Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory

After numerous close defeats in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup including a disqualification from victory in last year's edition, trainer Todd Pletcher secured the elusive win Saturday when Wertheimer and Frere's unbeaten sophomore Happy Saver rode the rail to victory in the prestigious classic-distance race at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Pletcher, who had finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup previously with Keen Ice [2017], Palace Malice [2013], Stay Thirsty [2012], Quality Road [2010], Lawyer Ron [2007] and Newfoundland [2004], saddled Vino Rosso in last year's running. Vino Rosso crossed the wire first but was ultimately disqualified to second for interference with Code of Honor in the stretch run.

Pletcher said the long-awaited victory with the son of Super Saver was welcome.

“That was a race that had been alluding us for a while,” Pletcher said. “I thought we broke through last year only to be disqualified. Not only had we not won it, but we had seven seconds, a number of which were very close. It was a very rewarding win for the whole team and it was nice to do it for the Wertheimers, who have been loyal supporters of ours for a long time. He's by Super Saver and out of a mare we trained, so it was a great win all the way around.

“He looks good,” Pletcher said the morning after Happy Saver's win. “He seemed to bounce out of everything well. He's a little bit tired, which I would expect after running a race like that. It seems like he's in good shape.”

Following a debut victory on June 20 at Belmont Park, Happy Saver bested older winners going two turns at Saratoga en route to a triumph in the September 7 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, ahead of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he earned a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pletcher praised his newly minted Grade 1-winner on being able to make such a swift climb up the ladder.

“What he's been able to accomplish you don't see very many other horses do,” Pletcher said. “He went from a seven-furlong maiden on June 20 to a mile and an eighth allowance at Saratoga, to a mile and an eighth stake at Laurel and came back to Belmont and then to win a Grade 1 going a mile and a quarter against older horses is something you don't see very often.”

In winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” event, Happy Saver earned an all-fees paid entry into the Grade 1, $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, which Pletcher said is under strong consideration.

“That's what we're going to think about,” Pletcher said. “We'll see how he bounces out of this and let him take us there when he wants to. Speaking to the Wertheimers last night, they're in no rush and they plan on racing him next year.”

Should Happy Saver make the trip for the Breeders' Cup, he would seek to give Pletcher a second straight win in the Classic after winning last year's edition at Santa Anita with Vino Rosso. Wertheimer and Frere have never won the Classic, but owned Breeders' Cup heroes Halfbridled, who took the 2003 Juvenile Fillies for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, and international superstar Goldikova who captured three consecutive runnings of the Mile from 2008-10.

Happy Saver's sire Super Saver gave Pletcher his first triumph in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2010 after a slew of placings.

“I don't see a lot of similarities,” Pletcher said. “The one thing I would say is that from a physical standpoint, they're both very good-looking and well-balanced horses. Super Saver could get a little intense in the paddock and this one is more laid back.”

Other possible Breeders' Cup contenders for Pletcher include Grade 1-winners Valiance [Distaff] and Halladay [Mile] as well as impressive maiden winner Likeable [Juvenile] and Grade 2 Bourbon winner Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf].

Pletcher also spoke of recent first out maiden winner Malathaat, who gave Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 2,000th win at Belmont Park, and said that the $100,000 Tempted on November 6 going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct could be in play for the regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.

“I thought she ran really well the other day,” Pletcher said. “She's obviously bred to be a very nice filly.”

The post ‘A Rewarding Win For The Whole Team’: Pletcher Reflects On Happy Saver’s Rapid Ascent, Jockey Club Gold Cup Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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After Futurity Upset, Second Of July Likely Heading To Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

After springing a 68-1 upset in his career debut, Bryan Hilliard's homebred Second of July again outran his odds displaying off-the-pace tactics to score a 15-1 victory in Sunday's 130th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Futurity going six furlongs over the Widener turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

In taking the Futurity, Second of July earned an all-fees paid entry into the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 6 at Keeneland.

Trained by Phillip Gleaves, Second of July was further off the pace in the Futurity than he was in his September 20 maiden special weight victory over Belmont's inner turf, where he was 1 1/2 lengths off the lead before surging to win by three-quarters of a length. On Sunday, the chestnut son of Jack Milton settled in sixth under jockey Dylan Davis while Momos and Gypsy King wrestled for control of the pace through opening fractions of 22.10 and 45.45 over the firm turf.

The field was tightly packed as they made their way around the far turn, where Second of July was trying to find real estate. Just past the quarter pole, Davis tipped one path to the outside and in the clear and began asking more from his charge. On the front end, Momos and Gypsy King were still duking it out with County Final to their outside with a chance as Second of July bid five-wide in the stretch.

After Five unleashed a late bid to the far outside, but Second of July made his way to the front just inside the sixteenth pole and came home a half-length winner in a time of 1:09.33. After Five, who was last at the top of the stretch in search of racing room, took second as the beaten favorite over Momos, who ran third against graded stakes company for a second straight time.

Davis, who piloted Second of July to both of his victories, said he felt a difference in the horse's maturity level from his first start.

“The first time out, he was pretty green about everything,” Davis said. “Today, he was very professional and I hope he will be third time out. He was a lot better with the gate and the pony and the whole race scenario. He was a lot better for me. First time out, there were some heavy hitters and that's why he was a longshot. He ran great that day and he ran well again today. He was moving up in class and we were asking a lot of him. Phil did a great job getting him here.”

Second of July rewarded his backers with $2 win payouts of $33 as the highest price in the seven-horse field. Banking $55,000 in victory, he increased his earnings to $89,650 being unbeaten in two starts.

Gleaves said he was cautiously optimistic in his horse's chances.

