Tag: Christophe Clement

Gufo Puts Them to the ‘Sword’

Otter Bend Stables LLC's Gufo (Declaration of War) employed his oft-decisive turn of foot to find daylight at a crucial stage of Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga and kicked home smartly to peg back the progressive Mira Misson (Noble Mission {GB}) in the waning strides and successfully defend his title in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Nov. 5. Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) closed off well from the back of the pack to complete a 1-3 finish for the Christophe Clement stable.

“He's been a very good horse these past three years,” said Clement, who also won the Sword Dancer with Honor Glide in 1999 and with Winchester in 2011. “Today, he had a great trip. He was never that far back and he was travelling well. When [jockey] Joel [Rosario] asked him, he exploded in the stretch. I'm delighted. I thought the horse deserved the win.”

While favored Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) missed the break and was immediately under a Ryan Moore ride, Gufo left there running and settled in about seventh position, as the free-wheeling Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) set a moderate pace from 2020 Sword Dancer hero Channel Maker (English Channel).

Gufo, blinkered for the first time this season, continued to travel covered up and slightly behind midfield and was ridden quietly by Joel Rosario passing midway, but those who swallowed the 3-2 about this year's G2 Hardwicke S. hero were beginning to sweat, as the 6-year-old was up and down and making very hard work of it approaching the final half-mile. Broome was back into the bridle by the time the Sword Dancer field had reached the final turn and traveled better three wide, but Rosario asked Gufo for some acceleration and beat Broome to the spot, floating the Aidan O'Brien runner wide as they neared the stretch. In the meantime, Mira Mission, who raced one out and one back in the slipstream of Channel Maker for a good portion of the journey, eased out and easily claimed Tribhuvan in upper stretch. For a few strides, it appeared that he had pinched a winning break, but Gufo leveled out and attacked the line to score narrowly. Broome could do no better than fourth.

“It was a good trip,” said Rosario. “He really came with [a] run when asked and we're lucky to get it today. He really responded well but you never know if the horse in front will keep going, but he responded to everything I asked him to do. He looked like he likes it here, he won it last year and did it again this year.”

Never a factor when 10th in last year's Turf, Gufo resumed as good as ever when whooshing home by two lengths in the GII Pan American S. at Gulfstream Apr. 2. Runner-up in Belmont's GI Man o' War S. over a mile and three furlongs May 14, he was simply left too much to do when third to Tribhuvan in the GI Resorts World Manhattan S. over 10 panels downstate June 11 and when fifth to Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) in the 11-furlong GI United Nations S. at Monmouth July 23.

Pedigree Notes:

Gufo is one of seven worldwide top-level scorers for Declaration of War, who has also accounted for winners of prestigious events such as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Queensland Oaks and Melbourne Cup from just a handful of crops to race. The stallion currently calls Japan home, where he has been represented (through Aug. 26) by seven individual winners from his first local crop of runners.

A half-brother to the versatile fan-favorite Hogy, Gufo is bred on a variant of the Danzig cross over Seeking the Gold mares that has resulted in the likes of Omaha Beach–also a son of War Front–as well as Pomeroy (Boundary), Eclipse Award winner Questing (GB) (Hard Spun) and Signs of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Floy is the dam of a yearling Preservationist filly named Poet, did not conceive to Hard Spun for 2022 and was most recently served by both the latter and Oscar Performance.

 

 

 

Saturday, Saratoga
RESORTS WORLD CASINO SWORD DANCER S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:28.92, gd.
1–GUFO, 122, h, 5, by Declaration of War
               1st Dam: Floy, by Petionville
               2nd Dam: Risen Miss, by Peteski
               3rd Dam: Eddie's Star, by Risen Star
O-Otter Bend Stables, LLC; B-John Little & Stephen Cainelli
(KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $400,000.
Lifetime Record: 19-9-3-5, $1,983,030. *1/2 to Hogy (Offlee
Wild), MGSW-USA, SP-Can, $1,339,782. Werk Nick Rating:
D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mira Mission, 118, g, 4, Noble Mission (GB)–Kazamira, by
Dynaformer. O-Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust;
B-Mary A Sullivan (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $140,000.
3–Soldier Rising (GB), 118, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Sahrawi (Ger),
by Pivotal (GB). (240,000gns RNA Ylg '19 TATOCT).
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey,
Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso; B-Dayton
Investments Ltd. (GB); T-Christophe Clement. $75,000.
Margins: HF, HF, HF. Odds: 4.40, 18.60, 13.70.
Also Ran: Broome (Ire), Cross Border, Tribhuvan (Fr), Cold Hard Cash, Adhamo (Ire), Rockemperor (Ire), Channel Maker.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Aug. 26 Insights: $825k Justify Colt Debuts On NYB Showcase Day

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-SAR, $88k, Msw, (S), 2yo, 7f, 2:47 p.m. ET

