Tag: Racing

The third start was definitely a charm for Irv Naylor's Gold Charm. After coming over from England earlier this year, the four-year-old Irish-bred daughter of the magnificent international classic winner Golden Horn made two starts in the spring, finishing a strong second in her NSA debut at Radnor in May and breaking her maiden at Colonial Downs last month for trainer Cyril Murphy.

On Friday, Gold Charm became a stakes winner when she put away six rivals to take the $75,000 Randolph Rouse filly and mare stake at 2 1/4 miles.

The race unfolded when Joseph Fowler's Met in Miami, coming off of a second in the Margaret Currey Henley stakes at the Iroquois Steeplechase, assumed the lead under Bernie Dalton and held it throughout most of the going. Though never on top by more than about four lengths, Met in Miami was running easily as Jordan Wycoff's Clara Belle and Ashwell Stable's Durragh sat in striking distance.

There was little change in position among the field until the final fence as Arch Kingley's Cainudothetwist, under Graham Watters, made a big move, overtaking the leader and scooting clear by about two lengths. Cainudothetwist doubled her lead turning for home as Naylor's other entry, Bercasa, made up ground under Gerard Galligan. At that point, Gold Charm charged up on the outside under Harry Bewsick and drew off easily by three lengths. Cainudothetwist finished 8 1/2 lengths ahead of Bercasa.

The victory was the fourth of the summer for the Naylor stable, including two other stakes, the Grade 1 AP Smithwick and Jonathan Kiser novice stakes, both at Saratoga.

Click here Harry Beswick's Winning Interview.

Pure Courage earns first NSA win in opener

Gill Johnston's five-year-old son of Declaration of War grabbed the lead, relinquished it, and came on again under a long, sustained drive by Elizabeth Scully to win the $40,000 maiden special weights event going away by 2 1/4 lengths.

Pure Courage, trained by Todd Wyatt, began his jump racing career last fall following a career on the flat that took him to Sam Houston, Ellis Park, and Remington Park, among others. And in four NSA starts, he finished in the money three times in the maiden ranks.

Pure Courage broke on top in the field of 10 going 2 1/4 miles, racing on or near the lead for most of the trip. Heading up the backside the final time, Pure Courage and his shadow, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Daigneault Thoroughbreds' Abaan, who vied for the lead throughout, pulled away from the field. Abaan then began to draw clear of Pure Courage on the turn and looked like a winner straightening for home.

But Scully steered Pure Courage to the outside and gradually wore down the leader. A son of Travers winner Will Take Charge, Abaan was ridden by Bernie Dalton for his wife, trainer Kate Dalton. Abaan was second best in his NSA debut, 5 1/2 lengths ahead of Armata Stable's Imperial Assassin.

Junonia rallies for handicap win

Kinross Corp.'s Junonia found the winner's circle for the first time in more than two years as the gray son of City Zip zoomed past pacesetter Baltimore Kid to score by three lengths in the $30,000 handicap for horses rated at 110 or less.

Ridden by Bernie Dalton for trainer Neil Morris, Junonia was content to sit toward the rear of the field of seven for the first mile as Buttonwood Farm's Baltimore Kid, ridden by Parker Hendriks, and Mr. Connecticut (Harry Beswick) vied for the top spot.

There was little change in position until Junonia made his move with three jumps remaining, taking the lead into the final turn. Turning for home, the field bunched up a bit and it still appeared to be anyone's race. That's when Junonia spurted clear on the inside to lead by three as Paul and Molly Willis' New Appointment (Mell Boucher) narrowed the gap, getting up for second, a neck ahead of William Russell's Seismic Wave (Graham Watters), who unleashed a belated rally to catch Tom Rice's Oscar Winner for the show spot.

For Junonia, a nine-year-old Pennsylvania-bred who has split his time between flat racing and steeplechasing, it was his first victory since July 2021, which marked his third straight trip to the winner's circle.

The post Steeplechase: Gold Charm Captures Rouse, Adding To Naylor Stable’s Magical Summer Run appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Millionaire and graded stakes winner Warrant makes his first trip back to Remington Park as the 8-5 morning line favorite for the opening night stakes – the $100,000 Governor's Cup on Aug. 18.

Warrant gave Cox, the nation's top trainer by earnings this year, his third Oklahoma Derby win in a row, tying him for the most victories in this race with Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame conditioner Donnie K. Von Hemel. Cox is the only trainer to win three consecutive Oklahoma Derbies. The Governor's Cup is the same distance – 1-1/8 miles on dirt – as the Oklahoma Derby. So, the favorite loves the track and the distance.

Warrant, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Constitution, out of the First Samurai mare Whisper Number, beat some pretty salty competition in his Oklahoma Derby win, taking down Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock; Flash of Mischief, who went on to race in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and West Virginia Derby winner Mr. Wireless. Warrant has raced 18 times, winning five, finishing second five times and third four more times for a lifetime bankroll of $1,082,833. His most recent stakes win came in the $175,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill Downs at 1-1/2 miles in Louisville, Ky. on May 3 this year. He has since run fourth and fifth in graded stakes races at Belmont in Elmont, N.Y., and Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

Warrant will be ridden in the Governor's Cup by jockey Luis Fuentes, who is bringing his tack to Remington Park for the first time. Fuentes has had 351 mounts this year, winning 73, running second 70 times and third another 49 for horses' earnings of $2,232,829. His lifetime stats are 2,601-436-412-418, $10,440,048. He moves over from Louisiana Downs where he recently won the Louisiana Cup Juvenile Stakes on Aug. 5 with Strong Promise. Fuentes' top horse in his career is 4-year-old filly named Bella Dona, a New Mexico-bred who has won 12-of-14 starts lifetime with earnings of $753,068.

Warrant is owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables (Randall Gullatt) of Versailles, Ky.

Remington Park linemaker Jerry Shottenkirk has established Holden the Lute as the second favorite at 7-2 odds. This 6-year-old gelding by Midnight Lute, out of the Proud Citizen mare Casino Gold, has run first or second in 17-of-33 starts and has earned $353,175 for owner Charles Garvey of Nisku, Alberta, Canada. This Kentucky-bred gelding is coming off a seven-length win in allowance-optional claiming $35,000 company at Canterbury in Minnesota. His last stakes try was the Grade 3, $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, which proved to be a disappointment. Holden the Lute ran 10th in a field of 10, beaten 44-3/4 lengths. He has yet to win a stakes race and will be ridden by Isaac Castillo.

The third choice in the morning line is Presidential at 4-1 odds. The colt is conditioned by Steve Asmussen, the 17-time training title holder here and the all-time winningest trainer in the sport. His only entrant in the Governor's Cup is a 4-year-old by Pioneerof the Nile, out of the Twirling Candy mare Uptown Twirl, is also looking for his first stakes win. The Kentucky-bred colt is owned by Courtlandt Farms (Donald Adam) of Ocala, Fla., and has a record of 12-3-4-0, $294,689. He gets in off a win in an allowance-optional claiming $50,000 race at Ellis Park in Kentucky, and will be ridden by Stewart Elliott.

Rounding out the top four entrants in odds is local hero, Number One Dude at 9-2. He is the only Oklahoma-bred in a field that includes six others, all Kentucky-breds. This 5-year-old gelding by American Lion, out of the Macho Uno mare Ebony Uno, this week was rewarded as the 2022 Oklahoma Breeders' Champion Thoroughbred Male Turf Runner, presented by the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma. Owner Terry Westemeir of Broken Arrow, Okla., sends out his multiple stakes winner off an 8-1/4 length win on the dirt in the $55,000 Classics Cup at Will Rogers Downs on May 9 with regular rider Leandro Goncalves aboard who has the call again. Number One Dude's most recent stakes win came in the $70,000 Red Earth Derby at 7-1/2 furlongs on the turf at Remington Park on Sept. 23, 2022. Number One Dude moves from the barn of trainer Kari Craddock to Scott Young's for this meet. His record is 21-9-6-0, $449,100.

Here's a look at the seven-horse field for the Governor's Cup with post, horse, odds, trainer, jockey:

1. Kokokomo, 6-1, Danny Pish, Jansen Melancon
2. Presidential, 4-1, Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott
3. Warrant, 8-5, Brad Cox, Luis Fuentes
4. Holden the Lute, 7-2, Robertino Diodoro, Isaac Castillo
5. Number One Dude, 9-2, Scott Young, Leandro Goncalves
6. Sonneman, 10-1, Karl Broberg, Harry Hernandez
7. Paluxy, 20-1, Scott Young, Floyd Wethey, Jr.

The Governor's Cup is the eight of nine race on Opening Night at Remington Park with a schedule post time of 10:23pm. The first race of the evening is at 7:07pm. All times are Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $328 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District, Remington Park is home to the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby and the Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Remington Park presents simulcast racing daily and non-stop casino gaming. Parking and admission are always free. Must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

The post Millionaire Warrant Headlines Remington’s Opening Night Governor’s Cup On Aug. 18 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Bregman Family Racing and WWBD's regally-bred No Nay Mets is batting .667 having won 2-of-3 starts heading into Friday's $150,000 Skidmore, a 5 1/2-furlong Mellon turf sprint for 2-year-olds, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by George Weaver, the No Nay Never colt, a $1,025,796 purchase from this year's Goffs London Sale, was destined to be a good one as the first foal out of the Group 3-winner Etoile. His third dam, Gwynn, produced 2011 Group 1 Epsom Derby winner Pour Moi and Group 3 winner Dawn Patrol.

Bred in Ireland by Coolmore, No Nay Mets graduated on debut in a five-furlong turf sprint at Gulfstream Park, taking a field of 10 gate-to-wire under Luca Panici to post a 3 1/2-length score over next-out winner and eventual stakes-placed Mattingly.

He then tried to emulate his sire with a win in the Group 2 Norfolk on June 22 at Royal Ascot but settled for a ninth-place effort engineered by Frankie Dettori. No Nay Mets returned one month later with Paco Lopez at the helm to post a frontrunning 5 1/2-length romp in the five-furlong Tyro over good going at Monmouth Park.

No Nay Mets breezed back a half-mile in 51.22 seconds over the Oklahoma training turf on Friday and the Spa's leading rider Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the call from post 7.

“He's doing very good,” Weaver said. “His breeze on Friday went well and just as planned. The distance is uncharted territory, but I don't think he'll have a problem with it.

“He's a hardy horse,” added Weaver. “I'm not worried about the short rest.”

In addition to No Nay Mets, Weaver has sent out six other juvenile turf sprinters for maiden scores this year led by Crimson Advocate, who graduated at second asking in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park and later took the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot. His juvenile filly turf sprint winners include Amidst Waves, who graduated at Belmont Park and later won the Colleen at Monmouth; and Astonesthrowaway, who won her Belmont debut. On the male side, Twisted Filigree was a second-out winner at Belmont; Please Advise won his Belmont debut; and Good Lord Lorrie bolted up at first asking Saturday at the Spa.

Weaver's talented 2-year-old turf troop also features Brocknardini, who won a restricted maiden special weight route here on August 2.

“We just had some precious horses and I feel like I've been doing the same thing this year as I do every year. We just got the right set of horses to make some noise. It's always fun to have some exciting young horses,” Weaver said.

Stonestreet Stables' Fandom [post 9, John Velazquez] also enjoyed a European adventure at Royal Ascot. Trained by Wesley Ward, Fandom, by Showcasing, is out of the Pivotal mare Brogan, who is a half-sister to Group 1-winner Lezoo.

The British-bred colt was purchased for $195,857 from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale and made a winning debut under Irad Ortiz, Jr. in April at Keeneland, drawing off to score by 6 3/4-lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over firm footing.

Fandom then traveled to Royal Ascot for the Group 2 Coventry and landed 11th in the 20-horse field with returning rider Hall of Famer John Velazquez at the helm in the six-furlong test over good going.

The talented bay returned to Ward's Keeneland base where he breezed twice in July before shipping up to Saratoga and posting a trio of half-mile works over the Oklahoma training turf, including the first effort on July 28 in 51 flat.

“We breezed him in company and he laid three or four lengths off another horse and he ran right by his workmate,” Ward said.

Three Chimneys Farm's Go Otto Go [post 10, Florent Geroux] will make his turf debut for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Bolt d'Oro colt graduated on debut in May at Churchill Downs, drawing off to win by four lengths in a five-furlong maiden special weight. He finished a pacesetting fourth last out in the six-furlong Bashford Manor on July 2 at Ellis Park.

Go Otto Go worked a half-mile in 50.69 on August 6 over the Oklahoma training turf in preparation for his turf debut.

The $180,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale purchase is out of the stakes-winning New York-bred War Chant mare Court Dancer, who was winless in three turf starts.

Kenneth Ramsey's Kentucky homebred Billy the Greek [post 8, Luis Saez] earned a 65 Beyer Speed Figure for a narrow nose score in his July 21 debut here in a 5 1/2-furlong off-the-turf maiden special weight for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

With Luis Saez up, the Goldencents gelding bobbled at the break and bumped with a rival before recovering to track in third position. He made a brave inside move in upper stretch and took charge late to secure the win at odds of 12-1.

“It was a pleasant surprise that he won first time out,” Joseph, Jr. said. “Now we hope he will run on the grass. He's bred for the grass.”

Billy the Greek is out of the stakes-placed Kitten's Joy mare Kitten's Dancer, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Bigger Picture, who captured the 2017 Grade 1 United Nations over the Monmouth Park turf.

Trainer Mike Maker will hope to send out a strong pair in dual stakes-placed Ship Cadet [post 2, Manny Franco] and Jimmythetooth [post 11 AE, Javier Castellano].

Paradise Farms Corp., David Staudacher, Kevin Haynes and John Huber's dual stakes-placed Ship Cadet graduated on debut in May in a five-furlong maiden special weight sprint over firm Belmont turf, besting the aforementioned Twisted Filigree by less than a length.

He followed with a pair of runner-up efforts in sprint stakes, completing the exacta behind Gold Sweep in the Tremont on June 11 going 5 1/2-furlongs over Big Sandy before returning to turf to chase home No Nay Mets last out in the Tyro.

Bred in California by Mr. and Mrs. William T. Griffin, the Midshipman colt is out of the multiple stakes-winning Harbor the Gold mare Bella Mia. He was purchased for $79,000 at the 2022 Washington Thoroughbred Breeders' Association Yearling and Mixed Sale.

Michael Dubb's New York-homebred Jimmythetooth will hope to draw in from the also-eligible list following a gate-to-wire score in a state-bred maiden special weight on July 27 sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over firm Spa turf.

The World of Trouble bay has hit the board in all three career starts, including a prominent second on July 7 in a five-furlong state-bred maiden special weight over firm Belmont green.

He is out of the winning Yes It's True mare Silent Fright, who is a half-sister to multiple grades stakes-winner Grand Adventure – Canada's 2010 Champion Grass Horse.

A talented field also includes maiden winners Untroubled [post 1, Abel Lezcano] for trainer Eduardo Caramori; Seize the Grey [post 4, Joel Rosario], who makes his turf debut for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas; the Jose Delgado-trained Sebastian Run [post 3, Jomar Torres]; Factor U and Me In [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche], who finished off-the-board in the Tyro for conditioner Ed Coletti, Jr.; and Five o' Somewhere [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], who make his turf debut off a maiden win at Hawthorne for trainer and co-owner Kenneth Spraggins. The New York-bred El Grande O [post 12 AE, Jose Ortiz] will hope to draw in for conditioner Linda Rice.  Antonio of Venice was entered for the main-track only.

The Skidmore is slated as race 8 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 1:00 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/.

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