Kentucky Derby Undercard | Horse Racing Free Tips

Creative Cause Colt Garners ‘TDN Rising Star’-dom in Post-Derby Allowance

Bo Cruz (Creative Cause), away since a 12 1/4-length maiden romp on the stretch out at Fair Grounds Mar. 4, stamped himself as one to watch on the sophomore scene going forward–and a 'TDN Rising Star'–as he easily handled a strong-looking group of runners in the race following the GI Kentucky Derby.

The grey was second on debut sprinting in NOLA Feb. 5, but put it all together next out, earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his graduation score. With clocker and agent Bruno DeJulio listed as sole owner for the colt's prior starts, Bo Cruz resurfaced here with Skyscraper Racing, Brian Pagano and Patrick Grippo added to the owner line.

Off at 7-2 as big-figure Keeneland debut winner Equivoque (Good Magic) took the most tote attention, Bo Cruz immediately seized command and cleared off by several lengths, posting splits of :24.11 and :47.96. Equivoque ranged up outside of another pursuer to try and make a race of it heading for home, but Bo Cruz had other ideas, slamming the door shut in midstretch and quickly widening his advantage to score by an auspicious three lengths in 1:43.07. Classic Legacy (Into Mischief), the half-brother to Art Collector (Bernardini) who was third last time in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, completed the trifecta.

The winner's dam is a half-sister to 2017 GI Preakness S. winner Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music). His third dam is GISW Halo America (Waquoit). Quick Breeze fetched just $7,500 while in foal to Great Notion at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. She died after producing a colt that May.

13th-Churchill Downs, $116,585, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 5-6, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.07, ft, 3 lengths.
BO CRUZ, c, 3, Creative Cause
               1st Dam: Quick Breeze, by Ghostzapper
               2nd Dam: Quick Temper, by A.P. Indy
               3rd Dam: Halo America, by Waquoit
Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $112,960. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Skyscraper Racing, LLC, Racingwithbruno, Pagano, Brian and Grippo, Patrick; B-Douglas Scharbauer (KY); T-Albert M. Stall, Jr. *$45,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP.

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Constitution’s Webslinger Upsets American Turf

Webslinger (Constitution), who broke his maiden in some style in the $510,000 Nownownow S. in his owners' backyard at Monmouth Park last September, sat a three-wide trip, but–crucially–with cover, and outfinished the rail-rallying Far Bridge (English Channel) to provide owner D J Stable with a memorable 2,500th victory in Saturday's GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs.

Mo Stash (Mo Town), wire-to-wire winner of the GIII Transylvania S. last time and two lengths ahead of the third-placed Webslinger, won the break and cut out the running beneath Luis Saez over a course that had been playing kind to speed over the course of the last couple of days. Desert Duke (Kitten's Joy), whose two latest wins had also come on the engine, pressed the pace, and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) raced in close attendance while three deep and in the breeze. Those somewhat surprising tactics allowed Javier Castellano to tuck in Webslinger on the favorite's tail, and he followed that one's move until being pulled off heels to deliver his challenge in upper stretch. Mo Stash kept on bravely and took the field deep into the final furlong, but Far Bridge–locked away on the turn–began to weave his way through and appeared to nose in front at the fence with 100 yards to race. But Webslinger refused to be denied, as he was shoved across the wire first, while Major Dude was forced to settle for third, having sat a golden inside trip throughout.

Eleventh, but not beaten far in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the bay was the 3/4-length winner of his seasonal debut at Gulfstream Feb. 11 before just missing in that track's Colonel Liam S. Mar. 4. Forced to cover ground on the second turn in the Apr. 7 Transylvania, he stuck on gamely to round out the triple, but was dismissed by the punting public Saturday.

“I'm so grateful that Mark [Casse] gave me the opportunity to ride this horse today,” said Castellano. “At Keeneland, he learned a lot when he finished third, and he broke so well coming out of the gate today. That allowed me to save ground, which we needed coming out of 14. I let the race develop on the first turn, and I really liked the way he did it today, and the way he finished the race.”

“That's such a big accomplishment,” said D J Stables' Jon Green. “Win number 2,500 by a horse who we bought inexpensively and now he's won two half-million dollar races. We are thrilled to do it and I think that was one of the deepest races on the entire card.”

Pedigree Notes:

A 24th worldwide graded/group winner (16th in the U.S.) for his sire, Webslinger was offered in utero at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, but Arana was led out unsold on a bid of $24,000. The mare returned to the November Sale 12 months on in foal to Outwork, but was again retained by the Ramseys, this time when bidding stalled out at $14,000. Arana was acquired by Korean interests for $7,000 in foal to Take Charge Indy at KEENOV in 2021 and foaled a filly last season.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
AMERICAN TURF S. PRESENTED BY BMW-GII, $500,000, Churchill Downs, 5-6, 3yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:41.54, fm.
1–WEBSLINGER, 118, g, 3, by Constitution
               1st Dam: Arana, by Hard Spun
               2nd Dam: Sunny Nature (GB), by Sadler's Wells
               3rd Dam: Bright Spells, by Alleged
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($45,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP;
$25,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $45,000 RNA 2yo '22 OBSAPR;
$50,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-D. J. Stable LLC; B-Kenneth L.
Ramsey & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Javier
Castellano. $285,200. Lifetime Record: 8-3-2-1, $723,800.
Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or
the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Far Bridge, 118, c, 3, English Channel–Fitpitcher, by
Kitten's Joy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
O-LSU Stables; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
$92,000.
3–Major Dude, 122, c, 3, Bolt d'Oro–Mary Rita, by Distorted
Humor. ($550,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC;
B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $46,000.
Margins: NO, HF, 1. Odds: 22.67, 6.46, 3.60.
Also Ran: Mo Stash, Johannes, Behind Enemy Lines (GB), Andthewinneris, Carl Spackler (Ire), Mendelssohns March, Anglophile, Scoobie Quando, Otago, Desert Duke. Scratched: Funtastic Again, Talk of the Nation, Wadsworth.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.v

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Distorted Humor’s Santin Game in Turf Classic

Adding blinkers proved quite fruitful two days in a row for Brendan Walsh. 'TDN Rising Star' New Year's Eve (Kitten's Joy) donned blinkers for the first time Friday when registering an upset score in the GII Edgewood S. The additional equipment was even more lucrative for Walsh Saturday when Santin became the latest Grade I winner for his timeless sire Distorted Humor with a gutsy victory in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. at Churchill Downs.

Away alertly from the outside post in this 10-horse affair, the 7-1 shot tugged his way up into second, sitting off the speedy Tribhuvan (Fr)'s (Toronado {Ire}) flank through early fractions of :24.39 and :49.02. The Godolphin homebred allowed the pacesetter to pull clear, but still kept a close eye on him through three-quarters in 1:13.13. Shaken up by Tyler Gaffalione entering the lane, Santin was confronted by Mira Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) to his outside and those two drew clear of Tribhuvan in mid-stretch. The duo battled to the line, but Santin refused to be denied, digging in deep to keep Mira Mission at bay by a neck. Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) completed the trifecta.

A debut winner at Indiana in September, Santin rallied to victory in a Keeneland allowance a month later and closed strongly to miss by just a neck in Del Mar's GI Hollywood Derby Nov. 27. Only able to manage fourth behind Cavalry Charge (Honor Code) and Adhamo when not getting much pace to run into in the GIII Fair Grounds S. Feb. 19, he raced closer to the pace last out when second in that venue's GII Muniz Memorial Classic S. Mar. 26.

Pedigree Notes:
With Saturday's victory, Santin makes 19 Grade I winners for the legendary Distorted Humor. He is also the 71st worldwide graded winner (68 NH & 3 SH) and 166th worldwide black-type winner (160 NH & 6 SH) for that WinStar stalwart. Santin is the third graded winner of the weekend at Churchill Downs out of a Medaglia d'Oro mare, following Friday's GII Alysheba S. winner Olympiad (Speightstown) and GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. victor Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile). He is also the fourth Grade I winner, 22nd graded victor and 58th black-type scorer produced by a daughter of that Darley stallion.

The winner's's dam, dual graded winner and Grade I-placed Sentiero Italia, is also a Godolphin homebred and made nearly $1 million under the care of retired trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Santin is her first foal and her second foal Field Marshal (War Front) finished fourth in a maiden special weight at Churchill Thursday for trainer Bill Mott. The 10-year-old mare is also responsible for a juvenile colt by War Front and a yearling filly by Speightstown. The half-sister to Group 1 winner Ashkal Way (Ire) (Ashkalani {Ire}) visited Into Mischief last term.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
OLD FORESTER BOURBON TURF CLASSIC S.-GI, $1,000,000, Churchill Downs, 5-7, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:49.72, fm.
1–SANTIN, 123, c, 4, by Distorted Humor
                1st Dam: Sentiero Italia (MGSW & MGISP, $994,900), by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Golden Way (Ire), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
                3rd Dam: Diavolina, by Lear Fan
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $595,200. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-0, $813,200.
Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Mira Mission, 123, g, 4, Noble Mission (GB)–Kazamira, by Dynaformer. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O-Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust; B-Mary A Sullivan (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $192,000.
3–Adhamo (Ire), 123, c, 4, Intello (Ger)–Foreign Tune (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. (€250,000 3yo '21 ARARC). O-Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables LLC and Louis Lazzinnaro; B-Wertheimer et Frere (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. $96,000.
Margins: NK, 6, 3/4. Odds: 7.10, 8.80, 2.40.
Also Ran: Shirl's Speight, Tribhuvan (Fr), Public Sector (GB), Bizzee Channel, Cavalry Charge, Kentucky Ghost. Scratched: Ivar (Brz).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Jackie’s Warrior Just Too Fast in Churchill Downs

The sprint division will be going through champion Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) once again if Satuday's tour-de-force victory in the GI Churchill Downs S. is any indication.

A return winner in a sloppy renewal of Oaklawn's GIII Count Fleet Sprint H. Apr. 16, he was favored at even-money to register his fourth career Grade I victory.

The J. Kirk and Judy Robison colorbearer took his usual spot up front and led his six rivals through much-easier-than-anticipated early fractions of :22.76 and :45.50. He cornered four wide and allowed GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West (Hard Spun) an inviting opening along the rail as they turned for home.

Jackie's Warrior was still cruising though, and was ridden with confidence by Joel Rosario down the lane en route to a four-length victory over Reinvestment Risk (Upstart). Aloha West was third.

“First, I can't say enough about the [J. Kirk and Judy] Robisons putting a champion stallion back in training and letting us enjoy him another year,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He's now a Grade I winner at two, three and four. And, the style in which he won today was just beautiful. I thought Joel [Rosario] said it best when we were in paddock just watching him standing there. He said, 'They don't come along like this all the time, do they' and they don't. When you're the speed of the race, you just stay on the path you want. He's older, more confident and stronger.”

Rosario added, “It seemed better to keep him off the rail. It seemed to be a better place for him. He's an amazing horse. The speed that he is able to give you. He is just a strong horse, to get out of there [at the start]–like a quarter horse, and to keep going with that speed. He's just there for you whenever you ask.”

A winner of the GII Pat Day Mile S. on this card 12 months ago, his championship season was topped by a memorable win over the talented Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. at Saratoga. The $95,000 KEESEP yearling also captured the GII Amsterdam S. and GII Gallant Bob S. and was a painful second in the GI Woody Stephens S. Jackie's Warrior, also a two-time winner at the highest level at two, exited a disappointing sixth-place finish as the heavy favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint with a bone chip in his knee.

Pedigree Notes:

The future Spendthrift Farm Jackie's Warrior is one of four top-level scorers for Maclean's Music. He is the lone graded winner for broodmare sire A.P. Five Hundred. Jackie's Warrior's dam Unicorn Girl (A.P. Five Hundred) summoned $850,000 from Arthur Hoyeau at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Her now-2-year-old colt by American Pharoah preceded her in the ring, bringing $600,000 from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Unicorn Girl also has an unraced 3-year-old filly named Lenni Girl (Candy Ride {Arg}). She failed to get in foal to Into Mischief for 2021, but has a filly of this year by the leading sire.

Saturday, Churchill Downs
CHURCHILL DOWNS S. PRESENTED BY FORD-GI, $750,000, Churchill Downs, 5-7, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.95, ft.
1–JACKIE'S WARRIOR, 123, c, 4, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred
                2nd Dam: Horah for Bailey, by Doneraile Court
                3rd Dam: Horah for the Lady, by Rahy
($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk and Judy Robison; B-J & J Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $455,700. Lifetime Record: Ch. Male Sprinter, 14-10-1-1, $2,309,664. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Reinvestment Risk, 123, c, 4, Upstart–Ridingwiththedevil, by Candy Ride (Arg). *TDN Rising Star* ($140,000 Ylg '19 FTKJUL; $280,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Aschinger Bloodstock Holdings, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $147,000.
3–Aloha West, 123, h, 5, Hard Spun–Island Bound, by Speightstown. ($160,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Robert Manfuso & Katharine M. Voss (MD); T-Wayne M. Catalano. $73,500.
Margins: 4, 1, 4 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 4.60, 4.20.
Also Ran: Sir Alfred James, Mind Control, Long Range Toddy, Prevalence. Scratched: Cezanne.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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