Tag: Racing

Perry Harrison's dual Grade 3-winner Change of Control will face males for the second time in her career in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Jaipur for 3-year-olds and upward sprinting six furlongs over the Widener turf course.

The Jaipur is one of three Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” races on Saturday's lucrative Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets card and offers the winner a berth in the Grade 1 Turf Sprint in November at Keeneland.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, the bay daughter of Fed Biz will look to give her conditioner the first Grade 1 victory of her career as she enters the Jaipur off a narrow defeat in the 5 1/2-furlong Unbridled Sidney on May 5 at Churchill Downs.

Lovell said she is excited for the chance at her first Grade 1 as Change of Control stretches out an extra sixteenth.

“It would mean the world,” said Lovell. “With the six furlongs, she likes a little more ground. She can put herself close and in a stalking position usually. She grinds it out and she closes – she's game. A little more distance helps her.”

Change of Control was bested a neck by Tobys Heart in the Unbridled Sidney after briefly taking command at the top of the lane and battling to the wire with her foe.

“It's hard to watch her get beat because she does give everything,” Lovell said. “Tobys Heart is a nice mare. I thought we were going to get there.”

Change of Control broke her maiden at fifth asking over a sloppy and sealed main track at Fair Grounds Race Course en route to her first stakes victory in the Mamzelle sprinting five furlongs over Churchill's turf course. She went on to collect three more allowance victories and a one-length Giant's Causeway coup before landing her first graded win in last year's seven-furlong Grade 3 Intercontinental over the Belmont Park lawn.

In the Intercontinental, Change of Control rated two lengths off the pace in third and rallied under regular rider C. J. Hernandez to best multiple stakes-winner Piedi Bianchi by 1 1/2 lengths. The win was the first of two New York stakes victories for Change of Control, who went on to capture the Autumn Days in November at Aqueduct.

“It was awesome. She loves New York and she's won two stakes races there,” said Lovell. “She's my favorite horse and the best I've ever trained. She's really honest and so professional.”

Lovell said it was Harrison's call to send Change of Control to the Jaipur rather than defend her title in the Intercontinental on Friday.

“She's got her work cut out for her, but she's doing good. She's a good, honest mare,” said Lovell. “The owner has had his sights set on this race and he's wanted to try and get a Grade 1 placing for her. This is her last year racing before she goes to be a mama.”

Change of Control currently boasts a 35-9-8-7 record and earnings of $809,725. As Lovell reflects on Change of Control's career in her final season of racing, she shared an appreciation for the mare's professionalism in all she has achieved.

“She's a very healthy horse. She trains lightly and doesn't need much,” Lovell said. “I let her do what she wants to do and she enjoys it that way. She's a happy horse and an easy horse to train. She's physically in great shape and mentally awesome. She's stayed good for a long time. I wish she was three and not six. I haven't had a more professional and courageous horse. She lays it down every time.”

The post Michelle Lovell Sends ‘Game’ Racemare Change Of Control Against Males In Jaipur appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Flightline, who soared to victory in all three career starts in California, will showcase his talents in the Empire State in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap.

The gifted colt has won his three starts by a combined 37 1/2 lengths, producing triple digit Beyer Speed Figures each time, while effortlessly strolling past the wire in a gallop under Flavien Prat.

A 13 1/4-length maiden victory at six furlongs last April at Santa Anita had Flightline on everyone's radar, but the brilliant Tapit colt would not see action for another five months, capturing an allowance optional claimer at Del Mar on his return going the same distance by 12 3/4 lengths.

Despite never running at stakes level, Flightline was made the 2-5 favorite in the Grade 1 Malibu and gave his connections a late Christmas present, winning by 11 1/2 lengths on December 26. The winning effort produced a 118 Beyer – the highest figure recorded for a thoroughbred last year.

Flightline arrived at Belmont on Tuesday and visited the main track Wednesday and this morning, and also schooling in the paddock both days under the watchful eye of Juan Leyva, the assistant to trainer John Sadler.

Leyva said Flightline wasn't bothered by the early morning rain.

“On the walk up to the track it was raining, but once we got to the track it was a light sprinkle,” Leyva said. “He did well. He just galloped his usual mile and a quarter. He behaved well and handled it nicely.”

Stephanie Hronis, whose Hronis Racing is the lead partner on Flightline with Siena Farms, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, was on hand to see Flightline's training.

“He's bright-eyed. Juan had told me earlier, you can see his eyes, they have the sparkle in them. He's settled in nicely and looking good,” Hronis said. “It was nice to see him go to the paddock nicely and taking it all in, stay calm, pause when he needed to, and check things out. He's very smart, so his brain is working well through this.”

Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds has also been at Belmont to observe Flightline's training and said he couldn't be doing any better.

“You really do get a feeling that you're in the presence of something great when you're around him,” Finley said. “It just looks like he's settled in really well. He's a true professional. He looks confident and settled. It looks like he still has his swagger. Juan is just over the moon with the way he handled it. The shipping and the new surroundings will not factor in if he should not get to the winner's circle – that won't be a reason.”

Hronis is particularly fond of the way Flightline has moved so effortlessly throughout his starts.

“His speed and the way his body moves, it's incredible,” Hronis said. “It's kind of like your kids in sports – you're proud of each one and what Flightline has brought to the barn, the family and the ownership group is so unique. Juan and I were talking about how his body moves and how concise it is. There's not a lot of wasted energy. His first race I remember watching him go across the track. It was almost scary to watch his body move like that. It's through the incredible care at the barn.”

Hronis recalled how excited Prat was following the Malibu.

“Flavien got off him and just said, 'That was exciting.' You could just tell he had huge chills,” Hronis said. “It was a special moment for him, also. He's on a lot of really nice horses so it was cool to see. In each of the races it's been like that. Flavien just holds on and goes. He navigates him well.”

Finley spoke volumes of the partnership group, particularly Hronis.

“They know what good horses look like,” Finley said. “He just brings a smile to all of our faces. Hopefully, he's one that they're still talking about 100 years from now.”

The post ‘In The Presence Of Something Great’: Flightline Settles In At Belmont For Met Mile Bid appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gold Square's Grade 1-winning colt Cyberknife headlines a field of seven 3-year-olds that were entered in Sunday's $225,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn will go as Race 8 with a post time of 4:22 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m.

The Matt Winn annually serves as the next stop for many horses after the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Cyberknife, trained by Brad Cox, finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby under jockey Florent Geroux.

“In the Derby the pace was very fast and something he may never have to experience again,” Geroux said. “I think the Matt Winn is a good spot for him to get some of his confidence back. He's been doing well out of the Derby and should have a better pace setup in this race than he had to deal with in the Derby.”

Cyberknife, who won the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) in his final prep toward the Kentucky Derby, has never won at Churchill Downs but has been based beneath the Twin Spires for most of his career. The son of Gun Runner finished second twice at Churchill as a 2-year-old before he broke his maiden at Fair Grounds. Following the Kentucky Derby, Cyberknife has recorded three published works prior to the Matt Winn. Geroux will once again be aboard for Sunday's race and break from post No. 6.

Here's the field for the Matt Winn from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Trafalgar (Colby Hernandez, Al Stall Jr.)
2. Tough to Tame (Jose Lopez, Chris Davis)
3. Camp David (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset)
4. Howling Time (Joe Talamo, Dale Romans)
5. Droppin G's (Rafael Bejarano, Jerry Antonuik)
6. Cyberknife (Geroux, Cox)
7. Rattle N Roll (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)

The post Cyberknife Can ‘Get Some Of His Confidence Back’ In Sunday’s Matt Winn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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John & Thady Gosden sent out four winners at Royal Ascot last year, their first season in partnership, and John issued updates on some of their biggest hopes for the week, including Stradivarius as he goes for a fourth win in the G1 Gold Cup.

Stradivarius failed to emulate Yeats' record 12 months ago, coming home fourth behind Subjectivist after a troubled run, but the 8-year-old made a successful return in the G2 Yorkshire Cup last month.

John Gosden said: “It is one thing training an 8-year-old gelding and another thing training an 8-year-old full horse, but Stradivarius is happy and well and I hope the weather holds up for him.

“He runs how he runs and knows how to race. He doesn't like being left with too much to do but on the other hand if you get there too soon, that is not a good idea either. He is an old pro now.

“I think he is still up to running a huge race in the Gold Cup, as long as the ground is not soft or heavy. He was probably in his prime at five or six, but at eight you have to face the fact it could be like a boxer getting back in the ring too late in their career. But he seems up for it at the moment and the plan was always to run here and then Goodwood, so we are sticking to that.”

Lord North is set to be the stable's sole representative in the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes, with Mishriff likely to wait for the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park in early July.

Gosden said: “Lord North has won the race before but we are very frightened of the Japanese horse [Shahryar] and another very good horse trained here in Newmarket called Bay Bridge.

“Our fella is a grand horse and I think he needs to be ridden a little differently compared to the Tattersalls Gold Cup, when he sat too close to the pace.

“I think it is going to be a fabulous race, as it should be. I like Bay Bridge – he has always been a lovely horse and, to me, he could be better than the rest.”

Reach For The Moon will bid to give Her Majesty The Queen a 25th Royal Ascot win in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes, having finished second on his return in the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown Park last month.

Gosden said: “We are thinking of the mile and a quarter option for Reach For The Moon rather than the King Edward VII Stakes.

“He has pleased us in his work since Sandown – he has gone nicely – and we are very happy with him.

“It would be amazing to give Her Majesty a winner and we hope he goes there with a nice chance.”

Of his other potential runners, Gosden said: “Inspiral will go in the Coronation Stakes, as could Grand Dame.

“Inspiral is coming to herself now. It has taken a long time but I think we are beginning to see the filly of last year. Hopefully, she can put in a big performance.

“We are all looking at the one filly [Homeless Songs] who dotted up in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She looked very smart.

“It is great when you have all the Guineas winners turning up. It is like the grand finale and you find out who the best is.

“The Oaks and Ribblesdale are tight enough time wise, that's for sure, but Emily Upjohn could run. It is a very important race and I have won it before with fillies who have run in the Oaks.

“If she doesn't run here, you are then waiting until the end of July for a couple of options. She has been eating well, looking well and had a canter this morning. We will see how she is and make the decision late.

“I am not sure where Francesco Clemente goes. He is in the King Edward VII Stakes and we will take a look at that but no decision has been made.

“We have some nice 2-year-olds, including Far Shot who won at Yarmouth yesterday – he will go for the Windsor Castle. Then the filly who nicely won at Goodwood [Fully Wet] will go for the Albany. I think we have some possibilities there.”

The post Gosden: 8-Year-Old Stradivarius ‘Still Up To Running A Huge Race In The Gold Cup’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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