Tag: Racing

Fresh off victory at a mile and one half on turf, trainer Dan Blacker's Queen Ofthe Temple rates a big look as she cuts back to a mile and one quarter on grass in Sunday's $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.  With a Father's Day early post time of 12 noon PT, the Possibly Perfect, which has attracted five fillies and mares three and up, is part of a 12-race closing day card and will serve as a supporting feature to Sunday's main event, the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes.

Ridden for the first time by Joe Bravo and off at 2-1, Queen Ofthe Temple was attentive to the pace in the mile and one half Santa Barbara Stakes on April 30 and was up to win in a three-horse photo.  With Bravo back aboard, the 5-year-old mare by Temple City, who is three-time graded stakes placed, seeks her first graded win in what will be her 14^th career start with Bravo back aboard.

Owned by Radley Equine, Inc., Roger Featherston, Rick Gold and Tony Maslowsky, Queen Ofthe Temple is out of the Read the Footnotes mare Queeenameina.  With two wins, four seconds and a third from nine tries over the Santa Anita lawn, she's 13-2-6-3 overall with earnings of $237,840.

A winner of last year's Possibly Perfect and idle since running seventh in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes here on Oct. 8, trainer Leonard Powell's French-bred Neige Blanche is the class of the field with earnings of $542,780.  With four wins and two thirds from 10 starts over the course, Neige Blanche has six stakes wins, four of them graded, from an overall mark of 21-9-0-4.

With regular rider Juan Hernandez committed to ride Phil D'Amato's Buzz of New York, Neige Blanche, who is owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Laura DeSeroux, Marsha Naify and Mathilde Powell, won last year's Possibly Perfect in gate to wire fashion and will be ridden for the first time by Diego Herrera.

Most recently fourth, beaten just a head by second place finisher Queen Ofthe Temple in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at a mile and one quarter on turf March 12, Irish-bred Buzz of New York enters the Possibly Perfect fresh and will be reunited with Juan Hernandez, who last rode her to a one mile turf allowance win two starts back on March 5.

Although the Possibly Perfect will be just her second stateside stakes assignment, Buzz of New York has been very consistent for D'Amato, finishing in the money in 10 out of her 12 local starts—winning three of them.

A 5-year-old mare, Buzz of New York is owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal.  With all three of her wins coming in combination with Hernandez, Buzz of New York rates a big chance with an overall mark of 18-3-5-3 and earnings of $228,677.

$100,000 Possibly Perfect with jockeys & weights in post position order

1. Zeyaraat – Geovanni Franco – 122
2. Queen Ofthe Temple- Joe Bravo —126
3. Buzz of New York—Juan Hernandez—124
4. Neige Blanche – Diego Herrera – 126
5. Australia Mia—Umberto Rispoli—126

The post Queen Ofthe Temple Faces Four In Possibly Perfect At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns and recent Long Branch Stakes winner Howgreatisnate head a field of eight 3-year-olds for Saturday's Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park – one of four stakes races on Haskell Preview Day.

The 14-race card features the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile and the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes, with multiple Grade 1-winner Tribhuvan headlining that field.

The $150,000 Pegasus Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth, serves as the local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes on July 22.

The field from the rail out for the Pegasus Stakes (with trainer and jockey): Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher, Paco Lopez); Moreau (Andrew McKeever, Florent Geroux); No Confession (John McAllen, Pedro Cotto, Jr.); Salute the Stars (Brad Cox, Joel Rosario); Alternate Reality (Chris Englehart, Jacqueline Davis); Subrogate (Jorge Duarte, Jevian Toledo); Howgreatisnate (Elizabeth Dobles, Jairo Rendon) and Kingsbarns (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez).

The 52nd running of the Eatontown Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf for fillies and mares, 3 and up, drew a field of eight as well. The Eatontown Stakes, which carries a purse of $150,000, serves as the prep for the Grade 3, $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes on the Haskell undercard.

That Eatontown Stakes field from the rail out is as follows: Surprisingly (Shug McGaughey, Paco Lopez); Vergara (Graham Motion, Jorge Ruiz); Consumer Spending (Chad Brown, Samy Camacho); Scotish Star (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez); Spirit and Glory (Robert Falcone, Jr., Nik Juarez); Malavath (Christophe Clement, Joel Rosario); Katies a Lady (Darien Rodriguez, Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.) and Gina Romantic (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux).

The 76th running of the Salvator Mile, with a purse of $150,000, attracted a field of 10. The Salvator Mile is the prep for the Grade 3 $400,000 Monmouth Cup on the Haskell day undercard.

