Tag: Kentucky Derby points

Ghostzapper’s Stronghold Invades Sunland Derby And Takes Home 20 Derby Points

Eric and Sharon Waller's homebred Stronghold (Ghostzapper) shipped from trainer Phil D'Amato's Southern California base to Sunland Park in New Mexico and will return home with 20 additional qualifying points to the GI Kentucky Derby after his two-length victory in the GIII Sunland Park Derby Sunday.

Second behind Nysos (Nyquist) in the Nov. 19 GIII Bob Hope S., Stronghold earned five Derby points when he was last seen finishing second in his two-turn debut in the Dec. 16 GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Sent off the 6-5 favorite in his sophomore debut Sunday, the bay colt shared pacesetting duties with 3-1 second choice Lucky Jeremy (Lookin at Lucky) through fractions of :23.69 and :47.45, as longshot Alotaluck (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) shadowed the top two while racing three wide. Stronghold began asserting control approaching the stretch as the three-quarters went up in 1:11.32. The favorite drifted out into the lane, allowing Lucky Jeremy and Alotaluck a chance to come back on him, but jockey Antonio Fresu straightened him out and he surged clear to the wire. Alotaluck just edged Lucky Jeremy for second. The final time for the Sunland Derby, which was shortened to 1 1/16 miles this year and run five weeks earlier than its traditional slot, was 1:42.64.

“It was a really great ride by Antonio and he got the job done,” said winning trainer Phil D'Amato. “I liked where we were sitting right there on the outside stalking. This horse likes that spot. The six [Alotaluck] put a little pressure on us at the half-mile pole, but Stronghold was able to find another gear there and once he shook loose at the top of the lane, I thought we had a great chance.”

Asked about the colt's drifting trip at the top of the lane, D'Amato said, “It's only his second race long. I think he's a horse who is still learning, but this race should hopefully do him a world of good.”

Stronghold opened his career with a runner-up effort going six furlongs at Ellis Park in August and graduated going one mile at Churchill Downs Oct. 1. Finishing third in the maiden race that day was Track Phantom (Quality Road), second in Saturday's GII Risen Star S., while the runner-up that day, Resilience (Into Mischief), was fourth in the Risen Star.

Stronghold cut back to seven furlongs for the Bob Hope and found only the impressive Nysos too good that day. He missed by just a half-length when second in the 1 1/16-miles Los Al Futurity Dec. 16.

Looking ahead for the improving colt, D'Amato said, “Probably one prep that we have not determined yet. And hopefully that prep will lead us to the Kentucky Derby.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

Stronghold is the only foal out of another Waller homebred, Spectator, who won the 2017 GII Sorrento S. and was second in the 2018 GI Santa Anita Oaks and third in the 2017 GI Del Mar Debutante for the couple and D'Amato. The mare died in 2021.

The Wallers also bred Stronghold's second and third dams: the unraced Diva's Tribute–who sold as a 5-year-old for $4,700 at the 2015 Keeneland November sale and again for $175,000 to Calvin Nguyen at that sale in 2022–and her dam, stakes-winner and graded-placed Swiss Diva.

Diva's Tribute produced a filly by Improbable in 2022 and a filly by Maxfield last year. She was bred back to Nguyen's Grade I winner Idol in 2023.

Stronghold is the 55th graded stakes winner for his sire, Ghostzapper, and he is the first stakes winner as a broodmare sire for Jimmy Creed (Distorted Humor). Ghostzapper's graded winners out of daughters of Distorted Humor include Guarana, Molly Morgan and last year's GII Saratoga Special winner Rhyme Schemes.

Sunday, Sunland
SUNLAND PARK DERBY-GIII, $400,000, Sunland, 2-18, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.64, ft.
1–STRONGHOLD, 122, c, 3, by Ghostzapper
                1st Dam: Spectator (GSW & MGISP, $323,551),
                                by Jimmy Creed
                2nd Dam: Diva's Tribute, by Henny Hughes
                3rd Dam: Swiss Diva, by Swiss Yodeler
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Eric &
Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato; J-Antonio Fresu.
$232,800. Lifetime Record: 5-2-3-0, $377,200. Werk Nick
Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Alotaluck, 122, g, 3, Sir Prancealot (Ire)–Colinda Dawn, by
Lucks Mine. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Eleanor Martin
(CA); T-Ty J. Garrett. $85,360.
3–Lucky Jeremy, 122, c, 3, Lookin At Lucky–Powder N Blush, by
War Chant. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($14,000 Ylg '22
KEEJAN; $50,000 2yo '23 OBSOPN). O-Jeremy Ramsland;
B-Craig L. Minten (KY); T-William E. Morey. $38,800.
Margins: 2HF, HD, 6. Odds: 1.20, 14.00, 3.40.
Also Ran: Curlin's Kaos, Informed Patriot, Da Ringo, No Trouble, Surroundedbyangels.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Ghostzapper’s Stronghold Invades Sunland Derby And Takes Home 20 Derby Points appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Grade III Double Feature for Fair Grounds Saturday

On Saturday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, the age-old wager known as the Daily Double will encompass a pair of Grade III races late on the card. The GIII Louisiana S. for older males will give way to a group of youthful 3-year-olds in the GIII Lecomte S., as they look to chase Kentucky Derby points that have expanded to 20-8-6-4-2 for the top five finishers.

Calhoun Looks to Continue Louisiana Hot Hand

Bret Calhoun continues to lead in the trainer standings during the meet for an award that he has yet to win, despite much success in the past. He has a trio of entries in the Louisiana S. with Mr. Wireless (Dialed In) being the most experienced stakes contender. The 5-year-old gelding is priced well at 5-1, but will probably be overshadowed by his stablemate Run Classic (Runhappy), who returned to racing last fall after being off for a year and a half. He was fourth in the $200,000 Tinsel S. at Oaklawn Park Dec. 17.

Standing in Calhoun's way is Brad Cox, who has a pair of runners entered that are drawn towards the outside. Of these, Zozos (Munnings) made some noise last spring along the Derby Trail when he won an optional claiming race at Oaklawn Feb. 11 by an impressive 10 1/4 lengths to become a 'TDN Rising Star'. A second to now-retired Epicenter in the GII Louisiana Derby and a 10th-place finish in GI Kentucky Derby followed before the homebred went to the bench. His tune-up at the Fair Grounds Dec. 17 tells us that he is ready for his 4-year-old debut. One other entry that merits consideration is Business Model (Candy Ride {Arg}). Sure to be a price at 15-1 on the morning-line, the Brendan Walsh trainee caught a slow pace in the Tenacious S. Dec. 26 that was not to his liking. The race shape could be much different this time around.

Derby Dreams Brewing for Gold Square's Instant Coffee

New stakes coordinator Stu Slagle has put together a solid field of eight for this year's Lecomte S., despite Paulo Lobo reporting that out of his two entries, Itzos (Bolt d'Oro) will scratch. Last year, Gold Square enjoyed the fruits of the Derby Trail when Cyberknife (Gun Runner) rallied to win the GI Arkansas Derby. They are back with Brad Cox for more rose-colored dreams with Instant Coffee (Bolt d'Oro) who already has 12 Kentucky Derby points to his credit. After breaking his maiden first-out at Saratoga Sept. 3-with future GII Remsen S. Hero Dubyyuhnell (Good Magic) fourth–he was fourth in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland Oct. 8 to eventual GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte (Violence), but came back and won the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. With Luis Saez in the irons once again, he will be heard from late in the game.

A major threat to Cox, who also has Tapit's Conquest (Tapit), is GIII Street Sense S. winner Two Phil's (Hard Spun). The colt broke his maiden at Colonial Downs July 18 at second asking, and after a romping win in the Shakopee Juvenile S. at Canterbury Park Sept. 17, the Larry Rivelli trainee was seventh in the Breeders' Futurity. Being forwardly placed is a essential for this runner, which will be Jareth Loveberry's tactical challenge. Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) should be the pacesetter and he has proven dangerous on the engine. Though he was fifth to Curly Jack (Good Magic) in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs Sept. 17 after winning in his second career race in Louisville Aug. 13, he certainly showed grit going wire-to-wire under the Twin Spires against optional claimers Nov. 26. Bred by Summer Wind Equine LLC and out of a half-sister to Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), he will be looking to ride the merry-go-round on Saturday.

The post Grade III Double Feature for Fair Grounds Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Lugan Knight Enters Derby Trail in Jerome Win

Lugan Knight (Goldencents) was not going to be denied as he matched strides down the lane with Arctic Arrogance (Frosted) in the $150,000 Jerome S. at Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday afternoon. With 10-4-3-2-1 points available to the top 5 finishers on the Road to the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby, it was Lugan Knight's day to shine.

Sent off as the second choice at 7-2, the colt set front-end fractions of :23.41 at the quarter-mile marker and :47.70 for the half-mile, all as the favorite Arctic Arrogance dogged his track to the outside around the far turn. Entering the stretch, the pair left the rest of the field behind, and dueled gallantly towards the wire. With less than a furlong left to go, the homebred edged a head in front to win the day by a half a length.

After the race, trainer Michael McCarthy said, “I was happy with the way the horse broke. He found himself prominent early and it looked like around the turn he still had a little bit of run. I was not surprised to see how well he dug in down the lane. It looked like he was always just going a touch better than the other horse. You hate to say you're confident, but it always looked like he kept that horse at bay. Just a tough horse and a gutsy performance. I was glad to see he was able to get the mile.”

The Feb. 4 running of the $250,000 Grade III Withers S. with Derby qualifying points of 20-8-6-4-2 could be the next target for this colt. On that prospect, Lugan Knight's trainer said, “We'll see. I'll have to give Dylan a call and ask him what he thinks and go from there. A mile was a question mark for me but it looked like he passed that test today. We'll have to wait and see.”

Pedigree Notes:
Lugan Knight is part of a talented family that includes her second dam Roxy Gap (Indian Charlie), herself a MGSW in Canada, who produced GSW Cafe Americano (Medaglia d'Oro). The winner's dam Sly Roxy has a 2-year-old colt by Mendelssohn and most recently was bred back-to-back to Instagrand.

JEROME S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 1-7, 3yo, 1m, 1:37.77, gd.
1–LUGAN KNIGHT, 118, c, 3, by Goldencents
          1st Dam: Sly Roxy, by Speightstown
          2nd Dam: Roxy Gap, by Indian Charlie
          3rd Dam: Harts Gap, by Saint Ballado
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-BG Stables (KY); T-Michael W.
McCarthy; J-Dylan Davis. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-1,
$175,775.
2–Arctic Arrogance, 120, c, 3, Frosted–Modest Maven, by Uncle
Mo. O/B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Linda
Rice. $30,000.
3–General Banker, 120, c, 3, Central Banker–Elusive Jozi, by
Johannesburg. O/B-Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England
(NY); T-James W. Ferraro. $18,000.
Margins: HF, 7, 1 3/4. Odds: 3.55, 1.35, 7.40.
Also Ran: Neural Network, Andiamo a Firenze, Narciso Dali, Valenzan Day. Scratched: Circling the Drain. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Lugan Knight Enters Derby Trail in Jerome Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Derby Points for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Other Races Upped

The “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” a series of races awarding points toward a starting gate position in each year's GI Kentucky Derby, will see modifications for the upcoming season, including an increase of points for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile from 20-8-4-2 to 30-12-9-6-3.

In addition, other early-season prep races have been elevated from 10-4-2-1 to 20-8-6-4-2 in an effort to increase the importance of those races. They include the GIII Lecomte S. at Fair Grounds, the GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park, the GIII Withers S. at Aqueduct, the GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park, the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita, the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs, and the John Battaglia Memorial S. at Turfway Park.

Churchill Downs officials have also increased the points now to be awarded to the top five finishing positions in most qualifying races on a sliding scale of 10-4-3-2-1. Previously, those races had been worth 10-4-2-1.

“We believe these modifications adhere to and amplify our goal of assembling the finest group of 3-year-olds in the starting gate for a race at the classic distance of 1 1/4 miles on the first Saturday in May,” said Mike Ziegler, Vice President and General Manager at Churchill Downs.

The inaugural qualifying points system was instituted for the 2013 Derby. Churchill Downs will run the 149th edition of the sport's signature race Saturday, May 6, 2023. The Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin Saturday with the $300,000 GIII Iroquois S. for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on opening weekend of Churchill's 14-day September Meet.

The same changes made to the Road to the Kentucky Derby have been made to the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, which awards qualifying points to fillies for the GI Kentucky Oaks, held this coming year on Friday, May 5, 2023.

The post Derby Points for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Other Races Upped appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights