Month: December 2023

O'Connor (CHI) slipped through a tight opening along the rail and launched a determined stretch bid in the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, virtually clinching an invitation the Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27 at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. track.

The Harlan's Holiday, a 1 1/16-mile prep for the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream, co-headlined Saturday's program with the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes that served as a prep for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

Owned by Michael and Julia Iavarone and Fernando Vine Ode, O'Connor ($9.20) earned his second consecutive graded stakes victory in the Harlan's Holiday. The 6-year-old Chilean-bred raced in midpack while running one path off the rail around the first turn and along the backstretch as Saffie Joseph Jr-trained stablemate Ny Traffic set the pace, pressed by Grand Aspen while setting fractions of :23.73 and :47.12 for the first half mile.

Tyler Gaffalione and O'Connor advanced to third while dropping down to the rail leaving the backstretch, as Ny Traffic and Grand Aspen picked up the pace. Leaving the turn into the stretch, Gaffalione sent O'Connor through a tight opening inside Ny Traffic as Grand Aspen took over the lead.

O'Connor responded when asked by Gaffalione, fighting his way to victory by a neck inside a very game Grand Aspen. Ny Traffic came again to finish third, three-quarters of a length back, under Javier Castellano.

O'Connor, the son of Boboman, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.80.

“I know he's an older horse and he's run a bunch of times, but it seems like he's figuring things out right now,” Gaffalione said.

Joseph tried to sort out the series of events in the Harlan's Holiday.

“Ny Traffic was going good in front and I don't know what he did. Javier said he kind of looked at something. Then it looked like O'Connor was going to get [stuck on] the rail and all of a sudden it looked like were going to run second and fourth,” Joseph said. “Then it looked like Ny Traffic was going to win and finally O'Connor came and got the job done at the end. That's racing. So many different emotions during a short race and thankfully we got the job done. Both horses ran well. Tyler gave [O'Connor] a great ride.”

O'Connor, Chile's 2022 Horse of the Year who was produced by the Chilean-bred Touch Gold mare Torrente de Agua, finished fourth as the favorite in last season's Harlan's Holiday, which followed an impressive U.S. debut.

“Last year I didn't think he could get beat. I've learned the least I know the better I do,” Joseph said. “Fast forward one year and we got the job done. We're proud of him, obviously. He's a horse that's won two in a row now and he's doing what we thought he could do,” said Joseph, who saddled O'Connor for a victory in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland in his prior start.

Joseph, who is also pointing Skippylongstocking to the Pegasus, said the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Pegasus should suit O'Connor.

“Distance will be better for him,” Joseph said. “He's probably best at a 1 ¼ mile.”

The post ‘We Got The Job Done’: Pegasus Hopeful O’Connor Preps With Tenacious Harlan’s Holiday Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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New York-bred Bold Journey doubled up on stakes scores while bringing his win streak to three in a row in Saturday's $150,000 Gravesend, a listed six-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and Pantofel Stable, the 4-year-old Hard Spun colt added to a last-out score in the Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) on Nov. 24 at Aqueduct with a similar off-the-pace effort and an optional claiming conquest by a nose two starts back at the Big A. The Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding-bred colt is a half-brother to Americanrevolution, a Grade 1-winning New York-bred who stands his first season at stud in 2024 at Rockridge Stud.

Ridden to victory by Eric Cancel, Bold Journey utilized his usual late-running tactics once again in the Gravesend and tracked in fourth of five runners after emerging from post 4. Post-time favorite Durante was keen to his outside and Rotknee, who broke outwardly from post 2 under Jose Lezcano, rocketed up the rail to take a clear lead from Durante and mark the opening quarter-mile in :21.94 over the muddy main track.

“You knew on paper they were going to gun it out,” Cancel said of Durante and Rotknee. “I just tried to sit the right trip – which I did – and the horse responded really well.”

Rotknee maintained his command through the turn and completed a half-mile in :44.95, but Bold Journey, despite being 6 1/2 lengths behind, steadily made up ground with every stride to loom large to the inside of Durante at the top of the lane.

