Tag: Racing

Virginia-bred Gigante angled out at the top of the stretch, collared Smokey Mandate inside the three-sixteenths pole, and kicked away late to win the off-the-turf $257,500 Commonwealth Turf on Sunday at Churchill Downs, closing day of the 134th Fall Meet.

The Not This Time colt won by 4½ lengths over 3-5 favorite Northern Invader, earning his fifth win from 12 career starts.

Gigante, who broke his maiden at Colonial Downs as a 2-year-old in his only other race on dirt, ran 1 1/16 miles over the fast main track in 1:44.46 to collect his fourth stakes win. Luan Machado rode the winner for the meet's leading trainer, Steve Asmussen.

Originally carded as a Grade 3 race, the race was shifted to the main track when track officials on Friday canceled turf racing for the remainder of the meet. The race's status will be reviewed by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

Sent off at odds of 10-1, Gigante had to check off heels as the field of eight 3-year-olds raced into the first turn, but he settled nicely in fourth just behind J. P. Race, Wild Sean, and Smokey Mandate who raced three-wide through early fractions of :23.86, :47.56, and 1:12.12. When J. P. Race began to retreat leaving the final turn, Gigante spurted three-wide into contention and proved best down the lane.

“He's a very nice horse and Steve Asmussen and his team did a great job getting him prepared for this race,” Machado said. “I sat a beautiful trip behind the pace and he came with his closing kick down the lane. Every time I asked him, he dug in.”

Previously, Gigante won the Kitten's Joy at Colonial Downs at age 2 and prevailed in this year's Caesars Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis in May at odds of 33-1 and Secretariat (G2) at Colonial Downs in August at 22-1 odds.

“He's a beautiful Virginia-bred and it was great to see him dominate versus open company today,” Asmussen said. “I thought Luan gave him a great ride today. We're very fortunate to be in the position we're in with horses like him.”

Gigante returned $22.06 as the fourth betting choice. Northern Invader got up by a head for second, and Smokey Mandate was third in the eight-horse field.

Winters Lion, Lincoln Highway, Wild Sean, Worthington, and J. P. Race completed the order of finish. Anglophile, Runaway Storm, Ohana Honor, Irish Aces, Bal a Kazoo, Santorini, and Clyde's Get a Gun were scratched.

Gigante netted $150,350 for owners Iapetus Racing and Diamond T Racing and boasts career earnings of $915,475.

Gigante is out of the Empire Maker mare Summertime Green and was bred by Ann Mudge Backer and Smitten Farm. Taylor Made Sales Agency sent bay colt through the auction ring at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Andrew Dean for $120,000.

The post ‘Beautiful Virginia-Bred’: Gigante Rolls To Main Track Victory In Commonwealth Turf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Danny Gargan will be represented by a pair of promising 2-year-olds in Grade 2 races on Saturday's Cigar Mile Day card at Aqueduct in Dornoch and Ringy Dingy, who are aimed for the Remsen and Demoiselle, respectively. Both tests are at 1 1/8 miles and offer a $250,000 purse.

Dornoch, by Good Magic and out of the graded stakes-placed Big Brown mare Puca, is a full-brother to Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage.

Owned by West Paces Racing, R. A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing, and Pine Racing Stables, the $325,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase was a game second on debut in July at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a deceptively strong runner-up effort one month later in the one-mile Sapling at Monmouth Park.

Dornoch put in an eye-opening effort last out, drawing off to graduate by 6 1/2 lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on Oct. 14 at Keeneland.

With returning pilot Luis Saez up, Dornoch put away the pace-pressing Lat Long and widened down the lane to win in 1:45 flat despite racing on his left lead in the stretch until late. The impressive score garnered a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He switched [leads] maybe 20 yards before the wire. He heard the crowd and was looking over at them,” Gargan said. “Once he got separated from the other horse, Saez said he was wanting to look over at the crowd. He cocked his head to see them and when he yanked him back over, he thought he would switch, but he was just goofing off. He switched in all his other races. He was just playing around.”

Dornoch worked a half-mile in :49.43 in company Saturday at Belmont Park in his final serious work for the Remsen, which offers 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

“Dornoch always works pretty fast. He's a big, strong horse,” Gargan said. “He was the fifth fastest work of the day and I was trying to slow him down. We just wanted to get a nice, easy work in him. He galloped out in 1:01 and change and is doing really well.”

Gargan won the Remsen last year with Dubyuhnell but said Dornoch is a superior talent.

“I think he has a lot more left in him that we haven't seen yet, which is the exciting thing. I think he has a big future,” Gargan said. “I won the Remsen last year and I wouldn't compare them — this horse is in a different atmosphere in my mind.”

Peter Callahan and James Reiley McDonald's Ringy Dingy worked a half-mile in company in :51.34 Saturday at Belmont in her final work for the Demoiselle, which offers 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

“Ringy Dingy went easier — she's a smaller, lighter filly,” Gargan said.

The $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase, a distant fifth in her July debut at the Spa, graduated at second asking in September traveling 6 1/2-furlongs at Belmont at the Big A with Katie Davis aboard for the first time.

Ringy Dingy settled in fourth position in that event and made a three-wide bid to take command at the stretch call en route to a 1 3/4-length score. The heavily favored third-place finisher, Catherine Wheel, exited that event to graduate nicely here and will be a returning rival for trainer Chad Brown.

Gargan credited Davis with helping Ringy Dingy to settle and use her strong turn-of-foot at the right time.

“We've always liked the filly and thought she had a lot of talent,” Gargan said. “Katie breezed her — and she's a little bit of a nervous horse and Katie gets along with her — so we decided to let Katie ride her and she rode her perfect that day.”

Last out, Ringy Dingy overcame a difficult start to rally from last of six and post a ground-saving 6 1/4-length score under Davis on Oct. 13 in the one-mile White Clay Creek traveling two turns at Delaware Park.

The Dialed In chestnut, out of the multiple stakes-placed Touch Gold mare Wind Caper, is a full-sister to two-time Grade 1 winner Defunded.

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Twin Oaks Bloodstock's Cozee Rags, an longshot debut winner at Keeneland this fall, steps up for her stakes debut in Saturday's $250,000 Demoiselle (G2), a 1 1/8-mile test for 2-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Demoiselle, which offers 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top-five finishers, is part of a stacked Saturday card headlined by the $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap (G2). Saturday's program also features the $200,000 Go for Wand (G3) and the$250,000 Remsen (G2), the latter offering 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points.

Trained by Brian Michael, Cozee Rags, who was purchased for just $15,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, posted an 88-1 upset in her October debut sprinting seven-furlongs at Keeneland, winning by three lengths over 11 rivals, and was subsequently third in allowance-optional claiming company earlier this month at Churchill Downs,

With Andres Calleja up from post 10 at Keeneland, Cozee Rags was eighth in the early stages as Nandina showed the way through fractions of :22.48 and :46.20. Cozee Rags advanced willingly outside rivals into the far turn to be third at the stretch call, and responded to right-handed encouragement inside the final sixteenth to draw off to a comfortable win in a final time of 1:25.70.

Michael said Cozee Rags suited the seven-furlong event more so than the shorter sprints offered earlier in the season for 2-year-olds.

“We held back on her a little bit. She was a $15,000 yearling, overlooked because she was long and lean and most people perceived she wouldn't do early, but we had no problem waiting for that particular day at Keeneland,” Michael said. “I figured if there was a hot pace down the backside, which there was, the race could fall apart a little bit on the front end and we could pick up some of the pieces. Now, I was as shocked as everybody else, at 88-1, that she picked up all the pieces that easy.”

The 54-year-old Michael oversees a stable of 10 horses at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, where Cozee Rags showed promise leading into her debut.

“Her works were good here. We have a deep surface and it really legs one up,” Michael said. “It's not a racetrack, it's a conditioning track.Mage was conditioned here to win the (Kentucky) Derby, and there have been several good horses train over it.

“She was fit and legged up and sound,” Michael added. “She's just got what I call star quality. She carries herself well. She's sweet and fiery all at the same time.”

The Union Rags bay followed her debut in a one-mile optional-claiming event traveling one-turn on Nov. 10 at Churchill Downs and finished third in a race won emphatically by Thorpedo Anna, who exited that effort to finish second in Saturday's Golden Rod (G2).

“She did take a bump out of the gate. It was the same thing at Keeneland. It just takes her awhile to settle in and get her feet under her and build up her momentum,” Michael said of Cozee Rags. “I don't think that hurt us too bad, but you always want to establish the best position you can at the break. She was closing — she never quit.”

Cozee Rags exited the effort in good order and has trained well since at The Thoroughbred Center.

“She came out better than she went into it. It was a learning experience — a dress rehearsal — getting her ready to go around two turns, which I haven't been able to do with her yet,” Michael said.

Cozee Rags has not breezed back out of her most recent effort, but did put in her final serious piece of work Saturday with Michael's partner, Heather Ferris, at the helm.

“It was an open-mile building gallop. Heather worked for Jonathan Sheppard for five years and she's an ex-steeplechase jockey. When I leg her up on one, she's gone for a while,” said Michael with a laugh. “The horse has a tremendous foundation in her, just miles and miles. She never gets sour. She's very happy and the type of horse you want in your barn.”

Michael, who will saddle his first starter at the Big A, said Cozee Rags will appreciate the added ground in the Demoiselle and the opportunity to travel two turns for the first time.

“I think she'll show really good tactical speed. She's smart. She'll rate, that's what Heather has taught her. She'll put her head down and is push-button to ride,” Michael said. “The gallop outs were the best part of her breezes — just like her race when she won, she galloped out 10 in front which is why the mile and an eighth is as appealing as it is.”

Bred in Kentucky by Kim Nardelli, Rodney Nardelli and W. S. Farish, Cozee Rags is out of the stakes-placed Cozzene mare Rosee Is Cozee.

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Equinox was a class above in this year's $8,282,443 Japan Cup (G1), easily beating a stellar field that included eight Grade 1 winners from Japan and abroad on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse.

Billed as a showdown between the 4-year-old Kitasan Black colt, who is currently the World Best Racehorse with a 129 rating, and this year's Triple Tiara victor Liberty Island, Equinox prevailed while extending his Grade 1-winning streak to six while becoming the third horse in Japan Racing Association history to do so following T. M. Opera O (2000- 2001) and Lord Kanaola (2012-2013).

Following the footsteps of sire Kitasan Black, who won the 2016 Japan Cup, Equinox has marked a milestone with his Japan Cup triumph in becoming the first horse ever to exceed 2-billion yen in earnings (JPY 2,215,446,100).

The full field of 18 started in front of the packed stands and, as expected, Panthalassa rushed to the front, setting a rapid pace that timed :57.6 in the first 1,000 meters (about five furlongs), widening an unmeasurable lead in the backstretch while three-time Group 1 winner Titleholder followed in second and Equinox, under Christophe Lemaire, a length back in third.

By the last corner, Panthalassa had gradually squandered his huge lead but was still about 100 meters ahead of the others in early stretch when hot favorite Equinox unleashed his signature stretch drive. Equinox easily caught Titleholder a half mile out and then siezed the lead from the used-up pacesetter just before the 200-meter marker and cruised to a scintillating four-length victory.

Time for the 12-furlong (about 1 1/2-mile) race was 2:21.8 on turf rated as good to firm.

Liberty Island was second, a length in front of third-place finisher Stars on Earth in the 18-horse field.

Liberty Island took a ground-saving trip behind the eventual winner in fourth early. Although unable to match the speed of the winner, the second pick did not disappoint, displaying her good turn of foot and pinned Titleholder 250 meters out then Panthalassa 150 meters to the wire for the runner-up spot.

Fifth choice and 2022 Best Three-Year-Old Filly Stars on Earth was settled behind Equinox and right next to Liberty Island most of the way. After entering the stretch side by side, the two fillies rallied briefly in early stretch, but while unable to keep up with the eventual runner-up, Stars on Earth closed tenaciously for third while holding off a late charge by Do Deuce.

French raider Iresine was a touch late out of the gate, traveled on the rails in midpack and showed effort in the stretch but lacked the needed kick, unable to reach contention, to finish ninth

“Equinox was able to come into the race in good condition,” trainer Tetsuya Kimura said of the winner, who is campaigned by Silk Racing Co. Ltd. “He was aggressive from the start and was relaxed during the race despite the fast pace of the front-runner. With Equinox extending his Grade 1-winning streak for over a year, the pressure was so great before the Japan Cup that I felt relieved when he won the race.

“He is a very well-balanced horse—shape of his hooves, bone structure, and firm muscle—everything is perfectly balanced. It's a miraculous combination. So, we try to maintain this balance when we train him.”

Lemaire said he, too, was relieved as well as happy with the victory.

“Many emotions came to my mind because it was an unbelievable race,” Lemaire said. “Horseracing fans and lovers were able to see something very special. He is a top horse and can adapt to any kind of race or surface. When we came back in front of the huge happy crowd who witnessed the race, I became very emotional. As a professional jockey for many years, I work hard to ride to perfection, so today was very special. Equinox is easy to ride—he knows his job very well and he doesn't use too much energy—so riding a horse like him is a pleasure and I felt very privileged to be in the saddle of such a fantastic horse.”

Lemaire is now tied with Yutaka Take in landing four Japan Cup victories, including with Vodka in 2009 and Almond Eye in 2018 and 2020),more than any other jockey so far.

Bred by Northern Farm, Equinox is out of the King Halo mare Chateau Blanche.

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