Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Emory Hamilton's homebred Pleasant Passage overcame rainy conditions and a yielding turf course in Saturday's $200,000 Miss Grillo (G2) with a gate-to-wire three-quarter-length victory at Aqueduct that could catapult her to the Breeders' Cup on November 4.

Contested at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies on the inner turf course during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet, the Miss Grillo was a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Keeneland.

A surprise 15-1 winner as a first-time starter on August 21 at Saratoga Race Course for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, Pleasant Passage again flew under the radar in the Miss Grillo despite attracting the services of meet-leading rider Irad Oritz Jr.

Sent off at odds of 9-1, the More Than Ready filly was a distant fourth choice in the wagering but immediately made her presence felt as she broke alertly and showed more early speed than in her debut when she settled more than a half dozen lengths off the pace and closed along the hedge at the Spa to prevail.

“She ran well in her first start from a little off the pace coming up the rail. She was very professional,” said McGaughey. “Today, there wasn't any speed in the race and she had trained sharp off her last race. Irad let her do her thing when she broke and he rode a good race on her.”

Her instant tactical advantage in the Miss Grillo was then amplified as she was allowed to set reasonable splits of :23.81 for the opening quarter-mile and :49.77 for the half before backing the pace down further to 1:14.98 for three-quarters, with only trainer Chad Brown's Free Look applying token pressure to her outside as Georgees Spirit sat in third and race favorite Be Your Best took up position in fourth.

At the top of the stretch, Pleasant Passage and Free Look separated from the remainder of the field of six, and although Free Look was a dogged pursuer of the pacesetter through the ample Big A stretch, she could make up no ground as Pleasant Passage dashed to the wire first, a three-quarter-length winner in a time of 1:45.25.

“There wasn't too much speed in the race and I knew if I could be in front that would be good for me,” said Ortiz. “It worked out well because I made the lead easily. On the backside, she was nice and relaxed. When I asked her to go, she responded and she was there for me.”

The win was Pleasant Passage's second from two career starts. The bay filly, who is out of the War Front mare Peaceful Passage, returned $21.20 on a $2 win wager and boosted her earnings to $167,750.

The Klaravich Stables colorbearer Free Look had to settle for second, two lengths clear of P.G. Johnson winner Be Your Best in third, who couldn't make any appreciable ground on the top two in the stretch.

“It was a real good effort,” Brown said of Free Look. “Obviously it was an easy pace in front of us, but we didn't have any excuse. We had dead aim the whole way. I'm real happy with the filly's effort. I'll probably go on to the next one [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf] if she comes out of this OK. Now that I have five weeks in between races, a little bit more time would benefit her.”

Stretch-out sprinter Alluring Angel closed to get fourth, and was followed home by Im Just Kiddin and Georgees Spirit.

The post ‘Irad Let Her Do Her Thing’: Pleasant Passage Wires ‘Win And You’re In’ Miss Grillo appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Last of six runners in the early going, Blazing Sevens uncoiled a determined outside rally in the stretch and won the $500,000 Champagne (G1) for 2-year-olds by 3 1/4 lengths Saturday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

With Flavien Prat riding for trainer Chad Brown, Blazing Sevens covered one mile on a sloppy (sealed) in 1:37.07

Verifying was second, ,and favorite Gulfport was third. Early pacesetter Andiamo a Firenze faded to fourth.

The Champagne is a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win And You're In” qualifier, providing Blazing Sevens an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.

Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens became the fourth Champagne winner for Brown, who captured the race previously with Practical Joke [2016], Complexity [2018] and Jack Christopher [2021].

Blazing Sevens' victory provided Hill 'n' Dale Farms' first-crop sire Good Magic his first Grade 1 winner. He returned $19.

Blazing Sevens made his first two career starts at Saratoga, garnering an 85 Beyer in his 6 1/4-length maiden score on July 24. He followed with a distant third in the Hopeful (G1) there on Sept. 5 but was ready to win in a top effort Saturday.

G1 Champagne Quotes

A “Win And You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Chad Brown, winning trainer of Blazing Sevens (No. 5, $19): “It's such a reward because he [Good Magic, sire of Blazing Sevens] was unlucky in the [2017] Champagne himself. I thought he was very unlucky, actually. It was some good karma for us today that his son was able to get his head in front in the Champagne and win like he did. He's been a wonderful horse to get along with. He's all class. I want to thank Pete Bradley for picking him out and John and Carla Capek, the owners. This is their second year in owning horses and they're lovely people, very deserving. If he comes out healthy, it's on to the Breeders' Cup.

