Gallant Bloom | Horse Racing Free Tips

Kimari Runs Down Lady Rocket Late To Win Gallant Bloom

Kimari (Munnings) tuned up for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint with an effortless victory in the GII Gallant Bloom S. at the Belmont at Aqueduct meet Sunday. The 3-5 favorite sat just off pacesetting Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat) through an opening quarter in :23.55. The pacesetter looked to skip away into the stretch after a half in :46.98, but Joel Rosario was still motionless aboard Kimari. Rosario flicked his wrists at the favorite and she duly inhaled Lady Rocket and strode clear to the wire while under wraps.

“That's what you want to see, right? We were excited and this race set up beautifully for her time-wise to get from here to the Breeders' Cup,” said winning trainer Wesley Ward. “The timing gave her a couple of extra weeks [as opposed to a start in the Oct. 8 GII Thoroughbred Club of America]. She always relishes the time between starts. For her, it should work out perfect. Whether she's good enough, we'll find out.”

Rosario was impressed with Kimari's effort.

“She's special. She runs hard all the time and she ran a good race again today,” Rosario said. “She was very comfortable. She was loving what she was doing out there. For a second, I was worried the horse in front of me [Lady Rocket] would keep moving forward, but my filly kept gaining and I had a lot of confidence.”

'TDN Rising Star' Kimari returned from seven months on the sidelines to finish seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last November at Del Mar and just two days later Coolmore's M.V. Magnier signed the ticket on the filly for $2.7 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale. She opened 2022 with an optional-claiming score at Gulfstream Mar. 3 and was third while attempting to defend her title in the GI Madison S. at Keeneland Apr. 9. She was fifth in the May 7 GI Derby City Distaff S. before getting up late for a half-length victory in the July 27 GII Honorable Miss S. at Saratoga last time out.

“She'll head back to Keeneland tomorrow,” Ward said. “It'll give her six weeks on both her and my home track, so hopefully everything works out.”

Ward continued, “A lot of things have worked out for her in her last two starts when she drew the outside. When you're last in, she bounces away from there. In the Breeders' Cup, it'll be a bigger field, so if she gets there down below, Joel will have to work his way out, so we'll see how it goes.”

Pedigree Notes:

Kimari, a daughter of graded winner Cozze Up Lady, has a yearling half-brother by Constitution who sold for $1.3 million two weeks ago at Keeneland September, and a weanling half-brother by Tiz the Law. Cozze Up Lady, who was bred to Charlatan this year, was purchased by the China Horse Club for $300,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale.

Sunday, Belmont The Big A
GALLANT BLOOM S.-GII, $242,500, Belmont The Big A, 9-25, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:16.58, ft.
1–KIMARI, 124, m, 5, by Munnings
                1st Dam: Cozze Up Lady (GSW, $407,169), by Cozzene
                2nd Dam: The White Lady, by Johannesburg
                3rd Dam: Maha Al Iman, by Pulpit
'TDN Rising Star'. ($152,000 Ylg '18 FTKJUL; $2,700,000 4yo '21
FTKNOV). O-Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier,
Derrick Smith & Michael B. Tabor; B-China Horse Club
International Limited (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Joel Rosario.
$137,500. Lifetime Record: GISW-USA, G1SP-Eng, 16-9-2-2,
$1,118,827. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Lady Rocket, 124, m, 5, Tale of the Cat–Allons Danser, by
Eskendereya. ($27,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $60,000 Ylg '18
OBSOCT; $420,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Frank Fletcher Racing
Operations, Inc. & Ten Strike Racing; B-La Ciega LLC & Tale Of
The Cat Syndicate (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $50,000.
3–Sterling Silver, 118, f, 3, Cupid–Sheet Humor, by
Distorted Humor. ($13,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Mark T.
Anderson; B-Mallory & Karen Mort (NY); T-Thomas Albertrani.
$30,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 9HF, 2. Odds: 0.60, 2.50, 6.20.
Also Ran: Cheetara (Chi), Remain Anonymous.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.

