Curlin | Horse Racing Free Tips

First Captain Takes Next Step in Dwyer

Two-for-two 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain (Curlin) takes the next logical step in Monday's GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park. The $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga co-topper defeated subsequent winner and 'Rising Star' recipient Mahaamel (Into Mischief) in their respective debuts going a furlong shorter here Apr. 24, then doubled up in a track-and-trip allowance in the slop May 29, good for a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

First Captain is owned by a powerful conglomerate led by West Point Thoroughbreds and conditioned by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey.

“We're super excited and it's a wonderful and really powerful partnership assembled,” West Point's Terry Finley said. “We've got Siena Farm, who we owned part of the [2017 GI] Kentucky Derby winner [Always Dreaming] with, Woodford who are a part of the Lanes' End partnership and, of course, [First Captain's breeder] Bobby Flay. He breeds really good horses and is just one of the many class horses he bred. I remember when his mother ran and Bobby owned her, too. Everyone is excited. This is what you go to these yearling sales for.”

The First Captain team is hopeful their charge can stake his claim on a wide-open 3-year-old division during this second half of the season.

“We know that there are moving parts in every division,” Finley said. “You have horses that come back from the Triple Crown in races like the Haskell and Jim Dandy. We'd like to think that he would be able to throw his hat in the ring. The beautiful part of our industry is that it doesn't matter what we think or what we say, what matters is what the horse does on the track. Opinions don't matter, it's all about getting to the wire first.”

Juddmonte homebred Snow House (Twirling Candy) appears to be First Captain's main challenger. After finishing fourth on debut over the Fair Grounds turf in March, he has reeled off back-to-back wins of his own for Brad Cox, at Keeneland Apr. 21 and in a Churchill optional claimer May 29. Godolphin's Gershwin (Distorted Humor–Music Note) scratched out of Delaware's GIII Kent S. Saturday for this. He was last seen taking the rained-off GIII Penn Mile in the slop May 28.

The post First Captain Takes Next Step in Dwyer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Casse-Trained Trio Top Saturday’s Trillium Stakes Field At Woodbine

Conditioner Mark Casse has three chances, in the form of Crystal Glacier, Heavenly Curlin and Skygaze, to capture his third Grade 3 Trillium Stakes title, Saturday at Woodbine.

Having won the 2013 and 2019 editions of the Trillium with Sisterly Love and Miss Mo Mentum, respectively, Casse will look to complete the stakes hat trick in the 1 1/16-mile, $150,000 main track event, with three serious contenders.

Crystal Glacier, a 4-year-old daughter of Curlin, has assembled a record of three wins and a second from nine career starts for Live Oak Plantation.

Bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables, the dark bay has a pair of score in her past three races, back-to-back victories coming at Turfway Park this February.

“She's another one that ran well at Turfway,” offered Casse. “We tried there this year and actually had a very good meet. The horses ran well there, including her.”

The Trillium represents the first stakes appearance for Crystal Glacier, who won her career bow on August 9, 2019 at Ellis Park.

“She's a very nice horse and she really does like it at Woodbine.”

Heavenly Curlin, also a daughter of Curlin, will no doubt appreciate a return to the Woodbine Tapeta.

Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley, the 4-year-old bay rhymed off three consecutive triumphs at the Toronto oval in 2020, including a 5 ¾-length romp in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes on November 7.

Bred by Elevage II, LLC, Heavenly Curlin arrives at the Trillium off a fifth and ninth in two grass starts at Gulfstream.

She sports a record of 3-0-1 from seven career races with all three wins coming in her three Woodbine engagements.

“It was a tremendous effort in the Maple Leaf last year. We took her down to Florida and ran her in some tough spots. She just doesn't like the grass as much as Tapeta.”

Skygaze, who has contested five of her nine career starts at Woodbine, returns to Canada on a three-race win streak that began last fall in Ontario.

After rallying to secure a neck nod in a seven-furlong main track allowance race on October 3, Skygaze took her talents to Turfway Park where the 4-year-old daughter of American Pharoah made a late charge to eke out another neck win on December 10.

Owned by Tracy Farmer and bred in Kentucky by Normandy Farm, the bay was 'much the best' in taking a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event by three lengths.

Skygaze brings a record of 4-0-2 from nine races into the Trillium.

“She won the Mazarine [at Woodbine] last year, but was disqualified,” noted Casse. “It took her awhile to get on track, but she ran really well at Turfway. We had planned on running her in a stake on Jeff Ruby Steaks day, but she didn't get in. She was on the AE's and didn't get in. So, we've been sitting and waiting for this spot for a long time. She's been training very well.”

Casse believes any of his Trillium starters could take all the spoils.

“They all like to win. They're all solid fillies and it wouldn't shock me for any of them to win.”

The Trillium is Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post time is 1:20 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $150,000 TRILLIUM

POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER

1 – Crystal Glacier – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

2 – Souper Escape – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

3 – Red Cabernet – Steven Bahen – Ian Black

4 – Royal Wedding – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

5 – Merveilleux – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

6 – Brassy – Daisuke Fukumoto – Eoin Harty

7 – Skygaze – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Heavenly Curlin – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

The post Casse-Trained Trio Top Saturday’s Trillium Stakes Field At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Curlin Colt Turns In ‘Jazzy’ Effort at Belmont

2nd-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 6-12, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.94, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
MILES D (c, 3, Curlin–Sound the Trumpets, by Bernardini) made a single visit to the races last season, a well-bet and close-up fourth at Aqueduct Oct. 11, in an event that has turned out to be no ordinary maiden. Next-out 'TDN Rising Star' and Smarty Jones S. winner Caddo River (Hard Spun) was runner-up to Godophin's Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and a half-length better than Greatest Honour (Tapit), who would go on to annex the GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fountain of Youth S. ahead of a third in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. Behind Miles D that day were the sixth-placed Bourbonic (Bernardini), this year's GII Wood Memorial S. upsetter, as well as Original (Quality Road), last of the octet, but since Grade III-placed on the turf. The late money came for Miles D, who was sent off the 1.15-1 chalk in advance of 8-5 fellow second-timer Southern Flag (Union Rags), and proved spot on. Settled back on the fence as Absolute Courage (Into Mischief) set the pace from off the rail, Miles D was asked to come after that one at the quarter pole, stuck a neck in front a furlong from home and kicked on nicely to take it by 2 1/4 lengths. Absolute Courage boxed on gamely at the rail to claim second spot, a head better than Southern Courage, who was slowly into stride, raced three and four wide the trip and was forced to settle for third. Miles D is the first foal for his unraced dam, a half-sister to champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) who was purchased with this colt in utero for $675,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Sound the Trumpets's 2-year-old son Trumpets Blare (Pioneerof the Nile) breezed three-eighths of a mile in :37.40 at the Skylight Training CenterSaturday morning and her most recent produce include a yearling Quality Road filly and a colt foal by Medaglia d'Oro. Miles D's third dam was the irrepressible Personal Ensign (Private Account), who was also responsible for Grade I winners Miner's Mark (Mr. Prospector) and Traditionally (Mr. Prospector) as well as MGSP Salute (Unbridled), whose produce include Lane's End stallion and GISW Mr Speaker (Pulpit), GSW Fire Away (War Front) and SW/GSP Vigilantes Way (Medaglia d'Oro). Miles D is bred on the same cross as GISW Paris Lights and other graded winners Point of Honor, Clairiere, 'TDN Rising Star' Spice Is Nice and Cezanne. Sales history: $470,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $53,280. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Peter M Brant & Robert V LaPenta; B-River Bend Farm (KY); T-Chad C Brown.

The post Curlin Colt Turns In ‘Jazzy’ Effort at Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Second Chances: Cody’s Wish

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

A day before capturing the final leg of the Triple Crown with 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), Godolphin unveiled another sophomore to keep an eye on during the GI Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

Sent off as the 3-1 second favorite on debut, Cody's Wish (c, 3, Curlin-Dance Card, by Tapit) raced in a close fourth through an opening quarter in :22.68 over the harrowed, muddy going. Caught in some traffic on the far turn and shuffled back to sixth three furlongs from home, Junior Alvarado steered the bay out into the clear at the top of the stretch. He leveled off nicely from there to report home a strong third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, behind new 'TDN Rising Star' Mahaamel (Into Mischief). Cody's Wish, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, came home in a field-best final furlong of :12.41 and earned a very strong 92 Beyer Speed Figure. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22.46.

The Godolphin homebred is out of Dance Card, heroine of the 2012 GI Gazelle S. and third-place finisher behind two-time champion Groupie Doll (Bowman's Band) in the following year's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in her career finale. The $750,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old has also produced the GSP Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro) and the SP Bocephus (Medaglia d'Oro). She had a colt by Into Mischief this year.

The Curlin over Tapit cross is also responsible for Tenfold, the 2018 GII Jim Dandy S. winner and GI Preakness S. third-place finisher.

“He had been showing promise in the mornings,” Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell said. “It was a gallant first effort-he found some trouble and learned quite a bit. He showed good determination in persevering to finish a closing third. We are looking forward to running him back at Saratoga at either seven-eighths or 1 1/8 miles.”

Bell added that Cody's Wish was named in honor of Godolphin's Make-A-Wish guest in the fall of 2019 at Keeneland.

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), and MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

The post Second Chances: Cody’s Wish appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post