Rising Star Holds Big Figure Edge in Iroquois

If he comes close to replicating his last two speed figures, it’s going to be pretty tough for anyone to best TDN Rising Star‘ Therideofalifetime (Candy Ride {Arg}) in Churchill’s GIII Iroquois S.–which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Stephen Fidel homebred was second to Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music) going five panels here June 19 before breaking through by 8 1/4 lengths at Keeneland July 11, good for an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. He was most recently second to Jackie’s Warrior in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7, but the 81 Beyer he earned for that effort towers over his competition. Next-fastest on figures is the tough-to-read Dreamer’s Disease (Laoban). Hailing from the first crop of New York-based Laoban (Uncle Mo), the Southern Equine Stables homebred was a distant last after a rough journey sprinting at Ellis July 2. He switched to the turf and stretched out at the Pea Patch Aug. 8, and looked like a completely different horse, romping by four lengths, good for a 78 Beyer. Super Stock (Dialed In) and Pico d’Oro (Curlin) are the two who boast prior stakes wins. The former annexed the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Aug. 11, while the latter–also bred by Southern Equine and eventually acquired for $255,000 at OBSMAR–broke his maiden with a strong pace set-up in the seven-furlong Runhappy Juvenile S. at Ellis Park Aug. 9. The remaining seven cast members all enter off maiden-breaking outings on the Ellis main track. One to have on the radar is Thomas Humphries-owned and trained Belafonte (Tonalist), who blew the break in his Aug. 2 unveiling in the slop but uncorked an impressive turn move to win going away at 49-1. The $20,000 FTKOCT bargain buy will sport blinkers for the first time.

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Uncle Mo Filly Girl Daddy Earns Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Berth With Pocahontas Score

Albaugh Family Stables' Girl Daddy collared dueling leaders Inject and Mania at the head of stretch and then repulsed a bid from favored Crazy Beautiful to win the 52nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Pocahontas for 2-year-old fillies by two lengths at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and take the first step toward the 2021 running of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Joe Talamo, Girl Daddy covered the mile on the fast main track in 1:34.94. The victory was a record-setting fourth in the Pocahontas for Romans who previously won with Sara Louise (2008), Sassy Image (2009) and Cristina's Journey (2014).

Girl Daddy picked up 10 points toward next year's Oaks with the second- through fourth-place finishers picking up four, two and one point, respectively.

The victory also earned Girl Daddy a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to be run Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

Inject and Mania led the field of nine through fractions of :22.22 and :44.97 as Talamo had Girl Daddy racing in the second tier on the outside. Moving three-wide at the head of the lane, Girl Daddy shot to the lead and got the jump on Crazy Beautiful who was caught in traffic.

“What a talented filly she is,” said Talamo. “In the paddock Dale (Romans) just said to ride her like I did last time. Fortunately, it worked out that way.  I just let her do her thing. It's crazy that they went in :44 and change. The way she was going, it felt like :46 and change. That's how you know you're on a good one. Her mind is what makes her so talented. When she won at Ellis Park she acted like she had run 12 times. It was the same thing today. She was on the muscle, but in a good way.”

Girl Daddy is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Unbridled's Song mare Cara Marie. Now perfect in two starts, Girl Daddy picked up the winner's share of $119,040 and increased her bankroll to $141,240.

“This filly was super impressive with that fast pace up front,” said Romans. “They were running really fast but Joe (Talamo) got her in a great spot. She's shown some incredible talent for this stage of her career. It's exciting having a filly developing this quickly. We're thrilled to only have to take a short trip down the road to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup.”

Girl Daddy returned $8.60, $3.60 and $3.20. Crazy Beautiful, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $3 and $2.60 with Alexandria finishing another 3 3/4 lengths back in third and paying $5 to show under Gerardo Corrales.

It was another 5 3/4 lengths back to Xtrema who was followed in order by Fabricate, Mania, American Grace. Inject and Blissful Change.

Friday's 13-race program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern) is headlined by the 146th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). In addition to the Oaks, five other graded stakes are on tap including the $500,000 La Troienne  (G1) for fillies and mares that features 2018 Eclipse Award winner and Kentucky Oaks winner Monomoy Girl.

“We're thrilled to only have to take a short trip down the road to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup,” said Dale Romans, trainer of Girl Daddy

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C Z Rocket Rolls To Fourth Straight In Pat O’Brien Stakes At Del Mar

Tom Kagele's C Z Rocket, a classy, old veteran who seems to have found a new lease on life since he was claimed by trainer Peter Miller for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park in April, continued his rebirth at Del Mar Saturday when he went gamely through the stretch to capture the Pat O'Brien Stakes by half a length at the seaside track near San Diego, Calif.

The 6-year-old gelded son of City Zip won his fourth race in a row since the claim, the previous three having come against claiming and allowance company in Kentucky. He picked up a check for $90,000 from the $150,000 purse in the Grade II stake that pushed his bankroll up to $431,641.

The bay ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.25 and, as the 11-10 favorite, paid $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20 across the board. Finishing second was Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing's Flagstaff, while Dan Agnew, Gerry Schneider and John Xitco's Law Abidin Citizen ran third.

“We saw that he'd been breaking slow in his races, so we were prepared for that,” said winning rider Flavien Prat. “But he broke well today and we were right in the race. Then the pace wasn't that fast (:23.10  :46.04  1:10.06), so we were right there. When I asked him, he was good. He's a willing horse.”

The victory added more accolades to an accolade-filled summer for his rider and trainer. Prat registered his 12th stakes win of the meet, just one away from the Del Mar record of 13 set by Rafael Bejarano in 2012. Miller picked up his fifth stakes win of the session and his meet-leading 22nd tally in the 21st day of racing.

“He broke well and usually he doesn't,” said Miller. “The pace was slow and Flavien had him in the perfect spot. Tom Kagele (owner) actually called me (about claiming the horse) and I said, 'His form is bad right now, but he's a runner.' You could see he had run some really fast races. I like old class horses that have shown talent. If you can get them going in the right direction they can run back to

The O'Brien was a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” race guaranteeing the victor entry into the $2-million BC Dirt Mile with all fees paid. That race will be run on Saturday, November 7, at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

In the day's Pick Six bet, a two-day $247,091 carryover stirred the pot and drew $1,167,066 in “new” money to the pool. After Facts Matter paid $9.00 for winning the 11th and final race on the card, there were 147 tickets with all six winner, each paying out $5,941.60.  There will be a “Jackpot” carryover into Sunday's card of $186,553.

Racing resumes Sunday starting at 2 p.m. PT. There also will be a Monday racing card this week with the same 2 p.m. post.

 

 

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C Z Rocket Secures BC Dirt Mile Berth in Pat O’Brien

The late money proved to be the right money, as C Z ROCKET (g, 6, City Zip–Successful Sarah, by Successful Appeal) sat three wide off the pace, loomed up outside of his chief market rival Flagstaff (Speightstown) at the quarter pole, dueled heads apart into deep stretch and inched away late to win Saturday’s GII Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar and with it, a berth in the starting gate for the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland Nov. 7. Claimed for $40,000 out of a fifth-place effort for Frank Fletcher and trainer Al Stall, Jr. at Oaklawn Park Apr. 30, the bay added victories at Churchill Downs in May and June and was exiting a 3/4-length allowance success at Keeneland July 12. O-Tom Kagele; B-Farm III Enterprises LLC (FL); T-Peter Miller.

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