Tag: Horse Racing

Take, Do Deuce Hold All The Aces in Japanese Derby

by Alan Carasso

The legendary Yutaka Take, already five times a winner of the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), gave out an uncharacteristically bullish vibe about the chances of reigning champion 2-year-old male Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) ahead of Sunday's second jewel of the Japanese Triple Crown over 2400 metres of the Fuchu course, about 20 miles due west of the city centre.

And after a little less than a record-breaking 142 seconds on a warm and sunny warm afternoon and with a crowd on that looked and sounded a bit larger than the announced 62,364, the son of US import Dust and Diamonds (Vindication) kicked home down the centre of the track and found the line a neck better than an unlucky Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}). Ask Victor More (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), one of five in the race for the final intake of the 2005 Derby winner–also ridden by Take–was a forward factor throughout and clung on gamely for third.

“This is a truly emotional experience for me and I couldn't be happier,” said Take, 53, who can now boast of Derby victories in his 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. “It's so wonderful to be able to win in front of a packed stand–you couldn't be a jockey and not dream of living this moment.”

Sent away as the 16-5 third choice exiting a wide-trip third behind Geoglyph (Jpn) (Drefong) and Equinox in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) at Nakayama last month, last year's G1 Asahi Hai Futurity hero was away fairly from gate 13 and drifted back to settle in the latter third of the field, racing with Equinox in his wake, as Desierto (Jpn) (Drefong) cut out the running from Ask Victor More. Switched off nicely and unhurried entering the final half-mile, Do Deuce stalked Geoglyph into the final 600 metres and was pulled out and around that star-faced chestnut rival entering the long Tokyo straight.

Desierto hoisted the white flag not long thereafter, allowing Ask Victor More to inherit the lead, but Take had Do Deuce in high gear, raced up to the front-runner inside the furlong marker and held sway late to score narrowly. Equinox, who drew 18 in the Guineas was unfortunate to do so again Sunday afternoon, was beaten to the punch by the winner and was fractionally short of room in the waning stages before attacking the line for second. His final 600 metres was timed in a race-fastest :33.6, a tenth of a second quicker than the winner. Favored Danon Beluga (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) ran on for fourth.

“He had so much left in the tank at the final corner when I asked him for his run–he responded amazingly and took the lead earlier than planned, but held on well to the wire,” Take added. “The [G1] Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe should be a strong option for the owner and will probably be our next target.”

Do Deuce is one of seven Japanese entries for Europe's weight-for-age centrepiece and is the third Derby winner in the last seven years for trainer Yasuo Tomomichi, who saddled Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2016 and Wagnerian (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) two years later.

 

 

 

Pedigree Notes:

Do Deuce is one of 11 top-level scores for the now-pensioned Heart's Cry, who famously defeated Deep Impact in the 2005 G1 Arima Kinen and gave Japan a notable victory on the world stage when carrying Christophe Lemaire to a barnstorming victory in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at old Nad al Sheba in 2006. Do Deuce is the second Derby winner for Heart's Cry, who also supplied One and Only (Jpn) in 2014. Heart's Cry is also responsible for dual-surface Grade I winner Yoshida (Jpn), now standing at WinStar Farm in the US.

The winner's dam raced as a homebred for Satish Sanan's Padua Stables for the first 10 starts of her career, winning the GII Gallant Bloom H. for trainer Steve Asmussen in 2012 before finishing a clear second in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint with Richard Santulli part of the ownership group.

Sent through the Fasig-Tipton November Sale a few days later, Dust and Diamonds was purchased by Borges Torrealba Holdings for $900,000 and was turned over to trainer Todd Pletcher for whom she won the GIII Sugar Swirl S. in what would be her final racetrack appearance.

Of the three foals the mare produced for Torrealba/Three Chimneys, the most accomplished became Much Better, who went on to be placed twice in graded company. Dust and Diamonds was subsequently sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $1 million carrying a full-sibling to Much Better at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.

Now 14 years of age, Dust and Diamonds is represented by a 2-year-old Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) filly and was most recently covered by Real Steel (Jpn), the full-brother to the ground-breaking GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf heroine Loves Only You (Jpn).

 

 

 

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
TOKYO YUSHUN (JAPANESE DERBY)-G1, ¥418,540,000, Tokyo, 5-29, 3yo, c/f, 2400mT, 2:21.90 (NSR), fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 126, c, 3, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dust and Diamonds (MGSW & GISP-US, $496,260), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Majestically, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Darling Dame, by Lyphard
O-Kieffers Inc; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥226,978,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn, 6-4-1-1, ¥385,771,000. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile), MGSP-US, $301,131. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Equinox (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Kitasan Black (Jpn)–Chateau Blanche (Jpn), by King Halo (Jpn) O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥87,708,000.
3–Ask Victor More (Jpn), 126, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–
Kartica (GB), by Rainbow Quest. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK-TYPE. (¥170,000,000 yrl '20 JRHAJUL). O-Toshihiro Hirosaki HD; B-Shadai Farm; ¥53,854,000.
Margins: NK, 2, NK. Odds: 3.20, 2.80, 23.70.
Also Ran: Danon Beluga (Jpn), Pradaria (Jpn), Killer Ability (Jpn), Geoglyph (Jpn), Onyankopon (Jpn), Justin Palace (Jpn), Be Astonished (Jpn), Seiun Hades (Jpn), Ask Wild More (Jpn), Matenro Leo (Jpn), Lord Les Ailes (Jpn), Desierto (Jpn), Justin Rock (Jpn), Matenro Orion (Jpn), Piece of Eight (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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Highly Motivated Narrowly Best in Battle of the Browns

8th-Belmont, $94,000, Alw (NW2$X), Opt. Clm ($62,500), 5-28, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.63, ft, neck.
HIGHLY MOTIVATED (c, 4, Into Mischief–Strong Incentive {SW, $123,568}, by Warrior's Reward), an easing 4-5 favorite, overcame a bit of a slow start, but sat a good inside trip thereafter and outbattled his 'TDN Rising Star' stablemate Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) to the line to lead home yet another Chad Brown-trained exacta Saturday afternoon at Belmont Park. Off to a hesitant beginning and then bumped by The Reds (Tonalist) to his outside, the $240,000 Keeneland November graduate gained ground at the fence to race just in behind dueling longshot pacesetters to the turn. For his part, Stage Raider–backed from 7-2 into 2-1 at the off–was consigned to a five-path run down the backstretch after breaking from the widest gate, but raced more or less on even terms with his stable companion at the half-mile marker. Going ominously well with plenty of breathing room as they raced into the final three-eighths of a mile, with Stage Raider matching strides three off the inside, Highly Motivated was pulled out into the two path and ever so slightly had first run on Stage Raider nearing the stretch. The two class horses raced shoulder-to-shoulder past the eighth pole, and though he had every chance, Stage Raider could not fight his way past and the tough-as-teak Highly Motivated was home about a neck to the good. Chad Brown also saddled the race five exacta where Lakota Spirit (Curlin) outnodded Chaberton (Kantharos) in their respective turf debuts. Facile winner of the Nyquist S. on Breeders' Cup weekend at Keeneland in November 2020, Highly Motivated missed the break in the GIII Gotham S. and could finish no better than third. The bay made the majority of the running in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. back in Lexington last April and held grimly, only to be run down by champion 'Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), but was 10th from a high draw in the GI Kentucky Derby and was shelved. He returned from a 50-week absence with a better-than-it-looks fourth with Lasix added for the first time in a seven-furlong Keeneland allowance Apr. 16. Seth Klarman's operation acquired Strong Incentive for $200,000 at the 2014 OBS April Sale and bred the mare's first winner, Dew Springs (Temple City), in partnership with William H. Lawrence. Mike Ryan signed the ticket on Strong Incentive for $40,000 when offered in foal to Practical Joke on a late cover at Keeneland November in 2018 to dissolve the partnership with Lawrence, but she did not produce the following season. Strong Incentive is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Surge Capacity (Flintshire {GB}), a yearling filly by Practical Joke and was most recently covered by Authentic. Sales history: $240,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV. Lifetime Record: SW & MGSP, 8-3-2-1, $377,375. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Klaravich Stables (KY); T-Chad C Brown.

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Dark Angel’s Chardy Party Makes the Grade in Soaring Softly

Stonestreet Stables has enjoyed a good bit of success over the last few years sourcing fillies from Europe and placing them with Wesley Ward, such as MG1SW and two-time Royal Ascot heroine Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}); GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint S. winner Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}); and SW Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}). The latest success story from their European venture is Chardy Party (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who took her record to two-for-two Saturday in Belmont's GIII Soaring Softly S.

