Because of the oddity of this year's Triple Crown series, I will continue to provide an occasional rankings column through the end of July just to keep things interesting and updated.
Tag: Racing
Fifty Five Will Try For Mount Vernon Repeat Off An Eight-Month Layoff
Peter Brant's Fifty Five will look to repeat as the winner of the $100,000 Mount Vernon as part of a seven-horse field of New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on Thursday at Belmont Park.
The millionaire mare won last year's Mount Vernon at one mile on the Widener turf course, building on a second-place effort in the race's 2018 edition for trainer Chad Brown. A 6-year-old daughter of Get Stormy, Fifty Five was slated to make her 2020 debut in the Grade 3 Beaugay on Opening Day, June 3, but will now make her first start off an eight-month layoff looking to pick up where her 5-year-old year ended, with wins in the John Hettinger and Ticonderoga over the Belmont turf.
A graded stakes winner – via a rallying victory the 2017 Grade 3 Florida Oaks – Fifty Five is 11-4-5 in 22 career starts and just as consistent at Belmont, going 7-2-1 in 11 races. Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, aboard for her last five starts, including three wins, will have the return call from the inside post.
Her stablemate, Michael Dubb's War Canoe, ran second in the John Hettinger in September and third in the Ticonderoga before capping her 2019 with a win against optional claimers in November at Aqueduct Racetrack. Also off a layoff, War Canoe will have the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 3.
Trainer Christophe Clement will also saddle a pair of contenders, including Munchkin Money, who started her 7-year-old season with back-to-back graded stakes appearances, running second in the 1 1/16-mile Marshua's River in January at Gulfstream Park before running seventh on the same track in the Grade 3 Honey Fox at one mile on February 29.
Munchkin Money, a daughter of Freud, wintered at Payson Park in Florida before resuming training in June at Belmont. She will be making her first start in four months, drawing post 4 with Manny Franco in the irons.
“She seems to be training forwardly,” Clement said. “Do we have her back to her best form? I'm not sure yet. She's training well. We're taking a shot. I'm just hoping she's back to her best. I think she can handle anything [firm or softer turf].”
Dubb and Bethlehem Stables' Classic Lady will be making her first start since Clement took over the training duties. The 5-year-old daughter of Jimmy Creed will be making her first stakes appearance in her 16th career start, going 3-4-3, and will now look to shine for her new connections in her first start since November when she bested optional claimers by a nose at 1 1/16 miles at the Big A.
Classic Lady has posted six official workouts at Belmont since May, starting on the main track before switching her training to the inner turf in the mornings.
“Her work on turf has been much better than her work on dirt,” Clement said. “She's sound. She looks well and healthy, so we're ready to go.”
Joel Rosario will ride from post 5.
Rounding out the field is Niko's Dream, looking to capture her first stakes for Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Barclay Tagg, in her first stakes appearance of the year [post 7, Dylan Davis]; Kreesie, a winner of the 2018 New York Stallion Stakes Series Cupecoy's Joy for trainer David Donk [post 6, Eric Cancel]; and Fetching, returning to stakes company for the first time in five starts for trainer Mark Casse [post 2, Junior Alvarado].
The Mount Vernon, slated as Race 8 on the nine-race card at 5:04 p.m. Eastern, will feature on America's Day at the Races, produced by NYRA in partnership with FOX Sports, and airing live on FOX Sports and MSG+. Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the broadcast and can be accessed at www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.
The post Fifty Five Will Try For Mount Vernon Repeat Off An Eight-Month Layoff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Five Key Takeaways from Stephen Foster Weekend
Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the $500,000 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs and other developments during a weekend marked by spectacular individual performances. The Stephen Foster carried an expense-paid berth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.
Options Galore For Ogden Phipps Winner She’s A Julie’s Next Start
Owner Peter Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds said Grade 1 Ogden Phipps winner She's a Julie has several options in play following her triumph in the 1 1/8-mile event on June 13 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the daughter of Elusive Quality is “50-50” for the Grade 2, $400,000 Delaware Handicap on July 11 at Delaware Park according to Bradley, who owns She's a Julie in partnership with Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing and Madaket Stables.
Other options for the two-time Grade 1-winning millionaire include the Grade 3, $250,000 Molly Pitcher on July 18 at Monmouth Park, or to train up to the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign on August 1 at Saratoga.
“We're looking at it,” Bradley said of the Delaware Handicap. “As Steve says, we'll let her tell us, but we've marked that, the Molly Pitcher or maybe even wait until the Personal Ensign.”
She's a Julie posted her first breeze since the Ogden Phipps on Sunday morning, working five furlongs in 1:02.48 over the Belmont main track.
She's a Julie was a 14-1 upset winner of the Ogden Phipps where she made a three-wide move under urging from jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. and nosed out graded stakes winner Point of Honor for the win.
“She gives it her all every time and is a bit of a grinder,” said Bradley. “The race set up with speed in front of her and that's when she's at her best. She's been training well, couldn't be happier with her.”
She's a Julie made amends in the Ogden Phipps following a disappointing sixth in her 2020 bow in the Shawnee at Churchill Downs, where she hopped at the start, got out of position and came up empty.
“The way she hit the gate that day and got out of position, she was a lost cause from there on out,” Bradley said. “She's a big, strong filly and Ricardo did the right thing that day and wrapped up on her. As Steve said, put a line through that race. What she's got is a heart that's twice as big as she is and she's a very big horse.”
She's a Julie boasts lifetime earnings of $1,187,880 and boasts five graded stakes victories, all of which have taken place over different tracks.
Bradley found more Belmont success when Captain Bombastic took the Mike Lee on June 14 for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.
Bradley purchased the Forty Tales New York-bred for $80,000 on behalf of Team Hanley at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale last March.
“He was a balanced and very athletic looking horse,” Bradley said. “He moved across the ground well, galloped out nicely and just did all the things you want him to do. Forty Tales isn't really a household name as a stallion, but we had a price point we were looking at it. The one turn is really what he wants.”
The post Options Galore For Ogden Phipps Winner She’s A Julie’s Next Start appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
