Tag: Horse Racing

Exaggerator’s West Saratoga Upsets The Iroquois

With five previous starts under his belt, Harry Veruchi's West Saratoga (Exaggerator) was the most experienced of the eight 2-year-old males signed on for Saturday's GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs. But whereas he made all of the running in breaking his maiden when tried over a mile for the first time at Ellis Park Aug. 5, the gray colt was taken off a furious early pace this time and proved the chief beneficiary, earning 10 points on the Road to the 2024 Kentucky Derby in the process.

An $11,000 bargain purchase out of last year's Keeneland September sale–as hip 4146 he was among the last horses through broke on terms, but was content to settle in midpack this time around, as a headstrong Patriot Spirit (Constitution) set unsustainable fractions of :22.37 and :44.63 up front. Busily ridden into the final three-eighths of a mile, but gaining beneath Rafael Bejarano, West Saratoga began to bear down on the spent pacesetter approaching the furlong marker and stayed on for the victory. Favored Risk It (Gun Runner) appeared to have every chance if the pacesetter was to back up, but he flattened out a bit late and just held off a late rally from Liberal Arts (Arrogate) for second.

“We've been just trying to let him progress naturally,” said trainer Larry Demeritte, winning the second graded stakes of his career and first since 2010. “He went a mile last time and we were confident today going the same distance.”

The conditioner said West Saratoga is a candidate for the $600,000 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 7.

West Saratoga has yet to turn in a bad race, as he outran debut odds of 42-1 to be fourth at Keeneland Apr. 7 before finishing runner-up in a pair of restricted local maidens May 11 and June 4. A distant second to Timberlake (Into Mischief)–who would go on to complete the exacta in the GI Hopeful S.–in a seven-furlong Ellis maiden July 21, he was never seriously threatened when besting subsequent maiden romper Generous Tipper (Street Sense) last time out to earn a crack at a race like this.

Pedigree Notes:

West Saratoga is the 11th stakes winner and third graded winner for his Classic-winning sire, and Mo Wicked–who cost Two Hearts Farm just $5,200 at Keeneland November in 2018–is the 16th stakes winner and seventh graded winner out of a daughter of Uncle Mo. From the family of 2010 GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Wickedly Perfect (Congrats), the dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Hartley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), West Saratoga is one of two winners from as many to the races for Mo Wicked. Her 3-year-old daughter Mo Traffic (Cross Traffic) won her maiden at Delaware Park July 19. Mo Wicked was most recently bred back to Cross Traffic.

 

Saturday, Churchill Downs
IROQUOIS S.-GIII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-16, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.28, ft.
1–WEST SARATOGA, 122, c, 2, by Exaggerator
1st Dam: Mo Wicked, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Wicked Ride, by Candy Ride (Arg)
3rd Dam: Wickedly Wise, by Tactical Cat
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($11,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Harry L. Veruchi; B-Two Hearts Farm II LLC (KY); T-Larry W. Demeritte; J-Rafael Bejarano. $180,315. Lifetime Record: 6-2-3-0, $276,815. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Risk It, 122, c, 2, Gun Runner–Wedding Jitters, by Broken Vow. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($500,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Three Chimneys Farm; B-Gun Runner Syndicate & De Sousa Stables & Cranford Bloodstock LTD (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $58,650.
3–Liberal Arts, 122, c, 2, Arrogate–Ismene, by Tribal Rule. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Ferraro, Evan and Ferraro, Stephen; B-Stephen Ferraro & Evan Ferraro (KY); T-Robert Medina. $29,325. Margins: 1 3/4, NK, NK. Odds: 12.48, 1.35, 9.92.Also Ran: Seize the Grey, Edified, Patriot Spirit, Union Roll, Market Street. Scratched: Gettysburg Address. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV.

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Bango Ties Record For Wins At Churchill Downs

Bango (Congrats) tied the record set by Ready's Rocket (More Than Ready) in 2012 for wins at storied Churchill Downs on Saturday when he won the Louisville Thoroughbred Society S.

Last seen having his picture taken July 1 at Ellis Park in the Kelly's Landing S. July 1, the experienced even-money favorite here stayed close to Strobe (Into Mischief) up the backstretch, but entering the lane he seized the lead. Despite a strong late performance by Gulfstream Way (Gemologist), Bango finished the job to notch his eleventh victory under the Twin Spires.

