Piloted gate-to-wire by Jose Ortiz, the son of 2021 leading freshman stallion Gun Runner built on his advantage down the backstretch several paths from the rail and glided home to a 4 1/2-length score, registering a 78 Beyer Speed Figure over the muddy going.

“He cooled out well this morning. He seems to have come out of it the right way,” said Brown's Belmont-based assistant Dan Stupp. “We weren't quite expecting that much speed from him. I know Chad wanted him to break well from that post, get a good forward position and he broke so well that I think Jose didn't want to take anything away from him. He ended up doing it pretty comfortably on the backside there. He and Jose did the rest from there.”

Stupp spoke highly of the ride from Ortiz, who shipped up from Florida for the mount.

“The day before, it seemed like everyone was in the middle of the track closing and it played out that way yesterday as well,” Stupp said. “Jose wanted to steer him to the outside. Down the stretch, he said the horse wanted to just stay to the rail and he was trying to school him a little bit. He went to the left hand to get him out in the middle of the track and teach him a little bit.”

Early Voting arrived at Brown's Saratoga division in late September from Niall Brennan Stables in Ocala, before shipping to Belmont in November. He displayed talent on debut going a one-turn mile on December 18 at the Big A.

Stupp said Early Voting improved exceedingly out of his maiden score.

“When I first got him, he was a little bit far away from a race, unfit and was difficult to train. As each work progressed and as we got closer to his debut, I saw glimpses of a good horse,” Stupp recalled. “When we ran him first time, we knew he wanted to run longer. We needed him to run once from both a conditioning and a maturity standpoint. This horse was just a totally different horse after his first race. There were small things with him. You had to lead him to the track with a lip chain, he just wanted to act up on the track a little bit. He was just so much better after that first start and I think there's more room for improvement.”

Stupp oversaw the winter campaign of last year's Withers winner Risk Taking, who also trained at Belmont through the winter.

“Risk Taking and him were totally different,” Stupp said. “Risk Taking was straight forward and was what he was. This horse is a late-developing horse. He needs experience, he needs each race to move him forward from a conditioning standpoint.”

The two remaining Kentucky Derby preps at Aqueduct are the Grade 3, $300,000 Gotham at a one-turn mile on March 5 [50-20-10-5] and the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at nine furlongs [100-40-20-10] on April 9. Last year, Risk Taking skipped the Gotham in favor of staying around two turns for the Wood Memorial, where he finished seventh.

“Chad and Seth [Klarman] will figure that out. It's a long way from now until the Wood,” Stupp said.

Purchased by Mike Ryan for $200,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Early Voting is out of the unraced Tiznow mare Amour d'Ete – a half-sister to 2004 Champion Sprinter and influential stallion Speightstown.

Early Voting secured the double for Brown and Klaravich one race after Southern District defeated winners going a one-turn mile. Racing with blinkers off, he posted a 6 3/4-length romp under Manny Franco, garnering a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He did it ears pricked and comfortably,” Stupp said.

The 4-year-old son of Union Rags made up for his previous effort when a troubled third going nine furlongs on January 9 at the Big A, finishing four lengths back of runner-up and stablemate Winter Pool.

“Down on the inside, he couldn't get a clean outside run, which is what he wants,” Stupp said of the nine-furlong effort. “He didn't run a bad race. He was just a little keen and Chad decided to take the blinkers off. He was training so well we decided to throw him in there. I wasn't expecting him to win that comfortably, but I would have been surprised if he didn't run well.”

Peter M. Brant and Three Chimneys Farm's Mystic Night successfully sought redemption on Friday when earning his third career victory in a nine-furlong allowance optional claimer. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding entered off a distant sixth in his stakes debut – the Queens County on December 19 at Aqueduct.

Mystic Night was a third-out winner last January at Aqueduct before defeating winners in March at the same oval. He returned to action two months later Belmont Park when second beaten 1 1/2 lengths and did not run again until September, finishing second at Saratoga.

“We thought about the Pimlico Special and we actually considered the Stephen Foster, but we had a virus run through the barn. We missed about a month of training which set him back quite a bit,” Stupp said. “He was probably a touch short on fitness when we ran him at Saratoga. He ran a credible race for a horse that might have been short on fitness. We ran him back in the stake and didn't perform but he came well out of it. We still have high hopes for him. Not sure where we go with him, but he came out of it well and we'll evaluate our options.”

Withers runner-up Un Ojo to continue at route distance
Cypress Creek Equine's New York-bred Un Ojo finished up well to be second in the Withers in his first start at nine furlongs for trainer Tony Dutrow.

A gelded son of Laoban, Un Ojo made up ground late under Trevor McCarthy to secure place honors by a head over Gilded Age, earning four qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby for his effort.

Un Ojo had entered the Withers off a game runner-up finish to Geno in the seven-furlong NYSSS Great White Way, beaten just a neck after coming from off the pace and bumping with Geno down the stretch.

Dutrow said he was hoping the extra two furlongs in the Withers would be helpful to the dark bay gelding.

“We believed that the mile and an eighth would be good,” Dutrow said. “We were very happy with his effort. He's a little New York-bred with one eye. He's over-accomplishing every time he runs. Horses coming from last have been doing good over the track there, so I told Trevor to run late and get out in the middle of the track. I'm proud of our horse's effort.”

Un Ojo was previously been trained by Ricky Courville in Louisiana up until his debut for Dutrow in the Great White Way. He graduated at second asking in a maiden special weight at Delta Downs before finishing fourth in his stakes debut in Delta Downs' Jean Lafitte.

Dutrow said Un Ojo's effort in the Withers confirmed that he will stay at route distances going forward, ruling out a start in the one-mile Grade 3 Gotham on March 5 at the Big A but leaving the door open for a run in the nine-furlong, Grade 2 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino on April 9.

“The owner is very enthusiastic and wanted to talk yesterday about where to go next, but I wasn't ready for that yet,” Dutrow said. “We both agreed that we will not be going to the Gotham. It's possible that we run in a New York-bred allowance going nine furlongs to get him his deserving reward for his efforts. That would give him great confidence if we were to go to the Wood Memorial. That would be the distance he likes at a track he likes.”

Dutrow said 3-year-old maiden colt Predicted is currently taking a winter vacation in Florida after finishing a gritty second in his third career start at Aqueduct on November 12.

Predicted, a son Tapit, is out of the stakes-placed Bluegrass Cat mare Ithinkisawapudycat, who is a half to Grade 1 Alcibiades winner and Canadian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Spring in the Air. Predicted, the sixth foal from Ithinkisawapudycat, is a full brother to 2016 Grade 1 Spinaway winner Sweet Loretta and a half-brother to stakes-placed mare Bridlewood Cat.

Owned by breeder Mt. Brilliant Stable with Famousstyle Stables and Team D, Predicted made his debut sprinting seven furlongs to a fourth-place finish at Saratoga Race Course in August before stretching out to 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park in his second start.

A well-beaten sixth in that start behind Grade 2 Remsen winner Mo Donegal, Predicted added blinkers and cut back to a mile in his most recent outing, an off-the-turf maiden special weight at Aqueduct in November where he raced just off the pace in third before taking command at the top of the stretch and just missing by a neck at the wire.

“He's a nice horse and we didn't really have a plan for when he was going to run but he was ready to run at Saratoga,” Dutrow said. “He did everything well and we thought it was a good effort. He ran badly at Belmont and we thought about stopping on him but we decided to put blinkers on him to see what we could see. He ran well and all was positive, so we agreed that we've only seen sixty percent of what this horse could do and decided to stop on something positive.”

Predicted was sent to Mt. Brilliant Stables' Kentucky farm for some downtime before heading to Niall Brennan's training facility in Florida, where his is currently preparing for a return to the races sometime in early spring.

“Niall broke him and now he got him going again a month ago,” Dutrow said. “He'll give him a work or two or whatever he would like to do and he'll come back up to me once the weather gets warmer. Hopefully he'll be a nice summertime 3-year-old and a nice 4-year-old.”

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The Chad Brown-trained son of 2021 leading freshman stallion Gun Runner completed the four-furlong move in 49.41 over a fast main track with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard. The breeze was his third work following a career debut maiden victory on Dec. 18.

“He worked really well this morning. Jose was aboard and I was very happy with the work,” said Brown's Belmont-based assistant Dan Stupp.

Breaking his maiden at a one-turn mile, Early Voting stayed in the clear down the backstretch under Ortiz while battling with two other runners up front. He fended off a late rally from Matt Doyle to win by 1 1/2 length, registering a 76 Beyer.

Early Voting appears to be taking a similar path to that of stablemate Risk Taking, who captured last year's Withers following a maiden score.

