Tag: joel rosario

Epicenter Gives Asmussen, Rosario an Emphatic First Travers Victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–After leading the sophomore male division through the winter and early spring, Epicenter (Not This Time) ended up second as the favorite in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Losing none of his luster in those defeats, the Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer rebounded with a decisive score in the GII Jim Dandy S. and had his connections feeling confident he could finally get the Grade I he was lacking, but certainly deserved.

Epicenter did just that Saturday with an emphatic score in the prestigious GI Runhappy Travers S. in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 49,672, the largest since American Pharoah finished second in the 2015 renewal. It was the first win in the Saratoga feature for both his trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joel Rosario.

Epicenter could not have had a better setting for his career high between the history of New York's most popular racing venue and the picture-perfect, sunny and 75-degree day. His connections weren't the only ones confident that Saturday was the colt's day and he was sent off the even-money favorite.

Away from stall six in good order, Epicenter established position in a joint third alongside Preakness winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) going into the first turn. He hugged the fence as GI Haskell Invitational S. winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) was pressed by longshot Ain't Life Grand (Not This Time) through early fractions of :23.32 and :47.63.

Shortly after three quarters went up in 1:11.43, Cyberknife jumped away from his foes and both Ain't Life Grand and Early Voting called it a day. The GI Arkansas Derby winner's clear lead didn't last long however as Epicenter rolled up on his outside full of run and the stage was set as the pair turned for home together.

Running three wide in the lane, Epicenter bounded clear with ease under a vigorous hand ride from Joel Rosario, who peaked over his right shoulder several times in the final eighth of a mile. He had nothing to worry about however. Cyberknife gave it everything he had, but was never threatening the winner, who hit the line 5 1/4 lengths clear. He determinedly held on for second, just a nose ahead of Jim Dandy runner-up Zandon (Upstart), who was a neck in front of Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice).

“It was really gratifying,” said Asmussen. “We walked over today with a tremendous amount of confidence in the horse, but definitely remember we felt exactly that way walking over for this year's Derby. He was away cleanly and thought he was very comfortable and attending close enough to the pace, and just ran a very dominating performance against a very good group.”

The Hall of Famer continued, “Beforehand, there was a lot of concern about who was going to be on the lead. Early Voting appeared to have the most pace, but they definitely did not want to be on the lead this time. Off of that there was a concern how much pace there would be, but Joel [Rosario] handled Epicenter. He was away clean and in the rhythm he wants to be in and I thought he finished up the mile and a quarter very strong.”

As for winning his first Travers, Asmussen said, “It's really exciting at Saratoga, coming from a racing family. What Saratoga means to American racing, what the Travers means to Saratoga. I want to help paint the canoe. Saratoga is about tradition. Racing is about tradition. To have your name on that cup is very special.”

“As long as I can remember, the history of Saratoga and the horses my family has run over the years, the Travers is always the marquee race,” Ron Winchell said. “Coming here with Gun Runner and running third and Midnight Bourbon running second last year, it just makes you want to win it that much more. It makes this win in this race that much more special for myself and my family.”

The owner added, “One of the reasons Steve mentioned we came here is knowing we ran second in the Derby and the Preakness and one of the few horses–the favorite–and not having a Grade I. This was a very natural step of where we had to go. We had to beat some of the best in the class to obtain the championship and obtain one of our goals.”

“He broke very well. It was a good trip,” said Rosario. “I was just following those two horses on the lead. I was inside there and I just wanted to take my time with where he was. He looked like he was going one speed and then he kept building and building and building and I felt pretty good turning for home. I could see he was relaxing and looking around and I felt like I had plenty more, so it felt good.”

On winning his record 12th graded-stakes in a single season at Saratoga, Rosario said, “It's amazing. I have a great agent. Ron Anderson is amazing and I have to thank him and everyone for all the opportunities they've given me.”

As for the runner-up Cyberknife, trainer Brad Cox said, “I can't predict what anyone else is going to do but I know we're not going to take away anything that comes easy and we were doing it easy enough. We were the second best horse today. At a mile-and-a-quarter, I thought the horse really battled and battled for second, held and I'm very, very proud of our horse. I thought he trained well leading up and he ran a big race. When I saw three-quarters in eleven I thought wow, we're in a good spot here. Obviously, once I saw Joel ranging up, as easy as he was, I thought this was going to be [difficult], once they straightened up, I thought 'we got a shot here', but you could tell he was getting away from us a little bit. He's a very good horse. Hats off to the winners, they deserve it. We were second best and I'm very proud of our horse.”

