Tag: barbara minshall

Webslinger A Marvel On Breeders’ Cup Undercard, Woodbine Cards Saturday Graded Races Too

Whether digital or the old school paper variety, it is safe to say that most of the forms will be turned to the World Championship races. However, it should be noted that Saturday does sport some graded stakes action that you will not want to miss from both Santa Anita Park and Woodbine Racetrack.

'The Great Race Place' card gets the Breeders' Cup engines warmed with the GII Twilight Derby for 3-year-olds over the turf. If you are interested in how the course sets up for what's to come, then this nine furlong event should provide some interesting indicators.

Probably tops on many a list as he cannonballs in from the East Coast is DJ Stable's Webslinger (Constitution). The bay gelding trained by Mark Casse has had a banner campaign this year with highlights coming when he won the GII American Turf S. on the Derby undercard and in his last race when he lost by a head in the GI Saratoga Derby Aug. 5. His regular rider Javier Castellano is aboard and you can bet that this one will sense the wire late in the game.

Also present is the Charlie Appleby trainee Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). The first-time gelding developed some solid class after he ran second in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and he will be one to watch if William Buick can find a way to get him into a free running lane.

An intriguing entry here is the presence of GI Kentucky Derby alum Reincarnate (Good Magic). Out of a Scat Daddy mare with strong Tapeta and turf experience, the Bob Baffert trainee actually began his juvenile career on the grass when he finished second at both Del Mar and Santa Anita. The gray colt's victory in the GIII Sham S. set him on the dirt road, but he returns to what might be his surface of choice.

The graded action doesn't end there because Woodbine has a pair of 2-year-old races for males and females. First up are the colts going 1 1/16th on the Tapeta in the GIII Grey S. Certainly Piper's Factor (The Factor) appears to be incredibly fleet of foot, especially if he can replicate the 82 Beyer that he posted when he broke his maiden by two lengths at second asking in Toronto Sept. 10.

Tunechi | Michael Burns

Others that will press the pace include Pipit (Quality Road), who dead heated for second Oct. 8 in the Algonquin S. at Woodbine, and one of two Barbara Minshall trainees led by Tunechi (Outwork), who finished fourth in the GI Summer S. behind Breeders' Cup bound Carson's Run (Cupid).

“I think two turns is right up his alley,” said Minshall of Tunechi who was bred in Kentucky by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding. “He definitely acted like a two-turn horse from the day I got him. He's not mean, but you just have to watch yourself around him because he's a big, good-feeling colt.”

Switching over to the fillies who are also traveling the same distance, the GIII Mazarine S. could very well go to Tripolina (Constitution), who is a deserving favorite after she won the Display S. Oct. 15 at Woodbine against the boys in her second career start.

Standing in her way are the second and third place runners from the Oct. 15 running of the Glorious Song S. in Mystic Lake (Mo Town) for Saffie Joseph and Witwatersrand (Connect) for Mark Casse.

The post Webslinger A Marvel On Breeders’ Cup Undercard, Woodbine Cards Saturday Graded Races Too appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Graded Stakes Mark Saratoga Opening Weekend

How's your Saratoga opening weekend stakes knowledge?

You probably already knew that the Sanford S. is the only race that the legendary Man o' War ever lost. Or that over a five-year span in the '60s, the great Kelso amassed a staggering record of 63-39-12-2. You also knew that the late '80s warrior Quick Call, who lived to the ripe old age of 35, was denied a third consecutive GII Forego H. by a nose to Lay Down.

And if you are pretty sharp, then you have it down pat that the inaugural running of the Diana S. occurred the same year–1939– that Hitler invaded Poland, which was the last time mounted cavalry saw action against tanks.

Saratoga is dripping with history–it's literally in the water. The track's storied past reminds us of Max Weber's warning that, “Specialists without spirit, sensualists without heart; this nullity imagines that it has attained a level of civilization never before achieved.” In other words, we need the magic to keep us anchored, as we bob along in a digital sea of information.

With the historical juices sufficiently percolating, here's a rundown of the weekend graded action.

GI Diana S. (Saturday)
Besides trainer Charlie Appleby in 2021, no one has been able to dethrone Chad Brown in this Grade I turf event since 2016. The likelihood of another win for Brown appears imminent, were it not for the presence of Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}).

Marketsegmentation | Sarah Andrew

Trained by Mark Casse, the 5-year-old mare is a MGSW who is making her first trip down from Woodbine. “She's coming back a little quick, but I'm going with the old Allen Jerkens line, 'When they're going good, run 'em,'” Casse said.

Out of Brown's four entries, Peter Brant's defending champ and 'TDN Rising Star' In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) looks best, but Marketsegmentation (American Pharoah), a 4-year-old filly owned by Klaravich Stables, is coming off a signature win June 9 in the GI New York S. at Belmont Park.

GIII Kelso S. (Saturday)
Shortening up over the grass, an experienced group of 4-year-olds and up assemble, with 'TDN Rising Star' and GISW Annapolis (War Front) serving as the standout. The Bass Stables homebred, who was second in last year's GI Saratoga Derby Invitational, won the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. at Keeneland in October en route to a GI Breeders' Cup Mile berth.

Standing in his way is the accomplished grass miler Big Everest (GB) (The Gurkha {Ire}). Making his first graded stakes start, the 5-year-old gelding has won his last six out of seven starts.

“He was the kind of horse that, early on, he fought with the jockey,” said Big Everest's co-owner Dean Reeves. “We learned over time that he was fighting with the jockey because he had speed and wanted to go to the front. So, once we got out of his way and once he was gelded, he doesn't back up and they don't have enough to catch him.”

Also entered is the well-traveled fan-favorite, MGISW Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), whose style for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott makes him extremely dangerous towards the wire.

GIII Sanford S. (Saturday)
Rounding out the Saturday graded action is this 2-year-old NYRA series test, which has drawn 10. Trainer Steve Asmussen watched Gold Sweep (Speightstown) romp home by nine lengths as he posted a 91 Beyer figure in the Tremont S. June 11 at Belmont Park. The Hall of Fame trainer has never won the Sanford.

Others of note include Market Street (Street Sense), trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who broke his maiden in front-running fashion over the slop by 3 3/4 lengths June 29 at Ellis Park. He will be joined by Triple Trea (Bolt d'Oro). The dark bay colt debuted a winner for Barbara Minshall with a late move in early June on Woodbine's Tapeta.

“He's really nice,” Minshall said. “He's very rideable and it looks like there's a lot of speed in the race. Hopefully, he makes his big run and can get the job done. There's some really nice horses in there–the Asmussen horse [Gold Sweep] looks really tough–but he's coming into it in good order.”

GIII Quick Call S. (Sunday)

No Nay Hudson | Coady Photography

The final graded stakes of the weekend on Sunday afternoon pits 3-year-old turf sprinters against one another. Wesley Ward has two entered in this spot with No Nay Hudson (Ire) (No Nay Never), winner last out of the May 13 William Walker S. at Churchill Downs, and Eye Witness (City of Light), a $650,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase who won the Paradise Creek S. at Belmont Park May 20.

“He's [No Nay Hudson] one we're just trying to get to settle. My main exercise rider, Julio Garcia, has got the horse to relax,” Ward said. “We're doing some nice, easy slow works and he's got a couple races in him now. Fitness isn't an issue. It's just trying to get his mind to where we can get him to settle. He's at Saratoga now and ready to go.”

Facing this pair is Gaslight Dancer (City of Light). The Mike Maker trainee should not be overlooked after winning the Palisades S. at Keeneland in April and the bay colt did finish third behind No Nay Hudson in the William Walker.

The post Graded Stakes Mark Saratoga Opening Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Not This Time Filly Beats Boys, Breaks Track Record in Rising Star Romp

Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford's Botta Swing (Not This Time–Lady of the Glen, by Purim), taking on the boys while looking to carry her sire's hot streak into the juvenile ranks, came out running Sunday, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors while lowering Woodbine's synthetic track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in the process.

Away in midpack and then scrubbed on to take over with swift strides entering the bend, the chestnut was two clear and cruising midway on the turn as well-backed Ninetyfour Expos (Outwork) was asked to narrow the gap with Wesley Ward trainee Red Hot Rod (Mendelssohn) also in pursuit. Those colts appeared to make contact at the head of the lane, but Botta Swing continued along by herself under confident Patrick Husbands handling. The veteran pilot kept her honest from there, and Botta Swing scampered away four lengths to the good. Red Hot Rod bested Ninetyfour Expos in the battle for second.

The winner's final time of :50.94 bested the previous listed track record of :51 flat earned in 2014 by debut winner and future multiple stakes winner Seffeara (Old Forester). That runner's effort came over Woodbine's old Polytrack surface, which was replaced by Tapeta in 2016.

Hoolie Racing Stable and Botta Swing's conditioner Barbara Minshall also campaigned the brilliantly precocious Dream It Is (Shackleford), a similarly sharp late May debut winner here in 2017 who added the My Dear S. that June before romping by nine lengths in Saratoga's GIII Schuylerville S.

Botta Swing, whose sire will be represented by two very live chances in next Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby, was just a $5,200 KEEJAN '20 in utero purchase. Her dam, who hit the board but never earned her diploma in four maiden claiming attempts routing on the grass, produced an Oscar Performance colt Apr. 11. Botta Swing's second dam was a full to GISW Personal Business, and her fourth dam was a full to none other than Secretariat.

2nd-Woodbine, C$97,600, Msw, 5-1, 2yo, 4 1/2f (AWT), :50.94, ft (NTR), 4 lengths.
BOTTA SWING, f, 2, Not This Time
                1st Dam: Lady of the Glen, by Purim
                2nd Dam: Secret Pact, by Private Account
                3rd Dam: Heavenly Match, by Gallant Romeo
Sales history: $48,000 RNA Ylg '21 FTKFEB; $160,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $48,088. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Hoolie Racing Stable, LLC & Bruce Lunsford; B-Kestrel Stud LLC (ON); T-Barbara J. Minshall.

 

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British Royalty Crowned The Winner Of Breeders’ Stakes

It was coronation day for British Royalty, who closed out the OLG Canadian Triple Crown with an impressive triumph in the 130th running of the $401,600 Breeders' Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.

A bay son of English Channel, British Royalty, who had been claimed away from trainer and co-owner Barb Minshall this summer, made his Triple Crown series debut a successful one, sprinting away from his rivals with ease to win the race for Canadian-foaled three-year-olds.

Facing a field that included Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct, Plate runner-up Riptide Rock, Prince of Wales Stakes champ Haddassah, and a host of other talented turf types, British Royalty had his work cut out for him.

On an overcast day at the Toronto oval, he came shining through with a top-shelf score.

It was Safe Conduct who seized control of the 1 ½-mile grass marathon, as Haddassah, in second, and Keep Grinding, in third, kept close tabs on the leader, while Patrick Husbands had British Royalty comfortably settled in seventh spot through an opening quarter in :25.00.

The Plate winner continued to call the shots through a half-mile reached in :51.53 as Collective Force, now second, shadowed the pacesetter's every move. Husbands guided British Royalty into sixth spot, as the gelding and Riptide Rock started to gain momentum on the frontrunners.

Safe Conduct soon found himself under siege from both sides, as Collective Force battled on gamely, and British Royalty found another gear, blasting to the lead and holding a one-length advantage on a surging Riptide Rock at Robert Geller's stretch call reached in 2:09.05.

At the wire, British Royalty was a convincing and deserving four-length victor.

Riptide Rock and Collective Force, second and third respectively, were well ahead of their nearest rivals. Harlan Estate was fourth in the race contested over yielding ground. The final time was 2:34.00.

Sent off at 24-1, British Royalty returned $51.20 for the win, marking his second victory in nine career starts.

For Minshall, who lost the horse to a claim on July 11 and then claimed him back on July 24, the win was one of the most rewarding of her career.

“I was looking to win a race, and I took a chance, and I was very upset with myself for taking such a chance,” recalled the champion conditioner, who co-owns the horse with Bruce Lunsford. “And lo and behold, the horse is back in the next time, he runs two weeks later, and I couldn't get in there fast enough to get him back. I knew I made a huge mistake. So, I'm really happy.”

Husbands, who won the 2003 Canadian Triple Crown with Wando, and recorded his fifth Breeders' Stakes title, was understandably thrilled to partner with the Richard Lister-bred sophomore for the first time.

“My agent (Leroy Trotman) came to my house, and he said to me, 'I got a ride for you, but will you look at the form?' I said, 'Leroy, that's what I pay you for. I want to get your opinion.' He said that Barb (Minshall) said you can come and work the horse and if you don't like it, she won't be mad at you. I came and breezed the horse, about 20 minutes later my agent asked me how the horse went. I said please don't tell Barbie, but this horse is light. I've ridden him the last two breezes, and he went twice on softer turf, and he ran (today) the way I expected he would run.”

Emma-Jayne Wilson, aboard Safe Conduct, had high praise for the eighth-place finisher.

“I mean, he's fantastic. I followed him since last year. Obviously, the trainer asked about me about riding him when he was a two-year-old. I've been keeping close tabs on him ever since. So, I mean kudos and congratulations for winning the (Queen's) Plate. I was hoping I could get them another jewel of the crown, but it wasn't our day to day.”

The Breeders' win marked an outstanding weekend for Lunsford, whose homebred Art Collector took yesterday's Grade 1 Woodward at Belmont.

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