Tag: Racing

Trainer Kathleen DeMasi has never been happier that a race she was pointing to never filled.

That was in early June, when DeMasi was looking for a dirt sprint for All That Magic, a filly of modest accomplishments through her first four career starts. DeMasi opted to try the 4-year-old daughter of Fast Anna in a turf sprint instead, and has reaped since benefits beyond her wildest imagination.

The latest was All that Magic's gutsy nose victory over multiple stakes winner Train to Artemus in Sunday's $104,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes at 5½ furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park – her first career stakes win and DeMasi's first stakes win since Nov. 29.

All That Magic is now 4-for-4 sprinting on the turf, with jockey Nik Juarez in the irons for those four consecutive wins.

“She's just amazing,” said DeMasi. “I wasn't really worried about the added distance (her previous three wins were at five furlongs on the grass) because she has been drawing away in her wins lately. My biggest concern was having just nine days rest. But she is just very good right now.”

Despite not breaking sharply, All That Magic was able to assume command quickly, with Train to Artemus – who had won eight of his previous 12 starts – on her flanks through an opening quarter in :21.95 and a half in :44.30. All That Magic dug in to hold on, with the late-running Can't Buy Love rallying for third, another three-quarters of a length back.

The winning time was 1:03.37.

“This is the first time she broke slowly in the four starts I have ridden her,” said Juarez. “I wanted her on the lead. I was a little worried when she wasn't on the lead immediately and she wasn't as comfortable as she usually is. I had to use her early to get the lead. But she's a talented filly.

“To do this again nine days later with a horse (Train to Artemus) hounding her the entire way really shows how impressive this was. It felt like a rushed pace for us, so for her to be able to throw it down in the lane and hold on says a lot about her class on the grass.”

DeMasi said the tardy break caused her some initial angst.

“Once I saw the break I was like, 'oh, that's not good,'” said DeMasi. “I saw she was being a little fussy at the gate. The guys did a great job getting her straightened out. She didn't break as sharply as she could have but Nik Juarez did a great job of getting her where she needed to be. She recovered well enough.

“She didn't get a breather, but I thought to win this race she had to be in front of Train to Artemus. I was a little concerned that horse was right on her hip the whole way and started thinking 'okay, I'll take second money.' But she dug in so gamely.”

Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in the field of eight fillies and mares, 3 and up, All That Magic returned $3.60 to win. Owned by Pewter and Spedale Family Racing, All That Magic now shows a 5-1-1 line for eight career starts.

The win in the Incredible Revenge Stakes came nine days after a six-length romp at Monmouth Park against allowance company at five furlongs on the grass.

The post ‘She Is Just Very Good Right Now’: Off Nine Days’ Rest, All That Magic Hangs Tough For First Stakes Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Title defender Slew's Tiz Whiz appears the horse to beat when Emerald Downs presents the 88th renewal of the $150,000 Longacres Mile on Sunday, Aug. 13.

Seventeen horses, including two 3-year-olds, are nominated to the region's most famous race, which anchors a Championship Sunday quadruple-header also featuring the $50,000 Emerald Distaff, $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby, and $50,000 Washington Oaks.

Slew's Tiz Whiz bids to become only the fifth two-time Mile winner and join Stryker Phd (2014-15) as double winners at Emerald Downs. Trained by Tom Wenzel, the stretch running 5-year-old just won his second straight Governor's Stakes, and has racked up four wins, two seconds, and a third in his last seven starts. A Washington-bred by Slew's Tiznow, Slew's Tiz Whiz is 2 for 2 lifetime at the mile distance.

Last year, Slew's Tiz Whiz exploded in the final furlong to collar Papa's Golden Boy and win going away in 1:34.46. With Papa's Golden Boy finishing second, it marked the first Washington-bred exacta in a Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs.

Five Star General, scheduled to be ridden by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Mario Gutierrez, is one of only two horses to finish top three in three straight Miles—2nd in 2020, 3rd in 2021, 3rd in 2022. A well-traveled 7-year-old with starts at 14 different tracks, Five Star General is razor sharp this year with a win and two seconds from three starts including a front-running score in the $100,000 Evangeline Downs Mile. Trainer Grant Forster authored the biggest upset in Mile history with 60-1 No Giveaway in 2005.

Trainer Blaine Wright nominated Top Executive, fourth-place finisher last year as the 3 to 1 betting favorite, along with 3-year-olds Abeliefinthislivin and Prince Abu Dhabi, the latter two also nominated to the Muckleshoot Derby. Winner of the $100,000 California Derby at Golden Gate Fields, Prince Abu Dhabi has a 4-0-2 record in six starts with earnings of $139,200. Wright has been a key figure in recent Miles, compiling a win, three seconds and two thirds in the last five runnings.

Owner John Parker won in 2017 with Gold Rush Dancer and recently claimed Dirt Road Red for this year's race. A 6-year-old gelding, Dirt Road Red has reeled off five straight wins this season at Emerald Downs but jumps way up in class Sunday.

Justin Evans nominated $706,700 earner Zestful, a stretch-running 8-year-old that finished third in the Governor's Stakes and figures to improve around two turns.

Katonah and Il Bellator, first and third in the $150,000 Pleasanton Mile, were nominated by trainers Doug O'Neil and Jose Bautista, respectively.

