Tag: Racing

Robert LaPenta, eFive Racing Thoroughbreds, and Madaket Stables' Canadian-bred Kalik was an impressive gate-to-wire victor of the Pennine Ridge (G2), a nine-furlong turf test for sophomores Saturday at Belmont in which he bested the late-closing Far Bridge by one length with race favorite Silver Knott in third.

The Pennine Ridge provided the top-three finishers an automatic invitation to the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) on July 8.

Brown said the $200,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase has earned another step up with the 10-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds under consideration along with the $1-million King's Plate, a 10-furlong Tapeta test which is restricted to Canadian-bred sophomores on August 20 at Woodbine.

“He's doing super and we'll point to the Belmont Derby,” Brown said. “We have an eye on the King's Plate later in the year with him.”

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Lightly raced Treason put in a polished performance to take the $175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) on Sunday afternoon at Woodbine.

Making his first start since a fourth in last November's Autumn Stakes (G2), the 5-year-old Kentucky-bred Constitution gelding looked in mid-season form after a huge off-the-shelf effort in the 1 1/16-mile race for 4-year-olds and up.

Multiple stakes winner War Bomber and multiple graded stakes-placed Wolfie's Dynaghost tussled for early control of the Eclipse as Kazushi Kimura, aboard Treason, kept his charge unfettered just outside of the front-runners through an opening quarter-mile reached in :24.80.

The lead pair continued their head-to-head battle into the half in :48,74, while Treason continued to watch the proceedings from in third. Kimura then roused the gelding for his best run into the turn for home and the Josie Carroll trainee responded with an explosive turn of foot to assume control.

Carrothers came calling in midstretch, but Treason was unrattled and went on to record a 1½-length win in a time of 1:43.09. Tyson, also trained by Carroll, finished third, while Artie's Storm, last year's Eclipse victor, rallied to finish fourth.

Kimura, off to another strong start at Woodbine, made the most of his first opportunity to partner the bay owned by LNJ Foxwoods and MSK Racing Ventures.

“He's a natural speed horse, that's why when I get on him in the morning, I just try and take it easy. Today, he was really comfortable beside the horse in the backstretch. Everything was going smooth. I was just trying to make sure to stay with Johnny's [Velazquez] horse [Wolfie's Dynaghost], but he really exploded and picked it up really quick from the three-eighths.”

For Carroll, inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2019, it was a rewarding result for a horse she had high hopes for early on in his career.

“When people ask you about what makes you successful with horses, I say patient owners, owners that give you the opportunity to let their horses develop and do what they can do. I knew that this horse had a little bit higher cruising speed than my other horse [Tyson], but they were both going to be right there. Treason is just a good horse. We thought he was a good horse from the beginning, and he really proved himself today.”

Bred by Ramspring Farm, Treason ($14.60) earned his first stakes win and is now 3-0-0 from seven starts.

Wolfie's Dynaghost, the 4-5 choice, was fifth, followed by Conglomerate, War Bomber, Rondure, Avoman, Bringer of Rain, and Luckman.

The post ‘A Good Horse From The Beginning’: Treason Posts First Stakes Win In Eclipse appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Henrietta Topham, owned and bred by Michael Burns' Cambus-Kenneth Farm, surged past odds-on 3-5 favorite White Frost inside the final 100 yards to score a half-length victory in the $222,000 Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3) Sunday at Churchill Downs.

Henrietta Topham, trained by Lexington-based Geoff Mulcahy and ridden by James Graham, ran 1 1/16 miles on  firm  turf in 1:42.46.

The victory marked the first graded stakes win for Henrietta Topham, who won the Centennial Distaff Turf Mile (Listed) at Ellis Park last August.

For Mulcahy, it was his first graded stakes win as a trainer and his first career Churchill Downs victory after going winless in his first 51 tries dating back to the 2002 Spring Meet.

“This horse is so turnkey and easy to train,” Mulcahy said. “She makes my job so easy. I'm thrilled for all the connections and the owner who pays such attention to detail in their horses and breeding. This horse is a third generation homebred and very special to all of us. It's a team operation between us. They have a big say of what goes on, too.”

Sweet Dani Girl led the compact field of five fillies and mares throughout the early stages of the races through quarter-mile fractions of :24.04, :48.13, and 1:12.20 as White Frost sat just off her right hip and Henrietta Topham relaxed in the clear while tracking from fourth.

Around the final turn, White Frost engaged Sweet Dani Girl and the two raced on even terms down the top of the stretch as Henrietta Topham moved into third. As White Frost put away the early leader, Henrietta Topham found her best stride at the final furlong marker and surged past the duo for the victory.

“They didn't go to horribly quick up front so turning for home I knew she would really have to dig in to get past the leaders,” said Graham, who also won the 2010 Mint Julep aboard Hot Cha Cha. “And she really dug in and tried hard to get in front at the wire. Early in the race I just kept her relaxed and out of trouble. She ran a great race and I'm so thrilled for all the connections.”

Henrietta Topham returned $19.24 for the win.

Third-place finisher Sweet Dani Girl was another 3¾ lengths behind White Frost.

It was another half-length back to Lady Hideaway in fourth, who was followed by Kate's Kingdom. Gam's Mission, California Angel and New Year's Eve were scratched.

The $139,000 first prize increased Henrietta Topham's earnings to $453,128 with a record of 5-1-0 in 12 starts.

Henrietta Topham is a 5-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid out of the Cozzene mare Miss Silver Brook and was bred in Kentucky.

Sunday marked the final day of racing at Churchill Downs for the abbreviated Spring Meet. The Kentucky horse racing circuit will shift to Ellis Park on Saturday at 1:50 p.m. ET. Racing at Churchill Downs is scheduled to return Thursday, Sept. 14 for the 14-day September Meet.

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Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Zedan Racing Stables' multiple Grade 1 winner Taiba will skip Saturday's $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.

Taiba worked seven-furlongs in 1:27.40 Friday at Santa Anita in what was to be his final prep for the one-turn mile for 3-year-olds and up which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November at the Arcadia, California oval. He has not raced since an eighth-place effort in the Saudi Cup (G1) on February 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

“His works have been good, but not like I'd like to see them. I just don't think he's ready for something like that yet,” said Baffert, who won the 2017 Metropolitan with Mor Spirit. “I'm going to wait and run him at Del Mar. He's doing well, but not well enough for the Met Mile. To run in the Met Mile, you have to bring your 'A' game and I don't think he's quite there yet.”

The 4-year-old Gun Runner colt's trio of Grade 1 scores came in the Santa Anita Derby last April, the Pennsylvania Derby in September at Parx, and the Malibu in December at Santa Anita.

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