Tag: Racing

Sent to post as the odds-on 1-5 favorite, Gulfport lived up to the hype in the 121st running of the $173,000 Bashford Manor Monday at Churchill Downs.

The 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt broke fast from the gate and widened his lead down the stretch en route to a 12 ¼-length demolish job over Owen's Leap and Andthewinneris while clocking six furlongs in 1:09.25 on closing day of the 42-day Spring Meet.

The winning margin was the largest in the storied history of six-furlong juvenile sprint, surpassing Kantharos' 9 ½-length romp in 2010. Additionally, it was the second-fastest clocking, only behind Kodiak Kowboy's 1:09.15 stakes record in 2007.

Gulfport gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his record-extending seventh win in the race and clinched his 26th Churchill Downs training title (25-23 wins over Brad Cox).

In addition to Gulfport, Kantharos, and Kodiak Kowboy, Asmussen won the Bashford Manor with Lunarpal (2004), Cinco Charlie (2014), Sir Truebadour (2018) and Cazadero (2020).

Brian Hernandez Jr. rode the winner for owners Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt (who won the race for a record fourth time), Terry Green's Jackpot Farm and Carrol Castille's Whispering Oaks Farm.

“We're so grateful for all of our owners to have horses like Gulfport. He's been extremely talented from an early stage and has shown us a lot of ability,” Asmussen said.

Breaking from the rail in the field of six 2-year-olds, Gulfport displayed an explosive turn of foot out of the gate and clocked the first quarter mile in a quick 21.65 as Simply Super chased about a length back in an attempt to keep up. Leaving the turn in :45.07,

Gulfport spurted clear by two lengths and glided down the homestretch to prove his superiority.

“I think that was something very special,” Hernandez said. “He really did all of that on his own. I let him break at the rail and he took me right to the front. It was extremely impressive. He's a really nice colt and did everything so easy today.”

Gulfport's triumph was worth $107,070 and increased his bankroll to $176,530 with a perfect record in two starts. His debut win came June 10 at Churchill Downs, a five-furlong maiden special weight he won by seven lengths.

A $275,000 yearling buy from Eaton Sales last July at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale, Gulfport is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Fame and Fortune. He was bred in Kentucky by Diamond Creek Farm.

Gulfport returned $2.40 for the victory.

Simply Super, Stayhonor Goodside, and Mr. Gordy completed the order of finish.

“Today, when he broke from the rail, Brian got him into the perfect position on the lead and he never looked back,” Asmussen said.

First run in 1902, the Bashford Manor is named for the former Louisville Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm that dominated the American racing scene in the early 1900s. George J. Long, a wealthy foundry owner, purchased Bashford Manor Farm in 1887 and developed his Thoroughbred operation that provided him two Derby wins as an owner, 1892 (Azra) and 1906 (Sir Huon), and three as a breeder, 1892 (Azra), 1899 (Manuel) and 1906 (Sir Huon). In addition, Bashford Manor also won the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 (Selika) and 1915 (Kathleen). The original Wilder family owned Bashford Manor. The Wilders were direct descendants of Lord Baltimore, whose English home was also called Bashford Manor. Long died in 1930 and the farm was eventually sold in 1973 to make way for the development of a mall complex, fittingly named Bashford Manor, that formally closed in 2003.

The post Gulfport Wins Bashford Manor By Widest Margin Ever, Secures Churchill Training Title For Asmussen On Closing Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will seek to build on his recent graded stakes success at Belmont Park when he saddles Dynamic One and Untreated in the $400,000 Suburban (G2) at Saturday at Belmont Park.

The Suburban, slated for Race 4, kicks off stakes action on a loaded Stars and Stripes Racing Festival card, which also boasts the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, a 10-furlong turf test for 3-year-old fillies in Race 7; the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies in Race 8, and the Grade 1, $1 million Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds going 10 furlongs on the turf in Race 9.

The top-four finishers in the Suburban will have their nomination, entry and starting fees waived if they start in the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 3 at Saratoga Race Course. The 10-furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Keeneland.

Pletcher will seek his second Suburban score after securing victory with Keen Ice in 2017.

Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, and Phipps Stable's Dynamic One exits a one-length victory in the listed Blame on June 4 at Churchill Downs, where he recorded a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure. His victory in the nine-furlong test saw the 4-year-old Union Rags chestnut turn the tables on familiar foe Scalding, who bested him in the Grade 3 Challenger in March at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 2 Ben Ali the following month at Keeneland in which Dynamic One finished a respective third and second.

Dynamic One finished second in his stakes debut in last year's Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct ahead of an 18th-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He rebounded with a 1 3/4-length win in the next-out Curlin Stakes at Saratoga but was sent to the sidelines following a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers and did not return to action until this year.

Pletcher expressed delight in seeing Dynamic One return to form this season.

“I think he ran very well last time and has taken a step forward in each of his starts this year,” Pletcher said. “We're hopefully heading in the right direction. He's a horse that we always thought would improve with a little age and we have kind of seen that so far this season. Each race has been a gradual step forward, so hopefully he continues on that trend.”

A $725,000 purchase from the Claiborne Farm consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Dynamic One boasts the rich maternal bloodlines of 1988 champion older female and undefeated Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. His dam, Beat the Drums, is out of Storm Flag Flying, 2002 champion 2-year-old filly.

Team Valor's Untreated strives for his first win since capturing a pair of one-turn mile tests over the winter at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old Nyquist bay arrives in fair form, finishing a pacesetting third in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special in May, which came on the heels of a close second in the Excelsior on April 2 at Aqueduct.

The Pimlico Special was the first time Untreated dictated terms upfront, a running style Pletcher said does not quite suit him.

“He found himself on the lead at Pimlico, which might not be his preferred running style,” Pletcher said. “He's kind of proven that he's right on the verge of breaking through in the handicap division and I think the mile and the quarter should suit him.”

First Captain, a last out winner of the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, will aim to become the first horse to secure the Pimlico Special-Suburban double since Invasor [2006] and Mineshaft [2003], who were both named Horse of the Year following their respective campaigns.

The 4-year-old son of Curlin, purchased for $1.5 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale and owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing, displayed a strong late kick in the 9 1/2-furlong Pimlico Special, running down Untreated and Pletcher-trained Vindictive to pick up his second graded stakes victory.

Trained by four-time Suburban-winning Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, First Captain is unbeaten in three starts over Big Sandy and will make his first start over the surface since capturing last year's Grade 3 Dwyer. He suffered his first career defeat in his sire's namesake restricted race last July at Saratoga. Victorious upon return to action at Gulfstream Park in late February, First Captain was an uncharacteristic last-of-7 in the Grade 1 Carter two starts back on April 9 at Aqueduct.

“He's a lightly raced colt with a world-class pedigree who is trained by one of the best to ever do it,” said West Point Thoroughbreds spokesman Jason Blewitt. “It was nice to put the Carter in the rearview mirror and run down a couple of really nice Todd Pletcher horses. It was great to see. I know as the summer wears on he'll have to run better than he did at Pimlico, but I don't think we've seen his best race to date. I'd like to think there's significant improvement left in him.”

Last year's Suburban winner Max Player will attempt to be the first horse to sweep back-to-back editions since Effinex in 2015-16. Soundly beaten in both of his starts this year, the son of Honor Code will attempt his first trip to the winner's circle since capturing last year's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.

Max Player, the lone millionaire in the field, boasts earnings in excess of $1.3 million and a record of 14-4-1-2, which also includes a pair of third-place finishes in the 2020 Belmont Stakes and Runhappy Travers.

Completing the field is the Uriah St. Lewis-trained Forewarned, who will make his first start in New York since winning the Excelsior over Untreated. The 7-year-old veteran is by two-time Suburban winner Flat Out [2011, 2013] and brags three triumphs at the Suburban distance, having captured the last three runnings of the 10-furlong Best of Ohio Endurance at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

The post Pletcher Duo Dynamic One, Untreated Headline Field For Suburban appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Godolphin's Irish homebred Nations Pride will look to continue a tremendous run of form in North America for trainer Charlie Appleby when he takes on an international field of 13 Saturday in the $1-million Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park.

The Belmont Derby a 10-furlong inner turf test for sophomores.

Nations Pride exits an eighth-place finish in the Cazoo Epsom Derby (G1) June 4 which came five weeks after a seven-length romp over subsequent Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal in the 10-furlong listed Newmarket Stakes.

Nations Pride had a four-race win streak snapped at Epsom, with his three previous wins all coming on flat courses at 10 furlongs, including a 3 1/4-length score in the Jumeirah Derby at Meydan in Dubai. The son of Teofilo is a grandson of Group 1-winner and 2006 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) fifth Satwa Queen, a 10-furlong specialist.

Appleby said Nations Pride should appreciate firmer footing as he cuts back in distance.

“He just didn't stay in the English Derby. It's as simple as that and the ground would have been a question,” Appleby said. “The quicker the ground, the better for him and he's proven that already at Meydan's quick, sound surface. More importantly, coming back to the 10 furlongs will suit. He stays that well and on a sound surface, especially. He's coming over there in good order and I think he'll be a live player.”

Trainer Aidan O'Brien will be represented by the promising Stone Age, bred and co-owned by Peter Brant with Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg.

The Galileo colt ran a strong second as a maiden in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in October before graduating in March at Navan in his seasonal debut. Stone Age followed with an eye-catching score in the Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown over 10 furlongs before finishing sixth last out in the 12-furlong Epsom Derby as the second choice.

O'Brien, who won this event last year with Bolshoi Ballet, also sent Deauville here to capture the 2016 renewal.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will be in search of a third Belmont Derby score following wins by Finality [2002] and Take the Points [2009] when he sends out graded-stakes winners Emmanuel and Grand Sonata.

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Emmanuel, by More Than Ready, made a winning turf debut last out with a gate-to-wire score in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Pennine Ridge on June 4 at Belmont.

The versatile colt made his first five starts on dirt, graduating in December at Gulfstream Park ahead of an optional-claiming win in January at Tampa Bay Downs. Emmanuel tried his luck on the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream ahead of a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Pletcher said Emmanuel breezed well on the green ahead of his turf debut.

“He worked well on the turf and we felt like the Pennine Ridge was the logical place to give it a try. It was a good prep for the Belmont Derby,” Pletcher said. “He took to it and we're happy to step it up and give it a try. I think the mile and a quarter should be within his scope.”

Whisper Hill Farm's Kentucky-homebred Grand Sonata launched his campaign with a pair of stakes scores on the Gulfstream turf, capturing the one-mile Dania Beach on New Year's Day and the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Kitten's Joy in February. He returned in April to finish a close second to Belmont Derby-rival Sy Dog in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Transylvania before a deep-closing third last out in the nine-furlong Audubon on June 4 at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher said a wide run down the lane didn't help Grand Sonata's chance last out.

“That was kind of a tricky course to go wide on,” Pletcher said. “He didn't get away well and was in a compromised position. But he ran well and he's been very consistent.”

Owner and trainer Ken McPeek will saddle a pair of Kentucky Derby (G1) alumni in his Magdalena Racing's Tiz the Bomb, and Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper's Kentucky-homebred Classic Causeway.

Tiz the Bomb returns to turf after a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

The Hit It a Bomb colt boasts wins on dirt, turf and synthetic and posted turf scores in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile in September and the Grade 2 Bourbon in October at Keeneland. He completed his 2-year-old season by rallying to finish second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Del Mar.

The Kentucky-bred millionaire returned with an off-the-board effort in the Grade 3 Holy Bull in February over the Gulfstream Park dirt before taking both the John Battaglia Memorial in March and Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks in April over the Turfway Park synthetic, defeating a field that included subsequent Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike.

McPeek said Tiz the Bomb will relish the conditions.

I think the further the better with him. He's all class,” McPeek said. “A mile and a sixteenth has been easy enough for him but I think he should be able to get into a nice rhythm, and I think he'll have a big shot in the race.

“He's doing really well,” McPeek added. “He's been training here in Kentucky on the grass all spring since the Derby and we're excited to get him back on turf.”

Classic Causeway will make his turf debut in his second start for McPeek. The Giant's Causeway chestnut captured the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby over the winter at Tampa Bay Downs before finishing 11th in both the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream and Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for his former conditioner Brian Lynch. He enters from a prominent third in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Ohio Derby on June 25 at Thistledown.

McPeek said the 10 furlongs should suit the typically forward Classic Causeway.

“He's a horse that it seems like pace dictates his game. I think the pace in a mile and a quarter race will suit him better than the pace in a mile race,” McPeek said. “He's a lovely horse to be around. It's definitely a switch in his game, but we galloped him on the grass at Saratoga and he's got a foot that I think will suit the turf.”

Stolen Base, trained by Mike Maker for Three Diamonds Farm and Deuce Greathouse, enters from a rallying 1 1/4-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 American Turf on May 7 at Churchill Downs in which Sy Dog ran third.

The versatile colt is a winner on dirt and turf as well as stakes-placed on synthetic when a close second to returning rival Tiz the Bomb in the John Battaglia Memorial in March at Turfway Park.

Royal Patronage, trained by Charles Johnston, enters from an off-the-board effort in the Epsom Derby. The Wootton Bassett bay defeated subsequent 2,000 Guineas (G1) and St James's Palace Stakes (G1)winner Coroebus in the one-mile Group 2 Royal Lodge last September, one race after upsetting another Godolphin Royal Ascot victor, Group 3 Jersey winner Noble Truth, in August's Group 3 Acomb going seven furlongs at York.

Head of Plains Partners' Sy Dog, by Slumber, won his first three career starts, including a nose score in the 1 1/16-mile Central Park in November at the Big A ahead of a closing three-quarter length win in the Transylvania (G3). He was a rallying third last out in the American Turf (G2).

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out the Peter Brant homebred Napoleonic War, who finished a game second to Emmanuel last out in the Pennine Ridge.

“He was pace compromised, but he ran well last time,” Brown said. “He finished up well. He's probably looking for a mile and a quarter and so we'll see if he can step up to this class level.”

The War Front bay was a troubled fourth to Sy Dog in the Transylvania ahead of a determined nose score in an optional-claimer here on May 5.

Abdullah Almaddah's Implementation, a homebred son of Constitution trained by Pia Brandt, exits an even effort when last of four in the one-mile Group 3 Prix Paul de Moussac at Chantilly over good-to-soft ground. One race prior, he was third in the nine-furlong Group 3 Prix de Guiche to subsequent Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club [French Derby] and Group 1 Coral-Eclipse winner Vadeni.

Rashit Shaykhutdinov's Machete, trained by Fabrice Chappet, chased home Vadeni in his past two starts—a seventh in the French Derby on June 5 and a second in the Prix de Guiche, a head in front of Implementation. Earlier this season, Machete soundly defeated Implementation by two lengths in Chantilly's Listed Prix Maurice Caillault at nine furlongs over its flat all-weather course.

Multiple graded stakes-placed Limited Liability was last seen finishing third to Emmanuel in the Pennine Ridge for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and owner/breeder Stuart S. Janney III. He earned another pair of graded placings when third in both the Grade 3 With Anticipation and Grade 2 Pilgrim behind Annapolis last year.

The post International Cast Of 13 Set For Belmont Derby Invitational appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Gunite slipped through an opening along the inside rail at the top of the stretch and determinedly turned back late charges from My Prankster and Hoist the Gold to win Sunday's first running of the $160,000 Maxfield Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Gunite won by a half-length, with the victory providing jockey Tyler Gaffalione his ninth stakes win of the Spring Meet – the most since Robby Albarado won eight in 2005.

Gunite, the odds-on 4-5 favorite in the field of six 3-year-olds, clocked seven furlongs over fast track in 1:23.08 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. As a 2-year-old, Gunite won the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga.

Overtaxed dictated the pace through a first quarter mile in :23.08 and the half in :46.25 as Gunite tracked in third along the inside rail.

As the field turned for the homestretch run, a tiring Overtaxed fanned out wide on the lead and opened an inside seam for Gunite to slip through. He grabbed the lead with his rail run with three-sixteenths of a mile left and was resolute to hold off late runs from My Prankster, who rallied from last, and Hoist the Gold, who challenged with a four-wide move throughout the lane.

“He didn't break as sharply today so I was in a bit of a tight spot at the rail up the backside,” Gaffalione said. “Turning for home I just bided my time and stayed at the rail and he kicked on well.”

Gunite paid $3.80

My Prankster, the 7-5 second betting choice, finished a head in front of third-place finisher Hoist the Gold, a 30-1 longshot.

Tejano Twist, Burninhunkoflove, and Overtaxed rounded out the field.

Gunite, a Kentucky-bred son of Gun Runner out of the Cowboy Cal mare Simple Surprise, improved his record to 3-3-1 in eight starts. The $97,311 first prize boosted his career earnings to $438,099.

Guinite made his return from an eight-month layoff June 3 and ran second in an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs. The race marked his first start since finishing fifth in the Champagne Stakes (G1) October 2 at Belmont.

“We're really happy to get him back in the winner's circle,” Asmussen said. “He didn't break as sharp today as we expected. Tyler got him in a good rhythm up the backside and we're fortunate he was able to win today.”

In addition to the Maxfield, Gaffalione, who has already clinched his eighth Churchill Downs riding title, won the Grade 3 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (Santin); Mamzelle (Twilight Gleaming); Grade 3 Winning Colors (Sconsin); Aristides (Bango); Blame (Dynamic One); Leslie's Lady (Wicked Halo); Monomoy Girl (Society); and Tepin (Wicked Halo).

For Asmussen, it was his meet-leading fifth stakes win. The others were the Grade 1 La Troienne (Pauline's Pearl); Grade 1 Churchill Downs (Jackie's Warrior); Leslie's Lady (Wicked Halo); Monomoy's Girl (Society), and Tepin (Wicked Halo).

The Maxfield Stakes is named in honor of Godolphin's eight-time winner Maxfield, a two-time Grade 1 winner who won his career finale in last year's Clark Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs before launching his stallion career earlier this year at Darley in Lexington.

The post Grade 1 Winner Gunite Captures Churchill’s Maxfield Overnight Stakes In Second Start Off Long Layoff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post