Tag: Concert Hall (Ire)

Belmont Turf Takes Center Stage Saturday

by Stefanie Grimm & Patrycja Szpyra

With the Fourth of July holiday weekend in the rear-view mirror, the summer turf season kicks into high gear starting with a pair of Grade I's at Belmont Park Saturday. The home team takes on a new wave of European challengers in the 1 1/4-mile GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational S., the first leg of the Caesars Turf Triple Series.

Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb), last seen finishing ninth behind longshot GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice), finally gets back to the surface that he's shown plenty of success on previously. Tiz the Bomb scored back-to-back victories on the grass in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S. Sept. 6 and Keeneland's GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. Oct. 10. He ended his 2-year-old campaign with just a half-length defeat to Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar Nov. 5, his most recent try on grass.

After an unsuccessful 3-year-old debut in the GIII Holy Bull S., Tiz the Bomb returned to form with two wins on the all-weather surface at Turfway Park, taking both the John Battaglia Memorial S. Mar. 5 and GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. Apr. 2. He defeated eventual Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) in the latter.

“We gave him a Kentucky Derby chance,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “He ran respectable, but he's certainly not as good on the dirt as he is on the grass.”

McPeek will also saddle Kentucky Derby 11th Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway), who will be making his first start on the turf. The GIII Sam F. Davis S. and the GII Tampa Bay Derby winner, previously trained by Brian Lynch, was third in Thistledown's GIII Ohio Derby June 25.

Topping the European contenders is Godolphin homebred Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who, barring his poor effort most recently in the G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom June 4, previously won four straight, including a seven-length win in the Newmarket S. Apr. 29 over the same 1 1/4-mile distance he'll try Saturday.

Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), drawn wide in post 13, also exits a disappointing showing like his aforementioned rival in the Cazoo Derby. Prior to that, he showed good form in taking the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown May 8 and also when finishing second in the 2021 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Also on tap over Belmont's turf course Saturday is the 1 1/4- mile GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S., which features a similar combination of American and European-bred contenders. Chad Brown brings a trio of options starting with 'TDN Rising Star' Haughty (Empire Maker), who ended her juvenile season with only a three-quarter length defeat to Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}) enters for Brown off a second- place finish in the 1 1/8-mile GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs June 4. She was also second behind fellow Oaks rival New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy) in the GII Edgewood S. May 6.

Rounding out Brown's entries is Consumer Spending (More Than Ready), who enters having won four of her last five starts. While no match for Pizza Bianca in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, she began her 3-year-old season with back-to-back wins. She turned the tables on Pizza Bianca in Aqueduct's Memories of Silver S. Apr. 24, then added the GII Wonder Again S. at Belmont June 9.

Hailing from the barn of Aidan O'Brien, Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) is listed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The 2021 G3 Weld Park S. winner was stretched out in distance as a 3-year-old. Her form this season includes a third-place finish in the G1 Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas May 22, a fourth-place finish in the G1 Cazoo Oaks June 3, and a fifth-place finish in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at Curragh June 26.

Five Line Up for Suburban

The Belmont dirt will showcase older horses going 1 1/4 miles in the GII Suburban S. Shug McGaughey brings in 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin), who enters off a career-best performance in the GIII Pimlico Special S. May 20. Dynamic One (Union Rags) is listed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the field of five. After getting seven months off following his seventh-place effort in the GI Travers S. Aug. 28, he returned as a 4-year-old with increasingly positive results. He checked in third off the layoff in the GIII Challenger S. at Tampa Mar. 12, was second in the GIII Ben Ali S. Apr. 23, and most recently won the Blame S. June 4 at Churchill. The field also includes defending Suburban champion Max Player (Honor Code).

The Belmont card also includes the GIII Victory Ride S. for 3-year-old fillies. Marylou Whitney Stables's Pretty Birdie (Bird Song) was second in her last two, completing the exacta behind Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GII Eight Belles S. May 6 and Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) in the Leslie's Lady Overnight S. June 12. The field also includes Happy Soul (Runhappy), second last time in Pimlico's GIII Miss Preakness S. May 20.

Smaller Circuit Graded Stakes Attract Big Names

Horseshoe Indianapolis–formerly Indiana Grand–may've changed its name, but the industry's heavy hitters came with their runners just the same for the GIII Indiana Derby and GIII Indiana Oaks, scheduled to go as the last two races on the card.

