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‘We’d Love To Complete The New York Circle’: Tiz The Law Continues Moving Forward Toward Travers

Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law resumed serious business on Wednesday morning, posting a five-furlong breeze over Belmont Park's main track for trainer Barclay Tagg.

Under the guidance of regular rider Manny Franco, the three-time Grade 1-winning son of second crop sire Constitution recorded his work in 1:01.10 over a main track rated fast. The move was a second work for Tiz the Law since being the first New York-bred in over a century to capture the Belmont Stakes. Last Wednesday, he went an easy half-mile in 50.06 seconds.

“He looked perfect,” Tagg said. “He's got a lot of energy. He wouldn't blow out a candle.”

Unbeaten in all three starts during his sophomore campaign, Tiz the Law began 2020 with wins in the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby, both at Gulfstream Park, en route to a victory in the Belmont Stakes, which was run as the first leg of the Triple Crown following a rescheduling of the national stakes calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tiz the Law, bred in the Empire State by Twin Creeks Farm, began his career with a maiden triumph against fellow New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course before winning the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park. His only loss took place in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, where he was third beaten three-quarters of a length over a sloppy main track.

Tiz the Law remains on target for the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers on August 8 at Saratoga Race. The colt currently tops the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 272 points and could add to those totals in the Runhappy Travers, which offers 100-40-20-10 to the top-four finishers.

“It's just a matter of keeping him happy and healthy for seven weeks between now and the Travers,” said Jack Knowlton – operations manager for owner Sackatoga Stable. “[Assistant trainer] Robin [Smullen] says nothing phases him. If you watch him around the stable, on the track, and during his races it all seems to be true. Fortunately, Manny has gotten to know what he has under him and has done a great job. Hopefully we can continue the roll that we're on.”

Knowlton has been down a similar road before when Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness finishing third in the Belmont Stakes but was scratched from that year's Travers.

Knowlton said a win in the Runhappy Travers would be a huge deal for the Sackatoga team.

“Once he won the Champagne in the fall, he was on everyone's radar screen as a top 3-year-old,” Knowlton said. “We had a small bump in the road when we went to Kentucky, but as soon as he won the Holy Bull in Florida, he was right back on top of everyone's list. We're just taking it one race at a time. It will be interesting. No one will have run a mile and a quarter before the Travers and it will be unusual that some horses will have run a mile and quarter before the Derby. This was a race we could have had Funny Cide in, but he got sick. We'd love to complete the New York circle.”

Tiz the Law is scheduled ship to Saratoga on Monday, July 13, where he will continue to train for the Runhappy Travers.

The post ‘We’d Love To Complete The New York Circle’: Tiz The Law Continues Moving Forward Toward Travers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Churchill Unveils $9.85M Stakes Schedule

A total of 18 stakes events, topped by the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby and Sept. 4 GI Kentucky Oaks are on tap for the 2020 September Meet at Churchill Downs.

The September Meet stakes schedule is led by the revised Kentucky Derby Week, which was moved from April 25-May 2 to Sept. 1-5 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will feature 14 graded stakes, including the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and the GI Derby City Distaff, formerly known as the Humana Distaff.

A new addition to the revised Kentucky Derby day stakes schedule is the $200,000 GIII Iroquois presented by Ford, the launch of the Road to the 2021 Kentucky Derby (top 4 points: 10-4-2-1) and a “Win and You’re In Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Division.” The Derby undercard will also feature the GIII Longines Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile, the GII Americna Turf S. and GIII Pat Day Mile.

Kentucky Oaks day will feature the GI La Troienne S., the GII Alysheba S., the GII Eight Belles S,, GII Edgewood S. and GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S.

The GIII Pocahontas S. for juvenile fillies will be held on Thurby, the Thursday before the Derby. It is a 10-point race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and is a “Win and You’re In” for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The GI Churchill Downs S., which was previously run on Kentucky Derby Day, is tentatively scheduled to be run during the fall meet.

After the Sept. 1-5 Kentucky Derby Week, Churchill Downs will stage its annual nine-day September Meet from Sept. 17-27. The lone stakes event will be the $100,000 Ack Ack for 3-year-olds and up at one mile Sept. 26.

The post Churchill Unveils $9.85M Stakes Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Danon Pharaoh Too Strong in Japan Dirt Derby

The bettors had it right–well, in a sense.

