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Drain The Clock Under Wraps Taking Bay Shore As Heavy Favorite

Saturday's stakes action at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., kicked off when Drain the Clock solidified his 1-5 favoritism while capturing his second graded stakes triumph, going gate-to-wire in the Grade 3, $200,000 Bay Shore for 3-year-olds.

The Maclean's Music chestnut colt cut back in distance for the seven-furlong sprint after finishing second in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on February 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Drain the Clock was a step slow leaving the gate under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., but quickly established command. Two-time winning Parx invader Beren, who stumbled at the start, kept close company to the outside in second as Drain the Clock led the compact five-horse field through opening fractions of 23.68 and 47.97 seconds over the fast main track.

Around the turn, Drain the Clock extended his advantage as Beren began to relinquish. Ortiz, Jr. got busy aboard his charge nearing the quarter pole and opened up a 4 ½-length lead in upper stretch.

Drain the Clock lugged out slightly nearing the furlong marker as Ortiz, Jr. went to the left hand with Whiskey Double launching a late bid to the outside. By the sixteenth pole, Ortiz, Jr. had Drain the Clock under wraps as he strolled past the finish line a 1 3/4-length winner in a final time of 1:25.97. Whiskey Double made up considerable ground to get second, 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Too Boss in third.

Beren and Garoppolo rounded out the order of finish.

Owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig, Drain the Clock improved his record to 7-5-1-0, with his other graded stakes win coming two starts back in the Grade 3 Swale on January 30 at Gulfstream Park, which also was at seven furlongs.

“He just wants to break out of there. He broke a little [slow] out of there but he put himself right away into the race and took me to the lead,” said Ortiz, Jr., who returned to New York fresh off a riding title at Gulfstream Park. “I let him relax and then I asked him to go and he was running hard to the wire.”

The victory was a first graded stakes win in New York for Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who will have a string at Belmont Park this summer for the first time.

“I thought he kicked away well at the top of the lane and did what he had to do. If you ease up on him, he's going to relax,” Joseph, Jr. said. “The five [Beren] didn't get a good break, unfortunately, and we didn't get pressed. If that horse went, we were going to sit. He's a very versatile horse and he doesn't need the lead.”

A NYRA Grade 1 could be in order for Drain the Clock, as Joseph, Jr. listed the $400,000 Woody Stephens on June 5 at Belmont Park and the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 28 at Saratoga as long terms goals for the talented colt.

“I'll talk it over with the ownership group. The Woody Stephens was in play even before this race but this puts it even more up there,” Joseph, Jr. said. “It's definitely on the radar. The Woody Stephens and Allen Jerkens are the types of races you want to be in. If we could win one it would be nice, if we could win both it would be great.”

Bred in Kentucky by Nick Cosato, Drain the Clock is the third offspring out of the Arch mare Manki, whose two other progeny of racing age are winners.

Drain the Clock banked $110,000 in victory while improving his lifetime earnings to $319,550. He returned $2.70 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with an eight-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

The post Drain The Clock Under Wraps Taking Bay Shore As Heavy Favorite appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Mischevious Alex, Mind Control Meet In Aqueduct’s Carter Handicap

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex will look to break through at the highest level in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The historic Carter is the first Grade 1 of 2021 on the NYRA circuit as part of a loaded five-stakes card headlined by the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

Also featured Saturday are a trio of Grade 3 stakes, including the $250,000 Gazelle at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points; the $200,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores; and the $150,000 Excelsior at nine furlongs for older horses.

Mischevious Alex, a 4-year-old Into Mischief colt trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., won the one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct and seven-furlong Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park last year for former conditioner John Servis.

The versatile dark bay is perfect in two starts since joining the Joseph, Jr. stable, including a prominent score in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint on February 13 last out traveling six furlongs on a fast track.

Joseph, Jr. said Mischevious Alex has proven his ability over multiple distances and tracks.

“I feel pretty confident with him at six furlongs. He's won at seven furlongs and he's won over that track already at a mile,” said Joseph, Jr. “I like that he's won on the track and I think seven furlongs is well within his reach.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr., winner of the last three Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey, will have the call on Mischevious Alex from post 4. The 28-year-old Ortiz, Jr. enjoyed a tremendous winter at Gulfstream with a record-setting 140 wins at the championship meet.

Joseph, Jr. said the accomplished jockey will have plenty of options to find a winning trip.

“He's very versatile,” said Joseph, Jr of Mischevious Alex. “If they're going slow enough, he could be on the lead. If not, he's very rateable for a horse with a lot of speed.”

Red Oak Stable and Madaket Stables' Mind Control will look to add a fourth Grade 1 win at a third NYRA track following previous success in the 2018 Hopeful at Saratoga, the 2019 Woody Stephens at Belmont and the 2019 H. Allen Jerkens at Saratoga.

The 5-year-old Stay Thirsty horse has enjoyed past success at the Big A, where he is 4-for-5, including scores in the 2019 Grade 3 Bay Shore and last year's Grade 3 Toboggan and Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap.

Mind Control finished third last out in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up won by Sleepy Eyes Todd on December 19 at Gulfstream Park.

Junior Alvarado has the call from the inside post.

Michael Dubb's Chateau is the likely pacesetter after making the grade last out in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap, a six-furlong sprint on March 6 at the Big A that garnered the 6-year-old Flat Out gelding a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trained by Rob Atras, Chateau boasts a record of 7-9-8 from 33 career starts but has never won past 6 1/2-furlongs.

Chateau worked a swift four furlongs in 49.49 on March 20 over the Belmont dirt training track and followed with an easy half-mile in 51.66 on Saturday.

“He's coming off just shy of a month between starts,” said Atras. “He's run his best performances when we were about six or seven weeks in between races, so a month isn't too bad. You would like to have more time off after such a big performance like his last race, but his last two works were good, and he came out of the Tom Fool pretty well.”

Kendrick Carmouche retains the mount from post 5.

Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables and LNJ Foxwoods' Shoplifted is multiple Grade 1-placed, posting a runner-up effort in the one-mile 2019 Hopeful at Saratoga and last year was the third-place finisher traveling seven furlongs in both the Woody Stephens at Belmont and H. Allen Jerkens at the Spa.

The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt has banked $527,000 via a record of 11-2-2-3, including a win in the 2019 Springboard Mile at Remington Park. Shoplifted finished second last out in his seasonal debut when bested by next-out winner Special Reserve in an optional-claiming sprint on February 6 over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park.

Shoplifted will emerge from post 3 under Jose Ortiz.

Rounding out the field is Live Oak Plantation's homebred Souper Stonehenge. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the 5-year-old Speightstown gelding will make his Big A debut from a runner-up effort in the six-furlong Pelican on February 13 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Tyler Gaffalione will guide Souper Stonehenge from post 2.

The Carter is slated as Race 6 on Saturday's 11-race program. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Mischevious Alex, Mind Control Meet In Aqueduct’s Carter Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Zayas To Have New Competition When Gulfstream Spring/Summer Meet Opens Thursday

The Spring/Summer Meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., will kick off Thursday with an eight-race program. First-race post time is set for 1 p.m. ET during the meet that will run through Sept. 30.

The Spring/Summer Meet stakes schedule will be worth $3.5 million with $500,000 in incentives offered by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association for Florida-bred and Florida-sired horses.

The $350,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) and the $200,000 Smile Sprint Invitational (G3) will be contested on the July 3 Summit of Speed card, highlighting a program of 34 stakes.

The seven-furlong Princess Rooney is a designated Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' race with the winner earning a spot in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

The tradition-rich FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series will offer a total of $1.3 million in purses for 2-year-olds sired by accredited Florida stallions. The popular series will kick off with the $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $100,000 Desert Vixen July 31, followed by the $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan's Girl Aug. 28 and the $350,000 In Reality and $350,000 My Dear Girl Sept. 25.

On Thursday's opening day program, Stonehedge LLC's Seazan, who finished third in both the Affirmed and In Reality last year, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Race 2 feature, a $47,000 optional claiming allowance for Florida-bred 3-year-olds at a mile. The Ralph Nicks trainee, who finished off the board while trying turf for the first time last time out, was beaten by just a half length while finishing second in an open optional claiming allowance at a mile in his previous start.

Jockey Edgard Zayas, the defending Spring/Summer Meet titlist, has seven mounts Thursday while coming off a career-best Championship Meet.

Gonzalez Gets Acquainted with Gulfstream Winner's Circle
Journeyman Edwin Gonzalez rode three winners on Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park while preparing to ride during the Spring/Summer Meet for the first time.

The Puerto Rico-born jockey, who had been winning at over a 30-percent clip the past few years while dominating at Penn National, scored aboard Ian Wilkes-trained Keitany ($5.40) in Race 1 with a ground-saving journey in the 1 1/16-mile maiden claiming race on turf. He came back to score aboard Keep Quiet ($) for trainer Saffie Joseph in Race 7, a $16,000 claiming race at one mile on turf, and Race 10 aboard Phat Man ($11.20).

“I'm looking forward to riding here during the summer. I'll keep working hard to win some races,” Gonzalez said. “I love Florida.”

On Saturday, his first day of riding at Gulfstream, Gonzalez came within a half-length of winning Saturday's Sir Shackleton aboard Frosted Grace, who held gamely to finish second behind multiple Grade 1 winner Basin.

Gonzalez, who rode 443 winners in Puerto Rico, scored his 1000^th win in the U.S. March 10 at Penn National.

Agent Kevin Meyocks will book mounts for Gonzalez, who has been named on four horses Thursday.

Other new faces in the jockey colony for the Spring/Summer meet include Chantal Sutherland and Jose Morelos, who will both see action Thursday.

Sutherland, a multiple graded stakes-winning jockey with more than 1000 career wins, has returned to Gulfstream Park after a long absence. Agent John Salamone has booked two mounts for Sutherland on the opening day card.

Jose Morelos, a 20-year-old jockey from Panama, is scheduled to ride for the first time in the U.S. at Gulfstream Thursday. The 2016 graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. riding school has been booked on three mounts by agent Jay Rushing.

Championship Meet Titlists Honored Sunday
The leading trainer, jockey and owner for the 2020-2021 Championship Meet were honored on Sunday's closing-day program at Gulfstream Park.

Todd Pletcher, who won his record 17th title with 58 wins, was honored in the winner's circle following Race 8. Irad Ortiz, who won his third straight title with a record 140 wins, was honored following Race 9. Paradise Farms and David Staudacher, who had 13 winners, were recognized following the Race 7.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 Guaranteed Jackpot $250,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $250,000 for Thursday's Spring/Summer Meet opening-day card at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday following Saturday's mandatory payout. Multiple tickets with six winners were each worth $24,008.72 Sunday.

The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Thursday's Rainbow 6 will Span Races 3-8.

WHO'S HOT: Tyler Gaffalione, who finished third in the Championship Meet jockey standings, ended the meet with four wins. He won Race 3 aboard Don't Call Me Mary ($4), Race 8 on Girolamo's Attack ($6.80), Race 9 on My Sea Cottage ($7) and Race 12 aboard Young Flint ($9).

Saffie Joseph Jr., who finished second behind Todd Pletcher in the Championship Meet's standings, saddled back-to-back winners in Race 7 and Race 8, scoring with Keep Quiet ($16.20) and Girolamo's Attack ($6.80), respectively.

The post Zayas To Have New Competition When Gulfstream Spring/Summer Meet Opens Thursday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Pletcher Takes Home Another Gulfstream Title

After putting an exclamation point on his meet with a win in Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby, trainer Todd Pletcher was honored with his 17th Gulfstream Park Championship Meet training title Sunday. The 2021 Hall of Fame nominee and his team sent out 58 winners–eight more than Saffie Joseph, Jr.–for earnings of $3,536,482.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. took his third-straight meet title with a record 140 wins, 42 more than Paco Lopez in second.

The partnership of Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudecher edged out Arindel Farm 13-12 for leading owner. Repole Stable, which shared the Aqueduct winter meet title, had 11 wins in South Florida.

The post Pletcher Takes Home Another Gulfstream Title appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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