kentucky oaks | Horse Racing Free Tips

Epicenter, Echo Zulu Breeze at Churchill

With less than four weeks remaining until the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's duo of top contenders Epicenter (Not This Time) and Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) returned to the worktab Sunday at Churchill Downs for the first time since their respective victories two weeks ago in the GII Louisiana Derby and GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter, the potential favorite in the Kentucky Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:01 flat (7/22) Sunday at 5:50 a.m. while his stablemate, L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' champion filly Echo Zulu breezed 20 minutes prior and completed five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 (5/22).

Epicenter, with exercise rider Wilson Fabian up, worked outside of fellow 3-year-old Guntown (Gun Runner) through fractions of :13 2/5, :25 2/5 and :37. The duo stayed together for most of the breeze and completed six furlongs in a comfortable 1:14 3/5 and were up seven furlongs in 1:29 2/5.

Bettors tabbed Epicenter as the 9-2 favorite in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Saturday prior to the runnings of the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and GII Wood Memorial S.

Echo Zulu, with Fabian in the saddle, worked inside of debut maiden special weight winner Belle Rebelle (Upstart) through opening fractions of :13, :24 2/5 and :36. The duo galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 2/5.

Unbeaten Echo Zulu was named champion 2-year-old filly in 2021, capping off her undefeated season with an emphatic 5 1/4-length score in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI). She dug in during the late stages of the Fair Grounds Oaks to hold off Hidden Connection (Connect) by a scant nose in her 3-year-old debut.

Echo Zulu is a perfect five-for-five and is one of several fillies that could vie for favoritism in the Kentucky Oaks.

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Nostalgic Upsets Venti Valentine Gazelle

Nostalgic (Medaglia d'Oro) added to a banner day for Godolphin with an upset score over even-money favorite and Busher Invitational S. romper Venti Valentine (Firing Line) in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Saturday. Godolphin and Nostalgic's trainer Bill Mott also teamed up to win the GI Carter H. one race earlier with Speaker's Corner (Street Sense). Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed's operation won Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. with homebred 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro).

Venti Valentine broke alertly and went straight to the front with fellow NY-bred, 9-5 second-choice and 'TDN Rising Star' Classy Edition (Classic Empire) just off her heels in second and 4-1 shot Nostalgic on that one's inside hip. Keeping the leader close as the half-mile went in :49.26, Nostalgic was joined by several rivals on her outside, but determinedly maintained her position behind the chalk. Venti Valentine turned for home strongly and steadily pulled away from all, but Nostalgic, who kept after her on the fence. Nostalgic wore down the hometown heroine late, extending clear to a 1 1/4-length success. Ruthless S. heroine Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) filled the show spot.

Earning 100 points for the victory, Nostalgic moves into sixth in the GI Kentucky Oaks standing with a total of 101 with Venti Valentine just behind her with 94 points.

“You can see where she was in her first couple of races, so far back,” Mott said. “She put him in the race today. Last time, we planned on putting her up in the race a little bit, which we did again today. We wanted to see her engaged early a little more and she did it. She held her position and came through on the rail. I didn't tell him where to be other than we didn't want to be 15 lengths back.”

On a potential start in the Kentucky Oaks, Mott said, “[Godolphin bloodstock director] Michael [Banahan] and I were talking about that. We said that we have to consider it.”

“I love this filly. She reminds me a lot of [Mott-trained MGISW] Elate (Medaglia d'Oro),” winning rider Jose Ortiz said. “I was very happy to ride her today. She ran amazing last time. She woke up which was the most important thing. As a 2-year-old, she won first time out, but she was very green. She's big and she's supposed to keep going longer and longer. I am very excited about her.”

Jorge Abreu said Venti Valentine is still under consideration for the Oaks after her gallant second.

“We'll see how she comes out of it and we'll consider it,” said Abreu. “She ran her race and I think like Manny [Franco] said, he didn't think that horse [Nostalgic] was going to come back at the eighth pole and by the time he looked, the horse was already there. But I think he gave her a great ride. She's used to having a target and today she was by herself on the lead. It was a whole different scenario because there was no speed in the race. If she tracks somebody, that puts her on the bit.”

Rallying from well back to graduate by 7 3/4 lengths in her two-turn unveiling at Belmont Oct. 22, Nostalgic made up ground late to be fourth behind Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. romper Nest (Curlin) and Venti Valentine in the track-and-trip GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 4. Kicking off 2022 on grass in the Feb. 5 GIII Sweetest Chant S. at Gulfstream, she proved turf was not for her, finishing a non-factor ninth. Returned to the main track in Hallandale, the bay dominated by 6 3/4 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer Mar. 3.

Pedigree Notes:

Nostalgic is the 88th graded winner and 164th black-type scorer for Medaglia d'Oro and second on the day following commonly owner Commonwealth winner Prevalence. She is also the 26th graded winner and 58th black-type achiever out of a daughter of Tapit. His sire Pulpit was the broodmare sire of GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo).

Mott trained Nostalgic's first three dams, tracing back to GSW & GISP Minister's Melody (Deputy Minister), who was a $400,000 KEESEP purchase for Stonerside Stable and the dam of GI Wood Memorial winner Bob and John (Seeking the Gold). Mott saddled her stakes-winning second dam Connie Belle (Storm Cat) and her SP dam Been Here Before. That 10-year-old mare's 2020 foal died and her 2021 foal was born dead. Been Here Before is expecting a foal by Violence.

Saturday, Aqueduct
GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:50.41, ft.
1–NOSTALGIC, 118, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro
                1st Dam: Been Here Before (SP), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Connie Belle, by Storm Cat
                3rd Dam: Minister's Melody, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $235,400. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Venti Valentine, 120, f, 3, Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro. O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge R. Abreu. $50,000.
3–Shotgun Hottie, 118, f, 3, Gun Runner–Re Entry, by Malibu Moon. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($45,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Aldabbagh, Omar and Ganje, Jeff; B-Vincent Colbert (KY); T-William E. Morey. $30,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 2, HF. Odds: 4.30, 1.10, 21.00.
Also Ran: Classy Edition, Divine Huntress, Morning Matcha, Caragate. Scratched: Greatitude.
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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Cupid Filly Plays Santa Anita Oaks Spoiler

While Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks seemed all but a procession for 13-length GIII Las Virgenes S. romper Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) in her first start since being transferred from Bob Baffert to Tim Yakteen, Desert Dawn (Cupid)–the longest shot in the field of five at higher than 14-1 odds–had other ideas. Desert Dawn broke well from the fence before tucking in to sit third as her seemingly much more formidable stablemate Ain't Easy (Into Mischief) set off to show the way with the imposing presence of Adare Manor looming to her outside. The leading duo opened several lengths on their competition down the backside through splits of :23.05 and :46.46. Adare Manor quickly went from looking like a sure thing to in deep water as pilot John Velazquez hit the gas but seemed to not quite find the response he was looking for. Desert Dawn then ranged up to join the others three deep, and kicked clear in upper stretch. Adare Manor found more to battle back through the stretch, but she could never quite regain her momentum and Desert Dawn crossed the wire a neck to the good. Ain't Easy checked in a distant third.

“I have been working this horse. I knew this filly was better than that last year,” said winning pilot Umberto Rispoli. “I knew we needed that last race and I felt the last work (6f, 1:13.40, 1/4) was better than shown. I just wanted to keep her outside and I knew the pace would set up really well for her. We started to move at the 3/8 pole and she fought every step of the way. She gave me the Santa Anita Oaks and now it is on to Kentucky!”

A second-out graduate going a mile at Del Mar last August, Desert Dawn was third in October's GII Chandelier S. behind Ain't Easy over track and trip before checking in last of sixth behind Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5. She was fourth to the Baffert-trained Eda (Munnings) in both the GI Starlet S. at Los Al Dec. 4 and again in the local GIII Santa Ysabel S. Mar. 5.

“She's an honest filly,” conditioner Phil D'Amato said of the winner, who earned 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points. “I always thought once she'd get her scenario it'd work out for her, and I think the longer the better. Umberto's been breezing her and her last drill was probably her best drill to date, so it all worked out.”

Saturday, Santa Anita
SANTA ANITA OAKS-GII, $400,000, Santa Anita, 4-9, 3yo, f,
1 1/16m, 1:43.50, ft.
1–DESERT DAWN, 124, f, 3, by Cupid
                1st Dam: Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory
                2nd Dam: Ashley Secret, by Dr. Carter
                3rd Dam: Whatever It Takes, by Hatchet Man
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($32,000
RNA Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O/B-H and E Ranch, Inc.; T-Philip
D'Amato; J-Umberto Rispoli. $240,000. Lifetime Record:
7-2-0-2, $378,400. *2nd graded winner, fourth black-type
winner for sire (by Tapit). Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Adare Manor, 124, f, 3, Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant
Gizmo. ($180,000 Ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL;
$375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN). O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town
& Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Tim Yakteen.
$80,000.
3–Ain't Easy, 124, f, 3, Into Mischief–Ameristralia (Aus), by
Fastnet Rock (Aus). 'TDN Rising Star' ($400,000 Ylg '20
KEESEP). O-Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Michael V. Lombardi
and Joey Platts; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Philip D'Amato.
$48,000.
Margins: NK, 7HF, 3HF. Odds: 14.60, 0.70, 3.70.
Also Ran: Under the Stars, Micro Share. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Desert Dawn is the second graded stakes winner, and one of four black-type scorers, from her sire (by Tapit)'s first crop. Honour and Glory is the broodmare sire of 35 graded/group winners, including MGISW West Coast (Flatter) and blue hen Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union).

A rare Arizona-bred to compete at the graded level, Desert Dawn is out of a mare who was a five-time winner at Finger Lakes. Ashley's Glory's last listed foal is a yearling filly by Mineshaft.

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Deja Vu All Over Again In the Ashland

If you think you've heard this story before, it's because you have.

On the opening weekend of the 2021 spring meeting at historic Keeneland, trainer Todd Pletcher led over a filly by leading sire Curlin out of an A.P. Indy mare in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. A little more than 102 seconds later, 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat was being unsaddled and 27 days later, was getting her picture taken after the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks. The high-profile connections of Nest (Curlin) will certainly be hoping that lightning strikes twice after the bay filly blew the doors off her rivals in the opening-day feature, establishing herself as a top-three chance in what shapes a very competitive renewal of the Oaks four weeks and about 70 miles away down Interstate 64.

Indeed, Nest was campaigned on a near-identical schedule to Malathaat last season, winning her maiden going long at first asking in September (Malathaat graduated over seven furlongs in early October) before adding the Tempted S. and the GII Demoiselle S. Unlike her year-older stablemate who raced off the layoff in the Ashland, Nest was given a single lead-up run and she delivered in spades, outclassing her rivals by a half-dozen lengths in the Feb. 12 Suncoast S. at Tampa.

Narrowly favored in the Ashland at 17-10, Nest was away only fairly, but was asked for a bit of speed by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and that enabled her to get out into the clear, albeit four wide at the entrance to the clubhouse turn. Chief market rival Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire) showed the way in advance of the stretching-out Happy Soul (Runhappy), with Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) not far away through even fractions. The latter launched a middle move to join the top two passing the half-mile pole, but Nest had the trio covered and tugged her way up outside to make more or less a line of four at the third corner. Interstatedaydream took them into the final three-eighths of a mile, as Happy Soul began to retreat, but Nest ranged up four deep at the 2 1/2-furlong pole traveling well despite the ground concession. Held together into the stretch, Nest was shaken up and stamped her authority on the race, drawing clear with every stride to prove a much-the-best winner. Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo) rallied late to just beat out Interstatedaydream for second.

“Irad got her into a good, comfortable rhythm going down the backside, and we didn't want anyone to get away from us with the short run to the finish line,” said Pletcher, who–remarkably–had not won the Ashland until last year. “I knew when he had her revved up she was doing it pretty easily. Then she kicked on down the lane and he wrapped up on her late. So it was everything we could have hoped for.

The Hall of Famer added, “She's a filly that's improved all the time. We've always felt like as she matured and the races got longer, she was going to get better. I really liked the way she's been training since the Suncoast. She's just kept getting better and better.”

Pedigree Notes:

Nest, a full-sister to GI Santa Anita H. hero Idol, is the 17th top-level winner for her outstanding sire and is bred on the wildly successful cross over the legendary A.P. Indy that has also supplied Grade I winner and current WinStar stallion Global Campaign and GSW 'TDN Rising Star' First Captain, a live chance in Saturday's GI Carter H. at Aqueduct. Including mares tracing back to Seattle Slew, Curlin has also been responsible for Grade I winners Stellar Wind (champion), Classic winner Exaggerator, Clairiere, Paris Lights and Off the Tracks.

Nest's second dam is the talented Andujar, a Grade II winner and Grade I-placed in California and New York, who once sold for $2.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She was also the dam of SW & GSP Abstraction (Pulpit).

Marion Ravenwood was acquired by the Lysters' Ashview Farm for $400,000 in foal to Pioneerof the Nile at Keeneland November in 2017. That produce would go on to race for Pletcher as Dr Jack, third to Mandaloun in last year's Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park. Marion Ravenwood is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Lost Ark (Violence)–a $275,000 KEESEP yearling–was barren to City of Light last year and was most recently covered by Curlin and Quality Road.

Friday, Keeneland
CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $587,488, Keeneland, 4-8, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.16, wf.
1–NEST, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by A.P. Indy
2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
3rd Dam: Nureyev's Best, by Nureyev
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and House, Michael; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $358,050. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, $623,050. *Full to Idol, GISW, $416,964. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cocktail Moments, 121, f, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: River Maid (Ch. Female Sprinter-Can, GSW,$442,909), by Where's the Ring
2nd Dam: Rivermaid Dancing, by Riverman
3rd Dam: Perky Dancer, by Green Dancer
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($135,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg'20 KEESEP; $245,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Dixiana Farms LLC; B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $115,500.
3–Interstatedaydream, 121, f, 3, by Classic Empire
1st Dam: Babcock, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Captivating, by Arch
3rd Dam: Andrea Ruckus, by Bold Ruckus
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($105,000 Ylg '20 KEEJAN; $130,000 Ylg'20 KEESEP; $175,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC; B-William D. Graham (ON); T-Brad H. Cox. $48,125.
Margins: 8 1/4, NO, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.70, 9.30, 1.90.
Also Ran: Awake At Midnyte, Sterling Silver, Happy Soul, Miss Mattie B, Heavenly Hellos.
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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