Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Civil Union Earns Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Berth With Hard-Fought Flower Bowl Victory

Joseph Allen's homebred Civil Union, a 5-year-old mare by War Front, surged to the lead in deep stretch under Joel Rosario and held off a fast-finishing My Sister Nat to win Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Victory in the 1 1/4-mile turf fixture for fillies and mares earned Civil Union a fees-paid spot in the starting gate for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf as part of the Win and You're In Challenge Series. The Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Civil Union was timed in 2:01.28 for the 10 furlongs on firm turf and paid $8.10 for the win. Chad Brown, who's trained five of the last six Flower Bowl winners and six overall, took the next three positions, with My Sister Nat second, Nay Lady Nay third and Cambier Parc fourth in the field of seven.

Civil Union had only My Sister Nat beat in the early going as longshot Lovely Lucky set the pace – under intermittent pressure from Cambier Parc – through fractions of :24.62, :48.93 and 1:14.36 for the first six furlongs.

Rosario moved Civil Union into contending position along the rail heading toward the far turn, with Jose Ortiz opting for the overland route aboard My Sister Nat.

Turning into the stretch, after a mile in 1:38.27, Cambier Parc poked her head in front as Lovely Lucky fought back along the rail. Rosario switched off the rail aboard Civil Union and found a seam to the outside of Cambier Parc, and began their drive for the wire.

Ortiz was forced to go wide into the stretch, making a bold but belated run with My Sister Nat in deep stretch but ran out of ground.

The win was the fifth from eight starts and the first in a Grade 1 race for Civil Union, produced from the Unbridled's Song mare, Photograph, the latter a granddaughter of Andover Way, a G1 winner for Allen who was the dam of successful sire Dynaformer. Andover Way's grandam is Darby Dan Farm foundation mare Golden Trail.

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A Grade 1 First For Trainer Hamm As Dayoutoftheoffice Wins Frizette

Dayoutoftheoffice extended her unbeaten streak to three on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., with a command performance in Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies, a 'Win and You're In' event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The race was a fitting encore to the day's first Grade 1 event for juveniles, the one-mile Champagne, which was won impressively by the undefeated Jackie's Warrior in 1:35.42. Contested just a little more than a half hour later on the fast main track at Belmont, Dayoutoftheoffice completed a mile in the Frizette in 1:35.82, a sparkling final time that could position her to be among the favorites in next month's Juvenile Fillies.

Trained and co-owned by Tim Hamm with Siena Farm, the dark bay daughter of Into Mischief began her career with an easy win in a 4 1/2-furlong dash on May 14 at Gulfstream Park. She made her next start in the Grade 3 Schuylerville at Saratoga Race Course and despite being sent off at 19-1 odds, she exploded to a six-length score in the six-furlong sprint. Having learned their lesson in the Schuylerville, the wagering public made her the second choice in the betting in the Frizette, with runaway Grade 1 Spinaway winner Vequist inheriting the role of odds-on favorite.

Breaking from post 5 under Junior Alvarado, who was aboard Dayoutoftheoffice for her breakthrough victory in the Schuylerville in July, the Siena Farms homebred took up position in second early as stretch-out sprinter Joy's Rocket darted to the front to set the pace. With Vequist tucked in along the inside in third of a tightly packed bunch, Joy's Rocket carved out splits of 22.94 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.41 for the half.

Joy's Rocket's early advantage evaporated in a hurry around the far turn, however, as Dayoutoftheoffice made what proved to be the winning move, quickly wresting control of the lead away from the frontrunner and putting daylight between her and the rest of the field as they turned for home through three-quarters in 1:10.98

Vequist, not willing to concede defeat, launched her rally and was in hot pursuit of Dayoutoftheoffice in upper stretch, even appearing at points as if she would overtake the leader, but her chase was ultimately in vain as Dayoutoftheoffice dug in doggedly in the final eighth of a mile and hit the wire first by two lengths.

“When you ride fast horses, it makes it easy for you,” said Alvarado. “I thought it [the pace] was going to be a little more contested and I was going to stalk but I felt like I was in control of the race from where I was. I knew I had the horse in front of me [measured], so I just made sure my filly got into a nice rhythm and at the same time keep everybody where I wanted them to be. It worked out great today. When I asked her turning for home, she responded beautifully.”

Just shy of 3-1, Dayoutoftheoffice returned $7.80 on a $2 win wager and bumped her bankroll over the $200,000 mark through three career starts, all of which have been spaced out by at least a couple months.

“She's a big, scopey filly and I wanted to have some horse for the end of the year,” said Hamm, who earned the first Grade 1 win of his career in the Frizette. “The plan was to have a fresh horse for this time of the year. We wanted to just train her a little lightly and have her fresh for the fall run. Everything went according to plan.

“When you put a plan together that works – the team of Siena Farm and myself and all our assistants – you feel vindicated,” the veteran trainer added. “We all thought this filly was special when she won at 4 1/2 [furlongs] because we knew she would be able to get longer than that. She was able to get the job done today.”

While no match for the winner, Vequist ran a valiant race in defeat and proved her 9 1/2-length demolition of the Spinaway on September 6 at the Spa was no mirage. The dark bay daughter of Nyquist finished second, 10 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Cilla.

“She broke pretty nice and I thought we were in a good spot,” said Luis Saez, rider of Vequist. “When we got to the three eighths, I started asking her a little and when we got to the stretch the winner took off.

“I wish we could have been outside [instead of inside post] so I could have pressed early, but that's racing,” Saez added.

Joy's Rocket, Cantata, and Get On the Bus completed the order of finish in the 71st running of the Frizette. Fifth Risk was scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card highlighted by the 130th running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Futurity, a six-furlong turf sprint offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 6 at Keeneland. It is one of two turf stakes for juveniles on the 10-race card, with the Grade 3, $100,000 Matron for 2-year-old fillies going six furlongs also on the docket. First post is 12:50 p.m.

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Jackie’s Warrior Now 4-For-4 After Rollicking Champagne Victory

Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior kept an unblemished record intact, establishing an early lead while shaking off a challenge from Reinvestment Risk to win Saturday's 149th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 Champagne going one mile for juveniles over the main track at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The 2-year-old son of Maclean's Music improved to a perfect 4-for-4, including two Grade 1 triumphs along with the Runhappy Hopeful on September 7 at Saratoga. He earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 6 at Keeneland from his victory in the Champagne, which is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” event.

Within a few strides out of the gate, Jackie's Warrior was able to secure his usual frontrunning position under jockey Joel Rosario and recorded the opening quarter-mile in 23.12 seconds over the fast main track with Hopeful runner-up Reinvestment Risk in second and stablemate Midnight Bourbon another path to the outside in third.

Around the turn, through a half-mile in 46.54, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. launched his bid aboard Reinvestment Risk, and came close to being on even terms with Jackie's Warrior. Just outside the quarter-pole, Rosario nudged his charge a couple of times and that was all it took to get Jackie's Warrior to extend his advantage.

Jackie's Warrior opened up by three lengths in the stretch and was geared down just past the sixteenth pole, crossing the wire a 5 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:35.42. Reinvestment Risk finished 8 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Midnight Bourbon.

Civil War, Run Casper Run, and Ambivalent rounded out the order of finish.

“He's a beautiful horse; a big horse, and it looks like everything he does is easy for him,” Rosario said. “I was very confident that he could get the mile. I felt confident the whole way. He just enjoyed what he was doing.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior, who returned $3.70 for a $2 win bet as the favorite, banked $137,500 in victory which enhanced his lifetime earnings to $402,564.

Prior to his pair of Grade 1 scores, he was a 2 1/2-length winner on debut on June 19 at Churchill Downs before taking the Grade 2 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite on August 7 by three lengths.

“He had an easy half-mile and I'm surprised he came home that quick. He's very impressive,” said Asmussen's Belmont Park-based assistant Toby Sheets. “He's a class act and does everything correct. The one-turn mile certainly didn't seem to bother him.”

The Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile will be Jackie's Warrior first two-turn engagement, which Rosario said should be no problem for the unbeaten juvenile.

“I tried to get him away from there quickly and get position. I think the further he goes the better. He seemed to do it very easy today and I was very confident in him,” Rosario said. “I wanted to be a little out in front, so he had confidence, and it looked like he liked that. I let him do whatever he wanted to do. He breaks two lengths in front of everyone and not all horses can do that. He's amazing.”

Bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables, Jackie's Warrior is out of the A.P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl. He was purchased for $95,000 from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Into Mischief’s Dayoutoftheoffice Stamps BC Ticket in Frizette

Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief), away since a smashing success in the GIII Schuylerville S. at Saratoga July 16, picked up right where she left off to earn an automatic berth to the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in Saturday’s GI Frizette S. at Belmont. Co-owned by her trainer Tim Hamm and breeder Siena Farms, the daughter of the nation’s hottest stallion was an easy debut winner at Gulfstream all the way back on May 14 in her only other start. Back as the second choice at 29-10 behind GI Spinaway S. romper Vequist (Nyquist), the dark bay traveled strongly in the bridle from second through splits of :22.94 and :46.41 before taking over from stopping frontrunner Joy’s Rocket (Anthony’s Cross) and opening up entering the lane. Vequist tried to make a race of it in the run to the line, but Dayoutoftheoffice kept finding to hold sway by two lengths before galloping out very strongly. It was another 10 1/4 lengths back to longshot Cilla (California Chrome).

“When you ride fast horses, it makes it easy for you,” said hot-handed jockey Junior Alvarado, who piloted the winners of the GI Belmont Derby Invitational S., GII Beldame S. and GII Gallant Bloom H. last weekend. “I thought [the pace] was going to be a little more contested and I was going to stalk, but I felt like I was in control of the race from where I was. I knew I had the horse in front of me [measured], so I just made sure my filly got into a nice rhythm and at the same time keep everybody where I wanted them to be. It worked out great today.”

The Frizette was the first highest-level victory for veteran horseman Tim Hamm. As for the reason for the time off after the Schuyverville, he said:

“She’s a big, scopey filly and I wanted to have some horse for the end of the year. The plan was to have a fresh horse for this time of the year. We wanted to just train her a little lightly and have her fresh for the fall run. Everything went according to plan.

“When you put a plan together that works–the team of Siena Farm and myself and all our assistants–you feel vindicated. We all thought this filly was special when she won at 4 1/2 [furlongs] because we knew she would be able to get longer than that. She was able to get the job done today.”

Hamm confirmed Dayoutoftheoffice would now point for the Breeders’ Cup.

Saturday, Belmont Park
FRIZETTE S.-GI, $250,000, Belmont, 10-10, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:35.82, ft.
1–DAYOUTOFTHEOFFICE, 120, f, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Gottahaveadream, by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Chasetheragingwind, by Dayjur
3rd Dam: Race the Wild Wind, by Sunny’s Halo
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Timothy E. Hamm & Siena Farm LLC;
B-Siena Farms LLC (KY); T-Timothy E. Hamm; J-Junior Alvarado.
$137,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $216,500. Werk Nick
Rating: A++ Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Vequist, 120, f, 2, by Nyquist
1st Dam: Vero Amore, by Mineshaft
2nd Dam: Summers Edge, by The Cliff’s Edge
3rd Dam: Miss Summer Reign, by Summer Squall
($120,000 RNA Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable
& Swilcan Stable LLC; B-Swilcan Stables (KY); T-Robert E. Reid,
Jr. $50,000.
3–Cilla, 120, f, 2, by California Chrome
1st Dam: Sittin At the Bar, by Into Mischief
2nd Dam: Fast Laner, by Mutakddim
3rd Dam: Lois Laner, by Cutlass Reality
($120,000 RNA Ylg ’19 KEEJAN). O-P. Dale Ladner; B-Brett A.
Brinkman & P. Dale Ladner (LA); T-Bentley Combs. $30,000.
Margins: 2, 10 1/4, 2HF. Odds: 2.90, 0.90, 29.25.
Also Ran: Joy’s Rocket, Cantata, Get On the Bus. Scratched: Fifth Risk. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:

Into Mischief’s tally of Grade I winners now sits at eight. He is the leading general sire in North America this year thanks to the exploits of the likes of GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic, brilliant MGISW sophomore filly Gamine, et al and his yearling sales figures last month were equally staggering. His fee was bumped from $175,000 to $225,000 by Spendthrift Farm for 2021.

Dayoutoftheoffice is the second Grade I winner out of an Indian Charlie mare (Mitole {Eskendereya}) and is bred on the same cross as last week’s impressive Gallant Bloom heroine Frank’s Rockette (Into Mischief). Siena claimed dam Gottahaveadream for $50,000 while she was a maiden in at Keeneland almost exactly eight years ago. She graduated at Turfway a few months later before being retired to the breeding shed. The half-sister to GISW Here Comes Ben (Street Cry {Ire}) hails from the family of top-level winners Daredevil, Albertus Maximus and Race the Wild Wind. She produced a Carpe Diem filly in 2019 and a Bolt d’Oro colt in 2020 before being bred back to the Siena co-campaigned Always Dreaming.

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