In the nightcap contest for the colts, 75-1 longshot GII Rebel S. conqueror Un Ojo (Laoban) returns off a three-month layoff in his first attempt for trainer Robertino Diodoro. Conditioner Kenny McPeek's GISW Rattle N Roll (Connect) is cross-entered here and in the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows after ending his five-race losing streak last weekend in the July 2 American Derby at Churchill Downs. Texas Derby winner King Ottoman (Curlin), trained by Steve Asmussen, and the Brad Cox-trained Best Actor (Flatter)–a $330,000 KEESEP purchase for Gary and Mary West–round a talented, if lightly raced, field.

The Indiana Oaks is shaping up to be a battle of the trainers as McPeek and Cox send out a pair each. Juddmonte homebred Patna (Into Mischief) and GI Ashland S. third Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire) will fly the flag of the latter. Nine-length maiden winner Silverleaf (Speightster) and the rapidly improving Runaway Wife (Gun Runner) will look to cap a potentially big day for McPeek.

Shifting to Prairie Meadows for the evening, the GIII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. attracted the evergreen gelding Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), looking to rebound from a pair of disappointing efforts, including in Lone Star's May 30 GIII Steve Sexton Mile S. That race was won by the horse to his inside, the re-opposing Silver Prospector (Declaration of War). Warrant (Constitution), second last out in the GII Brooklyn H. June 11 and second Mar. 5 in the GI Santa Anita H., aims to secure his first win of the season.

A field of eight fillies will do battle for the GIII Iowa Oaks crown, led by the Todd Pletcher-trained Falconet (Uncle Mo) and local Panther S. victress Butterbean (Klimt). Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}), a surprise winner of the Apr. 2 Bourbonette Oaks, is cross-entered in the Indiana Oaks.

Marathon Runners Chime In From Delaware

A big weekend of racing will also be rolling at Delaware Park as a field of 10 lines up to contest the grassy GIII Robert G. Dick Memorial S., featuring over half of the Keertana S. field, including first and second-place finishers Temple City Terror (Temple City) and Stand Tall (Uncle Mo).

The main track filly and mare marathoners will also have their day in the (most likely not present) Delaware sun in the GII Delaware Handicap, with the streaking Serena's Song S. and Obeah S. heroine Miss Leslie (Paynter) leading the charge.

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Euro Invaders Converge for Triple Turf Series

Wielding great might in Europe, the Aidan O'Brien arsenal has also proven one to be respected in many of the nation's top turf contests. That influence will once again be in evidence this weekend with the appearance of Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who arrived in New York Wednesday and are slated to contest Saturday's 10-furlong first legs of NYRA's Caesars Turf Triple series. The former, bred and co-owned by Peter Brant with Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, is set for the GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, while Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Concert Hall takes on nine other fillies in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Runner up in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two, Stone Age was a prominent winner of the 10-furlong G3 Derby Trial in May at Leopardstown before finishing sixth last time out in the 12-furlong G1 Cazoo Derby June 4.

“He showed plenty of pace [in the Derby Trial],” explained O'Brien. “He traveled very strongly and galloped through the line very well. There's a chance that going back to 10 furlongs might suit him better. We thought he would have no problem with the mile and a half [last out], but there might be a chance that it was too far for him. He seems to have come out of the Derby well.”

Ryan Moore, who is slated to ride both O'Brien runners this weekend, was also on board for last season's Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks with Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), respectively. O'Brien also captured the 2016 renewal of the Belmont Derby with Deauville (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), courtesy of Jamie Spencer.

Also considered for last weekend's G1 Coral-Eclipse S. won by Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}), Stone Age gets the opportunity to face fellow sophomores in New York.

“We had the choice of going here [to New York] or going to the Eclipse and we decided to come to [the New York] race, which is a race we thought would suit him well,” O'Brien explained. “Your race suits perfectly to give him another chance against his own age and then we can step up again against older horses after if we want.”

Also facing fellow 3-year-olds, Concert Hall will be attempting to give O'Brien his third victory in the race. In her two most recent races, she finished fourth in the 12-furlong Epsom Oaks June 3 and was elevated from fifth in the 10-furlong G1 Pretty Polly S. June 26 at The Curragh.

“She didn't have much luck inside the last couple of furlongs,” O'Brien said of her latest start. “She got a bad enough bump and squeeze and had to stop and go back to last and come around them again. She was staying on well at the line.”

At two, Concert Hall won The Curragh's G3 Weld Park S. going seven furlongs and returned this April to capture the 10-furlong Listed Salsabil S. at Navan. She subsequently finished third in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May at The Curragh.

Further underscoring the influence of the O'Brien name this weekend, Aidan O'Brien's son, Joseph, will be represented in the Belmont Oaks by multiple group winning Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio), who finished fifth last time in the G1 Irish Guineas May 22. The junior O'Brien, who recently confirmed he will keep a small string of horses in Saratoga this summer, took last season's Saratoga Derby with State of Rest (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who is possible for either the July 27 G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood or Deauville's G1 Jacques le Marois next month.

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Cazoo Oaks: Where Did They Come From?

This year's G1 Cazoo Oaks is an up-to-scratch renewal. Aidan O'Brien runs four, with Ryan Moore electing to ride Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Tuesday, while John and Thady Gosden are double-handed with short-priced favourite Emily Upjohn and Nashwa. Emily Upjohn cost just 60,000gns as a yearling while Tom Clover's Rogue Millennium, unbeaten in both of her starts, is another bargain buy that will line up in this year's Classic after she changed hands to join her current connections for just 35,000gns. We took a look at the story behind each of the 11 fillies that will step forward in the Epsom Classic on Friday afternoon and find out where they all came from.

 

CONCERT HALL (IRE), Dubawi (Ire)–Was (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})
Owner: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg
Breeder: Was Syndicate
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: Her dam Was stormed to Oaks glory 10 years ago under Seamie Heffernan. Was is from the family of G1 Derby victor New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and is a sister to stakes winners Douglas MacArthur (Ire), Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) and the dual Group 3-placed Al Naamah (Ire), as well as a half-sister to listed winner Janood (Ire) (Medicean {GB}). Concert Hall is followed by an unraced 2-year-old sister and a filly foal by Wootton Bassett (GB) this year.

 

EMILY UPJOHN (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire)–Hidden Brief (GB) (Barathea {Ire})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Tactful Finance & S Roden
Breeder: Lordship Stud & Sunderland Holding Inc
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Sales History: The heavy favourite for this year's Oaks will provide many people with reason to dream, as she was knocked down for just 60,000gns during Book 2 of the Tattersalls Yearling Sale in October 2020.
Pedigree Notes: Emily Upjohn has a pedigree that belies that 60,000gns price tag. The race favourite is a half-sister to two winners, while her dam Hidden Brief is a winning sister to Hazarista (Ire) and a half-sister to Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}), both of whom were black-type performers for John Oxx. More pertinently, Hazariya is the dam of dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Hidden Brief has a yearling filly by Capella Sansevero (GB).

 

KAWIDA (GB), Sir Percy (GB)–Kandahari (GB) (Archipenko)
Owner/Breeder: Miss K Rausing
Trainer: Ed Walker
Pedigree Notes: Kawida is the first foal out of the dual winner Kandahari, herself a half-sister to triple Australian Group 1 winner Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). She has a 2-year-old full-sister called Khinjani (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}), who has yet to race, and a yearling half-sister by Sea The Moon (Ger).

 

MOON DE VEGA (GB), Lope De Vega (Ire)–Lunesque (Ire) (Azamour {Ire})
Owner: Regents Consulting
Breeder: Montcastle Bloodstock Ltd
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Pedigree Notes: Her dam carried the colours of Lady O'Reilly to victory in France and is a half-sister to a French Group 3 winner, a listed juvenile scorer and a listed-placed performer. Lunesque has a 2-year-old colt named Sir Cilia (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and her 2021 filly Night of Thunder (Ire).

 

NASHWA (GB), Frankel (GB)–Princess Lulu (Ire) (Pivotal {GB})
'TDN Rising Star'.
Owner: Imad Alsagar
Breeder: Blue Diamond Stud Farm (uk) Ltd
Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
Pedigree Notes: A half-sister to three-time winner Louganini (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}), Nashwa is followed by a Decorated Knight (GB) yearling half-sister and a colt foal by Dubawi (Ire). Her dam won three times, including at listed level over 10 furlongs, and was runner-up in the G1 Prix Jean Rommanet.

 

ROGUE MILLENNIUM (IRE) Dubawi (Ire)–Hawaafez (GB) (Nayef)
Owner: The Rogues Gallery
Breeder: Shadwell Estate Company Limited
Trainer: Tom Clover
Sales History: Another castoff from a major outfit, Rogue Millennium was bought for just 35,000gns by JS Bloodstock from Shadwell at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale last year.
Pedigree Notes: Out of the G3 Cumberland Lodge S. heroine Hawaafez, who is a great granddaughter of Wedding Bouquet (GB) (Kings Lake), Rogue Millennium is a sister to the winning Khatm (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Wedding Bouquet herself is a dual Grade/Group 3 victress, who was third in the G1 Phoenix S. and is a half-sister to Irish Horse of the Year Generous (Ire) (Caerleon). Hawaafez was also dispersed by Shadwell and caught the eye of Blandford Bloodstock for 14,000gns at the Tattersalls February Mixed Sale. She has an unraced 2-year-old filly by Awtaad (Ire) named Naomi Lapaglia (GB) and a yearling filly by Kingman (GB).

 

THE ALGARVE, American Pharoah–Imagine (Ire) (Sadler's Wells)
Owner: Mrs David Nagle,Coolmore & Westerberg
Breeder: Barronstown Stud
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: The 13th and final foal out of Imagine, who won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in 2001 before winning this race for Aidan O'Brien, the bay is from the same family as three-time American champion turf mare Trillion (Hail To Reason). Imagine is a proven producer of high-class horses, six of which have achieved black-type, including G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Horatio Nelson (Ire) (Danehill) and Van Gogh, a full-brother to The Algarve, who won the G1 Criterium International.

 

THOUGHTS OF JUNE (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Discreet Marq (Discreet Cat)
Owner: Moyglare Stud Farm & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
Breeder: Moyglare Stud Farm
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: From an ultra-tough family, she is a sister to a winner, while her dam Discreet Marq won six times in America, including the GI Del Mar Oaks before she was picked up for $2.4 million by Moyglare Stud at Fasig-Tipton November in November 2014.

 

TRANQUIL LADY (IRE), Australia (GB)–Repose (Quiet American)
Owner: Teme Valley
Breeder: Tinnakill Bloodstock Ltd
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Sales History: Failed to sell at the November Foal Sale at Goffs in 2019, however, she was knocked down from Tinnakill House to Richard Ryan for £160,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale in October 2020.
Pedigree Notes: The family has taken off in recent times, largely down to globetrotting star State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), who has won three Group 1 races on three different continents. Tranquil Lady's unraced juvenile half-sister Double Scoop (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) was sold for €180,000 at the Goffs Orby Sale last year. Their dam also has a Sea The Stars (GB) filly foal at foot and was recently sold to Juddmonte in foal to Frankel (GB).

 

TUESDAY (IRE), Galileo (Ire)–Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire})
Owner: Mrs John Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith/Westerberg
Breeder: Coolmore
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Pedigree Notes: A full-sister to the brilliant 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Minding (Ire), Irish 1000 Guineas scorer Empress Josephine (Ire) and Group 3 scorer Kissed By Angels (Ire), out of top-class racemare Lillie Langtry, who won the G1 Matron and G1 Coronation S., Tuesday turns three on Cazoo Oaks Day. Her 2-year-old full-sister has been named Delightful (Ire), but has yet to grace the track.

 

WITH THE MOONLIGHT (IRE), Frankel (GB)–Sand Vixen (GB) (Dubawi {Ire})
Owner/Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Pedigree Notes: A sister to Dream Castle, winner of a Group 1 over nine furlongs at Meydan, she is the sixth foal out of Sand Vixen, who won the G2 Flying Childers S. as a juvenile. Sand Vixen has a yearling filly by Cracksman (GB) and a filly foal by Blue Point (Ire).

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Emily Upjohn Set To Face 10 in Epsom’s G1 Cazoo Oaks

Kirsten Rausing's G3 Musidora S. third Ching Shih (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was the only late defector from Friday's £550,000 G1 Cazoo Oaks and, following Wednesday morning's final declarations, 11 fillies will head postward for the Epsom Classic. John and Thady Gosden stablemates and ante-post market leaders Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Nashwha (GB) (Frankel {GB}) have been drawn alongside each other and will exit stalls five and six, respectively. Coolmore and Westerberg's G1 1000 Guineas third and G1 Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of four set to represent Aidan O'Brien, has been allocated the one box with Musidora fourth The Algarve (American Pharoah) to her outside in two. Moyglare Stud's Listed Cheshire Oaks winner Thoughts of June (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will depart from gate nine with Irish Guineas third Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) completing the Ballydoyle quartet in stall 10.

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