Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Paulo Lobo would be understandably ecstatic if his talented turfer Ivar (BRZ) puts his best foot forward in Saturday's Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile.

Ivar, the resilient 6-year-old son of Agnes Gold (JPN)-May Be Now, has endured his share of hard luck over a career that has yielded an impressive 6-0-2 mark from 12 lifetime starts.

His trainer is hopeful the dark bay, a two-time Breeders' Cup Mile participant, can experience some good fortune when he goes postward in the $1 million Woodbine Mile.

“He is a very good horse, and he shows that every time,” said Lobo. “He's had a few little things happen along the way, but he always comes back and runs a strong race.”

Ivar (BRZ) is owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I. A two-time Group 1 winner in Argentina, where he began his career, he won the 2020 Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland before finishing fourth next time out in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland.

He arrives at the Woodbine Mile in winning form. On July 9, the graded stakes winner took the $100,000 Jonathan Schuster Memorial Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis, posting a one-length score in the 1 1/16-mile trek.

The road to the starting gate wasn't an easy one.

Scratched from the Maker's Mark Mile in April after Lobo felt Ivar (BRZ) wasn't quite ready, then again from the May 7 Turf Classic at Churchill due to a minor foot ailment, the horse was making his first start since a third in the Breeders' Cup Mile last November.

A win in the Schuster was anything but guaranteed.

Taking on a talented group, one that included multiple graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown, multiple graded stakes placed Duke of Hazzard (FR), and graded stakes winner Cavalry Charge, Ivar (BRZ), under Joe Talamo, rallied stoutly down the lane to earn the victory in a track-record time of 1:39.49.

“This poor horse, I mean, when he runs, he runs so hard,” praised Talamo, after the race. “He's one of those you wish you could get about six, seven races a year. All the credit goes to Paulo Lobo and his team. Every time this horse runs, he has him A+ ready to go. No difference today. It set up well for us. They had a good pace, but I was loaded the whole way and just tried to get him a good trip around there.”

“We had been pointing him to that race at Churchill Downs, but we wound up running in Indiana, and it was great because he had a very good race there,” said Lobo. “He ran huge coming from a long way off. More importantly, he came back very well from that race.”

Lobo said a third start in the Breeders' Cup Mile is on the agenda for Ivar (BRZ).

“In the Breeders' Cup last year at Del Mar, he got stuck with an outside post position and it was a very slow pace that day for that kind of race, but he still ran very hard and very strong to finish third. He was gaining at the end. Both of his Breeders' Cup races were good ones.”

For now, the focus is on another Mile.

“When he would race in Argentina, he knows very well how to run a mile with one turn,” said Lobo. “It [E.P. Taylor] reminds me a little bit of the course at San Isidro in Argentina, which he used to run on. He's very accustomed to that, so I believe he will enjoy the course at Woodbine.”

As will the Brazilian-born Lobo, who will be making his second visit to Canada's Showplace of Racing.

His initial trip to Woodbine came almost 20 years ago.

“For sure I will be there. I'm coming to see him Wednesday at his barn. I came to Woodbine, but not to race, a long time ago, in 2004. I had one horse race there [Lady Preach was sixth in a maiden special weight race on August 22, 2020]. I'm looking forward to coming back.”

While his horse likely won't be prominent in the early stages of the Woodbine Mile, Lobo is hoping to see his turf star's typical late-running talents kick-in down the long E.P. Taylor stretch.

“His turn of foot is what comes to mind first for me. He can really put in a powerful late run. Hopefully, there can be some strong early pace and it will set up nicely for him.”

Joe Talamo, who has 2,256 career wins as of September 12, will be aboard on Saturday.

Trainer Mark Casse sent out back-to-back winners of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile when Tepin turned the trick in 2016 and World Approval followed suit in the next renewal.

This year, Casse looked to have a leading contender in Filo Di Arianna, who was coming off impressive victories over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup and the Grade 2 King Edward.

“He came up with a minor injury,” said Casse, who is in the midst of a grueling run at the Keeneland September yearling sales. “The good news is we caught it very early. He'll be just fine.”

And, with the Casse stable deep in quality, the trainer still has Get Smokin and March to the Arch for Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million feature which is a “Win and You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Mile, a race which the trainer won with Tepin in 2015 and World Approval two years later.

Get Smokin is a relative newcomer to the Casse ranks and finished second to subsequent Grade 1 winner (and Woodbine Mile entrant) Shirl's Speight in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in his first outing for his new interests on February 5.

A journey to Dubai was next and is best forgotten.

“That didn't go well from the start,” said Casse. “He didn't really ship over very well. He just was never happy over there. He ran a clunker, but he came back and he's run very well ever since.”

Since returning to North America, Get Smokin has been prominent in three outings with the most recent a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Fourstardave over one mile of Saratoga turf.

And while Get Smokin has done much of his running on the front end, Casse believes the 5-year-old gelding is adaptable.

“I think the race will set up nice for him,” said the trainer. 'He's going to be pretty close to the lead, but doesn't have to be on the lead, and he got a good post (No. 8).”

March to the Arch, a 7-year-old gelding who will be making his third Woodbine Mile appearance, ended fourth last year after running second in the 2020 edition while coming off a victory in the King Edward.

After finishing second while making his local 2022 bow in the Connaught Cup, the Live Oak Plantation homebred was well-backed in the King Edward but finished fourth.

“For 'March,' it's all about the turf,” said Casse. “I think his last race there was some give in the ground, and he just didn't care much for it. He needs a hard turf, and pace. Give him those two things and he's more than capable of getting it done.”

Casse also offered insight on his other stakes starters this Saturday at Woodbine.

The post Woodbine Mile: Ivar Should Display ‘Powerful Late Run,’ Casse Entrants Reliant On Pace Scenario appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Seven first-year stars, including Kevin Attard trainee Philip My Dear, take their talents to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in Saturday's Grade 1 $500,000 Pattison Summer Stakes, part of a stakes-stacked Saturday at Woodbine.

The one-mile Summer is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, “Win and You're In” event. Up for grabs is a fees-paid date in the one-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (accompanied by a $1 million purse), to be run on November 4 at Keeneland.

Attard, who won the 2001 edition with El Soprano, will look to unbeaten Philip My Dear to add another Summer title to his resume.

Rajendra Maharajh, the man behind Raroma Stables, paid $100,000 (U.S.) for the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Involuntary at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“We had to go a little high for him, but that's how the sale was,” said Maharajh. “But I'm glad we got him. Art Fisher, my very good friend in Ocala, he selected both [2-year-old filly] Courtly Ro and Philip My Dear. He also selected [2021 Woodbine Oaks winner] Munnyfor Ro, so we are doing quite well with his selections.”

After two wins in as many starts, the dark bay has lived up to his price tag, putting together a pair of pleasing performances, including an out-of-the-clouds rally to take the 6 ½-furlong Soaring Free Stakes on August 20.

Sent off as the even-money choice, Philip My Dear, under leading Woodbine rider Kazushi Kimura, weaved through traffic to notch a three-quarter length score in a time of 1:16.31 over a firm E.P. Taylor Turf Course. 

One race earlier, on July 3, the Ontario-bred (Adena Springs) split horses down the lane to earn a 1 ½-length win in the 6-furlong race, also on the E.P. Taylor. 

“He definitely makes it thrilling, that's for sure,” said Attard. “Both races were very similar. Last time, I didn't think he was going to get up there in time, but he managed to split horses and Kazushi got him there just in the nick of time. He's a very nice horse and hasn't done anything wrong to this point. We hope that trend continues.”  

Mysterious Night (IRE), a Godolphin homebred, will look for his third win in his sixth start. 

Sporting a record of 2-1-2 from five starts, the son of Dark Angel (IRE)-Mistrusting (IRE) will have William Buick in the irons once again.  

“He travelled well,” said Appleby, who paired with Godolphin to win the 2021 Summer with Albahr (GB). “He takes a nice, progressive profile into the race. He has adapted well so far to his surroundings.” 

Mark Casse will send out Ninetyfour Expos and Stayhonor Goodside in the Summer, a race he has won on four occasions. 

The Hall of Fame conditioner netted the natural hat trick from 2013-15, starting with My Conquestadory, followed by Conquest Typhoon and Conquest Daddyo. He also won with Gretzky the Great in 2020. 

First race post time on Saturday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app. 

$500,000 PATTISON SUMMER (Grade 1) – Race 7 

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer   

1 – Mysterious Night (IRE) – William Buick – Charles Appleby 

2 – Ninetyfour Expos – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse 

3 – Appraise (IRE) – Manuel Franco – Chad Brown  

4 – Chiseler – Patrick Husbands – Barbara Minshall 

5 – Sammy Stone – Declan Carroll – Catherine Day Phillips 

6 – Philip My Dear – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard 

7 – Stayhonor Goodside – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 

The post Unbeaten Philip My Dear Tops ‘Win And You’re In’ Summer Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Cairo Consort, a 2-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince-Absolutely Awesome, will face seven rookie rivals in the Grade 1 $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine.

The one-mile Natalma is part of the Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” series with the winner receiving a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland on November 4.

Cairo Consort, conditioned by Nathan Squires for owner William B. Thompson Jr., brings a two-race win streak into her latest engagement.

On July 23, the grey, bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm, broke her maiden in what was her third start, maintaining a 1 ½-length lead at the stretch call for the milestone win at 6 ½ panels on the E.P. Taylor.

One race later, on August 20, she was back in the winner's circle, this time in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes. Under Antonio Gallardo, who will be in the irons on Saturday, Cairo Consort rallied to hold a half-length advantage at the stretch call, going on to notch a 2 ½-length triumph in another 6 ½-furlong sprint over the E.P. Taylor.

“She is a laid-back filly, but always gives her heart when the gate opens,” said Squires. “It's a joy to watch her run. She's run extremely well in those past two races.”

Cairo Consort took to the Toronto oval Tapeta on May 28 for her career bow, a 5-furlong dash that resulted in a fourth-place finish. One race later, on July 2, she was fourth, 2 ½ lengths back of winner Wickenheiser, whom she'll meet again in the Natalma.

Squires knew early on that he had a talented pupil in his barn.

“She is all that we expected and more,” he said of the $95,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. “But you never know until they run. It doesn't matter what they show you in the mornings, you don't exactly know what they are and how good they are until they run. But I always had high expectations of her from the time she was a yearling. She was high on the list for Mr. Thompson and myself and we're very lucky to have her.”

A former assistant to the late Laurie Silvera, Squires put in plenty of homework ahead of the sale. He was even more impressed once he saw the filly in person and after he heard what others had to say.

“She's very athletic looking and that was one of many things that I learned, the conformation of a horse, from Laurie. He would take me around and made sure I learned, and I wanted to learn. I wasn't just interested in the training part and the pedigrees. I wanted to know about the conformation, what you could live with and what you couldn't live with. He pointed out a lot of things to me, which I use when I go to the sales. And she is a perfect example of that. I do a lot of research and remember what Laurie taught me, which really helps me. When I saw her, she just stood out.”

A video of Cairo Consort, well before her first race, caught Squires' attention.

“I tell this story and I'm pretty certain not everyone believes me. She was training at Big Easy in Ocala in December, and the couple who run the farm, Bobby and Trish, they do a fantastic job. They sent me videos of her being broke, running around in a small field, and getting prepared for her eventual racing career. One day, they sent me a video of her running in a field and there was a low-lying branch. Bobby stopped her under the tree and broke off the branch – it wasn't a twig, a good-sized branch – and it made a big sound. But she just stood there like an old pony. Most horses, even older Thoroughbreds, it would have scared them. But not her. She's always had that same demeanor. She's fearless.”

At certain times, Cairo Consort can also be feared.

There are two things in particular she has no time for.

“She looks like an athlete, and she also has that competitive fire. She walks around the barn so calm, head down, and so relaxed. But she is not without her temper. She doesn't like being tied to the wall for grooming and she doesn't like to be brushed on her right side. She will give you a fight.”

Squires hopes that fighting spirit will be on display when Cairo Consort stretches out in distance and tackles top first-year fillies in the Natalma.

He has faith his young star will step up on the big stage.

“I was in this race last year with Guileful (who finished sixth). I think our chances this year are a bit better. The way she ran last time and the way she is training into the race, I think we should have as good a shot as any.”

Kevin Attard will be represented by the trio of Courtly Ro, Last Call, and Wickenheiser.

Courtly Ro, a daughter of Cairo Prince-Victoire, finished third in her career bow and followed it up with a maiden-breaking performance on August 20.

“She's very nice,” said Attard. “We've always been very excited about her. With the extra distance, that should actually help her out as well.”

“Last Call is a maiden, who ran very well first time out,” continued Attard, of the daughter of English Channel-Over Served, owned by X-Men Racing 2 LLC and SF Racing LLC. “She should get better with a little age and distance. She's doing really well so we're going to give her a chance.”

The conditioner, who notched his first Queen's Plate win with Moira this August, completes his Natalma 'tri' with Wickenheiser, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid-Game (FR).

Owned by Clay Scherer, Al and Bill Ulwelling, and Partner, the bay was bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry.

“She won her first race and she's bred to run all day long,” noted Attard. “She was a little disappointing [fifth] in the Catch a Glimpse Stakes, but I'm just hoping the shorter distance [6 ½ furlong] compromised her. Stretching out to a mile should benefit her greatly.”

Mark Casse, who has a record seven Natalma crowns to his name, will send out Adora and Star Candy.

First race post time on Saturday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

$500,000 JOHNNIE WALKER NATALMA (Grade 1) – Race 10

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Cairo Consort – Antonio Gallardo – Nathan Squires

2 – Collecting Flatter – Justin Stein – Josie Carroll

3 – G Laurie – Manuel Franco – Graham Motion

4 – Last Call – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

5 – Adora – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

6 – Wickenheiser – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard

7 – Courtly Ro – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard

8 – Star Candy – Declan Carroll – Mark Casse

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