Buy The Best Takes Smart Halo Stakes At Laurel

Buy the Best was much the best in the Smart Halo Stakes at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. The 2-year-old daughter of Tapiture swooped around Sparkle Sprinkle and Buff My Boots on the far turn to take the six-furlong stakes by 3 1/4 lengths.

On a fast Laurel track, Sparkle Sprinkle was fastest out of the gate with Buff My Boots pressing early, a half-length behind in the opening furlongs. Around the far turn, Buff My Boots ranged up on the outside of Sparkle Sprinkle, taking the lead briefly as Buy the Best made a bold move on their outside. As the field of the seven reached the stretch, Buy the Best was a length clear of rivals, stretching her advantage out down the stretch. At the wire, she was four lengths in front, with Luna Belle second and Click to Confirm third.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:09.99. Find this race's chart here.

Buy the Best paid $6.00, $3.40, and $3.00. Luna Belle paid $4.60 and $3.40.  Click to Confirm paid $6.00.

Bred in Kentucky by Susan Moulton, Buy the Best is out of the Indian Charlie mare Sister Dawn. Trained by Cathal Lynch, the filly was ridden in the Smart Halo by Jaime Rodriguez. Consigned by Eaton Sales, she was purchased by owner Hope Jones at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $70,000. With her win in the Smart Halo, Buy the Best has three wins in five lifetime starts and career earnings of $117,480.

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Mandate Pulls Upset In Artie Schiller At Aqueduct

Longshot Mandate with jockey Andrew Wolfsont went to the far outside to find running room and sealed the deal with a late move for the lead to win the Artie Schiller at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The gelded son of Blame sat toward the back of the pack early in the one-mile turf stakes, content to wait for the far turn to make a move for position. Wolfsont took Mandate three-wide on the turn, with leader Rinaldi still on the front as they hit the stretch.

In the Aqueduct straight, though, Rinaldi could not hold on, with Tell Your Daddy gaining ground to bid for the lead as Mandate built up momentum on their outside. In late stretch, the longshot took over, pulling away to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Tell Your Daddy was second and Flavius got up at the end to take third.

The final time for the Artie Schiller was 1:39.07. Find this race's chart here.

Mandate paid $91.50, $30.40, and $10.00. Tell Your Daddy paid $4.50 and $2.60. Flavius paid $2.80.

“He made that outside move and in that same position as in his last race at Laurel. It just looked like a replay of his last race. When I saw those white blinkers making up ground on the outside, I got excited. I had faith in the horse, he was doing everything well,” trainer Robert Johnston said after the race. “His last race made him eligible for the Claiming Crown so we could still go there. Laurel still has grass, too. If we went to the Claiming Crown, we would go and come back. We're team players so if he needs to stay down there with someone else, so be it. Whatever is best for the horse.”

“I'm on cloud nine. This is the biggest stakes race I've won in my career. I won a few other state-bred stakes up in Pennsylvania, so this is pretty special for me, ” Wolfsont told the NYRA Press Office after the Artie Schiller.

Bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding Inc., Mandate is out of the Empire Maker mare Bonnie's Empire. He is owned by Bruno Schickedanz. The 4-year-old gelding was consigned by Gainesway and sold to Michael C. Stinson for $200,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

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Skygaze Graduates To Graded Stakes Winner In Maple Leaf

A trio of Mark Casse horses led the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes early and it was a Casse trainee in the lead at the finish, with Skygaze, a daughter of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, getting her first graded stakes victory at Woodbine Racetrack.

In the 10-furlong Maple Leaf, Broadway Lady took the lead in the race's opening furlong, Crystal Glacier and Skygaze traveling easily behind her. Broadway Lady set a slow pace, logging a first quarter in :24.93, a half-mile in :50.15, and six furlongs in 1:15.23, but Skygaze closed the gap easily on the far turn.

Skygaze moved easily to the lead at the one-mile mark, steadily gaining ground in the last quarter of a mile to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Sister Otoole rallied from far back to take second. Merveilleux came on late to finish third.

The final time for the 1 1/4-mile Maple Leaf was 2:03.65. Find this race's chart here.

Skygaze paid $8.30, $4.70, and $3.30. Sister Otoole paid $7.80 and $4.30. Merveilleux paid $4.40.

Bred in Kentucky by Normandy Farm, Skygaze is out of the Marquetry mare Skyscape. The 4-year-old filly was consigned by Gainesway and sold to owner Tracy Farmer for $300,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her win in the G3 Maple Leaf, Skygaze has three wins in five starts in 2021 for a lifetime record of six wins in 13 starts and career earnings of $281,684.

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Good Effort Repeats In Golden Rose Stakes At Lingfield

Last year's winner Good Effort maintained his unbeaten record at Lingfield Park in Lingfield, England, with a repeat success in the six-furlong Listed Betway Golden Rose Stakes, a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships.

In what looked like a competitive contest, the well-supported 11/8 favorite raced at the head of affairs alongside Exalted Angel before settling proceedings in a matter of strides swinging off the home turn.

Good Effort was clear entering the final furlong and stayed on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths from the 2019 winner Judicial. Soldier's Minute was a short-head further back in third in a blanket finish for the places.

This was the fourth success in as many starts at Lingfield Park for Good Effort, who also captured the Listed Betway Kachy Stakes in 2020.

Ismail Mohammed's assistant trainer Jose Santos said: “Good Effort is a horse we have always believed is the best All-Weather sprinter in the UK.

“He is a real natural sprinter and hopefully connections decide to keep him here for the All-Weather Championships.

“He doesn't have that much mileage for a six-year-old and I think he still has plenty to offer.”

Winning rider Jim Crowley said: “Good Effort is a handy horse, isn't he?

“He gets a bit lonely in front having killed the race off on the bend. I had to keep him up to his work because Jose [Santos, assistant trainer] said to me that he pulled up in Dubai when Frankie rode him and just got caught.

“He is one of those horses who wins his race at halfway. He is very fast and whether it's five or six furlongs, he has enough boot for both. I remember riding him work in Dubai and being impressed with him that day.

“He has won in France and run well in Dubai, and he didn't run too badly in Belmont last time. It just didn't quite work out for him because they went slow out there, which is unusual for an American sprint.

“It's just a question of whether he stays here for the All-Weather Championships or goes on his travels again, but it will take a quick one to beat him around here.”

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