Out of an extended female family which includes GII Louisiana Derby hero Revolutionary (War Pass), the winner has an unraced 2-year-old full-brother named Evan On Earth (Congrats) and a yearling half-brother by Flatter. His dam visited Jack Christopher for 2024.

LOUISVILLE THOROUGHBRED SOCIETY S., $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-16, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.02, ft.
1–BANGO, 123, h, 6, Congrats–Josaka, by Smart Strike. O/B-Tamaroak Stable (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $183,450. Lifetime Record: 33-14-4-2, $1,459,261. *1/2 to Eton Ridge (Stephen Got Even), SW-PR, $274,962.
2–Gulfstream Way, 121, g, 5, Gemologist–Clever Cookie, by Smart Strike. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Kueber Racing, LLC; B-Timber Bay Farm (KY); T-Norm W. Casse. $59,500.
3–Necker Island, 123, h, 6, Hard Spun–Jenny's Rocket, by Mr. Greeley. ($250,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-The Scherr Boys; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Chris A. Hartman. $29,750.
Margins: HD, 3 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.16, 5.30, 11.14.
Also Ran: Awesome Aaron, Baytown Bear, Strobe.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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NYTHA General Nominating Meeting For 2023 Board Election to be held Friday

Edited Press Release

A General Nominating Meeting will be held at Belmont Park Friday, Oct. 6, to announce candidates for the 2023 New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Board election, NYTHA announced Saturday. The NYTHA Board consists of the President, five Owner Directors, and five Trainer or Owner/Trainer Directors.

Nominations can be submitted in person at the meeting or via email to election2023@nytha.com.

CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION OR TO SERVE AS A NYTHA DIRECTOR MUST:

(A) Be a voting member of NYTHA in good standing (licensed as an owner or trainer by the New York State Gaming Commission, and listed as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner or trainer in the Equibase owner or trainer records and in an official track program, OR own a minimum of 5% of a Thoroughbred racehorse that starts in a qualifying race within the jurisdiction of this Association) for at least one year immediately preceding the date of her/his nomination.

(B) Remain a member in good standing for the entire term of her/his directorship.

(C) Have started one or more horses a minimum of five times at a NYRA track while a member of NYTHA in the one year immediately preceding the date of her/his nomination.

CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION OR TO SERVE AS NYTHA PRESIDENT MUST:

(A) Be a voting member of NYTHA in good standing (licensed as an owner or trainer by the New York State Gaming Commission, and listed as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner or trainer in the Equibase owner or trainer records and in an official track program, OR own a minimum of 5% of a Thoroughbred racehorse that starts in a qualifying race within the jurisdiction of this Association) for at least three years immediately preceding the date of her/his nomination.

(B) Remain a member in good standing for the entire term of her/his presidency.

(C) Have started one or more horses a minimum of five times while a member of NYTHA in each of the three years immediately preceding the date of her/his nomination.

Candidates will be announced in November. The election is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023.

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Woodbine’s GIII Seaway S. Goes Sunday

Woodbine Racetrack isn't done with the graded entertainment as the GIII Seaway S. for 3-year-old fillies and mares going seven furlongs takes to the Tapeta on Sunday.

Drawn to the outside is the last out winner of the GIII Trillium S. July 23 in Toronto, Il Malocchio (Souper Speedy). Cutting back, the Martin Drexler trainee is the morning-line favorite at 5-2.

The 5-year-old will face eight others, including Catherine Day-Phillips trainee Millie Girl (Hard Spun), who finished third in the June 3 GII Royal North S. and in the same spot in the GII Nassau S. July 1–both over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Also present are a pair of alums from the Sweet Briar Too S. From Kevin Attard's shedrow, Vantarsi (Speightstown) was fifth in that race Aug. 19 and GSP Talk to Ya Later (Perfect Timber) from the Ian Black barn was the runner-up.

Finally, it would not be a Woodbine graded stakes without the presence of Mark Casse. The Hall of Fame trainer sends the youngest female of the bunch to the post in Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro). The 3-year-old won the Fury S. in gate-to-wire fashion against state-breds June 10 before running fifth in the July 23 Woodbine Oaks.

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