Rallying from well back to take her debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 27, the 110,000gns TATOCT acquisition was dispatched as the 2-1 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr. Breaking sharply from the far outside post, the gray perched two-wide in fifth as 42-1 shot Champagne Poetry (Carpe Diem) clicked off opening splits of :22.88 and :46.38 with GSW Sail By (Astern {Aus}) breathing down her neck. Chardy Party ranged up three wide turning for home, drawing alongside Sail By as Champagne Poetry called it a day. Those two battled down the lane with Chardy Party edging clear in late stretch to win by a half-length. Breeze Easy (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) charged up on the outside late to nail Sail By on the wire for the place spot.

“We worked her two works ago and had her in front of Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who ran second in the Seek Again the other day,” Ward said. “She kind of floundered when she was in front. In last week's work. We put her behind and she worked really well. When she made the lead today, she was gawking around a little bit. I think she's one of those that wants to come from behind.”

He added, “She ran really well today. Certainly, a mile looks like something she would be able to handle. We'll sit down with the Stonestreet crew and Ben McElroy and come up with a plan for her.”

“She broke much better,” said Ortiz, who was aboard for both starts. “Last time she missed the break and still came home like that the last 100 yards. Today, she was outside. Last time she was in the one hole. She did break good and put me in a great position. I was able to take care of it. I didn't have to send her just to take the hole. After that, I bided my time and asked her to run. I knew she was going to be there for me, so I waited as long as I could. Turning for home, I saw the other horse to the inside [Sail By] and said, 'I've got to go.'”

Pedigree Notes:
Chardy Party is the 48th graded winner and 85th black-type scorer for her sire Dark Angel. The winner is the sole produce out of her dam Spiritual Lady, who was a stakes winner in Ireland.

Saturday, Belmont Park
SOARING SOFTLY S.-GIII, $100,000, Belmont, 5-28, 3yo, f, 7fT, 1:21.47, fm.
1–CHARDY PARTY (IRE), 118, f, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
                1st Dam: Spiritual Lady (GB) (SW-Eng), by Pastoral Pursuits (GB)
                2nd Dam: Rouge Dancer (GB), by Elusive City
                3rd Dam: Blandish, by Wild Again
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. (110,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $88,945. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Breeze Easy (GB), 118, f, 3, Bated Breath (GB)–Polar Circle, by Royal Academy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (30,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT; £240,000 2yo '21 TATGOR; 250,000gns 2yo '21 TATMA). O-R A Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing; B-Lofts Hall Stud & B. Sangster (GB); T-Christophe Clement. $20,000.
3–Sail By, 123, f, 3, Astern (Aus)–Fly By, by Johar. O-Treadway Racing Stable; B-Jeff Treadway (KY); T-Leah Gyarmati. $12,000.
Margins: NK, NK, HF. Odds: 2.25, 10.50, 10.80.
Also Ran: Wonka, Derrynane, Ouraika (Fr), Lost My Sock, Snow Loves a Fight, Champagne Poetry. Scratched: Anador (Fr), Baby Man, Haughty, Wish You Well.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Maclean’s Music Colt Impresses In Churchill Debut

3rd-Churchill Downs, $118,675, Msw, 5-28, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.04, ft, 2 3/4 lengths.
TOP OF THE CHARTS (c, 3, Maclean's Music–Tiz Ro, by Hard Spun), bet down to 7.60-1 from a morning line of 12-1 found his way to the front in the early stages and widened through the final furlong to post an impressive 2 3/4-length debut success Saturday at Churchill Downs. The lone firster in a field of eight, the dark bay bounced well from the two hole and gradually–and with relative ease–worked his way to the front, covering the opening two furlongs in a smart :21.98. Ridden quietly on the turn by Declan Cannon, Top of the Charts was asked to kick in upper stretch, pinched an unassailable advantage into the final furlong and finished full of run to score by daylight in slick time. The victory was Cannon's first since last Sept. 13, when he suffered serious injuries in a spill. Top of the Charts is out of a winning daughter of Muskrat Suzie (Vice Regent), the dam of Canadian Classic and GI Arlington Million hero Jambalaya, whose sire Langfuhr was also a son of Danzig. Tiz Ro, also a half-sister to SW Riley Ripasso (Johannesburg), is the dam of the juvenile colt Canboulay (Honor Code) and a yearling filly by Lookin At Lucky named Destiny Ro. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,460. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Raroma Stable; B-Rajendra Maharajh (KY); T-Brian A Lynch.

 

 

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