Tag: Racing

Unbeaten Professors’ Pride Transitions To Turf For Saturday’s California Cup Oaks

In one of the most competitive races on a 10-race California Cup Day program, veteran trainer Eddie Truman's Professors' Pride will try to transfer her scintillating dirt form to turf as she heads a field of 12 sophomore fillies bred or sired in California in Saturday's $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at a flat mile.

Proven at one mile on turf, Vivacious Vanessa rates a huge chance as well for trainer Gary Mandella as she transitions back to the grass following a disappointing effort sprinting on the main track.

With John Velazquez taking over, John Sadler's Big Novel, a consistent performer on dirt, will try turf for the first time in what will be her sixth career start.

A first-out Cal Bred maiden special winner going six furlongs on Nov. 14 at Del Mar, Professors' Pride, who is owned by longtime Truman client Academic Farms, then stretched out to run her competition off their feet going a flat mile in the statebred Soviet Problem Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10. Off as the 9-5 favorite, the daughter of 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern toyed with her competition and defeated Big Novel, who she'll face again on Saturday, by three lengths.

Bred in California by Glen Hill Farm, Professors' Pride, unbeaten in two starts, is out of the Twirling Candy mare Last Resort and has banked $102,000.

A first-out winner from far off the pace versus statebreds in a one mile turf maiden special here on Oct. 16, Vivacious Vanessa came back to run a better than looked third, beaten 9 ¼ lengths, in the seven furlong (dirt) Golden State Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5 at Del Mar. Hemmed in around the far turn, she finished well under Juan Hernandez, who will ride her back on Saturday.

A California-bred daughter of Not This Time, out of the Mizzen Mast mare Masterful Lass, Vivacious Vanessa, who sold for $95,000 as a yearling, is owned by Thomas Nichols. She need only run back to her maiden win to be a serious contender in the Oaks.

By hot sire Mr. Big, Big Novel is owned by her breeder, George Krikorian. A six furlong winner versus statebreds in her third start on Oct. 2, she was second, beaten three lengths by Professors' Pride in the one mile Soviet Problem Stakes Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos and will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Joe Bravo.

Never off the board in five starts, with a win, three seconds and a third, Big Novel will likely stalk the early pace in her first turf assignment. Out of the Heatseeker mare Steamy Novel, Big Novel has earnings of $115,850.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP OAKS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 10 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

  1. Big Novel—John Velazquez—124
  2. Ellamira—Tyler Baze–124
  3. Vivacious Vanessa—Juan Hernandez—124
  4. Munny Penny—Abel Cedillo—124
  5. Madiha—Kyle Frey—124
  6. Eleuthera—Mario Gutierrez–124
  7. Professors' Pride—Umberto Rispoli—124
  8. Dendera—Ryan Curatolo—124
  9. Precious Insight—Victor Espinoza—124
  10. La Deuxieme Etoile—Joe Bravo—124
  11. Rose Dawson—Flavien Prat—124
  12. Vaping Angel—Mike Smith–124

First post time for a 10-race Cal Cup Day card on Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates open at 10 a.m.

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Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes

A lights-out winner of his last two starts, Jungle Racing LLC's homebred Straight Up G appears a standout versus five sophomores going 1 1/16 miles in Saturday's $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

One of five California Cup Day races on a 10-race program, the Cal Cup Derby will be center stage as Straight Up G and his rivals attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Art Sherman-trained California Chrome, who used the 2014 Cal Cup Derby as a springboard to glory in the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies as well as the 2014 Preakness Stakes.

Like California Chrome, the Richard Baltas-trained Straight Up G, a bay colt by red hot sire Straight Fire, out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, comes off a big win versus statebreds in the one mile King Glorious Stakes run at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12.

Owned and bred by sports talk icon Jim Rome and his wife Janet's Jungle Racing, Straight Up G debuted as an even money favorite going 5 ½ furlongs here on Oct. 9, but finished a disappointing fourth. Subsequently off at 4-5 in a six furlong maiden special versus Cal-breds on Nov. 21 at Del Mar, he aired by 5 ¼ lengths, earning a lofty 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Off at 2-1 in the King Glorious, he led throughout in a thoroughly dominant performance, winning by 3 ½ lengths over Finneus, who he will again face on Saturday while earning a 75 Beyer.

With Ricky Gonzalez back to ride for a third consecutive time, Straight Up G appears headed for the deep waters of the Kentucky Derby Trail should he replicate his performance in the King Glorious on Saturday.

A gutty half length winner of the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 5, Finneus, a California-bred colt by Stay Thirsty, was off as the 9-5 favorite in the King Glorious, but he could never threaten Straight Up G, finishing second by 3 ½ lengths. Well beaten three starts back in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes here on Oct. 1, Finneus, who will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez, will be trying two turns for the third time. Devoid of early speed, his chances would be enhanced should there be a fast pace.

Bred by Terry Lovinger, trained by Walther Solis and owned by Lovingier, Mohammed Naseer Fasihuddin and Amanda Navarro, Finneus, who is out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, is the leading money earner in the field with $266,366 from an overall mark of 7-2-3-1.

A sharp two length allowance winner going 5 ½ furlongs on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields Dec. 31, the O. J. Jauregui-trained Highland Ghost will face statebred company and go two turns for the second time in what will be his eighth career start. Quick from the blocks, this chestnut colt by 2017 Santa Anita Handicap winner Shaman Ghost could prove bothersome early to Straight Up G.

With a solid last-out Beyer of 74 to his credit, Highland Ghost is owned by his breeder, Highland Yard, LLC and is 7-2-2-1 overall with earnings of $69,506.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT

  1. Highland Ghost—Flavien Prat—124
  2. Sippin N Kissin—Abel Cedillo—124
  3. Fast Draw Munnings—Drayden Van Dyke–124
  4. Finneus—John Velazquez—124
  5. Straight Up G—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
  6. Agador Spartacus—Tyler Baze–124

First post time for a 10-race card, which will include a total of five California-bred or sired stakes on California Cup Day, Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.

The post Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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‘Wish I Had A Barn Full Of Horses Like Him’: Veteran Rated R Superstar Returns In Fifth Season Stakes

Danny Caldwell's first Oaklawn stakes victory came with a 9-year-old. Now, Oaklawn's four-time leading owner bids for a second with another 9-year-old in late-running millionaire Rated R Superstar, who is scheduled to make his 2022 debut in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses at 1 mile Saturday at Oaklawn.

Caldwell won the 2017 Fifth Season with Domain's Rap, who was making his 9-year-old debut after being claimed for just $10,000 in November 2015 at Remington Park. Caldwell claimed Rated R Superstar for $50,000 last January at Oaklawn and has been rewarded, again, by another member of the elderly equine set.

Rated R Superstar, in eight starts for Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco, has bankrolled $298,991. Caldwell recouped his investment when Rated R Superstar finished second in the $500,000 Essex Handicap for older horses last March at Oaklawn. The gelding surpassed $1 million in career earnings in the Essex, was eighth in $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses last April at Oaklawn, an allowance winner in May at Prairie Meadows and captured the $175,000 Governor's Cup Stakes Aug. 20 at Remington Park, where Caldwell is the all-time leading owner.

“I'd been watching this horse for a long time,” Caldwell said Monday afternoon. “I liked him and I liked the way his running style was. Most horses that run at the end of the race, normally they take care of themselves. They're not like sprinters. They go out there and go all out. He knows how to take care of himself. He had a couple of bad races there at Turfway Park, where he didn't hit the board. I thought, 'You know, I'm just going to throw those two races out because that's a Poly track.' He just didn't like it. I think he had run in a Grade 2 before that at Keeneland and he only got beat three lengths, I think. I thought I would give him a shot for $50,000. We love older horses. The best horse I've ever had is Domain's Rap and he made me more than a half-million dollars, most of it as a 9-year-old.”

After winning the Fifth Season, then worth $125,000, Domain's Rap made his final four career starts later in the 2017 Oaklawn meeting. He won a $76,000 allowance race, was third to eventual 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner in the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses, second to eventual 2017 Met Mile winner Mor Spirit in the $250,000 Essex Handicap for older horses and second to Inside Straight in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses. Inside Straight finished second to Domain's Rap in the allowance race. Domain's Rap retired with $880,850 in earnings during a 64-race career.

Domain's Rap spent most of his career in the allowance and stakes ranks in Illinois before tumbling down the class ladder and being claimed, but Rated R Superstar began his racing career as a promising Triple Crown prospect for nationally prominent trainer Kenny McPeek.

Rated R Superstar, in 2015, finished second in the $150,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs, then third in the $500,000 Breeders' Futurity Stakes (G1) for 2-year-olds at Keeneland. Breeders' Futurity runner-up Exaggerator won the Preakness in 2016. Rated R Superstar became a multiple Grade 3 winner for McPeek, earning $518,367 in 30 starts before being claimed by trainer Cipriano Contreras for $62,500 in November 2018 at Churchill Downs.

In 18 starts for Contreras, Rated R Superstar earned $363,656. The gelding ran third in the 2019 Razorback before winning the Essex, then worth $350,00, in his next start.

“That's amazing,” Caldwell said, referring to Rated R Superstar's money-making skills. “He's just a professional. He's professional racehorse is what he is. He knows his job, he loves his job, he loves to go out there and perform. I wish I had a barn full of horses like him.”

Rated R Superstar hasn't started since finishing second in a Sept. 11 allowance race at Remington Park. Caldwell said the gelding came out of the race with a minor splint bone issue, necessitating a short break from training. Rated R Superstar has five published workouts since Dec. 2, the last two coming at Oaklawn.

“We trained him on the wheel and just kind of brought him back slow,” Caldwell said. “He's come back really feeling good. We're hoping to have a good 9-year-old year with him.”

A son of 2009 champion sprinter Kodiak Kowboy, Rated R Superstar has a 9-10-8 record from 56 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,181,014. He has won from 6 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. Rated R Superstars is seeking his fifth career stakes victory in the Fifth Season, which has attracted two other millionaires in Snapper Sinclair for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Long Range Toddy (Dallas Stewart). Also entered is Concert Tour, who won the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds last March at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The colt, unraced since the Preakness last May, is now with trainer Brad Cox.

“It's tough,” said Caldwell, Oaklawn's leading owner in 2014-2017. “It's not going to be easy.”

The projected nine-horse Fifth Season field from the rail out: Thomas Shelby, David Cohen to ride, 122 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Rated R Superstar, David Cabrera, 122, 8-1; Snapper Sinclair, Ramon Vazquez, 122, 6-1; Necker Island, Francisco Arrieta, 122, 9-2; Concert Tour, Joel Rosario, 122, 5-2; Atoka, Luis Contreras, 122, 15-1; Long Range Toddy, Jon Court, 115, 10-1; Silver Prospector, Ricardo Santana Jr., 115, 10-1; and Mucho, Florent Geroux, 122, 7-2.

Probable post time for the Fifth Season, which goes as the eighth of nine races, is 3:46 p.m. (Central). First post Saturday is 12:30 p.m.

The post ‘Wish I Had A Barn Full Of Horses Like Him’: Veteran Rated R Superstar Returns In Fifth Season Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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71 Group 1 Winners Nominated To 2022 Saudi Cup Meeting

The 2022 Saudi Cup meeting has attracted over 700 entries from 22 different countries, including a remarkable 71 international Group 1 winners, all vying to pick up some of the $35.1 million prize money across the two-day meeting on Friday, Feb. 25 and Saturday, Feb. 26.

Reigning Saudi Cup champion Mishriff has already achieved impressive career earnings of $15 million, a figure that currently leaves him ninth in the list of all-time highest earning Thoroughbreds. If he were to record a historic second successive triumph in the third running of The Saudi Cup (1 1/8 miles), which will be run as a Group 1 for the first time, he would become the highest earning racehorse of all time, eclipsing Australian wondermare Winx.

Japan, a country that won two races on last year's Saudi Cup card, is responsible for over 90 entries at the meeting and is set to be represented in The Saudi Cup by T O Keynes, most recently seen landing the Champions Cup, a qualifying race for The Saudi Cup. Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Marche Lorraine is another who could take her place in the $20 million contest.

There is a strong US contingent with over 150 entries, including a number of high-profile contenders for The Saudi Cup. Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 2021 Saudi Cup fourth Knicks Go has been given an entry, along with Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile champion Life Is Good. Other possible runners from the US include Hot Rod Charlie, Mandaloun, and Midnight Bourbon.

South American superstar Aero Trem, currently in Dubai, has been entered, while there are some interesting European contenders, including Group 1 winners Sealiway, Skaletti, and Pyledriver.

Saudi Cup Undercard

The $2.5 million Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) has attracted entries from 15 different countries. Japan Cup runner up Authority (JPN) and Deep Bond (JPN) could represent Japan, while Sisfahan (FR), Sonnyboyliston (IRE), Princess Zoe (GER) and Nayef Road (IRE) make up a deep European contingent.

Hollie Doyle landed the 2100m Group 3 Neom Turf Cup ($1.5 million, up from $1 million in 2021) on True Self last year, and there are some strong global entries including Lord North (IRE), Pyledriver (GB), Grand Glory (GB), Square De Luynes (FR) and the evergreen Lord Glitters (FR) from Europe. Japan have Authority (JPN), Sanrei Pocket (JPN) and So Valiant (JPN) entered, while Colonel Liam (USA) could run for America.

The Japanese have a strong entry in the Group 3 1351 Turf Sprint ($1.5 million up from $1 million in 2021), where Grenadier Guards (JPN) is guaranteed a spot after winning the Hanshin Cup. He could meet Ho O Amazon (JPN) and Songline (JPN), with Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Lieutenant Dan (USA) an interesting US entry.

In the $1.5 million Group 3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint (1200m), the US look to hold a strong hand with Group 1 winners Dr Schivel (USA) and Kimari (USA), as well as the promising Cezanne (USA). The nine-year-old Secret Ambition (GB) could line-up, while last year's winner Copano Kicking (USA) is entered to defend his crown for Japan.

A strong Latin American entry includes both Irwin (ARG) and Prelude Rye (ARG) in the 1600m G3 Saudi Derby ($1.5 million). Smile Happy (USA), Newgrange (USA), MacKinnon (USA) and Rockefeller (USA) are possible runners from the US, and in the $2 million G2 Obaiya Arabian Classic, last year's one-two, the locally-trained stablemates Mubasher Alkhalediah (KSA) and Mutwakel Alkhalediah (KSA) are set to take each other on again.

International Jockeys Challenge, Saudi International Handicap and Al Mneefah on Friday

The highlight on the opening day of the meeting (Friday 25 February) is the stc International Jockeys Challenge where seven female and seven male jockeys from around the world compete against each other. Last year's winner Shane Foley from Ireland is back to defend his crown and other jockeys confirmed at this stage are the UK's Hayley Turner and Glen Boss from Australia.

Friday sees the second running of the $500k Saudi International Handicap, a race designed for horses trained in IFHA Part II or Part III countries, with horses entered from ten countries: Bahrain, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden and Uruguay.

A new addition to the Friday card is the Listed Al Mneefah Cup, an international race for Purebred Arabians over 2100m on turf with prize money of $1 million.

Tom Ryan, Director of Strategy and International Racing at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, said: “We couldn't be happier with the entries for the 2022 Saudi Cup meeting. Not only do we have a huge number, over 300 more than last year, but the quality is exceptional with 71 individual Group 1 winners, including last year's Saudi Cup champion Mishriff.

“We are also absolutely delighted to see that more countries have made entries, with 22 in total compared with 19 in 2021. That goes to show how quickly the Saudi Cup meeting has had an impact globally and become a key target for owners and trainers.

“It was such a proud moment for everyone at the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia when The Saudi Cup was promoted to a Group 1, as well as the supporting races achieving Group 3 status and the Obaiya Classic being upgraded from a Listed content to a Group 2. The support we have received from horsemen and women all over the world has been incredible and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Riyadh next month.”

Full entries list here

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