Saturday Insights: Into Mischief Colt Tops Salty Spa Maiden

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

6th-SAR, $105K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 3:51 p.m. ET
A full field of 10 is signed on for this typically loaded Saturday maiden at the Spa. PHELPSY (Into Mischief) goes out for the partnership of William Lawrence, Jeff Drown and Three Chimneys Farm LLC, who gave an even $1 million for the colt through agent Mike Ryan  at last year's Keeneland September Sale. The bay is the second produce from the turf SW & GSP Secret Someone (A.P. Indy), whose SW dam Private Gift (Unbridled) bred MGSW Private Mission (Into Mischief) and the dam of GISW Dunbar Road (Quality Road). This is also the family of 2000 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Status (A.P. Indy). Jay Em Ess Stable homebred Full Moon Madness (Into Mischief) is the first foal to the races for By The Moon (Indian Charlie), a Grade I winner at two and victorious in the GI Ballerina S. over this course. TJCIS PPs

6th-ELP, $60K, Msw, 2yo, f, post time: 1:50 p.m.
BOSS LADY BAILEY (Connect) hammered for a respectable $80,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale, but worked a furlong in a brilliant :10 flat and was hammered down for $550,000 at the OBS April Sale, the priciest of 14 juveniles for her sire this year. The March foal looks to become the sixth winner from as many to the races for her SW/GSP dam Special Dream (Officer), who is also responsible for the stakes-placed Momomeamaria (Quality Road). Boss Lady Bailey breezed a bullet four furlongs in :47 2/5 at The Thoroughbred Center July16. Rey Gutierrez has the ride for the white-hot John Ortiz. D J Stables' Killing Time (Gun Runner), a $420,000 KEESEP purchase, is out of an unplaced half-sister to MGSW Listen Here (Gulch) and to the Grade III-placed dam of GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup heroine La Coronel (Colonel John). TJCIS PPs

5th-GP, $45K, Msw, (S), 2yo, 6f, post time: 2:26 p.m. ET
TICKING (Bolt d'Oro), a half-brother to the excellent Maryland-bred handicap horse Harpers First Ride (Paynter), fetched $675,000 from Eddie Plesa, acting on behalf of his clients Leon Ellman, Karl Glassman and wife Laurie Plesa, after drilling a furlong in :10 flat at OBS this past April. He gets his career started in Florida-bred company here. The dark bay is out of the unraced Polyester (Tiz Wonderful), a half-sister to two-time stakes winner and 1995 GI Kentucky Oaks third Sneaky Quiet (Seeking the Gold). TJCIS PPs

4th-DMR, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5f, post time: 6:34 p.m. ET
HALOSNHEAVEN (Curlin) is a daughter of Hal Earnhardt's irrepressible two-time champion Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie), who earned a 97 Beyer and 'TDN Rising Star' honors when airing by 5 1/4 lengths on Saratoga debut 15 years ago this August and later would later go on to add the GI Test S. at the same venue. Also the dam of GISP Ten Blessings–a son of Curlin's sire Smart Strike–Indian Blessing is a daughter of SW & MGSP Shameful (Flying Chevron), who also produced MSW Ax Man (Misremembered), GSW Roman Threat (Roman Ruler), MSP Leading Score (Midnight Lute) and the SP 'TDN Rising Star' Maker Or Breaker (Empire Maker) and Spaniard (Candy Ride {Arg}). It will be up to Juan Hernandez to work out a trip from gate 12. TJCIS PPs

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Sonny Leon Moving Tack to Gulfstream Park

Sonny Leon, the winning rider aboard Rich Strike (Keen Ice) in this year's GI Kentucky Derby, is about to relocate to Gulfstream Park. He is listed to ride six horses on the Saturday card, including Easy Come Easy Go (Midnight Storm) in the $75,000 Azalea S.

Leon has been riding at Belterra Park, where he was fourth in the standings with 33 wins entering Thursday's card.

