Tag: michael yates

Fiona’s Magic Wires Davona Dale at 9-1; Champion Just F Y I Scratched with Fever

Stonehedge LLC's homebred Fiona's Magic (f, 3, St Patrick's Day–Mollie's Magic, by Factum) was catapulted into the spotlight on a Saturday reeling from several pre-race scratches of major players in significant graded events. Gulfstream Park's GII Davona Dale S. presented by FanDuel TV, a Road to the Kentucky Oaks race worth $200,000 as well as points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale, was not immune as Eclipse champion and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Just F Y I (Justify) developed a fever Saturday morning after shipping to Gulfstream from Payson Park. She was scratched just hours before what was to be her much-anticipated 3-year-old debut by her Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott.

“She was fine, but she spiked a fever and her temperature has just kept going up,” said Mott.

Undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and former $1.15-million Keeneland September yearling Leslie's Rose (Into Mischief), who had been expected to mount the most serious challenge in the field to Just F Y I, inherited the mantle of heavy favoritism in the Davona Dale, but it was an under-the-radar Fiona's Magic at 9-1 who prevailed. A winner of two straight late last year while sprinting over this surface, Fiona's Magic made her sophomore debut with a runner-up finish in the Feb. 3 GIII Forward Gal S. at seven furlongs after relinquishing the lead at the top of the stretch to R Harper Rose (Khozan).

With expectations weighing on Leslie's Rose in the Davona Dale, Fiona's Magic popped out of the gate on top as 'TDN Rising Star' and Glitter Woman S. winner Into Champagne (Into Mischief) took a right turn before recovering to pressure from third as Cash Run S. runner-up Queen's Martini (Mucho Macho Man) tracked and Leslie's Rose found a sweet spot in the clear in fourth. Fiona's Magic was left alone for the :24.59 first quarter and was still running easily without a threat by the time the half was clocked in :47.47.

Tyler Gaffalione on the winner still rode confidently rounding the turn and began pumping his mount with gusto into the stretch as Leslie's Rose advanced and tried to find a seam to their inside. Irad Ortiz, Jr. couldn't quite get through on the favorite and shifted out, but Leslie's Rose was left with too much to do and could only muster third behind a driving Fiona's Magic and Into Champagne, who briefly looked a winner but couldn't match the determination of Fiona's Magic and settled for second by a half-length. Fiona's Magic covered the one-turn mile in 1:37.16.

Winning trainer Michael Yates also upset this race last year at 46-1 with Dorth Vader (Girvin), whose best finish to eventual divisional champion Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in three tries as the season unfolded was a second in the GI Acorn S.

“I didn't give Tyler any instructions [Saturday],” said Yates. “I said, 'Ride the race how it comes up.'”

Yates did not have a plan for Fiona's Magic immediately following the race.

“[We'll] enjoy today and talk about the rest tomorrow. I thought she was very capable of it. She's been coming along steadily.”

Pedigree Notes:

Fiona's Magic becomes the first stakes winner for St Patrick's Day, a full-brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. She's a member of the first crop of the Journeyman Stallions-based sire, as well as just the second black-type winner for Factum as a broodmare sire. The latter's other stakes winner is Fiona's Magic's half-brother Cajun's Magic (Cajun Breeze).

The unraced Mollie's Magic has a 2-year-old colt named Blazing Hot (Khozan) and a yearling full-brother to Cajun's Magic. She was barren for 2024.

 

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
DAVONA DALE S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL TV-GII, $210,000, Gulfstream, 3-2, 3yo, f, 1m, 1:37.16, ft.
1–FIONA'S MAGIC, 120, f, 3, by St Patrick's Day
           1st Dam: Mollie's Magic, by Factum
           2nd Dam: Seductive Lady, by Langfuhr
           3rd Dam: You'll B Impressed, by Valid Appeal
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Stonehedge LLC (FL); T-Michael Yates; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $132,760. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $250,910. *1/2 to Cajun's Magic (Cajun Breeze), SW, $311,425. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Into Champagne, 120, f, 3, Into Mischief–Bedford Land, by Speightstown. 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($300,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Six Column Stables, LLC, Randall Bloch, Jim Gladden, Mike Davis, and Michael Steele; B-Robert & Lawana Low (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $39,600.
3–Leslie's Rose, 120, f, 3, Into Mischief–Wildwood Rose (Ire), by Galileo (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star'. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($1,150,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Whisper Hill Farm, LLC; B-John D. Gunther & Eurowest Bloodstock Services (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $19,800.
Margins: HF, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 9.10, 4.20, 0.30.
Also Ran: Queen's Martini, Whocouldaskformo, New Diamond. Scratched: Just F Y I, Miss Sayely.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Fiona’s Magic Wires Davona Dale at 9-1; Champion Just F Y I Scratched with Fever appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Longshot Frankie’s Empire Best Late in Swale

Frankie's Empire (Classic Empire) either missed, or ignored, the memo that the longest shot on the board usually doesn't dominate, and strode home a much the best winner in the Swale S. to earn his career-first black type win.

A frequent face on the mid-atlantic seaboard, he'd broken his maiden and hit the board in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park before being shipped to Delaware, where he picked up a second career win against optional claimers. Sixth in the Rocky Run S. last October when contesting over a muddy track, Frankie's Empire made his final start for Susan Crowell at Parx, where he scored another optional claiming win.

Moved to Michael Yates in Florida, and with only one work over the track in late January, the betting public left him ice cold on the board at 14-1. Content to watch as Billal (Street Sense) and Risk It (Gun Runner) disputed the pace, he loomed the danger coming around the bend and was rolling under a full head of steam entering the lane. Inhaling 4-5 favorite Legalize (Constitution) and all challengers to his inside, Frankie's Empire drew clear by 3 1/2 lengths as fellow 13-1 longshot Le Dom Bro (Mucho Macho Man) rolled home to further burn tickets from second. Grand Mo the First (Uncle Mo) rallied from way out to take third.

The victor is the newest stakes winner for Classic Empire, who was purchased by the Korea Racing Authority, and imported to South Korea Dec. 18 for his first season in the country this year.

A half-brother to Chaparella, a stakes-placed runner turned winner producer, Frankie's Empire also claims SP Streetlady (Street Boss), a winner producer in England, as a half-sibling. He's the most recent to the races for Donna D, who produced a pair of colts after the winner–a 2-year-old by Midnight Lute and a yearling by Tapiture. She is due to Mystic Guide in 2024. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

SWALE S., $125,000, Gulfstream, 2-3, 3yo, 7f, 1:24.22, ft.
1–FRANKIE'S EMPIRE, 120, c, 3, by Classic Empire
           1st Dam: Donna D (SP, $100,344), by Dixie Union
           2nd Dam: Creativity, by Notebook
           3rd Dam: She's Realistic, by In Reality
($20,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Frank DeLuca; B-Ralph Kinder & Erv Woolsey (KY); T-Michael Yates; J-Miguel Angel Vasquez. $75,950. Lifetime Record: 7-4-0-1, $185,700. *1/2 to Chaparella (Service Stripe), MSP, $163,421.
2–Le Dom Bro, 118, c, 3, Mucho Macho Man–Valiant Emilia (Per), by Pegasus Wind. ($20,000 Ylg '22 OBSWIN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Vicente Stella Stables LLC; B-Teneri Farms Inc (KY); T-Eniel Cordero. $24,500.
3–Grand Mo the First, 120, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Lilies So Fair, by Giant's Causeway. ($125,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $135,000 Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $335,000 RNA 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Granpollo Stable; B-John D. Gunther (KY); T-Victor Barboza, Jr.. $12,250.
Margins: 3HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 14.00, 13.10, 7.80.
Also Ran: Billal, Risk It, Colorado Cruiser, Legalize. Scratched: Bentornato, Squints.

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Yates Reaping Benefits Of Faith In Stallion Cajun Breeze

Michael Yates, a long-time Florida breeder, owner and trainer with a year-round presence at Gulfstream Park, is reaping the benefits of his unwavering faith in Cajun Breeze, a tough-as-nails competitor who became an instant success as a stallion in the Sunshine State.

Yates and Cajun Breeze will be represented in both the $250,000 Grade 3 Holy Bull and $100,000 G3 Swale on Saturday's Gulfstream program that will also feature the $100,000 G3 Forward Gal, $100,000 G3 Kitten's Joy and $100,000 Sweetest Chant.

Yates is scheduled to saddle Cajun's Magic for the Holy Bull, the first graded stakes on the Road to the G1 Florida Derby, and Dean Delivers for the Swale, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

Cajun Breeze, a stakes-placed son of Congrats who won four of 33 starts while primarily competing in allowance and stakes company for Yates, is the sire of both 3-year-olds, both of whom are owned by Stonehedge LLC. After being represented by a pair of stakes winners in his very limited first crop in 2018, Cajun Breeze was moved from Yates' Shadybrook Farm to stand at stud at Stonehedge Farm to advance his stallion career.

Cajun's Breeze's offspring have demonstrated versatility and toughness.

“They're just very solid horses that have really good minds,” Yates said. “A lot of them have a lot of raw talent. I feel like we haven't seen the best of them yet.”

Yates opted to run Cajun's Magic in the Holy Bull due to his experience around two turns. After winning the six-furlong Dr. Fager and finishing second in the seven-furlong Affirmed in the first two legs of the 2021 Florida Sire Stakes series, he finished a very game second behind favored Octane in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality final.

“We didn't want to run them in the same race, and Cajun's Magic already ran a mile and a sixteenth in the sire stakes and ran a good race,” Yates said. “I think he's better now than he was then. Even though he's coming off a layoff, he's been training really well.”

Cajun's Magic will take on eight rivals, including G2 Remsen winner Mo Donegal, Breeders' Cup Juvenile third-place finisher Giant Game and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf second-place finisher Tiz the Bomb.

Dean Delivers finished a dead-game second in his return off a five-month layoff after battling favored Dean's List through the stretch before coming up just a neck short of victory.

“I thought it was a huge effort, especially off the layoff. He didn't get away from the gate very well, but it may have been a blessing in disguise because there was a hot pace,” Yates said. “I thought he ran a great race.”

Dean Delivers graduated at first asking by 7 1/2 lengths before finishing a neck behind Cajun's Magic in the Dr. Fager.

“He's worked very well. His work between races was the deciding factor. I was anticipating running him in a Florida-bred allowance race,” Yates said. “Being that he ran such a big race off the layoff, you got to worry about the bounce factor a little bit, but he's gone so forward and is doing really well, we decided to take a shot and see what we have.”

Dean Delivers will face five opponents Brad Cox-trained In Dreams, a winner of his last two starts at Churchill Downs and Oaklawn; Todd Pletcher-trained My Prankster, a stakes-placed son of Into Mischief; and Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Of a Revolution, who finished a close second in the six-furlong Limehouse last time out.

Jesus Rios has the call on Cajun's Magic, while Miguel Vasquez has the mount aboard Dean Delivers.

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Inaugural, Sandpiper Kick Off Stakes Calendar At Tampa Bay Downs

Promising 2-year-olds, some whose connections have designs on tackling bigger challenges in 2022, will step into the spotlight on Saturday, Dec. 4 when Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., launches its stakes schedule with a pair of $100,000 six-furlong sprints.

The 36th running of the Inaugural Stakes for 2-year-olds and the 44th edition of the Sandpiper Stakes for 2-year-old fillies begin a progression of Oldsmar stakes races that could lead the best of the bunch to a date with equine destiny in more lucrative engagements as 3-year-olds next year (for record-keeping purposes, all Thoroughbreds are considered to age a year on Jan. 1).

The Inaugural has drawn 28 nominations, while the Sandpiper has attracted 33 nominations. The Inaugural, for colts and geldings, is designed as a precursor to the $125,000 seven-furlong Pasco Stakes on Jan. 15. The next steps for the most talented of the males include the $250,000 Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Feb. 12 and the $400,000 G2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 12.

Both the Sam F. Davis and the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby are “Road to the Kentucky Derby” races, awarding points to the first four finishers toward qualifying for a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., in the Run for the Roses on May 7.

Gerry Stanislawzyk, the Tampa Bay Downs Stakes Coordinator, said possible Inaugural starters include the gelding Captain Cajun, who broke his maiden on Oct. 3 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The son of Cajun Breeze is trained by Michael Yates, who won last year's Inaugural with Poppy's Pride.

Other Inaugural possible include gelding Concrete Glory, whose three career victories for trainer Gerald Brooks have come at different tracks; Little Vic, a maiden winner at Gulfstream from the barn of trainer Juan Carlos Avila; Viva Victory, a winner on turf at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., in his only start for owner-trainer Arnoud Dobber; and Whistlewhileyoumow, who broke his maiden earlier this month at Hawthorne Race Course in Stickney, Ill., for trainer Jon Arnett.

The next step after the Sandpiper for the fillies is the $125,000 seven-furlong Gasparilla Stakes on Jan. 15. Those showing sufficient talent and desire could then advance to the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes, a mile-and-40-yard contest on Feb. 12.

The Suncoast is a “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” race, awarding points to the first four finishers toward earning a spot in the May 6 Kentucky Oaks.

Sandpiper possibles, according to Stanislawzyk, include Last Leaf, whose three victories from six starts for trainer Ron Spatz include a score in the Hollywood Beach Stakes on the turf on Sept. 25 at Gulfstream.

Other possible entrants include Strategic Bird, who broke her maiden by 12 ¾ lengths in her career debut on Nov. 13 at Gulfstream for trainer Mark Casse; Chasing Happiness, a David Fawkes-trainee who broke her maiden at Gulfstream earlier this month by 6 ½ lengths; and She's My Warrior, who won the Northern Lights Debutant Stakes in September at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., for trainer Tim Padilla.

The Inaugural and the Sandpiper are part of what is certain to be a December to remember as action at Tampa Bay Downs heats up approaching the holiday season.

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