Named for President Biden, a longtime family friend of owner-breeder Stuart Grant, and trained by Mike Trombetta, Joe extended his win streak to three races with a popular 2 ½-length triumph in his sophomore debut Jan. 23 at Laurel Park.

The connections opted for the 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance over the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid, Maryland's first stakes of the season for 3-year-olds, to try Joe around two turns. The next stakes in the series is the $100,000 Miracle Wood, contested at a one-turn mile, Feb. 19.

Following the Miracle Wood, the 3-year-old series continues with the $100,000 Private Terms going 1 1/16 miles March 19 and the $125,000 Tesio at 1 1/8 miles April 16. For the seventh straight year, the Tesio will serve as a 'Win and In' qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the May 21 Preakness at historic Pimlico Race Course.

“We're still deciding what's next. Obviously there's a race coming up at Laurel in another couple weeks, but I don't know if that's bringing him back a little too quick,” Grant said. “Our path is targeting the Tesio, and if we're fortunate enough to win the Tesio, then the Preakness would be the next step from there.

“We're going to take a little different path than the traditional 'I'm on the Derby trail.' We are not on the Derby trail,” he added. “We will see how this horse develops, but we will target him in a way that if he develops the way that we would like him to, then maybe we will sneak into the Preakness with a fresh horse and see if we can surprise some people.”

Joe has raced exclusively at Laurel, running fifth in his unveiling last October. He hasn't lost since, including an impressive 1 ½-length victory from off the pace in the seven-furlong Maryland Juvenile Dec. 18 to cap his 2-year-old season.

“Mike's doing a great job. We have had some long discussions,” Grant said. “It's always tempting to put a horse on that trail but if you think over the years about the horses that have been put on that trail … it makes it a long year on that horse. I think we have a good one. We don't know how good, but we're going to sort of develop this way and maybe not have as much pressure. Maybe we'll learn that we're not that good early on and we'll sort of reset our sights, but for now that's what we're going to do.”

A decision is also forthcoming on Grade 3 winner Wondrwherecraigis, who launched his comeback with an emphatic 3 ¾-length triumph in the Jan. 29 Fire Plug at Laurel. It was his first race since overcoming a foot issue following his victory in the Oct. 31 Bold Ruler (G3) at Belmont Park.

The Fire Plug was the third stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding, each at different tracks, also capturing the 2021 Tale of the Cat at Saratoga. He has finished first in each of the last five, but was disqualified to second for interference in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) last fall.

Overall the Brittany Russell trainee, owned in partnership by Grant, Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables, has seven wins, one second and one third from 11 lifetime starts.

“I have been thrilled with his last five races. He is a throwback. He's sort of a hard-working, blue-collar horse. He will continue to get it done and he will continue to run in good races,” Grant said. “Brittany does a really good job and keeps the horse well. The horse is ready to run each time. He had a quarter crack so he had to miss a race, but she took care of that. She won't run him unless he's ready to run and we've seen the results.”

Next up for older sprinters in Maryland is the $250,000 General George (G3) Feb. 19 at Laurel, one of six stakes worth $900,000 on a program that also includes the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3).

“The horse will tell us whether it's too quick [back] for him. I don't think we're ruling that out but we are also not having our heart set on it so that we're subject to disappointment or we push him into a race that is a not a good race for him,” Grant said. “We are conscious of it. He is a strong horse and he's been training well and we will see. He may wind up there. The horse will tell Brittany and Brittany will share it with us.”

Also in the conversation among Russell and the ownership group for Wondrwherecraigis is the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 26 at Meydan.

“We are talking and we are talking with Brittany and we are trying to figure out what would be best for the horse and what would be best for us. Yes, there's a certain excitement to winning a Dubai race like that; on the other hand, we have a gelding and all of a sudden the grade of the race or the prestige of the race might not be that important,” Grant said. “With a gelding you're really thinking, 'Ok, how can I maximize his purse money, say, through the end of the year?' That becomes a tough decision.

“If you take him overseas, there's a certain amount of wear and tear that happens on a horse, albeit with an older horse maybe the wear and tear isn't quite as great but it's still there. You just worry if you bring him over there and if he doesn't run well, is he still the same horse when he gets back here?” he added. “Or, do I keep him running in the Mid-Atlantic, say at Laurel and Aqueduct and Belmont and maybe take him up to Saratoga, and between those four racecourses, which isn't more than a four-hour ship from the farthest to the shortest, do I maximize his ability to run in some nice races every six weeks? That's the discussion that's going on.”

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The Maryland-bred Constitution chestnut shipped to Aqueduct for his last two starts, finishing a distant fourth in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 4 ahead of a sixth-place finish in the one-turn mile Jerome which was contested over a sloppy and sealed track on New Year's Day.

A two-time winner, Mr Jefferson broke his maiden going six furlongs at Colonial Downs in August two starts before defeating winners in November at Laurel Park.

Trombetta said Mr Jefferson will benefit from the stretch out in distance.

“More than likely, I'll send Mr Jefferson up. The two turns definitely helps him,” Trombetta said. “The first time I brought him up, I thought he ran well. The last time I don't think he liked the track very much. That might have had something to do with the sub-par performance.”

Mr Jefferson was initially breezing over the synthetic surface at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, but has posted his last two works over the main track at Laurel. He went an easy half-mile in 50.80 seconds Sunday.

“The track was deep because of the cold weather, but he worked well,” Trombetta said.

Mr Jefferson is out of the Malibu Moon mare Clockstrucktwelve, who is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning sprinter Never Enough Time – a daughter of Munnings who also is trained by Trombetta.

While Mr Jefferson will make the trek to New York, Trombetta said his stablemate Conclusive, also a two-time winner, will likely remain in Maryland for the $100,000 Miracle Wood on February 19 going one mile at Laurel Park.

Owned by Sonata Stable, Conclusive defeated winners going 1 1/16-miles on January 2 at Laurel last out, where he set the pace and built on his advantage throughout, winning by 5 3/4 lengths.

On Saturday, Trombetta sent out Three Diamonds Farm's Jakarta to finish third in the Grade 2 Inside Information on the Pegasus World Cup undercard at Gulfstream Park.

The two-time black type stakes-winning Bustin Stones mare arrived at the Inside Information off a three-length triumph in the seven-furlong Mrs. Claus on December 28 at Parx. Trombetta said the Grade 3, $250,000 Barbara Fritchie on February 19 at Laurel Park, also run at seven furlongs, would be her likely next target.

“Finishing third in a Grade 2 is not bad. If she trains well, we could go back north for the Barbara Fritchie,” Trombetta said.

Unbridled Bomber gearing up for graded debut in G3 Withers
Edward Potash, Brad Yankanich, and trainer Jim Ryerson's Unbridled Bomber returned to work Tuesday in his second breeze since a fourth-place finish behind Courvoisier in the $150,000 Jerome on New Year's Day at Aqueduct Racetrack.

A dark bay son of Upstart, Unbridled Bomber breezed a bullet five-eighths in 1:00.60 over Belmont Park's dirt training track on Jan. 25, giving his connections the green light to point to the nine-furlong Withers.

“We're headed to the Withers next and we're happy with how he's doing. We're happy with how he ran last time and with his last couple races,” Ryerson said. “We'll see if he can stretch out and handle the ground.”

Unbridled Bomber finished eighth on debut at Saratoga in July sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs before stretching out to nine furlongs and then back to one mile to break his maiden at fourth asking on Nov. 7 at Belmont.

Unbridled Bomber stuck to a one-turn mile in the Jerome over a sloppy and sealed track next time out, held off the pace in seventh by regular rider Dylan Davis through the first quarter-mile after breaking a step slow. Swung three-wide in the turn, the 3-year-old colt seemed ready to unleash a bid for the lead but never kicked away and lost show honors to Cooke Creek by three-quarters of a length.

“As the way the day went, speed was so dominant over that track,” said Ryerson. “We really couldn't have put him into the pace and so we just had to see how it would go [from off the pace]. I thought he ran very well.”

Anthony Perri's Open Til Midnight graduated in a state-bred maiden special weight at the Big A on Nov. 18 in his fifth start for Ryerson, stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on the turf under Jose Lezcano after starting his career off sprinting.

The 3-year-old son of Midnight Storm cut back to six furlongs last time out to finish fifth in his first start against winners on Dec. 3, a move Ryerson said was due in part to the closure of the Aqueduct turf course for winter.

“That was the only race available for him before the turf closed. He can run one-turn races on the turf though and I think he's a nice New York-bred that we have hopes for having a nice three-year-old year,” said Ryerson.

The dark bay colt's recent works over Belmont's dirt training track include a bullet half-mile in 48 seconds flat on Jan. 25. Ryerson said a dirt debut will be in Open Til Midnight's future.

“He's been turf but we want to try him on the dirt,” said Ryerson. “He worked really well over it the other day and we'll see what the new condition book has and what happens with him.”

Multiple stakes-placed Market Alert exited well from a fourth-place allowance effort at the Big A on January 8 and will run again sometime in February. A 4-year-old New York-bred son of D'Funnybone, Market Alert flashed his talent early on with a pair of stakes placings as a juvenile in Aqueduct's Notebook and NYSSS Great White Way.

With an allowance win to start his sophomore campaign, Market Alert went on to earn another stakes placing with a second in the Mike Lee at Belmont and another allowance win in November. The chestnut gelding closed out the year in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 5, finishing a well-beaten ninth in the field of 11.

“He ran a couple nice races and then we ran him in the stakes and were a little disappointed, but it was a tough race,” Ryerson said. “We're happy with him so far.”

Ryerson also noted that Miss Marissa, winner of the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap and Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan last year, has been privately sold by her owners to Japanese interests.

Courvoisier ready to pour it on in G3 Withers
Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and James D. Spry's Courvoisier worked five-eighths in 1:02.41 Friday over the Belmont dirt training track in preparation for Saturday's Withers.

“He's doing well,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He breezed Friday by himself. It was a maintenance workout and he's good to go.”

The regally-bred Tapit chestnut is out of Grade 1 winning 2014 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Take Charge Brandi, who is a half-sibling to multiple Grade 1-winner Omaha Beach. Courvoisier graduated at fourth asking traveling nine-furlongs in December at the Big A ahead of a 1 1/4-length score in the one-turn mile Jerome contested over a sloppy and sealed main track on New Year's Day, garnering 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Breen said he is taking a cautiously optimistic approach on contesting the Kentucky Derby.

“We nominated him, but one race at a time,” Breen said.

Breen said a decision on a jockey for Courvoisier will be made in the next few days.

Robert G. Hahn's multiple stakes-placed New York-homebred Daufuskie Island worked five-eighths in 1:02.65 Friday over the Belmont dirt training track.

The Goldencents sophomore graduated impressively by five lengths at first asking sprinting six furlongs in a state-bred maiden special weight in August at Saratoga Race Course.

Daufuskie Island picked up state-bred stakes placings in the six-furlong Aspirant [2nd] at Finger Lakes in September; six-furlong New York Breeders' Futurity [3rd] in October at Finger Lakes; six-furlong Notebook [3rd] in November at Aqueduct; and the 6 1/2-furlong Rego Park last out on January 9 at the Big A.

Breen said the one-mile $100,000 Gander for state-bred sophomores on Feb. 12 is a possible target, but he is also considering other options for Daufuskie Island.

“There's an allowance race right before it and if it goes, we'll probably run in the allowance,” Breen said.

The post Courvoisier Leads Prospective Field Seeking Kentucky Derby Points In Saturday’s Withers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“He's doing well,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “He breezed Friday by himself. It was a maintenance workout and he's good to go.”

Owned by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and James Spry, Courvoisier is a son of 2014 champion 2-year-old filly Take Charge Brandi (Giant's Causeway).

Jerome fourth-place finisher Unbridled Bomber (Upstart) was declared ready for the Withers following a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.60 (1/16) over Belmont's training track Jan. 25.

“We're headed to the Withers next and we're happy with how he's doing. We're happy with how he ran last time and with his last couple races,” said trainer Jim Ryerson. “We'll see if he can stretch out and handle the ground.”

Unbridled Bomber, owned by Ryerson and Edward Potash and Brad Yankanich, broke his maiden going one mile at Belmont Nov. 7. He raced off the pace after breaking a step slowly in the Jerome and rallied three wide into the stretch, but was unable to make up ground.

“As the way the day went, speed was so dominant over that track,” said Ryerson of the Jerome result. “We really couldn't have put him into the pace and so we just had to see how it would go [from off the pace]. I thought he ran very well.”

Trainer Michael Trombetta said the Withers is under consideration for R Larry Johnson's Mr Jefferson (Constitution). The chestnut colt was fourth in last year's GII Remsen S. and sixth in the Jerome.

“More than likely, I'll send Mr Jefferson up. The two turns definitely helps him,” Trombetta said. “The first time I brought him up, I thought he ran well. The last time I don't think he liked the track very much. That might have had something to do with the sub-par performance.”

Mr Jefferson worked four furlongs over the main track at Laurel in :50.80 (4/12) Sunday.

“The track was deep because of the cold weather, but he worked well,” Trombetta said.

The nine-furlong Withers offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

The post Courvoisier Ready for Withers appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The seven-furlong test for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies is one of two stakes races on Saturday afternoon for state-sired 2-year-olds, along with its counterpart race, the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way.

“We're pleased to be offering these important races – the richest juvenile sire stakes races in the country – which demonstrate the strength of the New York-sired program and offer a great incentive to breed to New York stallions,” said NYRA racing secretary Keith Doleshel. “Our New York-sired and New York-bred programs are integral to NYRA racing and we look forward to continuing to support the New York breeding industry.”

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Morning Matcha will cut back a furlong after defeating winners by 6 ¼ lengths going a two-turn mile on Nov. 16 at Parx. She registered a field-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure last out, saving ground along the rail before angling several paths wide around the far turn and drawing off to a 6 ¼-length victory as the 1-9 favorite.

The daughter of leading New York stallion Central Banker, who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for a $7,500 stud fee, has never finished out of the money in six career starts.

The consistent bay earned a stakes-placing in the Finest City on Sept. 13 at Presque Isle Downs en route to a 6 ½ furlong Parx maiden score 12 days later.

Reid, Jr. kept a small division of horses at Saratoga this past summer, including Morning Matcha, and said he had been looking forward to more ground since watching her train at the Spa. Morning Matcha sprinted against restricted maiden company twice at Saratoga, finishing a respective third and second.

“No doubt the longer distances have helped,” said Reid, Jr. “We've been waiting to stretch her out in distance since we had her at Saratoga. A mile was perfect for her so this won't be out of reach either.”

Reid, Jr. will have five stalls at Gulfstream Park this winter. Following the NYSSS Fifth Avenue, Morning Matcha is scheduled to join his small South Florida division.

“After this, we'll stretch her back out. She'll head to Florida after this and train in some nicer weather,” Reid, Jr. said.

Kendrick Carmouche, the pilot in both victories, will return aboard Morning Matcha from post 6.

“It'll be up to the jock wherever she's most comfortable,” Reid, Jr. said. “Inside or outside, she appears to have no qualms with anything. Kendrick has done a great job with her.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Crane Thoroughbred Services, Morning Matcha is out of the stakes-placed Iam the Iceman mare Home Ice and was bought for $18,000 out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Mid Atlantic Sale.

Trainer Michael Trombetta will send out Howdyoumakeurmoney, a dual-surface winner and the lone stakes-winner in the Fifth Avenue field.

The Commonwealth New Era Racing-owned Freud bay graduated at second asking on turf against fellow New York-breds on September 3 at Saratoga and one month later captured the 6 ½-furlong Presque Isle Downs Debutante, defeating next-out winner Battle Charge.

Howdyoumakeyourmoney, bred in New York by Davie Bloodstock and Peter Colon, arrives from a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Glorious Song on Oct. 30 at Woodbine.

Mychel Sanchez will be aboard from post 7.

Joseph Bucci's Laoban's Legacy will seek her first stakes victory, coming off a runner-up effort against open company winners for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Bred in New York by Sequel Thoroughbreds, the daughter of the late Laoban was a dazzling 7 ¾-length winner in July over a sloppy and sealed Saratoga main track on debut en route to a distant third in the Seeking the Ante the following month at the Spa.

Breaking from post 3, Laoban's Legacy will be ridden by Manny Franco – a two-time winner of the NYSSS Fifth Avenue.

Trainer Christophe Clement will send out Barry Schwartz's Shigeko following a 6 ¾-length maiden win at second asking. Bred in New York by Schwartz's Stonewall Farm, the daughter of Japan found the winner's circle on Oct. 30 over a sloppy and sealed main track in an off-the-turf mile for state-breds at Belmont Park.

Dylan Davis will ride Shigeko from post 11.

Completing the field are She's a Big Deal [post 1, Raul Mena], Alicia's Way [post 2, Benjamin Hernandez], Laochi [post 4, Eric Cancel], Yo Cuz [post 5, Jose Ortiz], Half Birthday [post 8, Trevor McCarthy], Bank On Anna [post 9, Jose Lezcano], and Mrs. Banks [post 10, Mike Luzzi].

The NYSSS Fifth Avenue is carded as the penultimate event on Saturday's nine-race program. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Morning Matcha Tops Field Of 11 For NYSSS Fifth Avenue appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Remsen, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, has seen a number of past winners go on to win the “Run for the Roses” including, Johnstown [1938], Carry Back [1960], Pleasant Colony [1980], Go for Gin [1993] and Thunder Gulch [1994].

Trained by Chad Brown, who won the 2014 Remsen with Leave the Light On, Zandon was a 1 ½-length winner of his six-furlong debut on October 9 at Belmont Park.

Despite hitting the gate at the break, the son of second crop sire Upstart recovered and sat two lengths off the pace while saving ground in fourth down the backstretch. Joel Rosario angled Zandon a couple of paths wide down the lane and he garnered command in the final furlong to register an 80 Beyer Speed Figure on debut.

Brown said Zandon will appreciate the added distance.

“He ran one time going six furlongs and he won, but I've always thought of him as a pure route horse,” Brown said. “The fact that he was able to go three-quarters, I was quite impressed. I thought he would've been a late-running horse that would have needed a start, but he won. I was quite impressed by that because I don't think that's what he wants to do at all.”

Bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones, Zandon is out of the unraced Creative Cause mare Memories Prevail – a half-sister to stakes-winners Cariba and Cairo Memories. He was bought for $170,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by his breeders' Airdrie Stud.

Rosario, who piloted last year's winner Brooklyn Strong, will attempt back-to-back Remsen scores when returning aboard Zandon from post 7.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle second-out maiden winner Mo Donegal for Jerry Crawford's Donegal Racing, who captured the 2011 Remsen with O'Prado Again.

Mo Donegal, a bay son of Uncle Mo, stretched out from 6 1/2-furlongs to 1 1/16 miles to break his maiden at second asking on October 21 at Belmont Park. Mo Donegal, heavily coaxed around the far turn, found his second wind in deep stretch to win by 1 ½ lengths while recording an 82 Beyer.

Pletcher previously captured the Remsen with Bluegrass Cat [2005] and Overanalyze [2012], both of whom contested in the following year's Kentucky Derby.

“We feel like the mile and an eighth will suit him well,” Pletcher said. “He had a good work at Belmont last week. It seems like the further he goes, the better he gets.”

Mo Donegal was bought for $250,000 from the Ashview Farm consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the Pulpit mare Callingmissbrown, who is out of the Grade 1-winning millionaire Island Sand.

Leaving from post 1, Mo Donegal will be ridden by return pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey will seek a fifth Remsen victory when sending out Judge Davis, who was a last out third in the Grade 3 Nashua on November 7 at Belmont Park.

Owned by Donald and Donna Adams Courtlandt Farms, the Distorted Humor bay was a distant fourth to eventual graded stakes winner Major General in his August debut at Saratoga going six furlongs before stretching out to 1 1/16 miles to break his maiden on September 24 over a muddy main track at Belmont Park.

Jose Ortiz will return to the saddle aboard Judge Davis, who adds blinkers, from post 3.

Trainer Michael Trombetta will send out R. Larry Johnson's Maryland homebred Mr. Jefferson, the lone two-time winner in the Remsen field.

The son of leading third crop sire Constitution broke his maiden at second asking in August going six furlongs at Colonial Downs. Following a distant fourth in a return to grass at Laurel Park, Mr. Jefferson added blinkers and defeated winners at 1 1/16 miles over the Laurel main track on November 4.

Mr. Jefferson is out of the Malibu Moon mare Clockstrucktwelve – a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Never Enough Time.

Kendrick Carmouche will ride Mr. Jefferson from post 8.

Owners Cash Is King Racing and L C Racing and trainer Butch Reid, Jr. captured the 2018 Remsen with Maximus Mischief and will vie for another victory with Eloquist.

The son of Nyquist found the winner's circle last out when capturing a one-mile maiden event on October 20 at Parx. The win was a major turnaround in form for Eloquist, who finished a distant sixth in his prior two starts.

Dylan Davis will ride Eloquist from post 6.

Trainer Jorge Abreu will saddle Gold Square's New York-bred stakes-placed Who Hoo Thats Me, who was a last-out third in the Sleepy Hollow on October 30 at Belmont. The son of freshman sire Keen Ice broke his maiden at third asking by two lengths on September 25 at Belmont.

Trevor McCarthy will ride from post 2.

Completing the field are maiden Fromanuthamutha [post 4, Manny Franco], who finished second to Remsen aspirants Mo Donegal and Judge Davis in his previous two starts for trainer Ray Handal, and Monmouth turf maiden winner Midnight Chrome [post 5, Luis Saez] for trainer J. Tyler Servis.

The Remsen is carded as Race 8 on Saturday's 10-race program, which is spearheaded by the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile presented by NYRA Bets, and includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle and the Grade 3, $250,000 Go for Wand. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

The post ‘Pure Route Horse’: Impressive Maiden Winner Zandon Stretches Out For Saturday’s Remsen appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“I'm very happy with the way he worked,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “We wanted to go ahead and put a little air in his lungs and that's definitely what we got. A race like the Cigar Mile doesn't come around very often and we wanted to make sure we're nice and sharp.”

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, WinStar Farm, Kathleen Verratti, and Robert Verratti, the 4-year-old Constitution colt boasts a 2-for-2 record at the Big A that includes a 12 1/4-length score in the 2019 G3 Nashua and a four-length win in the 2020 Jerome, both at a one-turn mile for his former conditioner Michael Trombetta.

Independence Hall made his first start for McCarthy in November 2020 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., winning a 6 1/2-furlong optional-claiming sprint ahead of a fifth in the seven-furlong G1 Malibu in December 2020 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

The dark bay demonstrated class while chasing the victorious Knicks Go with a third-place effort in the nine-furlong G1 Pegasus World Cup in January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., and a pressing second in the nine-furlong G3 Lukas Classic in October at Churchill Downs.

McCarthy said Independence Hall has benefitted from the addition of blinkers three starts back when fifth off a four-month layoff in the G1 Pacific Classic in August at Del Mar

“The blinkers have helped him focus a little bit and dial him in a little more,” McCarthy said. “The Pacific Classic was unfortunate coming off of a long layoff and going a mile and a quarter. It just didn't seem like he was as tight as he could have been but as you can see it certainly moved him forward.”

Last out, Independence Hall romped to a 7 1/4-length score over Cigar Mile-rival Code of Honor in the nine-furlong G2 Fayette contested over a sloppy track on October 30 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

McCarthy confirmed Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will retain the mount aboard Independence Hall, who will ship to New York on Monday.

The post Independence Hall Breezes Ahead Of Saturday’s Cigar Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Atlantic Beach is one of four stakes on Friday's packed card, which includes the $200,000 Ticonderoga for New York-bred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; the $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies going a one-turn mile; and the $100,000 Awad for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Biz Biz Buzz made a successful debut on September 10, rallying from fifth to post a three-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint over the turf at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Trombetta moved him up in class last out and the Fed Biz colt responded by earning black type in the six-furlong Futurity, finishing 1 1/2 lengths back to winner Slipstream over firm going.

“I was pleased with his effort last time against those horses; it was only his second time running,” Trombetta said. “He's worked well since. Hopefully, the weather cooperates and he gets a chance to run.”

Biz Biz Buzz has trained over the all-weather track at Fair Hill in Maryland since the Futurity, including a bullet four-furlong work in :47.80 on Saturday.

“He's been training exceptionally well and we're looking forward to seeing how he progress,” said Trombetta, who entered Sunday with 1,998 career wins. “He's a big, solid 2-year-old. He has a good attitude. He does everything right. He's certainly a nice horse to work with. It was good he got a race over the Belmont track, too, but the weather plays such a big part this time of year, so we'll have to see.”

Julian Pimentel will have the call from post 5.

James Horgan's Longshadow earned a stakes victory last out by edging Nobals by a nose in the 6 1/2-furlong Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile on October 11 over the Presque Isle Downs all-weather track.

Longshadow, trained by Kelsey Danner and bred by Dede McGehee, made a strong debut with a win on August 5 at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., over the main track before running seventh in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on September 6 for his turf debut.

Returning to the grass, Longshadow will retain the services of rider Rocco Bowen, drawing post 3.

Kendall Hansen's Pure Panic is already an experienced stakes horse and will make his fourth consecutive start at that caliber in the Atlantic Beach for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Summer Front, who won his debut in July at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., ran second in the Skidmore in his second start in a stakes moved off the turf on August 20 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Pure Panic returned to the grass for his next two starts, finishing ninth in the one-mile Nownownow on September 26 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., and fifth last out when cutting back to 5 1/2 furlongs in the Indian Summer on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

Making his Belmont debut, Pure Panic will have Eric Cancel ride from post 7.

Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's Doctor Jeff, who won an off-the-turf debut effort in July at Belmont, ran fifth in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special over the Spa main track on August 14 before trainer Rudy Rodriguez moved the Street Boss colt to turf for the first time in the Grade 2 Pilgrim on October 3 going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park.

Doctor Jeff will have his second go on turf, drawing post 4 with Jose Lezcano in the irons.

A trio of second-out maiden-breakers will comprise the rest of the field, including Double O Racing's Trust Daddy, who was victorious in his turf debut on October 10 at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., for trainer Jeremiah O'Dwyer [post 2, Manny Franco]; and Bright View Farm's Here Comes Billy, a winner at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., on October 9, for trainer Douglas Nunn [post 1, Wilmer Garcia]. Colts Neck Stables homebred Tops the Chart, a winner on September 25 at Monmouth, is entered for the main track only for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr.

The Atlantic Beach is slated as Race 4 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, the More Than Ready chestnut graduated at first asking sprinting six furlongs in January at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y. The chestnut colt followed with a pair of game efforts at the Big A, finishing second by a nose to Weyburn in the one-mile Grade 3 Gotham in March and third to Bourbonic in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April.

Following an even fifth in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., Crowded Trade did not return until August when a distant third in the Grade 2 Amsterdam, contested over a sloppy and sealed main track at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

He enters from a troubled fifth in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance sprint on September 4 at Saratoga won by Baby Yoda, who exited that effort to finish third in the Grade 2 Vosburgh here last Saturday.

A $185,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, Crowded Trade breezed five-eighths over the Oklahoma training turf Friday in 1:02.95 as Brown looks to re-invent the talented colt.

“He breezed well on it. He's certainly bred on top for it,” Brown said. “I'm going to try and change it up with that horse a little bit. He didn't develop the way we hoped on the dirt, so we'll try this.”

Joel Rosario has the call from the inside post.

Crown's Way Racing's Smokin' Jay rallied past Momos in the final jumps to capture the $100,000 Allied Forces on September 17 at Belmont, providing trainer Kelsey Danner her first career stakes win.

The versatile Cairo Prince gray entered the six-furlong Widener turf sprint for sophomores from a narrow nose loss to Carle Place-rival Arzak in the six-furlong Tom Ridge, contested at six furlongs over the synthetic at Presque Isle in Erie, Penn., on August 2.

Jose Ortiz picks up the mount from post 3.

Sonata Stable's Arzak, a Not This Time chestnut trained by Mike Trombetta, endured a troubled trip in the Allied Forces when bumped at the start, trailing the field of eight by eight lengths. Arzak was tipped out for the stretch run by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and closed to finish third.

A $575,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Arzak was also compromised at the start when third in the My Frenchman, a 5 ½-furlong sprint over yielding turf at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., three starts back on July 11.

“He's been a little unlucky and I'm hoping we can turn that around,” Trombetta said. “He's not really fast out of the gate. He has a lot of speed but that first step or two he's not as fast as you'd like him to be and inevitably he seems to find a way to get next to a horse that likes to bump into us. We just need everyone to get out of there straight and he'll be fine.”

The durable Arzak has posted a record of 8-2-1-1 in 2021, including a 3 1/4-length optional-claiming score traveling one mile over the Tampa Bay turf in his seasonal debut in addition to his Tom Ridge coup.

“He's solid. He's run with good horses and I'm hoping his turn is coming,” Trombetta said. “He ran really good at Presque Isle and I do think he has an affinity for the synthetic as well, so we'll do that again at some point also.”

Manny Franco picks up the mount from post 6.

Breeze Easy's Easy Time, a dark bay son of Not This Time, has made his last three starts in graded company, including a win in the Grade 3 Marine at 1 1/16-miles over the Tapeta at Woodbine Race Track in Toronto, Ontario in July.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Easy Time followed with a fifth in the one-mile Grade 2 Hall of Fame in August on the Saratoga turf ahead of a closing second last out in the 6 1/2-furlong Franklin-Simpson on September 11 at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.

Easy Time will emerge from post 5 under Luis Saez.

Rounding out the field are Ocala Dream [post 2, Dylan Davis], Indian Lake [post 4, Ruben Silvera], Town of Gold [post 7, Javier Castellano], Wolfie's Dynaghost [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Resist the Devil [post 9, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], Rustler [post 10, Joseph Rocco, Jr.], Kawhi Me a River [post 11, Jose Lezcano], Snow House [post 12, John Velazquez],

The Carle Place is slated as Race 9 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Trombetta, a 54-year-old Maryland native, saddled his first winner in 1986 and rose to national prominence when his 2006 Illinois Derby winner Sweetnorthernsaint exited the Kentucky Derby starting gate as the mutuel favorite, finishing seventh.

In addition to his Grade 1 winners Next Question and Wet Your Whistle, Trombetta captured a memorable edition of the Grade 1 Forego with Win Win Win in August 2020, contested over a sloppy and sealed Saratoga main track under stormy conditions at the Saratoga Springs, N.Y., track.

With Hall of Famer Javier Castellano up, Win Win Win was last of 11 early on before making a remarkable nine-wide move at the top of the lane to swoop past five rivals and collar Complexity for a half-length win.

Trombetta was still in a state of disbelief following the race.

“I honestly don't know what to say; he dropped so far back and his chicklet and number actually went off the screen and I couldn't even see across the track,” Trombetta said at the time. “I thought he was absolutely out of the race and might not have had a chance to even finish. But then turning for home, he came back on the screen. It's just unbelievable.”

Trombetta, who oversees 70-100 horses across divisions at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., Laurel Park in Laurel, Md., and Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., said he's humbled to be approaching the 2,000 career win milestone.

“I've always enjoyed what I've done here,” Trombetta said. “It's went quickly and over the years it makes you appreciate all the effort that everyone puts into it to help get you to these points.”

Trombetta was quick to tip his cap to the backstretch staff that he works alongside each day.

“They're unbelievably dedicated individuals – and that's not just in my barn – that's in the other trainer's barns as well,” Trombetta said. “The lifestyle these employees live is truly all about the horses. It really means a lot.”

While the 19-1 score by Aug Lutes on Friday was no match in stature to Win Win Win's Grade 1 coup, Trombetta was just as appreciative of the rallying effort from the dark bay daughter of Midnight Lute in her turf debut which garnered a career-best 92 Beyer.

“She ran really nicely. We were hoping she could handle the turf and run well, but that was beyond what we could have hoped for,” Trombetta said.

A winner of 4-of-5 starts, Commonwealth New Era Racing's Aug Lutes made her first four starts on synthetic, including a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Duchess at Woodbine Race Track in Toronto, Ontario on September 25.

Aug Lutes, with Jose Lezcano up, endured a troubled start in the Glen Cove which saw Caldee set swift splits of :22.53 and :44.50 over firm going. Aug Lutes was one of many chances at the top of the lane and the filly finished with aplomb to notch her first career stakes win.

“She got bumped leaving the gate and it may have been to her favor after the fact, but it sure didn't seem that way early on,” Trombetta said.

Trombetta said the $150,000 Autumn Days going six furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., on November 28 is one of a number of options going forward for Aug Lutes.

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Biz Biz Buzz also endured a troubled trip when third in last Sunday's Grade 3 Futurity, a six-furlong turf sprint for juveniles won by Slipstream.

“It was a peculiar situation. When I read the chart it said, 'hit by gate,'” Trombetta said. “I went back and watched and sure enough the left side of the gate opened but it didn't latch and it swung back and bounced off of him. I don't think it had anything to do with where he placed. It would probably have been more an impact for the jockey than the horse, but everything was fine.”

By Fed Biz and out of the Candy Ride mare Candy Striper, Biz Biz Buzz graduated at first asking on the Laurel Park turf ahead of his stakes debut.

While Slipstream and Futurity runner-up Run Curtis Run are likely to enter the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Trombetta said he has made no plans yet for Biz Biz Buzz.

“He's a talented guy. I'm not sure whether he's ready for the next big challenge like that but I'll watch him and see how he's doing and figure out a plan,” Trombetta said.

Trombetta will continue his quest for 2,000 career wins next week at Belmont when he sends out Arzak in Friday's inaugural running of the $100,000 Carle Place, a seven-furlong Widener turf sprint for sophomores.

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Trained by Michael Trombetta, the Uncaptured bay traveled wide throughout in the Woodbine Cares and appeared to hang coming out of the turn before gaining momentum in the final sixteenth, closing to finish third in the five furlong inner-turf test last out on Sept. 19.

“We don't really know what to make of that last effort, hopefully we see a good performance up there on Saturday,” Trombetta said. “She likes to be close, but I don't think she needs to be on the lead. The distance should help her.”

Bred in New York by Newtownanner Stud Farm, Dufresne is out of the Pioneerof the Nile mare Rapids, who is a half-sister to 2011 Grade 2 Remsen-winner O'Prado Again.

A $62,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Dufresne graduated at second asking sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs against fellow state-breds over firm footing on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trombetta, who has 1,993 career wins heading into Wednesday's racing action, said Dufresne has the frame of a stakes sprinter.

“She's real solidly built. She's not real big, but she's solid,” Trombetta said. “She's done everything we've asked of her. This will be another test to see if she's good enough to run at that track with these horses.”

Eric Cancel has the call from post 5.

Trainer Wesley Ward has entered the formidable duo of Chi Town Lady and Poppy Flower, who breezed five furlongs in company Saturday on the Belmont inner turf.

Ward said Chi Town Lady is also under consideration for a start against the boys in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a six-furlong turf test for juveniles offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 2, $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint on November 5 at Del Mar.

“I'm looking at that race and the Futurity as well,” Ward said. “She had a big work in company with Poppy Flower. The owner of Poppy Flower was on hand and said that Chi Town Lady looked much better in the work.”

Chi Town Lady graduated by three lengths at first asking sprinting 4 1/2-furlongs on the Keeneland main track. The Verrazano chestnut stumbled at the start last out on August 18 in the 5 1/2-furlong Bolton Landing over a yielding Mellon turf at Saratoga Race Course, but was able to regroup under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez to best stablemate Poppy Flower by 1 3/4-lengths.

Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons, Kilboy Estate and Gavin Tierney, Chi Town Lady is out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Toni's Hollyday.

“She's really starting to blossom as time has gone on,” Ward said. “She was always a nice filly, but she's one of these 2-year-olds that with time is getting better.”

Ward said if Chi Town Lady continues to thrive, he would consider entering her in the one-mile Grade 1, $ 1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf.

“This particular filly I think will go a mile, especially at Del Mar, so I'm thinking about the mile race on the grass for her,” Ward said.

Arnmore Thoroughbreds' Poppy Flower graduated at third asking in a six-furlong turf sprint at Belmont on June 20 ahead of her Bolton Landing second. The Lea chestnut enters from a third-place finish in the Ainsworth at 6 1/2-furlongs on September 12 at Kentucky Downs

Joel Rosario will pilot Chi Town Lady from post 8, while Poppy Flower will emerge from the inside post under David Flores.

Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Makin My Move romped to a 12 1/2-length debut win sprinting six furlongs against fellow New York-breds August 20 on the Spa main track.

Trained by John Kimmel, the Carpe Diem bay has since posted four consecutive bullet works on the Oklahoma training turf, including a rapid half-mile in 46.04 on September 3 in her first grass work.

Out of the multiple stakes winning More Than Ready mare Hard to Stay Notgo, Makin My Move is a half-sister to the Kimmel-trained stakes-placed turf specialist Gotta Go Mo.

“Gotta Go Mo can do nothing but run on the grass so I thought maybe grass might be her deal,” Kimmel said. “She [Makin My Move] was pretty amazing in her first work on the grass. Every work she's had on the grass has been solid. She continues to go out there and handle it really well.”

Kimmel said a strong gate work August 4 on the Oklahoma dirt training track convinced him to start Makin My Move on the main track. After breaking outward on debut, Makin My Move made the lead and continued to widen her margin at every point of call.

“She worked so good on the dirt out of the gate that day and she did win well, but I think she's better on the grass,” Kimmel said. “She wasn't on the front end right away last time, but she got there. She has tactical speed but she doesn't have to be on the front end.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will pilot Makin My Move from post 6.

MeB Racing Stables and Vincent D. Esopi's Mystic Eyes, a $40,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, graduated in her August 5 debut by 4 1/2-lengths sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm footing at the Spa.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Mystic Eyes followed with a runner-up effort in the Ainsworth.

“She looked good breaking her maiden on the grass at Saratoga, so this looked like a good opportunity. She's a nice filly,” Pletcher said.

By Maclean's Music, Mystic Eyes is out of the stakes-winning Storm Cat mare Cloudburst – a half-sister to 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and Champion 2-Year-Old Boston Harbor.

Manny Franco has the call from post 3.

Scott Dilworth, Evan Dilworth, Randy Andrews and Susan Andrews' Lady Danae bested Matron-rival Bubble Rock by two lengths in her August 13 debut sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm Mellon turf at the Spa.

The Joe Sharp-trained daughter of Klimt followed with an even fifth last out in the Ainsworth.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden and Craig Brogden, Lady Danae was purchased for $210,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Luis Saez retains the mount from post 4.

Shortleaf Stable homebred Bubble Rock, by More Than Ready, exited her runner-up effort to Lady Danae with a convincing 3 1/4-length score in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on the firm Mellon turf on September 3 at Saratoga.

Trained by Brad Cox, Bubble Rock is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Reef Point, who is a half-sister to millionaire Blue Chipper – winner of the 2019 Group 1 Keeneland Korea Sprint in Seoul and third-place finisher in that year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call aboard Bubble Rock from post 7.

Swilcan Stable and LC Racing's Mainstay, a half-sister to 2-year-old Champion Filly Vequist, will exit post 11 under Kendrick Carmouche in her turf debut. Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Mainstay is by Astern and out of the Mineshaft mare Vero Amore.

She won her June 4 debut by 7 3/4-lengths sprinting 4 1/2-furlongs on a sloppy Monmouth Park main track and followed with a runner-up effort to Pretty Birdie in the six-furlong Grade 3 Schuylerville in July at Saratoga.

Mainstay enters from a fading fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Adirondack on August 8 at the Spa.

Rounding out the field is The Club [post 2, Jose Lezcano], Gal in a Rush [post 12, Dylan Davis], Benbang [post 10, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], and High Arabian [post 9, Benjamin Hernandez].

The Matron, slated as Race 6, is part of a lucrative 11-race card that also features the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic [Race 7], a 12-furlong Widener turf test for 3-year-olds and up; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh [Race 5], a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint on November 6 at Del Mar. First post on Saturday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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