oaklawn park | Horse Racing Free Tips

Southwest Showdown Well Worth the Wait

Following a two-week delay as Mother Nature packed a powerful winter punch, a pair of 3-year-old heavyweights are set for round two in Saturday's GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.

Recently crowned champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit) capped a perfect, three-for-three season closing smartly into a hot pace after covering plenty of ground to capture the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last out Nov. 6. The Godolphin homebred previously stalked and pounced with authority in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Oct. 3. Regular rider Luis Saez will be aboard the 3-2 morning-line favorite, who has been assigned the rail in the field of seven.

“I don't think [the rescheduling] is a negative at all, as far as moving forward, with any of my horses,” said trainer Brad Cox, who will also saddle champion Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in Sunday's postponed GIII Bayakoa S. in Hot Springs.

Two-time Grade I winner Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), favored at 4-5 while carrying a four-for-four record into the Juvenile, paid the price for racing prominently through ambitious fractions of :22.58 and :45.31 that day, and all things considered, ran well in defeat to stay on fourth in his route debut after leading at the stretch call. The bay's resume is highlighted by front-running tallies in the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. at Saratoga Sept. 7 and GI Champagne S. at Belmont Oct. 10, respectively. He will be the one to catch in this second attempt around two turns.

Spielberg (Union Rags), the narrowest of winners two starts back in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 19, invades from Bob Baffert's Santa Anita base following a no-show fourth in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Jan. 30. Los Al Futurity runner-up The Great One (Nyquist), meanwhile, returned with a flashy, 14-length maiden victory and 92 Beyer Speed Figure for Doug O'Neill in Arcadia Jan. 23.

The post Southwest Showdown Well Worth the Wait appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Spendthrift Attempting To ‘Repeat History’ With Champion Monomoy Girl

Mark Toothaker's first trip to Oaklawn was almost 35 years ago. But, he can still cite the details as if it happened yesterday and not March 6, 1982.

Toothaker was 15, too young in those days for legal admission, but he slipped through the gates with a group of family and friends and was immediately encouraged to make his first bet, which, in this case, was the daily double. Ditching any formal handicapping techniques like speed figures, class ratings or trip notes, Toothaker said he was advised to simply bet his age, meaning the numbers were 1 and 5.

“The very first race, I can remember it to this day,” Toothaker said. “Larry Snyder was on a huge favorite and wound up pulling up in the race and Don Von Hemel won it with a horse named Rimrod. He was the 1 horse. The very next race, Larry Snyder comes right back after having bad luck in the first race and rides Goldie's Son, the 5 horse, to win and it (daily double) paid $375. I've been ruined ever since.”

Toothaker will be returning to Oaklawn this weekend, not as a green handicapper, but still seeking another double of sorts. Toothaker is the stallion sales manager for Spendthrift Farm, Kentucky's famed racing and breeding operation that will be represented by Jackie's Warrior in Saturday's $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and Monomoy Girl in Sunday's $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares.

Spendthrift owns the breeding rights to Jackie's Warrior, a multiple Grade 1 winner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The stakes are much higher for Monomoy Girl, a Brad Cox trainee who will be making her first start since Spendthrift purchased the multiple Eclipse Award winner for an eye-popping $9.5 million in November at Fasig-Tipton's Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

“It'll be fun,” Toothaker said. “First start back. We'll see. But the way she's trained and everything Brad has said is she's sitting on go. It will be exciting to get her back to the races.”

Toothaker, 54, grew up in Van Buren, Ark., about 130 miles northwest of Oaklawn. After entering the game in 1986 walking hots for trainer Joe Cantey, Toothaker gradually climbed the industry ladder. He eventually owned a small breeding farm near Van Buren, migrated to Kentucky in 2004 to work for prominent breeder Allen Poindexter and has worked for Spendthrift since 2011.

Founded by B. Wayne Hughes, Spendthrift has campaigned, among others, four-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder and 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic solely or in partnership. Its breeding side features approximately 20 stallions, including Authentic, and 100 broodmares. One of those broodmares is Beholder, whose gaudy resume includes Eclipse Awards in 2012 (champion 2-year-old filly), 2013 (3-year-old filly), 2015 (older dirt female) and 2016 (older dirt female), 18 victories from 26 lifetime starts and earnings of $6,156,600. She won the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in 2013 and 2016, the latter as a 6-year-old.

Monomoy Girl, who will join Spendthrift's broodmare band upon retirement, has similar credentials. She was an Eclipse Award winner in 2018 (3-year-old filly) and 2020 (older dirt female), cementing championships in both years with victories in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Monomoy Girl is 13 of 15 overall and has lifetime earnings of $4,426,818. Spendthrift opted to keep Monomoy Girl in training with Cox after securing her for a price just short of the $10 million brought by Havre de Grace, a reported North American record for a broodmare sold at public auction, during the same sale in 2012.

“Eric did all the bidding,” Toothaker said, referring to Spendthrift owner Eric Gustavson. “We were just right there cheerleading with him as he was bidding. My heart was racing 90 miles an hour, hoping that we could get her because she's just a treasure. She's just one of those priceless fillies that you just dream about having a chance to be involved with.”

Monomoy Girl will be making her first start since a 1 ¾-length victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. Spendthrift purchased the now-6-year-old daughter of Tapizar the following day.

“I just think Mr. Hughes, since everything was good with her and that she was sound and everything, he wanted to be able to bring her back to the races,” Toothaker said. “We had so much fun with Beholder, her 6-year-old year, and just felt like we wanted to try to recapture that moment. See if we couldn't repeat history and do what Beholder did – put her out on top as a Breeders' Cup champion, back to back. It would be just amazing.”

The 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa is a major local prep for the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 17, which is Monomoy Girl's major spring objective, Cox said.

“When I first saw that, the Bayakoa and the Apple Blossom, I was just thrilled to death,” Toothaker said. “I'm always rooting for everybody to make your path through Oaklawn, for sure.”

The post Spendthrift Attempting To ‘Repeat History’ With Champion Monomoy Girl appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Champions Essential Quality, Monomoy Girl Arrive At Oaklawn Park

It was championship Thursday at Oaklawn as Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox sent his two Eclipse Award winners, Monomoy Girl and Essential Quality, to the track to train in preparation for weekend stakes engagements.

Cox said Monomoy Girl and unbeaten Essential Quality arrived at Oaklawn around 8 p.m. (Central) Wednesday following a van ride of approximately eight hours from Fair Grounds, where both horses have been based this winter.

Both horses galloped over a fast track Thursday morning under exercise rider Fernando Espinoza. Essential Quality will make his 3-year-old debut in Saturday's $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3). Monomoy Girl is ticketed for Sunday's $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares.

Essential Quality (3 for 3) will be making his first start since clinching an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 2-year-old male in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 6 at Keeneland. The gray son of super sire Tapit is the 3-2 program favorite for the Southwest, Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races. Essential Quality will break from the rail in the 1 1/16-mile race.

“Just see how it shakes out,” Cox said moments after watching Monomoy Girl gallop. “I'm sure there's going to be some speed in there. We'll see.”

The Southwest and Bayakoa were originally scheduled to be run Feb. 15 before being postponed twice because of severe winter weather. Cox said the delay didn't affect Essential Quality's preparation for the Southwest because he was able to breeze the colt 5 furlongs twice (Feb. 14 and Feb. 20) at Fair Grounds.

“Monomoy Girl, kind of the same thing, really, as far as preparation,” Cox said. “Just two extra works.”

Monomoy Girl will be making her first start since winning the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. A winner of 13 of 15 career starts, Monomoy Girl was an Eclipse Award winner in 2018 (3-year-old filly) and 2020 (older dirt female). She drew the extreme outside, post 6, for the 1 1/16-mile Bayakoa, a major local prep for the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 17.

“Monomoy Girl draws outside all the time, it seems,” Cox said. “Fourteen of fourteen in the (Kentucky) Oaks, 11 of 11 in the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.”

Cox said the Apple Blossom is the major spring objective for Monomoy Girl, who has never raced at Oaklawn.

Essential Quality schooled in the paddock Thursday afternoon. Abrego said Monomoy Girl is scheduled to school in the paddock Friday.

Cox won his first Eclipse Award as the country's outstanding trainer in 2020. He was Oaklawn's third-leading trainer last year.

First post Saturday is 12:15 p.m. and the Southwest is scheduled as Race 10 at 4:58 p.m. First post Sunday is 1 p.m. and the Bayakoa is scheduled as Race 9 at 5:11 p.m.

The post Champions Essential Quality, Monomoy Girl Arrive At Oaklawn Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Races From Aqueduct, Oaklawn

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Live coverage will be available with America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports. Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Kicking off the sequence, a field of eight New York-bred sophomores seek their first trip to the winner's circle in Race 7 at Aqueduct, which has a 4:10 p.m. Eastern scheduled post time. Trainer Chad Brown will debut Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables' Dr Ardito, a gray or roan son of third-crop stallion Liam's Map out of the Indian Charlie mare Delightfully So. Viking Zim makes his career debut for trainer Jeremiah Englehart and Bill Parcells' August Dawn Farm. The son of second crop sire Mshawish was bred by Taylor Brothers Properties and was purchased for $120,000 from the 2020 OBS April Sale.

Action shifts south to Oaklawn Park for the next two contests, encompassing stakes races. In the second leg, a compact field of seven older horses, including five graded stakes winners, will assemble for the Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback at 1 1/16 miles. Breaking from the outside, Godolphin's Mystic Guide makes his first start since a close second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 3 at Belmont Park for trainer Michael Stidham. The son of Ghostzapper won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on September 5 at Saratoga and has never finished worse than third in six lifetime starts. Rupp Racing's millionaire Owendale seeks his fourth graded stakes triumph for Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. Carded as Race 7, the Razorback has a scheduled 4:20 p.m. post.

Fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward go into line for the $200,000 Spring Fever [Race 8, 4:52 p.m.]. Trainer Wesley Ward sends Ten Broeck Farm's accomplished stakes winner Kimari to the Hot Springs oval for her first start of 2021. A stakes winner on both dirt and turf, the daughter of Munnings was twice second overseas at Royal Ascot, most recently in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup on June 19. Novogratz Racing Stables' Amy's Challenge will seek a sixth stakes triumph while also attempting to keep a consistent Oaklawn record intact for trainer McLean Robertson. The swift daughter of Artie Schiller was second in last year's edition of the Spring Fever and scored in the 2019 running.

Aqueduct will host the penultimate leg [Race 9, 5:13 p.m.], where a dozen 3-year-old New York-bred fillies seek a maiden special weight triumph going six furlongs. Trainer Christophe Clement will debut Sport Model for Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, a bay Freud filly that has been training in South Florida at Payson Park. Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out Robert Valeri's Laura's Bellamy, a homebred daughter of Bellamy Road out of the Disco Rico mare Laura Can Disco.

Closing out the sequence, Godolphin's 2020 Champion Two-Year-Old Essential Quality takes on six other sophomores in the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. Carded as Race 9 with a 5:58 p.m. post time, the Southwest is a 10-4-2-1 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby offering points to the top-four finishers. Trained by Brad Cox, Essential Quality, a gray son of Tapit, is currently second on the leaderboard with 50 points and will put an unscathed 3-for-3 record on the line in his first start since winning the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen will saddle J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior, fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, who won last year's Runhappy Hopeful and Champagne, both Grade 1 races on the NYRA circuit and is No. 9 on the leaderboard with 12 points. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sends million-dollar purchase Spielberg who will attempt to make amends after a distant fourth in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita. The chestnut son of Union Rags won the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity on December 19 and is currently No. 8 on the leaderboard with 13 points.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, Feb. 27:
Leg A: Aqueduct – Race 7 (4:10 p.m.)
Leg B: Oaklawn Park – Race 7, Grade 3, $600,000 Razorback (4:20 p.m.)
Leg C: Oaklawn Park – Race 8, $200,000 Spring Fever (4:52 p.m.)
Leg D: Aqueduct – Race 9 (5:13 p.m.)
Leg E: Oaklawn Park – Race 9, Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest (5:58 p.m.)

The post Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Races From Aqueduct, Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post