Trainer Neil Pessin does not need more than a couple of minutes to spot a yearling with potential – as well as one with flaws. As the son of noted veterinarian Arnold G. Pessin, he grew up surrounded by horses. His father made an indelible mark on racing in his own state by building the Kentucky Training Center as well as Dueling Grounds, now known as Kentucky Downs.
Tag: Racing
Longshot Indian Peak Victorious In California Flag At Santa Anita
Longshot Indian Peak settled nicely off the early pace and mounted a furious stretch rally under Juan Hernandez to outrun favored North County Guy by a head in Sunday's $100,000 California Flag Handicap at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. In his third start for Peter Miller and his first try down the hillside turf course, Indian Peak got about 6 ½ furlongs in 1:12.52.
The California Flag Handicap, named for the High Card Ranch's homebred millionaire who won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, is part of the lucrative CTBA sponsored Golden State Series for California-bred or sired 3-year-olds and up.
Breaking from the far outside in a field of nine, Indian Peak was sixth, about five lengths off the lead at the half-mile mark while well within himself. Six-wide and on the move at the dirt crossing, Indian Peak pinned his ears and outran North County Guy late in a thriller.
“He felt really comfortable, he's a nice horse,” said Hernandez, who won yesterday's California Distaff Handicap run down the hill with Warren's Showtime. “He tries all the time. I rode him before, maybe three or four times (when based at Golden Gate Fields, dating back to December of 2019) and he's the kind of horse that always comes with a run at the end.
“Peter Miller told me to just sit there and make one run and then before the quarter pole, before we crossed the dirt, he started running, so I just let him run. He picked the lead right after we crossed the dirt and we were fighting the inside and outside (horses), but we made it…”
Most recently a well-beaten fifth by North County Guy in 1 1/16-mile turf allowance as the 7-5 favorite on Aug. 20 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., Indian Peak was off at 16-1 and paid $35.80, $11.20, and $5.40.
A 4-year-old California-bred gelding by Comic Strip out of the Roar mare Ms. Booty, Indian Peak, who was originally conditioned by Golden Gate Fields-based Quinn Howey, is currently owned by Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable.
A winner of Santa Anita's Snow Chief Stakes in only his third start at age three on June 20, 2020, Indian Peak registered his second stakes win today and improved his overall race record to 20-6-3-1. With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $333,532.
The 7-5 favorite, North County Guy ran too good to lose, finishing a head in front of Unbridled Ethos. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, North County Guy paid $3.40 and $2.60.
With Ricky Gonzalez up, Unbridled Ethos was off at 9-1 and paid $5.00 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths clear of Whooping Jay, who lacked racing room turning for home.
Fractions on the race were :22.00, :44.06, and 1:06.65.
Live racing resumes with first post time for an eight-race card on Friday at 1 p.m. Pacific.
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Avie’s Flatter Returns to Winner’s Circle In Nearctic Stakes At Woodbine
Avie's Flatter returned to the familiar confines of the winner's circle at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario with a victory in the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes.
In the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last out, the 5-year-old horse finished ninth behind upset winner Town Cruise, who was also part of the Nearctic field. At the break, Momos grabbed the lead, with Town Cruise and Turned Aside second and third early. Avie's Flatter and Luis Contreras were third entering the race's only turn, going wide into the Woodbine straight.
In the stretch, Avie's Flatter showed no trouble with the yielding turf, building up momentum on the outside of Town Cruise and taking the lead with a furlong to go to win by a half-length. Turned Aside came on late to take second. Olympic Runner passed Momos to take third. Town Cruise, Jolie Olimpica, White Flag, Reconfigure, Admiralty Pier, and Lucky Curlin rounded out the order of finish.
The final time for the six-furlong Nearctic was 1:10.52. Find this race's chart here.
Avie's Flatter paid $16.50, $7.30, and $5.60. Turned Aside paid $17.50 and $10.40. Olympic Runner paid $5.20.
Bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm, Avie's Flatter is by Flatter out of the Empire Maker mare Avie's Empire. Owned by Ivan Dalos, the 5-year-old horse is trained by Josie Carroll. With his win in the G2 Nearctic, Avie's Flatter has three wins in five starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of seven wins in 18 starts and career earnings of $932,937.
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Illegal Smile Takes Siena Purse At Keeneland
Hat Creek Racing's Illegal Smile (IRE) surged to the lead at the head of the stretch and cruised to a 1¼-length victory over Bullseye Beauty to win the $90,000 Siena Purse allowance for 3-year-old fillies at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.
Ridden by Gerardo Corrales and trained by Wesley Ward, Illegal Smile covered the 5½ furlongs on a turf course labeled as good in 1:02.94.
Illegal Smile is an Irish-bred daughter of Camacho (GB) out of the Iffraaj (GB) mare Fine If (IRE). Now boasting a record of 10-2-4-1, Illegal Smile has earnings of $186,556.
Illegal Smile returned $7.80, $4.20, and $3.20 as the favorite in the field of nine. Bullseye Beauty, ridden by James Graham, returned $5 and $4.20 with Navratilova paying $3.80 to show under Julien Leparoux.
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