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The Curragh: “Hopefully We Can Get Revenge.” Unquestionable Set For Phoenix Rematch

The Curragh stages Europe's first Group 1 contest for the current crop of 2-year-olds on Saturday and it is fair to say that a Keeneland Phoenix S. without the anticipated presence of River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is up for grabs. While Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore contingent opted to send the G2 Coventry S.-winning 'TDN Rising Star' to Deauville for the Prix Morny, the way is clear for another 'TDN Rising Star' son of that sire to step into his place. Unquestionable (Fr) has the obstacle of yet another Wootton Bassett colt in Bucanero Fuerte (GB) to overcome and he couldn't quite manage that in the course-and-distance G2 Railway S. last month, but this is the Phoenix and O'Brien that we are talking about.

Ballydoyle's commander-in-chief has almost made this race his private property since 1998, with a sequence of 17 winners. Remarkably, the gap between Sioux Nation in 2017 and Little Big Bear (Ire) last term was the only time in that period that he had gone more than a year without collecting and the Railway has always been a race to sharpen his prospective Phoenix colt. Ryan Moore has enjoyed even more success than usual on the stable's big guns in Ireland in 2023 and he said on his betfair blog, “This lacks a stand-out. Only a short-head separated Bucanero Fuerte and Unquestionable in the Railway and hopefully we can get revenge after our colt had to miss Goodwood because of the worsening ground.”

Other than Bucanero Fuerte, Royal Ascot's Coventry also featured Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) who was just 3/4 of a length behind having been sent for home some way out. Bronsan Racing and Theresa Marnane's G3 Marble Hill S. winner has been given a freshener since then and trainer Jessica Harrington issued a positive update on the £1.1-million Goffs London sensation. “Hopefully he'll run a good race and we don't get too much rain between now and then so we have a bit of nice ground on the day. He's won on soft, but I'd prefer better ground as he's a good-moving horse,” she said.

No filly has won this since La Collina (Ire) (Strategic Prince {GB}) in 2011, but the unbeaten Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio) had some smart fillies behind when capturing the G3 Albany S. for the Fowler-Medallion Racing-Weston-Reeves collective and there is no definitive marker as to how the two sexes stand up. “She was in control the whole way in the Albany and did everything you'd like, so you'd have to respect the form and she seems quite versatile,” jockey Oisin Murphy said.

Sweet Solera Up For Grabs

While Ascot stages its longstanding Shergar Cup with its alternative appeal, Newmarket quietly gets on with the business of helping to sort the 2-year-old pecking order. Like the Phoenix, the G3 Molson Coors Sweet Solera S. also lacks a standout candidate but Godolphin's four-length course-and-distance winner Wild Goddess (GB) (Camelot {GB}) fits the bill with her connections and pedigree as she tackles the Listed Star S. second and third Fallen Angel (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Soprano (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}). The latter is back on more suitable ground, having been third behind Porta Fortuna in the Albany and we'll know more what that form means by late afternoon on Saturday.

At Haydock, there is an intriguing blend of youth and old talent in the 10-furlong G3 Rose Of Lancaster S. with the impressive Listed Lyric Fillies' S. winner Midnight Mile (Ire) (No Nay Never) taking on Shadwell's unpredictable Al Aasy (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) with weight-for-age on her side.

Inspiral Confirmed For Marois Defence

John and Thady Gosden have given the green light for Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to attempt back-to-back successes in Sunday's G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville following her last-of-five effort in the G1 Sussex S. She will encounter her G1 Queen Anne S. conqueror Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and also Yeguada Centurion SL's G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), as well as the G1 Prix Jean Prat-winning course specialist Good Guess (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in a competitive 11-runner affair.

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Mage Drills Six Furlongs For Travers

OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH's GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage (Good Magic) turned in his penultimate breeze ahead of his anticipated appearance in the Aug. 26, GI Travers S., going six furlongs in 1:12.98 over the Saratoga main track Friday morning under exercise rider J. J. Delgado. According to Daily Racing Form, Mage galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.31 and was up the mile in 1:40.66.

It was a stiffer breeze than last week, when he covered five furlongs in 1:01.03 over a track with a high moisture content following significant rainfall over the days prior to the work.

“He did pretty good. He was a little more in the bridle today,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr., son and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, of Friday's move. “His exercise rider was happy about it and the best thing is how he came back. He took a couple rounds [cooling out] and that was it. It's always good to see that.”

Delgado, Jr. said the plan is for the $235,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $290,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile to have one last maintenance work ahead of the Travers.

“It will depend on the weather, but hopefully Friday on the main track again,” said Delgado, Jr.

Mage is expected to face a field that includes 'TDN Rising Star' and reigning Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old Forte (Violence)–to whom he was runner-up in the GI Curlin Florida Derby–and GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road). Mage was third, beaten 2 1/4 lengths at Old Hilltop and has since finished a bang-up second in the GI Haskell S. July 22. Arcangelo (Arrogate), last-out winner of the GI Belmont S., is also among the probable starters.

Mage will be ridden by Luis Saez in the Travers.

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Leave No Trace Breezes Half Mile, Could Target Grade 2 Prioress

WellSpring Stables' Leave No Trace breezed a sharp half mile over the Saratoga main track in 47.44 seconds on Thursday, leaving trainer Phil Serpe with a decision to make regarding when his Grade 1 winning filly should return to the starting gate.

“She did very well. We're very happy with the work,” said Serpe. “We're just looking at some options for some races and will know more in a couple of days.”

Leave No Trace certainly left her mark at Saratoga during her juvenile campaign, winning her debut by 2 3/4 lengths sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs here en route to a 14-1 upset in the Grade 1 Spinaway, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of eventual Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Wonder Wheel.

Serpe's Outwork filly next tried the Grade 1 Frizette in October at Belmont at the Big A and finished third despite a troubled break. Her 2-year-old campaign concluded in November with a second to Wonder Wheel in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland.

Leave No Trace returned as a sophomore in March in the Grade 2 Davona Dale, going one mile over the Gulfstream Park dirt. The dark-bay broke sharply to the lead setting a fast quarter of 23.01, but was eased after a half-mile by jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

She returned to the work tab on July 2 and has worked weekly since, with her fastest coming in Thursday's move which ranked second out of 76 workers.

“She's doing really well. She's pretty close to a race,” Serpe said. “We want to get her in a race before we leave Saratoga, so hopefully towards the end of the meet. She's going to get to run.”

A potential landing spot could be the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress on September 2, a six furlong sprint for sophomore fillies.

Serpe will send out WellSpring Stables' Safe Conduct in Sunday's Oceanport at Monmouth Park, a 1 1/16 miles turf route for 3-year-olds and up.

The 5-year-old horse was entered in an allowance optional claimer on July 30 at Saratoga, but scratched and re-routed to New Jersey.

“He doesn't like soft turf and the ground was pretty soft. I think the race down there looks like a decent spot, hopefully he can rebound and get something done,” said Serpe.

Safe Conduct broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles over the Saratoga turf in August 2020. Since then, his earnings have climbed to $768,694 through a lifetime record of 18-4-3-3, featuring a stakes win in the 2021 Queen's Plate at Woodbine.

Last summer, Safe Conduct became graded stakes placed with a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Monmouth, earning a lifetime high Beyer Speed Figure of 94 before heading into the Lure at Saratoga, where he ran fifth after a wide trip.

The Bodemeister bay last ran third in an optional claiming race for older horses on July 4 at Belmont, three lengths behind Portfolio Company, who returned to finish a neck off of a win in the Fasig-Tipton Lure on August 5 here.

Bred in Ontario by Mitchell Kursner, Safe Conduct is out of the Congrats mare Duchess Dancer, who is a half-sister to Canada's 2008 Horse of the Year Fatal Bullet.

The post Leave No Trace Breezes Half Mile, Could Target Grade 2 Prioress appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Mage ‘A Little More In The Bridle’ In Penultimate Breeze Ahead Of Travers

Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Mage logged his penultimate breeze on Friday at Saratoga Race Course in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26. The chestnut son of Good Magic covered six furlongs in 1:12.98 over the Spa's main track around 7:45 a.m. under regular exercise rider J.J. Delgado.

“He did pretty good. He was a little more in the bridle today,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr., son and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado. “His exercise rider was happy about it and the best thing is how he came back. He took a couple rounds [cooling out] and that was it. It's always good to see that.”

Owned by OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH, Mage put in a more serious effort than last week when covering five furlongs in 1:01.03 over a Spa main track that held some moisture after steady rains in the days leading up to the breeze.

Delgado, Jr. said he expects Mage to have one more maintenance breeze next week ahead of the 1 1/4-mile Travers.

“It will depend on the weather, but hopefully Friday on the main track again,” said Delgado, Jr.

In addition to his win in the Kentucky Derby, Mage boasts two runner-up efforts in Grade 1s this year in the July 22 Haskell at Monmouth Park and the April 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park where he was defeated one length by the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Forte. He was a closing third two starts back in the Grade 1 Preakness 2 1/4 lengths back of the victorious National Treasure, who he will likely face again in the Travers.

The Delgado barn will look to kick off their Spa stakes action on a high note in Saturday's $150,000 Galway, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomore fillies, with Isabel Alexandra, who seeks her first stakes victory for owners Restrepo, OGMA Investments, Global Racing Stables and Inverdeco. The daughter of Expert Eye was a last-out winner by a neck on June 24 in a five-furlong allowance over the Horseshoe Indianapolis turf.

Delgado, Jr. said he is hopeful Isabel Alexandra is back to her best form after finishing fifth in her two other starts this year in the one-mile Ginger Brew in January at Gulfstream Park and an off-the-turf allowance sprinting five furlongs in May at Pimlico Race Course.

“She's doing pretty good and we like her in here,” said Delgado, Jr. “When horses get here to Saratoga, they start improving and you see things in them you didn't see before. We had tried to get her to go longer at Gulfstream and then we made a mistake in Pimlico when they took the race off the turf and we still raced her. We wanted to regroup and put her in a good spot to get confidence, which she did, so now we'll see. It's a tough race.”

Isabel Alexandra enters the Galway from a sharp half-mile bullet in 47.60 seconds on July 30 over Saratoga's Oklahoma turf training track. Delgado, Jr. said he was impressed with the work and is pleased to have the opportunity to breeze horses over turf at Saratoga.

“She likes it here and she was able to breeze on the turf, and that helped,” said Delgado, Jr. “We have galloping on turf in Lexington, but we can't breeze them. It's 100 percent a big plus to have that here.”

Isabel Alexandra boasts a lifetime record of 6-2-1-0 with $60,785 in earnings. The Irish-bred filly is out of the Dutch Art mare Duchess Power, a half-sister to multiple group-winner and French stallion Slade Power. She will be ridden from post 3 by Reylu Gutierrez with a morning line assessment of 8-1.

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