Big Finish Nets Article Schiller Triumph For Therapist

Oak Bluff Stables' Therapist sat well off the pace and displayed a devastating turn-of-foot down the lane to secure a neck win in scoring his eighth stakes victory in Saturday's sixth running of the $100,000 Artie Schiller going one mile over the good inner turf at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Never worse than fourth in his last dozen starts, the New York-bred 5-year-old son of Freud notched his sixth stakes win against open company, scoring at such caliber in each of his years in training, dating back to his 2-year-old year in 2017, where he won the Laurel Futurity at Laurel Park and the Awad at Belmont Park.

In the money in all five of his starts this season, Therapist arrived at the Artie Schiller off a runner-up effort to graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown in the Mohawk on Oct. 24, part of Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park.

Breaking from post 8 under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, Therapist was angled to the two-path at the back of the pack as New York-bred multiple restricted stakes winner Rinaldi led the field into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in 24.43 seconds and the half in 48.50, with Grade 1-winner Valid Point tracking in second.

Castellano nudged his charge around the far turn racing five lengths behind Rinaldi, who maintained his advantage as the field hit the top of the stretch. Castellano angled Therapist four wide and found a seam in between runners and began making up significant ground. Rinaldi was then confronted by Chad Brown trainees Valid Point and Delaware in the final sixteenth, but Therapist's turn of foot was too good for them as he was first on the wire in the nick of time, stopping the clock in 1:37.16. Valid Point finished second, a head in front of Delaware.

Rounding out the field were Rinaldi, Clear Vision, Ninety One Assault, Hawkish and Ballagh Rocks.

Hembree and main track only entrants Backsideofthemoon, Sea Foam, Chilly In Charge and Compound It were scratched.

Returning $8.30 as the lukewarm favorite, Therapist upped his lifetime earnings to $653,345 through a record of 21-9-2-5, having won at five different tracks.

Trainer Christophe Clement, who also bred Therapist in partnership with the owner, expressed a strong sense of pride in conditioning such a consistent state-bred.

“He's the perfect advertisement for the New York bred program; he's very consistent and can win at a high level against open company,” Clement said. “I think he's a very honest horse. He's a lovely horse and I'm lucky to train him. I'm the co-breeder, alongside the owner, Mr. Richard Leahy [of Oak Bluff Sables].”

Castellano climbed aboard Therapist for the first time on Saturday afternoon, but said that he had been observing the horse from afar.

“I've been watching this horse and following his races,” Castellano said. “He's the type of horse that likes to come from behind and can't be too close to the pace or he'll hang. Today, it worked out perfect. I had an outside post and saved all the ground and he finished really strong. I like the way he finished today.”

Patience was key for Castellano, who said the strategy was to save ground and roll home late.

“This time, I took my time,” Castellano said. “A few horses had the speed, so I had to do the best I could to save ground on the first turn. Even out of the last turn, I was feeling really good and was watching [and waiting] for the hole. It paid off.”

Clement did not rule out one more 2020 start for Therapist.

“Therapist has been very good to us over the years. He might go for one more race this year or he could wait until next year,” Clement said. “I haven't decided yet, but we'll see how he comes out of the race.”

Live racing resumes on Sunday at the Big A with a 10-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Winter Memories for 3-year-old fillies in Race 9 at 3:47 p.m. Eastern and the $100,00 Key Cents for New York-bred juvenile fillies going six furlongs in Race 2 at 12:22 p.m. First post is 11:50 a.m.

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3,000 Wins And Counting For Joel Rosario: ‘Very Thankful To All The People Who Got Me To Where I Am’

Jockey Joel Rosario notched his 3,000th career win in Friday's first race at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., when he piloted Hit the Woah to a 1 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight. Rosario, who posted his first career win in 2006, has compiled at least 150 victories every year since 2007.

“I knew when I was a couple away, and I thought it might take a long time to get, you know how it goes,” said Rosario, who also won Saturday's opening race at the Big A aboard Halpert in a six-furlong maiden race moved off the turf. “I'm so glad it happened and thanks to all the owners and trainer for the opportunities.”

Rosario's career has included victory totals rich in both quantity and quality, encompassing 13 wins in Breeders' Cup competition and three American Classic victories, starting with Orb in the 2013 Kentucky Derby. His victory aboard Tonalist in the 2014 Belmont Stakes thwarted California Chrome's Triple Crown bid, and Rosario picked up his second career win in the “Test of the Champion” aboard Sir Winston in 2019.

