Tag: Racing

Vahva collared pacesetter Alva Starr in deep stretch and edged to a half-length victory in the 25th running of the $349,375 Lexus Raven Run (G2) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux and ridden by John Velazquez, Vahva covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.28.

“She's been a gritty filly throughout her career but really had to run that filly down,” said DeVaux, who notched her first Keeneland stakes victory.

Velazquez said he knew favorite Alva Starr would be tough to beat but his mount was game for the win.

“I got close to the heels of the horse in front (Alva Starr), held my position, and when I pulled (Vahva) out she responded. That's all you can ask of the horses. She was there for me, and she did it all,” said Velazquez, who posted his 62nd Keeneland win, three of which have come in the Raven Run, including in 2008 with Informed Decision and 2012 with Gypsy Robin.

Alva Starr led the field of seven through an opening quarter-mile in :22.61 while under pressure from Ancient Peace with 2-1 second choice Vahva tracking in fourth. On the far turn, Vahva began to close in and by the top of the stretch it was game on between the two favorites.

Alva Starr stubbornly clung to an advantage through most of the run through the lane, yielding only inside the sixteenths pole as Vahva pushed past for the victory.

Vahva was coming off a victory in the Charles Town Oaks (G3) Aug. 25. A Kentucky-bred daughter of Gun Runner out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Holiday Soiree, Vahva improved her record to 10-4-2-2 and increased her earnings to $873,810 with Saturday's $211,575 check.

Vahva returned $7.06 for the win.

Alva Starr, stretching out to seven furlongs for the first time, finished 12½ lengths in front of third-place finisher Dazzling Blue.

“We knew we were up against a new factor (first time beyond six furlongs),” said Alva Starr's trainer, Brett Brinkman. “I am not scared to run her seven-eighths (again). She is a sprinter.

“We will probably take her home (to Fair Grounds in New Orleans) and piddle around with her, give her some time off and regroup.”

It was another half-length back to Apple Picker in fourth, with Lily Poo, Lady Radler, and Ancient Peace following in order.

Vahva was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds, which sold her for $280,000 to DBR IV and West Point at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The post Vahva Collars Front-Running Favorite Alva Starr For Raven Run Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ghost Hero captured the biggest race on Remington Park's Oklahoma Classics Night card in fine style Friday–the $131,000 Classics Cup.

The 3-year-old Shaman Ghost colt won last year's Oklahoma Classics Juvenile and the Don McNeill Stakes last year at Remington before being soundly defeated there in the Springboard Mile to end the season. This year, he won the Lafayette at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana and Will Rogers Stakes Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla., before returning to Remington Park and finishing 10th in the Oklahoma Derby (G3), but emphatically rebounded in the Classics Cup.

Under jockey Floyd Wethey Jr. Ghost Hero romped to a  7 1/4-length triumph while covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.37 on a fast track.

“He just bounced in his last race (Oklahoma Derby),” said trainer Jayde J. Gelner. “He had two big races before the Oklahoma Derby.”

Ghost Hero was sitting two lengths off the lead after a half mile in the Classics Cup, stalking pacesetter Kwontro (29-1), who eventually faded to last. Kwontro set early fractions of :23.25 for the first quarter mile and :46.93 for the half mile. Ghost Hero took over when he hit three-quarters in 1:11.67 and clocked a mile in 1:38.17.

Despite Ghost Hero's comfortable five-length led in early stretch, Wethey continued to urge on the winner through the stretch.

“I didn't want to hold anything back,” said Wethey, “and I didn't. My first win on him, I knew he was something special. I was going to stick with him (wherever he went).”

As Wethey returned to the winner's circle, he began tearing the flowers off the blanket of carnations placed over the horse's withers after the race and throwing them into the air in celebration. It was Wethey's second win of the night in the Classics, also taking the $76,000 Oklahoma Classics Lassie aboard Miss Code West.

