Tag: Racing

Dynamic One Headed To Travers After Last-To-First Victory In Curlin

Dynamic One benefitted from a freshening following his Grade 1 Kentucky Derby appearance, returning off a nearly three-month layoff to go last-to-first in posting a 1 3/4-length win in Friday's nine-furlong $120,000 Curlin at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for 3-year-olds that have not won a graded sweepstakes over a mile in 2021.

Owned by Repole Stable, Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, Dynamic One set up a potential next start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers on August 28. The potential path to the Travers has been an intriguing one for Dynamic One, who did not make his stakes debut until the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in April at Aqueduct Racetrack. After running second, a head back to Bourbonic, in the Big A's signature race, the Union Rags colt earned enough points to qualify for the “Run for the Roses,” where he finished 18th on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher then gave Dynamic One time off, training him at Belmont Park before shipping to Saratoga, and the respite worked wonders on Friday. He broke from the outermost post 7 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., who was content to take back as Snow House led the field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.63 seconds, the half in 47.34 and three-quarters in 1:11.14 over a track rated good.

After saving ground along the backstretch and into the final turn, Ortiz, Jr. tipped out Dynamic One around the far turn, using a five-wide move that placed him to the outside of a game Miles D. The two linked up in the stretch before Dynamic One pulled away under his rider's left-handed encouragement, hitting the wire in 1:49.36 to earn his second career win in seven total starts.

“There looked to be an honest pace on paper and we just wanted to let him settle,” said Pletcher, who previously won the Curlin with Outplay in 2017 and Turbo Compressor in 2011. “He actually settled back and dropped over to last. He was able to save some ground around the first turn from the seven post. I could tell down the backstretch that he was travelling really well and that Irad had a lot of horse. He said when he tested him to see where he was around the half-mile pole, he still felt like he had a lot of horse, so he waited a little longer and waited longer down the lane.

“He's a horse that always trained exceptionally well,” Pletcher added. “We always felt like there was a lot of talent there. It's taken him a little while to mentally put it all together, but today was his most professional race.”

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Ortiz, Jr. won his second career Curlin, adding to his score aboard Hofburg in 2018.

“I broke and I was able to settle down without taking too much out of him and I dropped in right away,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “In the first turn, I was on top of the rail and the one [Miles D] was taking back and I wanted to be there. I followed my trip all the way until half of my trip home I fought my way out because horses in front of me started coming back, so I worked my way out. After that, I waited for the right moment to roll because he's the type of horse before who likes to wait on horses a little bit.”

Off at 3-1, Dynamic One returned $8.50 on a $2 win wager. He improved his career earnings to $260,120.

“He's growing up mentally,” Ortiz, Jr. said “His mind's a lot better right now. He went by and he kept going. Before he'd look around and play around. Today, he was much better.”

Pletcher said the $725,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale could now target the Travers, which will be contested at 1 1/4 miles.

“I think he definitely showed that he is capable of stepping up and we were looking at this as a potential Travers prep and he gave us everything we could have hoped for today,” Pletcher said.

Co-owner Vincent Viola [St. Elias Stable] echoed his trainer's sentiments about targeting one of the most prestigious races for 3-year-olds next month.

“He's been coming around to that, I'd like to see his number off today's race,” Viola said. “I really think he'll be competitive in the Travers. I think that's where Todd will aim him after today. It's up to Todd, but that's what we're thinking.”

The lightly raced Miles D, making his stakes debut and just his third start overall for trainer Chad Brown, was seven lengths the best of 6-5 favorite First Captain for runner-up honors.

“I had a good trip but we were probably second-best today,” said Miles D jockey Joel Rosario. “I thought we had the race won turning for home and that horse [Dynamic One] made the last move and beat us. He ran really well.”

First Captain, who entered 3-for-3, including a last-out victory in the Grade 3 Dwyer on Belmont Stakes Day June 5, finished 1 1/4-lengths clear of Harvard for third. First Captain jockey Jose Ortiz said Collaborate lugged out when the duo straightened for home, but did not alter his chance at collaring Dynamic One.

“I was expecting him to be a little bit sharper,” Ortiz said. “He was a little bit lazy early on. We were making a good run until the quarter pole and Collaborate blew the turn and it hurt me a little bit, but I don't think I would have won the race anyway.”

Snow House, Collaborate and Beren completed the order of finish.

Saturday at Saratoga will feature a stacked 11-race card highlighted by three stakes in the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs in Race 8; the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy for 3-year-olds contesting at 1 1/8 miles in Race 9 and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf in Race 10. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

The post Dynamic One Headed To Travers After Last-To-First Victory In Curlin appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Monmouth Oaks: John Servis Doubling Up Again, Unbeaten Edie Meeny Mino Mo Faces Big Test

As much as trainer John Servis would prefer to keep his promising 3-year-old fillies Midnight Obsession and Leader of the Band on separate paths, he's sending both in the same stakes race for the second time in four weeks.

Midnight Obsession, second in the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 3, and Leader of the Band, third in the same race, are part of a nine-horse field for the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks, the headliner on Saturday's 12-race card at Monmouth Park.

“The biggest reason I'm doing this again is because there are not enough 3-year-old races around right now,” said Servis. “But both of these fillies both also deserve this chance. They're both doing really good.”

In the case of Midnight Obsession, who has two wins and two seconds in four career starts, all this year, Servis is also curious to see how the daughter of Overanalyze handles a fast track. She has yet to race on one.

Leader of the Band, with a 2-2-2 line from six career starts, will look to make amends after a poor start in the Delaware Oaks that saw the daughter of Bandbox rally from last in the nine-horse field to get third, though she was beaten 8¾ lengths by race winner Crazy Beautiful.

Midnight Obsession was six lengths behind the winner.

“I think Leader of the Band will improve off her last race,” said Servis. “She got off flat footed and didn't break well at all. And I'm hoping for a fast track for Midnight Obsession to see how she'll handle that. She hasn't run on one yet.”

Midnight Obsession, owned by Main Line Racing Stable, has been more aggressively spotted by Servis to this point. After winning her debut by 5¼ lengths at Parx on March 2, she won an $80,000 allowance optional claimer at Belmont Park. She was then second, beaten just a half-length, in the Lyphard Stakes against older fillies at Penn National on May 28.

The runner-up showing in the Delaware Oaks followed that.

“She has been very forward since day one,” said Servis. “She has run good for us every time so far. When she was second against older fillies (in the Lyphard) she beat the rest of the field pretty good and then hooked a good one in the Delaware Oaks. We're looking for a good race from her.”

The mile and a sixteenth won't be an issue for Midnight Obsession since her last three races have been at that distance.

Paco Lopez is listed to ride.

Leader of the Band, owned by SMD Limited, has had a slower progression to reach this point, though she has never been worse than third in her career.

“I thought she ran well in the Delaware Oaks, all things considered,” said Servis. “She was way back after the break. Quite frankly, I didn't think she had a prayer and she had a nice run to be third. I know she got beat quite a bit. It wasn't her best effort but I expect more from her this time.”

Frankie Pennington has the mount.

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The field also features Penn Oaks winner Orbs Baby Girl, trained by Anthony Margotta; the Joseph Saffie, Jr.-trained Allworthy and Edie Meeny Miny Mo, unbeaten in two career starts, both sprints.

Trainer Miguel Vera is fully aware of the challenges facing his 3-year-old filly Edie Meeny Miny Mo.

She has never been around two turns, nor has she ever tried any stakes company yet. And she's the least experienced filly in the nine-horse field with just two career starts.

But Vera remains confident in her chances in the $250,000 mile and a sixteenth feature for one important reason: Talent. Edie Meeny Miny Mo, he says, oozes it.

“It's a big step up for her but she deserves this chance,” said Vera. “She has shown she has the potential to be a special horse.”

A Maryland-bred daughter of Upstart-Plum by Pure Prize, Edie Meeny Miny Mo was unraced at 2 “because she's a big filly who needed time to grow and develop,” said Vera.

Her debut on April 23 at Pimlico in a six-furlong maiden race was impressive – a 4¼-length win. But her follow-up in an optional $62,000 claimer at Pimlico on June 13 bordered on dazzling. She won that six-furlong dash by six-lengths despite being steadied as Vera used the race to teach her to come off the pace. That effort earned her a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I know there is a question about the distance since her only two races have been six furlongs and she is trying a mile and a sixteenth now,” said the Maryland-based Vera. “I don't think it will be a problem. I feel confident she can go that distance. She's the kind of horse who can go a lot of different distances.

“I'm impressed by what she has done but not surprised by it. She showed she had talent from day one.”

A further endorsement of the filly's ability: Victor Espinoza is coming in to ride. It is the only mount he has scheduled on the 12-race card.

“I'm very confident in her,” said Vera. “I think she is a real race horse. We're going to find out more on Saturday. But she has always shown she should be in these kind of races.

“It's a great race to see where we are with her.”

Owned by Holly Hill Stables LLC, Edie Meeny Miny Mo was purchased for $400,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.

“The day she breezed there she left quite an impression,” said Vera. “She does everything right. Sometimes she does more than I ask her to do. But that's her.”

For Vera, who has been training since 2011, Edie Meeny Mino Mo, also represents the chance for an elusive graded stakes victory. He has yet to get one.

“It would mean a lot to me,” he said. “But just to be in this kind of race, any graded race, is awesome. She has shown me the potential to be the best horse I have ever had.”

The post Monmouth Oaks: John Servis Doubling Up Again, Unbeaten Edie Meeny Mino Mo Faces Big Test appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trio Of MATCH Series Stakes Carded For Saturday At Pimlico

Several horses are poised to make up substantial ground in the standings when Pimlico Race Course hosts three stakes that are part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships Series (MATCH) Saturday, July 31.

The $100,000 Challedon Stakes and $100,000 Alma North Stakes, both at six furlongs, will be the third of six legs in the 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt division and Filly and Mare Sprint—Dirt division, respectively. The $100,000 Deputed Testamony Stakes at 1 1/8 miles is the second of six legs in the 3-Year-Olds and Up Long—Dirt division.

The Alma North has attracted Hello Beautiful, the 4-year-old Maryland-bred filly by Golden Lad who is tied for second in the division standings with 7 MATCH Series points behind undefeated Chub Wagon, who leads with 20 points after two starts. The standout Pennsylvania-bred filly, however, will not compete in the Alma North and would miss the fourth leg of the division at Colonial Downs should she race in a $100,000 state-bred stakes Aug. 23 at Parx Racing, where she is stabled.

Hello Beautiful, trained by Brittany Russell for Madaket Stables, Albert Frassetto, Mark Parkinson, K-Mac Stables and Magic City Stables, has won seven of 15 starts and finished only a neck behind Chub Wagon in the Shine Again Stakes at Pimlico June 13 in her most recent start. She will be ridden as usual by Sheldon Russell in her second MATCH Series start of the year.

“She has trained really well,” Russell said. “Sheldon worked her last week (in :49 for a half-mile at Pimlico) and all systems point to go. Hopefully the time she has had and as well as she has done in between and running at Pimlico, which she showed she can absolutely handle, will prove beneficial.”

Michael and Katherine Ball's Club Car and C & B Stables' Paisley Singing each have 5 MATCH points based on third-place finishes in the Skipat Stakes and Shine Again, respectively. Both are entered in the Alma North.

The MATCH Series points structure in each stakes is as follows: 10 for first, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, 2 for fifth and 1 for sixth through last. Bonus points based on number of starts are designed to encourage participation. With six races in each of four divisions this year, a fourth series start is worth 5 bonus points; a fifth start, 2 points; and a sixth start, 3 points, for a maximum of 10. Horses must compete in three races in their division to qualify for a share of $282,000 in bonus money.

Hillside Equestrian Meadows' Laki, an 8-year-old Maryland-bred gelding who was the 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt division champion in 2018-19, will make his third series start of the year in the Challedon. He is second in the division standings with 9 points behind Yaupon and Special Reserve—each with 10 points—who are not expected to follow the MATCH Series trail.

Laki, a winner of 11 of 35 starts—seven of them stakes—worked a half-mile in :49.60 at Pimlico July 22 in preparation for the Challedon. He will be ridden by Horacio Karamanos.

The Russell-trained Whereshetoldmetogo, owned by Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and Black Cloud Racing Stable, will make his first MATCH Series start in the Challedon. The 6-year-old Maryland-bred gelding was an easy winner of the six-furlong Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware Park in his last start July 3, one of four wins in his last five starts. Sheldon Russell is named to ride.

A pair of Maryland-bred geldings who competed in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, the first stakes in the division, are entered in the Deputed Testamony.

Hillwood Stables' 6-year-old Cordmaker, fourth in the Pimlico Special, has been working at the Maryland State Fair at Timonium in preparation for the Deputed Testamony. The winner of nine of 29 starts will be ridden again by Victor Carrasco and has three series points.

GMP Stables, Arnold Bennewith and Cypress Creek Equine's Harpers First Ride finished 10th in the Pimlico Special but returned to the barn of Claudio Gonzalez after that race and easily won a 1 1/16-mile allowance event at Pimlico. Harpers First Ride, who worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Pimlico July 23, has won 11 of 22 starts including the Pimlico Special and Deputed Testamony in 2020. Regular rider Angel Cruz has the mount.

Following the action at Pimlico, the MATCH Series will return Aug. 23 at Colonial Downs in Virginia with four $100,000 stakes on tap.

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