John Oxley | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ride A Comet Ends Pink Lloyd’s Winning Streak In Kennedy Road

Mark Casse trainees Ride a Comet and Souper Stonehenge swept the Kennedy Road Stakes exacta on Saturday at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario, ending the win streak of reigning three-time champion male sprinter Pink Lloyd.

Patrick Husbands engineered the winning trip aboard the 5-2 second choice, Ride a Comet, who is now two-for-two since returning to action last month after a two-year layoff.

Multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet sprinted out to lead the talented field of seven in the six-furlong Grade 2 stakes with Eskiminzin pressing through fractions of :22.77 and :44.79, while Souper Stonehenge and Dixie's Gamble stalked the pace.

Riding a 10-race win streak, even-money favorite Pink Lloyd raced outside of foes and staged a late rally from the four-path on the turn, but early trailer Ride a Comet gained ground along the rail and shot outside the front-runners in the stretch en route to a 1 1/4-length victory, with Live Oak Plantation's Souper Stonehenge finishing second under Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Owned by breeder My Meadowview Farm and John Oxley, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride and Appealing Zophie came within one-fifth of a second of Pink Lloyd's track record, winning in 1:08.25.

Ride a Comet paid $6.90 to win and combined with 9-1 shot Souper Stonehenge for a 2-1 exacta worth $50.30 for a $2 ticket. Pink Lloyd was a game third, finishing two lengths behind the runner-up and just ahead of Silent Poet. Eskiminzin, Roaring Forties and Dixie's Gamble completed the field.

“He's my favorite horse of all time…He went a good race, he showed he's all class,” said Husbands, who was aboard for all four of Ride a Comet's Woodbine starts including his impressive two-length comeback victory here on October 16.

“The last time I rode him, it was the first time we sprint and his first time in two years going seven-eighths. And he broke sharp, you know, and I eased him back because it was his first time in a long time so after the race I said to Mark, 'he left there running and I eased him back.' He said 'alright, we're going against Pink Lloyd next start.'

“Pink Lloyd, you have to respect him. He's a legend at Woodbine, and it's a great honor to run against him and try to beat him. When you beat him, you've got to be really happy, but you have to respect him.”

Ride a Comet, who also won the Charlie Barley Stakes over one-mile of turf at Woodbine in 2018 with Husbands and the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby over 1 1/8 miles later that year, now has seven wins from a dozen lifetime starts.

The post Ride A Comet Ends Pink Lloyd’s Winning Streak In Kennedy Road appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Casse, Rafael Hernandez Team Up For Graded Stakes Double At Woodbine

Woodbine's meet-leading trainer Mark Casse teamed up with jockey Rafael Hernandez to sweep Saturday's graded stakes action at the Toronto, Ontario, oval.

Three-year-old filly Heavenly Curlin continued her winning momentum when facing stakes company for the first time in the co-featured $125,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (Grade 3).

With Hernandez picking up the mount, Heavenly Curlin trounced her older rivals with ease, launching her attack from the backfield on the final turn and drawing away by 5 3/4 lengths. Her winning time was 2:03.24 over 1 1/4 miles on the Tapeta.

Auntie Katherine and Juliana traded turns on the lead through fractions of :23.93, :48.79 and 1:13.04 before Heavenly Curlin moved into contention as they raced past the mile mark in 1:37.91. She took command as the fillies and mares headed into the homestretch en route to her third straight victory.

After posting a pair of wins over 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, Heavenly Curlin was sent postward as the 5-2 second choice and returned $7.60 to win. Art of Almost, the 2-1 favorite, settled for second-place honors after closing from mid-pack while Peace Seeker rode the rail to finish 1 1/4 lengths back in third after tracking the pacesetters.

Multiple graded stakes winner Elizabeth Way was fourth with Juliana, Gun Society, the winner's stablemate Tappitty Tappitty, A Broken Breeze, Silent Tango and Auntie Katherine completing the order of finish.

“There was too much speed in the race, so the main thing was getting her relaxed,” said Hernandez of the winning trip. “We just sat behind the 10 [Art of Almost] and when we turned for home, I just put her in the clear. She was doing her thing and just rolling down the lane.”

Owned by Gary Barber and John Oxley, the lightly-raced Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin is now three-for-five in her career and boasts a perfect three-race Woodbine record.

Team Casse struck again two races later in the $175,000 Autumn, as Skywire went from last to first in the Grade 2 main track stakes event for horses three years old and up over 1 1/16 miles.

After a first quarter in :24.21, Skywire was trailing the field – reduced to five starters following the scratch of the Casse-trained Dream Maker.

It was another stablemate, the favored Salute With Honor, who controlled the pace after crossing to command before the first turn. Fresh off his Grade 3 Durham Cup triumph last month, Salute With Honor continued to lead through a half-mile in :48.10 before Armistice Day headed him past the 1:11.85 three-quarters mark.

However, Skywire had improved to third down the backside and rallied three-wide on the final turn as Armistice Day took the lead. They battled briefly down the lane before Skywire surged by to score in 1:42.70 by 1 3/4 lengths. Armistice Day stayed for second while Timeskip, who was denied racing room between rivals down the lane, finished third after moving inside. Vanzzy was fourth while Salute With Honor faded to fifth.

Skywire, winner of the Grade 2 Eclipse over the same course and distance this summer, paid $6.70 as the 2-1 second pick. He entered the Autumn after putting forth a strong rally to finish one-length behind Salute With Honor in the Durham Cup.

“Last time, we were stuck inside and by the time he was clear and started running, it was too late, but today I made sure he had a clear path the whole way and you see the results,” said Hernandez, who knew turning for home it was his race to win. “Every time he switches leads, he gives you another gear. When he switched leads, I thought, that's it. If they're going to beat me, they have to come running because my horse was running.”

Bred in Ontario by the late Bill Graham, the 4-year-old son of Afleet Alex now has five wins to go along with three seconds from 14 starts lifetime.

Gary Barber celebrated a Saturday stakes double at Woodbine as co-owner of the Autumn champ with Lou Tucci.

With a training triple on the 12-race card, Casse moved within three wins of joining the 3,000-win club.

Live Thoroughbred racing resumes at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, with post time set for 1:25 p.m. Please note new post times are in effect for the remainder of the meet with live racing four days a week on Thursdays (2:25 p.m.), Fridays (4:45 p.m.), Saturdays (1:25 p.m.) and Sundays (1:25 p.m.).

The post Casse, Rafael Hernandez Team Up For Graded Stakes Double At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Fillies’ Mile Glory For Lawman’s Pretty Gorgeous

Friday’s G1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket was fought out by two elite TDN Rising Stars, with Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) prevailing by half a length over Indigo Girl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to claim the bragging rights. Runner-up in the Sept. 13 G1 Moyglare Stud S. at The Curragh, John Oxley’s Pretty Gorgeous had been forced to miss Sunday’s G1 Prix Marcel Boussac due to the well-documented feed contamination but confidence remained intact as she traded as the 5-2 favourite. Racing well off the honest tempo as Shane Crosse played the waiting game, the bay who had earlier won the G2 Debutante S. cruised into contention two out and was in front soon after chased by a Ballydoyle runner which was at the time believed to be the 50-1 shot Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Able to see off that Rosegreen representative with relative comfort, she was beyond reach as George Strawbridge’s G2 May Hill S. winner Indigo Girl closed late on. It later transpired that the eventual third, who was the same margin behind, was in fact Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and not Snowfall with the number cloths having been mixed up. “Early on, I wasn’t overly happy and she’s so big she didn’t come down the hill all that great but once I got her balanced and rolling in the last half-furlong it was a case of me getting there too soon,” commented Crosse, who had missed out on G1 St Leger glory last month after a positive COVID-19 test.

Pretty Gorgeous was a rare Rising Star to run at the low-key Irish venue of Bellewstown, but the promise of her five-length defeat of the useful Talacre (Flintshire {GB}) over this trip was there for all to see July 2. Runner-up to Donnacha’s Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G3 Silver Flash S. over the first of three seven-furlong outings when the going was lively at Leopardstown Aug. 6, she turned that form around with ease in the ground when scoring by 2 1/2 lengths in the Debutante at The Curragh Aug. 22 before again coming off second-best to Shale in the Moyglare. “She was very impressive and I’m delighted for everybody at home, for Mr Oxley who was keen to come here and for Justin who bought her,” trainer Joseph O’Brien said. “I thought Shane gave the filly a great ride. He was patient on her and committed when he had to. Shane is a young man, but he is a very good rider–strong and cool in a finish and he doesn’t panic.”

“I was a little bit worried coming here, given that she’d been to France but she was very fresh and in great shape so we thought we’d better take our chance,” he added. “From the first day she worked, she was impressive at home and proved today that she is top-class. The Breeders’ Cup is an option, but it’s more likely she’ll be put away now and trained for a Guineas next Spring. She is a Lawman, so she would not be bred to go very far. I think Lawman’s can get 10 furlongs and I see her more as an eight to 10-furlong filly rather than an Oaks-type filly at this stage.”

John Gosden said of the runner-up, “It was a great run and I’m very happy with her. Her mother won the French St Leger and her sister won a group one over a mile and a half. She will be trained more for a mile and a quarter and middle-distance races. She won’t be trained as a Guineas filly.”

Aidan O’Brien explained the mix-up with his fillies later in the afternoon, telling the Racing Post, “I didn’t see the race live and when I looked at the replay after it was brought to my attention, I could see straight away. I contacted the BHA straight away and let them know what is after happening. We have a team based in England these days because of the coronavirus restrictions, so the problem is the lads that are with the horses at home can’t always go racing with them. I don’t know what to say other than I am so sorry that it happened.”

Pedigree Notes:
Pretty Gorgeous’s listed-placed dam Lady Gorgeous (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), who also produced the Listed Prix Nureyev scorer Alwaab (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), is kin to the G3 Prix Fille de l’Air third Kartica (GB) (Rainbow Quest) who is in turn the dam of the G1 Coronation S., G1 Prix Rothschild and G2 Duke of Cambridge S. heroine Qemah (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). The listed-winning second dam Cayman Sunset (Ire) (Night Shift), who was also placed in the GII Canadian H. and GIII All Along Breeders’ Cup S., is from the family of the GII Lexington S. and GIII Everglades H. winner Royal Roberto (Roberto). Lady Gorgeous’s colt by Shalaa (Ire) was purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock for 90,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls December Foal Sale and heads back to that venue to come under the hammer during Tuesday’s session of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2.

Friday, Newmarket, Britain
BET365 FILLIES MILE-G1, £400,000, Newmarket, 10-9, 2yo, f, 8fT, 1:39.10, sf.
1–PRETTY GORGEOUS (FR), 126, f, 2, by Lawman (Fr)
1st Dam: Lady Gorgeous (GB) (SP-Eng), by Compton Place (GB)
2nd Dam: Cayman Sunset (Ire), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Robinia, by Roberto
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€55,000 Wlg ’18 ARQDE; 525,000gns Ylg ’19 TATOCT). O-Mr John C Oxley; B-EARL Ecurie Haras du Cadran, Enrico Ciampi, SAS I.E.I. & Ecurie la Boetie (FR); T-Joseph O’Brien; J-Shane Crosse. £226,840. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Ire, 5-3-2-0, $433,221. *1/2 to Alwaab (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Indigo Girl (GB), 126, f, 2, Dubawi (Ire)–Montare (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire). O/B-George Strawbridge (GB); T-John Gosden. £86,000.
3–Snowfall (Jpn), 126, f, 2, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Best In the World (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Roncon, Chelston Ire, Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O’Brien. £43,040.
Margins: HF, HF, NK. Odds: 2.50, 5.00, 50.00.
Also Ran: Dubai Fountain (Ire), Zabeel Queen (Ire), Shale (Ire), Star of Emaraaty (Ire), Mother Earth (Ire), Isabella Giles (Ire), Lilac Road (Ire). Scratched: Seattle Rock (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Fillies’ Mile Glory For Lawman’s Pretty Gorgeous appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

A Foggy Morning In Derby Town: Enforceable Breezes Six Furlongs

Under foggy conditions at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., John Oxley's $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (Grade 3) winner Enforceable continued his preparation for the $3-million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with a six-furlong move on Sunday in 1:12.20 under jockey Adam Beschizza.

The fog moved into the Louisville area just past midnight and the conditions did not improve at the start of training on Sunday at 5:15 a.m. Enforceable, outside of stablemate Ghost Fighter (six furlongs, 1:13.80), worked from the five-furlong pole to the wire in :59.20 and the duo continued their work around the turn to the seven-eighths pole.

“It was a really good work from what I could see,” trainer Mark Casse said. “From the videos I've seen over the last couple of weeks I've been really excited how he's doing at Churchill. We're hoping that it is a fast early pace in the Derby because we know with his running style he'll be making a run from off the pace.”

Sunday's 7:30-7:45 a.m. training window for Kentucky Derby and Oaks only saw two participants: George Hall and SportBLXThoroughbreds' $1 million Travers Stakes (G1) third-place finisher Max Player and Juddmonte Farms' homebred Bonny South. Derby contender Max Player, ridden by Juan Vargas, galloped about 1 ½ miles while Oaks contender Bonny South, ridden by Gustavo Abrego, galloped about the same distance. Max Player is scheduled to breeze on Monday.

