Tag: Bob Baffert

Nyquist Colt Dazzles in ‘TDN Rising Star’ Performance at Santa Anita

Nysos (c, 2, Nyquist–Zetta Z, by Bernardini), a $550,000 OBS April breezer (:9 4/5*), made that pricetag look like a bargain with a jaw-dropping 'TDN Rising Star' performance on debut in the Santa Anita nightcap Saturday evening.

One of three entered for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 6-1 chance had a pair of bullets on the worktab, including a four-furlong move in :47 1/5 (1/16) Oct. 12.

He was hustled away from his inside draw by Kyle Frey and slugged it out from the outside with his rail-drawn stablemate and $1.3-million OBS April graduate Urban Legend (Into Mischief) heading into the far turn. Always traveling the better of the pair, Nysos took over with authority leaving the quarter pole and opened daylight from there to win by 10 1/2 lengths, stopping the timer for six furlongs in a very sharp 1:08.97. Urban Legend, off at odds of 3-1, stayed on for second.

Nysos becomes the first 'Rising Star' for Nyquist. The Nyquist x Bernardini cross is also responsible for GISW Gretzky the Great, already one of four top-level winners for his young sire.

The winner's unraced dam, a $35,000 purchase by Three Times A Charm while in foal to Street Sense at the 2021 KEENOV sale, had a filly by Street Sense in 2022 and a colt by Yaupon this year. She was bred back to Cyberknife.

Nysos's third dam is GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled's Song).

9th-Santa Anita, $63,500, Msw, 10-21, 2yo, 6f, 1:08.97, ft, 10 1/2 lengths.
NYSOS, c, 2, by Nyquist
                1st Dam: Zetta Z, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Seresa's Spirit, by Rahy
                3rd Dam: Unbridled Elaine, by Unbridled's Song
Sales history: $130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $150,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $550,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Baoma Corp; B-Atkins Susie (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

The post Nyquist Colt Dazzles in ‘TDN Rising Star’ Performance at Santa Anita appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Justify’s First Grade I Winner Arabian Lion Retired To Spendthrift

'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify–Unbound, by Distorted Humor), who became the first Grade I winner for his boom sire in this year's Woody Stephens S. on the Belmont Stakes undercard, has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2024 at Spendthrift Farm. He will stand for $30,000, stands-and-nurses terms.

Bred in Kentucky by Bonne Chance Farm LLC, the chestnut was purchased by Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stable for $600,000 out of the 2022 OBS April Sale and made a big impression at first asking, graduating by three lengths and clocking a strong 1:09.78 for six furlongs. Arabian Lion proved proficient when stretched out to two turns by trainer Bob Baffert, finishing second to fellow 'Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense) in the GIII Lexington S. before romping by four lengths in the Sir Barton S., good for a 103 Beyer.

Having been under consideration for the GI Belmont S., Arabian Lion cut back to seven-eighths of a mile for the Woody Stephens, defeating then-unbeaten Drew's Gold (Violence) by 1 3/4 lengths, covering the distance in a slick 1:21.70 (109 Beyer) ahead of a third in the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga. Arabian Lion retires with a record of 3-2-1 from nine starts and earnings of $498,100.

“Arabian Lion is a tremendous-looking individual and he showed real brilliance on the track,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “His win in the Woody Stephens was arguably the best performance this year by a 3-year-old, and the speed figures back that up.

“We are grateful to Mr. Zedan for the opportunity to stand another one of his stars. He and his team have obviously done a great job of acquiring and racing the best of the best, and those are the type of stallion prospects we are looking to stand at Spendthrift.”

Arabian Gold will stand alongside Zedan's 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) at Spendthrift.

Produced by a half-sister to the stakes-placed dam of the Spendthrift-owned MGSW Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), Arabian Lion–the first son of Justify to stud–counts the inimitable Personal Ensign (Private Account) as his third dam. Descending from that unbeaten racemare is MGISW My Flag, her champion daughter Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) and additional Grade I winners Miner's Mark, Traditionally and Mr Speaker .

 

The post Justify’s First Grade I Winner Arabian Lion Retired To Spendthrift appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday Insights: $1.3m Into Mischief OBS April Grad Makes Santa Anita Debut

9th-SA, $61K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 8:11 p.m. ET.
The rail-drawn URBAN LEGEND (Into Mischief) is one of three Bob Baffert trainees to debut in the Santa Anita finale. Out of MSW Singing Kitty (Ministers Wild Cat), the bay colt went for $300,000 at Keeneland September before bringing $1.3 million at the OBS April Sale. He is campaigned by Morplay Racing LLC, Rosedown Racing Stables, LLC and Kerri Radcliffe.

The Hall of Fame conditioner will also saddle Nysos (Nyquist), who was purchased by Baoma Corp. for $550,000 at OBS April, and British Isles (Justify). Out of GSW Purely Hot (Pure Prize) and a half-brother to GI American Pharoah S. champ Eight Rings (Empire Maker), the latter is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor.

Also set for his unveiling is Tracker (Curlin), who is out of GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Gomo (Uncle Mo). The $250,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $900,000 OBS March graduate is campaigned by Talla Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing and Robert and DeLynn Abernathy. TJCIS PPS

5th-KEE, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 3:08 p.m. ET.
Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trainer Jeff Engler send out Bedazzle 'Em (American Pharoah) for her first start. The $750,000 Keeneland September graduate counts GIII Schuylerville S. winner Just Cindy (Justify) as a half sister.

She'll face Red White and Blue Racing's Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief), who sold for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. The Brad Cox trainee is a full-sister to GIII Robert B. Lewis S. hero Newgate.

Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred Aunt Fannie (Uncle Mo), trained by Ian Wilkes, is a half-sister to GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. victor McCraken (Ghostzapper) and GIII Dogwood S. winner Four Graces (Majesticperfection). TJCIS PPS

The post Saturday Insights: $1.3m Into Mischief OBS April Grad Makes Santa Anita Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dettori Calls Off Retirement To Ride Full Time in U.S.

Frankie is coming back to America.

The Italian-born superstar jockey Frankie Dettori, 52, had planned to retire at the end of the year, but pulled a U-turn Wednesday night when he told racing commentator Nick Luck that not only will he ride in 2024 but he plans to ride full-time in the U.S., beginning with the traditional opening day at Santa Anita, Dec. 26.

“I want to carry on a little bit longer in California, where I had such a lovely winter,” Dettori told Luck. “The dynamic of my year has changed so much. If I wasn't riding any winners or not riding in the big races it would have made my decision much easier but at this point I'm still feeling good and I want to get it out of my system.”

At the Santa Anita meet that began on Dec. 26, 2022 and ran through April 9, 2023, Dettori finished third in the rider's standings with 26 wins and won at an 18% rate. He won four stakes races.

“It's terrific news for the sport, the fans, and California racing, in particular,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “I can't wait to see more of his flying dismounts from my horses in the Santa Anita winner's circle.”

Dettori will again represented by agent Ron Anderson.

“Things have been in the works for a while,” Anderson said. “I think he was rejuvenated coming to California last year. He is obviously very well received all over the world but he liked California and wanted to continue on. He'll be there for opening day. I'm not saying this because he's my friend, but he's a breath of fresh air. He is so enthusiastic. That's Frankie. He's a different person altogether. Last year he called me on a Sunday night. He had won three races in California. He was so excited. I had to say to myself, 'Is this the same guy who has won six Arcs or is this a kid who just won his first race?' That's the way he sounded, like a kid who had just won his first race. That's Frankie. He's just different. I'm very excited to have him back. His riding was magical while he was in California. It's all good for everyone.”

Dettori is scheduled to ride in Great Britain for the final time Saturday in the Champions Day at Ascot. Afterward, he could ride in some international races outside of Europe and will be in the U.S. for the Breeders' Cup, which will be run at Santa Anita on Nov. 3 and 4. He will then return to Santa Anita for the Dec. 26 opener.

Dettori told Luck that “the dream is to find a horse for the Kentucky Derby.”

He has ridden in Derby just once, finishing eighth aboard China Visit (Red Ransom) in 2000. Last year, Baffert used him on a handful of 3-year-olds that were prospects for the GI Kentucky Derby, but none made it to the race.

So far as what Dettori does after the Kentucky Derby, he was non-committal.

When asked by the Racing Post if he might return to the U.K. following the Derby, he replied: “I accept that's a question but at the moment I can't see any further than the Kentucky Derby. My goal is to get a decent ride in that. I therefore can't answer the question yet.”

However, in his interview with Luck he made it clear that he was open to riding in the U.S. past the first Saturday in May.

“I want to travel, Kentucky, Florida, Saratoga, Del Mar, that's what I want to do, that's what excites me,” he said. “I'm going into uncharted waters.”

The post Dettori Calls Off Retirement To Ride Full Time in U.S. appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights