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Win And You’re In: Defending Champion Jet Dark Headlines South Africa’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate

Messrs. C.T. Crowe & N. Jonsson's 4-year-old defending champion Jet Dark (SAF) is slated to face 10 rivals entered for Saturday's 1-mile R1.5 million L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town. The race winner will earn an automatic berth into the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. One race prior to the Queen's Plate, Mrs. S. Viljoen's 4-year-old filly Captain's Ransom (SAF) leads the 1 1/8-mile R1 million Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) for a free starting position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Both races will be televised live on TVG, with approximate post time for the Cartier Paddock Stakes scheduled at 8:35 a.m. ET.

Now in its 15th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year at the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Nov. 4-5.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday's races to start in the World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.

Jet Dark, trained by Justin Snaith, slipped up the rail in the final furlong to win last year's L'Ormarins Queen's Plate at 12-1, defeating Rainbow Bridge (SAF) by three-quarters of a length. Since then, the son of Trippi has made three starts, which includes a victory on July 31 in the 1 1/8-mile HKJC World Pool Champions Cup (G1) at Greyville, and a recent fourth-place finish in the WSB Prive Greenpoint Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth on Dec. 4. Richard Fourie has the mount, breaking from post 5.

Mr. and Mrs. M.L.P. Rattray's 7-year-old gelding Rainbow Bridge has won 11 of 25 starts, including five Group 1 victories. Trained by Richard Sands, Rainbow Bridge reeled off three straight wins following his defeat in last year's Queen's Plate. He captured the Cape Town Met Stakes (G1) at Kenilworth three weeks later, and then scored two wins at Greyville, first taking the Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (G2) by 2 lengths and the Group 1 Hollywood Bets Gold Challenge. However, the streak ended with an eighth-place finish in the prestigious 1 3/8-mile Vodacom Durban July (G1) on July 3 at Greyville.

The first two finishers from the Durban July – Kommetdieding (SAF) and Linebacker (SAF) – have both been entered in the Queen's Plate. Nicknamed the “Cape Comet,” 4-year-old Kommetdieding, owned by Ashwin Reynolds and trained by the father-daughter duo of Henry Crawford and Michele Rix, broke from the outside post 18 in the Durban July and steadily worked his way to the front, passing Linebacker in the last 50 yards to prevail by a half-length at 10-1. He completed his 3-year-old campaign with four wins in six starts. In his first start this season, Kommetdieding finished a troubled third behind Warrior (SAF) in the Cape Mile on Nov. 6 at Kenilworth. Kommetdieding will be ridden by Gavin Lerena from post three.

Two-time Group 1 winner Linebacker, trained by Vaughn Marshall and ridden from post three by Craig Zackey, has finished first or second in nine of his 10 starts, with his Group 1 scores coming back-to-back in the Jonsson Workware Cape Derby last February and in the 1 ¼-mile Daily News 2000 in May, prior to his runner-up finish in the Durban July. Linebacker prepped for the Queen's Plate with a third-place finish in the Green Point Stakes, won by stablemate Seeking the Stars (SAF).

Also trained by Marshall, the 4-year-old old Seeking the Stars has won his last two races, taking the Matchem Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, before his half-length triumph in the Green Point. Bernard Fayd'Herbe will ride, breaking from post four.

Captain's Ransom Faces She's a Keeper in Cartier Paddock Stakes

Eleven fillies and mares are scheduled to go to the post in the Cartier Paddock Stakes, led by Captain's Ransom and Missing U Syndicate's 5-year-old She's a Keeper (SAF). A very consistent eight-time winner in 10 starts, Captain's Ransom, trained by Justin Snaith, comes into Saturday's race off two 7-furlong victories, first winning the Diana Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, and then the Dec. 4 Amy Miller Memorial Pinnacle Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Princess Calla (SAF), with She's a Keeper finishing third. Captain's Ransom also gained her second career Group 1-win last January when she captured the 1-mile Majorca Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths at Kenilworth. Richard Fourie has the mount, breaking from post four.

She's a Keeper, a six-time winner for trainer Gareth Van Zyl, was the odds-on favorite in her first six starts, and registered five victories, culminating with a 1-length triumph in the World Sports Betting 1900 (G2) at Greyville. She was next entered in the Vodacom Durban July against males, but was wide throughout, finishing 10th of 18 starters. She's a Keeper rebounded in her next effort, though, winning the Kuda Gold Bracelet (G2) at Greyville on July 31. In her most recent start, She's a Keeper finished third, beaten 2 lengths in the Pinnacle Stakes. Starting from post eight, She's a Keeper will be ridden by Bernard Fayd'Herbe.

Mr. M.J.A Ferreira's 4-year-old Princess Calla has finished second in her last four starts for trainer Adam Marcus. A 4-year-old daughter of Flower Alley, Princess Calla completed last season with a heartbreaking defeat by a nose in the Group 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes at Greyville on July 3. A winner twice in 10 starts, Princess Calla will be ridden by Anton Marcus from post five.

Mauritzfontein, and Messrs. M.W. Bass, F. Green and Re Byn's 4-year-old Marina (SAF), trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, has won four of five starts, with all four wins coming at Kenilworth. A chestnut mare by Silvano (GER), Marina's only defeat in that stretch was a fourth-place finish in the Diana Stakes. She won two starts after that, taking the Computaform Online Pinnacle Stakes and the Victress Stakes (G3) on Dec. 18. Marina, eight of 13 lifetime, will be ridden by Aldo Domeyer from post three.

Following her “Win and You're In” victory in the 2021 Cartier Paddock Stakes, Queen Supreme (IRE) was sent to the U.S. later in the year to compete in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

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Trainer Brad Cox Chasing Second Straight Pippin Victory With Coach

A few inches separated trainer Brad Cox from sweeping Oaklawn's two-turn stakes series for older fillies and mares in 2021. Now, Cox will try to pick up where he left off when he sends out program favorite Coach in Saturday's $150,000 Pippin at one mile.

Probable post time for the Pippin, the eighth of nine races, is 3:46 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:30 p.m.

Cox won the last year's Pippin with Getridofwhatailesu, then captured the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl and the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) with Shedaresthedevil. Monomoy Girl, in what would be her final career start, was beaten a nose by Letruska in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) to deny Cox a four-race sweep.

Cox bids for his second Pippin victory with Kueber Racing LLC's Coach, the early 9-5 choice who retains eight-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr. Coach exits a sharp two-length allowance victory at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 17, which marked her first start since finishing ninth in the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) for 3-year-old fillies April 30 at Churchill Downs.

“She was just a horse that we had run a lot, her 2-year-old season and then throughout her 3-year-old season, trying to get her into the Oaks,” Cox said. “We got her to the Oaks. She just needed a break and she got it.”

Coach began her career with three consecutive victories, including the $98,000 Rags to Riches Stakes in October 2020 at Churchill Downs. Coach went through Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Oaks points races last year, finishing second in the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes, fifth in the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and third in the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3). Her allowance victory last month at Oaklawn snapped a five-race losing streak.

“She ran good,” said Cox, leading trainer at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting. “Tough, tough field.”

The projected seven-horse Pippin lineup from the rail out: Coach, Ricardo Santana Jr., 122 pounds, 9-5 on the morning line; Breeze Rider, E.T. Baird, 122, 5-1; W W Fitzy, David Cohen, 122, 8-1; Itsallinthenotes, Kelsi Harr, 122, 20-1; Josie, Ramon Vazquez, 122, 5-2; Miss Bigly, Martin Garcia, 122, 5-2; and Wellington Wonder, David Cabrera, 117, 12-1.

Miss Bigly has kept fast company in her career, facing the likes of Monomoy Girl, As Time Goes By and Envoutante in the Midwest and Southern California.

An allowance winner at one mile last April at Oaklawn, Miss Bigly exits a third-place finish in the $300,000 Chilukki Stakes (G3) Nov. 20 at Churchill Downs. The Chilukki was also a mile. Miss Bigly has five published workouts at Oaklawn since Dec. 4.

“I think she's coming into the race in good shape,” said Miss Bigly's Southern California-based trainer, Phil D'Amato, who has nine horses at Oaklawn. “I believe she won on a wet-fast track at Oaklawn last year, so I don't think if it rains, we'll have any issues there. Her last couple of breezes have been very sharp, with Martin Garcia breezing her.”