Other Kentucky Derby contenders on the track Sunday included Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's $200,000 Ellis Park Derby runner-up Attachment Rate, who worked a half-mile in :48.60 at 9 a.m. under exercise rider Faustino Herrarte. Attachment Rate is also nominated to the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Lloyd Madison Farm's $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) runner-up Major Fed returned to the track early Sunday morning following a scheduled walk day Saturday with a one-mile jog under exercise rider Margarito Fierro. Another Derby contender that returned to the track Sunday following a scheduled walk day was West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing's $600,000 Arkansas Derby (G1) third-place finisher Winning Impression, who jogged one-mile with exercise rider Emerson Chavez in the saddle.

Following his speedy five-furlong move in :58.20 on Saturday, Victoria Ranch's King Guillermo had a scheduled walk day along with fellow Derby contender Necker Island.

Bruce Lundsford's recent Ellis Park Derby hero Art Collector is scheduled to arrive back to trainer Tommy Drury's Churchill Downs base in the upcoming days and will have one local work prior to the Kentucky Derby.

The possible field, in order of preference, for the 146^th running of the Kentucky Derby (with jockey): Tiz the Law (Manny Franco); Authentic (John Velazquez); Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr.); Honor A.P. (Mike Smith); Ny Traffic (Paco Lopez); King Guillermo (Samy Camacho); Thousand Words (Florent Geroux); Dr Post (TBA); Max Player (Ricardo Santana Jr.); Caracaro (Javier Castellano); Enforceable (Adam Beschizza); Rushie (TBA); Major Fed (James Graham); Storm the Court (Julien Leparoux); Attachment Rate (Joe Talamo); Sole Volante (Luca Panici); Finnick the Fierce (Martin Garcia); Winning Impression (Joe Rocco Jr.); Necker Island (Miguel Mena); and Shirl's Speight (Corey Lanerie).

Several Kentucky Derby contenders have yet to converge on Churchill Downs but are scheduled to arrive in the upcoming week. The following is the latest arrival information, according to senior director of the stable area Steve Hargrave:

Monday or Tuesday via van from Skylight Training Center to Churchill Downs: Art Collector (trainer Tommy Drury)
Tuesday via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Rushie (Michael McCarthy)
Aug. 30 via flight from New York to Louisville: Caracaro (Gustavo Delgado) and Ny Traffic (Saffie Joseph)
Aug. 30 via van from Florida to Louisville: Sole Volante (Patrick Biancone)
Aug. 31 via flight from San Diego to Louisville: Authentic (Bob Baffert), Honor A. P. (John Shirreffs), Storm the Court (Peter Eurton); and Thousand Words (Baffert)
Aug. 31 via flight from New York: Dr Post (Todd Pletcher) and Tiz the Law (Barclay Tagg)

Details on the arrivals of Finnick the Fierce (Rey Hernandez) and Shirl's Speight (Roger Attfield) have not been finalized. On the Longines Kentucky Oaks front, $600,000 Alabama (GI) winner Swiss Skydiver is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs on Tuesday via plane from New York. Swiss Skydiver's main rival in the Oaks, multiple Grade I winner Gamine, is scheduled to arrive with the other Baffert trainees on Sunday, Aug. 31.

KENTUCKY DERBY, OAKS WORKOUTS TO BE STREAMED LIVE MONDAY –Churchill Downs Racetrack will provide live online streaming of Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks contenders' workouts when the exclusive 7:30-7:45 a.m. (all times Eastern) training window starting on Monday.

The live stream presented by TwinSpires.com will be available at multiple sources including on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/kentuckyderby; on Twitter via @KentuckyDerby and www.twitter.com/kentuckyderby; on YouTube atwww.youtube.com/kentuckyderby; and www.kentuckyderby.com/workouts

The live video will include graphics to identify each horse and commentary from an array of industry experts including: Churchill Downs Host and Racing Analyst Joe Kristufek along with TwinSpires.com Racing Experts Scott Shapiro, Ed DeRosa, Brandon Staubleand Chantal Sutherland.

A special 15-minute session from 7:30-7:45 a.m. is exclusive to Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks participants and any workmates. The specially-made Derby and Oaks saddle towels must be worn to gain access to the racetrack during that window.

The post A Foggy Morning In Derby Town: Enforceable Breezes Six Furlongs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post