Tag: Racing

In a race that was won around the first turn, Cairo Memories outfooted Sterling Crest early, established control and exploded through the lane in a thoroughly dominant performance to win Saturday's Grade III, $100,000 Providencia Stakes by 4 ½ lengths.

Ridden by Mike Smith and trained by Bob Hess, Jr., Cairo Memories, in the race of her life, was timed in 1:47.33 for 1 1/8 miles on firm turf.

A minor stakes winner going one mile on turf at Santa Anita in her second career start on Oct. 3 of last year, Cairo Memories was never a factor when beaten 24 lengths on dirt in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel and it's safe to say, the turf is where she'll remain from here on.

A $50,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in 2020, Cairo Memories, who is by Cairo Prince out of the Indian Charlie mare Incarnate Memories, got her first graded stakes victory and now has three wins from six overall starts.

“I wanted to go right to the front, but she didn't break good,” said Smith.  “Once she got going, she showed how aggressive she can be and got a good enough break to get the lead.  I knew she was better than that last race.  She got so much dirt thrown in her face, she didn't want to run.  I think she is a different horse on the grass and she showed it today.”

The third choice at 5-2 in a field of six sophomore fillies, Cairo Memories paid $7.

“On turf, as soon as she gets a hold of it, she's much, much better,” said Hess.  “And at a mile and an eighth, I think everyone took back and she found herself out there.  She had fun out there, too.  I think great horses make great jockeys look even better, so I think that's what we might have here.”

Owned by Schroeder Farms LLC and David Bernsen, Cairo Memories bagged $60,000 for the Providencia win, increasing her earnings to $292,500.

The second betting favorite at 5-2, Irish-bred Sterling Crest was second best on the day, finishing 1 ¾ lengths in front of Gold Dragon Queen.

Irish-bred Lucky Girl, the 2-1 favorite, pressed the winner to the far turn but was outrun the final eighth of a mile and checked in fifth.

The post Cairo Memories Goes Wire To Wire In Providencia appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Golden Pal, narrowly beaten in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at 2, has a return ticket to Royal Ascot for the June 14 King's Stand following an easy victory over nine overmatched foes in Saturday's Grade 2 Shakertown Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Trained by Wesley Ward, who was winning his fourth Shakertown in the last seven runnings, Golden Pal broke on top, scorched through very fast fractions and coasted to the wire to win by 4 3/4 lengths with one reminder from jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.'s crop.

Johnny Unleashed, a 70-1 longshot, finished second, with Gear Jockey third and Diamond Oops fourth. The 3-5 favorite, Golden Pal paid $3.20.

A 4-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the stakes-winning Midshipman mare Lady Shipman, Golden Pal is owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg. He was bred in Kentucky by Randall Lowe.

Golden Pal raced to the front at the start and opened up several lengths on the competition while going an opening quarter mile in :20.94 and the half in :43.58 on a turf course rated good. He held a commanding lead into the stretch and reached the finish in 1:02.21 for 5 1/2 furlongs.

Golden Pal lost his debut in April 2020 before going to Royal Ascot in June, finishing second to The Lir Jet in the Norfolk. He completed his 2-year-old season with a victory in the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. At 3, Ward tried Golden Pal in Europe again, this time at York in the G2 Nunthorpe Stakes, but he wound up seventh. Golden Pal came back to win his final two races in 2021, culminating with a victory in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

After Golden Pal's winning performance at Keeneland, Ward said the King's Stand Stakes would be targeted for the colt's next race.

 

The post Ward Has Designs On Ascot’s King’s Stand For Golden Pal After Easy Shakertown Success appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rallying from well of the pace, favorite Just One Time ran down front-runner Bell's the One and captured the $500,000 Madison Stakes (G1) by three-quarters of a length Saturday at Keeneland.

Ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Brad Cox, Just One Time finished the seven furlongs for older fillies and mares in 1:22.79 on muddy track as the 3-2 favorite, earning her first win at the highest level.

Bell's the One held on for second, three lengths to the good of Kimari.

Kimari pressed early pacesetter Lady Rocket through quick early fractions of :22.11 and 44.50 for a half mile, but as the front-runners began to tire, Bell's the One uncoiled a determined rally down the center of the track.  She could not hold back Just One Time, who came with stronger bid from next to last in the nine of field to get the win.

“I was hoping to get a good break and get myself into the race. Unfortunately, she broke a bit flat-footed so we went to Plan B and she ran really well in the stretch,” Prat said of Just One Time.

Despite the filly's start, Cox said everything worked out.

“Obviously, there was a hot pace up front but it's not ideal; we'd like to break and be a little more involved. That's how she was before she came to us. We put a starting gate blanket on her today, and honestly it didn't help her a whole lot getting away from there.

“I think she's versatile. She's obviously shown she can win up close and sit off of it. She's honest. I think that's the biggest thing with her. Makes her versatile.”

A 4-year-old Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Not This Time, Just One Time tallied a fourth straight triumph and returned $2. She came in off her first graded score in the Inside Information Stakes (G2) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park. Her overall record improves to six wins from seven career starts.

Corey Lanerie, rider of runner-up Bell's the One, said he thought he had the race won.

“Inside the eighth pole, I could feel 4 (Just One Time) was coming. (Bell's the One) got a little tired coming off the five-month layoff. I didn't want to get too far back, and I was pretty far back, so I kind of let her creep. In hindsight, maybe I let her creep a little too early. At the time, it was a split-second decision. I'm just glad she showed that she's back.”

Just One Time is campaigned by breeder Warrior's Reward LLC and Commonwealth New Era Racing. Her dam is the Speightstown mare Ida Clark.

The post Just One Time Overhauls Bell’s The One In Madison appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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