Tag: Racing

Kentucky Derby alumni Disarm, Raise Cain, King Russell and Verifying will face fast-rising 3-year-old Bo Cruz in the field of seven sophomores that were entered in Sunday's 26th running of the $400,000 Matt Winn (Grade 3) at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming.

The Matt Winn Stakes, which was changed to 1 1/8 miles from 1 1/16 miles due to the Ellis Park main track configuration, will be the featured ninth race on the 10-race program. Post time for the Matt Winn is 4:40 p.m. (all time Central) First post is 12:50 p.m. The card will also feature the 2nd running of the $175,000 Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes in Race 8.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Disarm, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, finished fourth in the $3 million Kentucky Derby (G1). Previously, the chestnut son of Gun Runner was the runner-up in the $1 million TwinSpires Louisiana Derby (G2). Disarm will be in search of his first graded stakes score and will once again be piloted by jockey Joel Rosario from post No. 2.

Andrew and Rania Warren's Raise Cain was originally targeting Saturday's $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) but trainer Ben Colebrook opted to send the colt to the Matt Winn following the added distance change at Ellis Park. Raise Cain finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby. The highlight on Raise Cain's resume was a 7 ½-length score in the Gotham Stakes (G3) in early March at Aqueduct. Jockey Junior Alvarado has the call from post 6.

Brereton Jones and Naber Racing's King Russell was one of the final horses to draw into this year's Kentucky Derby field. Trained by Ron Moquett, King Russell finished a disappointing 15th in the Derby. Previously, the son of Creative Cause was the runner-up to Angel of Empire in the Arkansas Derby. King Russell and jockey Rafael Bejarano will break from post7.

Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor's Verifying was the runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) two starts ago. Trained by Brad Cox, who won the last two editions of the Matt Winn with Cyberknife and Fulsome, Verifying finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby. The Justify colt set torrid fractions on the lead in the “Run for the Roses” and faded after a half-mile time of :45.73. Verifying will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione from post 4.

Skyscrapper Racing, Racingwithbruno, Brian Pagano and Patrick Grippo's Kentucky Derby Day allowance winner Bo Cruz will be in search of his first stakes victory in the Matt Winn. Trained by Al Stall Jr., Bo Cruz demolished a field of five rivals on March 4 to break his maiden by 12 ¼ lengths at Fair Grounds. In his first start against winners, the striking gray son of Creative Cause cruised on the frontend to win by three lengths in a first-level allowance contest. Jockey Corey Lanerie will have the call for the first time on Bo Cruz and break from post 3.

Here is the complete field for the Matt Winn from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Denington (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek)

2. Disarm (Rosario, Asmussen)

3. Bo Cruz (Lanerie, Stall)

4. Verifying (Gaffalione, Cox)

5. Go Solider Go (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher)

6. Raise Cain (Alvarado, Colebrook)

7. King Russell (Bejarano, Moquett)

The post Disarm Leads Four Kentucky Derby Starters Returning In Sunday’s Matt Winn Stakes At Ellis appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Botox Katie and Santo Sanjur were not even part of the conversation in the pre-race analysis, but they certainly became the headline story at the end. The duo scored the upset in the 20th running of the $100,000 Shelby County Stakes on Wednesday, June 7 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Botox Katie began her six-furlong sprint from post two and was in last place as Forever Noted and Fernando De La Cruz and Betcha with DeShawn Parker aboard held down the top spots. Bella Bolle and Malcolm Franklin were also in the early mix with a swift pace setting up. Horses began to make their move in the turn as the leaders held on gamely to their advantage. Botox Katie was behind the outer flow of traffic.

In the stretch, Botox Katie moved into contention and was fourth as Bella Bolle took control of the lead. Once she had clearance, the six-year-old kicked into a closing gear that drove her right pat Bella Bolle for the win by one and one-quarter lengths. Lil Evie and Rodney Prescott closed in for third.

“There was a lot of speed in this race, so we just wanted to let the speed go because I knew she (Botox Katie) has a kick,” said Sanjur. “We wanted to get away from the break as well as we could and play it by ear from there. The race set up perfectly for her and when she came out, she was running.”

Botox Katie lit up the tote board, paying $185.00 for the win. The daughter of Domestic Dispute is owned by Thirstyacres Racing LLC and trained by owner Tianna Richardville. The mare was bred and raised by Richardville, who owns a farm complete with a breeding operation in Shelbyville, just minutes from Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“She (Botox Katie) is a pretty special mare to us,” said Richardville. “She didn't even start racing until she was five (last year). She had a slight tendon problem and we turned her out at three. She had a great year last year and proved just giving her the time she needed paid off.”

Botox Katie earned her first win of 2023 and her fourth overall. She now has more than $160,000 on her card in only two years of racing. It was the first time Sanjur had been aboard the mare in a race.

“I thought she needed a couple races to get fit this year,” added Richardville. “She ran well for us last year and had a good year, making almost $100,000. Santo (Sanjur) was actually supposed to ride her in her last race, but he was sick that day and we had to make a rider change. Santo has been breezing her in the mornings. I thought she would be better running longer, but she ran a great race today. This is so exciting to get this win today.”

The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Friday, Nov. 17. Live racing is held Tuesday through Thursday with Saturday racing added in during the summer months. First post Tuesday and Wednesday is 2:30 p.m. Thursday racing begins at 2:10 p.m. The Summer Saturday Racing Series includes five all-Quarter Horse dates July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana's featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for 12 p.m. Saturday, July 8. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

The post Botox Katie Springs $185 Upset In Horseshoe Indianapolis’ Shelby County Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Lightly raced and a recent graded stakes winner of the Santa Anita turf, Phil D'Amato's Irish-bred Paris Secret is the horse to beat among a field of eight sophomores fillies going a mile and one eighth on turf in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Honeymoon Stakes.

A winner of the G3 Providencia Stakes at a mile and one eighth on turf April 29, Paris Secret looks tough right back for D'Amato, Santa Anita's leading Hollywood Meet trainer with 14 wins and five added money victories.

A first-out winner going one mile on a turf listed as heavy in her native Ireland Oct. 31, Paris Secret made her U.S. debut here on March 18 going one mile on grass in the ungraded China Doll Stakes.  Breaking slowly, she lacked room around the far turn and finished an even fourth.

Reserved off the early pace in the Providencia, Paris Secret rallied to prove best, winning by three quarters of a length at 3-1.  With Kazushi Kimura now back at his Woodbine Racecourse base, top jock Juan Hernandez picks up the call.

Owned by Strand Beach, LLC, Paris Beach posted a solid 83 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Providencia and will now be seeking her third win from four overall starts.

Dismissed at 19-1, Pleasant Wave rallied well to be second, beaten three quarters of a length by Paris Secret in the Providencia and with Diego Herrera riding back for trainer George Papaprodromou, she'll hope to run down the top selection on Saturday.

Owned by Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran, Pleasant Wave, a Kentucky-bred filly by More Than Ready out of the Forestry mare Oak Trees Dancing, will be trying a route of ground for the second time as she tries to improve upon an overall mark of 5-1-1-0.

D'Amato's second Honeymoon entrant is Irish-bred Comanche Country, a two-time turf stakes winner at age two who returns from Churchill Downs following a ninth place finish going a mile and one sixteenth on turf in the G2 Edgewood Stakes May 5.

With Umberto Rispoli back at the controls, Comanche Country would be flattered by a quick early pace.  Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, LLC and Marsha Naify, Comanche Country has three wins and two second place finishes from eight starts.

Third, beaten a length by second place finisher Comanche Country in the China Doll March 18, trainer Michael McCarthy's Tea N Conversation has been freshened and will be ridden for the first time by Kent Desormeaux, in what will be her ninth career start.

A respectable fourth going one mile on turf here in both the Lady of Shamrock and the Blue Norther Stakes on Feb. 12 and Dec. 30, Tea N Conversation is owned by Spendthrift Farm, LLC.  By Candy Ride out of the Rock Hard Ten mare Lady Ten, Tea N Conversation broke her maiden four starts back going a mile on turf at Del Mar Dec. 3 and will be seeking her first stakes win in what will be her ninth career start.

A 2 ¼ length maiden winner in her second start going one mile on turf at Meadowlands Sept. 24, Irish-bred Selenaia makes her Southern California debut on the heels of a solid first condition allowance score going a mile on grass at Indiana Downs May 10, a race in which she rallied from well off the pace while earning an 82 Beyer.

Trained by Jonathan Thomas and owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Madaket Stables, LLC, Selenaia appears to be a solid fit and will be ridden by Joe Bravo.

THE GRADE III HONEYMOON WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10   Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT
Broadway Girls – Antonio Fresu – 124
Comanache Country – Umberto Rispoli – 124
Pleasant Wave – Diego Herrera – 120
Selenaia – Joe Bravo – 122
Tea N Conversation—Kent Desormeaux—120
Paris Secret – Juan Hernandez – 124
Fast and Shiny – Tiago Pereira – 120
Una Palabra – Ramon Vazquez – 124

First post time on Saturday, Belmont Stakes Day, is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening early to accommodate wagering on a tremendous undercard from Belmont Park at 8 a.m.

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