chateau | Horse Racing Free Tips

Yaupon, Jackie’s Warrior Lead List of De Francis Dash Nominees

Defending champion Laki and Grade 1 winners Jackie's Warrior and Yaupon are among 25 accomplished older sprinters nominated to the $200,000 Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Saturday, Sept. 18 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

The 30th running of the six-furlong De Francis for 3-year-olds and up headlines four stakes worth $500,000 in purses, joined by the $100,000 Weather Vane for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, also at six furlongs; $100,000 Polynesian for 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Twixt for females 3 and older, both going one mile.

Honoring the late owner of Laurel Park and historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., the De Francis' distinguished roster of past winners includes Hall of Famer Housebuster and fellow sprint champions Cherokee Run, Smoke Glacken, Thor's Echo, and Benny the Bull.

Hillside Equestrian Meadows' 8-year-old gelding Laki rallied to capture last year's De Francis by a nose over Eastern Bay for his first graded-stakes triumph. Trained by Damon Dilodovico, who also won an ungraded De Francis with Immortal Eyes in 2013, Laki has lost four starts since extending his streak to five straight years with a stakes victory in the April 24 Frank Whiteley at Laurel.

Jackie's Warrior and Yaupon both exit Grade 1 triumphs on the Aug. 28 card at Saratoga for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, North America's all-time leading trainer by wins that has a total of four De Francis nominees. J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior captured the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens by a neck one race after Yaupon edged fellow Grade 1 winner and De Francis nominee Firenze Fire in the seven-furlong Forego.

While Jackie's Warrior has never raced in the state, Yaupon is 2-0 in Maryland having won the 2020 Grade 3 Chick Lang and the Lite the Fuse on July 4, both at Pimlico. Asmussen also nominated West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler, a four-time winner in Maryland including the Star de Naskra last out Aug. 21 at Pimlico, and Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen's Grade 1-placed Jalen Journey.

Since winning the six-furlong Grade 3 Tom Fool March 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., Michael Dubb's Chateau has run fourth in the Grade 1 Carter, second in the Grade 3 Runhappy at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., and most recently third behind Yaupon and Laki in the Lite the Fuse. The 6-year-old gelding is based in New York with trainer Rob Atras.

Multiple stakes winners nominated to the De Francis include Florida-based Double Crown, second to Yaupon in the Chick Lang; Francatelli, third by a head in the Aug. 31 Grade 3 Parx Dash; Just Might, Grade 2 placed on turf and a stakes winner on grass and dirt riding a three-race win streak; My Boy Tate, Threes Over Deuces, and Whereshetoldmetogo. Wondrwherecraigis was a front-running winner of the six-furlong Tale of the Cat Aug. 13 at Saratoga for trainer Brittany Russell.

The Weather Vane, named for the Maryland-bred champion older filly of 1998 that won 17 of 36 career starts and 14 stakes including the 1997 Grade 3 Safely Kept, also attracted 25 nominations. Prominent among them are Hello Beautiful, who earned her sixth career stakes victory in the July 31 Alma North at Pimlico and is 7 for 11 lifetime at Laurel, and four-time stakes winner Chub Wagon, who lost for the first time in nine lifetime starts when second in the Dr. Teresa Garafalo Memorial Aug. 23.

Other Weather Vane nominees include Ain't No Elmers, second in the 2020 Grade 3 Miss Preakness and third in the July 28 Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga; Casual, second to Chub Wagon in the May 15 Skipat at Pimlico; Club Car, third in the Grade 3 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie and second in the Grade 3 Chicago this year exiting a stakes win at Mountaineer Park Aug. 7; Garafalo Memorial winner Don't Call Me Mary, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher; and multiple stakes winners Honey I'm Good, Casual's Asmussen-trained stablemate; 2020 Grade 3 TCA winner Inthemidstofbiz; Needs Supervision; and Never Enough Time.

[Story Continues Below]

Most popular among horsemen with 31 nominations was the Polynesian, stretched out beyond a sprint for the first time since returning to the stakes calendar in 2017 following a 17-year absence. Its first 12 runnings, alternating between Laurel, Pimlico, and Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., were contested at 1 1/16 or 1 1/8 miles.

Nominees include 2019 Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Roadster, unraced since a fourth in the April 30 Alysheba; West Will Power and Phat Man, respectively 2-3 behind Code of Honor in the Aug. 21 Grade 3 Iselin at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.; June 12 Grade 3 Salvator Mile winner Informative; 2019 Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf winner Mr Dumas; Aug. 27 Robert Hilton Memorial winner Exculpatory; and local multiple stakes winners Alwaysmining and Cordmaker.

The Twixt attracted 30 nominees led by May 2 Grade 2 Ruffian winner Vault and stakes-winning Brad Cox-trained stablemate Dreamalildreamofu, second in the May 14 Grade 3 Allaire du Pont at Pimlico; Off Topic, third in the 2019 Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks; Chilean Group 2 winner Cheetara; and stakes winners Artful Splatter, Josie, Kiss the Girl, Malibu Beauty, Miss Leslie, Mrs. Orb, Needs Supervision, Saracosa, and Trolley Ride.

Laurel Park's 59-day fall meet is scheduled to run Thursday, Sept. 9 through Friday, Dec. 31.

The post Yaupon, Jackie’s Warrior Lead List of De Francis Dash Nominees appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Casa Creed, Bound for Nowhere Headline Troy Stakes At Saratoga

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed will seek another triumph against some of the country's elite turf sprinters in Friday's 18th running of the $200,000 Grade 3 Troy presented by Horse Racing Ireland at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 5 ½-furlong turf sprint over the Mellon turf course is one of three stakes events on the eve of Whitney Day, which also includes the $120,000 Alydar for older horses at nine furlongs over the main track and the $200,000 Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame for sophomores going a mile over the inner turf.

Conditioned by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Casa Creed arrives at the Troy off his best performance yet, displaying a devastating late turn-of-foot to capture the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur on Belmont Stakes Day June 5 at Belmont Park, where he earned a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. The triumph was the 5-year-old son of Jimmy Creed's first start at six furlongs since his July 2018 career debut when sixth over the Saratoga main track.

Casa Creed has seen a considerable cutback in distance after two seasons of campaigning primarily around one mile, a distance where he has found prosperity capturing the Grade 2 Hall of Fame in August 2019 at Saratoga. He also has been graded stakes placed three times at one mile, including a third-place finish to Halladay in last year's Grade 1 Fourstardave at the Spa.

It was a cut back to seven furlongs in the Elusive Quality on April 24 at Belmont Park two starts ago where Casa Creed recaptured winning form for the first time since the Hall of Fame, ending a seven-race losing streak.

“We backed him up to six furlongs and that was okay, five and a half is a bit of a different race on a different type of course,” Mott said. “It's a tighter course here so we'll have to see how he negotiates that.”

Casa Creed has gone 11-1-2-3 at one mile, but Mott said he has benefitted going shorter distances.

“I usually try to get horses to run a mile if they can, which he does. It's pretty obvious he doesn't get beyond a mile that well,” Mott said. “He was a length, a length and a quarter behind some of the best. He's run well and makes that run and has just been touched off a couple of times. Something slightly less than a mile is good for him. Of course, when you're going shorter you need some luck and have to get the right trip.”

Jockey Junior Alvarado has been aboard Casa Creed for both of his graded stakes wins and returns to the irons from post 12.

[Story Continues Below]

Mott also saddles Wachtel Stables, Pantofel Stables, and Jerold Zaro's Chewing Gum, who made a late rally to complete a Mott-trained exacta in the Jaipur. The 6-year-old son of Candy Ride seeks his first trip to the winner's circle since besting allowance optional claiming company going six furlongs in June 2020 at Belmont Park.

Jockey Jose Ortiz will ride from post 2.

Trainer Wesley Ward will saddle Bound for Nowhere, the lone millionaire in the field with a record of 16-7-2-3. Owned by his trainer, the lightly-raced 7-year-old son of The Factor returns to action with a redeeming agenda after setting a swift tempo and relinquishing to third in the final furlong of the Jaipur.

In his prior effort in the Grade 2 Shakertown on April 3 at Keeneland Race Course, Bound for Nowhere was forced to switch tactics and come from off the pace after an awkward start, but overcame adversity with a late-closing narrow win, which netted a 105 Beyer. Bound for Nowhere also captured the 2018 Shakertown, when besting talented turf sprinters Bucchero and Disco Partner by four lengths and registering a career-best 107 Beyer.

Bound for Nowhere has put together a solid work pattern heading into the Troy. He worked five-eighths in 1:01.43 over the Oklahoma training turf Saturday, one week after a sharp five-furlong drill in :59.40 over the same course.

“He's ready,” Ward said. “He's doing everything right. We got here early and got a couple of nice breezes here with [assistant trainer and former jockey] David Flores up. His last work was a nice and easy one because he had a stiff one the week before. He's been working as good of works as he's ever had. Usually, when you're coming into a race like this with a horse that's seven years old, you always are worrying about something, but we've got no worries.”

Jockey Joel Rosario rides from post 11.

Breeze Easy's 7-year-old veteran Imprimis will look to shake off four months' worth of rust, returning to a distance where he boasts a 16-8-2-2 record having not raced since finishing second beaten a nose to Bound for Nowhere in the Shakertown.

Trained by Joe Orseno, the Broken Vow dark bay crossed the wire first in last year's Troy but was disqualified and placed third. He was triumphant in his next effort going six furlongs in the Grade 3 Runhappy Turf Sprint on September 12 at Kentucky Downs before finishing 13th in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 5 at Keeneland.

Imprimis emerged from the Shakertown with a broken bone in his nose.

“He's a very good fresh horse. When he came out of the gate in the Shakertown, he broke a bone in his nose. We took precautions over it, but he's been fine and ready to run,” Orseno said. “The Troy has been on our radar since that race. I was thinking about the Jaipur and decided to skip it, but he's ready to go.”

A six-time stakes winner over five different ovals, the well-traveled Imprimis boasts previous stakes wins in the Jim McKay Turf Sprint in May 2018 at Pimlico Race Course, the Wolf Hill two months later at Monmouth Park, as well as the Silks Run [March 2019], and Janus [January 1] at Gulfstream Park.

“He's never been the kind of horse that needed a track,” Orseno said. “Obviously, it's always turf but Kentucky Downs is different than most. Last year, I took him there off a ten-month layoff and his first race back was the Troy. He handled it fine and did what he was supposed to do. Unfortunately, they took him down, but he ran his race. It's kind of the same pattern we're trying to follow.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Imprimis from post 7.

Trainer Charlie Appleby has garnered success this year in shipping horses across the pond to New York, including Grade 1 triumphs with Althiqa in the Just a Game at Belmont Park and the Diana at the Spa. The Newmarket-based conditioner sends out Godolphin's dual Group 3 winner Lazuli for the Troy.

The 4-year-old bay son of Dubawi captured the Group 3 Dubai International Airport World Trophy at Newbury on September 20 and won the Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket on May 1 two starts later.

Jockey Luis Saez has the mount from post 10.

Rounding out the field are Brad Grady's Fast Boat [post 1, Tyler Gaffalione], a winner of the Grade 2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs two starts back for trainer Joe Sharp; Louisiana-bred stakes winner Classy John [post 3, John Velazquez]; John Terranova-trained three-time winner Backtohisroots [post 4, Manny Franco]; graded stakes-placed Front Run the Fed [post 5, Ricardo Santana, Jr.]; Calumet Farms' ultra-consistent Gear Jockey [post 6, Jose Lezcano]; multiple stakes winner Carotari [post 8, Javier Castellano] for trainer Brian Lynch; and Chateau [post 9, Dylan Davis], a graded-stakes winner on dirt for trainer Rob Atras.

The Troy is carded as Race 9 on Friday's 10-race program. First post is 1:05 p.m.

The post Casa Creed, Bound for Nowhere Headline Troy Stakes At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

C Z Rocket Tops Invitees To ‘Win And You’re In’ Smile Sprint

Madaket Stables LLC, Gary Barber and Tom Kagele's C Z Rocket tops a list of 15 invitees for the $200,000 Smile Sprint Invitational (G3) July 3 at Gulfstream Park.

The Smile Sprint, a six-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up that will offer a $25,000 win-only bonus for Florida-bred entrants, will be featured on the Summit of Speed program that will be headlined by the $350,000 Princess Rooney (G2), a seven-furlong Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' sprint for fillies and mares.

Peter Miller-trained C Z Rocket won five straight races last year before finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland. The multiple Grade 2 stakes winner won his first two 2021 starts, including a victory in the Count Fleet Sprint (G3) at Oaklawn, before coming up a little short to finish second last time out while stretching out in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park.

Diamond Racing Club LLC and partners' Diamond Oops, the 2019 Smile Sprint champion who is being asked back to seek a second score in the race named for the 1986 Breeders' Cup Sprint champion, is a multiple graded-stakes winner who is Grade 1 stakes-placed on dirt and turf.

After winning the 2019 Smile, the Patrick Biancone-trained 6-year-old gelding went on to finish second in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt on dirt at Saratoga and the Shadwell Mile on turf at Keeneland. After starting his 2020 campaign with a solid fourth-place finish in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream while stretching out to 1 1/8 miles, Diamond Oops returned to one-turn races to win the Twin Spires Turf (G2) at Churchill and the Phoenix (G2) on dirt at Keeneland. The millionaire son of Lookin At Lucky followed up a pair of subpar efforts to capture a six-furlong overnight handicap June 5 at Gulfstream Park.

Michael Dubb's Chateau, who captured the Tom Fool (G3) at Aqueduct, is also prominent on the invitation list. The Rob Atras-trained 6-year-old gelding followed up his graded-stakes score in March with a fourth-place finish in the Carter (G1) at Aqueduct and a runner-up finish behind Firenze Fire in the Runhappy (G3) at Belmont.

Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Special Reserve made the Smile invitational list by winning the Maryland Sprint (G3) at Pimlico on the Preakness (G1) undercard. In the 5-year-old gelding's prior start, the Michael Maker trainee finished second in the Commonwealth (G3) at Keeneland.

Trainers Kathy Ritvo and Saffie Joseph Jr. are both represented on the Smile invitation list by three horses.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing owns the Ritvo-trained trio of Double Crown, Frosted Grace and Ournationonparade. Double Crown, who concluded his 2020 campaign with graded-stakes placings in the Smile Sprint and the Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico, came off a 6 ½-month layoff to win a May 23 stakes-quality optional claiming allowance last time out. Frosted Grace, whom Dean and Patti Reeves own in partnership with William Branch, is graded stakes-placed in two of his three 2021 starts, including a troubled third behind Special Reserve in the Maryland Sprint last time out. Ournationonparade most recently finished third behind Diamond Oops June 5.

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds LLC's Chance It, the hero of the 2019 Florida Sire Stakes series and the winner of the 2020 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream, tops the Joseph trio. The 4-year-old son of Currency Swap recently came off a 14-month layoff to finish second behind Double Crown. Daniel Alonso's Wind of Change, who captured the ungraded Mr. Prospector at Monmouth last time out, and Elona Jones' Doc Amster, a last-out optional claiming allowance winner, also made the invitational list.

David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa's Miles Ahead, who was just a head behind Diamond Oops while finishing second in the June 5 overnight handicap at Gulfstream; Bell Racing LLC's Real Talk, an impressive winner of a recent six-furlong optional claiming allowance; Rigney Racing LLC's Rubus, an optional claiming allowance winner at Churchill Downs last time out; Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Shivaree, a multiple stakes winner who finished second behind Tiz the Law in the 2020 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream; and Lea Farms LLC's Willy Boi, who captured the Hutcheson during this year's Championship Meet at Gulfstream; round out the list of Smile Invitees.

The post C Z Rocket Tops Invitees To ‘Win And You’re In’ Smile Sprint appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Atras Considering Next Starts For Maracuja, Chateau

Rob Atras is in third position in the trainer standings with a record of 69-15-11-11 heading into Sunday's card – Day 32 of the 48-day Belmont Park spring / summer meet. Belmont Park is located in Elmont, N.Y.

While four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown leads the way with 26 wins, Atras is just three wins back of second-place trainer Christophe Clement [18 wins from 81 starts] and three victories ahead of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher [12 wins from 74 starts].

“Like everyone, we've had good runs and bad runs but it's great to be in the same category as those guys for number of wins at this particular meet,” said Atras. “We've tried to focus on quality over quantity, but both have risen. We didn't have this many horses last year and now we're up to 50 with more coming in.”

The 36-year-old conditioner saddled Dennis Narlinger's Sadie Lady to a front-running score in Saturday's $100,000 Dancin Renee Stakes, a six-furlong main track sprint for older New York-bred fillies and mares.

The 5-year-old daughter of Freud, bred in the Empire State by JMJ Racing Stables, demonstrated a nose for the wire last season winning 4-of-7 starts. The speedy mare won the six-furlong Correction by a head in March at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, N.Y. and followed with a strong second in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Stakes on May 8 at Belmont Park.

Atras said Sadie Lady, who matched a career-best 85 Beyer for her Dancin Renee score, came out of the race in good order.

“She's great this morning. I'm very happy with her performance,” said Atras. “She had strong early speed and that's her weapon. It unfolded for her very well yesterday.

“She's continued to stay in form,” Atras added. “Last year, she didn't come to Belmont 100 percent and had little nagging issues, nothing serious, so we just gave her some time off.”

Atras has yet to consider the next start for Sadie Lady, but stakes options on the NYRA calendar include the $200,000 Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on July 24 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. and the Union Avenue Handicap, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for state-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on August 19.

Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Maracuja covered a half-mile in 49.75 seconds in company with Olliemyboy, an allowance-winning 4-year-old Ontario-bred colt, on Sunday on the Belmont main track. The breeze followed a sharp half-mile in :48.46 last Sunday on Big Sandy.

“She breezed a nice half and galloped out five-eighths. It was similar to last week but not quite as fast,” said Atras. “It was a strong, progressive half in company with Olliemyboy. They matched strides throughout.”

The Kentucky-bred daughter of Honor Code graduated at third asking in a maiden allowance sprint on February 21 at the Big A before closing to finish second to Search Results in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Gazelle in April at the same track.

Maracuja exited that effort to finish a rallying seventh after a poor start from an inside draw in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, K.Y.

“It wasn't the result we were looking for, but considering the poor break and getting shuffled back, she passed quite a few horses late and was really rolling. With a better break, she might have been fourth or fifth,” said Atras.

Atras said Maracuja will target the $250,000 Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies, on June 26 at Belmont. It would mark the first start for the improving filly over Big Sandy.

“That's what we're trying to pointing towards,” said Atras. “Her last few works have been over the main track. We're trying to get her used to it and I think she'll like the big, sweeping turns.

“If she can have a little better start, she can probably sit a little closer if she needs to,” Atras added. “I think the one turn will be good for her, too. She's fine around two turns but in the Oaks there's not a lot of run to get to the first turn and getting out of the gate good there and getting position is key.”

Atras will have to find a new jockey for Maracuja with her regular rider, Kendrick Carmouche, out for up to 10 weeks with a broken ankle.

“We've been together for a lot of victories and it definitely hurt when he went down,” said Atras. “Kendrick was having a good year and hit a lot of milestones recently winning his first Grade 1 [aboard True Timber in the Cigar Mile]. Hopefully, he'll be back soon.”

Michael Dubb's Chateau breezed early Sunday with an eye towards a start at the Saratoga summer meet.

“The stakes there tend to get pretty salty. I'm not sure which way we're going to go just yet,” said Atras. “Six is a real good distance for him, but we'll see. I'll talk to Mike this week and make a plan for him.”

The 6-year-old Flat Out gelding, who boasts a record of 35-7-10-8 with purse earnings of $525,769, has made his last three starts in graded company, led by a score in the six-furlong Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap in March at Aqueduct.

The dark bay faded to fourth in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Carter Handicap in April at Aqueduct, but stayed on for second last out after setting the pace in the six-furlong Grade 3 Runhappy Stakes won by Firenze Fire on May 8 at Belmont.

The Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up, is slated for July 31 at the Spa.

Sanford J. Goldfarb, Irwin Goldfarb, and the Estate of Ira Davis' American Power finished an even third last out in the Grade 2 True North Stakes that saw graded stakes-winning millionaires Firenze Fire and Flagstaff run one-two on June 4 at Belmont.

“Considering who he ran against, I think it was a good effort by him,” said Atras. “Those two got out front and the track was kind of playing that way and they did what they needed to do.”

The 6-year-old son of Power Broker made the grade in the Grade 3 Toboggan Stakes in January at the Big A and followed with a score in the Caixa Eletronica Stakes at the same distance and track in March.

Atras said American Power has come out of the True North in good order, but has no specific target.

“I gave him a little two-minute lick this morning and he did good,” said Atras. “He's come out of the race well. He's another horse, like Chateau, that's tough to spot. Six and a half furlongs is not quite his best distance. He doesn't have that sprint speed to be up there, so seven-to-a-mile is what we'll look for going forward.”

Musical Heart, owned by Dubb and Michael J. Caruso, faltered to ninth last out in the 12-furlong Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes presented by Northwell Health on Belmont Stakes Day.

The 6-year-old Maclean's Music gelding, claimed for $62,500 in November, captured the 11-furlong Flat Out on April 30 at Belmont.

“It was maybe a little too soon back off the race before and maybe a bit too far,” said Atras of the Brooklyn effort. “I don't think he wants to go that far, but you just don't know until you try it. We're thinking about Saratoga with him, too. We don't have a race in mind but probably at a mile and an eighth.”

Robert Bone's Nice Ace worked five-eighths in 1:01.90 on the main track Sunday. The sophomore son of Noble Mission, bred in Pennsylvania by Blackstone Farm, graduated at second asking for former conditioner Tim Girten over the Presque Isle Downs synthetic in September ahead of a runner-up effort in the Fitz Dixon Memorial Juvenile Stakes in October at the same track.

Nice Ace, who finished off the board in his last two starts, is nominated to make his 3-year-old debut in the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for sophomores on the Woodbine Tapeta slated for June 20.

“He worked well this morning. I'm not sure which direction we'll go with him just yet,” said Atras. “We have him nominated to the Woodstock and we have tentative plans to go up there, but we're not 100 percent committed yet. I'll have to speak to the owner and see what we want to do with him.”

Atras said Nice Ace will likely get a chance to try turf this season.

“He is quite fast. They tried a few different things with him last year and he was most effective on the synthetic,” said Atras. “We wanted to try the turf here; there was an allowance race that didn't fill. He also might stretch out a little bit. He's a tall horse with a nice stride on him but we wanted to start him out sprinting.”

The post Atras Considering Next Starts For Maracuja, Chateau appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post