Tag: Racing

After crisscrossing the country with stops in Kentucky, California, Oklahoma and Ohio, Sam Wilensky's multiple stakes winner My Destiny is back home for what is expected to be her last race in Saturday's $125,000 Sugar Swirl (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The 41st running of the six-furlong Sugar Swirl for fillies and mares 3 and up is among four $125,000 stakes on an 11-race Christmas weekend program, joined by the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3) for 3-year-olds 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.

Trained by Wilensky's father, Herman, 6-year-old My Destiny will begin her new career as a broodmare in 2024, already booked to 2022 champion male sprinter Elite Power. She is enjoying her best season to date with four wins, two in stakes, from eight starts including a career-best performance to capture the six-furlong Flashy Lady Handicap by 5 ¼ lengths Sept. 24 at Remington Park.

The Sugar Swirl will be My Destiny's 27th start and 11th at Gulfstream, but just her first since capturing a 6 ½-furlong optional claimer March 24 by three lengths as the favorite under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano.

“It feels like she never gets to race here,” Sam Wilensky said. “Unfortunately, there's only so many stakes that are offered and she's gone through all her conditions so it's just kind of rare to have an opportunity at home, but this works out perfectly.

“This will probably be her last race and then she's going to retire to be a broodmare,” he added. “There's a small chance of one more race depending on how this race goes. If she hits the board first, second or third in the Grade 3, that'll kind of complete the resume.”

Wilensky claimed My Destiny for $12,500 out of a Nov. 5, 2021 win at Gulfstream, and since then has registered seven wins, two seconds and two thirds from 16 Thoroughbred starts, as well as a 1,000-yard mixed breed race last August at Los Alamitos.

“You could never expect a [$12,500], non-winners of three life filly to do what she's done,” he said. “She's just a pleasure, not only because of what she's done for us but her attitude and the way she carries herself. She's by far my favorite horse we've ever had, so it's going to be more than bittersweet to not see her here in the morning. But if you can get off the track safely and go have babies that hopefully we can train one day, we can't ask for more.”

My Destiny enters the Sugar Swirl having run second as the favorite in the six-furlong Mahoning Valley Distaff Nov. 20, beaten a half-length after setting the pace. Her other stakes win came in the five-furlong Orleans Jan. 6 at Delta Downs.

“She's a filly who brings it every time,” Wilensky said. “That was not her best performance up in Ohio but I think that was more about the surface. Those fillies went 1:12 that day; My Destiny goes 1:09 and change or 1:10 flat. Mahoning is a different type of racetrack. She's happy to be home and going over this surface again. She's doing phenomenal, so I couldn't be happier about that.”

Edwin Gonzalez, a five-time winner on My Destiny up for each of her last two starts, gets the return call from Post 2 in a field of eight.

“It'll be interesting to see who comes down and how they do on our home field for once,” Wilensky said. “We're excited. Hopefully she can go out on the right note and it can be an end to a great career by her.”

Two-time defending Championship Meet leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. wheels Ed Seltzer's 7-year-old homebred mare Bluefield back just two weeks off a determined neck victory in the seven-furlong FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

It was the eighth career victory and first in a stakes for Bluefield, who also captured the 6 ½-furlong Musical Romance overnight handicap May 28 over Gulfstream's main track.

“She went up to Tampa and it was nice to get a stakes win on her resume at this age. She came to us late but she just keeps getting better and better,” Joseph said. “She's never run back this quick, but she's in good order so I think she should run well. Hopefully she has a good week leading up to it.”

Bluefield joined Joseph's string last year after registering five wins and two thirds in her first 12 races, all but one coming in the Mid-Atlantic region. She went nine months between starts and has gone 3-3-1 in eight tries since, the only time worse than third coming when fourth behind stablemate Three Witches in the Oct. 7 Princess Rooney (G3). She was also second behind Grade 3-winning millionaire Yuugiri in the July 7 Saylorville at Prairie Meadows.

“She came to us with some good form and then she got some time off and that really helped her,” Joseph said. “She's been very consistent ever since she came back.”

Edgard Zayas will be aboard from the rail.

Joseph will also send out 4-year-old Intrepid Daydream, a recent private purchase by Miller Racing that has put together four consecutive wins including the six-furlong Shine Again and Politely and seven-furlong Maryland Million Distaff, all at Laurel Park. She arrived at Gulfstream Monday.

“It all came about very late. The owner was looking for fillies to buy and he was able to close the deal [Dec. 15],” Joseph said. “She's been running well up there against restricted company so hopefully she can come down here and run the same way.”

Tyler Gaffalione has the assignment from Post 4.

Also entered are Magna Massa, a last-out winner over older horses in a six-furlong allowance Nov. 9 at Horseshoe Indiana; Olivia Darling, runner-up in the six-furlong Skipat May 20 at Pimlico on the Preakness (G1) undercard; Headland, a 10-time winner of nearly $700,000 in purses from 43 lifetieme starts; Spirit Wind, winner of the Musical Romance and second in the Princess Rooney, then a Grade 2, last spring and summer at Gulfstream; and Napa Candy.

The post Well-Traveled My Destiny Gets To Make Final Start At Home In Saturday’s Sugar Swirl appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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