Keeneland September | Horse Racing Free Tips

Curlin Colt Turns In ‘Jazzy’ Effort at Belmont

2nd-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 6-12, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.94, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
MILES D (c, 3, Curlin–Sound the Trumpets, by Bernardini) made a single visit to the races last season, a well-bet and close-up fourth at Aqueduct Oct. 11, in an event that has turned out to be no ordinary maiden. Next-out 'TDN Rising Star' and Smarty Jones S. winner Caddo River (Hard Spun) was runner-up to Godophin's Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and a half-length better than Greatest Honour (Tapit), who would go on to annex the GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fountain of Youth S. ahead of a third in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. Behind Miles D that day were the sixth-placed Bourbonic (Bernardini), this year's GII Wood Memorial S. upsetter, as well as Original (Quality Road), last of the octet, but since Grade III-placed on the turf. The late money came for Miles D, who was sent off the 1.15-1 chalk in advance of 8-5 fellow second-timer Southern Flag (Union Rags), and proved spot on. Settled back on the fence as Absolute Courage (Into Mischief) set the pace from off the rail, Miles D was asked to come after that one at the quarter pole, stuck a neck in front a furlong from home and kicked on nicely to take it by 2 1/4 lengths. Absolute Courage boxed on gamely at the rail to claim second spot, a head better than Southern Courage, who was slowly into stride, raced three and four wide the trip and was forced to settle for third. Miles D is the first foal for his unraced dam, a half-sister to champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat) who was purchased with this colt in utero for $675,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November Sale. Sound the Trumpets's 2-year-old son Trumpets Blare (Pioneerof the Nile) breezed three-eighths of a mile in :37.40 at the Skylight Training CenterSaturday morning and her most recent produce include a yearling Quality Road filly and a colt foal by Medaglia d'Oro. Miles D's third dam was the irrepressible Personal Ensign (Private Account), who was also responsible for Grade I winners Miner's Mark (Mr. Prospector) and Traditionally (Mr. Prospector) as well as MGSP Salute (Unbridled), whose produce include Lane's End stallion and GISW Mr Speaker (Pulpit), GSW Fire Away (War Front) and SW/GSP Vigilantes Way (Medaglia d'Oro). Miles D is bred on the same cross as GISW Paris Lights and other graded winners Point of Honor, Clairiere, 'TDN Rising Star' Spice Is Nice and Cezanne. Sales history: $470,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $53,280. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Peter M Brant & Robert V LaPenta; B-River Bend Farm (KY); T-Chad C Brown.

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Saturday’s Racing Insights: Babies Kick off Big Belmont Card

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

1st-BEL, $90K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 11:35 a.m.
Juvenile colts kick off the festivities on GI Belmont S. day. Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle three for the big one, and two members of the next generation in here. Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable and Gainesway Stable's Wit (Practical Joke) was a $575,000 Keeneland September buy. He is a half brother to the talented Washington-based GSW Barkley (Munnings). Wit's stablemate Keepcalmcarryon (Union Rags) cost $75,000 at the same auction. His dam Lavender Chrissie (Scat Daddy) was a romping debut winner at Churchill Downs in October of her 2-year-old year, and took the Zia Park Oaks the following season. Lavender Chrissie is full to a G2 Queen Mary S. runner-up and a half to speedy and precocious GSW Baby J (J Be K). Juan Vasquez trainee Magical Knight (Ocean Knight) figures to show some zip. The $9,000 OBSOCT yearling brought $85,000 at OBS March after breezing in a co-quickest :9 4/5. His dam was also a debut winner at two. Hagler (Tapiture) was second on debut here May 16, earning a solid 73 Beyer Speed Figure. He's full to a juvenile stakes winner. TJCIS PPs

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France Go De Ina Settling in Well at Belmont

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) visited Belmont's main track for the first time Friday to begin preparations for a start in the June 5 GI Belmont S. Trained by Hideyuki Mori said the Kentucky-bred was settling in well to his new surroundings after arriving at Belmont last Monday following his seventh-place finish in the GI Preakness S.

“It's been 15 years since I've been here,” said the 62-year-old with a laugh Saturday morning on the Belmont backstretch via translator Kate Hunter. “I forgot how big it was. It looks like he has settled in well and is in very good condition. He looks like he has got all his weight back from after the race and all the travel.”

