Tag: Racing

Saturday's $100,000 Woodchopper at Fair Grounds came down to a stretch duel as Gigante got the better of Northern Invader for the third time during the burgeoning turf stars' sophomore campaigns.

Winning by a neck, Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing's Gigante made the Woodchopper the fifth stakes victory of his career.

Beating out eight other 3-year-olds, Gigante clocked in at 1:36.70 going about one mile on the firm Stall-Wilson turf course with the portable rail set at nine feet. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Virginia-bred son of Not This Time received the fine handling of Edgar Morales.

“This horse has really improved this year,” said Asmussen's assistant trainer on the grounds, Scott Blasi. “He won the Secretariat (G2) at Colonial. We were off the grass at Churchill last time and saw another big effort out of him. I really liked the trip he got today. Saved ground, got tipped out where he needed to be, and ran hard to the wire.”

Deccan Prince led the pack through the first two points of call of :23.75 and :47.99 with Northern Invader engaging him into the first turn but then settling into a comfortable stalking trip just to his outside. After getting pinched by two foes out of the gates, Gigante traveled along the rail before being positioned in the far turn to tip out and kick home. As Northern Invader went to the front in the stretch, Gigante engaged that familiar foe and the two dueled to the wire. After checking in the far turn, Point Proven rallied for third.

“We got a little bump out of the gate, but after that we got a great trip,” Morales said. “I followed the favorite all around there, and when I tipped him out, he did his job and battled to the wire.”

Gigante ($8.20) was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm. He is out of the Empire Maker mare Summertime Green and sold to Andrew Dean for $120,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned him.

Boasting a lifetime record of 13-6-0-1, Gigante is poised to surpass the million-dollar career earnings mark with $975,475.

Tufani Dazzles Wins Pago Hop By Open Lengths

Also on Saturday, Susan Moulton's Tufani unleashed a dazzling turn of foot in the final stages to win the $100,000 Pago Hop by two lengths. The 2-1 top preference in the market was followed home by longshot filly Condensation who was a head best in the blanket finish for a piece.

Trained by Mike Stidham, Tufani, a Virginia-bred 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor secured not only her first stakes victory with the Pago Hop score, but also her pilot Ben Curtis' first stateside stakes win.

“(Tufani) has always shown us a lot of talent since we first got her,” Stidham said. “She's developed. She's learned to relax. I think the arrow is pointing up for her. Ben (Curtis) has done a great job with getting her to settle and come running like that. I'm very pleased with what he's done for us.”

Given a patient ride, Tufani bested 10 rivals, covering about one mile in 1:37.82 on the firm Stall-Wilson turf course with the portable rail set at nine feet.

“(Tufani) was impressive,” Curtis said. “The key to her is to get her to relax. When you're rounding the final turn she comes alive and you're able to put her where you want. It's easy to take gaps when they're traveling as strong as she does and she has an electric turn of foot. So when I let her down I was confident coming to the last eighth pole.”

Quite accomplished overseas, Curtis entered his first meet at Fair Grounds having tallied over 1,000 winners in England as well as hundreds more in other countries.

“To get a first stakes win over here is fantastic,” Curtis said. “Thanks to Mike (Stidham) and the owners for the honor.”

An investment in Tufani's Pago Hop success paid $6.80, $4.40, $2.80. Condensation rallied the rail to reward backers at $19.00, $11.60. Watch This Birdie was spotted on the tote board at $3.40.

Having not debuted until April of this year, Tufani's wins as 3-year-old outweigh her defeats at 7-4-1-0, and the ledgers read $173,942 for her efforts. The bay filly is out of the Mineshaft mare Windhoek. She was a $140,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was presented by Mill Ridge Sales. She was bred by Chance Farm and Distorted Humor Syndicate.

The post VA-Breds Gigante, Tufani Score Respective Stakes Wins In Woodchopper, Pago Hop At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Harrell Ventures' Main Event, back in stakes company for the first time since the summer, got out to a comfortable lead under Javier Castellano and had something left to hold off a late run from Kingmax and win Saturday's $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2) by a nose at Gulfstream Park.

The 66th running of 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale for 3-year-olds and up, local prep for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), anchored an 11-race program featuring five stakes, three of which were graded, worth $725,000 in purses.

It was the first Fort Lauderdale win for trainer George Weaver and fourth for Castellano following Union Place (2005), Silver Medallion (2012), and Mshawish (2015). Main Event ($25) owns three wins and a second from four tries on the Gulfstream turf, including his breakthrough stakes win in the 2022 Cutler Bay, his first of three career stakes triumphs.

“He is very talented. We've always been looking forward to getting back here. He does love this turf course,” Weaver said of Main Event, a 4-year-old Bernardini colt. “He's a graded stakes winner and he's had plenty of experience.

“His last race at Aqueduct was a big move up speed figure-wise. He'd been running good, just not good enough,” he added. “Last race was kind of a breakthrough and then to get back here on this turf course. We're glad to be here and glad he ran as well as he did.”

Breaking from Post 4 in a field reduced to nine with the early scratch of Grade 1 winner Henley's Joy, Main Event was hustled to the front by Castellano past Jerry the Nipper to his inside. The first quarter-mile went in :23.84 as 6-5 favorite Running Bee settled in third in the clear three wide and stablemate Stone Age raced between the two in fourth.

“I told Javier to warm him up and put him on the lead,” Weaver said. “I told him he won't break and put you there, you need to ride him there. He followed instructions and luckily it worked out.”

Main Event went a half-mile in :47.88 as Running Bee took up the chase in second and Stone Age moved up to third as Jerry the Nipper dropped back. He was still in command turning for home when Kingmax began to roll from midpack under British jockey David Egan, who was making his Gulfstream debut.

The two front-runners hooked up in mi-stretch and battled side-by-side to the wire with Main Event winning the head bob after going 1:46.47 over a turf course rated as good. Jerry the Nipper finished third, with stablemate Grand Sonata fourth and Stone Age fifth.

“It was pretty straightforward. [Weaver] told me before the race he wanted the horse to be in a forward position if he can; if not, then be close to the pace,” Castellano said. “He broke a step slow but the horse inside me was backing up so I dictate the pace myself. He has a brilliant stride. I like the way he did it.

“I believed I could win by the half-mile pole because he was so relaxed, so comfortable, and when I asked him he just took off,” he added. “When he took off, he was waiting on horses and when he saw the horse on the outside he broke again and got it done.”

Winner of the 2022 Kent (G3) at Delaware Park, Main Event was off for nearly a year before coming back in July at Saratoga. He ran fifth in three straight optional claiming allowances in New York before a head victory in the same condition going 1 1/16 miles Nov. 3.

Weaver, who captured the Queen Mary (G2) this summer at Royal Ascot with Gulfstream stakes winner Crimson Advocate, said Main Event would be pointed to the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus Turf, part of a blockbuster Jan. 27 program that includes the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) on dirt and $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G2).

“I would try it, why not? He loves this turf course,” Weaver said of Main Event, who has a 5-1-0 record from 13 lifetime starts and $457,783 in purse earnings. “What else are you going to do. He's out of conditions. You have to try stuff, you know?”

Kentucky-bred Main Event was bred by Godolphin, Eric Buckley, and Elizabeth Buckley. His dam is the Unbridled's Song mare Total Knockout. Steve Young, agent, signed the ticket on him for $130,000 at the 2021 OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where he was offered in the Ocala Stud consignment.

The post Main Event Makes All, Prevails In Fort Lauderdale Thriller appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gold Square LLC's Full Count Felicia traveled the shortest distance possible around the Gulfstream Park turf course Saturday, never leaving the rail on her way to a popular victory in the $150,000 Suwannee River (G3), a prep for the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2) Jan. 27.

The Suwannee River, a mile turf stakes for fillies and mares, was featured on Saturday's program that was co-headlined by the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3), a prep for the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream, and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a prep for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

“We're prepping for the Pegasus. We prepped in this race, and we're looking forward to coming back next month,” said Al Gold of Gold Square.

Full Count Felicia, the even-money favorite in a field of eight, was fourth in her previous start in the Goldikova (G2) on the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup undercard at Santa Anita. The 4-year-old daughter of War Front had won her three prior starts, including an 8½-length score in the All Along at Pimlico.

“We thought about just kind of sitting on her and making sure her energy was back from the trip and everything, but after watching that work and watching her train it's like, this filly was sitting there begging to run,” said trainer Britney Russell. “It was nice to see her back up her training.”

