Tag: Racing

Evangeline Downs hosted the annual celebration of the Louisiana-bred Thoroughbreds Saturday with the Louisiana Legends Night card on Saturday.

A large crowd was on hand for the night of stakes action that included six stakes races each worth $75,000 for state-bred runners.

Maga Man Scores Turf Repeat

Maga Man displayed a new dimension by sitting off the early speed and rallying to a thrilling victory in the $75,000 Turf, a race he won last year.

Normally a runner found battling for the lead, jockey Joe Stokes was able to get Maga Man to settle off the hot early pace being fought by Forestdungone, Mangelsen and Behemah Star through snappy fractions of :23.21, :47.28, and 1:11.63.

Maga Man was ready to launch a four-wide rally at the top of the lane and engaged the leaders as they reached the furlong marker.  While Behemah Star continued to battle on as the only survivor of the early pace, Jaci's Royalty and City Park were closing from the back of the pack.

Trained by Norman Miller, III, Maga Man was able to dig in and prevailed in a finish that saw the first four finishers separated by less than a combined length.

Maga Man stopped the clock in 1:43.33 over the 1 1/16 mile distance with the official winning margin of a half-length over Jaci's Royalty. It was a head back to third-place finisher Behemah Star and a nose to City Park in fourth.

Owned by Norman Miller IV, Maga Man returned $17.20 to his backers.

The $45,000 winning purse pushed the career totals for Maga Man to 10 victories in 39 career starts and $369,880 in earnings. The 7-year-old gelding, bred by Steven Renshaw, is by Musket Man out of Lew's Gray, by Pulling Punches.

Favorite Free Like A Girl Rolls Home In Soiree

Free Like a Girl ran like a solid favorite is expected to do in her victory over 3-year-old fillies in the $75,000 Soiree.

After breaking a little awkwardly, jockey Pedro Cotto Jr. was able to get Free Like a Girl into a comfortable position just off the early leader Beleout.

Trained by Chasey Deville Pomier, Free Like a Girl ranged up to challenge the leader moving past the quarter pole and opened up a comfortable margin moving past the furlong pole.

Wholelottamo was steadily gaining ground in a runner-up effort but could not threaten the winner. The winning margin for Free Like a Girl was 1 1/4 lengths, with another 7 3/4 lengths to the third-place finisher First I've Seen.

The winner covered the mile distance in a time of 1:39.41.

Sired by El Deal, the bay filly is out of the Flashy Bull mare Flashy Prize and was bred by Kim Renee Stover and Lisa Osborne.  The victory was her seventh from 13 career starts and the $45,000 winning purse pushed her career total to $401,473.

Owned by Double Dam Farm LLC, Free Like a Girl returned $3 to win.

Big Chopper Romps Gate To Wire In Cheval

Kendel Standlee's Big Chopper was hustled to the front and never looked back in his victory in the $75,000 Cheval.

Jockey C.J. McMahon had his mount away alertly from the gate and settled into stride setting fractions of :24.01, :47.83, and 1:11.93 for six furlongs before stopping the clock in 1:37.71 for the mile distance.

Vodka Gimlet was in range throughout but could not get past the determined winner. Favored Touchuponastar, off a very impressive maiden victory, was chasing the eventual victor from the outset and faded to third.

Trained by Scott Gelner, Big Chopper's winning margin was a half-length, with another length separating the second and third finishers.

Big Chopper returned $13.80.

Bred by the owner, the 3-year-old is by Shackleford and is out of the Unusual Heat mare Miss Well Molded. The $45,000 winning purse pushed his career total to $130,480 with his third victory from eight career starts.

Net A Bear Overcomes Traffic To Win Turf Distaff

Maximo Lamarche and Federico Deltoro's Net a Bear returned to her winning ways on the grass with an impressive victory in the $75,000 Turf Distaff.

Jockey Tim Thornton and Net a Bear were unhurried early sitting in fifth position early as longshot Sumitup raced away to an open lengths lead. World War and Great in Red were the first to collar the leader moving into the far turn as the leader gave way after fractions of :23.63 and :48.15.

Through six furlongs in 1:12.26, Net a Bear was shuffled back in some traffic and had to wait for some running room.  As the field straightened away in the lane, the Allen Landry trainee found a clear path and rushed past the leaders to win by 11/4 lengths. World War fought on to finish second a head in front of Great in Red.

