Content to drop down onto the fence from her low draw, the $70,000 Keeneland November weanling switched off nicely behind midfield for Brian Hernandez, Jr. and remained within striking distance for the run around the turn. In hand and going well nearing the stretch, she split horses a quarter-mile from home, angled out into the center of the rain-affected strip and did her best work through the line to cause the boilover.

“It's one of those deals, looking at it on paper, a lot of us were coming out of sprints, so there was going to be quite a bit of speed,” said Brian Hernandez Jr. “We ended up being 24-1. We had the two hole, so our advantage was just going to be to save every inch of ground. And if she was good enough from the head of the lane [coming] home, she was going to get there. That's what happened.”

Band of Gold became one of 14 first-crop 2-year-old winners for Preservationist when dropping her nose on the line to graduate over Churchill's one-turn mile in a race taken off the grass Nov. 25, but she never factored in her juvenile finale, a distant fifth in the Dec. 23 Untapable S. at the Fair Grounds.

Band of Gold is out of a half-sister to 2018 GIII Southwest S. hero My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) and her third dam was a winner of the GIII Fleur de Lis S. and runner-up in the GI CCA Oaks in 1996 for the late John Franks. The 2-year-old full-brother to Band of Gold, Chunk of Gold, was purchased for $2,500 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale. Play for Gold is due to Airdrie's Upstart for 2024. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

MARTHA WASHINGTON S., $250,000, Oaklawn, 2-3, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.16, sy.
1–BAND OF GOLD, 118, f, 3, by Preservationist
1st Dam: Play for Gold, by Cairo Prince
2nd Dam: Gold N Shaft, by Mineshaft
3rd Dam: Gold n Delicious, by Gold Alert
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($70,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Brereton C Jones (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. $135,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $206,000.
2–Denim and Pearls, 122, f, 3, Into Mischief–Majestic Presence, by Majestic Warrior. ($500,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Red White and Blue Racing LLC; B-Town & Country Horse Farms LLC (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $45,000.
3–Neom Beach, 118, f, 3, Omaha Beach–Giant's Causey, by Giant's Causeway. ($210,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Bloom Racing Stable LLC (Jeffrey Bloom) & The Line Racing; B-Tami Bobo (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen. $22,500.
Margins: 2 3/4, NK, HF. Odds: 24.30, 1.00, 7.10.

#2 BAND OF GOLD ($50.60) flies down the stretch to upset Oaklawn's $250,000 Martha Washington Stakes in style!

The filly by @AirdrieStud's Preservationist was given a perfectly timed ride by @b_hernandezjr for trainer @KennyMcPeek and Dixiana Farms. pic.twitter.com/A8p6ndr3VH

— TVG (@TVG) February 3, 2024

The post Band of Gold a First Stakes Winner For Preservationist In Martha Washington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Tightening from even money to jump at exactly 2-5, the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling switched off beautifully and settled in a three-wide third behind fractions of :23.22 and :46.74. Slipped a bit of rein at the three-eighths, Thorpedo Anna loomed up under a hold and was held together for the run into the stretch, and when Brian Hernandez, Jr. went for her in earnest in upper stretch, the response was equal parts instantaneous and devastating, as Thorpedo Anna widened through the final eighth of a mile to take it by nine lengths without ever feeling the crop. She covered her final two furlongs in a very strong :23.84 while not fully extended.

A $40,000 purchase by the shrewd Ken McPeek at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Sale, Thorpedo Anna is a maternal great-granddaughter of Aldebaran Light, the dam of GISW Eskendereya (Giant's Causeway) and the Group 1-winning juvenile Balmont (Stravinsky). Sataves is the dam of the yearling colt McAfee (Cloud Computing), a $40,000 purchase out of this year's Keeneland September Sale, and was most recently covered by Known Agenda.

6th-Churchill Downs, $123,355, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 11-10, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:35.68, ft, 9 lengths.
THORPEDO ANNA, f, 2, by Fast Anna
1st Dam: Sataves, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Pacific Sky, by Stormy Atlantic
3rd Dam: Aldebaran Light, by Seattle Slew
Sales history: $40,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $112,563. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Brookdale Racing Inc & Mark Edwards; B-Judy Hicks (KY); T-Kenneth G McPeek

#7 Thorpedo Anna was cut loose and dominates in R6 at Churchill Downs for trainer @kennymcpeek with @b_hernandezjr aboard!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/9J31QBv1qX

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) November 10, 2023

The post Fast Anna Filly Drops The ‘Hammer’ En Route to ‘Rising Star’ Honors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Hiroyuki Asanuma's G2 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) drilled five furlongs in 1:01.40 and was partnered with Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd.'s Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong), who worked a half-mile in :50.

Shortly after those breezes during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks horses, R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine's Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) worked a half-mile on his own in :48.60 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard.

“He pretty much just clipped 12s the whole way around,” Hernandez said. “They added blinkers to him this morning, and that seems to make him want to go forward, and kind of get into things a little earlier than he did before the blinkers. He finished in 48 and 3 [-fifths], with a good gallop out.”

Richard Bahde's Taxed (Collected), the runner-up in the GIII Fantasy S. and No. 15 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard, worked a half-mile in :47.60 under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Derma Sotogake and Continuar's Work

The pair of Japanese workmates drilled continuing through five furlongs, with Continuar completing a half-mile.

Breaking off at the half-mile pole, Continuar was 3 lengths in front under Kazunari Yoshida. By the head of the stretch, Derma Sotogake had drawn even under Masatoshi Segawa and was clear at the wire.

Fractions for Derma Sotogake were :25.80, :37.20, :48.60 and 1:01.40. Continuar was clocked in :13.40, :26.40, :50 and out five furlongs in 1:04.40.

Both horses will walk in the Quarantine Barn on Thursday.

Kate Hunter, the Japan Racing Association representative for the Kentucky Derby, said that both riders were happy with the works with Segawa pleased with the response in the stretch from Derma Sotogake.

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Continuar, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday with Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer of Derma Sotogake, due in the following day.

Derma Sotogake (JPN) breezed five furlongs this morning in 1:01.40. While his countrymate Continuar (JPN) went four furlongs in :50.#KYDerby pic.twitter.com/wvFSNFF312

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 26, 2023

Thursday Schedule

One Derby work is scheduled for Thursday morning and that is Wild On Ice (Tapizar). Jockey Ken Tohill is flying to Louisville this afternoon and will be aboard for the work for trainer Joel Marr.

The Kentucky Oaks work schedule Thursday is much heavier with nine breezes slated.

Trainer Brad Cox is expected to work his trio of Wet Paint (Blame), Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) and The Alys Look (Connect). Trainer Todd Pletcher has his duo of Gambling Girl (Dialed In) and Julia Shining (Curlin) scheduled to breeze along with Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) for Norm Casse, Flying Connection (Nyquist) for Todd Fincher, Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) for Mark Casse and possibly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) for Brendan Walsh.

The post Derma Sotogake Drills; Thursday Oaks Schedule Quickens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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A highly impressive allowance victory beneath the Twin Spires last October catapulted the homebred filly into this race, but she beat just one home and hadn't tried the dirt since. A dual stakes winner on the grass at the Fair Grounds last winter, she added the June 22 Lady Canterbury S. in owner Bob Lothenbach's native Minnesota and most recently ran on nicely to finish third behind the classy Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the Ladies' Sprint at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10.

The 7-2 third choice despite a three-for-14 mark on the dirt, She Can't Sing hit the ground running and attended the early fractions of :22.82 and :45.50 while racing between rivals down the long backstretch run. Going noticeably better than her company as they hit the turn, She Can't Sing was allowed to stride into the lead by Brian Hernandez, Jr. fully three furlongs from home, and although the perfect-trip Ice Orchid (Super Saver) took a bit of a run at her in upper stretch, She Can't Sing had plenty more to give and ran out a convincing winner. Liberty M D (Constitution), with the early pace while racing widest of the trio, was a clear third, while favored Coach (Commissioner) never reached contention in fourth.

“This mare has been really consistent on both dirt and turf so I've been able to try a couple of different things with her,” said Chicago-based Chris Block, winning his first graded race at Churchill for the first time since Prado's Sweet Ride (Fort Prado) took the GII Falls City H. almost four years ago to the day. She loves this dirt track. Last year she won an allowance at seven-eighths but ended up having a really tough trip in the Chilukki. So, I decided to make it a goal to get her back for this race. I think we'll see her back next year. She'll head to Fair Grounds after this and get a little bit of a freshening before we start looking at a spring campaign.”

Pedigree Notes:

Already one of 85 stakes winners worldwide for the late Bernardini, She Can't Sing becomes his 52nd winner at the group/graded level and is bred on the exact same cross as future Claiborne stallion and GISW Art Collector and fellow Grade I winner Takaful. She is the 55th worldwide GSW produced by a daughter of the legendary Distorted Humor.

She Can't Sing is first live foal from her dam, purchased by Lothenbach and his team for $190,000 at the 2011 Keeneland September sale. Distorted Music is a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' GSP Zinzay (Smart Strike), the dam of SW & GISP Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon). Things get busier still in the mare's third dam, who produced five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy), responsible for G1 Dubai World Cup-winning 'Rising Star' Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and GSW Gershwin (Distorted Humor); as well as 2003 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and GI John C. Mabee H. heroine Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}).

Distorted Music foaled a full-sister to She Can't Sing in 2021 and a colt by Tapit this past February before being bred back to Into Mischief.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHILUKKI S.-GIII, $298,500, Churchill Downs, 11-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:35.38, ft.
1–SHE CAN'T SING, 121, m, 5, by Bernardini
                1st Dam: Distorted Music, by Distorted Humor
                2nd Dam: Music Room, by Unbridled's Song
                3rd Dam: Note Musicale (GB), by Sadler's Wells
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (Bob Lothenbach) (KY); T-Chris M Block; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez Jr. $183,450. Lifetime Record: 33-8-6-5, $816,588. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ice Orchid, 118, f, 3, Super Saver–Singlet, by Real Quiet.  O/B-Shortleaf Stable Inc (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz. $59,500.
3–Liberty M D, 121, m, 5, Constitution–Dr. Zic, by Milwaukee Brew. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($6,500 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $280,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-CHP Racing; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Ian R Wilkes. $29,750.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2 1/4, 5 1/4. Odds: 3.52, 8.68, 5.92.
Also Ran: Coach, Empire House, Mariah's Princess. Scratched: Center Aisle.
lick for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Persevering She Can’t Sing Makes the Grade in Chilukki appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

California

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 05/13/2022
Licensee: Peter Eurton, trainer
Penalty: $1,000
Violation: Late reporting
Explainer: Trainer Peter Eurton is fined $1,000.00 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1629 (Penalty for Late Declaration) and for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1865 (Altering Sex of Horse) for failure to properly report the gelding of the horse OCTOPUS which was scheduled to run in the eighth race at Santa Anita Park on April 15, 2022.

New York

Track: Belmont Park
Date: 05/14/2022
Licensee: Flavien Prat, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For having waived his right to appeal Jockey Mr. Flavien Prat is hereby suspended 3 NYRA racing days, May 21st 2022, May 22nd 2022, and May 27th 2022 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the fourth race at Belmont Park on May 1st 2022. Suspended: 05/21/2022 to 05/27/2022 (3 days).

