Tag: Racing

Douglas Scharbauer's stakes-winning Texas homebred Closing Act will look to preserve her undefeated record for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in Thursday's Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville, a six-furlong sprint for juvenile fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Schuylerville, slated for Race 9 on Thursday's 10-race card, kicks off stakes action on Opening Day of the 40-day summer meet at Saratoga, which features 71 stakes worth $20.8 million. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

Closing Act, a chestnut daughter of Munnings, arrives as the lone stakes-winner in the field of 11, boasting a last-out romp in the 5 1/2-furlong Astoria on June 11 at Belmont Park. There, she engaged in a three-way battle for the lead into through the first three-eighths under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and kicked clear at the top of the lane to coast home a 3 1/4-length winner in a final time of 1:06.59.

The Astoria was Closing Act's first test against winners after graduating on debut by a neck in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden tilt in May at Churchill Downs. She is out of the stakes-placed Master Command mare Evening Show and is from the family of multiple graded stakes-winners Mea Domina and Greek Sun.

Tyler Gaffalione picks up the mount from post 6.

Trainer Butch Reid, Jr. has entered a talented pair of contenders in debut maiden winners Carmelina [post 1, Jose Ortiz] and Kiss for Luck [post 8, Kendrick Carmouche.

Cash is King and LC Racing's Carmelina leads the Reid, Jr.-trained duo off a dominant 5 3/4-length debut graduation on June 18 at Parx Racing. The daughter of Maximus Mischief led at every point of call in the 4 1/2-furlong sprint under Mychel Sanchez to draw off easily down the lane and post the victory in a final time of 53.77 seconds. She garnered a 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“She had shown signs as she was training along. She trained very well and reminded me a lot of her daddy,” said Reid, Jr., who trained Maximus Mischief to a victory in the 2018 Grade 2 Remsen. “She was a very forward filly and did everything we asked of her and she put in a performance to match it.”

Reid, Jr. added Carmelina has shown enough professionalism in her training to be competitive either on or off the lead.

“She's got a very good head on her shoulders,” Reid, Jr. said. “We breezed her in company and put her behind horses and let her eat a little dirt. She handled everything very well. Nothing seems to faze her too much. We think she'll give a good effort.”

Carmelina was a $44,000 purchase as a weanling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic December Mixed Sale. Bred in Pennsylvania by Lillith E. Boucher, she is the first foal produced from the stakes-winning St Averil mare Complete St.

Swilcan Stables' Kentucky homebred Kiss for Luck also graduated on debut in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden at Parx, landing a 1 3/4-length triumph on May 23. The Accelerate bay broke fifth-of-6 from post 5, but recovered well to take command early and notch the frontrunning score under Paco Lopez in a final time of 54.95, garnering a 36 Beyer for the effort.

“For a first timer, she didn't get away real clean,” Reid, Jr. said. “She ducked in behind horses and looked around a little bit. I thought it was a solid effort for a first-time starter. I was thinking it would be way too short for her – she's a natural route horse. So, to get the money in there was a little bit of a bonus and, for me, the numbers aren't all that significant on 2-year-olds. I look more for style and how they do it rather than what kind of number they throw. I think her best game will be when they really stretch it out in the fall. The six furlongs will not be a problem.”

Kiss for Luck, who Reid, Jr. said schooled successfully at the gate in preparation for her stakes debut, is out the Mineshaft mare Vero Amore – runner-up in the 2014 Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course. She is a half-sister to the 2020 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Vequist, who Swilcan Stables co-owned and Reid, Jr. trained to a pair of Grade 1 scores in Saratoga's Spinaway and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland.

Vero Amore proved to be an astute acquisition for Reid, Jr., who bought her for $15,000 as a 2-year-old at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

“It's been a solid family. Unfortunately, this is the last one in the line as she passed away a couple of years ago,” said Reid, Jr. “She was a godsend from when we found her for $15,000. She's been quite a producer for us all the way along. One thing she did was throw a lot of fillies, so we can perpetuate it. That pedigree will be around for a while.”

Manor Stable's Dancing Diana [post 9, John Velazquez] was a visually impressive winner of her June 17 debut sprinting five furlongs at Delaware Park for conditioner James Lawrence, II. She emerged from the inside post in the field of four and held a slim lead over Ursuline down the backstretch before drawing off in the turn and powering home a 7 1/2-length winner. She was awarded a 66 Beyer for the victory.

“We were very pleased with how this filly trained up to the race and her professionalism, and she carried that through her race,” said Lawrence. “She broke well and listened to the rider – whenever he wanted to ask her to go, she responded. If she can do that Thursday, she should be well placed. She's a very intelligent filly.”

