drain the clock | Horse Racing Free Tips

Drain The Clock Outlasts Jackie’s Warrior To Win Woody Stephens Stakes

The Grade 1 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park was a slugfest between sons of Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Maclean's Music on Saturday, with Drain the Clock getting the best of favorite Jackie's Warrior in the deep stretch.

Drain the Clock grabbed the lead out of the gate, and set a hot pace through the first furlong of the backstretch before being joined by Jackie's Warrior on the inside. Jackie's Warrior wrestled the lead away from Drain the Clock as they passed the opening quarter in :22.09 seconds.

Jackie's Warrior was in the driver's seat heading into the turn in the seven-furlong race, with Drain the Clock on his outside hip. Jockey Joel Rosario drifted Jackie's Warrior wide as they hit the crux of the turn, and floated Drain the Clock out with him.

The opening half-mile went by in a blistering :44.19 seconds, and the pair were several paths wide entering the home stretch. Behind them, Dream Shake had a clear path on the rail and Nova Rags was advancing through a wide trip, but neither would contend with the two leaders.

Jackie's Warrior continued to keep Drain the Clock at bay after three-quarters of a mile in 1:08.88, at which point jockey Jose Ortiz, who picked up the mount in place of his injured brother Irad, started asking Drain the Clock in earnest. Drain the Clock drew even with a game Jackie's Warrior inside the final furlong, and he carried on to win by a neck. Nova Rags was 7 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

Drain the Clock completed the seven-furlong race in 1:22.27 over a good main track. He paid $17 to win as the field's fourth choice.

With the Woody Stephens victory, Drain the Clock improved his lifetime record to six wins in eight starts for earnings of $539,550. Saturday's race was the latest rung in what has been a steady climbing of the ladder for the colt in 2021, starting with a 7 1/2-length drubbing of the black type Limehouse Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 2. He carried on to win the G3 Swale Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths, then stretched out to two turns to finish second in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes. He headed into the Woody Stephens off a return to one-turn racing in the G3 Bay Shore Stakes, which he won in a front-running trip.

Drain the Clock is trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., for owners Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Nentwig. He was bred in Kentucky by Nick Cosato, out of the Arch mare Manki.

To view the Equibase chart, click here.

G1 Woody Stephens Quotes, Courtesy of the NYRA Notes Team

Saffie Joseph, Jr., winning trainer of Drain the Clock (No. 2, $17): “We talked it over so much with [co-owner] Nick Cosato [of Slam Dunk Racing] and he wanted to break well and use him for the lead. We just left it up to Jose [Ortiz]. We told him the break was important and to make Rosario [aboard Jackie's Warrior, No. 3] make a decision. If they're going to let you lead, lead.

“Obviously, Jackie's Warrior missed the break and after that he ran up on the inside and we were in a good spot. If we were good enough then we were going to win. At the quarter pole, I thought we were going to be second. It looked like he was backing up a little bit. He dug in after that, and then Jackie's Warrior wouldn't give up. All credit to the horse.”

On taking a departure from the Triple Crown trail: “This is the benefit of making a tough decision because he got 20 points [for the Kentucky Derby] and he could have picked up more. Would he have won? Probably not. That's stretching him. After that, it was just cut back. We figured let's have a good horse at one turn.”

On a potential start in the Grade 2, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 28 at Saratoga: “That's the plan.”

Jose Ortiz, winning jockey aboard Drain the Clock (No. 2): “If [Joel] Rosario [on Jackie's Warrior] wanted the lead, I'd rather have him rush inside of me. It was my game plan to break better, outrun him out of the gate in the first couple jumps and go as far out as I could, as long as I was clear. I wasn't planning to mess with anybody; you can see as soon as Rosario came back in, I came back in. I didn't want him outside of me putting pressure on me the whole way.”

On the stretch-duel between Drain the Clock and Jackie's Warrior: “It was great. It's great for racing. That's what it's all about, people want to come here to see those kinds of duels. It was a great race, everybody gave their best. I'm just happy we came out with the win and I'm happy filling in for Irad [Ortiz] and not messing it up. He told me the horse was very classy, Saffie was great, and the owner was great, too. The owner was the one that told me if you can outrun him out of the gate and make him go inside, that would be great, to have him inside of us.”

Joel Rosario, jockey aboard runner-up Jackie's Warrior (No. 3): “He just kind of stumbled a little bit coming out of the gate and missed the break. Then he went and did his best, but I think the break out of the gate was the key. He still ran his race.”

Junior Alvarado, jockey aboard third-place finisher Nova Rags (No. 1): “The track is still playing a little bit to the fast side, which will benefit horses on the lead. My horse broke good and I let him settle and make a run. He was there for me. He was trying for me at the end.”

The post Drain The Clock Outlasts Jackie’s Warrior To Win Woody Stephens Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Drain the Clock Up in Time in Woody Stephens

Drain the Clock (c, 3, Maclean's Music–Manki, by Arch) outslugged favored Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) by a neck to lead home a one-two finish for his sire in a thrilling renewal of the GI Woody Stephens S. at Belmont Park Saturday. It was 7 1/4 lengths back to Nova Rags (Union Rags) in third.

With Jose Ortiz subbing for his sidelined brother Irad Ortiz, Jr., the last out GIII Bay Shore S. winner broke sharply and very briefly cleared the field of six. Jackie's Warrior, off a step slowly after getting bumped at the start, rushed up and challenged from the inside as those two locked horns through an opening quarter in :22.09 and half mile in :44.19.

Last year's GI Champagne S. winner held a slight advantage and floated Drain the Clock into the seven path as they hit the quarter pole. Jackie's Warrior led by a length at the stretch call and continued to dig down gamely, but Drain the Clock just kept on coming on the outside and wore down that rival to win in a pulsating finish at odds of 7-1.

A runaway winner of Gulfstream's Limehouse S. Jan. 2 and GIII Claiborne Farm Swale S. Jan. 30, Drain the Clock stretched to 1 1/16 miles with a solid second after setting the pace in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 27. He bypassed the Triple Crown trail and turned back to seven furlongs for an easy score in the Bay Shore Apr. 3.

“We talked it over so much with [co-owner] Nick Cosato [of Slam Dunk Racing] and he wanted to break well and use him for the lead,” winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “We just left it up to Jose [Ortiz]. We told him the break was important and to make [Joel] Rosario [aboard Jackie's Warrior] make a decision. If they're going to let you lead, lead.

“Obviously, Jackie's Warrior missed the break and after that he ran up on the inside and we were in a good spot. If we were good enough, then we were going to win. At the quarter pole, I thought we were going to be second. It looked like he was backing up a little bit. He dug in after that, and then Jackie's Warrior wouldn't give up. All credit to the horse.”

Ortiz added, “That's what it's all about, people want to come here to see those kinds of duels. It was a great race, everybody gave their best. I'm just happy we came out with the win and I'm happy filling in for Irad [Ortiz] and not messing it up.”

Joseph added that the GI Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga Aug. 28 would be next for Drain the Clock.

Pedigree Notes:

Drain the Clock is one of five graded winners for promising young sire Maclean's Music. This is his fourth Grade I winner. Arch is the broodmare sire of 31 graded winners, including standouts such as dual Classic winner I'll Have Another and champion Uncle Mo.

The winner's dam Manki aborted her 2019 foal by Mr Speaker, but has since produced a Mineshaft colt in 2020 and a filly by Vino Rosso in 2021. Winless in four career starts, she most recently RNA'd for $55,000 at the 2015 KEEJAN sale.

Drain the Clock's Group 3-winning third dam was responsible for Midnight Line (Kris S.), third in the 1998 G1 Vodafone Oaks and later a Grade II winner and multiple Grade I-placed in North America. Midnight Line is the dam of MGSW & MG1SP Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}).

Saturday, Belmont Park
WOODY STEPHENS S. PRESENTED BY NASSAU COUNTY INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY-GI, $392,000, Belmont, 6-5, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.27, gd.
1–DRAIN THE CLOCK, 124, c, 3, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Manki, by Arch
                2nd Dam: Private Ice (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
                3rd Dam: Midnight Air, by Green Dancer
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables LLC,
Wonder Stables and Nentwig, Michael; B-Nick Cosato (KY);
T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $220,000. Lifetime
Record: 8-6-1-0, $539,550. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for
eNick report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Jackie's Warrior, 124, c, 3, Maclean's Music–Unicorn Girl, by
A. P. Five Hundred. ($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J Kirk &
Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$80,000.
3–Nova Rags, 122, c, 3, Union Rags–Wishful Splendor, by Smart
Strike. ($275,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O/B-Michael P. Shanley
(KY); T-William I. Mott. $48,000.
Margins: NK, 7 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 7.50, 1.05, 11.70.
Also Ran: Dream Shake, Tulane Tryst, Caddo River.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Drain the Clock Up in Time in Woody Stephens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Cutbacks Coming and Going in Woody Stephens

There are only six runners signed on for Saturday's GI Woody Stephens S. on the GI Belmont S. undercard, but any one of them can win. Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) will be one of a few likely to have his eyes on the lead. A dominant winner of the Limehouse S. and GIII Swale S. at Gulfstream, he was second in the two-turn GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. there Feb. 27 before cutting back to annex the GIII Bay Shore S. going this distance at Aqueduct Apr. 3.

“I feel he's a better one-turn horse. Can he win two turns? Yes, against the right company,” Joseph, Jr. said. “But for him to achieve his full potential, one turn is his best distance. He's unbeaten at one turn. It's coming up a small field, but I think any one of them could win it. He'll have to run his best, but he's won most of his one-turn races quite handily and we never really let him out fully.”

Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), a MGISW juvenile, is also clearly better around one bend. He was fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and third in the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 27, but woke up in the GII Pat Day Mile S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard May 1, setting a blazing :43.68 half before holding off Dream Shake (Twirling Candy) by a head. Dream Shake belied 20-1 odds to be named a 'TDN Rising Star' after an impressive off-the-pace debut score sprinting at Santa Anita Feb. 7, and he was a well-beaten third in both the GII San Felipe S. a month later and GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 3 before shortening up himself in the Pat Day.

While some of his rivals have already made the route to sprint move, Caddo River (Hard Spun)'s will come here. The Jan. 22 Smarty Jones S. romper faded to fifth at 6-5 in the Mar. 13 GII Rebel S., but bounced back to be second after showing the way in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 10. He had been under consideration for both the Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S., but Brad Cox and owner/breeder John Ed Anthony of Shortleaf Stable ultimately decided on a shorter distance.

“We're hopeful that the cutback is the play here from the mile and an eighth,” Cox said. “He's been freshened a little bit. He's been working steady over the past month and hopefully, with a good trip, he can have a breakthrough performance and maybe pick off a Grade I. I think the shortening up will be good for him.”

The post Cutbacks Coming and Going in Woody Stephens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Jackie’s Warrior Faces Drain The Clock In Woody Stephens

Undefeated one-turn titans Jackie's Warrior and Drain the Clock will square off in Saturday's 37th running of the Grade 1, $400,000 Woody Stephens presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency.

The historic seven-furlong sprint for sophomores is named in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer, whose biggest claim to fame was capturing an unprecedented five straight wins in the Belmont Stakes with Conquistador Cielo [1982], Caveat [1983], Swale [1984], Crème Fraiche [1985] and Danzig Connection [1986].

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Drain the Clock arrives at his first Grade 1 test off an effortless triumph in the Grade 3 Bay Shore on April 3 at Aqueduct, where he crossed the wire in hand under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“He'll have to run his career best, but we feel like he's sitting on his career best,” Joseph, Jr. said.

Two open-length victories at Gulfstream Park, when taking the six-furlong Limehouse on January 2 and the Grade 3 Swale at seven furlongs four weeks later, prompted Joseph, Jr. to try a two turn Kentucky Derby-qualifier with the son of Maclean's Music in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, where he finished a good second to Greatest Honour.

Although Drain the Clock has displayed brilliance when commanding from start to finish, he has also won from just off the pace, exhibiting tactical speed in his Limehouse and Swale victories.

“He doesn't need to have the lead,” Joseph Jr. said. “He can sit handy. He sat second in the Swale. I wouldn't want him too far off of it, but he doesn't need the lead.”

Drain the Clock is owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Wonder Stables, Madaket Stables and Michael Nentwig. He breaks from post 2 under Ortiz, Jr.

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior boasts an unbeaten 5-for-5 record around one turn and returns to Belmont, where he ran a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the Grade 1 Champagne going a one-turn mile in October.

Having won five of seven lifetime starts, Jackie's Warrior boasts earnings of $868,964 – the highest bankroll in the field.

Also a son of Maclean's Music, Jackie's Warrior was fourth as the beaten favorite in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keenland before running a distant third in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park in February. He made a triumphant return to one turn against a contentious field in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs.

Jackie's Warrior will attempt to give Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen his fourth Woody Stephens win, having previously sent out Posse [2003], J Be K [2008] and Justin Phillip [2011].

Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode Jackie's Warrior in six of his seven lifetime starts, also attempts a fourth Woody Stephens victory from post 3.

Trainer Brad Cox cuts Caddo River back in distance off three starts on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Owned by John Ed Anthony's Shortleaf Stable, Caddo River never relinquished when commanding the pace in both of his lifetime wins. Following a superb third-out maiden victory by 9 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs, the son of Hard Spun parlayed such ways into stakes company when conquering the Smarty Jones by 10 ¼ lengths.

Following a fifth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 2 Rebel on March 13, Caddo River ran a much improved second to Super Stock in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in his most recent effort.

“We're hopeful that the cutback is the play here from the mile and an eighth,” Cox said. “He's been freshened a little bit. He's been working steady over the past month and hopefully, with a good trip, he can have a breakthrough performance and maybe pick off a Grade 1. I think the shortening up will be good for him.”

Cox expressed no regrets at taking a crack at the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“It's nothing but a positive. He made it through it,” Cox said. “We just felt like it wasn't going to set up for us in the Kentucky Derby and he's not a horse who really wanted a mile and a quarter, so we're hoping that backing up to seven-eighths will be a positive for him.”

A Kentucky homebred, Caddo River is out of the stakes-winning Congrats mare Pangburn.

Jockey Florent Geroux will ride from post 6.

Invading from California is Dream Shake, who has placed in all three of his starts at graded stakes level for trainer Peter Eurton.

After an in-hand first out victory on February 7 at Santa Anita, the son of Twirling Candy finished a distant third to Life Is Good in the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 6 at the Arcadia oval. Following another third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby behind Grade 1 Belmont Stakes aspirant Rock Your World and Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, Dream Shake cut back to one turn for the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs. He tracked right off Jackie's Warrior throughout the backstretch run, maintaining position in the stretch drive but was kept at bay finishing a head shy of victory.

Dream Shake is owned by Exline-Border Racing, SAF Racing, Stonestreet Stables and Richard Hausman.

Leaving from post 4, Dream Shake will be piloted by Flavien Prat.

Michael Shanley's homebred Nova Rags seeks a breakthrough win for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags has acquired graded stakes black type when finishing second in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont Park.

Two starts after a successful debut in October when travelling six furlongs at Belmont Park, Nova Rags made his lone start at seven furlongs when capturing the Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs.

Jockey Junior Alvarado rides from post 1.

Completing the field is David Ingordo's Tulane Tryst who will try and let the good times roll into his graded stakes debut. The son of leading sire Into Mischief broke his maiden going six furlongs on March 20 at Fair Grounds, defeating next-out winners Mr Sippi and Koolhaus. He arrives off a runner-up finish against winners on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Breaking from post 5, Tulane Tryst will be ridden by jockey Luis Saez.

The Woody Stephens will be carded as Race 3 on Saturday's 11-race program. First post is 11:35 a.m.

The post Jackie’s Warrior Faces Drain The Clock In Woody Stephens appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post