Tag: Kate Hunter

Derma Sotogake Drills; Thursday Oaks Schedule Quickens

Three GI Kentucky Derby hopefuls, as well as a GI Kentucky Oaks potential entrant, worked Wednesday morning over a fast surface at Churchill Downs, the track said in a release on Wednesday.

Hiroyuki Asanuma's G2 UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) drilled five furlongs in 1:01.40 and was partnered with Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd.'s Continuar (Jpn) (Drefong), who worked a half-mile in :50.

Shortly after those breezes during the 7:30-7:45 training window for Derby and Oaks horses, R.T. Racing Stable and Cypress Creek Equine's Sun Thunder (Into Mischief) worked a half-mile on his own in :48.60 with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard.

“He pretty much just clipped 12s the whole way around,” Hernandez said. “They added blinkers to him this morning, and that seems to make him want to go forward, and kind of get into things a little earlier than he did before the blinkers. He finished in 48 and 3 [-fifths], with a good gallop out.”

Richard Bahde's Taxed (Collected), the runner-up in the GIII Fantasy S. and No. 15 on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard, worked a half-mile in :47.60 under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Derma Sotogake and Continuar's Work

The pair of Japanese workmates drilled continuing through five furlongs, with Continuar completing a half-mile.

Breaking off at the half-mile pole, Continuar was 3 lengths in front under Kazunari Yoshida. By the head of the stretch, Derma Sotogake had drawn even under Masatoshi Segawa and was clear at the wire.

Fractions for Derma Sotogake were :25.80, :37.20, :48.60 and 1:01.40. Continuar was clocked in :13.40, :26.40, :50 and out five furlongs in 1:04.40.

Both horses will walk in the Quarantine Barn on Thursday.

Kate Hunter, the Japan Racing Association representative for the Kentucky Derby, said that both riders were happy with the works with Segawa pleased with the response in the stretch from Derma Sotogake.

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Continuar, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday with Hidetaka Otonashi, trainer of Derma Sotogake, due in the following day.

Thursday Schedule

One Derby work is scheduled for Thursday morning and that is Wild On Ice (Tapizar). Jockey Ken Tohill is flying to Louisville this afternoon and will be aboard for the work for trainer Joel Marr.

The Kentucky Oaks work schedule Thursday is much heavier with nine breezes slated.

Trainer Brad Cox is expected to work his trio of Wet Paint (Blame), Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) and The Alys Look (Connect). Trainer Todd Pletcher has his duo of Gambling Girl (Dialed In) and Julia Shining (Curlin) scheduled to breeze along with Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) for Norm Casse, Flying Connection (Nyquist) for Todd Fincher, Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) for Mark Casse and possibly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) for Brendan Walsh.

The post Derma Sotogake Drills; Thursday Oaks Schedule Quickens appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Derby Hopeful Crown Pride Works

Teruya Yoshida's Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) worked a bullet half-mile in :46.40 at Churchill Downs Wednesday morning in advance of the May 7 Kentucky Derby. With regular morning partner Masa Matsuda aboard, Crown Pride cut out fractions of :11.60, :23.20 and :46.40, galloping out in 1:00.20 and 1:14.80 while working in company with the 4-year-old Southern Passage. Crown Pride left Japan Mar. 17 to travel to Dubai where he won the G2 UAE Derby before arriving in Louisville Mar. 30. Wednesday's work was his fourth since his arrival in Kentucky. Before the work, Crown Pride warmed up in the mile chute while the track was undergoing a harrow break and following the work had a leisurely trip back to the quarantine barn.

“That is a typical Japanese training regimen,” said Japan-based representative for the Kentucky Derby Kate Hunter. “Masa was very pleased with the work. He said Crown Pride moves well over the surface with no extra effort.”

Crown Pride's previous works here were six furlongs in 1:18.60 Apr. 16, a half-mile in :49.80 Apr. 19 and a half-mile in :49.20  Apr. 24. He is scheduled to work again Sunday.

Trainer Koichi Shintani is scheduled to arrive in Louisville Sunday night and will be in attendance at the post position draw Monday afternoon. Jockey Christophe Lemaire is scheduled to arrive in Louisville on Monday.

