Racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

Miss Brazil Easily Defeats Short Field In Monday’s Ruthless, Oaks Prep Up Next

Team D's Miss Brazil validated her heavy 2-5 favoritism, taking command from the gate and drawing away easily in the stretch for a 6 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Ruthless for 3-year-old fillies on Monday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Ruthless, which was moved from Sunday to Monday after heavy snow forced the entire card to be pushed back a day, saw a three-horse field of Miss Brazil, Gulf Coast and Dealing Justice compete with It Can and Little Huntress scratched.

Miss Brazil, with Eric Cancel aboard from the inside post, led the compact field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.32 seconds and the half in 46.34 on the fast main track. Miss Brazil led handily out of the turn and had plenty left in the stretch, completing the seven furlongs in 1:24.92 in her sophomore bow.

Miss Brazil made her debut on Oct. 25, running third on the Belmont Park turf. Trainer Tony Dutrow said he thought the Palace Malice filly would prefer the main track, and she took to the surface with a maiden-breaking score on Aqueduct's dirt on Nov. 29.

Well-rested for her first start of 2021, Miss Brazil improved to 2-for-2 on the main track and returned $2.90 on a $2 win wager, besting Gulf Coast, who finished 45 3/4 lengths ahead of Dealing Justice, who was eased through to the wire.

“She's been very good in all three of her races,” Dutrow said. “Both her maiden win and today shows plenty. She's always promised to be a nicer kind of filly, so getting her ready for this race was easy. She's a better kind of horse and she does it all.”

Purchased for $170,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Miss Brazil will now look to stretch out to a mile in the $250,000 Busher Invitational on March 6 at Aqueduct. The Busher offers 50-20-10-5 qualifying points to the top-four finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

“I'm feeling good about her at one mile at Aqueduct in the Busher,” Dutrow said. “I feel that won't be an issue for her. As far as two turns goes and her future after that, we'll have to wait and see how she does in the Busher.”

Cancel won his second consecutive stakes win after the rider piloted Risk Taking to victory in Saturday's Grade 3 Withers.

“I wanted to be on the lead to dictate the pace and take it from there,” Cancel said. “She's a very honest filly so I didn't have any doubts about her today. She's pretty straightforward and I had plenty of gas in the tank. I just wanted to give her a good ride and it worked out well.”

WinStar Stablemates Racing's Gulf Coast, conditioned by Rodolphe Brisset and ridden by Manny Franco, is 2-2-0 in four career stats, including runner-up efforts in the Sandpiper in December at Tampa Bay Downs and a stakes win in the Cash Run on New Year's Day at Oaklawn Park.

“The scratch of the speed [Little Huntress] hurt us a little bit given we were looking to stalk the pace,” Brisset said. “Nobody else could go with the favorite, so we had to go after her. Manny rode a great race. She may have broke a little slower than we were hoping for, but after that we just went on and tried to put pressure on the winner. But the winner was much the best.

“It's a long way to come to run second, but I'm happy with her race,” he added. “She tried hard. Hopefully, she can regroup and try another spot.”

Live racing at Aqueduct will continue on Friday with a first post of 1:20 p.m. Racing will be conducted four days this week, starting Friday and concluding Monday with a special Presidents Day holiday card.

The post Miss Brazil Easily Defeats Short Field In Monday’s Ruthless, Oaks Prep Up Next appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

No ‘Kid’ding: Dontletsweetfoolya More Settled Alongside Goat Friend Entering Barbara Fritchie

There's a scene in the 2003 motion picture 'Seabiscuit' where trainer Tom Smith cradles a goat in his arms as he walks along the road on owner Charles Howard's California ranch leading to the stable where the movie's cantankerous main character has been keeping his connections on their toes.

“Goat racing?” Howard, played by actor Jeff Bridges, asks.

“Oh, no. Just trying to calm him down a little,” fellow Academy Award winner Chris Cooper, playing Smith, answers. “The smart ones, they hate being alone all the time. Sometimes, another animal just soothes them a bit.”

Moments later, the goat is seen exiting Seabiscuit's stall in mid-air before landing and scampering past an astonished Smith, standing with his mouth open and hands on his hips. Ultimately, Smith brings in a pony to keep Seabiscuit company, and the rest is cinematic history.

Trainer Lacey Gaudet hasn't had any such trouble since Doris, a 7-month-old baby goat, or kid, joined her Laurel Park barn in mid-January. Doris has been nothing but a positive influence for the entire stable, in particular the occasionally high-strung, multiple stakes-winning filly Dontletsweetfoolya, who is scheduled to make her 4-year-old debut in the $250,000 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie (G3) Feb. 13.

“She's become the barn mascot,” Gaudet said. “Everybody loves her.”

Especially Five Hellions Farm's Dontletsweetfoolya, who has reeled off five consecutive wins by 28 ¾ combined lengths including the Primonetta and Willa On the Move stakes at Laurel to cap her sophomore season, the latter on the day after Christmas.

“She since has added a goat to her stall, which we wavered back and forth on doing for a long, long time. It just happened that one of our neighbors got two little goats and they needed a spot for one,” Gaudet said. “It's been a fantastic experiment.

“She loves the goat, and the goat loves her. My rider swears that it has changed her in the mornings,” she added. “I definitely see a bit of a change in her through her daily routine. I guess we'll find out next Saturday if it has helped her much.”

Though having animals around the barn with the horses is nothing new to racing it is a first for Team Gaudet. The late Eddie Gaudet won more than 1,700 career races and was the patriarch of one of Maryland's best known and respected racing families. His wife, Linda, and oldest daughter have done the training since 2011.

“There's a lot of barns out there that have goats. Everybody does this from time to time, but this is our first time. My dad and my mom never had goats in the barn,” Lacey Gaudet said. “She is the tiniest little thing. She is not even as big as my Jack Russell. She is a tiny goat, but she has been great to have in the barn.

“Everybody loves her,” she added. “She's so quiet. She doesn't make any noise. We'll just walk by at any point in the day and she'll be sleeping between this filly's legs or the filly will be laying down and the goat is between her legs.”

Dontletsweetfoolya had her third and final breeze for the Fritchie Feb. 6, going a half-mile in 48 seconds in company with newly turned 3-year-old filly Fraudulent Charge, runner-up to multiple stakes winner Street Lute in the Dec. 26 Gin Talking who is pointing for a rematch in the $100,000 Wide Country, part of the Winter Sprintfest program of six stakes worth $900,000 in purses.

“She hasn't missed a beat. Her works have been fantastic,” Gaudet said. “She's just so push-button, where before she was always full speed ahead and we could not slow her down. She was a little rank. We would always try to settle her, to no avail. She's really gotten to the point where if we want her to work in 51 [seconds], she'll work in 51. If we want her to work in 48, she'll work in 48.

“Each work off of that last race was fantastic. Each was a little bit faster and it was definitely under control,” she added. “She's doing very well, so we're looking forward to it.”

Approaching her 200th career victory, Gaudet is chasing her first graded-stakes win in the Fritchie. Her most recent attempt came with long shot Charles Town Oaks (G3) runner-up Chauncey in 2018.

“It's fantastic. The last time we ran in a graded-stake my horse was [42-1] and she ran second and got beat a [neck],” she said. “It's fun to point toward this race and I think we actually have a chance.”

Among the horses Dontletsweetfoolya is expected to face are fellow multiple stakes winners Hello Beautiful, herself on a three-race win streak, and Needs Supervision; Sharp Starr and Victim of Love, both Grade 3 winners in New York last year.

“It's funny because last time when she won the stake … people were like, 'Oh, you're going to have to face Hello Beautiful now,'” Gaudet said. “I think everybody in Maryland, especially the people on the backside, and everyone that has seen these two fillies flourish, I think they're all really looking forward to these two coming together. And, we are too.”

The post No ‘Kid’ding: Dontletsweetfoolya More Settled Alongside Goat Friend Entering Barbara Fritchie appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Underpressure Headlines Wednesday’s Louisiana Premier Day Championship

Delta Downs will host its richest race program of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 10, when the track will award $805,000 in total purse throughout 10 stakes races. The event is called Louisiana Premier Day, and for the first time in its 18-year existence it will take place during the daytime hours with first post time set for 12:55 pm.

The featured race on the card will be the $125,000 Louisiana Premier Day Championship for older horses competing at 1-1/16 miles, which will be the ninth race on the program. This year's Championship attracted a field of nine talented runners including last year's winner Underpressure, from the barn of trainer Chris Richard. Underpressure, a 7-year-old gelding, is also the top earner in the field with a bankroll of $763,182 from 39 lifetime starts for owner Mallory Richard. Journeyman jockey Gerard Melancon will pilot Underpressure in the big race.

The Championship field also includes Israel Flores Horses, LLC's Pound for Pound and Gerard Perron's Grand Luwegee. Pound for Pound beat Underpressure by a nose in their most recent showdown, an allowance event at Fair Grounds on January 14. Grand Luwegee won the Championship back in 2019 and scored a big win in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds in December of this year.

Fans will also be in for a treat when the $100,00 Louisiana Premier Day Sprint rolls around in the sixth race as grade I winner No Parole makes his second appearance at Delta Downs for owner Maggi Moss and trainer Tom Amoss. The 4-year-old star won last year's Louisiana Premier Day Prince before going on to take the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park this past June. Diego Saenz will be at the helm when No Parole goes to the starting gate on Wednesday afternoon.

Another race that will get plenty of attention on the program will be the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Day Starlet featuring Brett Brinkman and P. Dale Ladner's Cilla. The 3-year-old daughter of California Chrome most recently finished third in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. Brinkman trains Cilla and Gerard Melancon will get the mount aboard the likely favorite.

In addition to the many local horsemen taking part in Louisiana Premier Day there are also some nationally prominent trainers who will saddle horses on the program. They include Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, as well as W. Bret Calhoun, Tom Amoss and others.

Delta Downs will offer the DRF Bets $50,000 Guaranteed All Stakes Pick 4 wager on the Louisiana Premier Day program. The special wager will take place on race 7 – 10, which includes the afternoon's richest race, the $125,000 Louisiana Premier Day Championship serving as the penultimate leg.

Delta Downs will also welcome a special guest to its simulcast program during Louisiana Premier Day. Nationally known horse racing analyst and commentator Martha Claussen will join track announcer Don Stevens on the simulcast show as a co-host, handicapper and trackside reporter following the major stakes races.

Listed below are all 10 Louisiana Premier Day stakes races for 2021 in program order.

Race # Purse Stakes Race Distance Age

1 $40,000 LAPD Bon Temps Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM

2 $50,000 LAPD Ladies Starter 1 mile 4yo & up FM

3 $100,000 LAPD Starlet 1 mile 3yo fillies

4 $40,000 LAPD Ragin Cajun Starter 5 furlongs 4yo & up

5 $100,000 LAPD Prince 1 mile 3yo

6 $100,000 LAPD Sprint 5 furlongs 4yo & up

7 $100,000 LAPD Distaff 1 mile 4yo & up FM

8 $100,000 LAPD Matron 5 furlongs 4yo & up FM

9 $125,000 LAPD Championship 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up

10 $50,000 LAPD Gentlemen Starter 1-1/16 miles 4yo & up

The Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be awarding two (2) $1,000 college scholarships via a drawing that will take place on Louisiana Premier Day.

Entries for the LTBA drawing will be taken online only this year at www.louisianabred.com. The deadline to enter is noon on Tuesday, February 9. Winners will be announced after the fifth race at the track and the drawing will be shown live on the Louisiana Thoroughbred Association Facebook page. To qualify for the drawing, entrants must be enrolled full time for spring or summer 2021 classes and in good standing with their Louisiana college or university.

For more information about Louisiana Premier Day and the remainder of Delta Downs' current season, which runs through April 16, visit the track's website at www.deltadownsracing.com. Fans can also follow the track on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Underpressure Headlines Wednesday’s Louisiana Premier Day Championship appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘His Weapon Is His Speed’: Cox Pleased With Knicks Go Ahead Of Trip To Saudi Arabia

Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go has been reported in great form ahead of his attempt to add the $20 million Saudi Cup to his big-race haul.

The 5-year-old guaranteed his place in the world's most valuable race when landing the Pegasus at Gulfstream Park last month. He had previously won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile in November.

His trainer Brad Cox was pleased with what he saw when Knicks Go completed his last breeze before travelling to Saudi Arabi ahead of the two-day Saudi Cup meeting on Feb. 19 and 20.

Cox revealed: “Knicks Go breezed very well on Saturday and he looked good on Sunday morning. I was very pleased with the work and, more importantly, how he looked after the work.

“Everything is going in the right direction. He's carrying his weight well and I'm happy with the way he's moving.

“The great horses like him are what you wake up for every morning. He's a fantastic horse and hopefully an international horse after Feb. 20.”

Knicks Go, owned by the Korea Racing Authority, galloped his rivals into the dirt in the Pegasus. He made all the running having started in his usual lightning-fast manner before pulling clear under Joel Rosario, who will again be on board in The Saudi Cup.

Cox admitted the impressive two-and-a-half length defeat of Jesus' Team, who was also runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, was not unexpected.

He said: “Going into the Pegasus he gave us a lot of confidence with the way he was training. We had the confidence he would perform well and he did – we were proud of the effort and he bounced out of it in good order.

“He proved in the Pegasus he can get 1800m (1 1/8 miles) at Grade 1 level against some very, very good horses so now we have to transfer that to a one-turn 1800m in Saudi. We're looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity.

“He's got a lot of speed and he can carry that speed over a mile or further. We're not going to take away anything that comes easy to him. His weapon is his speed but once the gate opens that's Joel's decision of where to place him, but you'd have to think he'll be in a very forward position in the race.”

Knicks Go will have to travel more than 7,000 miles to Saudi Arabia but Cox has no worries about his star coping with the journey or the course at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.

He said: “It's the first time we've run a horse on the other side of the world so there's always a little bit of a concern, but I don't really feel it will be with him.

“He's got a great mind on him and he ships well. He obviously shipped to Gulfstream in good order and he doesn't get worked up – he knows when to shut it off and when to turn it on. He's got a lot of class so I really don't think it will be something that affects him at all.

“I've heard from a couple of horsemen that the track in Saudi has a great surface – very good to race on, so I'm excited about it.”

The magnitude of having one of the leading contenders for the world's most valuable race is not lost on Cox.

He added: “It's huge. It's something you dream about. It's only the second year of The Saudi Cup's existence but it's already captured the eyes of the entire racing world.

“It would be a tremendous accomplishment if we were able to win the race. It's an accomplishment in itself to have a horse that's capable of qualifying for it.”

The post ‘His Weapon Is His Speed’: Cox Pleased With Knicks Go Ahead Of Trip To Saudi Arabia appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post