The Makings of a Potentially Eclipse-Worthy Season…

Graduating at second asking going a mile at Churchill Nov. 13, Epicenter dominated the Gun Runner S. next out at Fair Grounds Dec. 26, an appropriate victory given the race was named for his connections Horse of the Year. Missing by a head after leading the way in the GII Lecomte S. at that venue Jan. 22, the $260,000 KEESEP buy wired the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 19 and followed suit with a decisive score in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 26.

Sent off as the 4-1 favorite in the Run for the Roses, Epicenter took the lead with a half-mile left to run, but was run down late by 80-1 shot Rich Strike, settling for second by 3/4 of a length. Favored again in the May 21 Preakness, the bay produced a powerful rally, but could not catch Early Voting, finishing second once again. Skipping the GI Belmont S. with an eye on the Travers, Epicenter was next seen in the July 30 Jim Dandy, where he powered home to a good-looking score.

Pedigree Notes:

Providing his young sire Not This Time with his third Grade I winner, Epicenter is the first colt to win at the highest level for the Taylor Made stallion and first to achieve the feat around two turns. He is also one of eight graded winners and 19 black-type scorers for his sire. Epicenter is the sixth Grade I victory out of a daughter of Candy Ride. The winner's dam Silent Candy captured the Hatoof S. at Arlington and was Grade III-placed at that venue. She was purchased by Westwind Farms for $130,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale in foal to Scat Daddy. Epicenter was her most expensive foal sold at public auction and her best runner by far. She is also responsible for an unraced juvenile colt by Always Dreaming, who brought $140,000 from Carolyn Wilson at this year's OBS March Sale; a yearling filly by Tapiture; and a 2022 filly by Outwork. Silent Candy was bred back to Not This Time this term.

Saturday, Saratoga
RUNHAPPY TRAVERS S.-GI, $1,250,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 3yo, 1 1/4m, 2:00.72, ft.
1–EPICENTER, 126, c, 3, by Not This Time
                1st Dam: Silent Candy (SW & GSP, $182,208), by Candy Ride (Arg)
                2nd Dam: Silent Queen, by King of Kings (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Soundproof (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($260,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Westwind Farms (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $670,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-3-0,
$2,940,639. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cyberknife, 126, c, 3, Gun Runner–Awesome Flower, by
Flower Alley. ($400,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Gold Square LLC;
B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $230,000.
3–Zandon, 126, c, 3, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by
Creative Cause. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown;
B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $125,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, NO, NK. Odds: 1.00, 4.50, 6.20.
Also Ran: Rich Strike, Gilded Age, Artorius, Ain't Life Grand, Early Voting.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Epicenter Gives Asmussen, Rosario an Emphatic First Travers Victory appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Epicenter Draws Six As 7-5 Favorite in Eight-Horse Travers

Winchell Thoroughbreds' MGSW and GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. runner-up Epicenter (Not This Time) drew post six in a field of eight and was installed as a significant 7-5 favorite in Saturday's 153rd renewal of the $1.25 million GI Runhappy Travers S. The Steve Asmussen pupil, last seen producing a dazzling late-to-first kick to capture the local GII Jim Dandy S. July 30, will be ridden by regular jockey Joel Rosario, who missed most of the past week of racing at Saratoga with an illness.

Given the second-choice nod at 7-2 is Gold Square's rail-drawn multiple Grade I winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner). Scoring in the GI Arkansas Derby earlier this year, Cyberknife has bounced back from a disappointing run in the Kentucky Derby with back-to-back successes in the GIII Matt Winn S. and GI Haskell Invitational S. The chestnut will look to give trainer Brad Cox consecutive Travers triumphs after his champion Essential Quality (Tapit) won the 1 1/4-mile test in 2021.

Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike (Keen Ice) drew post two as a 10-1 chance. After his unforgettable closing flourish to shock the Run for the Roses at 80-1, the Eric Reed trainee famously passed on a try at the Preakness only to run sixth in the GI Belmont S. Journeyman Sonny Leon keeps the mount.

Leading trainer Chad Brown will have three starters in the Travers: Preakness hero Early Voting (Gun Runner, 8-1, post seven), Grade I winner and Derby third Zandon (Upstart, 5-1, post eight) and Artorius (Arrogate, 9-2, post five), an impressive winner of the Curlin S. July 29 at the Spa. Brown, who made news last week after he was arrested in Saratoga Springs, is looking for his first Travers victory.
Rounding out the field are Iowa Derby winner Ain't Life Grand (Not This Time, 20-1) from post three and Curlin runner-up Gilded Age (Medaglia d'Oro, 30-1) from post four.

The post Epicenter Draws Six As 7-5 Favorite in Eight-Horse Travers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Rosario Set For Record-Breaking Saratoga Meet

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – It's not your imagination that jockey Joel Rosario is having a big summer at Saratoga.

Rosario, 37, is very much in the hunt for the overall title, a competition led by Irad Ortiz, Jr. Through Thursday's program, Ortiz had 37 wins, eight more than Rosario. However, in graded stakes races, Rosario is far and away the leader with 10 victories from 19 starts, a remarkable 53% win rate. Ortiz is next with five.

With the 10, Rosario is in position to smash the current record of 11 graded stakes wins in a Saratoga season. According to Equibase stats, Hall of Famers Javier Castellano and John Velazquez share the record of 11. Castellano won 11 of 31 graded stakes starts in 2015 and Velazquez, who is nearing 1,000 wins at the track, finished first in 11 of 23 graded stakes in 2005. At 10, Rosario is on level with Castellano (2016) and Jerry Bailey (2001).

“It's unbelievable what we've done early,” Rosario said. “Thanks to all the people who gave us the opportunity. My agent, Ron Anderson, has done a really great job for me. We appreciate the opportunities from the owners and the trainers.”

Rosario is no stranger to success. The native of the Dominican Republic has finished in the top 10 in North American jockey earnings for 13 years, has a resume filled with graded stakes wins, including 13 in the Breeders' Cup. Last year, he had a career year, riding horses that earned $32,956,215 and secured his first Eclipse Award as champion jockey.

In 2020, Rosario was the leading graded stakes winner at Saratoga with seven. Last summer, he finished in a tie with Luis Saez for the top spot at six. This year, he had seven graded wins in the first 13 days of the 40-day season.

“We always are looking for a good meet,” Rosario said, “But, we've been doing really well this year.”

During the first four days of the meet, Rosario won the July 15 GIII Forbidden Apple S. with City Man (Mucho Macho Man) for trainer Christophe Clement; the GI Diana S. on In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) for Chad Brown July 16; and the GIII Quick Call S. on Big Invasion (Declaration of War) for Clement July 17. He completed the month with three wins for Steve Asmussen: the GII Shuvee S. on Clairiere (Curlin) July 24, the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt S. on Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) and the GII Jim Dandy S. on Epicenter (Not This Time).

In August, he won the GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame S. on Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy) for Brad Cox Aug. 5 and the next day won the GI Test S. on Chi Town Lady Verrazano) for Wesley Ward and the GII Glens Falls on War Like Goddess (English Channel) for Bill Mott.

Six trainers. Dirt. Turf. Sprints. Routes.

Starting on Saturday with the GI Alabama and the GII Lake Placid, there are 17 graded stakes left in the Saratoga season. Rosario has the mount on Haughty (Empire Maker) for Brown in the Lake Placid and will ride Gerrymander (Into Mischief) for Brown in the Alabama. He is likely to be up on contenders in most of the remaining graded stakes, including the Asmussen triumvirate of Epicenter in the GI Runhappy Travers S., Jackie's Warrior in the GI Forego S. and Clairiere in the GI Personal Ensign.

In 2015, six of Castellano's 11 wins were in Grade I races. Velazquez had five Grade I winners in 2005. So far, Rosario has three.

The post Rosario Set For Record-Breaking Saratoga Meet appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Graveyard of Favorites’ Strikes Again As Chi Town Lady Sweeps to Test Upset; Matareya 3rd

The 'Graveyard of Favorites' claimed another victim Saturday at Saratoga, as Joel Rosario guided Castleton Lyons' Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) to a last-to-first 17-1 upset of overwhelming favorite Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Longines Test S. at the Spa.

Debuting with a three-length score last April at Keeneland, the chestnut went unseen for over four months, but returned with an impressive conquest of the Bolton Landing S. on turf. That had been her last trip to the winner's circle, however, as she concluded her juvenile campaign with a sixth against males in the GIII Futurity S. and a fourth back on dirt in Keeneland's Myrtlewood S. before running last behind Matareya in the Apr. 10 GIII Beaumont S. in Lexington and second in a Churchill allowance May 19.

Having to be backed out and re-loaded after acting up in the gate Saturday, Chi Town Lady settled at the tail of the field as Hot Peppers (Khozan) ran out to a clear lead and Matareya settled in a clear fifth over the recently-sealed track. Hot Peppers clicked off splits of :22.54 and :45.28, while Matareya slipped through at the rail nearing the lane before switching out in early stretch to challenge the pacesetter.

The outcome appeared a fait accompli approaching the eighth pole as Matareya drew on even terms, but Chi Town Lady was just getting going, and soon emerged as a major threat to the dueling leaders after Matareya had a tougher time than expected putting away Hot Peppers. The three came together and bumped at the sixteenth pole, but the contact was inconsequential, as Chi Town Lady had built up a full head of steam by then and kicked clear late, giving Rosario back-to-back graded wins on the card. A brief inquiry was posted, but no action was taken.

“We got lucky. She had been training great and I was looking at this race after her last race in my mind and gave her a little time because she started coming from behind,” said winning trainer Wesley Ward. “I had Joel work her here a couple of times and she was just working phenomenal. I told the owners we were probably going to be running a 30-1 shot, but I wanted to take one shot from way back and do what she's been asking me to do, which is make a big charge and a big grind. We were hoping for a second or third–a graded placing–to see if the race fell apart, and here we are in the winner's circle. She's come a long ways. I just think that I had to kind of learn to listen to her to where she wanted to go easy the first part and come on late. This will be her running style from now on.”

“They went fast in front and she came with a run. That was an amazing race,” added Rosario. “It looked like they came out a little bit and I ran into them a little bit [in the deep stretch bumping incident], but it looked like they were coming more from the inside. My horse was kind of on the wrong lead at that point and I was correcting her trying to keep her straight. She did great.”

As for the beaten favorite, both trainer Brad Cox and jockey Flavien Prat said Matareya didn't handle the track, sealed after mid-day rain.

“My first thought was I didn't think she was traveling that well down the backstretch,” Cox said. “Flavien thought the same, she wasn't really taking them up there. I thought he did a good thing at the three-eighths pole by dropping her down to the inside. It's probably a sign of her just not getting a hold of the track. No excuse really. I think she's a very good filly. Obviously she showed up on maybe not a favorable surface for her, and she still ran a good race.”

“[The rain] changed the track and she never felt comfortable or happy on it,” Prat concurred. “She broke well and after that she spit the bit right away and I never got myself into a nice rhythm and she was just struggling.”

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Chi Town Lady becomes the seventh graded stakes winner and first Stateside top-level winner for 2013 GI Haskell Invitational S. and GI Wood Memorial S. hero Verrazano. Sold from Coolmore to Brazil's Haras Old Friends in 2019, Verrazano was represented by two Group 1 winners in Chile last year. Chi Town Lady is the first black-type performer from four foals to race thus far out of Toni's Hollyday, whose 2-year-old son Quincy Cafe (Mendelssohn) earned his diploma last Sunday at Laurel. Toni's Hollyday also has a yearling Liam's Map colt and foaled a filly by Game Winner this term before being bred to Not This Time.

Saturday, Saratoga
LONGINES TEST S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-6, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:23.87, gd.
1–CHI TOWN LADY, 118, f, 3, by Verrazano
                1st Dam: Toni's Hollyday (SP, $119,047), by Harlan's Holiday
                2nd Dam: May Day Vow, by Broken Vow
                3rd Dam: May Day Bluff, by Pine Bluff
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Castleton Lyons; B-Castleton Lyons, Kilboy Estate & Gavin Tierney (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Joel Rosario. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-0, $417,800. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hot Peppers, 120, f, 3, by Khozan
                1st Dam: Friends Pro, by Friends Lake
                2nd Dam: Mama's Pro, by Proper Reality
                3rd Dam: Mama Cielo, by Conquistador Cielo
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT; $16,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso; B-Brent & Crystal Fernung (FL); T-Rudy R. Rodriguez. $100,000.
3–Matareya, 124, f, 3, by Pioneerof the Nile
                1st Dam: Innovative Idea (GSW, $229,343), by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Golden Velvet, by Seeking the Gold
                3rd Dam: Caress, by Storm Cat
O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $60,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, 9 3/4. Odds: 17.00, 6.40, 0.30.
Also Ran: Sterling Silver, Wish You Well, November Rein, Elm Drive.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post ‘Graveyard of Favorites’ Strikes Again As Chi Town Lady Sweeps to Test Upset; Matareya 3rd appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights