Tag: Racing

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.

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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 105^th 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.

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Trainer Chris Hartman holds a strong hand for the $150,000 Ring the Bell Stakes Saturday at Oaklawn, sending out millionaires Tejano Twist (#6) and Necker Island (#5) in the six-furlong event for 3-year-olds and up.

“Sheesh,” Hartman said, “they look good in there, don't they? Both of them. Little concerned about the pace scenario.”

The Ring the Bell goes as the sixth of 10 races, with probable post time 2:50 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:30 p.m.

The nine-horse Ring the Bell field from the rail out: Osbourne (#1), Julien Leparoux to ride, 124 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Manuelito (#2), Walter De La Cruz, 121, 20-1; Ultimate (#3), Ramsey Zimmerman, 124, 12-1; Top Gunner (#4), Ricardo Santana Jr., 121, 15-1; Necker Island (#5), Cristian Torres, 124, 8-1; Tejano Twist (#6), Chris Landeros, 124, 8-5; Ryvit (#7), Keith Asmussen, 122, 2-1; Caddo River (#8), Rafael Bejarano, 124, 20-1; and Sir Wellington (#9), Eduardo Gallardo, 124, 12-1.

Program favorite Tejano Twist (#6) was among Oaklawn's top older male sprinters last season, winning an allowance race and the $200,000 G3-Whitmore Stakes. In his last start, the late-runner was a 1 ½-length winner of the six-furlong $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Necker Island (#5) won the 2021 Bet On Sunshine, was fourth this year and fourth in the $350,000 G2-Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.

“Both are doing good,” said Hartman said. “Hoping for a 1-2 finish.”

In addition to Tejano Twist, three other Oaklawn stakes winners are entered – Ryvit (#7) for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, Caddo River (#8) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Sir Wellington (#9) for trainer Mac Robertson.

Ryvit (#7), a supplemental nominee who has never faced older horses, won three six-furlong races last season at Oaklawn, including the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes for 3-year-olds. He added victories in the $200,000 G3-Chick Lang Stakes May 20 at Pimlico, Ellis Park's $175,000 Maxfield Stakes in July and $300,000 Steel Valley Sprint Stakes last month at Mahoning Valley. Ryvit (#7) overcame a troubled start to win the Steel Valley, his 10th start of 2023.

“He's run some wonderful races,” Asmussen said. “If anything, his last race was his best race. Lot of travel. Hopefully, it didn't take too much out of him. Obviously, been anxious to get him back here because of the meet that he had last year.”

Caddo River (#9), a homebred for Arkansas lumberman John Ed Anthony, has spent most of his career in two-turn events, winning Oaklawn's one-mile $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes in 2021 and finishing second in the $1 million G1-Arkansas Derby later in the meeting. He has lost five consecutive starts, and has never raced six furlongs.

“Mr. Anthony decided that he would like to back him up and try to sprint him,” Lukas said. “So, we're going to try that.”

Sir Wellington (#9) won Oaklawn's $150,000 Gazebo Stakes in 2021 at Oaklawn.

Ultimate (#3) gave 2022-2023 Oaklawn leading owners Heath and Sheena Campbell their first career stakes victory in Prairie Meadows' $100,000 Iowa Sprint in July.

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