prime, the 4-5 favorite, was another half length back in third.

Stewards Luis Jauregui, David Nuesch and Kim Sawyer conducted an inquiry into some bumping between Wynstock and Stronghold inside the final eighth of a mile, but ruled both horses contributed to the incident and there was no change to the order of finish.

Wine Me Up, the third Baffert entrant and 19-10 second choice, and Ace of Clubs completed the order of finish.

Pushing his earnings to $162,740, Wynstock, who was purchased from the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment for $700,000 at the OBS April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.53. He returned $29.40 for the win making him the highest-priced winner of the Futurity since the race has been run at Los Alamitos.

Stronghold, racing around two turns for the first time, outfinished Coach Prime by a half length for second.

“To have this moment is special,'' said Baffert. “I'm so excited. I'm just so happy (for Dr. Allred). He and I go way back. He bought this horse and trusted me.

“I thought (Wynstock) would be on the lead today because when I sent him long the first time that's how he won. I couldn't believe he got beat twice going short before that because he had shown so much in the morning.

“When he went long we put (Frey) on him and he got him away from there so I told Kyle I'd leave him on this horse because they get along great together.

“This horse looked outstanding coming into the paddock today. He was on his toes and actually looked like he was going to run in the Champion of Champions. He's a stout, beautiful horse.

“(Coach Prime) was sort of in and out the whole way. He got a little warm behind the gate and got shuffled back a bit. He's still green.''

The Los Alamitos Futurity was Frey's first graded stakes success in Southern California and his second stakes win at this venue. He had previously won the Dark Mirage Stakes in 2021 with Samurai Charm.

“Relaxing isn't an issue for this horse,'' said Frey. “Just getting out of the gate is and he did that perfectly today. He has the heart of a lion. He swelled up when (Stronghold) came up on our inside.'' (On the inquiry): “(Stronghold) got us first.''

The Los Alamitos Futurity provided Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis, but only Stronghold (5points) and fifth-place finisher Ace of Clubs (1 point) earned points. Baffert-trained runners are ineligible for points because of Churchill Downs Inc.'s ban of the trainer from entering horse in the Derby and other races through 2024.

The post Baffert-Trained Wynstock Pulls 13-1 Upset In Los Alamitos Futurity, Favored Stablemate Third appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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El Encinal Springs 14-1 Surprise In Prestigious Carlos Pellegrini, Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth

El Encinal (ARG) pulled a 14-1 upset and earned a Breeders' Cup berth Saturday evening when capturing the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional (G1) at Hipodromo de San Isidro just outside Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Craftily ridden by Eduardo Ortega Pavon, El Encinal split rivals in midstretch of the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2-mile) turf race before getting up in the final strides to nail No Fear (BRZ) by a head in a thrilling finish.

The Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini Internacional, the most prestigious race in South America, is the first Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race of the 2024 season. With his narrow victory in a field of 14 3-year-olds and upward, El Encinal earned an automatic starting slot in the 2024 running of the $4-million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the series.

After the top two finishers, it was about two lengths back to Treasure Island (ARG) in third. Jazz Seiver (ARG), part of a favored entry, was fourth.

The triumph was by far the most noteworthy in the nascent racing career of El Encinal. After being defeated in his first five starts, he now has won three of his last four. He was a nose winner of an August maiden race in his sixth start, then wheeled back to win the Group 3 Ensayo in September, both at San Isidro. His lone interim attempt resulted in a sixth-place finish behind Happy Happy Day (ARG) in the age-restricted Jockey Club (G1) on Oct. 7, also at San Isidro.

El Encinal is a chestnut 3-year-old colt by the Chilean sire Il Campione, a son of the noted late sire Scat Daddy, and was produced by the Argentine mare Asediada Emper, by Emperor Jones. Miguel Alberto Gomez trains the colt for the Stud Dona Pancha, perhaps best known to American racing fans as the owner of Calidoscopio (ARG), winner of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Marathon (G2).

Pavon had El Encinal nicely settled while saving ground in midpack for much of the Pellegrini while Happy Happy Day sped off to an open lead down the backstretch and into the turn. Down the long homestretch, Treasure Island first took over for Happy Happy Day, after which the filly No Fear made a sustained run to take full command with 100 meters to go. It was only a determined late run by El Encinal that snatched the win from No Fear in the shadow of the wire, with the winning time being 2:25.46.

The three-way Group 1-winning entry of Natan (ARG), Happy Happy Day, and Jazz Seiver – all owned by Stud Las Monjitas, the Argentine powerhouse stable – was the 19-10 favorite among 12 betting interests. No Fear (BRZ) and Treasure Island (ARG) were next, both at 7-2, with El Encinal among the middling choices at 14.25-1. Natan, a 25-length winner of the 2022 Jockey Club as a 3-year-old, was the major disappointment Saturday when failing to be a serious factor.