Kentucky

Some of the following rulings were not posted on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website in time for inclusion last week.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/06/2022
Licensee: Reyluis Gutierrez, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Reyluis Gutierrez, who rode Mr Dumas in the eighth race at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Gutierrez was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Reyluis Gutierrez is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the riding crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/05/2022
Licensee: Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Brian Hernandez Jr., who rode Fair Haired Boy in the sixth race at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (2^nd offense). Brian Hernandez Jr. is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/11/2022
Licensee: Manuel Franco, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Manuel Franco, who rode Idiomatic in the first race at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Rosado was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Manuel Franco is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/11/2022
Licensee: Manuel Franco, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Manuel Franco, who rode Turnerloose in the eleventh race at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (2^nd offense). Manuel Franco is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/11/2022
Licensee: Mitchell Murrill, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Mitchell Murrill, who rode Warrior Johnny in the first race at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Murrill was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Mitchell Murrill is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the riding crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/11/2022
Licensee: Jose Ortiz, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Jose L. Ortiz, who rode Injunction in the sixth race at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Ortiz was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Jose L. Ortiz is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/11/2022
Licensee: Jose Ortiz, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Jose L. Ortiz, who rode Obligatory in the eighth race at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (2^nd offense). Jose L. Ortiz is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/13/2022
Licensee: Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Obligatory in the twelfth race at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Ortiz was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Irad Ortiz Jr. is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/13/2022
Licensee: Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey
Penalty: $100 fine
Violation: Failure to appear to watch race review
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Irad Ortiz Jr. is hereby fined $100 for failure to be present for the race replay review on ma 12, 2022 after being duly notified to appear.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/13/2022
Licensee: Gerardo Corrales, jockey
Penalty: Five-day suspension
Violation: Withdrawal of appeal
Explainer: Having withdrawn the appeal pf Stewards Ruling #21-0096 issued December 11, 2021, Gerardo Corrales is now hereby suspended 5 racing days, May 19, May 20, May 21, May 22, May 26, 2022.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/15/2022
Licensee: Brad Cox, trainer
Penalty: Ten-day suspension, $500 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Upon receipt of notification from Industrial Laboratories, the official testing laboratory for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and confirmed at Texas A & M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, sample number E454454 taken from Warrior's Charge, who finished second in the eleventh race at Churchill Downs on June 26, 2021 contained phenylbutazone at a level of 2.51 ug/ml in blood (Class C)/ After waiving his right to a formal hearing before the Board of Stewards Brad H. Cox is hereby suspended 10 days, May 23 2022 through June 1, 2022 (inclusive) and fined $500. Warrior's Charge us disqualified and all purse money forfeited.

Read more about the story here at the TDN.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/15/2022
Licensee: James Graham, jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After a hearing before the Board of Stewards, James Graham, who rode Zmuda in the sixth race at Churchill Downs on May 13, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Graham was given the option and chose to pay a fine. James Graham is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the riding crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

Track: Churchill Downs
Date: 05/15/2022
Licensee: Joseph Rocco Jr., jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Joseph Rocco Jr., who rode Uninvited Guest in the fourth race at Churchill Downs on May 13, 2022 was found to have violated the crop regulation (3rd offense). Joseph Rocco Jr. is hereby fined $500 for his improper use of the crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner.

The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, May 10-16 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Temple, breaking from post eight under Jose Ortiz, could be right there with a good trip, as the 6-year-old gelding has an ultra-consistent record, including a third last October in the 1 1/8-mile GIII Knickerbocker S. at Belmont Park. He was claimed by these connections for $80,000 in his next start, finishing second in a Nov. 19 Aqueduct optional claimer, and was third in another Big A optional claimer Dec. 5.

Though the elder statesman of the field at seven, Fantasioso (Arg) (Strategic Prince {GB}) has the class to keep up with his younger challengers. With jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. aboard, Fantasioso posted a dead-heat victory in the GIII John B. Connally Turf Cup S. over 1 1/2 miles at Sam Houston Jan. 30.

The post Abaan Looks to Stand Out appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“He had to run a little harder than we were hoping for,” trainer Greg Foley said. “He got banged around a little out of the gate. I don't know how much he loved it on the inside there.”

Now 8-3-1-1 with earnings of $320,224, all three of O Besos' wins have come at Fair Grounds with Brian Hernandez Jr. riding.

“We got that under his belt,” Foley said. “He looked great this morning, licked his tub, he didn't act like it took anything out of him. The horse looks amazing. He's put on 150 pounds of muscle in the right places. I couldn't be any happier with the way he looks.”

After the Kentucky Derby, O Besos ran second in the Matt Winn (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 29, 2021. Winning at 1 1/16 miles off the bench on Sunday, his connections are now considering their options for his next start.

“I just got to figure out what this horse really wants to do,” Foley said. “I'm not so sure he is a true long-distance horse. He might be a monster going seven-eighths or a one-turn mile.”

Speaking of past Kentucky Derby horses, Foley and his team are also weighing their options for Lloyd Madison Farms, IV's Major Fed, who was last seen finishing fifth in the locally run Tenacious Stakes the day after Christmas.

“Might be the same speech,” Foley said. “He could be great at one-turn. Other than that, all his brothers and sisters were really good turf horses, too, so we might stick him on the grass next time.”

The post Foley Considering Shorter Distances With Comeback Allowance Winner O Besos appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The wagering menu includes a trio of Pick Five wagers, starting in races 1, 7 and 9. The sequence that begins in race seven is an “All Stakes Pick Five” with a $100,000 guaranteed pool.

With no perfect tickets in either early or late Pick Five when last we raced on Monday, the combined carryover of $103,891 landed in Sunday's late Pick Five, which begins in race 9.

Sunday's card unveils the inaugural running of the $100,000 Gun Runner and its sister race, the $100,000 Untapable. Both 2-year-old races events are named for Winchell Thoroughbred stars who were trained by Steve Asmussen. Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks points will be awarded to the top four finishers (10-4-2-1).

“If nothing else it shows we are getting old,” Asmussen said with a chuckle. “It's very exciting for Fair Grounds to have an Untapable and a Gun Runner Stakes. Those two (horses) are great examples of the Winchell program and how successful it has been. I'm just extremely fortunate to have been a part of it.”

With the game's all-time leading trainer at the helm, it seems only fitting that Winchell Thoroughbreds would send out the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16 miles event in Epicenter.

“It would be very special to win the first running of the Gun Runner,” Asmussen admitted.

Sixth at odds of 13-1 after setting the pace in his career debut at Churchill on Sept. 18, Epicenter looked like a completely different racehorse in his second career start 3 ½ weeks later. Stretched out from seven furlongs to a mile, he battled the lead from post ten, took command late on the backstretch, and drew off to a 3 ½ length win.

“Nice horse, lot of talent,” Asmussen said. “I do believe with Churchill closing (the backstretch) this summer and us training the majority of our fall 2-year-olds at Turfway on synthetic, I didn't have a great read on him, or a lot of them, for their first runs. I thought his debut was a good race. He showed a little bit of ability and got a lot out of it, but he definitely got tired. He trained impressively off of it and his second race went exactly how we were hoping it and he looked well. That day Joel (rider Rosario) put him in the position to succeed and it will be a lot different going two turns at the Fair Grounds.”

By Not This Time, Epicenter is out of the Candy Ride mare Silent Candy, who was a stakes winning turf router during her career.

“I think two turns is his future,” Asmussen said of Epicenter. “He's got a nice pace about him and a pretty and sustainable way of traveling. The way he galloped out in his last start. He's been very consistent in his motion all along and I think two turns is what he wants to do moving forward.

With Brian Hernandez, Jr. calling the shots, Epicenter drew post one for the Gun Runner.

“I like the rail draw for the Fair Grounds,” Asmussen said. “Tight turns. Gun Runner himself had plenty of success from the one-hole at the Fair Grounds. The horse has been away from the gates in both of his races and I'd be surprised if he wasn't again.”

With three wins and three seconds from eight starts, Tom Durant's Tejano Twist (3-1 morning line) is the most experienced and accomplished 2-year-old in the Gun Runner field. The impressive, off-the pace winner of the Lively Shively Stakes last out at Churchill Downs, the son of first-crop stallion Practical Joke will test his merits around two turns for the first time on Saturday.

“The timing of this race and the chance to try two turns is perfect for us,” Calhoun said. “That's absolutely why we are here. I could have gone to the Springboard Mile for four times the money and I think that he would have fit very, very well in there, but at the end of the day it's time to find out how far this horse can run.”

Regular rider Joe Rocco, Jr. will invade to pilot Tejano Twist from post six.

“Do we need to start looking forward at the Road to the Kentucky Derby races or do we need to back off, freshen him, and make a sprinter out of him, that's the question he has to answer,” Calhoun said. “Pedigree-wise, on the bottom side, I'm a little bit suspicious. He's continued to move forward physically and mentally and has become a professional racehorse. With his style, he should be able to settle and relax, which should give him every opportunity to stretch out, if he can physically do it, if he's got it in him. That's what we are going to try and find out.”

A winner at first asking over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 19, Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing's Rocket Dawg will also be asked the two-turn question for the first time by trainer Brad Cox.

“He surprised a little bit with how well he ran [on debut], as easy as he won,” Cox admitted. “We did like him, but thought he might need a race. He did win first time going 7/8s, I thought he did it the right way. He did it with a wide trip. I thought it was a very impressive race. He received a big Rag number. He is going to be up against it a little bit in regards to experience, most of these colts have three or four runs underneath of him. There is one colt (Tejano Twist) that has 8 races underneath him. We're hoping Dawg can make up in talent what he lacks in experience.”

At 3-1 in the morning line, Rocket Dawg will leave from gate three with Florent Geroux astride.

“In a perfect world I would like to run this horse in a first level allowance, get a foundation underneath him. He does things the right way. He acts like the further the better. We have always thought he was a horse that could stretch (out). He is going give us an opportunity on Sunday. I'm not necessarily thinking he has to win to have a race he can build off of.”

With a post time of 5:06 p.m. CT, the Gun Runner is scheduled as race 11 on the 13-race card. The remainder of the field with post position, jockey/trainer and morning line odds is as follows: Cypress Creek Equine's Waita Minute Hayes (post 2, Ashley Broussard/Ricky Courville, 8-1 ML), recently disqualified from the win in the Jean Laffitte Stakes at Delta Downs; Mark Stanley and Nancy Stanley's Surfer Dude (post 4, Reylu Gutierrez/Dallas Stewart, 5-1 ML), a game maiden winner over a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs last out; Michael McLaughlin's Kevin's Folly (post 5, James Graham/Tom Amoss, 8-1 ML), third in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga in early September; and Rich Strike (post 7, Sonny Leon/Eric Reed), claimed for $30K out of a 17 ¼-length maiden breaking win two starts back at Churchill Downs.

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The 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod will award the Top 4 fillies points on a 10-4-2-1 scale toward the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). The Golden Rod, which goes as Race 10 at 5:27 p.m., is one of four stakes events on the “Stars of Tomorrow II” program from Churchill Downs. The others are the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), $200,000 Lively Shively and $200,000 Fern Creek. First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Brad Cox, Famed has been well-backed in both of her two-career starts. She broke her maiden last out at Keeneland by 7 ¾ lengths at odds of 2-5. In her debut, the Uncle Mo filly finished second as the 4-5 favorite against 45-1 longshot Sweet Dani Girl. Famed will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post the rail.

The Kenny McPeek-trained Sandstone has won her last two races by a combined 19 ¾ lengths under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. The filly by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense debuted at 5 ½ furlongs in late May and finished fifth, beaten 7 ¾ lengths to stablemate and eventual $150,000 Debutante Stakes winner Behave Virginia. In her second start, at one-mile, Sandstone dusted her rivals at odds of 5-1. Her first start around two-turns was the Rags to Riches, the local prep to the Golden Rod, where she was the slight 5-2 upset winner over Yuugiri. Hernandez will once again have the call from post No. 4.

The full field for the Golden Rod from the inside out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Famed (Geroux, Cox)
2. Cancel This (Joel Rosario, Dale Romans)
3. Secret Oath (David Cohen, D. Wayne Lukas)
4. Sandstone (Hernandez, McPeek)
5. Hal's Dream (Corey Lanerie, McPeek)
6. Yuugiri (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset)
7. Dream Lith (Ramon Vazquez, Robertino Diodoro)
8. Code for Success (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver)

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

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Earlier that morning, he and his family posed alongside a bay mare named Unbridledexplosion (Eddington) outside of Barn 46 at Keeneland. Hernandez had ridden the mare in all but three of her 18 career starts. Now, he is her new owner.

“This is the first mare my wife and I have purchased on our own,” Hernandez said. “We bought a farm in Simpsonville a few years ago and have been putting up lay-ups for the last couple of years, but we've always discussed that one of these years we were going to go over to Keeneland and buy a mare to learn a different aspect of the game.”

New adventures in the game our whole family loves is always fun!!! https://t.co/jEhNipZ4Y8

— Brian Hernandez (@b_hernandezjr) November 18, 2021

Hernandez and his wife Jamie were in Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup earlier this month when Jamie was flipping through the Keeneland November catalogue while sitting in their hotel one afternoon. She landed on Hip 2759.

“She loved this mare,” Hernandez said. “She's really high on Mitole and so she wanted a Mitole baby. When she showed me her catalogue page, I was like, 'Man, I think I rode that mare.' Sure enough, I'd ridden her for Ian [Wilkes] for her whole career.”

With Hernandez aboard, Unbridledexplosion broke her maiden as a 3-year-old at Churchill Downs in June of 2014. She ran second in five of her next six starts against allowance company before adding consecutive wins to her resume in the spring of 2015–both at Churchill Downs under Hernandez. Over her three-year career, which included five tries against stakes company, Unbridledexplosion ran in the money in 12 of her 18 starts, collecting over $200,000 in earnings.

“I always remembered her as a really hard-trying mare,” her jockey recalled. “She was second five different times in some pretty tough allowance races between Keeneland, Saratoga and Churchill. It was always in the back of my mind that she was a hard-trying mare.”

After retiring from racing, Unbridledexplosion produced a Wicked Strong colt in 2018 that has not raced followed by an Upstart colt named Unbridled Bomber who broke his maiden for Jim Ryerson at Belmont Nov. 7. She also has a yearling filly by Unified. The mare's female family includes GISW Declassify (Orientate) and GSW Life's a Parlay (Uncle Mo).

“Jamie had her heart set that she wanted this mare,” Hernandez said. “She and her mom were doing the bidding. We had agreed on a certain price and we got her below our limit, so we were all excited. My father-in-law [Jake Radosevich] signed the ticket. She was consigned by Lantern Hill Farm with Suzi Shoemaker. We sent her back to Suzi and we're going to let her foal her out. Then we'll breed her next year after we see what kind of baby we get.”

This week's purchase is not the Hernandez family's first foray in the breeding business. In partnership with Ian and Tracey Wilkes, they bred the War Front mare Social Amber to Hernandez's 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Classic-winning mount Fort Larned for the past two years. The 2-year-old, named Gus Gus, ran second to a next-out allowance winner at Ellis Park this summer. The yearling colt is already named Justblamethejock.

Hernandez said that their three children added further incentive to jump into the breeding game on their own.

“Our kids all have horses out at the farm and they love them,” he said. “They love going to the races too so we wanted to give them a different avenue with something that gets them excited that they can watch along the way.”

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