Tag: breeders’ cup classic

Catching Up with 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner Flightline

By all accounts, the undefeated GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Flightline was truly a once-in-a-generation horse. Like the legendary A.P. Indy, his great-grandsire who also stood at Lane's End, Flightline was a seven-figure yearling fashioned into a Horse of the Year, but it was the way he made very good horses look like ordinary mortals that cemented his acclaim. Flightline completed his first season at stud this year; will he also follow in A.P. Indy's footsteps and become a breed-shaping sire?

“Flightline had an excellent start at stud, covering 152 mares including more than 50 Grade I mares or Grade I producers,” said Lane's End Farm's Bill Farish. “There's obviously a huge amount of excitement about his first foals, we can't wait to see them.”

Flightline (2018 bay horse, Tapit–Feathered, by Indian Charlie)

Lifetime record: Horse of the Year, Ch. older male, MGISW, 6-6-0-0, $4,514,800

Breeders' Cup connections: B-Summer Wind Equine (KY); O- Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, & Woodford Racing, LLC; T-John Sadler; J-Flavien Prat.

Current location: Lane's End Farm, Versailles, Ky.

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Awesome Start to Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet

Santa Anita kicks off its Autumn meet in style this weekend, highlighted by eight graded stakes, including Saturday's GI Awesome Again S., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' for the Nov. 4 Classic.

As is his custom, trainer Bob Baffert is armed with a slew of Classic prospects, however, he confirmed last week that one of the early Classic favorites–GI Pacific Classic scorer Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo)–would bypass this local Breeders' Cup Classic prep. Also missing this weekend's lineup, GI Haskell Invitational winner Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) is expected to train straight up to the Classic, as will GI Whitney S. victor White Abarrio (Race Day).

However, despite Arabian Knight's absence, Baffert, who has won this race five times since the re-naming of the Goodwood in 2012, once again looms large, unleashing a pair of Grade I winners–defending champ Defunded (Dialed In) and National Treasure (Quality Road), winner of this season's GI Preakness S.

Defunded has shown a strong affinity for The Great Race Place, having won there in five of nine starts, including victories in this season's GII Californian and GI Gold Cup. Fourth behind Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in the GII San Diego H. at Del Mar, Defunded finished sixth behind stablemate Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic Sept. 2. The 5-year-old appears likely to be kept company on the front end early by Classic winner National Treasure who, along with MGISP Skinner (Curlin), is one of only two sophomores in the field. Runner up in the GI American Pharoah S. at this venue last fall, he rounded out the season with a third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November. Third in the GIII Sham S. in January and fourth in the Apr. 8 GI Santa Anita Derby, the colt went to the front early and remained tough late to head the ultra-game Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Wilting to sixth while stretching to 12 furlongs for the GI Belmont June 10, the bay never got into the mix of things-in while in absence of blinkers–in the GI Travers S. over 10 furlongs Aug. 26. In a rider's edition of musical chairs, Juan Hernandez replaces Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard the Classic winner, while Edwin Maldonado, gets the call on Defunded Saturday.

Sporting some solid credentials himself, Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) offered a good showing last time out when third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Arabian Knight and runner-up Geaux Rocket Ride, in the Pacific Classic and followed up with a second-place effort in the 8 1/2-furlong GII San Diego H. at Del Mar July 29. He was also sixth in the GI Met Mile earlier in June.

Victorious in last season's GIII Sunland Derby and the grassy GII Del Mar Derby, the Doug O'Neill trainee rounded out 2022 with a third behind Cody's Wish (Curlin) in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Also attempting to get back into the winner's circle Saturday, Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) recorded his biggest career score in the GI Santa Anita H. over 1 1/4 miles in March before coming up a head short while cutting back to nine panels in the GII Oaklawn H. the following month. Tiring to sixth in a rerouted renewal of the GI Stephen Foster S., contested at Ellis July 1, the gelding was eased after a problematic start last time out in the Pacific Classic and will try to rebound in this cut back. Trained by Ed Moger, the $420,000 Fasig-Tipton Horses in Training graduate, a winner of last season's GII Californian over this track and trip, has hit the board in six of seven starts at Santa Anita.

 

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Ushba Tesoro Preps For Breeders’ Cup Classic

Kenji Ryotokuji's Ushba Tesoro (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), last seen recording a powerful victory over an international field in the G1 Dubai World Cup in late March, returns to the races in Wednesday's $456,960 Listed Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi Racecourse about 25 minutes east of Central Tokyo. The 1800-meter test will serve as his lone prep for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in a little more than five weeks' time.

The 6-year-old, bought for just under $220,000 as a foal at the 2017 JRHA Select Sale, made the first 22 starts of his career on the turf, and while he was often competitive and earned his keep, it was a switch to the dirt in April 2022 that signaled a renaissance.