Others include million-dollar earner Restrainedvengence, a close third in the 2019 Mile, Seattle Bold, claimed for $40,000 out of his gate to wire victory last week at Sacramento, and You're the Cause, last year's Top 3-Year-Old at Emerald Downs and 56 to 1 victor of the 2022 Muckleshoot Derby.

Emerald Downs again offers a special Championship Sunday all stakes $0.50 Pick Four. Last year's Pick 4 produced a record $67,847.05 payout to two winning tickets, following victories by Zippin Sevenz ($49), Tiz a Macho Girl ($45), You're the Cause ($115.60), and Slew's Tiz Whiz ($8.80).

Entries for all four Championship Sunday stakes will be drawn Wednesday morning.

$150,000 Longacres Mile, Sunday, August 13, 2023

Horse. . . . . . . . .Owner. . . . . . . .Trainer

Abeliefinthislivin (3c/KY) Peter Redekop BC Ltd. Blaine Wright
A Man's Man (7g/CA) Remmah racing Inc. Jorge Rosales
Arma d'Oro (5g/KY) A MacLennan, L Strandley, Estate of G Kelly Dan Markle
Dirt Road Red (6g/KY) John Parker Candi Cryderman
Exclusive Speaker (6g/KY) Michael Radovich Jorge Rosales
Five Star General (7h/KY) Elttaes Stable Grant Forster
Gold Crusher (6g/WA) Josh Dieringer and Frank Ortiz Justin Evans
Harmon (7g/KY) Michael Bean and Donna Perrone Monty Meier
Il Bellator (4g/KY) Theresa & Edward DeNike Jose Bautista
Katonah (4g/KY) R3 Racing LLC Doug O'Neill
Prince Abu Dhabi (3g/KY) Lance Kinross and Steve Kinross Blaine Wright
Restrainedvengence (8g/KY) Kelly Brinkerhoff and Bob Grayson Jr. Val Brinkerhoff
Seattle Bold (5h/CA) Peerenboom Racing Stables Dan Markle
Slew's Tiz Whiz (5g/WA) Slew's Crew Racing Tom Wenzel
Top Executive (5g/KY) John & Janene Maryanski & Riverbend Stable Blaine Wright
You're the Cause (4g/KY) WilWin Stable Debbie Van Horne
Zestful (8g/KY) Stable H.M.A. Justin Evans

The post Slew’s Tiz Whiz Nominated To Defend His Title In Longacres Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The future of trotting is in the very capable hands of Scott Zeron and Nancy Takter. Both reached significant milestones Saturday (Aug. 5) as Tactical Approach won the $1 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands.

Zeron, at the still tender age of 34, posted his third driving victory in the trotting classic. Takter, 42, took a major step in carrying on the family's storied tradition with her first Hambletonian training win.

For Zeron, the post position draw removed all the pressure when Tactical Approach got post 10, the least advantageous starting spot, in the trotting classic for 3-year-olds. The 12-1 price on the tote board at post time was also a sign of diminished expectations among the bettors.

Zeron, harness racing's newest “Money Man,” overcame all obstacles as Tactical Approach slipped through at the pylons to win by one length.

“This was the least amount of pressure I've ever had, just because of having a bad post,” Zeron said. “I've had a lot of faith in this horse all year, but I over-drove him most of his starts. To give him a nice steer, a patient one, he respected it, and he thanked me.”

Takter watched anxiously as her colt started at the tail of the field.

“Scott was great; everything just worked out,” Takter said. “I was just hoping he was going to have room down the stretch. I always kept the faith. I've always loved this colt since the first moment I saw him. He was very immature last year.

“The partners were very easy to work with, and we just gave him the time that he needed. He came back this year so strong and Scott did an excellent job driving him, and today was the perfect proof of that.”

Zeron is rapidly climbing the Hambletonian ladder. Hall of Famer John Campbell holds the driving record with six. Zeron's previous Hambletonian winners were Marion Marauder, in 2016, and Atlanta, in 2018. He is rapidly building a reputation as a cool hand in harness racing's richest races.

Takter is doing what comes naturally. Her Hall of Fame father, Jimmy Takter, won the Hambletonian four times. She is the third woman to train a Hambletonian winner, joining Linda Toscano (Market Share, 2012) and Paula Wellwood (Marion Marauder).

It came down to a critical tactical decision by Zeron before the opening quarter.

“I just saw everyone protecting the two-wide path in the middle of the first turn,” Zeron said. “I just knew I was going to be fifth-over, sixth-over. I just elected to go left. For a million dollars, everyone is going to give their horse a chance. I was trying to under-drive mine and get a good portion of it. Turning for home, as close as I was, it was the best-case scenario.”

In the shadow of the wire, Oh Well looked poised to claim the trophy, but in a flash, Tactical Approach skimmed the pylons and was on his way to a last-to-first victory.

“The rail just kept opening up,” Takter said. “It worked out great. I was confident coming down the stretch that if he had enough room he was going to get it done.”

It was the sixth win in 14 starts for the colt, who earned $500,000 for owners Robert LeBlanc, John Fielding and John Fodera.

Tactical Approach paid $26.80, $13.20 and $7.40. Oh Well finished second, returning $6.20 and $4.00. Up Your Deo paid $5.60 to show. The time for the mile was 1:50.3.

Celebrity Yankee finished fourth and Point of Perfect fifth after winning last week's eliminations.

The post ‘The Rail Just Kept Opening Up’: Aptly-Named Tactical Approach Captures $1 Million Hambletonian appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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