The field for the Salvator Mile for 3 year olds and up from the rail out: Petulante (Victor Barboza, Jr., Luis Saez); Ridin With Biden (Butch Reid, Paco Lopez); Empty Tomb (Robert Falcone, Jr., Samy Camacho); Far Mo Power (Louis Linder, Dexter Haddock); Bourbon Calling (Antonio Arriaga, Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.); Octane (Carlos David, Jairo Rendon); Trademark (Vicki Oliver, Joel Rosario); Nimitz Class (Bruce Kravets, Jevian Toledo); Artorius (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux) and Bourbonic (Todd Pletcher, Jose Ferrer).

Tribhuvan, who won the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park in 2021, will likely try to repeat in that race as a 7-year-old, making his seasonal debut in the $150,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes at a mile and an eighth on the turf. The Monmouth Stakes is the prep for the United Nations.

Tribhuvan, who also won the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park in 2022, has not raced since Aug. 27. He was fourth in the United Nations a year ago.

The six-horse field for the Monmouth Stakes from the rail out: Tribhuvan (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux); Never Explain (Shug McGaughey, Luis Saez); Speaking Scout (Graham Motion, Jorge Ruiz); Dynadrive (Thomas Morley, Nik Juarez); Commandeer (James Toner, Paco Lopez) and Catnip (Michael Stidham, Joel Rosario).

First race post time is 12:40 p.m. The four stakes races on the card will go as races 10 through 13, starting with the Pegasus Stakes.

The post Haskell Preview Day: Kingsbarns Leads Field Of Eight In Pegasus Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

You talk about pressure. Santa Anita Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be faced with plenty of it on Saturday as his namesake, a $1 million colt by Into Mischief will make his career debut in Saturday's $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Futurity at five furlongs. Out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare More Chocolate, Mirahmadi has trained forwardly at both Los Alamitos and Santa Anita and he heads a field of six in California's biggest race for juveniles thus far this year.

A $1,050,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Mirahmadi has a strong series of six local works to his credit, including a five furlong bullet from the gate in 58.80 here on June 5—best of 26 at the distance.

“I am very excited to call Mirahmadi on Saturday,” said the Voice of Santa Anita Park, Frank Mirahmadi, who will also taking the reins for the first time next month as full-time announcer at Saratoga Race Course. “His works have been exceptional and the fact he is debuting in a stakes race confirms what anyone who has watched XBTV knows—this colt can run!

“I am very thankful to Tom Ryan and the ownership group for naming such a nice colt after me. I take pride in being unbiased in my race calls, but on Saturday I hope Mirahmadi's white face is in front early and then he improves his position.”

Owned by SF Racing, LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, LLC, et al, Mirahmadi gets the services of Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez. Atop the Hollywood Meet standings at entry time with 35 wins, 13 better than runner-up Ramon Vazquez, Hernandez seeks his meet-leading 11th stakes victory, while Baffert looks for his fifth added money score, which would put him in a tie with Phil D'Amato for most trainer stakes wins.

Reddam Racing's homebred Refocus, who crushed fellow Cal-breds at first asking, rates second billing in Saturday's Fasig-Tipton Futurity. Off at 2-1 going 4 ½ furlongs on May 21, he dueled for the early lead, had race favorite Last Call London to his outside turning for home and drew clear in a most impressive performance, winning by 4 ½ lengths while earning a solid 69 Beyer Speed Figure.

A grey or roan colt by Pavel, Refocus is out of the Square Eddie mare Redo It and he'll be ridden back by Mario Gutierrez.

Trainer Steve Knapp's California-bred Going Mobile was also an impressive first-out maiden winner as he sped to a 4 ½ length win as the 6-5 favorite going 4 ½ furlongs April 30. Bred by Terry Lovingier and owned by Knapp, Lovingier and Thomas Halaz, Going Mobile is by Lovingier's red-hot stallion Stay Thirsty out of the War Front mare Mobilize.

Going Mobile, who earned a 61 Beyer on April 30, will be ridden back by Tiago Pereira.

Kentucky-bred Tranche, who has the advantage of having two races under his belt, was most recently third, beaten 9 ¾ lengths, in an ungraded stakes going five panels on May 4 at Churchill Downs. A $210,000 Keeneland September Yearling by Collected out of the Archarcharch mare Theory of Change, Tranche was a well beaten seventh after breaking a step slow in his 4 ½ furlong maiden debut April 7 at Keeneland and will thus be making his third start at as many different tracks on Saturday.

Trained by 2-year-old specialist Luis Mendez, Tranche is owned by William Peoples and will be ridden by Edwin Maldonado.

THE $100,000 FASIG-TIPTON FUTURITY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 12 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

1. Harry Houdini—Joe Bravo—119
2. Refocus—Mario Gutierrez—123
3. Tranche—Edwin Maldonado—119
4. Going Mobile—Tiago Pereira—123
5. Next Level—Kent Desormeaux–119
6. Mirahmadi—Juan Hernandez—119

First post time for a 12-race card on Saturday, the penultimate racing day in Santa Anita's 28-day Hollywood Meet, is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.

The post ‘This Colt Can Run’: Mirahmadi Excited To Call Namesake As Baffert Trainee Debuts In Fasig-Tipton Futurity appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

First Row Partners and Team Hanley's reigning Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive headlines a talented field of older fillies and mares in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Bed o' Roses, a seven-furlong main-track sprint, at Belmont Park.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare was a perfect 4-for-4 last year, taking a pair of seven-furlong Grade 1s in the Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga Race Course and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on her way to Championship honors.

Goodnight Olive made her seasonal debut a winning one in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Madison on April 8 at Keeneland, but endured a troubled trip last out on May 6 at Churchill Downs in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff when she lacked racing room while boxed in along the rail by returning rival Wicked Halo. The victorious Matareya got the jump to win the seven-furlong sprint by one length with Wicked Halo completing the exacta by one length over a frustrated Goodnight Olive.

Goodnight Olive has breezed back four times over Big Sandy, including a bullet five-eighths in 59.83 on Saturday. She had been under consideration for a pair of races on Belmont Stakes Day, including the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Ogden Phipps against fellow fillies and mares as well as being nominated to the Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap against males.

“She's doing well and I'm glad we waited and gave her a little extra time,” said Brown, who won this event previously with Lewis Bay [2018] and Separationofpowers [2019]. “We'll run her seven-eighths, I think it's the right move. She's doing super. She had a nice strong work, which I really liked.”

A $170,000 purchase at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, Goodnight Olive, who sports a ledger of 9-7-1-1 for purse earnings of $1,466,200, is out of the multiple graded-stakes winning Smart Strike mare Salty Strike.

Irad Ortiz, Jr. retains the mount from the inside post aboard Goodnight Olive, who won her lone start over Big Sandy last year when taking a seven-furlong optional-claimer in frontrunning fashion.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Kentucky homebred Wicked Halo [post 3, Jose Ortiz] boasts a record of 13-7-1-4 for purse earnings in excess of $1.1 million.

The 4-year-old Gun Runner grey, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, won 4-of-8 starts last year, capturing the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga and the Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland en route to a closing third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Wicked Halo, out of the graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Just Wicked, won the six-furlong Matron over a muddy and sealed track at Oaklawn Park on March 31 in her seasonal debut ahead of her Derby City Distaff effort.

Cash is King and LC Racing's graded-stakes winner Dr B [post 4, Kendrick Carmouche] captured the Grade 3 Go for Wand over a sloppy and sealed main track on December 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack to close out her 2022 campaign.

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the 5-year-old Liam's Map bay enters from a runner-up effort to returning rival Caramel Swirl in the Grade 3 Vagrancy, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares on May 14 here.

Dr B, who boasts a record of 17-5-6-2 for purse earnings of $383,690, was as close as second down the backstretch but faltered back to last through the turn as Caramel Swirl advanced with ease outside rivals and drew away to a 2 1/2-length score with a resurgent Dr B following her impressive rally.

Reid, Jr. said Dr B may have needed a start after returning from a five-month layoff.

“Maybe it was just the fact that she hadn't run in a while and was getting used to her surroundings again,” Reid, Jr. said. “It was a strange race. She was laying up close and then got shuffled all the way back to last, but made a nice, wide run through the lane. Other than winning, it was a perfect comeback race for her.”

Dr B breezed back a half-mile in 48.93 Saturday over the Parx main track.

“She came out of it really well and had a nice breeze here last week. She's just where we want her,” Reid, Jr. said.

Reid, Jr. said he is confident Dr B will improve enough to match Caramel Swirl, but admitted the presence of the reigning Champion Female Sprinter is a daunting one.

“We hope so, but there's a lot more to deal with in this race,” Reid, Jr. said. “She's doing really well and this is the perfect time and distance for her to race. We'll see what happens – you have to take your chances.”

Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Caramel Swirl [post 5, Junior Alvarado] has banked $588,450 through a record of 13-5-4-2 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

The 5-year-old Union Rags bay made the grade in the 2021 Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland, but raced only twice last year, taking an optional-claiming sprint here ahead of a runner-up effort to Goodnight Olive in the Ballerina.

Caramel Swirl is out of the Smart Strike mare Caramel Snap, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winning multimillionaire Frosted.

Rounding out a talented field is Charles T. Matses' graded-stakes placed Beguine [post 2, Javier Castellano] for conditioner Edward Allard.

The 4-year-old Kentucky-homebred daughter of Gun Runner won her Belmont debut last out on May 20, drawing off to a 9 3/4-length allowance score while traveling six furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track.

Beguine, who sports a ledger of 9-2-3-1 for purse earnings of $280,303, was runner-up in both the 2022 Grade 3 Fantasy at Oaklawn and the Garland of Roses in December at the Big A. She is assigned 118 pounds, six pounds less than each of her four rivals.

The Bed o' Roses is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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

The post Champion Goodnight Olive Seeks To Turn The Tables On Wicked Halo In Bed O’ Roses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post