“I thought Risk Taking was a more forward training horse,” Stupp said. “With Early Voting, you can see the ability, but he's a little green acting. He had a lot to learn and grow up, he had some physical maturing to do, but his first race moved him up quite a bit. Mentally, he's still a work in progress but you can definitely see the progression off that maiden win. I'm excited to see him run back.”

Other probable candidates for the nine-furlong Withers, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, include Courvoisier, Constitutionlawyer, Cooke Creek, Noneedtoworry, Smarten Up and Un Ojo.

Early Voting, bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, is out of the unraced Tiznow mare Amour d'Ete – a half-sister to 2004 Champion Sprinter and prolific sire Speightstown and a full-sister to millionaire Irap. All are out of 1995 Canadian Champion Juvenile Filly Silken Cat. Early Voting was purchased for $200,000 from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency.

Also on the work tab Sunday for Brown was Klaravich Stables' Default Protection, who went a half-mile in 50.01 over the Belmont training track. It was the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road's second work since a second-out maiden victory on January 2 which she won by 12 1/2 lengths.

“I thought the work was great, just a maintenance half. Jose was on for the work, he rode her last time,” Stupp said. “It was a very good work, exactly what you would want to see. I wanted to see her work today and then get with Chad. She ran a great race to break her maiden over a wet track. I thought she got a lot of good experience out of that race, so we weren't surprised she moved forward. By watching her train, she's got potential to step up.”

The post Sharp Maiden Winner Early Voting Gearing Up For Stakes Debut In Withers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Chad Brown said following the race that the now two-time graded stakes winner could potentially target the $300,000 Grade 1 American Oaks on December 26 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Fluffy Socks, with the red-hot Joel Rosario up, split rivals down the lane to overtake pacesetting stablemate Higher Truth and fended off the late rally of stakes winner Runaway Rumour to secure a narrow neck score.

Fluffy Socks is by New York-based stallion Slumber, who stands at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, New York.

“Joel gave her a great ride. She consistently shows up,” said Brown's assistant Dan Stupp. “We've always really liked her. She really came through yesterday and came out of the race great.”

Fluffy Socks, who sports a consistent ledger of 10-4-3-1, entered the Sands Point from a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on August 21. She notched her previous graded stakes triumph at the California oval when completing her juvenile season with a victory in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante.

All four of Fluffy Socks' wins have come over different ovals. During her 2-year-old season, she broke her maiden at second asking at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., en route to a victory in her stakes debut in the Selima last October at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

Jeff Drown, Michael Ryan, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth earned black-type for the fourth straight race, finishing less than one length of victory all four times. The daughter of Galileo set an easy pace upfront and was poised for victory in the stretch run but was ultimately collared by Fluffy Socks inside the sixteenth pole.

Higher Truth, who contested all three legs of NYRA Turf Triple series for fillies, saw a considerable cut back in distance from the 1 3/8-mile Jockey Club Oaks Invitational, where she was a close second beaten three-quarters of a length. She previously was a respective second and third in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational and Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational.

“She comes up a touch short in her races, but she's been very consistent,” Stupp said. “I think she has a bright future ahead of her and she'll get better with age. She'll definitely stay.”

For the second week in a row, Brown secured a triumph in a major stakes race at both Belmont Park and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. Some 90 minutes after the Sands Point, Shantisara bested stablemate Technical Analysis in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Robert V. LaPenta, Shantisara tracked Technical Analysis' moderate fractions from third down the backstretch and took command in upper stretch to win by five lengths, earning a 99 Beyer.

Last week, Brown notched the exacta in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic with Rockemperor and Serve the King before Blowout and Regal Glory ran one-two in the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland.

“It's been a fun run here the last few weeks,” Stupp said. “Shantisara has trained extremely well here since she arrived at Belmont. They did great with her at Saratoga. She had a nice campaign and a lot of confidence. You could see it in her training that she moved forward all throughout the fall. She just looked great before she left.”

Shantisara's Queen Elizabeth II victory followed triumphs in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational and the Grade 3 Pucker Up at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill.

“Off that [Jockey Club] Oaks victory in the fall, you could just see how much she was improving,” Stupp said.

The post Fluffy Socks Gets 91 Beyer Speed Figure For Sands Point Win, May Target American Oaks Next appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In victory, the chestnut son of Munnings secured a “Win and You're In” entry to the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Jack Christopher gave trainer Chad Brown his third Champagne victory, previously scoring with Practical Joke [2016] and Complexity [2018]. Brown finished second in the 2017 Champagne with subsequent Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and champion 2-year-old Good Magic.

“We were obviously very pleased with the race,” said Brown's Belmont-based assistant Dan Stupp. “He ate up well last night and we're happy with how he looked this morning.”

Jack Christopher, owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, arrived at the Champagne off a sharp 8 3/4-length triumph going six furlongs on Aug. 28 at Saratoga Race Course.

Jack Christopher will face a new test going two turns with a start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at Del Mar on the horizon.

“The way he was able to relax and rate and with his running style, why not? He didn't do anything that would stop us from trying. He handled the extra ground very well,” Stupp said.

Earlier on the card, Brown saddled juvenile fillies Kinchen and McKulick to a respective second and third when chasing a leisurely pace in the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo.

Klaravich Stables' McKulick earned black type in her first graded stakes attempt following a 1 /16-mile victory at first asking on Aug. 8 over the Mellon turf at Saratoga over stable mate Consumer Spending, who won the Selima at Laurel Park on Saturday.

Still a maiden, Kinchen arrived off a narrow second at maiden level to Hail To, who finished fifth in the Miss Grillo.

“Obviously, we're disappointed to not get the win,” Stupp said. “The way the race set up and the way the turf was playing they came up short yesterday, but they made good accounts for themselves. They both looked good this morning.”

The post ‘Why Not?’: Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Likely Destination For Champagne Winner Jack Christopher appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Owned by Wonder Stables, Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso, Tribhuvan was one of three Fort Marcy aspirants trained by Chad Brown, who also sent out Rockemperor and Devamani.

Tribhuvan made his first start since posting a narrow allowance optional claiming score over graded stakes winner Ballagh Rocks on July 4 at Belmont over the Widener turf course. The victory was a fourth lifetime win, and first at graded stakes level for the French-bred son of Toronado, who won twice in his native land for former conditioner Henri-Alex Pantall. He competed in last year's edition of the Fort Marcy, but was pulled up in mid-stretch after a buckle on his reins broke when hitting the gate at the start.

Tribhuvan broke sharply from post three under Eric Cancel, and commanded the field into the first turn with a six-length advantage through an opening quarter-mile in 23.56 seconds and the half-mile in 47.89 over the firm turf.

Down the backstretch, the field began gaining on the frontrunner, with New York-bred stakes-winner City Man poised to pounce in second along the hedge with Wissahickon to his outside.

Cancel was relaxed aboard his charge until upper stretch when he gave Tribhuvan his cue. City Man made a bid but was unable to catch the leader who completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.11. City Man finished another two lengths clear of third-place finisher Rockemperor.

Completing the order of finish were Devamani, winner of last year's G2 Knickerbocker, and Wissahickon.

“They said they wanted me to go, and I did what I was told to do,” said Cancel, whose first graded stakes triumph came aboard Smooth Daddy in the 2017 Fort Marcy. “The trip worked out very well. I settled on the pace and got my horse to relax. He made a really nice run from the quarter-pole to the wire.”

Brown won his fourth consecutive Fort Marcy – and fifth overall – adding to a list which includes Big Blue Kitten [2015], Robert Bruce [2018], Olympico [2019] and Instilled Regard [2020].

Tribhuvan, along with Brown's other two runners, were saddled by his assistant Dan Stupp.

“I expected all three to run well as they all had trained well,” Stupp said. “The winner got a little lost in the wagering but he's a horse last year that we had high hopes for. He had a little trouble in this race last year when the buckle on the rein broke coming out of the gate, so it was nice to see him come back and start the year off the right way.

“There was no pace on paper and he's a horse that's very sharp in his training,” Stupp added. “He has a lot of energy and he was the logical horse to let him have his head a little bit and go to the front and back it down a bit. Eric did a great job executing that plan.”

Tribhuvan, who returned $22.40 as the longest shot in the field, improved his record to 17-4-2-3 and nearly doubled his lifetime earnings to $221,154.

Dan Stupp, assistant to trainer Chad Brown of winner Tribhuvan (No. 3, Tribhuvan, $22.40), third-place Rockemperor (No. 2) and fourth-place Devamani (No.1): “I expected all three to run well as they all had trained well. The winner got a little lost in the wagering but he's a horse last year that we had high hopes for. He had a little trouble in this race last year when the buckle on the rein broke coming out of the gate, so it was nice to see him come back and start the year off the right way.”
 
On sending Tribhuvan to the lead: “There was no pace on paper and he's a horse that's very sharp in his training. He has a lot of energy and he was the logical horse to let him have his head a little bit and go to the front and back it down a bit. Eric [Cancel] did a great job executing that plan.”

Eric Cancel, winning jockey aboard Tribhuvan (No. 3): “They said they wanted me to go and I did what I was told to do. The trip worked out very well. I settled on the pace and got my horse to relax. He made a really nice run from the quarter-pole to the wire.”

Trevor McCarthy, jockey aboard runner-up City Man (No. 4): “I can't knock him. He got a great trip. It was a fast pace in front of us and every time I got to Chad's horse [Tribhuvan], he seemed to have a little bit more. My horse was coming off a little bit of a layoff, so I was happy with him.”

The post Tribhuvan Returns In Style To Take G2 Fort Marcy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trained by Arnaud Delacour, Magic Attitude is the lone Grade 1-winner in the six-horse field, capturing her North American debut in last year's Belmont Oaks Invitational in September.

The daughter of prolific international sire Galileo rallied from last-of-5 in that race, displaying a powerful turn of foot in mid-stretch, crossing the wire a 2 1/2-length winner. The same late-running strategy was utilized next out in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on October 10 at Keeneland, but she could not replicate the winning push of her prior start, finishing third, 1 1/4 lengths back to Harvey's Lil Goil.

Magic Attitude arrives at the Sheepshead Bay off her 2021 debut in the Grade 2 Hillsborough on March 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, where she rode the rail throughout most of the journey, lacked racing room in upper stretch and made a late bid in between horses to finish a close seventh.

“She may have been a little short when we brought her back at Tampa,” Delacour said. “It didn't work out well as far as the trip was concerned. She was down and on the inside and never got relaxed. I'm also not sure she likes the tight turns at Tampa either. So, we just regrouped after that race and we wanted to go where she's been successful in the past to try and bring back her best form. We know she likes Belmont Park.”

Delacour noted that Belmont Park's wider turns could play to his filly's favor in the Belmont Oaks and hopes to see that play to her advantage on Saturday.

“She had a hard time with the tight turns. At Belmont, she had plenty of time to come gradually. She had balance and produced an explosive kick. We are looking for more stretch,” Delacour said. “The turns are wider at Belmont, and it was a slow pace when she won the Belmont Oaks, which gave her plenty of time to settle and come with a kick. We'll see what the pace scenario is like, but likely she'll take back and make one big run.”

Jockey Trevor McCarthy will pilot Magic Attitude from the inside post.

A victory in the Belmont Oaks qualified Magic Attitude for considerable bonus money should she win the Grade 2, $750,000 New York, going 1 ¼ miles on June 4 at Belmont; or the Grade 1, $600,000 Flower Bowl, at 1 3/8 miles on September 4 at Saratoga.

The “New York Stakes Turf Bonus” will provide $315,000 to the owner and $35,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of the filly Turf Triple series races – Belmont Oaks, Saratoga Oaks or Jockey Club Oaks – who captures the 2021 edition of the New York.

Additionally, the “Flower Bowl Bonus” will provide $300,000 to the owner and $30,000 to the trainer of any previous winner of a filly Turf Triple series race who wins the Flower Bowl, a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event offering a berth in the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar.

“The bonus is something that is definitely in the back of our minds,” Delacour said. “With a filly like her the main thing is to bring her back where she can win, and we know she loves Belmont Park. We'll see how she does on Saturday.”

Trainer Chad Brown seeks a fifth Sheepshead Bay win when he sends out My Sister Nat and Orglandes for their respective seasonal debuts.

“I think they're both very classy fillies with a lot of potential. Both have very bright futures,” said Brown's Belmont-based assistant trainer Dan Stupp. “They both wintered well, came up in great condition. They've trained well since they've been here.”

Owned by Peter Brant, My Sister Nat seeks a second graded stakes win in North America after winning the Grade 3 Waya going 1 1/2 miles on August 8 at Saratoga. The half-sister to 2018 Champion Turf Mare Sistercharlie trailed the field early on, inched her way into contention along the hedge midway down the backstretch and swung four-wide in upper stretch for the win.

Following two graded stakes runner-up finishes to Civil Union, My Sister Nat finished ninth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on November 6 at Keeneland in her last start.

Stupp recalled My Sister Nat's performance in the Grade 3 Long Island in November 2019 at the Big A, where she made up considerable ground only to miss a neck to Si Que Es Buena.

“When I first started working for Chad, she ran that huge race at Aqueduct where she just missed,” Stupp recalled. “After the race, we knew we were going to have a nice filly for next year. She continued to progress last year, just missing in the Grade 1 [Flower Bowl on October 3 at Belmont Park]. She's got a nice year ahead of her, she's just a late-blooming horse. She doesn't look like her sister. She's developed very nicely, it's just taken her awhile.”

While My Sister Nat seeks a return to winning form, Orglandes will look to pick back up where she left off after shipping to southern California for the Grade 3 Red Carpet on November 28 at Del Mar. The daughter of Le Havre made up considerable ground when traveling the 11-furlong distance to make a winning move in between horses in mid-stretch to win by a half-length.

A dual winner in her native France, Orglandes earned her first trip to the winner's circle in North America when travelling nine furlongs over the inner turf course on October 9 at Belmont Park.

“That race last year in California got us excited for the year ahead,” Stupp said. “She'll certainly be competing in the top stakes for older fillies on the grass throughout the year.”

Manny Franco has the call on My Sister Nat from the outermost post 6, while Orglandes will leave from post 3 under Eric Cancel.

Al Shira'aa Farms Mutamakina also will make her 2021 bow looking to build on her triumph in the Grade 3 Long Island on November 28 at Aqueduct.

The 5-year-old daughter of Nathaniel originally was campaigned in France by trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias, for whom she placed in two Group 2 events, including to eventual Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass. She made her North American debut on October 31 over a yielding outer turf course at Belmont Park in the 12-furlong Zagora, where she was a troubled third for trainer Christophe Clement.

Saving ground in third along the hedge, Mutamakina was shuffled back around the far turn in the Zagora but made up considerable ground in the stretch to finish third, beaten a half-length to winner Luck Money.

Mutamakina's Long Island effort again displayed stalking tactics, where she maintained position around the far turn and confronted pacesetting stablemate Traipsing in the final strides to secure her first stakes win in North America by three-quarters of a length.

“She's a very top class mare,” said four-time Sheepshead Bay winner Clement. “It's ambitious running her there first time out, but she's been doing very well. She ran a very good race in her North American debut, even though she got beat.”

Jockey Jose Lezcano will ride Mutamakina from post 2.

Repole Stables' Always Shopping will attempt to parlay her newfound affinity for turf marathon events when breaking from post 4 with Joe Bravo in the irons.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the daughter of Awesome Again out of graded stakes winner Stopshoppingmaria won the Grade 3 Gazelle on dirt at Aqueduct during her sophomore campaign in 2019, but a decline in winning form prompted her connections to give turf a try.

After a three-length win in the 1 1/8-mile Via Borghese in December at Gulfstream Park, she successfully stretched out to 1 ½ miles in the Grade 3 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream in January, winning by the same margin. Always Shopping arrives off a close second place finish in the Grade 3 Orchid on March 28 at Gulfstream.

“She always breezed well on the dirt and when her progression sort of plateaued, we made the change to turf and it appears to have paid off,” said Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes.

Rounding out the field is Godolphin's Antoinette, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The homebred daughter of Hard Spun made her 2021 debut a triumphant one when maintaining command the whole way around and drawing off to a 2 ¼ length win in the Grade 3 The Very One on February 27 at Gulfstream Park going 1 3/16 miles. Antoinette displayed similar frontrunning tactics when capturing the Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 8 at the Spa, which she won by a half-length.

Through an 11-4-1-4 record, Antoinette boasts the field's highest bankroll with earnings of $608,750.

Like fellow Sheepshead Bay contender Magic Attitude, Antoinette also qualifies for both the “New York Turf Bonus” and the “Flower Bowl Bonus.”

Breaking from post 5, Antoinette will be piloted by Edgard Zayas.

The Sheepshead Bay is slated as Race 10 on Belmont's 11-race Saturday program, which also features the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester at one mile over the main track and the Grade 2, $200,000 Fort Marcy for older horses going nine furlongs over the inner turf. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Magic Attitude Back On Favorite Course For Sheepshead Bay appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Fort Marcy is slated as Race 5 on Saturday's 11-race card, which also includes the Grade 3, $200,000 Westchester in Race 3 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay in Race 10.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael E. Kisber and Bethlehem Stables' multiple Grade 1-placed Rockemperor will exit post 2 under Manny Franco in search of his first graded score.

The 5-year-old Holy Roman Emperor horse has hit the board in a trio of Grade 1 events, including a third in the 2019 Belmont Derby, a second in the Manhattan in July at Belmont and a third two starts back in the Turf Classic in September at Churchill Downs.

Rockemperor wintered at Payson Park in Florida before shipping to New York, where he breezed a half-mile in 50.03 seconds on the Belmont dirt training track on April 24.

“He breezed here once and looked great,” said Brown's New York-based assistant Dan Stupp. “Just by watching him gallop around, it appears that he's awfully full of himself. He's been galloping very forwardly and it looks like he's doing very well.”

Sanford J. Goldfarb and Samuel Abraham's Devamani, a 7-year-old French-bred son of Dubawi, captured the Grade 2 Knickerbocker in October over yielding Belmont turf to close out his 2020 campaign, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

With a record of 25-5-8-5 and purse earnings of $401,239, the experienced Devamani posted a career-best 102 Beyer when second to Instilled Regard in last year's Fort Marcy.

Tribhuvan, a 5-year-old French-bred son of Toronado owned by Dubb, Madaket Stables and Wonder Stables, captured the Prix du Bras d'Or at Compiegne and the Prix de la Chambre de Monsieur at Chantilly in 2019 for his former conditioner Henri-Alex Pantall.

The bay made a trio of starts last year for Brown, including a nose score in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming event on the Belmont turf in July.

Devamani will exit post 1 under Jose Lezcano, while Tribhuvan, a first-time gelding, will emerge from post 3 with Eric Cancel up.

Augustin Stable homebred Wissahickon, a 6-year-old Tapit gelding, was a multiple stakes winner in England on turf and synthetic for his former conditioner John Gosden.

In February 2019, Wissahickon stepped up to win the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield on synthetic footing. Transferred to the care of Jonathan Thomas last year, Wissahickon closed from 22 lengths off the pace to finish fifth, defeated 3 3/4-lengths, in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming event in July on the Saratoga turf.

Joe Bravo will pilot Wissahickon from the outermost post 5.

New York-bred City Man, a multiple stakes winner owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Peter and Patty Searles, will leave post 4 in search of graded-stakes glory under Trevor McCarthy.

The 4-year-old Mucho Macho Man colt, bred by Moonstar Farm, captured the Gio Ponti by a nose traveling 1 1/16-miles on good Aqueduct turf in November for trainer Christophe Clement.

Last out, City Man broke through the gate in the Alex M. Robb in December at the Big A and was eased.

First post on Saturday is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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The Flatter filly, who earned 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points in victory, entered the nine-furlong test from a half-length score in the Busher Invitational going a one-turn mile. She earned a 92 Beyer for her Gazelle triumph and now tops the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 150 points.

“She looks great this morning,” said Dan Stupp, trainer Chad Brown's New York-based assistant. “She ran well yesterday and she still has room to move forward. She certainly handled the distance well.”

The Brown-trained The Grass Is Blue, a Broken Vow chestnut owned by Louis Lazzinnaro, finished fourth in the Gazelle.

Brown saddled a pair of contenders for Klaravich Stables in the Wood Memorial with Crowded Trade rallying from eighth to finish third, while mutuel favorite Risk Taking bobbled at the start and finished seventh.

Crowded Trade entered the Wood from a nose defeat to Weyburn in the Grade 3 Gotham, while Risk Taking was made the Wood favorite on the back of a convincing score in the Grade 3 Withers.

“He tried and ran well,” said Stupp regarding Crowded Trade. “Everyone is fine this morning. We'll see what Chad wants to do moving forward with them.”

Not to be overshadowed on the Wood Memorial undercard was an impressive North American debut by Peter Brant's Flighty Lady in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance. The 4-year-old Sir Percy filly finished third in the 2019 Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp and placed in a pair of Group 3 events last year in France.

Flighty Lady was prepared by Brown at Payson Park in Florida and demonstrated a powerful kick under Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the final sixteenth to win by two lengths.

“She shipped in middle of the week and looked fantastic,” said Stupp. “She is a very classy acting filly and well behaved in the paddock. She gave a good impression on race day and then ran to it. It was a very patient ride from Irad and she responded well. She's a very exciting turf prospect for us this year.”

Flighty Lady registered an 86 Beyer in victory.

Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated, who finished third for Brown in the Grade 3 Gotham, was a game second in Saturday's Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland. The Into Mischief bay battled gamely on the pace en route to a narrow neck defeat to undefeated Essential Quality, the reigning Champion 2-year-old colt. Highly Motivated is in 14th position in the Derby standings with 50 points.

