Tag: Everfast

Owners Head To Dubai To Cheer On Hot Rod Charlie In His Meydan Debut

Hot Rod Charlie will make his highly-anticipated UAE debut on Friday at Meydan Racecourse.

Voted the winner of the Vox Populi Award for 2021 by US racing fans, the Doug O'Neill-trained 4-year-old is the headline act in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 [Presented by The Longines Record], the feature on Friday's seven-race card.

Third in the Kentucky Derby, second in the Belmont and the winner of the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, Hot Rod Charlie warmed up for his Dubai travels with a close second, beaten a nose, in the G2 San Vincente Stakes at Santa Anita, California, on Dec. 26.

He'll have a strong supporting party to cheer him on, with Patrick O'Neill of part-owners Boat Racing in town, as well as another co-owner, Bill Strauss.

“We sat down after the Breeders' Cup meeting in November and made a plan for the horse,” said Strauss. “We decided to target Dubai and then the best way of getting to the Dubai World Cup, which was to bring him here and give him a race over the track.”

Hot Rod Charlie faces stiff opposition in the feature, with emphatic local debut winner Everfast in for Doug Watson.

“We weren't sure where to go with him [after his local debut win in December],” said Watson. “We were thinking this race or the Firebreak, but then [owner] Frankie O'Connor came into town and that helped make up our minds.

“He was second in the Preakness over this trip, so I don't think it will be a problem.”

The other Group 2 on the card is the Balanchine [Presented by Longines Evidenza] for fillies and mares on turf, over 1800 meters (9 furlongs). It sees the French-trained Pevensey Bay bidding to follow up her victory in the Cape Verdi (G2) over 200metres shorter last time out. Waiting for her in the race is Charlie Appleby's Creative Flair, who was last seen finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks in New York in September.

“She has always had the Balanchine as her long-term target,” said the handler, who has won the last two editions of this race with Summer Romance and Magic Lily. “Her preparation has gone well.”

The third Thoroughbred race on the card is the G3 Firebreak Stakes [Presented by Longines Conquest] over 1600 meters (one mile) on dirt, which was won in 2021 by subsequent G2 Godolphin Mile winner Secret Ambition. It has a field of eight, with Bhupat Seemar's Tuz aiming to make it two from two this season, having won the Listed Dubai Creek Mile in December. Watson sends out Prince Eiji, an eye-catching short-head second to Kafoo on his local debut and first on dirt.

“We were thrilled and disappointed with his first run here,” said Watson of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Maktoum-owned 6-year-old. “He got a little leg-weary with it being his first try on dirt, but it still took a good one to beat him and it's always been the plan to run here.”

Godolphin are having another excellent Carnival and they are loaded in the turf races, in particular. Appleby's Listed winner New Science takes on Jumeirah Derby Trial winner Island Falcon in the Listed Jumeirah Classic [Presented by Longines Elegant] and the handler also runs Sovereign Prince, a winner here three weeks ago when he beat the re-opposing Sed Maarib.

Appleby has had the Carnival as the target for several months for New Science and said: “His form from the UK is rock solid but he was quick to be earmarked for a Dubai campaign and his preparation has gone well. [After this race] he'll head back to the UK for one of the Guineas Trials.”

The 3-year-olds also line up on dirt in the Al Bastakiya Trial [Presented by Longines St Imier] over 1900 meters (1 3/16 miles), in which the Watson-trained Violent Justice looks of interest following his emphatic Jebel Ali maiden win. Earlier on, a select field of six has been declared for the Oud Metha Stakes [Presented by Longines Master Collection] over 1200 meters (6 furlongs) on dirt. Leading the charge there is Rudy Trigger, a winner of three of his five starts in Argentina for trainer Maria Munoz.

The evening's action begins at 6pm with the G1 Maktoum Challenge R1 [Presented by Longines Dolce Vita] for Purebred Arabians, over 1900 meters. It welcomes back last year's winner, RB Frynchh Dude, as well as another Group 1 winner, Brraq.

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Classic-Placed Everfast Sold To Race In Dubai

Everfast, who finished second to War of Will in the 2019 Preakness Stakes, has been sold to continue his racing career in Dubai, Michael Adolphson of Dubai Racing Club reported on Aug. 19.

The 5-year-old Take Charge Indy gelding joined the yard of trainer Doug Watson for owner Kildare Stud.

Everfast previously raced for Calumet Farm, trained by Dale Romans and Jack Sisterson, after the operation purchased the horse as a short yearling for $47,000 at the 2017 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

He started in the Romans barn, winning on debut as a 2-year-old at Ellis Park. At three, he finished second to Harvey Wallbanger in the G2 Holy Bull Stakes at odds of 128-1, then finished out of the money in the G1 Florida Derby and G3 Pat Day Mile Stakes.

That brief spike in form had become rather distant when he was announced as a candidate for that year's Preakness Stakes, and the betting public was just as confounded, sending him off with the field's second-longest odds at 29-1. Under jockey Joel Rosario, Everfast closed from the back of the field to finish 1 1/4 lengths behind War of Will.

That effort led to Everfast becoming a regular in the biggest 3-year-old races of the summer, where he finished off the board in the Belmont Stakes, Haskell Invitational Stakes, and Travers Stakes.

Everfast was moved to the Sisterson barn for his 4-year-old season, which started with runner-up efforts in an Oaklawn Park allowance and the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs, before he was moved to the turf and finished ninth in the G1 Maker's Mark Stakes, which was won by familiar rival War of Will.

The horse returned to the dirt and scaled back to one turn after the Maker's Mark, and won a seven-furlong Saratoga allowance in his comeback start. He was then returned to stakes competition, where he ran off the board in the G1 Forego Stakes, G3 Ack Ack Stakes, and black type Lafayette Stakes. His most recent starts came in December 2020, when he finished third in a pair of allowance optional claiming races at Gulfstream Park.

Frankie O'Connor's Kildare Stud is based in central Kentucky, but the owner regularly sends runners to Watson in the U.A.E.

The post Classic-Placed Everfast Sold To Race In Dubai appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rising Star Jack Sisterson Brings Fond Memories Back To Gulfstream Park

Trainer Jack Sisterson will participate in the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park for the first time this season, but he certainly is no stranger to the historic Hallandale Beach track.

The 35-year-old former assistant to trainer Doug O'Neill will bring fond memories of his 2016 travels with Nyquist to Gulfstream Park, where Reddam Racing's colt captured the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), as well as a $1 million bonus, on his way to winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs six weeks later.

“That was a start of a long successful happy journey. I traveled everywhere with him — thanks to Doug and Paul and Zilla Reddam for the opportunity. The goal was the Florida Derby all along because he was in the Florida Sale the year before and Fasig-Tipton offered a $1 million bonus,” Sisterson said. “The whole plan was to focus on the Florida Derby and prep him at Keeneland for the Kentucky Derby.”

Sisterson, who was also a member of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) winner I'll Have Another's travel team for O'Neill and the Reddams, was hired as a private trainer for Calumet Farm in 2018 and has returned to South Florida with a stable of 20 horses at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

“We've grown as the years go on with slightly better stock. We're bringing some nice 2-year-olds-turning-3-year-olds that we'd like to put on the Triple Crown trail, as well as some nice grass horses that Palm Meadows gives you options to train on the grass,” Sisterson said. “We put those things together and decided to try Florida this year.”

The 2020-2021 Championship Meet will get under way Wednesday, and Sisterson is scheduled to saddle his first official Gulfstream starter, Everfast, for Thursday's featured Race 6, a mile starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up. Everfast, who finished second in the Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream and second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico in 2019 while trained by Dale Romans, is rated second in the morning line at 7-2 behind West Will Power, the 8-5 favorite who is coming off back-to-back victories at Monmouth for trainer Kelly Breen.

“We're hoping to get off to a fast start,” Sisterson said.

Since saddling his first starter for Calumet in July 2018, Sisterson has won 41 races from 331 starters.

“I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Calumet. It's humbling to be able to train for an outfit that's so historically well known in the industry and all the success that they've had,” Sisterson said. “We'd like to get Calumet back to where they once were back in the prime days. I think we definitely have the stock this year to have our best year yet with the likes of Vexatious. We've got a couple of unraced 2-year-olds that we think are potential Derby types for next year. It's definitely a program that I'm very fortunate and humbled and honored to be involved with.”

Sisterson's career highlight thus far came during the 2020 Saratoga meeting when Vexatious provided him with his first Grade 1 success by capturing the Personal Ensign (G1).

“I can't give enough credit to the staff that I have in the barn because they are the ones who do all the hard work,” he said. “Just winning a race anywhere is a thrill, let alone a race at Saratoga, let alone a Grade 1 at Saratoga. That was pretty special.”

Sisterson maintains a year-round stable at Keeneland, and the native of Durham, England now considers Kentucky home. He first ventured to Kentucky after receiving a soccer scholarship from the University of Louisville.

“I was fortunate to be offered a scholarship and being able to do two things I loved. One thing was soccer and one was horse racing. I started hot-walking for Todd [Pletcher] in the summers,” Sisterson said. “That was my introduction to the racing side in America, working for Todd.”

In addition to some promising young stock, Sisterson's stable at Palm Meadows will include several veterans of the racing wars. True Timber, who finished eighth in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) last year while trained by Kiaran McLaughlin; Bon Raison, who finished off the board in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland; Bandua, a graded-stakes winner who is scheduled to make a comeback after a year's absence, as well as Vexatious, will be based at Palm Meadows.

The post Rising Star Jack Sisterson Brings Fond Memories Back To Gulfstream Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Words Can’t Describe The Feeling,’ Sisterson Says After Personal Ensign Win

Trainer Jack Sisterson said he was still riding high from his first career Grade 1 triumph in Saturday's $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets, which saw an upset victory when Vexatious bested reigning Champion Older Dirt Female Midnight Bisou in a dramatic stretch duel in the 71st renewal of the 1 1/8-mile event for older fillies and mares at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The victory garnered a 105 Beyer Speed Figure for Vexatious.

In winning the Personal Ensign, a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, Vexatious earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 7 at Keeneland, where Sisterson is primarily based.

“My assistant Mark O'Dwyer was taking pictures of her once she was back in her stall. Her head was right at the front of the stall, her ears were pricked, so she knew what she did yesterday,” Sisterson said. “Mark and the rest of the team has done a fantastic job with her, as well as the rest of the horses. That's what we live for, the opportunity to have horses in races like this, let alone win one.

“Words can't describe the feeling,” Sisterson continued. “It just goes to show how good the people behind me are. I have a great staff and great owners. If it weren't for the staff or the owners I wouldn't be in this position.”

Owned by Calumet Farm, the well-bred Vexatious is a 6-year-old daughter of Giant's Causeway out of Grade 1-winner Dream of Summer, making her a full-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire Creative Cause as well as multiple graded stakes winner Destin. A graded stakes winner on grass and five-time graded stakes placed on both dirt and turf, Vexatious enhanced her already high breeding value by acquiring Grade 1 blacktype in the Personal Ensign.

Vexatious' only other start at Saratoga was a runner-up to subsequent Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Blue Prize in last year's Summer Colony.

Sisterson noted how well his mare handles training at Saratoga and said Vexatious will remain at the Spa, where Sisterson keeps a small string of horses.

“She'll stay at Saratoga for the time being,” Sisterson said. “Keeneland is home for her, but she really blossoms up at Saratoga. We didn't want to be tough on her at the beginning of the year so we ran her in some allowance races. I didn't want to disappoint her too early in the year to ultimately have her peaking at Saratoga mid-summer and that's worked. She did so well here last year. She put on weight, her coat looked good and she did great.”

Options for Vexatious' next start include the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park.

“She'll tell us when she's ready to run back again. I assume it'll be one or the other,” Sisterson said.

For Sisterson, the fun did not stop after the Personal Ensign as fellow Calumet Farm color bearer Everfast picked up a triumph against winners in the following race – a seven-furlong allowance event over the main track.

The son of Take Charge Indy will likely point to the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing on August 29.

“He never lost his competitive step, so that was great for him. With him wining the way he did it allows him to step forward into a bigger race now,” Sisterson said of the runner-up of last year's Grade 1 Preakness and Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.

“We'll see how he trains out of it. He broke his maiden going seven eighths and was obviously running those Classic distances last year,” Sisterson said. “I wasn't worried going into yesterday, just curious to see how he would respond to the seven-eighths distance. I thought seven eighths to a mile is good for him.”

Initially breaking at the rear of the field, Everfast inched his way into contention as the race progressed and shook clear through the final furlong to a 2 ½-length win.

“He did it well enough yesterday,” Sisterson said. “He had a lot in reserve and [jockey] Joel [Rosario] rode him perfectly. Mark told him before the race, 'Ride him like he's a Christophe Clement horse' and those instructions worked out well. It's great to see him back in the winner's circle.”

Sisterson came close to scoring his first two Grade 1 wins on the same day when Lexitonian ran second to Collusion Allusion in Del Mar's Grade 1 Bing Crosby.

The son of Speightstown was initially entered in last Saturday's Grade 1 Vanderbilt at the Spa, but was scratched at the starting gate, which forced Sisterson to call an audible and send the dual stakes winner to the West Coast.

“He was training very forwardly and showing us signs he would run a big race,” Sisterson said. 'It was a big step up in class, but he was doing things in the morning that told us that he was ready.”

The post ‘Words Can’t Describe The Feeling,’ Sisterson Says After Personal Ensign Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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