Tag: Racing

It seems Mike Maker just didn't want to let go of Temple — and the gelding validated his trainer's faith on March 5 when he picked up a win in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream Park.

Maker had lost Temple to an $80,000 claim by Tom Morley for Flying P Stable in June 2021 at Belmont Park, and claimed the horse back for $80,000 in November 2021.

The Mac Diarmida was the first graded stakes win for 4-1 Temple, who was piloted in the race by Jose Ortiz. Ortiz and Temple were bumped out of the gate and tucked to the outside of what looked to be a relaxed early pace in the 1 3/8-mile contest, allowing long shots Safe Conduct and Tide of the Sea to control the field. On the backstretch, Ortiz and Temple moved into striking position, taking over the lead ahead of the turn with Shamrocket and Abaan in pursuit. Temple moved off from the field with Shamrocket on his heels, but held off his rival at the wire by one length.

Temple paid $10.40, $5.40, and $3.80. Favored Abaan was fourth.

According to the chart, no fractional times were available. The final time recorded for the race was hand-timed at 2:15.30.

Shamrocket was second, followed by Maker-trained Media Blitz.

Temple is owned by Paradise Farms and David Staudacher. He was second in the G3 William McKnight in his last out on Jan. 29. He is the son of Temple City and Quiet American mare Desant, and was bred in Kentucky by Mark Toothaker and Dan White. Temple was a $19,000 purchase at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Paramount Sales and purchased by agent Tom McCrocklin.

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Opening up by as much as eight lengths at one point, trainer Phil D'Amato's speedy California-bred Leggs Galore prevailed by a half length in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  A William Sims homebred 5-year-old mare by 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern, Leggs Galore was ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez and got one mile on turf in 1:34.29.

In total control throughout, Leggs Galore had a five-length edge at the top of the lane and although she was shortening stride late, held off a big finish from the actual 2-1 favorite Going to Vegas, who was ridden by Flavien Prat.

Fresh off a big 2 ¼-length score going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf in the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf on Jan. 15, Leggs Galore was off as the second choice at 2-1 and paid  $6.80, $3.80, $2.80.

In procuring her first-ever graded stakes win, Leggs Galore, who is out of Sims' Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, Leggs Galore notched her fifth career stakes win and improved her enviable overall mark to 13-8-1-0.  With today's winner's share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $560,208.

“That was a pretty ambitious move (re: Ricky Gonzalez's move out of the gate and opening up on the field),” said D'Amato.  “I was holding my breath there.  I was just waiting for the wire to be there.  We got it done.  She took another step up.  This was a solid open company field.  She's a double threat now with Cal-breds and open company.  We'll see where we go from here.”

Idle since well beaten in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf going a mile and three eighths at Del Mar Nov. 6, Going to Vegas ran huge in defeat, finishing with her ears pinned while three quarters of a length clear of Closing Remarks.

A Grade 1 stakes winner two starts back on Oct. 2, Going to Vegas returned $3.80 and $2.80.

Far back early, the Carla Gaines-trained Closing Remarks put in a solid late bid, finishing three quarters of a length in front of multiple graded stakes winner Mucho Unusual.  Ridden by Joe Bravo, Closing Remarks was off at 4-1 and paid $3.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.18, 46.70, 1:10.29 and 1:22.25

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Lightly raced Cezanne, the 3-5 favorite, drove clear in the stretch and took the $200,000 San Carlos Stakes (G2) for older runners Saturday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Eager to start, Cezanne was first from the gate with Flavien Prat aboard, but Canadian Pride asserted himself to narrowly lead through a half mile in :45.42. Cezanne dueled for command with that rival and Principe Carlo around the turn, then grabbed a half-length advantage into the stretch. Principe Carlo was full of run and dug in but Cezanne was ready to run and drew away in midstretch for a 2½-length triumph.

Cezanne, trained by Bob Baffert for Coolmore Associates and co-breeder St. Elias Stable, finished seven furlongs in 1:23.45. He returned $3.

“I was traveling well and he responded well when it was time to make a move,” said Prat. “Bob was telling me he was going to be really sharp today, and that was the case. I thought I was in a good spot towards the end, and he gave himself a very good chance to win the race.”

Principe Carlo was six lengths back in third.

The win was the first for Cezanne since capturing the Kona Gold Stakes (G3) last April at Santa Anita in his only start of 2021. In his comeback and only previous start this year, the 5-year-old son of Curlin was third as the 3-5 favorite in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) Jan. 29 at the same track, but clearly benefitted from the outing as well as from several recent workouts. Dating back to Feb. 7, he has worked four times, with his last three moves, two at five furlongs and his most recent at six furlongs on Feb. 27 in a bullet time.

Cezanne's career line stands at 4-0-1 from six starts and earnings of $267,000.

“We missed our timing with him,” said Baffert. “He had a few setbacks, otherwise he would have been in the [Santa Anita Handicap (G1)]. He's a good handicap horse. He showed his class. I think he is a mile and a quarter horse. We'll keep him going and look toward the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). I like what I saw today. …”

Kentucky-bred Cezanne, also co-bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, was a $3.65 million purchase by Coolmore's M. V. Magnier at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Florida select 2-year-olds in training sale. His dam is the winning Bernardini mare Achieving, whose dam, Teeming, is a half sister to champion Rags to Riches. Third dam is 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour.

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Speaker's Corner has improved in each of his last three starts and continued the trend on March 5 with an easy daylight victory in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile. Speaker's Corner, with Junior Alvarado up, broke a step slow from the gate at the top of the chute and initially faced competition for the early lead from rivals Ny Traffic and Injunction. The field set a blistering early quarter of :22.87.

Alvarado kept 6-5 Speaker's Corner along the rail and challenged Injunction for the lead a few strides after the first quarter, then gradually drew away through the final turn. The pair found another gear in the stretch, drawing off from Fearless and Endorsed for an easy win by five and a half lengths.

The final time for the mile was 1:33.84 with fractions of :45.10, 1:09.02, and 1:21.14. See the full chart here.

Speaker's Corner is trained by Bill Mott for owner/breeder Godolphin. The 4-year-old came to the race off a decisive win in the G3 Fred Hooper. Prior to that, he had been a close second in the Discovery Handicap, having easily won an allowance optional claimer in preparation.

Mott said he would discuss the horse's next steps with Godolphin, but the G1 Met Mile is a possibility.

Speaker's Corner is the son of Street Sense and Bernardini mare Tyburn Brook.

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