joel rosario | Horse Racing Free Tips

Bobby Flay Homebred Pizza Bianca Pursuing Fulfilment Of ‘Long-Term Plan’ In Natalma Stakes

The chance to add a Grade 1 victory to Pizza Bianca's pedigree page has her sole owner and breeder, celebrity chef Bobby Flay, making plans to be at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday (Sept. 19) for the $400,000 Natalma Stakes, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies.

“The owner is planning on being there and we're all excited,” said Pizza Bianca's trainer Christophe Clement. “For an owner/breeder the black type is a big deal for him and the Grade 1 is also a big deal for him because it's more than just one race, it's a long-term plan.”

The winner receives a ticket to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Fillies Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, thanks to the Natalma being part of the Cup's “Win and You're In” series. Clement said that is a great bonus, but “the real attraction is it being a Grade 1. A filly with a Grade 1 is a huge deal.”

Pizza Bianca is a daughter of Fastnet Rock (AUS) out of White Hot (IRE) by Galileo (IRE). Her lone career start was a dominant victory in a $100,000 maiden special weight on July 22 on the inner turf at Saratoga with Joel Rosario riding.

“It was her first time out and she's still learning, but I was happy with the way she behaved the first time out and I was happy with the way she finished and Rosario was very positive about it, so it's exciting,” said Clement, who is looking for his first Natalma victory. “She's very honest. She's been very straight forward since Day One… She's training well. We don't know exactly how good she is, but let's give it a shot. It's a very open kind of a race and we've got a great jock Rosario who knows her and he rode her first time out.”

Meanwhile, trainer Roger Attfield, who won the 2020 Natalma with Lady Speightspeare, is hoping to repeat with her half-sister Ready Lady for her lone owner and breeder Charles Fipke.

“[Ready Lady] is much easier than her half-sister. [Lady Speightspeare] is very tough,” Attfield said. “[Ready Lady] is all class, actually. She's just a lovely filly to be around and as of this moment she's very easy to train. She's just a charm to have.”

Like Pizza Bianca, Ready Lady has had just one career start, a half-length victory on August 28 in a $126,800 maiden special weight on the turf at Woodbine.

“It was an encouraging race, I thought,” Attfield said. “She's trained very well since then and we thought if she did we'd give her a chance like we did for her half-sister at this point last year. It's the same type of timing.”

Lady Speightspeare, a daughter of Speightstown out of Lady Shakespeare, won the 2020 Natalma with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard en route to a perfect 3-for-3 season and the Sovereign Award for Canada's champion 2-year-old filly of the year.

Wilson will also ride Ready Lady, who is a daughter of More Than Ready.

“It's an interesting family because I've got so much of it,” Attfield said. “In fact, the maiden colt that I'm running in the Summer Stakes [Ready for the Lady] is related. The colt is out of a daughter of Lady Shakespeare [Perfect Lady] by Perfect Soul, which is her family, too. It's a big family thing.”

Attfield, a three-time Natalma winner, said the race could be an important step in Ready Lady's career.

“It's a progression and it's a very prestigious race,” he said. “It's a Grade 1 and she's a class filly with a big pedigree. It just happens that we've only had the one race into her, but it's just the timing of the year. She was late getting started… We've arrived at this point and she's well and healthy and I thought she won a very creditable race and I think she will move up off that race.”

The Natalma field also includes Wild Beauty (GB), who has a record of 2-2-0 in five starts racing in England for owner/breeder Godolphin. “She's a little fighter, really. She ran well last time out,” said Chris Durham, who works for trainer Charles Appleby. “She's done well. She's settled in here really well. We're happy.”

The Natalma Stakes is scheduled as the race eight on Sunday while the companion Grade 1 Summer Stakes is the ninth race. Both Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races will be broadcast live on TSN5 from 4:30-6 p.m. ET.

