Tag: Parx

Saudi Crown Reigns Over Grey Day in Pennsylvania Derby

The afternoon's graded stakes action at Parx kicked off most appropriately with the flashy grey Next (Not This Time) annexing the GIII Greenwood Cup S. and it didn't take long for the grey train to continue with Nobody Listen (Conveyance) taking the GIII Turf Monster S. With the remnants of Tropical storm Ophelia cranking, keeping the sky dark and the track murky, Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) completed the grey graded trifecta in the day's feature, the GI Pennsylvania Derby.

Employing the same tactics used successfully earlier in the program over the sealed track, Saudi Crown exited Post 3 in good order, sprinting to the front as the quartet of Scotland (Good Magic), West Coast Cowboy (West Coast), Magic Tap (Tapit) and Reincarnate (Good Magic) surveyed from a length behind through a :23 opening quarter. Still coasting in front after a :47 1/5 half-mile, the Brad Cox trainee appeared to be keeping up the tempo as Il Miracolo (Gun Runner) and Magic Tap started to amp up the pressure turning for home while Dreamlike (Gun Runner) started to close from the back, several paths off the rail. With Florent Geroux riding the green colt with a firm hand in the final sixteenth, the pricey yearling purchase Dreamlike closed with purpose late, however, came up a half-length short at the wire. Il Miracolo was six lengths back in third.

“He broke super sharp. I was almost like a good length and a half in front, so when you break that sharp, it allows you to take a better position instead of breaking flat-footed or a step slow,” said Geroux. “He broke like a rocket and from there I thought I was in a great spot. Reincarnate, being so far outside, I thought it gave me an extra second and a half to slow it down in the beginning. I didn't see the fraction, what was it, :47? [:47.27]..Pretty good huh?”

Added Cox, “Right before he straightened up, I saw his ears going back and forth and I thought this horse is looking around a little bit. He kind of got a little lost. Florent said he was looking around a little bit when he came back to the winner's circle. He is still lightly raced and he had re-engage a bit and push him along.”

The 3-year-old is campaigned by Faisal M. Alqahtani of FMQ Sables, which has been involved in U.S. racing for one year.

A winner of his first two starts, including a 6 1/2-furlong test at Churchill Downs May 21, the OBS April graduate came up a nose short in the one-mile GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont July 1 and was beaten again by the same margin by juvenile champion Forte (Violence) in a sloppy renewal of the nine-furlong GII Jim Dandy S. July 29.

After two narrow losses, what made the difference today?

“Just progression. In the Dwyer, he had come off a 6 1/2-furlong [win] and was stretching out to a mile. He went up the backstretch a little quick that day but overall finished up well. He was passed and he came back and lost the bob. The last time out, he got beat a nose by a champion in his first run around two turns. We have asked a lot out of him in last two runs and I think he gained a lot of experience and has been battle-tested in his last two runs.”

And the speed-favoring nature of the track was also a factor, according to Cox.

“Based on what we saw throughout the day, I thought we had to be aggressive,” he said. “Sometimes, you see that and everyone has the same idea. He has enough natural speed to break clear off and he did and Flo did a great job.”

What next for Saudi Crown?

“He could be in the Classic,” said Cox. “Based off the pedigree, by Derby winner [Always Dreaming] out of a Tapit mare, with his physical deal, he could handle the mile and a quarter. Obviously, you have to get the right setup. I am not sure he has to have the lead in order to win. He is a pretty kind horse who breaks well. I will tell you this, with his Saudi-based ownership group–great guys to work with and for–I think the Saudi Cup is one race that is definitely on the target as well.”

Pedigree Notes
Saudi Crown gives his Kentucky Derby-winning sophomore sire Always Dreaming his first graded and Grade I stakes winner. The winner is out of the unraced mare New Narration, a daughter of Grade III winner New Normal (Forestry), and a granddaughter of Dual graded stakes winning New Economy (Red Ransom). This represents the family of Grade I winner Noble's Promise (Cuvee).

