Tag: Racing

The $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a key prep on the road to this year's Queen's Plate (August 21), has drawn nine hopefuls, including three-for-three The Minkster, Sunday at Woodbine. ​ ​

The 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial, for 3-year-olds, foaled in Canada, has attracted notable contenders looking for a spot in the Queen's Plate starting gate.

Pegged as the 7-1 fourth choice in the Queen's Plate Winterbook, The Minkster, trained by Dan Vella for owner Sea Glass Stables LLC, will contest the second race of his three-year-old season in the main track tilt scheduled as race 7 on the 11-race card.

The son of English Channel-Cabriole, bred in Ontario by Dr. Tan Hyka, arrives at his fourth lifetime start off a head score over Rondure, another Plate heavyweight, in the Queenston Stakes on June 12.

“Three things didn't go the way we expected, and he still won,” offered Vella. “I ran him a bit short, we may have moved a bit early, and he got to the front and thought, 'Okay, we've won, the race is over.' So, three things that weren't what we wanted, and he still managed to get the win. That's very impressive. You forget that it was only the third start of his life, and they can still run green at that point.”

The Minkster launched his career last October with a 6 ¼-length triumph at 6 ½ panels over a E.P. Taylor Course listed as good.

Two lengths in front at the stretch call, the bay dashed away from his rivals down the lane to notch the milestone victory in a time of 1:17.19.

The Minkster then moved up to the stakes ranks on October 30, where he took on 13 foes in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile test on the Tapeta.

Ignored at 13-1, The Minkster, despite lugging in during the stretch drive, posted a 1 ¼-length win in 1:52.51.

Now, Vella, who has 864 career wins, will look to have his sophomore standout ready to fire in the colt's final race before the Plate.

“There are a lot of fast horses, but what really defines the better ones – I've had great horses with great personalities and great horses with bad personalities – is that they have an unbelievable tolerance for training and an unbelievable cardio system. I guess it's like great athletes. That's what I appreciate about these types of horses, that they seem to have a great capacity for training, a great capacity for recovering and a great capacity for competing. He is all of that. Sometimes you can't find the bottom… he just keeps on going.

“He worked Sunday morning and he went brilliant,” continued Vella. “I got him in a minute and four-fifths. We just wanted an easy work after his work the week before (6 furlongs, in 1:10.60, handily), which was a tougher one. We just wanted to blow him out a little bit and put the final touches on him. We schooled him in the starting gate, we schooled him in the paddock, and we're ready to run.”

Vella, who has two Plate trophies to his name, in 1994 with Basqueian, and in 2012 with Strait of Dover, sees a few similarities between the trio.

“Certainly, he's in the same league as them. He has that great cardio system and endurance. He trains like them. You never know until you get to that final eighth of a mile whether he's that good or not, but he definitely trains like them.”

Having been down the Plate road several times, Vella's outlook on the race and life in general has changed significantly over the years.

“Life changes as you get older, right? Some little things stress you more and some bigger things stress you less. As I've gotten older, I've come to realize I understand horses a little more and people a little less.”

Other Plate Trial starters include the Mark Casse duo of Hall of Dreams and Sir for Sure, Gail Cox trainees Guard of Honour and Dancin in Da'nile, and Causin' Mayhem, sent out by Todd Pletcher. ​

First post time for Sunday's card, which includes the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser, and two other stakes, is 1:00 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE $150,000 PLATE TRIAL

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Guard of Honour – Rafael Hernandez – Gail Cox
2 – Hall of Dreams – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
3 – Bill Needle (S) – Antonio Gallardo – Catherine Day Phillips
4 – Duke of Love – Justin Stein – Josie Carroll
5 – Causin' Mayhem – Kazushi Kimura – Todd Pletcher
6 – Lac Macaza (S) – Luis Contreras – Julia Carey
7 – Dancin in Da'nile – Rafael Hernandez – Gail Cox
8 – The Minkster – David Moran – Daniel Vella
9 – Sir for Sure – Declan Carroll – Mark Casse

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Eight horses will go postward in the Grade 2, $200,000 Dance Smartly Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine, the first of three premier turf races for fillies and mares that comprise the bonus-laden Ladies of the Lawn Series.

Launched in 2019, this year's series offers a $250,000 bonus to the owner of the horse that wins all three races in the series. If a horse doesn't sweep the series, a $50,000 bonus will be presented to the connections of the horse that accumulates the most points throughout the trio of races.

The second and third legs of the Ladies of the Lawn Series are the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes ($200,000), scheduled for Sunday, August 21, and the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes ($750,000), slated for Saturday, October 8.

“The popular Ladies of the Lawn Series, featuring the addition of a $250,000 bonus, has not only elevated the profile of this three-race event, but also made it more lucrative for owners and trainers to point their fillies and mares to these high-profile races,” said Tim Lawson, Woodbine's Director of Thoroughbred Racing. “Our horseplayers, fans and racing participants will once again have the opportunity to witness world-class racing on Woodbine's renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course.”

The points breakdown for each leg of the Ladies of the Lawn series is as follows:

1st: 10
​2nd: 7
​3rd: 5
​4th: 3
​5th: 2

Horses finishing 6th through last in any leg will receive one point.

Set at 1 1/16 miles over the E.P. Taylor turf, this year's running of the Dance Smartly, named after the Sam-Son Farm dual hall of fame superstar, includes multiple graded stakes winner Lady Speightspeare, the Mark Casse trio of Fev Rover (IRE), Keyflower (FR), and multiple stakes winner Inthewinnerscircle, Bill Mott trainee Wakanaka (IRE), and Munnyfor Ro, Canada's champion 3-year-old female of 2021. ​

The inaugural Ladies of the Lawn Series was won by Kevin Attard trainee, 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year, Starship Jubilee. In 2020, Elizabeth Way, trained by Hall of Fame trainer, Roger Attfield, was victorious. Mutamakina secured the 2021 edition Ladies of the Lawn Series title with a victory in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes for conditioner Christophe Clement.

GRADE 2 $200,000 DANCE SMARTLY STAKES (Race 10)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – MunnyforRo – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

2 – Keyflower (FR) – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

3 – Fev Rover (IRE) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Lady Speightspeare – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield

5 – Seasons – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

6 – Inthewinnerscircle – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Wakanaka (IRE) (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Bill Mott

8 – Youens – Sahin Civaci – Angus Buntain

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The 55th edition of the Grade 2, $200,000 San Clemente Stakes Saturday at Del Mar is a wide-open affair. As in widddddeeeeee-open. If you like a horse, you'll no doubt get your price.

A dozen 3-year-old fillies will go at it in the last event on an 11-race card that has a first post of 2 p.m. PT. The one-mile grass race has traditionally served as Del Mar's major prep for its 3-year-old filly piece de resistance, the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Oaks, which this year will be run for the 66th time on Saturday, Aug. 20.

By way of a clue as to how tough the San Clemente shapes up, you'll note that Del Mar's morning line maker, Jon White, has hung the favorite – Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT or Nentwig's Bellabel – at a hardly short 4-1.  She gets Umberto Rispoli as her pilot and a chance to break from Post 6.

There are a pair of other fillies who figure to give the top one her toughest tussles – R Unicorn Stable's Island of Love (5-1 with Juan Hernandez up) and Tina and Jerome Moss' Lady T (6-1 with Victor Espinoza in the tack.).

Here's the full field for the Day 2 headliner from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

Lady T; Red Baron's Barn or Rancho Temescal's Countess Rosina (Ryan Curatolo, 8-1); Michael House's Sixteen Arches (Abel Cedillo, 20-1); Slam Dunk Racing or Newman's Tezzaray (Ramon Vazquez, 6-1); Abbondanza Racing or Aldabbagh's Gem Mine (Jose Valdivia, Jr., 10-1); Bellable; Island of Love; Cacchiotti Ranch's Anthonys Cleopatra (Fernando Alvarado, 20-1); Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT or Nentwig's Helens Well (Tigao Pereira, 8-1); Panic Stable's Lucky Girl (Joe Bravo, 8-1); Medallion Racing's Mise Le Meas (Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1), and Moon S. Han's Gold Dragon Queen (Abdul Alsagoor, 30-1).

Bellabel is an Irish lassie by the stallion Belardo. She looked sharp winning her U.S. bow Jan. 2 at Santa Anita, clicking by better than two in the Blue Northern overnight. She hasn't raced since then but has been prepping steadily for her return.

Island of Love has raced six times, five of them in stakes, and she's a three-time winner, including the Grade 3 Senorita at Santa Anita on May 7. She, too, is an Irish-bred, this time by Kodiac.

Lady T was a close-up second in her most recent outing, the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 12. She's a Kentucky-bred by the top stallion Into Mischief and races for the connections – Jerome Moss and trainer John Shirreffs – that gave the racing world the mighty mare Zenyatta.

Also on the Sunday card is the $100,000 Osunitas Stakes, an overnight affair for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. The one-mile turfer – which goes as Race 9 — has lured 12 runners also and Convergence Stable and Madaket Stables' Avenue de France, a 5-year-old mare who has won six races, is listed as the 3-1 morning line favorite.

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Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere and Shadwell Stable's Malathaat will square off for the sixth time in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee, a nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.

Malathaat, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, bested Clairiere in each of their first four meetings, taking the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May 2021 at Churchill Downs, and the Grade 1 Alabama in August at the Spa en route to Eclipse Award-honors as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

Malathaat also finished one place in front of Clairiere when second in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks last July at Saratoga and when third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.

But on Belmont Stakes Day, Clairiere, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, finally got the better of her familiar foe, rallying from 14 lengths off a sharp, pressured pace set by Letruska to post a head score over Malathaat in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Ogden Phipps.

Asmussen, the winningest conditioner in North American history, said the result was one of the most gratifying of his storied career.

“It was a huge win for her to finally come out on the right end of Malathaat, a mare that I have the greatest respect for and last year's deserving 3-Year-Old Champion Filly,” Asmussen said. “We always believed that Clairiere could get it done and last time out she did and that meant a lot to all of us.”

Asmussen said Clairiere, who sports a record of 13-5-4-2 for purse earnings in excess of $1.7 million, has thrived since arriving at Saratoga, breezing a half-mile in 48.96 over the Oklahoma training track Sunday.

“She loved it up here last summer and we were anxious to get her back up here again,” Asmussen said. “She's settled in beautifully and she's just all class. She's enjoying the cool mornings and has trained very impressively since she's been here. We're pleased with how Clairiere is doing and we expect a huge run from her on Sunday.”

Clairiere and Malathaat, who were both bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, boast royal pedigrees with both being daughters of Curlin and out of Grade 1-winning mares.

Malathaat, a $1,050,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale Purchase, is out of 2012 Grade 1 Frizette-winner Dreaming of Julia, who was also trained by Pletcher.

Clairiere, a homebred, is out of three-time Grade 1-winner Cavorting, who banked more than $2 million through a record of 13-8-1-1 for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin.

“Clairiere is racing royalty,” said Asmussen regarding the filly's impressive pedigree. “For her to continue to compete at this level – that was her second Grade 1 – that's just as good as it gets. For somebody who grew up in racing and has been extremely fortunate, I realize how blessed I am to have this opportunity.”

Asmussen said he is cautiously optimistic entering Sunday's test on the back of Clairiere's big win over Malathaat with both competitors on a path towards the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Keeneland.

“That's what I love about horse racing. The last race is an indication of what you're capable of, but it will not give you a head start on the next one. You have to do it again,” Asmussen said. “Malathaat beat her twice here last year and I expect to have two more runs against her here this year with the ultimate goal being the Breeders' Cup Distaff. We're at a very good level right now but we'll keep our eye on the prize, and that's year-end honors.”

Asmussen was the conditioner of Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, who bested the boys in the 2009 Grade 1 Woodward to the delight of a packed house at the Spa en route to Horse of the Year honors. He said he can appreciate how racing fans become so supportive of certain stars, including both Clairiere and Malathaat.

“I can thoroughly understand becoming attached to them. Their qualities are extremely admirable and the way they go about their racing is impressive,” Asmussen said. “I've always thought it's amazing how a horse's accomplishments can make you feel good about yourself. We're just along for the ride.”

Clairiere will leave the outermost post 4 under Joel Rosario.

While Asmussen has yet to record a Shuvee win, Pletcher is just one shy of the record five wins held by Hall of Famer H. Allen Jerkens. Pletcher's Shuvee starlets include Awesome Maria [2011], Authenticity [2013], Stopchargingmaria [2015] and Curalina [2016].

“Anytime you do anything that is associated with something that Mr. Jerkens accomplished, it would be a true honor,” Pletcher said. “He was a special man, someone who I got to know a little bit and someone I would seek advice from and just enjoyed talking with. He had such a tremendous passion for the business.”

Malathaat will look to improve on her impressive career ledger of 10-7-2-1 worth purse earnings in excess of $2 million. She has never lost back-to-back races and Pletcher has trained the filly in blinkers leading into Sunday's test, equipment she will sport for the first time on race day.

Malathaat breezed a half-mile in 49.22 on July 17 over the Spa main track with Velazquez up, while working in company for Sunday's showdown.

“We've thought about putting blinkers on her for a long time and it was hard to do last year because she was in the midst of such a good season,” Pletcher said. “We've felt like in both starts this year she kind of lost focus at a certain stage of the race, so we decided to breeze her in blinkers and felt we got the desired effect that we were looking for.”

Malathaat launched her 4-year-old campaign with a three-quarter length win in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare in April at Keeneland ahead of her runner-up effort in the Ogden Phipps. She will exit post 3 under Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Crazy Beautiful sports a ledger of 7-5-1 for purse earnings in excess of $1 million for conditioner Kenny McPeek.

The 4-year-old Liam's Map grey notched a trio of graded wins last year, traveling extensively to capture the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita and the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks.

Crazy Beautiful has ventured to 10 racetracks through 18 starts, posting wins at six of them. Her lone start at Saratoga resulted in a distant sixth in last year's Grade 1 Alabama.

Out of the graded-stakes placed Indian Charlie mare Indian Burn, Crazy Beautiful enters from a closing second to Army Wife in the nine-furlong Lady Jacqueline on June 25 at Thistledown.

“Crazy Beautiful has been an overachiever – she's accomplished a lot,” McPeek said. “She's doing exceptionally well here and she's going to need to find another level to beat Malathaat and Clairiere. Even if she is third or better, I think it's going to be worth the try.”

Crazy Beautiful worked a half-mile in 48.66 on July 16 over the Oklahoma dirt training track.

“It was probably as nice of a work as she's ever put in last weekend, so I see her running really well and she's going to give it her all,” McPeek said. “Is she up to the level of the fillies that are running? She's going to have to prove something.”

She will emerge from post 2 under Julien Leparoux.

Rounding out the compact field is Louis Lazzinnaro's graded-stakes placed Exotic West, who enters from a distant second in the Grade 2 Allaire DuPont Distaff on May 20 at Pimlico – a race won by 14 1/4-lengths by Super Quick.

Trained by Gary Sciacca, the 4-year-old Hard Spun mare was claimed for $40,000 out of a winning effort going nine furlongs over a good and sealed Saratoga main track in August. She has since posted a record of 9-3-3-1 for current connections led by a score in the nine-furlong Top Flight Invitational in April at the Big A.

Sciacca said Exotic West, bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables, is training well and should benefit from her two-month break between starts with the ultimate goal being the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign on August 27 at the Spa.

“That horse that beat her at Pimlico opened up like a freak. She ran her race though and she's doing well,” Sciacca said. “We kicked her out a little bit and she looks fantastic. This is a stepping stone for the Personal Ensign on Travers Day. It's tough but it's a small field.

“Louis said let's take a shot,” Sciacca added. “She's been great to us and she likes running fresh. If it comes up muddy, she loves the mud.”

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano retains the mount from the inside post.

The Shuvee is slated as Race 5 on Sunday's 10-race card. 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.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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