Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the $1.65 million Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, and other developments this weekend at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Tag: Racing
Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Two Phil’s Possible For Matt Winn
Patricia's Hope, Phil Sagan and Madaket Stables' Two Phil's, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby (G1), is possible to return to Churchill Downs in June and compete in the $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (G3), according to trainer Larry Rivelli.
Two Phil's returned to Rivelli's base at Hawthorne shortly after the Kentucky Derby on May 6. The son of Hard Spun led the field of 18 3-year-olds into the top of the lane in the “Run for the Roses” under jockey Jareth Loveberry but finished second, one length behind winner Mage.
Rivelli stated Two Phil's, who won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park in his start prior to the Derby, could run in either the June 11 Matt Winn or Ohio Derby (G3) June 24 at Thistledown. The Matt Winn or Ohio Derby would be used as preps for the Haskell Stakes (GI) July 22 at Monmouth Park and Travers (G1) Aug. 26 at Saratoga.
Two Phil's also finished second in the Lecomte (G3) and third in the Risen Star (G2), both at Fair Grounds, on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Nominations to the Matt Winn, which will be run the day after the Belmont Stakes (GI), close Saturday, June 3.
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Liberty Island Secures Two-Thirds Of Japan’s Fillies’ Triple Crown With Dominating Oaks Win
Heavy favorite Liberty Island continued to validate her 2022 champion 2-year-old filly status and last month's triumph in the Oka Sho (G1) (Japanese 1000 Guineas) by staging another dominant performance in the Yushun Himba (G1) (Japanese Oaks) on Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse.
Sunday Racing Co.'s Duramente filly, who won by six lengths, followed last year's winner, Stars on Earth, as the 17th horse to capture the first two jewels of the fillies' Triple Crown–the 1000 Guineas and Oaks–while becoming the first since 1975 to win by a margin of six lengths—2012's fillies' Triple Crown victress Gentildonna was the closest with her five-length margin in recent years.
With Yuga Kawada riding for trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Liberty Island was unhurried out of the gate and in hand, around seventh from the leader, along the rails. Kawada continued to keep the keen filly under control while measuring his timing to steer her slightly out for a clear run soon after the last turn. As soon he gave her the signal, she unleashed her terrific turn of speed to catch the leader at the furlong pole and continued to pull away uncontested for an overwhelming victory.
“Having (won) the Oka Sho and being transported here to Tokyo for another big race, the filly was quite tense coming into this race, so I had to make an effort to reserve her energy and calm her down before the race,” said Kawada, who guided Gentildonna to victory in the 2012 Oaks. “She settled well once in the gate, allowing us to make a safe start, and we were able to race in good rhythm while I still had the task of keeping her under control up to the critical stages. I knew we were already in a position to finish clear of the other horses once taking the lead, but I wanted her to finish off the race strongly to the wire so I kept driving her to the wire which led to a big margin.”
Second pick Harper was positioned right behind the eventual winner under Christophe Lemaire throughout most of the trip and followed that foe to the outside, rounding the final turn. While unable to keep up with the Liberty Island's explosive burst of speed going up the uphill stretch, the Heart's Cry filly continued with good late speed to overtake Ravel in the last 50 meters while managing to hold back the fast-closing Dura by a neck margin for second.
Lightly regarded 15th choice Dura raced off the pace, around fifth from the rear, and came into the homestretch still well behind the leaders, where the Duramente filly exerted an impressive late speed once angling out just before the 400-meter pole and closed in well to finish just a neck short of second place.
Liberty Island covered 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) in 2:23.1 on turf rated as good to firm.
Bred in Japan by Northern Racing, Liberty Island was produced by Yankee Rose, by All American. Her record includes a victory in 2022 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1).
The third jewel of Japan's fillies' Triple Crown is the Shuka Sho (G1), set for Oct. 15 at Kyoto.
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Elm Drive Passes First Turf Test In Santa Anita’s Mizdirection
In her first-ever try on turf, Little Red Feather Racing's Elm Drive handled the assignment with aplomb as she sat close to the early pace and went on to a decisive 1¼-length score in Saturday's $100,000 Mizdirection Stakes at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, who bagged his third winner on the card, Elm Drive covered about 6½ furlongs down the hillside course in 1:13.23.
Fresh off a similar score in the Monrovia Stakes (G3) that was transferred from the hill to the main track at 6½ furlongs April 8 at the Arcadia, Calif. track, Elm Drive broke like a shot from her number five post position, but allowed Freedom Flyer to come up on her inside and take a narrow lead as they headed to the half-mile pole.
Second, a half length off the lead at the quarter pole, Elm Drive took charge three-sixteenths of a mile from home and was never threatened thereafter.
“She's trained well on the training track here since I brought her over from Los Alamitos,” said trainer Phil D'Amato. “Usually, that (method of operation) translates to running well on the grass and we got our opportunity to try it today and it worked out.
“Going those slow fractions (:22.88, :45.37, and 1:07.39), it looked like we had a lot of horse. When Ramon asked her, she exploded.”
Off at 5-1 in a field of seven older fillies and mares, Elm Drive paid $13.40 for the win.
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Mohaymen out of the Indian Charlie mare Lets Dance Charlie, Elm Drive, who was a Grade 2 winner in her second start at age two, now has three stakes victories and is 5-0-1 overall from 10 starts. With Saturday's winner's share of $60,000, she increased her lifetime earnings to $408,140.
“I knew she had been working very nice and today, she broke sharp and then we were able to sit very comfortable,” said Vazquez, who was aboard for her win in the Monrovia as well. “She showed up, she's a nice filly.”
Bred in Kentucky by Kenneth D'Oyen, Elm Drive was a $165,000 purchase from consignor Paul Sharp at the 2021 OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale.
Well off the early pace, Honey Pants, under Umberto Rispoli, made a nice late run and finished second, 1¼ lengths in front of favored Big Summer.
Ridden by Joe Bravo and the lone California-bred in the field, Big Summer was never a factor at even money.
One Silk Stocking was a late scratch at the gate.
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