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Wanamaker’s Releases February Catalogue

Wanamaker's has released the catalogue for its Feb. 25 online auction. Highlights from the catalogue include Don't Blame Judy (Blame), a multiple stakes-placed racing or broodmare prospect and Newyearsblockparty (New Year's Day), a 3-year-old

colt who was most recently second behind Nova Rags (Union Rags) in the Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

The catalogue also contains a number of horses who are being offered by Maccabee Farm, marking the beginning of the dispersal of the majority of the farm's bloodstock.

The remainder of the catalogue can be found at wanamakers.com.

Live bidding will open at 8 a.m. ET Feb. 25 and the first listing will close at 5 p.m., with subsequent listings ending in three-minute increments. Detailed buying information can be

found at wanamakers.com/buy.

The post Wanamaker’s Releases February Catalogue appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Nova Rags, Candy Man Rocket Give Mott One-Two Punch In Sam F. Davis Stakes

Nova Rags, who won the Pasco Stakes on Jan. 16, and Candy Man Rocket, a runaway winner of a maiden special weight sprint on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream, give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a formidable pair of contenders in Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, the main event of Festival Preview Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South at Tampa Bay Downs.

Nova Rags will again be ridden by leading Oldsmar jockey Samy Camacho. Mott has named Junior Alvarado to ride Candy Man Rocket. The 41st running of the mile-and-a-sixteenth race on the main track, which awards “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying points to the first four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale, has drawn an overflow field of 13 3-year-olds, with maiden Tiz Tact Toe on the also-eligible list.

Mott may have rival trainer Todd Pletcher to beat. Pletcher, who has won a record six Sam F. Davis Stakes, will go for No. 7 with Donegal Racing's colt Millean and St. Elias Stables' Known Agenda, who finished third in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct.

The Sam F. Davis, scheduled as the 11th race on a 12-race card beginning at 11:50 a.m., is one of four stakes offering an aggregate $750,000 in stakes purse money.

Saturday's 35th running of the Grade 3, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes, for horses 4-years-old-and-upward going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf, is scheduled as the eighth race. A field of 12 older horses is expected, headed by 4-year-old gelding Sole Volante, last year's Sam F. Davis Stakes winner, and Grade 2-winning 4-year-old colt Fancy Liquor.

Sole Volante is trained by Patrick Biancone and will be ridden by Robby Albarado. Fancy Liquor is trained by Michael Maker and will have Hector Diaz, Jr., in the saddle.

The 22nd edition of the Grade 3, $175,000 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes, for fillies and mares 4-and-upward racing a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf, has attracted eight entries and is scheduled as the 10th race. Heading the field are 4-year-old filly New York Girl, an Irish-bred who won her first start in the United States on Dec. 31 at Gulfstream, and Counterparty Risk, a game second in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

New York Girl is trained by Mott and will be ridden by Junior Alvarado. Chad Brown conditions Counterparty Risk, who will be ridden by John Velazquez.

The other stakes is the 41st running of the $150,000 Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies traveling a mile-and-40-yards on the main track. The Suncoast, which lured 10 entries, is the ninth race on the card.

Among the likely contenders are Special Princess, who dead-heated for victory in the Gasparilla Stakes here on Jan. 16, and Feeling Mischief, who captured the Sandpiper Stakes here on Dec. 5 before settling for third in the Gasparilla.

Ademar Santos will ride Special Princess for trainer Walter Woodard. Jesus Castanon will be aboard Feeling Mischief for trainer Michael Campbell. Another probable contender is trainer Rodolphe Brisset's Gulf Coast, to be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

Here is the full field for the Sam F. Davis Stakes in post position order, followed by trainer and jockey:

1. Hidden Stash, Victoria Oliver, Hector Diaz, Jr. 2. Joe Man Joe, David Fisher, Huber Villa-Gomez. 3. Known Agenda, Todd Pletcher, John Velazquez. 4. Millean, Todd Pletcher, Roberto Alvarado, Jr. 5. Smiley Sobotka, Dale Romans, Daniel Centeno. 6. Runway Magic, George “Rusty” Arnold, II, Julien Leparoux. 7. Boca Boy, Cheryl Winebaugh, Antonio Gallardo. 8. Nova Rags, Bill Mott, Samy Camacho. 9. Candy Man Rocket, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado. 10. Ricochet, Kelsey Danner, Jesus Castanon. 11. Lucky Law, Patrick Biancone, Robby Albarado. 12. Last Investment, Stacy Lane Hendry, Ademar Santos. 13 (also eligible, draws in if there is a late scratch): Tiz Tact Toe, Robert B. Hess, Jr., Alonso Quinonez.

