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Following their respective successful two-turn stakes debuts, Living Magic and Brocknardini will look to double up on their recent endeavors in Friday's sixth running of the $120,000 Tepin for juvenile fillies going one mile over the inner turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

HnR Nothhaft Horse Racing's Kentucky homebred Living Magic, a winner on all three surfaces, will return to the Big A following a victory in the Chelsey Flower going 1 1/16 miles on the turf on October 28, which she won at 16-1 odds for trainer Phil Schoenthal.

The chestnut daughter of leading second-crop sire Justify stalked a moderate pace from second before being passed by Ozara to her inside around the far turn. As Ozara took command in mid-stretch, Living Magic hit her best stride in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths. The win registered a career-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure.

Prior to her Chesley Flower conquest, Living Magic finished a close second in the 6 1/2-furlong Presque Isle Downs Debutante on September 25 over the synthetic two starts after capturing Woodbine Racetrack's My Dear on July 15, contested at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta. She broke her maiden at first asking on May 1 over the Parx Racing main track before finishing third in the Astoria on June 11 at Belmont Park.

In her turf debut, Living Magic was a distant seventh in the Catch a Glimpse on August 20 at Woodbine which is her lone off-the-board effort. Despite this, Schoenthal said he was surprised to see his filly at long odds in the Chelsey Flower.

“I felt like this horse would have been one of the favorites in her last start. I felt that she was at least a battle proven stakes horse versus horses that had just come off maiden wins or still were maidens,” Schoenthal said. “She ran poorly in her only other start on turf at Woodbine, but her figure in that race still matched up with a lot of the horses in her last one. We were pretty confident in our chances going into that race and it felt awesome to be vindicated with a win.”

Surface versatility appears to run in the family as Living Magic's dam was graded stakes winning millionaire Living the Life. The Footstepsinthesand Irish-bred was a winner on turf and synthetic, including back-to-back wins in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters on synthetic, and was multiple graded stakes-placed on dirt.

“It was kind of neat last time because her mother was a graded winner or graded placed on all three surfaces and this filly ran third in the Astoria on dirt. She was a stakes winner on the synthetic at Woodbine, so I was really hoping that she would at least hit the board,” Schoenthal said. “It's a feather in your cap and it's odd to have that kind of horse that shows so much versatility. She's really a nice horse. We had her marked as one that would carry the banner for us. She showed a lot of talent early on.

“As a horse trainer, it's especially rewarding to bring a horse along in these kind of races as a homebred,” added Schoenthal. “These breeders own the mare, pay all the bills, plan the mating and raise them. They have a little more invested in these horses than just buying them at auction. It's great to see these types of horses do well for owner/breeders.”

Ruben Silvera has the mount from post 2.

Thomas and Daryn Brockley's New York-bred Brocknardini was a last out winner of the Selima going 1 1/16 miles over good ground at Laurel Park for trainer George Weaver.

The triumph was a redeeming one after the Palace Malice bay endured a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Natalma on September 16 going a one-turn mile at Woodbine. She bobbled at the start under Declan Carroll, fanned eight wide in upper stretch and had to steady when Dancing Duchess caused a chain reaction when bumping the rival to the inside of Brocknardini. Although she crossed the wire last-of-13, Brocknardini was elevated to 12th following the disqualification of Dancing Duchess.

Brocknardini, bred in the Empire State by Thirty Year Farm, broke her maiden on debut going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga Race Course, which she won by 4 3/4 lengths.

Brockley, who secured his first stakes win as an owner in the Selima, said Brocknardini's Natalma effort is not an indicator of her true level of talent.

“If you look at the start, she got a little bit held by the starter, got out tough and got hit and banged around at the back of the pack,” Brockley recalled. “Declan moved her outside, which he should have done. Then when she came into the stretch, another horse came right across causing my filly to check. We thought enough of her to put her in a Grade 1 in her second start, so that's some pretty high expectations. It was a little disappointing, but we knew she had more talent than what she was able to show that day and she showed that next time out.”

Brocknardini is out of the Bernardini mare Broad Stripes and hails from the prominent Phipps matriarchal bloodlines of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign as well as multiple Grade 1-winner My Flag.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pick up the mount from post 5.

Trainer Graham Motion will saddle Gainesway Stable's Kentucky homebred Memorialize [post 3, Manny Franco], who will attempt to make amends following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 4 at Belmont at the Big A, which was won by next-out Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Hard To Justify. The Karakontie chestnut was previously a three-length maiden winner at second asking in her turf debut.

“I was disappointed with the Miss Grillo, I thought it could be a race that could get us to the Breeders' Cup and it didn't pan out,” Motion said. “I don't know if it was the turf or what it was that day, she also didn't have the best trip in that race. Having said that, she's done well since so hopefully we can regroup.”

Memorialize is the first named foal produced from the stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Smart Emma, a half-sister to Japanese stakes-winner and earner of over $800,000 Symboli Empire.

Martin Schwartz's stakes-placed Gold Lightning [post 8, Javier Castellano] enters from a third-place finish in the Chelsey Flower for trainer Brad Cox. The bay daughter of second crop sire Bolt d'Oro finished 2 3/4 lengths in arrears to Living Magic following a sixth-place finish in the Miss Grillo.

Completing the field are the David Donk-trained Artemis Girl [post 1, Jose Gomez], Awesome Czech [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Horacio De Paz, Being Betty [post 6, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Phil Serpe, Voter Registration [post 7, Jose Ortiz], a first-time starter for trainer Chad Brown and Scorpia [post 9, Julio Hernandez] for trainer Mark Salvaggio.

Most of All and Antenna have been entered for main-track only.

The Tepin honors the 2015-16 Champion Grass Mare and Hall of Fame inductee, who was conditioned by fellow Hall of Famer Mark Casse. The gifted daughter of Bernstein captured Belmont Park's Grade 1 Just a Game as well as the Grade 1 First Lady and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland during her first Eclipse Award-earning season. She took her talents across the pond the following year, when capturing Royal Ascot's prestigious Group 1 Queen Anne in England before winning the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in Canada. She rounded out her career when second in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Mile. Tepin was owned by Robert E. Masterson.

The Tepin is slated as Race 6 on Friday's nine-race card which also features the $150,000 Autumn Days in Race 8. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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

The post Last-Out Stakes Winners Living Magic, Brocknardini Face Off In Friday’s Tepin appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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NBS Stable and Elements Racing's Danse Macabre will take on older company for the first time in Friday's $150,000 Autumn Days, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Kelsey Danner, the Army Mule sophomore arrives from an impressive 1 1/2-length score in the six-furlong Glen Cove over the same course here on October 19. There, she rated in seventh-of-10 and closed with a four-wide run entering the stretch under regular pilot Adam Beschizza before angling to the inside and powering past Dontlookbackatall to take the spoils and garner a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She closed very fast and I thought he timed it well. It was one of her better races,” Danner said. “She had to come back down [inside], but she's really straight forward. I know some horses can get a little intimidated being on the inside, but she really doesn't care.”

Danse Macabre enjoyed a strong juvenile campaign, winning the Untapable at Kentucky Downs and hitting the board when second in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga Race Course and third in the Grade 3 Matron at Belmont at the Big A. She has won 3-of-4 starts this year, including scores in the Grade 3 Herecomesthebride in March and the Mamzelle in May at Churchill Downs.

The talented chestnut has demonstrated versatility, racing near the pace over firmer footing and closing from further back on good ground in the Matron and Glen Cove.

Danner credits Beschizza, who has scored in 4-of-6 starts aboard Danse Macabre, for mapping out a variety of winning trips.

“Adam's a very good rider. He's fantastic on turf. He's also done well for me on dirt,” Danner said. “I think he rides her well because he has great timing in turf races and he's a strong finisher.

“She sat up very close in the 5 1/2-furlong race at Churchill and that was a fast race that day,” continued Danner. “So, she's pretty flexible where she needs to be and he's been very good at timing it the right way. I don't think she appreciated the cut in the ground last time at the beginning, but she finished well.”

Danse Macabre, who will exit the outermost post 12 under Beschizza, has breezed back twice on dirt at her Churchill Downs base, covering a half-mile in 50.40 Thursday.

“In the morning, we never really do too much with her. It's usually pretty pedestrian unless it's on the turf,” Danner said. “She's been good. She's been high as a kite since she came out of that race last time.”

Danse Macabre, who has won 5-of-9 starts for purse earnings of $927,090, was selected by Danner and purchased for $55,000 at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She is out of the Blame mare Sylphide, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Cambodia.

“She's very fun. She's a classy filly and done everything right from the get go,” Danner said. “You can't complain about a horse like her. She's just an awesome filly with a great attitude and that makes you like her even more.”

Mark T. Anderson's multiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred Sterling Silver [post 3, Javier Castellano] will make her turf debut for trainer Tom Albertrani.

“We've always wanted to give her a chance on the turf. It could give her some other opportunities,” Albertrani said. “It's an experiment to see if she takes to it or not. It's her last race of the year and we thought we'd take a chance.”

The 4-year-old Cupid grey, bred by Mallory Mort and Karen Mort, is on a strong run of form that saw her cross the wire first twice here last month in 6 1/2-furlong dirt sprints. She was demoted to second for interference in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom and returned last-out to post a neck score in the state-bred Iroquois arriving in the final stride under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

“That was disappointing – it would have been a nice Grade 2 win for her,” Albertrani said. “She's been very consistent.

“Javier told me he was very confident when he turned for home [in the Iroquois], but he made it a little scary for us watching,” added Albertrani, with a laugh. “He said he was confident she'd get there in plenty of time. He knows her well enough. The filly that was second there ran a big race and she was wasn't giving up and made us earn it.”

The ultra-consistent Sterling Silver boasts a record of 18-6-3-3 for purse earnings of $652,988 which includes graded placings in last year's Grade 3 Victory Ride [3rd], Grade 2 Prioress [2nd] and Grade 2 Gallant Bloom [3rd] to go along with state-bred stakes scores in the Franklin Square and Bouwerie.

Albertrani will also be represented by five-time winning New York-bred Itsakeyper [post 11, Dylan Davis], who won back-to-back open claiming sprints this summer over the Belmont turf.

Co-owned and bred by Albertrani with Robert Masiello, the 7-year-old Brilliant Speed mare has hit the board in 2-of-4 starts since and arrives from a distant fourth in the off-the-turf Ticonderoga on October 29 here which was contested at a one-turn mile over muddy and sealed going.

“She's really been moving up the ladder since the beginning of the year,” Albertrani said. “I really would like to get her some black type. We tried her in the Ticonderoga but the distance was probably more out of her reach than anything. It's a big step up for her, but we're trying to see if we can get a decent run out of her.”

Arnmore Thoroughbreds' Poppy Flower [post 8, Jose Ortiz] made the grade two starts back with a nose score over Bubble Rock in the Grade 3 Intercontinental traveling six furlongs over firm footing at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old Lea chestnut followed with a close fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Caress when 2 1/2-lengths back of next-out stakes winner Roses for Debra on July 22 at Saratoga.

Poppy Flower, who will hope for speed to chase, also boasts closing stakes scores last year at 5 1/2-furlongs in the Stormy Blues at Laurel Park and the Spa's Galway.

Mott will also saddle James S. Karp's Mail Order [post 6, Jose Lezcano], who finished last-of-8 in this event last year after being bumped after the break and taken up early when the pacesetting Athwaaq crossed her path from the outside post.

The 5-year-old Liam's Map dark bay has raced twice since in optional-claiming company, finishing second in July at Belmont to next-out graded stakes winner Roses for Debra ahead of a pace-pressing fourth last out on August 2 at Saratoga in a race that runner-up Scotish Star exited to take the off-the-turf Floral Park.

A talented field includes graded stakes-placed Headland [post 10, Eric Cancel] for trainer George Weaver; stakes-winner Can't Buy Love [post 5, Trevor McCarthy] for trainer Michael Trombetta; the stakes-placed trio of Lady Milagro [post 2, Luis Rivera, Jr.] for conditioner Carlos Martin, Salvaje [blinkers off, post 7, Ruben Silvera] for trainer Dimitrios Synnefias and Loon Cry [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for conditioner Christophe Clement; along with the Edward DeLauro-trained Floral Park runner-up Risk Free [post 9, Jose Gomez].

Unified Alliance and Hot Fudge are entered for the main-track only.

The Autumn Days is slated as Race 8 on Friday's nine-race card which also features the $120,000 Tepin in Race 6. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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

The post ‘Classy’ Danse Macabre Takes On Older Rivals In Friday’s Autumn Days Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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