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United Battles Back From Wide Trip To Defend John Henry Turf Championship Title

Decorated 6-year-old gelding United didn't get the easiest trip in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 2, but he prevailed all the same, clinching his second edition of the stakes race. United and rider Flavien Prat were shuffled back in the early going on the downhill turf course, and settled near the back of the field on the first trip past the stands as Acclimate and Neptune's Storm controlled the pace. Prat kept United off the rail and quietly passed a few horses before taking a breather on the backstretch. The pair made their move even before the final turn, swinging wide and picking off rivals, charging just in time to catch Acclimate and to just top Friar's Road, who was putting in a last-to-first effort.

The final time for the 1 1/4 miles was 1:58.41, with fractional times of :22.70, :46.32, 1:11.42, and 1:35.01. Acclimate held on for second over Friar's Road.

United went off the favorite at odds of 7-5 and paid $4.80, $3.40, and $2.40.

The Richard Mandella trainee came to the race off a fourth place finish in the G2 Del Mar Handicap, where Acclimate just nosed him off the board. His credits from this year include wins in the G2 Eddie Read and G3 San Luis Rey. Last year, he won or finished second in five of six starts, collecting four graded victories but finishing a disappointing eighth in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

The race was he fourth win on the card for Prat, and the second for Mandella and owner LNJ Foxwoods.

United was bred in Kentucky by Rosemont Farm. He is the son of Giant's Causeway and Pulling Punches mare Indy Punches. As a weanling, he sold for $240,000 at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where he was consigned by Trackside Farm and purchased by Glencrest Farm. He went on to the Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale the next year, where he raised $300,000 from purchaser Solis/Litt and was presented by Four Star Sales.

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Going To Vegas Holds Off Luck In Rodeo Drive Stakes

Like a casino sending gamblers home empty handed, Going to Vegas refused to let the furious rush of Luck prevail on Saturday in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Going to Vegas, a 4-year-old Goldencents filly got out early in the 1 1/4-mile turf race, and quickly got to the rail under jockey Umberto Rispoli, and she crossed over from the downhill course to the main oval ahead of Dogtag on the inside and longshot Neige Blanche on her outside hip.

Going to Vegas held a comfortable 1 1/2-length lead over Neige Blanche after an opening quarter-mile in :24.35 seconds, and she maintained that margin as the field went past the finish for the first time. The top three positions went unchanged as they headed into the backstretch, with Rispoli keeping Going to Vegas under light restraint.

The race started to percolate after the three-quarters mark in 1:13.49, with jockey Flavien Prat starting to rouse Luck from the middle of the field. Luck got up to third place behind Going to Vegas and Neige Blanche heading into the final turn, and she was in second after a mile in 1:36.35.

Rispoli started urging Going to Vegas in the straightaway with a right-handed crop, as they worked to hold off a pair of LNJ Foxwoods-owned runners in ground-saving Dogtag and outside-moving Luck.

Luck was gaining ground on Going to Vegas as the wire approached, but she ran out of time and real estate, finishing a head behind the winner. Stablemate Dogtag carried on for third.

Going to Vegas stopped the clock in 1:58.84 over a fast main track. She paid $4.20 as the post-time favorite.

Richard Baltas trains Going to Vegas for owners Abbondanza Racing, Medallion Racing, and MyRacehorse. Saturday's victory improved the filly's record to seven wins in 22 starts for earnings of $634,151.

Bred in Kentucky by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, Going to Vegas is out of the stakes-winning Johannesburg mare Hard to Resist.

To view the Equibase chart, click here.

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Dr. Schivel Survives Rein Troubles, Dissects Foes In Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes

What looked like an evenly-matched edition of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes turned into a clinic on Saturday when the 3-year-old Dr. Schivel bested older foes for a third straight time in what was his most visually impressive effort to date.

The effort will certainly improve Dr. Schivel's standing among the contenders for this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. He'd already earned a Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win And You're In” berth to the Sprint by virtue of his victory in the G1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 31 at Del Mar, and Saturday's race was another “Win And You're In” event.

It was eventful start from the inside post for Dr. Schivel, after a buckle on his rein broke off in the opening jumps. Jockey Flavien Prat grappled with the rein across the backstretch, while also putting his mount in a forward position pressuring early leader Vertical Threat, who started from the second post.

Dr. Schivel went past his foe after an opening quarter in :21.87 seconds, and he never relinquished the lead from that point. Vertical Threat remained within a length of the leader as they passed the half-mile point in :45.07 seconds, well ahead of the rest of the field.

Dr. Schivel was well clear heading into the stretch, and after some mild urging at the top of the straightaway, Prat essentially hand rode the colt to the wire, gearing down at the finish to cross the line 3 1/4 lengths ahead of Flagstaff, who took an inside trip and held on by a nose ahead of a dogged C Z Rocket in third.

Over a fast main track, Dr. Schivel stopped the clock for the six-furlong Santa Anita Sprint Championship in 1:09.44.

Saturday's victory improved Dr. Schivel's record to five wins in seven career starts, and a perfect three-for-three in 2021, with lifetime earnings of $536,000. Mark Glatt trains the colt for owners Red Baron's Barn, Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William A. Branch.

Dr. Schivel was bred in Kentucky by William A. Branch and Arnold R. Hill, out of the winning Mining For Money mare Lil Nugget.

To view the full Equibase chart, click here.

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Munnyfor Ro Powerful In Stretch To Win Wonder Where Stakes

Munnyfor Ro rallied stoutly down the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch to take the $250,400 Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack.

It took a little bit of time for Munnyfor Ro to hit her best stride, but when she did, the daughter of Munnings dashed away from her rivals for a convincing score in the in the 1 1/4-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada.

After an early scramble for the lead, 66-1 Youens struck front as 4-1 Emmeline settled just to her outside in second spot. Justin Stein, aboard Munnyfor Ro, kept the 6-5 choice in striking distance, sitting sixth after an opening quarter timed in :26.44.

Youens continued to lead the way with Emmeline keeping close tabs to the pacesetter, as Munnyfor Ro, winner of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, first leg of the Triple Tiara, was still running along comfortably in sixth after a half in :52.44.

As the field rounded the turn for home, Youens and Emmeline were quickly challenged by several rivals, including Miss Marie and Cielo d'Oro, as Stein called upon MunnyforRo for her best run.

Midway down the lane, the favorite seized control and proceeded to sprint away from her rivals, notching a 1 1/2-length triumph in a time of 2:05.36 over good ground, and returning $4.60 for the win.

Miss Marie battled on gamely to secure second place, Cielo d'Oro was third and Bequia, also a Kevin Attard trainee, took fourth. Il Malocchio, winner of the Bison City Stakes, second jewel in the Triple Tiara, was sixth.

“She's all racehorse,” praised Stein. “She felt the same (on turf), just that nice, efficient stride, and that strong kick down the stretch. Just reading the form, you could see there was no real speed, and we were forwardly placed. She was on the bridle and just had to settle her into stride and wait to turn her loose.”

With the victory, Munnyfor Ro stamped herself as a legitimate Sovereign Award contender in both the champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year categories.

Attard was equally thrilled with the effort from the chestnut filly, bred in Ontario by Daybar, Ltd., who finished fourth to Safe Conduct in this year's running of the Queen's Plate.

“I thought she's blossomed a lot since her race in the Queen's Plate,” said Attard, who won last year's Wonder Where with Merveilleux. “She kept good weight, possibly put on some weight. She's matured from a physical standpoint, and she trained really well heading into this race. This was a race that Raj [owner Rajendra Maharajh] wanted to target from the get-go. It was just nice to see it all come together today and get the job done.”

Munnyfor Ro, now 3-2-2 from 11 career starts, broke her maiden at Keeneland this April.

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