Here is the full field for the Tampa Bay Stakes in post position order, followed by trainer and jockey:

1. Atone, Eoin Harty, Tomas Mejia. 2. Admission Office, Brian Lynch, Julien Leparoux. 3. Get Smokin, Thomas Bush, Julien Leparoux. 4. Talk Or Listen, Arnaud Delacour, Daniel Centeno. 5. Delaware, Chad Brown, Antonio Gallardo. 6. Proven Strategies, Mark Casse, Jose Ferrer. 7. By Your Side, Michael Maker, Jesus Castanon. 8. Eons, Arnaud Delacour, Samy Camacho. 9. Sole Volante, Patrick Biancone, Robby Albarado. 10. Fancy Liquor, Michael Maker, Hector Diaz, Jr. 11. Armistice Day, Barbara Minshall, Roberto Alvarado, Jr. 12. Greyes Creek, Chad Brown, John Velazquez.

Here is the full field for the Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes in post position order, followed by trainer and jockey:

1. Margaret's Joy, Michelle Nihei, Ronnie Allen, Jr. 2. Logic N Reason, Christophe Clement, Samy Camacho. 3. No Mercey Percy, Rafael Schistl, Ademar Santos. 4. Eres Tu (main track only), Arnaud Delacour, Samy Camacho. 5. Counterparty Risk, Chad Brown, John Velazquez. 6. New York Girl, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado. 7. Kelsey's Cross, Patrick Biancone, Robby Albarado. 8. Irony of Reality, Ron G. Potts, Huber Villa-Gomez.

Here is the full field for the Suncoast Stakes in post position order, followed by trainer and jockey:

1. Roll Up Mo Money, Ken McPeek, Samy Camacho. 2. Feeling Mischief, Michael Campbell, Jesus Castanon. 3. Jade Empress, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado. 4. Curlin's Catch, Mark Casse, Antonio Gallardo. 5. Honorifique, Eddie Kenneally, John Velazquez. 6. Scenic Overlook, Eoin Harty, Alonso Quinonez. 7. Gulf Coast, Rodolphe Brisset, Julien Leparoux. 8. Be Sneaky, Arnaud Delacour, Hector Diaz, Jr. 9. Il Malocchio, Ken McPeek, Robby Albarado. 10. Special Princess, Walter Woodard, Ademar Santos.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Tampa Bay Downs is limiting general-admission attendance for the Festival Preview Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South card to 2,500 spectators. Tickets, which are $10 each plus a service fee, are being sold online through Eventbrite.com and at the program stands.

Horsemen, box-seat holders and season-ticket holders do not need to purchase tickets, but must present their passes at the gate to gain admittance.

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis unless patrons have prior arrangements in the Skye Terrace Dining Room, Sports Gallery, Clubhouse Carrels or Legends Bar, but the purchase of a general-admission ticket is still required to gain admittance.

The track is also selling a limited number of tables in the Backyard Picnic Area for $50 each plus a service fee; that price includes admission for six people.

Here is the link for Festival Preview Day 41 tickets and picnic-area seating:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-preview-day-41-presented-by-lambholm-south-tickets-135338604409

Everyone will be required to wear masks or face coverings and maintain appropriate social distancing.

The post Nova Rags, Candy Man Rocket Give Mott One-Two Punch In Sam F. Davis Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Tampa Bay Downs: Union Rags Colt Nova Rags Rallies To Win Pasco For Mott

Leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho welcomed the chance to ride the Pasco Stakes favorite, 3-year-old colt Nova Rags, for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. But when 16-1 shot Newyearsblockparty took the lead turning for home, Camacho realized translating opportunity to success was no easy bargain.

“I was a little worried at the three-eighths pole, because (Newyearsblockparty) was going between horses and I had to start working,” Camacho said after posting a 2 ¾-length victory aboard the 13-10 favorite at the Oldsmar, Fla., track. “But I hit him once at the top of the stretch and he responded, and when he switched leads in the stretch it was 'Bye.'”

Nova Rags completed the seven-furlong distance of the $125,000 Pasco Stakes in 1:24.55 on a fast track. Newyearsblockparty continued on willingly under jockey Jose Ferrer, finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Foreman in the 23rd running of the 3-year-old event.

The victory was the second from three lifetime starts for the Michael Shanley-bred and owned Nova Rags, who showed signs he will enjoy going even farther as he continues his development.

Nova Rags' performance was one of numerous highlights on a partly sunny, windy Skyway Festival Day afternoon. In the previous race, the 37th running of the $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Special Princess staged a whirlwind rally on the outside to forge a dead heat with pace-setter Adios Trippi.

Both Special Princess and Adios Trippi are Florida-breds, meaning both earned $32,500 through additional money provided by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Special Princess, bred and owned by J D Farms and trained by Walter Woodard, was ridden by Ademar Santos.

Adios Trippi, who is owned in partnership by Paradise Farms Corp., Brian Hanley, Greg Boyer, Scott Estes and Walder Racing, is trained by Peter Walder and was ridden by Antonio Gallardo.

The co-winners finished in a time of 1:24.89. Feeling Mischief, the betting favorite, flattened out through the stretch, finishing third.

In the third main-track stakes on the card, the 37^th running of the $50,000 Wayward Lass for older fillies and mares, heavy favorite Lucky Stride wore down her competition to post a 2 ¼-length victory from On the Town. Estilo Talentoso finished third.

Gallardo rode Lucky Stride for owner Sonata Stable and trainer Michael Trombetta. The winner's time was 1:44.24, .97 seconds off the stakes record set in 2019 by Tapa Tapa Tapa.

Meanwhile, the Pasco victory by Nova Rags, a son of Union Rags out of the Smart Strike mare Wishful Splendor, should open more doors for the colt who finished fourth in his previous start, the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct in November. “It's what we were hoping for,” said Mott's assistant, Mark Schreiber. “His last race was a little disappointing, but he was kind of shying from horses on the outside of him and he needed to mature a little.

“Samy rode him perfectly today and it looks like he will stretch out. All along, Bill (Mott) saw a lot in this horse,” Schreiber said.

All of the winning connections were ecstatic after the Gasparilla, even though a solo victory is always preferable. The victory was the first career stakes triumph for Woodard and the first stakes triumph at Tampa Bay Downs for Santos.

“This puts me on the map,” Woodard exulted. “I told everyone before the race they were going to know (Special Princess) was there, and Ademar did a hell of a job. She's really come into herself and I was very confident coming into the race.”

Santos was riding Special Princess for the first time, but he'd noticed she had started slow in her two previous Oldsmar starts and suggested to Woodard they work her from the starting gate a few days before the race to put more speed into her. “She broke a lot better today and got the job done,” Santos said. “I thought we beat (Adios Trippi), but it feels good because you don't have too many chances to ride this kind of horse. I told the pony rider to turn her loose in the post parade and she put her head down and got busy, and I knew she had her mind on business.”

Woodard and Santos had teamed to win the previous race on the card, the fifth, with 3-year-old claiming filly Peaceful Way, also owned by J D Farms.

Walder, who engineered the private purchase of Adios Trippi after her impressive maiden score Oct. 5 at Parx Racing in Philadelphia, was, like Woodard, just this side of over the moon after the result was posted.

“This is the happiest I've ever been for a dead-heat. I thought (Special Princess) nailed her, but my filly ran an awesome race because she took the beating up front (posting demanding fractions of 22.57 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 45.65 for the half),” Walder said.

“She just ran against a tough group at Gulfstream two weeks ago (finishing third in the Cash Run Stakes) and it was kind of a quick turnaround, but I liked the idea of wheeling her back from a mile to seven furlongs. She's getting better with each race,” Walder said.

Gallardo shared Walder's excitement. “She did the job, and it's better than second,” he said.

Lucky Stride improved to 9-for-16 with her Wayward Lass victory. “She hasn't done a darn thing wrong since we got her,” said Trombetta, who watched from Gulfstream Park. He had taken over her training last summer but had yet to win with her in four starts, all in stakes competition. “We tried her on turf a couple of times and she did fine, but we'd put this race on the calendar a while back and it worked out.”

Lucky Stride, who trailed by as much as 11 or 12 lengths in the early going, benefited from a quick pace set by long shot No Mercy Percy (who held on well for fourth), but Gallardo wasn't sure if she would get the job done as On the Town and Estilo Talentoso both finished with good energy. “I had to work with her. Michael told me she was kind of a one-paced horse, and I had to stay on top of her the whole time. But when I put her in the clear, she finished strong,” Gallardo said.

“She got floated out so wide on the turn, I was worried she wouldn't be able to get there,” Trombetta said. “It was very nice to see her finish so well.”

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Could Pasco, Gasparilla At Tampa Bay Downs Serve As Launch Pad For Future Sophomore Stars?

The winner of last year's $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Mark Casse's Florida-bred Two Sixty, added to her laurels in July with a front-running victory in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine.

But it was fifth-place Gasparilla finisher Swiss Skydiver who just about set the horse racing world on fire last Jan. 18.

After missing the Tampa Bay Downs winner's circle in Oldsmar, Fla., by less than a length (her Equibase chart comment read, in part, “…was urged to challenge the winner four wide between foes leaving mid-stretch but was floated out by that foe late while losing her momentum and just missing for a share”), Swiss Skydiver put together a season that made her one of the most popular horses in training and the favorite for an Eclipse Award as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

Under the guidance of trainer Ken McPeek, Swiss Skydiver won five graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Preakness – beating the probable Horse of the Year Authentic – and the G1 Alabama.

Such reflection is a roundabout way of suggesting that Saturday's seven-furlong Gasparilla and the $125,000, seven-furlong Pasco Stakes for 3-year-old males could produce one or more runners fans will be talking about deep into 2021 and beyond.

Saturday's 11-race Skyway Festival Day card, which also includes the $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes for older fillies and mares racing a mile-and-a-sixteenth, begins at 12:10 p.m.

Seven sophomore fillies are entered in the Gasparilla, which is the sixth race on the card. The field includes Feeling Mischief, who returns to competition after winning the six-furlong Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 5. She is trained by Michael B. Campbell and will be ridden again by Jesus Castanon. Trainer Tim Hamm has two entries: Charge It All, who won a local allowance/optional claiming race on Dec. 20, and Make a Scene, who broke her maiden in Oldsmar on Dec. 26. Wilmer Garcia rides Charge It All and Roberto Alvarado, Jr., is named on Make a Scene.

For some entrants, the Gasparilla is intended as a prep race for the $150,000, mile-and-40-yard Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 6. The first four finishers in the Suncoast earn “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” qualifying points.

There are eight sophomore colts and geldings entered in the Pasco, which is the seventh race on the card. The field includes Nova Rags, a colt from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Nova Rags broke his maiden on Oct. 10 at Belmont and finished fourth on Nov. 8 in the G3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct. Leading Oldsmar jockey Samy Camacho will be the rider.

Others to watch include The Distractor, a stakes-placed gelding trained by Kathleen O'Connell, and Newyearsblockparty, a supplemental entry trained by Anthony Pecoraro. Hector Diaz, Jr., will ride The Distractor and Jose Ferrer will be on Newyearsblockparty.

The Pasco, for some, is a prep for the G3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 6; the Sam F. Davis is a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race.

The 2019 Pasco winner, a Florida-bred named Win Win Win, has also burnished his resume since setting the still-standing track record of 1:20.89 for the seven-furlong Pasco trip two years ago. The final start of his career, in the G1 Forego Stakes in August at Saratoga, resulted in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory.

Throw in such previous winners as Catalina Red (2015), Dynamic Sky (2013), Prospective (2012) and Musket Man (2009), and it's apparent many top horsemen look upon the Pasco as a launching pad for horses they hope will take them places throughout the year.

So although you haven't heard much from any of the 3-year-olds set to perform Saturday, it's a safe assumption the best days are ahead for a select few.

Or, as Yogi Berra (the baseball player, not the horse) might have said, you never know until you find out.

Nine older fillies and mares are entered in the Wayward Lass, slated as the ninth race. Estilo Talentoso, a 4-year-old owned and trained by Juan Arriagada, returns to competition for the first time since her victory on Aug. 20 in the Escena Stakes at Gulfstream. She has finished first or second in eight of her nine starts. Jose Batista is the jockey.

On the Town, a 5-year-old mare from the barn of Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, and Lucky Stride, a 5-year-old trained by Michael Trombetta, should also be competitive. Diaz has the assignment aboard On the Town and Antonio Gallardo rides Lucky Stride.

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