Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Blue Stripe Runs Away From Shedaresthedevil in Clement Hirsch

Pozo de Luna's Blue Stripe (Arg) (Equal Stripes {Arg}), a Group 1 winner in her native country, scored her first top-level win in the big leagues of American racing Saturday, conquering odds-on defending champion Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) and three other rivals in Del Mar's GI Clement L. Hirsch S. The victory in the Win and You're In qualifier punched Blue Stripe's ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Annexing the G1 Criadores last May Hipodromo in Argentina for trainer Nicolas Martin Ferro, the bay was ambitiously spotted in the Distaff in her Stateside debut and finished a well-beaten seventh. Rallying to capture the GII Santa Margarita S. Apr. 30 at Santa Anita, she was a narrow second in the GII Santa Maria S. there last out June 18.

Sent off as the 53-10 third choice in this scratched-down field, Blue Stripe settled in third as Private Mission (Into Mischief) showed the way by a length and a tail to odds-on Shedaresthedevil through a :23.18 quarter. The pacesetter let it out a bit past a half in :46.82, but the chalk came after her entering the far turn and swept past with ease midway around the bend. Blue Stripe's bid was not far off though, and she challenged Shedaresthedevil going by three-quarters in 1:11.42. Surging to the front straightening into the lane, Blue Stripe slammed the door by the eighth pole and held firm for a two-length success over Desert Dawn (Cupid), who tagged the favorite for second in the final jump.

Pedigree Notes:

Blue Stripe is one of 59 stakes winners, 49 graded/group stakes winners and 24 Grade I/Group 1 winners for influential South American sire Equal Stripes and is his first American Grade I victor. She is a half-sister to multimillionaire and 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize), who sold for $5 million to OXO Equine two days later at Fasig-Tipton November. Blues for Sale, a three-time group winner in Argentina, has a 2-year-old Suggestive Boy (Arg) filly named Blue Coast (Arg).

Saturday, Del Mar
CLEMENT L. HIRSCH S.-GI, $400,000, Del Mar, 8-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:42.97, ft.
1–BLUE STRIPE (ARG), 123, m, 5, by Equal Stripes (Arg)
1st Dam: Blues for Sale (Arg) (MGSW-Arg), by Not For Sale (Arg)
2nd Dam: Key Cure, by Cure the Blues
3rd Dam: Dancer's Key, by Key to the Mint
O-Pozo de Luna, Inc.; B-La Manija (ARG); T-Marcelo Polanco;
J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-1-2,
$461,882. *1/2 to Blue Prize (ARG) (Pure Prize), G1SW-Arg &
MGISW-USA, $2,692,253. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Desert Dawn, 119, f, 3, by Cupid
1st Dam: Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory
2nd Dam: Ashley Secret, by Dr. Carter
3rd Dam: Whatever It Takes, by Hatchet Man
($32,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O/B-H & E Ranch (AZ); T-Philip
D'Amato. $80,000.
3–Shedaresthedevil, 123, m, 5, by Daredevil
1st Dam: Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats
2nd Dam: Andria's Forest, by Forestry
3rd Dam: Andriana B., by Far North
($100,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $20,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP;
$280,000 2yo '19 KEENOV; $5,000,000 4yo '21 FTKNOV).
O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC, Qatar Racing Limited & Whisper
Hill Farm, LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$48,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HD, 17 1/4. Odds: 5.30, 6.30, 0.80.
Also Ran: Soothsay, Private Mission. Scratched: Lisette, Samurai Charm. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Golden Pal Exits Troy in Good Order

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Before the conversation began rolling, trainer Wesley Ward brought his visitors to Golden Pal (Uncle Mo)'s stall Saturday morning and pointed to the 4-year-old, who was sprawled on his side on the wood chips-covered floor.
Ward chuckled.

“Every day at this time he takes a nap,” Ward said.

Some 10 hours after the two-time Breeders' Cup winner won the GIII Troy S. at Saratoga Race Course, his first start after a rare clunker in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot in June, Golden Pal looked like a contented dog resting in front of a fireplace. A few minutes later, he was on his feet checking out what was going on in the shedrow.

