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Sunday Insights: Lake Superior Set For Del Mar Debut

5th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 6:37 p.m.

Campaigned by the same ownership group as 'TDN Rising Star' Prince of Monaco (Speightstown), $1.05-million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase LAKE SUPERIOR (Quality Road) makes his first appearance on closing day at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert. Dam Celibataire (Broken Vow) also produced the dark bay colt's full-brother SW Stillwater Cove. Out of a female family which includes his dam's full-sister MGSW Interactif, Lake Superior will have the services of the meet's leading rider, Juan Hernandez. TJCIS PPS

2nd-MTH, $57K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:10 p.m.

Heading to the Jersey Shore, Monmouth cards a maiden race which includes firsters like $300,000 OBS March Sale buy Bolt of Aurum (Bolt d'Oro), whose dam Scenic Road (Quality Road) is a full-sister to GIII LeComte S. victor Guest Suite. Also drawn is $300,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale grad Dollar Liberty (Gun Runner) out of Debase the Dollar (Malibu Moon). That dam has produced seven foals with three winners out of four to race, and is a half-sister herself to GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. heroine La Coronel (Colonel John). Between this pair to the inside you'll find Tiz Marks Spirit (Mor Spirit), who counts GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. hero Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) as a half-brother. TJCIS PPS

2nd-KD, $150K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 2:02 p.m.

Taking to the Kentucky Down grass course before that meet wraps is first-time starter Everland (Arrogate) for George Strawbridge. The homebred is the first of three foals for Ever Changing (Tapit). Her second dam Rainbow View (Dynaformer) was crowned European Champion 2-year-old filly in 2008 and her grand dam is a half-sister to both GI Arlington Million S. runner-up Just As Well (A.P. Indy) and GII Longines Dixie S. winner Utley (Smart Strike). TJCIS PPS

4th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 6:05 p.m.

Halone (Justify), a Baoma homebred, debuts for Bob Baffert. Out of Sea Gift (A.P. Indy), the chestnut filly is a half-sister to GIII Sunland Derby champ Chitu (Henny Hughes). Her dam is also responsible for GIII Santa Ysabel S. heroine Beautiful Gift (Medgalia d'Oro), who was purchased by Katusmi Yoshida at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale last year for $2 million and whose Feb. 22 foal by Into Mischief, her first, just went to the KY Company for ¥160 million at the JRA Yearling and Foal Sale. TJCIS PPS

The post Sunday Insights: Lake Superior Set For Del Mar Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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BC ‘Win & You’re In’: Auguste Rodin Takes Irish Champion Stakes; Tahirya Dominates Matron

Auguste Rodin gave Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore a fifth successive win Saturday in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown.

The victory earned Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Westerberg's 3-year-old son of Deep Impact an automatic berth into the $4-million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

The Irish Champion Stakes was one of three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races conducted Saturday at Leopardstown, along with the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (G1) and the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2).

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 80 Graded/Group stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The Irish Champion Stakes was a tactical masterclass from the Ballydoyle team as eventual runner-up Luxembourg (4-1) and Point Lonsdale cut out the early running with Auguste Rodin (the 11-4 favorite) sitting in behind. The British challengers, King Of Steel, Nashwa, and Alflaila, all settled at the rear of the field. With 2 furlongs to go, Ryan Moore angled his mount out to challenge and drove to the front close home to score by a half-length, with the fast-finishing Nashwa back in third under Hollie Doyle.

Saturday's victory marked another remarkable comeback from the winner, who recovered from his QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) disappointment to win the June 3 Betfred Derby (G1) at Epsom. Auguste Rodin was racing for the first time since finishing last of 10 in the July 29 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

Following the race, O'Brien told FanDuel TV that the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita is under consideration for Auguste Rodin.

“I'd say there is a very strong possibility because the lads love the Breeders' Cup, and the Breeders' Cup is where everyone wants to be at that time of year,” O'Brien said. “We'll see how he is in a week or 10 days, but there is a very strong possibility that's where he could be.”

Ryan Moore paid tribute to O'Brien for getting Auguste Rodin back to his best.

“It's very satisfying for him to come back and prove how good he is,” he said. “Cantering to the start, he felt in a really good place and he floated around there. He's a very well-balanced horse, a beautiful mover, and it never really felt in any real doubt. I'm delighted with him. It's a fantastic job by Aidan (O'Brien) to get him back. He's beaten some proven Group 1 horses there, so it's satisfying.”

Auguste Rodin completed the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:02:68 over a course listed as good, good-to-firm in places.

Tahirya Dominates Matron Stakes

The Aga Khan's Tahiyra showed her class under a confident Chris Hayes to claim her fourth career Group 1 and win the one-mile Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes (G1). This victory secured the daughter of Siyouni an automatic entry into the $2-million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Sent off as the 5-6 favorite for trainer Dermot Weld, Tahirya had not raced since her June 23 win in the Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot. She traveled strongly in midfield through the early stages with Just Beautiful making the early running. The 3-year-old filly showed a smart turn of foot to go to the front approaching the final furlong and ran on strongly to score by 1 3/4 lengths. The Tom Clover-trained Rogue Millennium finished second, with Just Beautiful back in third.

