The dark bay, who swept the GII San Clemente S. and GI Del Mar Oaks over the summer, was content to lay third against the rails as Irad Ortiz, Jr. tried to make all the running aboard 'TDN Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who got away with some pretty cheap fractions on the engine. The Mike Ryan colorbearer was given every conceivable chance to finish the task at hand once heads were turned for home, but the chalk pushed away from the fence beneath Umberto Rispoli in upper stretch, easily gathered up the front-runner at the eighth pole and ran out a facile winner. Be Your Best settled for second, while pace-pressing Musical Mischief (Into Mischief) re-rallied for third after appearing destined to finish off the board. It was the second win in the race in the space of three years for Aron Wellman's operation, who campaigned 2021 winner Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) in partnership in a race rained onto the main track.

Though this race, the brainchild of longtime bi-coastal racing office maestro Martin Panza, was celebrating just its 22nd running, Anisette is the second to complete the Del Mar/American Oaks double, joining Lady of Shamrock (Scat Daddy) in 2012, when the races were run back-to-back and in reverse order in July (at original host site Hollywood Park) and August.

“She's the goods,” said winning trainer Leonard Powell. “Aron Wellman and I have chosen to give her plenty of time in between races and that's probably the key of keeping her at the top of her game. She is happy and healthy, so that is the main thing.”

An all-weather maiden winner in three starts in England for Kevin Philippart de Foy, Anisette swept the Del Mar series over the summer, but settled for second in her last two, against the high-class Didia (Arg) (Orpen) in the GII Rodeo Drive S. over this course and trip Oct. 7 and versus her peers in the one-mile GIII Autumn Miss S. Nov. 5.

Pedigree Notes:

One of two elite-level scorers for her sire, along with G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Anmaat (Ire), Anisette–a 26,000gns graduate of the 2021 Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale–is one of two winners from four to the races out of a daughter of the stakes-winning Soft Centre, also the dam of G1 Nassau S. heroine Sultanina (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}). The stakes-winning third dam produced Dalvina (GB) (Grand Lodge) and SW French Dressing (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), the dam of 2021 G3 Hampton Court S. winner Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). Anisette's 2-year-old half-brother Eton Mes (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) was a 37,000gns RNA at the 2022 Tattersalls November Sale and her yearling filly Glamourous Marlene (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was hammered down to Blandford Bloodstock for 65,000gns at Tattersalls October this fall. Tutti Frutti was most recently covered by Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Anisette was catalogued to last month's Keeneland November Sale, but was ultimately withdrawn.

Tuesday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $300,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.22, fm.
1–ANISETTE (GB), 124, f, 3, by Awtaad (Ire)
                1st Dam: Tutti Frutti (GB), by Teofilo (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Soft Centre (GB), by Zafonic
                3rd Dam: Foodbroker Fancy (Ire), by Halling
(26,000gns Ylg '21 TATSOM). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners; B-Morera Partnership (GB); T-Leonard Powell;
J-Umberto Rispoli. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-3-0,
$606,871. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
   Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the free Equineline.com
   catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Be Your Best (Ire), 124, f, 3, by Muhaarar (GB)
                1st Dam: Kamakura, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Kotuku (GB), by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Flagbird, by Nureyev
'TDN Rising Star'. O-Michael J. Ryan; B-St. Croix Bloodstock
(IRE); T-Horacio De Paz. $60,000.
3–Musical Mischief, 124, f, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Sophia's Song (SW & GSP, $155,892),
                                by Bellamy Road
                2nd Dam: Dreamscape, by Mt. Livermore
                3rd Dam: Big Dreams, by Great Above
   1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
   TYPE. ($300,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Stoneway Farm; B-Clearsky
Farms (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $36,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 2, 1HF. Odds: 0.60, 3.60, 3.60.
Also Ran: Sakura Flavor (Ire), Elounda Queen (Ire). Scratched: Grace Period (Fr), Khinjani (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

GI Del Mar Oaks
GI American Oaks

What a season for the shining star, ANISETTE @santaanitapark pic.twitter.com/kJsF4BUIWM

— TDN (@theTDN) December 26, 2023

The post Anisette Proves Far Too Strong In American Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

