December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fingal’s Cave Returns From 432-Day Layoff ‘With Flying Colors’; May Target Races Like Madison, Ruffian

Alifyfe Racing's graded stakes-placed Fingal's Cave appeared to have a daunting task ahead of her when racing from a 432-day layoff against stakes company in Thursday's $100,000 Bay Ridge, but responded to the challenge with ease as she posted a frontrunning 4 3/4-length victory in the one-mile test for New York-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“It [the layoff] was longer, and the plan was to have her back over the summer and it got delayed,” said trainer David Donk. “It was the goal to get to a race and we targeted this race a couple of months ago. Fortunately, she was able to do it and she came through with flying colors.”

Ridden by Jose Lezcano, the 4-year-old Carpe Diem bay was engaged in an early battle for the lead with Bustin Bay through an opening quarter-mile in 23.30 seconds before Venti Valentine was asked to take up second position and apply pressure through a half-mile in 46.52. Fingal's Cave easily shook off her rival at the top of the lane and drew clear when asked by Lezcano, coasting under the wire in a final time of 1:37.45 and earning a 79 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She came out of it well and cooled out well, and it wasn't as hard of a race as I thought it might be,” said Donk. “She galloped out well, too, and I was pleased with it all. It was easy enough and wasn't a hard race on her and she was certainly fit enough to handle it, which is the main thing.”

Fingal's Cave made her first start since a game runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Raven Run last October at Keeneland where she was squeezed at the start and trailed the field 9 1/4 lengths off the pace before moving four-wide into the stretch and making a strong run down the lane. She rallied past all but one foe, finishing four lengths behind the victorious Wicked Halo. Fingal's Cave was later diagnosed with bone bruising and subsequently dealt with a minor foot issue before returning to regular training with Donk at Belmont Park.

Donk said he is still discussing future plans with the filly's owner, but said the Ruffian this spring at Belmont at the Big A could be a long term target. Donk also did not rule out a potential return trip to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Madison on April 6, or a try in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on February 17 at Laurel Park.

“I'm not quite sure what we do from here. The focus is going to be from April to November I think, so we'll see,” said Donk. “There will be a lot of discussion. Maybe it's too far-fetched, but a race that intrigues me is the Ruffian at a flat mile in the beginning of May. [The Madison] is a good possibility – it's not an easy race, but who knows. We'll just have to see. We're just pleased she came back and ran so well.”

Bred in the Empire State by Chester and Mary Broman, Fingal's Cave has banked $370,500 in total purse earnings with wins in 5-of-6 lifetime starts, including an additional state-bred stakes score last August in Saratoga Race Course's Fleet Indian. A $75,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Fingal's Cave's third dam is Antespend, a multiple graded stakes-winner who produced Grade 1-winner Friends Lake and graded stakes-winner Seeking the Ante.

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‘An Incredible Year’: Leading NYRA Trainer Linda Rice Reflects On Ceiling-Breaking Year

There is one weekend remaining in 2023 to complete a remarkable year of racing action on the New York Racing Association circuit. To celebrate the season, the NYRA Press Office checked in with a selection of trainers, owners, jockeys and racing personalities to share their reflections on the memorable year.

Trainer Linda Rice is on the precipice of eclipsing the record for most training wins in a single year at NYRA of 164 set by David Jacobson in 2013. Rice, 59, entered Friday's card at Aqueduct Racetrack with 161 NYRA-circuit wins including Grade 3 scores with Mommasgottarun in the Distaff Handicap and Joey Freshwater in the Bay Shore, both in April at Aqueduct.

Additionally, Rice's total purse earnings this year exceeded $10 million for the first time in her career that dates to her 1987 debut at Pimlico Race Course. With 164 total wins this year, she is nearing her personal best of 166 achieved in 2017. Her NYRA successes led her to claim victory as the meet-leading trainer at four consecutive meetings this year, coming out on top at Aqueduct winter [37], Aqueduct spring [17], Belmont spring/summer [34], and at Saratoga, where she closed a two-win deficit on the final day to tie Chad Brown for top honors with 35 wins each.

With Rice setting personal records and approaching record numbers on her home circuit this year, she looked back on some of the moments and accomplishments she is most proud of as she works each day alongside a dedicated staff at Belmont Park.

Q: This year, you broke your earnings record and are nearing the NYRA win record. What are some of your fondest memories and takeaways from this year?

“It's been an incredible year. The $10 million is our high watermark, and we were floating in the $5 million and $7 million ranks the past few years. It was great to break it. But more important than the purses themselves, the Belmont meet was amazing and so exciting. Jose Ortiz rode a lot for us and he won the riding title as well.

“Of course, Saratoga was a meet to remember and quite a thrill. We looked like we had no chance to win at that meet, but we pulled it off with two days left. In general, the whole year has been great. The purse earnings are good, but the memories, the emotions and hard work that goes into it – that's really what it's all about.”

Q: The New York circuit is widely accepted as one of the most difficult ones in America. What does it mean to you that you have found such success here?

“I'm very proud of that fact. In 2017, we won 166 races, but maybe 30 of them had been in Maryland that year. To me, it's very satisfying that this year, almost all of the more than 160 wins have been here at NYRA tracks. This is home for us, and it's a tough venue to compete at. We're very proud.

“We consolidated into New York in 2013. I used to send a division to Florida in the winter and I felt like our efforts would be rewarded if we concentrated on New York racing. Ever since we consolidated to New York year round, I've seen a significant increase in our performance and results, and of course our purse earnings. That's been a big boost for us.”

Q: In recent years, you've stepped up your efforts in claiming horses, and have seen great results, including graded wins with claimed horses Joey Freshwater and Mommasgottarun. What are you looking for in a horse when considering a claim?

“I'm a big pedigree buff. I like to claim horses with nice pedigrees that might have fallen from the ranks in larger stables. I like to claim ones that are lightly raced and that I'm thinking maybe someone gave up on them too soon. That's one of the factors, and I think it's been working pretty well.”

Q: Among your wins were stakes victories in 14 events at NYRA. What are some of your favorite performances by your trainees this year?

“Winning the Grade 3 with Mommasgottarun was exciting. I claimed her in December and we won the Distaff in April. That was really exciting – to take a filly and have her win a Grade 3 with a newer client, Ronald Stewart, that I have been working with for about a year [was special].

“We claimed Pioneering Spirit out of a maiden $40,000 and he won the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga and the Knickerbocker this fall. That was terrific. The Bay Shore with Joey Freshwater, who we claimed last fall, that was exciting. We won the Garland of Roses last year with Betsy Blue on short rest, and we did the same this year with Hot Fudge.

“El Grande O, a homebred for Barry Schwartz, has had a very good year, and Arctic Arrogance, a homebred for Chester and Mary Broman, ran well [to finish second] in the Jerome and Withers. They come from different directions. Some are homebreds for clients, some are claims, and some are 2-year-old purchases at the sales. But for me, the goal is for all of it to come together at the same place and win races in New York. That's what we've been trying to achieve.”

Q: Many of New York racing's most celebrated moments in 2023 have centered around women, including a historic win by Jena Antonucci in the Belmont Stakes and a strong season by jockey Katie Davis. As you approach the NYRA win record, what does it mean to be reaching historic heights and serving as an example for women in our sport?

“It's great – we've had a great year, and if that can inspire other women to do the same, that's terrific.

“In the past decade, a lot of doors have begun to open up for women. Julie Krone was fabulous and she broke the ceiling for female riders. In New York, Katie Davis has had a tremendous year, and Jena Antonucci was such a phenomenal story to see her win the Belmont and Travers. It goes to show you have to have the right horse, and there's plenty of capable horsemen out there. You're going to see more of this all over the country.”

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Saturday Insights: Pletcher Duo Kicks Off Pegasus Preview Day At Gulfstream

1st-GP, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 12:10 p.m.

A pair of Todd Pletcher trainees headlines the action Saturday for Gulfstream's Pegasus Preview Day led by $700,000 2-year-old BAIL US OUT (Lookin At Lucky). Picked up at OBSAPR by Repole Stable off a breeze in :10 flat, the bay is a son of a stakes-winning dam from the family of MGSW/MGISP Topicount (Private Account). Bail Us Out will break from the inside under Jose Ortiz.

Stablemate Born Noble (Constitution), himself a $725,000 KEESEP yearling for St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds, is the first foal out of GISP Zapperkat while third dam Rokeby Rosie counts dual champion Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) as her half-sister. Pletcher tabs the other Ortiz brother, Irad, for the ride from the far outside.

Breaking between that pair is Mo Go (Medalia d'Oro), a $400,000 KEENOV weanling for Tom Durant and Jose D'Angelo. The colt was a $625,000 RNA at OBSAPR earlier in the year.

Big City (City of Light) has the same owner and trainer as Mo Go and his own $300,000 FTKNOV price tag after RNA'ing for $445,000 also out of OBSAPR. His dam, bought for $325,000 at KEENOV with this runner in-utero, is a daughter of MGISW and $1.8m KEENOV broodmare Ask the Moon (Malibu Moon). TJCIS PPS

1st-AQU, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 12:20 p.m.

Summer Wind Equine's Greatest Gift (Curlin) is the latest foal out of Lil Indy, also the dam of champion 3-year-old colt Maximum Security (New Year's Day). Summer Wind bought Lil Indy, a half-sister to MGISW Flat Out (Flatter), out of the 2019 KEENOV Sale for $1.85m. TJCIS PPS

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Blue Point Blasts His Way To Champion First-Season Sire Honours

There will be a lot of I-told-you-sos when looking back on the first-season sires' championship with Blue Point (Ire) living up to his lofty billing by amassing 50 individual winners in Europe including two Group 1 scorers in what can only be described as a dream debut season.

The pledge of support behind Blue Point from a very early stage, in what was viewed by many as the most competitive first-season sires' championship in a long time, was telling.

Perhaps one of the most accurate predictions came from trainer Richard Hannon in his TDN two-year-old tour back in April. He said, “I don't think I will be able to afford many of these Blue Points next year–he could have a big year which will make them very expensive.”

Little did Hannon know at the time but it was the stable's Rosallion (Ire) who would go on to add to that growing reputation for the stallion in running out an impressive winner of the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.

Add that to the exploits of Big Evs (Ire), winner of the Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot before signing off on a brilliant campaign by scorching to GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint honours at Santa Anita, Blue Point didn't just live up to expectations in 2023; he smashed it.

So, how does he compare to previous champion first-season sires and is his fee jump to €60,000 justified?

The answer is that Blue Point compares favourably with each of the past five leading first-season sires–Havana Grey (GB), Cotai Glory (GB), Mehmas (Ire), Gutaifan (Ire) and No Nay Never–on almost every metric.

In terms of prize-money amassed, only Havana Grey has managed to better Blue Point's debut season haul of €1,235,165 in Britain and Ireland, albeit by just €21,747. Standing on 41 individual winners in Britain and Ireland, Blue Point has bettered each of the previous five leading first crop sires bar Mehmas, who ended his respective campaign with 46.

Meanwhile, 57 wins all told in Britain and Ireland is just eight shy of what Mehmas recorded in 2020 but is on a par with what Havana Grey achieved last year.

These are the sort of statistics that led Con Marnane, one of the titans of the game, to label Blue Point as 'pound for pound the best stallion in Europe' while top pinhooker Paul McCartan is another man to have been heard singing the praises of the young stallion on the sales circuit this year.

It is one thing having a clatter of winners but something altogether different to produce quality performers and this is another area where Blue Point excelled this season. Along with top-notchers Rosallion and Big Evs, Blue Point was responsible for another 100-plus rated juvenile in Action Point (Ire), who scored at listed level and reached an official rating of 101 for Archie Watson.

It is clear that Blue Point, a tremendous racehorse in his own right who recorded an amazing Royal Ascot double when landing the King's Stand S. and the Diamond Jubilee S. in the same week, is injecting a lot of class into his offspring with 17 of his two-year-olds ending the campaign on an official rating of 90 or above.

Too Darn Hot (GB) put the cherry on top of what was a memorable year for the Darley roster by ending the campaign strongly with a host of high-class winners, including G1 Moyglare Stud S. winner Fallen Angel (GB).

A genuine 1,000 Guineas contender for Karl Burke to look forward to next season, Fallen Angel was one of five juveniles by Too Darn Hot to achieve official ratings of 100 or more.

Too Darn Hot ended the year with 22 individual winners in Britain and Ireland, which was the same number that Soldier's Call (GB) managed. However, the latter amassed 29 total winners, which was just one more than Too Darn Hot managed.

Too Darn Hot is set to stand for £65,000 in 2024 while Soldier's Call, who has recently switched from Joe Foley's Ballyhane Stud in Ireland, where he has stood since 2020, to Dullingham Park, will command a fee of £8,500.

The move makes sense. For all that Soldier's Call lived up to what was expected from him in 2023, and in many ways hardened his reputation as a rock-solid producer of sprinting talent, he might stand out a little better in the British market compared to in Ireland, where there are plenty of options at a similar level.

Calyx (GB) may not have racked up the numbers Soldier's Call managed but he was represented by a number of talented juveniles, not least the Dewhurst third Eben Shaddad and the unexposed Purple Lily (Ire), who justified her €155,000 price tag at the breeze-ups when winning on debut at Galway for Paddy Twomey. She rates an exciting filly going forward for the stallion next season and featured among the 19 individual winners and 26 total wins recorded by Calyx in 2023.

Advertise (GB) [19 individual winners in Britain and Ireland], Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) [17], Inns Of Court (Ire) [16], Land Force (Ire) [14], Ten Sovereigns (Ire) [14] and Invincible Army (Ire) [12] were others who managed to get into double figures this year.

Perhaps Phoenix Of Spain is deserving of most credit out of that group for what he achieved with his first crop two-year-olds as his progeny are almost certain to improve at three and beyond.

Study Of Man (Ire) could fit into that category as well. Nobody would have predicted that the G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner would have blasted out a host of two-year-old winners with his debut crop and he probably exceeded expectations through the exploits of Deepone (GB). Winner of the G2 Beresford S., historically a good guide for future Derby contenders, Deepone would appear to have leading Classic claims in 2024 for Twomey and his owner Vimal Khosla.

Like Study Of Man, Magna Grecia (Ire) ended the year with six individual winners in Britain and Ireland while Masar (Ire) was just two behind that pair on four. Given Magna Grecia is out of a Galileo (Ire) mare, it will be wise to judge him properly at the end of 2024 while Derby winner Masar is another deserving of more time.

It should also be noted that City Light (Fr) enjoyed a banner year in France and ended the campaign as the clear leading first-crop sire with 15 individual winners and 19 total wins. A son of Siyouni, City Light also had a winner in Britain and Ireland is shaping up to be an interesting stallion in his own right.

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