Tag: Horse Racing

Post Position Leads Baffert To Scratch Medina Spirit From Pennsylvania Derby

Medina Spirit has been withdrawn from Saturday's Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing, owing to his outside post position, trainer Bob Baffert told the Albany Times Union's Tim Wilkin on Tuesday.

The son of Protonico drew the ninth post in a 10-horse field.

Baffert will also scratch Grade 3 winner Private Mission from the G1 Cotillion Stakes on the same card, and point her toward the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 3.

“I don't like to put them on a plane unless I feel real good about it,” Baffert told Wilkin. “Medina looks good, I just don't like the way the race was setting up. I feel part of my success is knowing when to run and doing what's right for the horse.”

The Pennsylvania Derby would have been Medina Spirit's second race back from a summer layoff, following a win in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 29. Prior to his three-month break, Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby from the #8 post, then finished third in the Preakness Stakes.

Baffert said Medina Spirit would be redirected to face older competition in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 2. If he performs well in the prep race, he will be pointed toward the Breeders' Cup.

Medina Spirit was installed as the 2-to-1 morning line favorite for the Pennsylvania Derby. In his absence, favoritism will likely fall on Hot Rod Charlie, a multiple classic-placed Grade 2 winner who most recently finished first in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park, but was disqualified to last for his role in unseating the rider from Midnight Bourbon, who he will face again on Saturday at Parx.

 

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Record Woodbine Mile Handle Paces Huge Weekend With Over $30 Million Wagered

A stakes-filled weekend across Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park generated a total of $30,391,567.55 in handle over five cards of Woodbine Entertainment live racing from Friday through Sunday.

The highlight of the weekend was a record-setting $13,856,030.71 handle on Saturday's Thoroughbred card at Woodbine Racetrack, which established a new record for a Ricoh Woodbine Mile card and was a 17.3 per cent increase over 2020.

Horseplayers wagered $2.2 million on the Ricoh Woodbine Mile race and $1.7 million on the Pattison Canadian International race. A quartet of multi-leg wager guarantees and a Jackpot Hi-5 mandatory payout, which generated $957,408.21 in new money, were also highlights of the successful 12-race card.

Sunday afternoon's card from Woodbine generated a $7.2 million handle on an 11-race program. The afternoon included a pair of Grade 1 Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge Series races to cap off Woodbine's Turf Festival Weekend.

The stakes action continued west at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with the Canadian Trotting Classic the marquee race on another large Saturday evening Standardbred program. Horseplayers wagered $3.1 million on the Saturday 13-race card at Mohawk Park, an increase of 9.4 per cent from last year's Trotting Classic.

The strong Saturday followed a $2.6 million handle on Friday's card from Campbellville.

Live racing resumes tonight (Tuesday) at Woodbine Mohawk Park and continues Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Post time is 7 p.m.

Woodbine Thoroughbred action picks back up on Thursday afternoon and runs through the weekend. Post time Thursday, Saturday and Sunday is 1:10 p.m., while Friday's card begins at 4:50 p.m.

For a recap of Woodbine's stakes action, click here.

For a recap of Woodbine Mohawk Park's stakes, click here. 

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Miss Important Remains Unbeaten At Grants Pass Downs

Miss Important caught Jaded Tiger in the final strides for a half-length victory in Monday's $14,600 Siskiyou Stakes for older fillies and mares on opening night of the 18-day fall season at Grants Pass Downs.

Under a perfectly timed ride by David Martin, Miss Important ran 5 ½ furlongs in 1:06.92 and paid $6.80 as the betting favorite. Billy Christian is the trainer for winning owner Bern Kent of Yakima, Wash.

A 4-year-old Graydar filly, Miss Important is now four for four at Grants Pass Downs including stakes scores in the Shady Cove Handicap, Jo Durham Memorial and Siskiyou Stakes. Kent claimed the bay filly for $10,000 out of her Grants Pass debut on May 24.

In seventh place early, Miss Important began passing horses on the backstretch, reached contention on the turn and reeled in Xtrafine Xtina and Jaded Tiger late for the victory.

Martin, now three for three on Miss Important, had the filly farther behind than normal Monday.

“She got bumped at the break, but she relaxed well and there was some speed in the race,” Martin said. “I was quiet on her early but when I asked her, she responded. (Miss Important) is a nice filly.”

Miss Important has demonstrated excellent versatility in her career, recording wins sprinting and routing, as well as on dirt, synthetic and wet racing surfaces. Her overall record is 6-1-2 in 16 starts with earnings of $92,388, including $8,030 for Monday's triumph.

Jaded Tiger nearly bagged her eighth victory of 2021. Ridden by Joree Scriver, the 4-year-old Smiling Tiger filly overhauled Xtrafine Xtina into the stretch run and just failed to last for the victory.

Xtrafine Xtina, ridden by James Wooten Jr., dueled with Hold That Smile through fractions of :21.61 and :46.46, gained a short lead on the turn, but weakened slightly in the stretch and finished third. Mean Sharon, Hold That Smile, Barbello, Chase the Music and Madigan Squeeze completed the order of finish.

On-track attendance was 475 and the total handle was $309,400.

NOTES: David Martin swept the late daily double on Miss Important ($6.80) and Shesaidshesperfect ($17.40). . .Alex Anaya also rode two winners—one Quarter Horse and one Thoroughbred. . .Anaya currently ranks sixth with 23 wins at Emerald Downs. . . Monday's first and third races were $8,000 allowances for older quarter horses at 300 yards. In race one, Warhock ($18.20) upset 2 to 5 favorite Cm Boom Shakalaka while running 300 yards in 15.23 seconds. Anaya rode the winner for trainer Benito Curiel and owner Malon Cowgill. In race three, Arizona Favorite ($4.40) and jockey Martin Osuna prevailed in 15.31 seconds for trainer Hector Magallanes and owners Kevin and Robin Allred. . .2020 Grants Pass Mile champion Pulpits Power ($4.80) held off Shockazulu for a hard-fought victory in race five, with two-time defending riding champion Joree Scriver scoring her first win of the meet. . .Two-time defending training champ Quinn Howey went one for one opening night as Gray Gem ($5) rolled to an easy victory under Mckenzie King in race six. . .The 2021 spring/summer meet continues Tuesday with an eight-race program at 5:15 p.m. , including El Alto Hombre attempting to win his seventh straight race this year in the $14,600 Applegate Stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Runner-Up Battleground To Enter Stud In Turkey

Battleground, who finished second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland, has been acquired by the Jockey Club of Turkey, and he will enter stud in that country for the 2022 breeding season, the Turkish publication Yaris Dergisi reports.

The 3-year-old son of War Front retired with two wins in seven starts for the Coolmore partnership and trainer Aidan O'Brien, earning $289,722.

Battleground broke his maiden in his second career start as a 2-year-old, taking the Chesham Stakes during the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. He then won his group stakes debut in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, making him a looming threat in the upcoming Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Battleground left the gate as the favorite in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, and after a wide trip, he finished second to 30-to-1 longshot Fire At Will.

His 3-year-old season was highlighted by a third-place finish in the G1 St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bred in Kentucky by Orpendale / Chelston / Wynatt, Battleground is out of the great Galileo mare Found, whose wins included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup Turf.

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