Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nest Tunes Up for Shuvee, Pretty Mischievous on Track for Test

Nest (Curlin), last year's Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly, tuned up for her expected seasonal debut in the July 23 GII Shuvee S. with a four-furlong work in :50.00 (13/38) in company with unraced stablemate Onlooker (Street Sense) over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Sunday.

“It was a good work and a nice, strong gallop out. She seemed to keep going,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Owned by Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Michael House, Nest has been off since finishing fourth in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. During her championship campaign, she won the GI Alabama S., GI Ashland S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks. She was also second in the GI Belmont S.

Nest was initially targeting the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont Park in June for her 4-year-old debut, but Pletcher said he is confident the filly is ready to run off the long layoff.

“We expect big things from her always,” Pletcher said. “It's a lot to ask of her, but she ran well in her debut going a mile and a sixteenth and she's basically run well pretty much every start of her career. Hopefully, we have her fit enough to perform well and this is the first step towards big goals.”

Also working at Saratoga Sunday, GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) went four furlongs in :49.00 (11/91) over the Oklahoma training track for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner/breeder Godolphin.

“She worked great and I'm very happy with her,” said Walsh. “It was just a half and we'll do more with her next week–she doesn't need to overdo it. She's doing good.”

Following her win in the nine-furlong Oaks, Pretty Mischievous cut back to 1 1/16 miles to win the GI Acorn S. last time out June 9. She will shorten up even further for her next start, the seven-furlong GI Test S. Aug. 5.

“She's got bags of natural speed, so I think the timing is very good,” Walsh said of the cut-back. “We were able to give her a little more time between races and we've always kicked around the idea of shortening her up, so this seems like a good opportunity. She's a good horse, and most of them when they're that good can go two turns or shorten up. She's just got that natural speed, so why not try to utilize it? We can always go back to two turns if it doesn't work.”

The post Nest Tunes Up for Shuvee, Pretty Mischievous on Track for Test appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Army Mule Firster Scores at Belmont

5th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 7-9, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:05.64, ft, 3 lengths.
HAUL (c, 2, Army Mule–Western Kitty, by Western Fame), installed the 6-5 choice first up for trainer Todd Pletcher, was sent in pursuit of Ridgewood Runner (Klimt), who three down an opening quarter in :22.85. Pulling on even terms with the pacesetter passing the quarter pole, the bay forged to a clear advantage and proved best late to hold Ridgewood Runner safe by three lengths. Devil's Playground (Into Mischief) was a distant third. The victory marked the third win on the afternoon by Irad Ortiz Jr. Western Kitty produced a colt by American Freedom in 2022 followed by a filly by Straight Fire this season. This represents the family of Horse of the Year Tiznow. Sales history: $260,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,500. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV
O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and St. Elias Stable; B-KMN Racing, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

The post Army Mule Firster Scores at Belmont appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Forte Returns To Work Tab; Nest, Tapit Trice Also Breeze

Reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) resumed his work schedule on Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track by traversing a half-mile in 50.40 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

With exercise rider Hector Ramos aboard, Forte worked following the 9:30 a.m. renovation break and breezed in company with MGSW Major Dude (Bolt d'Oro), who is slated to run in next Friday's GIII Manila S. at Belmont. The move was Forte's first since finishing second in the GI Belmont S.

“We were just looking for an easy work back and I thought that was accomplished today,” said Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes. “I thought he was moving well within himself. He looked comfortable and happy. You couldn't ask for anything more than that at this point.”

Another 'TDN Rising Star', GISW Tapit Trice (Tapit), breezed a solo half-mile in 48.03 seconds Friday with exercise rider Fernando Rivera in the irons. It was the colt's second work since finishing just behind his stablemate in the Belmont S.

“I thought he breezed really well,” Hughes said. “It was a good gallop out for him. He looked pretty sharp today and came out of the Belmont in good shape. He's maybe a little sharper now this time of year than he was last year. But that's what you see in these Tapits. It seems like the older they get, the sharper they get.”

Following Forte's breeze, last year's Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nest (Curlin) took another step towards her 2023 debut in what DRF first reported as the GII Shuvee S. July 23 at Saratoga. Going five furlongs in 1:01.22 in company with Too Boss (El Padrino), the filly began her preparations starting in mid-May.

“I think she's progressed well with each breeze,” Hughes said. “She seems to be getting fitter and fitter and responds well to the breeze. With each breeze you can tell that she gets a little sharper every week.”

The post Forte Returns To Work Tab; Nest, Tapit Trice Also Breeze appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Pletcher Hit With Suspension for Bute Positive

The New York Gaming Commission has suspended Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher 14 days and fined him $2,000 after a horse he trained tested positive for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone during a 2022 race at Saratoga.

Via text message, Pletcher said he is appealing the penalty. He declined to comment further.

The Paulick Report was first with the story.

The horse in question, Capensis (Tapit), was the even-money favorite in the 10th race at Saratoga on July 30, 2022 and finished sixth. He is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC. He has not run since winning the Sept. 6, 2022 GIII Virginia Derby. A gray colt, he sold for $2 million at the 2020 Keeneland September sale.

The ruling, which was posted to the Gaming Commission's website on Sunday , states that phenylbutazone was present at a concentration in excess of 0.3 micrograms per milliliter in violation of 9 NYCRR 4043.3 (a) (26).

Pletcher is also dealing with another suspension handed down by New York regulators. He was fined $1,000 and suspended 10 days after tests revealed that his trainee Forte (Violence) tested positive for Meloxicam following his win in the GI Hopeful S. last summer at Saratoga. Pletcher has appealed that suspension, as well.

In addition, Pletcher is facing two possible violations in Florida, where, according to Florida Gaming Control Commission Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering records posted online, he had a Class IV and Class V drug positive in December. According to reports, the Pletcher-trained Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) tested positive following the Sept. 24 Parx Dirt Mile, in which he was initially awarded the victory through disqualification. That case is also pending.

Asked why the New York case was just now coming to light, Brad Maione, the Director of Communications for the New York Gaming Commission said the following in an email to the TDN.

“By practice and procedure, when there is a possible rule infraction or violation, the Stewards set a time to meet, providing an affected party the informal opportunity address the matter. Following the meeting, the Stewards collectively evaluate potential rule infractions and, if appropriate, the State Steward will issue a ruling.

“Changes to the split-sample procedures have been instituted to reduce the ability of an affected party to game the system. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a trainer advised of a positive drug violation will now be afforded no more than two-weeks to identify and make arrangements for the split-sample to be tested…

Finally, you should be aware that the procedural processing of split-samples has remained constant since initiation. The Commission does not announce medication infractions until considered by the judges or stewards. As of Friday morning, there were three Thoroughbred and two Standardbred split-samples outstanding at a qualified, accredited independent laboratories. The Commission is awaiting return of their findings.”

The post Pletcher Hit With Suspension for Bute Positive appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post