Befitting its status, the Pellegrini was the centerpiece of a festive day of racing at San Isidro, filled with music, parachute jumpers, and much more pomp and pageantry enjoyed by a large crowd. The race was first run in 1887.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which are scheduled to be run for the 41st time next Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar in Del Mar, California.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for El Encinal into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. Breeders' Cup also will provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. Any Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21, 2024, to receive their rewards.

The post El Encinal Springs 14-1 Surprise In Prestigious Carlos Pellegrini, Earns Breeders’ Cup Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Another ‘Wyn’ for Baffert in Los Alamitos Futurity

Wynstock (Solomini), campaigned in partnership by Los Alamitos track owner Ed Allred and one-time Hollywood Park president and current Los Al vice president Jack Liebau, provided his New York-based stallion with his second stakes winner of the afternoon and first at the graded level when narrowly outlasting Stronghold (Ghostzapper) in Saturday's GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

It was the eighth victory in the 10 runnings of the Futurity since relocating to Orange County for trainer Bob Baffert and first since 2020. Ironically, Solomini crossed the wire best in the 2017 renewal, only to be demoted to third behind his 'TDN Rising Star' stable companion McKinzie. It was nearly deja vu all over again on Saturday.

Off at 13-1, the second-longest shot in the scratched-down field of five and easily least-preferred of the three Baffert entrants was ridden aggressively from the inside gate by Kyle Frey and set the pace in advance of Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) as Ace of Clubs (Mor Spirit) poked through between them. Stronghold and odds-on 'TDN Rising Star' Coach Prime (Quality Road) raced at the back of a compact group as they turned down the backstretch.

Urged along as they raced into the final half-mile, Wynstock was put to a more vigorous drive as Wine Me Up and Coach Prime took runs at him from the outside. Three and four wide, respectively, into the lane, that duo failed to go on with it, and Stronghold emerged the biggest danger down inside. Wynstock and Stronghold exchanged two or three bumps in the final furlong and a half, and the former gutted out a narrow victory before withstanding a stewards' inquiry. Coach Prime re-rallied late to get within a length at the finish.

“He was on his toes and actually looked like he was going to run in the Champion of Champions,” Baffert said, referring to the famed Quarter Horse race. “He's a stout, beautiful horse. I'm just really happy for Doc. We go back way back. To have this moment is special. He bought him and trusted me. I'm so excited.”

Of Coach Prime, he added: “He was sort of in and out the whole way. He got a little warm behind the gate and got shuffled back a bit. He's still green.”

A $50,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $700,000 OBS April breezer, Wynstock burned plenty of money in his first two appearances, finishing a well-beaten fourth at 8-5 on Del Mar debut Aug. 25 and fifth as the 12-5 chalk over a rain-affected Santa Anita strip Sept. 30. The bettors deserted him for his latest and those that jumped ship paid for it, as Wnystock led all the way to graduate by 7 1/2 lengths going a mile in Arcadia Oct. 15.

Pedigree Notes:

McMahon and Hill Bloodstock paid $10,500 for Timberlea at the 2020 Keeneland January sale with the express intent of breeding her to Solomini, who was standing his first year at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

A half-sister to Grade III winner Untrapped (Trappe Shot) and from the deeper female family of champion Minardi and the excellent Tale of the Cat, Timberlea foaled a Mo Town filly this past Apr. 5 and returned to Solomini for her 2024 produce. The sire was also represented Saturday by New York Stallion S. heroine My Shea D Lady and the debuting Heavyweight Champs, promoted to second in the colts' division one race later.

Saturday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY-GII, $200,000, Los Alamitos, 12-16, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.53, ft.
1–WYNSTOCK, 120, c, 2, by Solomini
                1st Dam: Timberlea, by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Exit Three, by Giant's Causeway
                3rd Dam: Castanea, by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($50,000 Ylg
'22 KEESEP; $700,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Edward C. Allred &
Jack Liebau; B-Empire Equines, LLC (NY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Kyle
Frey. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $162,740.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*First graded stakes winner for freshman sire (by Curlin)
2–Stronghold, 120, c, 2, Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy
Creed. O/B-Eric Waller & Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato.
$40,000.
3–Coach Prime, 120, c, 2, Quality Road–Act Now, by Street
Sense. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($1,700,000
Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.;
B-Kim & Rodney Nardelli & William Werner & W.S. Farish (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 13.70, 4.10, 0.80.
Also Ran: Wine Me Up, Ace of Clubs. Scratched: Moonlit Sonata.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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