Tag: Racing

In an extraordinary effort, Mark Glatt's upstart Watsonville would not be denied in Tuesday's Grade 2, $200,000 Mathis Mile, as he bested heavily favored Almendares by a nose, providing Glatt with an opening day hat trick and jockey Antonio Fresu with a riding double as Watsonville got the one mile turf affair in 1:34.55.

Naturally quick from his outside post, Watsonville sat just off of longshot Calm Sea into the first turn and stalked him up the backside, eventually gaining the advantage midway around the far turn, however Calm Sea battled back gamely turning for home, at which point Almendares put a head in front a sixteenth of a mile out.

From there, Watsonville seemed to relish the fight, battling back gamely with the favorite to his outside and prevailing narrowly on the money in his first stakes triumph.

“I wanted to keep him up close today and give him a target,” said Fresu. “When he hit the front, he pricked his ears and he was off.  The favorite actually passed us, but my horse dug in.  He continues to get better and better.  I won twice with him and he was always green.  The last race (Hollywood Derby) was too far for him.  I just thought if we were in a better position today, he would respond.”

Fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Dec. 2, Watsonville, who in his only other start at one mile on turf broke his maiden four starts back on July 29, was off at 9-2 and paid $11.00, $3.80 and $2.60.

Owned by Pine Racing Stables and Saints or Sinners, Watsonville, a 3-year-old colt by the War Front stallion Jack Milton, Watsonville picked up $120,000 for the win and now has three wins from seven starts.

“It is just emotional because Watsonville went through a lot when he was younger,” commented Ana Maron, one of Watsonville's co-owners. “We didn't know if he would make it, so all of us were just kneeling and praying that he would make it through, so seeing him come this far it is exhilarating.”

Ridden by Flavien Prat, English-bred Almendares, off at 3-5, lost a heartbreaker and returned $2.80 and $2.10 while finishing three quarters of a length in front of Irish-bred Dandy Man Shines.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Dandy Man Shines was off at 5-2 and paid $2.20 to show.

Fractions on the Mathis Mile were 23.77, 48.20, 1:11.76 and 1:23.16.

The trophy was presented by Ritt Mathis of Mathis Home, which was part of a major promotion to raise funds for CARMA and Thoroughbred aftercare. “The opening day event is just such a great thing to be a part of. For us the charitable connection of being able to support CARMA and Thoroughbred aftercare, putting the horse first on a day like today where we are all out here celebrating, is what makes it feel really good and what is in the center of our partnership. Trying to look after  horses and just being in love with these beautiful athletes.”

The post Scrappy Watsonville Edges Almendares In Mathis Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ridden for the first time by four-time Eclipse Award champion Irad Ortiz, Jr., Phil D'Amato's Newgrange stalked a speedy Brickyard Ride around the far turn, took command while wide-out and went on to cruise to an easy 2 ¼ length win in Tuesday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Antonio Stakes, stopping the clock for a mile and one sixteenth in 1:42.79 as he provided D'Amato with a stakes double on Santa Anita's Classic Meet opening day.

As expected, multiple stakes winning sprinter Brickyard Ride showed the way early in the San Antonio, setting fractions of 23.26, 47.31, 1:11.11 and 1:36.10. Although headed by the winner a quarter mile out, Brickyard Ride battled on gamely at the rail but tired to finish third, beaten a half length for second money by Mixto.

A winner of the G2 San Pasqual Stakes four starts back here on Jan. 28, Newgrange was off at 7-2 in a field of five 3-year-olds and up and paid $9.60, $3.20 and $3.00.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC, Little Red Feather Racing and Rockingham Ranch, Newgrange, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Violence out of the Empire Maker mare Bella Chianti, collected his fourth graded stakes win and his sixth overall victory from 12 starts.

Five-wide turning for home, Mixto, although last coming to the furlong pole, kept to his task and proved second best on the day under Antonio Fresu. Off at 9-1, he paid $6.80 and $3.80.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Brickyard Ride, off at 5-1, paid $4.20 to show while finishing a half length in front of Argentine-bred Subsanador, who was making his U.S. debut as the 6-5 favorite.

Stilleto Boy, winner of this year's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, was never a factor and checked in last with no apparent excuses.

GRADE 2, $200,000 SAN ANTONIO STAKES QUOTES

IRAD ORTIZ, JR., JOCKEY OF NEWGRANGE, WINNER: “What can I say about the horse? He did everything, I was a good passenger. He was going perfectly the whole way and when I asked him to get, he responded. Honestly, I didn't know the horse, but I talked to Phil, and he told me exactly what I had to do I think, because everything went the right way. He told me to stay close and not to go head in head with the other horse. He's that kind of horse that you have to kind of help him to give it to you, but that wasn't the case today he was going so good. I didn't even have to move on top of him. At the quarter pole I just asked him, and he started going.”

PHILIP D'AMATO, TRAINER OF NEWGRANGE, WINNER: “This horse is starting to round into form. I think the long layoff did him some good. I know he likes Santa Anita. He was better the other day and he put it all together today. Irad (Ortiz Jr.) rode a perfect race. He stayed right behind Brickyard Ride and when it came time to run, he did the rest. I think we will point him toward the San Pasqual next.”

AVERY JOHNSON, NBA AND COLLEGE BASKETBALL ANALYST FOR CBS SPORTS: “I have been to Santa Anita several times. I'm a Breeders' Cup Ambassador so I was recently here for the Breeders' Cup. I have been in and around horse racing for forty plus years, growing up by the Fairgrounds in New Orleans. This coming year the 150th Kentucky Derby will be my 15th Kentucky Derby. My first one was Silver Charm back in 1997, so I'm a big fan. I love it because I can bring my family. We are just excited to be here.”

NOTES: The winning owners are David A. Bernsen, LLC, Little Red Feather Racing and Rockingham Ranch.

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Team Valor International LLC's Romagna Mia lived up to her 4-5 favorite's role Tuesday at Gulfstream Park while scoring an authoritative seven-length romp in the $125,000 Via Borghese.

Making her first start on Tapeta in the race for fillies and mares that had been scheduled for 1 3/8 miles on turf, the 4-year-old British-bred filly relaxed in fourth as Tass showed the way at a solid pace for the adjusted 1 ½-mile distance. Tass set fractions of 25.23 (seconds), 49.61, 1:15.45 and 1:40.54 for the first half mile before Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez pushed the 'Go' button on Romagna Mia, who responded with a three-wide sweep to the lead and an impressive stretch run while under little pressure.

“I would have been surprised if she hadn't [handled the Tapeta], although the synthetic is a bit of an unknown,” trainer Graham Motion said. “She kind of won for fun.”

Romagna Mia, a Group 2 winner in Europe, finished third in her U.S. debut in the Beverly D (G1) on turf at Colonial before capturing the 1 ½-mile Dowager (G3) over Keeneland's turf in her most recent start.

“She's an absolute pleasure to train. She's a lovely filly,” Motion said.

The gray daughter of Mastercraftsman ran 1 ½ miles on Tapeta in 2:28.69. Tass held gamely to finish second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Viva La Red.

Romagna Mia is likely to return in the $200,000 La Prevoyante (G3), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for fillies and mares on the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) undercard Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Oisin Murphy Begins Championship Meet Stint Thursday

International star jockey Oisin Murphy will begin riding at Gulfstream Park Thursday, when he is named to ride Christophe Clement-trained Streamsong in a Race 9 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds on Tapeta.

Streamsong, a son of Omaha Beach who is rated fourth at 5-1 on the morning line, is scheduled to make his debut in the mile-and-70-yard race that drew a field of eight.

Murphy is named on two horses for Friday's card and five horses Saturday, including Marwad in the $200,000 Ft. Lauderdale (G2). The 28-year-old three-time British champion is slated to ride two horses Sunday, including Isabel Alexandra in the $100,000 Abundantia.

The post ‘She Kind Of Won For Fun’: Romagna Mia Lives Up To Favoritism In Gulfstream’s Via Borghese appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Freshened since a disappointing effort on Nov. 5, English-bred Anisette was back to her best on Tuesday at Santa Anita, as she loomed into contention turning for home and powered past a very well meant Be Your Best to take the Grade 1, $300,000 American Oaks by 1 ¾ lengths, getting a mile and one quarter on turf in 2:00.22.

Trained by Leonard Powell and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who got his second win of the day, Anisette saved ground at the rail while about 3 ½ lengths off pacesetting Be Your Best in the run up the backside while a joint third with Sakura Flavor. Coming to the quarter pole, Rispoli scooted inside of Musical Mischief and had Be Your Best measured turning for home en route to her second Grade I score dating back to victory in the Del Mar Oaks three starts back on Aug. 19.

Most recently second as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes here Nov. 5, Anisette was off at 3-5 in a field of five sophomore fillies and paid $3.20, $2.80 and $2.10.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Anisette, who was one for three in England, notched her fourth win from six starts since joining Powell's stable—two of them in Grade 1 stakes. With today's winner's share of $180,000, Anisette increased her earnings to $606,871.

Be Your Best, the narrow third choice under Irad Ortiz, Jr. at 7-2, paid $2.80 and $2.10.

Musical Mischief, second to the top of the lane under Flavien Prat, was the actual second choice at 7-2 and paid $2.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 24.76, 48.88, 1:13.08 and 1:36.66.

GRADE 1, $300,000 AMERICAN OAKS STAKES QUOTES

UMBERTO RISPOLI, JOCKEY OF ANISETTE, WINNER: “First of all I have to say thanks to Leo, Aron Wellman and all the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for the opportunities. It's a pleasure to be on a filly like this. She gave me two Grade I's this year. I think she is back at the top like she was in Del Mar with that kick. We knew she had it. The two starts ago she was beat by Didia, then her last time out the race was falling apart with the horses running away from her. Today, was a tactical race again, but I just stayed a couple of lengths behind the speed, and she did the rest.”

LEONARD POWELL, ANISETTE, WINNER: “Her last two races, she didn't win, but there were circumstances. I didn't blame her and she made amends today. She's been a part of the exacta for six straight races (four wins and two seconds).

“She's the goods. Aron Wellman and I have chosen to give her plenty of time in between races and that's probably the key of keeping her at the top of her game. She is happy and healthy so that is the main thing.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

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