Fort Warren | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Rising Star’ Fort Warren A Winner On Black-Eyed Susan Day

8th-Pimlico, $62,700, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($50,000-$62,500), 5-19, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.94, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
FORT WARREN (c, 3, Curlin–La Appassionata {SW & GSP, $162,920}, by Bernardini) became a 'TDN Rising Star' when debuted in gate-to-wire fashion for then-trainer Bob Baffert at Santa Anita Oct. 30. A far-beaten third next time out in the GII San Vincente S. Jan. 29, he went to the sidelines for much of the spring, changing barns to return on the east coast for Brittany Russell. Bet down to even money and with Lasix in his system for the first time, Fort Warren stayed back in the field behind easy leader Johnyz From Albany (Blofeld). Sheldon Russell began to ask his mount for more as the colt began to pick up on the front pair off the turn and tipped out to drive past Johnyz From Albany, winning going away by 1 3/4 lengths. A $500,000 yearling purchase and his late dam's only foal, Fort Warren is out of a full-sister to GSW Wilburn and a half to GSW Beethoven (Sky Mesa). Further back in the family is champion 3-year-old filly Abel Tasman (Quality Road). Sales History: $550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSP, 3-2-0-1, $96,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Brittany T. Russell.

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Baffert’s Gotham Noms Switched to New Trainers

The nominees for the Mar. 4 GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct include four horses that have been under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, but were nominated under the names of new trainers.

Baffert is banned from running in this year's GI Kentucky Derby and any horse under the care of a trainer suspended by Churchill Downs must be moved to a new barn by Feb. 28 in order to earn Derby qualifying points. On Friday, a U.S. District Judge ruled against Baffert as he sought a temporary injunction that would have allowed him to enter the Derby. Baffert was also banned by the New York Racing Association, but its one-year suspension ended Jan. 26.

The news that Baffert-trainees are switching stables for a possible run in the Gotham was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's David Grening.

The Baffert Gotham nominees are the Amr Zedan-owned pair of Arabian Lion (Justify) and Hejazi (Bernardini) and Carmel Road (Quality Road) and Fort Warren (Curlin). The latter two are owned by partnerships consisting of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable LLC and others. Arabian Lion, Hejazi and Carmel Road were nominated under the name of Tim Yakteen. Fort Warren was nominated under the name of Brittany Russell. It was not clear who, if any of the Baffert/Yakteen/Russell horses, will start in the Gotham.

With Baffert also suspended from running in the 2022 Kentucky Derby, the two starters in the race from his barn, Taiba (Gun Runner) and Messier (Empire Maker), competed for Yatkeen, a former assistant to Baffert.

Several other Baffert trained 3-year-old colts will also likely be on the move within the next few days. Nominations for the GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita, also to be run Mar. 4, close Thursday and any horse from the Baffert stable with eyes on a possible Kentucky Derby start will need to find a new home.

The GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream will also be run Mar. 4. Baffert nominated Hard to Figure (Hard Spun), the runner-up in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. According to Grening's report, Baffert was listed as the trainer on the nomination.

Plans for Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) and Cave Rock (Arrogate), generally considered the top two 3-year-olds in the Baffert stable, have yet to be announced.

Baffert is expected to have starters in Saturday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn. All of his nominees to that race are listed under his own name. But the Rebel takes place before the Feb. 28 deadline.

The Gotham starters were not the first 3-year-olds from the Baffert barn to find a new home. After breaking his maiden for Baffert Jan. 22 at Santa Anita, Harlocap (Justify) ran for Steve Asmussen in Saturday's GII Risen Star S. He finished sixth.

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Curlin Colt Fights For ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honors

Fort Warren (c, 2, Curlin–La Appassionata, by Bernardini), a $550,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, took race-long pressure through fast internal fractions and clung on gamely late to graduate at first asking Sunday at Santa Anita en route to the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction. He is the 22nd 'Rising Star' for his leading Hill 'n' Dale-based stallion.

Away only fairly from the inside gate, Fort Warren had to be used some by go-to rider Juan Hernandez, but speared through to take up the running and covered the opening couple of furlongs in a slick :21.75, with second-time starter Johannes (Nyquist) glued to his flank. Ridden along on the turn while maintaining a narrow advantage, Fort Warren always appeared to be going slightly better than Johannes after a half in a testing :44.65, but that duo soon had company in the form of the well-meant firster Spun Intended (Hard Spun), who sat a wide trip near the tail early on before coming into the race nicely, having covered significant ground on the turn. Fort Warren turned back the Johannes challenge once and for all in upper stretch, but Spun Intended refused to go down without a fight, as he battled bravely for every yard, only to drop a long-neck decision.

“This horse, being by Curlin, they're not supposed to have that kind of speed, but he's a beautiful horse and we're excited about him,” said winning trainer Bob Baffert. “That was a tough field…Having the one-hole and having to go that fast early and then he would let that horse get past him. He showed a lot of grit.”

The Feb. 11 foal is the lone listed produce for his SW/GSP dam, a full-sister to GSW Wilburn and a half to Grade II-winning juvenile Beethoven (Sky Mesa) and to the dam of GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), who sadly passed away after foaling Fort Warren in 2020. Moonlight Sonata, who won the GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie S. at odds of 60-1 in 2002 for trainer Bill Helmbrecht, is also the dam of $1.1-million KEESEP yearling A.P. Sonata (A.P. Indy), whose son Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro) won this year's GIII Kitten's Joy S. for Whisper Hill Farm and was a latest third in the GII Hill Prince S. at Aqueduct. Stonestreet purchased Moonlight Sonata for $750,000 carrying the filly that would become La Appassionata at Keeneland November in 2012. This is also the family of champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

The cross of Curlin over A.P. Indy-line mares has resulted in countless winners at the graded level and, when bred specifically to Bernardini dams, Curlin is responsible for MGISW and GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff hopeful Clairiere, GISW Paris Lights and other graded winners Cezanne and 'Rising Star' Spice Is Nice.

6th-Santa Anita, $62,500, Msw, 10-30, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 1:15.92, ft, 1/2 length.
FORT WARREN, c, 2, by Curlin
1st Dam: La Appassionata (SW & GSP, $162,920), by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Moonlight Sonata, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Wheatly Way, by Wheatly Hall
Sales history: $550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC & Catherine Donovan; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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Sunday Insights: Hoping For a Perfect ’10’

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, post time: 2:30 p.m. ET
BO DEREK (Speightstown) must have ticked all the proverbial boxes at last year's Keeneland September sale, as she was acquired by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm for $900,000, the priciest of 42 (53 ring) of her Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint-winning sire's yearlings that were reported as sold in 2021. And the family behind her is extremely live. The Mar. 12 foal is the first from Wildwood Rose (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to the late GI Besilu Stables Florida Derby hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Materiality (Afleet Alex) and to GSW/MGISP My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song), whose 'Rising Star' son Annapolis (War Front) will have his fair share of supporters in next weekend's GI Breeders' Cup Mile off his victory in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. The Into Mischief yearling half-sister to Bo Derek was hammered down to Whisper Hill Farm for $1.15 million at KEESEP last month. Among the competition is the outposted Tough Legacy (Hard Spun), a sister to GIII Regret S. victress Hard Legacy whose dam Stone Legacy (Birdstone) was the very, very distant runner-up to Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) in the 2009 GI Kentucky Oaks. TJCIS PPs

1st-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 5f, post time: 1:00 p.m. ET
A pair of Into Mischief colts share the spotlight in the 'Stars of Tomorrow I' opener Sunday. TALLADEGA fetched $400,000 at Keeneland November in 2020, one of three of the exceptional stallions 12 foals to achieve that top foal price, and improved into an $850,000 KEESEP yearling for the aforementioned WinStar/Siena partnership. Closely related to GSW Holiday Disguise (Harlan's Holiday) and also a half-brother to three-time stakes winner Midnight Disguise (Midnight Lute) and GI Del Mar Debutante runner-up Forest Caraway (Bodemeister), the bay is out of a winning half-sister to GSW millionaire Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American). Midnight Pranks, a $500,000 KEESEP acquisition, is out of the unraced Midnight Girl (Drosselmeyer), who was purchased by Twin Hopes Farm for $300,000 with the Into Mischief colt in utero at Fasig-Tipton November in 2019. The mare is a half-sister to dual Grade I winner Midnight Lucky (Midnight Lute) while the deeper female family includes GISW Hookedonthefeelin (Citidancer) and her Grade I-winning offspring Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet) and Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs

7th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 4:01 p.m. ET
The cleverly named GORDY'S LABEL (Mo Town) was the second-dearest first-crop yearling for this sire (by Uncle Mo) when John Ballantyne's NBS Stables went to $300,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. The dark bay was also the gold medal winner among Mo Town's first foals to go through the ring at $185,000 at KEENOV in 2020. A half-brother to SW Just Read It (Constitution), the Jan. 18 foal is out of a full-sister to SW & GSP Pool Winner (Broken Vow) and to MSP Sounds of the City (Street Cry {Ire}), the dam of MGSW & MGISP Venetian Harbor (Munnings). TJCIS PPs

6th-SA, $61k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, post time: 6:31 p.m. ET
FORT WARREN (Curlin) has the fence for this career debut and most recently worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:12.80 Oct. 24, the third-best of the morning behind a couple of 'TDN Rising Star' stablemates named Taiba (Gun Runner) and Messier (Empire Maker), who went in 1:11.40. The Feb. 11 foal is the lone listed produce for his SW/GSP dam La Appassionata (Bernardini), a full-sister to GSW Wilburn and a half to Grade II-winning juvenile Beethoven (Sky Mesa) and to the dam of GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro). Fort Warren was a $550,000 KEESEP graduate. Drawn just to his outside is Earnhardt homebred Texthelegend (Justify), whose dam Life Blessings (Tapit) is a daughter of the couple's two-time Eclipse Award and five-time Grade I winner Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie). A $100,000 purchase out of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, Habeas (Tapwrit) fetched $450,000 at this year's OBS April Sale (:21 flat), the most-expensive of 39 juveniles (45 ring) from the first crop of the Gainesway stallion. The gray is out of a half to GI Spinaway S. winner So Many Ways (Sightseeing). TJCIS PPs

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