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Mr. Big News Tunes Up for Preakness

Third-place GI Kentucky Derby finisher Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway) geared up for Pimlico’s Oct. 3 GI Preakness S. with a half-mile breeze in :48 4/5 (22/76) Friday at Churchill Downs. Regular exercise rider Tony Quinones was in irons.

“He was very sharp this morning,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “I know it was cool. He went a little quicker than we wanted, but did it very easy, well within himself. He was full of energy, kind of what we wanted to see. It was what we wanted or better.”

Mr. Big News earned a free entry in the Preakness with his win in the Apr. 11 Oaklawn S. Calhoun said his charge will work again Saturday, Sept. 26, which will be his final breeze before the Preakness. If it goes smoothly, Mr. Big News will head to Baltimore for the 1 3/16-mile Classic.

“He’s a fit horse; he doesn’t need a lot,” Calhoun said of next week’s work. “I’m not looking for fitness. Just maintain what we’ve got and hold his edge.”

Owner Chester Thomas and Calhoun said the strong finish by Mr. Big News at the end of the Derby helped determine their colt’s Preakness path.

“The free ride in the Preakness was there,” said Calhoun, “but he needed to prove that he belonged with that group of horses.”

The post Mr. Big News Tunes Up for Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Well-Bred Tapit Colt Romps to Rising Stardom

Three Chimneys Farm and Harrell Ventures LLC’s Stayin’ Out Late (Tapit) was sent off at a chilly-on-the-board 21-5 in Friday’s seventh race at Churchill Downs, but the well-bred chestnut turned the 6 1/2-furlong affair into a procession, galloping away to score by 7 3/4 lengths.

Away without incident from the inside gate, the son of GSW Graeme Six (Graeme Hall) made the lead with a minimum of fuss and was allowed a soft time of it up front, covering the opening quarter in :23.66 and the half in a route-like :47.80. Shaken up leaving the quarter pole, he turned on the afterburners in the final furlong and won clear. Cousin Larry (Cairo Prince–Pacific Spell) just earned second ahead of Inspector Frost (Frosted–Folk), the 21-10 chalk, who rushed up after missing the break and looked full of run turning for home, only to flatten late.

Stayin’ Out Late is a full-brother to Delightful Joy, GSW, $179,200, whose debuting daughter Zainalarab (War Front) graduated Friday at Belmont Park. He is also a half-brother to to Seymourdini (Bernardini), SW, $242,027, a $900,000 OBS April Breezer; and to Cali Star (Street Cry {Ire}), GSW, $348,080. Graeme Six, winner of the GIII Winning Colors S. at Churchill during her racing days, was purchased by the partnership of Gainesway and Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm for $950,000 in foal to the late Pioneerof the Nile at Keeneland November in 2016. She foaled a full-brother to Stayin’ Out Late in 2019 and a full-sister this term. She was bred to Curlin during the most recent breeding season, but did not conceive. Stayin’ Out Late is bred on the same cross over Deputy Minister that has been responsible for the aforementioned Frosted and fellow Grade I winner Tapizar.

7th-Churchill Downs, $73,292, Msw, 9-18, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:17.93, ft.
STAYIN’ OUT LATE, c, 2, by Tapit
1st Dam: Graeme Six (GSW & GISP, $338,854), by Graeme Hall
2nd Dam: Polish Ruby, by Polish Pro
3rd Dam: Ruby Wax, by Gallant Romeo
Sales history: $200,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,824. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Three Chimneys Farm & Harrell Ventures LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd & Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.

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Keeneland And TCA Team On Sales Initiative To Assist Essential Workers

Keeneland and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) today announced an initiative to provide September Yearling and November Breeding Stock Sales buyers the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to TCA to assist our industry's backstretch and farm workers, many of whom have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The voluntary donation will be included in the buyers invoice and equate to one-half of one percent (.05%) of the hammer price of their purchase.

“This partnership with TCA reflects Keeneland's mission to support worthy causes, and during this time of great need it's even more important that we take care of our front-line heroes,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “Keeneland is grateful for the tremendous work done by the TCA, and we are pleased to include this donation opportunity on our buyer forms this fall alongside the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA).”

Since 1990, TCA has distributed more than $24 million in grants to approved charities working to help not only Thoroughbred aftercare organizations but also those that provide health and human services for backstretch and farm workers.

“Without our backstretch and farm employees we wouldn't have a Thoroughbred industry,” said TCA President Mike McMahon. “Our charities work to provide health and dental services, ESL classes, legal assistance, food pantries, counseling services and so much more to our industry's workers. In the face of the pandemic and the economic strain it has caused, Keeneland has answered the call. Keeneland's support for TCA and for horse people everywhere is unprecedented. We are very grateful for the opportunity for buyers to be able to support the people who care for horses.”

Earlier in September, TCA distributed grants totaling nearly $1,070,000. A record 92 grant applications were received during the organization's annual grant cycle. Ultimately, 70 organizations were approved for a grant, including 45 aftercare organizations, 16 backstretch and farm worker programs, five equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs and one research organization. Grant recipients from the last three years can be found on www.tca.org

Additionally, TCA's Horses First Fund, an emergency fund started in 2016 by LNJ Foxwoods, provided COVID-19 relief funding to three backstretch organizations and seven aftercare organizations while supporting two feed assistance programs earlier this year. The total expended from the Horses First Fund was $79,900, bringing the organization's total 2020 grant making to more than $1 million.

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Mr. BIg News ‘Full Of Energy’ In Workout Toward Preakness Stakes

Even though Kentucky Derby (G1) third-place finisher Mr. Big News earned a free roll in the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) by virtue of winning Oaklawn Park's $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes, owner Chester Thomas and trainer Bret Calhoun said that has no bearing on their decision to run in Pimlico's famed 1 3/16-mile classic.

What does have bearing is a workout Mr. Big News had Friday at Churchill Downs, where he cruised a half-mile in 48 4/5 seconds under regular exercise rider Tony Quinones, registering the 22nd fastest of 76 works at the distance. Calhoun said he's seeing all the right signs.

“He was very sharp this morning,” he said. “I know it was cool. He went a little quicker than we wanted, but did it very easy, well within himself. He was full of energy, kind of what we wanted to see. It was what we wanted or better.

Calhoun said Mr. Big News will have a final workout on Saturday, Sept. 26. If all continues to go well, the Giant's Causeway colt will be heading to Baltimore. Yet to be determined is if he'll fly or van, he said.

“He's a fit horse; he doesn't need a lot,” Calhoun said of next week's work. “I'm not looking for fitness. Just maintain what we've got and hold his edge.”

Mr. Big News needed the sort of performance he displayed in the Kentucky Derby for his team to consider the Preakness.

“Absolutely,” Calhoun said. “The free ride in the Preakness was there, but he needed to prove that he belonged with that group of horses.”

Mr. Big News required four races before winning, then was fifth in the Fair Grounds' Risen Star (G2). The victory at 46-1 odds in the April 11 Oaklawn Stakes followed before Kentucky Derby aspirations were dashed — temporarily, as it turned out — by a disappointing sixth in Keeneland's rescheduled Toyota Blue Grass (G2) in July. Next on the agenda was to try grass, for which Mr. Big News is well-bred.

But rain left the Churchill Downs turf course too soft for Calhoun to feel they could get a true reading on the colt's affinity for the weeds. About the same time, it became clear that Churchill's new 20-stall starting gate would not be filled this Derby. And Calhoun loved how Mr. Big News was training.

As entry day for the Kentucky Derby approached, Thomas drew up a list of pros and cons on running.

“I had this long sales pitch I was going to give Bret,” Thomas said. “I didn't get very far into it when he said, 'Dude, you want to run in the Derby; we're going to run in the Derby.' I didn't even get to go through my list.”

“The closer we got to the Derby, knowing we could probably get in, I started really dialing in on the Derby in the back of my mind,” Calhoun said. “The weather forecast for Derby Week looked like more rain, so we thought the turf course would remain soft. And the horse was doing really, really good, and we knew he'd love the mile and a quarter.”

Off at 46-1, Mr. Big News was one of the longest shots in the Derby field of 15. He was in 10th early as Authentic was ripping off fractions of 22.91 seconds for the first quarter-mile, 46.41 for the half, 1:10.23 for six furlongs and 1:35.02 for the mile. Favored Tiz the Law hooked Authentic out of the turn for home but Authentic pulled clear lead, winning by 1 1/4 lengths, with Mr. Big News another two lengths back in third.

“There was no question in our mind that we'd be running for sure at the end of the race,” Thomas said of the Derby. “He made that move at the three-eighths pole, honestly, we thought we were going to win that thing for a second. Talk about a thrill. I'd like to say it was a cheap thrill, but it wasn't cheap because it's a lot of money to run in the Derby. But it was a heck of a thrill. But those horses dug in. Just give Authentic all the credit. I mean, what a horse. Those fractions, we're thinking we're sitting on a winner. I'm looking at those fractions and going, 'Yeah, yeah. All right! Time to go!' He made that move; it was so exciting. You never heard anyone scream louder for finishing third.

“So we're excited. This Preakness looks like it's going to shape up to be one of the tougher Preaknesses. And that's OK.”

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