Tag: Racing

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Ari Gold, successful in his only prior stakes start, gets an opportunity to rediscover his winning ways when he returns to face similar company in the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby Sunday, Aug. 13 at Laurel Park.

The fifth running of the Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds, named for the two-time Washington D.C. International winner and the nation's champion handicap horse of 1960, is the second of two stakes scheduled for the turf on a nine-race program following the $100,000 Searching for 3-year-old fillies.

First race post time is 12:25 p.m.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who captured the inaugural Bald Eagle Derby with Channel Cat in 2018, Ari Gold will be making his second start of the year after finishing sixth in his season opener July 20 at Saratoga.

The 1 1/16-mile second-level optional claiming allowance was the first race in more than seven months for Ari Gold, who was also facing older horses for the first time. Bumped at the break, he was prominent early before dropping back and wound up beaten 5 ¾ lengths.

“It was strictly designed as a starting point to get him going again,” Eclipse founder and president Aron Wellman said. “We didn't love the fact that he had to run against older horses, 2x, optional claiming, which makes it even that much more difficult.

“We knew he had to shake off the rust, so we just wanted to get him going somewhere. I think the race is a little better than it looks on paper, and he's come out of it well,” he added. “This looks like a logical spot to run in stakes company against 3-year-olds.”

Purchased for $220,000 as a yearling in September 2021, Ari Gold ran fourth in each of his first two starts last fall, one on turf and one on the main track. He graduated in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight last November at Aqueduct and was a front-running winner of the 7 ½-furlong Pulpit in December at Gulfstream Park.

“We were really excited about him at the end of last year. He was getting good,” Wellman said. “We let him run two very organic races to start his career. We knew he was a bit green and finally decided to put the blinkers on him, which he acted like he probably needed to begin with, and it really woke him up.

“He's a different kind of horse because he's fast and he can sustain his speed,” he added. “Unfortunately, we had to send him to the sidelines for the winter, but he came back in the spring and has trained really well. We needed to get that race into him a few weeks ago at Saratoga and now, hopefully, he's ready to really blossom the second half of the season.”

Laurel summer meet leader Jaime Rodriguez gets the riding assignment from Post 3 in a field of eight.

“I don't think he needs the lead. I think it'll be a function of what the race looks like and who the other speed might be, but he's versatile,” Wellman said. “It's always nice to have a horse that can be tactical so he can make his own trip.”

Circling the Drain, bred and owned by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, is stakes-placed on both turf and dirt, having run third in the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms March 18 over Laurel's main track. The West Coast gelding ran third behind Nagirroc's track-record performance in the one-mile James W. Murphy May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course, his grass debut, and exits a three-length restricted allowance victory July 8 on the Laurel turf.

Harold Lerner, Nehoc Stables, AWC Stables and Team Stallion Racing Stable's Mendelssohns March went unraced at 2 and has raced exclusively on turf since finishing sixth in the April 8 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. Second to Grade 1-placed Webslinger in the 1 1/8-mile Audubon June 3 at Churchill Downs, he shortens up after running sixth in the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Derby (G1) July 8.

Big Frank Stable, Enrico Ascione and Mad Dog Racing Stable's English Painter will be making his stakes debut in the Bald Eagle Derby. Since being purchased privately last fall following a maiden claiming triumph at The Meadowlands, the Munnings colt has alternated wins and losses in five starts for South Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“He's a hard-trying horse and we think distance is what he really wants. We've kind of waited for this race so we'll give it a try,” Joseph said. “He's a tall, good-looking, leggy kind of horse that took a little time to grow into his frame. He's just been ultra-consistent. He won his last race before we bought him and since then he's been first or second each race. He always shows up and tries.”

English Painter began 2023 with a one-mile, 70-yard starter optional claiming victory on the all-weather surface Jan. 12 at Gulfstream, where he was a neck optional claiming allowance winner going 1 1/16 miles on the grass April 8. He has raced just once since, beaten a neck while second in a 1 1/16-mile starter May 6 on the Gulfstream Tapeta.

“He's the kind of horse that lacks that true turn of foot, so we think the distance will help him the longer he goes. He is pretty versatile, though he's probably better on the grass,” Joseph said. “His game is he sits back and makes one run at the end. Going a little further I would think that he would probably be a little tactically closer just because it's a slower kind of pace, but he's a horse that's not going to be on the lead you wouldn't think.”

Tyler Conner gets the call from outermost Post 8.

Wertheimer and Frere's homebred Dataman returns to both the grass and stakes company off an 11 ¼-length allowance romp going a mile and 70 yards over a wet-fast main track June 28 at Delaware Park, a race originally carded for the turf.

In a two-week span last fall, he ran sixth behind Major Dude in the Pilgrim (G2) on the Belmont Park turf and fourth to Tuskegee Airmen in the Rocky Run over Delaware's main track. Jorge Ruiz rides from Post 5.

“I had him as a 2-year-old. He's grown up a lot. He's much more professional now than he was last year,” trainer Graham Motion said. “He ran super last time. I wasn't necessarily looking to get him back on the grass, but I don't see any other great options for him at the moment. He handles the grass. Hopefully he's just an improved horse having had some time off. We've always liked him.”

Also entered are Morris Kernan Jr. and Jagger Inc.'s Eldest Son, yet to race on turf but with one second in two tries on the all-weather; Ready Made Racing's Georgie W, a maiden winner on the grass in May at Indiana, where he exits a fifth in the July 8 Indiana Derby (G3) on dirt; and Gary Barber and Team Valor International's Sirtaki, a three-time winner in his native France making his North American debut.

The post ‘He’s Fast And He Can Sustain His Speed’: Ari Gold Chasing Second Stakes Win In Bald Eagle Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Walmac Farm, Gainesway Stable and Haras d'Etreham's Speirling Beag, a Group 3 winner in her native Ireland, will make her second North American start looking for her first victory in Sunday's $100,000 Searching at Laurel Park.

The13th running of the 1 1/16-mile Searching for 3-year-old fillies is the first of two stakes scheduled for the grass on a nine-race program followed, by the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 3/16 miles.

First race post time is 12:25 p.m.

A chestnut daughter of Mastercraftsman, a multiple Group 1-winning millionaire in Europe, Speirling Beag won the 1 1/8-mile Eyrefield (G3) at Leopardstown in her sixth and final start of 2022. She finished sixth in the 1 5/16-mile Prix Penelope (G3) April 1 at St. Cloud in France before joining trainer Graham Motion in the U.S.

Motion, who won the 2021 Searching with Grade 3 winner Blame Debbie and a division of the race in 2000 with Confessional, gave Speirling Beag her first domestic start in the 1 ¼-mile Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) July 8 at Belmont Park. She broke slowly and wound up sixth, beaten less than three lengths, at odds of 24-1.

Rather than run Speirling Beag back in the 1 3/16-mile Saratoga Oaks Invitational Aug. 5, the connections opted to wait for the Searching, extended after being contested at a mile in 2022. The race returned to the stakes schedule at 1 ½ miles in 2019.

“We got her in the spring and the idea was to run her in the Belmont Oaks. Actually, she probably didn't run a bad race. She was only beaten [2 ¾] lengths for it all,” Motion said. “I didn't want to go back to the next race at Saratoga, so this was the logical option. Hopefully she'll find it a little softer spot.”

Speirling Beag was beaten 2 ½ lengths when third in the Staffordstown Stud (G3) at The Curragh just two weeks before becoming a group-stakes winner. She is based with Motion's string at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md.

“She came to us with a good foundation. She's been very straightforward since we've had her. She had a good work over the weekend, and I don't think her last race was that bad. It was the first time I had run her but I'm not sure she needs to go that [far],” Motion said. “Going a shorter distance, I'm sure she's going to come from off the pace. She's a nice filly and we're excited about her.”

Motion also entered No Show Sammy Jo and Stellar Lady, the latter for main track only. Amy Moore purchased Stellar Lady for $280,000 at Fasig-Tipton's July horses of racing age sale after the Shackleford filly finished third in the Iowa Oaks (G3).

“She came out of the sale,” Motion said. “I've only had her for probably a month, but it seems like a good option for her if it came off the grass.”

Bridlewood Farm and Madaket Stables' No Show Sammy Jo, bred in England, is cross-entered in a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance Thursday at Saratoga. She has raced just twice and exits a popular 2 ¼-length maiden special weight score going a mile on the turf June 24 at Belmont Park.

“She's in in New York but I'm worried the race might come off the grass,” Motion said. “I think she's a nice filly. We've just been a little unlucky getting her in these races. The last time I entered her, it came off the grass. I think she's stakes-caliber. I normally wouldn't necessarily throw her in a stake so early, but if that's what the best option is I think she's up to it.”

Apple Picker, bred and owned by Michael Dubb, will be making her third start this year and second straight on the turf for Maryland's leading trainer Brittany Russell, who got the daughter of Connect in early 2023 after she won one of four starts for previous trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

In her first start for Russell, Apple Picker coasted by 6 ¾ lengths in front-running optional claiming allowance score May 25 at Delaware Park sprinting six furlongs. Looking for a spot to bring her back, the connections opted for the 5 ½-furlong Stormy Blues June 18 on the Laurel turf where she closed to be fourth under Laurel's leading jockey, Jaime Rodriguez, 1 ½ lengths behind stablemate Bosserati.

“We got her at the beginning of the year. We kind of just took our time getting her ready, although she did kind of get herself ready pretty quick,” Russell said. “We got the win with her on the dirt down at Delaware and then we were just kind of struggling about what to do with her and where to run her. We kind of took a swing in the Stormy Blues. When she ran there it was sort of like she was dying to run and there was nothing for her, let's give her a shot on the grass. I thought she ran quite well. It was sort of what I told Jaime to do, just sit and make a run and see if she enjoys it.”

Jevian Toledo will be aboard from Post 4 in a field of 11 for the Searching, which will be Apple Picker's first time going two turns. Her previous longest race was the seven-furlong Spinaway (G1) last summer at Saratoga, when she finished seventh.

“It's a mile and a sixteenth this time around but I think she'll handle it. She's trained well and she ran well on the turf last time. It's a tough spot, though,” Russell said. “You go five and a half to a mile and a sixteenth, but I think she's the kind of filly that can be tactical going long and hopefully she's finishing up like she did last time.”

Jerry Caroom and Jeffrey Lambert's Girl Named Charlie is winless in three starts since taking the one-mile Alan Black Cat LaCombe Memorial March 11 on the Fair Grounds turf. Most recently, the Maclean's Music filly was in the July 1 Tepin, also going one mile, at Ellis Park for trainer Tom Amoss.

Magdalena Racing and Afred Riccio's Beautifulnavigator was second by a head to Girl Named Charlie in the LaCombe and is entered to make her first start since finishing ninth in the one-mile Appalachian (G2) April 8 over a Keeneland turf course rated good. She has been working toward her comeback with trainer Ken McPeek at Saratoga.

Completing the field are Bolivie, an Irish-bred making her third North American start for trainer Brendan Walsh; Mike Trombetta-trained stablemates Livelovenlaughter and Naval Empire; and Monmouth Park-based Cecilia. Yesternight is entered for main track only.

Searching, a 1978 Hall of Fame inductee, was a bay daughter of 1937 Triple Crown champion War Admiral bred by Odgen Phipps that won the Gallorette Stakes at Pimlico in 1955 and 1957 for trainer Hirsch Jacobs, retiring with a record of 25-14-16 with $327,381 in purse earnings from 89 starts. As a broodmare, Searching also enjoyed great success with offspring such as Affectionately, an 18-time stakes winner and dam of 1970 Preakness winner Personality, and Admiring, the grand-dam of 1993 Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero.

The post Motion ‘Searching’ For First U.S. Victory With Irish Group 3 Winner Speirling Beag appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Two-time Charles Town Classic victor and Grade 1 winner Art Collector leads a list of 99 nominations for the Classic Town Classic and Charles Town Oaks, which closed this past Friday. The Classic and Oaks will both be run on Charles Town's biggest night of the year – Friday, August 25 – a card that features nine stakes races with $2.9 million in purse money on the line.

Owned by Bruce Lunsford and trained by Bill Mott, Art Collector will be taking a slightly different route to West Virginia's eastern panhandle than he did in 2021 and 2022. In both of those years, Art Collector won the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga three weeks prior to his run in the Classic. Thanks to a win in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park this January, Art Collector was not eligible for the Alydar this year. He followed up his Pegasus triumph with two respectable runner-up performances in the New Orleans Classic (G2) and Alysheba (G2).

The now six-year-old Art Collector will look to become the first horse to win three renewals of the Charles Town Classic. Last year saw Art Collector become the first horse since Researcher to win West Virginia's richest race in back-to-back years, while also joining Imperative and the aforementioned Researcher as the only two-time winners of the Classic.

Trainer Brittany Russell nominated a trio of runners for the Classic, headlined by Doppelganger, winner of the Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct this April. The four-year-old son of top sire Into Mischief is coming off a win in the Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park. He's joined in the nominations by stablemates Be Better – owned by Repole Stable, who sent out Caixa Eletronica to victory in the 2012 Charles Town Classic — and Hello Hot Rod.

Two-time Charles Town Classic victor Todd Pletcher has three nominees as well, led by 2021 Cigar Mile (G1) winner Americanrevolution. Joining him in the nominations are fellow Pletcher trainees Bright Future and Weyburn. Trainer Brad Cox also has three Classic nominees. The five-year-old millionaire Warrant is perhaps the most established of his contingent, but both Best Actor and Zozos profile as up-and-comers in the handicap division.

Two runners from this year's Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga find their way into the nominations: 2022 Blue Grass (G1) winner Zandon for trainer Chad Brown, and multiple graded stakes winner Last Samurai for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, the latter of which ran fifth in last year's Charles Town Classic.

Trainer Doug O'Neill has a pair of Classic nominees, led by multiple Grade 2-winner Slow Down Andy. He's joined in the nominations by stablemate Katonah. Fellow California-based trainer Peter Miller nominated 2020 Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Get Her Number along with Perfect Flight.

A pair of Florida-based trainers also nominated multiple horses for this year's Classic. Trainers Saffie Joseph, Jr. and Juan Alvarado have five nominations between them, Joseph represented by multiple Grade 3-winner Skippylongstocking and O'Connor, with Alvarado nominating three runners for Arindel Farm: Ghostzapper (G3) winner Clapton, Octane, and The Skipper Too.

The runner-up in last year's Classic will be back in search of the biggest win of his career, as Charles Town-based and Charles Town Classic-winning trainer Jeff Runco once again sends out Muad'dib. In the 2022 Classic, Muad'dib raced on even terms with Art Collector for the first six furlongs of the contest, before the latter edged away to a 4 ¼ length victory.

Other graded stakes winners nominated to the Classic include recent Cougar II (G3) winner Order and Law for Charles Town Classic-winning trainer Bob Hess, Jr. and Greenwood Cup (G3) winner Ridin With Biden for trainer Robert Reid, Jr.

This year's Charles Town Oaks (G3) received a $250,000 purse hike to $750,000, making it the richest sprint stakes for three-year-old fillies in North America. The nominations are headlined by Grade 1 winners Chocolate Gelato and Leave No Trace, Grade 2 winners Hoosier Philly and Southlawn, and Grade 3 winners Crypto Mo, Foggy Night, and Promiseher America. Over half of the 65 nominees (33) are stakes winners, with seven of the non-stakes winners having achieved graded stakes placed status.

Trainer Brittany Russell leads the way with six nominations for the Oaks, followed by Chad Brown's five, Todd Pletcher's four, and Brad Cox's three. Nine other trainers nominated two runners for the race.

Entries for the August 25 Charles Town Classic card will be taken on Tuesday, August 22.

Nominations for three more unrestricted stakes all run at seven furlongs – the $350,000 Robert Hilton Memorial for three-year-olds, the $250,000 Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes for older fillies and mares, and the $250,000 Russell Road for older horses – close this coming Friday, August 11.

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