Tag: Racing

Big Fish Reels ‘Em In To Win California Cup Derby Going Away

Patiently handled by leading man Juan Hernandez, Legacy Ranch's Big Fish reeled 'em in late to take Saturday's $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., by 1 ½ lengths. Trained by David Hofmans, Big Fish got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:46.37.

A joint sixth, about four lengths off the lead going into the far turn, Hernandez bided his time, angled outside three sixteenths from home and Big Fish unleashed a powerful stretch kick to run down None Above the Law in the final sixteenth.

Fourth in the one mile turf Eddie Logan Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 27, Big Fish, a 3-year-old gelding by Mr. Big out of the Into Mischief mare Perched, had been on turf and faced open company in his last four races, with both of his wins coming on the grass.

Ridden for the first time by Hernandez, he was also fitted with blinkers, after having not run in them in his last two starts.  Off at 4-1 in a field of eight, Big Fish paid $10.00, $5.80 and $3.60. He was bred in Cal;ifornia by George Krikorian.

A one mile turf stakes winner in his fourth start on Sept. 7 at Del Mar, he now has added money victories on both surfaces.  With the winner's share of $110,000, Big Fish increased his earnings to $229,018.

“I thought he preferred the turf, but since he was a Cal-bred we thought we'd take advantage of that,” said Hofmans. “He breezed well over (the dirt), the other day with Juan (Hernandez) and seemed to get over it well. He's just maturing. This horse is just now coming into himself. I think we have a better future going forward.

“I dream all the time, it's the only reason I get up in the morning,” Hofmans added. “We'll see what happens, how he comes out of it and go from there.”

Attentive to the pace throughout with Kent Desormeaux, None Above the Law finished four lengths better than pacesetter Good With People and paid $8.80 and $4.80 while off at 9-1.

Ridden by Rickey Gonzalez, Good With People finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Warrens Candy Man and paid $3.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.26, 47.50, 1:12.43 and 1:39.38.

The post Big Fish Reels ‘Em In To Win California Cup Derby Going Away appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Closing Remarks, Rispoli Team Up For California Cup Oaks Victory

With a nightmarish trip in her last start behind her, Harris Farms' homebred Closing Remarks powered to an impressive one-length win in Saturday's $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  One of three fillies in the field trained by Carla Gaines, Closing Remarks was ridden by Umberto Rispoli and covered one mile on turf in 1:35.62.

Named for the longtime owner/breeder and trainer who passed away this past Sept. 3 at 79, the Leigh Ann Howard Cal Cup Oaks is part of the CTBA's lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired three year old fillies.

Fourth, about two lengths off of longshot leader Super Game at the top of the stretch, Closing Remarks wheeled three-wide and was free-running to the wire as she easily held off the late run of Warrens Candy Girl on the money.

Full of run with nowhere to go turning for home in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes going a mile on turf at Del Mar Nov. 28, Closing Remarks, in her fourth career start, was off as the 5-2 second choice in a field of 10 sophomore fillies and paid $7.80, $4.40 and $3.60.

By Vronsky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove, Closing Remarks notched her first stakes win and her second win from four overall starts.  With the winner's share of $110,000, she increased her earnings to $149,500.

Far back early, Warrens Candy Girl closed well to prevail by 1 ½ lengths for second over Super Game with Drayden Van Dyke up.  Off at 5-1, Warrens Candy Girl paid $5.60 and $3.80.

Trained by Brian Koriner and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Super Game made things interesting at 50-1, as she enjoyed a roughly two-length advantage on the winner a furlong out, but tired to finish third by a neck over Dylans Wild Cat and paid $17.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.60, 46.96, 1:11.15 and 1:23.56.

The post Closing Remarks, Rispoli Team Up For California Cup Oaks Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Venezuelan Hug, Bienville Street Score Sunshine Turf Victories At Gulfstream Park

Spedale Family Racing LLC and R.A. Hill Stable's Venezuelan Hug, the 5-2 favorite under jockey Luis Saez, moved four-wide entering the stretch before driving past the leaders to win the $75,000 Sunshine Turf over Shamrocket Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

A 4-year-old colt by Florida Derby (G1) winner Constitution, Venezuelan Hug covered a firm 1 1 /16 miles in 1:40.02. It was the colt's fifth victory in nine starts. He previously won the Sunshine Turf Preview Nov. 21 at Gulfstream West and last summer an allowance race at Saratoga. Venezuelan Hug was claimed for $40,000 at Gulfstream last March.

“He's tough,” said trainer Danny Gargan. “We're happy to have him. My assistant Carol Fisher picked him out when we claimed him. He's a pretty fun horse.”

It was Proven Strategies who broke on top in the Sunshine Turf and the Toronto Cup winner posted some fast fractions of :22.65, :45.85 and 1:09.83 while Saez rated Venezuelan Hug fifth. Saez moved Venezuelan Hug four wide around the turn and drove past his eight opponents.

Bienville Street Wins Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf
CJ Thoroughbreds LLC's Bienville Street, trained by Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Cam Gambolati, drove to the lead down the stretch under jockey Paco Lopez to win the $75,000 Sunshine Filly & Mare Turf by a neck. Mo of the West finished second, a neck in front of Sun Summers, who finished a neck in front of Lovely Luvy.

A 6-year-old mare by Street Boss, Bienville Street got position from the 9 post going into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile turf event and raced fourth while Sugar Fix set fractions of :24.19, :48.20 and 1:12.10 while being pressed by Mo of the West. Entering the stretch, Lopez guided Bienville Street three-wide and took aim on the leaders, driving past them inside the final eighth.  Bienville Street covered the distance in 1:41.50.

It was Bienville Street's fifth win in 32 starts and second consecutive win since being equipped with blinkers by Gambolati, who saddled 1985 Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck.

The post Venezuelan Hug, Bienville Street Score Sunshine Turf Victories At Gulfstream Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights