Tag: Racing

Star Fortress (IRE) dominated Thursday's 48th running of the $267,500 Cardinal (G3) on Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs with a 10-length last-to-first romp over favored Saffron Moon.

Star Fortress, a 4-year-old Sea The Star filly owned by John D. Gunther and his daughter Tanya Gunther's Eurowest Bloodstock Services, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51:10 on turf rated as good to collect the first stakes win of her career in her first United States start.

Luis Saez rode the winner for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Breaking from post  2 in the field of six fillies and mares, Star Fortress settled in last during the early stages as Walkathon set fractions of :23.35, :48.61 and 1:13.90. Full of run while leaving the final turn, Saez tipped Star Fortress out to the center of the track and the filly displayed an explosive late kick to collar Saffron Moon and a tiring Walkathon with a furlong to run. Her winning margin only widened inside the final stages of the race.

“The plan worked out how we drew it up,” Saez said. “We let the speed go and saved ground. Around the turn we swung out and just really exploded down the stretch.”

The triumph was worth $153,450 and increased her earnings to $175,775. Star Fortress boasts a record of 2-1-2 from eight starts.

Star Fortress returned $14.68 for the win as the 6-1 fifth betting choice.

Saffron Moon, the 9-5 favorite, outfinished Lovely Princess by a neck for second.

The order of finish was completed by Juncture (GB), Walkathon and Joyful Applause. Take a Stand was scratched.

Prior to the Cardinal, Star Fortress finished third in a weight-for-age event going 1½ miles at Newmarket in July. Her lone win from seven starts in England came in her second outing over Chelmsford City's all-weather track at 1¼ miles on July, 3 2022.

“She was training very well coming into this race and she won very impressively today,” DeVaux said. “We're not sure where we'll go next with her. Our plan was to get her to this race and focused on that.”

Gray filly Star Fortress is out of the El Prado (IRE) mare Lady Aquitaine and was bred in Ireland by Sahara Group/Eurowest/Sunderland Hldgs. Tanya Gunther bought her as a weanling for $176,234 at the 2019 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, where Newsells Park Stud consigned her.

The post Star Power: Star Fortress Rallies From Last For Authoritative Cardinal Win In U.S. Debut appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Richard Rigney's Xigera tracked pacesetter Jag Warrior early on, pounced to the lead at the top of the stretch, and drew away down the stretch to easily win Thursday's 108th running of the $400,000 Falls City (G3), the traditional Thanksgiving Day fixture for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs, by a widening 6 ½ lengths.

The victory was one of three wins on the card for Rigney Racing, which also annexed Race 12, a maiden special weight event, with Legadema ($10.46), and Race 9, an allowance optional claiming event, with Angkor ($9.24). All are trained by Phil Bauer.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Xigera ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:50.75 while defeating longshots Music Street, who surged late for second, and Jag Warrior, who was another head back in third. Rigney and Bauer teamed to win last year's Fall City with the now-retired Played Hard.

“She's a special type of horse which makes our job easy,” Bauer said. “You hang a bridle on her and she knows what she needs to do. I'm so fortunate to be in the position I am with a great stable and owner. At the time we thought grass was her preferred surface as a 2-year-old, but she's proven us wrong. She has such a quick turn of foot which makes her so dynamic.”

After convincing back-to-back stakes wins in the Seneca Overnight Stakes Sept. 23 at Churchill Downs and last month's Mother Goose (G2) at Belmont at the Big A, Xigera was sent off as the odds-on 1-9 betting favorite Sunday in the field of seven.

Breaking from post six, Xigera settled in the clear in third down the backstretch as Jag Warrior dictated the terms through fractions of :24.03, :49.02, and 1:13.38. With a three-wide move on the final turn, Xigera dragged Leparoux to the front and emerged as the leader with a quarter of a mile to run. The only questions were who would run second, and how far the winning margin would be.

“We've always loved her since she was a 2-year-old,” Leparoux said. “May have made a mistake keeping her in the grass as long as we have, but she's had a great year overall. She's going to be even better next year. I think she's a very exciting horse.”

Xigera paid $2.30 for the win.

Misty Veil, Shezz Koldazice, Skratch Kat, Bellamore and Distinctlypossible completed the order of finish. Hidden Connection was scratched.

With the Falls City win, Xigera improved her overall record to six wins, one second, and one third in 10 starts. Thursday's $240,455 first prize increased her lifetime earnings to $817,056.

The La Troienne (G1), to be run next May at Churchill Downs, could be Xigera's next start after a freshening.