The New York-bred program will be celebrated Friday at Saratoga with an all state-bred card featuring six stakes, and a live-looking maiden race in the fourth headlined by Hoolie Racing Stable's firster CHULLIGAN (Justify) should not be overlooked. The chestnut, who sold for $825,000 last summer at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, is the second foal to race out of three-time New York-bred stakes winner and 2017 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint upsetter Bar of Gold (Medaglia d'Oro), following GSW turfer Coinage (Tapit). The Christophe Clement trainee shows a sharp-looking worktab over this track, most recently going a half-mile in :47 4/5 (8/40) from the gate Aug. 19. Quick to Accuse (Accelerate) also opens his account in here for owner Rupp Racing and trainer Horacio De Paz. The bay is a half to millionaire New York-bred stalwart and 11-time stakes winner Mr. Buff (Friend Or Foe) and sold for $200,000 at OBS March after breezing a furlong in :10 1/5. TJCIS PPs

—@JBiancaTDN

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Big Invasion Effortless Winner of Mahony Stakes

Big Invasion (Declaration of War)'s enormous kick carried him home to a sixth victory in a row in Saratoga's Mahony S. by three effortless lengths.

Coming into the race with four straight stakes victories, the GIII Quick Call July 17 at this venue among them, he was hammered down to 1-5 favoritism in his quest to continue the streak and he made it look a gift. He was equally dominant in the May 29 Paradise Creek at Belmont, William Walker at Churchill Downs May 4, and in the Texas Glitter S. in Hallendale Mar. 26. His only blemish was on debut Jan. 7 behind stakes-placed filly American Starlet (Twirling Candy) who went gate to wire after Big Invasion slammed into the gate on the break.

Rating well off a quick early pace set by That's Right (Goldencents) and a pursuing European invader Cadamosto (Ire), he tracked from fifth on the fence through the early part of the bend. Gradually shifting out to the four path, Joel Rosario set his mount loose in upper stretch and the race was over by the final furlong. Big Invasion inhaled his competition and won geared down by three lengths in a quick 1:01.42.

“I've always thought he was the best 3-year-old in the country on the grass sprinting. We just don't have a program with Grade 1, Grade 2, that's the way the program is made,” said Clement post-race in regards to a start in Grade I company. “But, I don't know, I'd have to talk to [owner] Mr. [Dean] Reeves. I need to give him some time at some stage and maybe we can think about a race like the Breeders Cup even if it's very ambitious. Why not?”

Big Invasion is the third black-type earner in a row for his dam, who claims several multiple winners as half-relations. Curls in Place is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to GSP Going Wild (Golden Missle). In addition to We Miss Susie, the winner is also half to SP Unitedandresolute (Violence). They have a 2-year-old half-sister by Empire Maker, a yearling half-brother by Air Force Blue, and a 2022 half-brother by War of Will. The dam went to Maclean's Music for 2023. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

MAHONY S., $150,000, Saratoga, 8-14, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:01.42, fm.
1–BIG INVASION, 122, c, 3, by Declaration of War
                1st Dam: Curls in Place, by Curlin
                2nd Dam: Pola's Place, by Out of Place
                3rd Dam: Pola, by Strawberry Road (Aus)
($72,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-John O'Meara (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0, $444,045. *1/2 to We Miss Susie (Creative Cause), SP, $194,692.
2–Cadamosto (Ire), 118, c, 3, No Nay Never–Saucy Spirit (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (£130,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Peter Henley & Eric Mc Donnell (Ire); T-Joseph Patrick O'Brien. $30,000.
3–Determined Kingdom, 122, g, 3, Animal Kingdom–Filia, by Fastnet Rock (Aus). ($47,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT). O-D Hatman Thoroughbreds and Schoenthal, Phil; B-Audley Farm Equine, LLC (VA); T-Phil Schoenthal. $18,000.
Margins: 3, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.35, 6.40, 26.50.
Also Ran: Sky and Sand, Surprise Boss, That's Right, Editorial Comment (Arg).

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Reeves On a Roll at Saratoga

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing is enjoying a tremendous summer at Saratoga as they sit near the top of the leading owners list midway through the notoriously competitive race meet. So far, they've celebrated in the winner's circle alongside three stakes winners and an impressive debut-winning juvenile.

Dean Reeves, a native of Atlanta and the co-owner of a commercial contracting company in Georgia, formed Reeves Thoroughbred Racing with his wife Patti in 2009. The couple has campaigned a long line of Grade I performers since.

Reeves was on the Oklahoma backstretch with a smile on his face and a coffee in his hand the morning after their latest victory this week.

“It's just been crazy,” he said of their success at Saratoga. “We got off to a tremendous start right on the first weekend and we thought wow, how can we keep it going?”

City Man (Mucho Macho Man) got the ball rolling for his owners on opening weekend at the Spa with his definitive victory in the GIII Forbidden Apple S. Trained by Christophe Clement and owned in partnership with Peter and Patty Searless, the 5-year-old New York-bred has earned at least one stakes victory every year since his juvenile season, but the Forbidden Apple marked his first graded stakes score.

The win was doubly special as City Man is a son of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's 2013 GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Mucho Macho Man.

“City Man is one of my favorite horses,” admitted Reeves. “We bought him as a 2-year-old and he has continued to get better and better. I think that right now, he's at the top of his game. He's a stunning individual and has really shown a lot of the talent that Mucho Macho Man can give them.”

Two days after Reeves got off the duck at Saratoga with City Man, Big Invasion (Declaration of War) replicated his stablemate's success with another Grade III score in the Quick Call S. The sophomore is on a brilliant win streak this year. After breaking his maiden at Gulfstream in February, he reeled off three straight stakes wins before he stepped up to graded company at Saratoga.

“Big Invasion seems to have a lot of talent,” Reeves said. “He is the kind of horse that looks like he can go five-and-a-half to seven furlongs. He seems to be able to go with whatever the pace is and then he still has that kick at the end. That makes him pretty dangerous.”

Earlier this week, Reeves went to the winner's circle with a third Saratoga stakes victor. Coming off a stakes win at Hawthorne, Isolate (Mark Valeski) led gate to wire to claim the Tale of the Cat S. by six lengths.

Reeves said he felt confident going into the race after watching the 4-year-old work four furlongs in :46 flat–best of 128–two weeks ago.

“He's been training really well,” he noted. “We needed to break well and Tyler [Gaffalione] got him out of the gate and into a great position. He had plenty left turning for home.”

Isolate's victory was cause for celebration on several accounts as it marked the 4,000th win for his trainer Tom Amoss.

“That was so special and so neat for it to be in a stakes race here at Saratoga,” Reeves said. “It couldn't have worked out any better. Tom has done a great job with Isolate and it was exciting to see him win.”

Reeves hopes that their hot streak continues as their stable's top performers prepare to return to the Saratoga starting gate.

This weekend, Big Invasion will compete in a field of seven in the five-and-a-half furlong Mahony S. on Sunday. If all goes well, Reeves said they have their eye on a trip to Keeneland for their turf sprinter this fall.

“We're really looking forward to the race on Sunday,” he said. “I think he'll be some good competition. Down the road, there are possibilities of a race at Keeneland that we would like to do prior to the Breeders' Cup. It's hard to take a 3-year-old in there against those really top horses, but we're going to play it by ear. I'm pretty confident in him.”

While Reeves was hoping to cheer on City Man in the GI Fourstardave H. this weekend, he said they opted to send the turf specialist to the Aug. 26 West Point H., where he will be defending his 2021 title.

“We were between a rock and a hard place,” Reeves explained. “We didn't have quite enough time to come back and catch [the Fourstardave]. The financially smart decision was to wait and run when we could give him more time for the West Point, which has a nice purse. As an owner I wanted to run in the Fourstardave, but fortunately Christophe and [assistant] Miguel have us in the right spot.”

Reeves said he makes a habit of relying on his trainers when it comes to mapping out his runners' racing schedules. He is quick to admit his bias as an owner and explained that his trainers remind him of the bigger picture when it comes to the bottom line.

“It helps us as owners to have trainers that are thinking about the dollars and cents,” he said. “Those types of trainers are helpful when they can just be honest with you about your stock. With Christophe, a lot of times as soon as we finish a race he has it in his head what he wants to do next. They really have thought through what they plan to do with each horse in order for it to be successful.”

Last summer, Reeves purchased a farm in Micanopy, Florida outside of Ocala. Managed by Nellie and Chetley Breeden along with Nellie's father Jimmy Gladwell, the farm allows Reeves to venture into acquiring future members of their racing stable as weanlings and overseeing their early days until they make it to training. Isolate, a $70,000 Keeneland November weanling, was one of their first purchases when they began focusing on shopping for weanlings.

Dean Reeves and Christophe Clement | Sarah Andrew

“I'm able to go in there and get a lot of value,” Reeves explained. “Patti and I come here to Saratoga for the New York-bred weanling sale. There's tremendous value and then we can put them in our program, get them to the farm and take our time with them. It gives us an advantage to really get to the horses earlier and see how they progress.”

“We've been involved in the New York-bred program for the last couple of years and that has really helped,” he added. “It's a great program. The purse money is there and we can go get some very nice New York-breds.”

As their racing stable continues to expand, so too has the number of people Reeves said are essential to its advancement.

“Our success has been because of a lot of people doing a lot hard work,” he emphasized. “We've won a lot of tremendous races, but the main thing is we're in it to have fun. Do we want to strive for those big races? Absolutely. Everyone is working hard and I think we'll have some more of those in our future.”

Winning the GI Breeders' Cup Classic with stable star Mucho Macho Man will always be an irreplaceable highlight for Reeves and his wife, but he said that there are a few races they still dream about.

“Patti wants to win the Arc de Triomphe and the Kentucky Derby, so I said, 'Okay, great. We'll put those two on the list and we'll try to win those.' We've been really blessed. The thing is, we're having a lot of fun. Win, lose or draw, we're enjoying it. It takes a team, and we've got a great one.”

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