Bolshoi Ballet Pays Fitting Tribute to Late Galileo with Belmont Derby Win

BOLSHOI BALLET (IRE) (c, 3, Galileo {Ire}–Alta Anna {Fr}, by Anabaa) paid fitting tribute to his lat superstar sire Galileo by becoming his latest top-level scorer in the GI Belmont Derby Saturday. He also provided his connections–Coolmore, Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore–with a GI Belmont Oaks/Derby double following Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB})'s victory in the Oaks earlier in the day. Favored at even-money, the bay bided his time back in seventh as Hard Love (Kitten's Joy) dictated terms through a :24.61 first quarter and :51.34 half-mile. Advancing two wide on the backstretch, the 'TDN Rising Star' dug deep in the lane, rolling clear late for a 1 1/2-length score over Tokyo Gold (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}). Kicking off this term with a win in the G3 Ballysax S. Apr. 11, Bolshoi Ballet romped in the G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial May 9, but failed to fire when seventh as the favorite in the G1 Cazoo Derby June 5. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1.

O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (Ire; T-Aidan O'Brien.

The post Bolshoi Ballet Pays Fitting Tribute to Late Galileo with Belmont Derby Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Santa Barbara Digs Deep, Surges Late To Win Belmont Oaks

In a race that looked like Con Lima might win wire-to-wire, Santa Barbara capitalized on the potential she showed as a 2-year-old and surged past Con Lima to steal the victory in the waning strides of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

After finishing second in her last race at the Curragh June 27, Santa Barbara came into the mile and a quarter Belmont Oaks winless in her previous starts of 2021. Aidan O'Brien had been high on the daughter of Camelot (GB) and sent her stateside for the G1 Belmont Oaks, with jockey Ryan Moore on board. At the break, it was all Con Lima, taking an easy lead and controlling the pace throughout the first nine furlongs. Behind her were Spanish Loveaffair, Nazuna, and Higher Truth, all biding their time for the stretch. Santa Barbara hung toward the back of the pack, and, as the field came into the final turn, Santa Barbara had a challenge ahead of her.

With a wall of horses in front of him, Moore tried to take Santa Barbara along the hedge on the turn, coming into the stretch searching for running room somewhere. With Con Lima still leading, Moore moved Santa Barbara toward the middle of the track, finally finding running room between horses with only a sixteenth of a mile to go. Santa Barbara accelerated, quickly shrinking the gap between her and Con Lima and flashing under the wire a half-length to the good. Con Lima just held on for second, with Higher Truth in third and Gam's Mission fourth. The final time for the mile and a quarter was 2:03.76.

Bred in Ireland by Whisperview Trading Limited, Santa Barbara is by Camelot out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream. The 3-year-old filly is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg. With her win in the Belmont Oaks, Santa Barbara improves to a record of two wins in five lifetime starts.

The post Santa Barbara Digs Deep, Surges Late To Win Belmont Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Camelot’s Santa Barbara Triumphs in Belmont Oaks

Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) worked through traffic late to break through in her fourth straight attempt at the highest level and complete the first half of the GI Belmont Oaks/GI Belmont Derby double for the Coolmore contingent Saturday. Deemed a 'TDN Rising Star' off a 2 1/2-length debut success at The Curragh last September, the buzzed-about bay could only manage fourth in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2 and again in the G1 Cazoo Oaks at Epsom June 4–both as the favorite. She was most recently beaten a neck in the G1 Pretty Polly S. June 27.

Looking to provide her powerful owners with a third Belmont Oaks title, and Aidan O'Brien with his second in four years, the favorite drafted in midpack in between rivals through splits of :24.71, :51.31 and 1:16.40. She had nowhere to go at the top of the lane, but Ryan Moore wheeled her out a path and a sliver of daylight appeared. She sliced through that seam, and kicked on determinedly to collar pacesetter Con Lima (Commissioner) in the final strides. Higher Truth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) rounded out the trifecta for her superstar sire, who passed away Saturday at Coolmore Ireland and was soon to be represented by the Belmont Derby winner.

“It was quite a steadily run race,” said Moore. “They lined up and I was hoping Nazuna (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) would drop away a bit sooner. I didn't want to waste too much petrol by going around her. She's got class. She's got ability. She won without me moving a muscle… I had to go out one switch (path) and I didn't want to, but I had to. We're lucky we got out in time. She done it very easily. I'm very happy with her.”

T.J. Comerford, assistant O'Brien, offered, “She's been used to faster ground, so it probably took her a while to pick things up today on that slow ground. That was a good performance for her. Ryan knows her better than anyone and he knew that she had plenty of speed, so it was never a problem. She showed plenty of turn of foot in her other Group 1 starts in the Oaks and at The Curragh, she got beat by a good older filly. She's getting better as she gets on. Anytime you win a Group 1 is great.”

Saturday, Belmont Park
BELMONT OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $700,000, Belmont, 7-10, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:03.76, gd.
1–SANTA BARBARA (IRE), 121, f, 3, by Camelot (GB)
                1st Dam: Senta's Dream (GB), by Danehill
                2nd Dam: Starine (Fr), by Mendocino
                3rd Dam: Grisonnante (Fr), by Kaldoun (Fr)
'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
   WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B.
Tabor, Derrick Smith & Westerberg; B-Whisperview Trading
Ltd (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-Ryan L. Moore. $375,000.
Lifetime Record: G1SP-Ire, 5-2-1-0, $491,612. *1/2 to Iridessa
(IRE) (Ruler of The World (IRE)), GISW-USA, G1SW-Eng,
MG1SW-Ire, $1,988,198; 1/2 to Order of Australia (IRE)
(Australia (GB)), Hwt. at 3-Ire- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., GISW,
$1,161,178. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Con Lima, 121, f, 3, by Commissioner
                1st Dam: Second Street City (SW, $209,843),
                               by Consolidator
                2nd Dam: Trix City, by Carson City
                3rd Dam: Always Nettie, by Vice Regent
($15,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $19,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP;
$22,000 RNA 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus & Troy
Johnson; B-Lisa Kuhlmann (TX); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $130,000.
3–Higher Truth (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Wannabe Better (Ire) (GSW-Ire, $190,199),
                                by Duke of Marmalade (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Wannabe (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
                3rd Dam: Propensity (GB), by Habitat
(500,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Michael J. Ryan, Jeff Drown
& Team Hanley; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Chad C.
Brown. $70,000.
Margins: HF, NO, 1HF. Odds: 1.15, 5.10, 7.50.
Also Ran: Gam's Mission, Plum Ali, Nazuna (Ire), Cirona (GB), Spanish Loveaffair. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Santa Barbara follows in the hoofsteps of Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who won this race for the same connections in 2018 off of a third in the Pretty Polly. Wonderment (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was second in the 2019 renewal. Galileo's longtime stablemate Camelot is now responsible for eight highest-level winners and 26 grade/group winners.

As far as European pedigrees go, few are better bred for Stateside success than Santa Barbara. Dam Senta's Dream is a daughter of 2002 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf heroine Starine, and was purchased for just 14,000gns at the 2013 Tattersalls December Mares Sale in foal to Equiano (Fr) (that foal, the eventually placed Tisa River (Ire), sold for 400,000gns at the same sale last year).

Senta's Dream's first five foals didn't do much, but her next three have certainly made up for it. Her 2016 filly Iridessa upset the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf for Joseph O'Brien, while her 2017 colt Order of Australia belied incredible 73-1 odds to upend last year's GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Santa Barbara is her dam's final registered foal.

The post Camelot’s Santa Barbara Triumphs in Belmont Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Weekend Lineup: International Challengers Take On Belmont Turf

There will be seven graded stakes races this weekend at Woodbine, Delaware Park, and at Belmont Park, which closes out its spring/summer meeting with two Grade 1 turf races as European and American 3-year-olds compete in the Belmont Oaks and Belmont Derby Invitationals. Races are listed in chronological order (all times Eastern).

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Delaware Park, Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Woodbine and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be broadcasting live on Saturday, July 10 on FS1 from 1-3 p.m., and on FS2 from 3-5:30 p.m. from Belmont. On Sunday, July 11, “America's Day at the Races” will be live on FS2 from 12:30-4 p.m., and on FS1 from 4-5 p.m.

Saturday, July 10

3:15 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial at Delaware Park on TVG

Godolphin's Micheline looks to return to her winning ways leading a field of nine fillies and mares at Delaware Park in the Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial on turf. Trained by Mike Stidham and ridden from post 4 by Joe Bravo, Micheline won the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs in March, but finished sixth in the Grade 1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley at Keeneland in April, and 10th last out in Monmouth's Grade 3 Eatontown on June 20, failing to launch a serious bid. Pocket Aces Racing's 5-year-old Temple City Terror defeated Bal Mar Equine's Dalika (GER) by three-quarters of a length in the black type Keertana Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 22, reversing the order of finish from the listed Albert M. Stall Memorial at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 13 when Dalika prevailed by 1 length. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Temple City Terror, a 5-year-old daughter of Temple City, will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post 5. Dalika, a six-time winner, is trained by Al Stall Jr., and will be ridden by Miguel Mena from post 8.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DEL071021USA5-EQB.html

4:06 p.m. ― $700,000 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park on FS2

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has sent over Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Santa Barbara (IRE) from his base in Ireland, leading a European challenge of Nazuna (IRE) from England, and Cirona (GB) from France, among eight 3-year-old fillies in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes at 1 ¼ miles on turf. The even-money morning line favorite, Santa Barbara, ridden by Ryan Moore from post 5, just missed winning the Group 1 Al Wasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh on June 27, losing a furious stretch-drive battle to 4-year-old Thundering Nights (IRE) by a neck. Hanako Varian's Nazuna, trained by Roger Varian, returns to the U.S. where she finished 10th in last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. In her lone start this year, Nazuna, a daughter of Kodiak (GB), finished second in the Grade 2 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on June 5. John Velazquez will ride from post 6. Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, Kent Starr, Sara Starr and Gary Finder's Cirona won the Group 3 Prix de la Grotte Stakes at ParisLongchamp on April 18. She lost a heartbreaker in the Group 1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp, headed in the final yards. Cirona is trained in by Christophe Ferland, but will be turned over to Chad Brown following this race. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Joseph F. Graffeo, Del Toro, Eric Nikolaus, and Troy Johnson's Con Lima, and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso's Plum Ali, the 1-2 finishers in the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile Wonder Again Stakes at Belmont on June 3, are back again. Texas-bred Con Lima, trained by Todd Pletcher, is four of six this year, while the Christophe Clement-trained Plum Ali is seeking her first win of 2021. She captured the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont in 2020.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL071021USA-EQB.html#RACE7

4:21 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Three-year-old fillies are in the spotlight on Woodbine's all-weather surface Saturday in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile Selene Stakes. Trainer Mark Casse, a Hall of Famer in both Canada and the U.S., has entered three of the seven starters: Gary Barber's California Lily, Live Oak Plantation's Florida-bred Our Flash Drive and D.J. Stable's Danger. California Lily, ridden by Rafael Hernandez from post 2, finished third by less than a length in Woodbine's Grade 3 Star Shoot Stakes on June 19. Our Flash Drive (Patrick Husbands, post 3) was a 3 ¾-length maiden winner earlier on the June 19 Woodbine card. Danger (Emma-Jayne Wilson, post 6) is making her first start since breaking her maiden at Turfway Park last December. William T. Harrigan's Gote Go is the 2-1 morning line favorite off a solid 2-length score in a 1 1/16-mile allowance turf race at Churchill Downs on June 5 for trainer Roger Attfield. Steven Bahen has the mount from post 1.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO071021CAN7-EQB.html

4:38 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park on FS2

Magnifico Stable and Hubert Guy's Louisiana-bred Australasia, unbeaten in six starts, leads a field of 3-year-old fillies going 6 ½ furlongs in the Grade 3 Victory Ride. Trained by Brad Cox, Australasia faces seven runners in her first graded stakes try. After four wins against state breds, Australasia won an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs by two lengths on April 30, and the listed 6-furlong Jersey Girl Stakes by 1 length over Bella Sofia at Belmont on June 6. Joel Rosario has the mount from post 7. Michael Imperio, Vincent Scuderi, Sofia Soares, Gabrielle Farm, Mazel Stable Partners, and Matthew Mercurio's Bella Sofia will be making just her third start. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Bella Sofia blew away the field when breaking her maiden at 6 furlongs by 11 ¼ lengths at Belmont on May 6 prior to the Jersey Girl. Manny Franco has the mount from post 1. Team D and Madaket Stables' Miss Brazil, third in the Jersey Girl, has won three of six starts for trainer Anthony Dutrow. Jose Ortiz will ride Miss Brazil from post 3.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL071021USA8-EQB.html

5:12 p.m. ―$1 million Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Bolshoi Ballet leads nine runners in Saturday's 1 ¼-mile Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes on the turf for 3-year-olds. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Bolshoi Ballet, a son of Galileo (IRE), has won two of three starts this year, including the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes on April 11 at Leopardstown. However, he followed up that performance with a disappointing seventh-place finish, with no surge in the final furlong, as the 7-5 favorite in the Group? 1 Kazoo Derby at Epsom on June 5. Ryan Moore will ride from post 2. From France comes Teruya Yoshida's Tokyo Gold (FR), a winner of three of six starts, including a four-length score in the Group 2 Derby Italiano Universita' Campus Bio-Medico di Roma (Italian Derby) at Capannelle in Rome on May 23. Trained by Satoshi Kobayashi, Tokyo Gold will be ridden by John Velazquez from post 7. The Bill Mott-trained Du Jour won the Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile American Turf presented by Derby City Gaming on May 1 at Churchill Downs for his third straight win this year. Owned by Natalie Baffert and Debbie Lanni, Du Jour will break from post 5 under Flavien Prat. Robert LaPenta, Augustin Stable and Madaket Stables' Hard Love is two for two this year, including a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming win on June 5 at Belmont for trainer Jonathan Thomas. Manny Franco has the mount from post 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL071021USA9-EQB.html

5:15 p.m. ―$400,000 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on TVG

A field of seven is set for Saturday's Grade 2 Delaware Handicap for older fillies and mares going 1 ¼ miles. Juddmonte's 4-year-old Bonny South, trained by Brad Cox, has been first or second in her last five starts, which includes a victory in Keeneland's Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes on April 16, and a second-place finish to Letruska, the No. 1 rated horse in the weekly NTRA National Thoroughbred Poll, in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont on June 5. Florent Geroux has the mount from post 5. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has entered the 5-year-old Queen Nekia (Sheldon Russell, post 2) and the 4-year-old Gibberish (Trevor McCarthy, post 1). Florida-bred Queen Nekia has won 10 races, including the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park in February. Queen Nekia finished fourth in the Ogden Phipps. e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Gibberish, a four-time winner, finished second in the listed Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park last time out on June 6. Miracle International Trading's Dream Marie, trained by Matthew Wiliams and ridden by Joe Bravo from post 3, won the listed 1 1/16-mile Obeah Stakes at Delaware by 1 ¾-lengths over Cammarota Racing's Miss Marissa by 1 ¾ lengths. Miss Marissa, trained by Jim Ryerson, will be ridden from post 6 by Daniel Centano.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DEL071021USA9-EQB.html

Sunday, July 11

4:24 p.m. ― $150,000 Grade 3 Marine Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

San-Som Farm's Canadian homebred Tidal Forces is two for two this year leading six runners in a wide-open field of 3-year-olds in the 1 1/16-mile Marine Stakes on the all-weather surface at Woodbine. Trained by Gail Cox and ridden from post 1 by Emma-Jayne Wilson, Tidal Forces came from off the pace to score by a half-length in a 1 1/16-mile optional allowance claiming race at Woodbine on June 19. Breeze Easy Stable's Easy Time is making his first start since Feb. 12, when he finishing second in an optional allowance claiming race at Gulfstream Park by a neck for trainer Mark Casse. Rafael Hernandez has the mount from post 3. Casse is also starting Gary Barber's Frosted Over, who broke his maiden at 7 furlongs at Woodbine on June 20. Kazushi Kimura rides from post 2.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO071121CAN7-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: International Challengers Take On Belmont Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights