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Pletcher Prepares Following Sea, Americanrevolution For Cigar Mile

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher worked graded stakes winner Following Sea and multiple New York-bred stakes winner Americanrevolution in company this morning at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for next Saturday's $750,000 Grade 1 Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Both horses completed their half-mile moves over the dirt training track rated fast in :49.21.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Following Sea rounded out the trifecta behind Aloha West and Dr. Schivel in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. The son of second-crop sire Runhappy entered the Sprint from a solid score against older company in the G2 Vosburgh on October 9 at Belmont Park.

Americanrevolution, a CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm owned Constitution colt, enters the Cigar Mile off an 11 ¾-length romp against fellow Empire State-breds in the Empire Classic on October 30 at Belmont, where he produced a 108 Beyer Speed Figure.

“They both went well,” said Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Cigar Mile. “It was a good breeze for them both with a solid gallop out. They both seem to be happy and healthy, knock on wood.”

Since 2000, seven 3-year-olds have bested elders in the Cigar Mile, which is the final Grade 1 event on the NYRA circuit for the calendar year.

Pletcher also worked a handful of juveniles slated for stakes action next week with Mo Donegal and Overstep breezing a half-mile in company over the Belmont training track in :49.77. Both horses are pointing towards the $250,000 G2 Remsen – a nine-furlong test for juvenile colts which offers 10-4-2-1 points towards the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

Mo Donegal, a Donegal Racing owned son of Uncle Mo, stretched out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles to break his maiden at second asking on October 21 at Belmont. Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's New York-bred Overstep, a bay son of Into Mischief bred by Chester and Mary Broman, was a close second in the state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 30 over a sloppy and sealed Belmont main track.

Pletcher previously captured the Remsen with Bluegrass Cat [2005] and Overanalyze [2012], both of whom contested in the following year's Kentucky Derby.

Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael House's Nest registered a half-mile work in :49.79 in preparation for the $250,000 G2 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies which offers 10-4-2-1 points toward the 2022 Kentucky Oaks.

Pletcher is a six-time winning trainer of the Demoiselle, including with subsequent Oaks victresses Ashado [2003] and Malathaat [2020].

On Friday, Pletcher saddled Repole Stable's Never Surprised to a flashy victory in the $150,000 Gio Ponti, which saw the Constitution bay garner a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure with Kendrick Carmouche in the irons. Never worse than second in a half dozen career starts, Never Surprised was previously second to Public Sector at graded stakes level in the G3 Saranac at Saratoga and the G2 Hill Prince at Belmont. Last year, he captured both his starts over the Aqueduct turf, including a wire-to-wire win over stakes-winner Hard Love in the Central Park.

Pletcher said the $100,000 Tropical Park Derby on December 26 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., remains in play.

“That's a possibility. We'll see,” Pletcher said.

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Shamrocket Earns First Stakes Victory In Point Of Entry

Donegal Racing's graded stakes placed Shamrocket secured his first career stakes win in Sunday's third running of the $100,000 Point of Entry, a 12-furlong Widener turf test for 3-years-old and up, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Tonalist bay was making his 20th career start, having hit the board in five previous stakes events, including a third in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 31 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

A closing third last-out in a nine-furlong optional-claiming tilt over good Belmont turf on September 25, Pletcher scratched Shamrocket from a nine-furlong allowance event here on Thursday.

“When we looked at it, we felt like we'd be in a similar situation where we'd be second choice in either spot,” Pletcher said. “We felt a little more confident going a mile-and-a-half than a mile-and-an-eighth.”

With Hall of Famer Javier Castellano up, Shamrocket settled in fourth position as 7-5 mutuel favorite Tide of the Sea led the five-horse field through splits of :23.62, :48.30, and 1:13.71 over the firm turf under pressure from Beacon Hill and Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez.

Shamrocket edged closer to the field down the backstretch with Bluegrass Parkway following his lead as the pacesetters continued their battle into the final turn. Castellano angled Shamrocket three-wide out of the final turn as Tide of the Sea gave way, and outdueled a game-and-determined Beacon Hill to secure the half-length win in a final time of 2:26.70.

Bluegrass Parkway, Tide of the Sea, and Mo Gotcha rounded out the order of finish. Experienced and main-track-only entrant Moretti were scratched.

Pletcher said he was pleased to see Shamrocket, a $130,000 purchase at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, break through at stakes level.

“By looking at his PPs, you can tell he's a super-consistent horse,” Pletcher said. “He just hasn't had as many wins as second and thirds, but he always shows up and runs hard every time. He benefitted from a good trip today with an honest pace to run at and everything fell into place, so I'm happy for him.”

Pletcher said Shamrocket will now target the 11-furlong $200,000 Grade 2 Red Smith on November 20 at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Castellano had previously guided Shamrocket to a rallying allowance win traveling 10 furlongs in June as well as a game fourth in the 11-furlong Grade 1 Man o' War in May, both at Belmont.

The veteran rider said the talented bay appreciated the stretch out in distance.

“He never gets tired. He keeps running and finished really well,” Castellano said. “He hooked up with two good horses at the top of the stretch and kept carrying himself. I didn't think I would run out of horse.”

Bred in Florida by Rustlewood Farm, Shamrocket banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 20-4-6-7. Sent to post as the 9-5 second choice, Shamrocket paid $5.90 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing returns Thursday at Belmont Park with a nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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Army Mule Filly Records Wednesday’s Highest Price At Keeneland September Sale

Maddie Matt Miller, agent, paid the session-topping price of $250,000 for a filly by Army Mule during Wednesday's ninth day of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Out of the winning Henny Hughes mare Henny's Hurricane, the filly is a half-sister to stakes winner Amynta. She was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent.

A total of 325 yearlings sold Wednesday for $12,929,500, for an average of $39,783 and a median of $30,000. With two sessions remaining, Keeneland has sold a total of 2,125 horses through the ring for $339,691,500, for an average of $159,855 and a median of $90,000.

Mark Glatt, agent went to $230,000 for a colt by Arrogate out of Grade 2-placed Wicked Lick, by Maclean's Music to be the day's second highest price. Woods Edge Farm, agent, consigned the colt, who is from the family of Grade 2 winners Noble Moon and Silver Music.

Jerry Crawford for Donegal Racing purchased a colt by Noble Mission (GB) for $155,000. Out of the winning Smart Strike mare Clever Run, he is from the family of Grade 2 winner Chamrousse. Lane's End, agent, consigned the colt.

John Oxley paid $150,000 for a colt by Cross Traffic from the family of Kentucky Oaks winner Summerly. Consigned by Mulholland Farm, agent, he is out of the Super Saver mare Summer Place.

With five purchases for $382,000, Oxley was the session's leading buyer.

A filly by Violence from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner Emollient sold for $140,000 to Gerry O'Meara, agent for Frank Bertolino. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the filly, the first foal of the Malibu Moon mare Turning Tide.

Two yearlings sold for $135,000 apiece.

Clear Ridge Stables purchased a colt by Maclean's Music from the family of Grade 1 winner Sweet Talker. Consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency, agent, he is out of winner Keep the Magic, by Malibu Moon.

Little Hound went to $135,000 to acquire a colt by Malibu Moon from the family of champion Queena. Out of the Empire Maker mare Lost Empire, he was consigned by Denali Stud, agent. His family also includes Grade 2 winner Chief Havoc and Grade 3 winner La Reina.

Leading consignor Taylor Made Sales Agency sold 29 horses for $1,279,000.

The September Sale continues tomorrow and runs through Friday. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. ET.

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‘Remarkable’ Arklow Headlines Saturday’s United Nations

If ever the timeworn cliché about not getting older but getting better could be applied to a horse, it would be Arklow.

The son of Arch is now seven and has earned $2,750,746 in a 32-race career that dates to 2016. Even more impressive is that he has won a graded stakes race in each of the past five years.

He became a Grade 1 winner in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in the fall of 2019 and now, almost two years later, will be among the favorites at Monmouth Park for Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations Stakes, the supporting feature on the 14-race TVG.com Haskell Stakes card.

The United Nations will be contested at a mile and three-eighths on the grass, where Arklow excels.

“Winning a graded stakes five years in a row is a remarkable thing,” said Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, who saddled Arklow before his most recent victory in the Grade 3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs in his only 2021 start. “I think it's a pedigree thing. He's an Arch. He felt like a horse that would always improve with age.”

Owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the estate of Peter Coneway, Arklow is back for a second straight crack at the United Nations. Sent off as the 13-10 favorite in 2020, he finished fourth. Thereafter, Cox added blinkers and Arklow has posed for winner's circle photos in three of his next four contests, all graded stakes, including the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in the final race of his 2020 campaign.

“He's really moved forward since we've added the blinkers,” Cox said. “His only defeat with them came in the Breeders' Cup. The blinkers seem to have picked his head up and are keeping him in the race mentally. I've always said I hate to put blinkers on a horse that's made a couple of million dollars, but once we did it he turned the corner.”

The horse's only loss in those four races after the equipment change was a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November.

“We give him time off,” said Cox when addressing Arklow's longevity and successes. “It had been somewhat of a long year and then he got a break. I think that plays a big role. The owners of this horse are always willing to give him time. Once he's done so much, he gets a little vacation. He's rewarded them in staying consistent.”

Another astounding thing about Arklow is that he's stayed as sound and as willing as a young colt.

“We see all the signs that he still loves to do it,” said assistant trainer Blake Cox, who is overseeing the contingent of five horses, including Mandoloun, which the stable will run in all five graded stakes on Saturday's Haskell Stakes card. “He does so much after the wire and it's the way he does it. He's a mile-and-a-half horse and he's a grinder. He picks up every pole and you can't even pull him up. It's crazy. He tells you when he's ready.”

Arklow put in the last of his serious work for the United Nations at Monmouth Park on July 11 with a four-furlong breeze and has been training forwardly since. On Thursday, he was out on the track for a routine morning gallop, went to the gate and backed out, and then visited the paddock for a lesson.

“You don't see horses like this one anymore,” said Blake Cox, Brad Cox's son and assistant. “He handles everything thrown his way. He's a tough horse, no question. I think he likes a little give in the ground. I really do. It can rain as much as it wants or not, and he'll be fine.”

The horse's connections will be in attendance on Saturday, rooting for their iron horse.

“Winning the United Nations would mean a lot for everybody. He's already got a Grade 1 and we'd like to get another one for him,” said Blake Cox. “If everything goes right, I really think he can get the job done.”

It will be a busy and potentially-lucrative day for the Cox team on Saturday. In addition to Arlow in the Grade 1 United Nations and Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun in the Grade 1 Haskell, they're sending out Grade 1 winner and Juddmonte Farms homebred Juliette Foxtrot in the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes, Grade 2 winner Vault in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher Stakes, and Grade 3 winner Night Ops in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes.

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