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Fresh Red le Zele One To Beat In February S.

Consistent as the day is long, with just three finishes outside the top three from 19 career starts, Red le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) looks to give his outstanding sire a first top-level scorer on the dirt in Sunday's G1 February S. at Tokyo Racecourse.

Victorious in the 1400-meter G3 Negishi S. at headquarters last January, Red le Zele ran on to finish fourth behind Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah) in this event, then shipped to Dubai, where he was an excellent runner-up beneath Ryan Moore in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. A close third off a six-month break in the Listed Tokyo Hai at Ohi in early October, the 6-year-old exits a comprehensive three-length defeat of Sunrise Nova (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) in the valuable Listed JBC Sprint at Kanazawa Nov. 3.

“He is probably better now compared to last year, when he finished fourth in this race,” said trainer Takayuki Yasuda. “He has developed nicely and I think he can put in another big run.”

Cafe Pharoah seems to save his best for the Tokyo 1600 metres, where he is a perfect three-from-three. After accounting for the venerable Air Spinel (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) by three-parts of a length 12 months ago, he failed to land a serious blow in three subsequent appearances, including a distant 11th to the G1 Saudi Cup-bound T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister) in the G1 Champions Cup over nine furlongs at Chukyo Dec. 5.

T M South Dam (Jpn) (South Vigorous) is in with a puncher's chance, with nine wins from 18 starts, including the Listed Hyogo Gold Trophy at Sonoda in late December followed by a one-length tally in this year's Negishi S. Jan. 30.

Two-time champion Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), last year's G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) heroine who defeated Eclipse Award winner Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G2 Sapporo Kinen, tries the dirt for the second time in her career, having disappointed at skinny odds when a well-beaten 12th in the Champions Cup.

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Smile Happy, Zandon Square Off in Risen Star

'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy) and Zandon (Upstart), one a graded winner in their second trip to the races and the other unlucky not to achieve the same, meet for their respective sophomore debuts in Saturday's GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds. The Risen Star is the first of 16 races that comprise the 'Kentucky Derby Championship Series' and offers Kentucky Derby points on a 50-20-10-5 scale.

A $185,000 purchase out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, Smile Happy was the recipient of an inside-out ride from Brian Hernandez, Jr. going two turns at Keeneland Oct. 29 and powered away to graduate by 5 1/2 lengths. No better than the third favorite in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. a month later, the bay was once again consigned to a wide run around the bend, but he surged past recent GIII Sam F. Davis S. hero Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) and finished with good energy to take it by 3 1/4 lengths. The form of the Jockey Club has also been further franked by the third-placed White Abarrio (Race Day), who won the GIII Holy Bull S. with a 97 Beyer; and Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute), a wide seventh in the Jockey Club who upset this year's GIII Lecomte S.

“I think this is a good first step for Smile Happy,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “He's doing super. He's done everything right. He's a very low-maintenance horse who makes our job easy. We're trying to keep him and [GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner] Rattle N Roll (Connect) separated, with Rattle N Roll pointing for the [Mar. 5 GII Fasig-Tipton] Fountain of Youth[S.]”

Zandon brushed the inside of the stall, but overcame that bit of trouble to break his maiden by 1 1/2 lengths Oct. 9 at Belmont and was the 1.35-1 favorite for the GII Remsen S. Dec. 4. Three wide the trip, he was confronted by Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in upper stretch and had every reason to call it a day, but battled bravely inside and missed by just a nose after arguably being impeded by the eventual winner. He covered 46 more feet (about five lengths) in the process. The $170,000 Keeneland September acquisition ships in from South Florida, where he fired a bullet half-mile in :48 2/5 (1/41) Feb. 12 at Payson Park.

“He's got to get over the shipping, but the horse couldn't be training any better,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He's a very exciting prospect and I don't see any reason why he won't get up to a mile and quarter.”

Epicenter (Not This Time) set reasonable fractions in the Lecomte, but could not resist the center-track rally of Call Me Midnight and dropped a head decision. He was three-parts of a length clear of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Pappacap (Gun Runner), who was unable to take advantage of another ideal trip and settled for third.

Bodock (Street Boss) was a debut winner at Indiana Grand Nov. 10 and will try two turns off a 1 1/4-length defeat of $825,000 KEENOV purchase Strava (Into Mischief) in a sloppy six-furlong allowance Jan. 15.

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Golden Sixty Looking To Bounce Back in Gold Cup Defence

Having suffered a shock defeat when last seen in the G1 Stewards' Cup–his first in over 30 months–Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) will have atonement on his mind when he goes in search of back-to-back victories in the G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000mT) Sunday afternoon at Sha Tin Racecourse.

There was plenty to play for in the Stewards', as Golden Sixty had taken his winning streak to 16 with a second consecutive success in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile in December and had the chance to draw even with the legendary Silent Witness (Aus)'s consecutive streak. It wasn't to be, however, as the 6-year-old got too far out of his ground in a paceless race and he was unable to bridge the gap late with Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}). In a sense, that renders Sunday's race a less-stressful affair, and connections anticipate Golden Sixty to be back to his best.

“He felt good, he was really relaxed and he feels nice and strong,” said jockey Vincent Ho after Golden Sixty capped off 1200 metres of work with a final quarter-mile in :22.5 Feb. 15.

In addition to last year's Gold Cup, Golden Sixty defeated the now-retired fellow BMW Hong Kong Derby hero Furore (NZ) (Pierro {Aus}) and looks to stay perfect in three tries at the 10-furlong distance.

Those looking to make life difficult on the reigning Horse of the Year include 2021 Hong Kong Derby winner Sky Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who returns to the 2000 metres for the first time since, and Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), third in last year's Derby and an excellent third over an insufficient trip in the Stewards' Cup last time.

Waikuku lines up in the 1400-metre G1 Queen's Silver Jubilee Cup as he goes in defence of his crown. His seven rivals include G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint victor Sky Field (Aus) (Deep Field {Aus}); Chairman's Sprint Prize winner Wellington (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}), who has viable excuses for his last two runs; and the sneaky Healthy Happy (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), whose two victories from four tries at the metric seven furlongs includes a neck decision over Lucky Express (Aus) (Toronado {Ire}) with 132 pounds on his back in the G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup H. on New Year's Day.

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CDI Names Simon Senior V. P., Chief Technology Officer

Edited Press Release

Officials at Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) have announced that Nate Simon has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the company. He will be responsible for providing strategic technology leadership and services. Simon replaces Ben Murr who was promoted to President of TwinSpires and Online Gaming in January.

Simon joined CDI in 2011 as Vice President of Operations for the Company's United Tote division before his promotion to President of United Tote in 2012. During that time, Simon was accountable for over 200 employees across the United States and Canada and over $25 million in global revenue.

“I am very proud of the results Nate has delivered in modernizing United Tote over the past 10 years,” said Bill Carstanjen, Chief Executive Officer of CDI. “We look forward to him building on these contributions by delivering further innovation and growth to the Company as the Chief Technology Officer.”

Prior to joining CDI, Simon was the Global Head of IT Operations for Clariant. He started his career with General Electric Co. where he completed the GE Information Management Leadership Program and worked as an Enterprise Resource Planning Project Leader. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Indiana University.

Simon's promotion is effective immediately. CDI will move quickly to fill the role of President of United Tote.

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