Tag: declaration of war

Gufo Puts Them to the ‘Sword’

Otter Bend Stables LLC's Gufo (Declaration of War) employed his oft-decisive turn of foot to find daylight at a crucial stage of Saturday's GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga and kicked home smartly to peg back the progressive Mira Misson (Noble Mission {GB}) in the waning strides and successfully defend his title in the 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland Nov. 5. Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) closed off well from the back of the pack to complete a 1-3 finish for the Christophe Clement stable.

“He's been a very good horse these past three years,” said Clement, who also won the Sword Dancer with Honor Glide in 1999 and with Winchester in 2011. “Today, he had a great trip. He was never that far back and he was travelling well. When [jockey] Joel [Rosario] asked him, he exploded in the stretch. I'm delighted. I thought the horse deserved the win.”

While favored Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) missed the break and was immediately under a Ryan Moore ride, Gufo left there running and settled in about seventh position, as the free-wheeling Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}) set a moderate pace from 2020 Sword Dancer hero Channel Maker (English Channel).

Gufo, blinkered for the first time this season, continued to travel covered up and slightly behind midfield and was ridden quietly by Joel Rosario passing midway, but those who swallowed the 3-2 about this year's G2 Hardwicke S. hero were beginning to sweat, as the 6-year-old was up and down and making very hard work of it approaching the final half-mile. Broome was back into the bridle by the time the Sword Dancer field had reached the final turn and traveled better three wide, but Rosario asked Gufo for some acceleration and beat Broome to the spot, floating the Aidan O'Brien runner wide as they neared the stretch. In the meantime, Mira Mission, who raced one out and one back in the slipstream of Channel Maker for a good portion of the journey, eased out and easily claimed Tribhuvan in upper stretch. For a few strides, it appeared that he had pinched a winning break, but Gufo leveled out and attacked the line to score narrowly. Broome could do no better than fourth.

“It was a good trip,” said Rosario. “He really came with [a] run when asked and we're lucky to get it today. He really responded well but you never know if the horse in front will keep going, but he responded to everything I asked him to do. He looked like he likes it here, he won it last year and did it again this year.”

Never a factor when 10th in last year's Turf, Gufo resumed as good as ever when whooshing home by two lengths in the GII Pan American S. at Gulfstream Apr. 2. Runner-up in Belmont's GI Man o' War S. over a mile and three furlongs May 14, he was simply left too much to do when third to Tribhuvan in the GI Resorts World Manhattan S. over 10 panels downstate June 11 and when fifth to Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) in the 11-furlong GI United Nations S. at Monmouth July 23.

Pedigree Notes:

Gufo is one of seven worldwide top-level scorers for Declaration of War, who has also accounted for winners of prestigious events such as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Queensland Oaks and Melbourne Cup from just a handful of crops to race. The stallion currently calls Japan home, where he has been represented (through Aug. 26) by seven individual winners from his first local crop of runners.

A half-brother to the versatile fan-favorite Hogy, Gufo is bred on a variant of the Danzig cross over Seeking the Gold mares that has resulted in the likes of Omaha Beach–also a son of War Front–as well as Pomeroy (Boundary), Eclipse Award winner Questing (GB) (Hard Spun) and Signs of Blessing (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Floy is the dam of a yearling Preservationist filly named Poet, did not conceive to Hard Spun for 2022 and was most recently served by both the latter and Oscar Performance.

 

 

 

Saturday, Saratoga
RESORTS WORLD CASINO SWORD DANCER S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:28.92, gd.
1–GUFO, 122, h, 5, by Declaration of War
               1st Dam: Floy, by Petionville
               2nd Dam: Risen Miss, by Peteski
               3rd Dam: Eddie's Star, by Risen Star
O-Otter Bend Stables, LLC; B-John Little & Stephen Cainelli
(KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $400,000.
Lifetime Record: 19-9-3-5, $1,983,030. *1/2 to Hogy (Offlee
Wild), MGSW-USA, SP-Can, $1,339,782. Werk Nick Rating:
D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Mira Mission, 118, g, 4, Noble Mission (GB)–Kazamira, by
Dynaformer. O-Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust;
B-Mary A Sullivan (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $140,000.
3–Soldier Rising (GB), 118, g, 4, Frankel (GB)–Sahrawi (Ger),
by Pivotal (GB). (240,000gns RNA Ylg '19 TATOCT).
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey,
Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso; B-Dayton
Investments Ltd. (GB); T-Christophe Clement. $75,000.
Margins: HF, HF, HF. Odds: 4.40, 18.60, 13.70.
Also Ran: Broome (Ire), Cross Border, Tribhuvan (Fr), Cold Hard Cash, Adhamo (Ire), Rockemperor (Ire), Channel Maker.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Big Invasion Effortless Winner of Mahony Stakes

Big Invasion (Declaration of War)'s enormous kick carried him home to a sixth victory in a row in Saratoga's Mahony S. by three effortless lengths.

Coming into the race with four straight stakes victories, the GIII Quick Call July 17 at this venue among them, he was hammered down to 1-5 favoritism in his quest to continue the streak and he made it look a gift. He was equally dominant in the May 29 Paradise Creek at Belmont, William Walker at Churchill Downs May 4, and in the Texas Glitter S. in Hallendale Mar. 26. His only blemish was on debut Jan. 7 behind stakes-placed filly American Starlet (Twirling Candy) who went gate to wire after Big Invasion slammed into the gate on the break.

Rating well off a quick early pace set by That's Right (Goldencents) and a pursuing European invader Cadamosto (Ire), he tracked from fifth on the fence through the early part of the bend. Gradually shifting out to the four path, Joel Rosario set his mount loose in upper stretch and the race was over by the final furlong. Big Invasion inhaled his competition and won geared down by three lengths in a quick 1:01.42.

“I've always thought he was the best 3-year-old in the country on the grass sprinting. We just don't have a program with Grade 1, Grade 2, that's the way the program is made,” said Clement post-race in regards to a start in Grade I company. “But, I don't know, I'd have to talk to [owner] Mr. [Dean] Reeves. I need to give him some time at some stage and maybe we can think about a race like the Breeders Cup even if it's very ambitious. Why not?”

Big Invasion is the third black-type earner in a row for his dam, who claims several multiple winners as half-relations. Curls in Place is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to GSP Going Wild (Golden Missle). In addition to We Miss Susie, the winner is also half to SP Unitedandresolute (Violence). They have a 2-year-old half-sister by Empire Maker, a yearling half-brother by Air Force Blue, and a 2022 half-brother by War of Will. The dam went to Maclean's Music for 2023. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

MAHONY S., $150,000, Saratoga, 8-14, 3yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:01.42, fm.
1–BIG INVASION, 122, c, 3, by Declaration of War
                1st Dam: Curls in Place, by Curlin
                2nd Dam: Pola's Place, by Out of Place
                3rd Dam: Pola, by Strawberry Road (Aus)
($72,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-John O'Meara (KY); T-Christophe Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 7-6-1-0, $444,045. *1/2 to We Miss Susie (Creative Cause), SP, $194,692.
2–Cadamosto (Ire), 118, c, 3, No Nay Never–Saucy Spirit (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). (£130,000 Ylg '20 GOFOR). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Peter Henley & Eric Mc Donnell (Ire); T-Joseph Patrick O'Brien. $30,000.
3–Determined Kingdom, 122, g, 3, Animal Kingdom–Filia, by Fastnet Rock (Aus). ($47,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT). O-D Hatman Thoroughbreds and Schoenthal, Phil; B-Audley Farm Equine, LLC (VA); T-Phil Schoenthal. $18,000.
Margins: 3, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.35, 6.40, 26.50.
Also Ran: Sky and Sand, Surprise Boss, That's Right, Editorial Comment (Arg).

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Hopper Tops Affirmed Exacta for McCarthy at Santa Anita

While the 3-year-old picture was focused primarily in New York Saturday with the GI Belmont S. and the GI Woody Stephens S., Hopper (Declaration of War) threw his hat into the ring from the other coast with a facile victory in the GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita. It was a short field, but the exacta horses both hailed from the Sean McCarthy barn while the trifecta was filled out by three former Bob Baffert pupils.

When the stall doors flew, Hopper immediately hightailed it the front from the one post. He stayed on the inside, moving easily and getting the first quarter in :23.37. 'TDN Rising Star' and GSP Doppelganger (Into Mischief) drafted in second, just off his flank and to the outside as Hopper threw down a half in :46.74, still moving smoothly. Abel Cedillo roused him in the stretch, leaving Doppelganger far behind, and the dark bay drew clear to win by 5 1/4 lengths while stablemate High Connection (Connect) passed Doppelganger late. Hopper gave the impression of being out for a morning breeze, making it look easy as he dominated the field.

“I saw Juan [Hernandez] asking [High Connection] at about the three-and-a-half to get into contention and Doppelganger was moving at the same time, but Hopper was just cruising on the front end, so I had a pretty good feeling,” said McCarthy.

Owned by Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, Hopper debuted for Baffert Feb. 25 in a six-furlong maiden special weight over this surface, getting bumped at the start and again just after the three-eighths pole. He didn't reappear again until May 7 after that troubled beginning, and by then he'd been transferred to the McCarthy barn. Going seven furlongs that day, he went wide to win by 2 1/4 lengths and register an 87 Beyer. The Affirmed was only his third career start. McCarthy has indicated both Hopper and the runner-up will return to Baffert when the Hall of Famer returns from his suspension next month.

Pedigree Notes:
War Front's European champion and MG1SW Declaration of War is the sire of Hopper and 32 other Northern Hemisphere-bred black-type winners. Among his 17 graded winners are Canadian champion Mr. Hustle, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Fire At Will, GISW Decorated Invader, French G1SW Olmedo (Fr), and MGISW Gufo, who was also third in the GI Manhattan S. Saturday. Declaration of War stood at Coolmore in Ireland, America, and Australia before moving to Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan ahead of the 2019 season.

Hopper is out of Irridescence (SAf), a champion and MG1SW in her native country. She traveled all over the world for major races, winning Hong Kong's G1 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup, and placing in the GI Beverly D. S. in the U.S., the G1 Falmouth S. in England, and the G2 Haafhd Jebel Hatta in Dubai. Hopper is her first stakes winner. She did not produce foals in 2020 or 2021 after being bred to Noble Mission (GB) both times, and was last bred to Air Force Blue. Her sire, the Nureyev stallion Caesour, has 16 stakes winners out of his daughters, including the 2020 GI Jaipur S. winner Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom), a mare who beat the boys more than once.

Saturday, Santa Anita
AFFIRMED S.-GIII, $98,000, Santa Anita, 6-11, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.83, ft.
1–HOPPER, 120, c, 3, by Declaration of War
               1st Dam: Irridescence (Saf) (Ch. 3-year-old Filly-SAF, MG1SW-SAF, G1SW-HK,
               SW & GSP-UAE, G1SP-Eng, GISP-USA, $1,578,910), by Caesour
               2nd Dam: Meretricious (Saf), by Dancing Champ
               3rd Dam: Capitoline (Saf), by Elevation (Saf)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($90,000 Ylg
'20 KEESEP). O-Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables LLC and SF
Racing LLC; B-Green Lantern Stables, LLC (KY); T-Sean
McCarthy; J-Abel Cedillo. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0,
$100,700. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–High Connection, 120, c, 3, Connect–Forest Legend, by Forest
Camp. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($75,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP; $290,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-HRH Prince
Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud; B-G. Watts Humphrey (KY); T-Sean
McCarthy. $20,000.
3–Doppelganger, 120, c, 3, Into Mischief–Twice the Lady, by
Quiet American. ($570,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). 'TDN Rising Star'.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC,
Robert E. Masterson, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge
Capital LLC, Catherine M. Donovan, Golconda Stable, Siena
Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. $12,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, HF, 35. Odds: 3.30, 1.00, 1.40.
Also Ran: Pioneering Papa. Scratched: Fast Draw Munnings, Newgrange.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Joe Goes Wide, Drives Down Stretch To Take Maryland Juvenile

The Elkstone Group LLC's homebred Joe, a 2-year-old son of Declaration of War, drove to the front down the stretch under jockey Victor Carrasco to win Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

After making his debut on turf Oct. 24, Joe broke his maiden Nov. 21 at a mile on the main track at Laurel by 3 ½ lengths. Carrasco, who has ridden Joe in each of his starts and works the horse, got the seven furlongs in 1:25.63.

“We knew we was a really talented horse,” Carrasco said. “The first time Mike decided to run him on the turf because he was bred for the turf. I said, 'Mike, I think he's better on the turf,' and he's showed – he's two for two on the dirt – he's pretty good.”

Breaking from the No. 12 post, Joe was four wide down the backstretch while a group including Royal Spy, Coastal Mission, Local Motive, and Mr. Mox set an opening quarter in :23.09 and a half in :47.26. Five wide entering the stretch, Joe drove past Alottahope and Local Motive inside the eighth pole and to the finish line.

“After I turned for home and got him in the clear I started getting after him and he moved on,” Carrasco said.

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