creative cause | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Storm’ Rolling in For Jeff Ruby

A field of 11, headed by Joseph Morey Jr.'s Hush of a Storm (Creative Cause), aim to take advantage of the Kentucky Derby points on the line in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Drawing the 2 hole, the William Morey trainee kicked off his career finishing eighth against $150,000 maidens on the dirt at Churchill last November, but rebounded in fine style to win with ease while trying the Tapeta for the first time going a mile a Turfway in December. A narrow winner facing optional claiming company Jan. 6, the New York bred recorded his biggest success to date when winning the 8 1/2-furlong John Battaglia Memorial S. Feb. 26. Aboard for all three wins, Santiago Gonzalez gets the call.

Hoping to turn the tables on Hush of a Storm is Battaglia third Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), the sole Grade I winner in the field. Campaigned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, the Ontario bred was runner up in his career bow over the Woodbine turf last July before graduating in an off-turf test over that track's synthetic surface the following month before eking out a win in the grassy 6 1/2-furlong Soaring Free S. Aug. 23. Favored for the Sept. 20 GI Summer S., the bay came home an easy 3 1/4-length winner, but failed to carry that form in his seasonal finale, tiring to sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland Nov. 6.

“After the Breeders' Cup, Gretzky had some minor ankle surgery and so, we missed some time with him,” said Mark Casse. “I knew if I was going to make a dirt start that I was going to have to race him two or three more times. So, the reason I went to the Battaglia was just simply because it's not as tiring.”

As for his Battaglia performance, Casse added, “He definitely was a little short, unfortunately. We drew the one [hole] and I told the rider, look, I want you to put him into the race. I don't like coming from the one and letting horses run by you and then they go in front of you and next thing you know, you're last. So, we asked him to run away from there. And unfortunately, he caught some pressure from a long shot that kind of ran ahead and was with him for three-quarters-of-a-mile. He put that horse away and then two more came at him, two more that had to be a lot fitter than we were, so I was proud of our horse.”

“I thought he tried and ran hard, staying back,” he concluded. “But more importantly, he's trained very well since then. And I'm excited. I'm very happy we picked up Chris Landeros to ride him. In my opinion, nobody rides Turfway Park like Chris Landeros. So, I think that's a big plus for us.”

While a top rung performance could pave the way to the Kentucky Derby starting gate, Casse indicated Canada's first jewel of the Triple Crown is far more likely for the colt.

“Is the derby a possibility? I wouldn't rule it out,” said Casse. “He would have to give us a tremendous performance though in the Jeff Ruby and then we'd have to come up with a plan on the Derby. But Queen's Plate is definitely in our crosshairs. And with him being a Canadian bred, it's a million dollars and it's such a prestigious race. We've been fortunate enough to win it a couple of times. We'd like to win it again.”

Also exiting the Battaglia, M Racing Group's Like the King (Palace Malice) makes the jump into graded company following a runner-up in the Battaglia. A runaway winner going a mile on the turf at Belterra last September, the Wesley Ward trainee finished third in an off-turf test at Keeneland a month later but found himself back in the winner's circle going a mile at Turfway Dec. 4. Drawing the inside stall this time, the colt will be ridden for the first time by Drayden Van Dyke.

The post ‘Storm’ Rolling in For Jeff Ruby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Morey Barn Ready to Make Some Noise

Trainer William Morey picked up three for his stable while shopping the 2-year-old sales in Ocala last spring. Two of them, led by the streaking GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks-bound Hush of a Storm (Creative Cause), will compete on Saturday's loaded program at Turfway Park.

“Two have won stakes, and, of course, the other filly hasn't made the races,” Morey said. “We've had some bitter and sweet, but lots of sweet along the way.”

Hush of a Storm, a $75,000 OBS Spring purchase (:21 3/5; consigned by de Meric Sales) by the Joseph P. Morey, Jr. Revocable Trust, is one of the main contenders from a full field of 12 in the $250,000 road to the GI Kentucky Derby prep race, carrying qualifying points of 100-40-20-10.

A well-beaten eighth in his Churchill debut last November, Hush of a Storm is a perfect three-for-three over the Turfway synthetic since, including a good-looking, come-from-behind win in the local prep John Battaglia Memorial S. Feb. 26 (video). The field that day included the re-opposing GISW Gretzky the Great (Nyquist).

Bred by Berkshire Stud, Hush of a Storm is the first foal out of the winning Flatter mare Hush Now, a full-sister to MSW & MGSP Brigand and a half-sister to SW Sky Music (Sky Mesa).

The New York-bred completed his Jeff Ruby preparations with a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.60 (38/46) at Turfway last Saturday.

“He's training like a monster,” Morey said. “I know he's gonna have to be with the waters getting deeper and deeper as we go on, but he's training like a good horse. All systems are a go for the Jeff Ruby.”

Morey will also saddle Sandin Syndicate Stable's Pico d'Oro (Curlin), a $255,000 OBS March acquisition (:21 1/5; consigned by Eddie Woods), in the $65,000 Animal Kingdom S. on the Jeff Ruby undercard. Last year's Runhappy Juvenile S. winner cuts back to 6 1/2 furlongs after flashing speed and tiring to eighth behind his stablemate in the Battaglia. He was a close third as the favorite in Aqueduct's Jimmy Winkfield S. two back.

Other entrants on Saturday's Turfway card for Morey include: Queen of God (Paynter) in the Latonia S. and Visitant (Ghostzapper) in the Kentucky Cup Classic.

“Tough little horse, but not quite a route horse,” Morey said of Pico d'Oro. “Pico's got a big heart and a great stride. He's a hard trier.”

The son of the late, CTBA Hall of Fame trainer William J. Morey, Jr. relocated to the bluegrass with his wife Elizabeth two years ago from his native California. Highlights from his 1,700-plus career victories include wins in 2018 by Ollie's Candy in the GII Summertime Oaks and Coniah in the GIII Las Cienegas S.

“I worked for dad [as an assistant] through high school and college,” Morey said. “I went on my own in '01. Surprisingly enough, it's been 20-21 years now all of sudden. It's crazy how time flies. I can remember the days working for him.”

He added with a laugh, “The good days and the bad days, that's for sure.”

Morey trains approximately 30 head, split currently between Turfway and Keeneland with plans to head to Churchill later this spring. The 46-year-old will also have a division at Del Mar this summer.

“We're enjoying our time and our life here in Kentucky,” Morey said. “It's a beautiful place to live and to train. Hoping to continue to get better and better horses. We've got some good ones on the way.”

One of those in the pipeline to keep an eye on–a colt from the first crop of the much buzzed-about MGISW Practical Joke–was selected by Morey on behalf of Gerry Sandin's aforementioned operation for $210,000 at last week's OBS March Sale.

Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent VIII, as Hip 113, the son of the multiple stakes-winning City Zip mare Mystic City breezed a quarter in :21 1/5 at the under-tack show.

“He's got that Classic, Derby colt look to him,” Morey said. “Let's hope he's that good. But that's the look he has. And that's the look that sells. That was the same kind of look I saw last year in Hush of a Storm.”

Morey concluded, “Maybe Hush will take us some places that we haven't been yet. I've won a few graded races, but haven't run in any of the Classics. Maybe a horse like Hush will take us somewhere like that.”

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Creative Cause Colt Survives Inquiry in Battaglia

New York-bred Hush of a Storm benefitted from a duel between his stablemate Pico d'Oro (Curlin) and even-money GISW Gretzky the Great (Nyquist) to remain perfect on the Tapeta and score a first stakes win after surviving a lengthy inquiry. A no show when unveiled in a $150,000 maiden claiming sprint at Churchill Nov. 19, the bay woke up on the surface switch and stretch out to air by 5 1/2 lengths at 14-1 odds here Dec. 19. He doubled up in an optional claimer Jan. 6, earning a 74 Beyer Speed Figure that stacked up well enough with everyone but the chalk.

Hush of a Storm tucked in along the fence towards the back as Pico d'Oro took it to Gretzky the Great through splits of :23.86 and :47.11. He advanced in between rivals heading for home, came wide for the stretch drive and continued along to hit the front in midstretch. Shifting in as he took over, Hush of a Storm appeared to trigger a chain reaction that forced Like the King to into Gretzky with Hard Rye Guy (Hard Spun) also taking up in between. After many views of a head-on replay that appeared inconclusive, the stewards let the result stand.

With the victory, Hush of a Storm earned 10 qualifying points towards the GI Kentucky Derby.

The winner is out of a full sister to pricey 2-year-old seller and MSW/MGSP Brigand (Flatter). He has a 2-year-old half-sister by Runhappy and a yearling half-brother by Mastery. Hush Now most recently visited Distorted Humor.

JOHN BATTAGLIA MEMORIAL S., $82,830, Turfway, 2-26, 3yo,
1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.00, ft.
1–HUSH OF A STORM, 118, c, 3, by Creative Cause
                1st Dam: Hush Now, by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Silence Please, by Quiet American
                3rd Dam: Notice Me, by Distinctive
($60,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG; $75,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Joseph P. Morey, Jr. Revocable Trust;
B-Berkshire Stud (NY); T-William E. Morey; J-Santiago
Gonzalez. $43,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $65,985.
2–Like the King, 118, c, 3, Palace Malice–Like a Queen, by
Corinthian. ($28,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV; $170,000 Ylg '19
OBSOCT). O-M Racing Group, LLC; B-Horseshoe Racing, LLC
(KY); T-Wesley A. Ward. $18,800.
3–Gretzky the Great, 124, c, 3, Nyquist–Pearl Turn, by
Bernardini. ($295,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gary; B-Anderson Farms
Ont. Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. $7,050.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 1 1/4. Odds: 6.70, 5.20, 1.00.
Also Ran: Hard Rye Guy, Catman, Twirling Mamba, Fort Moultrie, Pico d'Oro, Notable Exception, The Predicament, Bakwena. Scratched: Kinetic Sky, Warrior in Chief. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Airdrie Stud Secures Breeding Rights To Complexity; Announces 2021 Fees

Klaravich Stables, Inc's Complexity, the Daily Racing Form's morning line favorite for both the upcoming Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, will stand stud at Brereton and Elizabeth Jones's Airdrie Stud upon his retirement from racing.

Trained throughout his career by leading conditioner Chad Brown, Complexity earned TDN Rising Star status in his six-furlong 2-year-old debut at Saratoga when drawing off to win by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:09 3/5. Made the favorite for the historic Grade 1 Champagne Stakes in his second start, Complexity led every step of the way through fractions of 22 2/5, 45 1/5 and 1:09 2/5 en route to a dominant three-length victory. His final time of 1:34 3/5 trails only Uncle Mo – by .12 seconds – in the last 35 runnings of the stallion-making race, that also counts Jackie's Warrior, Tiz the Law, Scat Daddy, Daredevil, Union Rags, Maria's Mon, First Samurai, Dehere, Easy Goer and Forty Niner amongst its more recent winners.

While a quarter crack partially derailed his sophomore campaign, Complexity still managed to run one of the fastest Ragozin numbers of his three-year-old crop when earning a 3 in a dominant 7 1/4 length win against older horses at Aqueduct.

As a 4-year-old in 2020, Complexity has once again returned to top form. Following an impressive allowance victory over the talented Win Win Win at Belmont, Complexity set blistering fractions of 44 3/5 and 1:08 4/5 amidst a blinding rainstorm in Saratoga's G1 Forego Stakes. While he put away his rival pacesetters, it was Win Win Win that caught him in the final jumps after coming from last in the field.

In his most recent start, Complexity stamped himself as a Breeders' Cup favorite with a sensational two-length win over multiple Grade 1 winner Code of Honor in the G2 Kelso Handicap. His time of 1:33 4/5 was good for a 110 Beyer Speed Figure, marking the highest number earned by any horse at a mile or longer in 2020.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC, Complexity is sired by the hot young stallion Maclean's Music. His dam, Goldfield, counts three black-type horses from five to race including Valadorna, winner of the G3 Doubledogdare Stakes and a narrow second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. A $375,000 September yearling purchase by leading buyer Mike Ryan, Complexity was the most expensive yearling from any of the early crops of Maclean's Music.

Said his trainer Chad Brown: “Complexity is a very rare horse that has been number-one at every stage of his life. He was the most expensive yearling by his sire, the most highly regarded two-year-old at Stonestreet and, by far, our stable's best colt of his crop. He's an exceptional talent.”

Added Airdrie's Bret Jones: “We are extremely grateful to Seth Klarman and Chad Brown for the opportunity to stand Complexity. His resume is that of a sensational stallion prospect. He was a brilliantly precocious Champagne winner that has trained on to run the highest speed figure of any horse in America at a mile or more. He's by a truly ascendant sire that looks to have every chance to be important, he's from a top class Stonestreet female family, he was purchased by one of the all-time great judges in Mike Ryan and his talents are revered by one of the all-time great trainers in Chad Brown. Our hope is that he will be Mr. Klarman's next Breeders' Cup winner and we are committed to giving him tremendous mare support in working to make him a great Airdrie stallion.”

Complexity will stand for $12,500 S&N for any contract signed and returned before this year's Breeders' Cup.

Airdrie also announced the entirety of its 2021 fees.

“In keeping with what should always be the goal of any stallion farm, we feel we have priced our stallions where breeders have the opportunity to profit in the sales ring and help their mare produce Saturday horses,” Jones said. “We are extremely proud of our young roster that includes Cairo Prince, the leading third-crop sire by stakes winners, stakes horses, graded stakes winners and graded stakes horses; Upstart, who is currently the #1 first-crop sire in America by winners and is equaled only by Maclean's Music with his four 80+ Beyer performances by his 2-year-olds amongst all stallions; and Summer Front, who is outpaced only by American Pharoah and Constitution with three graded stakes winners from his first crop of 3-year-olds. All three of these leading young stallions began their stallion careers at a fee of $10,000 and we feel demonstrate the success that comes from the tremendous support they receive from Airdrie and our incredible, loyal breeders.

Our Grade 1 sires Creative Cause and Include have come from similarly humble beginnings to become successful, proven stallions and we could not be more bullish on our young roster that includes Collected, Preservationist, McCraken, American Freedom, Divisidero and, of course, our new stallion, Complexity,” Jones continued. “As always, we look forward to the upcoming season and helping the wonderful breeders that make our sport happen in any way we can.”

2021 Roster and Fees (all fees on Stands & Nurses terms*)

American Freedom – $6,000
Cairo Prince – $15,000
Collected – $17,500
Complexity** – $12,500
Creative Cause – $7,500
Divisidero – $5,000
Include – $5,000
McCraken – $6,000
Preservationist – $10,000
Summer Front – $10,000
Upstart – $10,000

*As in prior years, 5% discount applies for payment by Nov 1 of year bred, on LF terms

**New for 2021

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