 

rday, Parx
PENNSYLVANIA DERBY-GI, $1,000,000, Parx Racing, 9-23, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:50.62, sy.
1–SAUDI CROWN, 120, c, 3, by Always Dreaming
                1st Dam: New Narration, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: New Normal, by Forestry
                3rd Dam: New Economy, by Red Ransom
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
   WIN. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-FMQ Stables; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Florent
Geroux. $546,000. Lifetime Record: 5-3-2-0, $817,085. Werk
   Nick Rating: A+. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dreamlike, 120, c, 3, Gun Runner–Time to Tap, by Tapit.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($975,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Repole
Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $182,000.
3–Il Miracolo, 124, c, 3, Gun Runner–Tapit's World, by Tapit.
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $190,000 RNA Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $70,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Eduardo Soto; B-Willow Oaks Stable LLC (KY); T-Antonio Sano. $91,000.
Margins: HF, 6, NK. Odds: 1.10, 7.80, 25.10.
Also Ran: Magic Tap, Crupi, Reincarnate, Gilmore, Daydreaming Boy, West Coast Cowboy, Scotland, Modern Era.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Ceiling Crusher Outguns Favored Pretty Mischievous in Cotillion

On paper, it appeared that Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), coming into Parx's GI Cotillion S. off three consecutive Grade I victories for Godolphin and Brendan Walsh, held her rivals over a barrel. Despite that fact, Ceiling Crusher (Mr. Big) took full advantage of the soggy, sealed track by going to the front and never looking back enroute to a narrow victory over the 2-1 Classic winner.

Breaking to the immediate inside of Pretty Mischievous, the 3-1 co-second choice flashed her usual early speed, leading Majestic Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) through an opening quarter in :23 1/5 as the favorite was taken back to sixth, over seven lengths behind the early pace. Continuing to show the way through a :47 3/5 half, the bay started to feel the pressure from behind as Hoosier Philly started to put the screws to her, while Pretty Mischievous also began to narrow the distance while slipping between rivals rounding the far turn. Three wide turning for home, Ceiling Crusher held a solid advantage over the wilting Hoosier Philly and Pretty Mischievous, who was fanned out even wider while inching closer to the front. Digging in for the run to the wire, Ceiling Crusher found her lead dwindling late as the Godolphin homebred closed with purpose, however, it was too little too late as the pacesetter held on collect her first Grade I victory by a half-length. Occult (Into Mischief) closed from the back to be third, 1 1/4 length behind the runner up.

“The question was if she could handle [the 1 1/16 miles],” said winning rider Edwin Maldonado. “We just let her kick on and do her thing. She's been running short and taking the lead sprinting, so I just needed a good break and we got a good break. The rest was her. I don't like any horses getting close to her. By the time they came at her at the three-eighths pole, I just went.”

Following the race, winning trainer Doug O'Neill acknowledged the race went according to script.

“She handled everything perfectly. Edwin has gotten to know her. She has no accelerator stuck to her at all. She is not a run-off. Being in the two-hole, he did not want to get caught up in a lot of traffic. He rode her away from there and I just thank God no one else went on a suicide mission to stop her. She has that high-cruising speed and she carried it all the way to the wire. She does not have a huge turn of foot. She has a high cruising speed, a grinder, a lot of heart. He used all that to a T.”

When asked what might be next for the filly, O'Neill added, “She is not nominated. It will be up to the guys and gals, if they want to write a big check. This was our Breeders' Cup. We looked at this on the calendar months ago and the fact that is coming true…this was our Breeders' Cup today.”

As for the beaten favorite's performance, Walsh opined, “A little disappointed in that she maybe didn't handle the track great initially. Tyler [Gaffalione] said as soon as she switched her leads down the back, he kind of felt her way back into the race. But you know, Doug's filly got the jump on us and she was gone. That's the way it goes I'm afraid.

“Listen, if she can at all make her run she always makes her run. She always gives it 110%. Anytime she has been beaten she hasn't been beaten far. You can't be disappointed in her, we're just a little disappointed in the circumstances. Hats off to Doug's filly, too. She took her opportunity, and she won the race. I'm not taking anything away from her.”

Ceiling Crusher built her reputation facing primarily Cal-breds, stringing together an impressive four-race win streak, highlighted by Santa Anita's Evening Jewel S. in April followed by the Melair S. May 28. Defeated for the first time in her career in the seven-furlong Fleet Treat S. at Del Mar July 27, the bay rebounded to post a front-running score at that seaside venue while facing opening company in the one-mile GIII Torrey Pines S. Sept. 2.

 

Pedigree Note
Ceiling Crusher is the most accomplished of seven foals by her dam Palisadesprincess, a half-sister to Grade II-placed Moana (Uncle Mo). This represents the extended family of Grade I winner Cotton Blossom and GSW Vicarage. The victory marks the initial Grade I winner for Ceiling Crusher's sire, Mr. Big.

 

Saturday, Parx Racing
COTILLION S.-GI, $1,000,000, Parx Racing, 9-23, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.69, sy.
1–CEILING CRUSHER, 124, f, 3, by Mr. Big
         1st Dam: Palisadesprincess, by Indian Charlie         
          2nd Dam: Dixietwostepper, by More Than Ready
          3rd Dam: Dixiechickadee, by Grindstone
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($22,000 Ylg '21 NCAAUG; $115,000 RNA 2yo '22 FTCAYR). O-Wonderland Racing Stables, LLC, Todd Cady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman; B-Harris Farms, Inc. (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill; J-Edwin A. Maldonado. $564,000. Lifetime Record: 7-6-0-1, $938,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Pretty Mischievous, 126, f, 3, by Into Mischief
          1st Dam: Pretty City Dancer (GISW, $286,344), by Tapit
          2nd Dam: Pretty City, by Carson City
          3rd Dam: Pretty Special, by Riverman
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $188,000.
3–Occult, 124, f, 3, by Into Mischief
          1st Dam: Magical Feeling (GSW & GISP, $554,532), by Empire Maker
          2nd Dam: Magical Mood (GB), by Forestry
          3rd Dam: Good Mood, by Devil's Bag
($625,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC; B-Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $94,000.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 3HF. Odds: 3.30, 2.10, 3.30.
Also Ran: Hoosier Philly, Defining Purpose, Foggy Night, Just Katherine, Majestic Creed, Imonra. Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuelTV.

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Saturday Preview: Parx Feature Marks Last Major Derby of the Year

For the connections of 11 3-year-olds, the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Saturday represents a last-ditch effort to pick up an elusive Derby win and while it's not the Derby win most started out the year in search of, the $1 million purse, Grade I status and strong history of past winners makes it a coveted race to win nonetheless.

Since Hall of Famer Woody Stephens trained Smarten (Cyane) to earn the inaugural Pennsylvania Derby trophy in 1979, a number of good 3-year-olds have also emerged from the nine-furlong feature victorious, including GI Preakness S. winner Summer Squall (Storm Bird) in 1990 and 1987 Canadian Horse of the Year Afleet (Mr. Prospector), as well as Dixieland Band (Northern Dancer), Skip Trial (Bailjumper), Wallenda (Gulch), Macho Uno (Holy Bull), Harlan's Holiday (Harlan), Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), Frosted (Tapit), West Coast (Flatter) and the recently retired Taiba (Gun Runner) a year ago.

In 1985, in what was one of the more memorable editions, GI Wood Memorial S. winner Broad Brush (Ack Ack), with Angel Cordero Jr. aboard on a beyond sloppy track, bolted toward the outside rail while on the lead past the quarter pole, gave up a dozen lengths into the top of the lane but made it all up in the stretch to win while racing closer to the outside rail than the inside rail.

Bayern (Offlee Wild) in 2014 and Macho Uno in 2000 are so far the only runners to complete the Pennsylvania Derby-Breeders' Cup Classic double. Will Take Charge in 2013 and West Coast in 2017 are so far the only two to be named the champion 3-year-old male after winning the Parx main event.

Bob Baffert has saddled four winners to lead all trainers and this year sends out Reincarnate (Good Magic) in his first start since capturing the Los Alamitos Derby 2 1/2 months ago. Regular rider Juan Hernandez will be at Parx to ride the colt, who drew the far outside post position, and is the slight morning line favorite at 3-1.

“We call him Moby Dick,” Baffert said of the big gray colt. “He is a big, strong white horse; he has the same coloring as Moby Dick.

“I have always been very high on the horse. We have always liked him. He is the kind of horse that will run up near the lead and be forwardly placed.”

Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) seeks an initial stakes score after a runner-up finish behind champion Forte (Violence) in the GII Jim Dandy S. last out at Saratoga two months ago. Brad Cox trains the colt, who was also second in the GIII Dwyer S. on July 1 at Belmont Park, for FMQ Stables.

“I love how he's doing,” Cox said “We've been pointing for this ever since he ran second [in the Dwyer} at Belmont.”

Todd Pletcher tightens the girth on a pair Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable runners in Dreamlike (Gun Runner) and Crupi (Curlin).

Dreamlike was third in a very tight finish in the GI Wood Memorial S. as a maiden in the spring and graduated to winner status in July on Saratoga's opening weekend, but was then a disappointing fifth as the 4-5 favorite in a first-level allowance race at Saratoga a month later. Crupi was seventh in the GII Risen Star S. and ninth in the Wood as a maiden earlier this spring, but is riding a two-race win streak including his maiden and an allowance company at Monmouth Park and Saratoga, respectively.

“They're both training well,” Pletcher said. “Dreamlike is coming off a little bit of a disappointing race, but he's always shown potential. Crupi is coming off a good effort. Considering those things, it's worth a swing.”

LNJ Foxwoods's homebred Scotland (Good Magic) is coming off a disappointing sixth-place finish in the muddy GI Travers S. in his graded stakes debut after winning three of his first four starts, including the Listed Curlin S. at Saratoga in July. Bill Mott trains the gelding, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado again.

West Coast Cowboy (West Coast), from the first crop of his Pennsylvania Derby-winning sire, was briefly on the GI Kentucky Derby trail earlier this year, finishing third in the GII Holy Bull S. and seventh in the GI Florida Derby. Saffie Joseph Jr.'s 31-1 chance Math Wizard (Algorithms) upset this race in 2019, the now significantly accomplished trainer's very first graded stakes winner.

“[West Coast Cowboy] is a big, strong horse that seems to be improving,” Joseph said. “He is not at the top level yet, but he seems to get better and better every time he runs.

“Sometimes you just have to take chances. Sometimes it works out, but most of the time it doesn't. You can't be afraid to run them in the race.”

Pretty Mischievous Stars in History-Rich Cotillion

Pretty Mischievous | Sarah K. Andrew

The GI Cotillion S., run every year except one since 1969, boasts some of the more notable sophomore filly names as past winners. The names of champions Shuvee (Nashua)–who won the inaugural running–Susan's Girl (Quadrangle), My Juliet (Gallant Romeo), Revidere (Reviewer), Ashado (Saint Ballado), Havre De Grace (Saint Liam), My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike), Untapable (Tapit), Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) are all listed in the history books.

 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) seeks a fourth straight Grade I win after taking the tragedy-marred GI Test S. at Saratoga last out. She also won the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds back in February. Tyler Gaffalione will ride for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“I was looking at her record the other day and it's unbelievable,” Walsh said of the Godolphin homebred. “It's a testament to her. Look, you have to have the ammunition, but it is a testament to her. I haven't had too many of them that have been able to keep it that consistent for that long. Generally, you hit some bump, or they'll back up, something. She's won seven of nine and the couple times she got beat she was second or third. It will be nice if we can pull it off again Saturday.”

Eight will try to take down the clear division leader, including California-bred shipper Ceiling Crusher (Mr. Big) from the Doug O'Neill barn. She is coming off a win in the GIII Torrey Pines S. at Del Mar three weeks ago and makes her first foray outside of the Golden State for the 1 1/16-mile main track affair.

“It is always a concern until you do it,” O'Neill said. “I had the great Lava Man, who was so brilliant in California, but once you had to sleep in another hotel room and try to perform on the road, he just couldn't do it. In my expectations, she ranks as one of the top 3-year-old fillies, but, until you do it against the best, on the road, it's all just hot air.”

Chad Brown will saddle GIII Monmouth Oaks winner Occult (Into Mischief) while Tom Amoss will sent out another good Into Mischief filly in the stakes-winning Hoosier Philly.

Pennsylvania Derby Undercard Loaded with Stakes

Three of the other ten stakes on the Parx Saturday card are graded, including the GIII Turf Monster, which the four-win streaking Roses For Debra (Liam's Map) for Christophe Clement in the five-furlong grass dash; GIII Brooklyn S. winner Next (Into Mischief) seeking a third straight stakes win in the grassy GII Greenwood Cup 1 1/2 -mile marathon; and the Steve Asmussen-trained GSW Ryvit (Competitive Edge) hoping to get back to winning in the GII Gallant Bob S. after a pair of disappointing fifth-place finishes in stakes company in his last two.

Dogwood Rounds Out Saturday Graded Stakes Action

Down further south at Churchill Downs, nine 3-year-old fillies will sprint the seven furlongs in the GIII Dogwood S. The lightly raced Yesternight (Midnight Storm) drew the rail and the role of 3-1 favorite after a second-place finish in the Cathryn Sophia S. at Parx in her black-type debut a month ago.

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What’s In A Name? Kenwick, Just F Y I, Gordian Knot, Praetorian Guard

The promising 2-eary-old filly Kenwick (Bernardini) may have won in Pennsylvania, but her pedigree shouts Lexington KY from the very rooftops of two local neighborhoods. Kenwick is a central residential area of the city, while Bell Court, as in the dam's name, is an almost adjacent zone, closer to downtown. Both areas have an Old America feel to them: nothing fake, nothing too gentrified, just authentic, with a touch of Thornton Wilder's “Our Town” ambiance. There is in fact a small theatre in the Bell House in Bell Court: the lovely Carriage House Theatre. Lexington visitors! The “Kenwick Table” locale on Owsley Road in Kenwick is the best for the weary traveler: coffee, live music (with an open mike on Monday evenings), beer & wine on the menu, two patios, out-of-this-world elegance – in a word: cool, like its equine namesake, who “got through a razor-thin hole” on the rail to go and win her race.

1st-Presque Isle Downs, $30,600, Msw, 9-5, 2yo, f, 6f (AWT), 1:12.44, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
KENWICK (f, 2, Bernardini–Bell Court, by Street Sense) O/B-Godolphin LLC (KY); T-Eoin G Harty.

The name of Saratoga winning filly Just F Y I (Justify) is a sort of an anagram (rearrangement of letters to form another name) of the moniker of her dad – which is kind of unusual and brave, and therefore worthy of praise. She won on her debut, so novelty and quality are part of her repertoire.

6th-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-26, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.06, ft, head.
JUST F Y I (f, 2, Justify–Star Act {SP, $147,605}, by Street Cry {Ire}). O/B-George Krikorian (KY); T-William I. Mott.

There was horseracing in antiquity, and there is antiquity in modern horseracing. So much so that a recent sprint stakes race at Parx Racing Aug. 22 produced a very classical exacta, with a close finish. The winner is called Gordian Knot (Social Inclusion), as in the famous head-scratching problem solved by Alexander The Great with a dramatic blow of his sword on his way to conquering Asia. The runner-up is named Praetorian Guard (Speightster), after the dangerous posse of Roman Emperors – made up of veteran bodyguards who on occasion became a mortal danger to the very ruler they were to protect. “No one reigns innocently”, as it has been said.

SALVATORE M. DEBUNDA SPRINT S., $75,000, Parx Racing, 8-22, 3yo, 6 1/2f, 1:19.83, ft.
1–GORDIAN KNOT, 126, g, 3, Social Inclusion-Mia,
by Put It Back. O-Joseph M. Imbesi. B- Mr. & Mrs. Joe Imbesi.
T-Guadalupe Preciado. $43,200. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-1,
$386,960.
2–Praetorian Guard, 121, g, 3, Speightster–Super Shopper,
by Super Saver. ($25,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Conway Racing
LLC (Mark Conway), Over The Moon Racing and Innovest BC
LLC; B-Jimmy L. Gladwell, III (KY); T-Louis C. Linder, Jr. $14,400.

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