Tag: Ce Ce

Sweet Azteca Pillar to Post in Beholder Mile

Facing a bevy of more experienced rivals, lightly raced SWEET AZTECA (f, 4, Sharp Azteca–So Sweetitiz, by Grand Slam) led every step of the way to capture the renamed GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita Saturday. Last summer's GI Clement L. Hirsch S. winner and even-money favorite Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) was second, while 'TDN Rising Star' and Pumpkin Pie S. winner Green Up (Upstart), an East Coast shipper, was third. Final time for the mile was 1:36.40.

A homebred for Pamela Cee Ziebarth, Sweet Azteca blasted right out of the gate and controlled the early tempo of :23.40 and :47.40 while in hand. As the dust settled with Green Up tracking just off the frontrunner's flank, Sweet Azteca showed no signs of slowing as she rounded the final turn and sailed into the stretch three lengths on top. Adare Manor blew by Green Up to chase the gray home, but couldn't catch the winner and finished three-quarters of a length in arrears.

“It felt like she was used to sprinting, so around the turn I tried to get her to relax, and she did the rest herself,” said Flavien Prat, who was aboard the winner. “At the turn for home, I felt the other horse coming and she picked it up herself.”

Sweet Azteca made one start as a 3-year-old last year for trainer Michael McCarthy, resulting in a Derby week win at Churchill Downs and an 85 debut Beyer Speed Figure. Benched until the GIII Las Flores S. at Santa Anita on New Year's Day, Sweet Azteca was outkicked for third after drifting out late, then roared back with a 12-length optional allowance win and a 91 Beyer over this surface going 6 1/2 furlongs Feb. 2. The Beholder Mile was her first try around two turns.

McCarthy previously won the Beholder Mile in 2020 with Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), who, like Sweet Azteca, was lightly raced and coming off a 6 1/2-furlong optional allowance a month prior. Ce Ce would go on to become the 2021 Eclipse champion female sprinter and a three-time Grade I winner, whose victories included the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Pedigree Notes:

Sweet Azteca is the first graded winner for Sharp Azteca, a former Three Chimneys stallion who is standing the 2024 season at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. With two crops to the races, Sharp Azteca is responsible for six black-type winners. Sweet Azteca also is one of 93 stakes winners out of a mare by the late Grand Slam. Both Sharp Azteca and Grand Slam also won Grade I races at a mile during their racing careers: the first in the 2017 Cigar Mile, the second in the 1997 Futurity S.

A third-generation homebred for Ziebarth, Sweet Azteca is out of a family first nurtured by Ziebarth's late mother, Cecilia Straub Rubens. The Beholder Mile winner's fourth dam is the famed Straub Rubens mare Cee's Song. Sold for $2.6 million to Dromoland Farm in 2001, Cee's Song produced Horse of the Year Tiznow, MGSW & GISP Budroyale, GSW Tizdubai, and the dams of GISWs Oxbow and Paynter. The family is seeing a revitalization in 2024 as, in addition to Sweet Azteca, 'TDN Rising Star', GII Rachel Alexandra S. winner, and top GI Kentucky Oaks contender Tarifa (Bernardini) is a direct descendant.

So Sweetitiz has a 2-year-old colt named Mucho Dulce (Mucho Macho Man) and a yearling colt named Under the Big Sky (Tonalist). She is in foal for 2024 with a full-sibling to Sweet Azteca.

 

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 3-9, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.40, ft.
1–SWEET AZTECA, 120, f, 4, by Sharp Azteca
           1st Dam: So Sweetitiz (MSW, $180,480), by Grand Slam
           2nd Dam: Sweetitiz, by El Prado (Ire)
           3rd Dam: Tizsweet, by Cee's Tizzy
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Pamela Cee Ziebarth (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Flavien Prat. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $301,200. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-crosspedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Adare Manor, 122, m, 5, by Uncle Mo
           1st Dam: Brooklynsway (GSW-USA, MSW & GSP-Can, $724,597), by Giant Gizmo
           2nd Dam: Explosive Story, by Radio Star
           3rd Dam: Maya's Note, by Editor's Note
($180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
3–Green Up, 120, m, 5, by Upstart
           1st Dam: Green Punch, by Two Punch
           2nd Dam: Green Jeans, by Green Dancer
           3rd Dam: Duds, by Ack Ack
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($10,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT). O-Team Valor International, LLC; B-Althea Richards (VA); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 3/4, 5HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.40, 1.10, 4.60.
Also Ran: Desert Dawn, Window Shopping, Coffee in Bed, Interstatedaydream. Scratched: Kirstenbosch, Turnerloose.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Unbeaten Flightline Headlines 205 Breeders’ Cup Pre-Entries

With unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit) leading the way, 205 horses, including 45 from overseas, and seven former or returning Breeders' Cup champions, have been pre-entered for the 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland Nov. 4 & 5. The Breeders' Cup will be televised live domestically on NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and FanDuel TV. Click here to view all of the 2022 Breeders' Cup World Championships Pre-Entered Fields.

Nine horses were pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. In addition to the record-setting GI Pacific Classic winner Flightline, the $6-million centerpiece has also attracted last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt hero Life Is Good (Into Mischief) as well as standout sophomores Epicenter (Not This Time), GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and Taiba (Gun Runner). Fellow 3-year-old Cyberknife (Gun Runner) has a first preference in the Dirt Mile.

“We're gonna be in with really great horses, this is what makes this so special. If you look at that field in the Breeders' Cup Classic, it's going to be a really dynamic race,” said Flightline's trainer John Sadler, who won the 2018 Classic with Accelerate.

The GI Breeders' Cup Distaff will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Todd Pletcher-trained heavyweights champion Malathaat (Curlin) and leading 3-year-old filly Nest (Curlin). Six additional fillies or mares have been pre-entered in the star-studded Distaff, including GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate), MGISW Clairiere (Curlin) and runaway GI Cotillion S. winner Society (Gun Runner).

“We're super excited about the way both of them are coming up to it,” Pletcher said. “Two really top- class fillies. I kinda hate running the two of them against each other, but it's certainly what both of them deserve.”

Champion sprinter Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), a disappointing sixth as the favorite in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, will take on the race's defending winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) once again while Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) will shoot for his third straight Breeders' Cup victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Defending GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint heroine Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) will be back to defend her title as well. Pre-entries for the F&M Sprint also include last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and streaking GI Ballerina H. winner Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper).

Talented MGISW sophomore Jack Christopher (Munnings), pre-entered in both the Sprint and Dirt Mile, has a first preference in the former. Cody's Wish (Curlin) and Laurel River (Into Mischief) will both stretch out to two turns for the Dirt Mile following eye-catching wins going seven furlongs in the GI Forego S. and GII Pat O'Brien S., respectively.

Classy 5-year-old mare War Like Goddess (English Channel) will take on males in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, including a powerful one-two punch from Godolphin's German MG1SW Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and GI Saratoga Derby Invitational S. winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); last year's Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}); and 2021 Saudi Cup winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}).

A wide-open GI Breeders' Cup Mile pre-entered field of 18 includes: GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. winner Annapolis (War Front); streaking MG1SW Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}); last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}); G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. upsetter Bayside Boy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}); cross-entered G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}); comebacking MGISW Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}); 2020 Mile winner Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}); and last year's runner-up Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute).

Last out Chad Brown-trained GISWs In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) and European invaders Above the Curve (American Pharoah), Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among 15 pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Standouts on the 'Future Stars Friday' program include: GISWs Cave Rock (Arrogate), Forte (Violence) and Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile; and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies-bound Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate).

Friday's featured GI Breeders' Juvenile Turf has drawn 18 pre-entries, including the streaking Californian Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), GII Pilgrim S. winner Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), GII Bourbon S. winner Andthewinneris (Oscar Performance) and European invaders Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road), Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}).

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf has 23 pre-entries, including GII Miss Grillo S. top three Pleasant Passage (More Than Ready), Free Look (Tapit) and Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}); GI Natalma S. upsetter Last Call (English Channel); GII JPMorgan Chase Jessamine S. winner Delight (Mendelssohn); and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never).

Unbeaten Iowa-bred Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca), pre-entered in both the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and Juvenile, has a first preference in the former.

Headliners for the Juvenile Turf Sprint (26 pre-entries) include: G1SW The Platinum Queen (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), unbeaten Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) and Love Reigns (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), who could provide trainer Wesley Ward with a fourth straight win in the race. The Platinum Queen defeated older horses in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines at ParisLongchamp.

“Once again we could not be more proud with the outstanding quality of horses from around the world that have been pre-entered for this year's World Championships for a spectacular two days of racing with our host track partner Keeneland,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders' Cup President and CEO. “We applaud the men and women across the globe who are preparing these magnificent Thoroughbreds for their ultimate tests of competition on Nov. 4-5. It is also important to recognize our breeders and nominators and their support and commitment in funding the purses and awards for the World Championships.”

Race Order and Wagering Menu Announced…

The official order of races and wagering menu for the 2022 Breeders' Cup were also announced Wednesday. There will be a total of 10 races (five Breeders' Cup races) on the first day of the Championships–“Future Stars Friday”–and 12 races on the Saturday program (nine Breeders' Cup races). The Friday program begins at 11:55 a.m. ET with five undercard races. Championship Saturday's first post is 10:30 a.m. ET and begins with two undercard races.

The 2022 wagering menu will include a Breeders' Cup All-Turf $3Pick 3 on Friday. The three races, in order, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Race 6), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Race 8), and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (Race 10).

The Breeders' Cup All-Turf Pick 4 on Saturday is a $.50 minimum wager and will package four of the best turf races in the world together. The four races, in order, are the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Race 4), Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Race 6), Breeders' Cup Mile (Race 8), and the Breeders' Cup Turf (Race 10).

Championships Race Order (All Times Eastern)…

The first Championship race on “Future Stars Friday” will be the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (3:00 p.m.) followed by the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (3:40 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (4:20 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (5:00 p.m.) and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (5:40 p.m.).

Championship Saturday begins with two undercard races followed by the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (11:50 a.m.), the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (12:29 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (1:10 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (1:50 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Sprint (2:30 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Mile (3:10 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Distaff (3:55 p.m.), the Breeders' Cup Turf (4:40 p.m.) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (5:40 p.m.).

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Both Coasts Host Sunday Stakes Showdowns

By J.N. Campbell

While U.S. television sets await a rainy French Arc Day in the morning, both the right and left North American coasts will emcee three graded stakes races apiece, as Sunday afternoon comes calling. The Big A and The Great Race Place (Aqueduct and Santa Anita, in case you were stationed under a rock) host. The former is accommodating Belmont's Fall Meet, while “Big Sandy” undergoes an extreme makeover tunnel edition; while the latter is back in business under the picturesque mountains and ray filled sun in SoCal.

Howdy Pilgrim…

The Sunday October action begins with the annual renewal of the GII Pilgrim S., going a mile and a sixteenth on the grass. A couple years back this was upgraded from a Grade III to a Grade II, and the 2022 edition promises to be another hallmark. The real prize is a ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, which is a little more than a month away.

A year after 'TDN Rising Star' Annapolis (War Front) proved victorious last year in this spot, this year's race includes a well-matched field of a dozen runners. Of course, 'Rising Star' I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing), is a colt that sparkled in his only race to-date. Flavien Prat used the gears he was handed, and won nicely in one of those tough turf maidens at Saratoga.

However, you cannot overlook the presence of Shug McGaughey and his entry Battle of Normandy (City of Light), a sire that is garnering some major attention. The colt just missed in the GIII With Anticipation S. at the end of August at Saratoga, and he should be ready to offer a devasting late leg kick. One other that merits mention is Graham Motion's Dataman (Tapit). He stretched out nicely at Colonial Downs in August and rallied for the win. Joel Rosario climbs back aboard, riding for a barn that is always dangerous in situations like these.

NYRA Series Filly Finale…

Also on the docket is the final exam for young freshmen fillies. NYRA's series for these types included the GIII Adirondack S. and GI Spinaway S. at Belmont and Saratoga, and now it's time for the capstone-GI Frizette S. The one-mile distance will be one last prep, as the victress moves on the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The major question in the field of seven is was Phil Serpe's Leave No Trace (Outwork) performance a fluke when, at odds of 14-1, she declared victory in the Spinaway? Jose Lezcano has the return call, and the filly will be looking to remain a perfect three for three to prove the doubters wrong.

“Everything is good with her. She had a nice work and all systems go,” said Serpe. “She did it pretty easy. I was surprised looking at the watch how fast she was going. The 58 and change was a work where you're like, 'Wow, this filly is really fast.' Everything is just kind of moving along.”

Standing in her way are Frank Fletcher's American Rockette (American Pharoah) for trainer Bill Mott, and Todd Pletcher's Repole Stable-owned Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke). The latter posted a stellar speed fig when she broke her maiden at Saratoga in mid-August.

“She was impressive. Her debut, the track was very demanding and tough for a first-time starter,” Pletcher said. “She got a little tired late in the race. The second start was more of what we were expecting from her.”

Not to be overlooked is 'TDN Rising Star' The Great Maybe (Upstart), a filly that is looking to capitalize on a nice debut win, dispelling any doubt concerning her name.

“She trained well out of that [race] so we're taking the chance with the one turn mile with her,” said DeVaux. Jockey Javier Castellano continues the hot riding that he exhibited upstate at Saratoga.

This is the Waya…

Glen Kozak and his excellent NYRA ground squad got the Aqueduct turf into shape early, what with the shift over from Belmont. Grass riding traditionally is a November and April activity in Ozone Park, but the lawn is tended and ready for settling and some furious endings.

This year's GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. is another distance hurdle for deeper routers, as they traverse the 1 3/8ths. Coming from off-the-pace is in order, unless a runner can control the fractions up front. Chad Brown could rack up a fourth win in a row in this race as he sends out the well-bred Capital Structure (GB) (Lope de Vega (Ire). Another Klaravich Stables runner with budding talent, she lost all chance last time out at Pimlico in a non-graded affair due to saddle slippage. Look for Kelsey Danner's classy Gladys (Medaglia d'Oro) to be an overlay. The full-sister to Rachel Alexandra exits a close fourth in the All Along at Old Hilltop.

The Stoutest of Queens…

The GII Zenyatta S. was re-named in 2012 after what many consider one of the greatest of all-time, male or female. She was regal and magnificent, and most of all, she knew it. Beating up on the boys was her signature, as was guzzling that Guinness Stout. We will not soon forget John Shirreffs' 'Queen.'

These ladies have much to live up to. A compact field of five assembles, with Empire House (Empire Maker), Soothsay (Distorted Humor) and Samurai Charm (First Samurai) all carrying 122 pounds. They will be up against a pair of 3-yr-olds in Midnight Memories (Mastery) and Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist). This is a wide-open affair, and could be seen as anyone's game, as these females seek to wear the crown.

Chillingworth, You Say!…

A graded event since 2014, the GIII Chillingworth S. gives a nod to the longtime director and executive vice president of the Oak Tree Racing Association. Out of these older females, we have a Breeders' Cup celebrity appearance by Mike McCarthy's versatile Ce Ce (Elusive Quality). Her 2021 GI BC Filly & Mare Sprint victory at Del Mar was a masterpiece, and if she is at her best, with Victor Espinoza aboard, then no one in this race is going to be able to catch her by the time the wire arrives.

Tokyo Drift…

Who could forget Big John B, Hard Aces, Hoppertunity, Campaign, and Cupid's Claws when they won the GIII Tokyo City Cup S.? My Racehorse and Spendthrift's own Tizmagician (Tiznow) joined that cadre last year, and the 5-year-old is back once more. What did it take? The ability to track, just behind a good, honest pace. Do that, and you might be able to outlast them all in this drift. A former Bob Baffert runner comes calling. Newgrange (Violence) is now in Phil D'Amato's care. It's his dam side, Bella Chianti by Empire Maker, that could be a clue to his ability to handle this distance test. The same goes for Peter Eurton's Storm the Court (Court Vision), who hasn't run this far on the dirt since the 2020 GI Kentucky Derby. Specialists like John Sadler's Heywoods Beach (Speightstown) and Richard Mandella's Extra Hope (Shanghai Bobby) have the experience and could have the advantage.

Bonus Round…Speakeasy For BC Hopefuls…

The Speakeasy S. might not be graded, but that doesn't mean there are not major implications for the winner. A group of 2-year-olds will be traveling at a high rate of speed on the grass at Santa Anita, looking to book passage to Keeneland for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is not known for his turf horses, although he had a strong one in Du Jour a few years back. His Speed Boat Beach (Bayern) is fast (imagine that), so look for Juan Hernandez to secure the lead early, and hold on tight. T-minus 5 furlongs and counting.

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Ballerina Solos Sunday at Saratoga

Typically part of Saratoga's Runhappy Travers Super Saturday card, the GI Ballerina H. gets the spotlight all to itself this year as the lone graded event on Sunday's card. It is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint S.

Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) could only manage third behind the fleet-footed Gamine (Into Mischief) in last year's Ballerina, but a victory in the Breeders' Cup more than made up for it. Just like last year, she enters this test off a tour de force in the GII Princess Rooney S. at Gulfstream July 2.

“We're kind of following the same pattern we followed last year. I thought she ran well at Saratoga last year and I'm looking forward to having another crack at it again this year,” the southern California-based conditioner Michael McCarthy said. “She obviously ran into a very good filly in Gamine but she showed up, and I think she's doing just as well this year if not better than she was last year at this time.”

Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) and Obligatory (Curlin) finished one-two in Belmont's GII Bed o'Roses S. last out June 10 and the Grade I-winning duo return here. Bella Sofia's career high came over this track-and-trip last year in the GI Test S. and Obligatory got her Grade I two back in the Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs.

Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) dominated the GIII Go For Wand H. last year and enters off a front-running score in Churchill's GIII Chicago S. June 25.

Female sprinters also highlight Del Mar's Sunday card with the GIII Rancho Bernardo H. It's topped by Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint runner-up Edgeway (Competitive Edge).

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