NYRA has increased the purse of six stakes to be contested during the Aqueduct spring meet. Four listed events have received a $50,000 boost, including the Top Flight S., Danger's Hour S., Plenty of Grace S. and Memories of Silver S. The GIII Distaff H. and the Woodhaven S. have each been increased by $25,000, raising the purse of the Distaff to $175,000 and the Woodhaven to $125,000.

Stakes action kicks off Saturday, Apr. 6, with the running of the Wood, a nine-furlong contest that serves as the final local prep for the GI Kentucky Derby four weeks later. As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby, the Wood offers 200 qualifying points on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10. The fillies' counterpart, the $200,000 GII Gazelle S., also takes place Apr. 6, with 200 Kentucky Oaks points up for grabs on the same scale. Wood Memorial day will also feature the $250,000 GII Carter H., the Distaff H. and the $175,000 Listed Bay Shore S.

The Listed Top Flight S. is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 13, while New York-bred 3-year-old males and fillies take center stage the following afternoon in the Times Square S. and Park Avenue S., both part of the New York Stallion Stakes Series.

Turf stakes return the weekend of Apr. 20 and 21, with the running of the Danger's Hour and the Plenty of Grace. Sophomore turf males and fillies go postward in the Woodhaven on Apr. 27 and Memories of Silver Apr. 28, respectively.

Click here for the schedule.

The post Wood Memorial Highlights Aqueduct Spring Stakes Schedule appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Taking a steep rise in class, having graduated by better than a half-dozen lengths going this track's one-turn mile Feb. 19, the $75,000 OBS April graduate was alertly away and settled just off the flank of the rail-drawn Capella (Quality Road) through a half-mile in a moderate :49.60 as favored Occult (Into Mischief) raced with the pace three wide. Asked to claim the front-runner nearing the stretch, Promiseher America wrested command with about a quarter mile to travel, but soon had Occult breathing down her neck. The 26-1 outsider–the only horse to jump at a double-digit quote–turned back that challenge passing the eighth pole and Charging Girl (Dialed In), a latest fourth in what is shaping as a productive renewal of the GIII Honeybee S. Feb. 25, began to find her best finishing kick down the center of the track. But Promiseher America had just enough to narrowly annex the final local GI Longines Kentucky Oaks prep.

“She was super impressive last time and I said, 'Let's go the nine furlongs. We can always go back to the [first-level allowance] if we need to,'” said trainer Ray Handal, winning his first graded stakes. “But I like the idea of two turns. She's just built like a two-turn kind of horse. She obviously had to step up. It was one of those races where whoever took the biggest step forward would win this race today and she was in the realm of them and she hung on.”

Pedigree Notes:

Promiseher America is the 20th worldwide winner at the graded/group level for her sire and 34th black-type winner overall. She is also the 221st stakes winner and 114th graded or group winner out of a daughter of the influential Unbridled's Song. She is inbred 4 x 3 to GI Kentucky Derby hero Unbridled.

On behalf of his clients Robert and Lawana Low, Jacob West acquired Promisedyouheaven for $370,000 with this filly in utero at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where the mare's then-weanling colt by Practical Joke fetched $240,000 from OXO Equine. Second dam Hurricane Bernie, winner of the 2007 Canterbury Park Lassie, is a half-sister to Mizdirection (Mizzen Mast), two-time winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Promisedyouheaven is the dam of a yearling filly by Curlin and is due to Constitution for her foal of 2023.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:51.41, ft.
1–PROMISEHER AMERICA, 118, f, 3, by American Pharoah
                1st Dam: Promisedyouheaven, by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Hurricane Bernie, by Sea of Secrets
                3rd Dam: Deceptive, by Clever Trick
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($75,000
2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom F.
McCrocklin,; B-Robert & Lawana Low (KY); T-Raymond Handal;
J-Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0,
$198,138. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gambling Girl, 118, f, 3, Dialed In–Tulipmania,
by Empire Maker. ($200,000 Ylg '21 SARAUG). O-Repole
Stable; B-Gallagher's Stud (NY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $50,000.
3–Shidabhuti, 120, f, 3, Practical Joke–A. P. Candy,
by Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($77,000 Wlg
'20 KEENOV; $310,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Peter M. Brant;
B-Gabriel Duignan & Gerry Dilger (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.
$30,000.
Margins: HF, 1HF, 2. Odds: 26.50, 5.70, 3.05.
Also Ran: Capella, Occult, Frosty O Toole.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Gazelle Produces Yet Another Longshot Winner on Oaks Trail appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Venti Valentine broke alertly and went straight to the front with fellow NY-bred, 9-5 second-choice and 'TDN Rising Star' Classy Edition (Classic Empire) just off her heels in second and 4-1 shot Nostalgic on that one's inside hip. Keeping the leader close as the half-mile went in :49.26, Nostalgic was joined by several rivals on her outside, but determinedly maintained her position behind the chalk. Venti Valentine turned for home strongly and steadily pulled away from all, but Nostalgic, who kept after her on the fence. Nostalgic wore down the hometown heroine late, extending clear to a 1 1/4-length success. Ruthless S. heroine Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) filled the show spot.

Earning 100 points for the victory, Nostalgic moves into sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks standing with a total of 101 with Venti Valentine just behind her with 94 points.

“You can see where she was in her first couple of races, so far back,” Mott said. “She put him in the race today. Last time, we planned on putting her up in the race a little bit, which we did again today. We wanted to see her engaged early a little more and she did it. She held her position and came through on the rail. I didn't tell him where to be other than we didn't want to be 15 lengths back.”

On a potential start in the Kentucky Oaks, Mott said, “[Godolphin bloodstock director] Michael [Banahan] and I were talking about that. We said that we have to consider it.”

“I love this filly. She reminds me a lot of [Mott-trained MGISW] Elate (Medaglia d'Oro),” winning rider Jose Ortiz said. “I was very happy to ride her today. She ran amazing last time. She woke up which was the most important thing. As a 2-year-old, she won first time out, but she was very green. She's big and she's supposed to keep going longer and longer. I am very excited about her.”

Jorge Abreu said Venti Valentine is still under consideration for the Oaks after her gallant second.

“We'll see how she comes out of it and we'll consider it,” said Abreu. “She ran her race and I think like Manny [Franco] said, he didn't think that horse [Nostalgic] was going to come back at the eighth pole and by the time he looked, the horse was already there. But I think he gave her a great ride. She's used to having a target and today she was by herself on the lead. It was a whole different scenario because there was no speed in the race. If she tracks somebody, that puts her on the bit.”

Rallying from well back to graduate by 7 3/4 lengths in her two-turn unveiling at Belmont Oct. 22, Nostalgic made up ground late to be fourth behind Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. romper Nest (Curlin) and Venti Valentine in the track-and-trip GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 4. Kicking off 2022 on grass in the Feb. 5 GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream, she proved turf was not for her, finishing a non-factor ninth. Returned to the main track in Hallandale, the bay dominated by 6 3/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer Mar. 3.

Pedigree Notes:

Nostalgic is the 88th graded winner and 164th black-type scorer for Medaglia d'Oro and second on the day following commonly owner Commonwealth winner Prevalence. She is also the 26th graded winner and 58th black-type achiever out of a daughter of Tapit. His sire Pulpit was the broodmare sire of GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo).

Mott trained Nostalgic's first three dams, tracing back to GSW & GISP Minister's Melody (Deputy Minister), who was a $400,000 KEESEP purchase for Stonerside Stable and the dam of GI Wood Memorial winner Bob and John (Seeking the Gold). Mott saddled her stakes-winning second dam Connie Belle (Storm Cat) and her SP dam Been Here Before. That 10-year-old mare's 2020 foal died and her 2021 foal was born dead. Been Here Before is expecting a foal by Violence.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:50.41, ft.
1–NOSTALGIC, 118, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
                1st Dam: Been Here Before (SP), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Connie Belle, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Minister's Melody, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $235,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Venti Valentine, 120, f, 3, Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $50,000.
3–Shotgun Hottie, 118, f, 3, Gun Runner–Re Entry, by Malibu Moon. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Aldabbagh, Omar and Ganje, Jeff; B-Vincent Colbert (KY); T-William E. Morey. $30,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, HF. Odds: 4.30, 1.10, 21.00.
Also Ran: Classy Edition, Divine Huntress, Morning Matcha, Caragate. Scratched: Greatitude.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Nostalgic Upsets Venti Valentine Gazelle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The GI Longines Kentucky Oaks will be overshadowed by the GI Kentucky Derby, but maybe that shouldn't be the case. The Oaks is absolutely loaded, perhaps the deepest in many years. In any other year, Secret Oath (Arrogate), Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), Kathleen O. (Upstart) or Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) would be an obvious heavy favorite. This year, a horse like the undefeated Kathleen O. might be third choice in the wagering at, say, 7-2 or 4-1. After a busy Saturday last week, which included Secret Oath's third-place finish against the boys in the GI Arkansas Derby, it will be another busy week for fillies eyeing the Oaks, kicking off with Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland. Saturday's action will include the GIII Gazelle S. at Aqueduct and the GII Santa Anita Oaks.

1) SECRET OATH (Arrogate–Absinthe Minded, by Quiet American) O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-4-0-2, $590,167. Last Start: 3rd GI Arkansas Derby. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 60.

After his filly failed to win the Arkansas Derby, trainer Wayne Lukas confirmed that Secret Oath will go next in the Kentucky Oaks. That's the right call. She needed to win the Arkansas Derby to warrant a start against males on the first Saturday in May. Though she didn't win, she turned in a terrific performance when facing the boys. Once she wound up last and wide down the backside, she was in trouble. An eye-catching middle move took her all the way to second position in the stretch, but she couldn't sustain her bid. Afterward, Lukas said that jockey Luis Contreras will keep the mount for the Oaks. Based on her solid performance in the Arkansas Derby and all the hype she garnered for her three dominant efforts before that–most of it justified–she'll probably be the favorite in the Oaks. It's been 32 years since Lukas has won this race. It would have been a better story had she gone in the Derby, but it will be hard not to root for the Coach to pull this one off.

2) KATHLEEN O. (Upstart–Quaver, by Blame) O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. & Bridlewood Farm (KY); T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $8,000 wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-4-0-0, $379,730. Last Start: 1st GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Next Start: GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Apr. 2. KY Oaks Points: 150.

What a nice filly. She's 4-for-4 and has been visually impressive in each of her starts, the most recent being the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. It wasn't a tough race and the only horse in there that possibly could have beaten her was Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), who finished second. But she did everything right…again. She sat back early, started rolling approaching the far turn and then ran away from the competition in the stretch to win under a mild drive.

“She has strong power at the finish,” winning rider Javier Castellano said. “I like the way she did it today, nice and easy with a strong finish. She has a lot of potential. I think she's going to be fun in the future.”

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has done a masterful job bringing her along. Her first three Beyer numbers were, in order, a 67, a 78 and then an 85. That raised the question as to whether or not she was fast enough, but that was put to rest when she improved again and ran a 98 Beyer in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Going into this weekend, that's the fastest number among all the fillies eyeing the Oaks. Can she improve some more? Yes. Does she have to improve to win the Kentucky Oaks? Maybe not.

3) ECHO ZULU (Gun Runner–Letgomyecho, by Menifee) 'TDN Rising Star' O-L and N Racing LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/ Ramsby (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, MGISW, 5-5-0-0, $1,720,000. Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 130.

An undefeated champion and she may not be the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks, which tells you what an incredibly strong group this is. There is so much to like. She was brilliant last year and is in the hands of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. She has never lost. But…How good was her comeback race? That is the question. For the first time in her career, she had to work for the win, beating Hidden Connection (Connect) by just a nose as the 1-10 favorite. The Beyer number was not great–the 88 was the slowest of her career. So, there are two schools of thought: 1) She has not improved from last year and it will catch up to her in the Oaks; 2) Asmussen didn't have her at all cranked up for her 3-year-old debut, she learned how to fight in the Fair Grounds race, and will run much better in the Kentucky Oaks. Which will it be?

4) ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant's Causeway) O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. Sales History: $180,000 ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $56,600. Last Start: 1st GIII Las Virgenes S. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 9. KY Oaks Points: 0.

She's been out of sight and out of mind since winning the GIII Las Virgenes by 13 lengths all the way back on Feb. 6 for then trainer Bob Baffert. But, let's not forget, that was a huge performance and it earned her a 94 Beyer. Baffert elected to give her some time off afterward and gear up for this Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks. With Baffert's suspension pending, she's been in the barn of new trainer Tim Yakteen for about two weeks. Last Saturday, Yakteen sent her out for a five-furlong work in 1:00.20. The trainer change shouldn't be a concern. Baffert did most of the heavy lifting to get her to this point and Yakteen is perfectly capable. She could easily win the Santa Anita race in a blowout fashion, which would mean she'd come to Churchill Downs as hot as any horse on this list. She has no points because Baffert trainees weren't eligible to earn points in any of the preps. She'll likely need to run first or second Saturday to make it in, but that shouldn't be a problem.

5) NEST (Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-1, $265,000. Last Start: 1st Suncoast S. Next Start: GI Central Bank Ashland S., KEE, Apr. 8. KY Oaks Points: 20.

Another horse we haven't heard from in a while, Nest is the 2-1 morning line favorite for Friday's Ashland at Keeneland. She is the deserving favorite, but it's not an easy spot as the competition includes the very fast Happy Soul (Runhappy) and the Brad Cox-trained Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire), an 8 1/4-length allowance winner on Mar. 13 at Oaklawn. Trainer Todd Pletcher has really taken his time with this filly. After she beat a very good field in the GII Demoiselle on Dec. 4, she didn't show up again until besting some tomato cans in the Feb. 12 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. That race proved little. For her, the Ashland is the real test, and should she win it, she'll be yet another horse who might have been favored in any other year only to go off at 5-1 or 6-1 in this year's Oaks.

6) HAPPY SOUL (Runhappy–Cowgirl Lucky, by Stephen Got Even) O-Gayla Rankin; B-Harris Training Center, LLC (KY); T-Wesley Ward. Sales History: $50,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW, 4-3-1-0, $238,500. Last Start: 1st Dixie Belle S. Next Start: Next Start: GI Central Bank Ashland S., KEE, Apr. 8. KY Oaks Points: 0.

Finally, her big test. Happy Soul drew post six for the Ashland, a race that will go a long way toward deciding her future. We know she can run. She won her last three starts by a combined 26 1/4 lengths. But those were all held at a six furlongs or shorter and her sire was an Eclipse Award-winning sprinter. Having to stretch out to 8 1/2 furlongs for the Ashland will pose a huge test. Is she a Kentucky Oaks horse or a horse who belongs in sprint races? Coming off a win in the Dixie Belle S., where she completed the first quarter in :21 1/5, she should go right to the lead in the Ashland and play a game of catch-me-if-you-can. We know Jim McIngvale will be rooting for her.

7) HIDDEN CONNECTION (Connect–C J's Gal, by Awesome Again) O-Hidden Brook Farm & Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-St. Simon Place (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. Sales History: $49,000 RNA wlg '19 KEENOV; $40,000 ylg '20 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSAPR; $85,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $399,525. Last Start: 2nd GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 57.

If someone other than the big three or four is going to win the Oaks, it may just be this filly. She's been a little up and down in her career. She looked like a star in the making when winning the GII Pocahontas S. by 9 1/4 lengths last September, but then was outrun in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She followed that with a fourth-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. That made it look like she wasn't quite good enough to compete against the very best, but then she rebounded with a big effort in the Fair Grounds Oaks to almost pull off the upset against Echo Zulu. The good Hidden Connection will have to show up for her to have any chance in the Kentucky Oaks, but there's every chance that can happen.

8) VENTI VALENTINE (Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro) O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable & Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge Abreu. Lifetime Record: MSW & GSP, 4-3-1-0, $366,250. Last Start: 1st Busher Invitational S. Next Start: GIII Gazelle S., AQU, Apr. 9. KY Oaks Points: 54.

No matter how she fares this weekend, she figures to be double-digit odds in the Kentucky Oaks. Again, that tells you just how strong this field looks to be. A New York-bred who kicked off her career with back-to-back wins against state breds, including one in the Maid of the Mist S., the best race of her life was the only one she lost. She gave Nest the fight of her life when finishing second, beaten only a neck, in the GII Demoiselle. She followed that with a seven-length romp in the Busher Invitational. The New York route to the Kentucky Oaks is not always the strongest, but this one should emerge as the biggest threat among that contingent.

9) YUUGIRI (Shackleford–Yuzuru, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Sekie Yoshihara & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $543,610. Last Start: 1st GIII Fantasy S. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 114.

This daughter of Shackleford makes the list after winning the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn. Would she have won if Secret Oath were in there? Probably not. She finished third behind Secret Oath, beaten 9 1/4 lengths, in the GIII Honeybee S. in her prior start. Most likely, she benefitted from the Fantasy being an easy spot. She did show a lot of talent when breaking her maiden, winning by 7 1/4 lengths back in September at Churchill. But she failed to back that up when a distant second, beaten 10 3/4 lengths, in the Rags to Riches S. Has earned her way into the Kentucky Oaks, but hard to see her being a major factor in that race.

10) SHAHAMA (Munnings–Private Feeling, by Belong to Me) 'TDN Rising Star' O-KHK Racing; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $425,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, $223,670. Last Start: 1st G3 UAE Oaks. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 50.

Not sure what to make of this filly, who is unbeaten in four starts, but has never raced outside of Dubai. Also notable that since her last start, in the Feb. 18 GIII UAE Oaks, she has had only one listed workout. That was a four-furlong breeze in :49.10 on Apr. 1 at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher. You can't blame her connections for giving the Kentucky Oaks a try, but this is not the sort of year where a mystery horse out of Dubai can win it. Would have to be something super special to pull this off.

The post TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Apr. 7 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The marquee day of the meet takes place Saturday, Apr. 9, highlighted by the $750,000 GII Wood Memorial S., a final prep for the GI Kentucky Derby that offers a total of 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) towards a start in the 'Run for the Roses.' Should a Grade I or Group 1 winner be declared an official starter in the nine-furlong test, NYRA will boost the purse of the race by $250,000 to an even $1 million.

The Wood program also features the first Grade I of the New York racing calendar annually, the seven-furlong, $300,000 Carter H. Supporting races include the GIII Gazelle S., a qualifier for the GI Kentucky Oaks (100-40-20-10); the GIII Bay Shore S. for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs; and the GIII Distaff H. for older filly and mare sprinters at seven-eighths of a mile. The card also includes the $100,000 Danger's Hour S. for turf males, four years old and upward.

The meet concludes with a pair of 6 1/2-furlong races for sophomore males and females in the New York Stallion Stakes series, each worth $200,000 to be run Apr. 23 and 24, and the $100,000 Memories of Silver S. on closing day.

Click here for the entire schedule.

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It was the fifth win on the card for rider Irad Ortiz and his third graded victory of the day, having captured both the GI Carter H. and GIII Bay Shore S. earlier in the day.

“She relaxed so good,” Ortiz said. “She did everything right. We broke out of there and had a target. Going into the last turn, I had plenty of horse, I was just waiting to make my move. When I asked her, she really picked it up.”

“I thought she was very professional today,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “She maybe lost focus when she surged to the front and there was no one around her in deep stretch. When she had a horse in front of her, I loved the way she was moving into the bit. I was relieved to see that she could handle the mile and an eighth. We were cautiously optimistic, but you always have to see them do it first to be sure.”

As for the Apr. 30 GI Kentucky Oaks, Brown said, “If she comes out of it in good shape, that would be the next step and it's something we've been working towards. Although she got her season started late, she seems to be catching up fast on this crop. She seems like one of the contenders, at least, so we're thankful for that.”

Pedigree Notes:

Search Results is the 21st graded winner for Flatter and one of 57 black-type winners by that Claiborne stallion, who also sired Saturday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. runner-up Pass the Champagne. The Klaravich colorbearer is also the ninth graded scorer and one of 23 black-type winners out of a daughter of Candy Ride (Arg). Search Results is the third foal out of Co Cola, who followed the winner with a Flatter colt, who was purchased by Nick de Meric for $100,000 at Keeneland September and is entered in the upcoming OBS April Sale as Hip 644. Co Cola aborted a foal by West Coast in 2020 and was bred back to Nyquist for this year.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-3, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:54.14, ft.
1–SEARCH RESULTS, 120, f, 3, by Flatter
                1st Dam: Co Cola (GSP), by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: Yong Musician, by Yonaguska
                3rd Dam: Alljazz, by Stop the Music
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($310,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP).
O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Machmer Hall (KY); T-Chad C.
Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0,
$299,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Maracuja, 119, f, 3, Honor Code–Patti's Regal Song, by
Unbridled's Song. ($200,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Beach Haven
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-River Bend Farm Inc., Austin Musselman
& Janie Musselman (KY); T-Rob Atras. $50,000.
3–Army Wife, 118, f, 3, Declaration of War–Tread, by Arch.
($50,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $190,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Three
Diamonds Farm; B-J D Stuart & AR Enterprises, Inc. (KY);
T-Michael J. Maker. $30,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 3 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 0.40, 18.60, 14.60.
Also Ran: The Grass Is Blue, Alwayz Late, Mia Martina.  Scratched: Hybrid Eclipse, Song of Innocence.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Search Results Stays Perfect in the Gazelle appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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