Tag: Racing

A break at the start of the Mohawk Million put T C I, in rein to David Miller, behind the eight-ball. But that was only the beginning of what would be a drama-filled fourth edition of the unique two-year-old trotting event.

It was expected the finish of the Million could produce one of its most exciting chapters to date. It was the start, however, that changed the complexion of the race and set the table for a compelling climax.

T C I, who had earned the golden ticket for his connections (the other nine slots for the Million are purchased for $100,000 per entry) after his win in the William Wellwood Memorial, broke stride at the outset, leaving the lifetime winner of eight of nine starts with plenty of work to do.

Tactical Strike, at 171-1, and 163-1 Top Mast, both Desiree Jones trainees, got away first and second, respectively, into the first turn, with the former taking the field through an opening quarter in :27.2. T C I, at 4-5, sat tenth, 15 lengths back of the winner. Drawn Impression was fifth but went off stride and was distanced.

The longshot duo continued to the set the tone through a half in :57.1, followed by Allegiant and Show Me, as T C I and Miller moved into eighth along the backstretch.

Tactical Strike was still calling the shots after three-quarters in 1:26.1, as Security Protected ratcheted up the pressure to the outside. Top Mast remained third, followed by Griff, while Tennessee Tom started to roll down the lane, picking off rivals with every stride and then taking over the proceedings.

Once an afterthought, T C I then arrived on the scene, fourth and charging at Mark McKelvie's stretch call, and loomed a major threat to the new leader, who dug in gamely, but couldn't stave off the improbable winner.

The Ron Burke trainee crossed the line a 1 ¼-length winner in a time of 1:54.3. Allegiant was third and Top Mast was fourth.

“We added a mini bit to him and scoring down he was fussing with it hanging out of line and I just think that made him mad and he did that,” said Miller. “At the quarter, I was like, 'Ah, we've got the Breeders Crown still and then I got him out in the flow, but he was running in so much around the last turn he wasn't making up any ground. As soon as he got into the straightaway, I said, 'Oh, he's going to win.'”

Mickey Burke was equally shocked by the early events he watched unfold.

“My heart stopped,” said the assistant trainer and brother of Ron Burke. “You just don't expect it, and when it happened, you're like, 'Oh no.' And it's all you can do, watch the race, and see what happens. He just put on a phenomenal effort. Fortunately, the race set up for someone coming from behind. With his talent he was able to do it. I give the colt a lot of credit.”

While a break in stride was a first for the son of Cantab Hall-Nicoles Promise, co-owned by Burke, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, displaying heart and grit is nothing new for the bay colt, who now has earnings of over $1.2 million.

After a second to launch his career this July at The Meadowlands, T C I reeled off eight straight winner's circle trips, including his three-quarter length triumph in the $620,000 William Wellwood on August 26.

Tonight's win, no doubt, is his most remarkable.

“Well, it's unbelievable, that should be history making because that was just wonderful,” said co-owner Bud Hatfield, of the horse named for vacation destination Turks and Caicos Islands. “I thought it was over, quite honestly, but that horse is special. That horse is really special. Dave did a great job and you really got to give Ronnie Burke credit.”

Purchased for $150,000 (Hip No. 55) at the 2022 Harrisburg Yearling Sale, T C I, bred by Concord Stud Farm LLC, paid $3.80 for the win.

The post Never Say Never: T C I Makes Miraculous Recovery To Win Mohawk Million appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The stars of the future will be on display when racing resumes on Monday, September 25 at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack with the annual running of the Aspirant and Lady Finger stakes.

Both stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds are contested at five and one-half furlongs. First race post time is 1:15 pm.

As preps for the $200,000 (estimated) New York Breeders' Futurity on Oct. 16, the races lured three of the top 10 riders in North America: Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz and Manny Franco.

The $99,388 Aspirant, for 2-year-old New York bred colts and geldings, is carded as race four on the eight-race program and is headlined by the Bob Baffert-trainee Tall Paul. 

The son of Frosted has made two starts in his career, a third-place finish against open company at Del Mar and a maiden win against New York-breds at Saratoga. 

In that race he pulled away down the stretch to win by three lengths in 1:12 flat under Joel Rosario. Tall Paul, listed at 9/5 by morning line oddsmaker Carl Anderson, was a $475,000 purchase at the March 2023 OBS sale. 

Baffert, who has sent out 14,353 horses to the post over his career, makes his first-ever appearance at Finger Lakes. 

The California-based trainer has won the Kentucky Derby six times, the Preakness eight times and the Belmont stakes three times. He'll call on the services of jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who heading into the weekend led all of North America in wins with 287 and purse earnings of $27,795,762.   

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out the Trust Fund. The Practical Joke colt was a $150,000 purchase at the August 2022 Saratoga sale.

Trust Fund broke his maiden at first asking against state-breds at Saratoga, winning by over two lengths in 1:12. He then returned in the Funny Cide stakes, for NY breds, where he stalked the early pace and faded to sixth. Jockey Jose Ortiz, currently fifth in North America in purse earnings ($16,538,536) and third in wins (192) picks up the mount. Trust Fund starts out at 7/2 on the line. 

Three races later, 2-year-old New York-bred fillies get their turn in the $103,159 Lady Finger stakes. A field of 9 is scheduled to face starter Jeff LaRue. 

The 5/2 morning line favorite is Soloshot. The daughter of Solomini was a $290,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2023.

Soloshot, trained by George Weaver, romped by over seven lengths versus NY-breds in her Saratoga career debut under jockey Manny Franco, getting the five and one-half furlongs in 1:05.3. 

Franco, currently in ninth in purse earnings this year ($12,515,247), gets the return call.  

Unicorn Cake, a homebred daughter of Cloud Computing, was up in time to break her maiden at first asking for trainer Jeremiah Englehart and rider Kendrick Carmouche. She surged late for the head victory at the Spa running the 6 furlongs in 1:12.1 also defeating state-breds. She starts out at 4-1 on the line.

Of the local runners worth a second look is Lika Rolling Stone. The daughter of Bustin Stones didn't have the best of beginnings in her well-backed career debut but once she settled into stride her ability showed as she drew off to win by almost 9 lengths under very little urging from jockey Jeremiah Flores. The home-bred filly is trained by Paul Barrow. She starts out at 8-1. 

Of the non-stakes action, race six, an Allowance race for horses that have never won a state-bred race, features the return of Jak N Burny.

The 3-year-old son of Destin has been sensational in all three lifetime Finger Lakes starts, winning by a combined 27 and a half-lengths. The Debra Breed trainee will once again be ridden by Joel Cruz.

Jak N Burny,who is out of Betty's Chance, is a half-brother to the recently retired Winston's Chance, who earned $495,264 throughout his stakes winning career.     

Complimentary Finger Lakes programs for Monday and all Finger Lakes cards can be downloaded at https://www.equibase.com/content/CustomPPs/FingerLakes/FingerLakes0925.pdf.

There will also be a promotion on Monday with Daily Racing Form where the Finger Lakes on-line DRF past performances can be accessed at no charge. 

About Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack: In operation since 1962, the facility added gaming to its offering in 2004 and expanded again in 2013 by adding 33,000 square feet with a $12 million expansion. FLGR is highlighted by over 1,100 gaming machines, the 448-seat Buffet, Remedy Bar & Lounge, as well as live and simulcast thoroughbred racing. Gaming doors open at 8 a.m. and racing doors open at 11:30 a.m. daily. For more information, visit www.fingerlakesgaming.com.

The post New York-Bred 2-Year-Olds Preparing For Future In Monday Stakes At Finger Lakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stewart Elliott found the wire in the nick of time, winning a three-way photo aboard J. Kirk and Judy Robison's How Did He Do That in Sunday night's Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Okla.

The 3-year-old colt from the first crop by Good Magic out of Stormin Maggy, by Storm Cat, had just enough left to hold off a furious late charge from his stretch-running Steve Asmussen stablemate, Red Route One, ridden by Joel Rosario. Tumbarumba, under Rafael Bejarano finished another nose back in third.

They were followed by Raise Cain, Cagliostro, 9-10 favorite Hit Show, Heroico Move, Groveland, Gunflash, Ghost Hero, Pearl's Earl and Mor Lana Spirit. West Coast Cowboy was scratched.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, How Did He Do That was purchased by the Robisons for $190,000 from Warrendale Sales at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale. Stormin Maggy is a half sister to champion and dual classic winner Afleet Alex (by Northern Afleet).

How Did He Do That ran the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.34 and paid $91.20 to win. He combined with his Asmussen stablemate Red Route One (5-1 third betting choice) for a $2 exacta that paid $524.40.

Asmussen, the sport's all-time winningest trainer and current leader of the Remington Park standings, previously won the Oklahoma Derby in 2017 with Untrapped. This was the first Oklahoma Derby win for Elliott, who sits atop the Remington Park jockey standings.

How Did He Do That raced just off the flank of longshot pacesetter Ghost Hero, who set fractions of :23.57, :48.05, and 1:12.21 for the first six furlongs. Tumbarumba saved ground just behind the leaders, with Red Route One taking his customary position near the back of the pack.

How Did He Do That moved to the front turning for home, drifting out under a left-handed strike of Elliott's riding crop into Groveland. The latter was also brushed from the outside by Caglionostro. How Did He Do That held a narrow lead with a furlong to run, with Tumbarumba rallying up the rail and Red Route One gobbling up ground behind him.

As they raced to the wire How Did He Do that maintained the advantage, but both Red Route One and Tumbarumba were surging as the trio hit the wire together.

It was a length back to Raise Cain in fourth, who was a head before Cagliostro. Hit Show, under Flavien Prat for Brad Cox, was wide throughout and was never a threat, beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

Stewards conducted an inquiry into the incident at the top of the stretch but allowed the original order of finish to stand.

The win was the fourth from 14 starts for How Did He Do That, who previously won the Zia Juvenile last November and dead-heated for the win with One in Vermillion in the Iowa Derby.

The post How Did He Do That Wins Three-Way Photo In Oklahoma Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prominent from the outset, Honor D Lady posted a mild 7-1 upset in Sunday night's Grade 3, $200,000 Remington Park Oaks at Remington Park, rallying past second choice Ancient Peace in the final furlong to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths under Tyler Conner. Magic Bubbles finished third, with Nomadic Pride fourth, Appropriated Funds fifth, Love Tank sixth, and Perfect Wish seventh in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

Merlazza, the even-money favorite trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, appeared to take a bad step approaching the three-eighths pole and was eased into the stretch before walking off the track.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Honor D Lady, an Honor Code filly out of Complicated, by Blame,  was winning for the third time in eight career starts. The Remington Park Oaks was her second stakes triumph, following a victory in May in the Honey Ryder at Gulfstream Park, but her initial graded stakes win.

Racing for Final Furlong Farm and Madaket Stables, Honor D Lady was bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo. She was purchased by Jim Thompson, agent, from consignor Indian Creek for $40,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Harrigan and Miacomet Bloodstock purchased Honor D Lady's dam Complicated, a sixth generation mare from the Phipps family tracing back to Grey Flight, for $110,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale from Claiborne Farm.

The race was hand timed with the track reporting that the 1 1/16 miles was run on a fast track in 1:46.00 following hand-timed fractions of  :23.49, :47.49, and 1:11.46. Honor D Lady paid $17.40 to win.

Conner put Honor D Lady in the race early, racing three wide into the first turn and down the backstretch as Ancient Peace, under Rafael Bejarano, darted to the early lead from the outside post and set the fractions. Merlazza was closest early with Honor D Lady to her outside.

Approaching the far turn, Merlazza suddenly backed out of it and it became a two-horse race around the final turn and into the stretch.  Ancient Peace, who appeared to be headstrong much of the way, was unable to stave off Honor D Lady's stretch run, settling for second but 4 1/4 lengths clear of the third-place horse.

The post Honor D Lady Scores First Graded Stakes Win In Remington Park Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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