Author: News

Zarak’s Parnac Lulls Them To Sleep in the Flower Bowl

West Point Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stable's Parnac (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) was sent to the front by Dylan Davis and never looked back against the three rivals in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GII Flower Bowl S. at Saratoga.

The 8-1 shot took the initiative in the 1 3/8-mile journey, led through easy fractions of :25.19 and :51.33 over the firm going, kicked for home as the one to catch and kept on finding to score by 1 1/4 lengths over heavily favored McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

Two for two as a juvenile for trainer Andreas Wohler in Germany, Parnac won one of five starts–a first-level allowance over the Aqueduct lawn Oct. 29–on these shores last term.

A narrow optional claiming winner downstate June 11, she entered off a third-place finish in Delaware's GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S. July 1.

After that race's winner Sopran Basilea (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and runner-up Ever Summer (Summer Front) suffered fatal injuries over the Saratoga turf in their subsequent starts, Parnac was a precautionary scratch by NYRA officials out of an optional claimer at the Spa Aug. 11.

“I guess I have to be thankful to [NYRA President & CEO] David O'Rourke because we had to scratch Parnac from the three-other-than a few weeks ago,” winning trainer Christophe Clement said.

“We decided to run here, and it was the right decision. Sometimes, you have to take a shot. I thought it was a fair race, I'm delighted. Some people might say she stole the race, maybe she did steal the race, but you know what? She stole it in a nice way. She won pretty easily in the end.”

Clement added, “[GI] E.P. Taylor [Oct. 8 at Woodbine], Breeders' Cup, Long Island [at Aqueduct Racetrack]; we have a quite a few choices. Let's enjoy this for a few days.”

Pedigree Notes:

Parnac is the first U.S. stakes winner for the Aga Khan's Studs- based Zarak, a son of Dubawi (Ire) and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Prix de Diane heroine Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar).

She becomes the 10th graded/group winner worldwide for her sire. The winner's group-placed dam's most recent produce is the 2-year-old gelding Kingdom of Stars (Fr) (Cloth of Stars {Ire}), who is unraced in France.

 

Saturday, Saratoga
FLOWER BOWL S.-GII, $465,000, Saratoga, 9-2, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 3/8mT, 2:18.60, fm.
1–PARNAC (FR), 118, f, 4, by Zarak (Fr)
          1st Dam: Passing Burg (Fr) (GSP-Fr), by Sageburg (Ire)
          2nd Dam: Passing Lady (Fr), by Anabaa
          3rd Dam: Lune de Mai (GB), by Kenmare (Fr)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-West Point Thoroughbreds and Dream With Me Stable; B-Jean-Pierre Dubois (FR); T-Christophe Clement; J-Dylan Davis. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-1-1, $467,517. Werk Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–McKulick (GB), 122, f, 4, Frankel (GB)–Astrelle (Ire), by Makfi (GB). (180,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Essafinaat UK Ltd (GB); T-Chad C. Brown. $100,000.
3–Amazing Grace (Ger), 120, m, 5, Protectionist (Ger)–Amabelle (Ger), by Danehill Dancer (Ire). (€850,000 4yo '22 ARQDEC). O-Moyglare Stud Farm, Ltd.; B-Chr. Berglar (GER); T-Christophe Clement. $60,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, 1. Odds: 8.20, 0.40, 2.30.
Also Ran: Tamarama (GB).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Kentucky Downs: Trainer Beckman Seeks Another Upset With Sabalenka In Dueling Grounds Oaks

For his next trick, trainer Whit Beckman will attempt to light up the tote board at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs. He has already done it once.

Beckman will saddle Dirico Racing and Breeding's Sabalenka in the $1-million Dueling Grounds Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on Sunday.

On Thursday, opening day at the seven-day meet, Beckman's Harlan Estate pulled down a huge upset in the FanDuel Tapit Stakes when the 5-year-old gelding won at odds of 37-1.

Sabalenka did not get any respect on the Dueling Grounds Oaks' morning line as she was dismissed at odds of 20-1 in the full field of 12. Beckman didn't flinch when he saw the number.

“At Kentucky Downs, you should not care what your odds are,” Beckman said by phone. “That turf course can be an equalizer.”

The 41-year-old Beckman has been training on his own since Sept. 11, 2021. The win with Harlan Estate was his first in a stakes. The former assistant to trainers Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown is anxious for another one.

“That's the plan,” said Beckman, who also had a stint training in Saudi Arabia. “We know (Sabalenka) has run well there before. She likes the long stretch and it looks like she is ready to go.”

Sabalenka, a Kentucky-bred Good Samaritan filly, is winless in four starts this year but is coming off her best effort, a third in the Christina Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Delaware Park July 15.

“I thought it was a pretty solid effort on a soft turf course,” Beckman said. “Since then, we just freshened her up and gave her a few breezes (at the Churchill Downs Training Center. I think we are cycling at the right time. I am excited to bring her there.”

Sabalenka is no stranger to the Kentucky Downs course. She broke her maiden last Sept. 22, winning a $150,000 race by a nose. She has a win, two seconds, and two thirds in eight career starts, all of them on the grass.

Sunday's race will mark the first time Sabalenka has started at the 1 5/16 distance.

“She knows the place, she has experience over that turf course and the distance should really suit her running style,” Beckman said.

Although her second career win – an allowance race at Churchill Downs Nov. 22 – came in gate-to-wire fashion, that is not Sabalenka's preferred running style.

“She wants to come from off it,” Beckman said. “That day at Churchill, (jockey Ricardo) Santana did something, I don't know what, but he got her geared up early. The pace wasn't that fast but she was really comfortable in that spot. She is usually slow to begin, but she always has a pretty sustained run. We know if she is anywhere near it at the end, she will keep fighting.”

Sabalenka will be ridden by Declan Cannon for the first time. Cannon was also aboard Harlan Estate on Thursday for Beckman.

“Declan and I have a good thing going,” Beckman said. “We have won some races and he fit with a lot of the horses I train. We have a great back and forth and it seems to work.”

The post Kentucky Downs: Trainer Beckman Seeks Another Upset With Sabalenka In Dueling Grounds Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rispoli To Sit Out Pacific Classic Day; Apprentice Suspended 10 Days For Role In Spill

Jockey Umberto Rispoli, currently tied for third in the Del Mar jockey standings, took off his mounts on the seaside track's biggest day of the year on Saturday due to injuries sustained in a spill during the first race Aug. 31.

Rispoli was aboard Single Track Mind in the one-mile turf race and just behind the leaders when his mount was bumped from the inside at the top of the stretch by Tom and Jazzy, ridden by apprentice Armando Aguilar. Single Track Mind clipped heels and stumbled, throwing Rispoli, who appeared to be stepped on or kicked by a trailing horse. Single Track Mind kept running with his rider and did not appear to be injured when caught by an outrider.

Rispoli was placed on a backboard and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. X-rays and scans showed no broken bones or serious injuries, but the rider had significant scrapes and bruises from the incident that led him to take off mounts on both Friday and Saturday, Sept. 1-2.

Rispoli was named to ride in all 11 races on Del Mar's FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic day card, including Piroli for trainer Michael McCarthy in the Grade 1, $1-million Pacific Classic.

Agent Matt Naktani and Rispoli posted the following note on Twitter late Saturday morning:
“Umberto is at home resting up and taking it day by day. He is still feeling minor effects from his spill on Thursday. Our decision came down to a couple things. His health and safety is of utmost importance. We do not want to risk further injury. Also, Umberto felt it was in the best interest of the owner and trainers to not ride if he doesn't feel 100 percent. While it is an extreme disappointment to miss one of the biggest days of the year in California, our #1 priority right now is to make sure Umberto gets back to full health. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he makes his full recovery.

“With that being said, good luck to all the connections today! Happy Pacific Classic Day! Pray for a fantastic, safe day of racing!”

One day after the incident, stewards issued a 10-day suspension to Aguilar “for altering course without sufficient clearance, causing interference and an accident entering the stretch.” Tom and Jazzy finished second but was disqualified and placed last. The suspension runs 10 racing days: Sept. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 and 29.

Rispoli, who turned 35 years old on the day of the accident, has won 20 races from 101 mounts during the Del Mar summer, including three graded stakes. Juan Hernandez sits atop the jockey standings with 30 wins from 128 mounts. Rispoli had just returned from Japan where he participated in a jockey competition.

The post Rispoli To Sit Out Pacific Classic Day; Apprentice Suspended 10 Days For Role In Spill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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ParisLongchamp: Moulin Opportunity For Big Rock

   With no Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lurking in Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, the way is clear for Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to bag that elite contest that his portfolio demands.

Having met his match in Ace Impact (Ire) in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, Yeguada Centurion SL's G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix la Force winner came up short against Cheveley Park Stud's high-class filly in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last month but that form looks enough in what is a winnable renewal on paper.

Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) has proven himself at this level on his last two starts, finishing third in a blanket in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over another furlong and 55 yards before making Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) work in the G1 Sussex S.

“Even though it's back in four and a half weeks which sounds like a reasonable amount of time, in the back of my mind I'm hoping he doesn't react to that last race, it certainly knocked out Paddington,” Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. “We are hopeful for a good race because Big Rock likes to go off in front and we need to have a target. The races where he hasn't ran quite up to scratch this year are when he got too far behind in a paceless race.”

 

Derby Rematch At Baden-Baden

In the day's G1 153rd Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden, the G1 Deutsches Derby one-two Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}) resume their rivalry, with the former having to bounce back from a beating from Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich in late July. TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood arrives fresh after a break since the Hamburg Classic and may offer the sternest threat to Ecurie Altima and Gerard Augustin-Normand's standard-setting G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud-placed Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).

 

Rochette Task For Beauvatier

   Back at ParisLongchamp, Philippe Allaire and Haras d'Etreham's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure-winning TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bids to maintain his unbeaten record in the seven-furlong G3 Prix la Rochette, where he meets fellow TDN Rising Star Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). White Birch Farm's grey is up a furlong, having finished third in Deauville's G3 Prix de Cabourg. In the 10-furlong G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, the exciting G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) builds towards a major autumn target in the Gousserie silks made famous by a similar type in Sealiway (Fr).

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