pat day mile | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jackie’s Warrior Faces ‘Rising Star’ Challenge in Pat Day Mile

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) returns to one turn for the first time since winning the GI Champagne S. last October as the likely favorite in Saturday's GII Pat Day Mile beneath the Twin Spires.

A $95,000 Keeneland September purchase, Jackie's Warrior is perfect in four starts up to a mile, having stamped himself as the leader of his generation with powerful front-running victories in the GII Saratoga Special S. and GI Hopeful S. ahead of a 5 1/2-length tally in the Champagne that made him the one to beat in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In close attendance to a very demanding pace on Breeders' Cup Friday, the scopey bay colt poked a head in front between calls in the final stages, but weakened last to finish fourth, beaten just over three lengths behind champion Essential Quality (Tapit), in an effort better than it looks on paper. Connections understandably gave him one more chance to board the Triple Crown train in the GIII Southwest S. over a sloppy Oaklawn strip Feb. 27, but he tired after getting things very much his own way up front and checked in a distant eighth.

Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro) defeated next-out Keeneland maiden romper and Justify (Scat Daddy)'s 'Rising Star' half-brother Stage Raider (Pioneerof the Nile) by 8 1/2 lengths to graduate first time out over seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23. The homebred validated 1-10 favoritism in a one-mile allowance in Hallandale Mar. 11, but he wasn't quite ready for prime time when sixth, beaten five lengths, behind the Todd Pletcher-trained, Derby-bound duo of Bourbonic (Bernardini) and Dynamic One (Union Rags) in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 3. Prevalence worked a bullet three furlongs in :35 2/5 (1/5) over the Churchill main track Apr. 24.

Dream Shake (Twirling Candy) caused a bit of a dust-up in his career debut, winning by 4 3/4 lengths at 20-1 and earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure in a 'Rising Star'-worthy performance. Third to fellow 'Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. and to Derby second choice Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Santa Anita Derby, he, too, can benefit from this cutback in distance.

This race has been known to toss up the occasional long-priced winner and Sittin On Go (Brody's Cause) could be a live outsider. A debut graduate sprinting at Ellis Park last August, he defeated Derby entrants Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) and Super Stock (Dialed In) to upset the GIII Iroquois S. over course and distance on the Derby undercard last September. Beaten nearly 50 lengths combined in his last three tries around two turns, the chestnut will try to make a run from out of it in a race that appears to be loaded with speed.

The post Jackie’s Warrior Faces ‘Rising Star’ Challenge in Pat Day Mile appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Jackie’s Warrior Shortens Up, Faces Prevalence In Pat Day Mile

Kirk and Judy Robison's two-time Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior tops a field of a dozen 3-year-olds for Saturday's 97th running of the Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (G2) at Churchill Downs, on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby.

The main track test will go as Saturday's eighth race with a 2:48 p.m. post time.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Jackie's Warrior won his first four starts, a streak that included daylight victories in the Saratoga Special (G2), Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1). Jackie's Warrior finished third behind Essential Quality over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park in the Southwest (G3) in his lone start of 2021.

Joel Rosario has the mount and will exit post three.

Figuring to be one of the main challengers to Jackie's Warrior is Godolphin's homebred Prevalence.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Prevalence started his career with two blowout victories before finishing sixth in the Wood Memorial (G2) in his most recent start. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount from post five.

The field for the Pat Day Mile, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

Three Two Zone (Kendrick Carmouche, 118 pounds)
Ultimate Badger (Joe Talamo, 118)
Jackie's Warrior (Rosario, 122)
Defunded (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
Prevalence (Gaffalione, 118)
Starrininmydreams (Luis Saez, 118)
Whiskey Double (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118)
Dream Shake (Flavien Prat, 118)
Sittin On Go (Corey Lanerie, 118)
Dreamer's Disease (David Cohen, 118)
Noble Reflection (John Velazquez, 118)
Joe Frazier (Florent Geroux, 118)

The post Jackie’s Warrior Shortens Up, Faces Prevalence In Pat Day Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

McCarthy: Oaklawn Mile Could Propel Rushie To ‘Bigger And Better Things’

Southern California-based trainer Michael McCarthy will try to pad his sparkling Oaklawn resume when Rushie makes his 4-year-old debut in Saturday's $400,000 Oaklawn Mile for older horses.

McCarthy, a former Todd Pletcher assistant, has won half of his eight career Oaklawn starts, including the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses in 2018 with City of Light and last year's $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares with Ce Ce.

Rushie is a winner in Hot Springs, too, claiming a closing-day first-level allowance route last year when McCarthy sent a handful of promising young horses to Oaklawn late in the meeting after racing in California was shuttered (COVID-19).

Rushie went on to capture the $500,000 Pat Day Mile (G2) for 3-year-olds Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs and will be making his first start since finishing seventh in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. It was his first race against older horses.

“Had himself a nice break, 60-day break, after the Breeders' Cup,” McCarthy said Tuesday afternoon. “Horse has come to hand quickly. A spot like this for $400,000 over a racetrack we know he likes seemed to make sense and possibly propel him on to some bigger and better things here later in the year, hopefully.”

The consistent Rushie – first, second or third in 6 of 8 lifetime starts – competed against many of the country's top 3-year-olds last year, including Authentic, Swiss Skydiver, Charlatan, Honor A. P. and Art Collector.

Rushie's three victories have been at a mile or a mile and a sixteenth, but McCarthy said he believes the colt may be able to effectively handle longer distances later in 2021. The hope, McCarthy said, is in “bigger races going a little bit farther than at a mile.”

“I don't think a mile and an eighth is going to be a problem,” McCarthy said. “Hopefully in the fall of the year he's able to get a mile and a quarter. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Obviously, Pat Day Mile, one-turn mile, he was very good. He was good there around two turns. He's won at 3 of 4 racetracks that he's gone to, so I'm good with it. We've got plenty of options in front of us. If he stays healthy, he'll dictate where we go.”

From the first crop of Grade 1 winner Liam's Map, Rushie has earned $503,151 for owners Jim and Donna Daniell.

The projected nine-horse Oaklawn Mile field from the rail out: Long Range Toddy, Jon Court to ride, 117 pounds; Gun It, Ricardo Santana Jr., 117; Wells Bayou, Florent Geroux, 124; Rushie, Joel Rosario, 124; Blackberry Wine, David Cabrera, 121; By My Standards, Gabriel Saez, 124; Pioneer Spirit, Ramon Vazquez, 124; Home Base, Francisco Arrieta, 117; and The Sound, Martin Garcia, 121.

Long Range Toddy (first division of the 2019 Rebel at Oaklawn), Wells Bayou (2020 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds) and By My Standards (2020 Oaklawn Handicap) are also Grade 2 winners.

Probable post time for the Oaklawn Mile, which goes as the ninth of 13 races, is 4:49 p.m. (Central). Last year's Oaklawn Mile runner-up, Improbable, went on to capture three Grade 1 events and was named the country's champion older dirt male.

The post McCarthy: Oaklawn Mile Could Propel Rushie To ‘Bigger And Better Things’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rushie Finds His Stride At Shorter Distance In Grade 2 Pat Day Mile

Formerly a contender for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, Rushie demonstrated a propensity for shorter distances in his decisive victory in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on Saturday at Churchill Downs. Jockey Javier Castellano kept the gray off early pacesetters Vertical Threat and Tap It to Win throughout the backstretch.

In his last start, a third in the Grade 2 Blue Grass, part of Rushie's finish could be attributed to his wide trip but in Saturday's race, his position sitting three wide throughout the Pat Day Mile did not take the bite out of his closing kick. Rushie and Castellano drew even with the early leaders and emerged from the final turn moving forward, holding off a late run from Sonneman at the wire.

Tap It To Win held on for third.

Rushie paid $7.80 to win. The final time for the mile was 1:34.41.

Michael McCarthy trains Rushie for Jim and Donna Daniell. He also has a third-place finish behind Honor A.P. in the G1 Santa Anita Derby earlier this summer.

Ocala Stud bred the son of Liam's Map and Colonel John mare Conquest Angel. Rushie was a $70,000 juvenile purchase by West Bloodstock out of the 2019 OBS March Sale, where he was consigned by Ocala Stud.

See the full chart here.

PAT DAY MILE QUOTES, courtesy Churchill Downs media office

Javier Castellano (winning rider, Rushie) — “I had the perfect trip. I was outside and took advantage of it. The way the race developed it was perfect, it was what I was looking for today. We sat two or three lengths off the pace and I kept track of those horses. When we turned for home, I asked him and the horse responded so well. I think the mile was perfect today for the horse. I'm glad we got it done.”

Michael McCarthy (winning trainer, Rushie) — “Part of me wanted to go with the Derby. The horse was training well all along but I can't thank the owners enough for supporting me. We ended up in the Pat Day Mile and were rewarded with a great effort. Hopefully this race sets us up for a solid fall campaign. I'm not sure which way we go from here. It's been a long day and a tough day yesterday in the Oaks (with Speech) so we're just going to savor this one and see what happens down the road.”

Manny Franco (rider, Sonneman, second) — “I'm really happy with the way he finished. Steve (Asmussen) has done a great job with him. I'm just happy with second. It changed the race (with the scratches of Cezanne and No Parole) because we thought there was going to be more pace in front. With the scratches, it wasn't too fast early.”

Steve Asmussen (trainer runner-up Sonneman and fifth-place finisher Echo Town): “The race didn't set up the way either one of them needed. Echo Town was kind of boxed in there, and then going too slow and then held up. Not ideal for him. Sonneman had trained really well and deserved the chance. But he'd have benefited from more pace as well. I think the two scratches really distorted the race.”

John Velazquez (rider, Tap It to Win, third) — “I thought he ran really well. I was hoping he held on for second but that's all he gave me. I was sitting perfect. I know the horse inside (Vertical Threat) had a little bit of speed so I could concede off him. He sat well, really nice and eventually when they came to me at the three-eighths pole I tried to hurry up and tried to keep my head in front of the other horse (Rushie) but he had too much horse.”

The post Rushie Finds His Stride At Shorter Distance In Grade 2 Pat Day Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post