Tag: Racing

Churchill’s ‘Stars Of Tomorrow I’ Card Features Street Sense, Rags To Riches Stakes

Trainer Dale Romans' promising duo of Iroquois Stakes (Grade 3) third-place finisher Red Knobs, along with impressive maiden winner Howling Time, top an ultra-competitive field of nine 2-year-olds that were entered in Sunday's ninth running of the $200,000 Street Sense at Churchill Downs.

Sunday's 17th annual “Stars of Tomorrow I” program, which features all 2-year-old races, kicks off the 21-day Fall Meet. First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 1 1/16-mile Street Sense shares the Sunday spotlight with the $200,000 Rags to Riches, which will also be run at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies. The Street Sense was carded as Race 10 at 5:36 p.m. while the Rags to Riches will go as Race 5 at 3:03 p.m.

Inaugurated in 2005, Churchill Downs' “Stars of Tomorrow” programs have helped launched the careers of numerous graded stakes winners, including more than 50 future Grade 1 winners led by Horse of the Year champions Gun Runner (2017) and Rachel Alexandra (2009), Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (2010), Kentucky Oaks winners Rachel Alexandra (2009), Believe You Can (2012) and Monomoy Girl (2018), Preakness winners Shackleford (2011), War of Will (2019) and Swiss Skydiver (2020), Belmont winner Creator (2016) as well as 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic and 2013 Stephen Foster hero Fort Larned and 2013 champion 3-year-old Will Take Charge.

Albaugh Family Stables' Howling Time, a 2-year-old son of Not This Time, broke his maiden on Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs by 1 ½ lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight contest. The $200,000 purchase from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale stopped the teletimer in 1:10.15 to earn a stout 91 Brisnet Speed Rating. Howling Time will be ridden by Joe Talamo from post position No. 6.

Meanwhile, his stablemate, Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Red Knobs, was only defeated by one-length in the $300,000 Iroquois to Major General and Tough to Tame. The chestnut son of Union Rags broke his maiden this summer at Ellis Park by an impressive 6 ¼ lengths. He'll be ridden by James Graham from post 9.

Among the other top contenders in the Street Sense field are Silverton Hill's Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint winner Red Danger; Paradise Farms Corp., Skychai Racing and David Staudacher's Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile runner-up Kiss the Sky; Lucky Seven Stable's Ellis Park Juvenile runner-up Lucky Boss; and Daniel Alonso's 10 ½-length maiden breaker Skippylongstocking.

The complete field for the Street Sense from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Guntown (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Luni Sima (Adam Beschizza, Jack Sisterson); Skippylongstocking (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Red Danger (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch); Kiss the Sky (Corey Lanerie, Mike Maker); Howling Time (Talamo, Romans); Lucky Boss (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Sport Pepper (Florent Geroux, Kerry Zavash); and Red Knobs (Graham, Romans).

The Street Sense and Rags to Riches both serve as the local prep races to the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and $400,000 Golden Rod (G2), respectively, as part of the “Stars of Tomorrow II” program on Saturday, Nov. 27.

After Sunday's opener, live racing will be conducted on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule with dark days on Mondays and Tuesdays. Most race days feature 10 live races. There will be 11 on Sunday's opener plus a trio of Saturdays: Nov. 6, 13 and 20. Twelve-race cards are scheduled over the final four days, Nov. 25-28.

Meanwhile, Susan Moulton's nine-length maiden winner Sandstone, along with Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's 7 ¼-length debut hero Yuugiri, headline a compact field of five 2-year-old fillies that were entered in Sunday's ninth running of the $200,000 Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs.

The Rags to Riches, run at 1 1/16 miles, will go as Race 5 of 11 with a post time of 3:03 p.m.

Sandstone, a daughter of Street Sense, broke her maiden on Oct. 3 at Churchill Downs over a “sloppy” surface. The Kenny McPeek-trained filly covered the one-mile distance in 1:37.43 and earned a 90 Brisnet Speed Rating.

Two weeks prior to Sandstone's open-length maiden score, the Rodolphe Brisset-trained Yuugiri cruised to a decisive victory. The homebred-daughter of Shackleford completed the six-furlong maiden special weight contest in 1:09.55 and earned a 95 Brisnet Speed Rating.

Brian Hernandez Jr. will have the return mount on Sandstone from post No. 3 while September Meet leading rider Tyler Gaffalione will pilot Yuugiri from post 4.

The Rags to Riches field also includes Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Scott Akman, Nehoc Stables, Paul Braverman and Magdalena Racing's Pocahontas Stakes (G2I) runner-up Mama Rina; Joe Sharp's Ellis Park Debutante third-place finisher Manasota Sunset; and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Jessamine Stakes (G2) fourth-place finisher Dressed.

Here's the field for the Rags to Riches in order of post position (with jockey and trainer): Manasota Sunset (Ricardo Santana Jr., Sharp); Mama Rina (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek); Sandstone (Hernandez, McPeek); Yuugiri (Gaffalione, Brisset); Dressed (Florent Geroux, Catalano).

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Plainsman, Wondrwherecraigis Square Off In Sunday’s Bold Ruler

Shortleaf Stable's two-time graded stakes winner Plainsman will make the trek back to the Empire State when taking on a field of eight assembled for Sunday's 45th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

The Bold Ruler headlines Sunday's card, which will also include two divisions of the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie at seven furlongs over Big Sandy for fillies and mares.

Due to significant rainfall from a coastal storm that impacted Long Island Tuesday and Wednesday, a trio of turf stakes initially slated for Sunday – the $150,000 Zagora, a 12-furlong test for fillies and mares; the $100,000 Chelsey Flower at 1 1/16-miles for juvenile fillies; and the $100,000 Awad at 1 1/16-miles for juveniles – have been re-scheduled for the following weekend.

The Awad will be brought back on Friday, November 5 for a stakes-laden card that will also feature the $100,000 Atlantic Beach at six-furlongs on turf for juveniles; the $150,000 Tempted at one-mile over Big Sandy for juvenile fillies; and the $200,000 Ticonderoga, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for state-bred fillies and mares which was re-scheduled from Saturday's Empire Showcase Day card.

The Chelsey Flower will be brought back on Saturday, November 6 for a bumper card that includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at nine furlongs for fillies and mares; the $100,000 Stewart Manor at six furlongs on turf for juvenile fillies; and the $200,000 Mohawk, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for state-breds 3-years-old and up initially slated for Empire Showcase Day.

The Zagora will return for the Sunday, November 7 card – Closing Day of the Belmont fall meet – joining the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua at one mile for juveniles.

Plainsman, trained by Brad Cox, captured the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct during his sophomore campaign in 2018 over graded stakes winner Title Ready and Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski. The 6-year-old Flatter bay arrives at the Bold Ruler off a sharp one length triumph in the Grade 3 Ack Ack on October 2 at Churchill Downs, recording a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sporting an accomplished ledger of 25-8-6-3 with a field-best bankroll of $729,207, Plainsman has won four of his last five starts all over different ovals. Following an allowance optional claiming score on April 15 at Oaklawn, he upped his game to stakes level with victories in the Jim Rasmussen on June 4 at Prairie Meadows and the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial five weeks later at Indiana Grand Race Course.

Plainsman boasts a record of 3-1-0-1 over Big Sandy, including an allowance score in September 2018.

“He's been doing great after the Ack Ack. He seems to like the track up at Belmont, so it made sense to ship him up for this spot that's a little easier,” Cox said. “We're taking things one race at a time, but he's been in great form this year and has always proven to be versatile.”

Carrying 123 pounds as the field high weight, Plainsman will break from post 3 under Joel Rosario.

Trainer Brittany Russell will saddle graded-stakes placed Wondrwherecraigis, who captured the restricted Tale of the Cat in August at Saratoga two starts back.

Owned by Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables, Wondrwherecraigis crossed the wire first last out in the Grade 3 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash on September 18 at Pimlico, but was disqualified to second-place for drifting out into Jalen Journey at the sixteenth-pole.

In addition to his Saratoga stakes victory, Wondrwherecraigis was a two-time allowance optional claiming winner this year at Pimlico.

“He's had a good year, especially winning at Saratoga,” Russell said. “Many of us could argue that he deserved to stay up in his last race. It was a bummer because the horse deserved a graded stakes win. Hopefully, this time around, he can show that he belongs in a graded stakes.”

Luis Saez, who piloted the 4-year-old Munnings gelding to victory in the Tale of the Cat, will be back aboard from post 7. He will carry 120 pounds.

Gold Square's Wendell Fong [118 pounds] arrives off a nearly seven-month respite while making his debut for trainer Chad Summers. The 5-year-old son of Flat Out was second in the Grade 3 Tom Fool on March 6 at Aqueduct where he made up considerable ground in the stretch to finish 3 ½ lengths behind winner Chateau. Wendell Fong was victorious in his 2021 commencement, capturing the Fire Plug on January 16 at Laurel Park.

Breaking from post 5, Wendell Fong will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Red Oak Stable homebred Bal Harbour [118 pounds] will attempt to overcome a 17-race losing streak for trainer Gregg Sacco. Although winless since capturing the Gio Ponti in November 2018 at Aqueduct, Bal Harbour has consistently made good showings at a high level the past few years, adding nine graded stakes placings since his last coup.

Manny Franco will ride Bal Harbour from post 2.

Completing the field are Lil Commissioner [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche, 117], Drafted [post 4, Dylan Davis, 116], Continuation [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 116], and Amatteroftime [post 8, Paco Lopez, 116].

The Bold Ruler honors the 1957 Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old, who captured 11 of his 16 starts that season, including the Wood Memorial, Flamingo, and Preakness Stakes. Bold Ruler built a larger legacy as a stallion and is still regarded as one of the most prolific sires of the modern North American thoroughbred. In addition to siring 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Bold Ruler went on to become a prolific sire-of-sires. American Classic winners such as Seattle Slew, Foolish Pleasure, Dust Commander, Cannonade, Spectacular Bid, Swale, Risen Star, A.P. Indy, Bernardini, Rags to Riches, Orb and Tonalist are all direct paternal descendants of Bold Ruler.

The Bold Ruler is slated as Race 7 on Sunday's nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Japan: ‘Big Three’ Ready For Sunday’s Tenno Sho Autumn Clash

Three Japanese equine heavyweights – Contrail, Gran Alegria and Efforia – share top billing in Sunday's G1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m, or 1 1/4 miles) in the latest renewal of one of the nation's most prestigious races.

Contrail seeks glory in the “Emperor's Prize” as successor to the mighty Almond Eye after finishing third in the G1 Osaka Hai (2000m) at Hanshin Racecourse, where he did not appreciate the heavy ground. Fortuitously, there is no rain forecast this weekend in Tokyo and stable expectations are high.

Contrail has thrived during trackwork over the past two weeks, needing no urging. Last week, under jockey Yuichi Fukunaga, Contrail looked strong working on the woodchip flat course.

“His heart and lungs were tuned up and last week we just checked his responses and turn of foot. Everything is fabulous,” Fukunaga said.

On Wednesday this week, the colt breezed up the hill.

“It was just to fine-tune his breathing,” trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “His action is spot-on and in today's work you could really see his strong point, his suppleness.”

The Deep Impact colt's retirement has already been announced and the Tenno Sho will be his second-last start before his scheduled farewell appearance in the Japan Cup.

Gran Alegria, also by Deep Impact, is also a leading contender with five top-level wins to her name. Trained by Miho-based Kazuo Fujisawa, she's tackling the distance for only her second time. Her first attempt came in the Osaka Hai, where she followed Contrail over the line in fourth place. Gran Alegria, who along with Efforia, will enjoy a lighter weight of only 123lb in the race, returns to the track from a close second in the G1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m, Tokyo) in early June.

Regular rider Christophe Lemaire attributes Gran Alegria's loss in the Yasuda to breathing problems caused by an entrapped epiglottis. She underwent surgery to correct the issue during the summer.

“There'll be no problems with her throat this time,” Lemaire says. “I think she'll be able to give a best performance.”

With the 70-year-old Fujisawa's retirement just around the corner, this will be his last Tenno Sho.

“He's a superstar trainer, I want to win the race for him one more time.” Lemaire said.

The Frenchman, currently the leading jockey in Japan, has ridden the winner for the past three autumn versions of the Tenno Sho, including Fujisawa's Rey de Oro in 2018.

Efforia, a 3-year-old by 2014 Japan Cup champion Epiphaneia, went to the Triple Crown first leg Satsuki Sho on his fourth start and won it to remain unbeaten. He suffered his first loss in the Japanese Derby with a second by a mere nose. He returns straight from the May 30 Derby, but the distance and venue are familiar ground to the colt. He won over 2000m three times in his five-race career, with two wins at Tokyo.

Efforia is to be paired with young star Takeshi Yokoyama, who hails from a racing family and will be joined by both his father and older brother in Sunday's Tenno Sho. The 22-year-old Yokoyama won the Satsuki Sho aboard Efforia in April.

On Wednesday, Yokoyama rode Efforia among a trio of horses over six furlongs on the Miho flat course. The colt displayed excellent acceleration in the final furlong.

“I've ridden him all along in work and in his races.” Yokoyama said. “And I'd say this week's work was his best yet.”

Efforia will compete against older horses for his first time, but Yokoyama says: “I'm not worried about the others. The main thing for me to remember is to not get in his way and he'll be fine.”

Sixteen horses are nominated in the turf event that carries a 150-million-yen first prize. Names most cited as capable of an upset are the highly consistent Sakae Kunieda-trained Curren Bouquetd'or, winner of this year's Tenno Sho Spring World Premiere, and the up-and-coming Potager, taking on his first G1.

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