Tag: Racing

Shedaresthedevil Returns In Locust Grove; Sconsin, Bell’s The One Rematch In Open Mind

Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing Stables and Big Aut Farms' 2020 Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1) hero Shedaresthedevil headlines Saturday's 37th running of the $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Run at 1 1/16-miles, the Locust Grove could be used to launch fillies and mares to a spot in the starting gate for the $2 million Longines Distaff (G1) on Nov. 6 at Del Mar. The Locust Grove is carded as Race 10 with a post time of 10:42 p.m. First post is 6 p.m. The race shares the Saturday night spotlight with the $300,000 Iroquois (G3), $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $300,000 Open Mind and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

Shedaresthedevil, the 15-1 upset winner of last year's Kentucky Oaks, has been perfect in four starts beneath the Twin Spires. Trained by Brad Cox, Shedaresthedevil surpassed $2 million in earnings with a victory in last month's $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch (G1) at Del Mar. Shedaresthedevil began her career at Churchill Downs in 2019 where she had a 3 ¼-length debut win for trainer Norm Casse. Following a three-race stint with California-based conditioner Simon Callaghan, she was transferred to Cox in early 2020.

The now 4-year-old daughter of Daredevil is 3-for-4 to start her 2021 campaign including a one-length score in the $500,000 La Troienne. Jockey Florent Geroux has been aboard Shedaresthedevil for her last eight starts and will be reunited with the eight-time winner Saturday from post No. 7.

Also entered in the Locust Grove is last year's $200,000 Falls City (G2) winner Envoutante. Owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Kenny McPeek, Envoutante finished second to Shedaresthedevil in the La Troienne. Following that race, Envoutante was victorious in the $150,000 Shawnee. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo has been away from the races since June 26 when she finished third to arguably the nation's top Distaff contender Letruska in the $300,000 Fleur de Lis (G2).

Envoutante has recorded five victories through 13 starts with stout purse earnings of $571,438. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post 5.

The field for the Locust Grove from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Crystal Ball (Tyler Gaffalione, Rodolphe Brisset)
  2. High Regard (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver)
  3. Lady Kate (Adam Beschizza, Eddie Kenneally)
  4. Matera (Ricardo Santana Jr. Cox)
  5. Envoutante (Hernandez, McPeek)
  6. Our Super Freak (David Cohen, Cherie DeVaux)
  7. Shedaresthedevil (Geroux, Cox)

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One and Fred Schwartz' Sconsin, two of the top prospects for this year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), are set to duel once again in Saturday's $300,000 Open Mind (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

Saturday's Open Mind was carded as Race 3 of 11 with a post time of 6:56 p.m. It is the first of five stakes events on the card and shares the spotlight with the $300,000 Iroquois (Grade 3), $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $400,000 Locust Grove (G3) and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

Three months ago, Bell's the One and Sconsin faced one another in the $110,000 Roxelana where Bell's the One scored the three-quarters of a length victory at odds of 2-1. Trained by Neil Pessin, the accomplished mare Bell's the One has recorded nine victories from 19 lifetime starts and topped more than $1.1 million in purse earnings with her victory in the $200,000 Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga.

The six-furlong Honorable Miss was the first time in Bell's the One's career she was the post time favorite. Jockey Corey Lanerie, who has ridden Bell's the One in 14 prior starts, has the mount Saturday from post No. 5.

Four-time winning filly Sconsin, trained by Greg Foley, was made the 7-5 favorite in the Roxelana but was passed in deep stretch by Bell's the One. Sconsin's 2021 campaign has included a victory in the $150,000 Winning Colors (G3) by 3 ¼ lengths under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Her most recent start was a fourth-place finish behind Gamine in the $500,000 Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga. Gaffalione has the call from post 2.

The Open Mind field also includes two-time stakes winner Mundaye Call and Honorable Miss pacesetter and third-place finisher Ain't No Elmers.

The complete field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Mundaye Call (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
  2. Sconsin (Gaffalione, Foley)
  3. Ain't No Elmers (Adam Beschizza, Bret Calhoun)
  4. Jungle Juice (IRE) (Alex Achard, Anna Meah)
  5. Bell's the One (Lanerie, Pessin)
[Story Continues Below]

Tamaroak Partners' homebred Bango will attempt to score his seventh victory beneath the historic Twin Spires in Saturday night's fist running of the $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs.

The Louisville Thoroughbred Society, named for the downtown Louisville-based private club that opened its doors in March, was carded as Race 7 at 9:05 p.m. The first of 11 races will begin at 6 p.m.

Trained by Greg Foley, Bango has recorded six of his eight lifetime scores at Churchill Downs. Bango will enter Saturday's six-furlong affair following three-consecutive victories in the $150,000 Aristides, $110,000 Kelly's Landing and $75,000 Good Lord. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard Bango for his narrow victory in the Kelly's Landing, has the call from post No. 5.

Another accomplished sprinter that will enter the Louisville Thoroughbred Society with a three-race win streak is Griffon Farms and trainer Michelle Lovell's homebred Just Might. The seven-time winning son of Justin Phillip spent the summer at Colonial Downs in Virginia where he was victorious in the $100,000 Da Hoss Stakes on turf and $100,000 Chesapeake Stakes on dirt. His last victory at Churchill Downs came in June when he defeated six rivals in the $110,000 Mighty Beau at 5 ½ furlongs on turf.

Just Might's regular jockey Colby Hernandez is riding Saturday at Woodbine so Rafael Bejarano retained the mount from post 3.

The full field for the Louisville Thoroughbred Society from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

  1. Dennis' Moment (Corey Lanerie, Dale Romans)
  2. Endorsed (Julien Leparoux, Mike Maker)
  3. Just Might (Bejarano, Lovell)
  4. Derby Date (Adam Beschizza, Jack Sisterson)
  5. Bango (Gaffalione, Foley)
  6. Mighty Mischief (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen)

The post Shedaresthedevil Returns In Locust Grove; Sconsin, Bell’s The One Rematch In Open Mind appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Irish Champion Victory Sends St Mark’s Basilica To Top Of Cartier Horse Of The Year Standings

Irish Champion Stakes winner St Mark's Basilica is the narrow leader in the Cartier Horse of the Year standings following the latest points update for the Cartier Racing Awards.

The Cartier Racing Awards were established in 1991 to reward excellence in horseracing. There are eight equine awards – the Cartier Horse Of The Year, the Cartier Older Horse, the Cartier Sprinter, the Cartier Stayer, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt, the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly, the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt and the Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly.

The 31st annual Cartier Racing Awards will be awarded in November. Cartier continues its ongoing support with the presentation of the Cartier Racing Awards.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained St Mark's Basilica boasts 160 points having recorded his fourth G1 victory of the season when getting the better of Tarnawa and Poetic Flare in a thrilling battle for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sept. 11. St Mark's Basilica had already enjoyed G1 success this year in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Qatar Prix du Jockey Club and Coral-Eclipse.

Jim Bolger's homebred Poetic Flare finished a creditable third at Leopardstown and the dual G1 winner is hot on the heels of St Mark's Basilica with 156 points.

Other leading Cartier Horse Of The Year contenders include Palace Pier (144) who cemented his status as the world's best miler when defeating Poetic Flare in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois at Deauville on August 15.

Hurricane Lane completed a G1 hat-trick when capturing the final British Classic of the season, the Cazoo St Leger at Doncaster on September 15. The Godolphin colt had previously won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Paris and has 140 points.

English and Irish Oaks heroine Snowfall has 136 points but suffered a shock defeat in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on September 14 as she finished second to the Roger Varian-trained Teona.

Mother Earth (128), trained like Snowfall by Aidan O'Brien for a Coolmore partnership, endured a luckless passage when third to No Speak Alexander in the G1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on September 11.

Juddmonte International winner Mishriff has 108 points ahead of Godolphin's Adayar (100) who has already captured the Cazoo Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes this term.

Palace Pier (144) also leads the way in the Cartier Older Horse standings ahead of Mishriff (108). The Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome has 88 points having finished second in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy on Arc Trials day at Longchamp, a contest which saw Jerome Reynier's Skalleti (80) finish fourth. Love (80), who was runner-up in the G2 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes at the Curragh on September 12, also has 80 points.

[Story Continues Below]

St Mark's Basilica (160) is a narrow leader over Poetic Flare in the Cartier Three-Year-Old category. Hurricane Lane (144) and Adayar (100) are also challenging for the award and the duo could clash in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, October 3.

Aidan O'Brien holds a strong hand in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly category with four of the top five contenders. Snowfall leads the race with 136 points, ahead of Mother Earth on 128, with the Andrew Balding-trained Alcohol Free on 96 points. O'Brien is also responsible for Joan Of Arc (64), who finished seventh in the G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille last time out and Santa Barbara (64), an easy winner of two G1 events in America this summer.

The Cartier Sprinter Award is headed by the Ed Walker-trained Starman on 64 points. The four-year-old landed the G1 Darley July Cup earlier this season and finished a short-head second on his latest start to Emaraaty Ana (52) in the G1 Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 4.

Dragon Symbol (56) is still chasing a first G1 success but continues to run well in defeat and took fourth in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on September 12 – a race won by the Eddie Lynam-trained Romantic Proposal (40).

Subjectivist (60) remains the leader in the Cartier Stayer division following his success in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Godolphin's Hurricane Lane has 48 points in this division following his Cazoo St Leger victory at Doncaster, ahead of Cedric Rossi's Skazino (48).

Stradivarius is bidding to win the Cartier Stayer Award for the fourth successive year and has 40 points, having landed his second G2 Doncaster Cup at Doncaster on September 10. G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup hero Trueshan and Spanish Mission both have 36 points.

There is nothing to separate Native Trail and Perfect Power at the top of the Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt category. Godolphin's Native Trail is unbeaten in three starts and produced a seismic performance to capture the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh on September 12, defeating Point Lonsdale (40) and Ebro River (40).

Meanwhile, the Richard Fahey-trained Perfect Power (48), followed up success in the G2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with a smart victory in the G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville in August.

David Loughnane's G2 scorer Go Bears Go, G2 Unibet Richmond Stakes winner Asymmetric and the Richard Hannon-trained Lusail, who was fourth in the G2 Champagne Stakes on September 11 at Doncaster, are others in contention with 32 points each.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained Agartha (40) tops the Cartier Two-Year-Old category following a second-placed finish to Jessica Harrington's Discoveries (36) in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on September 11.

Also in contention are the Andrew Balding-trained Sandrine (32), who won the G3 Albany Stakes and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes earlier this term. Kirsten Rausing's homebred was second to Zain Claudette (24) in the G2 Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York last month.

The Cartier Racing Awards are delivered through a tried and tested combination of points earned by horses in Pattern races (30%), combined at the end of season with the opinions of a panel of racing journalists/handicappers (35%) and votes from readers of Racing Post and The Daily Telegraph (35%).

The participation of the public plays a crucial role in determining the winners of each year's Cartier Racing Awards and gives horseracing fans the chance to put forward their favourite horses in a meaningful way.

In addition to the equine awards, the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit goes to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the special 16-strong Cartier Jury, has/have done the most for European racing and/or breeding either over their lifetime or within the past 12 months.

The 10 most recent recipients have been John Gosden, Pat Smullen, Richard Hannon, Barry Hills, Team Frankel, Jim Bolger, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Jack Berry and Aidan O'Brien.

The post Irish Champion Victory Sends St Mark’s Basilica To Top Of Cartier Horse Of The Year Standings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Alenquer’s Connections ‘Keen’ To Enter Colt In Arc De Triomphe

The connections of the British 3-year-old colt Alenquer have been toying with the idea of a crack at the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe since the spring. Armando Duarte, the racing manager of the colt's owners, MM Stables, has subsequently confirmed, via the Racing Post, that the colt will line-up at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, Oct. 3.

He said: “The owners, Mubarak Alarou and Mussad Almutari, are keen to have a crack at the Arc as Alenquer is a mile-and-a-half horse, and he will handle any eventual cut in the ground. He's been in good shape since York. Obviously, it's a tough assignment but we're hopeful that he'll run a nice race.”

Alenquer is a colt with an international dimension. As his owners hail from Kuwait and he is trained in Britain, or Newmarket to be precise, by William Haggas. Furthermore, his breeders, the Gestüt Romerhof, are German. He was born and reared in France, and notably in Normandy, as he bears the hallmark of the La Motteraye Consignment.

Alenquer is unraced since his second place in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Aug. 18, when he finished six lengths adrift of Mishriff. The latter is a possible Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe contender. He had previously finished third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 12 furlongs at ParisLongchamp, won by one of the leading fancies for this year's Arc, Hurricane Lane.

Another formline also ties Alenquer in with another leading Arc fancy: as he beat Adayar in the Group 3 Classic Trial at Sandown in April. Adayar has since franked the form by winning both the Epsom Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (both G1s). The latter race also rejoices in the reputation of being the British equivalent of the Arc.

Alenquer is quoted at odds varying from 25-1 to 40-1 by the bookmakers for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

The post Alenquer’s Connections ‘Keen’ To Enter Colt In Arc De Triomphe appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights