Tag: Racing

RyZan Sun Racing LLC and Madaket Stabbles' Mission of Joy, trained by Graham Motion, stalked the early pace from third, then kicked away in the stretch to win the $200,000 Regret (G3) Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The odds-on favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, Mission of Joy was winning her second graded stakes this year and fourth overall from six career starts. Making her fourth start of 2023, her only loss this year came in her previous outing when she was third in Edgewood (G2) on May 5 but she would not be denied Saturday. She captured the Florida Oaks (G3) March 11 at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the Kitten's Joy filly scooted clear to a 1 1/2 length win in the Regret, easily holding back 2-1 second choice Papilio, who was trapped behind rivals in early stretch but when shifting inward split foes and took aim on the leader but was second-best. Mrs. Astor finished third. four lengths back, after rallying from last.

Mission of Joy returned $3.46 for the win after covering the 1 1/8-turf contest in 1:49.05.

Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm, Mission of Joy was produced by the Smart Strike mare Smart Mission. She was a $32,000 purchase from her breeder by Ryan Zabrowski at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale. The $122,750 winner's share of the Regret purse boosted her lifetime bankroll to $289,567.

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Following a six-furlong work by Dr. Schivel Saturday at Santa Anita, trainer Mark Glatt said the multiple Grade 1 winner would ship to New York and run in next Saturday's G1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

Glatt had been eyeing either the $1-million Metropolitan Handicap, also known as the Met Mile, or the  $250,000 True North (G2) going 6 ½ furlongs also at Belmont Park. Both races are part of the undercard for next Saturday's 155th Belmont Stakes (G1).

“We think both races are very tough, but the Met Mile could do wonders for his stud career, Glatt said Saturday. “We figured this will likely be the last chance for him. He's fresh, he's sharp off that comeback win; we feel it's as good a time as any to give it a try.”

A 5-year-old horse by Violence, Dr. Schivel is owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and William A. Branch. He had been sidelined more than 13 months before returning May 13 at Santa Anita and rolling to 4 ¼-length victory in an allowance race.

Dr. Schivel has a record of 6-2-2 in 11 starts with $1,119,100 in earnings. As a 2-year-old in 2020, he won the  Del Mar Futurity (G1). The following year he won the Bing Crosby (G1) and GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) before an agonizing nose loss in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

Also slated to run in the Met Mile are Santa Anita-based Taiba for Bob Baffert and Slow Down Andy for trainer Doug O'Neill. Entries for the Met Mile and the rest of the Belmont Stakes program will be taken on Tuesday. Glatt said Dr. Schivel will ship to Belmont Park that same day.

The post Glatt Aims ‘Sharp’ Dr. Schivel For Met Mile After Saturday Workout At Santa Anitaf appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Skinner, who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby (G1) four weeks ago, has been scratched from Sunday's $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita.

Trainer John Shirreffs made the decision to withdraw following a gallop on the main track Saturday morning. He notified the Santa Anita racing office of the scratch at about 9:30 a.m. (PT).

“I just wasn't happy with the way he jogged,” Shirreffs said from Clocker's Corner.

Skinner was the 9-5 second choice on the morning line behind Geaux Rocket ride, the 8-5 favorite trainer Richard Mandella. Hall of Famer Mike Smith was set to ride Skinner for the first time.

Skinner has not raced since a third-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8. The Curlin colt was scratched from the Kentucky Derby two days before the 1 ¼-mile classic due to an elevated temperature.

Following the illness and return trip to Santa Anita, Skinner was back on the work tab May 14, seven days after the Kentucky Derby. He had worked three times for the Affirmed, including a five-furlong move in 1:02.20 on Sunday.

Owned by C R K Stable, Skinner was Grade 1-placed as a 2-year-old while still a maiden. He earned his diploma here in his sophomore bow Feb. 12 and came back to be third in the San Felipe (G2) on March 4 prior to the Santa Anita Derby.

The post Skinner Scratched From Sunday’s Affirmed After Saturday Gallop appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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R.A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rock Ridge Racing, BlackRidge Stables and James F. Brown's Pass the Champagne breezed five furlongs in 1:01.58 on Saturday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park.

Trained by George Weaver, the daughter of Flatter posted her second work since a dominant win in the Grade 2 Ruffian on May 6 over the Elmont oval. Weaver said he was pleased with her latest breeze.

“She's doing very well and worked in a minute and change here at Saratoga,” said Weaver. “She moved well. She's a good work horse and always looks good when she works. I wanted to bring her up here to Saratoga because she trained well here last year and I thought it would be a good option leading up to the race.”

Pass the Champagne's Ruffian victory rewarded Weaver for his patience with the now 5-year-old mare, who endured two lengthy respites in 2021 and 2022. She finished a hard-fought second to subsequent two-time Champion Malathaat in the 2021 Grade 1 Ashland in just her third lifetime outing and second start for Weaver before finishing off-the-board in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks that May. She did not return until last February when taking an optional claiming tilt at Gulfstream Park which was followed by another extended layoff.

This year, Pass the Champagne has finished on-the-board in 3-of-4 starts, including her Ruffian victory and runner-up finishes in the Heavenly Cause at Laurel Park and the Wayward Lass at Tampa Bay Downs. She has earned $315,070 in total purse earnings through a lifetime record of 9-3-4-0.

The post ‘She Moved Well’: Ruffian Winner Pass The Champagne Works At Saratoga For Belmont’s Odgen Phipps appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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