Tag: Racing

Kirk and Judy Robison's reigning Champion Male Sprinter Jackie's Warrior will look to build upon an already stellar campaign when he takes on five challengers in Saturday's Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up at Saratoga Race Course.

“You can't talk about Jackie's Warrior without thanking Kirk and Judy Robison for putting him back in training,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “It's so rare in this day and age for a champion colt to have another year at the racetrack and for him to have another chance at Saratoga.”

A bay son of Maclean's Music, Jackie's Warrior trumpeted his brilliance early on, sweeping his first four outings that included Grade 1 triumphs in the Hopeful at Saratoga and Champagne at Belmont Park, as well as the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

His sophomore season started with a brief venture down the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing third in the Grade 3 Southwest at 1 1/16 miles before grinding out a victory in the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard. Jackie's Warrior has been a force to be reckoned with since finding his best stride around one turn, cutting back to seven furlongs in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont that spring and losing by a neck to Drain the Clock. He would get the better of that foe next out with a 7 1/4-length romp in the Grade 2 Amsterdam in August at Saratoga.

The marquee race of Jackie's Warrior's sophomore campaign was a memorable showdown with the esteemed Life Is Good in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial at the Spa. Life Is Good took an early advantage, but was collared in the final stages as Jackie's Warrior showed a tremendous turn of foot and prevailed by a neck.

After a strong 6 3/4-length win in Parx Racing's Grade 3 Gallant Bob, an effort that garnered a career-best 110 Beyer Speed Figure, Jackie's Warrior finished an uncharacteristic sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar behind the victorious Aloha West to close out a campaign that saw him earn Eclipse Award honors.

He returned in April to kick off his 4-year-old campaign with authority, scoring a three-quarter-length win in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap at Oaklawn en route to open-length triumphs in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs in May at its namesake track and most recently, the Grade 2 True North on June 10 at Belmont Park.

Now that Jackie's Warrior has flourished as a sprinter, Asmussen said he is on a more targeted schedule this year with the ultimate goal being a return engagement in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Keeneland.

“He was put back in training this year with the Breeders' Cup in mind. Last year, he started out in a two-turn race and defined himself in one-turn races,” Asmussen said. “This year, we've had less racing to this point and a fresher horse. We're sure of what we want to do with him. We have three dominant victories and three races left on his calendar. We want to be purposeful and exact.”

Jackie's Warrior will put a perfect Saratoga record on the line as he attempts his fifth victory at the Spa.

“He's 4-for-4 at Saratoga, all graded stakes. It's a wonderful opportunity and we're very much looking forward to it,” said Asmussen. “He's an excellent horse and in interviews about him, you want to say something different, but he has just been consistently brilliant.”

Jackie's Warrior, assigned a field-high 127 pounds, will leave from post 4 under Joel Rosario, who has piloted Jackie's Warrior for 14-of-15 starts.

The accomplished Ny Traffic will try to play spoiler in his first start in Grade 1 company since finishing 9th in the 2020 Preakness for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Team Hanley, Ny Traffic is seeking his first top-level victory in his 20th lifetime start.

Bred in New York by Brian Culnan, the grey son of Cross Traffic nearly attained Grade 1 glory when defeated a nose by subsequent 2020 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic in that year's edition of the Haskell Invitational. He went on to finish eighth in the Kentucky Derby and ninth in the Preakness.

Since then, the grey colt picked up another graded placing when second in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile last year and has relished a cutback to sprinting this year, posting two six-furlong stakes coups in the restricted Affirmed Success in April at Belmont and the Chocolate Town in June at Penn National facing open company. He was awarded Beyers of 100 and 97 for those efforts, respectively.

“Since we cut him back, he's improved to run some fast numbers,” said Joseph, Jr. “Before, he was on the Derby trail and he kind of always didn't finish up his longer races going a mile, a mile and an eighth. So, since we cut him back, that seems to be what he wants to do.”

Ny Traffic will carry 121 pounds from post 3 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

Trainer Dallas Stewart will hope to see veteran Long Range Toddy [post 5, Luis Saez, 117 pounds] find the winner's circle for the first time since a neck score in the 2019 Grade 2 Rebel.

Campaigned by Zenith Racing, the dark bay son of Take Charge Indy kicked off his 6-year-old campaign with a game runner-up effort to Prevalence in the Grade 3 Commonwealth in April over a sloppy and sealed Keeneland main track. He finished a distant sixth to Jackie's Warrior in the Churchill Downs and a close fourth in the listed Aristides before posting a third in allowance company last out sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Churchill.

With earnings in excess of $1 million, Long Range Toddy's other graded placings were a pair of thirds in Grade 3 company in the 2019 Southwest and Ohio Derby. He will be ridden from post 5 by Luis Saez.

Jeremy Sussman, Ten Strike Racing and Cory Moelis Racing's Kneedeepinsnow [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr., 117 pounds] will look to go from claim to fame as he makes his third outing since being haltered for $80,000 out of a winning effort that garnered a career-best 100 Beyer in April at Keeneland.

Trained by Matt Shirer, the Flat Out gelding has picked up two stakes placings for his new connections, finishing second in the Work All Week in June at Hawthorne and third in the Kelly's Landing 2 1/4 lengths behind Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West last out on July 2 at Churchill.

Completing the field are the duo of Lea Farms' Willy Boi and Russell Staggs' Doc Amster for conditioner Jorge Delgado. Willy Boi has a perfect 3-for-3 record since joining Delgado's barn in April, and made the grade last out with a one-length score in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint on July 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Doc Amster returns on 13 day's rest after taking a starter allowance by 4 3/4 lengths on July 17 at Monmouth Park. The son of Midshipman has made one appearance at graded level, finishing fourth in Gulfstream's Grade 3 Mr. Prospector in December.

Willy Boi [120 pounds] will be ridden from post 2 by regular pilot Chantel Sutherland, while Doc Amster [116 pounds] will emerge from post 6 with Hall of Famer Javier Castellano in the irons.

The Alfred G. Vanderbilt is slated as Race 8 on Saturday's 11-race card, which also features the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy for sophomores travelling nine furlongs 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.

The post Champion Jackie’s Warrior Faces Five Challengers In Saturday’s Vanderbilt appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Kimari outkicked a determined Frank's Rockette to capture Wednesday's Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Wesley Ward and piloted by Joel Rosario, the 5-year-old Munnings mare earned Grade 1 status last April with a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Madison at Keeneland. She again established her class on Wednesday with a half-length triumph over a stubborn Frank's Rockette with Grade 1-winner Bella Sofia, who carried a field-high 125 pounds, settling for third.

“I was pretty confident going into today,” Ward said. “It just worked out great, and it's always great to stand in the winner's circle for a graded race at Saratoga. There's nothing like it.”

Ohio-bred shipper Amadevil broke alertly and assumed command through a quarter-mile in 22.72 seconds over the fast main track in front of Bella Sofia with Kimari in third and Frank's Rockette, who bobbled at the break, sitting last-of-4 under Flavien Prat.

Frank's Rockette made an inside rush down the backstretch and took command through a half-mile in 45.87 with the Luis Saez-piloted Bella Sofia under a ride and Kimari waiting for her cue. Kimari advanced with purpose down the center of the track as Frank's Rockette dug in gamely but could not hold off the winner, who prevailed in a final time of 1:10.78. Frank's Rockette completed the exacta by 5 3/4-lengths over Bella Sofia. Amadevil, who was eased to the finish, was vanned off and reported to have bled.

Ward said Kimari, assigned 123 pounds, was well-placed in the compact field of four.

“I thought the race set up for today, especially drawing the outside – it gave Joel a nice easy run down the backside with no opposition as far as maneuvering to try to get there,” Ward said. “He was already there when they opened the gates. That was a key. It all worked out. Some days it does, and some days it doesn't.”

It was the fifth graded-stakes win of the meet for Rosario, adding to scores in the Grade 1 Diana [In Italian], Grade 2 Shuvee [Clairiere], Grade 3 Forbidden Apple [City Man] and Grade 3 Quick Call [Big Invasion].

“I'm glad we got the win today,” Rosario said. “It looked like there was going to be so much speed and she [Kimari] can be up closer, but we kind of were in a good spot and she did great and responded to everything I asked her to do. I thought for a second the leader might get away, but she kept fighting and got the job done.”

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Frank's Rockette has completed the exacta in all three starts this season. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette entered from a game runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Vagrancy in May at Belmont when defeated a nose by Bella Sofia, who won the Grade 1 Longines Test here last summer.

Prat said the stumbled start required a change in tactics.

“It changed the game plan a little bit, but it worked out well because there was some pace up front,” Prat said. “I was happy where I was after that and made a good move around the turn and just got outrun. She's been really consistent. She'll get there one day.”

Saez said Bella Sofia, who was worked up before the race, didn't fire her usual strong effort.

“She calmed down after we went to the pony, and then she broke well,” Saez said. “She was in a great spot, but at the three-eighths she didn't give me a big kick. She was a little flat at the top of the stretch.”

Kimari launched her current campaign in March with an optional-claiming win at Gulfstream and followed with a third in her title defense in the Grade 1 Madison in April. She entered the Honorable Miss from a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

Ward said he may have brought Kimari back too quickly last out.

“She came back a little closer than I would have liked with a big filly like this, and she probably went on a track she didn't really care for at Churchill,” Ward said. “I knew that going in, but kind of talked myself into it.”

Ward said he would like to get Kimari to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Keeneland, but did not immediately commit to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap on August 28 at the Spa, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the prestigious race.

“Our ultimate goal would be the Breeders' Cup because it's my home track and her home track,” Ward said. “So we'll work backwards from there and get together with Coolmore and give them a few options and go from there.”

Bred in Kentucky by China Horse Club International, Kimari is out of the graded-stakes winning Cozzene mare Cozze Up Lady. She banked $110,000 in victory, while improving her record to 15-8-2-2, returning $8.10 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a 10-race card highlighted by the $200,000 Birdstone in Race 5. 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.

The post Kimari Prevails Over Frank’s Rockette In Honorable Miss appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stonestreet Farms' homebred filly Clairiere made two outings at Saratoga Race Course last summer, posting two on-the-board efforts in Grade 1 company with a third in the Coaching Club American Oaks and a runner-up finish in the Alabama behind subsequent Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Malathaat. The daughter of Curlin found the Spa's winner's circle this year when she turned back Malathaat for the second race in a row in Sunday's Grade 2 Shuvee for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

“I'm very happy with how she came out of the race,” said Asmussen. “It was very gratifying. She ran solid races here last year in the Coaching Club and Alabama, and it was great to see her in the winner's circle.”

Clairiere, who picked up her first Grade 1 victory in the Cotillion last year at Parx Racing, entered the Shuvee from a memorable victory over Malathaat in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps on June 11 at Belmont Park. She has won 3-of-4 outings this year, her only loss a good second to 2021 Champion Older Mare Letruska in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap in April at Oaklawn Park.

Asmussen said Clairiere, the first foal out of 2016 Grade 1 Personal Ensign-winner Cavorting, will now look to join her mother on the storied list of Personal Ensign winners in this year's running on Aug. 27.

“She's progressed. She's racing royalty with the pedigree she has, and she has always kept great company,” said Asmussen. “She's won a couple of Grade 1s and then the Shuvee, [so] her eye is on the prize in the Personal Ensign this year. We feel great going into it off of her last race and love how she's feeling about herself. We expect her to finish off the year very strongly.”

Among Asmussen's other stakes caliber horses at Saratoga is Grade 1-winner Gunite, who will make his return to graded company in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam for sophomores sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track.

A son of Gun Runner, who Asmussen conditioned to six Grade 1 victories, Gunite boasts a 7-for-8 in-the-money record that includes a 5 3/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Hopeful last September at Saratoga.

He finished his juvenile campaign with a distant fifth in the Grade 1 Champagne in October at Belmont Park before returning as a sophomore with a runner-up finish in a Churchill Downs optional claimer in June and a determined victory in the seven-furlong Maxfield on July 3 at the Louisville oval.

Asmussen said the Amsterdam will be a springboard for Gunite to the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 27.

“It's quite obvious that he's a better one-turn horse at shorter distances,” said Asmussen. “We didn't waste him in the Derby preps and we've got him coming into Saratoga for the Amsterdam and hopefully off of that, the Allen Jerkens as his goal for the summer.”

Gun Runner was also well-represented in the female juvenile division last year as Asmussen conditioned Wicked Halo to graded stakes success in the Grade 2 Adirondack at the Spa, just has he did with her mother, Just Wicked, in 2015.

While Just Wicked stretched out and remained in graded company after her Adirondack win, Asmussen said he opted to take a more conservative approach with Wicked Halo, giving her time off and bringing her back in sprints as a sophomore.

“Her mother had won the Adirondack and I jumped her off into two-turn races from there. I did too much too soon,” said Asmussen. “So, Wicked Halo's career has been guided by the mistakes I made with her mother. I think it's proven to have paid off. We have a solid filly with a lot of future to her.”

This year, Wicked Halo picked up a graded placing when third in the Grade 2 Eight Belles en route to two stakes victories at Churchill in the Leslie's Lady on June 12 and the Tepin on July 2. Both Gunite and Wicked Halo are homebreds for Winchell Thoroughbreds, the longtime clients of Asmussen who co-owned Gun Runner with Three Chimneys Farm.

“Both of them are horses that did some early advertising for Gun Runner last summer,” said Asmussen. “They're two excellent homebreds for Winchell and are both coming off recent stakes wins at Churchill and have run well at Saratoga. I'm very fortunate to get to continue to run them.”

The post ‘She’s Progressed’: Clairiere Will Try To Emulate Her Dam In Personal Ensign appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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