Bourbon Courage Filly Sets Quarter-Mile Mark in Timonium Thursday

TIMONIUM, MD – A filly by Bourbon Courage worked the fastest quarter-mile and three juveniles shared the day’s fastest furlong work time during Thursday’s second session of the under-tack show ahead of next week’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in Timonium, Maryland.

Bourbon on Sunday (hip 286), a Maryland-bred daughter of Bourbon Courage consigned by Naoise Agnew’s Nomad Farm Training and Sales, worked a quarter-mile in Thursday’s bullet time of :21 1/5. It was the second fastest quarter-mile through two of three sessions of the under-tack show.

“We actually thought she might go a little faster than that,” Agnew admitted. “She prepped out here really fast, :21 4/5 and they were just sitting on her basically. But we are very happy with her. She did it very easily by herself. And she blew a back shoe as well in the work, that could have been our :21 flat right there.”

Agnew is consigning the filly on behalf of breeder Ron Parker who has a five-horse commercial broodmare band based in Maryland. Parker purchased the filly’s dam Sunday in Malibu (Malibu Moon) for $5,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic January sale. The stakes-placed mare is also the dam of stakes placed Faze the Nation (Cal Nation).

Agnew has a farm near Penn National and Bourbon on Sunday has been working at the Pennsylvania track.

“She’s ready to go right on,” Agnew said. “She is a really, really nice horse. I’d put any money on it that she’s going to be a stakes horse.”

A transplanted Irishman, Agnew has been consigning under the Nomad banner for eight years. His four-horse 2020 Midlantic consignment includes Motherland Bourbon (Bourbon Courage) (hip 131), also bred by Parker.

“I come here with a handful of horses every year,” he said. “I have two client horses this year and the other ones are mine.”

Keiber Rengifo’s Golden Rock consignment sent out a daughter of Fed Biz (hip 276) to earn a share in Thursday’s furlong bullet time of :10 flat. The Maryland-bred filly is the first foal out of stakes-placed Stormin Wendy (Ecclesiastic). She was purchased by Scott and Evan Dilworth for $25,000 as a weanling at the 2018 Keeneland November sale before RNA’ing for $21,000 at Keeneland last September.

“Our client bought her at the Keeneland sale in November as a weanling,” Rengifo said. “She was going to go to the yearling sale, but there were so many horses there she got a little lost. He just decided to keep her. He saw a lot of talent in her when they were prepping for the yearling sale and they decided to send her to a 2-year-old in training sales.”

This is Golden Rock’s second consignment to the Midlantic sale, but Rengifo has plenty of positive memories of the Timonium auction.

“I was working before with Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo and they had a lot success at this sale and that’s why I really like this sale,” the Venezuelan said. “When I worked for those guys, they did really good here. So to have a filly like her is something special. Not too many horses can do a :10 flat here.”

The bullet worker capped a big day for Golden Rock, which also sent out three horses to work in :10 1/5: a filly by Munnings (hip 186); a colt by Goldencents (hip 243); and a filly by More Than Ready (hip 258). The consignment also sent out colts by Bodemeister (hip 228) and Constitution (hip 256) to work in :10 2/5.

“Constitution is really hot right now and this horse loved the dirt and we really like the Munnings filly,” Rengifo said. “The Goldencents colt is Pennsylvania-bred, so we decided to bring him up here since it’s so close to Parx and Penn National.”

Rengifo, who rode some 18 winners on the Midlantic circuit in 2015, 2016 and 2017, breezed all of the Golden Rock horses in Timonium and said he thought the track played fair throughout the day.

“It’s not too hard or too deep. They do a good job with the track-they put a lot of water on it,” he said. “Last year, they were breezing 35 of 40 horses a set and they would have four or five sets. Now with the seven sets, I don’t mind because I think it’s the same opportunity for all of the consignors. Every set gives a really good chance to everyone.”

For the second day in a row, Luis Garcia’s L.G. consignment sent out a first-crop juvenile by Speightster (hip 261) to work the furlong bullet time of :10 flat. Garcia purchased the filly, in partnership with Gina Fennell, for $20,000 at the Keeneland September sale. The bay is the first foal out of graded stakes placed Spirituality (Gemologist).

Consignor Al Pike was also represented by his second furlong bullet worker of the under-tack show. Pike sent out a filly by Goldencents (hip 263) to work in :10 flat Thursday. She is out of Spring Zapper (Ghostzapper), a daughter of graded stakes placed Spring Season (Seeking the Gold). Pike purchased the juvenile for $30,000 at last year’s Fasig-Tipton July sale.

The under-tack show concludes with a final session Friday beginning at 8 a.m. The Midlantic sale will be held next Monday and Tuesday with bidding scheduled to commence at 11 a.m.

The post Bourbon Courage Filly Sets Quarter-Mile Mark in Timonium Thursday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Observations: Daughter of Massarra Debuts at The Curragh

4.15 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, f, 6fT
FRIENDLY (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) was not foaled until May 15th, so improvement can be expected in due time but it is interesting that Aidan O’Brien has opted to go so soon with the 12th progeny out of the speedy Massarra (GB) (Danehill). All of her full-siblings Mars (Ire), Gustav Klimt (Ire), Wonderfully (Ire), Cuff (Ire) and Blissful (Ire) and her half-sister Nayarra (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) were able to make their mark in black-type company at different levels and this chestnut relative of Invincible Spirit (Ire) needs close watching as she debuts against Moyglare Stud’s A Ma Chere (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), a Dermot Weld-trained daughter of the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Mad About You (Ire) (Indian Ridge {Ire}).

The post Observations: Daughter of Massarra Debuts at The Curragh appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Serengeti Empress Up For The ‘Challenge,’ Faces Off With Midnight Bisou In Fleur De Lis

Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Serengeti Empress is ready for her showdown versus 2019 Champion Midnight Bisou in Saturday's $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (GII) at Churchill Downs – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In Distaff Division” race.

“If you want to talk about a challenge, this is it,” trainer Tom Amoss said. “We face a challenge with champion Midnight Bisou. We have great respect for her but we also have a ton of confidence in our filly. Her preparation has been great for this race and we'll be ready.”

The speedy Serengeti Empress led every step of the way in last year's Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Alternation's 3-year-old campaign included a narrow runner-up effort in the $500,000 Test (GI) and third-place finish in the Longines Distaff. In her 4-year-old campaign, Serengeti Empress was a convincing 6 ¼-length winner of the March 14 Azeri (GII).

The Fleur de Lis field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Go Google Yourself (Brian Hernandez Jr., Paul McGee, 8-1); Another Broad (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 12-1); Chocolate Kisses (Declan Carroll, Mark Casse, 12-1); Serengeti Empress (Joe Talamo, Amoss, 2-1); Midnight Bisou (Mike Smith, Steve Asmussen, 3-5); Red Dane (Corey Lanerie, Charlie LoPresti, 50-1); and Motion Emotion (Julien Leparoux, Richard Baltas, 15-1).

All horses will tote 120 pounds except Midnight Bisou and Serengeti Empress who will carry 124.

The Fleur de Lis – which means “Flower of the Lily” and honors the French symbol that is incorporated into the city of Louisville's Flag – will be run as Race 9 at 5:15 p.m. (all times Eastern). It will be televised live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.

The post Serengeti Empress Up For The ‘Challenge,’ Faces Off With Midnight Bisou In Fleur De Lis appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Tom’s D’Etat ‘Runs Very Well Fresh,’ Installed As Even-Money Morning Line Favorite For Stephen Foster

G M B Racing's 2019 Clark (Grade I) winner Tom's d'Etat was installed as the even-money morning line favorite for Saturday's $500,000 Stephen Foster presented by Coca-Cola (Grade II) – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (GI).

The 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster is the headliner of a stakes quartet on Saturday's 11-race program at Churchill Downs. The day of racing also will feature the $200,000 Fleur de Lis presented by Coca-Cola (GII), $100,000 Regret presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII) and $100,000 Bashford Manor presented by TwinSpires.com (GIII). First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Stephen Foster is slated at 5:47 p.m.

Along with the spectacular action on the racetrack, bettors will have large wagering pools to tackle including a $250,000-guaranteed Late Pick 5 pool. The 50-cent bet will begin in Race 7 (4:12 p.m.) – a 5 ½ furlong turf allowance event. The next four races will be the Bashford Manor, Fleur de Lis, Stephen Foster and Regret, respectively. For free past performances, visit www.churchilldowns.com/handicapping.

Tom's d'Etat (17-10-2-1—$1,326,572) has won four of his last five starts including a 3 ¼-length score in last year's $600,000 Clark (GI). The now 7-year-old son of Smart Strike enters Saturday's Stephen Foster following a hard-fought victory in the April 11 $150,000 Oaklawn Mile.

“I'm not worried about he's going to show up in the Foster; he runs very well fresh,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “This race will feed us into the rest of the year, which looks like it's setting up well with the schedules in New York and elsewhere. … This is his home track and has a visual of it in front of his stall, sort of like Blame did.”

Stall is not a stranger to success in the Stephen Foster. He won the race in 2010 with the aforementioned Blame prior to his victory over Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Blame would go on to become the 2010 Champion Older Male.

“We're trying to get (Tom's d'Etat) to the Blame level,” Stall said. “Both of these horses have a ton of class and ability.”

One of the challenges facing handicappers for Saturday's Stephen Foster is the probable pace scenario. The likely frontrunner in the race could be the graded stakes placed Pirate's Punch. Ridden by Mike Smith, Pirate's Punch has secured the early lead in nine of his last 11 races. A horse that could be tracking from just off the early lead could be Allied Racing Stable's multiple Grade II winner By My Standards.

“It's going to be an interesting setup,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “Pirate's Punch looks like he could be the controlling pace of the race. What's interesting is the horse from the rail (Fearless) who has shown speed back in his form in his maiden race and second start. Since then, he's sort of been relegated off the pace.

“(By My Standards) has shown every positive development from his three-year-old season to this year. He's a very talented racehorse and we saw that with his strong campaign last year. He's just bigger and stronger this year.”

The complete field for the Stephen Foster (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Fearless (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher, 12-1); Pirate's Punch (Mike Smith, Grant Forster, 15-1); Alkhaatam (Declan Cannon, Danny Peitz, 30-1); Multiplier (Tyler Gaffalione, Peter Miller, 10-1); Tom's d'Etat (Mena, Stall, even-money); By My Standards (Gabriel Saez, Calhoun, 5-2); Silver Dust (Beschizza, Calhoun, 10-1); and Owendale (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 4-1).

Both the Stephen Foster and the Fleur de Lis will be broadcast live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.

The Stephen Foster has had a strong influence on the Breeders' Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors. Four horses used victories in the Stephen Foster as part of their résumés in Horse of the Year campaigns: Black Tie Affair (1991), Saint Liam (2005), Curlin (2008) and Gun Runner (2017). In addition, two runner-ups were crowned Horse of the Year: Mineshaft (2003) and Wise Dan (2012). Also, Awesome Again (1998) and Blame (2010) completed same-year Foster-Classic doubles. Fort Larned won the Classic in 2012, and won the Foster the following year prior to a fourth-place run in his bid for a second Classic win.

The post Tom’s D’Etat ‘Runs Very Well Fresh,’ Installed As Even-Money Morning Line Favorite For Stephen Foster appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights