Tag: Racing

Keith Johnston and Chris Aulds' Big and Classy is entered to seek his ninth victory of the year in Saturday's $100,000 Gil Campbell Memorial at Gulfstream Park.

The Campbell Memorial, a one-turn mile handicap for registered Florida-bred 3-year-olds and up, will be the supporting stakes to the co-featured $200,000 Affirmed and $200,000 Susan's Girl, second-leg stakes in the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series.

The Bobby Dibona-trained 4-year-old son of The Big Beast, who is coming off a commanding victory in the Jackson Bend Handicap, currently ranks second in North America in races-won, one back of Wyoming-based Fayette Warrior.

Big and Classy has been no worse than second in 10 starts this year, including a runner-up finish to Dean Delivers in the July 1 Smile Sprint (G3) at Gulfstream. He will have an opportunity Saturday to turn the tables on Dean Delivers, who defeated him by 2 ¼ lengths in the six-furlong Smile.

Michael Yates-trained Dean Delivers, a Stonehedge LLC homebred, went on to finish third behind Elite Power and Gunite in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) at Saratoga.

Dean Delivers has been assigned 126 pounds, two more than Big and Classy.

David Bernsen LLC and Jeffrey Lambert's Handy Dandy enters the Gil Campbell Memorial off the $80,000 claim at Del Mar. Trained by Bob Hess Jr., the 4-year-old son of Fury Kapcori finished fourth in the Hollywood Derby (G1) and Twilight Derby (G2) last year.

Big Daddy Dave, Boca Boy, Khozeiress, Noble Drama, Octane, Slim Slow Slider and The Skipper Too round out the field.

The post Big And Classy Chasing Ninth Win Of 2023 In Saturday’s Gil Campbell Memorial Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hillwood Stable's 3-year-old colt Post Time, undefeated winner of his comeback race last month at historic Pimlico Race Course, will put his perfect record to the test in the first race outside his native Maryland.

In the barn of Maryland's leading trainer Brittany Russell, whose main string is based at Laurel Park, Post Time is entered to make his next start in the $250,000 Perryville for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs Oct. 21 at Keeneland.

The gray or roan son of Grade 1-winning multi-millionaire Frosted made a triumphant return Sept. 22 at Pimlico, overcoming a slow start to rally for a popular and professional 4 ½-length optional claiming allowance score over older horses in 1:11.64 for six furlongs – his first start in 295 days.

“We got the run under his belt, and it was a positive run,” Russell said. “He's going to have to do a lot more in this next spot, but as long as he shows he can run with those types we can start thinking what's next. There's always races at home, but if he's the talent we think he is we need to try something like this.”

Bred by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Brooke Bowman and Milton Higgins III, Post Time was purchased by Hillwood's Ellen Charles for $85,000 as a yearling in October 2021. He raced three times at 2, all at Laurel, starting with a two-length debut triumph in a 5 ½-furlong off-the-turf maiden special weight last Oct. 7 despite acting and racing greenly.

Post Time wheeled back 20 days later to beat winners in his first try by 6 ¾ lengths, sprinting seven furlongs in 1:25.30. Unraced in November, he came from off the pace again for a 3 ¾-length victory in the Maryland Juvenile, going seven-eighths in 1:23.98 to beata field that included stakes winners Johnyz From Albany and Coffeewithchris.

Pointed to Laurel's Spectacular Bid in January, Maryland's first stakes of the year for sophomores, Post Time went to the sidelines and didn't return to the work tab until July. He posted eight breezes with Russell's string at Delaware Park leading up to his return, which saw him racing on the inside and within traffic for the first time against six opponents that had combined for 33 wins from 190 starts.

“You're not always going to have the outside post and be able to just loop them. You're going to have to have to be able to run through horses, take dirt and be a man,” Russell said. “He sure acts like he's a man.”

Post Time drew Post 3 in a field of six for the Perryville that includes Indiana Derby (G3) winner and twice Grade 1-placed Verifying, trained by Russell's former mentor, Brad Cox; Rebel (G2) winner Confidence Game, 10th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) in his last start; and Gotham (G3) winner Raise Cain, most recently second in the Indiana Derby. Russell's husband, champion jockey Sheldon Russell, is named to ride.

“We're taking him there. He's earned his way,” Brittany Russell said. “We need to test him eventually and it just seems like a good spot – 3-year-olds, seven-eighths. It worked out that it's a short field. I want to take him out of town and I want to give it a try. He's really talented. He looks really good at home, but he's going to have to step up out of town so it seems like a good time to do it.”

Also entered at Keeneland for Russell is Michael Dubb homebred Apple Picker in the seven-furlong Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Grade 1-winning millionaire Connect exits a 4 ½-length upset at odds of 8-1 in the six-furlong Weather Vane Sept. 16 at Pimlico.

Russell has another exciting prospect is Karmac Stable's Maryland homebred Prado Road, who finished second in Saturday's Maryland Million Nursery for 2-year-olds. The Golden Lad colt pressed the pace into the stretch while racing wide and held the place by three-quarters of a length over favored Kohler's.

“He's a classy horse,” Russell said. “He's a just a big, smart, kind animal that came over here and acts like he's been here forever, because he's been training at Delaware. There's a lot of positive things about him being a Maryland-bred and everything.”

Prado Road also ran second in his Sept. 30 unveiling at Delaware, a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight where he was beaten a neck by first-timer American War Hero, a $625,000 son of Constitution trained by Graham Motion.

 

“I think he was a little unlucky not to win that day. Graham Motion had an expensive horse in that race that ran him down. I think he was well-meant,” Russell said. “We liked him going into that run, so we definitely come [to Maryland Million] if he wins first time. I just thought, 'Let's take a swing,' because he's doing really good.”

The post ‘We Need To Test Him’: Undefeated 3-Year-Old Post Time Steps Into Stakes Company In Keeneland’s Perryville appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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NBS Stable and Elements Racing's graded stakes-winner Danse Macabre will face an overflow field when she returns to New York for Thursday's $125,000 Glen Cove, a six-furlong outer turf sprint for sophomore fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Kelsey Danner, the Army Mule chestnut rallied to finish 1 3/4-lengths back in third here last year in the Grade 3 Matron won by American Apple, who got the jump and posted a neck score over Redifined.

Danse Macabre exited that effort to win her seasonal debut in March at Gulfstream Park in the one-mile Grade 3 Herecomesthebride, posting a head score over Papilio, who returned to win the Grade 2 Appalachian at Keeneland.

The talented chestnut has shortened up in distance in her most recent two outings, taking the 5 1/2-furlong Mamzelle by 2 1/4-lengths over American Apple in May at Churchill Downs and finishing a prominent second last out in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Music City on September 2 at Kentucky Downs.

Danse Macabre exited post 1-of-12 under regular rider Adam Beschizza in the Music City and prompted the pace from second position. She angled four-wide for the stretch run and landed one length back of the victorious Secret Money and three-quarter lengths in front of the multiple graded stakes-placed Bling, who exited that effort to register a 91 Beyer Speed Figure in an allowance score at Keeneland.

“I thought she ran a really big race,” Danner said. “I think the filly that beat her is a really nice filly and I know they thought a lot of that filly, as well. She ran a big race coming off the fence.”

Danner said the ultra-consistent Danse Macabre has plenty of heart.

“A lot of it,” agreed Danner. “She's doing very good. Three-quarters is right up her alley. I'd like it better if it's not soaking wet. Anywhere from five-eighths to a mile, she's OK.”

The $55,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase has banked $858,340 through a record of 8-4-3-1. She is out of the Blame mare Sylphide, who is half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Cambodia.

“I picked her out at the sale. She's got a nice build, a strong hind end and she looked quick,” Danner said.

Beschizza has the call from post 2.

Trainer Christophe Clement will hope to saddle a trio of top contenders in stakes-placed Love Appeals [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], three-time winner Dontlookbackatall [post 9, Jose Ortiz] and well-related allowance winner Plentitude [post 11, Dylan Davis], who is on the also-eligible list.

Moyglare Stud Farm's Kentucky homebred Love Appeals closed to finish third two starts back in the 5 1/2-furlong Blue Sparkler on July 15 at Monmouth Park, landing a neck back of her victorious returning rival Beauty of the Sea. The Speightstown bay followed with a troubled fourth last out in the Galway traveling the same distance over good going on August 12 at Saratoga Race Course.

Love Appeals is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Gioia Stella, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Nereid and the Grade 1-placed Sea Queen.

West Point Thoroughbreds, Scarlet Oak Racing and Titletown Racing Stables' Pennsylvania-bred Dontlookbackatall sports a ledger of 8-3-3-0 that includes a state-bred allowance score over the main track in July at Parx and a last-out frontrunning win in an open allowance on September 14 here, besting next-out allowance winner Play the Music.

The speedy dark bay, a $150,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is a half-sister to graded stakes-placed En Wye Cee.

CHC Inc.'s Kentucky homebred Plentitude, by Quality Road and out of the Grade 1-winning Gemologist mare Yellow Agate, is a full-sister to recent Grade 2 Pilgrim-winner Agate Road.

Plentitude graduated on debut over the main track in April at Tampa Bay Downs and followed by stalking and pouncing to victory against elders in a six-furlong turf allowance on June 16 at Belmont, besting a pair of next-out allowance winners in Z First and Shootoutthelights.

The lightly-raced bay was last seen finishing fourth in the aforementioned Blue Sparkler when three lengths back of Beauty of the Sea.

R. Larry Johnson's Maryland-homebred Future Is Now [post 5, Victor Carrasco] will make her stakes debut following a frontrunning open-company allowance win traveling five furlongs over good going on September 16 at Pimlico Race Course.

Trained by Michael Trombetta, the Great Notion bay zipped through splits of 22.64 seconds and 45.95 under Victor Carrasco en route to a 4 3/4-length score in a final time of 58.39. The impressive effort garnered a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“She ran really fast last time when she won the allowance, so it's probably a good time to take a crack at stakes company with her,” Trombetta said.

Future Is Now graduated on debut sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm turf in a restricted maiden special weight on August 5 at Colonial Downs. She returned 20 days later at Colonial to finish a distant fourth in her dirt debut ahead of her last-out score.

The speedy bay is out of the Bernardini mare Past as Prelude, who is a half-sister to Street Magician – winner of the 2007 Grade 3 Hirsch Jacobs over the Pimlico main track for Trombetta and Johnson.

Richard Schermerhorn's lightly-raced Lady Beth [post 4, Manny Franco] will look to secure her first stakes win for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

The Hard Spun bay graduated on debut in February over the Gulfstream Park synthetic and followed in May with a third-place finish in the aforementioned Grade 3 Soaring Softly. Last out, she set the pace when fifth in the one-mile Winter Memories on September 15, landing two lengths back of the victorious Sacred Wish.

Out of the Makfi mare Boreale, the third dam of the $390,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds-In-Training purchase produced multiple graded stakes-winner Interactif.

A talented field includes a strong pair from Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in stakes-winner Ticker Tape Home [post 10, Junior Alvarado] and stakes-placed Personal Pursuit [post 7, Javier Castellano]; also featured are Group 3-placed Zoinnocent [post 1, Ruben Silvera] for trainer Kevin Boniface; the Joe Orseno-trained stakes-winner Beauty of the Sea [post 6, Jairo Rendo]; and Determined Jester [post 3, Forest Boyce], who won the Rosie's last September at Colonial Downs for trainer Phil Schoenthal.

The also-eligible list includes the stakes-placed Violet Gibson [post 12, Tyler Conner] for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr.; and maiden winners Queen of the Mud [post 13, Trevor McCarthy] for trainer Graham Motion and the Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon-conditioned Gatita Suave [post 14, Katie Davis]. Tappin Josie is entered for the main-track only.

The Glen Cove, which was originally scheduled for Sunday and re-scheduled due to forecasted inclement weather, is slated as Race 8 on Thursday's nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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