The win marked Gelner's second trip to the winner's circle on the night, taking the $99,600 Oklahoma Classics Distaff Turf with Run Slewpy Run earlier in the evening. Ghost Hero gave Gelner his third career Classics win.

The 6-5 second choice, Ghost Hero is owned by Norman Stables (Robert Norman) of Thomasville, Ala. He improved his record to 13 starts, six wins, one second and one third for earnings of $326,282. He was purchased at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, where Fort Christopher's Thoroughbreds consigned him. The ticket was signed in the name of “Father and son”.

Number One Dude, as the 4-5 odds-on favorite, checked in second and was another 1 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Absaroka (11-1), who won the race two years ago.

Ghost Hero ($4.40)  was bred in Oklahoma by Clark Brewster of Tulsa, Okla. His dam is the Super Saver mare Queen Buxley.

Also on the the Oklahoma Classics Night card, Boom Baby Flats won the $76,000 Juvenile, Dicey took the $99,600 Distaff Sprint, Stormieis Blue won the $111,000 Distaff Handicap, Fly to the Bank captured the $99,600 Sprint, and Eakly took the $99,600 OKC Turf Classic Handicap.

The post ‘Something Special’: Ghost Hero Rolls Home Unchallenged In Oklahoma Classics Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A. Bianco Holding Limited's Pioneering Spirit proved superior to his lone foe Commandeer in Friday's Grade 3, $150,000 Knickerbocker, a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up that was moved from the outer turf to the main track, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Linda Rice, Pioneering Spirit visited the winner's circle for the sixth time since being haltered for $40,000 out of a March maiden claiming tilt at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old son of American Pharoah has hit the board in 8-of-10 starts for Rice, including his Knickerbocker score and a stakes win on turf in the Bernard Baruch in September at Saratoga Race Course, which followed a Grade 1 placing when third in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer in August.

“When I claimed him, he had been running on the dirt, but he had never won a race on the dirt – that's a negative,” said Rice. “But he really trains well in the morning and breezes well on the dirt. That doesn't always hold true from turf to dirt – a lot of grass horses will [work well on dirt] and then not perform on it.”

Piloted to victory by Jose Ortiz, Pioneering Spirit broke the best of the pair but kept back as the Dylan Davis-piloted Commandeer took command along the inside and raced a half-length ahead of his pressing rival through splits of 23.91 seconds and 47.02 over the sloppy and sealed going.

Ortiz nudged Pioneering Spirit to move closer approaching the turn before turning his mount loose after three-quarters in 1:11.06. Pioneering Spirit responded to urging with aplomb and drew clear of the Jimmy Toner-trained Commandeer in the stretch, clocking one mile in 1:37.35 and cantering home down the center of the course when shown a right-handed crop to complete the course 15 3/4 lengths in front in a final time of 1:51.42.

Wicked Finn, St Anthony, Rockemperor, Master Piece and Siege of Boston were scratched. King Cause was scratched at the gate, which led to the match race.

Rice said she was confident in both Ortiz and Pioneering Spirit.

“I haven't been in very many match races. This might be the first one,” said Rice. “He's very tactical this horse and he has a beautiful way of moving. He has a very efficient stride and great mechanics. Jose put the heat on the other horse and it worked.”

Ortiz, who was aboard Pioneering Spirit for the first time since an optional claiming win in July, said he knew the race was won in the far turn.

“At that point, I felt very confident and comfortable at the three-eighths pole,” said Ortiz. “I felt like Dylan's horse was struggling a bit over the backside, off the bit a little. From that point on, I just applied more pressure, more pressure and my horse was traveling well under the bridle. I was very happy at that point.”

Rice added Pioneering Spirit could come under consideration for the $150,000 Artie Schiller, a one-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up, on November 12 here for his next outing.

Bred in Kentucky by International Equities Holding, Pioneering Spirit banked $82,500 in victory, boosting his total purse earnings to $530,750 through a record of 20-6-4-2. He returned $3.40 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A with a 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.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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