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‘Ultra-Consistent’ Pixelate Headlines Saturday’s Woodchopper At Fair Grounds

Even though Godolphin LLC's homebred Pixelate is be the class of the field in Saturday's $75,000 Woodchopper, he's going to have to earn the victory as he leads the way over a strong field of 3-year-olds. The Woodchopper, run at about one bodemile on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., drew a baker's dozen, including a quintet of stakes winners.

Pixelate (post 5 at 4-1 with Angel Suarez) has been a top-level performer from the start for trainer Mike Stidham. He won the Central Park at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old to conclude a 2-for-4 freshman campaign, and the son of City Zip has only progressed from there. It took him a bit to get over a class hump this year, but Pixelate picked the right time to break through, winning the Del Mar Derby (G2) in September. He followed up with a close fifth in the Belmont Derby (G1) in October, and enters off a closing fourth in Keeneland's Nov. 6 Bryan Station, a race in which he was hung 10-wide on the turn for home. Pixelate is 3-for-13 lifetime and has answered the bell every time, which has been no surprise to Stidham.

“He's been ultra-consistent over the last two years and we've always thought he was very talented,” Stidham said. “In several of his races he was coming up just a little bit short and wasn't quite getting there. He's been running against some really solid, tough horses. Even in the Grade 1 he only got beat a couple lengths, and he's on the cusp of being in the top group of his category.”

Pixelate has run 1 1/8 miles or farther in his last five starts, though he shows a good second at a mile in the War Chant at Churchill Downs in May. While the Woodchopper won't be at his ideal distance, Stidham is hoping Pixelate won't be compromised at a shorter trip.

“I don't think the cutback will be a problem,” Stidham said. “He can lay in a forward position. I would prefer it being 1 1/16 miles but from a class standpoint he's been hooking some tough horses and I think he's in a good spot.”

Contention runs deep in the Woodchopper and Repole Stable's Bodecream (post 2 as Mike Diliberto's lukewarm 7-2 morning line favorite with James Graham) enters in career-best form for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Bodemeister started his career 2-for-8 for trainer Danny Pish, and following a private purchase, he was turned over to Maker this summer. He has really blossomed, though he's still looking for his first win for his new connections. Bodecream, 2-for-11 lifetime, was third in Saratoga's Saranac (G3) in August in his first start for Maker, third in Belmont's Hill Prince (G2) in October, and he enters off a nose second in Aqueduct's Nov. 27 Gio Ponti.

Calumet Farm's homebred Blackberry Wine (post 9 at 9-2 with Gabriel Saez) is the wildcard for trainer Joe Sharp. He is winless in three turf starts but enters off an extremely fast optional-claiming win on Dec. 13 here on the main track. The son of Oxbow has been third, however, in all three grass starts, and he hasn't been over the surface since running in an optional-claimer here last December. Blackberry Wine is 2-for-11 lifetime and could prove the one to catch.

Completing the Woodchopper field from the rail out: Kueber Racing LLC, Ten Strike Racing, and Mark Blieden's Pit Boss (20-1 with Mitchell Murrill); P. Dale Ladner's Jack the Umpire (post 3 at 20-1 with Jack Gilligan); Wayne R. Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Spanish Kingdom (post 4 at 8-1 with Brian Hernandez Jr.); Paradise Farms Corp's Dynadrive (post 6 at 12-1 with Shaun Bridgmohan); Brian L. Gunder's Top Draw (post 7 at 20-1 with Francisco Arrieta); Stallionaire Enterprises LLC's Doc Boy (post 8 at 12-1 with Florent Geroux); Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred Telephone Talker (post 10 at 12-1 with Adam Beschizza); Susan Moulton's Stanford (Ire) (post 11 at 20-1 with Marcelino Pedroza); Rick Rinn and Richard and Karen Boyer's Victory Boulevard (post 12 at 20-1 wit Miguel Mena); and Dixiana Farms LCC's Oak Hill (post 13 at 6-1 with Colby Hernandez).

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Tim Hamm-Trained Juvenile Filly Charge It All Earns Shot At Gasparilla Stakes

These days, when trainer Tim Hamm sends out a 2-year-old filly, Thoroughbred racing followers sit up and take notice. Charge It All gave Tampa Bay Downs fans and simulcast viewers something to keep in mind in Sunday's second race.

