Phil D'Amato | Horse Racing Free Tips

D’Amato Looking For Another Good Effort From Cathkin Peak In Twilight Derby

Phil D'Amato expects another solid performance from Cathkin Peak in next Sunday's closing-day feature, the Grade 2 Twilight Derby for three-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Another in the trainer's imported “Irish Army,” Cathkin Peak is a gelded son of Alhebayeb that was an eventful fourth last out in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby, closing resolutely despite lacking room in deep stretch, beaten just a length and a quarter by California-bred None Above the Law, who will be a favorite in the Twilight Derby trained by Peter Miller.

“He had traffic problems, nowhere to go (in the Del Mar Derby),” D'Amato said. “Hopefully, we'll regroup. He's ready for the test even though this will be an even tougher race.”

Jose Valdivia Jr., who was aboard in the Del Mar Derby, retains the mount.

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Into Mischief Filly Makes It Look Easy In Chandelier Stakes; Juvenile Fillies Next Stop

With favored Grace Adler in deep water around the far turn, trainer Phil D'Amato's Ain't Easy was running comfortably on the lead and was never threatened en route to a 4 ¾-length score in the Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Joel Rosario, Ain't Easy got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:45.20.

A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, Ain't Easy will get a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Breaking sharply from post position two, Ain't Easy was a bit keen around the Club House turn as she tucked in a close third behind pacesetter Electric Ride, who she overtook by a half length at the three-furlong marker. Leading by about four lengths at the three sixteenths pole, Ain't Easy won geared down in a most impressive effort.

A first out maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs with Rosario Aug. 21 at Del Mar, Ain't Easy, a daughter of Into Mischief, was off 7-2 and paid $9.00, $4.00 and $3.20.

Owned by Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Michael Lombardi and Joey Platts, Ain't Easy, who is out of the Australian-bred mare Ameristralia, picked up $120,000 for the win and now has earnings of $162,000.

“She acted very professional, sitting behind horses,” said D'Amato. “'When Joel (Rosario) wanted to, she came up the inside, which I like to see with a young horse. She just looked like she was having fun in the stretch. I think it set up perfect. A good two-turn experience, confidence booster, an easy win, where it didn't look like she was taxed too much, so I like everything I saw right now.

Ain't Easy was bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm and sold for $400,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Electric Ride, off at 6-1 with Joe Bravo, finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Desert Dawn and paid $7.00 and $4.80.

Off at 31-1 with Ricky Gonzalez, Desert Dawn paid $7.60 to show.

Grace Adler, off at 4-5, finished a well beaten fifth.

Fractions on the race were 23.56, 47.99, 1:12.16 and 1:37.98.

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Easy Money in Chandelier

'TDN Rising Star' Ain't Easy (f, 2, Into Mischief–Ameristralia {Aus}, by Fastnet Rock {Aus}) put on a show to remain unbeaten while punching her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in Friday's 'Win and You're In' GII Chandelier S. at Santa Anita.

Electric Ride (Daredevil), a runaway debut winner at Del Mar Aug. 28, was second; second out Del Mar maiden winner Desert Dawn (Cupid) was third. Heavily favored GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. heroine Grace Adler (Curlin) never factored while fifth.

Ain't Easy, a sharp 5 1/4-length debut winner going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 21, raced in a joint- second under a snug hold on the inside rounding the clubhouse turn in this two-turn debut. Joel Rosario sent her through an inviting opening along the inside to challenge for command at the half-mile marker. The 7-2 chance began to let it out a notch a quarter of a mile from home and wasn't for catching from there, scoring by 4 3/4 good-looking lengths.

“She acted very professional, sitting behind horses,” said winning trainer Phil D'Amato, who also saddled the third-place finisher. “When Joel [Rosario] wanted to, she came up the inside, which I like to see with a young horse. She just looked like she was having fun in the stretch. I think it set up perfect. A good two-turn experience, confidence booster, an easy win, where it didn't look like she was taxed too much, so I like everything I saw right now.”

Pedigree Notes:

Ain't Easy becomes the 100th stakes winner/45th graded winner for her all-conquering sire Into Mischief. The winner's dam–Group 3-placed sprinting on the lawn in Australia and a full-sister to Japanese MGSW Fiano Romano (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})–is also responsible for a colt by Bolt d'Oro of 2020 and a filly by Mendelssohn of this year. She was bred back to Vino Rosso. Ain't Easy's second dam Heart Ashley (Lion Heart) was a two-time Grade III winner and brought $500,000 from James Bester, agent, at the 2010 KEENOV sale. This is also the female family of GI Cold Cup at Santa Anita S. winner and young sire Cupid (Tapit).

Friday, Santa Anita
CHANDELIER S.-GII, $201,000, Santa Anita, 10-1, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.20, ft.
1–AIN'T EASY, 122, f, 2, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Ameristralia (Aus) (GSP-Aus, $103,115), by
                                Fastnet Rock (Aus)
                2nd Dam: Heart Ashley, by Lion Heart
                3rd Dam: Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($400,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Michael V.
Lombardi & Joey Platts; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Philip
D'Amato; J-Joel Rosario. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0,
$162,000. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Electric Ride, 122, f, 2, Daredevil–Why Oh You, by Yes It's
True. ($130,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT; $250,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR).
O-Talla Racing LLC; B-St. Simon Place (IN); T-John W. Sadler.
$40,000.
3–Desert Dawn, 122, f, 2, Cupid–Ashley's Glory, by Honour and
Glory. ($32,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O/B-H & E Ranch (AZ);
T-Philip D'Amato. $24,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 1 1/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 3.50, 5.00, 31.20.
Also Ran: Censorship, Grace Adler, Dance to the Music, Elm Drive. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Grace Adler Headlines Chandelier

Grace Adler (Curlin) looks to take her record to three-for-three and provide Hall of Famer Bob Baffert with his 12th victory in Santa Anita's GII Chandelier S. Friday, a “Win and You're in Event” for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November. A debut winner at Del Mar July 31, the $700,000 FTKSEL purchase already secured her spot in the gate for the World Championships with a dominant late-running score in the Sept. 5 GI Del Mar Debutante S., which she won by 11 1/4 lengths over Dance to the Music (Maclean's Music). The chestnut did get the perfect set up that day–with a trio of speedsters leading to a pace collapse–but there is enough speed signed on here to give her a similar set up. This is Grace Adler's first try around two turns, but she is bred to run all day and her performance last out over seven furlongs suggested added distance would be no issue. Baffert–whose 12 wins in this event include five of the last nine renewals–also saddles a maiden of three starts in Censorship (Tonalist), who was second to Desert Dawn (Cupid) last out going a mile at Del Mar Aug. 26.

Several flashy first-out winners take on the more accomplished favorite here, including 'TDN Rising Stars' Electric Ride (Daredevil) and Ain't Easy (Into Mischief). Trained by John Sadler, Electric Ride pressed the pace early and blew her rivals away in the lane for an 8 1/2-length graduation in her six-panel unveiling at Del Mar Aug. 28, earning an 85 Beyer Speed Figure. A $400,000 KEESEP acquisition, the Phil D'Amato-trained Ain't Easy bided her time in mid-pack early, circled the field turning for home and charged clear to don cap and gown by 5 1/4 lengths in her sprint debut in SoCal Aug. 21. D'Amato also sends out GII Sorrento S. winner Elm Drive (Mohaymen), who was part of the early pace duel in the Del Mar Debutante and paid the price, fading to seventh.

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