Tag: Racing

Trainer David Duggan expressed a sense of cautious optimism with recent graded stakes winner Drafted as he is set to take on a tougher task in the $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The 8-year-old son of Field Commission was an easy 4 1/2-length winner of the Grade 3 Toboggan on February 5 at the Big A, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. The win was his first since capturing the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in March 2019.

Drafted will have his work cut out for him in the Carter, where he is likely to face accomplished graded stakes winners Green Light Go, First Captain, and Speaker's Corner.

“The field will be a bit deeper when we go in there, but off the last race we're taking a shot,” Duggan said.

Duggan envisions a good pace up front in the Carter, which he said will be to his horse's benefit.

“You can never predict but obviously, our horse is better with a pace to run at,” Duggan said. “I think the quality of horses will dictate the pace, they should go a good, fast pace. A true run race. We're running numbers that are competitive. Whether we're good enough is a question mark. This a tough event and if we show up great, and if not, we'll dust ourselves off.”

Following three starts for Godolphin and trainer Eoin Harty, Drafted was campaigned in Dubai by John Hyde's Misty Hollow Farm, who maintained ownership of the horse in the United States under Duggan up until his fifth-place finish in last year's Grade 3 Runhappy in May at Belmont.

Hyde, who also pretrains young horses for Shadwell Farm in Dubai, sold Drafted to his current ownership group which consists of Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin D. Hilbert, and Thomas E. O'Keefe.

“He [Hyde] bought him in Dubai and was part of the ownership there. When it ran its course over there, he sent the horse over to us,” Duggan said. “We had given him some time during the year because he had a minor injury. He got hurt when he ran in the Runhappy and we gave him some time off after that. When he was coming back, that's when John wanted to sell, and we put the partnership together.”

The post Toboggan Winner Drafted Ready For Shot At Grade 1 In Carter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Grade 1 winner Bella Sofia, who closed 2021 with a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), returned to the work tab Sunday for the first time this year going three-eighths of a mile in :37.01 on Belmont Park's dirt training track. Trevor McCarthy was aboard.

“It was her first three-eighths and she worked very nice,” trainer Rudy Rodriguez said. “She galloped out in :52. She looks very good.”

The 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot won 4-of-6 sophomore starts, taking the Grade 1 Longines Test in August at Saratoga ahead of a score in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap in September at Belmont. She completed her campaign in the Breeders' Cup at at Del Mar.

Rodriguez said he is hoping to map a route back to the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in November at Keeneland that will include stops at Belmont and Saratoga.

“We'll be patient with her and let her tell us when she's ready and then we can map out a plan,” Rodriguez said. “Our goal is to bring her back to the Breeders' Cup nice and fresh.”

Bella Sofia is owned by Michel Imperio, Vincent Scuderi, Sofia Soares, Gabrielle Farm, Mazel Stable Partners, Matthew Mercurio, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Barry Fowler.

The post Grade 1 Winner Bella Sofia Posts First Workout Of Year At Belmont appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sporting a four-race winning streak, Arkansas-bred standout Gar Hole returned to the work tab Saturday morning, covering a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer John Ortiz and breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs. The track was fast.

Gar Hole was breezing for the first time since a powerful five-length victory March 5 in the Nodouble Breeders' Stakes for state-bred sprinters. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Gar Hole ran six furlongs in a meet-best 1:09.06. The 4-year-old gelded son of Tekton also became the meet's first four-time winner.

Ortiz and John Gasper, Anthony's racing manager, said next-race plans are pending for Gar Hole, but the gelding is under consideration to face open company for the first time in the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older runners at six furlongs April 16.

“Gar Hole is doing great,” Ortiz said. “Right now, just eating and training very well. Happy has can be in the barn. Right now, just sitting tight. Right now, the Count Fleet is probably going to be a targeted race. That's most likely where we'll head, but we have no rush to get him into open stake company.”

Ortiz entered March with several candidates for the Count Fleet, but that list has been trimmed in recent weeks.

Ortiz said sharp Dec. 18 allowance winner Mucho is receiving a break at WinStar Farm in Kentucky and could resurface this summer at Saratoga. Hollis, who set Oaklawn's 5 ½-furlong track record (1:02.17) in a Dec. 10 allowance race, finished a weakening fourth as the favorite in Saturday's $200,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) at six furlongs. Sandwiched around the track record and another powerful 5 ½-furlong allowance victory was a fifth-place finish in the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older horses at six furlongs Jan. 29.

“The Count Fleet's still not out of the question and he's got to keep competing in here if we want to win it,” Ortiz said.

Top Gunner, a Dec. 5 allowance winner, is scheduled to return in Friday's eighth race, but Ortiz said he doubts he'll be ready for the Count Fleet.

The post Talented Arkansas-Bred Sprinter Gar Hole Could Target Count Fleet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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