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Mrs. Orb Ends Seconditis With La Verdad Upset; Entered In Keeneland January Sale

Mrs. Orb's persistence paid off with her first victory in more than a year when she made a move from the outside in the stretch and outkicked 2-5 favorite Sharp Starr to win Sunday's $100,000 La Verdad for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Mrs. Orb, who was the runner-up in five consecutive stakes appearances, posted a one-length score, marking her first victory in seven starts dating to the Bay Ridge in December 2019.

Owned by Ruggeri Stable, Richard Coburn, Script R Farm and Michael Miceli, the trainer, Mrs. Orb broke last under jockey Dylan Davis but advanced to third as Prairie Fire led the four-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 24.16 seconds and the half in 47.95 on the muddy and sealed main track.

All four horses stayed in contention out of the turn, with Davis tipping his charge outside of rivals for the stretch run. Mrs. Orb pressed on from the outside at the top of the stretch, dueling Sharp Starr to her immediate inside before gaining separation and completing the seven-furlong course in a final time of 1:24.54.

“She's a hard-trying filly,” Davis said. “I'm just happy that I could get to win with her again. If that's her last race, that's very nice and Mike has done a good job with her throughout her career. I'm just happy to be aboard her and get the job done today.

“I think with the seven-eighths, she had a little more kick to finish to the wire than when she was stretching out,” he added.

Off at the longest shot on the board at 5-1, Mrs. Orb returned $12.20 on a $2 win wager. The 6-year-old Orb mare, bred by Rhapsody Farm, improved her career earnings to $439.520.

“She ran a big race,” Miceli said. “She sat off the pace nicely, dragged Dylan [Davis] up to the leaders and when he asked her to run, she delivered. “She got floated wide, but she dug in nicely. She's tough and she always delivers. I was glad she got over the seconditis.”

The victory, which improved her career ledger to 6-8-3 in 23 starts, could be the finale to a career that started in 2018. Miceli said she is catalogued at Keeneland's Horses of All Ages Sale on January 11.

“That's still the intention. Things can always change, but right now that's still on,” Miceli said.”

Sharp Starr, owned by Barry Schwartz and trained by Horacio DePaz, was three lengths clear of Espresso Shot for second. Prairie Fire was fourth.

“She handled the track fine,” said Sharp Starr jockey Trevor McCarthy. “She sat off the slow pace and was comfortable. She gave me a good kick, but we just got outrun today. She was the big favorite but I have no excuses. The other mare was just a little bit better today.”

Timely Tradition and Sadie Lady scratched.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

The post Mrs. Orb Ends Seconditis With La Verdad Upset; Entered In Keeneland January Sale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Withers Next For Jerome Winner Capo Kane On ‘Long Road To The Derby’

Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto's Capo Kane registered a career-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure with a frontrunning score under Dylan Davis in Friday's $150,000 Jerome at the Big A, which earned the Street Sense colt 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

The victory also marked the first stakes score for Capo Kane and his Manchester, England-born conditioner Harold Wyner.

“I was happy with how he ran,” said Wyner. “Dylan rode an excellent race and he followed to what I told him in the paddock. I told him to break sharp and if you find yourself on the lead to just ride his race. This horse will dictate where he wants to be.”

Wyner noted following the Jerome win that Capo Kane drifted out a bit in his Nov. 25 maiden score at Parx when traveling a two-turn mile and seventy yards. On Friday, Capo Kane drew off to a 6 1/4-length score in the one-turn mile Jerome, while again using the center of the track down the lane.

“We'll work on it. I asked Dylan if he was drifting out and he said, 'No. I put him out there in the middle of the track,'” said Wyner. “But when I watched the head-on and Dylan switched to his left-hand stick and showed it to him, that's when he shied away. When he hit him right-handed, he straightened up again. So, we'll have to work on that with him. It's just green stuff. He's just learning and I don't think we've seen the full potential of this horse yet.”

Wyner, who gallops many of his own horses in the morning, said he will continue to work with the lightly raced Capo Kane, who has a record of 3-2-1-0.

“I try and get on all of my horses two or three times a week, but I get on him about four times a week,” said Wyner. “When he was a 2-year-old he was very playful and laid back to gallop. When he came off his maiden victory he got to be very tough to gallop and he wanted to find his own speed to gallop in the morning. When a horse came up alongside him, it was game on for him. He just wanted to be in front of that horse.

“He has a high rate of speed when he gallops and a big, long stride,” continued Wyner. “I usually take a long hold and let him dictate to me how he wants to do it. In the morning, the further we gallop the stronger he gets. He just doesn't know when to stop. He wants to run.”

Wyner was previously a steeplechase rider for trainer Michael Dickinson in England. When Dickinson moved his base to America in 1987, Wyner decided to make the journey as well, working as a groom and exercise rider.

“I won a couple races over jumps and then moved over here with Michael and worked for him at Fair Hill,” said Wyner. “I got my weight down to become a flat jockey and I rode on the flats.”

Equibase statistics report that Wyner posted a record of 14-24-27 through 462 mounts from 1990-92.

“I rode at Delaware and I actually rode in a couple races at Belmont against Angel Cordero, Jr., that's my claim to fame. He beat me obviously, but I did get to ride against him,” said Wyner.

Wyner eventually became an assistant trainer for Mark Hennig in New York and also worked with conditioner Jimmy Bond before hanging his shingle at Parx.

The veteran conditioner, who oversees a stable of 24 horses at his Parx Racing base in Pennsylvania, said Capo Kane will look to make his next start in the nine-furlong Grade 3, $250,000 Withers on February 6 at the Big A, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

“I was talking with the owners this morning and that's the step we're going to push him to,” said Wyner. “I ran him two turns at Parx going a mile and seventy in his maiden win and he did it so easy. The further he goes the better.”

Wyner has demonstrated a good eye for selecting potential Derby prospects having picked out Capo Kane for $26,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

“I liked the size of him. He was a big boned horse,” said Wyner. “He had size and substance to him and that's what I look for in a 2-year-old. He was very well built.”

He was also the initial conditioner of Ny Traffic, who finished eighth in last year's Kentucky Derby for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Ny Traffic made his first for four starts for Wyner in 2019, including a second-out maiden score at Parx ahead of a fourth in the Parx Juvenile and a fifth in the Notebook at the Big A.

Wyner said he spotted Ny Traffic at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale where the horse didn't meet his reserve and arranged a private purchase for $22,000. Ny Traffic, who shipped to Joseph Jr.'s care in Florida on the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic, has now banked $565,470.

“After the sale when he RNA'd, we negotiated and they took $22,000 for him. He was a little lighter framed than this horse,” said Wyner. “Capo Kane is a lot bigger boned and heavier than what Ny Traffic was, but he was still a nice horse. I got lucky. You need a little bit of luck in this game.”

A day removed from his first stakes win, Wyner said he is appreciative of the opportunity to train Capo Kane and is looking forward to a run on the Kentucky Derby trail.

“I knew Capo would run real well, but I didn't expect him to win by the margin he did. It was a very impressive win for him,” said Wyner. “Things are going great, let's hope they keep up. It's a long road to the Derby and anything can happen. Hopefully, we keep moving forward.”

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‘I Think This Is A Derby Horse’: Trainer Wyner Celebrates First Stakes Win With Capo Kane In Jerome

Capo Kane made his stakes debut – and first start in New York – a successful effort, leading gate-to-wire for a 6 1/4-length victory in Friday's 151st running of the $150,000 Jerome for newly minted 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Owned by Bing Cherry Racing and Leonard Liberto, Capo Kane made his debut on October 28 at Parx, running second in a seven-furlong sprint. He ended his juvenile campaign with a maiden-breaking victory on November 25 on the same track, being stretched out to a mile and 70 yards.

Returning to action on an overcast New Year's Day, the California-bred Capo Kane broke sharp from the inside post under jockey Dylan Davis and led the compact five-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.53 seconds and the half in 47.83 on the muddy main track with 7-5 favorite Swill in close pursuit.

Jockey Manny Franco urged up Eagle Orb out of the turn, making a bid from the outside. But Davis responded to the pressure by keeping Capo Kane alert, and the Street Sense colt responded with a strong stretch drive surge that saw him move out to the center of the track while drawing away to win the first stakes of the year on the NYRA circuit. He completed the one-turn mile in a final time of 1:38.02.

Capo Kane, off at 6-1, returned $15.80 on a $2 win wager and earned 10 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs. The top-four finishers were awarded 10-4-2-1 points.

Updated Kentucky Derby points leaderboard

“He broke sharp for me and I was able to take the lead very comfortably,” Davis said. He responded great all the way to the wire and I was very happy with the way he did it. He galloped out well. It was a very comfortable win and he handled the track real well.”

Conditioner Harold Wyner, a former steeplechase jockey who trained his first winner in 2004, earned his first career stakes win in his 1,679th career starter. Capo Kane, who was running without Lasix for the first time, is now tied for fifth on the early points leaderboard for the “Run for the Roses.”

“I'd like to thank the owners for giving me the opportunity to train this horse and having faith in me,” Wyner said.“The goal was to do what Dylan wanted. I said to Dylan if he breaks good to just leave him alone, take a long hold and let him get in his stride and take the race as you find it. He found himself on the lead and Dylan rode a fantastic race.

“Last time he drifted out a little bit at the head of the lane at Parx, but that was because he switched his lead early. He's still a little green,” he added.

Wyner said stretching back out to two turns could be the next step, with the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers [10-4-2-1 points] going 1 1/8 miles on February 6 at the Big A remaining a possible target, as well as the Risen Star at Fair Grounds on February 13.

“It should be no problem. In the morning, the further he gallops the stronger he gets. He just loves to run,” Wyner said. “He's a racehorse. I'd like to see how he comes back, but I may point him towards the Withers or the maybe the Risen Star.”

Wyner said he's excited to train another horse who has potential on the Kentucky Derby trail, building on a recent experience. He picked out Capo Kane, a $26,000 purchase, at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The Manchester, England, born conditioner was also the initial conditioner of Ny Traffic, who finished eighth in last year's Kentucky Derby for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

“When I first got the horse I breezed him and he breezed real well,” Wyner said about Capo Kane. “I used to have Ny Traffic as a 2-year-old and I won with him and brought him here [fifth in 2019 Notebook at the Big A] and we decided to send him to Florida to Mr. Saffie and thank God we did because COVID hit. I told Mr. Fanelli [co-owner of NY Traffic] then that he was a Derby horse and I think this is a Derby horse, too. I bought Ny Traffic at the sale, and I also bought this one.”

E.V. Racing Stable's Eagle Orb, a New York-bred son of Orb, finished 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Hold the Salsa for second. The Rudy Rodriguez trainee has finished first or second in five of his six career starts.

“I had a good trip,” Franco said. “I was right there, but I have to give credit to the winner. He's a nice horse.”

Swill picked up a lone qualifying point for fourth while Original completed the order of finish.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Gravesend for 4-year-olds and up going 6 1/2 furlongs in Race 8. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

The post ‘I Think This Is A Derby Horse’: Trainer Wyner Celebrates First Stakes Win With Capo Kane In Jerome appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Mutamakina Rides The Rail To Capture Long Island Stakes

Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina rallied up the rail under Dylan Davis to collar fellow Christophe Clement trainee Traipsing in the final stride in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Long Island, an 11-furlong inner turf test for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Traipsing, under a heady ride by Kendrick Carmouche, led the twelve-horse field over good turf through moderate splits of 26.10, 52.62 and 1:19.76 as Beau Belle tracked her early foot with Eliade chasing along the rail in third.

Mutamakina, content to rate in fifth position, sat a patient trip under Davis as Traipsing led confidently through the final turn and opened up a 2 ½-length lead at the stretch call. Inside the final furlong, Traipsing was still moving well but Davis went to work on Mutamakina, who responded with a powerful turn-of-foot to overtake Eliade and Delta's Kingdom and squeeze up the rail past Traipsing in the shadow of the wire. She stopped the clock in 2:21.08 for the three-quarter-length win.

It was another 1 3/4-lengths back to Delta's Kingdom in third. Eliade, Theodora B., Wegetsdamunnys, English Affair, With Dignity, Beau Belle, Pretty Point, Hungry Kitten and Siberian Iris completed the order of finish. Also-eligible Lovely Lucky was scratched.

Clement, the Big A fall meet's leading trainer with 14 wins, said he was pleased with the ride by Davis aboard Mutamakina, who entered from a troubled third in the 1 ½-mile Zagora on October 31 over yielding Belmont Park turf.

“Traipsing set up a perfect pace; she looked great. My other filly [Mutamakina] was very game,” said Clement. “Dylan gave a great ride. He wasn't a long way off the pace and she was travelling well down the backstretch. I'll have to talk to the owner, but she might stay another year. Obviously, the way she ran today, she will be an exciting prospect for the 1 ½-mile division. I thought she was extremely unlucky last time at Belmont Park. I was delighted to see her win. She deserved a graded stakes win.”

Davis, who won three races on Saturday, finished second in a pair of stakes earlier on the card with Monday Morning Qb in the Grade 3 Discovery and El Tormenta in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.

The veteran rider said he was nervous when Traipsing kicked away in the stretch run.

“I didn't think I was going to get there at first because I saw Kendrick pull away a bit, but she does take a little bit of time to get running,” said Davis. “When she started moving, I knew it was over. Within the last eighth of a mile she was just getting into stride and I was just staying out of her way and keeping her happy. She was able to get up, which was nice.”

Stone Farm homebred Traipsing entered from a front-running score in 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming tilt on the September 26 on firm Belmont turf and nearly held on under Carmouche, who leads the Big A fall meet jockey standings with 16 wins.

“My horse ran very well and I loved her today,” said Carmouche. “Coming out of a mile-and-a-sixteenth race, I thought I would be right there on the lead. She ran really well. The favorite beat me, but my horse did a good job.”

Bred in Great Britain by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina banked $55,000 in victory while maintaining improving her record to 11-3-2-2. She was making just her second start for Clement after winning a pair of races in France last year for former conditioner Carlos Laffon-Parias.

Mutamakina returned $5.90 for a $2 win ticket as the 9-5 mutuel favorite and her card-closing score secured a hefty $482,817.70 single-ticket payout of the Empire 6 jackpot.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a 10-race card highlighted by a trio of $100,000 stakes, including the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward going six furlongs over the main track; the Tepin for juvenile fillies going 1 1/16 miles over the turf; and the Autumn Days at six furlongs on turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

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