INS Stallion’s Summer Series Announced

The Irish EBF and the Irish National Stud will be joint sponsors of four 2-year-old fillies’ maidens this summer, the stud announced on Tuesday. The INS Stallion’s Summer Series will give the winning breeder a free nomination for the 2021 season to the stallion named in each race in addition to the prizemoney allocation. The June 20 ‘Free Eagle’ Irish EBF Fillies’ Maiden will be held at Naas, followed by the ‘Phoenix of Spain’ Irish EBF Fillies’ Maiden at The Curragh on June 26, the July 3 ‘National Defense’ Irish EBF Fillies’ Maiden at Navan and finally Leopardstown’s July 23 ‘Decorated Knight’ Irish EBF Fillies’ Maiden.

“The INS are delighted to partner with the Irish EBF to create a summer series of 2-year-old fillies’ maidens which will benefit a wide cross section of the industry.”

Added Irish EBF Chairman John O’Connor, “The Irish EBF board would like to thank the Irish National Stud for co-sponsoring with us at this crucial time. We are delighted to see stallion farms increasing their sponsorship to help the bloodstock industry at this difficult time and we would encourage other stallion farms and commercial sponsors to follow suit.”

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Jungle Runner on Track for Belmont

Calumet Farm’s homebred Jungle Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) posted a half-mile breeze in :50.50 (12/15) over the Belmont training track Tuesday in preparation for Saturday’s GI Belmont S. Winner of the Clever Trevor S. at Remington Park last November, the bay colt is coming off an eighth-place effort in the May 2 GI Arkanas Derby.

“It was a nice easy half in :50 and change,” said Toby Sheets, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “He galloped out in a minute. Not a big gallop out, but we’re very happy with it. He’s doing well.”

Jungle Runner will provide 23-year-old Reylu Gutierrez, a native of Rochester, New York, with his first Belmont S. mount. A finalist for the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice in 2018, Gutierrez earned his first graded stakes win in 2019 and has become a regular on the NYRA circuit.

Asmussen will also saddle Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pneumatic (Uncle Mo) in the Belmont. The ‘TDN Rising Star’ is coming off a third-place effort in the May 23 GIII Matt Winn S. He worked four furlongs in :51.60 (20/23) at Churchill Downs Monday.

“He has good form and I think he has a good shot in there,” Sheets said of the colt who was scheduled to arrive at Belmont Tuesday night.

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Busher Winner Water White ‘Ready To Go’ For Saturday’s Grade 1 Acorn

E.V. Racing Stable's Water White, last out winner of the Busher Invitational on March 7 at the Big A for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, will look to double up in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Longines Acorn at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“She's doing well. Hopefully, she'll continue to train well over the next couple of days, but so far so good,” said Rodriguez.

Bred in Kentucky by Richard Forbush, the 3-year-old Conveyance gray graduated at third asking in November at Aqueduct ahead of a fifth in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at nine furlongs in December. She followed up with a five-wide second in the 1 1/8-mile Busanda in her seasonal debut in February ahead of her Busher breakthrough.

Water White has breezed six times since April 28 at Belmont Park, including a swift half-mile in 47.89 May 30 which was followed by another good half-mile in 48.66 on June 9, both efforts on the Belmont main track.

“I breezed her an easy half-mile the other day because she went pretty fast the work before,” said Rodriguez. “She's ready to go. We just have to keep our fingers crossed that we get a good trip.

“She's been working pretty steady,” added Rodriguez. “But they still need to get over there and compete.”

Rodriguez said he is hoping that Water White will be closer to the pace on Saturday.

“She's a grinding horse,” said Rodriguez. “She doesn't have much speed but I'm hoping she can be a little closer. The track has been playing for speed.”

The Acorn offers the winner 50 points toward the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks; Water White has 54 points currently and is eighth in the standings.

The veteran conditioner has enjoyed a good start to the Belmont Park spring/summer meet where he is currently fifth in the trainer standings with a record of 4-3-4 from 30 starts.

“The horses have been running very well. I have to thank my owners for being patient through the pandemic,” said Rodriguez.

The probable field for the Grade 1 Longines Acorn includes Casual (Steve Asmussen), Gamine (Bob Baffert), Lucrezia (Arnaud Delacour), Perfect Alibi (Mark Casse), and Pleasant Orb (Barclay Tagg).

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Gotham Winner Mischevious Alex To Use Woody Stephens As Springboard To Haskell

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex, who captured the Grade 3 Gotham last out on March 7 at the Big A for trainer John Servis, worked a half-mile in 51.42 Tuesday morning at Parx Racing in preparation for Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“He two-minute licked and then we let him pick it up the last half. I wanted to let him stretch his legs a little bit,” said Servis.

Servis said he had considered Saturday's Belmont Stakes for Mischevious Alex, but wanted to bring the Into Mischief colt back at a shorter distance. Servis said the Woody Stephens, at seven furlongs for sophomores, would set Mischevious Alex up for a two-turn try in the Grade 1 Haskell on July 18 at Monmouth Park.

“I think this race sets him up for the other races,” said Servis. “The Belmont is a one-turn mile and an eighth and the big question for my horse is two turns, so we'll save that for next time.

“If he runs really good on Saturday, we'll probably try the Haskell.”

Mischevious Alex is undefeated since the addition of blinkers for a score in the Parx Juvenile in November. He followed that effort with a prominent score in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park in February ahead of his Grade 3 Gotham coup.

Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for the Gotham win, retains the mount.

The probable field for the Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm includes Echo Town (Steve Asmussen), Fore Left (Doug O'Neill), Meru (Jorge Duarte, Jr.), No Parole (Tom Amoss), and Shoplifted (Asmussen).

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