Following Sea | Horse Racing Free Tips

Runhappy Gets First Graded Win from ‘Rising Star’ Following Sea

'TDN Rising Star' Following Sea (Runhappy) made the grade with a dominating win in Saturday's GII Vosburgh S., a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar.

Following Sea cleared the field of four from his outside draw and it was smooth sailing from there. The Spendthrift Farm homebred, off at odds of 5-2, cut out fractions of :22.59 and :45.24, and, after leaving the rail open as he cornered for home, hit the gas in the stretch to win for fun by 4 3/4 lengths.

Vosburgh defending champion and fan favorite Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior) was second after breaking through the gate prior to the start as the favorite. Big figure earner Baby Yoda (Prospective) was a disappointing third in his stakes debut.

Following Sea, a blowout maiden winner and 'Rising Star' for Bob Baffert on the GI Arkansas Derby undercard, made three prior starts for Todd Pletcher. An eye-catching allowance winner at Belmont June 3, he stretched to two turns for the first time with a well-beaten third–elevated to second via disqualification–in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. July 17. Following Sea was a well-beaten third behind heavyweights Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in a very live renewal of the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. last time Aug. 28, which has produced five next-out winners.

“I thought he ran great,” Pletcher said. “We just wanted to take advantage of the outside post and see how everything unfolded. He really took all the strategy out of play in the first 50 yards. He broke great, put himself right on the front and it seemed like he was in hand throughout.

Pletcher continued, “We left the paddock with the idea that we won't take anything away that comes easily. If he breaks well, that's great. If he gets in a speed duel, that's okay, too. So, I said to use judgement and it looked like he made a decision pretty easily. When he made the lead that easily I was pretty confident. He looked like he kicked on pretty well and Joel [Rosario] wrapped up on him pretty late.”

As far as the Breeders' Cup Sprint goes, Pletcher said, “We'll play it by ear and see. I'll talk to the guys at Spendthrift and we'll come up with a plan. It's got to be in play.”

Pedigree Notes:

Following Sea is the fifth stakes winner and first graded winner for young sire Runhappy. This is the 35th stakes/13th graded winner for broodmare sire Speightstown.

Quick Flip–a winner of her first three starts at two, including Tampa's Sandpiper S.–was purchased by Spendthrift Farm carrying Following Sea in utero for $230,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. She is a half-sister to SW & MGSP Qahira (Cairo Prince) and SW Stormin' Lyon (Storm Boot), and hails from the family of GISW Mitterand (Hold Your Peace).

In addition to the stakes-placed Inspeightof (Orb), Quick Flip's most recent produce includes the 2-year-old, stakes-placed Into Mischief filly Gimmick, purchased by bloodstock agent Mike Ryan for $450,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, and a 2021 Hard Spun colt. Quick Flip was bred to Authentic for 2022.

Saturday, Belmont Park
VOSBURGH S.-GII, $232,500, Belmont, 10-9, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.20, ft.
1–FOLLOWING SEA, 118, c, 3, by Runhappy
                1st Dam: Quick Flip (SW), by Speightstown
                2nd Dam: Motel Lass, by Bates Motel
                3rd Dam: Devil's Lass, by Devil's Bag
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES
WIN. O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Joel
Rosario. $137,500. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 6-3-1-2, $513,020. Werk
Nick Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Firenze Fire, 124, h, 6, Poseidon's Warrior–My Every Wish, by
Langfuhr. O/B-Mr Amore Stables (FL); T-Kelly Breen. $50,000.
3–Baby Yoda, 118, g, 3, Prospective–More Than Speed, by
More Than Ready. O-Wachtel Stable, Barber, Gary, Pantofel
Stable, LLC and Zaro, Jerold L.; B-Kathleen Amaya, Alexandro
Centofanti & Raffaele Centofanti (FL); T-William Mott. $30,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 2HF, 4 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 1.15, 1.50.
Also Ran: Good Effort (Ire). Scratched: Jalen Journey.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Equibase Analysis: Good Effort The One To Catch In Vosburgh

Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh Stakes is a “Win & You're In” for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Although only drawing a field of five, there is not one horse entered who is without a chance to succeed. Since the group is small, I'll dispense with the normal listing of their qualifications and cover all five horses in detail.

Good Effort (IRE) has won eight of 29 career races, all on turf or all-weather. However, he has run big races on dirt, specifically when missing by a neck in a 13 horse field this past March in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal Stakes in Dubai on a left handed course like the one at Belmont. Overmatched in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Stakes after that, Good Effort (IRE) rebounded to miss by three-quarters of a length in a group 3 stakes in the U.K. after making the lead and holding on until very late in the race. Overmatched once more in the Group 1 Darley July Cup Stakes and the Group 2 King George Qater Stakes, the latter run at five furlongs on grass, Good Effort (IRE) rebounded to lead from start to finish in a very fast six and one-half furlong race in France on all-weather last month.

From January through November 2020, Good Effort (IRE) won four straight races, in three of the four making the lead shortly after the start and easily holding the front to the end. Adding blinkers to insure he does the same as in Europe and Dubai, considering he earned very consistent ™ Equibase® Speed Figures of 108 to 110 in his top efforts, Good Effort (IRE) has a shot to surprise the local contingent and win this year's Vosburgh Stakes in front running fashion.

Following Sea cuts back from seven furlongs to six furlongs which may be the key to a top effort. He finished third and well behind the top two finishers in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes in August, but those two horses (Jackie's Warrior and Life is Good) both won their next starts in top stakes company. Before the Jerkens, Following Sea finished third when trying two-turns for the first time in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes, an irrelevant experiment in my opinion. Prior to the Haskell, Following Sea won easily by six and one-half lengths at Belmont and prior to that he won by five and three-quarter lengths at this six furlong trip, earning a career best 110 ™ figure good enough to win this race. Cutting back to his best distance gives Following Sea a good shot to do just that and he's another likely to be a bit ignored in the wagering compared to others in this year's Vosburgh.

Firenze Fire is likely to be favored on the strength of his big effort at the end of August in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes. In the Forego, Firenze Fire went head-and-head with eventual winner Yaupon for the final quarter mile, even trying to bite his foe multiple times in the stretch run. That effort earned a strong 112 figure, similar to the 113 figure earned two races before that when second in the Grade 2 John A. Nerud Stakes at Belmont. Winner of the 2020 Vosburgh with a 116 figure, Firenze Fire shows up with his “A” game nearly every time he runs and must be respected as a contender.

Baby Yoda is one of two three year olds in the field, the other Following Sea. He is the most lightly raced horse in the group, having run four times, but he has improved markedly in each race, starting with an 84 figure effort, then 91, then 97 and finally 111 in his most recent race. That most recent effort on September 4 was visually impressive as Baby Yoda easily drew off to a four and one-quarter length victory. Trainer Bill Mott knows this young horse still has improving to do and that is why he puts him in a stakes race for the first time, as that 111 figure matches up well with the 112 figure Firenze Fire earned in the similar Grade 1 Forego Stakes one week before Baby Yoda's last win.

Jalen Journey has won eight of 16 career races including three of nine at this six furlong trip. All four of his stakes tries in the U.S. were excellent efforts, starting with a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint Stakes in June 2019 in which he led late and missed by less than a length to a top sprinter in Diamond Oops. Since returning from Dubai in May of this year, Jalen Journey has finished first or second in all four races, most recently when crossing the line second but moved up to first in the Grade 3 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes when the winner was disqualified for interference. That effort earned a 108 figure and just prior to that Jalen Journey earned a career-best 111 figure, another effort on par with the best of this group

Top Win Contenders:
Good Effort (IRE)
Following Sea

Vosburgh Stakes – Grade 2
Race 5 at Belmont Park
Saturday, October 9 – Post Time 2:45 PM E.T.
Six Furlongs
Three Years Olds and Upward
Purse: $250,000

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‘Rockstar’ Firenze Fire Headlines ‘Win And You’re In’ Vosburgh

Mr. Amore Stable's Firenze Fire returns to his preferred oval of Big Sandy as he looks to defend his title in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh going six furlongs over the main track for 3-year-olds and upward, at Belmont Park.

The Vosburgh is a “Win And You're In” qualifier and offers the winner an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. The prestigious sprint race honors Walter S. Vosburgh, the official handicapper for the Jockey Club and New York racetracks from 1894-1934.

Trained by Kelly Breen, Firenze Fire, who captured last year's Vosburgh by 2 ¾ lengths, will try to join Joe Schenck [1940-41], Dr. Fager [1967-68], Sewickley [1989-90], Private Zone [2013-14] and Imperial Hint [2018-19] as horses to notch back-to-back Vosburgh triumphs.

A 14-time winner over seven different racetracks, Firenze Fire has claimed most of his success at Belmont which accounts for seven total victories.

While Firenze Fire has developed a reputation for his affinity for Belmont Park, he garnered a new image last out in the Grade 1 Forego on August 28 at Saratoga where he attempted to savage Yaupon in a memorable stretch duel, ultimately coming up a head shy of victory.

“It's amazing. I must have watched it a hundred times,” said owner Ron Lombardi. “It's amazing how he stayed with Yaupon while trying to bite him through at least four strides. Another two strides he would have won it, not that he would have stayed up. It's made him a rockstar. It may have cost me a few dollars, but he's definitely getting a lot of attention.”

A 6-year-old son of Poseidon's Warrior, Firenze Fire has won a graded stakes race at Belmont Park in four of the last five years, including a win in the 2017 Champagne which is his only Grade 1 victory to date.

“He's won at seven tracks, but he's won the most at Belmont, and loves that surface,” Lombardi said. “He's just such a solid horse and he showed his athleticism last time out in the Forego.

Firenze Fire scored back-to-back runnings of the Grade 2 True North in the past two summers. He was a close second to two-time Vosburgh winner Imperial Hint in the 2019 Vosburgh.

“It could've been three times, but that's part of the game,” said Lombardi.

Should Firenze Fire move forward to the Breeders' Cup Sprint off the Vosburgh, it would mark a fifth straight Breeders' Cup appearance previously finishing: seventh [2017 Juvenile], fourth [2018 Dirt Mile], fifth [2019 Sprint] and third [2020 Sprint].

Lombardi has not ruled out a 7-year-old campaign for Firenze Fire.

“He's still at the top of his game. I've had offers, but I may run him next year,” Lombardi said. “I would love to do that. I think it would be so cool. The fans love him. He's a fan favorite and he elevated that with his antics last time. It would be great to have him run back, so we'll see.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has engineered winning trips in eight of Firenze Fire's 14 victories, will return to the irons from post 4.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will target his fourth Vosburgh coup with Spendthrift Farm homebred Following Sea. The 3-year-old son of Runhappy has never finished off the board in five starts, which include a pair of Grade 1 placings. After being elevated to second via disqualification in the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational in July at Monmouth Park, he finished a distant third to Jackie's Warrior and stable mate Life Is Good in the seven-furlong H. Allen Jerkens in August at Saratoga.

Following Sea earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure when defeating winners going 6 ½ furlongs on June 3 at Belmont.

“He's talented and I thought he ran pretty well in the Allen Jerkens. He reacted to the dirt in his face for a while, but he finished up decently,” Pletcher said. “The Haskell may have been a little too far a little too soon, but he's held good company and had a good win over the track here over the summer.”

Pletcher said the distance should be right up his alley.

“He broke his maiden going six and won the allowance here going six-and-a-half, so hopefully it suits him,” Pletcher said.

Joel Rosario will ride from post 5.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle Baby Yoda, who last out was victorious against older winners going 6 ½ furlongs on September 4 at Saratoga. The third lifetime victory for the 3-year-old son of Prospective produced a 114 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the co-highest figure to be recorded by a horse this year.

Previously trained in Maryland by Charles Frock, Baby Yoda won at first asking for a $10,000 tag on May 30 two starts ahead of winning his first outing for Mott in a July 17 starter allowance at Saratoga.

Baby Yoda is owned by Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable and Jerold Zaro and will leave from post 3 under Luis Saez.

[Story Continues Below]

Rabbah Bloodstock's Good Effort will add blinkers for his first start in North America, entering off an allowance win over the all-weather surface at Deauville.

Trained by Ismail Mohammed, the 6-year-old son of Shamardal was a three-time sprint stakes winner over the synthetic surface at Longfield Park in England last year. His best effort on dirt took place in the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal in March at Meydan Race Course when second beaten a neck.

Good Effort will be ridden by Wayne Lordan from post 2.

Completing the field is Rockingham Ranch and David Bersen's Jalen Journey, a winner via disqualification last out in the Grade 3 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel Park for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Jalen Journey, a 6-year-old ridgling son of With Distinction, boasts a consistent 16-8-2-1 record with just over a half-million dollars in lifetime earnings.

Breaking from post 1, Jalen Journey will be piloted by Jose Lezcano.

The Vosburgh, slated as Race 5, is part of a lucrative 11-race card that also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic [Race 7] at 12 furlongs on turf for 3-year-ols and up; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron [Race 6] at six furlongs on turf for juvenile fillies. First post on Saturday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

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

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Pletcher’s Platoon Charts Course After Weekend Stakes At Belmont

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sent out three starters in Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne with maiden Commandperformance closing to finish second ahead of stablemates Wit and My Prankster in the one-turn mile for juveniles won by Jack Christopher.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Commandperformance lunged at the start of his six-furlong debut on September 6 over a muddy and sealed track at Saratoga, rallying to finish second.

On Saturday, with Tyler Gaffalione up from the outermost post 6, the Union Rags gray closed to finish second, just 2 3/4-lengths to Jack Christopher and seven lengths in front of Wit.

“He ran well first time out,” said Pletcher's Belmont-based assistant Byron Hughes. “He came back and put in a good breeze here and we expected him to run up to his training. He got a good post position and Tyler rode him well. He ran a big race.”

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Gainesway Stable's Wit was an impressive eight-length winner of the six-furlong G3 Sanford in July at Saratoga ahead of a troubled second in the seven-furlong G1 Hopeful where he stumbled at the break.

On Saturday, with regular pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, Wit was off a step slow and encountered traffic trouble approaching the quarter pole.

“He got in a little trouble on the turn,” Hughes said. “Irad said there was a tired horse in front of him and that he was going in and out and was trying to find the best route. He couldn't find a hole right away and that might have cost him a few lengths.”

Robert and Lawana Low's My Prankster was a 10-length maiden winner at first asking sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs on Aug. 21 at the Spa, but failed to make an impact in the Champagne.

“We didn't have any excuse for him after the race or this morning. We'll regroup with him and go for there,” Hughes said.

St. Elias Stable's Dr Post exited the inside post under Ortiz Jr. in the G1 Woodward but was forced to rally five-wide down the lane to complete the trifecta, 2 1/2-lengths to Art Collector.

“It was a big effort. He went the widest out of everybody. He was still grinding it out there at the end,” Hughes said. “I thought it was a good effort. A little more pace and maybe back to two turns might help, but the effort was definitely what we wanted to see from him for sure.”

Spendthrift Farm homebred Following Sea, a 3-year-old Runhappy colt, has made a trio of starts for Pletcher this year, besting elders in an allowance sprint in June at Belmont ahead of a second via disqualification in the nine-furlong G1 Haskell on July 17. Last out, Following Sea finished third in the seven-furlong G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on Aug. 28 at the Spa.

Following Sea breezed a half-mile solo in 48.38 Saturday on the Belmont dirt training track in preparation for a start in the six-furlong G2, $250,000 Vosburgh on Oct/ 9, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar.

“He did it all well within himself,” said Hughes regarding the breeze. “He had a good gallop out and cooled out OK. He looked good this morning. We're very happy with the way he's training right now. Hopefully he runs like he's been training.”

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