The Kentucky-bred juvenile, owned in partnership by Hamm's Blazing Meadows Farm and her breeder, Three Chimneys Farm, moved smartly to the lead on the turn for home and kept her mind on business under jockey Wilmer Garcia en route to a 1 ½-length victory from Special Princess in the 6 ½-furlong, allowance/$75,000 optional claiming event for 2-year-old fillies.

Charge It All's time on a fast track was 1:18.30.

“I like this horse a lot,” Hamm said. “At this time last year, she was really fat and she looked kind of like a cow. I didn't know if she would ever slim down, but after being in Miami in June, July and August, she got some scope to her and has turned into a real nice filly. I'm pleased with her performance. I think there is some upside to her.”

Charge It All benefited from a lively speed duel between pace-setter Splash Cash and R Averie Lynn before Garcia popped the question approaching the 3/8-mile pole and she took off.

Hamm credits his assistant, Julie Hutchison, for getting Charge It All into solid racing shape in south Florida during the summer prior to the filly's first start on Sept. 17 at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Will Take Charge-Invalida, by Street Cry, is now 2-for-3.

Hamm's success earlier this year with his 2-year-old filly Dayoutoftheoffice, owned by Blazing Meadows Farm in partnership with Siena Farm, brought the conditioner widespread attention within the sport. She went 3-for-4 this year, winning the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes at Saratoga and the G1 Frizette at Belmont before settling for a second-place finish to Vequist in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. The Frizette was Hamm's first G1 victory.

Certain to be an Eclipse Award finalist for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly, Dayoutoftheoffice is at Siena Farm in Paris, Ky., and will soon be sent to Hamm's Blazing Meadows South in Ocala to begin preparations for her 3-year-old season. She earned $556,500 this year.

Every horse develops at a different rate and Hamm isn't ready to get too far ahead of himself with Charge It All. At the same time, he says the $125,000, seven-furlong Gasparilla Stakes for newly turned 3-year-old fillies on Jan. 16 is a likely next start, provided she rebounds well from Sunday's effort.

“Julie was mad at me because I didn't nominate her for the (six-furlong Sandpiper Stakes on Dec. 5), but we knew this allowance was coming up,” Hamm said. “Now, it's kind of like we have nothing to lose (by racing in the Gasparilla). I'm not too ambitious yet, but I'm ambitious enough to let her tell us where to go next.”

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National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame’s Foal Patrol Season 4 To Debut Dec. 29

Season 4 of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's popular live webcam series Foal Patrol will debut online at www.foalpatrol.com on Tuesday, Dec. 29.

Season 4 will feature in-foal mares at Mill Ridge Farm, Safari North at Pauls Mill Farm, and Three Chimneys Farm — all based in Kentucky — and Old Tavern Farm in New York. Season 4 will also feature champion sire Tapit at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky.

Foal Patrol is a one-of-a-kind collection of live cameras following the daily activities of in-foal mares produced by the National Museum of Racing. Millions of people throughout the world have viewed the popular webcam program since its initial launch in late 2017.

Here is a closer look at the Foal Patrol Season 4 participants:

Janae (mare, Safari North at Pauls Mill Farm, Versailles, Ky.)

In foal to Malibu Moon, Janae is a 5-year-old bay daughter of Closing Argument out of the Petionville mare Debs Pet. Bred in Louisiana by Jim and Sue Harris, Janae won two of seven career races and was in the money two other occasions. Both of her wins, including the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, took place at Lone Star Park.

Owned by Susan Moulton, Janae produced a filly by Mizzen Mast in 2019 and a filly by Daredevil in 2020. Janae's foal by Malibu Moon has an expected due date of April 12, 2021.

Miss Always Ready (mare, Three Chimneys Farm, Versailles, Ky.)

In foal to Palace Malice, Miss Always Ready is an 8-year-old dark bay daughter of More Than Ready out of the Dehere mare Miss Seffens. Bred in Kentucky by Santucket Stables, she was purchased by Three Chimneys at the Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2014. During her racing career, Miss Always Ready won once from five starts, earning her lone victory in October 2014 at Belmont Park.

Miss Always Ready is expected to deliver her foal in late March/early April 2021. The foal will be a full sibling to Structor, winner of the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Structor was Miss Always Ready's first foal. She has since given birth to fillies by Palace Malice (2019) and Gun Runner (2020).

Miss Chapin (mare, Mill Ridge Farm, Lexington, Ky.)

In foal to Oscar Performance, Miss Chapin is a 19-year-old bay daughter of Royal Academy out of the Akarad (FR) mare Society Dream (FR). Bred in Kentucky by Jerome and John Ammerman, Miss Chapin won her lone career start at Del Mar in 2004.

Miss Chapin is the dam of Grade 1 winner Coffee Clique and Grade 2 winner Admission Office, who is still active on the track. Miss Chapin's foal by Oscar Performance has an expected due date of March 18, 2021.

To the Moon Alice (mare, Old Tavern Farm, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.)

In foal to Uncle Mo, To the Moon Alice is a 7-year-old dark bay daughter of Malibu Moon out of the Partner's Hero mare Love Match. Bred in Kentucky by Hare Forest Farm, she was purchased by Old Tavern Farm at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale in 2017. To the Moon Alice made only two starts in her brief racing career in 2016. She finished third in her career debut at Gulfstream Park and was sixth in her only other race, which took place at Belmont.

To the Moon Alice has had three foals — all of which are owned by Old Tavern Farm — colts by Maclean's Music, Will Take Charge, and Ghostzapper. To the Moon Alice's fourth foal has an expected due date of April 20, 2021.

Tapit (featured stallion, Gainesway Farm, Lexington, Ky.)

One of the most influential and breed-shaping stallions of the past half-century, Tapit has sired 27 grade 1 winners, 31 yearlings to bring $1 million or more at auction, and earners of more than $162 million on the racetrack. He stands at historic Gainesway for a 2021 fee of $185,000.

To date, Tapit has sired 23 percent black-type horses, 138 overall stakes winners (86 graded), eight Eclipse Award winners, and six Breeders' Cup winners. His 2020 standouts include undefeated Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality. Tapit has been North America's leading sire three times.

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Sleepy Eyes Todd Pointed Toward Pegasus After Win In Mr. Prospector

Thumbs Up Racing LLC's Sleepy Eyes Todd pulled ahead in the final furlong to win the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. in front of 5-2 favorite, Firenze Fire.

Fourth-place finisher Wind of Change took the early lead setting the pace through fractions of :22.07, :44.35, and 1:09.05 on a fast track. Sent off at odds of 5-1, Sleepy Eyes Todd charged to the lead in the stretch followed closely by Firenze Fire, but held him off to win the seven-furlong race by a half-length with a final time of 1:21.67. Mind Control took third followed by Wind of Change. Sleepy Eyes Todd returned $12.20 on a $2 win bet.

This is the second graded stakes win for the 4-year-old son of Paddy O'Prado out of the Wild Rush mare, Pledge Mom. He is trained by Miguel Silva and was ridden to victory by Tyler Gaffalione. Prior to today, Sleepy Eyes Todd had won 7 of 14 starts for Silva including the G2 Charles Town Classic Stakes. Sleepy Eyes Todd was bred in Kentucky by Two Hearts Farm LLC and Kristen Goncharoff and sold as a weanling at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $9,000.

“This is the best horse we've ever had,” Silva said. “We've always been high on him. We wanted to take him to the Kentucky Derby [last year] but he had a little issue and we had to stop with him. He's always been a nice horse. We've always believed in him,”

Silva confirmed in a post-race interview that he plans to run Sleepy Eyes Todd in the G1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23.

“Everything set up perfectly,” said Gaffalione. “He broke well and put himself in the race. I was able to get a nice tracking spot inside. He gave me all the confidence going into the stretch and once he found a spot he accelerated and finished the job. All the credit goes to the trainer. He did a fabulous job getting him ready for today.”

“To be honest, if you look at his form he's run in all the big races across the country and he's run at every track and he takes his form with him everywhere he goes, so you know he's consistent and he shows up every time,” he added. “We just had to work out a trip. I thought I'd be tracking Firenze Fire but I wound up a little bit in front of him which I didn't mind, and got the jump on him.”

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