First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$400,000 Natalma Stakes (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Ready Lady – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield

2 – Pizza Bianca – Joel Rosario – Christophe Clement

3 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires

4 – Royal Engagement – Colby Hernandez – Timothy Hamm

5 – Wild Beauty – Frankie Dettori – Charles Appleby

6 – Baksheesh – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Diabolic – Antonio Gallardo – Mark Casse

8 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

9 – Cardio Princess – Justin Stein – Mark Casse

10 – Eminent Victor –Flavien Prat – Chad Brown

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Joel Rosario Sets Record At Kentucky Downs, Voted Jockey of The Week

The Kentucky Downs meet may be short, just six racing days, but it is long on full fields, thrilling finishes and extraordinary individual accomplishments. Jockey Joel Rosario decided to skip the last two days of the Saratoga meet to ride at Kentucky Downs all six days. That decision lead to a record setting number of wins earning him Jockey of the Week for Sept. 7 through Sept. 12. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 875 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

After accumulating 10 wins the first two days of the meet, the Joel Rosario juggernaut continued in week two. On Wednesday, riding for trainer Shug McGaughey, Rosario won the third race. Thursday, he picked up two more wins, one each for trainers Mike Maker and Wesley Ward. No racing was scheduled for Friday. On Saturday, Rosario went winless for the day, setting himself up for closing day on Sunday with mounts in nine of the 10 races.

Trainers Shug McGaughey and Wayne Catalano were on the Rosario express train winning the second and third race respectively. Trainer Arnaud Delacour then gave a leg up to Rosario aboard Koala Princess in the Ainsworth Stakes for two-year-old fillies at 6-1/2 furlongs. Breaking from post position two in the field of 11, Koala Princess was eighth, five lengths back through the opening quarter. At the top of the stretch, they were a half-length behind the leader Mystic Eyes and continued along the rail to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:15.25.

“It looked like she was handling it really nice today,” said Rosario. “She showed a really good turn of foot turning for home.”

Rosario's fourth win of the day came with the Brian Lynch-trained Tobys Heart in the Nelson's Green Brier Whiskey Music City Stakes for three-year-old fillies at 6-1/2 furlongs. Tobys Heart and Rosario started in the middle of the field of 11 with Rosario guiding Tobys Heart inside to save ground. At the top of stretch with an opening along the fence, Rosario asked Tobys Heart who responded by pulling away to post a 2-3/4 length win in 1:14.75 as the favorite.

“It was perfect,” said Rosario. “The horse ran really well there, I was waiting to see if something would open up for her. They just decided to stay off the rail, and she just outran them when she was clear.”

“I have to thank all the people who gave me the opportunity at Kentucky Downs – the trainers, and owners who gave me a chance,” Rosario said. “I really feel blessed.”

Rosario's statistics for the week were 34-7-4-3 for a 41% in-the-money rate. He won his first Kentucky Downs riding title with 17 wins from 53 mounts and just under $3 million in purses.

Rosario's competition for Jockey of the Week included Richard Eramia with a 50% in-the-money statistic, Tyler Gaffalione who won three stakes races at Kentucky Downs, Jaime Rodriguez who won the most races during the week and Diego Saenz with an in-the-money rate of 70%.

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Bye Bye Stretches Out In Friday’s Christiecat At Belmont Park

Bach Stables' Bye Bye leads a talented field of sophomore fillies in Friday's $100,000 Christiecat going six furlongs over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

Bye Bye, one of two entrants for trainer Christophe Clement, will see an increase in distance, arriving off a narrow third in the 5 ½-furlong Galway on August 15 at Saratoga Race Course. The daughter of leading sire Into Mischief received a ground-saving trip by jockey Joel Rosario last out, maintaining her inside position while gaining ground in the stretch but missed a neck to eventual winner Star Devine.

“She had a beautiful ride by Joel Rosario along the rail. It looked like she was going to get there but she just got caught in the last sixteenth of a mile,” said Clement assistant Christophe Lorieul. “She ran very game and I think she's back to herself.”

Bye Bye, the lone graded stakes winner in the field, tasted stakes success at Belmont Park in May in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly, breaking from the outside of ten other fillies and remained in the clear throughout the seven-furlong journey while holding off a late rally from Invincible Gal to produce a career-best 83 Beyer Speed Figure.

