Jaxon Traveler, Alwaysinahurry Lead Nominations For Star De Naskra At Pimlico

Multiple stakes winner Jaxon Traveler, stakes winners Alwaysinahurry and Shackled Love, and graded-stakes placed Hemp head a list of 16 horses nominated to the $75,000 Star de Naskra Saturday, Aug. 21 at historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

The Star de Naskra for 3-year-olds is among four $75,000 stakes restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses on the Maryland Pride Day program, joined by the Miss Disco for 3-year-old fillies, also sprinting six furlongs; 1 1/16-mile Find for 3-year-olds and up; and 1 1/16-mile All Brandy for fillies and mares 3 and older, both on the grass.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler was a 10-length debut winner last September at Pimlico and capped an undefeated 2-year-old season by defeating state-breds in the Maryland Juvenile Futurity at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Winner of the April 24 Bachelor at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., he was second to stablemate Mighty Mischief in the Grade 3 Chick Lang May 15 at Pimlico and made his two most recent starts on synthetic and grass, running third in the July 15 Grade 3 Quick Call at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Dale Capuano trains Mopo Racing's Alwaysinahurry, who emerged from multiple stakes-winning stablemate Kenny Had a Notion's shadow with a commanding victory over Mighty Mischief in the July 4 Concern at Pimlico. Kenny Had a Notion, also nominated, was entered at Pimlico Sunday.

ZWP Stable, Inc. and Non Stop Stable's Shackled Love won the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms March 13 at Laurel but has finished sixth in three subsequent starts, the Federico Tesio, Chick Lang, and Bald Eagle Derby, the latter 1 ½ miles on the Pimlico turf July 24. Narrow Leaf Farm's Hemp ran third in the Chick Lang and exits a runner-up finish after setting the pace July 2 at Charles Town in Charles Town, W. Va.

Six-time stakes winner Street Lute and Grade 3-placed Edie Meeny Miny Mo are prominent among 15 nominees to the Miss Disco. Lucky 7 Stables' Street Lute won five straight stakes last fall and winter at Laurel and captured an off-the-turf Stormy Blues June 13 at Pimlico. Most recently, she finished sixth, beaten 2 ½ lengths, in her first try on dirt and against older horses in the 5 ½-furlong M. Tyson Gilpin July 19 at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va.

Holly Hill Stables' Edie Meeny Miny Mo is undefeated at Pimlico, capturing an April 23 waiver maiden claimer by 4 ½ lengths and romping by six in a June 13 optional claiming allowance, her first two career starts. Last out, the Miguel Vera trainee ran second as the favorite after setting the pace in the July 31 Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Most popular among horsemen was the Find, whose 29 nominees include 2019 Maryland Million Turf winner Mr. d'Angelo; 2020 Maryland Million Starter Handicap winner Beltway Bob; Cannon's Roar, second in the 2020 Maryland Million Turf and third in the West Virginia Speaker's Cup Aug. 7 at Mountaineer Park in New Cumberland, W. Va.; and dirt stakes winners Air Token, Alwaysmining, and Cordmaker.

The All Brandy attracted 27 nominations led by Danger Zone, 2-2-1 in seven starts since being moved to the turf this winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.; Dendrobia and Quiet Company, respectively second and third in the five-furlong Jameela July 4 at Pimlico; Fool Yourself, a winner of two straight for Preakness Meet leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez; and Artful Splatter, a multiple stakes winner on dirt.

The post Jaxon Traveler, Alwaysinahurry Lead Nominations For Star De Naskra At Pimlico appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Golden Pal Kicks Off Sophomore Season at the Spa

Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), off since posting a visually impressive score in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 6, returns to action in Thursday's opening day GIII Quick Call S. at Saratoga.

Last term's narrow G2 Norfolk S. runner-up at Royal Ascot June 19 and ultra-sharp Skidmore S. winner at the Spa Aug. 21 was recently purchased privately by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg from breeder Randall Lowe. He is the 1-2 morning-line favorite.

“He's doing really well. We're excited about him,” trainer Wesley Ward. “I think he'll be the best horse I ever had, but we'll see if it comes out that way. He does things in the mornings that are just so impressive. He's just an immensely talented horse and we're looking forward to getting his season started here at Saratoga on Opening Day. Hopefully, that leads into the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year.”

'TDN Rising Star' Jaxon Traveler (Munnings), first or second in all seven of his career starts, tries grass for the first time. He enters following runner-up finishes in the GIII Chick Lang S. at Pimlico May 15 and Woodstock S. over the Woodbine synthetic June 20.

The post Golden Pal Kicks Off Sophomore Season at the Spa appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Golden Pal To Make 2021 Debut In Quick Call At Saratoga

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg's Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint-winner Golden Pal will make his seasonal debut in Thursday's  $120,000 Grade 3 Quick Call, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for sophomores on Opening Day of the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Quick Call is named for the multiple graded stakes-winning gelding who won more than half of his 16 career victories at the Spa. Trained by Sid Watters, Jr. and Warren Croll, Quick Call finished fifth in the Saratoga Special in 1986 and went on to win nine races there from 1987-1990, including the Forego in 1988 and 1989. Quick Call, who died in October 2019 at the age of 35, enjoyed a remarkable second career as an equine teacher in the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Second Chances Program.

Golden Pal, trained by Wesley Ward, enjoyed a memorable juvenile campaign, finishing second in the Group 2 Norfolk at Ascot last June ahead of a stylish gate-to-wire maiden win in the 5 1/2-furlong Skidmore in August on the Saratoga turf, garnering a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sent to post as the odds-on favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, contested at 5 ½-furlongs over good going at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., Golden Pal set splits of :21.62, :44.63, and :56.42 seconds, holding off a late rally from Cowan to secure a three-quarter length score in a final time of 1:02.82.

Out of the 11-time stakes-winning Midshipman mare Lady Shipman, Golden Pal has posted five breezes dating back to June 6 in preparation for his sophomore debut, including an easy half-mile in :51.80 on the Belmont inner turf on Thursday.

“He's doing really well. We're excited about him,” said Ward. “I think he'll be the best horse I ever had, but we'll see if it comes out that way. He does things in the mornings that are just so impressive. He's just an immensely talented horse and we're looking forward to getting his season started here at Saratoga on Opening Day. Hopefully, that leads into the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from post 3.

Ward entered Silverton Hill's Fire Sword, who has won 3-of-5 career starts, for the main track only.

Bryan Hilliard's Second of July will look to get back to winning ways for trainer Phil Gleaves after off-the-board finishes in his last two starts.

The Jack Milton chestnut graduated on debut in September at odds of 68-1 in a six-furlong inner turf sprint at Belmont and proved the result was no fluke, capturing the Grade 3 Futurity over the Widener turf course a month later.

Second of July finished 12th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint to close out his 2-year-old season and was seventh after being bumped at the start last out in a six-furlong turf sprint in June at Belmont in his seasonal debut.

Gleaves said Second of July has excuses for his last two starts.

“In the Breeders' Cup, he got hit with a clod of turf, so much so that when I got back to the barn his right eye was fully closed. That told the tale of that race and then I gave him the winter off,” said Gleaves. “I ran him back at Belmont and our plan was to sit second or third that day and he got hit by the horse outside him leaving the gate and that put him back to last. The jock tried to put him in the race and the horse ran off, so to speak, going from last to second into a 44 and change pace.

“Since then, he's been doing good and training well,” Gleaves added. “I would hope he'll get back to his best form on Thursday.”

Gleaves said Second of July, a longshot in both winning efforts, continues to be a good-moving horse.

“I wouldn't say he's grown that much from two-to-three, but he's still a very sound and fluid-moving horse,” said Gleaves. “At some point, I want to stretch him out. He's a Jack Milton, so you would think he would have no problems going two turns. For now though, coming off the bad race at Belmont, I'd like to have one more sprint under our belts.”

Dylan Davis, aboard for both winning efforts, will guide Second of July from post 2.

“He's got very good speed if he needs to use it, but in his two winning races he came from off the pace,” said Gleaves. “So, I'm sure we'll try something like that again.”

Although cross-entered in Sunday's $75,000 My Frenchman at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., Gleaves confirmed the Saratoga-based Second of July will contest the Quick Call.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler, a $140,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, has posted a consistent record of four wins and three seconds in seven starts for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The dark bay Munnings colt, bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau, completed his 2020 campaign with a score in the seven-furlong Maryland Juvenile Futurity in December at Laurel Park.

Jaxon Traveler opened his sophomore season with a pair of starts at Oaklawn Park, finishing second in the Gazebo in March ahead of a 2 3/4-length score in the Bachelor in April.

He has finished second in both of his recent efforts in the Grade 3 Chick Lang in May at Pimlico and in the Woodstock last out on June 20 on the Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack.

Jaxon Traveler will make his turf debut from post 9 under Jose Ortiz.

Lindy Farms and Ice Wine Stable's Fauci, runner-up to Golden Pal in the Skidmore last summer, completed his four-race juvenile campaign with a close second in the Juvenile Turf Sprint over soft going at Kentucky Downs.

Also cross-entered in the My Frenchman, trainer Phil Antonacci said Fauci will race at his Monmouth Park base on Sunday unless weather intervenes.

“The plan right now is Monmouth and, depending on weather, the race at Saratoga will be a backup,” said Antonacci. “The weather has been a little weird lately and they're off the turf here today, so I want to be prepared in case it does come off the turf tomorrow.”

