Tag: Keeneland

Goliath Versus Davids In the Kentucky Oaks

In this corner comes ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Gamine (Into Mischief), a filly by one of the world’s hottest and most fashionable sires who was purchased for a seven-figure price tag at public auction and has whitewashed Grade I rivals by a combined 25 3/4 lengths in her last two starts.

Sharing space in the other corner is Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), a much more modest auction purchase, who is perfect in her last four against her own sex; and Speech (Mr Speaker), not quite as accomplished as her two chief rivals, but who should in no way be ignored in Friday’s GI Longines Kentucky Oaks.

A $220,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Gamine fetched a record-breaking $1.8 million at last year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale and nothing has finished ahead of her in four career starts. Bar one start, none of her rivals has come close. A maiden winner at first asking by open lengths, she crossed the line a neck better than Speech in a first-level Oaklawn allowance in what is her lone two-turn start to date. Subsequently disqualified for a drug positive, she earned a 110 Beyer for an 18 3/4-length jaw-dropper in the GI Longines Acorn S. going Belmont’s one-turn mile June 20 (by comparison, Tiz the Law was given a 100 for his Belmont score). Shortening up to seven furlongs for the GI Longines Test S., she set the pace from the fleet Venetian Harbor (Munnings) and ran away from her to hit the line seven lengths to the good.

The nine-furlong distance is the obvious question mark for Gamine heading into Friday, but if three-time Oaks-winning trainer Bob Baffert is feeling the pinch, he isn’t exactly showing it.

‘We know she’s fast and she’s done [two turns] before so it’s not like it’s new,” he said. “We’re just blessed we have a filly like this. We gave a lot of money for her and it’s worked out. A lot of times you do that and they don’t work out. We’re just enjoying her.”

Gamine is expected to be the speed of the Oaks, but Tyler Gaffalione should have Swiss Skydiver within shouting distance from the start. The $35,000 long-time Ken McPeek client Peter Callahan invested in the chestnut at Keeneland September two falls ago has proven to be money very well spent. While the margins of her victories have been less imposing than those posted by Gamine, the performances have been no less dominating.

The victims look the same–she defeated Venetian Harbor in a highly rated renewal of Oaklawn’s GIII Fantasy S. in May, then ventured to Speech’s home turf and took down her colors in the GII Santa Anita Oaks the following month. Hardly disgraced when second to Art Collector (Bernardini) in an audacious attempt at the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. July 11, she thrashed her rivals in the GI Alabama S. when last spotted Aug. 15. McPeek is looking forward to the challenge directly ahead.

“We ran on the same racetrack that weekend at Oaklawn and I don’t think there’s a lot separating them,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to watch. That’s what makes me confident. [Bob Baffert’s] filly is going to have to do something she hasn’t experienced and it’s something we’ve done over and over all year.”

Speech figures to sit a good trip in the Oaks, tracking the top two. The Florida-bred earned a richly deserved Grade I last time out in Keeneland’s Ashland S. July 11, earning a figure competitive with what Gamine and Swiss Skydiver have put up going two turns. A $65,000 short yearling at the 2018 OBS Winter Mixed Sale, Speech was bought back on a bid of $95,000 at Fasig-Tipton July that summer and fetched $190,000 at OBS March 18 months ago.

‘TDN Rising Star‘ Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) was just touched off as the favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in just her second career start and makes his first start since soundly defeating Speech in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. at Santa Anita Mar. 8.

It seems only fitting that in the town the late Muhammad Ali called home, a true heavyweight battle looms in the minutes just prior to 6 p.m. Friday afternoon.

The post Goliath Versus Davids In the Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Mike Smith Talks Honor A. P., Derby Memories On TDN Writers’ Room

As a Hall of Fame jockey and two-time winning rider of the GI Kentucky Derby, Mike Smith knows his way around Churchill Downs. After having his morning-line favored mount Omaha Beach (War Front) scratched the week of the race last year, Smith is back aboard a major contender in Saturday’s Run for the Roses. Wednesday, the 55-year-old rider who’s still at the top of his game joined the TDN Writers’ Room presented by Keeneland. Calling in via Zoom from Louisville as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Smith talked about his mount Honor A. P. (Honor Code), his past Derby wins, Holy Bull, Arrogate, whether he thinks about retirement and more.