Stage Left, who tracked in third throughout, tried in vain to advance down the center of the track and to the outside of Durante, but Bold Journey had the greatest momentum and rolled by a valiant Rotknee at the eighth pole, widening his margin to cross the wire 4 1/2 lengths in front in a final time of 1:09.46.

Rotknee staved off Durante to preserve place honors by a nose with Stage Left finishing another head back in fourth. Greeley and Ben, who trailed throughout, completed the order of finish.

The win marked the second stakes score for Cancel since returning from injury in October. The 27-year-old native of Carolina, Puerto Rico was aboard Bold Journey for the first time since guiding him to an allowance victory in June at Belmont Park.

“I'm very grateful. I want to thank everybody who has given me the opportunity to get back on the horses I was riding [before his injury],” said Cancel. “I get along with him very well. I was very happy they gave me back the opportunity to ride him and it worked out very well.”

Cancel added that Bold Journey was primed to give a strong effort.

“He broke very sharp today. He usually sits back early in the race,” Cancel said. “I just let him get comfortable and once I asked him, he knew what he needed to do. He just engaged and from there on that was it.

“He was very explosive today,” Cancel continued. “As soon as I asked him, he didn't hesitate. He didn't take a while like he usually does. Today, he just exploded and from there on I just had to hang on tight.”

Bold Journey, produced by the Super Saver mare Polly Freeze, banked $82,500 in victory and improved his lifetime record to 20-7-6-0 with lifetime earnings of $568,743. McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, agent's $80,000 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training purchase returned $8.10 on a $2 win bet. He is a McKathan Bros. Sales graduate.

Lezcano said the Mike Maker-trained New York-bred Rotknee, who was a last-out third to Bold Journey in the Fall Highweight, was hampered by a tangled beginning.

“He broke a step behind and broke out. After that, I sent a little bit and he jumped in the bridle and went on,” Lezcano explained. “That's the way he wants to run, I think. The winner can run – can't take nothing away from him. My horse gave me what he's got – he ran his best.”

The post Bold Journey Coasts Clear In Muddy Gravesend For Third Straight Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dismissed at 18-1, trainer Paddy Gallagher's Angel Nadeshiko pulled off a front-running heist in Saturday's $100,000 Robert J. Frankel (G3) at Santa Anita as she had plenty left in the tank late to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Allowed to make an easy lead while in-hand under Antonio Fresu around the first turn, Angel Nadeshiko strolled through fractions of :25.67, :51.16, 1:15.41, and 1:38.98 over a turf course softened some by early morning rain and listed as good.

With fellow longshot Rebel Girl second, a length behind the winner going to the far turn, Fresu asked for more, and Angel Nadeshiko shook loose, and kept Lakota Spirit at bay.

Angel Nadeshiko finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.69.

Fresu said he followed Gallagher's instructions.

“He told me to put her on the lead; she used to run really well when she was in front before,” Fresu said. “There was no other pace other than me, so I just took an easy lead and I tried to do my job. Obviously, Paddy brought her in in good shape, it was a well deserved win for him.”

Most recently fifth in one-mile Dark Mirage at Los Alamitos on Sept. 23, Angel Nadeshiko, a 4-year-old filly by Carpe Diem, was winless in her last seven starts dating back to December 2022. She returned $39.80 for Saturday's triumph.

Owned by U.S. Equine, Angel Nadeshiko, who is out of the Arch mare Cianchetta, notched her first stakes win and her third overall win from 16 career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, she improved her earnings to $227,780.

Lakota Spirit, ridden by Juan Hernandez, saved ground while a close third most of the trip and fired off the turn for home but couldn't overcome the slow pace set by the winner, finishing second.

Ridden by Flavien Prat and like Lakota Spirit, trained by Phil D'Amato, Oakhurst was third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Lakota Spirit.

The post Front-Running Angel Nadeshiko Springs 18-1 Surprise In Robert J. Frankel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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