After the race, trainer Dermot Weld said: “She's an amazing animal, I have a wonderful team and it's great credit to them. We have a lot to look forward to with her. The Breeders' Cup has to be a possibility and there's a decision to be made as to whether she stays in training next season.”

Tahirya completed the mile in 1:37:50.

Diego Velazquez Leads 1-2 for O'Brien in KPMG Champions Juvenile

Diego Velazquez remained unbeaten after quickening past stablemate Capulet in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes (G2) to gain an automatic berth into this year's $1-million Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Auguste Rodin won this race for the same connections 12 months ago.

A son of Frankel, Diego Velazquez was following up an impressive debut win in a maiden race at The Curragh. He was sent off at odds of 8-15 on Saturday, but was made to work hard for victory. It was not until the final half-furlong before Ryan Moore urged his mount past Capulet to win by a half-length. The Joseph O'Brien-trained Atlantic Coast was a further 3 1/4 lengths back in third.

The Smith, Magnier, Tabor, Westerberg, Brant-owned Diego Velazquez completed the 1-mile contest in a time of 1:40:46.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.

The post BC ‘Win & You’re In’: Auguste Rodin Takes Irish Champion Stakes; Tahirya Dominates Matron appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Vergara Goes Distance For First Graded Win In Ladies Marathon At Kentucky Downs

Gary Broad's Vergara once again found the undulating turf at Kentucky Downs to her liking in winning the $1-million Ladies Marathon (G3), the first of six graded stakes worth a combined $6.7-million on Kentucky Downs' 12-race card Saturday.

Winner of last year's Dueling Grounds Oaks at the Franklin, Kentucky track, the 4-year-old Noble Mission filly scored her first win of 2023 Saturday and first in a graded stakes after tracking from second as pacesetter Grenall laid down slow early fractions in the 1 5/16 mile contest. Drawing to within a half length of the leader nearing the home turn, Vergara easily wrested the lead and continued on to score by three-quarters of a length from Transient, who came on from last and menaced in the closing stages.

Sinfiltre finished third, another three-quarters of a length behind Transient.

Trained by Graham Motion and ridden by Joel Rosario, Veragra completed the trip in 2:10.9 and returned $6.52 for the victory, her fourth 13 career starts. She came into the Ladies Marathon off a fifth in the Glens Falls (G2) Aug. 3 at Saratoga.

Bred in Kentucky by Neil Jones and produced by the Street Cry mare Figure of Beauty, she was a $130,000 purchase by Gary Broad/Walmac Farm from the Indian Creek consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Vergara w named for actress Sophia Vergara, famous for her role in the television series “Modern Family”. The winner's share of $608,280 made her a millionaire in her 13th career start for Motion. She has lifetime purse earnings of $1,102,213.

Ladies Marathon Quotes

Joel Rosario, winning jockey, Vergara: “She broke really well. The horse that set up the speed (Glenall), I got a little behind her. They were going a little slow. I guess at some point she was tugging a little bit, but very comfortable. Graham told me just to be comfortable with her. She likes it here. I'd like to thank Graham and all the team.

“Every time a horse came to her, she was wanting to do it. She always tries really hard, this filly. Like I say, she likes it here.”

Assistant trainer Alice Clapham, 1st, Vergara – “Joel said she was a little keen because they slowed it down quite a bit. He said she just loves it around here. She won here last year. When they slowed it down again, he said he was just going to go for home and she did all the rest on her own. He said there was more there. With them taking the rail down and having the fresh track, he said it was really nice. When she won last year … when they like this course … they come back and just bounce around here again. She loves going up and down the hills.

(Trainer Graham Motion, she said, was on a plane when the race was run. He is returning from France, where he spent time, along with his wife, Anita, with her dad, who was celebrating his 80th birthday this week).

“Everyone has been saying she has been training great since she ran at Saratoga. They were all saying she was doing really good and they proved to be right. It's great to win here. It's a great place to come and enjoy it. The weather has been great fun to be here.”

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., 2nd, Transient – “We had enough of a chance to run her down. She is a kind of a difficult filly to relax, Tyler (jockey Gaffalione) did a great job in getting her to relax. I'm proud of that. Obviously, the winner was going well at the top of the stretch. We were close enough, but we just could not run her down today. On the day we were second best. You always want to be first, but that's racing. You can't win them all and I am proud of the filly, she ran good, and she came back well. You can't complain.”

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Longshot Get Smokin Wires Kentucky Turf Cup, Gear Jockey Wins Turf Sprint

Get Smokin had never won a race or ever even traveled beyond 1 1/16 miles in any race before entering the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series 'Win and You're In' 1 1/2-mile Grade 2 FanDuel Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes on Sept. 9 at Kentucky Downs.