Tag: Racing

Hoolie Racing Stable's Chiseler had a perfect rail-skimming ride by Corey Lanerie to record the first stakes victory of his career in Saturday's third running of the $100,000 Dade Park Dash at Ellis Park.

Chiseler is trained by Greg Foley, who won three stakes events over the last seven days. Prior to Saturday's Dade Park Dash, Foley had a stakes double on Stephen Foster Day when Stitched pulled a massive upset in the Wise Dan (G2) and veteran Bango won the Kelly's Landing Stakes.

It was a four-way duel for the early lead in the Dade Park Dash between Mounsieur Coco, Bal a Kazoo, Major Blue, and Storm Daddy as the quartet dashed through a quarter mile in :21.29. Lanerie positioned Chiseler fifth in the early stages of the 5½-furlong turf sprint, about one-length behind the pacesetters. Around the far turn, Lanerie guided Chiseler to the rail but initially didn't have enough of a space to come through. At the eighth pole, Chiseler stuck his nose inside Mounsieur Coco and powered through for a convincing 2¼-length victory in a final time of 1:01.82

“It was really special winning this race with the Hudson Family from Hoolie Racing here with us,” assistant trainer Travis Foley said. “The Hudsons have a rich history here at Ellis Park and it was a great win for our barn and owners.”

The Dade Park Dash was Chiseler's second career victory from 10 starts. The chestnut gelding tabbed $60,535 for his win bringing his career purse earnings to $166,582.

Chiseler is a 3-year-old son of Speightstown out of the Hard Spun mare Spindle. He was bred in Kentucky by Purple H Bloodstock.

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Victory Racing Partners' More Than Looks made the grade with a last-to-first score under Hall of Famer John Velazquez in Friday's Grade 3, $250,000 Manila, a one-mile Widener turf test for sophomores, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the More Than Ready colt closed to win a paceless allowance test last out traveling 1 1/16-miles over firm footing on June 17 at Ellis Park. There was plenty of pace on offer Friday as More Than Looks, who broke a step slow, found his best stride late to make his stakes debut a winning one.

“We have a really nice one here,” said Anthony Bartolo, managing partner of Victory Racing Partners. “We felt going into this race that it was a tough group, but if we had fair fractions to run into, he could run them down. He did a really good job with that and when it [the half-mile] came up in 45 and change, I knew he was going to be coming. It was wonderful. Johnny did a great job.

“This is our first stakes win, let alone graded win, so it's a real treat,” Bartolo added. “We've had a great group of horses along the way and we just never got to win a bigger one like this. Cherie DeVaux does a fantastic job and I'm thrilled with what she's done with this horse.”

Talk of the Nation broke alertly under the spring/summer meet's leading rider Jose Ortiz and set a pressured pace, marking off splits of 22.65 seconds and 45.53 over the firm going with graded-stakes winner Nagirroc on his flank.

Talk of the Nation led the field to the turn with Nagirroc pestering and multiple graded-stakes winner Major Dude saving ground in third as a hard-to-handle Belouni advanced outside of rivals. Talk of the Nation and Nagirroc continued their battle through the turn and deep into the stretch run with neither foe backing off from the challenge, but More Than Looks, who saved ground through the turn and angled outside of Major Dude at the top of the lane, was in full flight. He swooped outside the frontrunning duo in the final sixteenth and secured the 1 1/2-length win in a final time of 1:33.19.

Talk of the Nation won the place battle by a neck over Nagirroc with Major Dude, Dreaming of Kona, Belouni and Amstrong rounding out the order of finish. Activist Investing was scratched.

Velazquez said he was prepared for a potentially tough break from the gate.

“Cherie told me he could be difficult and not to push him or touch him. I thought he would have broke a little better, but it didn't really matter today,” Velazquez said. “He got into a good rhythm by the time we got to the five-eighths pole. I was pretty confident then. The way he broke I was a little concerned because that's a lot to make up, but by the time he caught up to them, I was a little more at ease that he was in a good place.”

More Than Looks graduated at second asking on March 31 over the Gulfstream Park synthetic ahead of a rallying runner-up effort in a one-mile Keeneland turf allowance captured by Turf King, who won the Grade 3 Marine last weekend at Woodbine Racetrack.

“The race at Keeneland, he was way wide again and got nipped at the wire,” Bartolo said. “Then he won at Ellis coming from last, so we felt he belonged in this race if we gave him the opportunity. Now I feel we belong.”

Bartolo said More Than Looks will point to the Grade 2, $500,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on August 4 at Saratoga Race Course where he could face another DeVaux trainee in recent Belmont maiden winner Northern Invader.

“Believe it or not, Cherie pointed to that race a ways out, so this is the path we needed to take,” Bartolo noted. “That being said, he's done everything to show he belongs there, so now I'd say if he comes back alright, that's the spot we'd shoot for next.”

The Graham Motion-trained Nagirroc captured the Grade 3 Futurity in October at Belmont at the Big A ahead of a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in November at Keeneland. He was a game second in the Grade 3 Transylvania in April at Keeneland to kick off his sophomore season and entered from a 3 1/4-length score in the one-mile James W. Murphy on May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

Ortiz, who won four races on Friday's card to establish a 55-53 lead over his brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the spring/summer meet standings, said he was pleased with the effort from Nagirroc.

“The speed on the track has been holding up nicely, so we felt like if he jumped well, we would try and go to the front,” Ortiz said. “He ran a great race, he was just a little unfortunate to get beat late. He dug in and ran too good to lose. But that's the game. In these types of races, there's always a lot of good horses. He got beat by another good horse. I'm content with his effort.”

More Than Looks is out of the stakes-winning Harlan's Holiday mare Ladies' Privilege, who is a full-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Takeover Target – winner of the 2015 Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. His third dam, Critical Crew, produced multiple Grade 1-winning New York-bred Critical Eye.

Bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, More Than Looks banked $137,500 in victory while improving his record to 5-3-1-0. He returned $16.40 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont Park with a 12-race card featuring the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational in Race 10; the Grade 1, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Belmont Oaks Invitational in Race 8; the Grade 2, $350,000 Suburban in Race 5; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Victory Ride in Race 11. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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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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