The Juddmonte Spinster Stakes has long been a coveted jewel among stakes races for older females in the fall, and this year’s edition on Oct. 10 at Keeneland Race Course drew one of the best dirt horses on the planet of either sex in superstar Letruska.
Tag: Racing
Pletcher Sends No Word, En Wye Cee For Knickerbocker
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a formidable duo in En Wye Cee and No Word in Sunday's Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, a nine-furlong inner turf test for 3-year-olds and up at Belmont Park.
Wertheimer and Frere's homebred No Word, a 4-year-old Silent Name colt, competed in both legs of last year's Turf Triple series, finishing third in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Derby Invitational and second in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby.
No Word made both of his two starts this year at Saratoga Race Course, including a wide-traveling eighth in an optional-claimer in August ahead of a game second last out in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap, contested over yielding ground on September 6.
“First start back he had a bad trip and was hung out wide the whole way,” Pletcher said. “I thought he ran much better next time, but unfortunately didn't have much of a pace to run at. He ran well in spite of that.”
Out of the A.P. Indy mare Listen A.P., No Word is a full brother to multiple graded-stakes winner Silentio.
“He's a horse we always thought had graded stake ability, so we're giving it another try,” Pletcher said.
Waterford Stable's homebred En Wye Cee, a 5-year-old son of Declaration of War, finished a prominent third in last year's Knickerbocker to close out his 2020 campaign.
The lightly-raced bay, who sports a ledger of 8-3-0-4, made his seasonal debut with a third-place finish to Knickerbocker-rival L'Imperator in a nine-furlong optional-claiming tilt on August 4 over firm footing at the Spa. He was scheduled to run in the Bernard Baruch but was scratched following an afternoon rainstorm softened the sod.
“He's a consistent horse. He got a little unlucky and had to scratch with the soft turf the other day, so hopefully the ground remains firm and he gets a chance to do his thing,” Pletcher said.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez will pilot En Wye Cee from post 8, while Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will guide No Word from post 9.
Phipps Stable's homebred Breaking the Rules finished fourth as the mutuel favorite in last year's Knickerbocker.
Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, who won back-to-back editions of the Knickerbocker with Boisterous in 2012-13, the now 6-year-old Breaking the Rules will look to make the grade while making his third start of the campaign.
Following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park, the multiple graded-stakes placed son of War Front returned off a seven-month layoff to best Knickerbocker-rival Sacred Life in a one-mile optional-claimer contested over firm footing at the Spa.
Joel Rosario has the call from post 2.
Flying P Stable's Temple, a 5-year-old Temple City gelding, will look to go from claim-to-fame for trainer Tom Morley.
The dark bay was haltered for $80,000 out of a fifth-place finish in June at Belmont and after an off-the-board effort in the restricted Lure in August at Saratoga, Temple posted a solid one-length score in a 10-furlong optional-claiming event which garnered a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.
Kendrick Carmouche picks up the mount from post 5.
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Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will saddle Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Robert V. LaPenta's L'Imperator and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso's Sacred Life.
A 4-year-old French-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor, L'Imperator launched his career in France winning two of four starts. He joined Brown last year and finished seventh in the Grade 3 Saranac last August in his lone sophomore start.
L'Imperator opened his campaign with a 1 3/4-length score in a nine-furlong optional-claiming tilt on August 4 at the Spa and finished an even third last out in the Bernard Baruch.
Sacred Life, a 6-year-old French-bred Siyouni ridgling, will look for his first win of the campaign while stepping up in distance from a pair of competitive efforts at one mile at the Spa, finishing fourth in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple in July and a closing second last out in an optional-claiming event on August 29.
Manny Franco will guide L'Imperator from post 4, while Sacred Life will emerge from post 3 under Jose Ortiz.
Rounding out the field are Corelli [post 6, Junior Alvarado], winner of the Grade 3 Singspiel in August at Woodbine; multiple graded stakes winner Field Pass [post 1, Dylan Davis]; and graded-stakes placed Epic Bromance [post 7, Jose Lezcano].
The Knickerbocker is slated as Race 8 on Sunday's 9-race which also features the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame at nine furlongs for fillies and mares; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity, a six-furlong turf test for 2-year-olds offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
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.
The post Pletcher Sends No Word, En Wye Cee For Knickerbocker appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Vella Pair Primed For Cup & Saucer Stakes Challenge Sunday At Woodbine
Trainer Dan Vella will send out the duo of Spring Mountain and Where's Neal in Sunday's $250,000 Cup & Saucer Stakes, at Woodbine.
A 1 1/16-mile event for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds run over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the Cup & Saucer has drawn 11 starters, including Spring Mountain, a son of Silent Name (JPN), and Where's Neal, a son of Society's Chairman. The Grade 3 $150,000 Durham Cup (1 1 /16-miles on the Tapeta), for three-year-olds and upwards, and the Grade 3 $150,000 Ontario Matron (also 1 1/16-miles on the Tapeta), for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upwards, are also on tap.
Bred in Ontario by Linda Mason, Where's Neal heads into the Cup & Saucer off a maiden-breaking victory in the Bull Page Stakes, contested over one mile on the Inner Turf, on September 17. The gelding set the pace and crossed the line a three-quarters of a length winner in a time of 1:40.05 over firm ground.
Vella was surprised to see where Where's Neal began his Bull Page journey but pleased with how it concluded.
“I was a little worried after a few 100 yards when he ended up on the front end,” admitted Vella. “I really didn't want that. We were hoping to sit in behind the speed, but down the backside you could see that he was going pretty easily and he was kind of on cruise control, just going along nicely. Considering he did all the hard work and still got the job done we were very pleased. We'd much rather see him sit behind the pace a little bit rather than be on it, but it was what it was. They're just learning.”
Owned by Sea Glass LLC, Where's Neal debuted on August 29 in the Simcoe Stakes, a 6 ½-furlong Tapeta event, finishing second to Ironstone, who is set to contest the Shady Well Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.
Spring Mountain has had two eventful starts to his career, including his career bow on September 2 at Woodbine, when he ducked out and then lugged in during the 6 ½-furlong race on the E.P. Taylor.
One race later, in the Bull Page, he hopped at the start before recovering to rally and net third spot in the race won by his stablemate.
“The hop, it wasn't much,” noted Vella, who co-owns the gelding with Stephan and Rita Shefsky, Willy and Toby Kruh, and Solomon Pillersdorf. “I don't think it was much of a problem. He did a little hop out of the gate… they're young horses, so those things happen. I think the sharper turn didn't help his chances. Without that sharp turn in the Cup & Saucer, I think he'll be much better.”
Vella, who has 856 career wins to date, saw promise in both horses early on.
“These two, you knew right from the start that they had potential. Where's Neal had the benefit of going to Florida. Mike Cooke had him down there for me and he told me that this was a pretty nice horse. We knew that. The horse came up here to Woodbine six weeks before I ran him the first time.
“Spring Mountain stayed here and he was out at CamHaven Farms all winter. Right from the start… big, strong horse and big stride. He does everything kind of aggressively. His mother [Moonlit Beauty] was a great horse. We bought him mostly on looks. He's just a big, good-looking horse.”
Do the young horses make the veteran trainer grow a few more grey hairs or keep him young?
“Is it possible they do both?” offered Vella. “You certainly look forward to going to work when you have nice horses. There's no doubt about that. But good horses are always a little more stress, that's for sure.”
Personality-wise, Spring Mountain and Where's Neal are polar opposites.
“They're very different animals. Spring Mountain is a big, strong, kind of coarser horse. He's a bit of a bull. Where's Neal is a more refined horse. Both are about the same size, good-sized horses. Where's Neal has a very easy-going attitude where he wants to do things right and Spring Mountain is more, 'Let's just go and we'll figure the rest out later.'”
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Other contenders include Dancin in Da'nile, a Sam-Son Farm homebred trained by Gail Cox.
The son of Pioneerof the Nile made his debut a winning one, eking out a neck victory in a seven-furlong Tapeta race originally scheduled for the turf.
“I thought his first start was very impressive,” praised Cox. “He was a little bit green, but really ran a very good race. I think he should take a step forward from that.”
Stronger Together, bred by Jim Dandy Stable and owned by Spruce Park Stable, heads into his second lifetime start and first stakes appearance off a third-place finish on September 5.
Sent off at 5-1 in the one mile and 70-yard Tapeta race, the son of Liam's Map, trained by Sid Attard, was steadied at the start finding himself 11 lengths behind the leader at the quarter-mile pole. Fifth at the stretch call, Stronger Together netted the show award, beaten just a neck for top spot.
“He's been doing really well,” said Attard, two wins shy of 2,100 for his career, as of October 6. “He came out of the gate slow, but he ran a huge race. I was very happy with how he recovered from that start and how hard he was running at the end of the race. He was really running hard. He's coming into this race in very good shape. He had a work last Sunday (October 3, five furlongs, 1:01.60, breezing) and he worked very, very good. He's doing very well ahead of this race. He's a very nice horse.”
Hall of Fame trainer Jim Day has won 10 editions of the Cup & Saucer, including seven straight runnings from 1984-1990.
The Cup & Saucer is slated as race eight on Sunday's 11-race card. First post time is 12:55 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.
$250,000 CUP & SAUCER STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Spring Mountain – Luis Contreras – Dan Vella
2 – God of Love – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
3 – Hidden Honor – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
4 – Shamateur – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Michael Doyle
5 – Dancin in Da'nile – Shaun Bridgmohan – Gail Cox
6 – Mentoring – Keveh Nicholls – Philip Hall
7 – Stronger Together – Justin Stein – Sid Attard
8 – Fast Feet – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
9 – Brutality (S) – Gary Boulanger – Michael De Paulo
10 – Where's Neal – David Moran – Dan Vella
11 – Chairman Bob – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard
The post Vella Pair Primed For Cup & Saucer Stakes Challenge Sunday At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Horologist Seeks Back-To-Back Victories In Beldame
Reigning New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year Horologist will attempt to add her name to a list of prominent distaffers to secure back-to-back victories in Sunday's 81st running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going nine furlongs at Belmont Park.
As one of the most prestigious events on the racing calendar for fillies and mares, the Beldame has seen 15 horses capture the event en route to Eclipse Award honors for Champion Older Female at the end of the year. Eight sophomore fillies bested their elders in the Beldame to subsequently earn an Eclipse for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly honors at the end of their respective seasons.
Horologist is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, a three-time winner of the Beldame, and boasts a record of 25-9-3-4, including three graded stakes victories and lifetime earnings of $892,939.
In addition to last year's Beldame, which she captured by three lengths over graded stakes winners Point of Honor and Dunbar Road, the 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist won the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks in August 2019 over Eclipse Award-winner Jaywalk and the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher last July at Monmouth Park in her first start for Mott.
Should Horologist win the Beldame, she would join an elite group of fillies and mares to win consecutive runnings, including Fairy Chant [1940-41], Gamely [1968-69], Desert Vixen [1973-74], Love Sign [1980-81], Lady's Secret [1985-86], Personal Ensign [1987-88], and Sightseek [2003-04].
A Beldame victory would also likely result in another Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff endeavor after finishing a distant ninth in last year's edition held at Keeneland.
Cameron Beatty, who races as There's A Chance Stable, has owned Horologist since her eye-opening career debut in August 2018 at Monmouth, which she won by 20 ¾ lengths garnering a 63 Beyer Speed Figure for trainer John Mazza. The late New Jersey-bred conditioner saddled Horologist to five of her nine lifetime victories, including stakes wins in the Smart N Classy for New Jersey-breds and the Monmouth Oaks, both in the summer of 2019.
After Beatty sold shares to owners Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Abbondanza Racing, Horologist was transferred to west coast-based conditioner Richard Baltas for whom she went winless in five starts. She recaptured her winning form when joining Mott's stable, adding four stakes victories over as many racetracks to her resume.
Horologist arrives at the Beldame off a gate-to-wire win in the restricted Summer Colony on August 22, contested at nine furlongs over a good and sealed main track at Saratoga Race Course.
“When we ran her first out, she ran extremely well but didn't come back with the strongest Beyer. Once we stretched her out, she was beautiful,” Beatty said. “She loves the mile and an eighth and luckily, the Beldame happens to be a mile and an eighth. Not to say that she couldn't go further, but the distance is perfect for her.”
Beatty expressed excitement in the possibility of back-to-back Beldame scores.
“It's definitely going to be incredible,” Beatty said. “With just the excitement of being there, nothing gets better than that. It's never an easy task to ask for a horse to win back-to-back graded stakes, but she's training well. Yesterday, I went over to go see her and I don't think she's ever looked better.”
Following last year's Beldame coup, Horologist was supplemented to the Breeders' Cup
“If she runs well, we won't have to come up with another supplemental fee,” Beatty said. “There's a chance we may head out west, no pun intended.”
Beatty and company have enjoyed the ride that Horologist has taken them on, which will end following a possible Breeders' Cup endeavor. Horologist will be sold at the Keeneland November Sale as Hip No. 200 through the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment.
“Someone will be an extremely lucky buyer. She looks like an unbelievable specimen. I'll miss her. It'll be a bittersweet end to her journey,” Beatty said.
Junior Alvarado aboard for last year's win, will return to the irons from post 4.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a trio of fillies in pursuit of a sixth Beldame triumph. He shares a record of five wins with his former mentor and fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.
Robert and Lawana Low's Spice Is Nice will seek a second graded stakes victory, having captured the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff on May 15 at Pimlico two starts back. The 4-year-old Curlin filly, out of the Grade 1-winning Bernardini mare Dame Dorothy, arrives at the Beldame off a four-month layoff and was last seen racing fifth to division leader Letruska in the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis on June 27 at Churchill Downs.
“She's a filly we've always thought a lot of and hopefully she can take a step forward,” Pletcher said.
Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who has piloted Spice Is Nice to all four of her victories, will ride from post 7.
After winning Sunday's Grade 2 Pilgrim with Annapolis, Pletcher will try to give Bass Stables another graded stakes-winner at Belmont with Thankful. The 4-year-old American Pharoah bay will attempt her first win after making her seasonal bow a winning one in the Ladies on January 17 at Aqueduct.
Kendrick Carmouche will ride from post 1.
Shadwell Stables' Zaajel will face elders for the first time, entering off a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Longines Test on August 7 at Saratoga.
The daughter of Street Sense will try to add a third graded stakes victory to her ledger. Two starts back, she made amends from two distant unplaced performances at graded stakes level, when taking the Grade 2 Mother Goose on June 27 over the Belmont main track. She won her stakes debut in the Grade 3 Forward Gal in January at Gulfstream Park.
Breaking from post 3, Zaajel will be ridden by Manny Franco.
Veteran trainer Jimmy Ryerson will saddle Miss Marissa in pursuit of a third graded stakes triumph. Owned by Cammarota Racing, the 4-year-old gray or roan daughter of He's Had Enough captured the Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan last October at Pimlico, narrowly defeating graded stakes winner Bonny South by a neck.
Two starts ago, Miss Marissa recaptured her winning form when taking the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap in July en route to a distant eighth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign presented by Lia Infiniti on August 28 at Saratoga.
“We were really disappointed in her last effort, but Letruska is a beast,” Ryerson said. “Hopefully, we rebound from that and give a good account for ourselves. It will be a competitive race, but we have a nice filly. It's in her backyard and we're going to see if we can rebound.”
Jose Lezcano will ride from post 6.
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Trainer Chad Brown will vie for his second Beldame victory when saddling Royal Flag [post 8, Joel Rosario] and Gold Spirit [post 5, Jose Ortiz].
A William S. Farish homebred, Royal Flag earned a second graded win two starts back capturing the Grade 3 Shuvee on August 1 at Saratoga en route to securing Grade 1 black type when a late-closing third in the Personal Ensign, where she earned a career-best 100 Beyer.
Royal Flag is by Candy Ride out of the Mineshaft mare Eagle, making her a half-sister to five-time graded stakes winner Catalina Cruiser and full-sister to graded stakes-winner Eagle.
Sumaya U.S.'s Gold Spirit, a Group 1-winner in her native Chile, makes her second start in North America. After a troubled fourth in the Shuvee, she showed an improved effort when second in the Summer Colony.
Completing the field is Stetson Racing's So Darn Hot, a stakes-placed daughter of Ghostzapper who finished third in the Summer colony two starts back. Trained by George Weaver, So Darn Hot is out of the Tiznow mare Tizahit, who produced Grade 1-winner Come Dancing.
So Darn Hot will leave post 2 under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.
The Beldame honors August Belmont, Jr.'s 1904 Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, who won 17-of-31 starts including victories in the Alabama, Gazelle, and Ladies Handicap against females. She defeated colts when capturing the Carter and Saratoga Cup in 1904 as well as the 1905 Suburban.
Slated as Race 6 on Belmont's nine-race program, the Beldame is one of three graded stakes events on Sunday's card, including the Grade 2, $150,000 Futurity for juveniles going six furlongs on the turf, a “Win And You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint; and the Grade 2, $150,000 Knickerbocker going nine furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and upward.
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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