horologist | Horse Racing Free Tips

Letruska, Hot Rod Charlie Get Final Workouts For Breeders’ Cup

St. George Stable's Letruska, the probable favorite for the $2 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff next Saturday, Nov. 6, and Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing LLC, and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie, a leading contender for the $6 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, turned in works over a fast main track at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Saturday morning.

Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20, and shortly afterward, Hot Rod Charlie worked seven furlongs in company in 1:26.80 for trainer Doug O'Neill.

Letruska was scheduled to work on her own, but she picked up some company on the backstretch.

“I was not planning on company; it was not ideal,” said exercise rider Roger Horgan, who was aboard Letruska who stayed to the inside of her unexpected companion. “She did relax. I was a bit concerned, but she switched off and let her do it on her own. I was very proud of her the way she relaxed.”

Gutierrez said Letruska handled the track well, noting that she has handled every track well in a 2021 campaign that has taken her to six tracks previously.

Shortly after Letruska finished, Hot Rod Charlie appeared on the scene working in company with Khantaro d'Oro, a 2-year-old maiden. Del Mar clockers caught Hot Rod Charlie in :47.80 for the half-mile, 1:00.20 for five furlongs, 1:13 for six furlongs, and 1:26.80 for the seven-eighths.

“I thought the work was visually impressive,” O'Neill said. “Charlie sat off his workmate and when Flavien (Prat) called on him, he responded well. He galloped out good and his energy was very high.”

O'Neill also sent out $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf pre-entrant Mackinnon to work six furlongs on the main track in 1:14.80.

Nine other Breeders' Cup pre-entrants worked: Ain't Easy (NetJets Juvenile Fillies) 5f in 1:01; Desert Dawn (NetJets Juvenile Fillies) 5f in 1:00.60; Helens Well (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) 5f in 1:00.60; Oviatt Class (TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance) 5f in :59.60 in company; Proud Emma (Filly & Mare Sprint) 5f in :59.80 with Prat aboard; Aloha West (Qatar Racing Sprint) 4f in :47.20; Channel Maker (Longines Turf) 4f in :48.40; Chaos Theory (Turf Sprint) 4f in :48.20; and Horologist (Longines Distaff) 4f in :49.60.

The post Letruska, Hot Rod Charlie Get Final Workouts For Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Pletcher, Mott Breeders’ Cup Brigades Put In ‘Big Breezes’ At Belmont

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher oversaw multiple Breeders' Cup aspirants breezing over the Belmont training track Friday morning.

“When you're preparing for the Breeders Cup, they're all important, but these were big breezes this morning,” Pletcher said. “We'll come back next weekend and do a little bit less with them.”

Spendthrift Farm's Following Sea, a winner of the Grade 2 Vosburgh on October 9 last out, went to the track at 6:30 a.m. and worked a half-mile in 49.73 over the fast track.

“I liked it,” Pletcher said of the breeze. “It seemed like he bounced out of the Vosburgh very well. It was a very easy breeze for him this morning. We weren't looking to do a whole lot with him this morning. I was very happy.”

Although Following Sea earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in capturing the Vosburgh, a “Win And You're In” event, Pletcher said plans for the son of Runhappy remain in flux.

“We wanted to see today's work and then we'll talk to the Spendthrift guys about it,” Pletcher said. “We're under no pressure to make a decision right away. We'll give him the rest of the week and continue to monitor how he's doing.”

Graded stakes winners Life Is Good and Mind Control logged solo works at roughly 7:45 a.m. over the training track. An in-hand winner of the Grade 2 Kelso on September 25, CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good went a sharp half-mile in 47.83 seconds – the second fastest of 41 recorded works at the distance.

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control, winner of the Parx Dirt Mile last out on September 25, went five furlongs in 1:01.27. Both horses are on target for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

“Typical works for them,” Pletcher said. “Life Is Good is a very impressive horse to watch breeze. It looks like he's doing everything very effortlessly and then you look down at the clock and go, 'Wow'. He was rolling right along. He did it in hand throughout.”

The Parx Dirt Mile was the first two-turn start for Mind Control, a 5-year-old son of Stay Thirsty, since finishing off the board in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He captured the Grade 2 John A. Nerud on July 4 at Belmont Park in his first start for Pletcher two starts earlier.

“He's coming off a good win,” Pletcher said. “He's trained with good energy like he always does. He had an impressive breeze today and I like where he's at.”

Shadwell Stable's three-time Grade 1-winner Malathaat, a blue-blooded sophomore daughter of Curlin, worked at 9:30 a.m. following the renovation break covering five furlongs in 1:01.63 in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“I thought she worked great today. She's just very impressive,” Pletcher said. “She keeps going and going and gallops out super. I think the time in between races has done her well. She's put on some weight and she seems very fit and happy.”

Malathaat has captured a trio of Grade 1 events this year, including the Ashland at Keeneland, Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and Alabama at Saratoga.

On Thursday morning, Pletcher worked his 2-year-old Breeders' Cup hopefuls, which include Annapolis [Juvenile Turf], Commandperformance [Juvenile], and Double Thunder [Juvenile].

Bass Stables homebred Annapolis, winner of the Grade 2 Pilgrim, and Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Grade 1 Champagne runner-up Commandperformance each went five furlongs in 1:02.02 and 1:01.02, respectively.

Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Double Thunder, runner up in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, went a half-mile with blinkers on in 49.98 seconds.

“Everyone looked great this morning and came out of their works in good shape,” Pletcher said.

In non-Breeders' Cup related news from the Pletcher barn, the veteran conditioner said Donegal Racing's Mo Donegal, who broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on Thursday at Belmont, will likely target the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen on December 4 at Aqueduct.

[Story Continues Below]

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is training a number of his contenders for the upcoming Breeders' Cup, slated for November 5-6 at Del Mar, over the Oklahoma dirt and turf training tracks at Saratoga Race Course.

Mott, a 10-time Breeders' Cup winner, could look to add to his totals with Art Collector [Classic], War Like Goddess [Filly and Mare Turf] Horologist [Distaff], Channel Maker [Turf] and Casa Creed [Mile/Turf Sprint].

“We have a few [Breeders' Cup horses] that will be one of the first four choices in their races and then a few who are on the outside looking in types of longshots, but all of them are doing well and that's all you can ask for,” said Mott's son and assistant trainer Riley Mott.

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector worked five furlongs in 1:01.85 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

The 4-year-old Bernardini colt is in the midst of a three-race win streak, including scores in the Alydar on August 6 at the Spa, the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 27 and the Grade 1 Woodward on October 2 at Belmont.

“He looks good and he's a willing horse,” Riley Mott said. “He came out of his last race extremely well; he'll have to if he's going to run against the big boys in the Classic.”

There's a Chance Stable, Medallion Racing Abbondanza Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Horologist finished ninth in last year's Distaff at Keeneland. She breezed a half-mile in 47.84 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Mott said the 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist's runner-up effort last out in the Grade 2 Beldame could be a good omen as three of his father's five Distaff winners completed the exacta in the prestigious race ahead of Breeders' Cup glory, including Royal Delta [2011], Unrivalled Belle [2010] and Ajina [1997].

“She ran second last time and is in with an outside chance,” Mott said. “I was talking to my dad the other day and we have won three Distaffs after having finished second in the Beldame. So that's a good omen.”

Mott also saddled Escena to victory in the 1998 Distaff off a sixth-place finish in the Personal Ensign, while Royal Delta's 2012 Distaff score followed a win in that year's Personal Ensign.

Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Channel Maker finished third in last year's Turf – his best effort in three appearances in the turf marathon after finishing off-the-board in 2018-19.
The reigning Champion Turf Male, a four-time Grade 1-winner, finished fourth last out in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 at Belmont. He worked a half-mile in 48.75 Friday over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“He's doing well. He's one of the ones that will have to regain his form from last year to be competitive. [The Breeders' Cup] is still the plan,” Mott said.

