Tag: Racing

Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Wet Paint notched a breakthrough Grade 1 score last out in Saratoga Race Course's nine-furlong $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks. The daughter of Blame will look to build upon that effort when stretching out to 10 furlongs for the first time in Saturday's Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales for sophomore fillies at the Spa.

Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, Wet Paint's CCA Oaks victory came in thrilling fashion when flying home late under regular pilot Flavien Prat to nail Sacred Wish at the wire and secure a neck score in a final time of 1:50.68. She equaled a career-best 89 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, which came on the heels of a runner-up finish to Hoosier Philly in the Monomoy Girl at Ellis Park where the latter was alone on the lead and coasted home a 3 1/2-length winner.

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock for Godolphin, said the Monomoy Girl set up Wet Paint well for the CCA Oaks.

“The race at Ellis was purely a prep race and when we saw the field and the way it was going to develop, we knew we were up against it,” said Banahan. “But we were very pleased with the way she ran and with a paceless race like that, she really knuckled down and ran well. In the CCA Oaks, there was concern if she would get there at the end, but you could see her lower her head and make her run at the top of the stretch. We didn't know if she would get there, but we knew she would try hard. Even in races with not enough pace, she still seems to run her best race.

“She's doing very well and she's in great shape,” Banahan added. “Brad is very happy with her and we were pleased with her coming out of the Coaching Club, so we feel she should give a good account of herself on Saturday.”

The CCA Oaks was Wet Paint's first visit to the winner's circle since April when she took the Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn Park, her third consecutive stakes triumph at the Hot Springs oval before finishing a closing fourth as the post-time favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

Wet Paint kicked off her sophomore campaign with a two-length victory in the Martha Washington traveling 1 1/16 miles over wet-fast and sealed conditions and followed with an impressive win over sloppy and sealed conditions next out in the Grade 3 Honeybee in February, which she won with a devastating late rally from 12 lengths off the pace to cross the wire 2 1/2 lengths in front.

Though Wet Paint has not traveled beyond nine furlongs, Banahan said he is confident she can flourish over the added ground.

“Her running style and the way she finishes her races makes you think she can stretch out. This is maybe the one and only time these fillies have to go this far, and we just hope that there's a little bit of pace to run at,” said Banahan. “She goes from way off the pace and we just want something run at. We're very hopeful we can get the Alabama on her honor roll.”

Prat retains the mount from post 2.

Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola's Sacred Wish will try to turn the tables on Wet Paint after nearly fending off her familiar foe in the CCA Oaks. Trained by George Weaver, the Not This Time dark bay tracked in second throughout before taking the lead at the stretch call and powering down the lane under Manny Franco. She ran on bravely and drew clear from all but Wet Paint, who nabbed the victory in the final strides.

Sacred Wish is yet to defeat winners, but boasts a strong runner-up finish to Affirmative Lady in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in April at its namesake track. The $50,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase has banked $215,500 through a record of 6-1-3-1.

Sacred Wish will emerge from the inside post in rein to Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher brings a trio of skilled competitors as the New York-bred Kentucky Oaks runner-up Gambling Girl [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Grade 1-winner Chocolate Gelato [post 6, Jose Ortiz] and Grade 2-winner Julia Shining [post 3, Luis Saez] attempt to give him his fifth win in this event. Pletcher has won this event the past two years with Nest last year and Malathaat in 2021, both of whom where named Champion 3-Year-Old Filly following their respective seasons.

Leading the triad is the Repole Stable-owned pair of Gambling Girl and Chocolate Gelato, the former of which enters from an even third-place finish behind Wet Paint in the CCA Oaks. The daughter of Dialed In, bred in New York by Gallagher's Stud, has hit the board in both of her tries at the top level, including the CCA Oaks and a gutsy second in the Kentucky Oaks when closing furiously down the stretch to come up just a neck shy of the victorious Pretty Mischievous.

Gambling Girl is in search of her first win since September when taking the state-bred Joseph A. Gimma at Belmont at the Big A, but has posted a respectable sophomore campaign that includes an additional two stakes placings when second in the nine-furlong Busanda in January and the Grade 3 Gazelle in April, both at Aqueduct Racetrack. The bay filly was also a game third behind stablemate and returning rival Julia Shining in the Grade 2 Demoiselle last year at the Big A.

Chocolate Gelato, a dark bay daughter of Practical Joke, finished fourth in her lone outing this year in the six-furlong Jersey Girl at Belmont, ending a seven-month respite that followed a distant off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in November at Keeneland. Chocolate Gelato graduated at second asking by 8 1/2 lengths in August at the Spa before closing from off-the-pace to notch a Grade 1 triumph in the one-turn mile Frizette in October at Belmont at the Big A.

Rounding out the Pletcher contingent is Stonestreet Stables' Kentucky homebred Julia Shining, who makes her first start off a four-month layoff after finishing a close third in the Grade 1 Ashland in April at Keeneland. The Curlin filly, who is a full-sister to the aforementioned dual Champion Malathaat, won her debut in October sprinting seven furlongs at Keeneland before conquering her first test against winners in style with a determined neck score over Affirmative Lady in the Grade 2 Demoiselle.

This year, Julia Shining has finished third in both her outings, including the Ashland and the one-mile and 40-yard Suncoast to kick off her campaign in February at Tampa Bay Downs. She has banked $262,575 in total earnings through her 4-2-0-2 record.

Trainer Kenny McPeek has won the Alabama twice in the past five runnings with Eskimo Kisses [2018] and Swiss Skydiver [2020], and is well-represented this year by Katsumi Yoshida's Grade 1-winner Defining Purpose.

“If I can pull this off, that'll be three of the last six Alabamas,” said McPeek. “It's pretty exciting.”

The gray Cross Traffic filly arrives from a tidy 1 1/4-length coup in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks traveling 1 1/16 miles on July 8 at Horseshoe Indianapolis where she stalked one length off the pace before getting first run in the turn and taking charge at the top of the stretch. She was awarded a career-best 87 Beyer for the effort.

McPeek noted the filly does her best running when well-rested, evidenced by her Indiana Oaks performance that came two months after finishing a distant seventh in the Kentucky Oaks.

“She's doing super and she's ready,” said McPeek. “She does really well when we space her races good, and the Indiana Oaks was a well-spaced race. We're excited that she has a chance to win another Grade 1.”

Defining Purpose scored her first Grade 1 in April in the Ashland when delivering a 20-1 upset over the favored Punchbowl with her usual stalk-and-pounce tactics. She had previously finished a respective third and sixth in the Martha Washington and Honeybee behind Wet Paint, and won Oaklawn's one-mile Year's End on New Year's Eve by 5 1/4 lengths.

McPeek said he is hopeful Defining Purpose will relish the Alabama distance.

“None of them have done it yet, so it's wide open, but I think she's perfectly capable,” said McPeek. “She's been a filly that has been a bit of an overachiever from the beginning. She was a $14,000 RNA as a young horse, so everything she's accomplished up until now is all gravy. She's extremely smart and is very willing. She loves her tasks and she's an easy filly to train. She's training fantastic.”

Regular pilot Brian Hernandez, Jr. will look to engineer a winning ride from the outermost post 10.

Completing the field are the Chad Brown-trained duo of Klaravich Stables' Wilton-winner Randomized [post 8, Joel Rosario] and Juddmonte's allowance-winner Fireline [post 5, Javier Castellano]; Richard Bahde's graded stakes-winner Taxed [post 9, Rafael Bejarano], who finished second last out in the Indiana Oaks and won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in May at Pimlico Race Course for conditioner Randy Morse; and Valene Farms' graded stakes-placed Sabra Tuff [post 4, Reylu Gutierrez], who finished third in last year's Grade 3 Adirondack for trainer Dallas Stewart.

The Alabama is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 11-race card, which also features the Grade 2, $200,000 Lake Placid in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

The post Wet Paint ‘Really Knuckled Down’ In Tough Race, Stretches Out To 10 Furlongs In Alabama appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Blue Rose Farm's Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets-winner Arcangelo posted a five-furlong breeze Wednesday in 1:01.63 over the Saratoga Race Course main track under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano in preparation for the Aug. 26 Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers.

Trainer Jena Antonucci said she was pleased with the work, which served as a maintenance breeze after he covered the same distance in 1:00.21 on Aug. 6.

“It went super. It was everything we were looking for,” Antonucci said. “The big heavy lifting was in the prior work, so we'll just keep his feet on the ground for the next 10 days and keep him happy.”

The son of Arrogate was an emphatic 1 1/2-length winner of the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes on June 10, proving the distance was no problem with a strong turn of foot from 2 3/4 lengths off the pace. He will turn back a quarter-mile in the Travers, a scenario Antonucci said will be well within his wheelhouse.

“It's not often you can say you're on the cutback at a mile and a quarter,” said Antonucci, with a laugh. “He's flourished here this summer and continues to mature. We just take it one day at a time.”

In addition to the Belmont, Arcangelo scored by a head over Bishops Bay in the Grade 3 Peter Pan in May at Belmont. Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Arcangelo was a $30,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Our post breeze thoughts and gratitude! #Arcangelo pic.twitter.com/vPtrSnUQFI

— Jena (@jenaantonucci) August 16, 2023

The post ‘He’s Flourished Here This Summer’: Arcangelo Records Final Work For Travers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Seventeen sophomores, including Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser winner Elysian Field, and Plate Trial victor Paramount Prince, both trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, will contest the $1 million King's Plate, first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, highlighting an outstanding stakes-filled Sunday card of racing at Woodbine.

The 164^th edition of King's Plate, North America's oldest continually run race, contested at 1 ¼ miles on the Woodbine Tapeta, is the first event in the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Wando, bred and owned by the late Gustav Schickedanz, was the last horse to accomplish the feat, in 2003, while becoming the seventh to record the unique triple. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 12, is the second leg. The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, at 1 ½ miles over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine on October 1, concludes the series.

It is also the first time since 1951 that the race will be run as The King's Plate, in keeping with the tradition of naming the race after the ruling British monarch.

The King's Plate breakfast festivities, including the post-position draw, was co-hosted by Woodbine TV personality/commentator/handicapper Jeff Bratt and Woodbine track announcer Robert Geller, and held at Woodbine's Trackside Clubhouse. The event was attended by many of the race's connections, and included remarks from Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment.

This year's edition of The King's Plate highlights a mix of established stars, and intriguing longshots, talented fillies, colts, and geldings, along with high-profile owners, trainers, and jockeys. The fillies, Elysian Field and Wickenheiser, will each carry 121 pounds, while all other starters carry 126 pounds.

Cool Kiss, a son of Kantharos-Hot Kiss, is one of three (Stanley House and El Cohete is the other) Mike De Paulo trainees. Owned by Newtop Stables, John Russell and De Paulo's son Joseph, the dark bay is 2-2-0 from eight starts. Emma-Jayne Wilson, who won the 2007 Plate with Mike Fox, gets the call.

“We had a partnership years ago called Super Six Stable,” recalled Mike De Paulo. “One of the horses in the stable was a mare called Hot Kiss. She was a hard-knocking filly, who won the Trillium Stakes and second in the Maple Leaf. We decided to breed her and her first foal, Repeat the Heat, was a nice horse. Cool Kiss is the second one. He's a character. His mother was a lunatic. This horse, the first time we went to run him, I'm in the Finish Line Bar at Woodbine and I hear there is a scratch in the race, number five. I thought, 'Okay, one less horse for us to go up against.' And then I realized that was Cool Kiss. He dropped Emma under the tunnel. But here they are, back together again.”

Owned by Rocco D'Alimonte and Frank Annecchini, El Cohete (“The Rocket”) has posted a top-three finish in three of his four starts, including a maiden-breaking performance over 6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf on June 15. Trained by Mike De Paulo, who also sends out Cool Kiss and Stanley House, the son of Society's Chairman-Diannecantretire was third in his most recent race, at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta, on July 30.

“He's a good-feeling horse,” noted De Paulo. “He's always been a good work horse. We had a little shin trouble with him last year, but he's been okay this year. We always thought he could run. Hopefully, he shows that again on Sunday.”

Elysian Field, trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, heads into the Plate off a sterling score in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser. The daughter of Hard Spun-Elysian, owned by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, is 2-2-0 from six starts. The chestnut filly was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.

“Coming into a race like this, some horses are thriving and getting better, and that would describe her,” said Casse, who won the 2014 Plate with Lexie Lou and the 2018 running with Wonder Gadot.

Kalik, trained by Chad Brown for owners Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables LLC (the group also owns Moon Landing), will make the Plate his first start in Canada. The son of Collected-Coronation Street won three straight starts, all turf, from March to June of this year, including the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T) on June 3. The chestnut is 3-1-0 from six starts.

“With Chad, you know the horse will be in top condition coming into the Plate,” said jockey Kazushi Kimura. “To be in The King's Plate is amazing. The race has so much history. You can feel the excitement building and I hope that we can say we won the first King's Plate since 1951. I know I have a big chance with this horse.”

A grey son of Mr Speaker-Grey Pride, Kaukokaipuu has been a model of consistency for trainer Ted Holder and Culpepper Island Syndicate. Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, the colt is 2-7-0 from 11 starts, including a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Queenston Stakes over the Tapeta on June 11.

“His pedigree says that it is not a problem,” said Holder, of the Plate distance. “Mr Speaker was a mile and a quarter, to mile and a half horse on all surfaces, and he is out of a granddaughter of Radiant Ring who is tested at the classic distances in the early to mid-90s.”

Owned by Tucci Holdings, Midnight in Malibu, trained by Sid Attard, sprung a 32-1 upset in his most recent race, a 1 1/16-mile race over the Tapeta. The son of Midnight Lute-I Thirtyfive is 2-0-0 from five starts. The dark bay colt broke his maiden over one mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta last December.

“I think he'll go the distance no problem,” said Attard. “Every time we work him five or six furlongs, he gallops out strong.”

Owned by Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Racing Stable LLC, Moon Landing, trained by Kevin Attard, won at first asking, the victory coming at Woodbine over 6 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta. The son of Nyquist-Fragrance, who is 1-0-1 from six starts, was bred by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. and Rod Ferguson Farms Ltd. ​ ​

“He really dug down deep in the late running and just missed getting it all,” said Attard, of Moon Landing's third-place effort in a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on July 23. “We're hoping that he's able to build off that last race and show the type of skill that he does have.”

Trained by Renico Lafond for owner Kris Manohar, Morstachy's was a recent $40,000 claim. The son of Mor Spirit-Wekiva Mist, bred by Al and Bill Ulwelling, is 1-3-2 from 11 starts. The bay won in his final start of 2022, a 4 ¼-length triumph at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta. The gelding has finished in the top three in four of his past five races.

“His closing speed would be his best attribute to this race, he has an eye-catching turn of foot,” praised Lafond. “He is not a big horse, but he covers ground immensely.”

A chestnut son of Society's Chairman-Platinum Steel, Paramount Prince heads into The King's Plate off a wire-to-wire, five-length performance in the Plate Trial on July 23. Bred by Ericka Rusnak, the gelding, trained by Mark Casse and owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, is 2-2-1 from five lifetime starts.

“After the race, he kept going, he galloped out a good mile and a quarter so I don't think the distance [for The King's Plate] would be an issue for him,” said Casse, of the Plate Trial. “And I think Patrick [jockey, Husbands] let him do it too because we knew down the road, he's going to have to run a little farther.”

Canada's champion 2-year-old male Philip My Dear, trained by Kevin Attard for Raroma Stable Inc., is 3-0-2 from seven starts. Last year, the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Involuntary won the Soaring Free and Cup and Saucer, both contested on the E.P. Taylor turf. The colt was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs.

“He's had a tough start this year, but I think he's starting to round into the form that helped earn him a Sovereign in 2022,” said Attard.

Bred and owned by RCC Racing Stable, Silent Miracle, 3-0-1 from five races, will test out the stakes ranks for the first time in the Plate. Trained by John Mattine, the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Broken Meadow notched consecutive wins starting last December (in his 2-year-old finale) over 6 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta, before a victory at seven panels on the same surface in his 3-year-old debut this May.

“I think he'll get the distance,” said Mattine. “I asked (jockey) Ryan Munger after his last race if he had anything left in the tank and he said yes.”

Stanley House, owned by John and Diana Russell, is 2-3-0 from seven starts. Trained by Mike De Paulo, the son of Army Mule-Stormy's Song recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes to start his career in the fall of 2022. His maiden victory came at Gulfstream Park on March 25 at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta. Javier Castellano, aboard for that milestone win, will be in the irons again Sunday.

“I liked him when we bought him,” said De Paulo, of the $120,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. “It was a bit of a gamble because he is from a first-year sire and the first foal out of the mare, so you were basically just looking at an athlete. We had him broke in Ocala with Mike Cooke and he liked him all along. Any time this horse did something, he did it well. He's always had a lot of class and showed ability in every work he had.”

Touch'n Ride, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has made just two starts, but both efforts produced pleasing results. After a third to launch his career on July 1, where the son of Candy Ride (ARG)-Niigon's Touch rallied impressively in the one-mile turf race, the bay was even better next time out. Sent off at 9-2 in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on July 30, the gelding romped to a 5 ¼-length score.

