Tag: Racing

In control of the early pace, John Sadler's classy French-bred Bran was never seriously challenged as he held off longshot Majestic Eagle late to take Sunday's $100,000 Daytona Stakes (G3) by one length under a red-hot Juan Hernandez.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Bran got about 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf course in 1:12.44.

A close second in his most recent start, the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs May 6, Bran, a 4-year-old gelding, had one second-place finish from two prior tries over the course at Santa Anita.

“It didn't look like there was much speed in the race, but the nice thing about him is, he's won both ways, he can be up close or he can lay off of them a little bit like he did last time at Churchill Downs,” said Sadler.  “He's a very honest horse.  He doesn't have a bad race on his form, he runs good all the time.  We'll freshen him up now and the distances at Del Mar may not suit him well, so we'll see.”

A winner of the ungraded Siren Lure Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs out of Santa Anita's turf chute two starts back, Bran was off as the even-money favorite in a field of five older horses and paid $4.

“He ran one time on the lead down the hill and he put up nice fractions like today, so John told me, 'Just break sharp and if he wants to go to the lead, let him go,” said Hernandez, who was aboard for the first time today and who registered his fifth stakes win of the weekend, with two remaining on the Sunday program.  “If someone else wants to go, just follow them.'

“I broke on the lead and he was happy there.  I waited until we crossed the dirt and then I asked him to go home and he (did).”

With two wins from six Southern California starts, Bran, in getting his first graded stakes win, is now 19-6-4-3 overall.  With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $346,396. By Muhaarar out of Best Intent, by King's Best, Bran was bred by Lordship Stud.

Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, Majestic Eagle, one of two Neil Drysdale entrants, overtook Burnin Turf by a head for second.

California-bred Burnin Turf couldn't go with the winner early and was third best, finishing a half length in front of Homer Screen.

The post Red-Hot Ridin’ Hernandez Takes Bran From Gate To Wire To Win Daytona appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio breezed three furlongs at Gulfstream Park Sunday morning, returning to the worktab for the first time since finishing off the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 7.

The gray son of Race Day, who won the Holy Bull (G3) and Curlin Florida Derby (G1) during Gulfstream's Championship Meet before experiencing a wide and troubled trip at Churchill Downs, was timed in :36.65.

“It was a good work and came out of it well,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who is pointing White Abarrio to the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) June 25 at Thistledown.

Joseph also sent Grade 1 winner Drain the Clock to the track Sunday morning for a three-furlong breeze that was timed in :35.50. It was the second workout for the son of Maclean's Music since finishing sixth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) on the March 26 Dubai World Cup program.

“We'll probably target the Smile,” said Joseph, referring to the $100,000 Smile Sprint (G3) July 3 during Summit of Speed weekend at Gulfstream.

The Smile is one of 12 graded dirt stakes included in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen, an incentive-based participation bonus program. The winner of the Smile will earn a $30,000 credit toward the entry fee for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland. The second-place finisher will earn a $15,000 credit, while the show horse will earn a $7,500 credit.

The $250,000 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) at Gulfstream on July 2 is a Breeders' Cup 'Win & You're In' event in which the winner will earn a fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Ce Ce won both races last year.

The post White Abarrio Returns To Gulfstream Worktab, Trainer Joseph Reveals Next Race appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Artie's Storm stormed home to take Sunday's Grade 2 $201,950 Stella Artois Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine.

Prior to the running of the Eclipse, jockey David Moran forecasted a strong showing from the multiple stakes-winning son of We Miss Artie out of Tiz Stormy Now, by Tiznow.

Under ideal conditions at the Toronto oval, 4-year-old Artie's Storm, owned and trained by Paul Buttigieg, proved to be too hot to handle for his five rivals.

It was Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, Mighty Heart, who set the early tone in the 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and up, as Patrick Husbands guided the one-eyed star to the rail with Frosted Over settling into second, while Moran and Artie's Storm sat third through an opening quarter timed in :23.99.

Mighty Heart, making his 2022 Woodbine debut, was still calling the shots through a half-mile timed in :48.48 as Frosted Over, a length back, and Artie's Storm, four behind that rival, kept the leader in their sights.

As the lead trio rounded the turn for home, Moran called upon Artie's Storm, as the duo began to cut into the lead of the front-running pair.

Third, a neck back of Frosted Over at the stretch call, Artie's Storm, sent off at 7-1, soon seized control to the outside and went on to record a one-length victory in a time of 1:42.40. Frosted Over bested Mighty Heart by two lengths for second spot, with Riptide Rock taking fourth.

