Tag: Chad Brown

Saturday Insights: Into Mischief Filly Looks To Swipe Saratoga Debut

6th-SAR, $136.5K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:31 p.m.

With some bullet works under her belt at Saratoga (Aug. 23, 3f, :36.00, 1/11), $475,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase SHOP LIFTING (Into Mischief) heads to the post for Team Spoor for her debut. The bay filly's dam GI Personal Ensign S. heroine Miss Shop (Deputy Minister) is a half-sister to the dam of GISW Power Broker (Pulpit) dam and GSW Trappe Shot (Tapit). She also produced GIII Miss Grillo S. winner Tin Type Gal (Tapit). Trained by Tony Dutrow, she will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

“I don't know what's going to happen–American Pharoah lost the first time–but I have my opinion, and that is, looking at her, you think, 'Wow,'” Dutrow said. “If you told me she was a 5-year-old, I wouldn't even question it. When I see her out there on the racetrack, it's like few can do. I firmly believe that she's a nicer kind and time will tell just how nice.”

Also entered for her bow is Lady de Berry (Practical Joke), who sold to Leigh Bloodstock at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale for $185,000 and then went for $270,000 at the OBS March Sale. The Chad Brown trainee's dam Tortuga Lady (Thunder Gulch) is a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Invisible Ink. She is responsible for SW Princess Arabella (Any Given Saturday), whose own daughter Tapella (Tapit) foaled GII Golden Rod S. hero Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief). TJCIS PPS

4th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 6:34 p.m.

Del Mar cards a juvenile race of its own as Sense (Street Sense) is the lone first timer in the two turn field. The Richard Mandella trainee is out of GII La Canada S. winner Spellbound (Bernardini), who counts GIII Dwyer S. victor Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) as a half-brother. Sense is himself a half-brother to GII Santa Anita Oaks champ Soothsay (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPS

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Stars Come Out To Play on Travers Day

It's a bit of Christmas in August Saturday at venerable Saratoga Race Course, which plays host to no fewer than five Grade I events for horses of all ages–on dirt and on turf–topped by the main event on the summer calendar, the $1.25-million GI Travers S. While the fields are short on numbers, they are long on quality, as three of the races have attracted reigning Eclipse Award winners, none of whom are anything close to a cinch in their respective heats.

Champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) has had a tumultuous first two-thirds of the season but has his chance to put it all behind him on Saturday. Having defeated future GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage (Good Magic) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 1, the $110,000 Keeneland September bargain was famously withdrawn on the eve of the Run for the Roses–for which he was likely to start favorite–and was first off a 71-day absence in the GI Belmont S. June 10. A highly creditable second to the race-fit Arcangelo (Arrogate), the dark bay exits a rough-and-tumble nose victory after surviving a lengthy inquiry in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 29. But here he is, a golden opportunity to cement his spot at the head of this year's sophomore class straight ahead.

“You're never going to make up for not getting to run in the Kentucky Derby,” Todd Pletcher told TDN's Mike Kane at Tuesday's draw. “But it would be, I suppose, some sort of consolation prize if we were able to win the Travers against the three Classic winners.”

Pletcher has been twice successful in the Travers, most recently with Belmont runner-up Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) in 2011.

The third of the Classic winners to whom Pletcher refers is National Treasure (Quality Road), who outlasted Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) and Mage to win the GI Preakness S. The $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad set a moderate pace when last seen in the Belmont, but gave way readily in the stretch to finish sixth. He looms part of the early pace equation with the outposted Curlin S. hero Scotland (Good Magic) and leaves from gate five with John Velazquez calling the shots. Blinkers come off for the Travers.

“I just got a text from Bob [Baffert] and he loves the post. I don't disagree with Bob too many times,” said Starlight Racing's Jack Wolf. “If he wants to take the blinkers off or put triple blinkers on, that's fine with me.”

Mage, who looks to become the first Derby winner to double up in the Travers since Street Sense in 2007, passed the Belmont and reportedly was underdone when nearly overcoming a wide trip to drop a narrow decision to Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. five weeks ago. Flavien Prat has been named to replace the injured Luis Saez.

Baffert was deep into his Hall of Fame career when sending out Arrogate to that stunning victory in the 2016 Travers, and the late stallion has a chance to join the fellow Travers winners Easy Goer, Birdstone and Bernardini as sires to account for a Travers winner of their own. Arcangelo's rise has been meteoric, as he progressed from a third-out graduation to victory in the GIII Peter Pan S. and an historic Belmont S. score for trainer Jena Antonucci. He makes his first start in 77 days Saturday, but that is of little concern to his connections.

“He's grown up so much and has gotten stronger and more professional over this little bit of a breather we gave him,” Antonucci said. “We're so thrilled to be here and blessed to do this. To have the opportunity to be here at this stage is amazing.”

Winchell Thoroughbreds looks to become the first owner since Ogden Phipps in 1989 and 1990 to score consecutive Travers wins. Disarm (Gun Runner), whose boom sire was a distant third to Arrogate seven years ago, was a troubled fourth in the Derby and won the GIII Matt Winn S. at Ellis June 11, but was a bit one-paced when fourth in the Jim Dandy. To that end, trainer Steve Asmussen tweaks the colt's equipment this weekend.

“We need to find more,” he said of the decision to add blinkers. “We aren't satisfied with the results of his last race and I think he's capable of more. This is our first step in trying to pull it out of him.”

'TDN Rising Star' and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. hero Tapit Trice (Tapit) tries to give his all-conquering stallion a second Travers winner in three years. Seventh in the Derby and third in the Belmont, he'll need to improve many lengths off his latest fifth in the Haskell.

Plenty Of Talent On the Travers Undercard

The elite-level action kicks off with the GI Forego S., a five-horse affair that shapes more like a match race. Juddmonte's Eclipse-champion sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) has very much lived up to his name and carries an eight-race winning streak into the seven-furlong test. To make it nine on the trot, he'll have to once again run down Gunite (Gun Runner), who appeared every ounce a winner in a sloppy renewal of the GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. July 29, only to be run down in the last couple of jumps. The latter was in receipt of just two pounds last month in the handicap, but is critically four pounds better off this time around (124-118).

Elite Power and Gunite threw down in the Vanderbilt | Sarah Andrew

Whereas the two older sprinters should boss the Forego, the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. looms a much more competitive affair, where a case could be made for at least five of the six entrants.

David Aragona has tabbed 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line off his victory in the GI Woody Stephens S. downstate June 10, but so open is the Jerkens that Drew's Gold (Violence,) who endured his first career defeat that day, is the 12-1 outsider. New York Thunder (Nyquist) turned in a Shancelot-esque effort in winning the GII Amsterdam S. by 7 1/2 lengths July 28 to remain unbeaten in four starts, while Fort Bragg (Tapit) drops back in trip off a nose success over subsequent Jim Dandy runner-up Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in the GIII Dwyer S. July 1. Even Verifying (Justify) cannot be ruled out, as tries a sprint trip for the first time since debuting victoriously here over six furlongs 366 days ago. The half-brother to Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) gutted it out in the GIII Indiana Derby July 8.

A pair of former champions lock horns in the GI Ballerina S., a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in early November.

Goodnight Olive (Ghostapper) was making her graded stakes debut in last year's Ballerina and went on to best Caramel Swirl (Street Sense) by 2 3/4-lengths en route to a victory by a similar margin over champion 'Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Easy winner of the GI Madison S. on seasonal debut in April, the dark bay was an unlucky third behind Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Derby City Distaff May 6 and just managed to stave off Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 17. The latter would go on to frank the form in the July 23 Twin Bridges S. at Ellis.

Echo Zulu is perfect in her two runs this season at four, a 5 3/4-length tally in the May 29 GIII Winning Colors S. followed by a 7 1/4-thumping of Dr B (Liam's Map) in the GII Honorable Miss H. here July 26.

The GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. offers a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and, really, what's not to admire about the evergreen Channel Maker (English Channel)? A winner of nearly $3.9 million in a career spanning 54 starts to date, horse racing's version of Cal Ripken, Jr. makes a mind-boggling sixth consecutive appearance in the Sword Dancer, including a front-running 5 3/4-length score in a soft-turf renewal in 2020. The chestnut doesn't appear to be slowing down either, as he exits a two-length defeat of Verstappen (War Front) in the GII Bowling Green S. July 30, a race marred when favored Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) clipped heels and fell.

Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Stone Age (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was a one-paced third in last year's GI Saratoga Derby and now calls New York home for trainer Chad Brown. Runner-up to Rebel's Romance in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, the dark bay was beaten a long way from home when last seen in the Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar this past February.

Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was beaten a length into third by then-stablemate Gufo (Declaration of War) in this event last year and was runner-up in the GI Man O'War S. and GI Manhattan S. this spring. He arguably took the worst of it in the Bowling Green and can rebound at a hint of a price here.

Breeders' Cup Berth Up For Grabs In Pat O'Brien

The seven-furlong GII Pat O'Brien S. offers its winner a spot in the field for the GI BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile up the road at Santa Anita and has drawn a field of 11 that lacks a true standout.

Though still eligible for a second-level allowance, Anarchist (Distorted Humor) was runner-up in the GIII San Simeon S. down the hill in Arcadia Mar. 5 and filled the same spot in the GIII Kona Gold S. on the dirt Apr. 22 before shipping into Woodbine to salute in the May 14 GIII Jacques Cartier S. Second to Elite Power in the GII True North S. June 10, he missed by a head to the outstanding Cal-bred The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) in the GI Bing Crosby S. July 29.

Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride) was a short-priced third in the San Simeon before validating 4-5 favoritism in the Kona Gold with a half-length defeat of Anarchist. The 6-year-old entire was a well-beaten third to The Chosen Vron in the state-bred Thor's Echo S. May 28 and cuts back to a sprint after rounding out the trifecta when trying to wire the field in the GII San Diego H. July 29.

A miniature version of Channel Maker, C Z Rocket (City Zip) tries the O'Brien for a fourth straight time at age nine. Victorious in 2020 when also second in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, he rounded out the exacta again in 2021, but was a slow-starting eighth last year. The bay ran on some to be fifth in the Crosby and gets blinkers back on Saturday.

The Estate of the late Jerry Moss is represented by the lightly raced homebred Sir Atticus (Gormley), winner of a 6 1/2-furlong allowance July 21 for which he earned a competitive 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

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‘Prince’ Leads Royal Procession in King’s Plate

On paper, it appeared that Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) had many things going for him heading into the 164th King's Plate at Woodbine. Trained by Mark Casse, who is one of only a handful of individuals who has been honored by both the U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fames, the chestnut was benefitting from the services of another Canadian stalwart in Patrick Husbands. Not to mention he is owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, the latter well-known for having campaigned the likes of a trio of Classic winners–2019 Preakness hero War of Will, in addition to a pair of Queen's Plate scorers–Lexi Lou (2014) and Wonder Gadot (2018). However, despite the super-stacked street cred, the gelding was given only tepid support at 8-1 to give Casse his third victory in the oldest continuously run race in North America.

As expected, taking much of the pre-race play in the 17-horse field was GSW Kalik (Collected), trained by four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Chad Brown. Installed the 4-1 favorite, the colt weighed in slightly ahead of third betting choice Stanley House (Army Mule). While Paramount Prince seemed to take in all the hubbub that goes hand-in-hand with the big race days, Kalik bypassed the indoor enclosure entirely and set up shop in the outside ring early, proceeding to work up a fierce sweat by the time the field made their way out to the track.

Still giving the gate crew all they could handle in the moments right before the break, the favorite wasn't in much of a hurry at the start, stationing himself toward the back early as his counterpoint, Paramount Prince, bounced to the front with relative ease. Carving out a quarter mile in :23 1/5 as longshots Velocitor (Mor Spirit) and Silent Miracle (Silent Name), followed by Casse's other runner–the filly Elysian Field–were within striking distance, the gelding continued to show the way following an honest but comfortable half-mile in :47.41. Still zipping along in front as the Woodbine Oaks winner started to turn the screws on Velocitor up the inside through three quarters in 1:11.81, Paramount Prince was given his cue from Husbands at the quarter pole, as his nearest pursuers were also set down for the final push. Given several right-handed reminders late just to remain on task, the gelding had enough left in the tank to score by 1 1/2 lengths over Elysian Field, co-owned by Barber and Team Valor International. Stanley House rallied from far back early to round out the triactor, while Velocitor came home fourth, seven lengths behind the winner. Favored Kalik never got into the mix of things, finishing 13th.

Sunday's King's Plate card yielded record handle of $18,127,726, up from the previous record of $18,005,973 generated in 2019.