Xigera was bred in Kentucky by Cedar Hill LLC. She is a 3-year-old daughter of Nyquist out of the Black Tie Affair (IRE) mare Argent Affair. Farm Ridge bought her for $190,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where she was consigned by Lisa and Tim Turney.

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The trend of the racing's superstars, the horses that capture the public's imagination, the winners of the big stakes races like the Kentucky Derby (G1) or the Breeders' Cup, to ship-off to the breeding shed too soon is a sore spot for many fans who have followed their careers.

But there's a horse capturing the hearts of Southern California racing fans who has built his reputation on winning California-bred races and his trainer has no intention of retiring his stable star.

While The Chosen Vron has won a Grade 1, the Bing Crosby this past summer at Del Mar, he has done his best work in Cal-bred company, winning eight Cal-bred races in-a-row including this past Saturday's popular victory in the Cary Grant Stakes. The story will continue in 2024 as trainer Eric Kruljac has announced he is bringing the Vronsky gelding back next year as a 6-year-old.

The Chosen Vron's climb to fame started in 2020 when he broke his maiden in his debut at Santa Anita. He would win four of his six races in 2021, including two Grade 3's. He started an eight-race win streak at Los Alamitos in September 2022. It ended with his fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

“I've put the Breeders' Cup behind me,” Kruljac said. “He was kind of covered up. He might have had a little trouble getting out. I think he was behind a couple of horses and when they took off he didn't have his customary kick. I think he was a few lengths better, a few numbers faster than some of his races, but that comes with the competition. I think possibly he felt like he was surrounded.”

Kruljac compared it to a scene from the movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.

“When the railroad guy hired all the best guys in the world,” Kruljac joked. “Paul Newman says, 'Who are those guys?' That's what The Chosen Vron was saying about those East Coast horses.”

Kruljac is referring to the winner, Elite Power, and the runner-up, Gunite. Kruljac also believes maybe it was too much time between races for The Chosen Vron. He trained into the race off of the victory in the Bing Crosby at the end of July. That's three months.

“We took him back that day (in the Breeders' Cup),” Kruljac continued. “I think if I would have let him roll in there, I think he would have ended up a little better.”

Kruljac began entertaining thoughts of running The Chosen Vron back on just two weeks rest after looking at the upcoming stakes schedule.

“I looked forward two or three months and it's going to be a long time before the next Cal-bred race,” he says. “Another two months without running and we just did that. So I did something I've never done and let him run. We pulled blood and Dr. Araujo (his veterianarian) urged me to go ahead.”

The Chosen Vron returned to keep his win streak in Cal-bred races alive. He's won 14 races in his career, and Kruljac said after the Cary Grant win that it ranked right up there with the Bing Crosby.

“He's been unreal,” Kruljac noted after the race. “Coming back in two weeks. I was a little nervous, but the horse was so lively. Maybe we'll just let him roll early from now on.”

It's that energy and that effort that has Kruljac looking forward to 2024.

“Early in his career he had problems, he was slow in developing,” Kruljac recalled. “We had to give him some time, let him grow up. But since, he's been stone-cold sound. Three or four days after the Breeders' Cup he was jumping around playing and his coat was gleaming. He's always been happy training. Always been into the bit and still is. What a blessing this horse is.”

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Naptown, a Munnings colt, takes on nine in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes for fillies.

The 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity, a Tapeta event for Canadian-foaled runners, is a significant race on the road to the 165th running of The King's Plate on Aug. 17, 2024, the first jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

The 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth, a Tapeta event for Canadian-foaled fillies, is a key event on the path to the 69th running of the Woodbine Oaks, the first jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Tiara series.

Trainer Graham Motion, looking for his first Coronation Futurity triumph, will send out Naptown, who arrives at his latest test off an emphatic maiden-breaking score at Woodbine on Oct. 29.

Originally slated for the turf, the race was taken off the grass and contested at seven furlongs over the Tapeta. Sent on his way as the slight 3-1 choice in the field of 12, the bay colt, eighth early, was two lengths clear at the stretch call and then cruised home 5½ lengths on top in a time of 1:24.49.

“We've always liked him,” said Motion. “We had him with us the whole meet at Saratoga and we never got to run him, different circumstances. I thought enough of him to have him up there at Woodbine, so yes, obviously we liked him.”

Owned by Robert LaPenta and Madaket Stables LLC, the $120,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale debuted at Laurel Park in a 5½-furlong maiden special weight main track race on Oct 5.

Breaking from the gate as the 2-1 choice, Naptown made a three-wide bid leaving the turn to be within striking distance of the leader but flattened out to finish third behind a runaway winner.

“I think he handled the dirty OK,” Motion said. “But he obviously stepped up going a little further on the synthetic next time out.”

Motion, who recently reached the 2,700-win plateau, is looking forward to Naptown's return engagement at Woodbine.

“It's a big ask to go a mile and an eighth, but I think it should be something he can handle. He's a pretty straightforward, uncomplicated horse. He's done well and he's worked well leading up to this race. It's a great opportunity for him.”

Bred in Ontario by 552727 Ontario Ltd., Naptown will have the services of jockey Rafael Hernandez on Saturday.

Other Coronation Futurity starters include Frost King Stakes winner No More Options, Bull Page Stakes winner Zippy Gizmo, and Babbo, who has won two straight.

Ayrshire Lad won the first running of the Coronation Futurity in 1902. The late Avelino Gomez won four straight (1964-67) editions of the race, a feat duplicated by Sandy Hawley (1973-76).

The Princess Elizabeth has drawn nine hopefuls, a field that includes Sounds Practical.

Trained by John Mattine for owners RCC Racing Stable Ltd. and Realm Racing Stables, the daughter of Practical Joke debuted on Sept. 9 and finished second in the six-furlong maiden special weight event contested on the Woodbine Tapeta.

“She's a very nice filly,” said Mattine. “She has been classy from day one, as soon as she arrived from Florida. She has done everything that we have asked her to do. Her first race, she did well. She had trained forwardly going into it and I thought she came up with a good effort.”

In her next start, a seven-furlong main track race originally scheduled for the turf, Sounds Practical, with Ryan Munger once again in the irons, took charge early and went on to record a 3½-length score in a time of 1:22.30.

“I thought that was an excellent effort,” Mattine said. “She's two, but she is a mature two. She acts older than she is and it is nice to have that. It certainly showed in that race. Ryan had a big old smile on his face afterwards.”

Bred in Ontario by Saintsbury Farms Inc., the bay will look to build off her maiden victory when she steps up to the stakes ranks on Saturday.

Mattine expects Sounds Practical to be up for the challenge.

“It won't be an easy race, but we are going to give it a good go. The extra distance won't hurt her. She's bred for it, being out of a Tiznow mare. She will give the rest of them a run for their money. I think it will be a very good race.”

Sounds Practical was a $30,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS June Two-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.

Mattine, who will have Munger in the irons on Saturday, was impressed with the filly from day one.

“We were looking for a horse and it's worked out so far. When she walked off the van, she came in and I thought, 'She's pretty quiet.' Usually, after a long ride, you give them a day or two to rest and get comfortable in their new surroundings. But she still acted quiet. It's class.”

Other starters include Airosa, winner of the Catch A Glimpse Stakes, Hurricane Clair, winner of the Muskoka Stakes, South Ocean Stakes winner Olivia Rose, and War Painter, who took the Victorian Queen Stakes.

Princess Elizabeth-winning fillies Moira (2021), Nipissing (2012), Roan Inish (2009), Ginger Gold (2001), Dancethruthedawn (2000), Deputy Jane West (1992) and Par Excellence (1979) all went on to win the Woodbine Oaks the following year.

119th edition of the Coronation Futurity
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 

1 – No More Options – Orlando Mojica – Zeljko Krcmar

2 – Naptown – Rafael Hernandez – Graham Motion

3 – King Rosso – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

4 – Thor's Cause – Leo Salles – Krista Cole-Simpson

5 – Vitality – Jose Campos – Harold Ladouceur

6 – Hatmaker Gizmo – Sahin Civaci – Josie Carroll

7 – Piper's Factor (S) – Kazushi Kimura – Katerina Vassilieva

8 – Babbo – Eswan Flores – Sid Attard

9 – Pontiac – Justin Stein – Barbara Minshall

10 – Zippy Gizmo – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

77th edition of the Princess Elizabeth
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Hurricane Clair – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler

2 – Airosa – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

3 – War Painter – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard

4 – More Money Hunny – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

5 – Sounds Practical – Ryan Munger – John Mattine

6 – Olivia Rose – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

7 – Fourfiftyfour – Justin Stein – Barbara Minshall

8 – Bravo Kate – Eswan Flores – Sid Attard

9 – Inudation – Leo Salles – Kevin Attard

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