For brilliant Group 1 winner RHEA MOON (Ire) (f, 3, by Starspangledbanner {Aus} out of Callisto Star {Ire}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) the sky is the limit in more ways than one. Rhea is one of the many moons of Saturn (the planet with the ring).  S The satellite was discovered in 1672 and named after the fiercely loving mother of many Greek gods, including Zeus. The name of the dam could be a celestial reference to either one of the four moons of the planet Jupiter discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 (most likely) or the constellation of Ursa Major (the Big Dipper to you and me). Callisto was a nymph turned into a bear by jealous goddess Hera for being the lover of husband Zeus, who then set up his mistress as a star, literally (Ursa = Mama Bear in Latin). Maternal granddam LIVIA GALILEI is the namesake of one of the two daughters of Galileo (the scientist), so there is plenty of astronomy and theme consistency in the pedigree. Shine on you crazy diamond (in the sky), as the words of an old song go.

7th-Laurel, $60,870, 11-4, (NW1X), 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:40.90, fm, 2 1/4 lengths. TOM HAGEN (g, 7, El Padrino–Frivolous Pal, by Not For Love) Lifetime Record: 27-4-5-6, $210,491. O-Gordon C. Keys; B-James A. Blackwell (MD); T-Madison F. Meyers.

Laurel winner TOM HAGEN (g, 7, El Padrino–Frivolous Pal, by Not For Love) is also ingeniously named. For those who have avoided the endless TV re-runs of “The Godfather” during the Christmas season, Tom Hagen is the only non-Italian consigliere (aide) of Vito Corleone, “padrino” being the original noun for both the godfathering position and being the chieftain of a mafia enterprise. Robert Duvall played the role of Tom Hagen perfectly, as an efficient, legal-minded and soft-spoken criminal operator, in contrast to the opera-like intensity of many Italian-Americans in the movie.

6th-Churchill Downs, $123,375, Msw, 11-13, 2yo, 1m, 1:38.32, ft, neck. LAVER (c, 2, Bernardini–Centre Court, by Smart Strike). O/B-G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. (KY); T-George R. Arnold, II

Tennis theme consistency abounds in the pedigree of Churchill Downs winner LAVER, who is out of GI winner CENTRE COURT and half-brother to GSW NAVRATILOVA. This 2020 colt by Bernardini has run well on turf and dirt, so let us hope he is as versatile as his glorious Australian namesake, who played well on all surfaces and won two Grand Slams in the 1960s.\2nd-Delta Downs, $41,000, (S), 12-17, (NW2L), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:42.50, ft, 5 lengths. GYPSYROSELEE (f, 3, Goldencents–Iknowuthinkimsexy {MSP, $158,145}, by Count the Time) Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $48,600. O-Richard & Mary Westmark; B-Brett Brinkman & Jane Chiasson (LA); T-Brett A. Brinkman

2nd-Delta Downs, $41,000, (S), 12-17, (NW2L), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:42.50, ft, 5 lengths. GYPSYROSELEE (f, 3, Goldencents–Iknowuthinkimsexy {MSP, $158,145}, by Count the Time) Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $48,600. O-Richard & Mary Westmark; B-Brett Brinkman & Jane Chiasson (LA); T-Brett A. Brinkman

Gypsy Rose Lee was the stage name of Rose Louise Hovick (1911-1970), the woman who supposedly invented the striptease act. So the name of the five-length winner of an allowance race at Delta Downs is a spirited one, with the filly being out of IKNOWUTHINKIMSEXY, who is out of DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. The original Gypsy Rose Lee was no one-trick-pony, as she evolved and left a quite a mark in American popular culture. Not only did her memoir “Gypsy” lead to a now classic Broadway musical with a libretto written by master lyricist Stephen Sondheim (later a very successful movie), but she authored a mystery thriller that was made into a cute 1943 film starring legendary leading lady Barbara Stanwick and she did not die poor.

The post What’s In A Name: Rhea Moon (Ire) appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rhea Moon began her career for Ken Condon in Ireland, for whom she showed bundles of potential when placing in six-furlong maidens at Dundalk and the Curragh before being purchased privately by BBA Ireland's Michael Donohoe and international bloodstock agent Niall Dalton to join Philip D'Amato. 

Monday night's success was described by Molloy, who sold Rhea Moon through Ballybin Stud for £24,000 to BBA Ireland at the Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale in 2020, as his best experience in racing. 

He said, “I stayed up to watch the race with my family and it was very exciting. We were concerned about the draw but she has that turn of foot which gets her out of trouble. 

“It was my best day in racing. To win a Grade I and to have that on the page is great. They are keeping her in training and I see more improvement coming so it's quite exciting.”

Peter Kelly of Ballybin Stud sold Rhea Moon along with her winning full-sister There's The Door (Ire) for €80,000 at the Goffs Autumn Yearling Sale last year and the Magna Grecia half-brother who commanded €145,000 to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame syndicate at this year's Sportsman's Sale at Goffs. 

He recalled, “I know from talking to Ken Condon that he was mad about Rhea Moon and he went hard trying to buy the full-sister last year and the Magna Grecia this year as well. I thought she'd be a good filly but I never dreamt she could go on and win a Grade I, so it's great.”

Kelly added, “Rhea Moon was a gorgeous, big filly as a yearling. Big, scopey and strong but she was a small bit turned in in front, which spoiled it a little. I remember her being a gorgeous filly in the lunge ring-she'd a huge big action on her-and you just knew she was going to be good. I remember trying to put a few people on her. Every now and then you get a glimpse of what could be a good one and she was one that I really liked at home.

“The dam Callisto Star has had an exceptional start and I'm delighted for Kevin as he has three mares all of whom are from this family. The sister has won for David Evans and is not far off black-type while Johnny Hassett bought the Magna Grecia colt at the Sportsman's Sale off us. I'm delighted for Johnny as he was a big fan of the colt and hopefully this pedigree update will help them achieve a nice profit at the breeze-up sales next year.”

It has been a bountiful year for the progeny of Starspangledbanner. Rhea Moon capped a memorable season for the Coolmore sire by joining Aristia (Ire), State Of Rest (Ire) and California Spangle (Ire) by claiming success at the highest level. 

Rhea Moon's dam Callisto Star is back in foal to Starspangledbanner with Molloy excited about what the future might bring for a family he has nurtured for generations.

He explained, “There's stamina in the dam's side and, if you go right back, there's the Mill Reef influence in there as well. I think the match is very good and I was advised by Christy Grassick in Coolmore to bring Callisto Star to Starspangledbanner. Thankfully, the mare is back in foal to Starspangledbanner, which is good news.

“Callisto Star was unlucky during her training career. She was with Jim Bolger but got injured. To get off to a start like she has, with her first produce bagging a Grade I win in America, is great.”

Molloy added, “Her second foal, There's The Door (Ire), has won for David Evans and was not far off getting black-type. She had a lovely Magna Grecia colt sell to Johnny Hassett's Getinthegame partnership at the Sportsman's Sale in September. He was a lovely colt with a great temperament and it will be interesting to see how he breezes for them.”

Molloy's enjoyment at seeing Rhea Moon achieve big-race success in America was heightened by the fact that he is surrounded by the family at his base in Luttrellstown in Dublin.

He said, “Rhea Moon is a Dublin girl. She was born in Coolmore but she was raised here in Luttrellstown. I only have a small operation here. I have kept a few different broodmares from different lines but gradually got out of them. The one line I kept is from Mohican Princess (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}). 

“Mohican Princess produced a number of good horses, including dual Group 3 winner Satchem (Ire) (Inchinor {GB}) and Eye Of The Storm (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who despite only having one eye, was a very talented horse. I kept Livia Galilei (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) out of Mohican Princess and I have some of Livia Galilei's daughters here as well. I've only got three broodmares altogether.”

Molloy added, “I take a lot of advice from Peter's Dad Paddy Kelly. I am guided by him and Christy Grassick. I get good advice and it's very enjoyable to have the mares around me. As I am speaking now, I am looking out the window at Rhea Moon's dam. That adds a lot. There are ups and downs but, to be able to go out and pet these mares on the nose, it gives you a lot of satisfaction. You get very close to them all.”

