Tag: Green Up

Sweet Azteca Pillar to Post in Beholder Mile

Facing a bevy of more experienced rivals, lightly raced SWEET AZTECA (f, 4, Sharp Azteca–So Sweetitiz, by Grand Slam) led every step of the way to capture the renamed GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita Saturday. Last summer's GI Clement L. Hirsch S. winner and even-money favorite Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) was second, while 'TDN Rising Star' and Pumpkin Pie S. winner Green Up (Upstart), an East Coast shipper, was third. Final time for the mile was 1:36.40.

A homebred for Pamela Cee Ziebarth, Sweet Azteca blasted right out of the gate and controlled the early tempo of :23.40 and :47.40 while in hand. As the dust settled with Green Up tracking just off the frontrunner's flank, Sweet Azteca showed no signs of slowing as she rounded the final turn and sailed into the stretch three lengths on top. Adare Manor blew by Green Up to chase the gray home, but couldn't catch the winner and finished three-quarters of a length in arrears.

“It felt like she was used to sprinting, so around the turn I tried to get her to relax, and she did the rest herself,” said Flavien Prat, who was aboard the winner. “At the turn for home, I felt the other horse coming and she picked it up herself.”

Sweet Azteca made one start as a 3-year-old last year for trainer Michael McCarthy, resulting in a Derby week win at Churchill Downs and an 85 debut Beyer Speed Figure. Benched until the GIII Las Flores S. at Santa Anita on New Year's Day, Sweet Azteca was outkicked for third after drifting out late, then roared back with a 12-length optional allowance win and a 91 Beyer over this surface going 6 1/2 furlongs Feb. 2. The Beholder Mile was her first try around two turns.

McCarthy previously won the Beholder Mile in 2020 with Ce Ce (Elusive Quality), who, like Sweet Azteca, was lightly raced and coming off a 6 1/2-furlong optional allowance a month prior. Ce Ce would go on to become the 2021 Eclipse champion female sprinter and a three-time Grade I winner, whose victories included the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Pedigree Notes:

Sweet Azteca is the first graded winner for Sharp Azteca, a former Three Chimneys stallion who is standing the 2024 season at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. With two crops to the races, Sharp Azteca is responsible for six black-type winners. Sweet Azteca also is one of 93 stakes winners out of a mare by the late Grand Slam. Both Sharp Azteca and Grand Slam also won Grade I races at a mile during their racing careers: the first in the 2017 Cigar Mile, the second in the 1997 Futurity S.

A third-generation homebred for Ziebarth, Sweet Azteca is out of a family first nurtured by Ziebarth's late mother, Cecilia Straub Rubens. The Beholder Mile winner's fourth dam is the famed Straub Rubens mare Cee's Song. Sold for $2.6 million to Dromoland Farm in 2001, Cee's Song produced Horse of the Year Tiznow, MGSW & GISP Budroyale, GSW Tizdubai, and the dams of GISWs Oxbow and Paynter. The family is seeing a revitalization in 2024 as, in addition to Sweet Azteca, 'TDN Rising Star', GII Rachel Alexandra S. winner, and top GI Kentucky Oaks contender Tarifa (Bernardini) is a direct descendant.

So Sweetitiz has a 2-year-old colt named Mucho Dulce (Mucho Macho Man) and a yearling colt named Under the Big Sky (Tonalist). She is in foal for 2024 with a full-sibling to Sweet Azteca.

 

Saturday, Santa Anita Park
BEHOLDER MILE S.-GI, $301,000, Santa Anita, 3-9, 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 1:36.40, ft.
1–SWEET AZTECA, 120, f, 4, by Sharp Azteca
           1st Dam: So Sweetitiz (MSW, $180,480), by Grand Slam
           2nd Dam: Sweetitiz, by El Prado (Ire)
           3rd Dam: Tizsweet, by Cee's Tizzy
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Pamela Cee Ziebarth (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Flavien Prat. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $301,200. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-crosspedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Adare Manor, 122, m, 5, by Uncle Mo
           1st Dam: Brooklynsway (GSW-USA, MSW & GSP-Can, $724,597), by Giant Gizmo
           2nd Dam: Explosive Story, by Radio Star
           3rd Dam: Maya's Note, by Editor's Note
($180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $60,000.
3–Green Up, 120, m, 5, by Upstart
           1st Dam: Green Punch, by Two Punch
           2nd Dam: Green Jeans, by Green Dancer
           3rd Dam: Duds, by Ack Ack
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($10,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT). O-Team Valor International, LLC; B-Althea Richards (VA); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $36,000.
Margins: 3/4, 5HF, 3/4. Odds: 3.40, 1.10, 4.60.
Also Ran: Desert Dawn, Window Shopping, Coffee in Bed, Interstatedaydream. Scratched: Kirstenbosch, Turnerloose.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Frost Point Closes For Doubledogdare Score

The only 5-year-old facing a field of younger fillies, Frost Point (Frosted) proved age is just a number with a come-from-behind effort to win her first graded stakes in the GIII Baird Doubledogdare S. at Keeneland Friday.

Last seen rolling to a 6 1/4-length win in gate-to-wire fashion in the Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct Feb. 23 and racing in the royal blue of owner/breeder Godolphin, the bay daughter of another prolific homebred was away a step off and patiently handled by Flavien Prat at the rear of the field as Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire) and Hidden Connection (Connect) squared off up front. Last of the octet into the first turn, Frost Point saved ground up the backstretch through an opening quarter in :24.03 set by a now solo Hidden Connection. Always in touch with the tightly-bunched group, she began to make up ground around the far bend, coming inside of a fading Traverse (Street Sense) before tipping up past the quarter pole to take dead aim on the leading pair of Hidden Connection and Green Up (Upstart). While she needed the length of the short Keeneland stretch to get by, Frost Point rallied up the outside and dove past Hidden Connection in the final strides, winning as the 9-2 second choice.

“Over the summer, she put on weight and started looking better,” said winning trainer Bill Mott. “She's come back very well. She's three-for-three now (beginning Dec. 30 at Aqueduct in her first start since May). This was a very good race, and she beat a really solid field.”

Pedigree Notes:

Out of GI Frizette S. heroine Balletto (UAE) (Timber Country), Frost Point traces back to champion 2-year-old filly Althea (Alydar), champion 2-year-old filly in Japan Yamamin Paradise (Danzig), GI Juddmonte Spinster winner Acoma (Empire Maker), and GISW and late sire Arch (Kris S.). Frost Point is the fifth graded-stakes winner for sire Frosted. She has a winning 3-year-old full-brother, Ski Country, a 2-year-old full-brother, and a yearling half-sister by Maclean's Music.

Friday, Keeneland
BAIRD DOUBLEDOGDARE S.-GIII, $292,594, Keeneland, 4-21, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.95, ft.
1–FROST POINT, 118, m, 5, by Frosted
            1st Dam: Balletto (UAE) (GISW, $1,151,850), by Timber Country
            2nd Dam: Destiny Dance, by Nijinsky II
            3rd Dam: Althea, by Alydar
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin LLC (KY); T-William I
Mott; J-Flavien Prat. $183,675. Lifetime Record: 11-5-3-2,
$446,235. *1/2 to Villanesca (Distorted Humor), SW & GISP,
$237,500. Werk Nick Rating: C+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hidden Connection, 118, f, 4, Connect–C J's Gal, by Awesome
Again. ($49,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $40,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP;
$55,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSAPR; $85,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN).
O-Hidden Brook Farm & Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-St
Simon Place (KY); T-W Bret Calhoun. $59,250.
3–Green Up, 118, f, 4, Upstart–Green Punch, by Two Punch.
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. ($10,000 Ylg '20
EASOCT). O-Team Valor International, LLC; B-Althea Richards
(VA); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $24,688.
Margins: 3/4, 1HF, HF. Odds: 4.53, 11.02, 2.57.
Also Ran: Interstatedaydream, Shotgun Hottie, Traverse. Scratched: Moon Swag, Music Street.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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No Catching Society In Cotillion

Taking full advantage of a track that was exceptionally kind to speed throughout the course of the program, Peter Blum's Society (f, 3, Gun Runner–Etiquette, by Tapit) built on a big-figure victory in the GIII Charles Town Oaks when last seen four weeks ago and ran them off their feet for a maiden Grade I victory in Saturday's $1-million Cotillion S. at Parx.

Drawn the outside gate in a field of nine, the homebred was clicked up as soon as the gates flew and crossed and cleared all inside traffic, getting the first couple of furlongs in :23 33 while chased by California raider Adare Manor (Uncle Mo), having her first start since a runner-up effort in the GII Black-Eyed Susan S. May 20, and 'TDN Rising Star' Green Up (Upstart), whose 100 Beyer Speed Figure for her victory in the local Cathryn Sophia S. Aug. 23 matched that earned by Society in West Virginia.

Moving right along down the backstretch while purposely kept far off the inside by Florent Geroux, Society was by the half-mile in :46.75, and with nothing making anything that resembled a serious bid from behind, was well clear after six furlongs in 1:10.93. Morning Matcha (Central Banker), a 45-1 outsider, skimmed the fence and made solid progress into the stretch, but it was all in vain, as she was never catching Society, who romped in by about six lengths. GI Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath (Arrogate), who was touched out of favoritism by Green Up in the final few clicks, raced outside and in the clear down the backstretch, but was angled down towards the inside with about three furlongs to travel. Hard-ridden into the final quarter-mile, Secret Oath plugged on at one pace for third.

Society debuted for trainer Wayne Mackey at Keeneland last October and pulled clear late to graduate by a length at nearly 28-1, but was transferred this year to Steve Asmussen, who was one of the architects of Gun Runner's career. The chestnut was the 1 3/4-length winner of a sloppy allowance about 50 minutes after Secret Oath won the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 6 and added a front-running victory in the June 18 Monomoy Girl S., but stumbled at the start of the CCA Oaks and beat just one home in fourth. She was well-rated on the engine in the Charles Town Oaks by Tyler Gaffalione and had plenty left when the real running started, streaking home to score by 6 3/4 lengths.

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Society becomes already the sixth top-level scorer for Gun Runner and is one of the stallion's two graded winners out of a mare by Tapit, joining GII Adirondack S. victress Wicked Halo. Also bred on the Gun Runner/Tapit cross is SW Red Run, while Tapit's sire Pulpit is the broodmare sire of SW Optionality. Also bred on the cross is Echo Again, who achieved 'TDN Rising Star' status for a maiden romp at Saratoga Aug. 20.

Produced by a half-sister to GSW Pleasant Prince (Indy King) and hailing from the extended female family of Sovereign Award and Queen's Plate winner Holy Helena (Ghostzapper) and Midlantic-based sire Holy Boss (Street Boss), Society has a 2-year-old half-brother named Punctuality in training at Churchill Downs, a yearling half-sister Finesse (Street Sense) that sold to Windancer Farm for $725,0000 at the just-concluded Keeneland September sale and a foal half-brother named Valor (Omaha Beach). Etiquette was put back in foal to Gun Runner this past breeding season.

Saturday, Parx
COTILLION S.-GI, $1,000,000, Parx Racing, 9-24, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:42.94, ft.
1–SOCIETY, 122, f, 3, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Etiquette, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Archduchess, by Pleasant Tap
                3rd Dam: My Marchesa, by Stately Don
   1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Florent Geroux. $564,000. Lifetime
Record: 6-5-0-0, $1,109,775. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
   Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
   Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Morning Matcha, 122, f, 3, by Central Banker
                1st Dam: Home Ice, by Iam the Iceman
                2nd Dam: Hit a Homer Honey, by Kennedy Road
                3rd Dam: Jo Jo Dimaggio, by Dimaggio
   1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($18,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT). O-LC Racing,
Cash is King LLC & Gary Barber; B-Crane Thoroughbred
Services LLC (PA); T-Robert E. Reid, Jr. $188,000.
3–Secret Oath, 126, f, 3, by Arrogate
                1st Dam: Absinthe Minded (MSW & MGISP, $607,747), by Quiet American
                2nd Dam: Rockford Peach, by Great Above
                3rd Dam: Strawberry Skyline, by Hatchet Man
O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY);
T-D. Wayne Lukas. $94,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, 2, 6 1/4. Odds: 7.80, 48.90, 2.20.
Also Ran: Green Up, Shahama, Adare Manor, Goddess of Fire, Gerrymander, Beach Daze.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Taiba, Cyberknife Renew Rivalry in Pennsylvania Derby

Last seen fighting out a tight finish in the GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. in neighboring New Jersey in mid-July, 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) and Cyberknife (Gun Runner) are the top two choices on the morning line for what appears a contentious renewal of the $1-million GI betPARX Pennsylvania Derby Saturday afternoon in suburban Philadelphia.

A veteran of just four starts, Taiba–a $1.7-million purchase by Zedan Racing Stables out of last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale–took the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at second asking, but the GI Kentucky Derby was perhaps too much, too soon, as the chestnut could do no better than 12th. Freshened for the Haskell, he made what appeared to be a winning move down the center of the track, but the rail-rallying Cyberknife spoiled the party. Trainer Bob Baffert, who won this race three times between 2014 and 2018, says it's all systems go this weekend.

“He likes to be in the clear, so that is good. He doesn't like being on the inside,” Baffert said of Taiba, who drew the eight hole and is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line. “I would rather be the five or the six, but this will be OK. Cyberknife is a tough horse; they are all good horses in here. Million-dollar races are not easy; they are not supposed to be easy. As always, you have to break. We had a little bit of a rough trip in the last one [Haskell]. I know he is doing well and we are all set.”

Cyberknife pressed on to the GI Runhappy Travers S., finishing better than five lengths behind divisional leader Epicenter (Not This Time) and narrowly ahead of Zandon (Upstart). He is one of two in the race for Brad Cox, who will also tighten the girth around GIII Ohio Derby hero and GII Jim Dandy S. third Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile). The 3-1 morning-line second pick, Cyberknife has post five, while Tawny Port drew gate seven.

“We've pointed Tawny Port for this race since the Jim Dandy,” Cox said. “Everything is going great with him. Once again, he's got to step up to prove that he belongs at this level. With Cyberknife, it wasn't a whole lot of, coming out of the Travers and 'we're going to go to Parx' way of thinking. I thought we might go straight to the Breeders' Cup. He had a really good breeze last weekend. Time-wise it wasn't anything crazy fast, but it's how he's doing, how he looks, how he's acting. This is one last swing at a Grade I around two turns for straight 3-year-olds.”

The filly counterpart, the GI Cotillion S., drew a field of nine headed by GI Longines Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate). The competition includes the progressive 'TDN Rising Star' stablemates Shahama (Munnings) and Green Up (Upstart) and the Baffert-trained GIII Las Virgenes S. romper Adare Manor (Uncle Mo).

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