“He's going to move his tack there for now and give it a shot,” said Jeff Perrin, his agent at Belterra. Perrin will not be working with Leon at Gulfstream. “His last day in Ohio will be Friday and then he'll head to Florida. He was friends with Emisael Jaramillo, who was second in the standings, and that jockey got hurt. He will be working with his agent, who has a good book of business. You can't blame Sonny. It's a great opportunity. We won the Kentucky Derby. We shocked the world.”

Leon has flourished at lesser tracks like Belterra and Mahoning Valley, but, aside from the Kentucky Derby, has had few mounts at major tracks. The Derby is his only graded stakes win. Trying to break in against a solid riding colony at Gulftstream will be a big test of his abilities.

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings July 4-10

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky. This week's appear below.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

California
Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/04/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension, $250 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Having violated the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2280 (Use of Riding Crop) and pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties–Class 3), Jockey Diego Herrera, who rode Wizard of Westwood in the seventh race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 3, 2022, is suspended for ONE (1) day (July 22, 2022),and fined $250.00 for one (1) strike over the limit. Furthermore, Jockey Diego Herrera is assigned three (3) violation points that will be expunged on January 4, 2023, six (6) months from the date of final adjudication pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties).

Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/04/2022
Licensee: Ricardo Ramirez, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension, $250 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Having violated the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2280 (Use of Riding Crop) and pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties– Class 3), Apprentice Jockey Ricardo Ramirez, who rode It's My House in the eighth race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 3, 2022, is suspended for ONE (1) day (July 22, 2022), and fined $250.00 for one (1) strike over the limit. Furthermore, Apprentice Jockey Ricardo Ramirez is assigned three (3) violation points that will be expunged on January 4, 2023, six (6) months from the date of final adjudication pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties).

Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/09/2022
Licensee: Cesar Ortega, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension, $250 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Having violated the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2280 (Use of Riding Crop) and pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties–Class 3), Jockey Cesar Ortega, who rode Trouble N Paradise in the first race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 8, 2022, is suspended for ONE (1) day (July 22, 2022), and fined $250.00 for two (2) strikes over the limit. Furthermore, Jockey Cesar Ortega is assigned three (3) violation points that will be expunged on January 9, 2023, six (6) months from the date of final adjudication pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties).

Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/10/2022
Licensee: Ryan Curatolo, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension, $250 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Having violated the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2280 (Use of Riding Crop) and pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties–Class 3), Jockey Ryan Curatolo, who rode Today Matters in the fourth race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 9, 2022, is suspended for ONE (1) day (July 22, 2022), and fined $250.00 for one (1) strike over the limit. Furthermore, Jockey Ryan Curatolo is assigned three (3) violation points that will be expunged on January 10, 2023, six (6) months from the date of final adjudication pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties).

Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/10/2022
Licensee: Ricardo Ramirez, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension, $250 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Having violated the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2280 (Use of Riding Crop) and pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties–Class 3), Apprentice Jockey Ricardo Ramirez, who rode SCRATCHY APACHE in the eighth race at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 9, 2022, is suspended for ONE (1) day (July 23, 2022), and fined $250.00 for one (1) strike over the limit. Furthermore, Apprentice Jockey Ricardo Ramirez is assigned three (3) violation points that will be expunged on January 10, 2023, six (6) months from the date of final adjudication pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties– 2nd offense since July 4, 2022).

Florida

The following was posted on the Association of Racing Commissioners International's “Weekly Rulings” website.

Track: Gulfstream Park
Date: 06/29/2022
Licensee: Milton Munez, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: 11/5/2019 – Final Order – Case #2019-044770 – F.S. Chapter 550.2415 – violation = Flunixin. “J.P.'S ROSE” FINE IMPOSED. 6/29/2022 – Payment of Final Order Fine Received.

New York

Track: Belmont Park
Date: 07/10/2022
Licensee: Todd Pletcher, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Drug procedure misstep

Read more about the story at the DRF.

Track: Belmont Park
Date: 07/08/2022
Licensee: Joseph Parker, trainer
Penalty: $500
Violation: Procedural misstep necessitating scratch

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Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing

Holiday weekends are often synonymous with exciting race cards and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception with a dozen graded events on tap Saturday that include some of racing's best. The highlight of the day's action is the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who is making his first start back since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S.

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

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