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Exaggerator’s West Saratoga Upsets The Iroquois

With five previous starts under his belt, Harry Veruchi's West Saratoga (Exaggerator) was the most experienced of the eight 2-year-old males signed on for Saturday's GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs. But whereas he made all of the running in breaking his maiden when tried over a mile for the first time at Ellis Park Aug. 5, the gray colt was taken off a furious early pace this time and proved the chief beneficiary, earning 10 points on the Road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby in the process.

An $11,000 bargain purchase out of last year's Keeneland September sale–as hip 4146 he was among the last horses through broke on terms, but was content to settle in midpack this time around, as a headstrong Patriot Spirit (Constitution) set unsustainable fractions of :22.37 and :44.63 up front. Busily ridden into the final three-eighths of a mile, but gaining beneath Rafael Bejarano, West Saratoga began to bear down on the spent pacesetter approaching the furlong marker and stayed on for the victory. Favored Risk It (Gun Runner) appeared to have every chance if the pacesetter was to back up, but he flattened out a bit late and just held off a late rally from Liberal Arts (Arrogate) for second.

“We've been just trying to let him progress naturally,” said trainer Larry Demeritte, winning the second graded stakes of his career and first since 2010. “He went a mile last time and we were confident today going the same distance.”

The conditioner said West Saratoga is a candidate for the $600,000 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 7.

West Saratoga has yet to turn in a bad race, as he outran debut odds of 42-1 to be fourth at Keeneland Apr. 7 before finishing runner-up in a pair of restricted local maidens May 11 and June 4. A distant second to Timberlake (Into Mischief)–who would go on to complete the exacta in the GI Hopeful S.–in a seven-furlong Ellis maiden July 21, he was never seriously threatened when besting subsequent maiden romper Generous Tipper (Street Sense) last time out to earn a crack at a race like this.

Pedigree Notes:

West Saratoga is the 11th stakes winner and third graded winner for his Classic-winning sire, and Mo Wicked–who cost Two Hearts Farm just $5,200 at Keeneland November in 2018–is the 16th stakes winner and seventh graded winner out of a daughter of Uncle Mo. From the family of 2010 GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Wickedly Perfect (Congrats), the dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Hartley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), West Saratoga is one of two winners from as many to the races for Mo Wicked. Her 3-year-old daughter Mo Traffic (Cross Traffic) won her maiden at Delaware Park July 19. Mo Wicked was most recently bred back to Cross Traffic.

 

Saturday, Churchill Downs
IROQUOIS S.-GIII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-16, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.28, ft.
1–WEST SARATOGA, 122, c, 2, by Exaggerator
1st Dam: Mo Wicked, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Wicked Ride, by Candy Ride (Arg)
3rd Dam: Wickedly Wise, by Tactical Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($11,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Harry L. Veruchi; B-Two Hearts Farm II LLC (KY); T-Larry W. Demeritte; J-Rafael Bejarano. $180,315. Lifetime Record: 6-2-3-0, $276,815. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Risk It, 122, c, 2, Gun Runner–Wedding Jitters, by Broken Vow. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($500,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm; B-Gun Runner Syndicate & De Sousa Stables & Cranford Bloodstock LTD (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $58,650.
3–Liberal Arts, 122, c, 2, Arrogate–Ismene, by Tribal Rule. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Ferraro, Evan and Ferraro, Stephen; B-Stephen Ferraro & Evan Ferraro (KY); T-Robert Medina. $29,325. Margins: 1 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 12.48, 1.35, 9.92.Also Ran: Seize the Grey, Edified, Patriot Spirit, Union Roll, Market Street. Scratched: Gettysburg Address. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV.

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Carson’s Run Storms To Victory In ‘Win & You’re In’ Summer Stakes

Carson's Run showed elite-level class Saturday as he powered down the center of Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course and kicked clear to win the $500,000 Bet365 Summer Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds.

Ridden by Dylan Davis for trainer Christophe Clement, the Kentucky-bred Cupid colt wore down front-runner and 9-5 favorite My Boy Prince and scored for the second time from three career starts. His two previous outings came at 1 1/16 miles on turf, including his debut win on Aug. 6 at Saratoga and a second-place finish in the With Anticipation on Aug. 31 at the Spa. Cut back to one mile Saturday, he he proved much the best in a 2 1/4-length triumph.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's Carson's Run returned $8.60 after completing the one-mile contest in 1:35.70.

Last of nine through the first half-mile as My Boy Prince set the tempo, Davis took Carson's Run 10 wide into the stretch and the colt unleashed a furious rally to overhaul the favorite in the final sixteenth and get the win.

My Boy Prince, who had to have a shoe repaired following the post parade, held for second after setting all the early fractions. Go With Gusto finished third.

With the victory, Carson's earned a fees-paid berth for the $1-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), a one-mile race at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

Bred by Frankfort Park Stud, Carson's Run was produced by the Gold Case mare Hot N Hectic. West Point Thoroughbreds bought him for $170,000 in April at the OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where Randy Miles consigned him.

The post Carson’s Run Storms To Victory In ‘Win & You’re In’ Summer Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Heartwarming Journey for Carson’s Run’s Connections Continues in Woodbine’s WAYI Summer

Breeders' Cup winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) may be the sport's poster boy for feel-good racing stories, but there's another waiting in the wings as West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's own touching story about Carson's Run (c, 2, Cupid-Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes) keeps improving. The 2-year-old colt may be headed to the Breeders' Cup himself after capturing Saturday's GI Bet365 Summer S. at Woodbine, a “Win and You're In” event offering the winner a free berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 3. Like Cody's Wish, Carson's Run was named after a young man who suffers from Wolf-Hirschorn Syndrome.

With the start of the C$500,000 Summer delayed several moments due to a last-minute shoe repair for 9-5 pick My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince), who was coming off a 14-length triumph in the Aug. 27 Simcoe S. over Woodbine's Tapeta, that one set the early :23.46 and :47.10 pace while Carson's Run lingered at the back of the field, saving ground on the inside. Just like in his earlier two starts, Carson's Run was unhurried early and waited patiently to make his move. They came off the turn with My Boy Prince in front on the rail as Carson's Run abruptly hurtled around the middle of the course, about 10 paths wide, with an Arazi-like move in search of a clear run. He sailed on by to win by 2 1/4 lengths, with My Boy Prince holding off the filly Go With Gusto (Medaglia d'Oro)–who finished first but was disqualified in her course and distance debut here Aug.13– for third. Final time for the mile on the lawn was 1:35.70; the Juvenile Turf is the same distance and, like the Summer, open to both colts and fillies.

“He did very well there because he saved all the ground he could and then when he angled him out at the quarter pole, we had to come wide obviously, but that way you don't get any traffic,” said trainer Christophe Clement's assistant Christophe Lorieul. “He had a clear run from quarter pole to the wire and he really showed what he is today.”

Carson's Run, a $170,000 OBS April buy after working :10 1/5, kickstarted his career with a game debut July 29 at Saratoga, chasing early before angling wide and digging in to win by a neck in a performance much like his Summer win. He tried similar tactics in the GIII With Anticipation S., also at the Spa but over heavier going, only to get caught late by the improving filly Gala Brand (Violence) and finish a half-length back. Dylan Davis has been aboard for all three starts.

“Today, we wanted to go with the outside route and keep a clear trip on him,” said Davis. “We saved all the ground going into the turn–nice real big turn here–and he was able to get it done.”

Pedigree Notes:

Coolmore America's Cupid may stand in Kentucky but has had his biggest success to date north of the border, as Carson's Run adds his first Grade I win to Cupid's sire tally to go along with 2021 Canadian champion 2-year-old colt God of Love and 2022 Prince of Wales S. winner Duke of Love. Overall, Cupid has four graded winners among his seven Northern Hemisphere-bred black-type winners.

Henny Hughes, a Storm Cat-line stallion who has stood in Japan since the 2014 season, is finding success as a broodmare sire with both Carson's Run and Beholder's daughter Tamara (Bolt d'Oro) adding Grade I wins in the last week. Among the 21 other stakes winners out of his daughters is champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). Interestingly, Carson's Run was bred by Frankfort Park Farm, who co-bred Monomoy Girl.

Hot N Hectic's only other foal is a Volatile colt foaled Jan. 25 of this year. A half-sister to fan favorite MGSW & GISP Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), Hot N Hectic was bred to Maxfield for 2024.

Saturday, Woodbine
BET365 SUMMER S.-GI, C$522,500, Woodbine, 9-16, 2yo, 1mT, 1:35.70, gd.
1–CARSON'S RUN, 122, c, 2, by Cupid
       1st Dam: Hot N Hectic, by Henny Hughes
                2nd Dam: Wicked Wish, by Gold Case
                3rd Dam: Holy Wish, by Lord At War (Arg)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ($35,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $67,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL;
$170,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds and
Steven Bouchey; B-Frankfort Park Farm (KY); T-Christophe
Clement; J-Dylan Davis. C$300,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0,
$314,529. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–My Boy Prince, 122, c, 2, Cairo Prince–Hopping Not Hoping,
by Silent Name (Jpn). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. (C$115,000 Ylg '22 CANSEP). O-Gary Barber; B-Murray
Smith (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$120,000.
3–Go With Gusto, 119, f, 2, Medaglia d'Oro–Itsagiantcauseway,
by Giant's Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT;
$225,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Teneri Farms Inc
(KY); T-Mark E. Casse. C$50,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.30, 1.90, 15.25.
Also Ran: Tunechi, Souper Attentive, Western Whirl, King of the Track, Airosa, Bucyk. Scratched: Bolt Enoree, Golden Canary.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Heartwarming Journey for Carson’s Run’s Connections Continues in Woodbine’s WAYI Summer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘Rising Star’ V V’s Dream A Reality In Pocahontas Victory

V V's Dream (Mitole) already is showing an affinity for Churchill Downs. She picked up her second victory over the track in the GIII Pocahontas S., earning the first 10 points available on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

Debuted sprinting as the favorite over the dirt May 19, the gray filly earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a 6 1/2-length win from off the pace. Shipped to Ellis Park for a run in the Debutante S., she was a beaten favorite July 2 by just a half-length to undefeated GISW Brightwork (Outwork). Back to where it all began under the Twin Spires, the 6-5 favorite found herself sitting pretty in third just a furlong into the race as pacesetters Hot Beach (Omaha Beach) and Youalmosthadme (Oxbow) settled into a duel through a :22.83 opening quarter. Caught between rivals early, V V's Dream tugged her way into a clear third even as the front pair had separated themselves from the field into the far turn. Moving under her own power around the bend, the 'Rising Star' came with an outside bid to swoop three-wide past both early leaders. From there, it was only a matter of who would finish second as the daughter of freshman stallion Mitole (by Eskendereya) opened up on the dueling pair and won as easily as she liked going away.

“She sat in a perfect spot just behind the two pacesetters,” said winning jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. “She got a little bit of a breather around the turn and really went by them own her own. She's won impressively in two starts here. I think stretching out around two turns shouldn't be a problem in the future.”

“She's still young but has shown a lot of talent already,” added assistant trainer Greg Geier. “She spent the summer in New York training for this race. It's been the plan to run here in the Pocahontas and then to the Breeders' Cup. I don't see why she wouldn't improve stretching out in distance after this.”

Saturday, Churchill Downs
POCAHONTAS S.-GIII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-16, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:36.45, ft.
1–V V'S DREAM, 122, f, 2, by Mitole
                1st Dam: Quay, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Skipper Tale, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-MJM Racing; B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $183,105. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $297,605, first SW for freshman sire (by Eskendereya). Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Youalmosthadme, 122, f, 2, Oxbow–Good Gator, by Good and Tough. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing LLC, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $59,550.
3–Hot Beach, 122, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Hot Water, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Cobalt Investments, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $29,775.
Margins: 8 3/4, 3/4, 5HF. Odds: 1.20, 2.48, 3.53.
Also Ran: Courbe, Riperton, Regal Rumor. Scratched: Empire Island, Peignoir, Raining Sugar.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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