Tag: Racing

Juddmonte Farms' homebred Artorius stepped up from a last-out maiden coup to secure the win in Friday's $135,000 Curlin, a nine-furlong test restricted to sophomores who have not won a stakes at a mile or over in 2022, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown, Artorius made easy work of his first try against winners under Irad Ortiz, Jr., who won his fourth stake of the Saratoga meet. A son of 2016 Grade 1 Travers winner Arrogate, the late-blooming Artorius is now 2-for-3 with earnings of $142,250.

“I always thought he could be in the conversation with some of my better 3-year-olds getting on the Derby trail and he just had a few minor things, but we were patient with him,” said Brown, who also trains top 3-year-olds Early Voting and Zandon, who will clash in Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at the Spa. “To see him finally start to develop, albeit late, hopefully a little like his father, maybe better late than never. If he can show up on the big day like his sire did, I would be honored.”

Artorius emerged from the outermost post 8 under Ortiz, Jr., who angled him to the rail and took up fourth position whilst the alert A.P.'s Secret established command through the first turn. Make It Big pursued in second with Golden Glider in third as the top three opened up 1 1/2 lengths over Artorius through a quarter-mile in 23.93 seconds and a half-mile in 48.24 over the fast main track.

Make It Big started to apply some pressure on A.P.'s Secret approaching the final turn, but tapped on the brakes a bit under Hall of Famer John Velazquez while Golden Glider made his bid to the outside of a stubborn A.P.'s Secret. Meanwhile, the Junior Alvarado-piloted Gilded Age closed from 8 1/2 lengths off-the-pace and forged his run at the leaders as he and Artorius both advanced with purpose in the turn.

Artorius, under coaxing from Ortiz, Jr., took charge at the stretch call and drew away to a comfortable advantage over Gilded Age and the late-closing Creative Minister, coasting to the wire in hand and 4 3/4 lengths the best in a final time of 1:50.34.

Post-time favorite Creative Minister finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Gilded Age with A.P.'s Secret completing the superfecta. Western River, Golden Glider, Make It Big and Be Better rounded out the order of finish. Wolfe County was scratched.

Ortiz, Jr. said he simply followed instructions from Brown and let Artorius make one run at the pacesetters.

“He just told me try to save ground on both turns, so I just tried to do what he told me,” said Ortiz, Jr. “They didn't like the post, so my horse broke OK and I was able to go over fast and I know the one [Western River] and two [Gilded Age] don't show speed. Those kind of horses don't have the speed. The other horses went out ahead of me so I was able to drop in quick and I go from there and got a perfect trip.”

Brown said Juddmonte's patience with Artorius was rewarded with today's effort.

“We were pretty high on the horse and he was doing super. He got a late start but we always liked the horse,” said Brown. “I can't say enough appreciation for Juddmonte. What a great team led by Garrett O'Rourke and the team back at the farm. They bred such a great horse, raised such a great horse and broke him and sent him to us in fine shape. It's just a pleasure to train a horse so well-bred, well-raised and cared for.”

Brown said that with a stakes win now on his resume, Artorius is primed for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers going 1 1/4 miles on August 27.

“If he comes out of it in good shape. That was the point of this; to get him around two turns over the track to get him a good prep for the Travers,” said Brown.

Artorius broke his maiden on June 10 at Belmont Park by three-quarters of a length, defeating older company going a one-turn mile and earning a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. Out of the Juddmonte-owned and Brown-trained multiple graded stakes-winner Paulassilverlining, Artorius was sent to post as odds of 5-2 and returned $7.40 for a $2 win wager.

“Training his mother, she was a seven-furlong horse, but what a brilliant mating to the great Arrogate by Juddmonte to put some speed into a classic distance horse like Arrogate,” Brown said. “I think we have a special one here as a result of it.”

Alvarado said he was pleased to see Gilded Age, who was a last-out winner of an optional claimer on July 4 at Churchill Downs, continue to show improvement in each of his starts.

“I just think he's mentally maturing little by little. Last time, he woke up a little bit and showed up today with a great effort,” said Alvarado. “I thought it was a really good race out of him and I expected him to keep moving forward by each race.”

Ken McPeek, trainer of Creative Minister, said the son of Creative Cause appeared to be off his game.

“I thought he'd show a little more punch late, but it looked like he was kind of struggling to find his spot and get in a rhythm,” said McPeek. “We'll find him a spot. Maybe not the Travers.”

Live racing continues on Saturday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, featuring the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in Race 8 and the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy in Race 9. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present daily coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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The aptly named Kneedeepinsnow will make his Grade 1 debut in Saturday's $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap for horses 3-years-old and upward sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Matt Shirer, the 6-year-old son of Flat Out is distinctly marked with two white stockings on his front legs that reach his knees, making him easy to spot among Shirer's six trainees he has stabled at Saratoga this summer.

“He looks like he's been standing out in the snow,” said Shirer. “He's a cool horse and pretty as can be, especially out on the track.”

Kneedeepinsnow, owned by Jeremy Sussman, Ten Strike Racing and Cory Moelis Racing, enters from a game third-place finish behind last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West in the Kelly's Landing on July 2 at Churchill Downs. There, he led the field of seven through splits of 22.33 seconds, 44.80 and 1:09.07 before being collared at the stretch call. He kept on well under Ricardo Santana, Jr. to hold onto show honors as Aloha West and graded stakes-winner Miles Ahead sprinted to the finish 2 1/4 lengths ahead of him.

“He's doing very good and got here a couple days ago. He ran huge last time,” said Shirer. “He set a fast pace and still held on for third. He got beat by the Breeders' Cup Sprint champ from last year, so no shame in that. He's fantastic and he's training better than he ever has.”

It was the second stakes placing for Kneedeepinsnow, who finished second to Isolate in the Work All Week at Hawthorne two starts back. The two stakes efforts came in his first two outings for Shirer, who haltered Kneedeepinsnow for $80,000 out of an impressive optional claiming victory sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on April 29 at Keeneland, garnering a career-high 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

The 6-year-old chestnut will test his Grade 1 ability in deep waters on Saturday, facing the formidable reigning Champion Male Sprinter Jackie's Warrior and Grade 1-placed Ny Traffic. His other outings at the graded level were two distant finishes in the Grade 3 Palos Verdes last January and Grade 3 Whitmore in March; and a close fourth in the Grade 3 Green Flash in August at Del Mar.

“We all decided that we were up here at Saratoga and that we'd take a shot and see what happens,” said Shirer. “It will be pretty tough to beat Jackie's Warrior, but he's doing good, so we'll take a shot.”

A win in the Vanderbilt would mark the first graded victory for both Shirer and Kneedeepinsnow, but Shirer said he just wants to see the evergreen gelding give a good account of himself.

“It would mean a lot. It's a Grade 1, so we'll see. I haven't really thought about it or wrapped my mind around it,” said Shirer, with a laugh. “We'll see what happens. I just want him to run good.”

Shirer has already visited the Saratoga winner's circle this summer when his first starter of the meet, the New York-bred Quick Return, secured a 2 1/2-length victory in Race 3 on Thursday, a 6 1/2-furlong $12,500 claiming event over a good and sealed main track. The effort garnered a career-best 78 Beyer in his fourth win from 15 starts.

Though Quick Return was claimed out of the effort, Shirer said it feels good to enter a race like the Vanderbilt with a win at the Spa under his belt already.

“It's always nice to win at Saratoga whether it's a bottom claimer or a big race,” said Shirer. “He ran a good race and got a good number. He's classy and a New York-bred, so I'm sure a lot of these guys knew him already. It was good to get off the mark early.”

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Winchell Thoroughbreds racing manager and bloodstock advisor David Fiske is hoping that Epicenter can solidify himself as a leader amongst his 3-year-old male counterparts in Saturday's Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course.

Despite being favored in both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Preakness, the Triple Crown run was a frustrating one for Epicenter, finishing second in both American Classics for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who teamed up with Winchell Thoroughbreds to win the 2018 Jim Dandy with Tenfold.

By leading third crop stallion Not This Time, Epicenter was eighth during the early portions of the Kentucky Derby, about six lengths off torrid opening fractions set by Summer Is Tomorrow. Advancing into fifth down the backstretch, Epicenter was in command around the far turn, meeting an outside challenge from Zandon in the stretch drive. But the day belonged to 80-1 longshot Rich Strike, who weaved his way through traffic down the stretch and passed Epicenter to the inside with a sixteenth to run.

Epicenter closed valiantly down the stretch in the Preakness with an inside rush, but came up 1 1/4 lengths short of Early Voting. Epicenter's connections are now focused on races in the second half of the calendar year, including the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 27.

Fiske said he is hopeful that the Jim Dandy, the nine-furlong traditional local prep for the Mid-Summer Derby, will be a good place to start.

“He's training as well, or better, as he did throughout the Triple Crown races, so we'll see,” Fiske said. “It seems like everyone is getting better this time of year, and I don't know that he could be doing any better. Steve is pleased with him. He's a pretty straight forward horse. I think during the Triple Crown I characterized him as almost machine like. He just does what you want him to do, goes back to his stall and lays down.”

Prior to his run in two-thirds of the Triple Crown, Epicenter secured Derby qualifying victories in Fair Grounds' Risen Star and Louisiana Derby, both Grade 2. He earned a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure for his Louisiana Derby victory, defeating eventual Derby rivals Zozos and Pioneer of Medina by three-quarters of a length. He replicated that 102 number in the Preakness.

But despite his triple-digit speed figures, millionaire status and consistent record, Fiske lamented that the colt has yet to win a Grade 1 race.

“It would be incredibly rewarding. I find it interesting that he's the only [top] 3-year-old without a Grade 1 on his resume. Everyone at the top of the list has one and he's been close a couple times,” Fiske said. “The margin in the Derby and the Preakness was probably a little more than two-fifths of a second, so that's disappointing. But we're pretty confident that at some point in the future there's a Grade 1 with his name on it.”

Asmussen and Winchell also campaigned 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner, who notched his first Grade 1 in the final start of his 3-year-old year, en route to five more Grade 1 wins throughout his career.

“I guess they're similar, but that would be by circumstance. If not for two-fifths of a second, Epicenter would look like a way better 3-year-old than Gun Runner,” Fiske said. “I think it's just a situational thing. By circumstance, the two records look similar. We haven't lost any confidence in him. He's still the same horse he was for the Triple Crown races. He's a really sound horse like Gun Runner was, so going forward I would think he still has plenty of upside.”

Bought for $220,000 out of the Bettersworth Westwind Farms consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Epicenter was acquired by his owners upon Asmussen's consultation.

“He came out of book three. He was one Steve had seen and we were just about done with the sale at that point,” Fiske recalled. “We had bought several in the first two books, but Steve really liked him, so we went and looked at him. Steve is rarely wrong about these kind of things. We ran him through our usual tests with Dr. [David] Lambert at Equine Analysis. All that came back good, so we went on and put him in our shopping basket.”

Epicenter will face a compact field of familiar foes in the Jim Dandy, including Early Voting, Zandon and multiple graded-stakes winner Tawny Port, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby.

Fiske said he would expect to see Epicenter forwardly-placed after watching similarly tactical races last weekend at Saratoga with Nest taking the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and the Asmussen-trained Clairiere prevailing under Joel Rosario in the Grade 2 Shuvee.

“Those short fields are almost like four-dimensional match races,” Fiske said. “It gets to be a rider's race. Especially after watching Joel ride last weekend, I don't think he'll be too far off the pace.”

Breaking from post 2 at morning line odds of 3-2, Epicenter will once again be ridden by Rosario, who already has won five stakes during the meet.

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Live racing, Maryland crabs, gift card giveaways and a dunk tank to help raise money for disabled jockeys – there's something for everyone on the final Saturday of July at Laurel Park.

A program of 10 races is set for July 30 featuring five stakes worth $400,000 in purses, among them four $75,000 events restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses – the Star de Naskra and Miss Disco for 3-year-olds on dirt and Ben's Cat and Jameela for 3-year-olds and up on turf.

Undefeated Super Love goes for a fourth straight win in his stakes debut in the Star de Naskra, while Grade 1-placed Divine Huntress shortens up to seven furlongs for the Miss Disco. Jaxon Traveler, winner of the Maryland Sprint (G3) May 21 at Pimlico, seeks his first win on grass in the Ben's Cat, and Can the Queen chases a third career stakes victory in the Jameela.

The last of three summer stakes Saturdays in July at Laurel totaling 11 stakes worth $1.05 million is anchored by the $100,000 Deputed Testamony for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles, where Grade 3 winner Magic Michael looks to improve on his runner-up finish from a year ago. First race post time is 12:40 p.m.

Laurel's Summer of Stakes began July 2 when Old Homestead took the $100,000 Concern and Hybrid Eclipse captured the $100,000 Caesar's Wish. July 16 saw Beren upset a trio of graded winners in the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash as well as wins by Chub Wagon in the $100,000 Alma North, Bellagamba in the $100,000 Big Dreyfus and Eons in the $100,000 Prince George's County.

As with previous stakes Saturdays in July, the Maryland Jockey Club will once again be giving away five $100 VISA gift cards to fans in attendance at Laurel. Fans can enter for a chance to win at guest services in the grandstand, and winners will be chosen at random. Fans must be on site to claim their prize.

Saturday will also mark the return of the MJC's Crackin' Crab Feast with a menu that includes all-you-can-eat steamed Maryland blue crabs with Old Bay, fried chicken, potato and garden salads, corn on the cob, fresh fruit, cornbread and chocolate sheet cake.

Crackin' Crab Feast will take place in a tent on the track apron and is limited to on-site consumption only. The cost is $85.

In conjunction with Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Day Across America being celebrated at racetracks from coast to coast, the MJC will help raise funds for the PDJF with a dunk tank featuring members of Laurel's jockey colony including Kevin Gomez, Victor Carrasco, Angel Cruz and Charlie Marquez.

The tank will be set up throughout the racing day near the racing office adjacent to Laurel's historic paddock. The cost is $5 for three tosses, with proceeds going to benefit the PDJF.

The PDJF is a 501(c)(3) public charity that provides financial assistance to 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since its founding in 2006, the fund has disbursed nearly $11 million dollars to permanently disabled jockeys, most of whom have sustained paralysis or brain injuries.

For more information on Saturday's festivities, visit www.laurelpark.com

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