Initially trained by Ward, Fauci was transferred to Antonacci following a second-place finish in the Palisades Turf Sprint in April at Keeneland.

In two starts for Antonacci, Fauci finished fourth in the off-the-turf Paradise Creek in May at Belmont ahead of a rallying allowance win over older horses in a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint on June 20 at Monmouth Park.

“Wesley put a great base into him,” said Antonacci. “He's very easy to train and a gentleman and a pleasure to be around so far. We're lucky to have him. He makes my job easy.”

Should he race at Saratoga, Fauci will emerge from post 6 under Nik Juarez.

Rounding out the field are Omaha City [post 4, Manny Franco], winner of the Hollywood Beach in September at Gulfstream; Kentucky Pharoah [post 1, Tyler Gaffalione], who captured the Dania Beach in January at Gulfstream; and allowance winner Rebel Posse [post 8, Reylu Gutierrez]. Maiden winner Mr. Sippi is entered for the main track only.

The Quick Call is slated as Race 8 on Thursday's 10-race Opening Day card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Golden Pal To Make 2021 Debut In Quick Call At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Mighty’ Performance in Chick Lang

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Mighty Mischief came into the GIII Chick Lang S. riding a two-race win streak and added win number three while annexing his first at the graded level Saturday. Favored Jaxon Traveler broke fastest but it was Mighty Mischief who quickly hit the front, carving out a :23.16. Prompted by Willy Boi (Uncaptured) as Jaxon Traveler ranged up three-wide through a :45.97 half, the 9-5 second choice cornered in front and opened up a little cushion through early stretch. Given some right-handed encouragement by Ricardo Santana Jr. late, he strode clear a 1 1/4-length winner over Jaxon Traveler, recording the Steve Asmussen exacta. Hemp rounded out the trifecta.

Mighty Mischief gave Asmussen his fifth victory in the Chick Lang, including Lantana Mob (2008), Mitole (2018)–named champion male sprinter of 2019–and Yaupon last year.

“This is a nice horse,” said Santana Jr. “We have a lot of confidence in him. We've always loved this horse from Day 1. He's improved a lot. They let me walk the first quarter. I was really happy. He was really comfortable. The first quarter, when they let me walk in :23, I knew I was going slow. I knew he was going to accelerate for home, and I just waited for company to come back to me. And when they came close to me, I had a lot left.”

Added Asmussen, “The only thing that could have been better is a dead heat. I think they're both very quality horses. The race might have been a little quick back for Jaxon Traveler [winner of the Apr. 24 Bachelor S.]. He didn't have as much speed as he normally does, and the race got away from him a little bit from the half-mile to the three-eighths.”

Mighty Mischief kicked off with a runner-up finish going six panels in the Oaklawn mud Feb. 7 before going wire-to-wire next time over that track and trip Mar. 19. Favored for his latest while facing optional claiming company, he once again wired the field with ease.

Pedigree Notes:
Mighty Mischief gives his sire his 41st group/graded stakes winner and 96th black-type winner overall. The winner's dam was acquired for $230,000 with this colt in utero at Keeneland November 2017 and descends from a female family near and dear to the Heiligbrodts. Wealth Creation is a half-sister to GSP Random Walk (Super Saver) and is a daughter of Heiligbrodt homebred stakes winner Lunargal (Yes It's True), herself a half-sister to GSW & GISP Astrology (A.P. Indy), the couple's graded-stakes winning juvenile Lunarpal (Successful Appeal) and a full-sister to SW Lunarlady. Her latest live foal was produced this spring, a filly by Mitole, who won the 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint en route to his Eclipse Award.

Saturday, Pimlico
CHICK LANG S.-GIII, $200,000, Pimlico, 5-15, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.74, ft.
1–MIGHTY MISCHIEF, 122, c, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Wealth Creation, by Super Saver
2nd Dam: Lunargal, by Yes It's True
3rd Dam: Quiet Eclipse, by Quiet American
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
($290,000 RNA Ylg '19 FTKJUL). O-L. William & Corinne Heiligbrodt;
B-Heiligbrodt Racing Stable (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen;
J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0,
$255,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Jaxon Traveler, 124, c, 3, Munnings–Listen Boy, by After
Market. 'TDN Rising Star' ($80,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $140,000
2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-West Point Thoroughbreds & Marvin
Delfiner; B-A. Leonard Pineau (MD); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$40,000.
3–Hemp, 120, g, 3, Super Ninety Nine–Tejano Sea, by Sea of
Secrets. O-Narrow Leaf Farm; B-David Baxter (MD); T-Anthony
Farrior. $20,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.80, 1.00, 13.30.
Also Ran: Willy Boi, Palatial Times, Shackled Love.

Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post ‘Mighty’ Performance in Chick Lang appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights