Tag: Racing

Jun Park and Deliah Nash's 5-year-old millionaire gelding Sibelius, who used his win last year as a springboard to Group 1 glory, returns to make a title defense in Saturday's $125,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The 69th running of the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector for 3-year-olds and up is among four $125,000 stakes on an 11-race Christmas weekend program, joined by the six-furlong Sugar Swirl (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up, Tropical Park Derby for 3-year-olds and Tropical Park Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, both scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

First race post time is 12:10 p.m.

Sibelius will be attempting to become the first horse to win the Mr. Prospector in back-to-back years and just the second two-time winner, joining X Y Jet (2015, 2017). Steve Margolis (2003, 2004) and David Fawkes (Jan. 2011, Dec. 2011) are the only trainers since 1978 to take successive runnings

Based year-round at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Sibelius will be racing at his home track for the first time since a 2 ¼-length triumph in the Mr. Prospector on New Year's Eve 2022.

Though he arrived at Gulfstream already a stakes winner, courtesy of the Lite the Fuse at Pimlico Race Course, and with graded-stakes experience, having run fourth by two lengths as the favorite in the Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland, Sibelius took a major step forward in last year's Mr. Prospector.

“The manner in which he won the Mr. Prospector last year I think was very good. He jumped well, traveled strongly throughout the race and kind of drew off, which was visually impressive also, I thought,” trainer Jerry O'Dwyer said.

“Horses, they're like us. They puff out their chest after a victory, especially when they get to travel smoothly in a race and kind of put horses away without having to work too hard which was kind of the performance he put up in the Mr. Prospector,” he added. “Horses do come back feeling good after that.”

Sibelius followed up with a stakes-record effort winning the six-furlong Pelican at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 11, also under jockey Junior Alvarado, and a dramatic nose victory over defending champion Switzerland with multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Gunite third in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 25.

“Maybe it's the time of year where he's best, I don't know. We'll find out this year. It's going to be his second year in a row trying to take the same path,” O'Dwyer said. “We're looking forward to it. I couldn't be happier with the horse. Junior couldn't be happier with him. We think we have him where we need him, and we'll let him do the talking.”

Sibelius' good looks, curious nature and outgoing personality made him a fan and social media favorite during his week in Dubai. He is winless in three tries since returning to North America, running fourth in the June 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs, seventh by 4 ¼ lengths in the July 29 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar and fifth in the Phoenix Oct. 6.

“It was a fabulous experience, without a doubt,” O'Dwyer said of Dubai. “He did have to work very hard and it probably took more out of him than we anticipated and taken a little longer for the gas tank to fully replenish. But we've been patient with him, we haven't overraced him, we've given him time. He's just a great horse to be around and be associated with.

“Taking a journey like that do Dubai is every trainer's dream and hopefully we can do it again next year,” he added. “That's our goal, is to try and get back to Dubai with him. Obviously he's got to show up in the Mr. Prospector and then maybe the Pelican again. That worked last year, but he'd have to show up in both those races to let us know that he's on his 'A' game to take him back to Dubai. You're taking on Grade 1 horses and you can't be going there half-cocked. You have to be fully loaded.”

Sibelius has breezed five times since mid-November at Palm Meadows for his comeback, most recently going a half-mile in 48.30 seconds, second-fastest of 18 horses. Alvarado will ride back from outermost Post 9.

“He had a nice breeze the other day. Junior came in and breezed him. He was extremely happy with him and so was I, so it's all systems go. He came out of the work good and he's training away forwardly,” O'Dwyer said. “He loves being at Palm Meadows. It's a wonderful facility, very tranquil, lots of space. It's a big track to train over so nobody's really on top of each other. He enjoys that. He likes standing out and taking in his surroundings and we'd like to keep it that way with him.”

At the opposite end of the gate is Holly Crest Farm's 3-year-old New Jersey homebred Great Navigator, never worse than third in nine career starts with three wins. He is twice graded-stakes placed, having run second in the 2022 Sanford (G3) at 2 and third in his most recent effort, the Oct. 1 Vosburgh (G2) at Aqueduct. Finishing ahead of him that day were Cody's Wish, back-to-back winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and a candidate for Horse of the Year, and three-time Grade 2-placed Accretive.

The Vosburgh marked a cutback to seven furlongs after successive two-turn efforts over his home track at Monmouth Park.

“I think coming out of those two long races, he was much too relaxed and gave himself a little bit too much to do,” trainer Eddie Owens Jr. said. “I mean, he ran into some nice horses. The two horses that beat him, they were nice horses. Cody's Wish was probably the best horse in the country at the time. [Accretive], he had the lead by himself, so I knew he was going to be tough to beat. Cody, he's just a monster.”

Great Navigator will be facing older horses for the sixth straight race, twice beating his elders including a 10-length romp over fellow state-breds in the 1 1/16-mile Charles Hesse III Handicap Sept. 4.

“I was surprised how easy he did it,” Owens said. “He ran into a slow pace that day. They were going slow on the front end and I thought he wasn't going to make it there, and then he just blew them away.”

Hector Diaz Jr. will be aboard for the first time in the Mr. Prospector.

“He's been training down here very well,” Owens said. “I feel good. I think he's going to run a big race. The post position, you don't want to get stuck behind a lot of horses. Hopefully we get a good trip. If he runs his race, he's going to be tough to beat.”

Grade 2 winner Howbeit and fellow multiple stakes-winning stablemate Winfromwithin, who have combined for 12 wins and $767,591 in purse earnings from 52 starts; 2022 Gallant Bob (G2) winner Scaramouche; Hurricane J, a front-running winner sprinting 6 ½ furlongs Nov. 19 at Gulfstream; Dreaming of Kona, promoted winner of Gulfstream's one-mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 1; Grade 1-placed Gilmore and 2019 Rebel (G2) winner Long Range Toddy complete the field.

The post ‘We’ll Let Him Do The Talking’: Millionaire Sibelius To Defend His Title In Saturday’s Mr. Prospector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England's New York homebred General Banker vies for his second career stakes conquest in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb, a one-mile test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up, on Friday, Dec. 29 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jimmy Ferraro, General Banker enters from a rallying runner-up effort in the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 3 at the Big A, pouncing from six lengths off the pace after steadying at the start and gamely collaring Be the Boss by three-quarter-lengths for place honors. He finished 3 1/2 lengths back of the victorious multiple stakes-winner Today's Flavor and earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, one point off his career-best number earned when graduating in style in last year's $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way by 8 1/2 lengths.

The son of Central Banker's Thunder Rumble effort came on the heels of a successful return from a five-month layoff in October with a determined half-length triumph in a six-furlong state-bred allowance at Belmont at the Big A. The talented dark bay looks to build upon a strong sophomore campaign that saw him finish third in the Jerome, Grade 3 Withers and Grade 3 Gotham earlier this year at the Big A.

Ferraro said General Banker's latest efforts have shown his talents have only grown with maturity.

“He's doing good; super,” said Ferraro. “I think he came back even better and ran into a tough horse [Today's Flavor] last time. He's bigger, stronger. He's matured mentally, too.”

Out of the six-time-winning Johannesburg mare Elusive Jozi, General Banker is a descendant of Reine-de-Course broodmare Alablue. He has amassed $506,943 in total purse earnings through a lifetime record of 16-2-4-3.

General Banker, assigned 118 pounds, will exit post 4 under Eric Cancel.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb's multiple stakes-winner Dr Ardito and Klaravich Stables' stakes-placed Aggregation in pursuit of his first Alex M. Robb victory.

Dr Ardito tries for his third stakes conquest as he returns to state-bred company after a distant off-the-board finish in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets on December 2 over a muddy and sealed Big A main track. Two starts back, the 5-year-old Liam's Map gelding garnered graded black type with a close runner-up effort to Everso Mischievous in the Grade 2 Forty Niner at Belmont at the Big A, rebounding from a disappointing last-of-6 finish in the Parx Dirt Mile in September, also over wet going. He was awarded a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure for his Forty Niner effort.

Dr Ardito put together a memorable six-race win streak from 2021-23 that concluded with his first stakes triumph in the state-bred Haynesfield here in February. Three starts later, he captured the state-bred Evan Shipman out of Saratoga Race Course's Wilson Chute with a rallying effort to draw clear of Sheriff Bianco by 1 1/4 lengths.

Bred by Fred W. Hertrich, III and John D. Fielding, Dr Ardito has banked $441,993 in total purse earnings through a lifetime record of 13-7-0-0. He is out of the winning Indian Charlie mare Delightfully So, a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Delightful Kiss and 2010 Canadian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Delightful Mary.

Dr Ardito, assigned a co-field high 126 pounds, will emerge from post 3 in rein to current meet-leading rider Manny Franco.

Aggregation [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche, 121 pounds] arrives off a dominant 3 1/2-length victory in a one-mile first-level allowance against open company on November 19 here, leading at every point of call through splits of 23.57 seconds, 46.62 and 1:10.60 before drawing clear at the top of the lane and cruising home in a final time of 1:35.44. He was awarded a field-best and career-high 100 Beyer for the victory, which followed a similar optional claiming score against state-breds in October here.

Bred by Graceville Breeding, the dark bay 4-year-old Flatter gelding has hit the board in 5-of-8 lifetime outings, including a third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby last year at Finger Lakes Racetrack where he finished 8 1/2 lengths behind returning rival Barese.

Completing the field are the pair of multiple stakes-winner Barese [post 2, Dylan Davis, 126 pounds] and stakes-placed Curlin's Wisdom [post 5, Isaac Castillo, 121 pounds] for conditioner Mike Maker.

Barese, owned by Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher, vies for the fifth stakes victory of his career, which began in 2021 with three consecutive victories when graduating on debut and following with state-bred stakes triumphs in the Rego Park and Gander at the Big A. He went on to capture the aforementioned New York Derby last year at Finger Lakes ahead of three more stakes placing, including a nose defeat to Eloquist in the open-company Discovery last November.

This year, the 4-year-old son of Laoban boasts an open-company allowance coup by five lengths in May at Belmont Park, as well as a successful return to Finger Lakes to capture the 1 1/16-mile Genesee Valley Breeders' in September. Barese looks to improve from his last two outings when posting distant off-the-board finishes in the nine-furlong Empire Classic in October and NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 3.

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Lakland Farm, Barese boasts total purse earnings of $534,377 through an 18-6-2-3 record.

Martin Zaretsky's Curlin's Wisdom makes his first start for Maker after racing for conditioner Linda Rice since last May. The dark bay 4-year-old Curlin colt returned from a five-month layoff last out to finish off-the-board in the Empire Classic after trailing in last throughout. He had finished a close second in last year's Empire Classic won by Dr. Blute.

Bred by Pine Ridge Stables, Curlin's Wisdom is in search of his first trip to the winner's circle since an impressive 1 3/16-mile optional claiming score against open company in February that garnered a 95 Beyer. He has banked $442,533 through a productive 22-5-7-4 record.

The Alex M. Robb is slated as Race 2 on the eight-race December 29 program. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Robb Stakes: ‘Bigger, Stronger’ General Banker Should Step Forward In Third Start Since Layoff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Alifyfe Racing's Grade 2-placed Fingal's Cave is poised to return from a more than one-year layoff in the $100,000 Bay Ridge, a one-turn mile for New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up slated for Thursday, December 28, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by David Donk, the 4-year-old Carpe Diem bay won her first four outings, spanning a state-bred maiden win traveling six furlongs against elders in May 2022 at Belmont Park to a half-length score in the state-bred Fleet Indian going nine furlongs that August over a muddy and sealed main track at Saratoga Race Course.

Fingal's Cave was last seen finishing a game second in the Grade 2 Raven Run in October 2022 at Keeneland where she was bumped at the break and squeezed back before closing from last-of-9 and 9 1/4-lengths off the pace to finish second, defeated four lengths by Wicked Halo.

“It was a big effort at Keeneland which was a speed-favoring racetrack at the time,” Donk recalled. “Once she broke, I didn't think she had any chance to hit the board so I thought it was a really huge effort.

“We put her away and later on she was diagnosed with a little bone bruising,” added Donk. “She was back in training in Kentucky over the summer/fall and had some foot bruises, so she was a little delayed getting to me but she came in great shape. She's done really well since she's been here.”

Fingal's Cave has worked four times over the dirt training track at Belmont Park, including a bullet five-eighths breeze from the gate Saturday in 1:00.66.

“She went in a minute and three-fifths which is a fast time over that track and she galloped out really well,” Donk said.

Fingal's Cave utilized prominent trips to win against elders in both a seven-furlong state-bred allowance in June 2022 at Belmont and an open-company allowance traveling nine furlongs one month later at the Spa.

Donk said he is confident Fingal's Cave will handle a one-turn mile on her return to racing action.

“She has a really nice cruising, tactical style,” Donk said. “It's a starting point, but the way she breezed I'm pretty comfortable with her going a mile.”

The $75,000 purchase from the 2021 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training is out of the winning Mineshaft mare Barbie On a Budget, who is a full-sister to multiple stakes-winner Mineralogist. Fingal's Cave's second dam is Grade 2-winner Seeking the Ante, a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Friends Lake.

Fingal's Cave, assigned 121 pounds, will exit post 2 under Jose Lezcano.

Trainer Jorge Abreu will saddle a pair of contenders in stakes-winner Cairo Sugar [post 1, Isaac Castillo, 120 pounds] and the multiple graded stakes-placed Venti Valentine [post 3, Manny Franco, 126 pounds], who will look to defend her title in this event.

NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds' Venti Valentine has banked $701,600 through a record of 16-6-2-4 that includes graded placings traveling nine furlongs at the Big A in the 2021 Grade 2 Demoiselle [2nd] and 2022 Grade 3 Gazelle [3rd], as well as a last-out third behind the victorious Dr B in the Grade 3 Go for Wand on December 2 traveling a one-turn mile over a muddy and sealed main track.

The 4-year-old Firing Line chestnut, bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, is a four-time stakes winner with scores last year here in the one-mile Busher Invitational versus open company and a dominant 3 3/4-length win over returning rival Know It All Audrey in last year's Bay Ridge contested over a muddy and sealed main track.

Venti Valentine, who finished third to the victorious Know It All Audrey in the nine-furlong Empire Distaff in October here, added state-bred scores in the Spa's Johnstone Mile Handicap and the 1 1/16-mile Jack Betta Be Rite at Finger Lakes to her ledger this year.

Dan Zanatta, co-managing partner of Final Furlong Racing Stable, praised Venti Valentine for her trademark consistency.

“Coming out of Saratoga, we put together a long-term plan for her to run in the Empire Distaff, Go for Wand and come back to defend her title in the Bay Ridge,” Zanatta said. “So, we've been able to meet all those challenges and compete well.

“I thought she ran a very strong race in the Go for Wand,” added Zanatta. “I think she was definitely running against the bias of the racetrack last time. I think that track was favoring speed on the front end and she was obviously coming from off-the-pace. She never really got to be on the outside of horses and was stuck on the rail the whole time, but she still got up for third as the longest shot on the board, so we were happy with the effort.”

Venti Valentine, out of the winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Glory Gold, is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning New York-bred Espresso Shot, a Mission Impazible bay who banked $516,625 through a 24-5-3-4 ledger while campaigned by NY Final Furlong Racing Stable in partnership with Maspeth Stables and Parkland Thoroughbreds.

Espresso Shot, who won three one-turn mile stakes at the Big A as well as a seven-furlong score in the NYSSS Staten Island, sold for $300,000 at the conclusion of her 5-year-old campaign at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale as part of the “Night of the Stars” showcase.

On Saturday here, Landed, a 2-year-old half-sister by Omaha Beach, graduated by 5 1/2-lengths at second asking when stretched out to a one-turn mile. The Wesley Ward trainee, bred by Final Furlong Racing Stable and Maspeth Stable, was purchased by Lael Stables for $500,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

Zanatta, who noted the family's impressive talents at a one-turn mile, said the team plans to bring back Venti Valentine for a 5-year-old campaign and then sell her at the Night of the Stars program in 2024.

“They all seem to do their best running at a one-turn mile. Regardless of their breeding, that seems to be what they want to do,” Zanatta said. “Espresso Shot fooled us and showed some ability [at other distances] at various times of her life, but always ran her best at a one-turn mile. Venti has shown the same as well, although she has been able to get two turns more successfully than her older sister did – but it seems a one-turn mile is where she does her best running and where she gets her best speed figures. That's why running in the Go for Wand and coming back in the Bay Ridge was very enticing for us.

“I would never have thought Landed would be another one-turn mile horse, but she really seemed to improve on the stretch out yesterday,” Zanatta added. “She was a different-looking foal. She was more athletic and a little smaller, better balanced and had a better head than Espresso and Venti did. I thought she might be a better sprinter, but to see her stretch out and win so impressively was nice to see.”

AP Stable's Cairo Sugar posted a 27-1 upset in the state-bred Maddie May here in February, scoring by 1 1/4-lengths in gate-to-wire fashion in the one-turn mile with Andrew Wolfsont up for her former conditioner Alan Bedard.

The sophomore daughter of Cairo Prince, bred by Kaz Hill Farm, joined the Abreu barn following back-to-back victories against open-company winners when besting elders at Parx in July and Delaware Park in October. Cairo Sugar has made two starts here for Abreu, landing fourth in the state-bred Iroquois on October 29 and fifth in an open optional-claimer on December 1.

Trainer Linda Rice, who leads the Big A fall meet with 16 wins, will saddle the multiple stakes-placed Bustin Bay [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche, 121 pounds].

Winning Move Stable's Bustin Bay, a 5-year-old Bustin Stones dark bay, was last seen on December 3 finishing second to Morning Matcha in the NYSSS Staten Island contested at seven furlongs over a sloppy and sealed Big A main track.

Bred by Robert D. Rosenthal, Peter Rosenthal and Martin Greenberg, Bustin Bay boasts a career record of 38-11-8-5 for purse earnings of $616,960 with six of those wins on the Big A main track

Rice, in search of her first Bay Ridge win, is enjoying a tremendous season with 161 NYRA circuit wins on the year. With four racing dates left on the NYRA calendar in 2023, Rice is chasing the record of 164 wins set by conditioner David Jacobson in 2013.

Know It All Audrey [post 6, Dylan Davis, 126 pounds], who was scratched from the Grade 3 Go for Wand here on December 2, will make her first start since her aforementioned Empire Distaff score on October 29.

Trained and co-owned by Oscar Barrera, III with Three Player's Stable, the 4-year-old Shackleford bay, bred by Geraldine Mazza, provided the conditioner with his first stakes win with the 2 3/4-length victory over Ichiban.

All seven of Know It All Audrey's wins have come on the Big A main track where she boasts a 16-7-5-1 record.

Rounding out the field is Marjorie Krohn's stakes-placed Sweetie [post 4, Romero Maragh, 121 pounds] for trainer Gary Sciacca; and Gallagher's Stud's homebred Sweet Mystery [post 7, Trevor McCarthy, 121 pounds], a three-time winner for trainer Pat Quick.

The Bay Ridge is slated as Race 7 on the eight-race Thursday, December 28 card. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

The post ‘Starting Point’: Fingal’s Cave Faces Tough Task Returning From Year-Long Layoff In Bay Ridge appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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