Tag: Racing

Dancing Duchess, under Javier Castellano, got up just in time to win the $200,000 Algonquin Stakes Sunday at Woodbine.

The dark bay daughter of Munnings out of the Congrats mare Duchess Dancer trained by Mark Casse for Tracy Farmer, sat off the early pace set by longshot Rock to Fame, who took her seven rivals through an opening quarter in :22.48 over an inner turf listed as good.

Still on top heading for home in the five-furlong race for 2-year-olds, Rock to Fame was confronted by a host of rivals to his inside and outside in mid-stretch. It was hard-charging, slight 5-2 choice Dancing Duchess, second-last for most of the race, who had the most momentum, powering by her foes in the final yards to eke out a dramatic half-length victory in a time of :58.38.

Pipit, a last-time out winner of the Victoria Stakes, and Golden Canary, another Casse trainee, dead-heated for second. Split Strike was fourth. Only one length separated the top six finishers.

“She was last for a long time, but what an amazing closing kick and what a great ride from Javier,” said Kathryn Sullivan, assistant to Mark Casse. “I was not sure she was going to get there but I think he was more confident than I was.”

Dancing Duchess, now 2-2-0 from six starts, all at Woodbine, arrived at the Algonquin off a troubled trip in the Natalma (G1) on September 16. Prior to that, she posted a pair of runner-up results, in the Soaring Free (won by Golden Canary) on August 20, and the My Dear on July 15.

Bred in Ontario by Mitchell Kursner, Dancing Duchess paid $7.20 for the win.

The post Dancing Duchess Prevails In Algonquin Thriller At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Godolphin homebred Nations Pride (IRE) stalked pacesetter Royal Champion (IRE) from second before wearing down that rival at the sixteenths pole, then shaking free for a clear in in the $750,000 Canadian International (G1) Sunday at Woodbine.

Sent off the favorite under William Buick, Nations Pride was winning his third race at the highest level as he cruised across the finish line 2 1/4 lengths to the good of gallant runner-up Royal Champion.

Adhamo (IRE) finished third.

A 4-year-old son of Teofilo, globetrotting Nations Pride has five stakes wins in five nations: Canada, Dubai, the U.S., England, and France. He scored previous top-level wins the 2022 Saratoga Derby and in the Grosser Dallmayr-Preis (G1) July 30 in his previous start.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Nations Pride returned $2.80 after covering the 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.65.

Royal Champion took charge soon after the start and opened a comfortable lead as Nations Pride tracked through an opening quarter in :25.42, a half in :50.07, and six furlongs in 1:14.80.

Royal Champion appeared poised to for a front-running win under James Doyle as he entered the stretch with a one-length lead ,but Nations Pride wore him down with a sustained rally to score.

Nations Pride, who has a 10-2-1 record from 15 career starts, was produced by the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Important Time (IRE).

The post Nations Pride Overhauls Pacesetter Royal Champion Late To Win Canadian International appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Klaravich Stables' Gerrymander proved much the best over Sunset Louise in Sunday's off-the-turf edition of the $150,000 Noble Damsel, which was originally slated for one-mile on the inner turf but was contested at the same distance over the main track and downgraded from a Grade 3 to a listed event at Belmont at the Big A.

The daughter of Into Mischief provided  trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables with their second collaborative stakes win on the card, adding to a dominant score with Randomized in the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame. Gerrymander now owns three stakes scores after taking the Big A's Tempted as a juvenile and the Grade 2 Mother Goose last year at Belmont Park.

Ridden to victory by Jose Ortiz, Gerrymander faced just one rival in the Bruce Levine-trained five-time-winning New York-bred Sunset Louise, who established early command on the outside under Kendrick Carmouche and marked an opening quarter-mile in :22.59 over the fast main track.

Gerrymander kept close along the inside but was soon asked by Ortiz to take charge and cleared Sunset Louise by a half-length through the half-mile in 44.93. Gerrymander widened her stride through the turn and into the stretch while clocking three-quarters in 1:10.16 and seven furlongs in 1:22.93 as Ortiz remained motionless except for a quick peek back at a distant Sunset Louise. Gerrymander completed the course wrapped up in a final time of 1:36.46 and 25 lengths ahead of Sunset Louise.

Salimah, Panama Red, Fluffy Socks, Malavath, Sparkle Blue, Balpool,and Movie Moxy were scratched.

Ortiz said Gerrymander completed the task with ease.

“My horse was much the better than the other one,” said Ortiz. “We both broke clean and stayed pretty much together the whole race until the three-eighths pole when my filly was much the best and drew away from the other one.”

Ortiz added that he preserved inside position until he was well clear of Sunset Louise.

“Passing the chute, I took up a little bit to see if Kendrick was going to clear me,” said Ortiz. “But he stayed where he was. I knew he wasn't going to let me go outside of him. If I go outside of him, he'll go out more. I just waited and tried to time it perfectly when we approached the turn. When I let her go, she was much the best. I didn't do anything special.”

Bred in Kentucky by Town and Country Horse Farms and Pollock Farms, Gerrymander, a $375,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, was produced by the Hard Spun mare Ruby Lips. She banked $82,500 in victory and improved her lifetime record to 14-4-4-2.

Gerrymander returned $2.60 for a $2 win ticket.

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