Japanese-based France Go de Ina was purchased by the conditioner for $100,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for owner Yuji Inaida.

In addition to trying to collect a $1 million bonus offered to the connections of any Japan-based horse who wins the Belmont, France Go de Ina will look to provide Mori with his first win in North America with his eighth starter.

Mori brought Ski Captain to Churchill Downs in 1995 to finish 14th in the GI Kentucky Derby in his first venture to North America.

The 3-year-old is a two-time winner at Hanshin, including a maiden score Nov. 28 and an allowance win Dec. 19. He entered the Preakness off a sixth in the UAE Derby.

Mori expects France Go de Ina to improve off his latest effort following extensive travel to Baltimore for the 1 3/16-mile second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“He was good at the beginning, but he seemed to get a little tired at the end,” said Mori. “He went from Dubai to Japan and then Japan to the Preakness and he probably needed the race to be more fit for the Belmont.”

Mori said France Go de Ina is bred to enjoy the stretch out in distance to 12 furlongs.

“He's out of a Curlin mare, so we're hopeful he'll be able to stay the distance,” said Mori. “He will probably have a serious work on Tuesday or Wednesday before the race. He'll canter in the mornings and continue to build stamina.”

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Son Of Breeders’ Cup Winner Bar Of Gold Debuts Friday At Belmont Park

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse expressed excitement for the debut of the well-bred Coinage in Friday's opening race at Belmont Park; a five-furlong sprint for state-bred juveniles on Big Sandy.

By Tapit, Coinage is out of Bar of Gold, an upset winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Owned by Leonard Green's DJ Stable in partnership with breeders Chester and Mary Broman, Coinage was a $450,000 purchase from Sequel New York's consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“After the Greens bought the filly, Mr. Broman said that he would like to partner in the horse,” Casse explained. “I've known Mr. Broman for 25 years. He's a class act, as are the Greens. Both are great people.”

Coinage has prepped for his career debut at Casse Training Center in Ocala, Florida, where he had five recorded works before shipping to Belmont Park in early April. His most recent work was a half-mile move in 48.45 seconds over the main track on May 15.

“We definitely think he has some talent, and I would hope and think that this horse would be better the further he goes,” Casse said. “His mother, oddly enough, was a sprinter, but she was by Medaglia d'Oro. I don't know how far he'll go, but he'll like some more ground, like most Tapits do.”

Coinage, listed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite, will exit post 4 under Junior Alvarado.

Casse said he will be represented by several runners at the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing festival from June 3-5, including Got Stormy, who will see a cutback in distance for the Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur at six furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

The 6-year-old daughter of Get Stormy made her seasonal bow a winning one in the one-mile Grade 3 Honey Fox on February 27 at Gulfstream Park before a last out fifth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on May 1.

Got Stormy asserted herself a force to be reckoned with after defeating males in course record time in the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave in 2019 at Saratoga and followed with Grade 1-placings, in the Woodbine Mile and Breeders' Cup Mile. After a few disappointing results in the first half of 2020, Casse regrouped and shortened the talented mare in distance to win the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint in September and the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County in October at Keeneland.

“We're going to try it and see,” Casse said. “She came out of her last race well. It was a bit of a head scratcher, but she's done that before and rebounded, so we'll see.”

Following a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy was offered at the Keeneland November Sale, where she was hammered down to $2.75 million. She was acquired by Spendthrift Farm, who opted to keep her in training for a 2021 campaign and is now co-owned with MyRacehorse.com.

Casse said Gary Barber's Make Mischief is targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn, a one-turn mile on Big Sandy for sophomore fillies on June 5.

The New York-bred daughter of Into Mischief was a gallant third in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on April 30 at Churchill Downs, which was her first start for Casse since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Chandelier in September 2020 at Santa Anita.

Make Mischief spent the winter months in New York under the care of Chris Englehart, for whom she won 3-of-4 starts including the Maddie May on February 20.

“Chris and I have been friends for about 40 years, and he did a tremendous job with her over the winter,” Casse said. “Last race, we ran her at Churchill, and it was a good run. The Acorn is a big step up, but she should love the mile.”

Bred by Avanti Stable, Make Mischief is out of the Speightstown mare Speightful Lady, who has produced four other runners of racing age, all of which are winners.

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