Fourstardave Handicap | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fourstardave Handicapping Challenge Registration Open

Registration for the Fourstardave Handicapping Challenge scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 at Saratoga officially opened July 29, announced officials at NYRA. Participants may register through Friday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. ET on the official webpage with an option to either play online via NYRA Bets or on-track at Saratoga, where seating and lunch is included as part of the entry fee.

The contest will run in conjunction with the 38th running of the one-mile GI $500,000 Fourstardave H. over the inner turf, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in November at Keeneland. The live-money contest features a $3,000 Entry Fee [$2,000 in Live Money Wagers/$1,000 to Prize Pool], contributing to a prize pool that NYRA is seeding with an additional $5,000. Also on offer for the winner is one seat to an upcoming $3,000 NYRA Challenge event. Players must wager $400 on at least five races during the Aug. 13 card at Saratoga, and can place win, place, show, trifecta, quinella and daily double wagers.

The post Fourstardave Handicapping Challenge Registration Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Got Stormy Makes History Again With Second Win In Fourstardave

Two years after securing a triumph in the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave in record-setting fashion, MyRacehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's Got Stormy bested males again in the 2021 edition, displaying stalking tactics and making a menacing stretch rally to capture the prestigious one mile event for 3-year-olds and up over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course.

In capturing the Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier, Got Stormy earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on November 6 at Del Mar. Four of the last ten editions of the Fourstardave were captured by the subsequent winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile with World Approval [2017], Tourist [2016] and Wise Dan [2012-13] securing the Fourstardave-Breeders' Cup Mile double. Got Stormy finished second to Uni in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile.

Got Stormy, a 6-year-old daughter of 2010 Fourstardave victor Get Stormy, arrived at Saturday's engagement off two fifth-place finishes at graded stakes level. But the talented chestnut mare got back to winning form in a familiar spot, becoming the first horse to capture multiple editions of the Fourstardave since 2012-13 Horse of the Year Wise Dan.

Sent off as the third choice in her 2019 Fourstardave coup, Got Stormy returned $27 as the third longest shot in the eight-horse field.

“This was maybe even more exciting because they wrote her off,” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. “They did the same to [2015 Champion Turf Female] Tepin, and she came back. I'm really proud. There's been some bumps along the road with her, but she came when it was time.”

Breaking from post 6 under Tyler Gaffalione, Got Stormy tracked in third as graded stakes-winner Blowout, one of three distaffers in the field, flaunted her usual frontrunning tactics through an opening quarter-mile in 23.45 seconds, 2 ½-lengths clear of 19-1 longshot Whisper Hill in second. Through a half-mile in 46.69 over firm going, Got Stormy maintained third position approaching the far turn as Gaffalione weaved the accomplished mare two paths wide and in the clear.

Blowout was still in front in upper stretch but Got Stormy collared the pacesetter nearing the furlong marker and drew away to a 1 ½-length victory in a final time of 1:33.09.

Set Piece was a late-rallying second, a half-length ahead of Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur-winner Casa Creed.

Got Stormy secured a third Grade 1 conquest, and seventh overall graded stakes win. In addition to her two non-consecutive Fourstardave victories, she captured the Matriarch at Del Mar in November 2019.

“She was taking me the whole way,” said Gaffalione, a three-time stakes winner this meet. “I was able to tuck in and save ground. She relaxed beautifully down the backside. Going into the turn she started to pick up on her own and she started creeping up. When I put her outside, she unleased a big run and it was all over from there.”

Casse said a second Breeders' Cup Mile will likely be in the works following Saturday's victory.

“It would have to be the Mile,” Casse said. “I have to think [about potential races in between]. It's so difficult with her; there's things she really likes and things she doesn't. I took her to Woodbine two years ago and she got beat there [second in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile]. I have to think it over. I have to talk to the owners, so we'll figure it out.

“It turned out perfect,” Casse continued. “It's what she loves; they'll have some sharp turns at Del Mar [in the Breeders' Cup Mile], so that'll work out just fine. You could see how well she was training. She loves it here. She trains great here.”

Jockey Florent Geroux, aboard runner-up Set Piece, said his horse may not have cared for the surface.

“He did great. I felt the track wasn't playing in our favor,” Geroux said. I was up against it from the beginning since my horse is a deep closer, but he came running at the end. I'm very proud of his effort and he ran a good race. The mare really loved the track and she's great at this time of the season.”

Got Stormy, previously owned by Gary Barber, was purchased by her current ownership group for $2.75 million at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.
Bred in Kentucky by Mt. Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean and Pope McLean, Jr., Got Stormy banked $275,000 in victory, enhancing her lifetime bankroll to $2,398,403 through a record of 30-12-5-3.

Completing the order of finish were Blowout, Daddy Is a Legend, Raging Bull, Whisper Not and Field Pass.

The post Got Stormy Makes History Again With Second Win In Fourstardave appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Stormy’ Forecast Ahead in Fourstardave

The contingent behind MGISW Got Stormy (Get Stormy) has been carefully monitoring the weather this week as the 6-year-old turf specialist prepares for her third appearance in Saratoga's GI Fourstardave H. Possible scattered overnight thunderstorms leading up to Saturday's card could soften the turf more than the fan-favorite mare would prefer.

“For a horse named Got Stormy, she doesn't like much rain,” her recently inducted Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. “If the turf gets soft on Saturday, a mile is stretching her distance ability. We'll see what happens, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.”

Got Stormy became the first female in history to win the mile-long Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge in 2019, besting MGISW Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), one of the expected favorites in this year's edition of the race, as well as eventual Eclipse champion Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) on the firm turf. Her win in 1:32 flat was a course-record time.

During last year's renewal of the event over a softer course, Got Stormy finished second just over a length behind wire-to-wire victor Halladay (War Front).

“Last year we weren't supposed to get rain and the morning of the race, it stormed,” Casse recalled. “There was a little give in the ground and it probably cost her the race.”

Later last year, a day after finishing fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy sold for $2.75 million at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November Sale to Spendthrift Farm. Now co-owned by My Racehorse Stable, the chestnut returned this year with a score in the GIII Honey Fox S. followed by a pair of disappointing fifth-place finishes in the GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. and GI Jackpot Jaipur S.

Her recent absence from the winner's circle is not a big concern for Casse, who believes the mare has blossomed since her return to the Spa last month.

“I see a lot of similarities from last year to this year,” he said. “She struggled a little bit before she got to Saratoga last year and then she ran a great race in the Fourstardave. She gets better in the summer and fall. I think a lot of it has to do with how she loves training here and she tends to blossom at Saratoga.”

He continued, “Tyler Gaffalione worked her [on Aug. 1] and he came back with a big smile and said, 'She's back.' So if Tyler is happy, I'm happy. Looking at the race, one of the things she likes is to have a target. There seems to be a fair amount of speed and it's something she hasn't gotten recently, so it should play out well.”

Raging Bull (inside) worked in company with three-time Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) on Aug. 8. | Sarah Andrew

Got Stormy will face a field of seven other rivals on Saturday.

Raging Bull, the 2019 second-place finisher, made his six-year-old debut at Keeneland this spring with a two-length victory in the GI Maker's Mark Mile S. The three-time Grade I winner and Chad Brown pupil enters Saturday's race following a nail-biting close second to Oleksandra (Aus) (Animal Kingdom) in the GIII Poker S.

“He's still going strong at age six and he's really doing as well as he's ever done,” said Brown, who has yet to win the prestigious Grade I turf contest. “His race at Keeneland was dynamite-one of his best ever. Last time out, he just got in some trouble and was kind of stuck inside. Hopefully he has a better trip this time.”

Fellow Chad Brown-trained, Peter Brant-owned entry Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB}) looks to get the lead early, but will have to do so from the eight hole. The 5-year-old mare made it to the winner's circle in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. in her only start this year.

Brown explained that the speedy Blowout is not in the race to set up Raging Bull.

“She has a little bit of a layoff to overcome, but she's very dangerous if she gets to the front and has things her way,” Brown said. “She should be setting the pace but make no mistake, she's in the race to win. If she can get around there on an easy pace, I'm fine with that. I don't want to get beat by a horse that is loose on the lead either. If someone wins loose on the lead, it's going to be her.”

Other top considerations in the field include Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who has gone undefeated in his last three starts at Churchill Downs this year for Brad Cox and was last seen besting a 10-horse field in the GII Wise Dan S. on June 26., as well as Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who also enters coming off a win in the GI Jackpot Jaipur S. for trainer Bill Mott.

The post ‘Stormy’ Forecast Ahead in Fourstardave appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

War Like Goddess Wins Glen Falls For Mott, Casa Creed To Fourstardave

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess rallied from last-of-7 to capture Saturday's $250,000 Grade 2 Glens Falls, a 12-furlong inner-turf test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old English Channel bay notched her third straight graded win, encompassing the Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream Park and the Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland.

Mott said he was pleased with the winning trip engineered by regular pilot Julien Leparoux.

“I thought she accelerated very good. I couldn't describe it any other way other than impressive,” Mott said.

Mott said he would point War Like Goddess to the $600,000 Grade 1 Flower Bowl on September 4 at Saratoga, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Natalie Baffert and Debbie Lanni's Du Jour, who exited post 2 under Joel Rosario, finished third just 3 1/2-lengths back of winner State of Rest in Saturday's Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational.

The Temple City bay captured the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., before finishing fourth last month in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational in his first start for Mott.

“I thought he ran well to be third. I wasn't disappointed,” Mott said. “He had a little bit of trouble getting through. As he was coming through, they kind of squeezed him a little bit, but he still ran well. We're happy with his performance.”

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector earned a 102 Beyer in a convincing front-running score in Friday's nine-furlong Alydar.

The 4-year-old Bernardini colt, who was making his first start for Mott, captured the Grade 2 Blue Grass last August at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the Ellis Park Derby last August for former conditioner Tom Drury, Jr.

He entered the Alydar off a trio of off-the-board efforts.

“He had kind of lost his way a little bit, but it looks like he's back into form,” Mott said.

[Story Continues Below]

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's High Oak, an impressive maiden winner in June at Belmont, and Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur-winner Casa Creed breezed a bullet half-mile in :48.11 in company Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“They both went well. I was very happy with them,” Mott said. “They both did what I wanted them to do. They maybe worked a little better than expected.”

High Oak, a 2-year-old son of Gormley, is pointed to Saturday's $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite, a 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles.

Casa Creed, a 5-year-old son of Jimmy Creed, scratched out of Friday's Grade 3 Troy presented by Horse Racing Ireland after drawing post 12. Mott said Casa Creed will now target the $500,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap on August 14, a “Win and You're In' qualifier to the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“We didn't like our post the other day and I think we'd prefer to take our chance in another race,” Mott said. “Not that we think it's an easier spot, but maybe we'll get a little better draw and have a chance at a better trip.”

Casa Creed will stretch back out to one mile in the Fourstardave after an impressive rally to win the six-furlong Jackpocket Jaipur. Mott acknowledged that the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, to be contested at five furlongs at Del Mar, would likely be too short for the late-running Casa Creed.

“That's probably not his cup of tea,” Mott said.

The post War Like Goddess Wins Glen Falls For Mott, Casa Creed To Fourstardave appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post