Tag: Racing

Following his easy victory in the Furphy T J Smith Stakes (G1), Nature Strip (AUS) [124] has joined Life Is Good (USA) [124] at the top of the second edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2022.

Nature Strip drew clear in the T J Smith, posting a 3 ¼ length victory in the sprint contest. In doing so, he raised his rating to 124 from 119. Based off this performance, trainer Chris Waller has indicated Nature Strip will now race internationally and is being pointed toward the King's Stand Stakes (G1) during Royal Ascot.

Speaker's Corner (USA) [123] moves into third position following his 4 ½ length score in the Carter Handicap (G1). Previously rated at 119, Speaker's Corner is undefeated in three starts in 2022. His earlier victories came in the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (G2) and Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3).

Stalwart Hong Kong runner Golden Sixty (AUS) [122] joins the 2022 rankings in the fourth spot after returning to winning form in the Chairman's Trophy (G2) in his third start of the year. He won the race by two lengths.

Two runners, Country Grammer (USA) [121] and Golden Pal (USA) [121], are the co-fifth highest rated horses in the world. Country Grammer improved his rating to 121 from 119 by taking the Dubai World Cup (G1) over Hot Rod Charlie (USA) [118]. Country Grammer came into the race having finished second behind Emblem Road (USA) [120] in the Saudi Cup (G1). Golden Pal is ranked following his victory by 4 ¾ lengths in the Shakertown Stakes (G2). It was his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) last November, and Golden Pal is now expected to face Nature Strip at Royal Ascot.

Country Grammer was not the only horse to impress in Dubai. Shahryar (JPN) [120] is joint seventh in the rankings after winning the Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) over Yibir (GB) [119], Authority (JPN) [118], and Pyledriver (GB) [118]. Meanwhile, A Case Of You (IRE) [118], Lord North (IRE) [118], and Panthalassa (JPN) [118] are also all ranked following their victories. A Case of You won the Al Quoz Sprint (G1), while Lord North and Panthalassa made history with a dead heat in the Dubai Turf (G1).

In addition to Nature Strip, a number of other runners in Australia have also impacted this month's rankings. Think It Over (AUS) [120] improved his rating to 120 from 118 and is now in co-seventh following his half-length victory over Zaaki (GB) [120] in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1). Zaaki had come into the race off a win in the All-Star Mile. Anamoe (AUS) [119], meanwhile, joins the rankings following his victory by 6 ½ lengths in the Rosehill Guineas (G1).

Elsewhere, O'Connor (CHI) [118] joins the rankings after taking the Longines Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1); Potager (JPN) [118] was the upset winner of the Osaka Hai (G1); and Trueshan (FR) [118] kicked off his 2022 season with a victory in the Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes.

LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings Leading Horses click here for complete rankings
Rank	Horse	Rating	Trained
1	LIFE IS GOOD (USA)	124	USA
1	NATURE STRIP (AUS)	124	AUS
3	SPEAKER'S CORNER (USA)	123	USA
4	GOLDEN SIXTY (AUS)	122	HK
5	COUNTRY GRAMMER (USA)	121	USA
5	GOLDEN PAL (USA)	121	USA
7	EMBLEM ROAD (USA)	120	KSA
7	HOME AFFAIRS (AUS)	120	AUS
7	SHAHRYAR (JPN)	120	JPN
7	THINK IT OVER (AUS)	120	AUS
7	ZAAKI (GB)	120	AUS

The post Nature Strip Joins Life Is Good Atop LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings; Speaker’s Corner Jumps To Third appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The well-traveled Sir Alfred James, graded stakes-placed War Tocsin, and recent $50,000 claim Borracho are among eight horses entered for the $100,000 Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes, the first race of the 2022 Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships (MATCH) Series April 16 at Laurel Park.

This year marks the ninth edition of MATCH, which was held for five years from 1997-2001 and returned to the regional calendar in 2018.

The seven-furlong Whiteley (3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt division) is one of four stakes, but the only MATCH Series event, on the Saturday program at Laurel. Three MATCH stakes are scheduled for April 23 at Laurel to round out the first leg of competition in four divisions; the others are Filly and Mare Sprint—Dirt, 3-Year-Olds and Up Long—Turf, and Filly and Mare Long—Turf.

Sir Alfred James, owned by Built Wright Stables and trained by Norman Cash, is stabled at Laurel and has been pointed to the MATCH Series. A winner of seven of 23 starts for earnings in excess of $558,000, Sir Alfred James has raced at seven different tracks in his last 10 starts dating back to early November.

The 6-year-old Munnings gelding finished a troubled third in the Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel in February, and most recently prepped for the Whiteley with a victory in an open allowance sprint at Parx Racing in late March. Kentucky-based John McKee, his regular rider, will be aboard in the Whiteley.

War Tocsin, owned by Trin-Brook Stables and trained by Uriah St. Lewis at Parx, finished a close second behind Cordmaker in the seven-furlong General George in his most recent start. The 6-year-old gelding by Violence has won only three times in 38 starts but has been first, second or third 37 percent of the time.

St. Lewis, who in 2021 picked up MATCH Series bonus money in one division, had entered War Tocsin in the G1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack April 9 but scratched and opted to race him at Laurel, where he has a pair of seconds in three starts. Dexter Haddock will be in from Parx for the mount.

Borracho, who was stabled at Laurel with trainer Mike Gorham but now is at Delaware Park, will return to Maryland for the Whiteley. The 6-year-old Uncle Mo gelding was claimed by Steeplechase Farm for $50,000 from a winning effort in February at Laurel, and returned in early March to win an allowance/optional claiming sprint—he was not in for the tag—for Gorham.

“He has been great since we got him,” Gorham said. “He ran a huge race for us when he ran back. He trains like a good horse, seems like a good horse, and ran like a good horse. Every option is open for him going forward.”

Borracho, who finished third in the Grade I Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park in 2019, has raced 30 times and is closing in on $400,000 in earnings. Jaime Rodriguez, one of the leading riders at Laurel who rode Borracho in his last three starts, is named again.

Disco Pharoah, a 4-year-old gelding by American Pharoah, was supplemented to the Whiteley by owners Perrine Time Thoroughbreds and Blue Lion Thoroughbreds. He broke his maiden by almost 20 lengths at Aqueduct in early March in his third start and has been working regularly at Belmont for trainer Raymond Handal. Jevian Toledo, Maryland's Jockey of the Year for 2021, has the call.

After the April 23 stakes at Laurel, the MATCH Series will move to Parx on Tuesday, June 14, for the two turf events and Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course on Friday, June 17, for the two dirt sprints. For the remainder of the series, all four divisions will be represented on one day: Saturday, July 16, at Laurel; Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Colonial Downs; and Monday, Oct. 3, at Parx for the championships.

The 2022 participating organizations are the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Pennsylvania THA, Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Parx Racing, Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, 1/ST Racing, Maryland THA, Laurel Park, Maryland Horse Breeders Association, Colonial Downs, Virginia HBPA and Virginia Thoroughbred Association.

The MATCH Series originally debuted in 1997 and ran for five years. It returned with great success in 2018 and was held in 2019 and 2021. The innovative regional racing series—the only one of its kind in horse racing—combines rich stakes and bonuses for participating owners and trainers who compete over a five- to seven-month span. Horses competing in MATCH earn points based on participation and order of finish in each series race, and the leading point-earners in each of the series divisions, as well as the owner and trainer of the overall points leader, win lucrative bonuses.

2022 Schedule & Rules

The post Dirt Sprinters Kick Off 2022 MATCH Series At Laurel Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Peter Brant's Regal Glory and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert LaPenta's Shantisara top a field of six fillies and mares entered Wednesday for Saturday's 34th running of the $500,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Keeneland.

The Jenny Wiley will go as the 10th race on Saturday's 11-race program with a 5:48 p.m. ET post time. First post Saturday is 1 p.m.

Trained by four-time Jenny Wiley winner Chad Brown, Regal Glory and Shantisara bring multiple race win streaks into Saturday's race.

Regal Glory closed 2021 with a victory in the Matriarch (G1) at Del Mar and opened 2022 two months later by taking the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Regular rider Jose Ortiz has the mount and will depart post position four.

Shantisara brings a three-race win streak into her 2022 debut highlighted by a 5-length victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana here last fall. Flavien Prat, who has been aboard for all three of those victories, has the call Saturday and will break from post position three.

The field for the Jenny Wiley, from the rail out with riders and weights, is:

1. Scarabea (Julien Leparoux, 123 pounds)
2. Waliyak (Umberto Rispoli, 123)
3. Shantisara (Prat, 123)
4. Regal Glory (Ortiz, 123)
5. Navratilova (Colby Hernandez, 123)
6. Lady Speightspeare (Luis Saez, 123)

The post Chad Brown-Trained Duo Of Regal Glory, Shantisara Top Six-Horse Field In Jenny Wiley appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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