Tag: Racing

Northern Farm's Grade 1 winner Defining Purpose rebounded with aplomb from an unplaced finished in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 when taking the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3) Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The Cross Traffic filly, ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., pressed the early pace set by 54-1 longshot Sandra D, then took charge at the five-sixteenths pole and held on to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Taxed, who rallied from last in the field of seven to take second as the 4-5 favorite.

Lily Poo finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Taxed

Trained by Ken McPeek, Defining Purpose returned $6.40 after covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.83 on a fast track while improving her career line to 4-0-1 from nine starts, including her victory in the Central Bank Ashland (G1) April 7 at Keeneland. That win preceded her seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Down.

The $117,600 winner's share of the Indiana Oaks purse elevated Defining Purpose's lifetime purse earnings to $673,788. The gray/roan filly, bred in Kentucky by Colette Marie Vantre, is out of the Strong Hope mare Defining Hope.

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August Dawn Farm's Maple Leaf Mel remained perfect through five career starts with a powerful gate-to-wire effort to provide her namesake trainer, Melanie Giddings, her first career stakes win in Saturday's $175,000 Victory Ride (G3), a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Belmont Park.

The Canadian-born Giddings was an assistant to Maple Leaf Mel's former trainer Jeremiah Englehart before going out on her own in January and has been closely associated with the New York-bred daughter of Cross Traffic throughout her brilliant career. Giddings took over training duties for this race and has been preparing the popular gray upstate at Saratoga Race Course.

“I haven't eaten all day. I've been kind of nervous,” Giddings said. “I actually have to make the drive back to Saratoga tonight, I have some workers in the morning. This will make the drive a lot easier. I was more nervous for the filly than myself. I don't even feel like it's about me. I just felt like she was 4-for-4 and I would just hate for her to have anything bad in her life. She's been so good to me.”

Maple Leaf Mel has won all five of her starts in front-running fashion under Joel Rosario, taking state-bred stakes in the Seeking the Ante in August at Saratoga and the East View in March at Aqueduct Racetrack before making the grade last out in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.

The 39-year-old Giddings, who was treated for ovarian and endocervical cancer in 2020 and is now in improved health, credited Rosario for being a steady hand aboard the young filly.

“I feel comfort having Joel on her. He fits her perfectly,” Giddings said. “I didn't tell him anything. I just said, 'Keep doing what you do, you've won a lot of races, I won't tell you how to ride.'”

Rosario once again had Maple Leaf Mel away in a hurry from post 5 to set splits of :22.54 and :45.52 over the fast main track with two-time graded stakes winner Red Carpet Ready tracking to her outside in second position and the Flavien Prat-piloted Dazzling Blue saving ground in third.

Maple Leaf Mel put away Red Carpet Ready as Dazzling Blue came off the rail late in the turn to take aim at the leader, but there was no reeling in the winner, who notched the 2 1/2-length score in a final time of 1:15.74. Dazzling Blue held place honors by 1 1/2-lengths over the late-running Vahva with the slow-starting Interpolate, Downtown Mischief, Topsy, Red Carpet Ready and Adeliese's Smile rounding out the order of finish.

Rosario said he felt comfortable throughout.

“She's very nice. She goes out there and just does her job,” Rosario said. “She was very relaxed and was never worried about someone challenging her because she was moving so well. She was always in charge. She goes out there and shows her speed and says, 'Come and beat me.'”

The Brad Cox-trained Dazzling Blue was making her graded stakes debut after three wins in as many starts, including a score in the Letellier Memorial in December at Fair Grounds.

Prat said he felt he was in a position to win as the field straightened away.

“I thought, for a moment, turning for home I could engage her [Maple Leaf Mel], but as soon as the winner felt me she just took off again. She ran a great race,” Prat said.

Giddings said Maple Leaf Mel will now target the $500,000 Test, a seven-furlong sprint on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course that could provide retired Super Bowl-winning Head Coach Bill Parcells [August Dawn Farm] an elusive Grade 1 win.

“That would be the goal. I hope the whole group is there,” Giddings said. “In a way, we're all part of the team. I've been texting Jeremiah all day about the filly and he wished me the best of luck. I wish he could have been here with me.”

Bred in the New York by Joe Fafone, Maple Leaf Mel is out of the City Place mare City Gift, and is a half-sister to stakes-placed New York-bred Eddie's Gift. She banked $96,250 in victory, taking her lifetime purse earnings to $399,650. She returned $7.50 for a $2 win bet.

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Trademark made his second start at Horseshoe Indianapolis a winning effort, scoring in the 23rd running of the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial. The race is named after the first chairperson of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission and members of his family were trackside to present the trophy.

Trademark and Fernando De La Cruz were reunited after competing last year in the Robert Hilton Memorial at Charles Town. This time, the duo got closer to the top ones from the start in the one mile 70-yard event. Trademark sat just off the pace and followed Five Star General and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. on the inside with Pats Property and Joshua Morales stalking in second.

Trademark moved up a few notches around the final turn and by the time the field of nine had moved into the stretch, he had the short advantage. Trademark put a neck ahead of Five Star General, but he fought right back, retaking the lead. Trademark fought for the top spot again and got it late in the lane, picking up the win by 1 1/2 lengths over Five Star General. Masqueparade and Adam Beschizza used a late rally to finish third.

“We talked about it in the paddock with the owner (who said) just put him in position and track them from there,” said De La Cruz. “Whatever horses want to take to the lead. Into the stretch, he just took off to the wire. He was a little bit green (inexperienced), because he saw a shadow, but he finished up well.”

Trademark paid $11.00 for the win. The Upstart 4-year-old gelding was making his second start over the track at Horseshoe Indianapolis, competing in the Indiana Derby last year, finishing third. Trademark is owned by BBN Racing LLC and trained by Victoria Oliver.

“Last year we brought him here for the Indiana Derby and he led most of the way and just got tired,” said co-owner Brian Klatsky. “We wanted to give him another chance here, and he showed up today. The older handicap divisions are tough, so we have been shopping around for a race. Coming back here turned out to be the right spot.”

To date, Trademark has five career wins and pushed his career bankroll over the half-million dollar mark with his win Saturday. The victory in the Michael G. Schaefer was his first of 2023 in five starts.

Oliver was not at the event. When reached by phone, she said, “To be honest, I am traveling in a rental, and I haven't been able to see [the race] yet. But it sounds like he ran really well. My owner told me he sat about third and pulled away. He kind of likes that running style. He likes to sit outside horses and stalk the pace.”

Oliver continued, “He's one of those horses that just always trains forwardly and is always ready to run when you put him in. He isn't too difficult when he's ready because he gets really sharp. He came back, quick enough after running at Monmouth. I thought he ran a really good race at Monmouth. I think with a better trip he could have won that race. Today was his day.”

Bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jone, Trademark is out of the Creative Cause mare Creative Trick. He was a $42,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase in 202o when offered by Eaton Sales.

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