Tag: Racing

Live Oak Plantation's Ticker Tape Home took the early lead and then toyed with her rivals en route to top prize in the $125,000 Fury Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

After tackling some tough rivals in a pair of stakes in Florida earlier in the year, Ticker Tape Home looked right at home in her return to Woodbine, as she thoroughly dominated eight foes in the seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada.

Under Patrick Husbands, the dark bay daughter of Medaglia d'Oro glided out of the gate and seized control in the opening jumps and held a 1½-length advantage after an opening quarter in :23.13. Ticker Tape Home was still running comfortably and was a half-length in front after a half-mile in :45.83 with plenty left in the tank turning for home.

At the head of the lane, it was simply a question of how much the Mark Casse trainee would win by, with the answer coming in the form of a four-length triumph in a time of 1:22.15. Elysian Field and Me and My Shadow, finished second and third, respectively, to complete the Casse trifecta.

“She was really going into this race good,” said Husbands. “She ran a tough race (an eighth in the Suncoast Stakes on February 11 at Tampa Bay Downs). Then she came back here, and I got on her about five times, and she came into this race really good.”

Ticker Tape Home, who arrived at the Fury off a seventh in the Florida Oaks (G3) on March 11, is now 2-2-0 from eight starts.

After a second in her career bow last July at Woodbine, Ticker Tape Home took to the Saratoga turf for her next two tries, finishing eighth and fifth. She returned to the Toronto oval and proceeded to break her maiden courtesy of a 9 ¾-length win over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in October. ​

“She went into this race good and she's developing as a nice filly,” praised Husbands.

For Casse, it was his seventh Fury win. The dual hall of famer teamed with Live Oak and Husbands to sweep last Saturday's pair of graded stakes at Woodbine, the Royal North (G2T) with Our Flash Drive and the Belle Mahone (G3) with Souper Hoity Toity.

Sent off as the 8-5 choice, Ticker Tape Home returned $5.30 for the win.

Elysian Field, Me and My Shadow, Tito's Calling, Fashionably Fab, Speed Trap, Canadiansweetheart, Anam Cara and Courtly Ro rounded out the field.

Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm, Ticker Tape Home was produced by the War Front mare Journey Home, a Grade 3 winner. Offered by her breeder at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, Live Oak purchased her for $625,000.

The post Ticker Tape Home Dominates Fury Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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On a day when legendary Chicago Bears middle linebacker Dick Butkus was poised to present the winner's trophy, Bob Baffert's heavily favored Adare Manor didn't disappoint, as she completely dominated four rivals going a mile and one eighth in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita.  Ridden to her third consecutive victory by Juan Hernandez, she got the distance in 1:49.79.

Although multiple stakes winning Desert Dawn was hustled to keep her company early, Adare Manor made a relatively easy lead into the clubhouse turn, enabling Hernandez to fold over to the rail from his number two post position and from there, the Santa Margarita was never in doubt.

“She moves really smooth,” said Hernandez, who registered his meet-leading 10^th stakes win and 34^th overall victory on this, the 24^th day of Santa Anita's Hollywood Meeting.  “She just takes me there, I just let her go and you don't feel anything because she was just galloping and moving really smooth.  She is really fun.”

A 4 ¾-length winner of the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes on April 29, Adare Manor was off at 1-5 and returned $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Uncle Mo out of the Giant Gizmo mare Brooklynsway, Adare Manor notched her third graded stakes win and her fifth win from 11 overall starts for owner Michael Lund Petersen.  With the winner's share of $120,000, she increased her earnings to $621,600.

Baffert, who was away to saddle Preakness winner National Treasure in the Belmont Stakes, got his third career win in the Santa Margarita which was contested for the 84^th time.

Considered by many to be the greatest middle linebacker in the history of the NFL, Butkus was asked to compare jockeys as athletes to professional football players by XBTV's Millie Ball.

“I think (jockeys) gotta have that attitude that whatever mount he is on, he's going to naturally try to win it, so I don't think anybody rides to lose,” he said.  “I think that competitive edge is what all athletes do.  They want to excel, they want to win.  It is a horse race, there are eight to 10 horses, so you gotta go after it…”

In search of her second graded stakes win, Desert Dawn paid the price for chasing the winner early, as she tired a sixteenth of a mile from home, finishing 2 ½ lengths behind Kirstenbosch.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Kirstenbosch rallied nicely for the place and paid $5.00 and $2.10 while off at 12-1.

The second choice at 5-2, Arizona-bred Desert Dawn paid $2.10 to show while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of Smoothlikebuttah.

Fractions on the race were 24.20, 48.47, 1:12.12 and 1:36.64.

The post Adare Manor Bears Down For Santa Margarita Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Up to the Mark collared pacesetter Strong Quality in early stretch and shook free to win the $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhatttan (G1) Saturday at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old Not This Time colt, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Todd Pletcher, won by 2 1/4 lengths from Soldier Rising, while Ottoman Fleet checked in third, a head back.

Up to the Mark returned $5.30 for the victory after covering 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 1:59.31. He posted a second successive win at the highest level as he entered Saturday race off a breakthrough performance in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) going 1 1/8 mile at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day, May 6.

Overall, Up to the Mark has won half of his 10 career starts, including four of five outings this year.

Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, Up to the Mark is out of the Ghostzapper mare Belle's Finale. He was a $450,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale, where Taylor Made Sales Agency consigned him.

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