Ward Duo Loom Large in Futurity

A spot in the starting gate for the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint will be on the line in Sunday's GIII Futurity S. at Belmont Park.

The Wesley Ward-trained duo of unbeaten Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) and Poppy Flower (Lea), both scratched out of Saturday's loaded GIII Matron S., are the top two choices on the morning-line while taking on the boys here.

Keeneland debut winner Chi Town Lady switched to turf following some time on the shelf to add Saratoga's Bolton Landing S. Aug. 18. Poppy Flower, in the money in all five of her career starts, followed a second behind her aforementioned stablemate in the Bolton Landing with a third-place finish in the Ainsworth S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 12.

Midnight Worker (Outwork), a game debut winner at the Spa July 24 and third-place finisher in Monmouth's Sapling S. Sept. 5, switches to grass here. Scratched from last Sunday's GII Pilgrim S., Midnight Worker has breezed twice over the Belmont inner turf, including a sharp half-mile in :48.44 (4/20) Sept. 26.

“I worked him a couple of times on the grass and he seemed to breeze pretty well over it, so hopefully he can step up,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It seems like the Outworks are pretty versatile. He's had some winners on both dirt and turf which gives you some options.”

Live Oak homebred Biz Biz Buzz (Fed Biz) graduated smartly after getting bumped at the start in his debut sprinting over the Laurel lawn Sept. 10 while Slipstream (More Than Ready) got it right at third asking with a sharp, front-running score over the Belmont lawn Sept. 18.

The post Ward Duo Loom Large in Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NYRA Partners With Keeneland For Two-Day Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host a two-day Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 this weekend featuring select races from the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series presented by America's Best Racing from Belmont Park and Keeneland's Fall Stars weekend.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series consists of the best races from around the world and awards each winner an automatic and free entry into the Breeders' Cup World Championships slated for Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

This weekend's sequence kicks off Saturday at Belmont Park with the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh [Race 5, 2:45 p.m. Eastern], a six-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up led by Big Sandy specialist Firenze Fire. The talented field of five includes the upwardly mobile Baby Yoda and versatile Following Sea vying for an all-expenses paid berth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Action switches to Keeneland for the next two legs, beginning with the one-mile Grade 1 First Lady [Race 8, 4:44 p.m.] on the Haggin turf course. The Charles Appleby-trained Althiqa, who won the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont and the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga earlier this summer, headlines a loaded field that features Chad Brown-trained entrants Viadera, Blowout, and Regal Glory competing for a berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

In Race 10 from Keeneland at 5:46 p.m. – the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile [Breeders' Cup Mile] – the Aidan O'Brien-trained Order of Australia, returns to the course where he captured last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile. A wide array of talented challengers include last year's Turf Mile winner Ivar; last-out Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Mint Million-winner Pixelate; and Grade 2 Bernard Baruch champ Tell Your Daddy.

The second half of the wager continues Sunday from Belmont with the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity [Juvenile Turf Sprint], at six furlongs on turf for 2-year-olds in Race 5 at 2:43 p.m. Leading the way is filly Chi Town Lady, winner of the Bolton Landing for trainer Wesley Ward and the improving Midnight Worker, who makes his turf debut for Hall of Fame Todd Pletcher.

The sequence concludes with a pair of races from Keeneland, starting with the Grade 1 Spinster [Distaff] at nine furlongs for fillies and mares, slated as Race 9 at 5:15 p.m.

St. George Stable's Letruska has won her last four starts, including a last-out half-length score in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 28 at Saratoga. Bonny South, runner-up in the Personal Ensign, and millionaire Dunbar Road are among the top contenders.

The 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Bourbon [Juvenile Turf] brings the sequence to a close with Tiz the Bomb, last-out winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile headlining an overflow field of juveniles in Race 10 at 5:46 p.m. Eastern.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is $1 and will feature a low 15 percent takeout and mandatory payout of the net pool. Wagering on the Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country.

Free Equibase past performances for the Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 sequence will be available for download. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Two-Day Breeders' Cup Challenge Pick 6 – October 9/10, 2021:

Leg A: October 9 – Belmont, Race 5 – G2 Vosburgh
Leg B: October 9 – Keeneland, Race 8 – G1 First Lady
Leg C: October 9 – Keeneland, Race 10 – G1 Turf Mile
Leg D: October 10 – Belmont, Race 5 – G3 Futurity
Leg E: October 10 – Keeneland, Race 9 – G1 Spinster
Leg F: October 10 – Keeneland, Race 10 – G2 Bourbon

The post NYRA Partners With Keeneland For Two-Day Breeders’ Cup Challenge Pick 6 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Midnight Worker Shifts To Turf For ‘Win And You’re In’ Futurity

Repole Stable's Midnight Worker will take his talents to the turf for the first time in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a six-furlong inner turf sprint for juveniles at Belmont Park.

The Futurity offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 5 at Del Mar.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Midnight Worker posted a game debut win sprinting six furlongs on the main track on July 24 at Saratoga Race Course. He followed with a prominent third in the one-mile Sapling on September 5 on the Monmouth Park main track.

By the Pletcher-trained Outwork and out of the stakes-placed Speightstown mare Spice Lady [who was also conditioned by Pletcher], Midnight Worker was scratched from Sunday's Grade 2 Pilgrim here, a 1 1/16-mile turf test won by stablemate Annapolis.

Midnight Worker has breezed twice over the Belmont inner turf, including a sharp half-mile in 48.44 seconds on September 26.

“I worked him a couple of times on the grass and he seemed to breeze pretty well over it, so hopefully he can step up,” Pletcher said. “It seems like the Outworks are pretty versatile. He's had some winners on both dirt and turf which gives you some options.”

Manny Franco has the call from post 2.

Jump Sucker Stable's Slipstream, by More Than Ready, graduated at third asking by 5 1/2-lengths sprinting seven furlongs on the Belmont turf on September 18.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Slipstream, out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Cake Baby, was purchased for $170,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Slipstream will exit post 4 under Joel Rosario.

Trainer Wesley Ward entered a pair of fillies in Castleton Lyons' Chi Town Lady and Arnmore Thoroughbreds' Poppy Flower, who are both cross-entered here in Saturday's Grade 3 Matron where they drew posts 8 and 1, respectively, in a field of 12 juvenile fillies.

Chi Town Lady, by Verrazano, graduated at first asking sprinting 4 1/2-furlongs in April on the main track at Keeneland and followed last out with an impressive 1 3/4-length score over Poppy Flower in the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing, overcoming a stumbled start and yielding turf on August 18 at the Spa.

Poppy Flower, a Lea chestnut, graduated at third asking sprinting six furlongs on the Belmont turf in June ahead of her pacesetting effort in the Bolton Landing. She enters from a prominent third in the 6 1/2-furlong Ainsworth on September 12 at Kentucky Downs.

Ward won the 2019 Futurity with Four Wheel Drive, who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez is named on Chi Town Lady from post 5, while Jose Ortiz has the call aboard Poppy Flower from post 8.

Rounding out the field are Rick Violette-stakes winner Run Curtis Run [post 1, Eric Cancel]; Live Oak Plantation homebred maiden winner Biz Biz Buzz [post 3, Javier Castellano]; and a pair for trainer Jim Chapman in Ready to March [post 7, Charles Roberts] and Kavod [post 6, Paco Lopez].

The Futurity is slated as Race 5 on Sunday's 9-race which also features the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame at nine furlongs for fillies and mares; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, a nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds and up.

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.

The post Midnight Worker Shifts To Turf For ‘Win And You’re In’ Futurity appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Congress Strong: 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress Set To Return To Columbus, Ohio

Get ready for the 2021 Quarter Horse Congress. We are back, Congress Strong and ready, once again to present the greatest horses show on earth. This highly anticipated event is the largest single-breed show in the world.

The All American Quarter Horse Congress is an unparalleled destination for equestrians from across the globe. An innovative force in the horse industry, the Ohio Quarter Horse Association (OQHA) is eager to move forward with the 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress scheduled for September 28 through October 24 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. OQHA is pleased to announce the expansion of the Futurities and Sweepstakes classes for the 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress. Over $3 Million in cash and prizes will be awarded at this year's Congress.

“Congress Strong, is what exhibitors will experience with our 2021 Futurity and Sweepstakes classes,” says Dr. Scott Myers, CEO of the All American Quarter Horse Congress.  A few highlights, we will dedicate the Congress 2-Year-Old Maiden Open Western Pleasure Futurity – Presented by Coughlin Automotive to beloved industry icon, the late Susan Scott. Another highlight, Friends of the Congress Reining will continue their generous support of the Congress Reining program, boosting the total reining pay out to more than $380,000 — 2021 will be the biggest and best Congress ever!

The Congress Futurity and Sweepstakes classes are open to the following breeds/registries: American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), American Paint Horse Association (APHA), Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA), International Buckskin Horse Association (IBHA), Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) and the Jockey Club.

2021 Futurities & Sweepstakes Classes:

  • Congress Masters 2-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity – Presented by The Equine Chronicle
  • Congress Masters 2-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity – Presented by The Equine Chronicle
  • 2-Year-Old Maiden Open Western Pleasure Futurity (Open, Ltd & SBB), – Presented by Coughlin Automotive – In Memory of Susan Scott
  • 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity (Open & Ltd)
  • Congress Southern Belle Breeders 3-Year-Old Open Western Pleasure Futurity (Open & Ltd)
  • 3-Year-Old Non Pro Western Pleasure Futurity (Non Pro, Ltd & SBB)
  • Maturity Open Western Pleasure Futurity (Open & Ltd)
  • 3-Year-Old Open Hunter Under Saddle Futurity (Open, Ltd & SBB)
  • Congress Barrel Racing Sweepstakes – Presented by TLC Farms Equine Rehabilitation Center
  • Congress Pole Bending Sweepstakes – Presented by TLC Farms Equine Rehabilitation Center
  • NRHA Open Reining Futurity (Level 4, 3, 2, 1 & Prime Time) – Presented by Friends of the Congress Reining

The 2021 Congress Futurities & Sweepstakes Entry Book can be accessed here.

The post Congress Strong: 2021 All American Quarter Horse Congress Set To Return To Columbus, Ohio appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights