into mischief | Horse Racing Free Tips

Messier Fires Bullet in First Work for Yakteen

Top GI Kentucky Derby contender Messier (Empire Maker), recently transferred from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert to his former assistant Tim Yakteen, breezed six furlongs Sunday for a start in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9 in a bullet 1:11.40, fastest by nearly three seconds of five recorded works at the distance.

“He worked lights out,” Yakteen said of Messier. “We had Johnny [Velazquez] work him and he'll ride him in the Santa Anita Derby. He gave us a thumbs up. The horse looked great, although he ended up with some unexpected company. We almost had a little training race out there.”

Messier was last seen winning the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. by 15 lengths Feb. 6 in Arcadia.

Yakteen, a 57-year-old native of Germany who assisted Baffert off and on for almost 10 years between a tour with the legendary Charlie Whittingham, also received promising 3-year-old Doppelganger (Into Mischief) from the Baffert barn.

“Both horses came to me in good shape,” said Yakteen, who began training solo in 2004. “They were always well cared for.”

A $570,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling who worked five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:00.20 (5/54) Saturday, Doppelganger is headed to the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park Apr. 2.

“We'll see if he can validate himself as a [Kentucky] Derby horse, earn some points and take it from there,” Yakteen said. “The horses are doing well, but you still need a little bit of luck.”

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Provocateur Keeps His Cool in Hutcheson Win

Provocateur came home strongest of six in his first career stakes victory for the partnership of MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm. Steadily improving since his eighth place career debut over a mile on the grass at Belmont Park Oct. 10, he weakened to fourth after dueling through six panels over the main track at the venue. Finding the winner's circle Dec. 23 down at Tampa Bay by 4 1/2 lengths as the 4-5 favorite, his connections opted to try their colt in the Jan. 15 Pasco S. for a 3-year-old bow with first-time Lasix, and he was outkicked late in the lane, finishing second by 2 1/2 lengths.

Coming off the diuretic for this contest, Provocateur overcame an early bump after the start to cruise from third behind early leader Golden Juan and 1-2 favorite Nitrous Channel. First to striking coming through the far turn, Irad Ortiz Jr. forced his rivals' hands and it was a three horse line at the top of the stretch. Kicking clear of the pacesetter, Provocateur and Nitrous Channel locked horns for the duel to the wire and the former kicked clear in the final sixteenth to win by two lengths. It was Todd Pletcher's eighth win in the race. “We were a little confused about what he wanted to do early on. He wasn't training as promisingly as we had hoped. We thought he would improve a little bit on the grass,” Pletcher said in the post-race interview. “After that experience he seemed to improve in his dirt training and recently has really come around.”

Dam Cayala had shown an affinity for Into Mischief with all four of her offspring by him ending up winners and three earning black-type including GIII Southwest S. winner One Liner. She has five winners from five to race. There is a 2-year-old filly by Flatter on record and the mare is expecting a foal by Authentic this season.

HUTCHESON S., $100,000, Gulfstream, 3-19, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.60, ft.
1–PROVOCATEUR, 118, c, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Cayala, by Cherokee Run
                2nd Dam: Chasethegold, by Touch Gold
                3rd Dam: Chasethewildwind, by Forty Niner
($600,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Kingswood Farm & David Egan (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $61,380. Lifetime Record: SP, 5-2-1-0, $92,205. *Full to One Liner, GSW, $475,250.
2–Nitrous Channel, 118, c, 3, Nyquist–Laurenmychanelgirl, by Afleet Alex. ($200,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $625,000 2yo '21 FTFMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Spedale Family Racing, LLC; B-VinLaur Racing Stable, LLC (KY); T-George Weaver. $19,800.
3–Golden Juan, 118, c, 3, Fed Biz–Penumbra Moon, by Malibu Moon. ($1,500 Ylg '20 FTKOCT). O-R.T Racing Stable; B-Brandywine Farm (Jim & Pam Robinson) (KY); T-Rafael Ramos. $9,900.
Margins: 2, 6 1/4, HF. Odds: 2.50, 0.50, 26.10.
Also Ran: American Sanctuary, Sport Pepper, Desert Ruler. Scratched: Cattin.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Saturday’s Racing Insights: Pletcher Unveils Pair of Curlin Colts

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

9th-GP, $60K, Msw, 3yo, 1m, post time: 4:38 p.m.
GASOLINE (Curlin) debuts Saturday for owners Harrell Ventures LLC and China Horse Club and trainer Todd Pletcher. The homebred son of leading sire Curlin, who gets 13% debut winners, is the first foal out of Yellow Agate (Gemologist), winner of the GI Frizette S. to cap an undefeated juvenile season. The China Horse Club purchased Yellow Agate as a yearling for $210,000 from the 2015 Keeneland September Sale and campaigned her throughout her racing career. She has since produced two fillies and one colt, all by Quality Road. Gasoline went through the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, but did not meet his reserve at $435,000. Harrell Ventures appears to have bought in after that.

Breaking just to Gasoline's outside is another Todd Pletcher firster by Curlin, the perhaps appropriately named Bright Future. Purchased for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September sale by Repole Stable and St Elias Stable, the chestnut colt is the second foal and first to race out of the SW and GSP Sophia's Song (Bellamy Road).

Also of note is the Bill Mott-trained newcomer Dual Threat (Into Mischief). His dam, a daughter of Thunder Gulch out the GSW Golden Gale (Summer Squall), was winless herself but has produced three winners from four to race including GSP Fleetwood (Munnings) and SW Cakewalk (Majesticperfection). Second dam Golden Gale (Summer Squall) took the 1996 GII Beaumont S. TJCIS PPs

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Fasig-Tipton March Digital Selected Sale Catalogue Now Online

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 18 entries for its March Digital Selected Sale, the company's inaugural online auction to be conducted on its new digital platform. Bidding is now officially open for the sale, and will close this Tuesday, Mar. 22, at 2 p.m. EDT.

The catalogue, which may now be viewed at digital.fasigtipton.com, consists of horses of racing age, racing and/or broodmare prospects, in-foal mares, and a stallion share in European champion Almanzor (Fr).

“We could not be more pleased with the strength of this catalogue,” said Leif Aaron, Fasig-Tipton Director of Digital Sales. “Our goal with this first digital auction was to put together a catalogue of high-quality entries and, with the support of our consignors, we have achieved that. Prospective buyers will find something of interest on every page, with horses of racing age in top current form, pedigreed and stakes credentialed broodmare prospects, and mares in-foal on exciting covers.

“Additionally, we are pleased to offer a share in promising young sire Almanzor (Fr), who is off to a fantastic start at stud in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres,” added Aaron. “It is a rare offering that adds another level of international interest and intrigue to our inaugural digital sale.”

March Digital Selected Sale offerings include:

RISKY ANALYSIS (Hip 2): Broodmare prospect by Frued was a six-figure earner on the track and is a half-sister to recent GII Rebel S. winner Un Ojo.

SUCHADA (Hip 4): Half-sister to GISW winning millionaire Finnegans Wake is the first mare to be offered in foal to Horse of the Year Knicks Go. She was mated on Feb. 10 and has checked in-foal.

WHITE PINE (Hip 6): Broodmare prospect by Tapit is a half-sister to stakes winner Itsmyluckycharm, from the family of GISW winners Albert the Great and Rushing Fall.

WILD EMPRESS (Hip 7): Broodmare prospect by Empire Maker is a half-sister to Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Filly She Be Wild.

BAROSSA (Hip 10): Racing/stallion prospect is a regally bred 3-year-old son of leading sire Into Mischief that placed in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

GOLDEN MUSCADE (Hip 14): Young daughter of Medaglia d'Oro is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Avery Island. She is offered in foal to current leading third crop sire Not This Time.

BRAMBLE BERRY (Hip 18): Five-year-old mare is in top form, having finished second in last Saturday's GIII Hurricane Bertie S. at Gulfstream with a career-high Beyer speed figure.

Each entry's page will feature a catalogue-style pedigree, five-cross pedigree, photos, and walking videos. Horses of racing age and racing/broodmare prospect pages offer Daily Racing Form Past Performances, Thoroughmanager past performances, Ragozin speed figures, and race replays. In-foal mare pages provide True Nicks and Goldmine hypothetical matings. Access to veterinary information and a repository are available on applicable entries.

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