It was the first start of the year for the dark bay, who notched his third straight score after wins last year in the Lake Ontario Stakes and Steady Growth Stakes.

“This horse has been training lights out,” said Moran. “The only thing we were worried about was first run, two turns off the shelf, against these kind of horses. We didn't really get a prep for him, but his breezes have been amazing. I would look forward to getting into my car on Monday mornings just to come down and breeze him on Mondays… it was just so good.”

And it still very much is.

Moran, who has been aboard for all the Ontario-bred's 11 starts (5-2-3), was thrilled with how his trip worked out.

“He settled off the pace and I was happy at the three-eighths that no one was pressuring me, so I was able to be a little bit more patient and I said that once I got him straightened up, he kicked in like he always kicks in. Just fitness-wise, I was trying to wait as long as I could and hopefully, I wouldn't get swarmed from someone behind.” ​ ​

Moran believes Artie's Storm, bred by Sunrise Farm, could be in for a big season at the Toronto oval.

“He danced with all the big boys last year, against open company. I think with this sire, they seem to get better with age and this guy definitely has matured. He's a proper little racehorse.”

​Artie's Storm paid $17.10.

The post ‘This Horse Has Been Training Lights Out’: Artie’s Storm Rolls To Eclipse Stakes Win In Season Bow At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A total of seven stakes races, including a trio of Grade 3 events, will be on tap next weekend at Churchill Downs. Saturday's “Stephen Foster Preview Day” will have six stakes staged that are all steppingstones to the July 2 stakes bonanza beneath the Twin Spires.

The $200,000 Blame (Listed), run at 1 1/16 miles, will be used as a prep for many horses prior to the $750,000 Stephen Foster (G2) – a “Win and You're In” event for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.  The $200,000 Shawnee (Listed), run at 1 1/16 miles, is the Blame's filly and mare counterpart to give horses a prep for the $350,000 Fleur de Lis (G2).

The day of racing will also feature the $200,000 Arlington (G3) for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf; the $200,000 Regret (GIII) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf; the $200,000 Aristides (Listed) for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs; and the $200,000 Audubon for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Sunday's program will be headlined by the $200,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (G3) for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Following are some of the probable entrants, according to Churchill Downs Assistant Racing Secretary and Stakes Coordinator Dan Bork:

• $200,000 Arlington (Grade 3) at 1 1/16 miles on turf for 4-year-olds and up: Admission Office (Brian Lynch); Floriform (Bill Mott); Gray's Fable (Brian Lynch); and Like the King (Mark Casse).
• $200,000 Regret (Grade 3) at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-old fillies: Beside Herself (Todd Pletcher); Candy Raid (Keith Desormeaux); McKulick (GB) (Chad Brown); Skims (Shug McGaughey); and Walkathon (Ian Wilkes).
• $200,000 Blame (Listed) at 1 1/16 miles for 4-year-olds and up: Dynamic One (Todd Pletcher); Intrepid Heart (Joe Sharp); Militarist (Carlo Vaccarezza); Scalding (Shug McGaughey); and Title Ready (Dallas Stewart).
• $200,000 Shawnee (Listed) at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up: Army Wife (Mike Maker); Ava's Grace (Robertino Diodoro); Crazy Beautiful (Kenny McPeek); and Powder River (Norm Casse).
• $200,000 Aristides (Listed) at six furlongs for 4-year-olds and up: Bango (Greg Foley); Bob's Edge (Larry Jones); Kneedeepinsnow (Matt Shirer); Long Range Toddy (Dallas Stewart); Miles Ahead (Paul McGee); Necker Island (Chris Hartman); Pyron (Al Stall Jr.); and Top Gunner (John Ortiz).
• $200,000 Audubon at 1 1/8 miles on turf for 3-year-olds: Grand Sonata (Todd Pletcher); James Jones (Chad Brown); Speaking Scout (Graham Motion); Summer Anthem (Mike Maker); Tallahatchiebridge (Saffie Joseph Jr.); Tiz the Bomb (Kenny McPeek); and Trending (Shug McGaughey).
• $200,000 Old Forester Mint Julep (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares 4-year-olds and up: Dalika (Al Stall Jr.); Gam's Mission (Cherie DeVaux); Hendy Woods (Mark Casse); Keeper of Time (Brendan Walsh); and Lake Lucerne (Brendan Walsh).

Entries for Saturday's card will be drawn Wednesday, while Sunday's card will be drawn Thursday.

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