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Performer Returns With Sharp Win; McGaughey Says Cigar Mile Could Be Next

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said he was delighted to see a triumphant return to racing action for Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's Performer, who emerged off an 11-month layoff to an effortless allowance victory going one mile over the Belmont Park main track.

The 4-year-old son of Speightstown, who was a last out winner of the Grade 3 Discovery on Nov. 30, 2019, saved ground along the rail and was nudged by jockey Joel Rosario around the three-eighths pole and strolled home to an in-hand 1 3/4-length triumph. He earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in victory.

“I know it was a light field, but I was pleased with the way he went over there and did it,” McGaughey said. “He was very professional with everything he did. I didn't know what the speed was going to do. I thought the horse to the inside of us [three-time winner Empty Tomb] was going to show more speed. Joel was just patient; he knew what he had and just took it from there.”

McGaughey said he is giving strong consideration to the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile on December 5 at Aqueduct.

“It would be a big option,” said McGaughey, who won the 1996 Cigar Mile with Gold Fever.

There is a chance that McGaughey could saddle two top-level contenders for the final Grade 1 event of the year on the NYRA racing calendar as W.S. Farish's Code of Honor also is possible for the race. McGaughey said Code of Honor would be more likely for the nine-furlong two-turn G1, $500,000 Clark on Nov. 27 at Churchill Downs.

“Either the Clark [for Code of Honor], or I would run the two in the Cigar Mile,” McGaughey said. “I'd be more inclined to run Code of Honor around two turns. He ran well over that track.”

A two-time G1 winner when taking last year's Travers at Saratoga and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont, Code of Honor was elevated to second in last year's G1 Kentucky Derby following the disqualification of Maximum Security, who won last year's Cigar Mile.

A direct descendant of undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign and four-time G1-winning millionaire My Flag, who also were trained by McGaughey, Performer is the third progeny out of graded stakes-placed Protesting who also produced turf stakes winner Breaking the Rules. His grandam On Parade was a full-sister to 2002 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Storm Flag Flying.

“They both have distance of ground,” McGaughey said of Performer and Breaking the Rules. “She [Protesting] wanted to run long. She was fourth in three Grade 1 stakes and was second in the Demoiselle at Aqueduct. They're both nice horses, but run on different surfaces. Not that Performer couldn't run on turf, being by Speightstown.”

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Taylor Made’s Steve Avery Named Finalist for Dedication to Breeding Award

Congratulations to Steve Avery, one of three finalists in the Dedication to Breeding Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. The Wisconsin native has been in the horse industry for over four decades and has been part of Taylor Made for the last 20 years. Among the champions he’s raised or managed are Havre de Grace, Princess Rooney, Songbird, and Speightstown.

“His responsibility, his reliability, his work ethic: it’s just phenomenal,” said Taylor Made’s Logan Payne. “Even on vacation, he walks his dog, Henry, up to the barns to check on things.”

Added Dr. Kevin Hyde of Rood & Riddle: “His impact on the industry can be seen through all those he has helped start their careers.”

Click for the video feature on Avery done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Dedication to Breeding Award are David Kyle of Fasig-Tipton and Helen Otero of Coolmore America, who will be recognized on these pages in the coming days. The Dedication to Breeding Award is presented annually to an individual who has been in the Thoroughbred breeding industry for at least 10 years and is a pivotal part of his or her employer’s success.

A total of seven award categories will be honored by TIEA for 2020. Maria Cristina Silva of New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) has already been announced as the winner of the Community Award, while the winners in the other categories will be announced live in a virtual ceremony hosted by Jill Bryne and streamed at the TDN homepage Thursday, Nov. 5, at 12:00 p.m. ET. All finalists will be spotlighted in TDN in the days leading up to the ceremony.

The post Taylor Made’s Steve Avery Named Finalist for Dedication to Breeding Award appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Filly & Mare Sprint: Martin Hoping For Big Farewell Performance From ‘Fresh’ Come Dancing

Blue Devil Racing Stable's Come Dancing worked a bullet five-eighths in 58.80 Thursday on the main track at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., in preparation for the final start of her career in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

Trainer Carlos Martin said the 6-year-old Malibu Moon mare worked effortlessly under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who guided Come Dancing to a three-quarter length score last out in the G2 Honorable Miss on September 6 at the Spa.

“Everything went great. She worked really, really well,” said Martin. “She went by herself. It was a little quick but we wanted to get a good work into her before we leave next week for Kentucky. Irad let her have a good, strong gallop out with the race about three weeks away. He went out seven eighths in 1:24, but if you had seen the workout you'd have said she was on cruise control. I was happy with how she came back and her energy level is good. I think we're on the right track.”

Come Dancing won 4-of-6 starts last year including scores in the G3 Distaff at Aqueduct, the G2 Ruffian and G2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont, and the G1 Ballerina at Saratoga. She completed her campaign by finishing sixth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita.

Martin said he is hoping a fresh Come Dancing will be ready to fire a big shot in the final race of an impressive career that includes nine wins from 18 starts and more than $1.1 million in purse earnings.

“I think the last race got her back on the right path,” said Martin. “We wanted her a little fresher this year. We skipped the Gallant Bloom, a race I really loved winning last year, but she's a 6-year-old now and I wanted to take her in fresh for her swan song. She runs great fresh.

“For a 6-year-old mare, it's more a mental thing than conditioning,” added Martin. “She gets a lot out of her gallops. I don't think fitness is an issue at all. I just want to keep her happy and wanting to do it on race day.”

Martin said a fresh and happy Come Dancing will breeze again on Friday on the Belmont training track before shipping to Keeneland on Sunday to finalize preparations.

“I've learned over the years, especially with older fillies, you just need to keep them sound and happy,” said Martin. “She knows her job. She's been great for us and I hope she'll put in a great performance for us in the last race of her career. She definitely won't be short.”

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Belmont To Keeneland Cross-Country Pick 5 Pays $6,202

The Cross-Country Pick 5, featuring action from Belmont Park and Keeneland Race Course, returned a handsome $6,202.75 for selecting all five winners for Saturday's 50-cent wager, with a total pool of $145,967.

Thinking commenced the sequence with a 1 1/2-length victory in Keeneland's Race 7 for 2-year-old maiden fillies going seven furlongs on the main track. Trained by Graham Motion, the daughter of Nyquist closed strongly coming off the pace, besting Three Tipsy Chix to complete the course in 1:29.66. Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Thinking returned $10 on a $2 win wager.

Belmont took its turn when Lead Guitar strummed along for a three-quarters of a length victory in the $80,000 Floral Park for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going six furlongs on the inner turf in Race 9. The George Weaver trainee rewarded her favoritism by drawing away from Bohemian Bourbon, completing the course on the soft turf in 1:11.45 under jockey Luis Saez. Lead Guitar, off at 2-1, paid $6.40.

Alternating back to Keeneland, Sugoi was the sequence's longest shot, pulling off the upset at 23-1 to win the 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up in Race 8. Conditioned by Michael Tomlinson, Sugoi took command by the half-mile mark and never relinquished the lead, registering a final time of 1:49.06 under Joseph Rocco, Jr. Sugoi returned $48.60.

The finale of the Belmont card made up the Cross Country Pick 5's fourth leg, with Good Credence a runaway 6 1/4-length winner as the favorite in Race 10 for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Good Credence, trained by Anthony Margotta, Jr. and ridden by Junior Alvarado, paid $5.60 as the favorite going 1:22.53 in the seven-furlong sprint over Big Sandy.

The sequence's lone graded stakes race closed out the wager, with the favorite Venetian Harbor capturing the Grade 2, $200,000 Raven Run for sophomore fillies going seven furlongs on the dirt in Keeneland's Race 9. Trained by Richard Baltas, Venetian Harbor [$5.20] went gate-to-wire under rider Manny Franco, completing the course in 1:23.03.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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