Dancing Diana has had one work since her win, posting a five-furlong breeze in 1:03 on July 1 at Delaware.

“I've been extremely happy with her in the morning,” Lawrence said. “She seems to be eating well and she's enthusiastic in her training. We're hoping to ship up to Saratoga on Monday and as long as all goes well, we're looking forward to a big race on Thursday.”

The Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Bolt d'Oro was purchased for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale and is the first foal out of the dual-winning Scat Daddy mare Oh Scatty Oh. She is a direct maternal descendant of the 1958 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and influential broodmare Quill.

MKW Racing's Wine On Tap [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] boasts a field-best 76 Beyer for a debut maiden victory on June 18 at Belmont for Hall of Fame conditioner Todd Pletcher. The Tapit grey pounced from just off the pace in the five-furlong sprint to draw clear down the stretch and cross the wire three lengths in front.

Out of the graded stakes-winning Quality Road mare Princess La Quinta, Wine On Tap was a $600,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Completing the field are the Gary Contessa-trained first-time starter Becky's Joker [post 2, Javier Castellano], whose second dam is multiple stakes-winner Vertical Vision; Astoria runner-up Union Suit [post 3, Manny Franco] for conditioner Graham Motion; Status Seeker [post 4, Joel Rosario], a determined winner on debut for trainer Rudy Rodriguez; the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Saratoga Secret [post 5, Luis Saez], whose dam is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed millionaire Lookin At Lee; Mila Junes [post 10, Jose Gomez], a half-length winner from off the pace in her June 16 debut for trainer Kent Sweezey; and Sugar Treat [post 11, Flavien Prat], a half-sister to graded stakes-placed Absolute Grit for Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse.

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 Stakes-Winning Homebred Closing Act Will Try To Remain Undefeated In Saratoga’s Opening Day Schuylerville appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The well-traveled career of multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Drafted has come to a close after eight seasons on the racetrack and visits to 10 race courses across three continents.

“We never thought we would get to the stage we did with him,” said trainer David Duggan. “All his runs were special. He was an exciting horse to watch.”

Owned by Dublin Fjord Stables, Racepoint Stables, Kevin Hilbert and Thomas O'Keefe, the 9-year-old son of Field Commission won a pair of Group 3 events during a four-season stint in Dubai before arriving in Duggan's barn at the end of 2020. Since then, he has posted some of his most memorable victories, highlighted by Grade 3 wins under Jose Ortiz as an 8-year-old in Aqueduct Racetrack's Toboggan and Belmont Park's Runhappy. He retires with a record of 38-10-3-6 and total purse earnings of $1,171,593.

Duggan said he has particularly fond memories of Drafted's win in the Toboggan when he captured the seven-furlong sprint by 4 1/2 lengths with a come-from-behind rally.

“I think the day Jose Ortiz rode him was the most exciting, even though he won by four or five lengths,” Duggan said. “We kind of caught everyone off guard with a change in tactics and how he engulfed them.”

Ortiz fondly recalled his graded triumphs aboard the fan favorite veteran.

“What can I say – it's a little sad to see him go and I even rooted for him when he would go out of town and run other places,” said Ortiz. “The Toboggan was an amazing race – he sat back and came flying late. I love this horse. He's got some character and is very classy. He's a horse that you knew every time he stepped on the track, he's going to give you all he's got. Those are rare to find. I hope he goes on to have a nice retirement and second career.”

Ortiz praised the work done by Duggan and his wife, Lara, to keep the horse sound and happy through his 9-year-old campaign.

“David and Lara are amazing people and I know the horse is going to retire very healthy. They are amazing horsemen and work hard. I'm rooting for them to get another nice horse, and hopefully I'll be on it,” Ortiz said, with a laugh.

Duggan said the decision was made to retire Drafted after he finished last-of-6 in the July 1 Alapocas Run at Delaware Park.

“I was mulling around the idea and I knew in my gut that if he didn't show up at Delaware, it would be time to retire him,” said Duggan. “We could have waited and focused on the wintertime, but the right decision was made and it's time to move on.”

Drafted has since returned to Duggan's barn at Belmont Park where he has enjoyed some quiet days in anticipation of being rehomed through the New York Thoroughbred Horseman's Association's (NYTHA) TAKE THE LEAD program, a retirement program for thoroughbreds stabled at New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks that facilitates the search for rehabilitation and retraining placements for retiring NYRA racehorses.

“We don't have a final confirmation for a rehab spot, but he's in the program and we'll get him where he needs to be,” said Rick Schosberg, president of TAKE THE LEAD. “He's got some quirky things and he'll need a good transitional rider, so I think it will be up to him what he wants to do. He's the poster child of doing things the right way. He's accomplished a lot and they all deserve a safe landing.”

Both Duggan and Schosberg are unsure exactly what second career lies ahead for Drafted, but expressed confidence that the spirited gelding can excel in a variety of roles.

“With his athleticism and talent, I think the book is wide open for him. He could jump – he's sound and has a great hind end and shoulder. With his looks, he could be a dressage horse, but he could also probably rustle cattle,” said Schosberg, with a laugh. “It's a really great thing.”

Drafted will remain in Duggan's Belmont barn until a new home has been found for him where he will learn how to be ridden for a discipline beyond racing. He has undergone TAKE THE LEAD's usual intake process, which includes diagnostics, a visual inspection when jogging and a comprehensive veterinary exam.

“He'll be taught how to react to the bit a little differently and different leg signals,” said Schosberg. “He may do that absolutely perfect, but we just want to make sure the transition is smooth and seamless.”

The honest and hard-trying gelding provided Duggan with some of the biggest highlights of his career, capped by his graded triumphs last year in the Toboggan and Runhappy. He notched additional stakes coups last year in the Mr. Prospector at Monmouth Park and the Gravesend in December at Aqueduct, which proved to be his final trip to the winner's circle.

Duggan, who started his first horse in 2005, expressed gratitude for the way Drafted's stakes performances helped to put his operation back in the graded spotlight for the first time since he won the 2009 Grade 2 First Flight Handicap with Porte Bonheur.

“Not every horse is able to have a career at the top level – he dabbled there and was competitive at the second tier,” said Duggan. “It's a competitive division and he didn't dodge anyone in New York. He put us back on the map to some extent and it was special. What he's done for us is huge, and these are the horses that make the game what it is. It's good for all aspects of it.”

Through the TAKE THE LEAD program, horses like Drafted are sent to facilities accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) for rehab and retraining. NYRA and its horsemen are committed supporters of the TAA, which accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations using industry-wide funding.

Every owner competing at NYRA racetracks donates $10 per start to the TAA, helping to fund aftercare organizations that provide homes for retired racehorses. New York's horsemen also donate 1.5 percent of the purchase price of every horse claimed at a NYRA track to TAA and to TAKE THE LEAD.

TAKE THE LEAD's services are available to horses stabled at NYRA racetracks, with all costs associated with veterinary diagnostics, transportation, and other related expenses covered by the organization. Horses who have gone through the organization are also monitored with regular follow-ups on their progress in their second careers.

Schosberg said Drafted, along with every other horse who goes through the program, has been promised a caring and meaningful retirement thanks to thorough adoption guidelines.

“Adopters go through a meticulous screening process and the organizations make sure the horse fits the rider,” Schosberg said. “Whether they're famous stakes horses or horses who didn't break their maiden, we are here to make sure horses have a proper, safe second career.”

Duggan, who has seen his stock of horses grow exponentially in the past year, said the end of Drafted's career is not bittersweet, but solely happy as he embarks on a new chapter in his already storied life.

“It is the end of an era, and it ends well,” Duggan said. “He's competed well at the level he was in at his age. It's a happy ending and it's just good for everyone. It was a fun ride.”

The post ‘End Of An Era’: Multiple Graded Stakes-Winning Millionaire Drafted Retired To Pursue Second Career appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The 3-year-old colt Cagliostro, who runs in Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis, is named for Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, the 18th Century Italian adventurer, magician and occultist who enthralled Parisian high society until the French Revolution ended the party.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux is hoping that in a span of about 105 seconds Saturday about 6:40 p.m. ET that Cagliostro will be transformed from maiden winner into a graded-stakes winner who can compete against the top echelon of 3-year-olds the rest of the year. No magic or mysticism required — though Cagliostro might have to run the best race of his life to defeat 8-5 favorite Verifying in the 1 1/16-mile stakes.

“He's going to be tough to beat,” DeVaux said. “But Cagliostro has been training really well, and I'm looking forward to see how he runs here.”

With the exception of an eight-place finish in the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby, Cagliostro has improved every race. At 8-1 in the morning line, he could be the value play in the anticipated field of eight 3-year-olds (No. 9 Georgie W expected to scratch). Edgar Morales will be aboard Cagliostro for the first time.

“We gave him a chance to run in the Louisiana Derby,” DeVaux said. “At the top of the stretch, he'd made a run and it looked like he might be right there. We gave him one shot to try to make it into the Kentucky Derby, but I think it was a little far. He's a big horse, and after the Louisiana Derby he did a bit of growing and we gave him some time.”

DeVaux brought Cagliostro back in a one-turn mile allowance race June 3 at Churchill Downs, closing well to lose by only a head to the promising Scotland.

“He just seems more effective at the two turns, but maybe not two turns at the longer distances,” she said. “The mile and a sixteenth seems perfect.”

DeVaux, in her sixth year as a trainer after being an assistant to Chad Brown, kick-started her career by developing young fillies to where they accrued residual value as broodmares.

“Last year was the first year where my clients and I thought it was a good time to dip our toes into the colts, to try to spend a significant amount of money on colts,” she said.

Those clients include a partnership spearheaded by her husband, prominent bloodstock agent David Ingordo. They set a budget and purchased a pair of colts, including Cagliostro for $385,000 at the April 2-year-old in training sale in Ocala, Fla. The Upstart colt races in the names of Ingordo, Talla Racing, James D. Spry, West Point Thoroughbreds and Nice Guys Stables

“When we saw Cagliostro, he's a really good-looking individual,” DeVaux said. “He had a nice breeze – not a 'wow' 9.4 (seconds for an eighth-mile) – with a good gallop-out. He was the first one we purchased. He's a Florida-bred, and that might have been one reason he didn't go for an exorbitant amount of money. But he was a nice, athletic individual.”

Cagliostro finished sixth while sprinting in his racing debut at Saratoga last summer.

“He trained well, but you could tell that mentally it was going to take him a while to put it together,” DeVaux said. “He banged a shin before a race at Keeneland, so we had to scratch him and regroup from there.”

Off almost five months, Cagiostro rallied to easily win a maiden race at the Fair Grounds at 1 1/16 miles in his second start. He backed that up with a second by a neck in an allowance race at the same distance to earn a shot at the Louisiana Derby.

“The one thing about him is he's been quite immature,” DeVaux said. “That's something we've had to keep a close eye on. He can get quite cheeky here and there about things. He's maturing both physically and mentally, and it's reflected on his race record.”

A victory Saturday would be big not only for Cagliostro but for his trainer. Cagliostro would be DeVaux's second graded-stakes winner, following Gam's Mission, a Grade 3 winner in 2021 and 2022.

“When you can win a graded stakes with a colt it really picks up everyone's head,” she said. “My crew is young. You have to prove yourself; nothing is given to any of us. A lot of my success so far has been with fillies. It's a big deal, those (3-year-old) races…. To get a win like that, it would be special just to have. But as far as developing your career, people take notice.”

DeVaux has topped her prior year's numbers each season she's been a trainer, even during COVID. With 28 victories and $1.85 million in purse earnings so far in 2023, she's well on her way to surpassing last year's 35 victories and $2.69 million in purses.

“There have been challenges, but the one aspect I'm most proud of is that our stable has a really good core group of employees and team members that have grown with us,” said DeVaux, who trains about 80 horses in Kentucky and New York. “It's been really exciting, and I'm proud with how things have gone. We really try to keep in mind that we have to work hard every day. And no matter how big we are, we have to treat each horse as an individual and work together.

“We're going into our sixth year. If you would have asked me even three years ago if we'd be here today, I might not have been so positive. But we keep chugging along.”

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Saratoga's Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 26 could shape up to pit a pair of 3-year-old classic winners against one another. Both Mage, winner of the Kentucky Derby, and Arcangelo, winner of the Belmont Stakes, had their first serious works after brief layoffs earlier this week, according to the Daily Racing Form.

Mage breezed July 1 for the second time since finishing third in the G1 Preakness, but it was the colt's first serious drill: he worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 at the Thoroughbred Training Center in Lexington, Ky. A week earlier, the Gustavo Delgado-trained son of Good Magic had covered the same distance in 1:07.20.

“The first work was just something to get him loping along, jogging and galloping. It wasn't a true work,” co-owner Ramiro Restrepo told DRF. “The Travers has been our number one goal since the Preakness was over and that's been our mindset ever since. To find the optimum way to get him to run back to that mile and one-quarter Derby race in the Travers.”

Meanwhile, Arcangelo covered five furlongs in a snappy :58.49 on July 5 at Saratoga. DRF reports that the son of Arrogate galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.28 and seven in 1:26.00.

“It was his first work back, the track was very snappy, and the time was irrelevant,” trainer Jena Antonucci told DRF. “He needed to get out there and stretch his legs and get a nice work underneath after being off since the Belmont, and that's exactly what he did.”

Antonucci said she had not decided whether Arcangelo might have a prep race before starting in the Travers, the team's primary goal.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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