Tag: Racing

On paper, the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs appeared to go through the undefeated Munnys Gold, but Red Carpet Ready got the better of the heavy favorite on Friday at the conclusion of an extended stretch duel to earn her second career graded stakes win.

Out of the gate, Red Carpet Ready stayed on the heels of Munnys Gold, who quickly established the lead from the outside post and stayed several paths wide Irad Ortiz Jr. Condensation held the rail spot and tried to keep pace in second through an opening quarter-mile in :22.67 seconds.

Munnys Gold entered the turn with a one-length advantage over Condensation on her inside and Red Carpet Ready on her outside. Jockey Luis Saez began to rouse up on Red Carpet Ready after the half-mile point, crossed in :45.11 seconds, and she began to approach the leader's throat latch while Condensation faded into the pack.

Munnys Gold and Red Carpet Ready were on even terms at the top of the stretch, and after showing early patience when Saez started asking Red Carpet Ready for run, Ortiz began urging his mount, as well.

Red Carpet Ready gained an advantage around the three-sixteenths pole, and she began to inch away from the favorite as they approached the eighth pole, stretching out to a 1 1/2-length advantage. However, Munnys Gold started gaining ground again from the inside with a sixteenth to go, setting up for a dramatic photo finish.

Red Carpet Ready refused to let Munnys Gold regain the lead in the final jumps, and she held on to win by a head. Accede established herself as the best of the rest exiting the turn, and she carried on for third, 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

Red Carpet Ready stopped the clock in the seven-furlong race in 1:22.28 over a fast main track. She paid $13.44 to win as the field's second choice.

The daughter of Mill Ridge Farm's Oscar Performance is owned by Ashbrook Farm and Upland Flats Racing, and Rusty Arnold was the winning trainer. She was bred in Kentucky by Lynn Schiff. Friday's victory improved Red Carpet Ready's record to four wins in five starts for earnings of $588,670.

The Eight Belles was a fine consolation prize for the connections of Red Carpet Ready after failing to earn enough qualifying points to enter the gate for the Kentucky Oaks.

Friday's effort confirmed her prowess around one turn, where she is now unbeaten in four starts. Red Carpet Ready won her debut at Churchill Downs last year as a 2-year-old by 10 lengths going six furlongs, and she followed with a score in the 6 1/2-furlong Fern Creek Stakes at the same track a month later.

Red Carpet Ready started her 3-year-old season with a 2 1/2-length score in the G3 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park, then she suffered her lone career defeat in her first two-turn effort, the G2 Davona Dale Stakes, where she set the pace and faded to third.

Quotes provided by Churchill Downs notes team:

Luis Saez, jockey, Red Carpet Ready, winner: “This filly had a good break, and she put us right in it. When she got the lead, I wanted her to open it up, but she was waiting a little bit. When she was alone, she waited for the other horse to come back. I was pretty worried about the other horse, because in the long stretch, she tried hard to catch us. Red Carpet Ready is a spectacular filly. She always tries really hard.” 

Rusty Arnold II, trainer, Red Carpet Ready, winner: “She wants to sprint and she loves it here. We're going to regroup and keep to sprinting. Louie (Luis Saez) rode her great. He took it to her (odds-on favorite Munnys Gold, on the lead) and she was ready.” 

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey, Munnys Gold, runner-up: “The winner jumped for me, and I tried to turn her back, but we came up short. The fractions were beautiful, beautiful. She tried to come back, and was very game, but just got beat. We'll fight another day.”

The post Red Carpet Ready Stuns Favorite Munnys Gold In Eight Belles Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The Merriebelle Stable of Charles Noell's Didia extended her win streak to seven straight races in Friday's Grade 3, $300,000 Modesty Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs, cruising home 1 1/2 lengths in front as the 5-2 second choice. Ridden by Frenchman Vincent Cheminaud for trainer Ignacio Correas, IV, the 4-year-old Southern Hemisphere-born daughter of Orpen ran 1 1/8 miles over the firm turf course in a stakes-record 1:47.46.

Despite her win streak, the Modesty was Didia's first stateside graded stakes victory. She won three straight Group 1 races in her home country of Argentina, then after an eight-month break, an allowance and black-type stakes at Colonial Downs at the end of last summer. Didia won her 2023 debut in the listed Tom Benson Memorial Stakes at the Fair Grounds, and now has added the G3 Modesty to her resume. Overall, the filly's record stands at eight wins from 11 starts for earnings of $472,109.

“This year, she has progressed in every race,” said Cheminaud. “We had a good trip today and when I asked her for run today, she responded. It's a nice filly and I hope she will progress and win a Grade 1 this year.”

A well-orchestrated ride from Cheminaud saw Didia in third along the inside early on, then angled out around the far turn before taking over without fuss in the stretch.

“They get along perfect, and I think that he's a first-class rider; you can not ask for a better match,” Correas said of Cheminaud. “It make you wake up really happy every morning. I was blessed to have probably some of the last two best fillies that come from Argentina, (Breeders' Cup winner) Blue Prize and Dona Bruja.”

Sweet Dani Girl led the Modesty field through fractions of :23.25, :47.84, and 1:11.58 while under moderate pressure from Lady Rockstar. After being passed by Didia, Sweet Dani Girl dug deep to hold off the late run from New Year's Eve. At the wire, Sweet Dani Girl outfinished New Year's Eve to finish second, while 2-1 favorite Shantisara finished fourth.

“I won't say I was worried, but they were bunched tightly at the start,” Correas added. “I felt more confident once I saw her settle into third. From there, it was just a matter of whether or not she would have her kick. I don't know how she does it, but she always makes it look easy.”

Didia returned $7.18, $4.42 and $3.48. Sweet Dani Girl, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $9.32 and $6.20 and finished a half-length in front of New Year's Eve, who paid $4.54 to show under Luis Saez. It was 1 ¼ lengths back to Shantisara (IRE), with McKulick (GB), Sparkle Blue and Lady Rockstar (GB) following in order.

.Bred in Argentina by La Manija, Didia is out of the Rainbow Corner mare Delambre.

The post Argentina’s Didia Wins Seventh Straight Race In Modesty appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Smile Happy's last trip under the famed Churchill Downs twin spires — a distant eighth in the 2022 Kentucky Derby — didn't pan out the way his connections had hoped, but they found the winner's circle on the 2023 Kentucky Oaks undercard. The 4-year-old colt, piloted by Brian Hernandez Jr., took a stalking trip to victory in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes.

Despite an initial reluctance to load into the starting gate, Smile Happy broke alertly in the 1 1/16-mile contest and settled alongside pacesetter and favorite West Will Power and just ahead of rival Art Collector. With a half mile to go, Hernandez Jr. let his mount out a little as Art Collector began making a move, and hustled him into a drive at the top of the stretch. Art Collector made a determined run at them, but Smile Happy turned away the threat, hitting the wire by two lengths.

Art Collector hung on for second, with 3-5 favorite West Will Power in third and Last Samurai fourth

Reigning Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike settled at the back of the field early and was never a factor, finishing second from last.

The final time was 1:41.29. The full chart is here.

Ken McPeek trains the son of Runhappy for owner Lucky Seven Stable, which is the nom de course for Leo and Ginny Mackin and their children. After his Derby run, McPeek did not bring him back to the races until this March, when he won an allowance/optional claimer at Oaklawn, followed by a third in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile.

McPeek told reporters that Smile Happy has something of a unique personality.

“He's a little bit of a tricky horse to deal with,” McPeek said. “He gets a special pony to the track every day. He's a special horse.”

McPeek said the G1 Stephen Foster could be the next target, possibly preceded by the G3 Blame.

Smile Happy was bred in Kentucky by Moreau Bloodstock International and White Bloodstock, and is out of Pleasant Tap mare Pleasant Smile. He was sold as a weanling for $175,000 by Moreau Bloodstock to Cooper Bloodstock at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale; he went to auction again at the Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase the following year, where he hammered for $185,000 to Lucky Seven via consignor Hunter Valley Farm.

Smile Happy paid $17.48, $6.74, and $3.18.

The post Smile Happy Finds Redemption Under The Spires With Alysheba Win; Rich Strike Second Last appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post