Tag: Racing

Gary Broad's long distance specialist Vergara will seek her fourth stakes triumph in Saturday's 67th running of the Grade 3, $300,000 Long Island going 11 furlongs for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward over the inner turf at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Vergara, a 4-year-old Noble Mission bay, is the lone millionaire in the Long Island field having banked $1,110,988 through a 14-4-2-3 record. She earned a 1 5/16-mile victory two starts back in the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon on September 9 before finishing a last-out fifth in the Grade 3 Dowager on October 22 at Keeneland for trainer Graham Motion. A winner of last September's Dueling Grounds Oaks at Kentucky Downs, Vergara will return to the site of her first stakes conquest after capturing the 1 1/16-mile Tepin in November 2021 at the Big A. She also finished second in the local Grade 2 Sands Point last October to round out her sophomore season.

“I'm wheeling her back a little bit quickly which worries me a bit, but we're at that time of year where we're running out of chances to do this,” said Motion, a four-time winner of the Long Island. “She seemed to come out of her last race well and had kind of an awkward trip. I love the filly and I think she's doing well at the moment.”

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride from post 2.

Trainer Christophe Clement will attempt his fifth Long Island victory when he saddles multiple graded stakes-placed Atomic Blonde [post 3, Joel Rosario]. The 4-year-old daughter of The Grey Gatsby was third in her North American debut for Clement when finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind stablemate Amazing Grace in the Grade 3 Orchid in April at Gulfstream Park. She later rounded out the trifecta in the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay in May at Belmont Park and the Grade 2 Canadian in September at Woodbine Racetrack.

Atomic Blonde will attempt to make amends following an uncharacteristic eighth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on October 8 at Woodbine.

“Her last race was one to draw a line through. She's doing well,” Clement said.

A victory would make Atomic Blonde, who was bred in Germany by Gestut Karlshof, the third German-bred to capture the Long Island, joining previous victresses Uriah [2002] and Moonlady [2000]. She is owned by Michaela Faust, West Point Thoroughbreds and Winters Equine.

After saddling last year's winner Temple City Terror, trainer Brendan Walsh will be represented by the formful R Calli Kim [post 4, Jose Ortiz], who has won three straight races after a yearlong layoff. The 6-year-old Revolutionary mare made her seasonal debut in a $32,000 claiming event in August over the Saratoga inner turf before stretching out to 1 5/16 miles in September at Kentucky Downs to capture an allowance optional claimer by two lengths. She enters from a score in a 12-furlong second-level allowance at Keeneland, which she won by 2 3/4 lengths.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Barry Schwartz's New York homebred Whatlovelookslike [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], who enters from a pacesetting third in the John Hettinger on September 22 at Belmont at the Big A. The 4-year-old English Channel chestnut has made three trips to the winner's circle this season, including an open company allowance optional claiming score going the Long Island distance on August 6 at Saratoga and a triumph in the July 4 Port Washington over yielding Belmont inner turf.

Completing the field are the Bobby Ribaudo-trained Rhombique [post 5, Dylan Davis], Embrace Me [post 6, Trevor McCarthy] for two-time Long Island-winning trainer Tom Albertrani, and Unruly Julie [post 7, Manny Franco] for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. New York-bred stakes-winner Amanda's Folly has been entered for main track only.

The Long Island is slated as Race 4 on Saturday's nine-race program, which also features the listed $150,000 Artie Schiller. First post is 12:20 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.

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Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Steven Rocco, William Branch's Big Everest will strive to keep a spotless Aqueduct Racetrack record afloat when attempting to defend his title in Saturday's ninth running of the listed $150,000 Artie Schiller for 3-year-olds and upward going one mile over the inner turf.

Big Everest, trained by Christophe Clement, is a perfect 3-for-3 when competing at the Big A, including a wire-to-wire victory by a half-length in last year's running of the Artie Schiller. The 5-year-old British-bred son of The Gurkha made his 2023 debut a winning one when commanding through every point of call in the local Danger's Hour on April 15 to win by a nose over next-out stakes winner Anaconda. Big Everest then shipped to Monmouth Park to defeat next-out stakes winner Smokin' T in the 1 1/16-mile Cliff Hanger on 27, which was his most recent victory. He enters from a pair of unplaced efforts when fifth in the Grade 3 Kelso on July 15 at Saratoga and fourth in the Oceanport on August 13 at Monmouth.

“He's doing well,” Clement said. “He's fast, but he doesn't have to be in front.”