The post Small-Time Irish Breeder Molloy Over The Moon With American Oaks Winner appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A 6-1 gamble exiting a 1 1/4-length success in the GIII Autumn Miss S. going a mile over this course Oct. 29, Rhea Moon was one of the last away, but improved along the inside while tugging a bit for her head and raced fourth-last with a circuit to travel as favored East Coast shipper and 'TDN Rising Star' Salimah (Ire) (El Kabeir) pulled her way along beneath Flavien Prat with School Dance in close attendance.

Hard held as she continued to scrape paint into the backstretch, Rhea Moon was shuffled back one spot and raced with just two behind into the final half-mile, but was always traveling smoothly. Full of run as she was ridden for luck at the fence, the bay was a bit short of room and in tight quarters with two furlongs to race. But allowed to follow the move of GIII Sands Point S. heroine Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}) into the final three-sixteenths of a mile, Rhea Moon found the daylight she needed four or five off the inside and motored home to peg back School Dance on the money.

“I think going a mile and a quarter, the one hole was an advantage,” said winning trainer Phil d'Amato. “Juan took advantage, just saving every inch of ground and getting her out in time. He gets a lot of credit for developing this filly…Juan and I are really in a groove, as much as Flavien [Prat] and I do well, Juan and I just seem to really get on a hot streak and I have a lot of confidence in him as does everyone else. It is just great to see. I don't need to give him a lot of instructions and he gets the job done.”

Placed on a pair of Irish appearances for Ken Condon as a juvenile, Rhea Moon finished runner-up in her first two U.S. starts before graduating in a nine-furlong test over this course June 4. A wide-trip third in a first-level Del Mar allowance July 24, Rhea Moon cleared that hurdle Aug. 21 and overcame a bit of trouble to win the Autumn Miss by 1 1/4 lengths Oct. 29.

Pedigree Notes:

Rhea Moon completes a truly phenomenal season around the globe for the underappreciated Starspangledbanner, joining Prix Ganay and Prince of Wales's S. hero State of Rest (Ire); Longines Hong Kong Mile victor California Spangle (Ire); and G1 Prx Jean Romanet heroine Aristia (Ire) as top-level scorers in 2022. Rhea Moon is one of two winners from just two to race for Callisto Star. Her 2-year-old sister There's The Door (Ire) won her maiden at third asking at Haydock this past July and was a near-miss runner-up in a Newmarket handicap over nine furlongs Oct. 29. Rhea Moon, who is inbred 4×3 to the legendary Danehill, also has a yearling half-sister by Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Monday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN OAKS-GI, $303,000, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4mT, 2:00.75, fm.
1–RHEA MOON (IRE), 124, f, 3, by Starspangledbanner (Aus)
1st Dam: Callisto Star (Ire), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Livia Galilei (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Mohican Princess (GB), by Shirley Heights (GB)
1ST GRADE I WIN. (£24,000 Ylg '20 TATIRY). O-Rockingham Ranch & Talla Racing LLC; B-Kevin J Molloy (IRE); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Juan J Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-4-3-2, $371,831. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–School Dance, 124, f, 3, by Animal Kingdom
1st Dam: Ann of the Dance (SW & GSP, $198,332), by English Channel
2nd Dam: Dans La Ville (Chi), by Winning
3rd Dam: Syracuse, by Sharp-Eyed Quillo
1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Agave Racing Stable & Rockin Robin Racing Stables; B-Betz/Lamantia/Ramsby/Strong, B & K Canetti/J Betz (KY); T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
3–Sparkle Blue, 124, f, 3, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Silk n' Sapphire, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Golden Tiy, by Dixieland Band
3rd Dam: Tiy, by Nalees Man
1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. O-Augustin Stable & Catherine Parke; B-Catherine Parke (KY); T-H Graham Motion. $36,000.
Margins: HD, 3/4, HD. Odds: 6.80, 11.70, 8.80.
Also Ran: Oakhurst, Skims (GB), Pizza Bianca, Salimah (Ire), Duvet Day (Ire), Lady Clementine (GB), Mise En Scene (GB), Bellstreet Bridie (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post ‘Moon’ Shines Over Rivals in American Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dubbed this season for the first time as the Classic Meet, racing at Santa Anita will be conducted on a Thursday-through-Sunday schedule through Apr. 9, the exceptions being Monday, Jan. 2 for the New Year's Day holiday, Monday, Jan. 16 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Monday, Feb. 20 for Presidents' Day. After a brief respite in the spring, live racing will return for a 25-day meet Apr. 22, concluding June 18.

The first race on opening day is set for 11:00 a.m. PST. Then post time will be at noon daily through Jan. 8, at 12:30 p.m. PST through Mar. 12 and 1:00 p.m. PST for the remainder of the Classic Meet with the exception of big-race days.

A total of 93 stakes worth $17.5 million, including 10 Grade Is, are on tap during the 3 ½-month meeting. Led by the $750,000 million GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8, the 2022-2023 stakes schedule is rich with GI Kentucky Derby prep races and coveted Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points. These important Triple Crown prep races are the GIII Sham S. on Jan. 8, which is worth 10 points to the winner; the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. on Feb. 5, also worth 10; and GII San Felipe S. on Mar. 4 which guarantees 50 Road to the Kentucky Derby points to the winner. Overall, 11 winners of the Santa Anita Derby–and 18 runners in California's final prep for the Run for the Roses–have gone on to stand in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs reserved for one horse a year in Louisville on the first Saturday in May, the most recent being 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy).

This year, the historic GI Santa Anita H. will be worth $500,000 and the 1 1/4-mile event has been scheduled for Mar. 4. It remains one of the handful of original stakes events contested each year since Santa Anita opened in 1935.

Zedan Racing's Grade I winner and TDN Rising Star Taiba (Gun Runner) will face eight others in the Malibu in his first start since a third-place finish in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Should the chestnut colt win, he would become the only 3-year-old male to win three Grade Is in 2022 and give trainer Bob Baffert a fifth Malibu winner, one shy of fellow Hall of Famer Richard Mandella. The $1.7 million FTFMAR 2-year-old purchase also won the Santa Anita Derby in his second start back in April.

Flightline (Tapit) won his first stakes race in last year's Malibu en-route to a likely 2022 Horse of the Year and champion older male Eclipse Awards.

Mandella will send out multiple Grade II winner Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) for the seven-furlong test, while former California-based trainer Wesley Ward will try to take advantage of the lucrative ship-and-win money with recent Keeneland allowance winner Nakatomi (Firing Line).

The Malibu has been carded as the 10th race on the card with a 3:30 p.m. PST post time.

Baffert will tighten the girth on four of eight for the La Brea in seeking a record ninth winner, including GII Zenyatta S. winner Midnight Memories (Mastery), GII Summertime Oaks heroine Under The Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) and Fun To Dream (Arrogate), who won the Betty Grable S. at Del Mar last month. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez shipped GIII Victory Ride S. winner Hot Peppers (Khozan) and her jockey, Tyler Gaffalione, to the Left Coast in what will be her first start in 2 1/2 months. Post time for the La Brea, which is the day's 8th race, is 2:30 p.m. PST.

Anchoring the day's card with a 4:11 p.m. PST post time is the American Oaks, which drew a field of 11 runners from coast to coast. Joining the local contingent set to line up will be two trained by East Coast-based Graham Motion, and one each from Brendan Walsh, Chad Brown and Shug McGaughey. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) debuts for Motion after her previous eight-race career in the hands of Christophe Clement. She most recently was a $3.45 million RNA at KEENOV and returns in the colors of celebrity chef Bobby Flay.

Pizza Bianca will join her new stablemate, GIII Valley View S. winner Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun), in the gate, while Walsh will for the first time send out G1 Bet365 Fillies Mile S. winner Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) returning to action off a sixth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. McGaughey shipped G2 Sands Point S. winner Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to California with the Brown-trained Winter Memories S. winner and TDN Rising Star Salimah (Ire) (El Kabeir) for the 10-furlong turf test.

Other stakes on the Monday card include the $200,000 GIII Santa Anita Mathis Mile, which drew a field of seven turf milers including I'm A Gambler (Ire) (No Nay Never), who sold for a sales-topping $1,076,000 at TATIHA in October to Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal; the $200,000 GII San Gabriel S., a 1 1/8-mile turf test and traditional early prep for the historic GIII San Juan Capistrano S. at the end of the season; and the $200,000 GII San Antonio S., in years past a traditional prep for the Big 'Cap but more recently used as a stepping stone to both the $6 million G1 Dubai World Cup and $20 million G1 Saudi Cup. Last year's Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammer (Tonalist) will have European champion jockey Frankie Dettori back aboard in the 1 1/16-mile test for the first time since the pair teamed up for the win at Meydan nine months ago. Dettori, in his first and likely last winter in California before his retirement from the saddle at the end of 2023, is scheduled to ride five on the Monday card.

The post Santa Anita Kicks Off 87th Winter/Spring Season of Racing Monday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“We're pleased to be able to announce our Winter/Spring stakes schedule at this time and to once again let everyone know that our 'Ship & Win' program will be available to those out of state horses that qualify throughout the meet,” said Santa Anita Director of Racing, and Racing Secretary, Chris Merz. “We feel there is something for everyone in this stakes schedule and we are excited to offer it.  We worked diligently with trainers and other industry stakeholders to create a program that suits our horse population and caters to the needs of our owners and horsemen.”

The post Santa Anita 2022-23 Winter/Spring Stakes Schedule Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The American Oaks, won by Queen Goddess, drew 11 entries. Only one original entry was scratched from the race, and it was not surface-related.

The committee also reinstated the Grade 2 standing for the Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes, run the same day as the American Oaks. Law Professor won the race in a field of eight. One horse, Zoffarelli, scratched because of the surface change.

A third stakes run Dec. 26, the San Gabriel, will remain a Grade 3 race for 2021 after automatically being downgraded from Grade 2 when it was taken off the turf. Three of the original seven entries were scratched after the surface change, including morning line favorite Hit the Road.

The AGS Committee will meet Jan. 26-27 to assign grades for 2022. The timing is a departure from previous years when the committee would meet in early December, assessing races run after the previous year's Breeders' Cup through the current year's Breeders' Cup.

The new schedule permits the committee to assess races for the entire calendar year.

Andy Schweigardt, TOBA's senior director of industry relations and development and the secretary of the AGS Committee, said, “The committee made the change to a calendar year for its statistical measurements so that the important Grade 1 and Grade 2 races conducted after the Breeders' Cup and before Dec. 31 could be included in the grading session workbooks in a timelier manner. Under the former Breeders' Cup to Breeders' Cup statistical year, a race run Thanksgiving weekend and the stats earned by the horses in it would not be reflected in the workbooks until a year later.”

Schweigardt said the 2022 grades are expected to be announced Jan. 28 and will cover the period from Feb. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2023.

For more information on how the grading process works, click here.

The post ‘Off Turf’ American Oaks Retains Grade 1 Status; AGS Committee Alters Grading Schedule for 2022 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Originally designated as a Grade 1 on turf, the eventual graded status of the American Oaks will be decided in the coming days by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Comfortable and well within herself on the lead, Queen Goddess was challenged briefly approaching the furlong pole by her McCarthy stablemate Nicest, but Queen Goddess was simply too much on the day.

A close third in a second condition allowance going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar Nov. 25, Queen Goddess was off at 14-1 in a field of 10 sophomore fillies and paid $31.20, $12.80 and $7.00.

“She showed me a lot today,” said Hernandez. “She broke really sharp. She came to run today because out of the gate, I felt that she was trying to run to get the lead and she got comfortable there and (the other horses) let me go. She held on to the lead pretty good. Around the quarter pole when she felt the other filly (stablemate Nicest), I actually felt her too, and in listening to the crowd, I could tell the other filly was coming so we started working really hard and she just kept going, she never stopped. She's a really nice filly.

“When you watch a lot of people like today, you just feel different, you feel good and I just wanted to win a race today on opening day. I'd like to thank Michael McCarthy and the owners for the opportunity, I really appreciate it.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and TOLO Thoroughbreds, Inc., Queen Goddess a Kentucky-bred filly by Empire Maker, picked up her first stakes win today and improved her overall mark to 6-3-1-1.  With the winner's share of $180,000, she hiked her earnings to $303,080.

Off at 7-1 with John Velazquez, Irish-bred Nicest checked in 3 ¼ lengths in front of Fluffy Socks and paid $8.40 and $5.00.

With Mike Smith up, Fluffy Socks never threatened for the win but finished three lengths in front of longshot Ivy League.  Off at 6-1, Fluffy Socks paid $4.80 to show.

The disappointment in the race was heavily favored Going Global.  Off at 4-5 with Flavien Prat, she knifed her way into contention five sixteenths from home, but came up empty in the drive, finishing sixth in her first try on dirt.

Fractions on the race were 23.30, 47.62, 1:12.87 and 1:38.14.

The post Queen Goddess Leads 1-2 American Oaks Finish For McCarthy After Race Moved Off Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

“She showed me a lot today,” Hernandez said. “She broke really sharp. She came to run today because out of the gate, I felt that she was trying to run to get the lead and she got comfortable there and [the other horses] let me go. She held on to the lead pretty good. Around the quarter pole when she felt the other filly–I actually felt her too, and in listening to the crowd, I could tell the other filly was coming–so we started working really hard and she just kept going, she never stopped. She's a really nice filly.”

Of his one-two finish, McCarthy said, “I was extremely disappointed when I heard the race was coming off the turf. All four owners decided to give it a shot on the dirt and I can't thank them enough. We'll see what's next for both these horses.”

Queen Goddess graduated over the Del Mar lawn in August and added an optional claimer at the seaside oval Sept. 4. She was well beaten while trying graded company for the first time when fifth over a yielding Keeneland course in the Oct. 16 GI Queen Elizabeth II Cup. She was most recently third in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Del Mar Nov. 25.

Pedigree Notes:

Yeguada Centurion purchased Royal Story, in foal to Mendelssohn, for $125,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. Her Mendelssohn filly sold for €235,000 at this year's Arqana August sale. The winner's third dam, Just Reward (Deputy Minister), a daughter of Heavenly Prize (Seeking the Gold), produced Grade I winner Persistently (Smoke Glacken), as well as the dam of graded winner Stays in Vegas (City Zip).

Queen Goddess is the 38th graded winner for her late sire, Empire Maker, whose 2021 graded winners include GIII Bob Hope S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Messier, GIII Los Alamitos Derby winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Classier and G3 UAE Oaks winner Mnasek.

Sunday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN OAKS-GII*, $302,500, Santa Anita, 12-26, 3yo, f, 1 1/4m (off turf), 2:04.72, ft.
1–QUEEN GODDESS, 124, f, 3, by Empire Maker
1st Dam: Royal Story (SP), by Lemon Drop Kid
2nd Dam: Bauble, by Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Just Reward, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($285,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Tolo Thoroughbreds Inc; B-Tolo Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Michael W McCarthy; J-Juan J Hernandez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $303,080. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nicest (Ire), 124, f, 3, American Pharoah–Chicquita (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Michael W McCarthy. $60,000.
3–Fluffy Socks, 124, f, 3, Slumber (GB)–Breakfast Time, by Kitten's Joy. O/B-Head of Plains Partners LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown. $36,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3 1/4, 3. Odds: 14.60, 7.10, 6.60.
Also Ran: Ivy League, Single Soul (GB), Going Global (Ire), Closing Remarks, Charges Dropped, Burgoo Alley (Ire), Core Values. Scratched: Eddie's New Dream. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
*Automatically downgraded when race moved from the turf.

The post Queen Goddess Gate To Wire In American Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Trainer Michael McCarthy has four of the field's 11 entrants, and none would be a shock–especially at this distance. Katsumi Yoshida's Nicest (Ire) (American Pharoah) was third in the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks while in the care of Donnacha O'Brien, and finished fourth over yielding ground in Keeneland's GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. before being transferred to McCarthy. She was third beaten just a half-length in the 1 3/8-mile GIII Red Carpet H. Nov. 25 at Del Mar. Single Soul (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) broke her maiden going this distance in New York, and was transferred from Graham Motion to McCarthy after finishing last of five in the Red Carpet. Charges Dropped (Lemon Drop Kid), a daughter of MGSW Criminologist (Maria's Mon), has been on the board in three straight allowances against her elders. Lightly raced Queen Goddess (Empire Maker) comes off a close third in a Del Mar optional claimer Nov. 25.

The post Going Global the One to Beat, Again, in American Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post