Tag: belmont park

Making Waves: Game, Set, Match

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of Set Piece in the GIII Arlington S. at Churchill Downs in June.

 

Another Graded Victory For Juddmonte Veteran

Decorated 7-year-old Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}) won the Arlington S. at Churchill Downs earlier this month for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms and trainer Brad Cox (video).

The newly minted millionaire, who was runner-up in the 2021 GI Fourstardave H., was taking his fourth graded event. A half-brother to dual stakes winner and two-time Group 3 runner-up Alocasia (GB) (Kingman {GB}), the gelding's latest half-sibling is a yearling Kingman filly. From the extended family of Group 1 winners Elmaamul (Diesis {GB}) and Reams Of Verse (Nureyev), Set Piece is also kin to GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

Juddmonte's late Dansili has sired 19 stakes winners from 88 runners (21%) in the U.S. His 45 American winners (51%) also include 14 graded winners (16%), and eight Grade I scorers (9%). His best progeny in this region are headed by four-time Grade I winner Proviso (GB).

 

 

Another Juddmonte Homebred Doubles Down

Juncture (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who won the Listed Cooley Fillies S. at Dundalk in her final European start, ran out a handy winner of the Ouija Board Distaff S. at Lone Star Park to give owner-breeder Juddmonte and trainer Brad Cox an end-of-the-month present.

Placed three times at group level in Ireland, the 4-year-old is the first foal out of her dam, Occurrence (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and is followed by the unraced 3-year-old filly Singularity (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a yearling filly by Oasis Dream (GB). Her second dam is a full-sister to blue hen Hasili (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}), and has G1 Pretty Polly S. heroine Promising Lead (GB) (Danehill) to her credit.

One of 24 winners from 42 runners in the U.S. (57%) for Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel, Juncture is one of six stakes winners (14%) which includes Grade I winners Raging Bull (Fr), Althiqa (GB) and Hunt (Ire).

Free Spirit At Monmouth

Spirit And Glory (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who races for Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing LLC, John Rochfort and trainer Robert N. Falcone, Jr., is now a two-time U.S. stakes winner after taking the Miss Liberty S. at Monmouth on May 28 (video).

The Dr. Noel Cogan and Patrick Williams-bred carried the colours of the Get Up And Go Again Syndicate for her four Irish starts under the care of Michael Mulvany, and joined the Falcone barn prior to July of 2022. Her three-time winning dam left Spirit And Glory and three other winners, as well as a yearling filly by Kuroshio (Aus).

Cotai Glory, best known as the sire of the Group 1-winning sprinter The Platinum Queen (Ire), has two winners from six runners in the U.S. (33%) and Spirit And Glory is his first stakes winner in that jurisdiction.

 

 

Le Havre Filly Graduates At Belmont

Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown teamed up to win a Belmont maiden special weight with Utilization Rate (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) recently (video).

Bred by Neustrian Associates and Christopher Hirst, the filly is a half-sister to Ride The Skies (Fr) (City Light {Fr}). A €95,000 Arqana October yearling, the dark bay is a granddaughter of G3 Prix Eclipse victress Iron Lips (GB) (Iron Mask) who is a half-sister to G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains hero and sire Falco (Pivotal {GB}).

The much-missed Le Havre has sired nine winners from 19 runners (47%) in the U.S. All three of his American stakes winners won graded stakes (16%), anchored by GI Turf Mile S. hero Suedois (Fr), while multiple graded winner Rymska (Fr) was second in both the GI Gamely S. and GI Jenny Wiley S.

Wonderfull Second Up Beneath The Twin Spires

Runnymede Farm and A.I.S's Wonderfull Lady (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) collected her first American win over the Churchill Downs turf for trainer Brendan Walsh in May (video).

Bred by former trainer Jean-Philippe Dubois, the bay made one start for Ecurie Victoria Dreams and Dubois last July, before racing for Maurice Lagasse and Catesby Clay in her next three French appearances including a fourth in the G3 Prix des Reservoirs for trainer Yann Barberot. The last foal of her dam, the Elusive Quality mare Tender Night, her great granddam is multiple group winner Smolensk (Danzig), who was second in the G1 Coronation S. and is a daughter of outstanding producer and Classic winner Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}).

From five U.S. runners, Almanzor has sired four winners (80%), and one stakes winner, the 2022 Listed Woodhaven S. hero Unanimous Consent (GB).

 

 

Shock And Aw In California

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) made a winning Stateside debut at Santa Anita for trainer Leonard Powell (video).

A winner in three starts for breeder Morera Partnership and trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy, the 3-year-old filly was a 26,000gns Tattersalls Somerville yearling purchase by Mark McStay's Avenue Bloodstock and was acquired privately by these connections. Out of a Teofilo (Ire) half-sister to G1 Nassau S. heroine Sultanina (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), Anisette is followed by juvenile colt Eton Mes (Ire) (Expert Eye {GB}) and a yearling filly by Make Believe (GB).

Awtaad's American sire record stands at two winners from four runners (50%). Ebeko (Ire) won the Listed Zuma Beach S. and was fourth in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille S.

 

Check It Twice

During a purple patch of form for Klaravich runners after Ultilization Rate's victory in late May, 4-year-old filly Customer List (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won a Monmouth allowance for Chad Brown on Derby day last Saturday (video) less than half an hour before Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) became the latest winner to wear the red-and-white silks when breaking his maiden at Belmont (video).

Bred by S.C.E.A. De La Fontaine & Ecurie Skymarc Farm, the €250,000 Arqana Deauville September yearling is the first foal of her winning dam. A 2-year-old by Sea The Moon (Ger) and a weanling colt by New Bay (GB) are still to come from Equivocal (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), herself a half-sister to multiple graded winner and GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. second Criticism (GB) (Machiavellian).

Coolmore's Wootton Bassett has 14 winners from 20 runners (70%) in the U.S., and his six stakes winners (30%) are led by Audarya (Fr), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

In Redistricting's case, the Farm Cove Thoroughbreds Ltd.-bred was a 140,000gns selection out of the Tattersalls October Book 1 Sale. The final foal out of the deceased Cascata (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), the gelding is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Pacharana (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and Misericordia (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who was third in the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters S. Multiple Group 1 winner St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) is under his second dam.

Kingman has accounted for 27 winners from 52 runners (52%) in the U.S., with eight of those (15%) being stakes winners. His best to date has been three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB), who also raced in the Klaravich silks.

 

 

Honourable Mentions

A repeat winner among the Making Waves brigade is Big Everest (GB) (The Gurkha {Ire}), who added the Cliff Hanger S. at Monmouth Park to his resume near the end of May (video). The Christophe Clement trainee, who is raced by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch, won the Listed Danger's Hour S. at Aqueduct in April.

Another Making Waves veteran is Cheyenne Stable LLC's Mondego (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). Previously a maiden winner at Belmont in May, he stepped up to win an allowance contest there for trainer Christophe Clement on June 2 (video).

The post Making Waves: Game, Set, Match appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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NYRA Cancels Thursday Training

As live racing cancellations continued to mount Wednesday in light of unhealthy air quality due to residual smoke from Canadian wildfires, training will be prohibited Thursday morning at both Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Wednesday evening. This is particularly impactful as Belmont's three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival is scheduled to kick off Thursday afternoon.

A decision regarding Thursday's live racing program at Belmont, which has a first post of 3:05 p.m. and will feature the GII Wonder Again S. for 3-year-old fillies on grass, will be made Thursday morning following a review of the air quality conditions and forecast, NYRA said.

A total of 15 graded races are scheduled to be run over the three-day Festival, highlighted by Saturday's running of the GI Belmont S., the third leg of the Triple Crown.

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Pair of Stakes Kick Off Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Thursday

ELMONT, NY – A pair of stakes races, led by the featured GII Wonder Again S. for 3-year-old fillies on grass, will raise the curtain on the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Thursday afternoon.

Repole Stable's Spansive (Karakontie {Jpn}) will put her perfect two-for-two record on the line for Todd Pletcher while making her stakes debut in the eight-deep Wonder Again.

Trainer Chad Brown will have three chances for his fifth Wonder Again win. He will saddle 5-2 morning-line favorite Revalita (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}), a rallying second in the GII Edgewood S. at Churchill May 5; the rail-drawn co-second choice Venencia (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}), third as the favorite while making her U.S. bow in a Keeneland allowance Apr. 27; and last out Belmont maiden winner Prerequisite (Upstart).

Last term's GI Frizette S. winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), meanwhile, will launch her sophomore campaign a race earlier versus six rivals in the six-furlong $150,000 Jersey Girl S. The dark bay failed to fire while making her first attempt around two turns in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland Nov. 4. Like the aforementioned Spansive, Chocolate Gelato is owned and trained by the same connections as GI Belmont S. morning-line favorite Forte (Violence). This race's namesake Jersey Girl provided Pletcher with his first Grade I victory as a trainer in the 1998 Acorn.

Drawn on the rail and sporting an imposing record of four wins from five career starts, Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance) is the horse to beat after hanging on by a head in the seven-furlong GII Eight Belles on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard.

Thursday's 10-race program gets underway at 3:05 p.m. ET.

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Champion Forte Favored for Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, NY — Last year's champion 2-year-old colt Forte (Violence), scratched on the morning of the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, was tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the 155th running of the GI Belmont Stakes at Tuesday's post-position draw held in the Triple Crown Lounge at Belmont Park.

The Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable colorbearer, last seen defeating subsequent Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) in dramatic fashion in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 1, will exit from post six with regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard in the nine-horse field.

“We still think this is the best 3-year-old in the crop and I think on Saturday he's going to prove that,” Mike Repole said.

Four-time Belmont S. winning trainer Todd Pletcher will also be very well-represented by the 3-1 second-choice on the morning-line 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit). Seventh in the Kentucky Derby, the stretch-running gray will break from post two in the 1 1/2-mile Classic.

“The key is getting him out of the gate and into position,” said Pletcher, who has two chances to reach even terms with the late Woody Stephens, who won five straight renewals of the Belmont from 1982-86. “He's got a big, long stride on him. If he can get him into a good rhythm, I think he's going to like the mile and a half. He's been training that way.”

The all-conquering Tapit has already sired four Belmont winners–Essential Quality (2021), Tapwrit (2017), Creator (2016), Tonalist (2014).

Wire-to-wire GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) will be the one to catch once again for Bob Baffert breaking from post four. He is listed at 5-1 on the morning line.

Trainer Brad Cox will saddle a trio, led by 7-2 third choice and favored Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Angel of Empire (Classic Empire). The GI Arkansas Derby winner adds blinkers for the first time in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

“Flavien [Prat] came back after the Derby and immediately said to put blinkers on the horse,” Cox said. “I don't know that it would have made a big difference in winning the Derby, but I do know that he does train well in them. It's something to experiment with and see what happens. I'm very happy with where he's at.”

Cox will also tighten the girth on Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (post seven; 10-1), a respectable fifth in the Derby after sitting close to a sharp early pace, and narrow Bath House Row S. runner-up Tapit Shoes (Tapit) (post one; 20-1). Cox won the 2021 Belmont with Essential Quality.

From the rail out, the complete field for the Belmont Stakes:

1-Tapit Shoes (Tapit) (20-1)

2-Tapit Trice (Tapit) (3-1)

3-Arcangelo (Arrogate) (8-1)

4-National Treasure (Quality Road) (5-1)

5-Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) (30-1)

6-Forte (Violence) (5-2)

7-Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (10-1)

8-Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (7-2)

9-Red Route One (Gun Runner) (15-1)

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