laoban | Horse Racing Free Tips

Both Brooklyn Strong, Laobanonaprayer In Holding Pattern As Weather Disrupts Training Schedules

Trainer Daniel Velazquez enjoyed a remarkable end to his 2020 campaign with New York-breds Brooklyn Strong and Laobanonaprayer.

On Oct. 24, Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park, Velazquez won the first two stakes of his career when Laobanonaprayer, who he also owns, captured the Maid of the Mist to kick off the stakes action, followed in the next race by Mark Schwartz's Brooklyn Strong taking the Sleepy Hollow.

In December at the Big A, Velazquez returned to New York with another strong one-two punch as Brooklyn Strong, bred by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan, captured the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen and 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on Dec. 5. Laobanonaprayer followed a day later with an eight-length romp in the NYSSS Fifth Avenue.

Velazquez said illness along with inclement weather at his Parx Racing base has disrupted the training schedule for both his stable stars. Brooklyn Strong is looking to get back on the work tab and Laobanonaprayer – who finished second in the Franklin Square on Jan. 16 at Aqueduct- is also in need of timed workouts.

“It's frustrating because everything went perfect going into the Remsen and Fifth Avenue, but since then it's been one hiccup after another,” said Velazquez. “Brooklyn got sick and we missed almost two months. We're starting from scratch. He was supposed to have his first breeze back and that got pushed back because of the weather.”

Velazquez said he wanted to point Brooklyn Strong to the Grade 3 Gotham on March 6 at the Big A, but is now hoping he'll have time to train into the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 3 at Aqueduct. That 1 1/8-mile contest is a 100-40-20-10 Derby qualifier.

“I thought I'd have him ready for the Gotham, so the new target is the Wood or the Arkansas Derby [on April 10 at Oaklawn Park],” said Velazquez. “They're the only options we have to try and get into the Derby.

“I'm not worried about distance with him, but I want him to be ready,” added Velazquez. “Everyone goes into these races very prepared and right now I feel like we're short.”

Velazquez said Laobanonaprayer, bred in the Empire State by Christina Deronda, should make her next start in the $250,000 Busher Invitational on March 6 at Aqueduct. She last worked on Feb. 10 when covering three-eighths in :36.13 at Parx.

“The Laoban filly is pointed towards the Busher and I'm trying to squeeze two works into her but this weather has been horrendous. All we've been doing is shedrowing,” said Velazquez. “I got one work into her last week going three-eighths and she was scheduled to work this weekend a half-mile and then I wanted to work her five-eighths after that so she'll be ready. But this weekend is a bust because there hasn't been any training here.”

Velazquez said the weather also played a part in the Laoban filly's runner-up effort to Secret Love last out in the Franklin Square.

“We missed one key workout going into that race,” said Velazquez. “We just haven't been able to get into a flow.”

Velazquez said he is confident that things will turn around for his two New York-bred stars.

“Everything went so right up until the Remsen,” said Velazquez. “We had good weather. I was training at Delaware and everything was good. It's just the circumstances we're in right now.

“But I don't want to go to any race and feel unprepared,” he added. “These horses put 110 percent of themselves out there and I don't want to short them and dishearten them. I don't mind losing when I know they're ready and we get beat by a better horse. But if we go short and finish third because I know I'm not fit, that eats my soul.”

The post Both Brooklyn Strong, Laobanonaprayer In Holding Pattern As Weather Disrupts Training Schedules appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Spendthrift Farm Acquires Half Interest In Kentucky Jockey Club Winner Keepmeinmind

B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has acquired 50% ownership interest in the 3-year-old colt Keepmeinmind, winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) last fall at Churchill Downs and currently second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 18 points.

“We are delighted to be a part of such an exciting young racehorse as Keepmeinmind, and thankful to Cypress Creek and Arnold Bennewith for the opportunity to join the team,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “We believe Keepmeinmind is poised for a big 3-year-old year. He demonstrated tremendous talent as a 2-year-old, placing twice in Grade Ones including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and finishing up the year in style with a convincing win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill.”

Campaigned by Cypress Creek LLC and Arnold Bennewith, Keepmeinmind will either make his seasonal debut in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) next Saturday at Fair Grounds – where he is entered in post 12 with jockey David Cohen – or the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park two days later on Presidents' Day.

Trained by Robertino Diodoro, the bay colt by Laoban most recently breezed a bullet five furlongs in :59 flat on Feb. 2 at Oaklawn. Autrey Bloodstock brokered the deal for Spendthrift to join the current ownership group.

As a 2-year-old, Keepmeinmind finished runner-up to champion Essential Quality in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in just his second start. He was also a fast-closing third to that colt in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile a month later, before breaking his maiden against stakes company in the Kentucky Jockey Club to close out a successful juvenile campaign.

An earner of $394,320 to date, Keepmeinmind is out of the Victory Gallop mare Inclination. He was bred in Kentucky by Southern Equine Stables.

Keepmeinmind's final workout for his 3-year-old debut is scheduled for Monday at Oaklawn.

“There's a couple of variables,” Diodoro said concerning whether the colt goes in the Risen Star or Southwest. “I think we're going to wait and see the next 72 hours.”

Diodoro said the potential of bad weather and a compact Southwest field make the Risen Star an option for Keepmeinmind, who has been based at Oaklawn since late December.

“The short field here is a little bit of a concern with his running style,” said Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2020. “If you've got a speed horse, like a couple of guys do in the race, perfect having five, six horses. But when you have a come from behinder, that's not the most ideal thing.”

Diodoro said he plans to breeze Keepmeinmind at 10 a.m. (Central), following Monday's second surface renovation break. Keepmeinmind has had five published works this season at Oaklawn, including a five-furlong bullet move (:59) after the second break last Tuesday under regular rider David Cohen.

“Just a little quieter out there,” Diodoro said, referring to the late time.

Unbeaten Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest, trainer Brad Cox said. Essential Quality (3 for 3) was the country's champion 2-year-old male after winning the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Essential Quality has been based this winter at Fair Grounds.

The post Spendthrift Farm Acquires Half Interest In Kentucky Jockey Club Winner Keepmeinmind appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Keepmeinmind, Shedaresthedevil Work at Oaklawn for ’21 Debuts

Keepmeinmind (Laoban) worked five furlongs in a bullet :59 at Oaklawn Tuesday morning in preparation for a start in the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 15. The fastest of 17 works published at the distance, the 3-year-old completed the final quarter-mile in a sharp :22.80, galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.80, seven furlongs in 1:25.40 and a mile in 1:40.40, according to local clockers.

Accompanied by David Cohen, the winner of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. last November worked over a fast track following the second break to renovate the racing surface.

It marked Keepmeinmind's fifth published workout this season at Oaklawn and the second bullet, following a five-furlong move in 1:00 Jan. 19.

“Did it the right way again,” said Robertino Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2020. “I love that his works have been very consistent. Again, I always say take each day at a time, but his works have been very consistent–consistently good–since he's been here.”

Diodoro indicated he plans to come back with an easy half-mile work and a “couple of stiff gallops” next week leading up to the Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four GI Kentucky Derby points races.

“I'd like it to be Tuesday [Feb. 9],” Diodoro said of the maintenance breeze. “But it could be adjusted by a day or two because it looks like a little bit of [weather].”

GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) returned to the work tab Monday morning at Oaklawn, covering three furlongs in :36.60 in preparation for her 2021 debut, possibly the Mar. 13 GII Azeri S. Under exercise rider Fernando Espinoza, she breezed following the first renovation break for newly minted Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. Clockers had the 4-year-old galloping out a half-mile in :49.80 over the fast track.

“Really, really good,” Cox said after the work. “We were just looking for like :38, and she honestly looked like she was going :38. Just well within herself. Just nice and easy. We're not going to get in a big hurry with her, just kind of pick it up a little bit each week. Couldn't have asked for a better first work back.”

Shedaresthedevil was a finalist for an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2020 after winning four races, including the Kentucky Oaks and Oaklawn's GIII Honeybee S. She hasn't started since finishing third in the GI Spinster S. Oct. 4 at Keeneland, her first start against older horses.

Following the Spinster, Shedaresthedevil received a 60-day break before resuming light training in mid-December in Kentucky. She arrived at Oaklawn Jan. 9. Cox said the 1 1/16-mile Azeri, Oaklawn's final major prep for the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17, is possible for her 2021 debut.

“It's going to get close there,” Cox said. “We're just going to have to kind of really watch her and let her tell us if she's ready for that, but that would be the first logical target.”

The post Keepmeinmind, Shedaresthedevil Work at Oaklawn for ’21 Debuts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘Very Consistent’ Keepmeinmind Fires Another Bullet Toward Southwest Stakes

Keepmeinmind is coming into the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn firing bullets. The stakes winner did it again Tuesday morning, completing major preparations for the Southwest with a swift 5-furlong workout under regular rider David Cohen.

Keepmeinmind was timed in :59 – fastest of 17 works published at the distance – and, following a final quarter-mile in a sharp :22.80, galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:11.80, 7 furlongs in 1:25.40 and a mile in 1:40.40, according to the clockers. Keepmeinmind worked over a fast track following the second break to renovate the racing surface.

It marked Keepmeinmind's fifth published workout this season at Oaklawn and second to receive a bullet designation (fastest of the day at the distance), following a 5-furlong move in 1:00 Jan. 19. A late-running son of Laoban, Keepmeinmind closed his 2-year-old campaign with a last-to-first maiden-breaking victory in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs.

Diodoro said he plans to come back with an easy half-mile work and a “couple of stiff gallops” next week leading up to the Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races.

“I'd like it to be Tuesday,” Diodoro said of the maintenance breeze. “But it could be adjusted by a day or two because it looks like a little bit of (weather).”

The 1 1/16-mile Southwest will offer 17 points (10-4-2-1, respectively) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Post positions will be drawn Feb. 11. Prior to the Kentucky Jockey Club, Keepmeinmind finished second in the $400,000 Breeders' Futurity (G1) Oct. 3 at Keeneland and third in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland.

Unbeaten Essential Quality also is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest, trainer Brad Cox said. Essential Quality (3 for 3) was the country's champion 2-year-old male after winning the Breeders' Futurity and Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Essential Quality has been based this winter at Fair Grounds.

Essential Quality (30) and Keepmeinmind (18) rank 1-2 on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard, according to Churchill Downs.

The post ‘Very Consistent’ Keepmeinmind Fires Another Bullet Toward Southwest Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post