Tag: Racing

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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Surge Capacity entered Friday's Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George with just one start under her belt, but responded to her first test against winners with aplomb when leading a Chad Brown-trained/Klaravich Stables-owned exacta in the one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The homebred daughter of Flintshire cut back slightly from a 1 1/2-length victory on debut in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on June 10 at Monmouth Park where she attended the pace early before taking command at the half-mile call and drawing away strongly to earn an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

She showed similar tactics in the Lake George under expert handling from Joel Rosario, skimming the rail to pounce on pacesetter Secret Money in the final furlong while fending off Tax Implications, one of four Brown-trained entrants, to land the three-quarter-length triumph.

“She ran a fast number in that race and she always trained like a good horse,” said Brown, who won his fifth straight Lake George and record-extending seventh overall. “I actually ran her at Monmouth and kept her there just to split some of the horses up. She always trained like a horse that was good enough to run over here as well. I was just trying to break up some maidens and separate horses. Right after she broke her maiden and got the number and she ran to her works, we circled this race. We liked her in here.”

Away alertly from the inside post in the field of eight, Surge Capacity maintained her position near the front of the pack as Hall of Famer Javier Castellano guided Secret Money from the outermost post 10 to race two-wide and lead the field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.97 seconds over the yielding footing.

Princess Bettina was held close in second off Secret Money's flank with a gap back to Surge Capacity and her stablemate Tax Implications, who raced in tandem in third position down the backstretch and through a half-mile in :49.84. Princess Bettina came under a ride into the turn as the Manny Franco-piloted Tax Implications opted to go outside the top two with Surge Capacity cutting the corner under a patient Rosario and taking dead aim at the lead straightening for home.

Princess Bettina backpedaled at the top of the lane after three-quarters in 1:14.33 as a stubborn Secret Money refused to yield to the oncoming pair of Surge Capacity to her inside and Tax Implications to her outside. The former finally put her head in front at the eighth pole and had just one foe left to handle as her stablemate advanced down the center of the course in the final 100 yards to the wire.

Surge Capacity found enough late to stave off Tax Implications and reached the wire first in a final time of 1:38. A game Secret Money was edged out of show honors by a neck with the Brown-trained Revalita and post-time favorite Liguria finishing a respective fourth and fifth. Tryinmyheartout, Princess Bettina and Lil Miss Moonlight completed the order of finish. Queen Picasso and Utilization Rate were scratched.

Brown said his top two finishers responded well to the yielding turf conditions, but that his other two runners may have been hampered by it.

“I had no feel for this horse [Surge Capacity] and how she would handle it at all,” said Brown. “I had more confidence in Tax Implications and Revalita. I was concerned with Liguria – if it came off [the turf], I definitely was [going to scratch]. I couldn't gauge it really, because there were no other races on the turf today which I totally understand.”

Rosario said he was able to make his move for the lead when Secret Money drifted out slightly from her inside position.

“I had a good trip. She broke really well out of there and it looked like I was in a good spot going into the first turn,” Rosario said. “From there, I followed the couple of horses on the lead and turning for home I was able to get through. That horse came off the rail a little bit and I think that was the winning move.”

Surge Capacity, out of the stakes-winning Warrior's Reward mare Strong Incentive, is a half-sister to the Brown-trained graded stakes-winner Highly Motivated. She banked $96,250 in victory and now boasts an undefeated 2-for-2 record. Surge Capacity returned $13 for a $2 win ticket.

Franco said Tax Implications, a last-out second to Liguria in the Wild Applause at Belmont Park, was valiant in defeat.

“I had a beautiful trip,” Franco said. “My filly broke good. She put me in a good position and when I made my run, she was there for me. But the winner just kept on going, so I was second best.”

Live racing resumes on Saturday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, featuring the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks in Race 9 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Caress in Race 6. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com

The post Surge Capacity Jumps From Maiden Win To Graded Stakes Success In Lake George appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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LNJ Foxwoods' Kentucky homebred Scotland made both his two-turn and stakes debut a triumphant one in Friday's $135,000 Curlin, establishing early command and never looking back en route to an in-hand score in the restricted nine-furlong event for sophomores over the Saratoga Race Course main track.

Scotland, one of three Good Magic progeny in the field, entered from a rallying triumph against winners in a one-turn mile allowance on June 3 at Churchill Downs, two starts following a first-out maiden win going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. He displayed early prominence in the Curlin, where he kept Il Miracolo at bay through the stretch drive to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

“Maybe this [two turns] is what he wanted all along,” said Mott, who saddled Hofburg to a Curlin win in 2018. “We got a good foundation in him. We sprinted him a few times – he got the job done a couple times. First time in a stake and here we are.”

Scotland was sent by jockey Junior Alvarado from post 4 with a headstrong Il Miracolo, who broke to his outside, matching strides entering the first turn. Scotland was the clear pacesetter entering the backstretch through an opening quarter-mile in 23.69 seconds over the fast main track with Il Miracolo tracking in second. Il Miracolo moved up in tandem with Scotland through a half in 47.56 as a four-wide Blazing Sevens tracked in third with Lost Ark and Perform making up the rear of the compact five-horse field.

Around the far turn, 3-5 favorite Blazing Sevens, a last-out second in the Grade 1 Preakness, was under an all-out drive by jockey Flavien Prat as Scotland maintained a narrow advantage over Il Miracolo through three-quarters in 1:11.12. Scotland extended his advantage to one length at the stretch call and began to inch clear of Il Miracolo, crossing the finish line under a hand ride in a final time of 1:49.12.

Il Miracolo finished another three lengths ahead of Blazing Sevens, followed by Lost Ark and Perform.

Alvarado expressed no concern with the two turns.

“We were talking before this race and I told Bill, 'I don't know which race you want to point at, but I think we have to try two turns with him because I think that's the feeling that I'm getting – that he's going to be a good horse on two turns.' I'm just glad everything worked out today,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado said his horse was full of energy from the start.

“I know they were probably trying to go with the horse outside, but I thought I got so much horse from the get-go,” Alvarado said. “So, I just let him get comfortable, cruise along. He was traveling beautifully. I was always hoping he'd give me the kick that I was expecting at the end and I mean, when I turned for home and I asked him, he was there for me. I always thought he was going to be a very nice horse going two turns and I think he proved it today.”

Mott said he was not surprised to find his newly minted stakes winner on the front end.

“We thought the horse on the outside might try to go to the lead because he had won one of his previous races being on the lead,” Mott said. “I think they wanted to be on the lead, but we took it away from them. We had a good trip. We were on the lead and we were challenged a little bit, but not pressed overly hard.”

Mott said Scotland is likely to try the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course.

“This was a test today to see if he could get the two turns, get the nine furlongs and get him a race over the Saratoga racetrack,” Mott said. “He answered both questions today. Obviously, the Travers is a different race and different competition. I'm sure we'll have that debate with the racing managers and the owners, but I'm sure the Travers would be up on the list.”

Luis Saez, aboard Il Miracolo, said everything went according to plan despite coming up short of victory.

“It was a good trip. He broke from there pretty well and we sat second right there. It was a very comfortable pace. He tried hard, man, he ran big. A good second, second best,” Saez said. “The plan was to try to break right and put him right there. We don't know if it was to take the lead or be second, the plan was just to try to be in the clear. So, everything came out like the plan.”

Trainer Chad Brown said the distant effort would likely not warrant a Travers engagement for Blazing Sevens, who captured the Grade 1 Champagne in October at Belmont at the Big A.

“It just didn't work out again for him. I'll re-evaluate him,” said Brown – a four-time Curlin winning trainer. “He certainly didn't run well enough to go on to the big race. We'll just re-group with this horse and see how he comes out of it and how we want to manage his future.”

Returning $6.90 for a $2 win wager, Scotland added $74,250 to his lifetime earnings which now stand at $211,210. He now boasts a 4-3-1-0 record with all three wins taking place over different tracks.

Scotland is out of the graded-stakes winning and Grade 1 placed Speightstown mare Gemswick Park, who also produced the multiple stakes-placed Tapped.

Live racing resumes on Saturday at Saratoga with an 11-race card, featuring the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks in Race 9. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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 Travers ‘Up On The List’ For Frontrunning Curlin Winner Scotland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' multiple Grade 1-winner Echo Zulu will look to keep her perfect record at Saratoga Race Course intact in Wednesday's Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Gun Runner bay graduated on debut here in July 2021 and followed with a four-length score in the Spa's Grade 1 Spinaway. She completed a perfect 4-for-4 season with Grade 1 wins in the Frizette at Belmont Park and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar en route to honors as Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.

Echo Zulu, who captured the Grade 3 Winning Colors in May at Churchill Downs in her seasonal debut, will look to parlay Wednesday's test into a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint on August 26 that offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“I think we're right where we want to be with her,” Asmussen said. “Obviously, the Breeders' Cup is the major target for her. We're expecting two runs for her here and then the Breeders' Cup. She's formidable to say the least.”

Echo Zulu, who finished second to Goodnight Olive in last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint in November at Keeneland, has breezed twice at Saratoga, including a half-mile effort in 49.50 over the Oklahoma training track on July 17.

Florent Geroux retains the mount from the inside post aboard Echo Zulu, who carries a field-high 123 pounds.

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Kentucky-homebred Frank's Rockette [post 2, Junior Alvarado, 122 pounds] boasts a record of 27-12-9-3 for purse earnings in excess of $1.4 million.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 6-year-old Into Mischief bay finished second to Kimari in this event last year – one of three runner-up efforts in graded stakes at the Spa for Frank's Rockette to go along with a win in the 2020 Grade 2 Prioress.

Frank's Rockette is a perfect 2-for-2 this season, taking the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie in March at Gulfstream Park and the Roxelana in April at Churchill Downs. She has breezed back eight times at Saratoga, including a half-mile in 48.62 Wednesday over the Oklahoma training track.

Rodney Lundock's Florida homebred Maryquitecontrary [post 3, Luca Panici, 122 pounds] made her first seven starts at Gulfstream Park for trainer Joseph Catanese, III, posting wins in the state-bred Sheer Drama as well as the open-company Rampart en route to a rallying score in January in the Grade 2 Inside Information.

The First Dude bay made her first start for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey last out with a runner-up effort to the reigning Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland.

“I thought she ran good that day,” McGaughey said. “Turning for home, I thought we were going to get her, but to get beat a length by a Champion – there's nothing wrong with that. I've only had her since March, but I watched her races in Florida – they were pretty darn good.”

Maryquitecontrary has breezed twice over the Oklahoma training track, including a half-mile effort this morning in 50 seconds flat.

“She's training really good and breezed over this sealed track this morning and went great. She's done really well,” McGaughey said.

Maryquitecontrary is out of the Mecke mare Mary Kate 'n Kelly, who is a full-sister to multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Supah Blitz.

Cash is King and LC Racing's graded-stakes winner Dr B [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 119 pounds] will turn back in distance from a distant fourth-place finish last out in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Bed o' Roses on June 17 at Belmont Park.

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the 5-year-old Liam's Map bay has proven to be a versatile runner with wins at distances ranging from six furlongs to her one-turn mile score in the Grade 3 Go for Wand in December at the Big A.

Reid, Jr. said Dr B should be sharp coming into her second career start at Saratoga after finishing second here in August in an optional-claiming event won by Goodnight Olive.

“Absolutely. It was by design, that is why I did it. We know she is plenty fit to go three quarters coming off that seven-eighths race,” Reid, Jr. said.

She worked a half-mile in 48.02 Wednesday over the Spa main track in her second breeze back since the Bed o' Roses.

“It was good to see her really handle it well, nice and easy, well in control, just a real nice breeze,” Reid, Jr. said.

Dr B, out of the graded-stakes placed Proud Citizen mare Boleyn, is a half-sister to stakes-winners Hi Holiday and Stand Up Comic.

The Honorable Miss is slated as Race 4 on Wednesday's 10-race card. 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/.

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