Tag: Racing

Hit the Road, winner of the prestigious Grade I Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita last March but a disappointing eighth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 26, has been turned out for a freshening.

“He's at Kingfisher (Farms) in Solvang (a popular tourist town in the Santa Ynez Valley) and he'll be back in the summer,” trainer Dan Blacker said of the five-year-old More Than Ready horse owned by a partnership.

“To win Grade 1's you have to have a horse 100 percent and he wasn't quite 100 percent (for the Gulfstream race),” Blacker said.

Hit the Road finished eighth, beaten some 13 lengths.

“He'll have a couple months off and hopefully there's a chance he could be ready for a race like the Del Mar Mile if everything goes smoothly,” Blacker said.

“There's a notion that he doesn't ship well (the Pegasus was only his second start outside of Southern California in 13 career races), but I know him very well and he's very smart, very intelligent, and he shipped very well to Florida.

“There were other reasons he didn't run his best and we're going to hopefully take care of them . . . but it wasn't just the shipping . . . We'll be patient and hopefully have him back at his best this summer.”

The post Grade 1 Winner Hit The Road Hits The Sidelines For Freshening appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Just as he had done in 2021, Lord Glitters laid claim to being the star of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, collecting a third Meydan Racecourse win in the Group 2 Singspiel Stakes.

The great grey actually made a minor piece of history in becoming the first horse to win back-to-back renewals of the 1800metre turf contest, coming from the back of the field in trademark style to secure the win under regular rider Danny Tudhope.

Only fourth in the G2 Al Rashidiya on his 2022 debut, trainer David O'Meara felt that Lord Glitters would improve for that run and he was right; the nine-year-old being a length too good for Royal Fleet and old foe Zakouski.

“He means a lot to me and the team, so well done to everyone back at home,” said Tudhope. “He's just as enthusiastic as ever and we did think he might just need his first run.

“They went a nice even gallop; there was no stop/start. He travelled so nice through it and when he does that you know he's going to finish off well.”

Lord Glitters' success was the first of this year's Carnival for a British-trained horse, but it nearly came four races earlier when Alignak was just beaten in the Race Of Future Handicap, over 2410metres on turf. Trained by Jamie Osborne and ridden by his daughter Saffie, the grey came with a storming run but couldn't quite get to Godolphin's Global Storm, who hung on by a length under William Buick.

That started off a Godolphin double as Saeed Bin Suroor also got in on the act, saddling Storm Damage for an impressive front-running victory in the new Listed Business Bay Challenge, over 1400metres on turf. Making just his sixth start, the son of Night Of Thunder has now won four of those and beat stablemate Mutafawwig by a length, under Pat Cosgrave.

“He's a very smart horse but he's not straightforward; he's a bit quirky,” said Cosgrave. “All credit to Gary Peter who rides him out every day. He's got him to relax, brilliantly.

“He's very keen but he keeps going, which not many do. He won off 108 today, which was impressive. The next step is to get him back into Group company.”

The card staged two Group 3s, both of which went to jockey Antonio Fresu, in contrasting ways. First up was a remarkable last to first performance from Azure Coast in the UAE 2000 Guineas, over 1600metres on dirt. A winner in December when also emerging late, the Pavel Vaschenko-trained colt circled the whole field and denied the Uruguay-trained pair of Kiefer and Quality Boone by two lengths and a nose.

“I've been helping them a lot in the mornings, galloping these horses,” said Fresu. “I took my time; I didn't ask him too much in the beginning. The horse only really started to get going in the last two, three furlongs, but I was really easy in the last furlong.”

The UAE Derby, over 1900metres on March 26^th, now looks the natural objective for Azure Coast, who would have the option of the Listed Al Bastakiya, on March 5^th, on the way.

Fresu's other win came for his main boss Musabbeh Al Mheiri in the concluding G3 Al Shindagha Sprint [Presented by Sustainability], over 1200metres on dirt. Meraas had been the impressive winner of a handicap on his local debut in December but was stepping up significantly in grade here. No matter; the five-year-old blazed a trail from the front and had just enough left to hang on by three-quarters of a length from Canvassed.

Fresu's double took him level with Tadhg O'Shea at the top of a compelling UAE Jockeys' Championship. O'Shea took the opening G2 Mazrat Al Ruwayah for Purebred Arabians on AF Alajaj, who finally fulfilled his potential.

Trained by three-time UAE Champion Ernst Oertel, the five-year-old was making his Meydan debut but was far superior to his nine rivals, striding clear by four and a quarter lengths.

“As a young horse he was quite nervous but he's got better with racing and he's beautifully trained by Ernst,” said O'Shea. “I had a lovely seat turning in and just had to give him little breather. It's onwards and upwards now, and we'll come back here for the [G1, Dubai] Kahayla Classic next month.”

Another with Dubai World Cup night on their radar is Appreciated after the Doug O'Neill-trained gelding kept up his handler's blistering form with a last to first win in the Listed Curlin Stakes, a prep for the $12million Dubai World Cup.

Ridden by Fernando Jara, the six-year-old dueled with Sanad Libya inside the final furlong, eventually winning by a neck in a very attritional contest.

“He wasn't in the best position and we got squeezed a bit”, said World Cup-winning rider Jara. “We had to go to Plan B and I was looking for someplace but there were so many horses coming back I had to swing him out and he responded for me.

“He hadn't run on the dirt for a long time, but he was working well. Good job by the guys and Leandro [Mora, Assistant Trainer]. You know with them that the horse will be ready.”

Carnival action returns next Friday, February 18^th, when the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy is among the feature races.

The post ‘Just As Enthusiastic As Ever’: Lord Glitters Shines Bright In Defense Of Singspiel Title In Dubai appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Likely runners for the $35.1 million Saudi Cup meeting on Feb. 25-26 have been announced, with horses from 16 racing nations set to compete over the two days.

King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will host 16 races on its dirt and turf tracks, and the highlight of the meeting, the $20m Group 1 Saudi Cup, looks set to be contested by the winners of 16 Group 1 races from six countries.

The field is headed by three-time Group 1 winner and last year's Saudi Cup champion, Mishriff (IRE). A historic second win in the race would see the John & Thady Gosden-trained runner surpass Winx and become the highest earning racehorse of all-time.

Last season's Group 1 Champion Stakes winner, Sealiway (FR) will make his debut for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, after leaving the stable of Cedric Rossi.

Japan's chances of winning a first Saudi Cup lie with the Daisuke Takayanagi-trained T O Keynes (JPN), an impressive winner of his last start in the Grade 1 Champions Cup at Chukyo in December, and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, Marche Lorraine (JPN). Trainer Yoshito Yahagi has indicated that his six-year-old will make her final start in Saudi as she bids to end her career with another win at the highest level.

Once again there is a strong contingent from the USA, headed by Brad Cox's Mandaloun (USA), who narrowly got the better of Steven Assmussen's Midnight Bourbon (USA) in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes last month. Grade 1 winners, Art Collector (USA), Happy Saver (USA) and Country Grammer (USA) are also set to line up.

Antonio Cintra's Grade 1 Gran Premio Latinamericano winner Aero Trem (BRZ), trained in Uruguay, will be the first South American runner in The Saudi Cup.

The field is completed by locally trained Emblem Road (USA) and Making Miracles (GB), a former Chester Cup winner who qualified by winning the domestic Group 1 Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques Cup last time out.

Many other top-class horses are set to take their places in Riyadh, across a card which features a further six Group races.

In the $1.5million Group 3 Neom Turf Cup presented by Jahez, Group 1 Hong Kong Vase runner-up Pyledriver (GB) will bid to go one better for trainers William Muir & Chris Grassick. A strong French entry includes Ebaiyra (USA), Eudaimonia (FR) and Magny Cours (USA), while Bahrain-based trainer Fawzi Nass is set to be represented by Port Lions (IRE), winner of the inaugural running of this race in 2020.

Irish hopes of a winner at the meeting could hinge on Sonnyboyliston (IRE) and the Tony Mullins-trained Princess Zoe (GER) in the $2.5m Group 3 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap, where they will be joined by Nerium (IRE), a Group 2 winner in Germany and Maria Cristina Munoz's Argentine Group 1 winner, Mirinaque (ARG).

In the $1.5million Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint presented by Saudia, Japanese star Copano Kicking (USA) returns to defend his crown from last year and will face stiff opposition from Nakayama G3 Capella Stakes winner, Dancing Prince (JPN), and the Richard Baltas-trained Ginobili (USA).

The Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc also features a strong field, including last year's fourth placed Glorious Journey (GB), Japanese-trained Songline (JPN) as well as Royal Ascot Wokingham Stakes winner Rohaan (GB).

The locally-trained Alnaader (KSA) has been making waves on the track in Saudi this season and is unbeaten in four career starts, including when winning the domestic Group 1 King Abdullah Cup last time out. He is set to line up in the $1.5million Group 3 Saudi Derby presented by Al Rajhi Bank.

The Saudi Cup card also features the $2million Obaiya Arabian Classic presented by Lexus, which has been upgraded to Group 2 status after being run as a Listed contest last season.

There has been a strong entry with horses from France, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman joining locally trained runners. Saudi hopes look to lie with Tilal Al Khalediah (KSA), while the Didier Guillemin-trained Deryan (FR) and Fawzi Nass runner RB Rich Lyke Me (USA) are sure to pose a threat.

Friday, Feb. 25 sees 14 of the world's top international riders – seven female and seven male – compete in the stc International Jockeys Challenge, with jockeys including last year's winner Shane Foley as well as Glen Boss, Hayley Turner and Jessica Pyfer already announced.

The $500k Saudi International Handicap presented by Al Rajhi Bank, has once again has attracted a strong group of runners, with horses from Norway, Bahrain, Uruguay, Qatar, Greece and Spain joining locally-trained Saudi runners.

Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing for the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said:

“We are thrilled with the list of likely runners for this year's Saudi Cup meeting. It really highlights the international appeal of the event and shows that the biggest owners, trainers and jockeys in the world are increasingly looking towards Saudi Arabia.

“If Mishriff can retain his crown in The Saudi Cup, it would be a fantastic story for horse racing, but he will have to be at his best with some brilliant horses entered from Japan, Europe, the US and elsewhere.

“After such a difficult year in 2021, we are delighted to be able to welcome racing fans from around the globe back to King Abdulaziz Racecourse. Everyone has worked incredibly hard to ensure the success of the event this year and that The Saudi Cup continues to showcase the best in world horse racing.”

Download the list of likely runners here: https://issuu.com/equestrian-jcsa/docs/likely_fields

Source of original post

Lone Rock began 2021 winning an $89,000 allowance race at Oaklawn. The stakes are much, much higher to begin 2022 when Lone Rock launches his 7-year-old campaign in the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses Saturday at Oaklawn.

Probable post time for the 1 1/16-mile Razorback, the 10th of 11 races, is 4:56 p.m. (Central). The eighth race is the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. First post Saturday is 12:10 p.m.

Trainer Robertino Diodoro said if all goes well in the Razorback, Lone Rock will be seriously considered for the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at approximately 1 ¼ miles March 26 in the United Arab Emirates. That scenario would have been unimaginable a year ago as Lone Rock was preparing for the late February allowance race at Oaklawn after Diodoro reclaimed the gelding for $40,000 in November 2020 at Churchill Downs.

After Lone Rock won at 1 1/16 miles to open 2021, he flourished when Diodoro began targeting races beyond the American classic distance of 1 ¼ miles. Lone Rock won 7 of 9 starts last year, including the $130,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes in April at Churchill Downs, $400,000 Brooklyn Stakes (G2) in June at Belmont Park, $120,000 Birdstone Stakes in August at Saratoga, and the $250,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2) Nov. 6 at Del Mar in which he set a track record for 1 5/8 miles (2:42.61) under Oaklawn regular Ramon Vazquez. The Isaac Murphy and Brooklyn were 1 ½ miles, the Birdstone 1 ¾ miles. He also won a 1 ½-mile allowance race at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting.

“This horse, the crazy thing is – Oaklawn, Churchill, Belmont, Saratoga, Del Mar – he's won stakes at all those places,” Diodoro said Tuesday morning. “Pretty neat.”

Lone Rock's stakes victory at Oaklawn came in his last start, the inaugural $200,000 Tinsel at 1 1/8 miles Dec. 18, when he outdueled stablemate Thomas Shelby by three-quarters of a length. Lone Rock returns to 1 1/16 miles for the first time since his February 2021 allowance victory and faces a much deeper field than the Tinsel.

The Razorback drew nine horses, eight being stakes winners. Thomas Shelby is seeking his first career stakes victory after nearly toppling his heralded stablemate in the Tinsel. Lone Rock is the 3-1 program favorite after bankrolling $1,148,641 in his career, including $842,884 last year.

“I'm pretty excited,” said Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2020. “Good race. I think any horse in the field can win it. You're not going to be going, 'Wow! What the heck?' It's a very wide open, competitive race. Our horses are doing great. Touch wood, keep them happy for the next 96 hours, or 72, and give it our best shot.”

The projected Razorback field from the rail out:

1. Popular Kid, Francisco Arrieta to ride, 116 pounds, 20-1 on the morning line;
2. Super Stock, Ricardo Santana Jr., 120, 9-2;
3. Lone Rock, Ramon Vazquez, 122, 3-1;
4. Rated R Superstar, David Cabrera, 119, 8-1;
5. Promise Keeper, Florent Geroux, 119, 4-1;
6. Thomas Shelby, David Cohen, 117, 6-1;
7. Last Samurai, Jon Court, 118, 8-1;
8. Plainsman, Joel Rosario, 120, 7-2; and
9. Silver Prospector, Luis Contreras, 115, 15-1.

Lone Rock has recorded three half-mile workouts since the Tinsel. The son of Majestic Warrior, who began his racing career with prominent Arkansas owner John Ed Anthony and now-retired trainer Will VanMeter, is a three-time winner at 1 1/16 miles, but those were in allowance or claiming company.

“Obviously, the farther the better,” Diodoro said. “This is what we're handed right now. The horse is sharp and he handled the mile and an eighth. Hopefully, he'll be able to handle this.”

Multiple Grade 3 winner Plainsman will be making his 7-year-old debut for trainer Brad Cox and Anthony after finishing a troubled third in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) Dec. 4 at Aqueduct.

“Doing great,” Cox said. “Wow! His Cigar Mile race, for him to be into his 6-year-old year, I thought it was the best race he's ever run in his life. He bounced out of it in great shape. He's been here training and looks amazing.”

A victory Saturday would make Plainsman a millionaire. Rated R Superstar ($1,271,014) and Super Stock ($1,181,677) are already millionaires.

Rated R Superstar exits a victory in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes Jan. 15 in his 9-year-old debut for trainer Federico Villafranco and four-time Oaklawn leading owner Danny Caldwell. Rated R Superstar has run in the Razorback the last four years, finishing sixth in 2018, third in 2019, seventh in 2020 and fifth in 2021.

Super Stock, who will be facing older horses for the first time, won the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) last April for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Silver Prospector, also trained by Asmussen, won the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds in 2020. Last Samurai edged Super Stock in the inaugural $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes for 3-year-olds Dec. 11 for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Promise Keeper recorded his biggest career victory to date in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds May 8 at Belmont Park. Promise Keeper will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the $500,000 Ohio Derby (G3) June 26 at Thistledown for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who said the son of Constitution was freshened for a 4-year-old campaign. The Razorback also will be Promise Keeper's first start against older horses.

“He's a horse that likes to attend the pace,” Pletcher said. “We'll let him run to the first turn and see what everybody else is doing. Get into a good rhythm and go from there. Kind of up to Florent to see how fast they're going.”

Popular Kid exits a one-length victory in the $100,000 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial Stakes Nov. 19 at Remington Park for trainer Shawn Davis. Lone Rock recorded his first career stakes victory in the 2018 Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial. He ran 12th in the 2019 Razorback.

The speedy Thomas Shelby was a seven-time winner in 2021 and narrowly missed an eighth in the Tinsel. Thomas Shelby is campaigned by M and M Racing (Mike and Mickala Sisk), Oaklawn's leading owner the last four years. Thomas Shelby finished third in the Fifth Season, beaten three-quarters of a length by Rated R Superstar.

“I think this distance is going to be in his favor, if you want to compare the two horses,” Diodoro said, referring to Thomas Shelby and Lone Rock. “Definitely going to be in his favor and I like being towards the outside, too. It seems like every time he's near the inside, he kind of breaks flat-footed and he didn't break flat-footed last time. I definitely like him being towards the outside.”

The Razorback is a major local prep for the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G3) at 1 1/8 miles April 23.

Source of original post