The post Derby Hopeful Crown Pride Works appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Breeders’ Cup Buzz: Remembering The Previous Del Mar Breeders’ Cup

The Breeders' Cup will be held at Del Mar for the second time in the event's history this year, which makes it the ideal time to look back on the first time the track hosted the races in 2017.

As one of North America's elite racing venues, hosting the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar made perfect sense, and the on-track product lived up to expectations, with plenty of strong winners and exciting finishes.

Ahead of this year's return to Del Mar, we asked some participants in this year's Breeders' Cup to recall what memory stuck out to them the most from the last time the event was held where the turf meets the surf.

Nick Hines – Jockey Agent, Bloodstock Agent, TVG Host

“In regards to the gambling, it really came down to Good Magic (in the Juvenile). He pretty much saved the day for me, because he came in heralded enough, but still considered under the radar, which is kind of surprising for a Chad Brown horse, but it was the turning point for me cashing a pretty sizable return. All the money was in on Bolt d'Oro, Good Magic was a maiden coming in for Chad Brown, and it made me wonder why he'd take a chance with a maiden in the Breeders' Cup. With his pedigree, and coming out of the Breeders' Cup, I thought this horse was going to adore two turns.”

Kate Hunter – Breeders' Cup Japanese Field Representative

“Back in 2017, I unfortunately had the recruit fall through, but I attended anyway for the experience. What I remember most, though, is walking around the grandstand gawking at the photos of Bing Crosby, my all-time favorite singer. Walking in his shoes and being at his track felt really special. It was a feeling I was able to linger in since I was just there as a spectator. I wallowed in it.”

David Meah – Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock, Anna Meah Racing Stables

“My memory of that Breeders' Cup was being there with Anna, who I had recently married back in August that year, and sharing the weekend with good friends from around the globe. Breeders' Cup for me is a fantastic occasion, being from England and living in America for such a long time (16 years at that time). It's fantastic when lots of my old friends come into town and we all catch up.

“Beyond that, I remember the weather being perfect, especially for the horses. I think It was around 69 degrees and it wasn't to hot at all. It was heavenly. We were spoiled, as per usual, with these world championship races and one horse that stood out to me was the amazingly handsome Talismanic (in the Turf). When he walked by me in the paddock, I knew where my $2 (maybe a little more) was going, and at 14-1, you'd better believe the drinks were flowing that evening.”

Walker Hancock – Claiborne Farm

“My cousin Lynn talking us out of including Talismanic in our Pick 6, costing us $388,423.”

Aron Wellman – Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

“For me, it was a selfish memory of Eclipse's colt Destin winning the Marathon Stakes (on the Breeders' Cup undercard). It was on my home track, and Todd Pletcher's first ever win at Del Mar.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Buzz: Remembering The Previous Del Mar Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: Japan’s Strength In Numbers

French-based Karakontie scored a breakthrough victory in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile in 2014, becoming the first horse bred in Japan to win a championship day race. There is yet to be a Breeders' Cup victory by a horse trained in Japan, though Japanese horsemen have successfully sent runners to Europe, Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia and the U.S. for Grade 1 triumphs.

In this week's edition of the Friday Show, Kate Hunter – Breeders' Cup field representative in Japan – joins Ray Paulick and bloodstock editor Joe Nevills to talk about the seven Japanese horses expected to participate this year – the largest group ever. (An eighth Japanese runner, Jasper Krone, has been withdrawn.)

Hunter points out that Hideyuki Mori, arguably the most internationally minded Japanese trainer, is leading by example, having sent over the most horses and demonstrating – while yet to win a Breeders' Cup race – that it is well worth trying. Mori has been testing the international waters all the way back to 1995, when he sent Ski Captain from Japan for a run in the Kentucky Derby. Mori will have four entered this year.

Is the year for a Japanese victory? “If you consider that horse racing is a numbers game, we've got the numbers this year,” Hunter said. “I hope it goes in our favor.”

Watch this week's Friday Show, presented by Woodbine, below:

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