They pounded the previously undefeated Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) into 1-10 favoritism for Wednesday’s Japan Dirt Derby, but Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah) had other ideas, as he put away pacesetting Daimei Corrida (Jpn) (Eskendereya) in the final 150 meters en route to a 1 3/4-length success. Kitano Octopus (Jpn) (Fenomeno {Jpn}) rounded out a longshot trifecta that returned better than 7,700-1. The victory was worth 40 points on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Daimei Corrida jumped alertly from his high draw and crossed the field to lead through the stretch the first time as Danon Pharaoh and Cafe Pharoah raced in close attendance. The favorite, who took an awkward step entering the first turn, and began showing signs of distress 500 meters out, leaving Daimei Corrida and Danon Pharaoh to fight it out to the finish. The front-runner held firm into the final eighth of a mile, but Danon Pharaoh had all the answers, edging clear in the final stages. Cafe Pharoah split the field in seventh.

A maiden winner at second asking last November, Danon Pharaoh added a Kyoto allowance in February. A strong second to Barnard Loop (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the Listed Hyogo Championship S. at Sonoda May 6, the striking dark bay was well-beaten behind Miyaji Kokuo (Jpn) (Victoire Pisa {Jpn}) when last seen in the Listed Hosu S. at Kyoto May 24.

With victories in the Listed Hyacinth S. and in the G3 Unicorn S. last time, Cafe Pharoah has amassed 70 Kentucky Derby points and can claim the berth in the Run for the Roses if connections so choose. Should they decline the invitation, it will be extended to the connections of Danon Pharaoh.

Danon Pharaoh’s yearling half-brother by Screen Hero (Jpn) (walking video) and his Jan. 23-foaled half-brother by Lord Kanaloa (walking video) each go under the hammer at the JRHA Select Sale on Hokkaido July 13 and 14.

Danon Pharaoh becomes the eighth stakes winner for American Pharoah and his third on the dirt, joining Cafe Pharoah and Harvey’s Lil Goil, who recently added the GIII Regret S. on turf.

WATCH: Danon Pharaoh causes the upset in the Japan Dirt Derby

Wednesday, Ohi, Japan
JAPAN DIRT DERBY-Listed (Final Leg–Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby), ¥76,500,000, Ohi, 7-8, 3yo, 2000m, 2:05.9, my.
1–DANON PHARAOH (JPN), 123, c, 3, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Crisp (GISW, $286,431), by El Corredor
2nd Dam: Cat’s Fair, by Sir Cat
3rd Dam: Very Fair, by Honest Pleasure
1ST STAKES WIN. ($350,000 in utero ’16 KEENOV; ¥180,000,000 Ylg ’18 JPNJUL). O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Northern Farm; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Ryusei Sakai; ¥45,000,000. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-0, $644,903.
2–Daimei Corrida (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Eskendereya–Miracle Flag (Jpn), by Spicule (Jpn). (¥30,240,000 2yo ’19 JRA2YO). O-Noboru Miyamoto; B-Deguchi Bokujo; T-Naoyuki Morita; J-Kenichi Ikezoe; ¥15,750,000.
3–Kitano Octopus (Jpn), 123, c, 3, Fenomeno (Jpn)–Hiro Angelo (Jpn), by Grass Wonder. O-Naoto Kitasho; B-Mikami Bokujo; T-Noboru Takagi; J-Hironobu Tanabe; ¥9,000,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 5, 1 3/4. Odds: 39.60, 19.50, 49.70.
Also Ran: Bravoure (Jpn), Miyaji Kokuo (Jpn), Aime Limite (Jpn), Cafe Pharoah, Barnard Loop (Jpn), Causey Son Rad (Jpn), Riko Seawolf (Jpn), Gamila’s Jackson (Jpn), Full Flat, Gold Bomber (Jpn).

The post Danon Pharaoh Too Strong in Japan Dirt Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Half Ours Colt Zips Fastest Quarter of the Week at OBS

The under-tack show for next week’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s July 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale reached its midway point Wednesday in Central Florida and a colt by Half Ours (hip 383) turned in the week’s fastest quarter-mile so far, covering the distance in :20 1/5. The bay colt is consigned by Sergio Centeno’s Blue River Bloodstock and is out of All About Ju Ju (Into Mischief).

“He prepped in :21 1/5, so I expected he could go :21 flat to :20 4/5, but he worked really, really good,” said Centeno.

Centeno’s brother Jaime purchased the colt for $8,000 at last year’s OBS October Sale.

“We started training him a little later because we didn’t expect to take him to an April Sale,” Sergio Centeno said. “So we were breaking him a little late to go for the June sale, but then the coronavirus moved all of the sales. But he always showed he had the talent.”

Centeno is also excited about the prospects of a filly he will send out to work Friday at OBS, a daughter of Palace who is catalogued as hip 839.

“She prepped the same day as the colt and same :21 1/5, so I expect big things from her,” he said.

A colt by Shackleford (hip 492) turned in the week’s second fastest quarter-mile breeze so far when covering the distance in :20 2/5 Wednesday. The gray colt is consigned by Fabian Garcia’s Fabian Sales.

“I was thinking of :21 flat, but he got more than that,” Garcia said with a chuckle. “The track has been pretty slow and it’s been raining all week. This morning it was kind of slow, but he just did what he had to do. Since the first time that I breezed him, he showed that he could do it.”

Hip 492 is out of the unraced Capri Song (More Than Ready) and his third dam is multiple Grade I winner Dispute (Danzig). Garcia purchased the youngster for $3,500 at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

“I liked the mare and I liked the pedigree going together,” Garcia said of the colt’s appeal last fall. “I had a Shackleford last year and that was what I liked about the horse–he has the same body as the other one I had last year and I did pretty well with the other one, too. I was just hoping to do better than last year and I think I have.”

Garcia has been consigning under the Fabian Sales banner for the past four years, but is no stranger to the business.

“I’ve been in the horse business for a long time,” he said. “I’ve been an owner for almost 20 years. But I always put it under someone else’s name. I was working with Nick Zito for a long time. I was a groom for him. And now I work for Eddie Woods. It all came together and here we are.”

During his first three years consigning as Fabian Sales, Garcia was selling his own horses, but his seven-horse consignment at the July sale includes juveniles he will offer on behalf of clients.

In addition to hip 492, Garcia has sent out two fillies to work matching furlong times: hip 227, a daughter of You Luckie Mann went in :10 2/5; and hip 404, a filly by Bodemeister, also worked in :10 2/5.

Asked if Eddie Woods had given him any advice heading into the sale, Garcia said, “He tells me some good things that I could do to be better every year. I listen to my boss every time. I try to do good like he does. I want to bring in more clients and pinhook more on my own and have people trust me. And to have people know I can do it.”

An additional five fillies turned in the week’s fastest furlong time of :10 flat Wednesday.

A filly from the first crop of sprint champion Runhappy (hip 428) worked in :10 flat for Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds LLC. The bay is out of Bamboo Dream (Finality) and was purchased by Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo for $70,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale.

Hip 473, a daughter of Palace Malice, worked in :10 flat for Hoppel’s Horse and Cattle Co. Out of Breech Inlet (Holy Bull), the bay is a half-sister to stakes placed Merveilleux (Paynter). Pat Hoppel purchased the youngster for $80,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

A daughter of Midshipman (hip 502), consigned by Vargas Sales, also worked in :10 flat. Out of Cat Ten (Greatness), a full-sister to graded placed Flashstorm, she was purchased for $5,000 by Sky High Stables at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

Gene Recio sent out a filly by Maclean’s Music (hip 525) to share the :10 flat bullet time. The dark bay is a daughter of Chokonni (Arch) and from the family of Grade I winner Aldiza. Bred by John Liviakis, the juvenile RNA’d for $37,000 at the 2018 Keeneland November sale and for $14,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

A filly by Not This Time (hip 510) was the last of the day’s :10 flat workers when hitting the track late in Wednesday’s third and final set. Consigned by Oscar Brown Stables, the dark bay is out of the unraced Champagne Sparkle (Street Boss) who is a full-sister to Grade I winner Danza and a half to Grade I winner Majestic Harbor (Rockport Harbor). The April foal was purchased by Lewis Lakin for $95,000 at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

Sixteen horses have now turned in co-fastest :10 flat works this week at OBS.

The under-tack show continues through Saturday with sessions beginning each day at 7:30 a.m. The July sale will be held next Tuesday through Thursday with bidding commencing at 10 a.m.

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