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Test Winner Bella Sofia Headlines Sunday’s Gallant Bloom Handicap

Following a breakthrough triumph against her sophomore counterparts in the Grade 1 Longines Test at Saratoga Race Course, Bella Sofia will face older fillies and mares at stakes level for the first time in Sunday's 27th running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs over the Belmont Park main track.

Bella Sofia, a Rudy Rodriguez-trained daughter of Awesome Patriot, has won 3-of-4 lifetime starts by a combined 22 lengths and registered a 101 Beyer Speed Figure for her triumph in the seven-furlong Longines Test on Aug. 7.

The dark bay or brown filly displayed stalking tactics down the backstretch in the Test, establishing command in upper stretch and drawing off to a decisive 4 ¼-length conquest against four graded stakes winners.

Bella Sofia broke her maiden at first asking against older company, winning by 11 ¼-lengths going six furlongs on May 6 at Belmont Park. She won a first-level allowance against elders at the same distance and track on July 11 by 6 ½ lengths. Her lone defeat was a runner-up effort in the June 6 Jersey Girl over Big Sandy.

Rodriguez said he considered two-turn options out of town for Bella Sofia, but decided the Gallant Bloom was the best spot given the distance and the homefield advantage.

“This was the best race for her coming up,” Rodriguez said. “We could have run her in the Cotillion or gone to the Spinster, but it made more sense for us to run her here at home. We know she likes Belmont. She's been here all along. We're just happy she's coming into the race in good shape.”

Bella Sofia is owned by Michael Imperio, Vincent Scuderi [the owner of 2016 Gallant Bloom winner Paulassilverlining], Sofia Soares, Gabrielle Farm, Mazel Stable Partners and Matthew Mercutio.

“The Test was a huge, huge win for us, because we don't have these kinds of horses in the barn,” Rodriguez said. “To win a Grade 1 at Saratoga, especially a prestigious race like the Test, everything was amazing. We're still dreaming.”

Rodriguez said Bella Sofia is not as enthusiastic during morning training as she is on race day in the afternoon.

“We've been very, very lucky with her,” Rodriguez said. “She just destroyed the field in her first race. She doesn't put much into her training in the mornings, but in the afternoon she's a completely different horse. We just have to keep her happy, stay out of her way and let her do all the talking. She's still young so there's still plenty of growing ahead of her.”

Luis Saez, the leading rider at Saratoga this summer, will return to the irons from post 1. Bella Sofia will carry 119 pounds.

Coming off a triumph against fellow Pennsylvania-breds is Don't Call Me Mary, a winner of three of her last four starts, including a last-out win in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial on August 23 over a sloppy and sealed track at Parx.

Owned by Stuart Grant's The Elkstone Group and trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old El Padrino chestnut made her lone start at Belmont a winning one, defeating a second-level allowance optional claiming event at the Gallant Bloom distance by 4 ½ lengths over next-out stakes winner Truth Hurts.

In her recent stakes coup, Don't Call Me Mary handed ultra-consistent Chub Wagon, a five-time stakes-winner, her only loss in ten starts.

“She beat a good filly who was undefeated and came back and won an open company stake after that, so I thought it was a good race,” said Pletcher, who saddled Harmony Lodge to victory in the 2003 Gallant Bloom.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, a five-time winner of the Gallant Bloom, will ride Don't Call Me Mary [118 pounds] from post 5.

Godolphin's Lake Avenue seeks her first graded stakes victory since capturing the Grade 2 Demoiselle in December 2019 for Hall of Famer Bill Mott, a two-time winning trainer of the Gallant Bloom.

The regally-bred Tapit chestnut, out of two-time Grade 1 winner Seventh Street, was a last out second to Gamine in the Grade 1 Ketel One Ballerina, where she finished 1 ¾ lengths behind the defending Champion Female Sprinter.

Winless in five starts during her sophomore season, Lake Avenue recaptured her winning form in her 2021 bow going a one-turn mile against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park en route to a stakes score in the Heavenly Prize Invitational on April 3 at Aqueduct. She added black type later in the year with two second-place finishes in the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses at Belmont and Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga.

Lake Avenue, carrying a field-high 121 pounds, will exit post 4 under Jose Ortiz.

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations won last year's Gallant Bloom with Frank's Rockette and will look to double up with Lady Rocket, a 4-year-old Tale of the Cat filly. Trained by Brad Cox, the four-time winner from eight starts took the Pink Ribbon on August 27 at Charles Town in wire-to-wire fashion in her most recent start.

A winner over four different tracks, Lady Rocket defeated second-level allowance optional claiming company at Churchill Downs prior to her last out win. She made her career debut a winning one travelling 6 ½ furlongs in August 2020 at Saratoga en route to a next-out score against winners in October at Keeneland.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pilot Lady Rocket [118 pounds] from post 2.

Saul Kupferberg's veteran mare Honor Way, second in last year's Gallant Bloom, rounds out the field as she seeks to make amends following two fifth-place finishes at stakes level for trainer Charlton Baker.

The 7-year-old daughter of Caleb's Posse racked up two stakes victories on the NYRA circuit following last year's Gallant Bloom, including a 4 ½-length win in the seven-furlong Pumpkin Pie on November 1 at Belmont, and a 1 1/2-length score in the six-furlong Garland of Roses on December 6 at Aqueduct.

Through a record of 44-13-8-8, Honor Way boasts a field-best $717,692 in lifetime earnings.

Honor Way [118 pounds] will break from post 3 under Jorge Vargas, Jr.

The Gallant Bloom is named in honor of King Ranch's multiple champion filly, who won 12 straight races, including an unbeaten season in seven starts in 1969 when she was named Champion 3-Year-Old Filly over that year's Triple Tiara winner Shuvee. Trained by the late Hall of Famer Max Hirsch, Gallant Bloom was named 1968 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly with victories in the Matron and Gardenia, and put together an illustrious sophomore campaign, capturing the Gazelle, Delaware Oaks, Monmouth Oaks, and Spinster. She was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1977.

The Gallant Bloom is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race card, which also features the $150,000 Bertram F. Bongard for New York-bred juveniles travelling seven furlongs over the main track in Race 4. First post is 1 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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Hall Of Fame Jockey John Rotz Dies At 86

A class act both in and out of the saddle, Hall of Fame jockey John Rotz died peacefully at the age of 86 at his farm in Warrensburg, Illinois, on July 12. Rotz, who won 2,907 races and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1983, was North America's leading stakes-winning rider in 1969 and 1970, when he rode Hall of Famers Gallant Bloom and Ta Wee, as well as champion Silent Screen.

Born Dec. 16, 1934, in Niantic, Illinois, Rotz went to work at Fairmount Park following his graduation from high school in 1952. He started out as a groom, hot walker, and exercise rider before making his debut as a jockey in 1953.

Known as “Gentleman John,” Rotz began his career riding in fairs in the Midwest before becoming the leading rider in New York in 1961 and 1962. He won the Preakness Stakes by a nose aboard Greek Money in 1962 and the Belmont Stakes on High Echelon in 1970.

Polite, articulate, dependable rather than flashy, his opinion was valued by trainers both before and after a race. Rotz had a gentle touch with temperamental horses and was known for his success with fillies. He won the Acorn and Mother Goose on Deceit and won notable races aboard top fillies such as What a Treat, Rose Bower, Obeah, Castle Forbes, Indian Maid, Rash Statement, and Chou Croute.

Rotz won the Metropolitan with both Hall of Famer Carry Back and In Reality, the Wood Memorial on Globemaster and No Robbery, and the Champagne on Roman Brother, Silent Screen, and Stop the Music. He also rode Hall of Famer Dr. Fager, as well as Verbatim, The Axe II, and Mongo.

Rotz, who was honored with the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award in 1973, retired from riding that year at the age of 39. His 2,907 wins ranked 15th at the time. He later served as The Jockey Club steward in New York.

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Frank’s Rockette Tries To Keep Her Streak Alive In Gallant Bloom

Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's sophomore filly Frank's Rockette will face elders after winning three straight races in Saturday's 26th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom for fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track at Belmont Park.

The Gallant Bloom, named in honor of the 1968 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and 1969 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, is one of five graded stakes races carded for Saturday's action packed program which also features the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso going a one-turn mile for older horses; the Grade 2, $150,000 Pilgrim for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles over the inner turf; the Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds going 1 ¼ miles over the Widener turf and the Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – a 1 ½ mile test for older horses over the Widener turf.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette has gone off as the favorite in all nine of her lifetime starts and has never finished worse than second. She is 3-2-0 this year with each start at a different track.

Following a seven-length runaway win in the February 22 Any Limit at Gulfstream Park, the Into Mischief bay filly was second to Kimari in the Purple Martin on April 4 over a sloppy main track at Oaklawn Park. Frank's Rockette won her following three starts which took place in a Churchill Downs optional claiming tilt on May 25 followed by graded stakes triumphs in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 4 at Belmont Park and the Grade 2 Prioress on September 5 at Saratoga.

During her juvenile campaign, Frank's Rockette picked up Grade 1-black type with runner up efforts in the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga and Grade 1 Frizette over Big Sandy.

Frank's Rockette has trained forwardly for Mott since her last victory, recently working a half-mile in 48.80 seconds over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track on September 25.

“She's been doing really well,” said Mott who won the 2000 Gallant Bloom with Dream Supreme. “She had a couple of nice works; very workmanlike breezes. They've all been on point.”

Jockey Junior Alvarado will pilot Frank's Rockette from post 4.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out Royal Charlotte in attempt of her first victory this year. Owned by First Row Partners and Parkland Thoroughbreds, the 4-year-old daughter of Cairo Prince kicked off her career undefeated in her first four starts, including the Grade 3 Victory Ride last July at Belmont Park.

After a distant sixth in the 2019 Grade 1 Test at Saratoga, she made amends with a win in the 2019 Grade 2 Prioress at the Spa, which was her last victory. A last out second as the favorite in Monmouth Park's Regret on September 13, Royal Charlotte began her season when second in the Harmony Lodge at Belmont Park on June 5, which was contested over a muddy and sealed main track.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will ride from post 2.

Following a victory over Royal Charlotte in the Regret, 2W Stables' Bronx Beauty will attempt to best the dual graded stakes winner once more for trainer Anthony Margotta, Jr.

The Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Liaison was a 4 ¼-length winner of the six-furlong Regret, which she also won last year. A ten-time winner of 22 lifetime starts, Bronx Bomber is an eight-time stakes winner over four different tracks.
Jockey Eric Cancel picks up the mount from post 1.

Trainer John Kimmel will saddle Tobey L. Morton's Pacific Gale in attempt of her first graded stakes victory.

The Flat Out bay has not found the winner's circle since October 2018, where she defeated allowance optional claiming company going six furlongs at Belmont Park, but has acquired graded stakes black type five times since that effort.

Last spring, Pacific Gale was runner-up in the Grade 3 Distaff in April 2019 at Aqueduct behind Come Dancing and was subsequently a late-closing second beaten a neck to Heavenhasmynikki in the Grade 3 Vagrancy at Belmont Park. Three starts back, she was third beaten six lengths in this year's running of the Vagrancy, which was won by Victim of Love.

Jockey Jose Lezcano will ride Pacific Gale from post 6.

Completing the field are Bertranda [post 3, Manny Franco] and Honor Way [post 5, Jose Ortiz]

The Gallant Bloom is slated as Race 5 on Saturday's 10-race program, which offers a first post of 12:40 p.m. Eastern. America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the 27-day fall meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete America's Day at the Races broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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