Clement will also saddle three-time stakes placed Honey Pants for owners Jim Bakke and Gerald Ibister, Honey Pants arrives off a runner-up effort in the Alywow on July 31 at Woodbine. She previously garnered black type when second in the Stewart Manor on November 7 at Aqueduct and followed with a runner-up effort in her seasonal bow in the Ginger Brew on January 2 at Gulfstream Park.

A gray or roan daughter of Cairo Prince, Honey Pants owns two career victories, both of which were at six furlongs on the Belmont turf. After breaking her maiden at second asking in wire-to-wire fashion by four lengths in October, she displayed different tactics when coming from off the pace in a June 20 allowance tilt, where she defeated next-out winners Too Sexy and Time Limit.

“She was second last time at Woodbine and now she is back on home court,” Lorieul said. “She's ran quite a bit. She broke her maiden last year with [jockey Manny] Franco aboard. She seems to be doing well at the moment.”

Rosario retains the mount aboard Bye Bye from post 10, while jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Honey Pants from post 9.

Arnaud Delacour will saddle Michael Hernon's Sussex Garden for her third start in North America. The Irish-bred daughter of Acclamation, conditioned in Europe by Jessica Harrington, seeks her first victory since a debut win last June over good going at Naas in Ireland. She followed with a second-place finish to subsequent dual Group 1 winner Mother Earth in the Group 3 Coolmore Irish EBF Sprint on July 4 at Naas ahead of a distant tenth in the Group 2 Lowther last August at York.

Sussex Garden made her debut for Delacour when fourth in the one-mile Wild Applause on June 26 at Belmont Park. She enters off a third-place finish when cutting back considerably in distance in a 5 ½-furlong allowance tilt on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course.

Delacour said his filly should appreciate the added furlong in the Christiecat.

“I thought she ran well last time running third to some good horses. I was pretty happy with the race,” Delacour said. “I like the added distance. The added six furlongs will fit her. I think the mile was a touch too long for her. She's one of those fillies that's in between, six to seven is probably her best distance.”

Displaying tactical speed in both of her stateside efforts, Delacour said he would like to see Sussex Garden show some early speed for Friday's race.

“I would probably try to use her speed and send her in front or close to the pace. I think she'll be more efficient like that,” Delacour said.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will pilot Sussex Garden from post 2.

Shortleaf Stables' Caldee boasts a field-best $169,000 bankroll and seeks her first stakes victory for trainer Brad Cox.

Following a 6 ¾-length victory in her turf debut last August at Saratoga, the daughter of veteran champion-producing stallion More Than Ready garnered graded stakes black type when second to Plum Ali in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo in October at Belmont Park.

Caldee defeated winners, including subsequent stakes-placed Nevisian Sunrise, going one mile on May 28 over the Widener turf at Belmont. She followed her winning effort with a pair of runner-up finishes in the Christiana on July 3 over soft going at Delaware Park, and the Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Oaks on August 7 at Ellis Park, where she finished behind next-out Virginia Oaks winner Flippant and ahead of next-out Dueling Grounds Oaks winner Adventuring.

Jockey Manny Franco will ride Caldee from post 5.

Completing the field are Bay Storm [post 1, John Velazquez], Orbs Baby Girl [post 4, Junior Alvarado], Can't Buy Love [post 7, Luis Saez], and Tuscan Queen [post 8, Jose Ortiz].

Union Gables [post 3, Luis Saez] and Patty H [post 6, Dylan Davis] have been entered for main track only.

The Christiecat honors Fox Ridge Farm's Grade 1-winning turf distaffer, who captured five graded stakes wins for trainer Patrick Kelly, including the 1992 Flower Bowl Invitational and the 1991 Diana. The daughter of Majestic Light retired with a 35-11-7-6 record and nearly $800,000 in lifetime earnings.

The Christiecat is slated as Race 8 on Friday's nine-race card, which also features the $100,000 Allied Forces in Race 7. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

Admission for the Belmont fall meet is available for just $5. Buy online at Ticketmaster.com or at the gate. Group hospitality seating in the West Wing and Top of the Stretch can be purchased by calling the NYRA box office at 844-NYRA-TIX. Box Seats can be purchased by emailing boxseats@nyrainc.com or calling 718-296-5172.

The Belmont Room will be open every Saturday and Sunday for dining reservations. Reserve your spot today at nyra.com/belmont/visit/dining.

