Tag: Racing

In her first start for trainer Sean McCarthy, Under the Stars broke cleanly from the gate, attended the early pace set by her stablemate Ganadora, and shook off a determined bid from Lady T to take Sunday's $200,000 Summertime Oaks (G2) at Santa Anita by 1 ¼ lengths.

Piloted by leading rider Juan Hernandez, who rang up his 100th win of the meet and his league-leading 22nd stakes victory, Under the Stars got 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.51.

Under the Stars, who lost all chance after stumbling badly in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) April 9, was lapped on Ganadora to her inside around the Club House turn and drew alongside three furlongs out.

Leaving the quarter pole, Under the Stars enjoyed a one length advantage but was quickly engaged to her outside by Lady T, who could not go with the winner a furlong from home.

“I never had the opportunity to work her, but I watched the replays and she's a really kind filly,” said Hernandez, who tripled on the day. “You can do whatever you want with her. She can come from behind like today, she's just a really nice filly.

“…Around the three eighths, she felt the outside horse and she started to pick it up on her own and I felt like she was good.  So, I just let her go.”

Originally trained by currently suspended Bob Baffert, Under the Stars, who won the Santa Ynez Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs three starts back on Jan. 8, was the second choice in a field of seven sophomore fillies and paid $9.20.

“Fortunately, she got away cleanly today,” said McCarthy, who saddled his second winner on the day and trained the winner of Saturday's Affirmed Stakes (G3), Hopper.

“She stumbled badly in the Oaks and it pretty much took her out of contention, which happened to the favorite today. I gotta credit Jimmy Barnes and the whole crew.  They did a lot of schooling with her in the paddock. She can get (excited) and today, she was very calm and composed, which I liked. She's put a little weight on since the Santa Anita Oaks, had some time leading into this race, so that helped her obviously. She came in fresh and she showed it today.”

Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Lady T, who came off a 14 ½-length maiden win going one mile at Santa Anita on May 15, broke from the far outside and attended the pace throughout but was no match for Under the Stars when it counted in a solid effort.

Off at 6-1, Lady T was nine lengths clear of Desert Dawn at the wire.

The upset winner of the Santa Anita Oaks two starts back and most recently a big third in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 6, Arizona-bred Desert Dawn went to her nose shortly out of the gate, was shuffled back to last, and did well to post a third-place finish.

Under Umberto Rispoli, 3-5 favorite Desert Dawn finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Ganadora.

Under the Stars, who was bred in Kentucky by Eaton and is campaigned by Coolmore associates, is a daughter of Pioneerof the Nile out of the Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent, a $5 million purchase by Coolmore's M.V. Magnier at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed sale. Under the Stars is a three-quarters sister to Grade 1 winner and dual classic-placed Bodemeister, by Empire Maker.

The post ‘Calm and Composed’: Under The Stars Sparkles With Trouble-Free Trip In Summertime Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Enjoying a 55-39 lead over runner-up Doug O'Neill, Phil D'Amato's third Santa Anita training title is all but a formality with only four days remaining in the Winter/Spring meet that began the day after Christmas on Dec. 26.

The 45-year-old San Pedro native hopes to go out in a blaze of glory next Sunday by capturing Santa Anita's traditional closing day stakes finale, the  San Juan Capistrano (G3) for the third consecutive year, quite a feat in itself although it pales mightily in comparison to Charlie Whittingham's incomparable record that will likely never be broken of 14 San Juan victories, including five straight years from 1983 through 1987.

The legendary “Bald Eagle” who died at 86 on April 21, 1999, won the San Juan consecutively beginning in 1983 with Erins Isle, (ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr.), 1984 with Load The Cannons (Pincay again), 1985 with Prince True (ridden by Chris McCarron), 1986 with Dahar (Alex Solis up), and 1987 with Rosedale (that man Pincay again).

D'Amato is in a position to have many more successful years with an ever-expanding clientele helping to fuel big meets such as the one he's enjoyed this winter/spring. To that end, he has five horses nominated to the 83rd San Juan, first run in 1935, but he's likely to enter only 2020 San Juan victor Red King and Rijeka.

Red King, remarkably still a full horse at age eight, was fifth in last year's San Juan, one of 40 starts the son of English Channel has made in his lengthy career, winning eight with six seconds and eight thirds, good for earnings of $560,555.

Rijeka, a six-year-old Irish-bred gelding, has a 6-5-3 record from 31 starts with earnings of $310,440.

Both horses worked “head and head” Sunday morning on the training track, going five furlongs in the identical time of 1:01.20.

“Red King is a hard-knocker who showed some good life last time (finishing second in an overnight race May 22, his first start in more than two months),” D'Amato said. “He was a game second and he loves this San Juan Capistrano distance, so he's got all those things in his favor going into this race.

“Rjjeka acts like he's a very kind horse that can run all day, so it should be a good spot for him to get into a nice rhythm and show what he can do at an extended marathon distance.”

D'Amato is not a one-man operation and readily lauds his supportive owners and diligent staff for the team's success.

“I've been fortunate to be paired with some very good owners who constantly look for good horses to add to my stable, and even more important, to have an excellent staff preparing the horses to win these kinds of races,” he said.

Asked his thoughts on Whittingham's staggering mark of 14 San Juan victories in a day when competition was much keener than today, D'Amato said: “What he did back in his era was pretty amazing. I know the San Juan was a lot saltier when he was winning it.

“That's why he's a Hall of Fame legend.”

The post Trainer D’Amato Looks To Cap Santa Anita Meet With Third Straight San Juan Capistrano Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing's undefeated multiple Grade 1 winner Flightline was a decisive victor of the hotly anticipated bout with Grade 1 winner Speaker's Corner in Saturday's Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.

Trained by John Sadler and piloted by Flavien Prat, Flightline broke inward and a step slow from the inside post, conceding position to the quick-starting Speaker's Corner, who exited post 2 under Junior Alvarado.

Flightline was taken in hand by Prat as Speaker's Corner crossed over to the rail and assumed command through an opening quarter-mile in :22.78 and the half-mile in :45.01 over the fast main track. But a patient Prat quickly regrouped and advanced up the rail, steadying again slightly before angling three-wide through the turn and into the clear. Once set down for the drive, Flightline blew past Speaker's Corner and strode home a six-length winner in 1:33.59, while geared down the final 70 yards.

In victory, Flightline toppled the 2020 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Happy Saver, the aforementioned Speaker's Corner, and last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Aloha West.

Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds was on hand at Belmont with a large supporting group to cheer home their undefeated star, who garnered a 112 Beyer Speed Figure.

He said Flightline's victory was all the more impressive in that he had to overcome adversity after three gate-to-wire, open-lengths sprint scores, culminating in a facile win in the Malibu (G1) in December at Santa Anita.

“That was the first time we'd turned for home with something to do. Every other horse in his first three races, they'd been going backwards,” Finley said. “I saw Happy Saver wasn't going backwards and I thought he'd get after it and he did. That wasn't quite as easy as the first three.

“These were very good horses–three Grade 1 winners,” he continued. “You don't run away and hide from that type of Grade 1 winners.”

Finley credited Sadler and his assistant trainer Juan Leyva for the development and maturity of Flightline.

“If you look at his breezes before the Malibu and then his last four or five breezes, he's a different horse in terms of the first part of his works,” Finley said. “The assistant trainer Juan Leyva, who was a jockey and won a Breeders' Cup race, all credit to him for working with this horse every day. A big part of their day has been this horse for a long time, and I think it paid off. I saw their hard work all come together and be exhibited yesterday.”

Finley said another contributing factor was re-acquainting Prat with the new-and-improved Flightline in advance of his first start beyond seven furlongs.

“We flew Flavien out on a Sunday night three weeks ago to breeze this horse [at Santa Anita] because he really hadn't been on him since the Malibu,” Finley said. “I think that really helped because he had seen how much more relaxed he'd been since then.”

Finley admitted that there were a few anxious moments early in the race when Flightline did not break cleanly from his inside post.

“That's what you're exposed to on the rail,” Finley said. “That was not the best case and I knew that Junior Alvarado had his eye on us and he did a good job. He dropped over very quickly and I think he tried to set a trap for Flavien. And he did, but the trap dissipated.”

Finley said once the field separated enough for Flightline to get into the clear, he began to relax and enjoy the race.

“I'd have been more worried if Happy Saver lapped up on us and then we would have been caught in that pocket,” Finley said. “But when it thinned out and he was able to move out two paths, I knew that if we're good enough we were going to get by this horse. And then he went up in a way that you kind of knew he was going to keep going.”

And when Flightline was presented late in the turn and track announcer John Imbriale alluded to a battle of East versus West, the crowd cheered in anticipation ever so briefly.

“For about six strides,” said Finley, with a laugh. “We enjoyed that last eighth of a mile and he was free and clear. I saw Flavien just before the eighth pole peek over at the big board and when they do that, that's a good sign.”

While post-race discussions centered around a next start in the Pacific Classic (G1) on September 3 at Del Mar, the New York-based Finley said he'd like to see Flightline under consideration for the $1 million Whitney (G1) August 6 at Saratoga. The nine-furlong test for older horses offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Classic (G1) in November at Keeneland.

“I know exactly where I want to go, but John will make the call and he's done really well so far,” Finely said. “I think that's [the Pacific Classic] probably the leading candidate, but the Whitney certainly has to be in play, too. One or the other.”

Finley said Flightline cooled out well and scoped clean after the race and was in good order during his Sunday morning visit with the talented and proud colt.

“He has personality. He's the prom king and he's turned into the Heisman Trophy winner,” said Finley. “He's a handsome kid and got a lot of charisma. There's a lot to like about this horse.”

And Finley said Flightline's continued success – for an ownership group that includes both the West Point and Woodford Racing partnerships–can only benefit the sport.

“He's owned by people who have worked hard and developed a love for our sport and have come together,” Finley said of the Summer Wind Equine-bred son of Tapit out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered. “I think that's a great signal to send to people who are looking at our industry.”

The post Flightline Garners 112 Beyer Speed Figure For Dominant Met Mile Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Red TR-Racing's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Rich Strike will be pointed to the $1 million Runhappy Travers (G1) on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course after finishing sixth of eight runners in Saturday's Belmont Stakes (G1).

The chestnut son of Keen Ice displayed rail-skimming tactics in his stunning 80-1 upset victory in the “Run for the Roses,” but tried something new when angling outside of foes from post 4 in the Belmont, which was won by Derby fifth-place finisher Mo Donegal, who also is pointed to the Travers.

Jockey Sonny Leon, who expertly piloted Rich Strike to his Derby win, struggled throughout the first mile of the 1 1/2-mile test to bring Rich Strike's attention to the race rather than trying to make the rail. Rich Strike trailed the field in eighth before swinging wide in the turn and only managing to put away two rivals in the “Test of the Champion.”

Trainer Eric Reed said Rich Strike likely would have run better with an inside trip.

“He came back great. It was my fault. I had a feeling the race would shape up like it did, and I told Sonny that all we had to do was settle eight lengths back down the backstretch and we'd win,” said Reed. “We knew that they would be waiting on us to come on the inside and I said, 'Good, because we're not going on the inside; we're not going to get stopped in an eight-horse field.' But he won't run on the outside of horses. He has no interest and all he did was turn his head and try to fight to the rail and not concentrating on anything but trying to get to the rail and doing what he does. I didn't know that. It didn't cost us the win, but I do think it cost us a placing.

“I should have had a bit of an indication, because when we breeze him, Gabriel [Lagunes] breezed him about four or five lengths off the rail because he doesn't go as hard that way,” Reed continued. “When he's on the rail he wants to go too fast. I thought with horses around him, he'd be waiting to go, but he lost interest.”

Rich Strike will now set his sights on a cutback to the Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles in the Travers, a distance that Reed said suits him perfectly.

“We were going there win, lose, or draw. We're going to give him a little rest and that's a mile and a quarter and there'll be plenty of speed,” said Reed. “The track will play to his liking and we'll run another bang-up race. I have no doubt about that. We'll give him three or four easy weeks and then start training him up to the Travers. He'll train in Kentucky and train [at Saratoga] a little.”

While Rich Strike's finish in the Belmont was not what his team was hoping for, Reed said he couldn't be happier to continue to train a Kentucky Derby winner.

“We didn't think we could win coming from last, but this was a chance to get another good finish and that's why we targeted it. He's still the Derby winner and he'll win plenty of races,” said Reed. “It's not his only race and I would feel a lot worse if he had tried really hard and got dead tired and couldn't win. He drank a half a bucket of water and wasn't tired. He wasn't trying to win, he was trying to get to the rail.”

Reed expressed his gratitude to the fans and to Belmont Park for their accommodations during Rich Strike's stay in New York.

“Oh God, I got hundreds and hundreds of messages. I'll keep everybody informed when he goes back to the track,” Reed said. “He's not going anywhere and he'll get his say again. We had guys as we were walking back come out of the barns and say, 'Congratulations, you've still got the good horse, you'll get them next time.' I was real surprised that dozens of people came out and were so nice to us. You've got to lose better than you win – that's my motto. As long as the horse is healthy, I'm happy.”

“Everybody has treated me so good from the day I got here and Juan Dominguez [NYRA's Senior Director of Safety and Racing Operations] and Frank [Gabriel Jr. NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations] stood here at 1 in the morning to watch him go to the stall; the press giving us our space and always being so kind,” Reed added. “Who wouldn't like that?”

The post ‘You’ve Got To Lose Better Than You Win’: Reed Takes Aim On Travers With Derby Winner Rich Strike After Disappointing Belmont Finish appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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