Tag: Racing

Consumer Spending and Surprisingly, the respective 1-2 finishers in the Eatontown (G3) last time out at Monmouth Park, fought out the finish of the $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker (G3) Saturday at the Oceanport, N.J. track, with Consumer Spending once again handing her rival defeat.

Surprisingly, the 3-1 second choice, snatched the lead in stretch upper stretch, but even-money favorite Consumer Spending quickly roared up on her outside to challenge and dug in through closing strides to get the win by a half length.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Consumer Spending relaxed in fifth through six furlongs as Canisy laid down the early tempo. Advancing on the far turn, Consumer Spending moved two wide into the stretch and angled out widest to rally. Surprisingly, who closely stalked the early pace under Paco Lopez, made her bid nearing quarter pole and soon took charge, but Consumer Spending unleashed an eager response when given the cue and wore her down to triumph.

Consumer Spending covered the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48 flat and returned $4 for the win.

Gam's Mission was up for third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Surprisingly.

A 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stables, Consumer Spending added a sixth victory, and third graded win, to her 11-race career. Brown has trained seven of the last nine Matchmaker winners, including the past four.

Bred in Kentucky Forging Oaks Farm, Consumer Spending is out of the Scat Daddy mare Siempre Mia. Offered by Eaton Sales at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearlings Showcase, she sold to Northway Bloodstock for $200,000. The $180,000 winner's share of the Matchmaker purse increased her lifetime bankroll to $737,000.

The Matchmaker awarded a total value of $50,000 in seasons to the race's top three finishers to WinStar Farm stallions Global Campaign, Independence Hall, and Improbable.

WinStar Matchmaker Quotes:

WINNING TRAINER – Luis Cabrera (assistant to Chad Brown): “She's a nice filly in her class. I was a little concerned about the slow early pace but her class came through and she showed how good she is. With horses like these, she's a classic horse. They know where the wire is. She was ready for this race.”

WINNING JOCKEY – Joel Rosario: “It looked like there was not too much speed in the race. But she came out there really fine and I was able to get her a good spot. She is a nice horse. It's easy when you ride this kind. I wasn't really worried about the slow pace because she was moving really good for me and I just wanted to save ground going around the turns. When I asked her a little bit to get closer to the lead going into the final turn she responded for me. It was a slow pace but she was going so easily for me so I wasn't too worried.”

The post Not Surprisingly: Consumer Spending Denies Familiar Rival In WinStar Matchmaker appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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This year's edition of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, set to run Sunday, will be an emotional time for those connected to Flysofreeashleeb.

Every moment, from the time groom Reson White walks the filly over to the Woodbine paddock, to when trainer Patrick Dixon gives jockey Jose Campos a leg up, to the first sight of the black silks emblazoned with a red and purple lightning bolt on the racetrack, will bring about a mix of both joy and sadness for those closest to the dark bay daughter of Midnight Lute.

Flysofreeashleeb, owned by John Brnjas' Colebrook Farms, is named after Ashlee Brnjas, John's daughter, who passed away in September 2021.

Everyone who takes care of the Colebrook string of horses in Barn 5 on the Woodbine backstretch knows the story of how the filly came to be known as Flysofreeashleeb.

“It's very special,” said Dixon. “The fact she has shown a bit of talent, and that she has a shot to be there is special too. Even though she is her own individual, she responds to her name being Ashlee. She has been called that since day one and she knows it's her name. This filly has that strong personality Ashlee did, so it's a wonderful thing to see how the two are connected in so many ways. It's also special for John, the whole Brnjas family and the Colebrook family. It's been quite a rollercoaster the past two years, but we have stuck together.”

White, who has worked for Colebrook Farms since 2012, including alongside Ashlee Brnjas, has groomed the filly since she arrived at the track as a 2-year-old.

“She's intelligent, she knows what she wants, but she can go off at times. “She gets better and better. She never gets tired. She always wants to train forwardly and since the first time anyone's got on her, they've always said she wants to go long. I know her so well and I have a great bond with her.”

A multiple stakes-placed trainer, Dixon knows winning the Oaks will be a monumental task for Flysofreeashleeb, who was bred by Janeane Everatt (who passed away on July 12), James Everatt, and Arika Everatt-Meeuse. Produced by the Touch Gold mare Sinful, the filly was purchased by Richard Hogan for $67,000 at the  2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, where Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned her.

Still a maiden after seven starts, Flysofreeashleeb heads into the Oaks with a pair of thirds, including in her most recent start on June 15, in a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race at Woodbine.

Breaking from the rail, she will face 13 rivals in the pre-eminent race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

“She is coming into the race in great shape and ready to run,” said Dixon. “There are some really nice fillies, and the field seems evenly matched. We will just run our best race and see what happens.”

On Friday afternoon, the barn sent out the winner of the first race, the aptly named Ashlee's Ring, a 3-year-old daughter of Paynter. It was a maiden-breaking score for the Colebrook homebred.

Maybe, just maybe, that red and purple lightning bolt will strike again in Sunday.

“That was a great moment, to see Ashlee's Ring win,” said Dixon. “Obviously, that filly was named after Ashlee too. I know John was very happy. He was delighted. We all were.”

One day from now, Flysofreeashleeb will go walk towards the starting gate for what will be the biggest race of her career to date.

That the Oaks presents a tall task and big ask isn't lost on her connections.

Win or lose, Dixon knows what to expect from the horse listed at 30-1 in the morning line for the 1 1/8-mile main track race.

“She'll run a good race because she's in really good order. She'll run to the best of her ability, and she'll be in with a shot.”

As for her most notable on-track attribute, Dixon points to a willingness to go the extra furlong.

“Her stamina really stands out. She's bred to go long, and she wants to go long. This is her first time going a mile and an eighth. She seems like she wants to go longer than that. She also gallops out well after every race. So, stamina is her best ability. Her turn of foot gives her a shot.”

A win in the 68th running of the Oaks would be like something out of a Hollywood script for those who work in Barn 5.

It's a thought that has crossed Dixon's mind more often in the past few days.

“I do think about it. But you try not to think about it because you end up putting pressure on yourself, the filly, and everyone in the barn. I gallop her myself because I don't want to put pressure on the other staff because I know what she means to everybody. At the end of the day, she is a special individual, a horse we all care about, just like we did with Ashlee.”

Flysofreeashleeb will have her own cheering section out in full force for Race 10 early Sunday evening at Woodbine.

Dixon expects it to be an emotional moment for many.

“Everybody that is in the barn now was there when Ashlee worked there, so we're all still the same staff who relates to what happened to Ashlee and what this filly symbolizes. This filly gets a lot of love from so many people. We're happy to give that love.”

The post ‘We Have Stuck Together’: Flysofreeashleeb Could Deliver Team Emotional Win In Woodbine Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Little Red Feather Racing, Madaket Stables and Brereton Jones' Conclude, a Kentucky-bred son of 2017 Pacific Classic winner Collected, scored a smart 1 1/4-length victory in the Caesars Sportsbook Oceanside Stakes Friday at Del Mar as the seaside track north of San Diego, Calif., kicked off its 2023 summer season.

The chestnut colt was handled by Hector Berrios and was saddled by Del Mar's 2022 training kingpin, Phil D'Amato. This was D'Amato's third victory in the one-mile turf race that has been the track's traditional opening day headliner for many moons. For emphasis, D'Amato also saddled the second-place finisher, Michael House's Classical Cat.

Finishing third in the 78th edition of the hundred-grander limited to 3-year-olds was Great Friends Stable or Davis' Ah Jeez.

Conclude picked up a winner's share of $60,000 for his third victory in his fifth start. He now has a bankroll of $179,600. He paid $11.40 to his backers in the crowd of 21,733.

Conclude is out of a Proud Citizen mare named Believe You Can and was bred by part owner Jones, who stands Collected at his Airdrie Stud.

The Oceanside is the first of a trio of Del Mar turf stakes for sophomores. Next comes the La Jolla Handicap on August 6, a Grade 3 test that runs at 1 1/16 miles and carries a $150,000 purse. The final leg of the threesome is the $300,000, Grade 2 Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby, which is contested at 1 1/8 miles and will be presented on Sunday, September 3.

Racing resumes at Del Mar Saturday with first post at 2 p.m.

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HECTOR BERRIOS (Concude, winner) – “He broke really well; perfect. I was in a good spot right away and when I took a hold, he just let me. We waited and waited and then when I asked him he went for it. Perfect trip. It all worked out right.”

PHIL D'AMATO (Conclude, winner) – “When he opened up a length or two at the top of the lane I thought he was the horse. Classical Cat was coming on pretty good but I think when Conclude felt him he just spurted out again. I'm proud of both my horses.

The post Conclude Kicks Off Del Mar Meet With Oceanside Stakes Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 72nd edition of the Cougar II Stakes has lured seven long-winded older horses out of their barns for a testing test of a mile and one-half around the Del Mar oval on Sunday. The Grade 3 worth $125,000 will be offered as Race 6 on the 11-race program at the seaside track north of San Diego, Calif.

The Cougar II has, in the past, served as a prep for the $1-million FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic, which this year will be run on Saturday, Sept. 2.

Likely favorite in the Cougar II is Sondereker Racing's Kiss Today Goodbye, a 6-year-old by Cairo Prince who'll be making the 22nd start of his career. The most recent try by the J. Eric Krujac-trained veteran saw him run third in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita. He's banked $367,302 in his career and will have the saddle services of Hector Berrios Sunday.

His chief threat in the marathon will be Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Azul Coast, who races out of the Bob Baffert barn and will be handled by top rider Juan Hernandez. He's a 6-year-old, too, though his sire is Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. He's won four of 14 outings and banked $257,080.

Here's the full field for the Cougar II from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:  Azul Coast (3-1); B-4 Farms' Bye Bye Bobby (Mike Smith, 6-1); Desimone, Jarnig or McCanna, et al's Rimprotector (Kyle Frey, 5-1); Kiss Today Goodbye (5/2); Holly and David Wilson's Ghazaaly (Antonio Aguilar, 6-1); Buckendorf, Lambert or Rodriguez, et al's Order and Law (Kent Desormeaux, 8-1), and Augustin Stables' Kitten Mischief (Joe Bravo, 4-1).

Besides the Cougar II, the Sunday card also will feature the Wickerr Stakes, an overnight event that carries a $100,000 purse and is run at one mile on the turf for 3-year-olds and up. Possible favorite in this test is Pozo de Luna's Irideo, who is trained by Marcelo Polanco and will be handled by Abel Cedillo. Morning line maker Jon White has hung him as the 7/2 favorite in the 14-horse lineup.  The Wickerr goes as Race 9.

First post for the day's activities is 2 p.m.

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