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Clement To Saddle Strong Duo In Friday’s Allied Forces Stakes

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle Big Everest and Swashbuckle for their stakes debuts in Friday's $100,000 Allied Forces, a six-furlong Widener turf sprint for sophomores at Belmont Park.

Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and William Branch, the British-bred Big Everest garnered an 81 Beyer Speed Figure for a last-out maiden special weight score on July 23 traveling one-mile on the Saratoga Race Course turf.

With returning rider Joel Rosario up, the bay son of The Gurkha rallied from seventh to notch a 3 1/4-length score over firm going. Out of the graded-stakes placed Whywhywhy mare Long Face, Big Everest was purchased for $322,413 at the 2020 Goffs Arqana Breeze Up Sale.

“He was quite impressive when he broke his maiden,” said Clement assistant Christophe Lorieul. “He came off the pace and showed a great turn of foot. It might be a bit short for him but we hope that he can settle and make one big run.”

Jump Sucker Stable homebred Swashbuckle, a New York-bred son of Quality Road, graduated at first asking in October traveling 1 1/16-miles on the Belmont turf in a state-bred maiden event.

The dark bay colt won his seasonal debut sprinting seven furlongs against older state-bred allowance company in May on the Belmont turf, registering a career-best 80 Beyer. He followed with a close sixth, defeated less than three lengths, in a state-bred optional claimer traveling six furlongs on June 13 at Belmont.

Out of the multiple graded-stakes placed Rock of Gibraltar mare Sea Coast, Swashbuckle enters from a closing fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong state-bred optional-claimer contested over yielding Saratoga turf on July 21.

“According to the numbers, he fits right in there as well,” Lorieul said. “He's doing great and we're just keeping it short with him.”

Big Everest will exit post 6 under Rosario, while Eric Cancel retains the mount aboard Swashbuckle from post 8.

Sonata Stable's Arzak, one of two entrants for trainer Michael Trombetta, arrives from a nose score over Allied Forces-rival Smokin' Jay in the six-furlong Tom Ridge contested on the Presque Isle Downs synthetic on August 2.

The Not This Time bay, purchased for $575,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, boasts a record of 5-1-1-1 over the turf, including an optional-claiming win in January at Tampa Bay Downs and stakes placings in the one-mile James W. Murphy [second] in May at Pimlico and the 5 1/2-furlong My Frenchman [third] over yielding Monmouth Park turf in July.

Ironhorse Racing Stable and Tami Bobo's Momos, trained though his first seven starts by Clement, will make his first outing for Trombetta. The Distorted Humor chestnut, runner-up in the My Frenchman two starts back, enters from a fourth in the Mahony at 5 1/2-furlongs on the Saratoga turf on August 11.

Momos was multiple graded stakes placed as a 2-year-old, finishing third in both the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on dirt and the Grade 3 Futurity on the Belmont turf ahead of a seventh in the Grade 2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November at Keeneland.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will guide Arzak from post 3, while Momos will emerge from post 2 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler has banked a field-best $390,210 while racing primarily on dirt for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The dark bay son of Munnings captured the Bachelor sprinting six furlongs over dirt at Oaklawn Park in April ahead of a second in the six-furlong Grade 3 Chick Lang in May on the Pimlico main track.

The versatile colt finished second in the six-furlong Woodstock in June over Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack ahead of a strong third in the Grade 3 Quick Call in July sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over good Saratoga turf.

The $140,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase enters from a three-length win in the Star De Naskra at six furlongs on the Pimlico main track on August 21.

Jose Ortiz will pilot Jaxon Traveler from post 7.

Rounding out the field are multiple stakes placed Three Two Zone [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche]; stakes-placed Smokin' Jay [post 5, Luis Saez]; and maiden winner Ranger Fox [post 1, Javier Castellano].

The Allied Forces is slated as Race 7 on Friday's nine-race card, which also features the $100,000 Christiecat at six furlongs on turf for sophomore fillies in Race 8. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

The Belmont Room will be open every Saturday and Sunday for dining reservations. Reserve your spot today at nyra.com/belmont/visit/dining.

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