Tag: Racing

The first two of 11 meets through mid-November take place this weekend at Shawan Downs near Hunt Valley in Baltimore County, followed by the Foxfield Fall Races in Charlottesville, Va.

After two months of high-profile flat-track steeplechase action at Saratoga, Colonial Downs, and Aqueduct, the National Steeplechase Association returns to the hunt-meet circuit this weekend for a combined 13 races that have drawn 129 entries.

What separates racing at the flat tracks from the hunt meets is the relaxed, family-focused atmosphere at the latter. At Shawan, for example, you'll find a kids zone and vendor village, petting zoo, and face painting, while Foxfield offers fun activities and events like a truck touch, pony rides, stick pony races, and junior pony races.

Seven races worth $167,000 are on tap for Saturday's fall opener in the Legacy Chase at the Shawan Downs equestrian center in Cockeysville, Md. Anchoring the eclectic card is the $35,000 Brown Advisory timber stakes at 3 ⅛ miles, where seven veterans, including two champions, are expected to face the starter.

At 13, Andi'amu, who runs in the colors of Tom and Roxy Collins' Ballybristol Farm, is still in top form. A winner of 11 races – nine stakes – in 16 outings since 2018, Andi'amu has finished second four times. In his 2023 debut, Andi'amu won the Middleburg Hunt Cup in April by a neck over a hard-charging Mystic Strike, a multiple stakes-winning 14-year-old, who turned the tables on the 2019 and 2022 timber champion in the four-mile Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow in May. This will be Andi'amu's first start for new trainer Neil Morris.

This season's leading conditioner, Leslie Young, who formerly trained Andi'amu, sends out Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Tomgarrow, the 2019 timber champ. Tomgarrow began 2023 with a win in the My Lady's Manor stakes, and had won four of his previous five starts coming into the Virginia Gold Cup, where he fell. Young, who maintains a commanding lead in the standings, also saddles Boudinot Farm's Elusive Exclusive, who exits a narrow, hard-fought allowance win over The Hundred Acre Field's Cracker Factory in a timber allowance to close out the spring at the Radnor Hunt Races.

Cracker Factory, who is entered at Shawan, finished third in the Middleburg Hunt Cup for trainer Mark Beecher, less than six lengths behind Andi'amu and Mystic Strike, but went off course in the Virginia Gold Cup. Storm Team, who runs in the colors of Sheila Fisher and Northwoods Stable, was a stakes winner over timber and hurdles, and began a new career chapter last spring in steeplethon competition over mixed obstacles. But after a dazzling 14-length win at Great Meadow, he returns to timber seeking a second straight score in the Brown Advisory for Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher.

Rounding out the field is Fat Chance Farm's Flaming Sword (Richard Valentine), who was third in the Brown Advisory last year.

The rest of the card consists of a $20,000 maiden hurdle for three-year-olds; $30,000 maiden special; $25,000 handicap for horses rated at 115 or less; $35,000 allowance hurdle; $15,000 maiden timber; and a $7,000 allowance race over timber restricted to apprentice riders.

First race post time is 12:30 p.m. Gates open at 10 a.m. For additional information, click here: https://shawandowns.com/events/legacy-chase/

For full entries, click here: Entries

Six races set for Foxfield

Following a two-year hiatus, fall steeplechasing resumes at historic Charlottesville, Va., for the second straight year on Sunday.

After years of decline, the meet was put on hold in order to reimagine the event. During that time new leadership was put in place, leading to partnerships with charitable organizations, major improvements to the course and grounds, a de-emphasis on the consumption of alcoholic beverages, and a commitment to becoming a good neighbor to the community.

This year's meet will be bigger and better than ever, with six races worth $140,000 on the program, representing a substantial boost over last year's $95,000 card.

The Foxfield card consists of six races, highlighted by a $35,000 handicap for horses rated at 120 or less. The other races are a $15,000 maiden claiming hurdle; $30,000 maiden hurdle for fillies and mares; $30,000 maiden hurdle for three-year-olds; $25,000 handicap for horses rated at 110 or less; and a training race on the flat at 1 ¼ miles.

Click here for complete entries: Entries

First race post time is 12:30 p.m. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., with activities starting at 10 a.m. For a full schedule of the day's events, food, and vendors, click here: https://www.foxfieldraces.com/schedule/.

If you can't make it to the races, be sure to watch the live stream, sponsored by Brown Advisory, at www.nationalsteeplechase.com.

The post Steeplechase: Legacy Chase Kicks Off Fall Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Well beaten on turf in his most recent start, Bob Baffert's Azul Coast returns to the main track on Sunday and heads a field of five 3-year-olds and up going a marathon 1 1/2 miles in the Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup.

A well beaten 11th at 1 3/8 miles on grass in the G2 Del Mar Handicap Sept. 2, Azul Coast was second on dirt in the 1 1/2-mile G3 Cougar II Stakes July 23 with Juan Hernandez, who rides back on Sunday.

A 6-year-old full horse by Super Saver, Azul Coast is owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. A winner of the G3 Native Diver Stakes in November of 2021, he seeks his second stakes victory and third overall stakes win. With an overall mark of 16-4-3-1, he has earnings of $282,580.

Although distanced at 1 1/4 miles in the G1 Pacific Classic Sept. 2, Order and Law proved he was still plenty competitive two starts back when he rolled to a 2 ¼ length score under Kent Desormeaux at odds of 14-1 in the G3 Cougar on July 23 at Del Mar.

Trained by Bob Hess, Jr., Order and Law, a 7-year-old ridgling by Violence, will be making his 44th career start in the Tokyo City Cup and will be ridden for the second time in-a-row by Edwin Maldonado. Owned by Larry Buckendorf, Jeffrey Lambert, Lawrence Rodriguez, et al, Order and Law will be seeking his second graded stakes win and his third overall added money win dating back to victory in the ungraded Laurel Futurity in August of his 2-year-old year.

THE GRADE 3 TOKYO CITY CUP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 9 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m.

1. Missed the Cut—Umberto Rispoli—124
2. Kiss Today Goodbye—Hector Berrios—126
3. Donner Lake—John Velazquez–122
4. Order and Law—Edwin Maldonado—126
5. Azul Coast—Juan Hernandez–126

First post time for a nine-race card which will include three other stakes on Sunday is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

The post Azul Coast Back On Dirt For Marathon Tokyo City Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Streaking Adare Manor seeks her fifth consecutive win as she heads a field of four fillies and mares three and up going 1 1/16 miles in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita.

Named in honor of North America's 2010 Horse of the Year and four-time Eclipse Award winner, the Zenyatta is a key prep to the G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita and is part of the Breeders' Cup “Dirt Dozen.”

With her last three victories coming in graded the stakes, the most recent a one-length score going a mile and one sixteenth in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar Aug. 5, Adare Manor should be tough to deny on the front end with Juan Hernandez back aboard for Bob Baffert.

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Adare Manor has five wins and three seconds here at Santa Anita and has been heavily favored in her last five starts. A 4-year-old filly by Uncle Mo out of the Giant Gizmo mare Brooklynsway, she is 12-6-4-0 overall with earnings of $861,600.

Although winless in nine starts since taking the G2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9, 2022, Arizona-bred Desert Dawn is plenty strong at the bank, earning $155,375 from four starts this year and amassing career earnings of $776,525 from an overall mark 15-2-3-5.

Most recently second, beaten one length at 5-1 by Adare Manor in the Hirsch at Del Mar, Desert Dawn would be well-suited by a fast pace with regular rider Umberto Rispoli back aboard. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Desert Dawn, a 4-year-old daughter of Cupid out of the Honour and Glory mare Ashely's Glory, is owned by her Arizona breeder, H and E Ranch, Inc.

THE GRADE 2 ZENYATTA WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 9 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. Adare Manor—Juan Hernandez—126
2. Micro Share—Mike Smith—122
3. Desert Dawn—Umberto Rispoli—122
4. Window Shopping—Hector Berrios–122

First post time for a nine-race card, that will include three other stakes on Sunday, is at 1 p.m. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.

The post Adare Manor Leads Field Of Four For Sunday’s Zenyatta appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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