Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Grade 1 winners Happy Saver and Hot Rod Charlie are among the nominated older horses that are scheduled to face 80-1 upset Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike in the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2), which comes five weeks in advance of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

Rich Strike, owned by RED TR-Racing and trained by Eric Reed, finished sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and fourth in the Travers (G1) but returns to Churchill Downs where he is a perfect 2-for-2, including his unforgettable three-quarter of a length triumph over divisional leader Epicenter on the first Saturday in May.

The 3-year-old colt by Keen Ice would become the first Derby winner to return to Churchill Downs since Mine That Bird finished eighth in the 2010 Firecracker (G2) at age 4.

Rich Strike will face older horses for the first time in the Lukas Classic. Two of the top likely entrants in the race are Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Happy Saver, runner-up in this year's Alysheba (G2), Metropolitan (G2) and Whitney (G1), and Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Bill Strauss and Gainesway Thoroughbreds' $5 million earner Hot Rod Charlie, the 2021 Derby runner-up who finished second in this year's Dubai World Cup (G1) and third in the Whitney (G1).

Likely entrants for the Lukas Classic, according to Churchill Downs' Assistant Racing Secretary and Stakes Coordinator Dan Bork are: Dynamic One (trainer Todd Pletcher), Happy Saver (Pletcher), Hot Rod Charlie (Doug O'Neill), King Fury (Kenny McPeek), Last Samurai (Wayne Lukas), and Rich Strike (Reed).

The Lukas Classic is the co-headliner on Saturday's card along with the 30th running of the $300,000 Ack Ack (G3), which is a “Win and You're In” event for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Likely Ack Ack entrants, according to Bork, are: Injunction (Carlo Vaccarezza), Senor Buscador (Todd Fincher), Speaker's Corner (Bill Mott), Three Technique (Jason Cook), and Untreated (Todd Pletcher).

Entries for Saturday's card will take place Wednesday.

The post Grade 1 Winners Happy Saver, Hot Rod Charlie Likely To Face Rich Strike In Lukas Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

By Tim Wilkin/Parx Racing

James A. Shannon Jr.'s That's Right cruised to a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday's 18th running of the $300,000 Turf Monster Stakes (G3) at Parx Racing.

The win gave trainer Michael Moore and apprentice jockey Andy Hernandez the first graded stakes victories of their careers. Moore, who has been training since 2013, said he thought this was the first graded stakes race he has ever entered.

That's Right, a 3-year-old son of Goldencents, took command from the start in the five-furlong turf stakes on the grass for 3-year-olds and up. He ran the first quarter in :22.42 and the half in :45.36. Uncle Ernie, the 2-1 favorite, attempted to keep up with jockey Joel Rosario but That's Right found his best stride on the turn and spurted ahead and no one could catch him. That's Right won in :57.66 over the firm turf.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice in the field of 11, That's Right returned $7.40. Boat's a Rockin and jockey Tyler Conner finished second, a half-length in front of Dr. Duke and Edwin Gonzalez. They were followed home by Grooms All Bizness, Smooth B, Breezy Gust, Heroes Reward, Extreme Force, Uncle Ernie, West Fork and War Tocsin.

That's Right has won four of five starts on the grass.

Winning jockey Andy Hernandez: “I know that horse is pretty quick. Today, he did not go like before, like 4 or 5 lengths in front. He broke a little green, I said, 'oh my gosh, he relaxed the first quarter.' I had a little bumping and he picked it up. This horse is fast. You open the gate, you go to the lead.”

On winning his first graded stakes: “I was pretty excited. I am more excited because being a bug boy, not every trainer takes a chance in a graded stakes race with an apprentice. One more month I will lose the bug. This will help my business.”

Winning trainer Michael Moore: “I told a couple people say before the race that if someone is laying on him or near him, we're in trouble. Andy did a great job of settling him down. That's why he finished so well and it worked out great. I thought he might have had a couple lengths on them and he really didn't. After they broke, I was kind of like, 'come on, Andy, go.' He knew better. He really looked like he took off the turn and won the race on the turn.

“This was my first graded stakes win. I don't even know if I have run in another one. It's easier to run at your own track than shipping. To come here on our greatest day, it's a great thing. We were disappointed in the Saratoga race (sixth behind Big Invasion in the Aug. 14 Mahony Stakes). Big Invasion is a very good horse, but we did not run our race. We thought he would run better today and he did.”

Leaving apprentice on for graded stakes: “Believe, me, you get people saying, 'all these good riders coming in here, you don't want to use one of these guys?' He has done nothing wrong on him, he helps me a lot in the morning. We stuck with him.

Could the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint be next? “I don't know. I don't know if he is that good. It would be nice. Five-eighths he can be dominant. Five and a half, with those good horses, he might get late in the race. This worked out good.”

Jockey Tyler Conner (Boat's a Rockin, second): “The horse ran very well. He broke very well. I knew I'd be kind of close; I didn't know I'd be with the leaders, but I thought if I could get close to them I'd have a chance. I wish he would switch leads to the right lead. He was left lead the whole way, which might hurt him a little bit. Overall I can't complain. He hadn't run short in a very long time. He might win at 5 ½. And if he switches leads he might get there, too.”

Jockey Edwin Gonzalez (Dr. Duke, third): “He went on really good. My trainer told me [That's Right] might go too fast in front, and I saw them and tried to make a move to push on and win the race. He was closing good.”

The post That’s Right Dominates In Turf Monster, Provides Trainer, Jockey With First Graded Wins appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Taiba stormed down the center of the track and won the $1-million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) as Zandon closed last on the rail to take second Saturday at Parx Racing.

Sent away the favorite under Mike Smith, Taiba won by three lengths and covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.67. He entered the race after finishing a head second to Cyberknife in the TVG Haskell Stakes (G1) Aug. 23 at Monmouth Park but bested that rival Saturday as Cyberknife was third, 3 3/4 lengths back.

Taiba, who trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Zedan Racing, Stables, is by Three Chimneys Farm resident sire Gun Runner, whose 3-year-old daughter Society won the $1-million Cotillion one race earlier of the card.

Taiba returned $4.80.

The post Favorite Taiba Wins Pennsylvania Derby, Caps Grade 1 Double On Parx Card For Sire Gun Runner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Peter Blum Thoroughbreds homebred Society stormed to an all-the way victory in the $1-million Cotillion Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday, leaving favorite Secret Oath toiling in her wake as Morning Matcha roared past in the stretch for second.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Society won by 5 3/4 lengths and covered 1 1/16 miles in 1.42.94 on fast track while earning an automatic, fees-paid berth to $2 million Breeders' Cup Longines Distaff (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland as the Cotillion is part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” series.

Morning Matcha finished two lengths in front of Secret Oath, the 2-1 favorite in the field of nine.

Society has five wins from six career starts, her lone defeat being a troubled fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga. The Gun Runner filly rebounded to win the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 25. Her blowout win Saturday provided trainer Steve Asmussen a fifth Cotillion win.

Kentucky-bred Society, who returned $17.60, was produced by the Tapit mare Etiquette.

The post Society Blitzes Cotillion In Front-Running Romp, Secret Oath Third appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post