Multiple stakes winner Breeze Rider won seven races in 2021, but has done her best work on turf or a synthetic surface for trainer Steve Manley. Josie was an allowance winner at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting for Cox. She is now with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

W W Fitzy adds blinkers for 2020 Oaklawn training champion Robertino Diodoro after running fourth behind Coach and Wellington Wonder Dec. 17 at Oaklawn. She was claimed out of the race for $62,500.

“We're trying to get some speed back in her,” Diodoro said, referring to the equipment change. “Training good. We'll see.”

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Zero Tolerance Will Head Down The Hill In Sunday’s Las Cienegas

A stakes winner over the course, Zero Tolerance heads a field of eight older fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita's hillside turf in this Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes.

Vladimir Cerin's Hear My Prayer and Bob Baffert's Ginja, a pair of distaffers in good recent form, also rate big chances in what will be their initial tries down Santa Anita's unique hillside layout. Throw in Baffert's classy comebacker Beautiful Gift and John Sadler's newcomer, Gold for Kitten, as well as his veteran stakes winner Constantia, and the Las Cienegas has the look of a wide open affair.

A Kentucky-bred 4-year-old filly by Mizzen Mast, Zero Tolerance stalked the pace and rallied impressively to take the ungraded Unzip Me Stakes over the course three starts back on Oct. 3 and was subsequently a close fourth going one mile on turf in the G3 Autumn Miss Stakes on Oct. 30.

Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, she sped to a 1 ¼ length win at 3-5 in a second condition allowance on Nov. 20 at Del Mar. Originally trained by Peter Miller, she'll be saddled by Ruben Alvarado on Sunday as she seeks her first graded win and her fourth overall from six starts. Owned by Custom Truck Accessories, Jason Hall, Joe Kelly and Michael Riordan, Zero Tolerance will be reunited with Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the Unzip Me win as well as a maiden score four starts back on Aug. 20.

Owned by Holly and David Wilson, Hear My Prayer has been idle since rallying for a solid third place finish, beaten three quarters of a length in the five furlong turf Senator Ken Maddy Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Originally based at Gulfstream Park, Hear My Prayer made her first start for Cerin two starts back in five furlong turf classified allowance Aug. 26, a race in which she pressed the pace and prevailed by a half length.

A two-time ungraded stakes winner sprinting on turf at Gulfstream, Hear My Prayer enters the Las Cienegas as a fresh commodity with a solid resume and will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Juan Hernandez. A 5-year-old Florida-bred mare by the Yes It's True stallion The Big Beast, Hear My Prayer is 11-5-0-3 overall with earnings of $218,975.

Idle since well beaten as the 2-1 favorite in the G2 Black Eyed Susan May 14 at Pimlico, Baoma Corporation's Beautiful Gift, who was a close second in the G2 Santa Anita Oaks April 3 and a game head winner of the G3 Santa Ysabel three starts back on March 7, should be attentive to the pace coming off the bench in what will be her first try on grass.

Although ridden by John Velazquez in her last three starts, Beautiful Gift will be handled for the first time by Drayden Van Dyke on Sunday. Favored in three out of her five starts, Beautiful Gift has the class to rate a major contender.

Perhaps the biggest question mark in the field due to the fact she'll be trying turf for the first time, Ginja nonetheless is in solid form and with Mike Smith riding her back, well-spotted. In a gutty effort, she was pressed every step of the way when second, beaten a neck by her stablemate Velvet Slippers in a one mile first condition allowance Nov. 19 at Del Mar.

Owned by Jill Baffert, Ginja is a 4-year-old filly by Quality Road, out of the Forestry mare Sequoia Queen. With an overall mark of 9-1-5-1, she'll be looking for her first graded stakes win.

Idle since a close third in an ungraded stakes going a mile and one sixteenth on synthetic at Woodbine Oct. 31, Gold for Kitten, who was claimed five starts back for $50,000 at Churchill Downs May 6, has never been worse than third in six starts—winning four, and she'll get the first time services of a red hot John Velazquez. A 4-year-old filly by Kitten's Joy, she's owned by DARRS Inc.

With her last win coming five starts back in the ungraded Mizdirection Stakes going six furlongs on turf here April 17, Sadler will also be well represented by Constantia, who takes a significant drop in class off a sixth place finish going one mile on grass in the G2 Goldikova Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 6. A 5-year-old mare by Munnings, Constantia was bred in Kentucky by her owner, Keith Abrahams. Although second going 6 ½ furlongs in the G2 Monrovia Stakes four starts back on June 5, Constantia, who has four wins from 16 starts, will be making her first start down the hillside turf course.

THE GRADE 3 LAS CIENEGAS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Tapwater—Joe Bravo—120
Hear My Prayer—Juan Hernandez–120
Constantia—Umberto Rispoli—122
Quiet Secretary—Tyler Baze—120
Beautiful Gift—Drayden Van Dyke—122
Ginja—Mike Smith—120
Zero Tolerance—Flavien Prat—122
Gold for Kitten—John Velazquez–120

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m., admission gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

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‘Old-School Racehorse’ Snapper Sinclair Preps For Oaklawn’s Fifth Season Stakes

Snapper Sinclair has returned to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., and the popular, well-traveled millionaire could make his 7-year-old debut in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes for older horses at one mile Jan. 15, co-owner Jeff Bloom said Tuesday afternoon.

The Fifth Season is the first major 2022 local steppingstone toward the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) April 23, a race Steve Asmussen, Snapper Sinclair's Hall of Fame trainer, won last year with Silver State.

“We're strongly leaning toward running in the Fifth Season,” Bloom said. “Of course, would love to get a victory in that race, having lost it in 2020 by, I think, a whisker.”

The accomplished Snapper Sinclair, who worked five furlongs Thursday in 1:01 2/5 over a fast track, has bankrolled $1,856,292 in a 36-race career highlighted by a record three stakes victories at Kentucky Downs, the European-style all-grass venue about 35 miles north of Nashville.

Bloom said one reason for keeping Snapper Sinclair in training, rather than begin a stud career in 2022, is to try and grab an elusive first stakes victory on dirt.

Snapper Sinclair boasts several near misses on the main track, including runner-up finishes in the first division of the $100,000 Fifth Season (beaten a neck) in 2020 and $350,000 Essex Handicap (beaten a head) in 2019 at Oaklawn. Snapper Sinclair was beaten a nose in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds in 2018 at Fair Grounds. He also ran second in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) in 2020 at Aqueduct.

“He's doing so well and there was no real consideration about retiring him, considering the fact that as long as his health and soundness stay consistently solid and he's happy, we fully intended to have another campaign with him,” Bloom said. “Obviously, Snapper has been so good to us and he really enjoys his job. That being said, we figured: Here comes 2022 for Snapper.”

Known for his large white face, Snapper Sinclair had another productive season in 2021. The bay son of the late City Zip had a 2-2-0 record from seven starts and earned $418,032. Snapper Sinclair became the first horse to win three stakes races at Kentucky Downs in the second division of the $400,000 TVG Sept. 8.

Sandwiched around a one-mile allowance victory in February at Oaklawn and the TVG Stakes was a fourth-place finish in the $750,000 Godolphin Mile (G2) in March in the United Arab Emirates. He was also a fast-closing second in the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes (G2), a downhill turf sprint Oct. 1 at Santa Anita, and sixth in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

“He's just an incredible old-school racehorse,” Bloom said of Snapper Sinclair. “He's one of those horses that, he brings his track with him. And no matter what you throw at him, he responds. Whether you're talking sprinting down the hill, on the turf, at Santa Anita or going two turns on the dirt against the best horses in the country, he's never dodged a tough spot. To say that he's fine is an incredible understatement. He's just such a pleasure to be around and so fun to have in our portfolio.”

Bloom purchased Snapper Sinclair for $180,000 at the 2017 OBS April Sale of 2-year-olds in training and campaigns the horse in partnership with Chuck Allen and Andrew Yaffe.

Post positions for the Fifth Season will be drawn Monday. Snapper Sinclair also won an allowance race in 2019 at Oaklawn.

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