Tag: Racing

Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll delivered a one-two punch with winner Tyson and runner-up Treason in the $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (G3) on Canada Day Saturday at Woodbine.

Last time out, Tyson finished third to stablemate Treason in the Eclipse Stakes (G2). On this day, the tables were turned in the 1 1/8-mile main track feature for 4-year-olds and up.

Graded stakes winner War Bomber left from the inside gate, but drifted over to the middle of the Tapeta, with Carrothers and Artie's Storm sitting second and third, respectively, through an opening quarter in :23.73, as Tyson sat sixth of nine.

Carrothers was a head in front of War Bomber, with Duke of Love third after a half in :47.63, while Rafael Hernandez kept a patient hand aboard Tyson, who was seventh.

As the field came off the turn for home, Treason shook loose and stormed to the front, but Tyson was also rolling to the far outside, and the pair locked horns down the lane with Tyson eventually getting by a determined Treason to earn a 1½-length triumph in a time of 1:48.32, just a shade off the track record mark of 1:48.24 set by Global Access in 2019.

Gaston was third, followed by War Bomber, Artie's Storm, Golden Glider, Duke of Love, Novo Sol, and Carrothers.

Carroll, who won the 2021 edition of the Dominion Day with two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart, gave full marks to Tyson.

“Tough trip for a great big horse,” said Carroll. “He's got a great big, long stride of a horse. He's in tight, he's in trouble, he's getting shuffled around, he just keeps sitting and sitting until he can get him out of there. Everything that could go wrong with him went wrong.”

Bred and owned by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc. and Stretch Run Ventures LLC, the lightly raced 4-year-old son of Tapit out of Honouring, by Smart Strike, is now 3-0-1 from four career starts.

The Kentucky-bred colt won his first two starts, including his career bow on March 4, 2022, over 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream main track.

“When he got out [today], he just fired,” praised Carroll. “He was closing strongly in his last stakes, and I really expected a big race from him today. He's been waiting for the chance to use that big stride and he just takes off.”

Tyson returned $10.30 for the Dominion Day win.

The post Long-Striding Tyson Tops Carroll-Trained Exacta In Woodbine’s Dominion Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Co-owner David Miller, a former quarterback for the Louisville Cardinals, called an audible and reaped the benefits as Three Technique made the grade with a powerful stretch-drive surge under Javier Castellano to capture Saturday's $250,000 John A. Nerud (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for older horses, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Jason Cook and owned by Miller in partnership with Eric Grindley and John Werner, the 6-year-old Mr Speaker horse was making his first start over 'Big Sandy' since a third-place effort in the 2021 John A. Nerud won by Mind Control.

Three Technique was cross-entered in Sunday's one-mile Hanshin at Ellis Park, and the connections were hoping to see their charge avenge a narrow runner-up effort to eventual Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) victor Cody's Wish in that event at Churchill Downs.

But when the Hanshin was moved from a one-turn mile at Churchill to a one-and-a-half turn configuration out of the chute at Ellis Park, the team decided the dark bay's late-running Hail Mary style was better suited to Belmont, where he now boasts a record of 6-2-2-2.

“We've been watching Ellis Park for the first 120 races and every race has been on the lead, speed, go to the front, and our horse is a closer. It wasn't setting up for us, so we figured we would take a shot up here at Belmont,” Miller said.

Twisted Ride broke alertly and dueled for the lead with Little Vic as the latter took over through an opening quarter-mile in :23.16  over the fast main track. Candy Man Rocket, who exited the inside post under Junior Alvarado, was maneuvered to the outside and stalked from second position as the half-mile elapsed in 46.08.

Candy Man Rocket advanced to even terms with Little Vic at the top of the lane as a host of challengers lined up, including Three Technique, who waited patiently for racing room behind rivals before angling outside for a clear run at the leaders. Candy Man Rocket put away Little Vic, but he was no match for the closing kick of Three Technique, who powered to a 3 3/4-length score in a final time of 1:22.88.

Synthesis arrived in the final jumps to complete the exacta by a head over Candy Man Rocket with Sheriff Bianco, Little Vic, Twisted Ride and Weyburn, who was off a step slow as the 8-5 mutuel favorite and never factored, rounding out the order of finish.

Castellano said his patient approach paid dividends.

“He doesn't like to be inside. I had plenty of horses inside and outside me and had to wait as long as I can, but I was following the right horse and I tipped outside and let him roll,” Castellano said. “He took off. It took him a moment to switch leads, and then finally he switched the lead and he took off. He was running with the wrong lead, and he was running every step of the way that I asked him – he responded.”

Three Technique, previously owned by Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Parcells, launched his career in New York with trainer Jeremiah Englehart, scoring three wins ahead of his initial Nerud effort. He was made available at the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale but did not meet his reserve price and was haltered by Cook for $40,000 from a runner-up effort in November at Churchill when conditioned by Robert Medina.

The hard-trying Three Technique captured the restricted Knicks Go for Cook last May at Churchill and entered Saturday's race from a game optional-claiming score over well-regarded Kupuna traveling a one-turn mile on May 27 at the Louisville oval.

Cook said he would like to find one race to bridge the gap to another attempt at the one-mile Grade 3 Ack Ack in September, a race that Three Technique finished third in last year at Churchill.

“I've always wanted to win the Ack Ack. It's a personal goal of mine,” said Cook, who secured his first win in New York State. “Last year, after the Hanshin, he didn't run again until the Ack Ack. I gave him the winter off so he would be better than he was last year and his last two races have paid off.”

Manny Franco, aboard the multiple graded-stakes placed Synthesis, said he was proud of his horse's effort.

“I had a wide trip but at the same time, I feel like we weren't going that fast. I just let my horse do his thing,” Franco said. “He was traveling well and I don't get in his way. He did great to finish second.”

Bred in Kentucky by Omega Farm and Bally Breeders, Three Technique was produced by Nite in Rome, by Harlan's Holiday. He banked $137,500 in victory while improving his record to 31-6-6-7 and lifetime purse earnings of $808,237. He returned $13.60 for a $2 win bet.

The post Three Technique Rallies From Next To Last For Comfortable Nerud Win appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stonehedge LLC's homebred Dean Delivers, who had already established himself as an exceptional racehorse while finishing first or second in in 11 of 15 previous starts, distinguished himself as a graded stakes winner Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Sent to post as the 6-5 favorite in a field of eight, multiple graded stakes-placed Dean Delivers produced a career-best effort to score a dominating 2¼-length victory in the $100,000 Smile Sprint (G1).

The 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding was rushed to the lead by jockey Emisael Jaramillo on the backstretch, and the son of Cajun Breeze was in complete control thereafter, completing six furlongs in 1:09.28 after setting fractions of :21.88 and :44.30 for the first half-mile.

“Today, he drew the one hole, and we figured if he broke good and clean and the rail was open, why not go? It was totally up to Jaramillo as to what to do,” said trainer Michael Yates, who had saddled Dean Delivers for an off-the-pace victory in the May 20 Big Drama at Gulfstream.

Big and Classy, who had won his six prior starts, finished second in his stakes debut, 1½ lengths ahead of Todo Fino, who was closest in pursuit of loose-on-the-lead Dean Delivers before tiring.

In addition to being elated with Dean Delivers effort, Yates derived personal satisfaction in having campaigned the hard-nosed Cajun Breeze during his racing career before deciding that son of Congrats had what it took to make a successful Florida stallion. Cajun Breeze now stands at Stonehedge Farm.

'I'm over-the-moon happy,” Yates said. “It's a big deal.”

Dean Delivers, who is out of the Yes It's True mare Slick and True, earned a $25,000 bonus offered by the FTBOA to a Florida-bred winner of the Smile Sprint. He also earned a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees for the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 4.

“It's not out of the question. It will be a group decision. We'll enjoy this,” said Yates, who said a decision on Dean Delivers' next start will be decided upon meeting with Stonehedge LLC's Marilyn Campbell and farm manager Larry King.

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