Racing | Horse Racing Free Tips

Japan: 2-Year-Olds Tackle Classic Distance In Saturday’s Hopeful Stakes

The year 2020 goes out with a bang this coming weekend, which will be a 'double' Grade 1 weekend at Nakayama Racecourse, kicking off with the Hopeful Stakes on Saturday (Dec. 26). The race for 2-year-olds (excluding geldings) was made a Grade 1 contest in 2017, and gives the young colts a chance to test their ability over 2,000 meters (1 1/4 miles), with a view to running in next year's Classics, the first of which for colts is run over the same course and distance as the Hopeful Stakes, on the inner turf track at Nakayama.

There have been 18 nominations for a maximum 18 runner field, as the competition heats up to follow in the footsteps of some big-name winners of the race that have included the likes of Victoire Pisa (2009), Japan Cup winner Epiphaneia (2012), Rey de Oro (2016), and just last year Contrail, to name but a few.

Here's a look at some of the colts expected to make the starting line-up:

Danon the Kid: The unbeaten colt by Just a Way ran out a good winner of the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes last time, when he was sent off favorite. He won his only other race on his debut at Hanshin in June over 1,800 meters. Trainer Takayuki Yasuda, who made headlines in Hong Kong recently with Danon Smash, might have another big race success here. He was pleased with Danon the Kid's recent work at Ritto Training Center.

“The jockey said the horse was relaxed, and I thought he was moving well during that piece of training,” said the trainer.

Yoho Lake: Another colt who lays his unbeaten record on the line here is the Northern Farm bred Yoho Lake. By Deep Impact, he's been favorite in both his races so far, and his latest win came in the Shigiku Sho over 2,000 meters at Kyoto in October, when the soft ground wasn't an issue for him. Jockey Yutaka Take will ride him in this next race.

Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi commented: “He worked well recently on the woodchip course at Ritto, and picked up well from the third and fourth corners. I think he'll be well suited by the 2,000 meters at Nakayama.”

Orthoclase: The well bred colt by Epiphaneia out of Marialite would certainly please trainer Takashi Kubota if he can continue winning in the style of his dam, who has provided the trainer with his two Grade 1 victories to date. Coming off a win in the Listed Ivy Stakes over 1,800 meters at Tokyo in October, Orthoclase will be ridden by the jockey that won on him in his debut race at Sapporo in August, this year's champion rider Christophe Lemaire.

Land of Liberty: An easy winner last time in the Fuyo Stakes over the Hopeful Stakes course and distance in October, the Deep Impact colt bred at Shadai Farm will endeavor to give jockey Kosei Miura a well deserved first JRA G1 victory. He's ridden the horse in his two career wins from the same number of starts, and connections will be hoping the winning streak can continue.

Admire Sage: Trainer Yasuo Tomomichi could well have two runners in the race, with Admire Sage by no means looking like his second string here. The Duramente colt posted a strong final three-furlong time (33.4 seconds) in his last race, the Kigiku Sho over 2,000 meters at Hansin in November, which he won to make it two wins from two starts.

Titleholder: Another colt by Duramente, his earnings are already about equal to his sale price at the 2018 Select Sale. Jockey Keita Tosaki has ridden him in both his races so far, winning on the horse's debut over 1,800 meters at Nakayama in October, and finishing second to Danon the Kid in the Grade 3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes.

Chevalier Rose: It's three starts two wins for Chevalier Rose, a colt by Deep Impact. He won his last race, the Listed Hagi Stakes over 1,800 meters at Kyoto in October, as well as winning on his debut at Hanshin in June. He's trained by Hisashi Shimizu, who enjoyed seven Grade 1 successes with Kitasan Black. Chevalier Rose worked under jockey Yuichi Kitamura at Ritto on the 16th, and posted a six-furlong time of 81.2 seconds, finishing off the final furlong in 12.0 seconds.

“He moved well in that piece of work and his times were good. The jockey also reported him to be in good condition,” said the trainer.

The post Japan: 2-Year-Olds Tackle Classic Distance In Saturday’s Hopeful Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Sole Volante Back On Turf In Saturday’s Tropical Park Derby

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's Sole Volante will regroup from the rigors of a Triple Crown campaign with a return to turf in Saturday's $75,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park.

The Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, will be accompanied on Saturday's 11-race program by the $75,000 Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 H. Allen Jerkens, a two-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

Patrick Biancone-trained Sole Volante will return from an 11-week freshening since finishing sixth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and an 11th-place finish following a troubled start in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. Turf will hardly be foreign territory for the 3-year-old gelded son of Karakontie, who launched his career with back-to-back victories over the Gulfstream Park turf course last year.

“Even at the Kentucky Derby we were debating [about running Sole Volante on turf] because they have that race [Grade 2 American Turf} the same day. We were contemplating it,” said Andie Biancone, assistant trainer to her father, Patrick. “We know he's a turf horse. It's just because he has such a big heart that he takes to the dirt. We're really happy to get him back on turf.”

Sole Volante debuted with a three-length romp in his debut at Gulfstream Park West before coming right back to register a two-length score at Gulfstream in the Pulpit Stakes, in which King Guillermo finished third. Having shown himself to be extremely gifted and bred to run long, Sole Volante was given a chance to show what he could do on dirt with an eye toward the Triple Crown.

“When they're that good that time of year, you have to try them on the dirt,” said Andie Biancone, who was given Sole Volante by her father on her 22nd birthday. “He did really well because he has so much heart, but turf is really his preferred surface.”

Following a solid third in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream, Sole Volante stamped himself as a Triple Crown candidate with a 2 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. He earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field with a second-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), won by King Guillermo. Unfortunately, the Kentucky Derby was postponed from the first Saturday in May to Sept. 5 and the Preakness (G1) was postponed from the second Saturday in May to Oct. 3, making the Belmont Stakes the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown. Sole Volante prepped for the Belmont with a triumph in a June 20 stakes-quality allowance at Gulfstream, defeating Jesus' Team, who would go on to finish second in the Preakness, and Florida Derby runner-up Shivaree.

Although he wasn't at his best in the Belmont and Kentucky Derby, he provided Andie Biancone memories that will last a lifetime. Unable to travel due to an illness, Patrick Biancone entrusted his daughter to oversee Sole Volante's training at Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.

“It was really cool that my dad put that trust in me,” she said. “It was really cool. I still haven't processed it.”

Sole Volante breezed six furlongs on turf in 1:11.40 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach Count, Sunday for his return to turf.

“I think he's training better than ever,” Andie Biancone said.

Luca Panici has the return mount aboard Sole Volante.

Calumet Farm's Dack Janiel's will also make the switch from dirt to turf Saturday to run in the Tropical Park Derby.

“It's not so much as trying the turf as it is taking advantage of the last race for just 3-year-olds,” trainer Jack Sisterson said.

Dack Janiel's is coming off a third-place finish behind a victorious Jesus' Team in the Claiming Crown Jewel at Gulfstream Dec. 5. In his prior start, the son of Tonalist showed the way to mid-stretch before finishing third in the Thoroughbred AfterCare Alliance (G2) on the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup program at Keeneland.

Dack Janiel's has run twice on turf, finishing third at Fair Grounds in January before graduating in an off-the-turf maiden special weight race in his next start. The homebred colt didn't run on turf again until June, when he showed the way before weakening to third late at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux has the call.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is scheduled to saddle a pair of Tropical Park Derby starters, Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam, who was beaten by less than a length while finishing fourth in the Aug. 15 Saratoga Derby Invitational; and Waterford Stable LLC's Summer to Remember, who is twice stakes-placed over Gulfstream's turf course. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the call on Colonel Liam, while Luis Saez has been named to ride Summer to Remember.

Trainer Michael Maker is scheduled to send out four starters in the Tropical Park Derby, which drew 10 entries Sunday. Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stable LLC's Fancy Liquor has the highest profile of the Maker quartet, having captured the American Turf on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. In his most recent start, the son of Lookin At Lucky finished second in the Bryan Station on the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup undercard at Keeneland. Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Don Juan Kitten and Gelfenstein Farm and Andy Blanco's Angelus Warrior, Maker-trained stablemates of Fancy Liquor, finished eighth and 10th, respectively, in the Bryan Station. Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Me and Mr. C., who finished fourth in the Gio Ponti at Aqueduct last time out, rounds out the Maker contingent.

Tyler Gaffalione has the mount aboard Fancy Liquor; Edgard Zayas has the call on Don Juan Kitten; Miguel Vasquez will ride Angelus Warrior; Joe Bravo has the mount aboard Me and Mr. C.

Anderson Stables LLC's By Your Side, a graded-stakes winner at Saratoga on dirt in 2019, and Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC's Fighting Seabee, who captured the With Anticipation (G3) at Saratoga in 2019; round out the field.

The post Sole Volante Back On Turf In Saturday’s Tropical Park Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Beyond The Win: Banach’s Patience Turns ‘Problem Child’ Samurai Queen Into Seasoned Winner

He had heard all the stories about the ornery Ontario-bred filly, but Darwin Banach didn't think twice when he put in a claim on her.

Samurai Queen, a 4-year-old dark bay daughter of First Samurai, had already built up a reputation on the Woodbine backstretch, and it wasn't a flattering one.

Of all the words used to describe the filly, “difficult” was perhaps the most often-used term attached to her name.

But for all of her quirks, bad habits and poor manners, Samurai Queen had the one quality Banach was looking for when it came to adding a horse to his barn.

“Talent,” said the conditioner who has recorded 288 lifetime wins. “You knew she had it. You knew it was there. But you also knew it would take a lot of work. She's been scratched at the gate, she's been scratched in the paddock – I think she kicked a jockey in the paddock when they went to get on her – and some of the trainers that had her before, you heard that she flipped in the barn, or on the way to the track. Rob [lead outrider, Love] used to pick her up at the tunnel and pony her the whole time. They used to have to walk her, with Rob ponying her, and try to saddle her that way. So, we knew we had a problem child. She definitely needed a lot of attention and she needed a lot of patience.”

Even more than Banach had anticipated.

In 2018, her first year racing, Samurai Queen posted a second and a third from five starts. One year later, she had four top-three efforts from 11 starts, including her maiden score.

The milestone victory came on Sept. 11, 2019, a wire-to-wire 11 ¼-length romp at 1 1/16 miles over Woodbine's main track.

That was followed by a fifth and eighth, respectively, in her next two outings.

On behalf of owners John Hillier and John Lofts, Banach claimed Samurai Queen on Oct. 4, 2019, a race she would go on to finish eighth of nine as the even-money choice.

She would finish seventh and fourth, respectively, for Banach and co. to end her sophomore season.

“We didn't have a lot of time with her that year and obviously it showed. She was showing speed and then stopping all the time in her races.”

Soon enough, the veteran conditioner would get to work with his work-in-progress horse.

Those efforts would be rewarded, but not until hours, days and weeks of labor were dedicated to Samurai Queen's mental fitness.

“Because of the COVID situation and getting shut down temporarily, we had a chance to spend a lot of extra time with her. We were out on her for an hour or more every day, doing everything. She was the type of horse that if you backed her up to the wire, she'd flip over backwards in the morning. She couldn't handle it. We just did all kinds of different things. We would train and walk half way back to the wire with her and try to make her stand and relax. Then we would back up a little farther. Once she got that, we'd walk back a little farther. We also had to let her jog and look around. Since there weren't that many horses on the track, we were able to do figure-eights at the wire to let her know that this wasn't a place that was going to hurt her.”

It's then that Banach draws a deep breath and exhales.

“We spent a lot of hours with her. I bet you I schooled her 10 times before her first race this year, to the paddock and back, myself. In between every race, she schooled a minimum of five times.”

In her first start of 2020, she won by a whopping 9 ¼ lengths over six panels on the Woodbine Tapeta, stopping the clock in 1:10.51 and earning her connections $18,573.

Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Samurai Queen had a 10-length lead at the stretch call and coasted to the wire the easiest of winners.

None of it came as a surprise to Banach.

“I actually was [expecting it]. She had been training really, really well all spring. She had talent. We thought if we could get her to turn the corner and give her a chance to be good, that maybe she would be. When we got her, we just gave her lots of chances, and at some point, we came to some kind of agreement. We would let her do so much and when she would accomplish that, we stopped, and then gradually did a little bit more until she reached her comfort level. And she responded to that. By the end of the year when she schooled, a 2-year-old could have taken her over.”

It has been a gratifying journey for Banach, who won 18 races and posted 44 top-three finishes from 100 starts in 2020.

For the multiple stakes winning trainer, who finds himself 12 wins shy of 300 for his career, all of it – setbacks, successes and everything in between – has been worth the hours logged.

“That's exactly it. When hard work like that – watching them change, grow and seeing behavioral issues corrected – pays off, it's a wonderful feeling. The whole racetrack at Woodbine knows her. We never had to worry about anyone claiming her because everyone was deathly afraid of her.

“She was a funny horse, in the fact some horses you try to keep away from doing the same thing, but she wanted it to be a routine. If you took her out of her routine, that's when you'd have problems. We found that she would like to go out early in races, before the rest of the horses. She wanted to go behind the gate and walk around behind it. That was her happy place. We did that so much because she was bad at the gate, and she ended up being comfortable. And the gate crew would always load her first. Usually, you load the tougher ones last, but she got upset if other horses were in the gate ahead of her. She always wanted to be the first one in.”

Samurai Queen will have the winter off from race action, spending the next few months relaxing at Vera Simpson's Curraghmore Farm in Waterdown, Ont.

All of it well deserved, offered Banach.

“Vera couldn't believe how much she's filled up, grown up and turned into this amazing horse. 'Samurai,' now that she doesn't fret over everything and everything isn't a fight, she's put on weight, muscled up. She looks great and she's doing fantastic. We're thrilled to have her with us.”

The post Beyond The Win: Banach’s Patience Turns ‘Problem Child’ Samurai Queen Into Seasoned Winner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rideforthecause Debuts For McCarthy In Sunday’s Robert J. Frankel Stakes

Trainer Michael McCarthy has two new shooters and thus holds what appears to be a solid two-card hand in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Robert J. Frankel as Rideforthecause and Altea bring solid credentials to a field of 10 fillies and mares going a mile and one eighth over the Santa Anita turf.

Most recently fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths as the 5-2 favorite in the G1 E.P. Taylor Stakes going a mile and one quarter on turf at Woodbine, Rideforthecause, a 4-year-old Ontario-Canadian-bred daughter of Candy Ride, took the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 12 and brings a record of 11-4-0-1, good for earnings of $291,226 to the Frankel. A Sam-Son Farm homebred, she was formerly trained by Gail Cox and will make her first start for McCarthy while ridden by Umberto Rispoli.

Based in New York with Chad Brown through the month of October, Altea, a 5-year-old French-bred mare, is winless in seven starts this year, and has but two wins from 23 starts. However, she has amassed earnings of $290,664 from an overall mark of 23-2-8-4. In what will be her first start for McCarthy, she'll be ridden by Abel Cedillo.

Eastern-based juggernaut Chad Brown also figures prominently as he'll send out Irish-bred Miss Teheran, a lightly raced 4-year-old filly who will be ridden by Joel Rosario. Most recently fifth, beaten 1 ¼ lengths in an ungraded turf stakes going a mile and one sixteenth at Aqueduct Nov. 27, Miss Teheran, who was two for four as a juvenile in France, was unraced at three and will be making her third start this year in the Frankel.

Best suited from off the pace, Miss Teheran should handle the distance, as she shows a win going 1 3/16 miles on turf in her final French start on Dec. 5, 2018. With Rosario teaming with Brown, she should attract plenty of pari-mutuel attention.

George Krikorian's California-bred Mucho Unusual, winner of the G1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at a mile and one quarter on turf two starts back on Sept. 26, figures prominently as she tries to rebound from a 12th place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Nov. 7.

Phil D'Amato's consistent Zee Drop, second two starts back in the G2 Goldikova Stakes here on Nov. 28, and Hall of Famer Ron McAnally's homebred She's Our Charm, beaten four lengths in the G1 Matriarch going one mile on turf at Del Mar Nov. 29, also rate solid chances on Sunday.

Named in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer who passed away at age 68 in 2009, Bobby Frankel was a five-time leading Winter/Spring trainer at Santa Anita and he remains the track's all-time leader by races won with 917 and is third on the all-time stakes won list with 146. Frankel won the race's precursor, the San Gorgonio Stakes, a record seven times.

THE GRADE III ROBERT J. FRANKEL STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 10 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Rideforthecause—Umberto Rispoli—125
She's Our Charm—Juan Hernandez—121
Never Be Enough—Tiago Pereira—123
Miss Teheran—Joel Rosario—121
Altea—Abel Cedillo—121
Meal Ticket—Tyler Baze—121
Colonial Creed—Mario Gutierrez—121
Posh Holly—Alexis Centeno—121
Zee Drop—Flavien Prat—121
Mucho Unusual—John Velazquez—125

Special early first post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 11:30 a.m. All of Santa Anita's races are available free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can watch and wager at 1st.com/Bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Rideforthecause Debuts For McCarthy In Sunday’s Robert J. Frankel Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post