Tag: Racing

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out three graded stakes-placed fillies to try and capture the inaugural running of the $135,000 Wilton Stakes, a one-mile test for sophomore fillies over the main track Thursday at Saratoga Race Course.

The Wilton marks the return of dirt races at the mile distance on main track for the first time since 1992 when 25 races started from the one-mile Wilson Chute. The chute was first dismantled after the 1972 season to accommodate additional parking; its 1992 return was short-lived.

The chute was reconstructed over the winter and will see two other stakes conducted from it during the 40-day summer meet: the $125,000 Evan Shipman Handicap for New York-bred 3-year-olds and up and its female counterpart, the $125,000 Johnstone Mile.

Pletcher's trio is led by the multiple graded stakes-placed Mineshaft filly Goddess of Fire, a half sister to dual Grade 1-winner and stablemate Mind Control. Goddess of Fire looks to rebound from a last-out 11th-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks when she raced far off the pace and never fired.

“She's coming out of the Oaks, which obviously was a very difficult race,” said Pletcher. “She's done well with a little time. She broke her maiden at Saratoga and we feel like she likes the track.”

A homebred for Red Oak Stable, Goddess of Fire was a debut winner in August at Saratoga sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs before trying graded company with a distant third in the Pocahontas (G3) stretching out to 1 1/16 miles in September at Churchill Downs. She followed with an off-the-board finish in the one-mile Tempted at Belmont to close out her juvenile season.

Goddess of Fire showed great improvement in the first half of her sophomore campaign, earning three runner-up efforts in the Gasparilla at Tampa Bay Downs, the Rachel Alexandra(G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course when defeated just a half-length by Turnerloose, and the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) where she was defeated 2 3/4 lengths by Kathleen O.

“I think she's shown in the Gulfstream Oaks that she's a nice filly,” said Pletcher.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Goddess of Fire form post 1.

Grade 1-placed A Mo Reay will return to stakes company for owners My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm for the first time since finishing an even third in the Frizette (G1) as a maiden in October, defeated by subsequent 2021 champion 2-year-old Filly Echo Zulu and Mother Goose (G2) winner Gerrymander.

The dark bay Uncle Mo filly was last seen taking a first level allowance by 2 1/4 lengths on June 10 at Laurel Park after battling for the lead and running on gamely down the stretch under Victor Carrasco to secure her second win. The effort came on the heels of a 1 1/16-mile allowance in April at Keeneland when she raced towards the rear of the 10-horse field and was eased before being walked off.

“She came back well and we felt like this was a logical progression for her,” said Pletcher. “She's Grade 1-placed and we would love to get some black type with her.

“I don't know what happened at Keeneland,” Pletcher added. “That was bizarre, because she was training lights out. She was actually training with [Grade 1winner] Nest, who won the Ashland IG1) later on the card. It was just one of those classic throw-out races that we had no explanation for.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call from post 9.

Stonestreet Stables' Favor is in search of her third win this year after finishing off-the-board last out in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course when fifth behind the victorious Interstatedaydream.

Pletcher said the a wide trip throughout was difficult for Favor.

“I thought she kind of had a rough trip in the Black-Eyed Susan,” said Pletcher. “But she's rebounded and trained good.”

A gray daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, Favor won her first two starts this year with a maiden-breaking score at second asking on January 9 in a one-mile maiden ahead of a 4 1/2-length romp in a first-level allowance over the same surface and distance. She then finished third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) just 2 1/4 lengths behind Echo Zulu in her graded stakes debut.

“I think a mile is good for her,” said Pletcher.

A $500,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase, Favor is a half sister to promising undefeated juvenile Gulfport, who captured the Bashford Manor sprinting six furlongs on July 4 at Churchill Downs.

Tyler Gaffalione will guide Favor from post 6.

LBD Stable, Manganaro Bloodstock, and David Ingordo's dual Grade 1-placed Tarabi makes her second start off a six-month layoff for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

The daughter of First Samurai finished second in her sophomore debut sprinting seven furlongs in allowance company on June 18 at Churchill.

Tarabi's juvenile season was highlighted by a pair of Grade 1 placings in the Frizette in October at Belmont when second to Echo Zulu, and in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November at Del Mar where she finished third, 5 3/4 lengths behind the same foe. She has a perfect in-the-money record of 1-2-1 from four starts and earnings of $296,000.

Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano, who has piloted Tarabi for 3-of-4 starts, will ride again from post 7.

Michael J. Ryan's Sweet Solare enters from a third-place finish behind Hot Peppers in the Jersey Girl on June 12 at Belmont for trainer Horacio De Paz. The Into Mischief bay graduated at second asking in February in a six-furlong maiden over a sloppy and sealed Aqueduct main track ahead of an off-the-board finish in the Cicada and subsequent allowance win on May 7.

Sweet Solare, who is cross-entered in $150,000 Coronation Cup over the turf on Friday at Saratoga, will be ridden by Kendrick Carmouche from post 5.

Completing the field are two-time winners Gina Romantica [post 2, Flavien Prat] for trainer Chad Brown and Angitude [post 4, Joel Rosario] for conditioner Brad Cox; maiden winner St Maarten Girl [post 3, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] for trainer Juan Vazquez, and the stakes-placed Let's Be Clear [post 8, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Linda Rice.

The post Saratoga’s Reconstructed Wilson Chute To Reopen With Inaugural Wilton Stakes For Fillies; Pletcher Triple-Handed With Graded-Placed Trio appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Ken McPeek has garnered plenty of knowledge and experience since starting his first runner in 1985. He's known for his fearlessness when taking a gamble with his horses, like when he sent out Sarava to a shocking 70-1 victory in the 2002 Belmont Stakes(G1) for the dark bay's first try against graded company, and more recently, scored a Preakness (G1) victory with upset filly Swiss Skydiver in 2020.

His longshot Golden Ticket won the 2012 Travers (G1) in a dead heat with Alpha at odds of 33-1, and Harvey Wallbanger took the 2019 Holy Bull (G2) as a 29-1 stunner.

McPeek came ready to upset another top-level event when he entered Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper's multiple graded stakes winner Classic Causeway in Saturday's 10-furlong Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) along with 5-1 chance Tiz the Bomb, who finished ninth.

It appeared on paper to be a tall order for Classic Causeway, who arrived off two week's rest to make his turf debut in a Grade 1 and at his fifth different racetrack this year.

While McPeek was fully confident in the son of Giant's Causeway's ability over grass, the public was not, sending him to post at odds of 26-1 in a field loaded with established turf quality from 11 rivals, including five European shippers.

There was a question of whether Classic Causeway's dirt speed would transfer to turf, and he answered with a front-running score under Julien Leparoux to confirm what McPeek said was “just instinct” about his talents over turf.

“I always thought the pace of turf races would suit him because he gets a chance to relax and breathe a little bit,” said McPeek. “For me, it wasn't a big surprise because he was doing so well and we took a couple test drives with him over the turf at the Saratoga training track and was confident he would like it. We're certainly thrilled with the win. It feels good.”

Along with some good showings in the morning over the grass, McPeek said Classic Causeway appeared physically like a horse who would appreciate turf.

“Having been around the horse for a couple months now and knowing his mindset and his foot—He has a big turf foot on him—you've got to take chances like that to learn something,” said McPeek. “I was fortunate that the ownership gave me carte blanche on him. They said, 'Do what you think is right.' I said, 'If it was my horse, I'd try him on the grass.' This could be a world-traveler on the turf and the sky's the limit with him. A mile and a half he might even be better.”

Classic Causeway flashed his talents earlier this year with a pair of graded wins at Tampa Bay Downs for former trainer Brian Lynch, taking the Sam F. Davis (G3) in March ahead of 2 1/2-length score in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The two victories earned him enough points to enter the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 7, where he finished 11th in his first start for McPeek.

He returned with a pace-pressing third in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 25 at JACK Thistledown just two weeks before his Belmont Derby triumph.

“Good horses run on anything, and this is a warrior this horse,” said McPeek. “He's tough and loves to run. He's a little one-dimensional in the fact that he wants to go early, but if you give him a chance to relax a little bit, he's going to fight you off.”

Classic Causeway has added to his late sire's sublime legacy, providing Giant's Causeway with another Grade 1 winner as one of three foals from his final crop born in 2019. McPeek said Giant's Causeway's greatness cannot be overstated.

“A fantastic stallion. I happened to be around him when he was racing and I knew that he was a good turf and dirt horse,” McPeek said. “He had natural speed, and his legacy is solid.”

The Belmont Derby was the first leg of the Caesars Turf Triple series, and Classic Causeway will now look to build upon his first turf success with a start in the Grade 1, $1 million Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational on August 6, the second leg of the  series, which concludes with the Grade 3, $1 million Caesars Jockey Club Derby at the Belmont fall meet.

“Saratoga Derby is a no-brainer next stop. He's heading back to Saratoga tonight or tomorrow and we'll give him some works up there. I'm sure they'll respect him a little more this time around,” said McPeek, with a laugh.

The post ‘Good Horses Run On Anything And This Is A Warrior’: Classic Causeway Will Try To Add To First Turf Success In Next Month’s Saratoga Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Juddmonte's deep-closing multiple graded stakes winner Set Piece should have sharp fractions to close into in the $175,000 Forbidden Apple (G3), a one-mile inner turf test for older horses Friday at Saratoga Race Course.

The 6-year-old Dansili gelding, who boasts a record of 10-2-1 from 20 career starts and purse earnings just shy of $700,000, finished seventh, defeated two lengths by Shirl's Speight, in his seasonal debut in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) in April at Keeneland.

Last out, Set Piece rallied from 11 lengths off the pace to post a 1 1/4-length score in the Dinner Party (G2) at 1 1/16 miles on May 21 at Pimlico Race Course.

Trained by Brad Cox, the British homebred made the grade in the Wise Dan (G2) last June at Churchill ahead of a runner-up effort to the popular mare Got Stormy in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) in August at the Spa.

Florent Geroux retains the mount from the inside post.

Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust's Mira Mission has posted triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of his last three starts, beginning with a 100 for his three-quarter length score in the Canadian Turf (G3) on March 5 at Gulfstream Park.

The 4-year-old Noble Mission gelding followed with a close fifth in the Maker's Mark Mile in April at Keeneland that garnered a career-best 101 figure ahead of a narrow neck defeat to Santin last out in the Turf Classic (G1) on May 7 at Churchill Downs that registered a 100 speed figure.

Trainer Ian Wilkes, who took over training duties from Tom Bush late last year, said Mira Mission has blossomed.

“He's just matured. He had a great foundation and is very consistent,” Wilkes said. “He's just an honest little horse. He always tries and you have to love him. He came to me in real good shape and I'm very fortunate to reap the benefit.”

Wilkes said he had intended to enter Mira Mission in the Wise Dan on closing weekend at Churchill before turf racing at that meet was scrapped.

“He was going all winter and spring and then I had to re-group,” Wilkes said. “He's training good, so it was handy that this race was here. The horse has done well.”

Mira Mission made two turf starts at the Spa for Bush, including a smart optional-claiming score in August going nine furlongs.

“Hopefully, I can get the same result Tom did and get a win,” Wilkes said with a laugh.

Julien Leparoux returns in the irons from post 3.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will have two chances for his first Forbidden Apple score when he saddles Public Sector and Analyze It.

Klaravich Stables' Public Sector posted a record of 7-4-2-0 last year led by wins at Saratoga in the Hall of Fame (G2) and Saranac (G3) . The 4-year-old Kingman colt was off-the-board in the nine-furlong Turf Classic in his seasonal debut in May at Churchill ahead of a close third last out in the one-mile Poker (G3) on June 18 at Belmont.

William H. Lawrence's Analyze It, a 7-year-old Point of Entry gelding, is a three-time graded-stakes winner with his most recent score at the level coming in September 2020 in the Red Bank (G3) at Monmouth Park. Boasting a consistent record of 5-4-3 from 16 lifetime starts and purse earnings of $951,850, Analyze It enters from a closing third in the Cliff Hanger on May 28 at Monmouth in his seasonal debut.

Public Sector will leave from post 7 under Irad Ortiz, Jr. while Analyze It will burst from post 6 under Jose Ortiz.

MeB Racing Stables' Clear Vision was a prominent winner of the Tropical Turf (G3) in January at Gulfstream Park to provide 24-year-old trainer Matthew O'Connor his sole stakes win to date.

O'Connor claimed Clear Vision in October for $25,000 out of a gate-to-wire score over the Belmont turf and entered the Artie Schiller gelding back in the Claiming Crown Emerald Starter in January at Gulfstream, finishing second ahead of his 10-1 Tropical Turf upset.

Clear Vision finished off-the-board in his next three starts, including a pacesetting fourth last out in the 1 1/16-mile Mr. Steele on May 21 at Gulfstream.

“I'd missed one work on him going into the race and he got collared at the top of the stretch, but he didn't give up,” O'Connor said. “He was game and finished a good fourth. He's one of those hard-knocking horses who knows his job and loves what he does.”

Clear Vision worked a half-mile Saturday in :50.60 over the dirt at Palm Meadows Training Center and will ship to Saratoga on Sunday.

“He's doing great,” O'Connor said. “We've been targeting this race since we gave him a break after the Canadian Turf. We picked the Mr. Steele as a prep as it was decent spacing into this race. He'd coming in good and has a solid work tab. I couldn't be happier with him. I expect him to run well.”

The 6-year-old bay posted a 4 3/4-length front-running claiming score over the Saratoga turf in August one start before being haltered by O'Connor. The young conditioner said he is hopeful Clear Vision will enjoy a return to winning ways at the Spa.

“I've been going up there every summer since I was an infant. To be able to run up there, especially in a Grade 3 with a decent shot to win it, is exciting,” O' Connor said. “Any race at Saratoga feels like a Grade 1 but when you get to run in a graded stake and be live in it – it's a privilege. Hopefully, he runs well and wins or hits the board. We'd be happy either way.”

Eric Cancel will pilot Clear Vision from post 5.

Three Diamonds Farm's Atone set the pace in the Dinner Party en route to a third-place effort, finishing 1 1/2-lengths back of Set Piece.

Trained by Mike Maker, the 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding garnered a career-best 101 Beyer when fourth in the Maker's Mark Mile in April at Keeneland in his seasonal debut. He earned graded black type in December when second to Doswell in the Fort Lauderdale (G2).

Flavien Prat will pilot Atone from post 8.

Ironhorse Racing Stable, BlackRidge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings and Saratoga Seven Racing Partners' Get Smokin is another likely pace presence for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

The 5-year-old Get Stormy gelding won 2-of-4 starts last season, including scores in the Tampa Bay (G3) and the one-mile Seek Again at Belmont. He finished second to Shirl's Speight in his Tampa Bay title defense in his seasonal debut in February ahead of an off-the-board effort in the Al Quoz Sprint (G1) in March at Meydan.

Get Smokin was a game second, defeated a head by Admission Office, when making his return to action last out in the Arlington (G3) on June 4 at Churchill.

He will emerge from post 9 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

Rounding out a loaded field are the multiple graded-stakes placed Wolfie's Dynaghost [post 2, Luis Saez]; graded-stakes placed City Man [post 10, Joel Rosario]; stakes-winner Scuttlebuzz [post 11, Manny Franco]; multiple stakes-placed New York-bred Sanctuary City [post 12, Kendrick Carmouche]; and three-time winner Yes and Yes [post 4, John Velazquez]. Art Collector, winner of the Grade 1 Woodward last year at Saratoga, is entered for the main-track only.

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