“Mentally, he's really a highly intelligent horse,” Ward said. “People think you are crazy, that it's just like, 'a horse is a horse.' You see that he's up in the front of the stall. That wasn't the case at Ascot. He was in the back of the stall and when he flew home and was in his own stall in his own home he was in the back of the stall kind of sulking. It took a little while for him to come out.”

Golden Pal didn't need any cheering up after running his record at Saratoga to three-for-three, all in stakes.

“He knows he won,” Ward said.

The 5 1/2-furlong Troy was the first of Golden Pal's seven career victories in 11 starts that he was not leading at every call. Golden Pal did not leave the gate as sharply as he normally does, but the race scenario played out exactly as Ward had hoped. Under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Golden Pal stalked and pounced, edging pacesetter True Valour (Ire) (Kodiac (GB)) by a head.

Ward has been preparing for the Breeders' Cup during training, having his veteran exercise rider Julio Garcia work him behind horses in breezes. Prior to the Troy, Ward took another step.

“I had a conversation with Irad's agent, Steve Rushing,” Ward said. “I said, 'A lot of jockeys get on my horses, and they just go, because they see me, think speed and they go.' And Irad, the reason I started to ride him is that he would break and do like he did yesterday. Lately, he kind of got a little speedy with some of the horses of mine and I told Steve, 'Look, especially with this horse, let's slow down a little bit, because mine are going to be up in the forefront of the race anyways.' I said, not just him but the others, but especially this one.'”

Ward has called Golden Pal the best horse he has trained and said that the colt's speed is his greatest asset.

“If he contain it, that makes him a better horse,” Ward said. “Because if you're strictly go-to-the-front type horse, you're a victim of the pace.”

Golden Pal is scheduled to leave Saratoga Sunday for Ward's base of operations at Keeneland. The tentative plan is to prepare him to leave the turf, where he has found so much success, and run in the GII Phoenix S. on dirt Oct. 8 at Keeneland. It is intended as a showcase for breeders that he is effective on turf and dirt. He will go on to attempt a second-straight win in GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 5 at Keeneland, which is expected to be his career finale.

However, if all goes well, Ward said that the Coolmore syndicate that owns the colt might run him in Australia to expose him to breeders in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ward was pleased that Golden Pal showed that he had learned his lessons well in the Troy. Though he is accustomed to seeing Golden Pal leading the way in his races, he said he was always confident that the son of Lady Shipman (Midshipman) would catch the leader.

“I was. It was a nail-biter, but for me, I knew the greatness of this horse,” he said. “Take nothing away from the horse that he beat because he ran a really good race, but I knew when they hit that last little bit of the stretch that the greatness was going to come out of him, and it did.”

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Whitney: Life Is Good Leads All The Way, Gives Pletcher 1-2 Finish

With the summer he's having, Life Is Good could not be more appropriately-named.

The 4-year-old Todd Pletcher trainee took the lead sharply out of the gate in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 6 and never looked back, keeping daylight between himself and rivals Happy Saver and Hot Rod Charlie throughout the 1 1/8-mile contest. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., he posted fractions of :23.20, :46.84, 1:10.93, and 1:35.68 with a final time of 1:48.97.

The track was rated as good and had been harrowed ahead of the Whitney after a rain shower two races prior.

Stablemate Happy Saver came second, making it a Pletcher exacta, with Hot Rod Charlie third.

Life Is Good is co-owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club and came to this race off a July 2 win in the G2 John Nerud at Belmont. Prior to that he was fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup, which marked the only time in his ten-race career that he has finished worse than second. He is the reigning winner of the G1 Pegasus World Cup, and was also the winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile last year.

The Whitney is a Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Classic, meaning Life Is Good is now automatically qualified for a spot in that race if his connections choose to take it.

Life Is Good was a $525,000 yearling at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, where he was bought by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing from consignor Paramount Sales. He is the son of Into Mischief and Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor. he was bred by Gary and Mary West Stable.

See the full chart here.

G1 Whitney Quotes

Todd Pletcher, winning trainer of Life Is Good (No. 6, $3.70*) and runner-up Happy Saver (No. 5): “There are so many factors to worry about with heat, the humidity, the track's been playing pretty demanding, but during the race, it looked like he was always in control. I thought he was in good position. It looked like he kept finding more and I was happy to see him get there.

“When you feel like you're bringing over the best horse, you worry about everything. Today we got the rain, the deep track, the heat and humidity. All those things can be concerning, but he was able to overcome all of that and just show how brilliant he really is.

“To me it's the premier older horse race in the country outside of the Breeders' Cup Classic. So, it means a lot.

On Happy Saver: “He just kept finding. Happy Saver ran super. It looked like for a second like he was going to get right there. Johnny [Velazquez, aboard No. 5, Happy Saver] said when he had to angle him off the rail, you could tell Life Is Good kind of found a little more.

“I think we'll play it by ear and see how he bounces out of this. He put forth a big effort today and ran great. I was proud of his effort. We'll see what's next, we could wait for the Woodward or come back for the Jockey Club [Gold Cup]. We've got some options.”

Elliott Walden, president and CEO of co-owner WinStar Farm (No. 6): It felt like he was the best horse all along and he showed it today.

“It's real exciting, that's what we're here for. These kind of dreams and these kind of horses. To have [Triple Crown Champion] Justify and this horse three years later is just incredible.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., winning jockey aboard Life Is Good (No. 6): “He's a nice horse. He deserves all the credit. He does things easy. He might make things look easy but he was running since the three-quarter [pole] all the way to the wire. He was the speed of the race, honestly. He's fast out of the gate. He broke good and then I just let him do his thing.

“This means a lot. It's a great race to win. I'm happy for the connections and the horse, too. He stayed and just never quit. He was in control and the horse deserves all the credit. I just ride him and he was in the front the whole time.

“When we got to the three-quarter pole and along the backside he changed leads and he just took off. Two jumps. He was strong. After that, I didn't want to fight too much with him and he surprised me today. I just started to let him do his thing. It was a little early but I had just a little hold of him. I can't fight too much with him.

“I was clear [in the stretch]. I looked and came down a little bit. I know if he felt somebody that he would give me another run and more. I know he's coming back a little, the track is not that fast, so if he feels somebody he will fight. I know he will fight, so that is why I was looking.”

John Velazquez, jockey aboard runner-up Happy Saver (No. 5): “He [Life Is Good] was two lengths in front of me, there was nothing I could do. Even if I claimed foul there was nothing they were going to do – he was clear. Obviously, he was really clear when he went in and I pulled mine out and that was it. We just switched positions, that's all it was. He was that clear when he went in that I went outside with no trouble at all.

“I thought he ran really well. From the three-sixteenths pole, I thought I had a really good chance but the other horse had another gear. When I put him out, he stayed the same pace and the other one had another gear, so he won. “

Bill Strauss, co-owner of third-place Hot Rod Charlie (No. 2): “The effort was there. He was moving well and he always tries. He just didn't get there today. I was surprised he didn't finish second. I don't know if the winner would have been beaten today. He came back quite tired. We've been training down at Keeneland and I think if you train over this surface, it gets them fitter than being at Keeneland.

“We've talked about using the [Grade 2] Lukas Classic [on October 1 at Churchill Downs] as a prep for the Breeders' Cup, but the horse will tell us. We'll see how he trains out of this.”

Flavien Prat, jockey aboard third-place Hot Rod Charlie (No. 2): “I was pleased with my trip. He ran his race. Turning for home, I thought he was going to give me a good kick. He made a good run, but the winner never stopped.

“He broke well and I had myself where I wanted to be. He was traveling well. When I tipped him out, I thought he was going to go by.”

Junior Alvarado, jockey aboard fourth-place Olympiad (No. 4): “He didn't run at all. He didn't run his race. Not even close. If he ran his race at least I'd say, 'we finished second.' But he didn't run his race. At the half-mile I knew I was in trouble. He wasn't traveling or picking it up like he normally does.

“I gave him a chance to regroup at the three-eighths and start picking it up again to see if he would start doing it and nothing. At that point I knew he wasn't showing up. No excuses for the track [conditions]. Good horses are supposed to handle the track and anything else. That is not the excuse. If he had a problem with the track he should at least try to the eighth-pole, but he was done very early for me.”

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‘She Had A Little More Kick Than The Rest Of Them’: War Like Goddess Scores Repeat Win In Glens Falls

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess, perfectly piloted by Joel Rosario, drew away in hand to a 1 1/4-length score in Saturday's $250,000 Glens Falls (G2), a 12-furlong inner turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old English Channel mare is now 3-for-3 over the Saratoga turf, including a 3 1/4-length score in this event last year ahead of a 2 1/4-length win in the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1).

Key Biscayne set the tempo under Junior Alvarado, marking off fractions s of :25.26, :51.53 and 1:17.51 over the firm going with Petricor stalking from second and War Like Goddess tracking in fourth to the outside of Virginia Joy.

Petricor was given her cue by Jose Ortiz into the final turn as Flanigan's Cove made a wide bid from the back of the pack with Rosario still sitting chilly aboard War Like Goddess.

War Like Goddess took a three-wide route home from the top of the lane, traveling safe and in the clear of the Irad Ortiz Jr.-piloted Virginia Joy and the pacesetter as Temple City Terror and Flanigan's Cove rallied into contention. Rosario, comfortable throughout, needed to provide little urging down the lane as War Like Goddess strode home a winner in a final time of 2:29.33. Temple City Terror completed the exacta by a half-length over Virginia Joy with Flanigan's Cove, Key Biscayne, Treasure Tails, and Petricor rounding out the order of finish.

Mott praised the confident handling by Rosario, who secured his ninth graded win of the Spa summer meet.

“They were sitting on a bunch of them early, but I guess late she had a little more kick than the rest of them,” Mott said. “You always worry about if they're going fast enough up front to give her enough pace and you don't want them to have to wrestle with her to keep her back off the pace. Joel did a good job. He has good hands and the filly responded to him and when he asked her to go on, she was there for him.”

Rosario, who took over riding duties from Julien Leparoux this year, noted his mare's tremendous turn of foot.

“She's a nice horse and easy to ride. The pace was slow, but the whole time I had confidence in her and when I turned her loose and wanted to go she went,” Rosario said. “She was running really nice for me and I just had to stay with her like that. She felt the confidence at that point and I just went with that. She's just amazing. Even before I rode her, when Julien used to, I remember she just always had that kick at the end. I'm very happy with the ride.”

War Like Goddess enjoyed a tremendous 2021 campaign, posting wins in the Orchid (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Bewitch (G3) at Keeneland before her summer success at the Spa. She completed her 4-year-old season with a troubled trip in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) in November at Del Mar after a wide and rushed-up trip when finishing third, just a half-length behind the victorious Loves Only You and My Sister Nat. Rosario guided her to a stylish return win last out in the Grade 3 Bewitch (G3) in April at Keeneland.

Mott said War Like Goddess will make her next start at the Spa with either a title defense in the 11-furlong, $600,000 Flower Bowl (G2) on September 3, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; or take on the boys in the 12-furlong, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (G1) on August 27, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf.

“She's a Grade 1 winner already, but unfortunately the Flower Bowl has been a Grade 1 since I've been in New York and they downgraded it, which is a very big disappointment. There have been some real top fillies run in the race,” said Mott, a five-time Flower Bowl-winner.

Tyler Gaffalione, aboard runner-up Temple City Terror, said he was proud of his mare's effort as she improved one position from her third-place Glens Falls finish a year ago.

“It was a real gutsy performance today,” Gaffalione said. “I followed Irad and Joel most of the way around there, and when Joel started making his move, I tipped out behind him and just kind of followed him. The filly put in a big run, just second best today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm from the North Light mare Misty North, War Like Goddess banked $137,500 in victory, while improving her record to 8-0-1 from 10 starts. She returned $2.80 for a $2 win ticket.

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