In total, Rosario has accumulated 288 graded stakes wins and 91 Grade 1 scores. The most wins he tallied in a single year was 274 in 2013, which ranked him fourth among North American riders. He twice finished second in earnings, amassing more than $21.5 million in both 2013 and 2014.

“Coming from the Dominican Republic, I'm very thankful to all the people who got me to where I am today,” Rosario said. “All the support from the owners and trainers and all the good horses they've given me, I'm very pleased and very happy to get to 3,000 wins and going forward, I'm looking forward to seeing how many more I can get.”

Besides his success in Classics, the 35-year-old native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has thrived in the Breeders' Cup, including a win in the 2018 Classic with Accelerate. He has notched two wins each in the Mile [2016, Tourist; 2019, Uni], Juvenile Fillies [2018, Jaywalk; 2020, Vequist], Dirt Mile [2010, Dakota Phone; 2020, Knicks Go] Filly and Mare Turf Sprint [2015, Wavell Avenue; 2019, Covfefe] and Turf Sprint [2014, Bobby's Kitten; 2017, Stormy Liberal], as well as single scores in the Sprint [2009, Dancing in Silks] and Juvenile [2018, Game Winner].

 

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Saturday Insights: $725 Union Rags Colt Debuts at the Big A

3rd-AQU, $80K, 2yo, 8.5fT, 12:50 p.m. ET
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, William Freeman and Michael Valdes’s AVIANO (Medaglia d’Oro) debuts for trainer Todd Pletcher, who recorded his 5,000th career victory last weekend and becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2021. Out of graded stakes winner Bryan’s Jewel (Rockport Harbor), the April foal realized a $775,000 final bid from Eclipse at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling sale in Saratoga. Bryan’s Jewel, a daughter of $650,000 Fasig-Tipton buy Saphiria (Touch Gold)–trained by Pletcher–is also responsible for a Bodemeister filly ultimately named Empress Sophia, who brought $400,000 at KEESEP in 2017. Stuart Janney III’s Proven Innocent (Blame) kicks off his career for Shug McGaughey. The hombred is out of the prolific Janney mare Meghan’s Joy (A.P. Indy), dam of MGSW and MGISP Ironicus (Distorted Humor), GSW Hunting (Coronado’s Quest), MGSW On Leave (War Front), in addition to graded winners Quiet Harbor (Silver Deputy) and Norumbega (Tiznow). This is the extended family of MGSW Wild Applause (Northern Dancer), dam of Grade I scorer Eastern Echo (Damascus) and graded winners Yell (A.P. Indy), Roar (Forty Niner) and Blare of Trumpets (Fit to Fight). TJCIS PPs

5th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, 1:45 p.m. ET
DYNAMIC ONE (Union Rags) gets his start for the partnership of Repole, Phipps and St. Elias Stables while under the guidance of Todd Pletcher. A $725,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, the colt was the third highest-priced colt by his sire in 2019. He hails from the family of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account) through her daughter MGISW My Flag (Easy Goer). The Phipps family-bred is a grandson of My Flag’s champion daughter Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat), a half-sister to Miner’s Mark (Mr. Prospector) and Traditionally (Mr. Prospector). TJCIS PPs

 

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Street Sense Colt Stays Undefeated With Aqueduct Win

7th-Aqueduct, $79,540, Alw, 11-13, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:17.20, sy, 4 1/2 lengths.
FULL IMPACT (c, 3, Street Sense–Four Gifts {MGSW, $640,068}, by Even the Score) was a front-running winner going six panels at Monmouth Oct. 14 and was installed the 3-2 choice to remain undefeated. Up to prompt 9-2 chance War Tocsin (Violence) through a :22.59 opening quarter, the grey was at the pacesetter’s throat latch following a :46.47 half. Moving into a clear advantage leaving the quarter-pole, he left the tiring rival behind and drew off to an easy 4 1/2-length victory over an eager but overmatched Twelth Man (Super Saver). Blindwillie Mctell (Posse) was third. Dam Four Gifts produced a colt by Candy Ride (Arg) in 2019 and was bred back to Bernardini this season. Sales history: $140,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $73,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Gary and Mary West; B-Barry and Judith Becker (KY); T-Kelly J. Breen.

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