Tag: Racing

Adayar Echoes Galileo In Epsom Derby-King George Double

Adayar made his own slice of history as he became the first Epsom Derby winner since Galileo to follow up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QICPO Stakes.

The son of Frankel put in a superb performance under William Buick to fend off a classy field, with both Mishriff and Love chasing him home.

Hitting the front early on in the home straight the Cazoo Derby winner was immediately challenged by older rival Mishriff. There was a brief tussle for the lead before the relentless Adayar pulled clear. The Godolphin colt eventually prevailed by a length-and-three-quarters.

William Buick commented immediately after the race, “I'm speechless, to be honest. He gives you the feel of endless power and it's a privilege to ride a horse like this because they don't come around very often.

“Charlie (Appleby) wasn't worried about the ground and good horses can adapt and that's exactly what this horse did. It was a very simple race to ride once he dropped his head. When I picked him up he was instant and relentless until the line.”

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Win and You're In event for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. Winners receive a free, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding Breeders' Cup race, to be held Nov. 6 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

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Jose Ortiz’ Perfect Ride Helps Technical Analysis Upset Lake George; Brown Goes 1-2

With four of the nine entrants in Friday's $150,000, Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga, trainer Chad Brown still managed to surprise bettors with a 7-1 winner in Technical Analysis. He also sent out 12-1 second-place finisher Fluffy Socks. Brown sent out his third straight Lake George winner, and fifth overall.

Klaravich Stable's Technical Analysis was given a perfect ride by jockey Jose Ortiz, pushing the frontrunning favorite along early and getting the first jump on her late to win by about 1 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old Kingman filly, now a three-time winner from five lifetime starts, completed the mile over the firm turf in 1:36.61.

The 5-2 favorite at post time, frontrunning Jouster broke on top as expected under Luis Saez. but Ortiz hounded him early with Technical Analysis. Navratilova was also up close heading into the clubhouse turn.

After pressing Jouster through a first quarter in :23.53, Ortiz took a strong hold on Technical Analysis to drop back to third at the rail behind Navratilova. Jouster pulled away to lead by almost three lengths down the backstretch, marking the half-mile in :47.93, but Ortiz was riding confidently after he was able to settle Technical Analysis off the bridle.

Rounding the far turn, Ortiz let Technical Analysis move up into contention, then he angled out into the stretch and gave the filly her cue. He managed to get the jump on his rivals and Technical Analysis pulled away quickly, holding on late to win by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire.

Stablemate Fluffy Socks closed from last to be second, while Tobys Heart filled out the trifecta. Runaway Rumor finished fourth.

Bred in Ireland by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, Technical Analysis is out of the winning Sea the Stars mare Sealife. Seth Klarman gave $258,109 for the filly at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling sale. Third on debut, Technical Analysis broke her maiden at second asking. After a five-month break the filly came right back to win an allowance race at Belmont, but a tough trip over “good” turf in the G3 Wonder Again saw her fade to finish sixth.

Overall, Technical Analysis has won three of her five career starts for earnings just shy of $200,000.

“Technical Analysis was in a very good spot up front,” Brown said after the race. “It looked like some of my horses in the rear might not be firing, so it was really up to her at that point and I thought Jose [Ortiz] gave her an outstanding ride.

“From the first turn where she was pulling a little bit, he let her have her head to exiting the first turn when he dropped in, looked behind, and got a nice spot covered up. Finally, we had a horse to our outside and he waited for that horse to get fatigued before he moved outside cleanly. I thought it was a really smart move. I was very appreciative for his ride.

“Going into this race, I thought these four horses were even. I couldn't have picked between them. She was 9-1 when they loaded in the gate. I hope that some of my loyal fans here that have been losing the first week got some money back.

“The cutback helped a lot. You know you're going to get more pace with the cutback and that's really what she needed to get her off the bridle down the backstretch where there's a good strong pace to run at. She'll pull on a slow pace. That was part of the thinking of cutting her back. We always have thought of her as one of our better horses in this division last year. It's nice to see her achieving some of those goals we set forth over the winter when we mapped out her campaign.”

 “I think she always wanted to do this – run a mile,” said Ortiz. “We were trying to stretch her out being a 3-year-old for the Belmont Oaks. I told Chad, and he agreed with me, at this time it's probably not her thing and we need to cut her back. She's too antsy early and pulls a lot.

“Today, cutting back to a mile, I could let her run to the first turn and she came back to me nicely. She relaxed very well behind the horses and I knew it was just a matter of time. I knew we were going to separate and that's what I wanted. I wanted Jouster [No. 5] not to walk in front of me.”