“He's been training well,” said trainer Layne Giliforte. “My feeling is that we have a fresh horse and fresh legs. Distance and fitness shouldn't be an issue.”

Twin City, trained by Stuart Simon, who co-owns with Brent, Russell, and Roy McLellan, brings a record of 2-4-1 from eight starts into the Plate. The son of Klimt-Minnie Apple Is took the King Corrie this May, a nose win in the seven-furlong Tapeta race. Bred in Ontario by Frank Di Giulio, Jr., the bay will be ridden by Gary Boulanger.

“A good quality of his, which will certainly help with the big crowds and all the fanfare on Sunday, is his laid-back demeanour,” said Simon. “He's a pretty cool customer, which is a nice quality to have. We're thrilled to have him in The King's Plate.”

Bred, owned, and trained by dual hall of fame conditioner Roger Attfield (who is tied with Harry Giddings, Jr. for the most Plate wins by a trainer with eight), Twowaycrossing has run four of his six races on the turf. The son of English Channel-Double Guns Girl won at first asking last October over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf and is 2-0-0 from seven starts.

“I think he is turning around now, but he's not going into the Plate how I would normally go into a Plate,” said Attfield.

Velocitor, a son of Mor Spirit-Polar Plunge, has a mark of 3-1-1 from eight starts for trainer Kevin Attard and owner/breeders Al and Bill Ulwelling. The dark bay won two straight races including last year's Coronation Futurity at 21-1. The gelding finished second in his debut last May before a 7 ½-length romp at the same distance and over the same surface, five furlongs on the Tapeta, next time out in June.

“I was really thrilled with the way he kept on battling to the wire,” said Attard, of Velocitor's fourth in the Plate Trial on July 23. “I thought it was a nice effort from a horse who has certainly shown he is capable of running a big race.”

Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, Wickenheiser (1-2-0 from six starts), named after Canadian hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser, finished a rallying second to Plate rival Elysian Field in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser on July 23. Kevin Attard, who sent Moira out to an Oaks-Plate double last year, trains and co-owns the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid-Game (FR) with Al and Bill Ulwelling, and Clay Scherer.

“We made the decision to name this horse after Canadian hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser,” said Attard, who is also a member of Wickenheiser's ownership group. “And as this filly has shown in her career, she's the ultimate competitor. She has been in every race over her career and her two efforts this season have been really encouraging.”

Sunday's card also features a trio of standout stakes: the $200,000 Dance Smartly (G2T) (1 1/16 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up), $125,000 Catch a Glimpse (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-old fillies) and $125,000 Soaring Free (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-olds). ​ ​

First post for Sunday is 12:25 p.m. (ET), with the featured King's Plate scheduled as Race 10 (5:39 p.m. ET). The national Plate broadcast will be televised on TSN and CTV starting at 4:30 p.m.

For the latest information, fans can follow @WoodbineTB on both Twitter and Instagram.

Post – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Morning Line Odds

1 – Stanley House – Michael De Paulo – Javier Castellano – 4-1 ​

2 – Elysian Field – Mark Casse – Sahin Civaci – 8-1

3 – Philip My Dear – Kevin Attard – Daisuke Fukumoto – 30-1

4 – Twin City – Stuart Simon – Gary Boulanger – 30-1

5 – Morstachy's – Renico Lafond – Leo Salles – 50-1

6 – Kalik – Chad Brown – Kazushi Kimura – 3-1

7 – Velocitor – Kevin Attard – Justin Stein – 30-1

8 – Wickenheiser – Kevin Attard – Rafael Hernandez – 12-1

9 – Silent Miracle – John Mattine – Ryan Munger – 30-1

10 – Midnight in Malibu – Sid Attard – Adam Beschizza – 30-1

11 – Touch'n Ride – Layne Giliforte – Jose Campos – 12-1 ​ ​ ​

12 – Cool Kiss – Michael De Paulo – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 30-1 ​

13 – Paramount Prince – Mark Casse – Patrick Husbands – 10-1

14 – Twowaycrossing – Roger Attfield – Antonio Gallardo – 30-1

15 – Kaukokaipuu – Ted Holder – Rico Walcott – 6-1

16 – El Cohete – Michael De Paulo – Eswan Flores – 50-1

17 – Moon Landing – Kevin Attard – Luis Contreras – 20-1

The post Full Field Of 17 Chasing History In Sunday’s King’s Plate; Chad Brown-Trained Kalik Tabbed Morning Line Favorite appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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