The winner stopped the timer in 1:36.91.

Bred by Lora Pitre and Elaine Carroll, Net a Bear was sired by Awesome Bet and is out of the Eddington mare Edacious Reality. Winning for the 12th time in 33 career starts, the $45,000 winning purse pushed her career earnings to $615,970.

The favorite in the wagering, Net a Bear paid $3.40.

Fame Feather Sprints To Mademoiselle Win

Trainer Ron Faucheux and jockey Jareth Loveberry teamed up for their first of two stakes victories as Fame Feather won the $75,000 Mademoiselle.

Winning for the first time over the main track, Fame Feather rallied from off the pace to win the 5 ½-furlong sprint.

Settling off swift early fractions of :21.90 and :45.58 set by Lady Hopper, the Picard Thoroughbreds Racing Stable LLC (Dawn and Jeffrey Picard) runner commenced a rally two wide on the turn and rallied to pull away for a one length victory over Spirited Beauty, a half-length ahead of Snowball who rallied late for a third-place finish.

The winner stopped the timer in 1:04.49.

Bred by Ramona Pierce, Fame Feather is a 7-year-old chestnut mare sired by Lion Tamer out of the Indian Charlie mare Pretty Indian. Winning for the seventh time in 25 career starts, the winner's share increased her career bankroll to $274,330.

Fame Feather returned $21.20.

Bertie's Galaxy Captures Sprint For Second Time

Faucheux and Loveberry found the winner's circle again as Bertie's Galaxy defended his title in the $75,000 Sprint.

Sharp away from the gate, Bertie's Galaxy was quickly in charge leading by a length through an opening quarter in :21.86 with Black Sword and Yankee Seven chasing their familiar rival. Turning for home in a half-mile in :44.63, the Allen Cassedy runner extended the lead to two lengths and was clear at the wire. The winning margin was 2 1/4 lengths over a late closing Creole Charlie and it was another 11/2 lengths back to Takes Two to Tango in third.

Bertie's Galaxy stopped the clock in 1:03.52 for the 5-1/2 furlong distance.

Bertie's Galaxy was bred by Margie Averett and the 6-year-old chestnut gelding is by Greeley's Galaxy out of the Wild Rush mare Wild Bertie.

Off as the favorite, Bertie's Galaxy returned $6.60,

The $45,000 winning share pushed the career bankroll of Bertie's Galaxy to $442,850. The victory was the eleventh from 25 career starts.

The post Louisiana-Breds Shine On Legends Night At Evangeline Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dynamic One, the “other” horse trained by Todd Pletcher, lived up to his name with a one-length victory over a closing Proxy in Saturday's third running of the $198,750 Blame Stakes (Listed) at Churchill, a local prep for the Louisville racetrack's $750,000 Stephen Foster (G2) on Saturday, July 2.

Scalding was a neck back of the runner-up in third and Pletcher's Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution, the even-money favorite, was fourth.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Dynamic One, who made amends from his 18th place finish in last year's Kentucky Derby, covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.54 for owners Repole Stable (Mike Repole), Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) and St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola).

Longshots Super Stock and Santos Dumont took turns leading the way early on through splits of :23.61, :47.42 and 1:11.73 as Dynamic One had one horse beat all the way into the final turn.

Americanrevolution, who was making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in December, drew even with the tiring leaders at the top of the stretch as stablemate Dynamic One tipped out for a wide rally.

Dynamic One gained the advantage into the final furlong and inched clear soon thereafter for the win.

“I had a pretty good idea of his running style and let him settle off of the early pace,” Gaffalione said. “He took the kickback really well and had a powerful kick down the lane. It set up perfectly for him and he came rolling late.”

The victory was worth $121,330 and increased Dynamic One's bankroll to $479,950 with a record of 3-3-1 in 11 starts.

At age 3, Dynamic One qualified to the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) with a narrow runner-up finish to stablemate Bourbonic in last year's Wood Memorial (G2). He'd return in the summer to win the restricted Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.

Prior to the Blame, Dynamic One finished second to Scalding in the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland on April 23.

On Saturday, Dynamic One, the 6-1 fourth betting choice, returned $14.80.

After Americanrevolution, it was Santos Dumont, Super Stock, and Militarist to complete the order of finish. Title Ready was scratched.

Dynamic One is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags out of the Smart Strike mare Beat the Drums. He was bred by his co-owners, the Phipps Stable.

The Blame is named after the 2010 Eclipse Award-winning older horse that handed Zenyatta her lone defeat in that year's Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs.

The July 2 Stephen Foster is a “Win and You're In” event for the Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) at Keeneland Race Course on Nov. 5.

“He ran a heck of a race this afternoon,” said Pletcher's assistant trainer Stu Hampson. “I thought the pace would set up pretty well for his running style coming from off of it. He's a really nice colt and has kept showing improvement this year after coming back as a 4-year-old. We'll leave it up to Todd and the team to see if we stay here for the Stephen Foster but we can't be more pleased with his race today.”

Longshot She's All Wolfe Upsets In Shawnee

Robert H. Zoellner's homebred She's All Wolfe, the longest shot at 20-1 in a compact field of five fillies and mares, powered past tiring leaders Ava's Grace, Army Wife and odds-on 2-5 favorite Pauline's Pearl in deep stretch to win Saturday's third running of the $179,500 Shawnee Stakes (Listed).

Trained by Donnie Von Hemel, She's All Wolfe covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.34 under jockey Francisco Arrieta, who collected his first Churchill Downs stakes victory.

She's All Wolfe was relegated in last during the early stages as Ava's Grace led the cast through early fractions of :23.49, :47.56 and 1:11.85 with Army Wife tracking a length back in second and Pauline's Pearl, the winner of the $750,000 La Troienne (G1) on Kentucky Oaks Day, another length back in third.

Ava's Grace cut the corner on the final turn determined to lead all the way and crossed the mile marker in 1:36.73 with Army Wife and Pauline's Pearl all out to keep up. All the while, She's All Wolfe tipped out with a wide move and came over the top of the leading trio inside the final sixteenth of a mile with a strong closing kick for the upset win.

Ava's Grace was second, and Army Wife was third.

“In the first turn she got into trouble, but after that I was able to get her to relax up the backside,” Arrieta said. “I know (Pauline's Pearl) was a big favorite but I thought my filly was going to be just as tough with her again. Around the turn I was able to get closer to the front and in the stretch she was able to keep running hard past those fillies. It's amazing to win a race like this for Donnie and the owners.”

She's All Wolfe returned $42.40.

She's All Wolfe is a 5-year-old mare by Magna Graduate out of the Include mare She's All In. She was bred in Oklahoma by her owner.

With her victory in Saturday's Shawnee worth $108,500, She's All Wolfe improved her record to 8-6-2 in 25 starts with earnings of $595,411.

This was the fifth stakes win of She's All Wolfe's career but first against open company. Previously, she won four stakes against Oklahoma-breds: the Cinema at Will Rogers Downs in 2020 and three consecutive runnings of the Oklahoma Classics Distaff at Remington Park in 2020-22.

“I think going into the race we all knew Pauline's Pearl was the one to beat,” Von Hemel said. “We ran against her the last couple of starts but my filly was training really well out of the (La Troienne) and I was willing to give her another chance. She got into a little trouble in that first turn but she kept battling all the way to the wire. We're very proud of her and thrilled to win this race.

The Shawnee Stakes, named after the neighborhood in western Louisville, is the local prep race for the $350,000 Fleur de Lis (GII) on Saturday, July 2.

Defending Winner Bango Repeats in Aristides

Tamaroak Partners' Bango split rivals in deep stretch to win Saturday's 34th running of the $199,833 Aristides (Listed) for the second year in a row, this time by 2 ½ lengths over Necker Island.

Trained by Greg Foley and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Bango completed the six-furlong Aristides in 1:08.54.

“He loves this track and is a super nice horse,” Gaffalione said. “We got away a bit slow but sat in a good position off the pace. He kept finding more with every stride.”

Long Range Toddy set a swift early quarter-mile fraction in :21.97 with Top Gunner in close pursuit as Necker Island and Bango rated in fourth and fifth, respectively. Around the turn, Top Gunner poked his head in front after a half-mile in :44.74 and briefly kicked clear. As Top Gunner wearily drifted out in the stretch, the closing Bango came through the opening and was able to easily prevail over Necker Island, who rallied along to rail to win a three-way photo for the place with Top Gunner and Long Range Toddy.

Bango is the third horse to win the Aristides in successive years, joining Bet On Sunshine (2000-01) and Alsvid (2015-16).

Despite winning the race a year ago along with two other stakes events, Bango was the 10-1 sixth betting choice in the eight-horse Aristides and paid $22.20.

Long Range Toddy, Miles Ahead, 2-1 favorite Bob's Edge who never got involved, Jalen Journey and Pyron completed the running order.

Bango, who banked $120,245, improved his record to 9-1-2 with purse earnings of $675,545 in 23 starts. He's 7-1-2 in 13 starts at Churchill Downs.

In his first start of 2022, Bango finished fourth and was beaten 9 ¾ lengths in the St Matthews Overnight Stakes on May 4.

“What a nice horse,” said Foley, who also won the 2004 Aristides (GIII) with Champali. “He loves this track and that's home for us. He needed that last race off the layoff and I guess they (bettors) forgot how much he loves it here. He's 7-for-13 now. That speaks for itself. He got off a bit slow from the rail today and he's shown he can be a multi-dimensional horse. Tyler gave him a great ride and was able to get him to relax.”

Bango is a 5-year-old son of Congrats out of the Smart Strike mare Josaka. He was bred in Kentucky by his owners Fred and Debbie Schwartz.

The Aristides is named in honor of the inaugural Kentucky Derby winner of 1875.

Kitodan Hangs A Head On Smokin' T At 40-1 In Audubon

Kitodan, the longest shot in the field of 11 3-year-olds at odds of 40-1, went from claim to fame with a narrow head victory over Smokin' T in Saturday's third running of the $200,000 Audubon Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Kitodan, ridden by Gerardo Corrales and trained by Eric Foster, ran 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:49.85.

In his previous start, a third-place finish in a first-level allowance/optional claiming event on May 15 at Churchill Downs, owners Foster Family Racing (Brooklyn N. Foster), Douglas E. Miller and William J. Wargel claimed Kitodan for $80,000 off Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher and trainer Mike Maker.

The shrewd claim reaped immediate returns as Kitodan earned $116,990 for the win and improved his career record to 5-1-3 in 12 starts with earnings of $334,610.

“We claimed him for $80,000 and just wanted to try and win a race,” Foster said. “This race came up and thought we'd give him a shot. What an absolute thrill for our team and these guys behind me. This is so amazing. Gerardo rode a phenomenal race and gave it everything he had and Kitodan responded. What an amazing feeling.”

Breaking from post five, Kitodan settled near the back of the pack as Summer Anthem set the pace through fractions of :23.22, :48.32 and 1:13.94.

Both Smokin' T and Kitodan commenced their moves around the final turn and emerged into the stretch as the two clear leaders. Kitodan, on the far outside, battled with Smokin' T shoulder-to-shoulder and emerged as the slim winner.

Kitodan paid $82.

Play Action Pass, Red Run, Major General, James Jones, Speaking Scout, Summer Anthem, Spin Wheel, and Tallahatchiebridge completed the order of finish.

Kitodan, a son of Point of Entry out of the A.P. Indy mare Divine Presence, was bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings Limited.

The Audubon, named after the nearby Louisville neighborhood, serves as a prelude to the $200,000 American Derby (Listed) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Saturday, July 2.

The post ‘Other’ Pletcher Runner Dynamic One Wins Blame, Favorite Americanrevolution Fourth On Stephen Foster Preview Day Undercard At Churchill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In her first graded stakes appearance, Nick Alexander's homebred Becca Taylor, a California-bred daughter of Old Topper, outdueled Grade 1-placed Dance to the Music en route to an authoritative 2 ½ length win in the $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes (G3) Saturday at Santa Anita.

Trained by Steve Miyadi and ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, Becca Taylor got six furlongs in 1:09.35 for her eighth win from nine career starts.

In what quickly developed into a two-horse race, Dance to the Music blasted off from her rail post position under Abel Cedillo and was pressed hard to the sixteenth pole, where Becca Taylor assumed command.

“She came to run today,” said Hernandez, Santa Anita's leading rider with 93 wins and 21 added money victories.  “She's a really good filly. She's got an incredible record.  Today, she was a little fresh.  She broke really sharp and I didn't want to go to the front because I saw the other filly (Dance to the Music) has a lot of speed too. I didn't want to be head and head, but as soon as she felt the inside horse, she was ready to take off and that's why we went a little fast.

“I just tried to let her be happy. When we hit the stretch, she changed leads and she just kept on going. Yes, I was glad we were outside. It's always good to be outside in these short races. Today though, the way she broke so fast, it probably didn't matter that much.”

A two-time state-bred stakes winner on dirt, 4-year-old Becca Taylor came off a one length allowance win going six furlongs on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields May 7 and was off as the 3-5 favorite in a field of four fillies and mares, returning $3.20.

A nose shy of being unbeaten in nine starts, Becca Taylor, who is out of Alexander's General Meeting mare Lady Sax, picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $379,160.

“Mark Glatt had a nice horse (Dance to the Music), the competition was tough,” said Alexander. “She's never beaten anybody by a whole bunch. She just seems to like to lay off and win by a little bit. We had the leading rider, the outside post and I was still nervous.

“As soon as she put her head in front of Dance to the Music, her ears went up. She knew she was home. Juan said he had a lot of horse down the back side, she wanted to then but he kept her back. That time, 1:09 and change, that's as fast as Desmond Doss ran the other day (Thor's Echo Stakes, May 28, in 1:09.70) and we thought that was a big win.

“This is pretty cool.  It's a feather in the cap for her. Her mom is gone, her sire is gone, so she's carrying on for them.”

Dance to the Music, second in the Del Mar Debutante (G1) three starts back, finished 3 ¾ lengths in front of Samurai Charm.

The post ‘Her Mom Is Gone, Her Sire Is Gone, So She’s Carrying On For Them’: Cal-Bred Becca Taylor Rolls To Desert Stormer Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Boardroom made her turf debut a winning one, taking the $175,000 Royal North Stakes (G2) Saturday at Woodbine.

For the connections of Boardroom, there was a one big question heading into the 6 ½-furlong Royal North: Would the talented five-year-old take to the turf?

The LNJ Foxwoods' mare provided an emphatic answer.

It was Souper Sensational, also making her turf debut, who took the lead, as Jeanie B, second by a nose in last year's running of the race, found herself a head behind the pacesetter. Boardroom, under Rafael Hernandez, was third, with U.S. invader In Good Spirits taking up residence in fourth through an opening quarter timed in :22.42.

Souper Sensational maintained her head advantage over Jeanie B, as Boardroom and In Good Spirits remained third and fourth, respectively, after a half in :44.37.

As the field rounded the turn for home, Souper Sensational was still calling the shots, as multiple stakes winner Boardroom was called upon for her best run.

Third and gaining at the stretch call, Boardroom dug down deep and collared her rival in the late stages, finishing a neck in front of Souper Sensational in a time of 1:13.55 over firm going. La Libertee was third and Gidgetta finished fourth.

Plagued by troubled trips on more than one occasion throughout her career, Boardroom was finally able to call the shots with a smooth journey.

“Josie [trainer, Carroll] told me, 'Raffi, just make sure she breaks good out of the gate.' She's an unbelievable horse. Everything worked good, exactly like Josie told me, and here we are. Even though the pace was fast, she was doing everything easy. She just stretched her legs down the lane.”

Despite having to work overtime for the win, Hernandez had faith the daughter of Commissioner out of Money Madness would be able to seal the deal.

“I know my horse, when I keep asking, she's going to give me the best she can.”

Which is exactly what Carroll has come to expect from her multiple graded stakes winning star.

“The last race, she missed the break,” said the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame conditioner, of the second-place finish in the Grade 3 Whimsical on May 8. “She just didn't get herself into position in time. She was flying on end. She handled the grass really well at Palm Meadows and I was pretty confident she'd like it. I was a little concerned because I knew it would be pretty hard and fast and that was something she hadn't been over. This is just a really good mare. You can't go over there with anything but confidence. She just gives you everything every time.”

Last year, the bay, bred in Kentucky by Polo Green Stable Inc., had an abbreviated campaign.

Carroll lauded LNJ Foxwoods for their handling of Boardroom, who returned $7.70.

“I'm so fortunate that I have owners who are going to do the right thing by the horse. When you take the time and do the right thing by them, they pay you back.”

With the victory, Boardroom now has six wins, two seconds and a third from nine career starts.

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