Honor A. P. punched his ticket for the Derby with a win in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, but was second at 1-5 last out in the Shared Belief S. at Del Mar Smith said he thinks the colt’s improved training and distance capabilities give him confidence in a peak effort Saturday.

“The Santa Anita Derby was a mile and an eighth, Shared Belief was a mile and a sixteenth, so he shortened back up,” Smith said. “And he didn’t get a whole lot of serious training in between the two races. They certainly wanted him to be peaking at this time and not then. I think his best work going into that race was 1:02 something, so he kind of ran a bit sluggishly and finally came running at the end. And actually still ran really well. He ran a 102 Beyer. But since then, we’ve really stepped up his training and put some sharp works into him. Then after his two really sharp works, we did a maintenance work and he did it so nice. He went seven-eighths in 1:27 and galloped out in 40, which was really good. He did that all on his own. So he’s coming into the Derby training extremely well, really fine-tuned and fit to run his best effort.”

Smith has chosen to stay aboard the John Shirreffs trainee instead of taking the return call on Authentic (Into Mischief), who he rode to victory for Bob Baffert in the GI Haskell Invitational.

“They’re tied with each other. The first time they ran against each other [in the GII San Felipe S.], Authentic beat Honor A. P.,” he said. “We’d come off a foot injury, had missed some time, so I knew he wasn’t 100% going into that race. In the Santa Anita Derby, I knew he was. And I thought that the distance would really suit him well. I just truly think that when we’re going to go a mile and an eighth and further, that’s when you see Honor A. P. really start to shine, really start to stand out. And that’s just what made my mind up. I can’t wait to see what he does going a mile and a quarter.”

Smith reminisced on his previous two Derby wins, first aboard 50-1 shot Giacomo (Holy Bull) and second on undefeated favorite Justify (Scat Daddy).

“We were running out west [with Giacomo] where the tracks were really fast at the time,” Smith remembered. “They weren’t suiting him, but he would run second or third and really gallop out strong, so I knew that once we got off the West Coast racetracks, he was going to excel. He was going to run better. Was it going to be good enough for him to win the Derby? I wasn’t really sure, but I was talking myself into it. I’d ridden his father in the Derby. He was a big favorite and ran probably his worst race, so I wanted to redeem his father’s name. I was using that to keep me pumped up and keep me excited. Then the more I looked at the race, I saw that this pace is going to be really hot. This could really set up for me. And that’s exactly what happened.”

“When I was with Justify, it was a whole different story,” he said. “We had all the hype, he was the horse to beat. We actually believed that he had the kind of talent to be a Triple Crown winner. He was that kind of horse. So there was a whole lot more pressure with him.”

Asked about the secret to his longevity and whether or not he thinks about retiring, Smith said, “At times I think about it, but then I think, ‘Well, where else am I going to have this kind of fun?’ I’m having a blast right now, getting the opportunity to ride in these big races. And if I did anything right early on in my career, I really took up physical fitness instead of going out and playing golf and not doing a whole lot. Every morning, I just made it a way of life. I train every morning. If I’m not training myself, I have two different personal trainers that train me at least five times a week. I go at it pretty, pretty hard. I’ve been doing it for a long time and it’s starting to pay off in my later years. I’m still as fit as I was 10 years ago. So for some reason I’m hanging in there. And as long as I can continue to do that, I plan to ride another few years.”

Elsewhere on the show, the crew broke down the Derby and Oaks fields from all angles and, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, reacted to the creation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and its corresponding alliance. Then, host Joe Bianca addressed the comments made by Barclay Tagg Tuesday about the racial unrest in Louisville. Click here to watch the podcast, click here for the audio-only version.

The post Mike Smith Talks Honor A. P., Derby Memories On TDN Writers’ Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Siblings of Derby and Oaks Contenders on Offer at September Sales

With the racing and sales calendars turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, buyers at the upcoming Keeneland September Sale and Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase will have a unique opportunity.

Typically, the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks–as well as the rest of the Triple Crown trail for that matter–are long over by the time the major yearling auctions take place. But with those marquee sophomore races pushed back to the first weekend in September, buyers could have a chance to purchase a sibling to this year’s Derby or Oaks winner–or next month’s GI Preakness S. hero–just days after their victory as many of the top contenders have close relatives in either the Fasig or Keeneland catalogues.

 

Siblings of Derby Contenders

  • Mission Impazible Half-Brother to TIZ THE LAW (F-T Hip 73)

Tiz the Law (Constitution) sits at the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and will be heavily favored to take home the roses on the First Saturday in September. The flashy bay has been flawless this season with a quartet of graded successes, capped by ultra-impressive scores in the June 20 GI Belmont S. and Aug. 8 GI Runhappy Travers S.

Tiz the Law’s yearling half-brother by Mission Impazible–out of GSW Tizfiz (Tiznow)–will be offered early in the Fasig-Tipton sale as part of the 164-hip New York-bred contingent. The gray is consigned by Sequel New York on behalf of breeder Twin Creeks Farm.

 

Honor A. P. captured the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby, which was run in June this year, and followed suit with a late-rallying second behind Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Shared Belief S. Aug. 1. He is number four on the Derby leaderboard.

Immaculately bred by George Krikorian, Honor A. P. is out of MGISW and millionaire Hollywood Story (Wild Rush), who is also the dam of SW Miss Hollywood (Malibu Moon), MGSP Hollywood Star (Malibu Moon) and MSP Hoorayforhollywood (Storm Cat). The bay was an $850,000 purchase out of the Hill ‘n’ Dale consignment a the 2018 renewal of this sale when held at its usual venue in Saratoga in August. John Sikura’s operation will offer Honor A. P.’s yearling half-sister by Curlin near the end of this year’s two-day sale.

 

  • American Pharoah Half-Brother to KING GUILLERMO

(Kee Hip 395)

King Guillermo (Uncle Mo), number five on the Derby leaderboard, blew up the tote when dominating the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby at odds of 49-1 back in March. The bay was last seen finishing second to the recently retired Nadal (Blame) in his division of the GI Arkansas Derby May 2.

Out of Slow Sand (Dixieland Band), King Guillermo has a yearling half-brother by American Pharoah in the Hunter Valley consignment at KEESEP. Bred by Carhue Investments, Grouseridge LTD and Marengo Investments, the colt was purchased by Ilse Smith Bloodstock for $190,000 at KEENOV.

 

  • Hard Spun Half-Brother to THOUSAND WORDS (Kee Hip 2727) The gritty Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) made his way to number seven in the Derby standings. Winner of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. earlier this year, the $1-million KEESEP buy was fourth in the GII San Felipe S. and looked like he might be off the Derby trail after finishing 11th in the Oaklawn S. in April. Rebounding with a second in the GIII Los Alamitos Derby in July, he bested favored GISW Honor A. P. In the Shared Belief S. last time Aug. 1.

Brookdale Sales consigns Thousand Words’ half-brother by Hard Spun at Keeneland. Bred in Florida by Hardacre Farm, the chestnut is out of MGSW Pomeroy’s Pistol (Pomeroy), who was purchased by Mike Ryan for $475,000 in foal to Arrogate at this year’s Keeneland January sale.

 

Dr Post (Quality Road) sits at number eight in the Derby standings after finishing second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont and third to Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GI TVG Haskell Invitational S. July 18.

Breeder Cloyce Clark purchased GSW Mary Delaney (Hennessy) with Dr Post in utero for $25,000 at Keeneland January. Eaton Sales offers her yearling filly from the first crop of Klimt at KEESEP.

 

  • Classic Empire Half-Sister to ATTACHMENT RATE (F-T Hip 99)

The Dale Romans-trained Attachment Rate (Hard Spun) sits at number 15 in the current Derby rankings. Third in the GIII Gotham S. back in March, the $200,000 KEESEP buy was most recently second to Art Collector (Bernardini) in the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby Aug. 9.

Machmer Hall Sales offers a yearling half-sister by Classic Empire during the postponed Fasig-Tipton Sale, typically held in August in Saratoga. Fergus Galvin purchased their dam Aristra (Afleet Alex) for $30,000 at KEENOV with this filly in utero. Unlike her VA-bred half-brother, the chestnut was born in New York and bred by Sequel Stallions NY and Lakland Farm.

 

  • Twirling Candy Half-Sister to NECKER ISLAND (Kee Hip 1410)

Necker Island (Hard Spun) is last, but not least on the leaderboard at number 19. Third in the GIII Indiana Derby July 8, he completed the trifecta in the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby Aug. 8.

His yearling half-sister by Twirling Candy will be up for grabs at Keeneland September. Out of Jenny’s Rocket (Mr. Greeley), the bay was bred by Stonestreet and is consigned by Elm Tree Farm.

 

Mr. Big News was a late addition to the field, announced Monday afternoon. Fifth in the GII Risen Star S. in February, he won the Oaklawn S. in April and was most recently sixth in the Blue Grass.

Don Alberto purchased Mr. Big News’s dam Unappeased (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for $675,000 in foal to Speightstown at the 2013 KEENOV sale. They offer her yearling colt by Carpe Diem as part of the Small Batch Sales consignment at Keeneland.

 

Siblings of Oaks Contenders

  • Danzing Candy Half-Brother to SWISS SKYDIVER (F-T Hip 577)

Topping the list of Oaks contenders is Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who will likely vie with Gamine (Into Mischief) for race day favoritism. The chestnut filly has been on a tear this year, capturing the GII Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks, GIII Fantasy S. and GII Santa Anita Oaks. She showed guts when finishing a strong second to late Derby defection Art Collector in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. July 11 and completed her Oaks prepations with a win in the prestigious GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 15.

Checkmate Thoroughbreds will offer this leading lady’s yearling half-brother from the first crop of Danzing Candy, who was bred in California by Var Reeve and Stan Ray. Blue Chip Thoroughbreds purchased their dam Expo Gold (Johannesburg) with this colt in utero for $15,000 at the CTBA Sale in January.

 

  • Speightster Half-Sister to SHEDARESTHEDEVIL (Kee Hip 1182)

Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) has held her own on the Oaks trail this season, landing her at number four on the leaderboard. Winner of the GIII Honeybee S. in March, the bay was third to Swiss Skydiver in the Fantasy and returned to winning ways in a Churchill optional claimer June 5. She captured the GIII Indiana Oaks last time out July 8.

Woodford Thoroughbreds offers Shedaresthedevil’s half-sister by breeder WinStar Farm’s young stallion Speightster at Keeneland. Their dam Starship Warpspeed (Congrats) is also responsible for GSP Mojovation (Quality Road).

 

‘TDN Rising Star’ Donna Veloce (Uncle Mo) is number eight in Oaks points, but will likely be one of the preferred fillies come the First Friday in September. A $450,000 KEESEP purchase turned $800,000 FTFMAR juvenile, the bay has made just one start this year, capturing the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 8 by 4 1/4 lengths over eventual GI Ashland S. victress Speech (Mr Speaker). She breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 Friday, a move her trainer Simon Callaghan deemed impressive enough to go to the Oaks off of.

Her dan Coin Broker’s (Ire) (Montjeau) yearling filly by War Front is part of the Paramount Sales consignment during Book 1 of KEESEP. The filly is bred by Orpendale and Chelston.

 

Gamine (Into Mischief) may be number nine in the Oaks standings based on points, but she was granted morning-line favoritism at Monday’s draw. A $220,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ topped the EASMAY sale at
$1.8-million and proved worth the price tag, crossing the finish line first in all four of her starts. The bay was nothing short of sensational when dominating both the GI Acorn S. and GI Test S. this summer.

Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stables purchased Gamine’s dam Peggy Jane (Kafwain) for $200,000 at OBS April and she was stakes-placed for her Grace Stables. Gainesway consigns Peggy Jane’s yearling filly by Ghostzapper, who was bred and raised at Stonestreet.

 

  • Run Away and Hide Half-Brother to HOPEFUL GROWTH

(Kee Hip 3763)

Right behind Gamine at number 10 is Hopeful Growth (Tapiture). Off the board in the GIII Delaware Oaks July 4, she returned to winning ways with a victory in the GIII Monmouth Oaks Aug. 1.

A half-sister to ill-fated GSW Ten City (Run Away and Hide), Hopeful Growth is out of the unraced Maiden America (Rock Hard Ten), whose latest son by Run Away and Hide will be available at KEESEP. Consigned by Darby Dan Farm, the bay colt is bred by Darby Dan principal John Phillips’ Phillips Racing Partnership.

 

Dream Marie (Graydar) is the last of the Oaks top 12. The gray was second in the GIII Delaware Oaks July 4 and was fourth last time in the GIII Monmouth Oaks Aug. 1.

Out of the Curlin mare Lin Marie, Dream Marie has a yearling half-sister by Anchor Down in the Fasig-Tipton Sale. Consigned by Wynnstay Sales, the dark bay filly was bred by Wynnstay in partnership with GWR Consultants.

The post Siblings of Derby and Oaks Contenders on Offer at September Sales appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Keeneland Announces COVID-19 Protocols For Jockeys, Riders To Arrive Sept. 29 To Ride At Fall Opener

Keeneland today announced procedures related to COVID-19 for jockeys who will ride during the 17-day Fall Meet from Oct. 2-24.

Jockey COVID-19 testing protocols are as follows:

  • Jockeys who plan to ride on opening day (Friday, Oct. 2) will be required to be in Lexington on Tuesday, Sept. 29 and receive a COVID-19 test at Keeneland.
  • Jockeys who plan to ride at Keeneland after opening day will need to provide a CDC gold standard RT-PCR COVID-19 nasopharyngeal test confirmed negative within 72 hours of the day of their first race.
  • A jockey who races at Keeneland and leaves Kentucky will be required to provide a CDC gold standard RT-PCR COVID-19 nasopharyngeal test confirmed negative within 72 hours of the day of the next race in which he or she plans to ride at Keeneland.
  • In addition to the main Jockeys Quarters, Keeneland will maintain five additional Jockeys Quarters that permit riders to be sequestered. These spaces will be organized around specific geographic areas where the jockeys customarily ride, including New York, California, other U.S. jurisdictions, international jurisdictions and overflow from the main Jockey Quarters for Kentucky-based riders.
  • Except for valets and the Clerk of Scales, no additional personnel will be permitted in any Jockeys Quarters.

General jockey protocols at Keeneland are as follows:

  • Practice social distancing at all times.
  • Wearing masks/face coverings is required at all times except when riding in a race or a timed workout in the morning. This includes when the rider is in the Jockeys Quarters, in the Paddock before a race, while being ponied to post and after the race when returning to the Jockeys Quarters.

o   Jockeys will be provided with face coverings.

o   Valets, assistant starters, outriders and pony people will be required to wear masks/face coverings throughout the day as will everyone who is on the grounds.

  • When visiting the Paddock before a race, jockeys are prohibited from making physical contact aside from a leg up from the trainer or a member of his or her staff.
  • Jockeys are prohibited from visiting barns in the Stable Area in the mornings. A rider will only be able to visit the apron area of the main track, the area outside the Racing Office by the gap or the Paddock. Visits to the Rice Road barn area also are off limits to jockeys.

o   If a jockey wishes to exercise a horse in the morning, he or she will need to meet that mount in the Paddock, exercise the horse then dismount upon exiting the track.

  • All jockeys will be able to ride with a +3 pound weight allowance because the sauna/steam will be closed.
  • Boxed lunches will be provided, but no a la carte options are available.

o   Jockeys and valets will be allowed to bring their own food items.

  • All Jockeys Quarters will be sanitized throughout the day and receive another deep cleaning each evening after the rooms are vacated. The products Keeneland is using to disinfect the entire facility is a combination including BioProtect, EvaClean/Puretabs and P&G's Spic and Span – all of which are EPA-registered.
  • Keeneland will do a deep sanitization of the starting gate before the Fall Meet using the aforementioned BioProtect product, which is a disinfectant and provides 90 days of long-term antimicrobial protection (to immediately kill any COVID-19 particles that come into contact with the starting gate). The same product will be used in the Jockeys Quarters for the utmost protection of all surfaces after they have been treated.
  • Jockeys are to enter Keeneland through Gate 2 on Versailles Road. They will use the track's South Gate entrance next to the Welcome Center to enter the grounds. Once entries are drawn, their names will be put on a list to be able to access the Keeneland grounds and facility. Once the overnight is released, Clerk of Scales Javier Torres will decide which Jockeys Quarters they will use.
  • Jockeys will undergo the same medical checks as everyone coming through the Keeneland gates. This will include a temperature check as well as medical screening questions.

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