Tag: Racing

Heavily Favored Dunbar Road Proves Much Best In Delaware Handicap

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road cruised to an easy victory in Saturday's $400,000 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del.

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard, the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road posted a 3-length triumph and returned $2.40 as the favorite in the field of six.  Sacarosa, with Carol Cedeno, finished second a length in front of Bellera, with Trevor McCarthy in third.  Dunbar Road covered the mile and an eighth in 1:49.02 over a fast main track.

In her only other outing this year, the Kentucky-bred conditioned by Chad Brown won the mile and a sixteenth $100,000 Shawnee Stakes by 1 ¾-lengths at Churchill Downs on May 23.  Last year, she won the Grade 2 Mother Goose at Belmont Park and the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga before finishing third in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland and fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita Park.  She has a career record of six wins from nine starts with earnings of $998,040.

Winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. was impressed with this race.

“I got a perfect trip,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.  “She broke really good, I was right behind the early speed right where I wanted to be.  I wanted to save some ground and then I got her out.  By the three-eighths pole, I started working my way out and I had no trouble, so I just got her clear and she responded.  She responded very well.  This is a really nice filly.  You are going to hear a lot from her – trust me.”

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Silent Poet Wins Connaught Cup Pace Battle With Admiralty Pier

Stronach Stable's homebred gelding Silent Poet persevered over Admiralty Pier in a Grade 2 Connaught Cup clash Saturday on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course today at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The Nick Gonzalez trainee defeated his main opponent in the seven-furlong feature contested on the outer turf, which was listed as soft as a result of recent rainy weather in the Toronto area.

With regular rider Gary Boulanger sidelined due to a training injury, Justin Stein picked up the mount and was impressed with the 5-year-old gelding he had confronted in the past.

“I was really excited to ride him. He definitely showed me his stuff,” said Stein. “When I rode against him, I was on Cooler Mike, and we rolled right up to him like we were going to drive on by and Silent Poet looked at us and laughed, kind of like what he did today.”

Stein said the eight-time winner had the same attitude here, testing Admiralty Pier all the way. “Just so much heart, unbelievable.” 

Silent Poet battled on top with Admiralty Pier through panels of :23.07 and :45.70, with City Boy and Gray's Fable stalking the dueling leaders all the way into the stretch. The top pair pulled ahead, and the slugfest continued down the lane, with Silent Poet ultimately persevering by half a length in 1:23.62.

Blind Ambition finished 4-3/4 lengths behind Admiralty Pier, just edging out Olympic Runner for the show prize, while City Boy and Gray's Fable rounded out the order. The field was reduced to six with the scratches of White Flag and Regally Irish.

“With a speedy horse like [Silent Poet] and another speed horse on the outside – we got the one-hole – you're committed to a very forward position,” said Stein of his front-running strategy. “It depends on how bad the other horses wanted it, but I talked to Nick and he told me the horse was really easy to ride, according to Gary Boulanger, and that gave me the confidence I needed. I saw the horse run a bunch of times and he's a pro.”

Winner of the Grade 2 Play the King Stakes last year, Silent Poet was sent postward as the 7-5 favourite and returned $4.90 to win. After wintering at Palm Meadows, he entered the Connaught Cup fresh off a victory in a 7-1/2-furlong prep on the inner turf when making his June 11 season's debut.

The consistent son of Silent Name out of Cara Bella has missed the board just twice in his 15-race career. Today's victory boosted his bankroll over the $550,000 mark. 

Stein also won the Connaught Cup in 2014 with Ian Black trainee Excaper.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues, without spectators, on Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack with post time for the first of 11 races set for 1 p.m.

 

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Maximum Security Breezes For San Diego Handicap; Baffert Shops For Rider

In his final work before next Saturday's $150,000 Grade 2 San Diego Handicap, Eclipse Award winner and presumptive race favorite Maximum Security went five furlongs in :59.60 Saturday morning at Del Mar for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owners Gary and Mary West of Rancho Santa Fe.

It was the second-fastest of 86 works officially timed at the distance. United, nominated to and the likely favorite for next Sunday's $200,000 Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes, went five furlongs in :58.80 for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella and owners LNJ Foxwoods.

Arriving at the north San Diego County track for the 6:30 a.m. session, with exercise rider Juan Ochoa in the irons, Maximum Security spotted workmate Dark Prince several lengths at the start and made up the difference efficiently, finishing just before a fog bank settled to obscure visibility for a while.

“He worked very nice,” Baffert said. “He looks great and I'm very happy with him. He's such a class horse. Now I have to find a jockey because my guy tested positive. That's the next deal.”

Baffert, and the rest of the racing world, learned Friday that jockey Luis Saez, aboard for the son of New Year's Day's last seven starts, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Saez was informed of the result after riding the second race at Keeneland. Saez, Martin Garcia and Victor Espinoza had been in close proximity at Los Alamitos and now have all tested positive. Espinoza took off three scheduled mounts here on the opening day card Friday.

Also working Saturday morning for Baffert was Kentucky Derby candidate Authentic. With Ochoa aboard, the son of Into Mischief owned by Spendthrift Farm and Starlight Racing went five furlongs in :59.80, third fastest at the distance, in preparation for shipping to Monmouth Park in New Jersey for next Saturday's $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes.

“He worked well, looks very strong,” Baffert said of the colt who's only blemish in four career starts was a runner-up to Honor A.P. in the Santa Anita Derby. “I am set (for Saturday on two coasts),” Baffert said.

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