Two Phil’s ‘Rocks’ Cleveland In Ohio Derby Romp

On the shores of Lake Erie in Cleveland sits the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and about 15 miles away Saturday afternoon in southeast suburban North Randall, Patricia's Hope, Phillip Sagan and Madaket Stables' Two Phil's (Hard Spun) turned in a heavy metal performance of his own, treating seven rivals to a thorough 'beat'-ing in the $500,000 GIII Ohio Derby. 'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), narrowly defeated by next-out GI Belmont S. hero Arcangelo (Arrogate) in the GIII Peter Pan S. last month, was no match for the winner in second, while longshot Hayes Strike (Connect) ran on to be third.

With Jareth Loveberry forced to the sidelines by a most untimely injury, it was Gerardo Corrales–in the irons for Two Phil's's debut at Churchill Downs almost exactly one year ago Saturday–who got the call-up from trainer Larry Rivelli, and despite never being on a stage quite this big, executed a tactically perfect ride on the chestnut.

Away in good order from stall four in the eight-horse field, Two Phil's raced prominently as the rail-drawn Henry Q (Blame) was ridden aggressively by Kendrick Carmouche and led into the first turn while making the running in the three or four path. Bishops Bay raced closest in attendance, and for a stride or two, it appeared that Corrales was going to dive down to the inside before thinking better of it and settling Two Phil's on the back of Bishops Bay. It was arguably the winning move, better than six furlongs from home.

Content to bide his time from third down the backstretch as Henry Q took them through four furlongs in a sensible :47.42, Two Phil's was asked to improve at the three-eighths peg and quickly raced up to his chief market rival, as Henry Q capitulated readily. In front without having been unduly asked by Corrales with a bit less than a quarter-mile to travel, Two Phil's kicked for home and raced away to a comfortable victory. Bishops Bay was switched out at the midstretch marker by Florent Geroux, but it was far too little and far too late.

Runaway winner of last year's GIII Street Sense S., Two Phil's covered himself in glory on the New Orleans road to the Triple Crown, finishing runner-up in the GIII Lecomte S. in January and third to Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) in the GII Risen Star S. the following month. Connections then selected a path of lesser resistance, swerving the GII Louisiana Derby in favor of the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Mar. 25, and he duly obliged with a 5 1/4-length thrashing of the classy Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro). Having earned his fair share of admirers, Two Phil's sat relatively close to the wicked early pace in the May 6 GI Kentucky Derby at odds shy of 10-1, went for an early move to lead into the stretch and fought on bravely to be beaten a length into second by Mage (Good Mgic), with Angel of Empire another half-length back in third.

The obligatory discussion of a Preakness S. appearance ensued, always a polarizing debate, but connections stuck to their guns and landed on the Ohio Derby as a springboard to the summer's seven-figure 3-year-old races in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

Following his performance in front of an enthusiastic crowd Saturday, it is crystal clear that Two Phil's is hitting all the right notes with plenty to play for in the second half of the year.

Pedigree Notes:

Two Phil's is one of 97 worldwide black-type winners (47 graded/group winners) for Darley America's outstanding Hard Spun and is one of three stakes winner and the only one at the graded level for his now Turkish-based broodmare sire General Quarters.

Breeder and part-owner Phillip Sagan raced Mia Torri to four wins from 10 starts including victories in the Sunshine Millions Distaff and Sugar Maple S. while placing in the GIII Charles Town Oaks and the GIII Bed o' Roses S. A half-sister to a pair of stakes performers, the 10-year-old Mia Torri has a 2-year-old colt by Omaha Beach and a yearling colt by McKinzie. There is no reported foal as yet for 2023, but she was bred to Omaha Beach last season.

 

 

 

Saturday, Thistledown
OHIO DERBY-GIII, $500,000, Thistledown, 6-24, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.60, ft.
1–TWO PHIL'S, 126, c, 3, by Hard Spun
1st Dam: Mia Torri (MSW & MGSP, $314,720), by General Quarters
2nd Dam: Flip the Stone, by Birdstone
3rd Dam: Flippy Diane, by Aaron's Concorde
($150,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Patricia's Hope LLC, Phillip Sagan and Madaket Stables LLC; B-Phillip Sagan (KY); T-Larry Rivelli; J-Gerardo Corrales. $300,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 10-5-2-1, $1,583,450. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bishops Bay, 126, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, by Pioneerof the Nile. ($450,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, LLC, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Rick Kanter, Michael J. Caruso and WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $100,000.
3–Hayes Strike, 126, c, 3, Connect–Plaid, by Deputy Commander. O/B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $50,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, 7, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.60, 1.40, 18.30.
Also Ran: Lord Miles, Henry Q, Timesatappin, Agnello's Dream,Last Cookie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Two Phil’s Headlines Ohio Derby

Two Phil's (Hard Spun), a too-good-to-lose second after racing on top of a hot pace in the GI Kentucky Derby, kicks off the second half of his season in Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

The GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner has been firing bullets for trainer Larry Rivelli at Hawthorne since, including a five-furlong move in :59 (1/14) June 8.

Jockey Gerardo Corrales will replace the injured Jareth Loveberry in the irons.

'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), drawn one to the inside of the 8-5 morning-line favorite in post three, came within a head of defeating subsequent GI Belmont S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) in a thrilling renewal of the GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont May 13. The bay has been favored in all three of his previous career starts for trainer Brad Cox.

The field of eight also includes 59-1 GII Wood Memorial S. upsetter Lord Miles (Curlin). He was a late scratch from the Kentucky Derby and his trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. was suspended indefinitely by Churchill Downs when two of his horses died from unexplained causes leading up to the first Saturday in May.

Grade I Winners Meet in Chicago…

Grade I winners Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) and Society (Gun Runner) will throw down in Saturday's GIII Chicago S. going seven furlongs at Ellis Park.

Godolphin homebred Matareya, a debut winner over this track during her 2-year-old season, has a pair of top-level wins on her resume–the 2022 GI Acorn S. at Belmont Park and the GI Derby City Distaff S. most recently on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Society, a front-running heroine of last term's GI Cotillion S. at Parx, cuts back to one turn following a well-beaten ninth in the GI La Troienne S. May 5.

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Arcangelo Ticks Peter Pan Off List After Maiden Win

In the final local prep for the GI Belmont S., Arcangelo (Arrogate) found the wire just in time to secure his first stakes win in the 69th running of the GIII Peter Pan S.

With only three prior starts, all at Gulfstream Park, the gray colt debuted second sprinting in the slop Dec. 17 before running fourth behind subsequent GII Louisiana Derby victor Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) going a mile Jan. 14. Facing older maidens for the first time at the same distance Mar. 18, the 2-1 shot cleared in the stretch to graduate by 3 1/2 lengths with new rider Javier Castellano aboard.

After a sharp workout May 3 at Belmont (:59.78, 1/5), the 5-2 second choice here trailed early along the fence as longshot Asmodeus (Cairo Prince) and 'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) battled up front. Under a moderate pace into the far turn with Henry Q (Blame) joining the fray, Arcangelo shifted to the outside, launching a four-wide bid. At the top of the stretch, as Bishops Bay tried to stride away, the Jena Antonucci trainee clearly had more left in the tank. Taking aim at his rival past the eighth pole, the pair locked in a duel that ended with Arcangelo putting his head at the wire.

“The horse is just built different,” said Antonucci. “I know that sounds so cliché, but it's my job–our job–to stay out of his way. Mr. Ebbert [owner] has done a great job to give the horse time and let him mature. He's a May foal. We never had a focus on doing early season. We let the horse grow and mature and here we are.”

Concerning a start in the GI Belmont S., the trainer said, “There's a conversation. We have no plan yet. Ground has never been a problem, that's why we waited as long as we did.”

She went on to say, “He breezed at Saratoga last summer, but we were never intending to run up there. It's all been about education and him maturing and figuring out who he is. He's still a kid figuring it out. We'll stay out of his way and see how he comes out of this.” 

Pedigree Notes:
The impact of Arrogate continues after his untimely death with Arcangelo becoming his sixth graded stakes winner. Second dam Teeming (Strom Cat) produced GISW Streaming (Smart Strike) and Achieving (Bernadini), who is the dam of MGSW Cezanne (Curlin). She is out of GSW Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who is responsible for several important graded stakes winners, including Peter Pan S. hero Casino Drive (Mineshaft), Champion 3-year-old filly Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy) and GI Belmont S. victor Jazil (Seeking the Gold). The winner is his unraced dam's last recorded progeny.

Saturday, Belmont Park
PETER PAN S.-GIII, $200,000, Belmont, 5-13, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.71, ft.
1–ARCANGELO, 118, c, 3, by Arrogate
                1st Dam: Modeling, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Teeming, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($35,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Blue Rose Farm; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Jena M. Antonucci; J-Javier Castellano. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $167,400. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bishops Bay, 118, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, by
Pioneerof the Nile. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($450,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, LLC, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Rick Kanter, Michael J. Caruso and WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000.
3–Henry Q, 120, c, 3, Blame–Lunar Empress, by Malibu Moon. ($125,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-The Del Mar Group; B-Fred W. Hertrich lll & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $24,000.
Margins: HD, 8 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.75, 1.95, 9.10.
Also Ran: Classic Catch, Go Soldier Go, Summer Cause, Asmodeus, Game Change. Scratched: Slip Mahoney.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Godolphin Runner To Make His ‘Point’ In Man o’ War

The late Daylami (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}) carried the Godolphin blue to victory in the GI Man o' War S. at Belmont Park fully 25 years ago and it didn't take long for the Dubai-based operation to strike again, as the outstanding Fantastic Light (Rahy) followed suit just two years later.Both stars would go on to prove victorious in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in 1999 and 2001, respectively. No one will confuse Warren Point (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with either of those luminaries, but the homebred bay should jump favored to provide his incredible sire and trainer Charlie Appleby with yet another elite-level winner on these shores.

Campaigned exclusively over 10 furlongs and beyond in his eight starts to date, the 4-year-old earned his first black-type success in the Listed Floodlit S. (2400m) over the Kempton all-weather last Halloween and has had his passport stamped in a couple of exotic ports of call in the Middle East so far this term. An easy three-length winner of the Listed Crown Prince's Cup over 10 furlongs in Bahrain Feb. 3 (see below), Warren Point was last seen finishing a bang-up second in the valuable Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar just 15 days later (video, SC 6). Fifth that afternoon was Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who returned to win the G2 Dubai Gold Cup on World Cup night Mar. 25.

“He's a horse that can latch on. I'm happy for him to take the lead, but he is versatile,” Appleby said. “If you pop him in front, he'll prick his ears and go. But I'd rather give him a target than for him to be the target.”

Frankie Dettori, fresh off his win in last weekend's G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas, has the call.

 

WATCH: Warren Point wins the Crown Prince's Cup in Bahrain

 

Four of Saturday's seven other entrants emerge from Keeneland's GIII Elkhorn S. Apr. 22, where Verstappen (War Front) got just the better of Red Knight (Pure Prize), but Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can pick up a big chunk of this on his 5-year-old debut. Having chased home Godolphin's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the 2021 Jockey Club Derby Invitational, he was a good third in last year's GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. and races for the first time since finishing down the field in the GII Red Smith S. back in November.

The afternoon's co-featured GIII Peter Pan S. is led by 'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), who defeated next-out 'Rising Star', subsequent GSW and GI Preakness S.-bound First Mission (Street Sense) on debut Feb. 18 and proved ultra-game in annexing his first start around two turns in a Mar. 19 allowance in New Orleans. Dettori rides Mine That Bird Derby romper Henry Q (Blame) for Doug O'Neill, while Listed Al Bastakiya S. hero Go Soldier Go (Tapiture) makes his first U.S. for Todd Pletcher. He was a latest well-beaten fifth in the G2 UAE Derby on World Cup night, but the track was likely against him on that occasion.

 

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