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Read Contender Award Winner Thriving In Southern California Weather

Relocating to California has proven to be a good move for Award Winner, a 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper bred and owned by John and Jerry Amerman and trained by David Hofmans.

Four starts at Santa Anita since shipping in from the Midwest produced runner-up results in January and February and a victory in March, all at the allowance level, then an upset victory in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham on May 29.

Prior to his recent back-to-back victories, Award Winner was winless in nine starts dating back to May of 2019.

What happened?

“When he got out here, I think he really liked the firm turf,” Hofmans said. “I think that's what really helped him more than anything else. I don't think he likes anything soft.”

Award Winner, with a record of four wins in 17 lifetime starts and earnings of $328,474, will be sent out seeking third straight win and a second straight Grade 2 score in Saturday's $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar. At 1 1/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, it's a furlong shorter than the Whittingham but over the firm grass footing that the gelding seems to relish.

“He's coming into this race really well, but it's a tough one,” Hofmans said. “Dropping back in distance is not to our advantage. I would prefer to go farther, but the only longer race here is the Del Mar Handicap, which is another month away.

“I'm kind of hoping he can rate like he did in his last race and then finish. He's a free-running horse who likes to be up close. I'm just a little cautious because a mile and an eighth might be a little short for him.”

Award Winner was campaigned in the East and Midwest by trainer Brian Lynch through September of last year and moved to Hofmans' stables at Santa Anita in January. Hofmans trained Award Winner's dam, Devine Actress, for the Amermans.

“He came in in good condition,” Hofmans said. “But I think that maybe he didn't like the weather back there or something because when he got here he just started gaining weight and getting better and better.”

The field from the rail with riders and morning line odds:

  1. Vintage Print (Adam Beschizza, 20-1)
  2. United (Flavien Prat, 5-2)
  3. Say the Word (Mike Smith, 3-1)
  4. Count Again (Joe Bravo, 5-1)
  5. Award Winner (Juan Hernandez, 8-1)
  6. Smooth Like Strait (Umberto Rispoli, 9-5)
  7. Restrainedvengengence (Tyler Baze, 10-1)

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Vequist ‘A Little Ahead Of Schedule’ For 2021 Debut; Cotillion The Goal For Champion Filly

Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Swilcan Stable's reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Vequist breezed a half-mile in 47.77 Friday on the Saratoga main track under Jose Lezcano in preparation for a potential seasonal debut at the end of the Saratoga meet.

Trainer Butch Reid, Jr. said the sophomore daughter of Nyquist is working towards a long-term goal of the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion, a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies on September 25 at Parx. It was just the second work back for Vequist, who captured the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile fillies last out in November at Keeneland.

“She did very well this morning,” said Reid, Jr. “I had her galloping out in 1:01 and 2 and on out in about 1:15. She's fitter than I thought she was. She's actually a little ahead of schedule. I wanted her ready to go five-eighths on the first of August and she's a little ahead of that. I'm very happy with her progress. She's coming along nicely. If everything works out, she could run here before the end of the meet.”

The talented dark bay, out of the Mineshaft mare Vero Amore, graduated by 9 1/2-lengths in the Grade 1 Spinaway last summer at Saratoga.

St. Omer's Farm and Christopher J. Feifarek's Beren posted a sharp 46.60 half-mile bullet work Friday on the main track. The Weigelia sophomore has won his last three starts, capturing the Gold Fever and off-the-turf Paradise Creek at Belmont ahead of a last-out score in the Crowd Pleaser on June 22 at Parx.

Initially under consideration for the nine-furlong $120,000 Curlin on July 30, Reid Jr. said the fast work has him considering the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam on August 1.

“It looks like he came out of it well, but it's made me rethink my strategy a little bit,” Reid, Jr. said. “It's hard to think about coming back at a mile and an eighth for the Curlin, when there's the Amsterdam there. Plus, two more days might be very helpful for him.”

Reid, Jr. said Swilcan Stable and LC Racing's Mainstay, a 2-year-old half-sister to stablemate Vequist, has come out of her runner-up effort to Pretty Birdie in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on Opening Day July 15 in good order and will now point to the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack on August 8.

A 7 3/4-length maiden winner on June 4 over sloppy going at Monmouth, Mainstay bobbled at the start of her graded stakes debut and was unable to reel in a runaway Pretty Birdie.

“She lost concentration coming down the lane. I don't know if it was the crowd, but she ducked in when I thought she had dead aim on the other horse [Pretty Birdie],” Reid Jr. said. “I really think she'll learn from the experience. She came out of it so well, we're thinking about taking a shot at the Adirondack. She hasn't missed an oat since the race and has been training very well.”

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