On the sloppy and sealed main track: “I was worried. After the Hopeful, I told the owners I was planning on going to the Breeders' Futurity [at Keeneland] and I called an audible last week after his work. I felt like he was doing so well and a legit Breeders' Cup candidate. I was dying to get him around two turns, but I would rather have the five week's rest and not four. So I decided to ship him here and, sure enough, the hurricane came north and I was sick over it the last two days. I was already committed here, so I stuck with it and thankfully, he handled the mud here today. Maybe it was a Saratoga thing last time, I'm not really sure. He didn't run bad last time, he just wasn't himself. Today, he was moving through perfectly.

“My only cause for concern was when he went inside on the turn, I commented to the owners during the race that at least he's getting a clean trip on the outside and moving into the clear. Well, when he moved to the inside I didn't know if it was going to work out when he start getting splattered with mud. He persevered and moved through it and when he [Flavien Prat] got him clean again in the stretch, he certainly looked good.

On his third-place effort in the Grade 1 Hopeful: “I could tell he hated the track. The fact that he got third and galloped out OK was amazing because Manny [Franco] told us that day he hated the track and that he never felt good under him. These young horses, you're always learning about. They're going to catch different surfaces. These are inexperienced horses and you're going to learn a lot about them as you go. Sometimes it's going to go your way and other times you're going to have to retreat. Today, it went our way and this horse moved forward.

“He's looking for two turns, this horse. I can't wait to get him around two turns; you just need everything to go right. He's got some time with five weeks. We have to get through a lot of hurdles, he needs to ship good, get a good post and all those things. This isn't our first rodeo, so hopefully he can emulate his daddy and cap off a championship year with a win in the Breeders' Cup.”

Flavien Prat, winning jockey aboard Blazing Sevens (No. 5): “He had a good trip. He broke well and he got himself into the race. I was traveling really well on the backside and decided to drop myself in and try to save some ground a bit. He was traveling really well all the way around and when I tipped him out and he changed leads, he really changed gears as well.

“We really felt the horse would like the distance. We were hoping for some solid pace and hopefully it would come back for him today to make a run, and that's what happened. The pace was pretty fair. I think he jumped well getting himself into the race without me rushing him, so I think that was key today.”

On his wide run down the stretch: “I was going to go around [to the outside] but turning for home it felt like the inside kind of shifted out and I got a little wider than I wanted to. But that was my game plan and that point I was already committed.

Joel Rosario, jockey aboard runner-up Verifying (No. 3): “He was handling it fine, but getting into the turn I had to ride him a little bit to get him going. He got a little laid back at that point, but he did great. He looked like he was going to go on. But it was his first time going long so it was a good effort I thought.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey aboard third-place Gulfport (No. 6): “I just think he didn't love the wet track. He didn't love it last time at Saratoga and he didn't love it today. He was off the bit too early. I had to start asking him a little before the three-eighths pole and it took him a while to get running. I want to see him run on a dry track and we'll go from there.

“He stayed there and never quit on me, but he's been unlucky with the weather the last two times.”

Winning margin: 3 1/4 lengths

Final time (one mile): 1:37.07

Fractions: 23.32, 47.09, 1:11.86

Full order of finish: 5-3-6-1-4-2

The post Good Magic’s Son Blazing Sevens Goes Last To First In ‘Win and You’re In’ Champagne appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Using his trademark front-running style, favorite Life Is Good set a comfortable pace throughout the $500,000 Woodward (G1) then shook off a challenge from Law Professor in early stretch and cruised to victory Saturday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Todd Pletcher, Life Is Good was sharp from the gate and coasted through the lane to win by 1 1/4 lengths while covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.57 on a sloppy (sealed) track. He returned $2.10

Law Professor, who tracked from third before bidding for the lead nearling the home turn, hung on for second, 10 1/4 lenghts in front of third-place finisher Keepinmind. Informative, who stalked from second early on, finished last in the four-horse field.

Life Is Good set moderate fractions of :24.40, :48:60, and 1:13.07 for six furlongs. The mile went in 1:37.24 with Law Professor posing a brief threat to his outside, but he could not catch the winner.

A 4-year-old Into Mischief colt, Life Is Good came into Saturday's race off a gate-to-wire, two-length triumph in the Whitney (G1) going the same distance August 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

Pletcher said Life Is Good likely ship Monday afternoon to Keeneland, site of the $6-million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5.

Campaigned by WinStar Farm and CHC Inc., Life Is Good posted his fourth win at the highest level, including last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar and the 2022 Pegasus World Cup (G1) over Horse o the Year Knicks Go in his season debut, and eighth overall graded stakes victory while improving his career line to 9-1-0 from 11 starts.

Bred in Kentucky by Mary and Gary West Stable Inc., Life Is Good was sold out of the Paramount Sales consignment for $525,0000 to China Horse Club and Maverick Racing at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His dam is the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk, who has a yearling Candy Ride colt as well as a full brother to Life Is Good born this year.

G1 Woodward Quotes

Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Life Is Good (No. 1, $2.10*): “You could tell going into the first turn he had his ears straight up and was really relaxed. That was good, but it also maybe plays against his strength a little bit to be that turned off. Part of his brilliance is being able to go fast and keep going. It was the logical tactics for today, but I don't think it's his preferred running style. His real weapon is his high-cruising speed and the ability to keep going.

“I was confident that he would respond when asked, but it was his first time over a sealed off track, and this track has not been playing real fast since the meet began. Any time you're a prohibitive favorite like that, you're concerned about those things.

“This was one of those, where there was only one satisfactory outcome and that's to win. We wanted to make sure we did that, while also keeping in mind that we have a bigger goal in five weeks so we tried to balance that out the best we could.

On third-place Keepmeinmind: “Tough scenario for him, he's obviously a horse that will enjoy a little more pace.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., winning jockey aboard Life Is Good (No. 1): “He's quick out of there. There was not too much speed in the race and the first part of the race, there was a lot of water – we got a lot of rain. I wanted to get off the rail and was able to do it. He broke fast, and he stayed there [on the lead] the whole time.

“The track didn't help too much – it's not that fast. He relaxed and I didn't have use him [too much]. He just was quiet, he was relaxed and we waited and he gave me everything he had from the quarter pole to the wire. If I asked him a little earlier, he could go faster and keep going.

“The way he relaxed today, he can do anything. That's the good thing about him. He's getting older and his mind is doing much better. I asked him pretty good from the quarter-pole to the wire, but he responded well.”

Elliott Walden, CEO and racing manager of winning co-owner WinStar Farm of Life Is Good (No. 1): “Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] said maybe he was a little too turned off today. He was so keen in the Whitney, he wanted to make sure to keep him relaxed. Handling the mud is a relief more than anything.

“Constitutions, you never take them lightly and Law Professor ran the race of his life. It was a great race by him. Constitutions love the mud, so I figured he'd give him a good run. He drew away from him comfortably. We wanted to win, but we didn't want to put on a show. It's on to the next one.

“Irad was intent on getting him to relax. He was looking at the slop a little bit. The thing about him is even though he runs close to the pace or on the lead, he's very versatile. Today, they went 48 and change. In the Whitney, they went 46 and change. It doesn't matter what the fractions are, he's an incredible horse.”

Rob Atras, trainer of runner-up Law Professor (No. 2): “I'm very happy. This is the way he's been training and we thought he was just as good if not better on the dirt. I know it was sloppy, but we were expecting a big performance. We knew what we were up against in running against Life Is Good. He probably ran just as good or better than we thought.

“I knew the fractions were a little soft, but it was definitely a thrill on the turn. We've seen Life Is Good get a little bit late going a mile and an eighth or further. He obviously had enough horse to hold us off. Just to run with a horse like that is exciting.

“[The Grade 2 Fayette on October 29 at Keeneland] is only 29 days so we'll see how he comes out of it. We wanted to get a race in between and not have to ship, so that's the plan.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey aboard runner-up Law Professor (No. 2): “It was perfect. We had a great trip and he broke well. Life Is Good went to the lead as expected and I sat behind most of the time. I was ready to punch by the three-eighths pole and I was traveling really nicely. He handled the track very good today and Rob [Atras] did an amazing job. He was ready and he put in a huge effort. I'm very happy with him moving forward.

“Heading to the quarter-pole, I thought I had a big shot to win it. But then Life Is Good hit another gear.”

Winning margin: 1 1/4 lengths

Final time (1 1/8 miles): 1:49.57

Fractions: 24.40, 48.60, 1:13.07, 1:37.24

Full order of finish: 1-2-4-5

The post Life Is Good Cruises To Victory In Woodward appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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