aqueduct | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rotknee A New Stakes Winner for Runhappy in Damon Runyon

The progressive Rotknee (Runhappy) took his current winning streak to three, running out an easy winner of Sunday's Damon Runyon S. at the Big A.

Drawn widest in a field of five, the homebred showed the best early speed and angled over to the fence in the opening furlong, forcing odds-on Best Idea (Honor Code) to be checked for half a stride. Going strongly on the engine beneath Manny Franco, Rotknee turned them in a couple of lengths to the good and kept on gamely to become the seventh stakes winner for his second-crop sire (by Super Saver).

Runner-up on debut in the Belmont mud July 9, the Butler homebred went pillar to post to graduate at Saratoga the following month before hitting the shelf. The dark bay picked up where he left off with a three-length defeat of entry-level state-bred allowance foes Feb. 11.

William Butler acquired Rotknee's second dam for $65,000 at the 2005 OBS April Sale and raced her to six wins and a pair of New York-bred stakes placings for earnings of nearly $241,000. Mama Theresa was bred by former TDN publisher Barry Weisbord and Peggy Santulli and is a daughter of Nothing Special, a stakes winner and Grade II-placed galloper for Weisbord who also produced GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and multiple Empire Classic S. hero Haynesfield (Speightstown).

In Spite of Mama is the dam of Rotknee's 2-year-old half-brother Mama's Gold (Bolt d'Oro), a yearling filly by Audible and was most recently bred to War of Will. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

DAMON RUNYON S., $97,000, Aqueduct, 3-13, (S), 3yo, 7f, 1:27.06, ft.
1–ROTKNEE, 122, c, 3, by Runhappy
1st Dam: In Spite of Mama, by Speightstown
2nd Dam: Mama Theresa, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Nothing Special, by Tejabo
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-William J Butler (NY); T-Michael J Maker; J-Manuel Franco. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $156,350.
2–Agility, 120, c, 3, Practical Joke–Singing Doe, by Running Stag. ($160,000 Wlg '19 FTNMIX). O-Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Hidden Lake Farm LLC, 3C Thoroughbreds, West Point Thoroughreds, et al (NY); T-Jorge R Abreu. $20,000.
3–G Munning, 120, c, 3, Munnings–To the Nines, by Super Saver. ($50,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $90,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $275,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. O-Flanagan Racing; B-Clark Brewster & Gold Square LLC (NY); T-John C Kimmel. $12,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 5 3/4, NO. Odds: 2.30, 5.40, 13.40.
Also Ran: Best Idea, Mister Larry.

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East Coast Weather Cancellations Due To Storm

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) canceled Saturday's live racing program at Aqueduct Racetrack due to a powerful winter storm forecast that was set to impact the New York City metropolitan area throughout the day.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a winter weather advisory for the downstate region and the NWS forecast, which aligns with NYRA's independent weather services, called for accumulating snow with sustained high winds and gusts up to 50 mph.

Saturday's featured $100,000 Correction S. will be brought back for Saturday, Mar. 19. Aqueduct was to remain open for simulcasting, while live racing is expected to resume Sunday, Mar. 13 with a nine-race card featuring the $100,000 Damon Runyon. First post on Sunday is 1:20 p.m. ET.

Similar conditions farther south also forced the cancellation of live racing at Laurel Park outside of Baltimore. Full-card simulcasting remained open and live racing is set to resume there Sunday at 12:40 p.m. ET with nine races programmed.

The post East Coast Weather Cancellations Due To Storm appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Classic Empire’s Morello Remains Unbeaten in Gotham

The unbeaten Morello (Classic Empire) pressed and pounced his way to a dazzling 4 1/2-length victory in Saturday's one-turn mile GIII Gotham S. at the Big A.

Drawn wide in post nine, the even-money favorite Morello, a last out five-length winner of the local Jimmy Winkfield S. Feb. 6, was bumped hard at the start. Seemingly undeterred, he raced under a nice hold while a stalking second behind fellow two-for-two Dean's List (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :23.47. He cruised up alongside the pacesetter approaching the quarter pole and set sail for the wire from there to win going away over that rival while earning 50 qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby. California invader Rockefeller (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of this track's GIII Nashua S. Nov. 7 and a runner-up in the GIII Sham S. at Santa Anita Jan. 1, was last of 10 after hitting the gate and stumbling at the start.

Morello was previously a sharp debut winner over this course Nov. 27.

“He got banged around coming out of there and [Rockefeller] came over on top of him, but he just overcomes it like always,” said Toby Sheets, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen. “He just gets out and runs easy. He hasn't been hit by the stick yet.”

On being able to stretch out to two turns, Sheets added, “I don't see why not. He definitely acts like it.”

Winning co-owner Dave Lyon of Blue Lion Thoroughbreds added, “Galloping past the wire, the way he did it, we're starting to think about the first Saturday in May at this point. I'll let Toby and Steve make that decision but this group–you saw us celebrating–we're thinking about that.”

He continued, “We're dreaming now. This is a game changer, today. We'll book some hotels and cancel them if we have to. We think we might have a Derby horse here.”

Pedigree Notes:

Morello, the third-highest Classic Empire 2-year-old sold at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale when he brought $250,000 after working a furlong in :10 1/5, is out of a mare who once RNA'd for $1,500. Stop the Wedding eventually sold in 2020 at Keeneland January for $11,000 to Robert Tillyer–co-breeder of Morello–while in foal to Cairo Prince. Her offspring at the sales have been all over the place, with some RNA'ing for the low four figures, and another bringing $525,000 as a juvenile. Morello is her lone stakes winner to date. She's got two fillies in the pipeline–a 2-year-old by Cairo Prince and a yearling by Paynter–and was bred back to Classic Empire for 2022. Stop the Wedding is a half-sister to the dam of MGISP Social Inclusion, who is by Pioneerof the Nile, Classic Empire's sire.

Coolmore America stallion and sophomore sire Classic Empire gets his first graded winner with Morello's Gotham and he almost made it a double, with his Classy Edition finishing second in the GII Davona Dale S. earlier Saturday. Overall, the former champion 2-year-old has three black-type winners and another five stakes performers. Interestingly, both Morello and Classy Edition are out of A.P. Indy-line mares, with Morello's damsire Congrats the broodmare sire of an additional 15 stakes winners, including 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil).

GOTHAM S.-GIII, $300,000, Aqueduct, 3-5, 3yo, 1m, 1:39.28, ft.
1–MORELLO, 120, c, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Stop the Wedding, by Congrats
2nd Dam: Wedding Jitters, by Runaway Groom
3rd Dam: Classy Tricks, by Hold Your Tricks
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($140,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $250,000 2yo '21 EASMAY). O-Blue Lion Thoroughbreds, Taylor, Craig and Diamond T Racing; B-Robert B. Tillyer & Dr. Chet Blackey (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Jose Lezcano. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $264,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Dean's List, 118, c, 3, Speightstown–Mildly Offensive, by Sharp Humor. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($220,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-WinStar Farm LLC and Siena Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $60,000.
3–Golden Code, 118, c, 3, Honor Code–Jb's Golden Regret, by Banker's Gold. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($95,000 Wlg '19 FTKNOV). O-Calumet Farm; B-Barry R. Ostrager (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 4HF, 1, HD. Odds: 1.00, 5.50, 27.50.
Also Ran: Life Is Great, Glider, Runninsonofagun, Fromanothamutha, Noneedtoworry, Bold Journey, Rockefeller.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Firing Line Filly First in Busher

BUSHER INVITATIONAL S., $242,500, Aqueduct, 3-5, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:39.65, ft.
1–VENTI VALENTINE, 118, f, 3, by Firing Line
                1st Dam: Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Gayla, by Lord Gaylord
                3rd Dam: La Chela (Arg), by Utopico (Arg)
O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable & Parkland Thoroughbreds;
B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge
Abreu; J-Manuel Franco. $137,500. Lifetime Record:

4-3-1-0, $366,250. *1/2 to Espresso Shot (Mission Impazible),
MSW, $516,625.
2–Shotgun Hottie, 120, f, 3, Gun Runner–Re Entry, by Malibu
Moon. ($45,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Omar Aldabbagh & Jeff
Ganje; B-Vincent Colbert (KY); T-William E. Morey. $50,000.
3–Magic Circle, 120, f, 3, Kantharos–Magic Humor, by Distorted
Humor. ($50,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $110,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-J.W. Singer LLC; B-Manitou Farm, LLC (KY); T-Rudy R.
Rodriguez. $30,000.
Margins: 7, 3/4, 3 3/4. Odds: 5.30, 22.90, 4.80.
Also Ran: Radio Days, Sterling Silver. Scratched: Morning Matcha.

Venti Valentine stormed to an authoritative victory in the Busher S. at Aqueduct Saturday. The chestnut filly, sent off at 5-1, tracked the pace early, but was shuffled back in traffic down the backstretch. She ranged up three wide into the final bend and collared pacesetting Magic Circle in upper stretch before storming clear.
“I knew the pace wasn't going to be that fast,” said winning rider Manny Franco. “So I wanted to come out running. I saw Dylan [Davis aboard Radio Days] went with Kendrick [Carmouche aboard Magic Circle] and I was able to go around them, and after that I was comfortable where I was. I was in the middle in the stretch, so I was worried about somebody coming from the outside, but I didn't see anyone. She's a nice filly. She's improving every time she runs.”

Venti Valentine opened her career with a narrow victory over state-bred foes at Belmont last September and added a victory in the Oct. 30 Maid of the Mist S. before suffering the first loss of her career when a neck short of Nest (Curlin) when second in the Dec. 4 GII Demoiselle S.

“I was a little concerned about her because we missed two breezes with her,” admitted winning trainer Jorge Abreu. “She got sick on me after we breezed her the first time. She spiked a temperate of 102 and I didn't breeze her. She really came into the race with four breezes.

Abreu continued, “I knew this filly was going to run a good race. I'm not going to lie, I didn't know she was going to win that easy. She ran a really good race. She's been a classy horse since Day One. She's been showing that she has a lot of determination and a lot of talent. She showed it today.”

Venti Valentine is one of two stakes winners for Firing Line, who has also been represented by Bowman's Mill S. winner and GII Saratoga Special third-place finisher Nakatomi.

Glory Gold, who was purchased by Final Furlong Racing for $13,000 while carrying the winner at the 2018 Keeneland Noveber sale, produced a filly by Omaha Beach last year. The filly sold for $220,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. The mare was bred back to Authentic. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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