“I didn't want to change anything that was already working,” offered Husbands when asked whether his instructions were to get to the front early. “But he left there running and he just did his own thing.”

Husbands also was winning his third Plate, following a score with ultimate Triple Crown winner Wando and Lexi Lou, for Casse and Barber.

He added, “I knew the first time around, that it was going to take a good horse to beat him.”

“At the end of the day, you've got to let the horses talk and don't get too cocky. I had a clean break, I let him do what he likes to do best, and he just enjoyed the running. I asked him to get over on his right lead and he was just gone. He just glides over the ground.”

Casse explained, “He often wins the race at the start. He just breaks so fast. And there was a lot of speed. He's so quick from the gate and that's where he won it. He outbroke them and I knew when he went by us the first time he was traveling well.”

“I was with Gary Barber, and we saw the half in :47 and I said, 'That's not too bad.' And that Elysian Fields, she's just so tough, she came up. But it was a dream come true.”

Bred in Ontario by Ericka Rusnak, Paramount Prince was the first horse bought at auction by Langlois and his wife Charmaine, who made the purchase through then-trainer Jamie Attard. For Attard, Paramount Prince won when getting thrown in against $40,000 maidens going six panels over Woodbine's Tapeta surface last November. Barber bought into the Ontario-bred  following his first start, however, left him with Attard for the remainder of his 2022 campaign. Sent to Casse following a third facing Ontario-breds in the Clarendon S. in December, Paramount Prince kicked off 2023 with a second to One Bay Hemmingway (Danger Bay)–who returned to win the following month–in a six-furlong optional claiming event Apr. 30.

Stepping back into stakes company for his next start, he was runner-up behind Kaukokaipuu (Mr Speaker) in Woodbine's seven-furlong Queenston S. June 11, but seemed to relish the added yardage, winning by five lengths at odds of 11-1 in his latest start in the Plate Trial S. July 23.

The gelding came into the Plate looking to become the first horse since Big Red Mike (2010) to notch the Trial-Plate double. Not Bourbon, in 2008, and Eye of the Leopard, in 2009, also recorded the double.

“When he came to us in Ocala, he was a different horse. We were shocked he was getting beat the first couple of times,” recalled Casse. “I think the key to that is he just doesn't want to run short. And he just wants to use his speed.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Paramount Prince becomes the ninth black-type winner for his sire, Society's Chariman. The King's Plate winner is out of SP Platinum Steel, a daughter of stakes winner Crafty Toast and a half-sister to GI Carter winner and Hill 'n' Dale stallion Army Mule (Friesan Fire).

Sunday, Woodbine
KING'S PLATE S., C$1,004,500, Woodbine, 8-20, (C), 3yo, 1 1/4m (AWT), 2:01.93, ft.
1–PARAMOUNT PRINCE, 126, g, 3, by Society's Chairman
                1st Dam: Platinum Steel (SP, $171,013), by Eddington
                2nd Dam: Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector
                3rd Dam: Give a Toast, by Storm Bird
(C$21,000 Ylg '21 CANSEP). O-Michael J. Langlois and Gary
Barber; B-Ericka Nadine Rusnak (ON); T-Mark E. Casse;
J-Patrick Husbands. C$600,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-1,
$580,871.
2–Elysian Field, 121, f, 3, Hard Spun–Elysian, by Smart Strike.
($50,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $70,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Team
Valor International and Gary Barber; B-Anderson Farms Ont.
Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$200,000.
3–Stanley House, 126, c, 3, Army Mule–Stormy's Song, by
Unbridled's Song. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000 RNA Ylg
'21 FTKJUL; $120,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-John E. and Diana L. Russell; B-Elevage II, LLC & St. Elias
Stables LLC (ON); T-Michael P. De Paulo. C$100,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 4. Odds: 8.00, 4.60, 4.40.
Also Ran: Velocitor, Touch'n Ride, Enjoythesilent, Cool Kiss, Twin City, Philip My Dear, Moon Landing, Wickenheiser, Twowaycrossing, Kalik, Morstachy's, Kaukokaipuu, Silent Miracle, Midnight in Malibu. Scratched: El Cohete, Runaway Charlie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

O-Michael J. Langlois and Gary Barber; B-Ericka Nadine Rusnak; T-Mark Casse.

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Nyquist’s Randomized Goes Wire-to-Wire in Alabama

When Joel Rosario won his first GI Alabama S. back in 2010, he had to come from the tail of the field on Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) in a race run at a crawl and culminating in a pulsating, driving finish with an upstart filly named Havre de Grace (Saint Liam). Leaving little to chance in pursuit of a second victory in the meet's premier race for the sophomore filly set, the Dominican native kicked Klaravich Stables' Randomized (Nyquist) straight into the lead from a wide alley Saturday afternoon and bossed his nine other rivals from the front in the 10-furlong affair, presented by Keeneland Sales.

Beautifully into stride from the eight hole, Randomized made a bee line towards the fence and raced eagerly under the wire for the first time as the outposted Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) did the chasing to her outside. The opening quarter split was strong enough–:23.45–but Rosario had Randomized nicely in hand with a one-length advantage turning up the Saratoga backstretch. The $420,000 Keeneland September purchase switched off well, covering an internal half-mile in :48.88, and was urged along mildly rounding the turn as Brian Hernandez, Jr. began to get serious atop Defining Purpose. Favored Wet Paint (Blame), who had raced closer to the pace than usual, was beginning to find her best stride at the fence as Randomized rolled out into the four path in upper stretch, but she found plenty in the final furlong and was home a clear-cut winner.

A debut third sprinting here last July, Randomized graduated by an imposing 5 1/2 lengths going Aqueduct's one-turn mile Mar. 31, but was no better than a distant sixth of eight when tried in the GI Acorn S. at Belmont June 9. The bay regrouped in the restricted Wilton S. going Saratoga's modified one-turn mile July 14 and made every yard, earning a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

Chad Brown was giving full marks to owner Seth Klarman for the decision to run Saturday.

“I wasn't real confident [about the 10 furlongs]. I was confident that she would run a real good race,” said the trainer, who saddled Dunbar Road (Quality Road) to win the 2019 Alabama, also her fifth career start. “I was really just going to rest her for the [GI] Cotillion [S.] at a mile and a sixteenth. As it got closer and I reported she was breezing well, I said, 'let's at least enter and look at the pace scenario.' We talked about it the other day and he said, 'if you're willing to do it, I have a good feeling about this.' He was right.”

Pedigree Notes:

Randomized is the ninth graded winner for Darley America's Nyquist and his third Grade I scorer, joining first-crop produce Vequist and Gretzky the Great, and she is the 15th worldwide elite-level winner produced by a daughter of the late Elusive Quality.

Richard and Connie Snyder's Cove Springs acquired French Passport, a half-sister to MGSW/MGISP Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz), GSW Overdriven (Tale of the Cat) and the dam of MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy), for $200,000 in foal to American Pharoah at the 2018 Keeneland November Sale. Klaravich also owns the 2-year-old half-brother to Randomized, Marginal Cost (Justify), who fetched $10,000 less than his half-sister at KEESEP last year. French Passport is also responsible for a Frosted filly that is cataloged to sell with Hidden Brook as hip 1711 at Keeneland next month and a weanling filly by Maxfield.

Saturday, Saratoga
ALABAMA S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-19, 3yo, f, 1 1/4m, 2:03.07, ft.
1–RANDOMIZED, 121, f, 3, by Nyquist
1st Dam: French Passport, by Elusive Quality
2nd Dam: Air France, by French Deputy
3rd Dam: Twin Propeller, by Known Fact
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($420,000 Ylg
'21 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Cove Springs, LLC (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown; J-Joel Rosario. $330,000. Lifetime Record:
5-3-0-1, $465,850. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Wet Paint, 121, f, 3, by Blame
1st Dam: Sky Painter (GSP, $169,755), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Skylighter, by Sky Mesa
3rd Dam: Painted Lady, by Broad Brush
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $120,000.
3–Defining Purpose, 121, f, 3, by Cross Traffic
1st Dam: Defining Hope (MSW, $306,238), by Strong Hope
2nd Dam: On the Point, by Point Given
3rd Dam: Longingtobeme, by Belong to Me
($14,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEEJAN). O-Katsumi Yoshida; B-Colette
Marie VanMatre (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $72,000.
Margins: 4, 1HF, 8HF. Odds: 7.10, 1.90, 14.20.
Also Ran: Sabra Tuff, Gambling Girl, Taxed, Sacred Wish, Fireline, Julia Shining, Chocolate Gelato.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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