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The Not This Time colt was purchased privately by Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Dubb following a second-out maiden win for conditioner Charlton Baker in December at the Big A and transferred to the care of four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

Excellent Timing trained with Brown's string at Payson Park in Florida before shipping back to New York and breezing once at Belmont Park last Sunday ahead of his stakes debut.

“We had open company on our mind, but this time of year, everyone throws 3-year-olds to the wolves,” said Dubb, who celebrates his 65th birthday on Monday. “This horse could have a nice and long career, so we wanted to develop the horse the right way and not get him where he loses interest. We want to get him used to winning. Hopefully, once we do that, we can go to open company. It's the right thing to do with the horse.”

With Manny Franco up, Excellent Timing did not break sharp but was hustled to the front to mark the opening quarter in 24.49 seconds on the fast main track. The dark bay showed the way down the backstretch under pressure from It's Gravy as Perfect Munnings drafted behind rivals in third.

It's Gravy continued to press Excellent Timing into the turn as A Longlongtimeago was angled off the rail by Eric Cancel and rallied into contention with the half-mile ticking by in 49.19. Excellent Timing put away It's Gravy through the turn and opened up a 6 1/2-length lead on Perfect Munnings at the stretch call. Perfect Munnings chased in vain but there would be no catching the 3-5 mutuel favorite, who stopped the clock in a final time of 1:28.02.

Perfect Munnings completed the exacta by five lengths over It's Gravy. Rounding out the order of finish was It's a Gamble, A Longlongtimeago, Echoes of Destiny, Reggae Music Man and The King Cheek. Reggae Music Man, who leapt at the break and was caught in the hands of the starter, was declared a non-starter. Eagle Orb was scratched.

Franco said he followed instructions to the letter.

“The plan was to go to the front,” said Franco. “I just let him break out of there and get comfortable. He took me to the lead and did the rest. He's getting better. Chad had him for the first time today and did a really good job with him and I think he'll keep improving. I think he can go a little further, a mile maybe. We'll see what Chad does with him.”

Brown's New York-based assistant Dan Stupp said he was pleased with the effort.

“The horse ran huge,” said Stupp. “The team down at Payson did a good job preparing him this winter. He came up in great shape; he put on some weight and his coat looks great. Manny did a great job allowing him to show his natural cruising speed and getting him to relax and settle. The horse did the rest from there.”

Bred in the Empire State by Sequel Stallions New York and Lakland Farm, Excellent Timing banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 3-2-1-0. He returned $3.30 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Friday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

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The Medaglia d'Oro bay went a half-mile in 50.06 on the Belmont dirt training track working in company with 4-year-old Mystic Night, a $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase who earned an 80 Beyer in his third-out graduation on January 30 at the Big A.

“Risk Taking had his first work back since his win in the Withers and it went very well,” said Dan Stupp, the New York-based assistant to trainer Chad Brown. “I was pleased with the work. He came out of the race in great shape and his energy and appetite have been good.”

Risk Taking, a $240,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is 2-for-2 traveling nine furlongs at Aqueduct. He graduated on December 13 at the distance ahead of his rallying Withers score which garnered 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Following the Withers, Brown said Risk Taking would likely target the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 3 at the Big A. The nine-furlong Wood Memorial is the final local prep for the Grade 1, Kentucky Derby and awards the top-four finishers qualifying points according to a 100-40-20-10 scale.

Louis Lazzinnaro's The Grass Is Blue, a sophomore daughter of Broken Vow, impressed with a one-length win last out in the nine-furlong Busanda on January 24 at the Big A. The chestnut, who earned a 72 Beyer in victory along with 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, worked a half-mile in 49.21 Sunday.

“The Grass Is Blue worked a solo half and worked very easy,” said Stupp. “It was a very nice maintenance work and I'm happy with her work.”

The Grass Is Blue captured an optional-claiming sprint at Keeneland in October sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs ahead of an off-the-board effort in the Songbird in November at the same distance at the Lexington oval. She entered the Busanda from a closing third in the 1 1/16-mile Anne Arundel County in December at Laurel Park.

“She appreciated the stretch out in the Busanda,” said Stupp. “Earlier on, we thought she wanted to go short but watching her races Chad decided to see if she would be better stretching out and she certainly showed that in her last race. She certainly handled the mile and an eighth. She's trained very well out of that win and seems to have improved a lot for us here over the winter.”

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