Tag: Racing

Already with two stakes wins to his credit, jockey Sheldon Russell put an exclamation point on his spectacular Saturday afternoon by riding Grade 3-placed 3-year-old Prince of Jericho to a 4¾-length victory over Coffeewithchris in the $100,000 Concern at Laurel Park.

The seventh running of the seven-furlong Concern for sophomores, honoring the first Maryland-bred winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), headlined an Independence Day weekend program that included the $100,000 Laurel Dash for 3-year-olds and up and $75,000 Jameela for Maryland-bred fillies and mares, both sprinting on the grass.

Prince of Jericho ($3.40), sent off as the 3-5 favorite in the Concern, completed the distance in 1:23.16 over a fast main track to complete a stakes sweep for Russell following Tim Keefe-trained Coconut Cake ($13.40) in the Jameela and Fore Harp ($11.60) in the Laurel Dash for trainer Robert E. 'Butch' Reid Jr.

Michael Dubb and Morris Bailey's Prince of Jericho is trained by Russell's wife, summer meet leader Brittany Russell. Represented by agent Marty Leonard, Russell also won three stakes on one card in the 2020 Jim McKay Maryland Million including the Classic on Monday Morning Qb for Reid.

“When the overnight came out I thought my agent had gotten me on some decent live mounts,” Russell said. “We got some really good trips today. [I'm] very fortunate, very blessed to have these owners and trainers still giving me these opportunities. Three stakes wins today is a huge day. I'm just very, very grateful.”

Prince of Jericho had the benefit of breaking outside each of his four rivals in the Concern, and Russell settled him in the clear in third behind multiple stakes winners Recruiter and Coffeewithchris, the latter making his first start since the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 20 at historic Pimlico Race Course.

Recruiter posted fractions of :22.59 and :45.14 under pressure from Coffeewithchris, when Russell began to make his move midway around the far turn. They approached the stretch with Recruiter still in front and Coffeewithchris trying to fend off Prince of Jericho while slightly drifting out, causing the two to brush.

At that point Russell set Prince of Jericho down for a drive to get past Coffeewithchris and reel in Recruiter, drawing away for his second career stakes win following Laurel's Jan. 21 Spectacular Bid, also at seven furlongs. A claim of foul for interference in the stretch by rider jockey Jaime Rodriguez and trainer John Salzman Jr. of runner-up Coffeewithchris was dismissed.

Coffeewithchris was 3¼ lengths clear of Recruiter in third. Tiz No Clown and Bristol Channel completed the order of finish.

Prince of Jericho, a Munnings colt out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Golden Review, was second to Coffeewithchris in the one-mile Miracle Wood and sixth in the 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio before being cut back to three-quarters in the Chick Lang (G3) on the Preakness undercard, rallying to be second.

“We shortened him back up that day and he seemed to handle the six furlongs great. I came back and told Brittany, 'Look, if I had a clean trip that day, I think I would have been right there,” Russell said. “He'd trained forward coming into this race so we knew the seven-eighths would be perfect. We had a good little trip [today] and we're just happy that he bounced out of that last race and he's back in form. He's a very straightforward horse. I'm just happy to get him back into the winner's circle today.”

The post Jockey Russell Caps Laurel Stakes Sweep Aboard Prince Of Jericho In Concern appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rigney Racing's Xigera got past Heavenly Sunday in deep stretch to win Saturday's 4th running of the $225,000 Tepin Stakes at Ellis Park.

Xigera, named after a safari in Africa, covered the one-mile distance in 1:35.37 over turf rated as good. The now three-time winner is trained by Phil Bauer and was ridden to victory by Julien Leparoux.

Heavenly Sunday was sent to the early lead under jockey Florent Geroux and completed a pedestrian opening quarter-mile of :24.01. Leparoux positioned Xigera in third early, to the inside of Santa Fe Gold. Up the backside, Leparoux and Xigera began to get closer to Heavenly Sunday, who completed a half-mile in :47.79. Leparoux tipped Xigera in the two-path as the field turned for home while third-place Safeen attempted to get into the mix to the inside of Heavenly Sunday. In deep stretch Xigera stuck her nose in front of Heavenly Sunday and kicked on for a half-length win.

“We loved this filly since she came back to the track this year,” Leparoux said. “She's been training super and has been more mentally focused this year. Today, she put me into the race while being relaxed, and I think that goes into her improved maturity this year.”

“In last year's Breeders' Cup (when she ran 14th in the Juvenile Fillies [G1]), it was one of the most disappointing days for our outfit,”
Bauer said. “We had to take a step back and regroup. That meant turning her out and giving her time to grow up. She filled out but also improved mentally. As soon as she got back to the barn she kept doing everything right. Hopefully she'll continue this march forward.”

Xigera, who returned $4.16 for the win, is a 3-year-old daughter of Nyquist out of the Black Tie Affair mare Argent Affair. She was bred in Kentucky by Cedar Hill LLC.

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Tamaroak Partners' homebred Bango added to his already impressive resume by taking a field of six sprinters wire to wire in Saturday's $225,000 Kelly's Landing (Listed) at Ellis Park.

Bango, a 6-year-old homebred son of Congrats, boosted his resume to 32-13-4-2 with earnings of $1,275,811.

With the early scratch of Fortin Hill from the rail, Bango and jockey Tyler Gaffalione broke from the inside post. Gaffalione sent Bango to the lead, a position he hasn't been in since July 24, 2022 when he finished sixth after setting the early fractions of the Jeff Hall Memorial.

Up the backside, Bango clipped off an opening quarter-mile fraction of :22.29 with Marsalis and jockey Joel Rosario applying mild pressure to his outside. As Bango entered the stretch, Marsalis began heavily pressuring Bango on his outside while Miles ahead started to close to his inside. Bango was determined on the lead and never let any of his rivals by to score a half-length victory.

“The credit goes to Greg (Foley) and his entire team for having this horse ready to go all the time,” Gaffalione said. “We broke from the inside but he broke on top today. I just let him settle since he broke on top and let him do his thing. Up the backside he had his ears up like he was waiting for horses. He hasn't really been in that position before. In the stretch when the field started closing ground he kept digging in and wasn't going to let anyone by.”

“The money spends the same at Ellis as it does at Churchill,” Foley said. “We'll just have to get that all-time winning victory at Churchill next time. He's still one away (of tying Ready's Rocket all-time win mark of 11 Churchill Downs wins while racing from 2005-2012 at the Louisville track). Don't think I'm not thinking about it every day. This horse is very special to us. He's part of a great breeding program by Fred and Debbie Schwartz (of Tamaroak Partners). I trained his mom (Josaka, by Smart Strike) and have a 2-year-old brother of his in the barn that I love. I hope he can be half as good as his older brother. It was great to win this race today. Bango showed a slightly new dimension being on the lead, but it didn't seem to bother him any.”

Kentucky-bred Bango completed the 6½-furlong distance of the Kelly's Landing in 1:15.02 over a fast track. He returned $4.30 for the win.

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Irish-bred Fev Rover provided trainer Mark Casse with a Canada Day graded stakes hat trick after winning the one-mile $175,000 Nassau (G2) for older fillies and mares Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.

Making her fourth consecutive start on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Fev Rover watched from midpack as longshot Sister Lou Ann grabbed the early advantage. Scotish Star  sat second with Sweet Enough positioned third and 4-5 choice Moira, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year, fourth through an opening panel over yielding turf in :24.34.

It was status quo among the top four after a half in :48.50, while Patrick Husbands, aboard Fev Rover, was unhurried at the back of the pack in ninth.

Poised to the outside in seventh entering the turn for home, Fev Rover got her cue and responded with an explosive turn of foot, striking front and then holding a half-length lead at Robert Geller's stretch call.

At the wire, the 5-year-old daughter of Gutaifan out of Laurelita, by High Chaparral, was 4¼ lengths in front of Moira, who finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of Millie Girl. Devil's Bit was fourth.

Eminent Victor, Scotish Star, Purrfect, Sweet Enough, and Sister Lou Ann rounded out the field.

The final time was 1:40.03, the result of a heavy downpour in the lead-up to the race.

“I was on the best side of the track on the wide outside and those guys keep on rolling, rolling, rolling,” said Husbands. “My horse enjoyed it on the wide outside. I'm just thinking just cut corners, cut corners, then open her up.

“You get to ride good horses, they make you look good. You can do what you want to do. The race went well for me and I'm happy for Mark and the owner.”

Bred by Manister House Stud, the bay mare, who endured a rough trip in her previous race, when she finished fourth but was elevated to third in the E.P. Taylor (G1) in October, is now 4-4-2 from 15 starts.

Owned by Tracy Farmer, who acquired Fev Rover for $971,704 at the 2021 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, the bay mare paid $9.10 for the win.

Casse took three of the five Woodbine graded stakes on Saturday. Earlier in the card, Solo Album romped in the $150,000 Selene (G3) and Lucky Score won the $200,000 Highlander (G2). He also won the fourth race with Queen Judith.

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