The bay posted convincing victories in three of his first four appearances on the main track before announcing his arrival as a potentially important dirt animal when taking out the G1 Tokyo Daishoten at Ohi Racecourse last December. A half-length winner of the Listed Kawasaki Kinen Feb. 1, defeating the classy T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister), Ushba Tesoro was one of an unprecedented seven Japanese starters in the World Cup. Slowly away and last early, Ushba Tesoro got underway nearing the stretch and motored past Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal) to score by a widening 2 3/4 lengths (see below, SC 14), with T O Keynes fourth. Yuga Kawada, in the irons at Meydan, has the riding assignment from gate four in a field of 11 Wednesday.

 

 

Chief amongst the opposition is the 3-year-old colt Mitono O (Jpn) (Logotype {Jpn}), who won the final leg on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby in March and the Listed Hyogo Championship in early May ahead of a third to the undefeated Mick Fire (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in the Japan Dirt Derby July 12. Mitono O has the services of Yutaka Take.

Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) was runner-up in the 2022 G3 Saudi Derby and filled the same spot against older rivals in the G3 Korea Cup, but enters this test off a career-high success in the G3 Elm S. at Sapporo Racecourse.

Though Wednesday's race takes place on the 'lesser' NAR circuit, Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) parlayed a victory in listed company at Mombetsu in Northern Japan into a massive upset of the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar.

 

 

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Arabian Knight Gives Baffert Record-Breaking Win in Pacific Classic

Sent off as the 2-1 favorite despite a below-par third behind the re-opposing Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. July 22, Zedan Racing Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) became the first 3-year-old since Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) in 2014 to best his elders in the GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic at Del Mar, earning a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in the process.

“Those two horses (Arabian Knight and Geaux Rocket Ride) are really good horses,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “The wire couldn't come soon enough. I know it was crazy to come back here and run him at a mile and a quarter, but if you're going to get beat, I'd rather get beat in a Grade I. I loved the way he digs and fought and he's going to get better.”

Kicked straight into the lead from an outside gate by Flavien Prat–who was the passenger aboard Flightline in last year's history-making Pacific Classic, the $2.3-million topper from the 2022 OBS April Sale made the running once guided down onto the fence as Geaux Rocket Ride tracked from just behind while also hugging the inside.

Controlling the pace down the backstretch and around the second turn, Arabian Knight began to feel pressure from Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) as Geaux Rocket Ride was poised to pounce. It appeared as if the front-runner was in hot water, but he continued to find at the rail and was home narrowly best over Geaux Rocket Ride to give trainer Bob Baffert his record-setting seventh win in the race, breaking a tie with the late Bobby Frankel.

A 'Rising Star' on debut over Breeders' Cup weekend at Keeneland last fall, Arabian Knight splashed home an easy winner while making his two-turn debut in Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. Jan. 28. He returned from the shelf with a third-place finish as the favorite in the Jersey Shore centerpiece last time.

“He's a nice horse and he showed it today,” Prat said. “He was running easily for me all the way around. He's lightly raced and I think this race will only make him better. It's an honor to win a big race like this.”

Pedigree Notes:

A 15th Grade I winner for the outstanding Uncle Mo, Arabian Knight is out of Borealis Night, herself a $450,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, who was fourth in a lone racetrack appearance for owner/trainer Ralph Nicks in late 2018 and was scooped up by Nathan McCauley's River Oak Farm for just $50,000 at the Fasig-Tipton February a few months later.

The mare had some pedigree underneath her as a half-sister to the three-times graded-placed Kinsley Kisses (Congrats) and GSP Spooky Woods (Ghostzapper) and that helped earn her a date in the breeding shed with Uncle Mo. Consigned to the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, Borealis Night was hammered down to Corser Thoroughbreds for $285,000 and the operation recovered a fair bit of that outlay when Scott and Evan Dilworth paid $250,000 for the colt at Keeneland September in 2021.

Prepared by Top Line Sales, agent, for last year's OBS April Sale, the bay breezed an eighth of a mile in :9 4/5 and went on to top the event on a bid of $2.3 million from Gary Young, agent for Zedan Racing Stable. The latter also purchased Princess Noor (Not This Time) off Top Line for a sales-topping $1.35 million at OBSAPR in 2020.

The first daughter of Astrology to be represented by a stakes winner, Borealis Night is also the dam of a yearling colt by Quality Road.

Saturday, Del Mar Thoroughbred
FANDUEL RACING PACIFIC CLASSIC S.-GI, $1,002,500, Del Mar, 9-2, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 2:03.19, ft.
1–ARABIAN KNIGHT, 118, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
                1st Dam: Borealis Night, by Astrology
                2nd Dam: Winter Forest, by Forestry
                3rd Dam: Shivering Six, by Saratoga Six
1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $2,300,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Corser Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Flavien Prat. $600,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $1,244,275. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Geaux Rocket Ride, 118, c, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Beyond Grace, by Uncle Mo. ($350,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $200,000.
3–Slow Down Andy, 124, c, 4, Nyquist–Edwina E, by Square Eddie. O/B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $120,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 2.10, 2.20, 11.30.
Also Ran: Senor Buscador, Skinner, Defunded, Piroli, Tripoli, Order and Law, Stilleto Boy. Scratched: Katonah.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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