dylan davis | Horse Racing Free Tips

Glass Ceiling Will Seek Second Stakes Win In January’s Interborough

Glass Ceiling earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure with a 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Garland of Roses, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Glass Ceiling settled at the rear of the seven-horse field down the backstretch and swung wide nearing the quarter pole in pursuit of pacesetter Sadie Lady. Under Dylan Davis' right-handed encouragement, Glass Ceiling was in command outside the final furlong marker, covering the six furlongs in 1:11.19 over the sloppy and sealed main track.

Prior to Saturday's victory, the now five-time winner was a late-closing second to Lady Rocket in one of two divisions of the Pumpkin Pie on October 31 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., where she earned a career-best 94 Beyer.

Trainer Charlton Baker, who owns the 4-year-old daughter of leading third-crop stallion Constitution with Michael S. Foster, said Glass Ceiling will now target the seven-furlong $100,000 Interborough on January 15 at Aqueduct.

“She came out of it great. She ate up well like she always does,” Baker said. “She gets more relaxed going seven-eighths. She doesn't need to be rushed off her feet, so that's more beneficial than three-quarters.”

Baker said another sharp effort in the Interborough would likely result in a start in the $250,000 Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on February 19 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md.

“That's the plan. After her next start, we might go to Laurel and then give her some time off,” Baker said.

Glass Ceiling earned her first three victories while racing for trainer Danny Gargan during her sophomore campaign. After passing through the hands of several other trainers, she was claimed by Baker for $40,000 in May. She ended a 15-race slump in her fourth start for Baker with a six-length triumph in a first-level allowance tilt in September at Belmont Park three starts back. Baker said her speed figures and pedigree were enticing.

“I bred a mare to Constitution early on and I always believed in him as a stallion,” Baker said. “She was decent enough at three so I figured she could be competitive at four. I was just looking for a young horse that can get better and improve as an older horse and she's done that. During the wintertime up here, you can be competitive if you can run numbers in the low-to-mid 80s. She ran some numbers in the 90s a couple of times, so she's exceeded my expectations.”

Glass Ceiling, bred in Kentucky by Twin Creeks Farm is out of the stakes-placed Empire Maker mare Fighter Wing, whose dam was two-time graded stakes winner Lakenheath. Glass Ceiling boasts a consistent record of 23-5-6-4 with earnings of $332,612.

The post Glass Ceiling Will Seek Second Stakes Win In January’s Interborough appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Glass Ceiling Gets First Stakes Win In Garland Of Roses At Aqueduct

Glass Ceiling came home 2 ¼ lengths clear of Call On Mischief to take the $100,000 Garland of Roses at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., on Saturday, giving trainer and co-owner Charlton Baker back-to-back victories in the stakes. A six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, the Garland of Roses was the first stakes win of Glass Ceiling's career.

The 8-5 post-time favorite in the field of seven, Glass Ceiling broke from post position 6 with Dylan Davis up and settled at the back of the pack, racing three-wide as Sadie Lady led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :22.27 over the sloppy and sealed main track. Inching a bit closer at the half-mile pole, Glass Ceiling was swung to the outside and came under a ride from Davis rounding the turn to try and catch Sadie Lady.

Driving down the lane to the finish, Davis kept busy on the daughter of Constitution, rousing her to find more at the end and overtake the lead at the furlong pole. Glass Ceiling drew away from runner-up Call On Mischief at the sixteenth-pole and stopped the clock in a final time of 1:11.19.

Davis said the track condition led him to choose an outside path for the filly.

“The kickback was really bothering her,” said Davis. “I just tried to get on heels behind the four [Just Read It] and the three [Letmetakethiscall] and save some ground, but she just wasn't handling it. I just opted to come outside. She's way better than what she was doing down the backside and I was able to get her in the clear. I had to sacrifice some ground for her to have some clean air and once she came out, she came with a full run.”

Davis guided Glass Ceiling to an allowance score in September ahead of a runner-up effort to Lady Rocket last out in a division of the Pumpkin Pie in October, both at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“She's nice to ride and she does everything well,” Davis said. “Charlie does a good job with her and I think we're going to have a good time this winter.”

Baker echoed Davis' sentiments about the off-track.

“She didn't handle the kickback very well,” Baker said. “Once she turned for home and got clear, it seemed like she was doing it well. She's a nice filly and she tries all the time. She's getting there. She's definitely on the improve. Hopefully, she has more in the tank to go forward. That's what we're gambling on.”

Runner-up in the faster division of the seven-furlong Pumpkin Pie in her prior start, Baker said the cutback in distance did not benefit Glass Ceiling.

“Seven-eighths might be a little more her distance, but I think she's sharp enough where she's comfortable with six furlongs,” Baker said.

Call On Mischief, who exited the inside post under Jose Lezcano, saved ground in fourth and raced along the rail up the backstretch and into the turn before being swung to the center of the racetrack. Under a strong ride, she made her bid for Glass Ceiling but could not match her foe and settled for second.

“She ran a huge race,” Lezcano said. “The winner has just been running so well lately. My filly gave me her race, she did nothing wrong.”

The New York-bred Letmetakethiscall finished third, 2 ½ lengths the better of fellow state-bred Sadie Lady, who tired and held on to fourth over Song River by a nose to round out the superfecta.

Starfront and Just Read It completed the order of finish.

Now with a stakes victory to her credit, Baker says a start in the $100,000 Interborough on January 15 at Aqueduct may be on the table for Glass Ceiling.

“I think we're going to go until February and then give her a break until the spring and then get her back,” Baker said. “That's my plan right now. I'm looking at the [Interborough] and then maybe Maryland in February.”

Glass Ceiling banked $55,000 for her Garland of Roses victory, increasing her total purse winnings to $332,612 and improving her record to 5-6-4 from 23 starts. A $2 win wager on Glass Ceiling returned $5.30.

Glass Ceiling's victory was the third Garland of Roses win for Baker, who took down last year's running with Honor Way and the 2014 edition with Expression.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a nine-race card to wrap up week one of the winter meet at the Big A. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Glass Ceiling Gets First Stakes Win In Garland Of Roses At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Bank Sting Dominant In Staten Island At Aqueduct

Hidden Brook Farm's and Joseph and Anne McMahon's Bank Sting opened up in the stretch to easily take down the first of two New York Stallion Series Stakes on Sunday's card at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., earning her second career stakes win in the $150,000 Staten Island division for eligible state-sired fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going seven furlongs over the main track.

Bank Sting, who earned her first stakes victory in the Critical Eye at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in May, improved off a fifth in the Empire Distaff last time out to secure her fifth win of the year for trainer John Terranova. Bank Sting has found an affinity for Aqueduct, scoring four of her five career wins at the Big A.

Ridden by Dylan Davis from post 4, Bank Sting broke inwardly and, along with Mad for Fame from post 2, squeezed Trinni Luck in post 3 at the start. Post-time favorite The Important One was sent to the lead by Jose Lezcano shortly after the break and was quickly overtaken by Trinni Luck, who led the field of seven through an opening quarter in :22.60. After taking the lead again around the half-mile pole, The Important One notched the half-mile in :46.10 while Bank Sting remained in third, three lengths off the pace while racing two-wide down the backstretch.

Closing the gap between The Important One and a tiring Trinni Luck, Davis angled Bank Sting six-wide to the outside of The Important One, overtaking the lead at the eighth pole and never looking back. Widening her margin under a hand ride from Davis, Bank Sting crossed the wire 8 ¼ lengths in front, stopping the clock in 1:26.27 over the fast track.

Byehubbyhellomoney made up ground on the rail to overtake second by 1 1/2-lengths from The Important One, who held onto third by a neck over Awillaway. Rounding out the order of finish was Fight On Lucy, Mad for Fame, and Trinni Luck.

Davis, who rode the Central Banker filly for the first time in the Staten Island, said Bank Sting was comfortable the whole way to victory.

“It was pretty much a perfect setup for her,” he said. “She's a nice filly and she tries hard. She broke well and I was able to get into a good tracking position. I just didn't want to have too much for her to do being that was my first time being on her. She engaged at the two-and-a-half on her own, I just allowed her to keep her stride going. I didn't want to get in her way. After that, I got her out in the clear and she responded well and went all the way nicely to the wire.”

Terranova said he was pleased to see his filly give a big effort in the Staten Island after her summer and fall schedule were disrupted after being scratched at the gate in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.Y., this summer.

“She's trained really well,” he said of the leadup to the Staten Island. “We were a little hurried with her after the incident at Monmouth in July. She missed most of the summer and we were hurrying up to make Empire Showcase Day. We jumped into the Distaff and the conditions were sloppy and it was her first race back. Ideally, if we had got a prep race going into that, it probably would have helped her cause. She came out of that race well and trained forward. Every day has been a good day since then.”

After her memorable Staten Island performance, Terranova said he has not yet decided on the next race for the 4-year-old filly.

“It set up great. The two speeds were in there and Dylan has been on her in the morning, so he knew she could do a little bit of anything,” Terranova said. “There was going to be a pace to run into, so we were hoping they'd come back to us a little bit. I'm proud of her. She's been a special New York-bred for us. We'll take it one race at a time with her.”

Eric Cancel, jockey of runner-up Byhubbyhellomoney, said the filly's patience allowed her to make up ground late to secure place honors.

“The filly ran very good,” Cancel said. “The pace was a little quick for her, but she did what she always does – she sits and makes a run from the quarter-pole down. I was glad the whole rail opened up for me.”

Bred in New York by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, Bank Sting earned $82,500 for her victory to increase her total career earnings to $351,300 and improve her record to 7-5-0-0. She returned $7.90 for a $2 win ticket.

[Story Continues Below]

Live racing resumes Thursday with an eight-race card to kick off the winter meet at the Big A. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Bank Sting Dominant In Staten Island At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Mutamakina Ends Her Career On A High Note With Long Island Win

Trainer Christophe Clement expressed pride and satisfaction in saddling Al Shira'aa Farms' Mutamakina to victory in the final start of her career when capturing Saturday's $400,000 Grade 3 Long Island at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The 5-year-old daughter of Nathaniel defended her title in the Long Island, which she won last year when collaring stablemate Traipsing up the rail in the final strides. Mutamakina saw some added ground in this year's Long Island which was moved from 11 to 12 furlongs.

“I'm still enjoying the win,” Clement said. “I'm very grateful for the owner and hopefully we can be lucky again.”

Previously trained in France by Carlos Laffon-Parias, Mutamakina achieved modest success overseas, including a Group 2 placing behind subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass at Longchamp in Paris, France. She finished a distant eighth to eventual Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Audarya in her final start in France in August 2020.

Her career reached new heights when transferred to Clement in New York, finishing a troubled third in last year's Zagora at Belmont over yielding turf en route to her first Long Island score to close out her 4-year-old campaign.

Following three losses at Belmont at stakes level to launch her 2021 season, including a second in the G2 Sheepshead Bay and a third in the River Memories, Mutamakina went on a three-race tear, traveling to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, to capture the G2 Dance Smartly and G1 E.P. Taylor ahead of this year's Long Island.

“She had a real career in the States. It was a great decision on their part to send her here because she improved her resume by coming here,” Clement said. “When things work out with staying fillies like her, these things happen. She's talented and an above-average horse and, like most horses, she got better as she got older.”

Dylan Davis, undefeated aboard Mutamakina, piloted the mare to all four of her triumphs in North America. She provided Davis with his first Grade 1 win by besting stablemate La Dragontea by a neck in the E.P. Taylor in October.

“I got aboard her because Kieran Lalor, the racing manager for Al Shira'aa Stud, really wanted me to ride her after I rode her in last year's Long Island,” Davis said. “She had different riders in between then, but once I got back up on her this summer, we hooked back up. She was my first Grade 1 winner, I went 4-for-4 on her. How much better can you get than that? I'm going to get a nice big picture of her and put it in my house.

“She's pretty straightforward,” Davis continued. “She was actually a little more on edge at Woodbine. She'd be more on it those first couple of jumps out of the gate. After that, she would settle down, but over here she was more relaxed.”

Mutamakina is slated to ship to Ireland for a broodmare career, where she will be bred to Dubawi.

Bred in Great Britain by Widgham Stud, Mutamakina is out of the Danehill broodmare Joshua's Princess. Her fourth dam is 1995 European Horse of the Year Ridgewood Pearl, who captured that year's G1 Breeders' Cup Mile at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Mutamakina closed out her career with a record of 17-6-3-3 with purse earnings of $854,066.

The post Mutamakina Ends Her Career On A High Note With Long Island Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post