Tag: John Velazquez

Pacific Gale Ends 17-Race Winless Streak In Inside Information

Tobey Morton's Pacific Gale, winless in 17 consecutive starts dating back more than two years, swept to the lead in mid-stretch and pulled clear to spring a 16-1 upset of Saturday's $200,000 Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 42nd running of the Inside Information for fillies and mares 4 and older was among seven graded-stakes worth $4.725 million on a blockbuster 12-race Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series program featuring the $3-million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt and $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at 1 3/16 miles on the grass.

Ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez for trainer John Kimmel, Pacific Gale ($34.20) sprinted seven furlongs in 1:22.60 over a fast main track to earn her second career stakes victory, first in graded company, and first of any kind since an Oct. 4, 2018 optional claiming allowance triumph at Belmont Park.

Velazquez settled Pacific Gale in fifth between Bronx Beauty along the rail and Sound Machine to her outside as 2-1 favorite Cinnabunny and Thissmytime dueled through a quarter-mile in 22.45 seconds and a half in 45.13. Room opened for Pacific Gale to get through leaving the far turn and the 6-year-old Flat Out mare accelerated past her rivals to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

Thissmytime dug in to finish second, a length ahead of late-running Piedi Bianchi. It was another length back to Cinnabunny in fourth, followed by Dream Marie, Bronx Beauty, Sally's Curlin and Sound Machine.

$200,000 Inside Information (G2) Quotes

Trainer John Kimmel, (Pacific Gale): “It's a really emotional time, actually. Mr. Morton, he's my primary owner, he passed away last month and they just loved this filly. Tobey has now taken over. We've kind of talked about this filly. She was kind of earmarked to go to Not This Time, and I told her this filly is training better than I've ever seen her train up at Palm Meadows. She's dappled out and she's just come to herself and I was just very optimistic about her today. Even though she's oh-fer the last two years, just to see her fire like you've never seen her fire was just a tremendous accomplishment for a filly that's been a bridesmaid against some top quality horses. To see her get her due diligence here today is just really, really special.”

“I'm sure he's looking down and I hope he had a big bet. He loved to bet on his horses and it's a very generous price she has on the board. My congratulations to Tobey. I know it's a difficult time but hopefully this filly can put a smile on her face.”

Jockey John Velazquez (Pacific Gale): “Finally! I always try to keep her covered up and make one run with her. Today was the day. I kept her covered up and when we passed the quarter pole and got to the three-sixteenths pole I got out and she responded right away. It set up the way we wanted to.”

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Comebacking Mucho Gusto Draws Services Of John Velazquez In Saturday’s San Antonio

A winner of more than $3.1 million this year, Bob Baffert's Mucho Gusto, idle since Feb. 29, heads a field of eight 3-year-olds and up going a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita. One of five graded stakes on an 11-race program, the San Antonio, long a traditional prep to the G1 Santa Anita Handicap, will be contested for the 83rd time on Saturday.

A winner of the G` Pegasus World Cup Invitational two starts back at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25, Mucho Gusto was a respectable fourth behind stablemate Maximum Security in the G1 $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 29 and will be ridden for the first time on Saturday by eastern-based John Velazquez.

Jay Em Ess Stable's homebred Extra Hope comes off an emphatic gate to wire score in the G3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar and seeks his third consecutive win for Richard Mandella and jockey Juan Hernandez.

Mark Glatt's versatile Sharp Samurai, an earner of more than $1.1 million, comes off a solid third place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and rates a huge chance at age six.

MUCHO GUSTO

Owner: HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths in the Saudi Cup, Mucho Gusto is 12-6-2-2 overall. A 4-year-old colt by Mucho Macho Man, he should show plenty of his customary early zip in his first start in nearly nine months as Baffert seeks his record seventh San Antonio win.

EXTRA HOPE

Owner: Jay Em Ess Stable

Trainer: Richard Mandella

Unbeaten in two starts with hot-riding Juan Hernandez, Extra Hope, a 4-year-old colt by Shanghai Bobby, certainly rates as a “now” commodity. A gate to wire winner of the Native Diver, he'll no doubt be forwardly placed as he cuts back in distance a sixteenth of a mile. The San Antonio will be Extra Hope's fourth start of 2020 as he tries to improve upon an overall mark of 14-4-2-3.

SHARP SAMURAI

Owner : Red Baron's Barn LLC, Rancho Temescal LLC and Mark Glatt

Trainer: Mark Glatt

A winner of seven of 18 turf starts while second five times and third twice, Sharp Samurai will be making his second consecutive start on dirt, a surface that he's now 5-1-1-1 over. A solid second two starts back in the G2 City of Hope over the Santa Anita turf Oct. 3, he was beaten 3 ½ lengths in the G1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 7 and with his class and tactical speed, rates a big chance in the San Antonio.

THE GRADE II SAN ANTONIO WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 11 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

  1. Take the One O One—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—121
  2. Kiss Today Goodbye—Mike Smith—119
  3. Extra Hope—Juan Hernandez—123
  4. Sharp Samurai—Flavien Prat—121
  5. Combatant—Ricardo Santana, Jr.—123
  6. Midcourt—Victor Espinoza—123
  7. Idol—Gabriel Saez–119
  8. Mucho Gusto—John Velazquez—124

Although there is no public admittance, fans can watch and wager via 1st.com/Bet and they can watch all of Santa Anita's races free of charge at santaanita.com/live. Special early first post time on Saturday is at 11 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Velazquez and Smith Reelected as Jockeys’ Guild Co-Chairmen

Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Mike Smith were reelected as co-chairmen of the Jockeys’ Guild during the organization’s annual meeting, held virtually Dec. 8. Sponsored by TVG/Betfair, the meeting included a riding crop discussion and an update of the various state regulations and track house rules which have been adopted this year.

In addition to Velazquez and Smith, also reelected were Ricky Ramirez, Julien Leparoux, and Javier Castellano as vice-chairs; Joel Campbell as treasurer; Rodney Prescott as secretary; and Joe Bravo and Alex Birzer as directors on the board. Drayden Van Dyke was a new addition to the board of directors and 27 members were formally inducted to the senate. Approximately 1,250 riders–active, retired, and disabled–are members and represented by the Guild.

“As the organization that provides a voice for the jockeys, it is necessary that we have dedicated jockeys who are actively involved in the Guild working for the benefit of all jockeys,” said Terry Meyocks, president & CEO of the organization.

Founded in 1940, The Jockeys’ Guild represents professional jockeys in the U.S. For more information, visit jockeysguild.com.

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Malathaat Leads 1-2-3 Sweep By Curlin Fillies In Demoiselle

Shadwell Stable's Malathaat continued a perfect start to her career with a rallying score over Millefeuille in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Curlin bay was an impressive debut winner at Belmont Park in October ahead of a last-out 7 3/4-length romp in the Tempted, a one-turn mile on November 6 at the Big A.

Kendrick Carmouche established command aboard Traffic Lane into the first turn as Joel Rosario urged Millefeuille into second position to the outside of Malathaat, who exited the inside post under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Traffic Lane marked the opening quarter-mile in 23.69 seconds and the half-mile in 48.50 on the sloppy and sealed main track with Millefeuille pinned to her hip as Malathaat angled off the rail and was asked to maintain her position by Velazquez.

Millefeuille assumed the lead into the final turn as Traffic Lane gave way and Malibu Curl cruised into second position while Velazquez continued to work on Malathaat through three-quarters in 1:13.33.

With much to do as the field turned for home, Velazquez angled Malathaat outside of Malibu Curl at the quarter pole and began to pick up her feet inside of the slow-starting Cafe Society to take dead aim at the leader.

Millefeuille continued to find more inside the final furlong but Malathaat was making up ground with powerful strides and got up comfortably to secure the three-quarter length win in a final time of 1:52.36. It was 4 1/2-lengths back to Malibu Curl, who completed the trifecta by a length over Cafe Society.

The top three were all sired by Curlin.

The top four finishers earned 10-4-2-1 points toward the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, scheduled for April 30, 2021 at Churchill Downs.

Traffic Lane and Celestial Cheetah rounded out the order of finish. Dollar Mountain and Caramocha were scratched.

The victory marked the sixth Demoiselle win for Pletcher to lead all trainers, having previously scored with Smok'n Frolic [2001], Ashado [2003], Disposablepleasure [2011], Unlimited Budget [2012] and Stopchargingmaria [2013].

Pletcher said Malathaat struggled from the inside post.

“She wasn't comfortable inside,” said Pletcher. “I think she was unsure of the footing early on. In her first two starts, she had easy trips without much dirt in her face. I was worried at multiple points of the race. Sometimes drawing the rail is great and this time it seemed to have backfired on us a couple of times. In the final eighth of a mile, she was able to get into her comfort zone and rhythm and that's when she showed what she's all about.

“She did it with her ears pricked, so in the end, it was impressive that she could do that,” he continued. “Some lesser quality horses might have thrown in the towel at some stage, but when she got rolling, she was impressive.”

It was a record seventh Demoiselle victory for Velazquez, whose previous winners include Smok'n Frolic, Roar Emotion [2002], Sis City [2004], Mushka [2007], Unlimited Budget and Wonder Gadot [2017].

“Her class was what kept her going and got here there on time,” said Velazquez. “She was never comfortable and not running into a spot I wanted. She never really put that much effort into keeping a spot. Finally, when I tipped her out heading to the quarter-pole, she started running.

“When I got her out, she put her ears up,” added Velazquez. “Little by little, when she got to the other horses, she started going.”

The well-bred Malathaat, purchased for $1.05 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the Pletcher-trained Dreaming of Julia, who captured the 2012 Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park.

“I see some similarities [with Dreaming of Julia],” said Pletcher. “They are both nice fillies to be around and very professional in the mornings and very sweet around the barn. They are very easy to take care of and they both have shown they want to run long. Dreaming of Julia was a really high-quality filly and I think this filly is of the same ilk.”

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Malathaat banked $82,500 in victory while remaining perfect through three starts. She returned $2.90 as the 2-5 mutuel favorite.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A, Closing Day of the 18-day fall meet, with a nine-race card offering a pair of rich New York Stallion Stakes Series races, including the Great White Way for 2-year-olds and the Fifth Avenue for juvenile fillies, with purses of $250,000 each. Also featured on Closing Day is the $100,000 Garland of Roses at six furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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