Tag: Belmont at the Big A

Godolphin’s Eternal Hope Completes Turf Triple European Invasion in JC Oaks

After then-Irish-based Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) took the GI Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks and French filly Elusive Princess won the GIII Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks, it was only fitting another European, Godolphin homebred Eternal Hope (Ire) (f, 3, Teofilo {Ire}–Voice of Truth {Ire}, by Dubawi {Ire}), should capture the GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks Invitational S. Saturday for her first graded/group win. Last-out Parx stakes winner Neecie Marie (Cross Traffic) was second, while Leopardstown G3 winner Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {(Ire}), sixth in the Belmont Oaks behind Aspen Grove, finished third.

Sporting that distinctive Godolphin blue, Eternal Hope dismissed her usual in-touch style and surprised with a trailing trip. She bided her time at the very back of the pack while Stephanie's Charm (Distorted Humor), intent on the lead, opened up by as many as 15 lengths through early fractions of :24.12 and :47.52. After the mile marker passed in 1:38.71, the field began reeling in the frontrunner, but it was Eternal Hope who caught the eye, kicking it into gear and sprouting wings down the center of the lane to gut out a last-strides win in the Belmont at the Big A feature. The winning margin may have been only a neck, but it didn't tell the whole tale with Eternal Hope's wide and fast charge from as many as 25 lengths back.

“It wasn't the plan to be that far back, but thankfully we have a world class jockey like Jamie [Spencer] on her and we were able to go to 'Plan B' or 'C' and ride a race from there,” said Chris Connett, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby. “Ideally, we'd be in the box seat right off the pace and start making a run a little earlier. But she was a bit tardy and Jamie lost a bit of ground going wide, but he needed to get her rolling because it's quite sharp around here. When she straightened up and leveled out, she ran to the line so that was good.

“Very happy to get the win on the board. Jamie came back and said the ground is a bit on the quick side for her, so it was nice that she was able to put forth a performance on ground that's probably not ideal for her.”

Fresh off a third-place finish Aug. 20 in the G2 Sumbe Prix Alec Head at Deauville, Eternal Hope never got going in Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB})'s win in the GI Epsom Oaks. She had won two in a row on the synthetic earlier this year in England, including the Fitzdares Oaks Trial Fillies S. Connett said she is scheduled to travel back to Appleby's yard early in the week, with no plans regarding a next start yet set.

 

Pedigree Notes:

Kildangan Stud's Teofilo (Ire) may be one of several top-class Galileo (Ire) sire sons across the pond, but he is making a name for himself in America. In addition to Eternal Hope, he has also sired his share of U.S. winners, topped by 2022 GI Caesars Saratoga Derby and GIII Caesars Jockey Club Derby winner Nations Pride (Ire). Overall, Teofilo counts 50 graded/group winners among his 93 Northern Hemisphere-foaled black-type winners.

Eternal Hope is one of seven of Teofilo's stakes winners out of a Dubawi (Ire) mare. Dubawi, one of Europe's elite stallions, has 63 black-type winners out of his daughters. Interestingly, Teofilo also has one stakes winner out a mare by Dubawi's grandsire, Seeking the Gold, but none out of any Dubai Millennium (GB) mares. The latter's daughters are incredibly scant due to his tragic and abbreviated single season at stud.

Voice of Truth (Ire), the Jockey Club Oaks winner's dam, was a €35,000 purchase at the 2021 Goffs November sale while carrying a full-sister to Eternal Hope, who was a yearling at the time. Gary Mullins signed the ticket. The mare delivered an Australia (GB) colt for Mullins Feb. 24. Her 2-year-old filly, Word's Out (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), has not been sold publicly by Godolphin. Voice of Truth is a half to French G1SW Rio de la Plata (Rahy) and Argentinean G1SW El Expresivo (Arg) (Candy Stripes).

Saturday, Belmont The Big A
FASIG-TIPTON JOCKEY CLUB OAKS INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $350,000, Belmont The Big A, 9-16, 3yo, f, 1 3/8mT, 2:16.47, fm.
1–ETERNAL HOPE (IRE), 122, f, 3, by Teofilo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Voice of Truth (Ire), by Dubawi (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Express Way (Arg), by Ahmad (Arg)
                3rd Dam: Escaline, by Hawk II (Brz)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charles
Appleby; J-Jamie P. Spencer. $192,500. Lifetime Record:
6-3-0-2, $248,183. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Neecie Marie, 122, f, 3, Cross Traffic–Lode Lady, by Posse.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 Ylg '21 EASOCT).
O-Michael Milam; B-Jon A Marshall (PA); T-Robert E. Reid, Jr.
$70,000.
3–Speirling Beag (Ire), 122, f, 3, Mastercraftsman
(Ire)–Starscape (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€300,000 2yo '22
ARQDEC). O-Walmac Farm, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck)
and Haras d'Etreham; B-Ennistown Stud (IRE); T-H. Graham
Motion. $42,000.
Margins: NK, 1, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 14.70, 6.80.
Also Ran: Highland Grace, Quarrel, Stephanie's Charm, Last Call.

Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Back At Woodbine, Derby-Oaks Roads Begin At Churchill

Racing roads converge this Saturday. With a little over a month left before horses and their connections officially point to Santa Anita, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series returns to Woodbine Racetrack. Featured are three 'Win and You're In' chances, including the GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

Meanwhile, at Churchill Downs, the prep seasons officially open for 2-year-old colts and fillies, who are seeking to bank points for next May's 150th editions of the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks.

There is much to get to with Belmont at the Big A, Pimlico and Hastings, all carding graded races as well.

Appleby Looks to Repeat in Woodbine Mile

Last year, trainer Charlie Appleby sent MGISW Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to Toronto for the Woodbine Mile and the now-retired globetrotter with William Buick aboard brought home the prize en route to another win in the Breeders' Cup.

With a trip to the FanDuel GI Breeders' Cup Mile on the line, this time around the Godolphin conditioner ships in multiple-group winner Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was well-beaten last March on the World Cup undercard in the G1 Dubai Turf, but won the G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile S. by four lengths at Ascot July 15.

“He has natural pace and travels well,” said Charlie Appleby. “The E.P. Taylor is a nice conventional track which suits him. It is a fair track with a nice straight that gives you a chance.”

The 5-year-old morning-line favorite will face five others, including MGSW War Bomber (Ire) (War Front), whose stalking trip led to a key victory in the Aug. 19 running of the GII King Edward S. That race saw 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Maker's Mark Mile hero Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) run fourth, which was the 6-year-old's first attempt since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf.

Also scheduled, trainer Mark Casse has almost half of the field looking for a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in the GI bet365 Summer S. Out of his entries, My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) was certainly eye-catching when he won against restricted company by 14 lengths in the Simcoe S. over the Tapeta at Woodbine Aug. 27. The gray upstart will do battle with Catch a Glimpse S. victor Airosa (Uncle Mo), who is looking to take on the boys.

The fillies will get their chance for a trip to Santa Anita and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Saturday in the GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. Airosa could run in this spot, but it is an incredibly open race with Appleby's import Dazzling Star (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) present and the Christophe Clement-trained Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who broke her maiden by a neck Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

“We liked this horse from day one,” said Miguel Clement, son and assistant to the trainer. “She'd been working well on the grass, and we were actually quite confident in her. She's a gutsy little filly, with tactical speed and a turn of foot that makes her very dangerous.”

Switching to the Tapeta, Woodbine rounds out their graded races with the GIII Vigil S. Seven sprinters will try to derail the early speed of Patches O'Houlihan (Reload), who stepped up to win the GIII Bold Venture S. in Toronto Aug. 20.

The Roads Begins Where It Ends at Churchill

Less than nine months from now, the 150th GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks will be crowned. The roads start at Churchill Downs on Saturday as points of 10-5-3-2-1 will be distributed to the top five finishers.

For the colts, the GIII Iroquois S. includes Winchell Thoroughbred's Risk It (Gun Runner), who sprinted home a winner at first asking Aug. 19 at Saratoga for trainer Steve Asmussen. The morning-line favorite will try to outrun WinStar and Siena Farm's Gettysburg Address (Constitution), who won in his first career race for trainer Brad Cox at Ellis Park Aug. 6.

As for the fillies, their race is no-less competitive as nine will be sent on their way in the GIII Pocahontas S. V V's Dream (Mitole) makes her return to the races after garnering 'TDN Rising Star' honors when she debuted for Kenny McPeek back in mid-May at Churchill Downs. The gray filly was second in her last effort to the undefeated GISW Brightwork (Outwork) at Ellis July 2 in the Debutante S. Facing her will be a number of contenders on the make, including SW Hot Beach (Omaha Beach), Empire Island (Classic Empire) and Peignoir (Mendelssohn).

Rounding out the first Saturday of racing at Churchill's September meet is the GIII Locust Grove S. Out of these older females, the two-turn test welcomes back GISW and MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). The Stonestreet homebred will once again do battle with the likes of MGSW Search Results (Flatter) and GISW A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

Grade III Tests at BAQ, Pimlico and Hastings

Swinging up to Aqueduct for the BAQ meet that just opened, we find the final leg of the Turf Triple Series for the fillies in the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational.

Charlie Appleby will look to make his presence felt here too when he sends out Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Last seen running third Aug. 20 at Deauville in the G2 Prix Alec Head S, she will match wits with Graham Motion trainee Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was second by a nose at Laurel Park Aug. 13 in the Searching S.

Speaking of racing in Maryland, Pimlico's short September meet continues and featured on Saturday is the GIII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup S., which includes MSP Smokin' T (War Front), GSP Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) and SW King Vega (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

Wrapping up the graded day of racing, Hastings Racecourse will put on the GIII British Columbia Derby. Morning-line favorite SW Sunbird (Orb) will look to rebound after the bay gelding ran fifth in the GIII Canadian Derby.

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Cody’s Wish Among Godolphin Team Plans Outlined

Godolphin's Cody's Wish (Curlin), third in the nine-furlong GI Whitney Aug. 5 at Saratoga, is expected to return to one-turn racing this fall at the Belmont at the Big A meet, according to Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock for Godolphin.

A potential landing spot for the 5-year-old could be the seven-furlong GII Vosburgh S. for 3-year-olds Sept. 30, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita.

Banahan indicated that the Vosburgh could also be used as a steppingstone to the GI Dirt Mile, which he won last year by a head over Cyberknife.

“We were hoping he would run better in the Whitney and it was a great opportunity to figure it out,” said Banahan. “So, we took our chance and obviously it didn't work out as well as we'd hoped for. But, he's come out of the race well and we'll regroup and try and to make him a repeat winner in the Dirt Mile. I think we'll keep him in New York and potentially run him in the Vosburgh.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the homebred raced beyond one mile for the first time since July 2021 in the Whitney and attempted his usual closing kick under regular pilot Junior Alvarado, but finished 10 lengths back of the victorious White Abarrio. That ended a six-race win streak that included the Dirt Mile, GI Churchill Downs S., GI Metropolitan H. and last year's GI Forego S.

A winner for Godolphin on the Whitney Day undercard in a tragedy-marred renewal of the GI Test S., Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) may mark her return in Parx Racing's GI Cotillion S. Sept. 23.

“She came out of the race very well and we found out in the race that the seven-furlong pace was a little too fast for her,” said Banahan. “She stayed on well in the race and came out of it well. Nothing is set in stone yet and we're guided by the filly, but we'll have a look at the Cotillion. It's a significant race and it's the last race at a distance for the 3-year-old fillies.”

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous cut back from a win in the one-turn 1 1/16-mile GI Acorn S. in June at Belmont and rallied strongly from four lengths off the pace in the Test to put her head down over Clearly Unhinged.

Banahan added that Godolphin plans to send out both Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) and Caramel Swirl (Union Rags) in the GI Ballerina H. Aug. 26, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Matareya, a dual Grade I-winner trained by Brad Cox, was last seen finishing third in the GIII Chicago S. at Ellis Park, while Caramel Swirl, trained by Mott, has not been seen since finishing third in the GII Bed o' Roses S. June 17 at Belmont.

“Matareya is in good shape and Brad is very happy with where she is at the moment,” said Banahan. “Caramel Swirl will probably run in there as well, so we'll see if one of them can win it.”

 

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Belmont at Big A Fall Meet Offering 40 Stakes Worth $8.8M

The Belmont at the Big A Fall Meet will offer 40 added-money events worth nearly $8.8 million, officials from the New York Racing Association announced Saturday.

Due to ongoing capital improvements at Belmont Park, the fall meeting will be staged for the second straight season at Aqueduct from Thursday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Oct. 29, and will feature three Grade I events and a half-dozen 'Win and You're In' qualifiers in a variety of Breeders' Cup divisions.

The GIII Fasig-Tipton Jockey Club Oaks over 11 furlongs on turf, the final leg of the Fasig-Tipton Fillies Turf Triple, kicks off the stakes action Saturday, Sept. 16, and the program scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30 will feature four graded events, highlighted by the $500,000 GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at a mile and four panels on the grass. That card also includes the GII Woodward S., the GII Gallant Bloom S. and the GII Vosburgh S., offering the winner a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint. An additional pair of qualifiers are set for Sunday, Oct. 1, both for the juvenile set at 8 1/2 furlongs on turf, the GII Miss Grillo S. for fillies and the GII Pilgrim S. for the boys.

The 'Win and You're In' action continues Saturday, Oct. 7, with the running of the $500,000 GI Champagne S., a Breeders' Cup Juvenile prep, and the filly counterpart, the $400,000 GI Frizette S. The card also includes the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint, the GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. and the GIII Jockey Club Derby, shortened from a mile and a half to a mile and three-eighths. The Sunday, Oct. 8, program features the last of the Breeders' Cup qualifiers, the GIII Futurity S., a feeder into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, as well as the GII Beldame S. and the GIII Matron S.

The one-mile GII Kelso S. has been renamed the Forty Niner S. and will offer the top three finishers all-expenses paid berths into the GI Cigar Mile H. during the Aqueduct fall meeting. The Oct. 28 card also includes the GII Mother Goose S., previously held during the spring/summer meet at Belmont, the Listed Awad S. and the Listed Pumpkin Pie S.

The Belmont at the Big A meeting concludes with Empire Showcase Day, the richest events of which are the Empire Classic and Empire Distaff, each worth $250,000.

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