Clairiere | Horse Racing Free Tips

Alabama Also-Rans Invade For Cotillion

The second-, third-, fourth and last-place finishers from Saratoga's GI Alabama S. comprise half of what is expected to be a field of eight for Saturday's GI Cotillion S. at Parx Racing. Private Mission (Into Mischief), recent winner of the GIII Torrey Pines S., did not make the trip in from California.

Clairiere (Curlin) won the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at the Fair Grounds on her seasonal debut, but was second in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks and a one-paced fourth to 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks Apr. 30. Third following a stumbling start in the GII Mother Goose S. June 26 and again when Maracuja (Honor Code) upset Malathaat in the GI CCA Oaks at Saratoga July 24, the Stonestreet homebred closed willingly to complete the exacta behind Malathaat in the Alabama, a half-length ahead of GII Black-Eyed Susan S. heroine Army Wife (Declaration of War) in third. Will's Secret (Will Take Charge), winner of Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee S. and third in the Oaks, attended the pace in the Alabama, but weakened to be fourth.

Maracuja finished one spot ahead of Army Wife in the GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 3 and was allowed to take her chance in the Oaks, finishing an even seventh. She made her next appearance in the CCA Oaks, where she was the recipient of a heads-up ride from Ricardo Santana, Jr. and outfinished Malathaat, who was forced to race closer to that pace than is her custom. The gray filly stumbled at the start of the Alabama, contested over a rain-affected track, but retreated late to finish at the tail.

Always Carina (Malibu Moon) was the popular winner of a key Aqueduct maiden on debut Apr. 11 and earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors with a 9 3/4-length thumping of first-level Belmont allowance foes May 20. Beaten into second after setting a manageable pace as the odds-on choice in the Mother Goose, the homebred cut back to no avail in the GI Longines Test S. Aug. 7, finishing a midpack fourth behind Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot).

“I really want to get her back out in a distance where she will be forwardly placed and in control of her own trip,” trainer Chad Brown said.

The post Alabama Also-Rans Invade For Cotillion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Midnight Bourbon, Jackie’s Warrior Work Ahead Of Travers, H. Allen Jerkens

Winchell Thoroughbred's Midnight Bourbon, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, worked a half-mile in :49.60 Sunday on the Oklahoma training track in preparation for Saturday's $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Asmussen said the graded stakes-winning sophomore son of Tiznow has worked well after a troubled trip last out in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, where he was a close third in mid-stretch before clipping heels and falling, unseating rider Paco Lopez.

“He's a very impressive horse,” Asmussen said. “I think we're obviously very fortunate that he came out of the mishap in the Haskell in good shape and he's training well, per usual.”

Midnight Bourbon, a winner of the Grade 3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds Race Course in his 2021 debut, was second in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico to Rombauer prior to the Haskell.

Asmussen and Winchell finished third twice in the Travers with Pyro [2008] and Gun Runner [2016].

Also breezing on Sunday for Asmussen was five-time graded stakes winning millionaire Jackie's Warrior, who went a half-mile in :48.98 seconds in preparation for the $500,000 Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on the Runhappy Travers Day undercard.

William and Corrine Heiligbrodt's dual graded stakes winner Yaupon went a half-mile in :50.50 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. The 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo is targeting the $600,000 Grade 1 Forego.

Asmussen was pleased with a solid runner-up finish from Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere in the Grade 1 Alabama. The winner of the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra in February at Fair Grounds closed late under Irad Ortiz, Jr. to finish second, 1 ½ lengths in arrears to Malathaat. Asmussen said no plans have been made for the daughter of Curlin's next start.

“She came out of it in good shape,” Asmussen said. “There's a lot going on between now and what's next for her.”

The post Midnight Bourbon, Jackie’s Warrior Work Ahead Of Travers, H. Allen Jerkens appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Malathaat Finds Winner’s Circle Again In Alabama At Saratoga

In a race steeped in history, with names like Songbird, Shuvee, and Go for Wand on its list of winners, Malathaat sought to return to a familiar spot: the winner's circle. In her last start, she had battled Maracuja down the stretch of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21, Maracuja's final kick putting the Kentucky Oaks winner in an unfamiliar position: second place by a head. Four weeks later, Malathaat found the familiar confines of winner's circle once again, getting the better of six other 3-year-olds fillies in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Malathaat broke from the sixth post, Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez taking up position behind the front four early in the Alabama. Longshot Played Hard, trying stakes company for the first time, held the lead for the first six furlongs, setting a slow pace with the first quarter-mile in :23.97 and the half-mile in :49.12. She maintained her half-length advantage through the final turn, with Army Wife and Malathaat moving on her outside. Army Wife was fastest into the stretch, grabbing a short lead but Velazquez had Malathaat on the move, taking advantage of the longer distance of the Alabama. She overtook Army Wife and pulled away in the last eighth of a mile to win by a length and a half. Clairiere, who was last early, came on to finish second with Army Wife holding on to third. Will's Secret, Played Hard, Crazy Beautiful, and Maracuja rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the mile and a quarter G1 Alabama was 2:02.59. Find this race's chart here.

Owned by Shadwell Stables, Malathaat paid $3.10, $2.50, and $2.10. Clairiere paid $5.30 and $3.60. Army Wife paid $3.90.

“With the exception of the stumble at the start, I felt pretty good the whole way. She recovered and got into a good position. She was in the clear. The thing we wanted today was to allow her to run her race and get into that big stride she has and a comfortable rhythm and keep coming,” trainer Todd Pletcher said after the race. “She got back close enough [after the stumble], maybe it would have improved one position or so, but ultimately it was where we wanted her to be.”

“I was thinking that Irad's horse [Ortiz, Jr., aboard No. 3 Clairiere] was coming from way back and I was expecting that. She was not close to the pace, so in the back of my head, I was thinking that's a horse who can come back, so you have to watch out for it,” Velazquez told the NYRA Press Office after the Alabama. “Last time, there was no speed at all. So, we made a decision to go to the first turn and if she was on the lead, then she was on the lead. She was on the lead and everybody chased us. Today, it was easier. The speed showed up. I saved the ground in the first turn. I didn't chase. I knew I was comfortable where I was and she did it for me.”

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, the 3-year-old Malathaat is by Curlin out of the A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia. Consigned by Denali Stud, the filly was purchased by Shadwell at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $1,050,000 by Shadwell. With her win in the G1 Alabama, Malathaat has six wins in seven starts for career earnings of $1,555,150.

The post Malathaat Finds Winner’s Circle Again In Alabama At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Malathaat and Maracuja Rematch in Alabama

Maracuja (Honor Code) put an end to 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat's (Curlin) unbeaten record when they last met in Saratoga's GI CCA Oaks July 24. Now that GI Kentucky Oaks winner will try to turn the tables on that foe and return to winning ways as the even-money morning-line favorite in Saturday's prestigious GI Alabama S. going an additional furlong at the Spa.

A perfect three-for-three as a juvenile, capped by a victory in the GII Demoiselle S., Malathaat kicked off her sophomore campaign with a head success in Keeneland's GI Central Bank Ashland S. Apr. 3. The $1.05-million KEESEP acquisition rallied to a gritty victory in the Kentucky Oaks Apr. 30 and led every step of the way in the CCA Oaks before being worn down late by Maracuja to be second by a head.

“I'm hoping that we get on the outside and stay clear. Those other two fillies [Maracuja and Clairiere] just kept tag teaming her and she never had a chance to take a breath,” said Shadwell Stables' General Manager Rick Nichols. “I think the additional distance will be a benefit to her as well. Her pedigree certainly points towards that direction.”

Graduating at third asking at Aqueduct in February, Maracuja was second to GI Acorn S. winner and Oaks runner-up Search Results (Flatter) in the GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 3 and could only manage seventh in the Run for the Lillies. Dispatched at 14-1 in a four-horse field last time in the CCA Oaks, the gray was given an excellent ride from Ricardo Santana, Jr., overtaking the chalk just in time for a breakthrough score.

“When Kendrick [Carmouche] got off her the first time she won he said that he couldn't wait for us to stretch her out in distance. He knew right away,” trainer Rob Atras said. “You always hope for the best, but our goal was always to target the Coaching Club and the Alabama, so it's nice that things are coming together.”

Also exiting the CCA Oaks is regally bred, Grade II winner Clairiere (Curlin). Winner of the GII Rachel Alexandra S. in February, the Stonestreet homebred rallied to be second to Travel Column (Frosted) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks a month later. Closing strongly to be fourth in the Kentucky Oaks, the daughter of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini) was third in the GII Mother Goose S. at Belmont June 26 and loomed a brief threat before fading to third in the CCA Oaks.

Ken McPeek saddles a filly worth a look here at a bit of price in Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map). A decisive victress of the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 27, she failed to fire when 10th on the Last Friday in April, but rebounded with a victory in the GII Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita May 30. The gray romped by six lengths last out as the heavy favorite in an underwhelming renewal of the GIII Delaware Oaks July 3.

Also worth consideration to fill out the superfecta is Army Wife (Declaration of War), who exits victories in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. May 14 and GIII Iowa Oaks July 2.

The post Malathaat and Maracuja Rematch in Alabama appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post