Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing

Holiday weekends are often synonymous with exciting race cards and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception with a dozen graded events on tap Saturday that include some of racing's best. The highlight of the day's action is the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who is making his first start back since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S.

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

The post Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Thomas To Judge MHBA Yearling Show

Edited Press Release

Jonathan Thomas, trainer of the versatile multiple Grade I winner Catholic Boy, will judge the 88th annual Maryland Horse Breeders Association Yearling Show. Open to all yearlings eligible for Maryland-bred registration, the show will be held Sunday, July 24 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds' Horse Show Ring in Timonium. Entries are due by June 24.

Thomas was born in Virginia and raised at Paul Mellon's famed Rokeby Farm, where his grandfather, father and mother all worked. Growing up around quality horses, Thomas was 13 when Mellon's homebred Sea Hero won the Kentucky Derby. Twenty-five years later as a trainer, he was sending out Catholic Boy to win Grade Is on the turf and dirt, the latter in Saratoga's Travers S. It was only the third time in history that an American 3-year-old accomplished the Grade I dirt/turf double, following in the footsteps of Secretariat and California Chrome.

Before going out on his own, Thomas was an assistant for leading trainers Christophe Clement, Dale Romans and Todd Pletcher, and spent a year training in Saudi Arabia. He also worked in sales and breaking with J.J. Pletcher in Ocala, Fla., and over the years built up a business buying, breaking and training Thoroughbreds at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala.

Since saddling his first runners in 2005, he has a win percentage of 24%, and more than half his starters finish in the top three.

The post Thomas To Judge MHBA Yearling Show appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Augustin Homebred Impressive in Keeneland Allowance Score

6th-Keeneland, $109,450, Alw (NW1X), Opt. Clm ($80,000), 4-22, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.11, ft, 2 3/4 lengths.
MOUFFY (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Truly Together {GSP, $119,760}, by Smart Strike), pounded into 7-10 favoritism off a big-figure runner-up effort when trying conventional dirt for the first time at Gulfstream Park Feb. 20, gave her backers some anxious moments as she raced in heavy traffic down the backstretch, but the homebred bay took advantage of an inviting opening at the fence when heads were turned for home and quickened up nicely to clear her first allowance condition by a convincing margin. A bit hesitant to begin from gate three, the bay was outsprinted early and settled in the second flight of horses as she traveled in fifth or sixth position in a bunched field to the turn. Ridden along to come after the leaders nearing the stretch, Mouffy accelerated while hugging the fence, opened an unassailable advantage into the final furlong and kept on well to take it by 2 3/4 lengths. Mouffy, a winner on debut over the Gulfstream synth Jan. 8, is the first produce for her dam, third in the GIII Lambholm South Endeavour S. and herself a daughter of Strawbridge's Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together (Belong to Me). Truly Together is also the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Quality Road and a yearling full-brother to Mouffy. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $109,635. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Augustin Stable; B-George Strawbridge (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas.

The post Augustin Homebred Impressive in Keeneland Allowance Score appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Another Rising Star for Into Mischief at Aqueduct

Augustin Stable's Send for Me (Into Mischief) led home a $1.5-million-plus exacta for her sire as she became the Spendthrift super stallion's 28th 'TDN Rising Star' when drubbing a fancy group of fillies at Aqueduct Saturday. Acquired for $500,000 at OBS April off a :10 flat breeze, the Jonathan Thomas pupil was let go at 6-1 and made that price look like a bargain.

Emerging with the early advantage, the bay doled out splits of :22.99 and :47.42, quickly shut the door on her competition at the head of the lane and poured it on from there to score by a wrapped-up seven lengths, stopping the clock in 1:19.29. Adam's Angel (Into Mischief), a $1,025,000 KEESEP yearling also making her first start, was second. The winner had originally sold for $250,000 at the September sale. Favor (Pioneerof the Nile), a $500,000 FTKSEL buy herself, checked in fourth as the 3-2 favorite for Thomas's former boss Todd Pletcher.

Send for Me's dam Versailles Song (Unbridled's Song) was a winner at Mountaineer and Presque Isle. The daughter of MGISW Versailles Treaty (Danzig) is half to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner George Vancouver (Henrythenavigator) and GSW/GISP Saarland (Unbridled). A full-sister to Versailles Song produced GISP 'Rising Star' Luminance (Tale of the Cat).

Versailles Song was a $370,000 KEENOV weanling; $545,000 FTKNOV RNA in 2012; sold for $700,000 to Send for Me's breeder Don Albert Corp. while in foal to Distorted Humor at the 2014 Keeneland November sale; and brought $145,000 at last year's Keeneland sale while in foal to Malibu Moon. She produced her fourth gray colt Apr. 21 and was bred back to the in-demand City of Light for 2022.

6th-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 11-27, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:19.29, ft,
7 lengths.
SEND FOR ME, f, 2, Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Versailles Song, by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Versailles Treaty, by Danzig
                3rd Dam: Ten Cents a Dance, by Buckpasser
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Augustin Stable; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Jonathan Thomas. *$250,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $500,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR.

The post Another Rising Star for Into Mischief at Aqueduct appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights