Tag: Racing

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle Group 1 winner Rougir and multiple group winner Lemista in hopes of collecting a record fifth win in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the turf at Belmont Park.

Brown is currently tied at four with multiple Grade 1 winning conditioner Christophe Clement and Hall of Fame trainer H. Allen Jerkens for most Beaugay wins, earning his victories with Waterway Run [2014], A Raving Beauty [2018], Homerique [2019] and Rushing Fall [2020].

The Beaugay, slated as Race 10, is one of five graded stakes events on Saturday's lucrative card that features the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy in Race 3; the Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy in Race 5; the Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War in Race 8 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan in Race 9. First post is 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

Group 1 winner Rougir will make her first start for owner Peter Brant and Brown after she was purchased for $3,393,043 at the Arqana Breeding Stock Sale in December. The 4-year-old French-bred daughter of Territories was last seen finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf in November at Del Mar.

Rougir began her career in her native France with trainer Cedric Rossi and broke her maiden on debut in June 2020 over good-soft going at Chantilly. She earned her first group victory with a determined neck win in the Group 3 Prix des Reservoirs at Deauville.

The chestnut went on take a thrilling edition of the 1 1/4-mile Group 1 Prix de l'Opera Longines over heavy turf at Longchamp, tracking near the back of the field of 14 and making up ground under Maxime Guyon throughout the final two furlongs. Rougir got up just in time to land a nose victory over Grand Glory, punching her ticket to the Breeders' Cup for her stateside debut. She could only manage seventh-place finish in the Filly and Mare Turf after racing between rivals, going five-wide in the turn and coming up empty down the stretch.

Lemista and Rougir breezed five furlongs in company in 1:02.40 Friday over the Belmont inner turf.

“She's been training very well,” Brown said. “We took the winter to get her acclimated and such and she's been coming along nicely. We know that she has some good form last year and it looked like maybe she needed a break after a long campaign. We gave her extra time and brought her along slow. Her last string of works have been impressive and she has a nice turn of foot.”

Brown said that Rougir is likely to stretch out going forward this year.

“It might be a touch short for her, but it's a starting point,” Brown said.

Flavien Prat picks up the mount from post 1.

Brant and Brown will also send out multiple group winner Lemista, who finished second in last year's Beaugay a half-length behind Harvey's Lil Goil. Previously trained by G.M. Lyons, the Irish-bred daughter of Raven's Pass broke her maiden in October 2019 en route to three consecutive stakes victories in the Group 3 Park Express over heavy turf at Naas, the Victor McCalmont Memorial at Gowran Park and the Group 2 Kilboy Estate at the Curragh.

Lemista has made three starts for Brown since making her way overseas last year, including her runner-up Beaugay effort and a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Beverly D last out on August 14 at Arlington where she stalked in fourth and put in a mild bid for show honors.

Brown said Lemista has trained forwardly since illness forced her nine-month layoff.

“This filly has come along well. She got sick on us after the Beverly D,” Brown said. “When she returned home from Arlington she had to go to the shelf for a while, so we took our time and brought her back and she's another one that's been training well.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Lemista from post 2.

Trainer Christophe Clement will also look for a record fifth Beaugay win with Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Michael Caruso's graded stakes winner Plum Ali. Clement has previously saddled Cox Orange [1994], Voodoo Dancer [2002], Dedication [2004] and Discreet Marq [2015] to victory.

Plum Ali began her 4-year-old campaign with a gutsy win in the one-mile Plenty of Grace on April 16 at Aqueduct Racetrack, racing from off the pace under regular rider Manny Franco and unleashing a powerful run down the stretch to land a half-length victory over multiple graded stakes winner Technical Analysis.

The daughter of First Samurai flashed her talent as a juvenile, winning her first three starts that included the Mint Juvenile Fillies at Kentucky Downs and the Grade 2 Miss Grillo at Belmont over firm going in her graded stakes debut. She closed out 2020 with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.