Joel Rosario will ride from post 4.

A. Bianco Holding Limited's dual surface stakes winner Pioneering Spirit [post 1, Jose Lezcano] is back in search of more prosperity following a 15 3/4-length score in an off-the-turf edition of the Knickerbocker on October 20 at Belmont at the Big A.

The Linda Rice-trained 4-year-old son of American Pharoah was haltered for $40,000 in March and graduated at 13th asking on May 11 at Belmont Park to kick off a four-race winning streak. Following his maiden score, he defeated starter allowance company on June 4 going nine furlongs at Belmont before winning a first-level allowance on June 27 over the same track. He then captured an allowance optional claimer going the Long Island distance on July 29 over the inner turf at Saratoga Race Course en route to a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational on August 27 at the Spa.

Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale will send out Alice C. Bamford's Kentucky homebred St Anthony [post 9, Paco Lopez] following a victory in the one-mile Red Bank on September 4 at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old Noble Mission bay entered that event from an allowance optional claiming coup going 1 1/16 miles at the Jersey Shore oval. St Anthony earned prior stakes prosperity on the west coast, capturing the Alcatraz last May at Golden Gate Fields and the Robert Dupret Derby last August at Santa Rosa.

Trainer Chad Brown will saddle a pair of competitive contestants in dual Grade 1-placed Masen [post 8, Manny Franco] and three-time winner Exact Estimate [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.].

A British Juddmonte homebred, Masen enters from his first start in one calendar year when finishing ninth in the Grade 2 Nearctic on October 8 at Woodbine. The 5-year-old Kingman bay was previously conditioned overseas by Ger Lyons and was second in his North American debut when beaten a nose to Shirl's Speight in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile last April at Keeneland. He followed the strong performance with a five-length win in the Seek Again last May at Belmont before capturing the Grade 3 Poker last June over the Belmont Widener turf. He followed these wins with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Fourstardave last August at Saratoga, finishing behind Casa Creed as well as stablemate and eventual Champion Turf Female Regal Glory.

Klaravich Stables' Exact Estimate, by Into Mischief, will make his stakes debut following a local allowance optional claiming victory in September over stakes-winner Freedom Trail. The 4-year-old bay colt campaigned over the main track in his first two starts before graduating in his turf debut on March 17 going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park. He defeated winners going one mile on June 17 at Belmont, two starts before his last performance.

After five placings at state-bred stakes company this season, Repole Stable's New York-bred Jerry the Nipper [post 5, Jose Ortiz] will dive into open stakes company for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The 6-year-old son of Liam's Map has finished in the money in all six starts of this year and enters from a pair of Belmont at the Big A placings behind Spirit of St. Louis when third in the Mohawk on October 29 and second in the Ashley T. Cole on October 6. His lone victory this year took place against open allowance optional claiming company on July 30 at Saratoga.

Jerry the Nipper was bred in the Empire State by St. Elias Stable and Peta Ryan.

Completing the field are stakes-placed Bring Me a Check [post 2, Dylan Davis] for trainer Pat Reynolds, two-time winner James Aloysius [post 3, Javier Castellano] for trainer Tom Morley, and the Blake Kelly-trained stakes-placed Wicked Finn [post 7, Junior Alvarado]. Offaly Cool, Sheriff Bianco, and Kinetic Sky have been entered for main track only.

The Artie Schiller, which honors the 2005 winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile, is carded as Race 8 on Saturday's nine-race program at Aqueduct Racetrack, which also features the Grade 3, $300,000 Long Island. First post is 12:20 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.

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Awesome Treat, a 5-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot-Tiz a Treat, looks for her first stakes success in Saturday's $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G2), at Woodbine.

The seven-furlong main track feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, has drawn 14 starters, including Awesome Treat.

Trained by Steve Attard, the dark bay mare, fourth in last year's Bessarabian, heads into Saturday's affair off a pleasing runner-up finish in the Ontario Fashion (G3) on October 14. Dismissed at 38-1, Awesome Treat rallied stoutly down the lane to miss top prize by a half-length in the six-furlong test.

“She is awesome, she really is,” praised Attard. “She is a very nice mare. She never seems to surprise me. Just how she is and how she trains, you know what you are going to get from her. I wasn't surprised at all with that effort last time. That's her, a hard-trying mare, who always shows up. Six furlongs might be a bit short for her, but Emma [jockey, Wilson] gave her an incredible ride and they came flying in the stretch.”

Bred in Kentucky by Kumud Sikand, who co-owns with Rakesh Sikand, Awesome Treat finished eleventh in her debut at Churchill Downs on November 28, 2020. She contested her next three races at Woodbine, and posted a fourth, third and ninth, before two starts at Fair Grounds, both fourth-place efforts.

A return to Toronto resulted in a maiden-breaking score on October 29, 2022, a fourth in the Bessarabian and another win on December 4.

Awesome Treat's next four starts came at Turfway Park, including a second in the Wishing Well Stakes this January and a fourth in the Frog Stakes in March.

“I have had her off and on since she was three,” noted Attard. “She has never run a bad race for us. This is my third year with her. She will race here and then she goes back to compete in the U.S. at some point of the season. We always love having her here.”

The Kentucky-bred heads into the Bessarabian with a 2-4-1 mark from 16 starts, along with $161,845 (U.S.) in purse earnings.

“Just the way she tries all the time is amazing,” praised Attard, who will have Jose Campos in the irons Saturday. “She can be a bit tough in the stall, but we love having her.”

Gunner Bennett, who handles groom duties for Awesome Treat, echoed that sentiment.

“For me, she's a horse that doesn't want to be pet,” said Bennett. “She doesn't want to be messed with, but if you spoil her with carrots and love, she shows a soft side and it's incredibly rewarding. There's no better feeling than coming into the barn in the morning and seeing her throw her head out of her stall as soon as she hears me come in.”

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive, along with graded stakes winners Loyalty, Midnight Stroll, Miss Dracarys, Ready To Venture (GB), Spun Glass and multiple graded stakes winner Artie's Princess.

Trainer Roger Attfield and Kinghaven Farms teamed to win the first two editions of the Bessarabian, in 1985 with Summer Mood and one year later with Playlist.

The race is named after Canada's champion older female of 1986, a multiple stakes winning daughter of Vice Regent trained by Michael Doyle and owned by Eaton Hall Farm. She finished her racing career with an 18-5-4 mark from 37 starts.

Also on Saturday, 13 fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, will travel 1 ¼ miles on the Tapeta in the $150,000 Maple Leaf Stakes (G3).

The field includes multiple graded stakes winner Il Malocchio, who won last year's edition, graded stakes winners Mille Girl and Solo Album, multiple graded stakes placed Angelou and multiple stakes placed Ever Smart.

Conn Smythe, principal owner of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs from 1927 to 1961 and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens, leads all owners with seven Maple Leaf crowns. The race was inaugurated in 1892.

The Bessarabian is carded as race nine on Saturday's 11-race program. The Maple Leaf goes as race seven. First post is 1:05 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com, bet365 and the Dark Horse Bets app.

Field for the Bessarabian (G2)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Spun Glass – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

2 – Our Flash Drive – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

3 – Ready To Venture (GB) – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Stidham

4 – Baby No Worries – Willie Martinez – Tim Girten

5 – Dolce Sopresa – Ryan Munger – Josie Carroll

6 – Time for an Angel – Leo Salles – Michael Stidham

7 – Loyalty – Kazushi Kimiura – Josie Carroll

8 – Owen's Tour Guide – Sofia Vives – William Armata

9 – Miss Dracarys – Sahin Civaci – Neil Drysdale

10 – Artie's Princess (S) – Juan Crawford – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

11 – Collecting Flatter – Daisuke Fukumoto – Josie Carroll

12 – Awesome Treat – Jose Campos – Steve Attard

13 – Midnight Stroll – Trevor McCarthy – John Terranova

14 – Love to Shop – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

Field for the Maple Leaf (G3)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Indy Champagne – Justin Stein – Layne Giliforte

2 – Inventing – Leo Salles – Kevin Attard

3 – Talbeyah (IRE) (S) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

4 – Il Malocchio – Kazushi Kimura – Martin Drexler

5 – State of Mind – Sofia Vives – Josie Carroll

6 – Ready Lady – Jose Campos – Roger Attfield

7 – Ever Smart (S) – Trevor McCarthy – Neil Drysdale

8 – Angelou – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard

9 – Ephrata (GB) – Daisuke Fukumoto – Josie Carroll

10 – Solo Album – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse

11 – Millie Girl – Rafael Hernandez – Catherine Day Phillips

12 – Batyah – Eswan Flores – Josie Carroll

13 – Lady Brew – Ryan Munger – Steven Chircop

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