brad cox | Horse Racing Free Tips

Youalmosthadme Beats The Boys To Stay Perfect In Kentucky Juvenile

Privately purchased after an impressive 8 1/2-length win when unveiled at Keeneland April 19, Youalmosthadme made it two-for-two with a win as the heavy 1-5 favorite in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs Thursday. The only filly facing a field of maiden colts, the bay was sent right to the front to set a sharp opening quarter in :22.52. Only briefly challenged into the far turn by Tranche, she easily turned back that rival with a surge past the quarter pole and came home on cruise control, hitting the wire 8 3/4 lengths ahead of Lou's Legacy who got up in second. Good Gator has a yearling filly by Get Stormy and was bred back to Midshipman for 2023. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

KENTUCKY JUVENILE S., $197,500, Churchill Downs, 5-4, 2yo, 5f, :57.49, ft.
1–YOUALMOSTHADME, 117, f, 2, by Oxbow
                1st Dam: Good Gator (SP), by Good and Tough
                2nd Dam: May Gator, by Green Alligator
                3rd Dam: Thesixthofmay, by Classic Account
($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Qatar
Racing, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Black Type
Thoroughbreds; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope
McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $123,500.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $170,000.
2–Lou's Legacy, 118, c, 2, Tapiture–Biogio's Gift, by Any Given
Saturday. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Hugo Andrade; B-Lou Dunn
Diekemper Trust (KY); T-Hugo Andrade. $40,000.
3–Tranche, 118, c, 2, Collected–Theory of Change, by
Archarcharch. ($210,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-William Peoples; B-Hidden Brook Farm (KY); T-Luis Mendez.
$20,000.
Margins: 8 3/4, 1, 24. Odds: 0.27, 9.91, 9.17.
Also Ran: Lil Anthony, Who's Snow Trouble. Scratched: Hibernacle.

The post Youalmosthadme Beats The Boys To Stay Perfect In Kentucky Juvenile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tuesday’s Kentucky Derby Report: Trio of Breezers Bring the Morning ‘Thunder’

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A trio of GI Kentucky Derby workers enjoyed the spotlight during training hours on a brisk Tuesday morning beneath the Twin Spires.

Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) was hard held beneath Masatoshi Segawa and ready to do much more as he hit the top of the stretch. He finished up strongly once let loose down the lane and completed his four-furlong breeze in :49.60 (13/20). The G2 UAE Derby winner will be ridden in the Kentucky Derby by Christophe Lemaire.

His countrymate Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby), a fantastic second beaten just a nose in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in his U.S. debut and currently on the outside looking in on the Kentucky Derby also-eligible list, worked five furlongs in a leisurely 1:05.60 (15/15). He will target the second leg of the Triple Crown if unable to secure a spot in the Derby.

The blinkered Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) also breezed during the 15-minute training window reserved for Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses as temperatures hovered in the mid-40s just after 7:30 a.m. The GI Blue Grass S. fourth-place finisher worked a “maintenance half-mile” beneath jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. in :47.80 (3/20). Trainer Ken McPeek's best result from eight previous Kentucky Derby starters was a second-place finish with Tejano Run in 1995.

As for Tuesday's Derby gallopers, a pair of grays made their presence felt on the sunsplashed backstretch.

'TDN Rising Star' and $1.3-million KEEESEP yearling purchase Tapit Trice (Tapit) immediately caught the eye as trainer Todd Pletcher watched his three Derby runners train near the chute.

Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) also made a very favorable impression for trainer Brad Cox galloping powerfully with his neck arched.

The Pletcher barn was the place to be afterwards as champion 2-year-old colt and 'Rising Star' Forte (Violence), the unbeaten Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and the aforementioned Tapit Trice got cleaned up following their routine 1 3/8-mile gallops.

Forte co-owner Mike Repole, sporting an Uncle Mo jacket, of course, was among a very large group of admirers lined up to get a closer look at the Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite as training hours began to wind down.

The post Tuesday’s Kentucky Derby Report: Trio of Breezers Bring the Morning ‘Thunder’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Champion Forte Draws Post 15 for Kentucky Derby, Tabbed as 3-1 Favorite

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There was very little suspense during Monday afternoon's GI Kentucky Derby post position draw held in the Aristides Lounge at Churchill Downs as Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion 2-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) immediately kicked things off by drawing very well on the outside in post 15.

Tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the full field of 20, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner overcame more than his share of adversity beneath regular rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. while punching his ticket to Louisville with a valiant win in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. Only Street Sense and Nyquist have pulled off the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double so far.

Two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher will also saddle GI Blue Grass S. winner and fellow 'Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), the second choice on the morning line at 5-1 (post five); and unbeaten GII Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) (post six; 12-1).

The latter will look to win the Derby in just his career fourth start, a feat previously accomplished by dual Classic winner Big Brown in 2008 and subsequent Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018.

“I'm good with all of them,” Pletcher said. “Good draws. We're very happy with it.”

Trainer Brad Cox, extremely well-represented by GI Kentucky Oaks morning-line favorite Wet Paint (Blame) and second-choice Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) in Friday's feature, will also have a fantastic shot in the Derby. Cox will have four chances for a second Derby victory including: GI Arkansas Derby winner Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (post 14; 8-1); game Blue Grass runner-up Verifying (Justify) (post two; 15-1); Louisiana Derby third and 'Rising Star' Jace's Road (Quality Road) (post 12; 15-1); and narrow GII Wood Memorial S. runner-up Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (post one; 30-1).

The Oaks/Derby double has only been pulled off three previous times by Herbert J. Thompson in 1933 with Brokers Tip (May 6 Derby) and Barn Swallow (May 20 Oaks); Ben Jones in 1949 with Wistful (May 6 Oaks) and Ponder (May 7 Derby); and Jones again in 1952 with Real Delight (May 2 Oaks) and Hill Gail (May 3 Derby).

The Louisville-born Cox won the 2021 Kentucky Derby via disqualification with Mandaloun.

“Hit Show, it's OK,” Cox said. “We'll live with it. We have to. He's doing great. Manny [Franco] is obviously going to have to work out a trip from down in there. Same thing with Verifying. Tyler [Gaffalione] rides Verifying and both riders are going to have to find a way into the first turn. Angel of Empire, I think it's a good draw. Flavien [Prat] will be able to break running and get a good spot mid-pack. That's what I'm envisioning. Jace's Road will probably be more forwardly placed as opposed to Angel of Empire. Hopefully, he can get himself up into the mix.”

Practical Move (Practical Joke), listed at 10-1 on the morning-line, will exit from post 10 following three straight victories in Southern California, led by a nose decision in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Trainer Tim Yakteen will also tighten the girth on Arkansas Derby third Reincarnate (Good Magic) (post seven; 50-1).

Drawn on the outside, G2 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) (post 17; 10-1) and UAE Derby third Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) (post 20; 50-1) will both fly the flag for Japan.

The 1 1/4-mile Classic for 3-year-olds will go as the 12th race on Saturday's 14-race Derby Day program with a 6:57 p.m. post time.

From the rail out, the complete field for the Kentucky Derby with morning-line odds:

1-Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) (30-1)

2-Verifying (Justify) (15-1)

3-Two Phil's (Hard Spun) (12-1)

4-Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) (20-1)

5-Tapit Trice (Tapit) (5-1)

6-Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) (12-1)

7-Reincarnate (Good Magic) (50-1)

8-Mage (Good Magic) (15-1)

9-Skinner (Curlin) (20-1)

10-Practical Move (Practical Joke) (10-1)

11-Disarm (Gun Runner) (30-1)

12-Jace's Road (Quality Road) (15-1)

13-Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) (30-1)

14-Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) (8-1)

15-Forte (Violence) (3-1)

16-Raise Cain (Violence) (15-1)

17-Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) (10-1)

18-Rocket Can (Into Mischief) (15-1)

19-Lord Miles (Curlin) (30-1)

20-Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong) (50-1)

Also-Eligibles: Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) (30-1); Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) (20-1); and King Russell (Creative Cause) (50-1).

All starters will carry 126 pounds.

The post Champion Forte Draws Post 15 for Kentucky Derby, Tabbed as 3-1 Favorite appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Streaking Wet Paint Headlines Full Field Drawn for Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Godolphin homebred Wet Paint (Blame), an impressive come-from-behind winner in three straight while sweeping the Oaklawn Park series for 3-year-old fillies headed by the GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 1, was tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Conditioned by two-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox, Wet Paint was assigned post seven in the full field of 14. Flavien Prat will ride.

Cox will also saddle impressive Bourbonette Oaks heroine and 4-1 second-choice Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) (post six), who tries dirt for the first time; and GII Fair Grounds Oaks third-place finisher The Alys Look (Connect) (post two; 15-1).

Cox won the 2018 Oaks with Monomoy Girl and the 2020 Oaks with Shedaresthedevil.

“I thought it was a good draw for all of these fillies,” Cox said. “Botanical and Wet Paint are in the middle of the gate which is fine for both of them. The Alys Look is inside but can work out a trip from there.”

Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) (post four; 8-1) figures to receive plenty of tote support following a pair of visually impressive tallies for trainer Norm Casse this term, headed by a 3 1/4-length win over Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) (post 14; 10-1) in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

“I think it's a perfect draw,” Casse said. “I played baseball my entire life and I was No. 4. So, it's my lucky number.”

Champion Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) (post five; 12-1), trained by Norm's father Mark Casse, looks to get back on track following a head-scratching sixth in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland.

The gone-too-soon Arrogate, responsible for last year's Oak's winner Secret Oath, will be represented by GII Gulfstream Park Oaks heroine Affirmative Lady (Arrogate) (post 13; 10-1) and GII Santa Anita Oaks runner-up And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) (post nine; 15-1).

The Oaks field also includes last out 20-1 GI Central Bank Ashland S. upsetter Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) (post 11; 12-1).

The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks serves as the highlight of Friday's 13-race program that begins at 10:30 a.m. The Oaks will go as the day's 11th race with a 5:51 p.m. post time.

From the rail out, the complete field for the Kentucky Oaks with morning-line odds:

1-Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) (20-1)

2-The Alys Look (Connect) (15-1)

3-Gambling Girl (Dialed In) (15-1)

4-Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) (8-1)

5-Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) (12-1)

6-Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) (4-1)

7-Wet Paint (Blame) (5-2)

8-Promiseher America (American Pharoah) (30-1)

9-And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) (15-1)

10-Flying Connection (Nyquist) (15-1)

11-Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) (12-1)

12-Dorth Vader (Girvin) (20-1)

13-Affirmative Lady (Arrogate) (10-1)

14-Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) (10-1)

Also-Eligibles: Taxed (Collected) (20-1); Julia Shining (Curlin) (15-1); and Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) (30-1).

The post Streaking Wet Paint Headlines Full Field Drawn for Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post