Bodemeister | Horse Racing Free Tips

Actuator Delivers Off Private Purchase in Indiana Derby

Actuator (Bodemeister), just a $2,200 FTKFEB yearling graduate, stayed perfect on dirt to capture a career high in Saturday's GIII Indiana Derby.

Third in his first two tries on grass for trainer Rodolphe Brisset at Horseshoe Indianapolis last term, including going a mile in his juvenile finale Oct. 6, he returned from the bench to air in his dirt debut going seven furlongs in his first try for trainer Michael McCarthy at Churchill Downs last time June 8.

With Black Type Thoroughbreds acquiring a 75-percent controlling interest since, 3-1 third-choice Actuator broke inward at the start from his outside draw here. Favored GISW Rattle N Roll (Connect), drawn two to his inside, took the worst of it at the break, clipping heels while getting bumped from both sides with rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. briefly losing the irons.

Actuator, meanwhile, raced in an outside fourth while rounding the clubhouse turn. Chasing from third while three deep heading down the backstretch, the bay was ridden to keep pace on the far turn, challenged from the outside while racing a bit greenly with his lead change as they straightened and dug down deep in the stretch to hold Best Actor (Flatter) safe while brushing with that rival inside the sixteenth pole.

Actuator survived a steward's inquiry involving the start and also an objection lodged by jockey Florent Geroux aboard the runner-up alleging interference in deep stretch.

“I don't know where I interfered with him,” winning jockey James Graham said. “He did break in a little bit, but his horse didn't break either. We kind of made contact. But that's the first jump. I grabbed him immediately and he actually came and leaned on me the last sixteenth. My horse ran his race. He showed a lot of grit and tenacity today, so I'm happy with that.”

McCarthy added, “He didn't get away from there great, but James was able to go ahead and get us into a great spot going into the first turn. Up the backside, he was sitting right off the speed and around the turn. James asked him to pick it up, and he slowly got into a rhythm. He was game through the lane.”

McCarthy continued, “Everybody was quietly confident. I thought his performance off the layoff was very, very good. The horse came back and trained well after his maiden score. Jake Ballis and his partners were very keen to get in on the horse. I thought there were bigger and better things to come with him.”

Pedigree Notes:

Actuator is the 11th graded/26th stakes winner for former WinStar stallion and current Jockey Club of Turkey resident Bodemeister. Like Bodemeister's 2022 GII American Turf S. winner Stolen Base, Actuator is also out of an Indian Charlie mare. Indian Charlie is now responsible for 30 graded/90 stakes winners as a broodmare sire. The E. Paul Robsham-bred Indian Rocket, a winner of two of 16 career starts, was a $175,000 KEENOV weanling. The half-sister to GISW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up R Heat Lightning (Trippi) passed away in 2019. Actuator was her final produce.

Saturday, Horseshoe Indianapolis
INDIANA DERBY-GIII, $300,000, Horseshoe Indianapolis, 7-9, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.48, gd.
1–ACTUATOR, 118, c, 3, by Bodemeister
                1st Dam: Indian Rocket, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Yellow Heat, by Gold Fever
                3rd Dam: The Real Thing, by Capote
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($2,200 Ylg
'20 FTKFEB). O-Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rags Racing Stable
LLC, Rick Howard & Gavin O'Connor; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-James Graham. $174,600. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-0-2, $250,860. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Best Actor, 124, c, 3, Flatter–Abraqat, by Smart Strike.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($330,000 Ylg '20
KEESEP). O-Gary & Mary West; B-E. H. Beau Lane, Gail
McMichael Lane, J. B. Lane Orem & Michael Orem (KY); T-Brad Cox. $58,200.
3–King Ottoman, 124, c, 3, Curlin–Shook Up, by Tapit.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($335,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O/B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$32,010.
Margins: HF, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.20, 2.90, 4.90.
Also Ran: Trademark, Mowins, Fowler Blue, Rattle N Roll, First Glimpse. Scratched: New Year's Fever, Un Ojo. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Actuator Delivers Off Private Purchase in Indiana Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Stolen Base Leads The Field In Newly-Named Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile

Sam Houston Race Park will host its annual Houston Racing Festival on Sunday, Jan. 30. A special post time of 1:45 pm (CT) has been set for the marquee day of the 2022 Thoroughbred meet with six featured stakes.

As previously reported, two graded stakes will be contested: the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf. A very promising forecast of clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60's is on tap for the Sunday afternoon program.

One of the undercard stakes features a very competitive field and a new name in honor of Robert L. Bork, former Sam Houston Race Park president. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3 year-olds has been renamed the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. Bork, who made a tremendous impact on the racing industry, nationally and in Houston, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2021 at the age of 83.

Members of the Bork family will present the trophy following the running of the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. Dan Bork, who serves as assistant racing secretary/stakes coordinator at Churchill Downs and racing secretary at Ellis Park, speaks proudly of his father's accomplishments in the racing industry.

“My father was a respected racing executive for over four decades,” he said. “He truly loved horse racing and the development of Sam Houston Race Park as the first Class 1 racetrack in Texas meant a great deal to him. His wife, Judith, my son, Owen, my sister Dina and brother Michael look forward to honoring him on Sunday.”

A field of eleven will enter the starting gate for this one-mile feature for 3-year-olds on the Connally Turf Course.

Stolen Base, who competed in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, has been tabbed as the 3-1 morning line choice. The son of Bodemeister is owned by Three Diamonds Farm and Deuce Greathouse. Trained by Mike Maker, he won his debut at Saratoga last July and advanced directly into stakes competition. The Kentucky-bred colt ran second in the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland before finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Giovanni Franco has the call and will break from post position seven.

“He had some traffic issues in the Breeders' Cup, but ran a credible race,” said Maker, who will also saddle Pure Panic and Grantham in the Bob Bork. “Stolen Base has been working well for his 3-year-old season.”

Horses trained by Eclipse Award winning trainers Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher, and Brad Cox will also be in the mix. Asmussen will saddle Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC homebred Red Run and Down Cold, who is owned by L and N Racing LLC and Team Hanley. Joel Rosario has the call on Red Run, sired by Gun Runner. Veteran rider Stewart Elliott, who rides first call for Asmussen in Texas and Oklahoma, will guide the gelded son of Mastery.

“He is a very talented son of Gun Runner and in the capable hands of Joel,” said Asmussen. “Down Cold had a nice win at Sam Houston (on January 6) and deserves the opportunity to run at this level.”

Pletcher, who won the 2017 Houston Ladies Classic with Unbridled Mo, will ship in Chanceux for Harrell Ventures, LLC. This will be just the fourth start for the Speightstown colt, who ran second in the $100,000 Dania Beach earlier this month at Gulfstream Park.

“That was his first start around two turns, so we thought this race would be a good fit, plus the Harrells live in Houston” said Pletcher. “Very nice of Sam Houston to name the race after Bob Bork, who was such an admired leader in our industry.”

Cox, who won the 2018 Houston Ladies Classic with Tiger Moth, will be represented by Bloodline, owned by Karl and Cathi Glassman. The son of Uncle Mo will make his stakes debut after winning a main track allowance at Fair Grounds on December 31. He will also ship Dean Maltzman's homebred Kaely's Brother from Fair Grounds, who last competed in the $75,000 Sugar Bowl on December 27.

The Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile will run as the sixth race on the card with an approximate post time of 4:23 pm (CT). The field, from the rail, with riders and morning-line odds:

Bloodline, Marcelino Pedroza, Jr , 12-1;
Dowagiac Chief, James Graham, 8-1;
Malibu Thunder, Ezequiel Lara, 50-1;
Chanceux, Reylu Gutierrez., 4-1;
Down Cold, Stewart Elliott, 15-1;
Pure Panic, Richard Eramia, 5-1;
Stolen Base, Giovanni Franco, 3-1;
Kaely's Brother, Adam Beschizza, 6-1;
Screwball, Ry Eikleberry, 20-1;
Grantham, Tyler Gafflione, 6-1;
Red Run, Joel Rosario, 11-1.

The post Stolen Base Leads The Field In Newly-Named Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Under The Stars Fends Off Awake At Midnyte To Win Santa Ynez

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Under The Stars proved best in Saturday's Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The 3-year-old filly by Pioneerof The Nile was sharp out of the gate and fended off a stretch challenge from Awake At Midnyte (9-2) to score by three-quarters of a length as the 4-5 favorite. Ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, Under The Stars completed seven furlongs over the fast main track in 1:22.51.

Under The Stars wasn't the quickest out of the gate, but Prat allowed her to find her stride and she jumped up to take the lead through a first quarter in 22.26 seconds. Miss Mattie B took over in the middle of the track for a sixteenth of a mile, while Awake At Midnyte stalked those two on the outside of Big Shamrock.

Taking back her lead to mark a half-mile in :44.95, Under The Stars repelled the challenge of Miss Mattie B around the far turn. Awake At Midnyte moved up to take on the leader in the stretch run, and though appearing full of run was unable to pass Under The Stars.

Under The Stars pulled away in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length. Awake At Midnyte finished second, while Miss Mattie B was third. The remaining order of finish was: Big Switch, Big Shamrock, and Mimajoon.

Bred in Kentucky by Eaton, Under The Stars is out of the G2-winning, G1-placed Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent. The sophomore filly is a half-sister to G1-winning millionaire Bodemeister, also trained by Baffert.

Under The Stars ran third in her debut at Santa Anita on Oct. 31, and returned to run third in the listed Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar two weeks later. The filly broke her maiden at Los Alamitos on Dec. 11, and the Santa Ynez was her fourth career start. With two wins and two thirds, Under The Stars has earned over $170,000.

The Santa Ynez offers Kentucky Oaks points on the 10-4-2-1 scale, but the Baffert-trained winner is not eligible for the points due to Churchill Downs' two-year ban of the Hall of Fame trainer. The updated Updated Road to the Kentucky Derby/Oaks Leaderboard is available here.

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Beautifully Bred Under the Stars Makes the Grade in Santa Ynez

Sent off the 9-10 chalk to build on a three-length maiden victory at Los Alamitos when last seen Dec. 11, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Under the Stars (Pioneerof the Nile) was made to work for it, but managed to tough out a narrow victory in Saturday's GIII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita.

Away alertly enough from the inside stall, the bay–bred on a similar cross to the one that produced Triple Crown winner American Pharoah–held her spot at the fence while being shaded three wide by pacesetting Miss Mattie B (Tonalist), with Big Shamrock (Mr. Big) poking through between. Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) chimed in three wide at the top of the lane and appeared to have sufficient momentum to reel in the chalk, but Under the Stars sprinted powerfully through the final eighth of a mile to prevail tenaciously.

Under the Stars, a debut third as the chalk behind Awake At Midnyte Oct. 31, filled that same slot behind stablemate and next out GI Starlet S. heroine Eda (Munnings) in Del Mar's Desi Arnaz S. Nov. 13.

“When we came into this race, I was worried about the post, but she's improving,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “She's a half-sister to Bodemeister, so she has the pedigree to go further and Flavien [Prat] thinks she wants to go further also. It's nice when they're bred that well and the Coolmore gang, the ownership group, they've been real patient. I'm just glad they sent her to us.”

Pedigree Notes:

Under the Stars becomes the 40th stakes/18th graded winner for the late, great Pioneerof the Nile. This is the 302nd stakes/147th graded winner for the legendary Storm Cat as a broodmare sire. Storm Cat also appears prominently in the pedigree of Pioneerof the Nile's top two runners–Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (produced by a Yankee Gentleman mare) and champion Classic Empire (produced by a Cat Thief mare), respectively. Under the Stars is one of four black-type horses for her GSW/GISP dam, most notably responsible for GISW and multiple Classic-placed Bodemeister (Empire Maker); and MGISP Fascinating (Smart Strike). Untouched Talent has also produced colts of 2020 and 2021 by Justify. She was bred to Uncle Mo for 2022. Untouched Talent brought $5 million from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier following the Classics exploits of Bodemeister at the 2012 FTKNOV sale, which was topped by the $10-million Havre de Grace.

Saturday, Santa Anita
SANTA YNEZ S.-GII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 1-8, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.51, ft.
1–UNDER THE STARS, 120, f, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
               1st Dam: Untouched Talent (GSW & GISP, $243,550), by Storm Cat
               2nd Dam: Parade Queen, by A.P. Indy
               3rd Dam: Spanish Parade, by Roberto
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O- Mrs.
John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, & Derrick Smith; B-Eaton
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-0-2, $170,520. *1/2 to Bodemeister (Empire
Maker), GISW, $1,304,800; 1/2 to Himiko (American
Pharoah), SP, $177,277; 1/2 to Fascinating (Smart Strike),
MGISP, $166,320. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Awake At Midnyte, 120, f, 3, Nyquist–Midnight Union, by
Union Rags. ($85,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg
'20 FTKOCT; $320,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). O-Reddam Racing
LLC; B-Forty Oaks (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $40,000.
3–Miss Mattie B, 120, f, 3, Tonalist–Traffic Blimp, by
Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. ($10,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Westlake Racing Stable;
B-R. S. Evans (KY); T-Robert B. Hess, Jr. $24,000.
Margins: 3/4, 6HF, 6. Odds: 0.90, 4.50, 12.60.
Also Ran: Big Switch, Big Shamrock, Mimajoon.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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