Tag: Pimlico

Ryvit Takes Chick Lang, Favored Havnameltdown Euthanized

The day's graded stakes action at Pimlico got off inauspicious start with the injury and subsequent euthanasia of 4-5 choice Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) in the GIII Chick Lang S. Havnameltdown appeared flat-footed at the start but sped into contention as 5-1 Ryvit (Competitive Edge) assumed the helm through a :22.23 opening quarter. Exiting the far turn, the favorite took a bad step, unseating jockey Luis Saez and leaving the frontrunner in the clear as 5-2 second choice Super Chow (Lord Nelson) found himself in a very wide second. Several lengths ahead as Super Chow began his backward retreat straightening for home, the Steve Asmussen trainee remained clear of the closing Prince of Jericho (Munnings). Frosted Departure (Frosted) was a distant third.

This season's GII San Vincente S. and GIII Bob Hope S. winner was euthanized, while jockey Luis Saez was taken to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore for further evaluation. He was stable and conscious upon his departure from the track.

Ryvit's regular rider, Steve Asmussen's son Keith, was unable to ride the colt Saturday due to injury. When asked if the winb was bitterwseet, the elder Asmussen said, “No. It's great that the horse won and proved himself. I think it's unfortunate that Keith broke his finger on Thursday. I'm proud of him for making the decision of putting the horse in front of himself. I think it says a lot and proves who he is. Somehow, I think he'll have plenty of my support when he comes back.”

According to winning rider Tyler Gaffalione, “That was very unfortunate and hopefully, Luis [Saez] is okay. We were kind of heads up, and he just kind of disappeared. I looked back and I saw Luis coming off the side. Hopefully, nothing serious. I feel terrible Keith [Asmussen] wasn't able to ride him [Ryvit] today. He's a great young kid and an up-and-coming rider, so he'll get plenty of those.”

As for what's next, Asmussen added, “Coming off of here is everything we've wanted to see. Obviously the sprint stakes at Saratoga are lucrative and what we will aim for next.”

On the board in both starts at two, including a third in Churchill's Kentucky Juvenile S. last spring, Ryvit was sixth going six furlongs against Oaklawn maidens in February before breaking through over that track and trip Mar. 25. Back on top facing first level allowance company Apr. 14, he made it three straight with a score over GIII Sanford S. winner Mo Strike (Uncle Mo) in the Apr. 29 Bachelor S.

“The key to him has been getting away from the gates,” explained Asmussen. “Keith working him in the mornings and getting him to break is what turned him around. That's the only thing I said to Tyler, 'If you can get him to jump well from the gates, you'll like how he responds.' And that his what he did.”

Pedigree Notes:
Ryvit is the fifth graded winner for the Texas-based sire Competitive Edge (Super Saver). A $70,000 purchase out of the Texas Mixed August sale is the first foal to race out of the winless She Is Bedazzling, a $140,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase. She produced a colt by Collected last season.

Havnameltdown Update from 1/ST racing:
In response to Havnameltdown's condition following the race, 1/ST racing issued a press release: “During the Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico, the number one horse, Havnameltdown, sustained an injury and immediately received on-track medical attention from an expert team of veterinarians, led by Dr. Dionne Benson. During the subsequent evaluation, she observed a non-operable left fore fetlock injury.”

“Due to the severity and prognosis of the injury, Dr. Benson and her counterparts made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Havnameltdown.”

“The loss of Havnameltdown will be felt across the entire horse racing community, and everyone at the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST Racing extends our heartfelt condolences to Havnameltdown's connections.”

“Over the past year, 1/ST Racing has worked tirelessly to implement numerous industry-leading reforms, including additional medication restrictions and new operational requirements, to enhance the existing health and safety measures with the intent of providing the safest racing environment possible. In addition, 1/ST racing and the Maryland Jockey Club observe the most stringent medication practices and restrictions, pre- and post-race testing protocols, equine security and surveillance measures, veterinary exams, injury management protocols and racing surface testing.”

“These measures are re-evaluated and expanded every year to ensure our athletes are fit to compete safely in any race associated with 1/ST Racing.”
Saturday, Pimlico
CHICK LANG S. PRESENTED BY CASE TRACTOR-GIII, $200,000, Pimlico, 5-20, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.33, ft.
1–RYVIT, 124, c, 3, by Competitive Edge
              1st Dam: She Is Bedazzling, by Medaglia d'Oro
              2nd Dam: Melissa Jo, by Fusaichi Pegasus
              3rd Dam: Takeaway, by Fly So Free
   1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($70,000 Ylg '21 TTAYHR).
O-L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt; B-Curt Leake (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: 7-4-1-1, $348,068. Werk Nick Rating: C.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Prince of Jericho, 120, c, 3, Munnings–Golden Review, by
Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 Ylg '21
FTKJUL; $85,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). O-Michael Dubb and Morris
Bailey; B-Edward Seltzer (KY); T-Brittany T. Russell. $40,000.
3–Frosted Departure, 124, c, 3, Frosted–Undeterred, by More
Than Ready. ($50,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $100,000 Ylg '21
KEESEP). O-C and H Diamond Racing, LLC; B-Alastar
Thoroughbred Company, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$20,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 4, 3/4. Odds: 5.40, 6.20, 5.80.
Also Ran: Prove Right, Super Chow, Bristol Channel, Havnameltdown.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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Aspray Remains Perfect In Hilltop S.

Aspray (Quality Road) remained perfect after stepping up into stakes company for the first time as she collected the victory from off-the-pace in the Hilltop S. A debut maiden breaker in an off-the-turf affair by 2 1/2 lengths as the favorite at Tampa Bay Downs Jan. 14, she was able to try the grass there Mar. 22, serving as the chalk once again and defeating optional claimers by the same margin.

The bay filly, off at 4-1 here, was content to settle towards the rear of the field as 9-1 shot After Eight (Into Mischief) led the way. As the pace began to quicken around the far turn, the homebred went five wide into the lane, began to accelerate after a lead change past the eighth pole and got up in time over Breath Away (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}).

The winner is out of an Irish-bred who won four group races in her homeland and counts G1SW Dutch Art (GB) (Medicean {GB}) as a half-brother. She is also responsible for Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah), who ran second in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh and a yearling filly named Star of Bombay (Medaglia d'Oro).

HILLTOP S. PRESENTED BY AEROVANTI, $100,000, Pimlico,
5-19, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:34.10, fm.
1–ASPRAY, 118, f, 3, by Quality Road
                1st Dam: Up (Ire) (MGSW-Ire, G1SP-Fr, $379,468), by
                                Galileo (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Halland Park Lass (Ire), by Spectrum (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Palacegate Episode (Ire), by Drumalis (Ire)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Ran Jan Racing, Inc. (KY); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Flavien Prat. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $86,210. *1/2 to Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah), G1SP-Ire, GSP-Eng, $213,941.
2–Breath Away (GB), 118, f, 3, Bated Breath (GB)–Darling Grace (GB), by Nayef. (92,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA; 230,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco and Tango Uniform Racing LLC; B-Highgate Stud (GB); T-Christophe Clement. $20,000.
3–Hang the Moon, 118, f, 3, Uncle Mo–Moondance, by Malibu Moon. ($200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-CJ Thoroughbreds; B-Repole Stable, Inc. (KY); T-Michael Stidham. $10,000.
Margins: HF, 2 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 4.30, 1.90, 20.40.
Also Ran: Up and Down, Thirty Thou Kelvin, Miss New York, After Eight, Well Into, Aunt Shirley, Ice Cube Baby, Lil Spinner.
Scratched: Majestic Creed.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Taxed Leads Home Grey Exacta in Black-Eyed Susan

Running for a $50,000 tag as recently as last November, 11-1 chance Taxed (Collected) proved one of the biggest bargains on the afternoon, coming from off the pace to peg Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) while also leaving the previously undefeated and piping-hot 3-5 choice Faiza (Girvin) in her wake in the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. at Pimlico Friday.

Last season's GII Golden Rod S. winner Hoosier Philly was intent on getting to the front, and she did so dutifully, as Sacred Wish (Not This Time), Merlazza (Medaglia d'Oro) and Faiza drafted in behind on her outside flank through an opening quarter in :23.44. The rail-skimming Scared Wish tried to creep up on the leader, but promptly had that door slammed in her face, losing some ground in the process. With Hoosier Philly still narrowly in front and Merlazza and Faiza keeping her honest, Taxed was only about four lengths away and moving easily following a :47.24 half. Given her cue leaving the far turn, the grey swung out four wide while inching closer to the front turning for home, gradually reeled in the drifting pacesetter and overtook her game, but tiring rival at midstretch en route to a 3 3/4-length victory. The GI Starlet winner Faiza was a clear third over 14-1 shot Balpool (Uncaptured).

“I had a very good trip,” said winning rider Rafael Bejarano. “I put her in the position the way that I wanted and went from there. I followed the favorite [Faiza], came to the stretch and let her out. My horse responded really good and she finished really well. She has improved a lot.”

In regard to the beaten favorite, Bob Baffert explained, “She broke well and was in a good spot. When the running started, she did not have that kick that she usually has. She ran a good race; she just wasn't good enough today. We are still trying to figure her out. [Flavien] Prat said she had the trip. She did everything right but win.”

He added, “It was a good test for her, this being her first time shipping. We are proud of her; at least she was right there. Those two fillies [Taxed and Hoosier Philly] looked good in the paddock; I thought they would run well. We will go home with her and regroup.”

The victory gave Bejarano's his first graded victory since the 2021 GII Jessamine S. on California Angel, while it was trainer Randy Morse's first since the 2014 GI Stephen Foster S. with Moonshine Mullin.

“It's hard to compete with these guys who go in and spend millions of dollars on young horses,” said Morse. “I'm not knocking them–I'd like to be in their position. Most of my better horses have been claimed.

“I won the Stephen Foster, that was a Grade I. Even if it's a claiming race, a win's a win.”

Claimed for $50,000 while facing maidens at Churchill Downs last November, Taxed returned to be fourth behind future GI Central Bank Ashland S. winner Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) in the Year's End S. at Oaklawn Dec. 31 before posting a solid runner-up finish to Wet Paint (Blame) in the Martha Washington S. Jan. 28. Fading to ninth after pursuing the early pace in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Honeybee S. Feb. 25, a race also won by Wet Paint, she came home an improved second to that familiar foe after shedding the blinkers in the GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 1.

“She was just always pulling, too rank,” explained Morse. “Because every time she ran, she looked like she was going to win, and she just didn't have any finish. As you see now that she's relaxing behind horses and settling. It's made a huge difference.”

Taxed wound up in the Black-Eyed Susan after failing to draw into the May 5 GI Kentucky Oaks as the first also-eligible.

The filly's owner, Omaha, Nebraska, resident Richard Bahde, has owned horses for 30 years, racing primarily in Kentucky and Arkansas. According to Bahde, the win marked his first win at this level.

“I started out in the bull rings in Nebraska with $5,000 claimers and then I met [trainer Randy Morse] and he took me to a whole different level. We have had a lot of fun together.”

When asked about Taxed's latest win, he enthused, “When she made her move on that turn, I knew we had it won. She loves her job, she loves to run and once she got clear to the outside, it was over. She went past [Hoosier Philly] like she was standing still.”

Pedigree Notes:

Taxed's Black-Eyed Susan victory gives her the distinction of being the initial graded winner for sophomore sire Collected, who stands at this breeder's Airdrie Stud. Her dam, three times stakes placed through a 15-race racing career, won at distances ranging from six to eight furlongs and was purchased by Brereton Jones for $75,000 in foal to Congrats at Keeneland November in 2015. A 100% winner-producer from her four foals to make the races, Yankee Union has an unraced juvenile colt by Airdrie's Preservationist (Arch) named In a Jam who was picked up by D J Stable for $50,000 at Fasig-Tipton July and is training forwardly at Casse Training Center. She is also the dam of a yearling filly by American Freedom and foaled a filly by Complexity Mar. 31.

Friday, Pimlico
GEORGE E. MITCHELL BLACK-EYED SUSAN S.-GII, $300,000, Pimlico, 5-19, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:49.45, ft.
1–TAXED, 118, f, 3, by Collected
           1st Dam: Yankee Union (MSP, $164,064),by Yankee Gentleman
           2nd Dam: A Touch of Romance, by El Prado (Ire)
           3rd Dam: Dance Account, by Private Account
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($27,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $105,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-Richard Bahde; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Randy L. Morse; J-Rafael Bejarano. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 8-2-2-0, $379,644. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Hoosier Philly, 124, f, 3, Into Mischief–Tapella, by Tapit. ($510,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Gold Standard Racing Stable, LLC; B-Candy Meadows LLC (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss. $60,000.
3–Faiza, 124, f, 3, Girvin–Sweet Pistol, by Smart Strike. ($90,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL; $725,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $30,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 2 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 11.00, 6.30, 0.60.
Also Ran: Balpool, Merlazza, Cats Inthe Timber, Towhead, Comparative, Sacred Wish. Scratched: Frosty O Toole, Miracle, Pate.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Maple Leaf Mel Crowned ‘Miss Preakness’ in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD — Despite having done everything right in three prior career starts, Maple Leaf Mel was nonetheless sent off the 8-5 second betting choice in Friday's GIII Miss Preakness S. behind 4-5 choice Key of Life (Mo Town), victorious in the GII Beaumont S. Apr. 16. Unaware of the crowd's leanings, the grey daughter of Cross Traffic led for most of the way and never looked back, rolling home an easy 1 1/2-length winner over the late-closing Topsy.

The grey soon overtook the fast-starting Key of Life and maintained a measured advantage over the favorite through :22.26 and:45.21 splits. In control but drifting out in the stretch, Maple Leaf Mel gave Joel Rosario no anxious moments as she strolled way to an easy, albeit short, winning margin.

“She had a lot of speed,” said Rosario, who has been aboard all four of the grey's starts. “Her break wasn't really fast but she has so much speed. After she got to the lead, she looked around a little bit. And I just let her do her thing and hopefully she had something left turning for home.”

A five-length winner facing Empire-breds in her career debut at the Spa early last August, she followed up with another front-running victory there in the slop in the Seeking the Ante S. a bit more than two weeks later. Packed away for the rest of the season, she returned with another roping 7 3/4-length score in the Mar. 24 East View S. at Aqueduct.

The horse was named for trainer Jeremiah Englehart's assistant Melanie Giddings, who was diagnosed in 2020 with endocervical and ovarian cancer.

“[Owner] Bill [Parcells] named the horse for me…we had built up a friendship,” explained the Canadian native. “He is at the barn every day [in Saratoga during the summer]. He loves the sport. It's nice for him to get this win. He might have been a little nervous today because I did not hear from him. I think everyone can kind of feel a little relief. She is a New York-bred and the other filly [Key of Life] won in Lexington. This is a nice horse. This makes me feel proud because I think so highly of her.”

Pedigree Notes:
With Friday's Miss Preakness victory, Maple Leaf Mel becomes the fourth graded winner for her sire, Cross Traffic, who stands at Spendthrift Farm. Her dam City Gift, winner of a pair of claiming sprints during her abbreviated racing career, previously produced SP Eddie's Gift (El Corredor) and most recently dropped a colt by Brody's Cause in 2021.

Friday, Pimlico
MISS PREAKNESS S. PRESENTED BY CASE TRACTOR-GIII, $150,000, Pimlico, 5-19, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:09.56, ft.
1–MAPLE LEAF MEL, 122, f, 3, by Cross Traffic
1st Dam: City Gift, by City Place
2nd Dam: For My Wife, by Not For Love
3rd Dam: Heavens to Betsy, by Miswaki
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($18,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $150,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-August Dawn Farm; B-Joe Fafone (NY); T-Jeremiah C. Englehart; J-Joel Rosario. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $303,400. *1/2 to Eddie's Gift (El Corredor), SP, $167,950. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Topsy, 118, f, 3, Bee Jersey–Secretariat Humor, by Distorted Humor. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($42,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo '22 OBSMAR). O-L. William Heiligbrodt, Corinne Heiligbrodt and Jackpot Farm; B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $30,000.
3–L Street Lady, 120, f, 3, Munnings–Lady Gayle, by Scat Daddy. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($125,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL). O-Madaket Stables LLC; B-T & G Farm of Kentucky, LLC (Benson Farm) (KY); T-Brittany T. Russell. $15,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.70, 11.20, 48.40.
Also Ran: Afternoon Tea, Key of Life, Bound by Destiny. Scratched: Happy Clouds.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

 

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