The Russell trainee settled in fifth along the rail as Sister Lou Ann showed the way while setting fractions of :23.83 and :48.25 for the first half mile. The pacesetter was challenged on the turn by Fast as Flight as Edgard Zayas swung Accomplished Girl off the rail to make a three-wide stretch bid. Irad Ortiz Jr., meanwhile, cut the corner on Full Count Felicia, who responded with a powerful kick to outrun Accomplished Girl to the wire.

“We thought about just kind of sitting on her and making sure her energy was back from the trip and everything, but after watching that work and watching her train it's like, this filly was sitting there begging to run. It was nice to see her back up her training.”

“I had a beautiful trip. She put me in a perfect spot and after that I waited until it was time to go,” said Ortiz, the defending Championship Meet titlist. “At the quarter pole, I couldn't get outside, then the rail opened up and I went for it.”

Full Count Felicia ($4.20) ran a mile in 1:34.32 over a turf course rated as good on her way to her first graded stakes victory by three-quarters of a length.

Accomplished Girl, who captured the Presque Isle Masters (G2) on Tapeta in her prior start, closed well in the stretch to finish second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Sister Lou Ann, her Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate.

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen LLC, Full Count Felicia is out of the Irish-bred Galileo mare Claire de Lune. Joe Hardoon, agent, bought her for $200,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, where Julie Davies consigned her. She has a 5-2-1 record from 14 career starts and $328,901 in purse earnings.

The post Full Count Felicia Takes Rail To First Graded Victory In Suwannee River appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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O'Connor (CHI) slipped through a tight opening along the rail and launched a determined stretch bid in the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday (G3) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, virtually clinching an invitation the Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27 at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. track.

The Harlan's Holiday, a 1 1/16-mile prep for the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream, co-headlined Saturday's program with the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale (G2), a 1 1/8-mile turf stakes that served as a prep for the $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1).

Owned by Michael and Julia Iavarone and Fernando Vine Ode, O'Connor ($9.20) earned his second consecutive graded stakes victory in the Harlan's Holiday. The 6-year-old Chilean-bred raced in midpack while running one path off the rail around the first turn and along the backstretch as Saffie Joseph Jr-trained stablemate Ny Traffic set the pace, pressed by Grand Aspen while setting fractions of :23.73 and :47.12 for the first half mile.

Tyler Gaffalione and O'Connor advanced to third while dropping down to the rail leaving the backstretch, as Ny Traffic and Grand Aspen picked up the pace. Leaving the turn into the stretch, Gaffalione sent O'Connor through a tight opening inside Ny Traffic as Grand Aspen took over the lead.

O'Connor responded when asked by Gaffalione, fighting his way to victory by a neck inside a very game Grand Aspen. Ny Traffic came again to finish third, three-quarters of a length back, under Javier Castellano.

O'Connor, the son of Boboman, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.80.

“I know he's an older horse and he's run a bunch of times, but it seems like he's figuring things out right now,” Gaffalione said.

Joseph tried to sort out the series of events in the Harlan's Holiday.

“Ny Traffic was going good in front and I don't know what he did. Javier said he kind of looked at something. Then it looked like O'Connor was going to get [stuck on] the rail and all of a sudden it looked like were going to run second and fourth,” Joseph said. “Then it looked like Ny Traffic was going to win and finally O'Connor came and got the job done at the end. That's racing. So many different emotions during a short race and thankfully we got the job done. Both horses ran well. Tyler gave [O'Connor] a great ride.”

O'Connor, Chile's 2022 Horse of the Year who was produced by the Chilean-bred Touch Gold mare Torrente de Agua, finished fourth as the favorite in last season's Harlan's Holiday, which followed an impressive U.S. debut.

“Last year I didn't think he could get beat. I've learned the least I know the better I do,” Joseph said. “Fast forward one year and we got the job done. We're proud of him, obviously. He's a horse that's won two in a row now and he's doing what we thought he could do,” said Joseph, who saddled O'Connor for a victory in the Fayette (G2) at Keeneland in his prior start.

Joseph, who is also pointing Skippylongstocking to the Pegasus, said the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Pegasus should suit O'Connor.

“Distance will be better for him,” Joseph said. “He's probably best at a 1 ¼ mile.”

The post ‘We Got The Job Done’: Pegasus Hopeful O’Connor Preps With Tenacious Harlan’s Holiday Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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