Plum Ali continued to perform at the graded level in 2021 but struggled to find the winner's circle in facing difficult trips and was forced wide in three of her seven sophomore starts. Despite her traffic troubles, the chestnut earned graded placings with a game third-place finish in the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland over good going and a close runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Wonder Again at Belmont where she was defeated a half-length by multiple graded stakes winner Con Lima.

Clement said Plum Ali continues to train well and that he is hopeful she will show good form this year.

“I'd like her to have a career at the stakes level where she can be competitive,” said Clement. “It's not easy because it's a competitive division and there are a lot of very good horses.”

Franco has the call again from post 4.

Woodford Racing and Team D's High Opinion is still in search of her first graded victory after earning two placings last year for trainer Tony Dutrow. The 5-year-old Lemon Drop Kid mare enters from a fourth-place finish in a six-furlong optional claiming race on April 16 where she closed from seventh to be defeated just 1 1/4 lengths in her seasonal debut.

High Opinion showed consistent form in 2021, finishing on-the-board in 5-of-6 starts, including an allowance victory and a gritty nose defeat to Grade 1 winner Viadera in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Ballston Spa in August at Saratoga Race Course. She followed with another graded placing when finishing second to Shifty She by 1 1/2 lengths in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel in October at Belmont to close out the year.

Dutrow said cutting the bay back to sprinting for her seasonal debut helped to get her started.

“We didn't get the exact race we were hoping for last time. The better races just didn't have enough horses for them in March,” said Dutrow. “But we got a race in her going short and that got her started. She's doing excellent and we're hoping that she runs on Saturday like she's always done in the past. I don't have any excuses for her but she's ready.”

High Opinion enters with a record of 11-2-5-0 and earnings of $281,175 through three seasons of racing.

“She's taken on better horses before and run well, so we'll see what happens,” said Dutrow.

Eric Cancel retains the mount from post 6.

Annette Allen's Stolen Holiday will make her graded stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey after a last out runner-up effort in the 1 1/16-mile Sand Springs on April 2 at Gulfstream Park. The 5-year-old War Front mare tracked the pace in third under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano before shuffling back to fourth and making a run for the lead down the stretch to come up 2 3/4 lengths short.

The bay kicked the year off with a dominant 6 1/4-length optional claiming score going one-mile over the firm lawn on February 23 at Tampa Bay Downs, leading at each point of call and stopping the clock in 1:33.89.

Castellano has the call from post 3 for McGaughey, who is looking for his third Beaugay win.

Rounding out the field are Lawrence Goichman's multiple graded stakes placed New York homebred Runaway Rumour [post 5, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Jorge Abreu and Live Oak Plantation's dual Grade 3 winner Our Flash Drive [post 7, Dylan Davis] for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Chad Brown Tries For Record Fifth Beaugay Win With Rougir, Lemista appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Godolphin homebred Yibir, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar, headlines a talented field of six in Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War, an 11-furlong inner turf test for older horses, at Belmont Park.

The Man o' War, slated as Race 8, tops a lucrative 11-race card which boasts five graded stakes, including the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan, the local prep for the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in Race 9; the Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay in Race 10; the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy in Race 3; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Runhappy in Race 5. First post is 1:00 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Yibir, a 4-year-old Dubawi chestnut, captured the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational in September at Belmont ahead of his rallying half-length score over Broome at the Breeders' Cup.

Yibir's impressive sophomore season, in which he earned Eclipse Award-honors as Champion Turf Male, included scores in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy in July at Newmarket and the Group 2 Great Voltigeur in August at York before shipping to North America and winning both stateside tests.

Appleby said he was impressed by Yibir's first trip to Belmont in September.

“He did what we hoped he would do,” Appleby said. “It was important that he gained experience traveling and get used to the running style of American tracks and horses. He's a horse that sometimes will be off the bridle in behind, but he seems to pick up at the right end, thankfully. We're going into the weekend confident he'll be a big player.”

Yibir, who arrived in New York early Sunday morning, has made two starts this campaign, closing wide down the lane to finish second in the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March ahead of a runner-up effort last out in the Group 2 Jockey Club on April 29 over the undulating Newmarket turf.

“We were delighted with his first run back as a 4-year-old in the Sheema Classic. He was a fast-finishing second,” Appleby said. “We know the tracks he loves are the more conventional flat galloping track likes Meydan and Belmont. The American tracks seem to suit him.

“The race at Newmarket was a prep to come to America on the back of – I know he was a beaten favorite on the day, but our European tracks don't seem to suit him so much,” Appleby added. “We were pleased that we got a run into him and he came out of the race well. I've spoke to the team at Belmont on a daily basis and they're happy with the way the horse has shipped and trained so far.”

Appleby said he was particularly impressed by Yibir's effort in the Dubai Sheema Classic where the chestnut traveled at the back of the 15-horse field under returning rider William Buick before angling wide for the stretch run, finishing a neck shy of multiple Group 1-winner Shahryar.

“He's more of a hold-up horse and they did tend to go pretty steady around there, which is pretty unusual in the Sheema Classic,” Appleby said. “There were plenty of horses still in contention and he had to circumnavigate around them to get his run up the middle of the track. It cost him a fair bit of ground and he gave himself a challenge, but I don't think he lost too much in defeat.”

Appleby said Yibir has noticeably matured as an older horse.

“We see a lot of progress from 3-to-4-years old with the Dubawis as physicals and therefore their performances hopefully will improve,” Appleby said. “That's what we're looking towards with this horse and he really does tick a lot of boxes going into the weekend. He's got track experience, distance experience and the quality of form, really.”

Buick has the call from post 3 aboard Yibir, who Appleby indicated could target a start in the Grade 1, $750,000 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course, which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Keeneland.

Otter Bend Stables' Gufo, a 5-year-old Declaration of War chestnut, will look to avenge a nose defeat to Channel Cat in last year's Man o' War.

Trained by Christophe Clement, Gufo boasts a perfect in-the-money record of 5-2-1-2 over the Belmont turf, featuring wins in the 2020 Grade 1 Belmont Derby going 10 furlongs on firm footing and last year's Grand Couturier at 12 furlongs over good going.

Gufo, an eight-time winner from 15 starts, added the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer to his ledger last season, closing from last-of-7 to post a neck score over Japan in the 1 1/2-mile test over firm turf at Saratoga Race Course. The well-traveled horse followed with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont before completing his campaign with a distant tenth in the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Gufo wintered at Payson Park in Florida and enters Saturday's test from a two-length score in the Grade 2 Pan American on April 2 at Gulfstream Park.
Clement said he is not concerned about Gufo cutting back to 1 3/8 miles after making his last five starts at 12 furlongs.

“We'll be just fine,” Clement said. “He's done it before. It's my job as a trainer to bring him back to the race as well as I can and he's doing well.”

Joel Rosario retains the mount from post 2.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Alex Daigneault's Abaan.

The 5-year-old Will Take Charge chestnut joined the Pletcher stable last summer at Saratoga, graduating in September in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight over yielding ground.

Abaan cleared the first-level allowance hurdle two starts later in November traveling 11 furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack to kick off a win streak that included scores at Gulfstream in the two-mile H. Allen Jerkens in December and the 12-furlong Grade 3 William L. McKnight in January. He enters from a runner-up effort to Gufo in the Pan American that garnered the gelding a career-best 100 Beyer.

Abaan will emerge from post 4 with Luis Saez aboard.

Madaket Stables' Easter will stretch out beyond 10 furlongs for the first time after finishing a closing third on April 15 at the Big A in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance in his U.S. debut for trainer Graham Motion.

The 4-year-old Exosphere gelding launched his career in his native France for trainer Fabrice Chappet, including a pair of wins in 2020 at Lyon-Parilly. Easter tested deeper waters in his sophomore campaign traveling one mile at Longchamp, closing to finish fourth in the Group 3 Prix de Fontainebleau ahead of an off-the-board effort in the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains.

He completed his time in France with a close fifth-place finish in the Prix Ridgway at 10 furlongs in June at Longchamp ahead of a fourth-place finish, defeated less than three lengths in September at Chantilly.

Flavien Prat picks up the mount from post 1.

Motion will also saddle Mrs. Firtriani Hay's Highland Chief for his second start in North America following a troubled ninth-place finish in his April 14 debut traveling 1 1/16-miles over firm Big A turf.

The 5-year-old Gleneagles bay was campaigned to consecutive group stakes placings by conditioner Paul Cole when second in both the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon at Goodwood in August 2020 and the Group 2 Great Voltigeur one month later at York. He completed his 2020 campaign with a third-place finish in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge over soft going at York.

Highland Chief raced just once last year, finishing a distant fifth in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom. Trevor McCarthy retains the mount from post 4.
Rounding out the field is Knight R.B. Stables' So High [post 6, Luis Rodriguez Castro], a 6-year-old Nathaniel chestnut bred in Great Britain by George Strawbridge. Out of the graded-stakes winning Alphabet Soup mare Fugitive Angel, So High is a half-brother to graded-stakes winner Utmost.

So High was initially campaigned in England by John Gosden for Strawbridge's Augustin Stable before being shipped to America and transferred to the care of conditioner Jonthan Thomas. The gelding won at fifth asking for Thomas in a 1 1/16-mile turf test from which he was claimed for $25,000 by his current connections.

So High finished fifth in last year's Man o' War at odds of 90-1 and enters from a close second, a head better than Easter, in the 1 1/16-mile turf allowance on April 15 at the Big A.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Stonestreet Stables' $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 2) winner Twilight Gleaming (IRE) is set to face 11 rivals in Saturday night's featured $160,000 Mamzelle Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The five-furlong Mamzelle, run over the Matt Winn Turf Course, is carded as Race 9 of 11 with a post time of 10:11 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post for Downs After Dark is 6 p.m.

Trained by Wesley Ward, the speedy Twilight Gleaming scored a half-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. The daughter of National Defense (GB) made her 3-year-old debut last month in the $200,000 Palisades at Keeneland where she was narrowly defeated as the 4-5 favorite. Tyler Gaffalione has the mount Saturday from post No. 5.

The field for the Mamzelle from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Trobairitz (Corey Lanerie, Neil Pessin)
2. Mystic Eyes (Ricardo Santana Jr., Todd Pletcher)
3. Margie's Kitchen (Jack Gilligan, Michelle Lovell)
4. Boxing Day (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh)
5. Twilight Gleaming (IRE) (Gaffalione, Ward)
6. Sunday Grace (Edgar Morales, Rey Hernandez)
7. Royal County (Sonny Leon, Eric Reed)
8. Majestic d'Oro (Joe Talamo, Brendan Walsh)
9. Street Tapper (Rey Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun)
10. Atros (Julien Leparoux, Rusty Arnold)
11. Tizplenty (Vincent Cheminaud, Steve Asmussen)
12. Devine Charger (Brian Hernandez Jr., Jordan Blair)

Saturday's Downs After Dark theme is “Bourbon and Beats.” Gates open at 5 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.churchilldowns.com. General admission and first floor seating is $14. Reserved box seats are $17 and premium dining options start at $82.

The racing week starts Thursday at Churchill Downs with a special late post time of 5 p.m. for Twilight Thursday. Fans can enjoy the eight-race card while sipping on $2 select domestic canned beer and Blue Moon draft. The evening also features live music by Butch Rice, food trucks (All Thaid Up, Crave a Go Go, Copper Kitchen, 502 Kitchen, Flavorville and Sweet N Savory) and more. General admission is just $7 and can be purchased on www.churchilldowns.com/tickets.

The first race on Friday and Sunday is 12:45 p.m.

For more information about the Spring Meet, visit https://www.churchilldowns.com/calendar/featured-events/.

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