“I knew he was very fit and sharp and doing good, so I knew he would run his race, but I just wasn't sure if it was going to be good enough, but it turned out to be,” Gleaves said. “I was happy to see he had so much horse coming around the turn and at that point I knew we were going to run well. He just wore them down. Dylan does such a great job. There would be no reason to change things at the Breeders' Cup.”

Gleaves said a trip to the Breeders' Cup is likely in play.

“All being well and if the horse is OK, we will head to the Breeders' Cup,” Gleaves said.

Completing the order of finish were County Final, Gypsy King, Trade Deal and Bright Devil. Sky's Not Falling, Newbomb, Kentucky Knight and Nutsie were scratched.

A Kentucky homebred, Second of July is named after owner Bryan Hilliard's son Reed's date of birth and is the third offspring out of the Curlin mare Wichita.

Live racing resumes on Monday with a nine-race program. First post is 12:50 p.m.

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Following Breakthrough Frizette Win, Hamm Looking Forward To First Breeders’ Cup Start

Through the first three races of her career, Dayoutoftheoffice has handled every challenge. Stretched out for a third consecutive time and moving into Grade 1 company, the daughter of Into Mischief won the $250,000 Frizette for juvenile fillies going one mile on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont Park, N.Y.

A debut winner going 4 1/2 furlongs in May at Gulfstream Park, trainer and co-owner Timothy Hamm entered her against more challenging competition for her second start, resulting in a six-length triumph in the Grade 3 Schuylerville going six furlongs on July 16 at Saratoga Race Course. Bolstered by that effort, Hamm stretched her out again for her Grade 1 bow Saturday, and Dayoutoftheoffice responded with a two-length score in the Frizette, earning an all-fees paid berth to the Grade 1, $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 6 at Keeneland.

“She came out of the race good and ate everything up and looks good this morning,” said Hamm, who co-owns the horse with Siena Farm, her breeder. “She makes it seem easy. You get so many of these horses that whatever you try, it doesn't seem to work. Then you get these good ones and it makes it seem like a real easy job.”

Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Dayoutoftheoffice completed the Frizette by outkicking the favorite Vequist, earning a personal-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure. After handling increased distance in every start, Hamm said he is confident the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' 1 1/16-mile distance won't be a major impediment next month.

“Her demeanor is great. She's very calm and very push-button,” Hamm said. “She'll do whatever the rider asks her to in the mornings, so she's easy to train. That's the best thing about her. You never have to worry about her eating. When she trains, she does it exactly the way you want her to do it.

“We always thought she wanted more ground,” he added. “I have all the confidence she can handle the mile and a sixteenth. She's trained like it and she acts like it.”

Hamm will be saddling his first-ever Breeders' Cup contender, adding a milestone to a career that started with his first victory with Rose Colored Lady at River Downs in 1996.

“It's very exciting. This is what we all work for,” Hamm said. “All the trainers work to get in spots like this. Whether you're at the top of the training class or the bottom, everyone's goal is to get horses in great spots. It's special.”

Hamm picked up his first career Grade 1 win and his fourth graded stakes victory overall, joining Joanies Bella [2001 Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie] and Afternoon Stroll [2009 Grade 3 Appalachian]. Dayoutoftheoffice ended an 11-year graded stakes drought with her Schuylerville score and gave Hamm a win in the prestigious Frizette, which has seen 13 previous winners earn the Eclipse Award as Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.

“It's awesome. I always thought I'd win a few Grade 1s and you wonder when the first one would come,” Hamm said. “You do something long enough and stick to it, the odds are it's going to happen. It's great. You get it out of the way and hope you can move on for more.

“The Frizette is one of the major juvenile filly races each year,” he added. “It's one of the targets for these good fillies. In the history of our training, we've had a niche with 2-year-old fillies, so it's fitting it [first Grade 1 win] came that way.”

Hamm said Dayoutoftheoffice will head to Pennsylvania for a short respite before training at Keeneland heading up to the Breeders' Cup.

“She's going to Presque Isle and will spend four days just relaxing and getting a little R and R and we'll go down to Keeneland and train to the Breeders' Cup there,” Hamm said.

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Brown Workmates Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall Continue Preparations For Filly & Mare Turf

Peter Brant's 2018 Champion Turf Female Sistercharlie worked in tandem Sunday on the inner turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., with e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Rushing Fall covering five furlongs in 1:01.05 in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland.

“They continue to train well as a pair. They're both training towards the Breeders' Cup together,” said Brown.

Rushing Fall is a six-time Grade 1-winner after taking the Grade 1 Diana last out on August 23 at Saratoga. Sistercharlie, a seven-time Grade 1-winner, is a half-sister to recent Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass. Both mares will be retired following the Breeders' Cup.

Brown said he doesn't take the opportunity to oversee their morning breezes for granted.

“You kind of pinch yourself in the morning. We don't have too many of those training sessions left to watch,” said Brown.

Sistercharlie captured the 2018 renewal of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs, while Rushing Fall will make her second Breeders' Cup appearance following a winning effort in the 2017 Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

Klaravich Stables' Digital Age and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Michael J. Ryan's Valid Point worked in company through five-eighths in 1:01.22 Sunday on the inner turf.

The 4-year-old Valid Point, a three-time winner in seven starts, hasn't hit the board in four starts following his Grade 1 Secretariat score in August 2019 at Arlington Park.

Digital Age, a 4-year-old Invincible Spirit colt, boasts a record of five wins and two seconds from 11 starts with purse earnings in excess of $1.2 million. He captured the Grade 1 Turf Classic last out on September 5 at Churchill Downs.

“Valid Point has had a disappointing year so far, but he's training well. We'll figure it out. Digital Age will point to the Breeders' Cup Mile,” said Brown.

Digital Age is likely to face stablemates Raging Bull, Uni and Without Parole in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

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