Tag: Keeneland September

Roderick Heads West for Best Pal

Runaway Belmont debut winner Roderick (Into Mischief), scratched out of Friday’s deep GII Saratoga Special S., has been tabbed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s GII Best Pal S. at Del Mar.

Roderick crushed a trio of rivals on debut for trainer Wesley Ward on Long Island June 21, including runner-up Zippy Baby (Cairo Prince), who returned to graduate next out at Saratoga.

Purchased by Breeze Easy for $550,000 as a KEESEP yearling, Roderick is a full-brother to GIII Southwest S. winner One Liner and hails from the same female family as Grade I winners Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) and Daredevil (More Than Ready).

Highly regarded maiden Ambivalent (Constitution), a $550,000 OBSMAR graduate, looks to go one better following a strong second-place finish on debut behind wire-to-wire winner Weston (Hit It a Bomb) going 4 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita June 21 (Second Chances).

Santa Anita debut winner Herd Immunity (Union Rags) is the lone runner in the field with stakes experience, entering off a well-beaten third in Churchill’s GIII Bashford Manor S. June 27.

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‘He Covers A Lot Of Ground’: Baffert Compares Travers Contender Uncle Chuck To Arrogate

Though the bottom side of Uncle Chuck's pedigree suggests he might prefer one turn, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is sending the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo east to contest the 1 1/4-mile G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga this Saturday.

“One of the reasons I bought him, when I saw him, he's an Uncle Mo with all speed in there, but if you look at him he just doesn't look it,” Baffert said on Tuesday's NTRA teleconference. “He was big, tall, lanky, not like a typical Uncle Mo… He's got the body of a two-turn horse.”

A $250,000 yearling at the Keeneland September sale, Uncle Chuck went to Barry Eisaman for his early training. Baffert specifically told Eisaman not to rush the big colt, that he didn't plan to run him at two. In fact, Uncle Chuck didn't debut until June of his 3-year-old year, winning his first start over a mile at Santa Anita by seven lengths. In his second start, the colt posted a four-length win over stablemate Thousand Words in the G3 Los Alamitos Derby.

“A horse like Uncle Chuck, he would never have run in the (Kentucky) Derby, but now he's got a chance,” Baffert said, referring to Churchill Downs' decision to delay the Run for the Roses to Sept. 5. “We just let him grow into himself, the same thing that happened with Arrogate.”

It isn't the first time Baffert has compared Uncle Chuck to Arrogate, the record-setting Travers winner of 2016.

“I really think with his stride, he covers a lot a ground,” said Baffert. “The ground that he covers reminds me of Arrogate. He handles it well, doesn't get tired.”

There are questions left to be answered, however. Uncle Chuck will be shipping across the country to for the first time in his short career, and he'll be facing a tough group of more experienced rivals, including likely favorite, the Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law.

“I've been very impressed with (Tiz the Law),” Baffert said. “They have managed him well and picked the right spots with him. I think he has progressed perfectly. He definitely is the best 3-year-old in the country right now. I'll get an idea if I can run with him or not. It is going to be exciting, but we're hoping we are as good as he is, that is why we are going over there.”

The post ‘He Covers A Lot Of Ground’: Baffert Compares Travers Contender Uncle Chuck To Arrogate appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Unique Bella Brother Wins Smartly on Sapporo Debut

Vanishing Point (Tapit), a full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award and three-time Grade I winner Unique Bella, was very green, but very good in his racecourse debut Sunday afternoon at Sapporo Racecourse, leading every step of the way en route to a seven-length tally.

The mount of perennial leading jockey Christophe Lemaire, the son of GI Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Distaff heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled’s Song) jumped alertly from the widest gate in the field of seven and was switching back and forth across his leads while establishing the front passing under the line for the first time. Well rated on the lead, Vanishing Point was asked for a bit of a sprint with a little more than a quarter mile to run, opened a clear advantage while having a look around and once again switching his leads multiple times and crossed the line a convincing winner. The final time for the metric mile and a quarter on firm turf was 2:02.4.

“He is still a big baby,” the winning jockey commented. “He didn’t stretch out much and his back end is still a bit weak, but he has great potential. Around the turn he showed fantastic speed. I think this was the perfect distance for him.”

Vanishing Point was bred by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm LLC, who acquired Unrivaled Belle for $3.8 million at the 2016 Keeneland November sale carrying a full-sister to Unique Bella. The 3-year-old filly, named Unrivaled Princess, is unraced to date. Through the Timber Town draft, Pope sold Vanishing Point for $1.5 million to Hiroyasu Takeuchi, agent for new owner Yuji Hasegawa, at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling sale. Unrivaled Belle was barren to Tapit for 2019, but foaled a full-sister to Unique Bella and Vanishing Point Mar. 19 and returned to the Gainesway stallion this past breeding season.

“The plan is to take him back to Japan and hopefully take him on the Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby and bring him back over here as a Derby horse,” Takeuchi told the TDN’s Jessica Martini via translator Kate Hunter following the purchase last fall.

Vanishing Point is the 32nd Japanese winner from 36 runners for his sire, including Testa Matta, winner of the G1 February S.; and Rabbit Run, a Group 2 winner on the turf and a listed winner on dirt. Tapit is also represented in Japan by MSW & GSP Tahltan and MSW Golden Barows.

 

WATCH: Vanishing Point goes gate to wire to score by daylight on debut

The post Unique Bella Brother Wins Smartly on Sapporo Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Shannon B. Arvin Offers First Sales & Racing Update at Keeneland

Shannon Bishop Arvin, tabbed to replace Bill Thomason when he retires as Keeneland’s President and CEO at the end of 2020, issued her first communique Wednesday evening.

“First, I’d like to thank everyone who has been so kind and welcoming as I transition into my new role with Keeneland,” Arvin said. “This is both a privilege and a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I very much look forward to working alongside our team to support your needs as we move into the fall season and into the future.

“While Keeneland is excited to unveil our full portfolio of remote bidding options, we continue to work closely with state and federal government officials, including representatives of both Senator Mitch McConnell and Congressmen Andy Barr, to seek exceptions to allow international travelers to attend the September Sale. Just as we have done for 80+ years, Keeneland will exhaust every measure possible to bring the world to Keeneland.”

Final plans will be announced shortly regarding COVID-19 testing during the Keeneland September Sale. Proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival at the sale will be required. If a participant does not have proof of a negative test, onsite testing will be available at Keeneland.

“We are working in concert with health and government officials as well as Fasig-Tipton to deliver consistent and reliable protocols and testing,” Arvin said. “Keeneland’s continued commitment to safety and our compliance with the Governor’s Healthy at Work standards allow us the opportunity to operate our auctions and race meets.”

In closing, Arvin paid tribute to late Keeneland employee Katherine McKee.

“As previous Manager of Keeneland’s Horsemen Hospitality and most recent Director of Racing Administration, Katherine has been a part of the Keeneland journey alongside many of you. We will always cherish the legacy of her dedication and love for horsemen and her Keeneland family. Although she battled advanced melanoma for nearly three years, many of you may have been unaware as Katherine’s positive attitude, dignity and grace never wavered. She was an amazing person and friend and will be tremendously missed by all of us.”

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