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess, a 4-year-old daughter of English Channel, has flourished this year, winning 6-of-7 starts including her last four in graded company taking the Grade 3 Orchid in March at Gulfstream and the Grade 3 Bewitch in April at Keeneland ahead of scores in the Grade 2 Glens Falls and Grade 1 Flower Bowl this summer at Saratoga.

She breezed five-eighths in 1:02.55 Friday over the Oklahoma training turf.

“She's doing great and we are very excited about her,” Mott said. “She'll be a top three horse in her race, and deservedly so. She's had a great year.”

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's Casa Creed earned a berth to the five-furlong Turf Sprint with a win in the Grade 1 Jackpocket Jaipur in June at Belmont, but is targeting a return engagement in the Mile – a race the 5-year-old Jimmy Creed bay finished 12th in last year. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.55 Friday on the Oklahoma training turf.

The post Pletcher, Mott Breeders’ Cup Brigades Put In ‘Big Breezes’ At Belmont appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Horologist Goes For Repeat In Beldame For Beatty, Partners

When Horologist vies to defend her title in Sunday's $250,000 Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., owner Cameron Beatty of There's A Chance Stable is reminded that everything happens for a reason.

A native of Nashville now living in New Jersey, Beatty was indirectly introduced to horseracing through unfavorable circumstances. Beatty was the starting quarterback of Freehold Township High School and was slated to take his athletic talents to Farleigh Dickinson via academic scholarship when a motorcycle accident nearly cost him his life.

Beatty would eventually sign up to play semi-professional football for the New Jersey Bulldogs where he met coach Don Goold, a racing enthusiast and friend to the late thoroughbred trainer John Mazza.

“After practice one day, he asked me if I wanted to go to the track. He took me to Monmouth Park (in Oceanport, N.J.) and just from the front side I fell in love,” Beatty said. “I just loved the atmosphere. As if that wasn't good enough, he asked me if I'd ever been to the backside. And I said, 'The backside of what?'”

A visit to the Monmouth stable area allowed Beatty to develop a strong friendship with Mazza.

“It was a match made in heaven,” Beatty said. “You never would think an 80-year-old guy could be such a good friend with a guy in his mid-20s.”

Mazza, who passed away last May, took Beatty under his wing and taught him all the ins and outs of the business. When Mazza's longtime clients Holly Crest Farm began dispersing some of their stock, it gave Beatty the opportunity to step into thoroughbred ownership.

“He said the right way to do it is to get into breeding first to experience it on a different level, starting with one horse and see where it takes you from there,” Beatty said. “So, I took over a horse that couldn't race anymore.”

Beatty acquired Cinderella Time, a Stephen Got Even mare with one win in eight starts, and bred her to Gemologist and the end result of the mating was Horologist.

“Me and John literally pulled her right out of her mom and watched her be born,” Beatty said. “I watched her come right out and take her first steps about 20 minutes after she was born.”

Mazza trained Horologist through her first 11 starts, including 2019 stakes victories in Monmouth's Smart N Classy Handicap and Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks.

Following a third in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx that year, Beatty sold shares of Horologist to Medallion Racing, Abbondanza Racing, and Parkland Thoroughbreds, and the mare was transferred to West Coast-based conditioner Richard Baltas. Later on, Paradise Farms Corp and David Staudacher also bought in on Horologist.

“I couldn't have asked for better partners. They have taken things to a different level,” Beatty said.

After five starts with Baltas, Horologist found a new home with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who saddled the mare to graded stakes victories in last year's Beldame as well as the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher last July at Monmouth. Between those two starts, she earned Grade 1 black type when finishing third in the La Troienne last September at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

“The good part about it is I had good people around me. John Mazza showed me everything I really know,” Beatty said. “One good thing that John did before he passed away was introduce me to people like [bloodstock agent] David Ingordo, and [trainer] Cherie DeVaux and that's something I have to thank him for.

“Some owners never get this opportunity. I've been extremely lucky in this business so far,” Beatty continued. “Bing Bush [Abbondanza Racing] is probably one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Steve and Debbie West with Parkland Thoroughbreds are just extremely genuine people. They invite me to their house in Saratoga. There are so many great people to be involved with, and if it weren't for Horologist I wouldn't be in this situation.”

Horologist arrives at the Beldame off a gate-to-wire win in the restricted Summer Colony on August 22, contested at nine furlongs over a good and sealed main track at Saratoga.

A victory in the Beldame would likely result in another start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff on November 6 at Del Mar. Horologist was a distant ninth last year when the event was held at Keeneland. A victory would also provide Beatty, who turns 30 on October 16, an additional reason to celebrate.

“A win would be an amazing early birthday present,” Beatty said.

The post Horologist Goes For Repeat In Beldame For Beatty, Partners appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Horologist Seeks Back-To-Back Victories In Beldame

Reigning New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year Horologist will attempt to add her name to a list of prominent distaffers to secure back-to-back victories in Sunday's 81st running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going nine furlongs at Belmont Park.

As one of the most prestigious events on the racing calendar for fillies and mares, the Beldame has seen 15 horses capture the event en route to Eclipse Award honors for Champion Older Female at the end of the year. Eight sophomore fillies bested their elders in the Beldame to subsequently earn an Eclipse for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly honors at the end of their respective seasons.

Horologist is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, a three-time winner of the Beldame, and boasts a record of 25-9-3-4, including three graded stakes victories and lifetime earnings of $892,939.

In addition to last year's Beldame, which she captured by three lengths over graded stakes winners Point of Honor and Dunbar Road, the 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist won the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks in August 2019 over Eclipse Award-winner Jaywalk and the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher last July at Monmouth Park in her first start for Mott.

Should Horologist win the Beldame, she would join an elite group of fillies and mares to win consecutive runnings, including Fairy Chant [1940-41], Gamely [1968-69], Desert Vixen [1973-74], Love Sign [1980-81], Lady's Secret [1985-86], Personal Ensign [1987-88], and Sightseek [2003-04].

A Beldame victory would also likely result in another Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff endeavor after finishing a distant ninth in last year's edition held at Keeneland.

Cameron Beatty, who races as There's A Chance Stable, has owned Horologist since her eye-opening career debut in August 2018 at Monmouth, which she won by 20 ¾ lengths garnering a 63 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer John Mazza. The late New Jersey-bred conditioner saddled Horologist to five of her nine lifetime victories, including stakes wins in the Smart N Classy for New Jersey-breds and the Monmouth Oaks, both in the summer of 2019.

After Beatty sold shares to owners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Abbondanza Racing, Horologist was transferred to west coast-based conditioner Richard Baltas for whom she went winless in five starts. She recaptured her winning form when joining Mott's stable, adding four stakes victories over as many racetracks to her resume.

Horologist arrives at the Beldame off a gate-to-wire win in the restricted Summer Colony on August 22, contested at nine furlongs over a good and sealed main track at Saratoga Race Course.

“When we ran her first out, she ran extremely well but didn't come back with the strongest Beyer. Once we stretched her out, she was beautiful,” Beatty said. “She loves the mile and an eighth and luckily, the Beldame happens to be a mile and an eighth. Not to say that she couldn't go further, but the distance is perfect for her.”

Beatty expressed excitement in the possibility of back-to-back Beldame scores.

“It's definitely going to be incredible,” Beatty said. “With just the excitement of being there, nothing gets better than that. It's never an easy task to ask for a horse to win back-to-back graded stakes, but she's training well. Yesterday, I went over to go see her and I don't think she's ever looked better.”

Following last year's Beldame coup, Horologist was supplemented to the Breeders' Cup

“If she runs well, we won't have to come up with another supplemental fee,” Beatty said. “There's a chance we may head out west, no pun intended.”

Beatty and company have enjoyed the ride that Horologist has taken them on, which will end following a possible Breeders' Cup endeavor. Horologist will be sold at the Keeneland November Sale as Hip No. 200 through the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.

“Someone will be an extremely lucky buyer. She looks like an unbelievable specimen. I'll miss her. It'll be a bittersweet end to her journey,” Beatty said.

Junior Alvarado aboard for last year's win, will return to the irons from post 4.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a trio of fillies in pursuit of a sixth Beldame triumph. He shares a record of five wins with his former mentor and fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

Robert and Lawana Low's Spice Is Nice will seek a second graded stakes victory, having captured the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff on May 15 at Pimlico two starts back. The 4-year-old Curlin filly, out of the Grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Dame Dorothy, arrives at the Beldame off a four-month layoff and was last seen racing fifth to division leader Letruska in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on June 27 at Churchill Downs.

“She's a filly we've always thought a lot of and hopefully she can take a step forward,” Pletcher said.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has piloted Spice Is Nice to all four of her victories, will ride from post 7.

After winning Sunday's Grade 2 Pilgrim with Annapolis, Pletcher will try to give Bass Stables another graded stakes-winner at Belmont with Thankful. The 4-year-old American Pharoah bay will attempt her first win after making her seasonal bow a winning one in the Ladies on January 17 at Aqueduct.

Kendrick Carmouche will ride from post 1.

Shadwell Stables' Zaajel will face elders for the first time, entering off a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Longines Test on August 7 at Saratoga.

The daughter of Street Sense will try to add a third graded stakes victory to her ledger. Two starts back, she made amends from two distant unplaced performances at graded stakes level, when taking the Grade 2 Mother Goose on June 27 over the Belmont main track. She won her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Forward Gal in January at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking from post 3, Zaajel will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Veteran trainer Jimmy Ryerson will saddle Miss Marissa in pursuit of a third graded stakes triumph. Owned by Cammarota Racing, the 4-year-old gray or roan daughter of He's Had Enough captured the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last October at Pimlico, narrowly defeating graded stakes winner Bonny South by a neck.

Two starts ago, Miss Marissa recaptured her winning form when taking the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap in July en route to a distant eighth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti on August 28 at Saratoga.

“We were really disappointed in her last effort, but Letruska is a beast,” Ryerson said. “Hopefully, we rebound from that and give a good account for ourselves. It will be a competitive race, but we have a nice filly. It's in her backyard and we're going to see if we can rebound.”

Jose Lezcano will ride from post 6.

[Story Continues Below]

Trainer Chad Brown will vie for his second Beldame victory when saddling Royal Flag [post 8, Joel Rosario] and Gold Spirit [post 5, Jose Ortiz].

A William S. Farish homebred, Royal Flag earned a second graded win two starts back capturing the Grade 3 Shuvee on August 1 at Saratoga en route to securing Grade 1 black type when a late-closing third in the Personal Ensign, where she earned a career-best 100 Beyer.

Royal Flag is by Candy Ride out of the Mineshaft mare Eagle, making her a half-sister to five-time graded stakes winner Catalina Cruiser and full-sister to graded stakes-winner Eagle.

Sumaya U.S.'s Gold Spirit, a Group 1-winner in her native Chile, makes her second start in North America. After a troubled fourth in the Shuvee, she showed an improved effort when second in the Summer Colony.

Completing the field is Stetson Racing's So Darn Hot, a stakes-placed daughter of Ghostzapper who finished third in the Summer colony two starts back. Trained by George Weaver, So Darn Hot is out of the Tiznow mare Tizahit, who produced Grade 1-winner Come Dancing.

So Darn Hot will leave post 2 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

The Beldame honors August Belmont, Jr.'s 1904 Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, who won 17-of-31 starts including victories in the Alabama, Gazelle, and Ladies Handicap against females. She defeated colts when capturing the Carter and Saratoga Cup in 1904 as well as the 1905 Suburban.

Slated as Race 6 on Belmont's nine-race program, the Beldame is one of three graded stakes events on Sunday's card, including the Grade 2, $150,000 Futurity for juveniles going six furlongs on the turf, a “Win And You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the Grade 2, $150,000 Knickerbocker going nine furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and upward.

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 Horologist Seeks Back-To-Back Victories In Beldame appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post