Cody's Wish, the gutsy 5-year-old winner of four of five stakes races this year and beloved equine pal to the late Cody Dorman, has been voted the first back-to-back winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award.
Tag: Racing
‘She Had A Lot Left In The Tank’: Irish-Bred Ozara Outclasses Rivals In Wait A While
Cheyenne Stable LLC's Ozara (IRE) found room between horses at the top of the stretch before unleashing a powerful kick to score a popular victory in Saturday's $100,000 Wait a While for 2-year-old fillies on turf at Gulfstream Park.
The Wait a While, a 7½-furlong contest, co-headlined Saturday's 11-race program with he $100,000 Pulpit, a 7 ½-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds.
Christophe Clement-trained Ozara was sent to post as the 4-5 favorite on the strength of a debut victory at Saratoga, a fourth-place finish in the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine and a second-place finish in the Chelsey Flower at Aqueduct.
“From the very beginning we liked her a lot,” Clement's son and assistant trainer Miguel Clement said. “She won rather impressively at Saratoga. We were ambitious running her in the Natalma and perhaps unlucky not to get her black type. Nevertheless, she got small black type at Aqueduct the other day and she got the job done today.”
Ozara raced midpack behind a solid pace set by Great Venezuela, who set fractions of :23.09 and :46.82 seconds for the first half mile. After turning into the stretch, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sent the daughter of Lope de Vega between horses and she responded with a good kick to run down the pacesetter and hold off late-charging Milliat by a neck.
“I had to bide my time. In the stretch my filly changed (leads) right away. She was ready,” said Ortiz, the defending Championship Meet titlist.
Ozara finished the distance on firm turf in 1:27.36 and returned $3.80.
“Fortunately, Mr. Irad Ortiz is pretty good, and the filly was class,” Clement said. “I think she had a lot left in the tank.”
Milliat, a debut winner in Ireland who was making her U.S. debut, trailed the field early before launching a stretch run to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of Great Venezuela in the field of 10.
Ozara, who has won half of her four career starts, was bred by Fleche D'Or Partnership from the Acclamation (GB) mare Cercle d'Or, a half-sister to 2015 European Horse of the Year Golden Horn. Agent Mike Ryan bought the bay filly for $416,346 at the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where she was offered in the prestigious Book 1 by Lofts Hall Stud.
The post ‘She Had A Lot Left In The Tank’: Irish-Bred Ozara Outclasses Rivals In Wait A While appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
‘That’s Who He’s Supposed To Be’: Valentine Candy Romps In Opening Day Advent At Oaklawn
Valentine Candy took command turning for home and powered to a 6 ¾-length victory in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters before an estimated season-opening crowd of 14,500 Friday at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark.
The 9-5 favorite, Valentine Candy ($5.60) represented the second victory on the card for jockey Ramon Vazquez and the record-extending 105th career Oaklawn stakes victory for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
Valentine Candy, a son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, won for the first time since going gate-to-wire in his July 22 debut at Saratoga.
“I'm just very, if anything, relieved to see him run back to his first race,” Asmussen said. “The field that he beat at Saratoga first time out – showed great quality that day. Beautiful horse; great opportunity. That's who he's supposed to be.”
Willy D's, a 67-1 shot, rallied to finish second. Andy's Candy, a head farther back in third, was followed, in order, by Market Street, Molly's Town, General Shipman, Frost Free, Ceepeegee, Bye Bye Liam, Drewmania and Sweet Soddy J. Spirit's Mischief was scratched.
Valentine Candy's winning time for 5 ½ furlongs over a fast track was 1:04.65.
Vazquez, who returned to Oaklawn this season after previously being based in Southern California in the winter, was riding Valentine Candy for the first time.
“Steve didn't give me any instructions,” Vazquez said. “He's a nice horse. I just had to guide him. He put me in a good position.”
Valentine Candy raised his earnings to $195,713 following his second victory from five starts. A $250,000 yearling purchase, Valentine Candy races for a partnership that includes William and Corinne Heiligbrodt and Terry Green's Jackpot Farm.
Live racing resumes Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. (Central) first post and a 10-race card featuring the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes for male sprinters and the $150,000 Mistletoe Stakes for older filly and mare milers.
The post ‘That’s Who He’s Supposed To Be’: Valentine Candy Romps In Opening Day Advent At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Extra Race Date Added To Remington Park Season
The 2023 Thoroughbred Season at Remington Park will stretch one day deeper into December as an afternoon program has been added for Saturday, Dec.16, the track announced Friday. The first race will be at 2:30pm. The extra date of races will serve as a make-up for the nine races lost Wednesday, Dec. 6 when the track lighting system did not power up to the full potential needed for racing. The Dec. 16 race date will feature 12 races to put a wrap on the season. Remington Park had previously planned to finish the live racing calendar the night before, on Springboard Mile Night, Friday, Dec. 15.
The post Extra Race Date Added To Remington Park Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.
