The feat occurred Saturday at Aqueduct where the Lysters' Ashview Farm and Santulli's Colts Neck Stables bred the winners of the GII Demoiselle S. and the GII Remsen S., contested as the eighth and ninth races on the Big A card. It began in the Remsen with Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and continued with Nest (Curlin) in the Demoiselle.

“My family has been around long enough to know this was a really special accomplishment because it's so hard to breed a graded stakes winner,” said Gray Lyster, who runs Ashview, located in Versailles, Kentucky, with his father Wayne, his mother Muffy and his brother Bryan. “To breed two and to win two-late season 2-year-old races in New York that everyone is watching back to back on the same day is a perfect storm. That doesn't happen very often, so we are enjoying it.”

Santulli and Wayne Lyster are friends who have known each other for about 40 years and have been long-time partners. Wayne Lyster and Santulli's Jayeff “B” Stables were the breeders of Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg and they also teamed up to breed Sweet Loretta (Tapit), the winner of the 2016 GI Spinaway S.

They're always on the lookout for good mares. They bought Marion Ravenwood (A.P. Indy), the dam of Nest, who was in foal to Pioneerof the Nile, for $400,000 ast the 2017 Keeneland November sale. Callingmissbrown (Pulpit), the dam of Mo Donegal, was bought privately. From there, it's a pretty simple formula–breed to the best stallions out there. (Marion Ravenwood will be bred to Curlin in 2022, and the partnership hasn't finalized plans for Callingmissbrown.)

“We really try to stay in our lane when it comes to breeding,” Lyster said. “We like to breed to really good, top, proven stallions. If not that, we will play the first-year market. Uncle Mo and Curlin are no-brainers for us. They are obviously good stallions and everybody should be using them.”

Mo Donegal was purchased for $250,000 at Keeneland September and races for Donegal Stable. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he broke his maiden in his second career start before stretching out to the mile-and-an-eighth in the Remsen. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, he won by a nose and had to survive a stewards' inquiry.

Nest races for the partnership of Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House and cost $350,000 at the same Keeneland September sale. Also trained by Pletcher and ridden by Ortiz, the Demoiselle was her third career start and came after a third-place finish in the Tempted S. She was also a narrow winner, scoring by a neck.

“That was something else,” Santulli said. “What a fun afternoon.”

It was the second straight year that Pletcher won the Demoiselle with a daughter of Curlin after winning the race last year with likely 3-year-old filly champion Malathaat (Curlin).

At this year's Keeneland September sale, Ashview and Colts Neck sold an Into Mischief filly who is a half-sister to Mo Donegal for $500,000. They also sold a colt by Violence who is a half-brother to Nest for $275,000.

The two yearlings give the Santulli-Lyster partnership something to look forward to in 2022, and so do Nest and Mo Donegal. They've both won graded stakes races around two turns, which bodes well for the GI Kentucky Oaks and the GI Kentucky Derby.

“That's what we're dreaming of, the Oaks and the Derby,” Lyster said. “How can you not? I don't want to say it is surreal, but we kind of had to pinch ourselves Saturday. We're really excited. Even if we don't make it to the Derby or Oaks, what we did Saturday was already a huge accomplishment.”

The post Breeders Ashview Farm, Santulli Hit Remsen-Demoiselle Double appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

It is also closing weekend at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario, and Sunday's card features the G3 Valedictory Stakes.

Graded stakes action includes the G1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, featuring a pair of Todd Pletcher-trained sophomores against the likes of Independence Hall, Ginobili, and Code of Honor; as well as the G1 Starlet at Los Alamitos for 2-year-old fillies.

Here's a quick look at some of those races:

Saturday

2:43 p.m. – G3 Go For Wand Handicap at Aqueduct

Barry Schwartz's New York-homebred Sharp Starr will look to defend her title in this a one-turn mile handicap for fillies and mares. Trained by Horacio DePaz, Sharp Starr boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 6-2-2-2 at the Big A, including an impressive 15 3/4-length romp last November that registered a career-best 101 Beyer ahead of her Go for Wand coup.

Sharp Starr captured the $250,000 Empire Distaff last month at Belmont, off a two-month layoff, where she notched a 16-1 upset coming from last-of-10 under jockey Jose Ortiz, who will retain the mount from post 7 carrying 119 pounds. She earned a 92 Beyer for the win, her first of the 2021 season in five starts.

Go For Wand Entries

3:14 p.m. – G2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct

Jeff Drown's impressive maiden winner Zandon will attempt to rise to the occasion in the 106th running of the $250,000 Remsen for juveniles going nine furlongs. Trained by Chad Brown, who won the 2014 Remsen with Leave the Light On, Zandon was a 1 ½-length winner of his six-furlong debut on Oct. 9 at Belmont Park.

Despite hitting the gate at the break, the son of second crop sire Upstart recovered and sat two lengths off the pace while saving ground in fourth down the backstretch. Joel Rosario angled Zandon a couple of paths wide down the lane and he garnered command in the final furlong to register an 80 Beyer Speed Figure on debut.

The Remsen offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Remsen Entries

3:43 p.m. – G2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct

Manzanita Stables' well-bred Tap the Faith will make her stakes debut in this nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies. Trained by Christophe Clement, the Tapit bay rallied from last-to-first to win her debut by a head travelling a one-turn mile on Nov. 7 at Belmont Park.

A $1.25 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Tap the Faith is out of the Super Saver mare Embellish the Lace, who captured the 2015 Grade 1 Alabama at the Spa.

The Demoiselle offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Demoiselle Entries

4:13 p.m. – G1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct

An accomplished field of eight horses will seek the calendar year's final opportunity for Grade 1 glory on the NYRA circuit in the 32nd running of the $750,000 Cigar Mile.

Owned by WinStar Farm and CHC Inc. and bred in New York by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Americanrevolution makes his return to graded company after finishing third two starts back in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25 at Parx, which was won by Hot Rod Charlie over Midnight Bourbon.

Spendthrift Farm homebred Following Sea was a troubled third in the last out Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint and seeks his second graded stakes triumph in Saturday's engagement. The son of second crop sire Runhappy was victorious in wire-to-wire fashion against multiple graded stakes winner Firenze Fire in the six-furlong Grade 2 Vosburgh on Oct. 9 at Belmont.

The one-turn mile will be a swan song for multiple graded stakes-winner Independence Hall who returns to Aqueduct for the first time since capturing the 2020 Jerome. Trained by Pletcher's former assistant Michael McCarthy, Independence Hall arrives off a 7 ¼-length runaway victory at 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 2 Fayette on October 30 over a sloppy and sealed Keeneland main track, where he registered a career-best 105 Beyer.

Trainer Richard Baltas will ship Ginobili cross-country, attempting to give the son of Munnings a second graded stakes triumph. Owned by Baltas in partnership with Nick Casato's Slum Dunk Racing, Jerry McClanahan and Michael Nentwig, Ginobili ended a nine race losing streak in July at Del Mar capturing a one mile allowance optional claimer by 9 ¾ lengths. He followed with a score in the Grade 2 Pat O' Brien one month later at Del Mar, which offered a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, where Ginobili finished second to Life Is Good on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

As the lone millionaire in the race, William S. Farish's Code of Honor boasts a field-best $2,951,320 in lifetime earnings and seeks a third Grade 1 victory for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. This year, he captured the Grade 3 Phillip H. Iselin in August at Monmouth Park. He enters from a last out second to Independence Hall in the Fayette.

Bill Mott will attempt a fourth victory in a race named after one of the greatest horses he has ever trained when the Hall of Famer saddles 3-year-old Olympiad. Owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable and LNJ Foxwoods, Olympiad defeated older winners last out in a first-level allowance at Keeneland going seven furlongs. He broke his maiden in October 2020 against subsequent stakes winners Caddo River and Greatest Honour travelling the same distance at Belmont Park.

Cigar Mile Entries

6:58 p.m. – G1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will have three opportunities to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Starlet – the final Grade 1 of 2021 for 2-year-old fillies – for a fifth consecutive year Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Baffert, whose streak of Starlet victories includes Dream Tree (2017), Chasing Yesterday (2018), Bast (2019) and Varda last year, entered Grace Adler, Eda, and Benedict Canyon in 2021.

Owned by Willow Grace Farm and Michael Lund Petersen, Grace Adler will be seeking the second Grade I success of her young career. The daughter of Curlin and the Newfoundland mare Our Khrysty dominated seven opponents by 11 ¼ lengths in the Del Mar Debutante Sept. 5.

Eda, a Munnings filly out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Show Me, is the most accomplished of the Baffert trio in terms of wins. She's 3-for-5 with a bankroll of $190,000. Owned by Baoma Corporation, Eda enters off consecutive victories, taking the Anoakia Oct. 24 and the Desi Arnaz Nov. 13. The Starlet will mark her first start beyond seven furlongs.

Starlet Entries

Sunday

5:53 p.m. – G3 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine

The 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston resumes his rivalry with Special Forces in this 1 1/2-mile contest over the Tapeta.

Most recently, Sir Winston, the 5-year-old son of Awesome Again trained by Mark Casse, ran second in the G2 Autumn Stakes, while Special Forces ran third. That order was reversed two starts back in the G3 Durham, with Special Forces besting Sir Winston by a half-length.

A full field of 14 with one also-eligible has signed on for this marathon event.

Valedictory Entries

7:30 p.m. – G3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos

Two-time Grade 2 winner As Time Goes By will have six rivals in her return to Los Alamitos Sunday. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, As Time Goes By will get some class relief after finishing eighth of 11 in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, who won the 2017 Bayakoa with Majestic Heat, will be represented Sunday by Moonlight d'Oro. Owned by MyRachorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC, the 3-year-old Medaglia d'Oro filly was runner-up as the odds-on choice in a restricted stakes at Del Mar Nov. 3 after nine months on the sidelines.

Benjamin and Sally Warren's homebred Warren's Showtime will make her Los Alamitos debut for trainer Craig Lewis. The California bred daughter of Clubhouse Ride and the Affirmative mare Warren's Veneda has been effective on turf and dirt, winning eight of 23. The 4-year-old has earned $794,431.

Bayakoa Entries

The post Weekend Lineup Presented By Hialeah Park NHC Qualifier: Cigar Mile Day At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The Demoiselle, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which is headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile and also includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, and the Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the Tapit bay rallied from last-to-first to win her debut by a head travelling a one-turn mile on Nov. 7 at Belmont Park.

A $1.25 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Tap the Faith is out of the Super Saver mare Embellish the Lace, who captured the 2015 Grade 1 Alabama at the Spa.

“She is very well bred, so it's very exciting for us. She won well first time out,” Clement said.

Bred in Kentucky by China Horse Club International, Tap the Faith has breezed back twice out of her maiden score, including an easy five-eighths in 1:03.21 Saturday over Big Sandy.

Clement said he is hopeful Tap the Faith can impress again while returning on relatively short rest.

“I'm running back a little bit quick in the Demoiselle, but she's been working too well so I've got to go,” Clement said. “She's sound and she looks good. I would have liked an extra week or two, but that's the way it goes. She'll get a rest after this.”

Joel Rosario has the call from post 6.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair of strong contenders in Nest and Miss Interpret as he looks to secure a record-extending seventh Demoiselle win.

Pletcher has previously won the Demoiselle with Smok'n Frolic [2001], Ashado [2003], Disposablepleasure [2011], Unlimited Budget [2012], Stopchargingmaria [2013], and Malathaat [2020]. Of that group, Ashado and Malathaat went on to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, Nest has posted a pair of starts over the main track at Belmont Park, including a five-length debut score traveling 1 1/16-miles on September 25 ahead of a close third in the one-mile Tempted last out on November 5.

The Curlin bay, out of the stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood, was purchased for $350,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Idol.

Bred in Kentucky by Ashview Farm and Colts Neck Stables, Nest has breezed back twice over the Belmont dirt training track since the Tempted, including a half-mile effort in 49.79 seconds Saturday.

Pletcher said Nest will appreciate the stretch out in distance.

“She should love the mile and an eighth. She had a good work on Saturday morning so she's right on course,” Pletcher said.

Laurie Wolf and Glen Hill Farm's Miss Interpret, by Street Sense, was purchased for $100,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

A maiden winner at third asking sprinting six furlongs over a muddy track at Saratoga Race Course, Miss Interpret rallied to a 1 1/2-length score in her stakes debut in the seven-furlong P.G. Johnson on September 2 at the same track.

Last out, the Kentucky-bred bay failed to fire when eighth in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades on October 8 at Keeneland.

Nest will leave from post 5 under Irad Ortiz, Jr., while Miss Interpret will emerge from the inside post under Luis Saez.

J.W. Singer's Magic Circle registered a field best 82 Beyer Speed Figure for her second-place effort in the Tempted, finishing a half-length back of Gerrymander.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, the Kantharos chestnut graduated by 4 1/2-lengths on debut, after exiting post 2 to best a field of nine maiden fillies sprinting seven furlongs in September at Saratoga.

She followed with a distant fourth in the Grade 1 Frizette, a one-turn mile on October 3 at Belmont won by Echo Zulu by 7 1/4-lengths over Gerrymander. Echo Zulu exited the Frizette to win the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 5 at Del Mar.

Rodriguez said he instructed jockey Manny Franco to sit back and try to close late in the Frizette.

“I wanted to be far back and make one run with her, but sometimes plans don't work out the way you wanted,” Rodriguez said. “When Manny went outside it looked like she would finish second against Echo Zulu, but she got a little tired. I want to blame myself a little bit, I don't think I had her as tight as I wanted to. She still ran good and maybe if she had finished third, I could have taken her to California.”

Rodriguez said the sizable Magic Circle should appreciate her first two-turn test.

“She's a big filly and I don't think it will be a problem for her to stretch out another eighth of a mile, but you don't know until they do it. Hopefully, she's good enough,” Rodriguez said.

The veteran conditioner, who won the 2014 Demoiselle with Condo Commando, said Magic Circle is likely to utilize a stalking trip.

“I think she can settle. She's not the type that needs the lead,” Rodriguez said. “When she broke her maiden she was on the inside and she settled and then made the lead pretty comfortable. So, I know she can take dirt behind horses.”

Bred in Kentucky by Manitou Farm, the $110,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase will exit post 7 with Franco aboard.

NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds' New York-bred Venti Valentine will put her undefeated record on the line when stepping into open company for the first time.

Bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, the Firing Line chestnut, out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Glory Gold, is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Espresso Shot.

Trained by Jorge Abreu, Venti Valentine rallied from 6 1/4-lengths off the pace to win her debut by a nose in a six-furlong maiden sprint in September at Belmont. She stretched out to a one-turn mile last out on October 30 to capture the Maid of the Mist by 3 3/4-lengths over a sloppy and sealed Belmont main track.

Venti Valentine will emerge from post 3 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Godolphin homebred Nostalgic will make her stakes debut from a 7 3/4-length first-out maiden score traveling 1 1/16-miles over Big Sandy on October 22.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Medaglia d'Oro bay garnered a 48 Beyer in her debut score. She will exit post 4 under returning rider Jose Ortiz.

Rounding out the field are maiden Full Count Felica [post 8, Tyler Gaffalione], who switches from turf to dirt after hitting the board in two of her three career starts for trainer Chad Summers; and Golden Essence [post 2, Dexter Haddock], a maiden winner at fourth asking last out on November 8 at Parx for trainer Uriah St. Lewis

The post Seven-Figure Purchase Tap The Faith Steps Up In Saturday’s Demoiselle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Offering total stakes purses of $4.9 million, the fall meet will be highlighted by a four graded-stakes card on Saturday, December 4, headlined by the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap for 3-year-olds and up.

The stacked Cigar Mile undercard will also include the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen for juveniles going 1 1/8 miles with 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the 2022 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on the line. Its counterpart for 2-year-old fillies, the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, will offer 10-4-2-1 points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Also on tap for the December 4 card is the Grade 3, $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up competing at one mile.

The Big A fall meet stakes action begins on Opening Day, November 5, with the $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies going one mile and the $100,000 Atlantic Beach for 2-year-olds at six furlongs on the turf. Opening weekend at the Big A continues on Saturday, November 6, with the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $100,000 Stewart Manor for juvenile fillies at six furlongs on the grass. The Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua will bookend the Opening Weekend stakes offerings.

Following the $150,000 Artie Schiller and $150,000 Winter Memories on November 13-14, the Grade 2, $200,000 Red Smith highlights a strong weekend on November 20-21, which will include the $100,000 Key Cents and $100,000 Notebook on Sunday, November 21.

Thanksgiving weekend will offer ten stakes over three days beginning Friday, November 26 with the Grade 3, $200,000 Comely for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles; the $150,000 Gio Ponti for sophomores at 1 1/16 miles on the turf; and the $150,000 Forever Together for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Four stakes will be contested on Saturday, November 21 including the Grade 3, $400,000 Long Island for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up in a marathon 1 1/2 miles on the turf; the $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs; the $150,000 Discovery for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the main track; and the $100,000 Central Park for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Thanksgiving weekend racing at the Big A will close with three stakes on Sunday, November 28, including the Grade 3, $200,000 Fall Highweight Handicap for 3-years-olds and up at six furlongs; the $150,000 Autumn Days for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at six furlongs on the turf; and the $100,000 Tepin for juvenile fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

The Big A fall meet will conclude on Sunday, December 5 with a pair of $150,000 New York Stallion Stakes Series races going seven furlongs on the main track, with the Thunder Rumble for 3-year-olds and up and the Staten Island for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up.

The Aqueduct winter meet will commence on Thursday, December 9, with seven stakes carded through the end of the calendar year. The first stakes of the winter meet will be the $100,000 Garland of Roses for fillies and mares 3-and-up at six furlongs on Saturday, December 11.

The following Saturday will again showcase a pair of NYSSS contests with half-million dollar purses for juveniles competing at seven furlongs, with the $500,000 Great White Way for males and the Fifth Avenue for fillies.

The next day, Sunday, December 19, will offer the $125,000 Queens County for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles and the $100,000 Gravesend for 3-years-old and up sprinting six furlongs in the final stakes action before a 10-day holiday break.

Live racing will resume Thursday, December 30 with the $100,000 Bay Ridge for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles. New Year's Eve will feature the $100,000 Alex M. Robb for state-bred 3-years-old and up at 1 1/8 miles.

For the complete Aqueduct fall meet stakes schedule, please visit: https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/stakes-schedule/.

The post NYRA Releases Aqueduct’s Fall Stakes Schedule Worth $4.9 Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Live coverage of Cigar Mile Day will be available with America's Day at the Races on FS2 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. ET.

Saturday, Dec. 5

1:00 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on TVG

Already a winner at the nine-furlong distance, Known Agenda will attempt to give trainer Todd Pletcher a third Remsen triumph when heads up the five-horse field. Owned and bred by Vincent Viola's St. Elias Stable, Known Agenda rose to the occasion at second asking, breaking his maiden on Nov. 8 at Aqueduct over a fast main track. The chestnut son of Curlin and second offspring out of Grade 1-winner Byrama finished second to eventual stakes-winner Highly Motivated in his career debut on Sept. 27, going 6 ½ furlongs at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA4-EQB.html

2:07 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap at Aqueduct on TVG

Teresa Viola Racing Stables and St. Elias Stable's Nonna Madeline cuts back to one mile for the Go for Wand Handicap. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Nonna Madeline boasts a consistent record of 13-4-3-2 with purse earnings of $275,128. The 4-year-old Candy Ride (ARG) bay, bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, broke through in stakes company this summer when capturing the restricted Summer Colony at nine furlongs on the Saratoga Race Course main track.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA6-EQB.html

3:44 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct on FS2

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat, undefeated in two starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, will look to make the grade in Saturday's Demoiselle. Out of the Pletcher-trained Dreaming of Julia, who captured the 2012 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, Malathaat boasts a golden pedigree that saw the filly purchased for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The precocious bay drew off to a 1 3/4-length score when sprinting seven furlongs in her Oct. 9 debut at Belmont Park and followed last out with a 7 3/4-length win in the Tempted at one mile.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA9-EQB.html

4:13 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct on FS2

Performer has checked a lot of boxes while forging a five-race winning streak. Owned by Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm, the 4-year-old son of Speightstown will face Grade 1 competition for the first time as part of a competitive nine-horse field in the Cigar Mile Handicap. Performer went 4-for-4 as a sophomore in 2019, including a victory in the Grade 3 Discovery going 1 1/8 miles last November at Aqueduct. Off an 11-month layoff, Performer picked up where he left off, registering a 1 3/4-length win over optional claimers in a one-turn mile on Oct. 17 at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU120520USA10-EQB.html

5:28 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella will seek his first win in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos when he sends out the undefeated Astute in the final Grade 1 of 2020 for 2-year-old fillies. Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, Astute, a daughter of Speightstown and the Langfuhr mare Discerning, went gate-to-wire in her Oct. 12 debut on turf, then moved to dirt and stretched out an extra eighth of a mile to win the 6 ½ furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes by 7 ½ lengths Nov. 14 at Del Mar.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRC120520USA5-EQB.html

Sunday, Dec. 6

5:30 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos on TVG

Having finished in a dead-heat for the win in the Tranquility Lake Stakes on August 28, Proud Emma and Message meet again in the Bayakoa Stakes going 1 1/16-miles. Trained by Bob Baffert, Message will be making her first start since that dead-heat triumph while Proud Emma enters off a seventh-place run in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on Oct. 31.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/LRC120620USA5-EQB.html

The post Weekend Lineup: Cigar Mile Featured At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The Demoiselle, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is part of a lucrative card headlined by the 32nd renewal of the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up and also includes the Grade 2, $150,000 Remsen at nine furlongs for juveniles and the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at one mile on the main track.

Live coverage of Cigar Mile Day will be available with America's Day at the Races on FS2 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern and on MSG+ from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Free Equibase-provided past performances will be available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

By Curlin and out of the Pletcher-trained Dreaming of Julia, who captured the 2012 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park, Malathaat boasts a golden pedigree that saw the filly purchased for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The precocious bay, bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, drew off to a 1 3/4-length score when sprinting seven furlongs in her Oct. 9 debut at Belmont Park and followed last out with a 7 3/4-length win in the Tempted at one-mile on the Big A main track.

Pletcher said the added distance on Saturday shouldn't hamper Malathaat.

“You would think with her pedigree and the way she won going a mile that a stretch out should not be an issue,” said Pletcher. “She's always trained like a quality filly that wants two turns, so we're excited about stretching her out. This filly has been a star from day one basically.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, aboard for the debut score which secured the rider his 2,000th win at Belmont, has the call from the inside post.

Pletcher will also send out Repole Stable's Traffic Lane, who graduated last out in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Nov. 15 on the Big A turf. Kendrick Carmouche will guide the Outwork filly from post 2.

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Millefeuille, by Curlin and out of the War Front mare Bandana, just missed at first asking, running second on Sept. 26 in a one-turn mile at Belmont. The second time out worked a treat for the talented bay, when she posted a four-length win at the same distance on Oct. 23 on Big Sandy.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said nine furlongs will suit his improving filly.

“She's doing good. It seems like a good distance for her,” said Mott.

The Kentucky-bred is a direct descendant of prolific Juddmonte broodmare Toussaud, who produced 2003 Belmont Stakes winner and champion producing stallion Empire Maker, as well as Grade 1 winners Chester House, Chiselling and Honest Lady, who is the granddam of Millefeuille.

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 3.

Allen Stable's Cafe Society, an Ontario-bred daughter of Empire Maker, was purchased for $475,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. She won by 3 1/2-lengths in her Oct. 18 debut when sprinting six furlongs at Belmont for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

Last out, Cafe Society chased the pace in the Tempted en route to a third-place effort, 10 1/4-lengths in arrears of Malathaat.

Cafe Society worked a half-mile in 49.03 seconds Sunday on the Belmont main track. McGaughey said he is expecting an improved effort.

“I was disappointed in her last race, but she's come back and trained well,” said McGaughey. “She had a really good breeze and galloped out well, so hopefully we'll see a little better performance than we did the last time. I couldn't have asked for any more.”

Jose Ortiz, aboard for the debut win, will guide Cafe Society from post 6.

Richard Greeley's Caramocha, bred in New York by Chester and Mary Broman, graduated by 4 1/4-lengths on debut in a six-furlong sprint against fellow state-breds on Nov. 7 at the Big A when sent to post at odds of 99-1.

Trained by Mitchell Friedman, Caramocha was a $100,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Her second dam, Indy Glory, produced the multiple Grade 1-winning New York-bred Artemis Agrotera.

Caramocha will make her stakes debut from post 7 under Dylan Davis.

Rounding out the field are Woodslane Farm's Malibu Curl [post 4, Junior Alvarado], Brereton C. Jones homebred Dollar Mountain [post 5, Jose Lezcano] and Designated Hitters Racing's Celestial Cheetah [post 8, Manny Franco].

The Demoiselle is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race card, which will feature a mandatory payout of the Empire 6. First post is 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

The post Road To The Kentucky Oaks: Streaking Malathaat Headlines Aqueduct’s Demoiselle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The 32nd running of the Cigar Mile, known as the NYRA Mile from 1988-96, was renamed in honor of the 1994 winner and 2002 Hall of Fame inductee. The prestigious race headlines a lucrative card which includes a pair of Grade 2, $150,000 nine-furlong events for juveniles in the Remsen and its filly counterpart, the Demoiselle, as well as the Grade 3, $100,000 Go for Wand Handicap for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at one mile on the main track. The Remsen and Demoiselle will offer 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers towards the 2021 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively.

Performer raced third in his debut as a juvenile in November 2018 at the Big A. That marked the last— and only— time he failed to earn a trip to the winner's circle, going 4-for-4 as a sophomore in 2019, including a victory in the Grade 3 Discovery going 1 1/8 miles last November at Aqueduct.

Off an 11-month layoff, Performer picked up where he left off, registering a 1 3/4-length win over optional claimers in a one-turn mile on Oct. 17 at Belmont Park. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who won this race in 1996 with Gold Fever, said his charge has continued to train well at Belmont since, recording six official workouts following his triumphant return.

“He's training well. It has been a while since he ran, but he'll be fit enough,” McGaughey said. “He's been over that track before. He seems to be doing as well now as he's ever done.”

Plans for a potential 5-year-old year have not been firmed up, but he'll look to close 2020 with aplomb. Jockey Joel Rosario, 5-for-5 aboard Performer, will look to stay undefeated on the Kentucky homebred, drawing the inside post.

“Everything being equal he'll run next year, but what I'll do with him after Saturday, I'm not sure yet. We'll have to wait and see,” McGaughey said.

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire was a good third last out in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland behind C Z Rocket and the winner Whitmore. In his last New York start, the Florida homebred won the Grade 2 Vosburgh Invitational over Big Sandy, posting his second triple digit Speed Figure of the year with a 101.

The Kelly Breen trainee has already won three graded stakes in his 5-year-old campaign, capturing the Grade 3 General George in February at Laurel Park along with the Grade 2 True North in June at Belmont.

Firenze Fire boasts a career record of 12-3-3 in 30 career start with field-high earnings of $2.21 million. Jose Lezcano will ride from post 4.

Trainer Jack Sisterson will send out a pair of Calumet Farm-owned Kentucky shippers who each have extensive experience at the Big A in True Timber and Bon Raison.

“They've shown us in the mornings that they both can run a competitive race,” Sisterson said.

True Timber will make his third Cigar Mile appearance after running second in 2018 and third a year ago. He has earned blacktype in three of the four starts since Sisterson took over the training duties from Kiaran McLaughlin, who retired to become a jockey agent.

In the summer meet, True Timber ran a strong third in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Forego on Aug. 29 at Saratoga Race Course, garnering a season-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure. After finishing fourth in the six-furlong Grade 2 Vosburgh Invitational on Sept. 26 at Belmont, he was stretched back out to seven furlongs for a runner-up effort in the Lafayette on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, where he continued to train heading into the Cigar Mile.

“He's been close to winning a race like this and is peaking at the right time,” Sisterson said. “He got stuck down at the rail running three-quarters at Belmont [in the Vosburgh]. He just wasn't happy. He's a horse who likes his own way and we learned that in the mornings. We let him put his feet where he wanted to and put him in a happy frame of mind and he moved forward extremely well.

“His coat looks good, his appetite is great and his energy level is high,” he added. “He's shown that he wants to do more.”

Kendrick Carmouche will be in the irons from post 8.

Bon Raison enters off a 10th-place effort in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Prior to that, the 5-year-old son of Raison d'Etat won his first race since Sisterson took over the training duties, topping a field of optional claimers going six furlongs on Oct. 16 at Keeneland.

The veteran workhorse is returning to a familiar spot at Aqueduct, where he is 3-0-2 in 13 career starts. In 2019, Bon Raison raced a whopping 21 times before scaling back the workload this year, as the Cigar Mile will be his ninth appearance of 2020.

“He's got a late running style and he just seems to be a versatile horse,” Sisterson said. “He's got talent and he's intelligent. He has those attributes where he can do what you ask him to do.”

Jorge Vargas, Jr. will be aboard from post 9.

King Guillermo will enter off a seven-month layoff since running second in a division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on May 2 at Oaklawn Park. Originally slated to run in September's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, the Uncle Mo colt was scratched out of the 146th “Run for the Roses” with a fever.

Owned by Victoria's Ranch, headed by 16-year Major League Baseball veteran and five-time All-Star Victor Martinez, King Guillermo has been training at conditioner Juan Avila's base at Gulfstream Park, including a four-furlong blowout in 50.25 seconds on Friday before arriving in New York on Saturday.

King Guillermo broke his maiden at second asking in November at Gulfstream Park West and kicked off his 3-year-old year with a 4 ¾-length win in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby in March before facing his first Grade 1 challenge in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, where he ran second to Nadal.

“He's good. He's ready,” Avila said. “He's getting ready to face that challenge. The mile will be good for him because he's had seven months without a race.”

Avila said he's excited for the opportunity to bring the $150,000 purchase at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sale to New York.

“I really like the opportunity and the chance to win and this gives us a chance for people to know me and know King Guillermo,” Avila said. “We have big expectations.”

Jose Ortiz will pick up the mount from post 6.

Mr. Buff, owned and bred by Chester and Mary Broman, will give the race a New York homebred who will look for additional glory at the Big A. Making his 41st career start overall, the John Kimmel trainee is returning to a track where he is 8-3-0 in 13 previous starts, including five stakes victories led by a 20-length score in the one-mile Haynesfield in February that matched a career-best 106 Beyer.

The Friend Or Foe gelding, who be wrapping up his 6-year-old year, won the Empire Classic against state-breds last out going 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 24 at Belmont.

Junior Alvarado, who won the 2013 Cigar Mile aboard Flat Out, will have the call from post 5.

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Mind Control will face graded stakes company for the first time since running eighth in the Grade 1 Forego over the summer.

A four-time winner at the Big A, the Gregg Sacco trainee won in his last appearance at Aqueduct after rallying to take the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap on March 7. Both of Mind Control's Grade 1 scores came at Saratoga in the 2018 Hopeful and last year's H. Allen Jerkens.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, a two-time Cigar Mile winner, will seek his third in breaking from post 2.

Bloom Racing Stable's Snapper Sinclair will make his Aqueduct bow seeking his first win since the Tourist Mile in August 2019 at Kentucky Downs. Winless in his last 10 starts, the son of City Zip has still been competitive, finishing second or third in five of those efforts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Snapper Sinclair will make his first start in New York since breaking his maiden in August 2017 over the Mellon turf at Saratoga. Two starts back, he posted a runner-up finish in the Tourist Mile in September before a last-out third against allowance company on Nov. 5 at Churchill. Manny Franco has the call from post 3.

R.A. Hill Stable's Majestic Dunhill will wheel back off a six-day turnaround, looking to atone for a seventh-place finish after a slow start in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Previously, the 5-year-old son of Majesticperfection, trained by George Weaver, won the Grade 3 Bold Ruler on Oct. 31 at Belmont. Dylan Davis will be in the irons for the first time, drawing post 7.

The Cigar Mile is slated as the finale of the 10-race program, which offers a first post of 11:30 a.m. Eastern. The card will also feature a mandatory payout of the Empire 6.

Live coverage of Cigar Mile Day will be available with America's Day at the Races on FS2 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. and on MSG+ from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Free Equibase-provided past performances will be available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Performer Enters Cigar Mile Carrying Five-Race Win Streak appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post