Tag: Horse Racing

Geraldina Needs Very Best To Defend QE II Cup

Sunday Racing's Geraldina (Jpn), the product of Japanese Horses of the Year Maurice (Jpn) and Gentildonna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will have to lift her game to a level not yet seen in 2023 if she is to become the third horse to go back-to-back in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto Racecourse Sunday afternoon.

The 5-year-old was a cracking third to Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) in the G1 Arima Kinen to end a fruitful 2022 campaign, but it's been tougher sledding this term, as she has finished outside the top three in each of her four starts. Her fourth-place effort to Equinox in the June 25 G1 Takarazuka Kinen was full of merit, as she came from a long way back to finish fourth, and perhaps she needed the run when only sixth to the progressive Rousham Park (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) and Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G2 Sankei Sho All Comers S. Sept. 24. The visiting Ryan Moore has the mount Sunday and knows a thing or two about Geraldina's parents.

“I won Grade 1 races on both her sire and her dam and that is something special for me,” Moore said. “Even though I've never ridden Geraldina, I've watched the video of last year's race and will look forward to riding her on Sunday.”

Gentildonna defeated Verxina (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) into second in all three legs of the Filly Triple Crown in 2012, and the latter–narrowly beaten at odds-on in this event that season–is also represented here by Divina (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}). A close fourth to Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the G1 Victoria Mile earlier this season, the bay, owned by former American professional baseball player Kaz Sasaki, exits a nose defeat of Rouge Eveil (Jpn) (Just a Way {Jpn}) in the G2 Fuchu Himba S. at Tokyo Oct. 14.

This year's Classic form is represented by Harper (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), second to Liberty Island (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) in the G1 Yushun Himba and a latest third in the G1 Shuka Sho Oct. 15. Brede Weg (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) was working her way through the lower grades over the summer, but announced herself as a potential top-class mare with a narrow defeat to future Shuka Sho runner-up Masked Diva (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) in the G2 Rose S. in September.

Sheikh Fahad's Art House (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) was a winner in Group 3 company in January and was last seen finishing a good fourth behind Through Seven Seas (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) at Group 3 level in March. The latter gave Equinox all he could handle in the Takarazuka Kinen and went on to be a meritorious fourth to Cartier Horse of the Year Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The post Geraldina Needs Very Best To Defend QE II Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Saturday Insights: Pricey Sons Of Into Mischief And Justify Debut At Del Mar For Baffert

2nd-DMR, $61K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 4:00 p.m.
A couple of pricey colts will lineup for their Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday at Del Mar. IMAGINATION (Into Mischief) was purchased for $1,050,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September by SF Bloodstock/Starlight Racing/Madaket before adding investors Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovon and Tom Ryan.

The bay colt out of GSW Magical Feeling (Empire Maker) counts Oaklawn Mile S. hero Exulting (Tapit) as a half-brother and GIII Monmouth Oaks heroine Occult as a full-sister. Under the third dam, we find GI Travers S. champ Golden Ticket (Speightstown).

The other Baffert first time starter here is Pilot Commander (Justify), who winged his way during OBS March to a 9 4/5 furlong at the undertack breeze show and then jetted home with CSLR Partners for $700,000. The chestnut colt out of Rebuke (Carson City) is a half-brother to GSP Freedom Flyer (Constitution). TJCIS PPS

The post Saturday Insights: Pricey Sons Of Into Mischief And Justify Debut At Del Mar For Baffert appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Post Pattern: $1.7M Quality Road Colt Streaks Away to ‘Rising Star’ Tag

Making his first start on the main track after finishing a sneaky-good third when trying the turf on his Santa Anita debut Oct. 7. Zedan Racing Stables' Coach Prime (c, 2, Quality Road–Act Now, by Street Sense) was let off the leash with a furlong and a half to go Friday at Del Mar and powered away from his rivals to become the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star'.

The joint third-priciest offering at last year's Keeneland September sale when hammering to bloodstock agent Donato Lanni for $1.7 million, was roughed up a bit after breaking from gate nine in a field of 10 and took a few awkward strides, but that bit of trouble at the start assured that he would be able to get in and save a bit of ground three wide around the first turn. Remaining a couple of paths off the inside down the backstretch, Coach Prime looked as if he'd like to go on with things at an early stage, but Flavien Prat sat hard against him, waiting for the right moment to set him alight. Shuffled back into sixth, but still well within striking distance as they raced towards the quarter pole, Coach Prime advanced in hand into the lane, and when he was asked to take a gap between horses, he burst through, got a single right-handed reminder and was shown the whip the rest of the way, graduating by 7 1/4 emphatic lengths as the somewhat chilly 7-5 favorite.

Ostensibly named for University of Colorado football head coach Deion Sanders, Coach Prime is out of a winning half-sister to the stakes-placed The Right Path (Quality Road), a mare who was purchased for $150,000 in foal to Kitten's Joy at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale. The majority of the black-type in the family is under the colt's third dam, a half-sister to Minardi (Boundary) and Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat) who produced MGSW & MGISP Fed Biz (Giant's Causeway) and SW Spun Silk (A.P. Indy), the dam of GI Vosburgh S. winner Joking (Distorted Humor).

Act Now is the dam of a yearling colt by Union Rags, was barren to Audible for 2023 and was most recently bred to Quality Road's son City of Light.

4th-Del Mar, $63,500, Msw, 11-10, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.18, ft, 7 1/4 lengths.
COACH PRIME, c, 2, by Quality Road
1st Dam: Act Now, by Street Sense
2nd Dam: Always Trouble, by Bernardini
3rd Dam: Spunoutacontrol, by Wild Again
Sales history: $1,700,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $43,920. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Kim Nardelli, Rodney Nardelli & William Werner & W S Farish (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

 

The post Post Pattern: $1.7M Quality Road Colt Streaks Away to ‘Rising Star’ Tag appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Dose Of Weekend Graded Stakes A Cure For Any Breeders’ Cup Hangover

Sailing into the weekend fresh off the Breeders' Cup might sound like a bit of a letdown, but there is some graded racing scheduled that will cure any hangover of the purple and white variety.

Across a triad of tracks, including Aqueduct, Woodbine and Churchill Downs, we find both Grade II and Grade III races over the turf and the Tapeta which should come as a welcome dose.

First on Saturday, the Big A cards the GIII Pebbles S., which is a one mile battle on the Inner Turf. If Chad Brown trainee Rhiannon (Medaglia d'Oro) can build on her first grass attempt at second asking, which was an impressive seven-length score Sept. 16, then she's the pick.

Before we send the bay filly straight to the winner's circle, don't count out her stablemate, Startup Mentality (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who debuted a winner at Monmouth Park July 22. Nor should we negate the talent of GI Coaching Club Oaks runner-up Sacred Wish (Not This Time). The George Weaver trainee finished just off the board in the GIII Valley View S. at Keeneland Oct. 27.

Towards the end of the Aqueduct card the renewal of the GII Red Smith S. includes a number of experienced older turf experts who will take on the 3-year-old upstart and younger brother to MGISW Nest (Curlin) in Lost Ark (Violence). Last seen winning the off the turf GI Jockey Club Invitational Oct. 7 during the Belmont at the Big A meet, the Todd Pletcher trainee is going to have his work cut out for him against the likes of MGISP Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and GSW Verstappen (War Front).

The Sunday action concludes in Ozone Park with the GIII Long Island S., which will be headlined by GSW Vergara (Noble Mission {GB}).

Heading to Canada, Woodbine Racetrack puts on a pair of Saturday graded stakes races in the GIII Maple Leaf and the GII Bessarabian. Both have large fields, but the latter might be the most intriguing with several alums present from the GIII Ontario Fashion S. Oct. 14. Out of the bunch, look for GSW Loyalty (Hard Spun) to get back to her winning ways for Gainesway Stable and LNJ Foxwoods.

Trucking down to Churchill Downs that same afternoon, the GIII River City S. is a nine-furlong route over the Matt Winn Turf Course. You'll recognize stalwarts GISW Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and GSW Cellist (big Blue Kitten), plus older colts like GSW Kitodan (Point of Entry), GSP Smokin' T (War Front) and GSW Grand Sonata (Medaglia d'Oro). A mark of consistency, SP Siege of Boston (War Front) takes his first shot at graded company for owner Joseph Allen and trainer James Toner.

The post Dose Of Weekend Graded Stakes A Cure For Any Breeders’ Cup Hangover appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights