Tag: Racing

Fresh off of the biggest win of his career going 1 1/4 miles on turf last month at Santa Anita, 5-year-old Offlee Naughty proved much best as the favorite stretching out to 1 1/2 miles Saturday in the $100,000 San Luis Rey (G3) at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

Ridden for the first time since his career debut in June of 2021 by Umberto Rispoli, Offlee Naughty overcame traffic trouble around the final bend to win by 1 ¼ lengths while getting the finishing the distance in 2:24.87 on firm turf.

With a hillside start down Santa Anita's unique Camino Real Turf Course, Offlee Naughty was next to last, about 11 lengths off lonely pacesetter Opry after the first quarter mile. With Opry fully committed, Offlee Naughty remained unhurried and was fourth by about seven lengths at the rail when forced to steady off the heels of Dicey Mo Chara about five-sixteenths of a mile from home. With Opry shortening stride, Offlee Naughty proved his mettle as Rispoli pointed him outside Dicey Mo Chara, whom he gradually overtook well inside the sixteenth pole with Brazilian-bred Planetario charging late to complete the exacta.

The 8-5 favorite in a field of seven older runners, Offlee Naughty paid $5.20 for the victory

“I was trying to go around, I saw Juan (Hernandez, aboard Dicey Mo Chara) in front, so I was trying to sneak in,” said Rispoli. “I came to the top of the stretch and (my horse) switched his lead and he was the better horse today.”

Owned by James and Donna Daniell, Offlee Naughty, a 5-year-old full horse by Flashback out of the Offlee Wild mare Acting Naughty, notched a second consecutive graded stakes win while improving his overall mark to 5-1-1 from 17 starts. Fourth in last year's San Luis Rey in his stakes debut, Offlee Naughty entered this year's edition off victory in the Charles Whittingham (G2), his first career stakes win, April 8 at Santa Anita. He picked up $60,000 for Saturday's triumph, increasing his earnings to $370,645. He was bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables Inc.

“He's been back and forth across the country a couple of times (and) he got really good before he got here,” said trainer Michael McCarthy, who has also campaigned Offlee Naughty in Kentucky and New York. “I thought his race the other day was really good, where at the eighth pole, he found another gear. Today, he kind of chucked around the turn and lost a little bit of momentum, (but) we were able to go ahead and find another gear and get the job done.

“This win is for Jim Daniell and his wife.”

A Group I winner in Brazil, Richard Mandella's Planetario, who was a close fifth in his U.S. debut going 1 1/8 miles on turf June 18 at Santa Anita, flew late under Hector Berrios to overtake Dicey Mo Chara by a neck on the money.

Trained by Leonard Powell, English-bred Dicey Mo Chara was third-best on the day and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Opry.

Fractions on the race were :23.95, :47.50, 1:11.55, 1:35.42, and 2:00.22.

The post ‘He Found Another Gear’: Offlee Naughty Proves Best In San Luis Rey appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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John Guarnere always had high expectations for Howgreatisnate, even though the gelding had never won going two turns.

“I thought he was a Kentucky Derby (G1) horse,” said Guarnere, whose horses race in the name of Imaginary Stables.

Howgreatisnate won't make any of the Triple Crown races, but he could be bound for the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park after surging to a stirring victory by a head in Saturday's $100,000 Long Branch Stakes on opening day at the Jersey Shore track.

Shipped from trainer Elizabeth Dobles' base in Palm Meadows, Fla., Howgreatisnate overcame a wide trip and then nudged clear under jockey Jairo Rendon's urging to get by Offaly Cool in deep stretch. It was another three lengths back to Ninetyprcentmaddie in third.

“I always believed the horse could go a distance,” said Dobles, who gallops many of her horses. “I loved his short races. He was phenomenal going short. I think he can be a better horse going longer. The only concern was I didn't want him to get checked. I watched his last race (the Private Terms at Laurel) and he got checked a few times. Once he gets checked he loses his interest.”

Howgreatisnate, a Kentucky-bred son of Speightster out of Bee Dees Bid, by Tapit, was making his first start for Dobles after being shifted from the barn of Andrew Simoff two months ago. After going 4-for-4 at a 2-year-old last year – all sprints – Howgreatisnate stumbled and lost the jockey in the Gotham (G3) in his first start at 3 March 4 at Aqueduct and then was a troubled fourth in the Private Terms at Laurel on March 18.

“John wanted to run the horse in a few races and they decided it would be best to send the horse to me so I could point to the races John and I agreed to,” said Dobles.

In her initial exuberance following the victory, Dobles said the horse's next start would be in the Haskell on July 22.

“No, wait — we're going to take him back down to Florida and let him recover from this race and then see how he is,” she said.

As a result of the victory, Howgreatisnate receives free entry and start fees to the Haskell.

Sent off at 5-1 in the field of six 3-year-olds, Howgreatisnate was fifth and wide through fast opening fractions of :22.68 for the opening quarter mile and then 1:10.87 for six furlongs set by longshot No Confession in the one-mile and 70-yard race.

Howgreatisnate, Offaly Cool, and Ninetyprcentmaddie were then stacked across the track entering the final turn, with Howgreatisnate and Offaly Cool getting clear of the rest.

Offaly Cool opened a one-length lead in midstretch before Howgreatisnate surged on the outside.

The winning time was 1:41.21.

Even-money favorite Slip Mahoney was a non-threatening fourth.

“I was a little wide the first turn, but the trainer told me he likes to be clear, so I was able to get him outside and clear,” said Rendon. “Even though this is his first win around two turns I wasn't worried about him getting the distance. Elizabeth does such a great job I knew she would have him ready. He was trying to lug out a little bit late but he showed he has a lot of heart.”

Dobles, who started training in 2016, owns one graded stakes win to her credit, with War Story winning the 2019 Harlan's Holiday (G3) in 2019. Guarnere made the trip from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. to watch Howgreatisnate at Monmouth Park in person.

“I was worried the first turn. He was going with them and then was shuffled back,” said Dobles. “I liked the way (Rendon) took him to the outside to kind of get him away from the field. I saw going into the turn that they were moving quick. Usually he waits to make a move but I saw all of them go to the front and it worried me early. But battling down the stretch he showed his heart.”

Howgreatisnatewas bred in Kentucky by B. D. Gibbs Farm LLC. Guarnere bought him for $67,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale, where Greenfield Farm consigned him. The bay gelding has a 5-0-0 record from seven lifetime starts and $228,900 in purse earnings.

The post Howgreatisnate Wins Long Branch Battle At Monmouth, Could Target Haskell appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Crimson Advocate seized complete command of the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies on her way to giving trainer George Weaver a sweep of the two Royal Ascot qualifying stakes on Saturday's 10-race program at Gulfstream Park.

The Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies, a five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds fillies, co-headlined Saturday's 10-program with the $100,000 Royal Palm Juvenile, a five-furlong turf stakes for 2-year-olds won earlier by Weaver-trained No Nay Mets. Each race will provide its winner with an automatic berth into one of six stakes during the June 20-24 Royal Ascot meeting, as well as a $25,000 equine travel stipend for shipping from the U.S. to England, in addition to the winner's share of the purse.

Crimson Advocate, owned by R.A. Hill Stable, Swinbank Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, RAP Racing, Chris Mara, BlackRidge Stables LLC and Amy Dunne, broke alertly from the starting gate under jockey Edwin Gonzalez to open an early lead that she would never relinquish. Ocean Mermaid, the 3-5 favorite who is trained by 12-time Royal Ascot winner Wesley Ward, was closest in pursuit of the pacesetter throughout the race and finished second, 3 ½ lengths behind the winning 7-2 second choice and 5 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher The Myth.

Crimson Advocate, who finished third in her April 26 debut at Keeneland, was equipped with blinkers for her return in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies.

“We really liked her going into the race up there. I expected her to be on the lead or close to it, but she was green. We put some blinkers on her today and she broke sharp and looked good the whole way,” said Weaver.

The daughter of Nyquist ran five furlongs over a firm turf in :56.25 after setting fractions of :21.83 and :44.42 for the first half mile, earning the privilege of accompanying stablemate No Nay Mets to Royal Ascot.

“I always said after I went to Ascot the first time it would be nice to go back with someone who has a chance to win and both of these horses look like they do,” Weaver said. “They have that early speed. I do need to look at the menu before picking out a race although I'd like to keep both of them at five-eighths if we can.”

In order to sweep the Royal Ascot qualifying stakes, Weaver had to go through Ward, the first U.S. trainer to saddle a winner at the Royal Ascot meet during which he has enjoyed incredible success over the years.

“You're always worried about Wesley. He's a master of doing this and going to Ascot. You just got to have the right horses,” Weaver said. “Both my horses broke running and got the advantage right away, followed through, and looked good doing it.”

Crimson Advocate, who is out of the Proud Citizen mare Citizen Advocate, was bred in Kentucky by Whitehall Lane Farm. She sold to Dewsweepers II for $100,000 at the 2022 OBS October yearling sale in the Beth Bayer consignment.

The post Crimson Advocate Gives Weaver Sweep Of Gulfstream’s Royal Ascot Qualifiers With Gate-To-Wire Romp appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Candy Man Rocket, expertly piloted by Junior Alvarado, stalked and pounced to an impressive score in Saturday's $175,000 Runhappy (G3), a six-furlong sprint for older horses, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old Candy Ride horse has won three of four starts this year, including a score in the Gulfstream Park Sprint in February. But, last out in the Count Fleet Handicap (G3) on April 15 at Oaklawn Park, Candy Man Rocket acted up pre-race and ran an uncharacteristic last of 10.

Candy Man Rocket was better behaved – for the most part – Saturday and returned to winning form with aplomb.

“He wasn't great in saddling today – he was a little wound up. I was a little concerned,” Mott said. “Junior said when he got on the track he settled down. At least he showed up. The other day he just spit it out. He can run, he's just got to get the right trip.”

Beren, the 7-5 mutuel favorite under Irad Ortiz Jr., and the Andy Hernandez-piloted Twisted Ride dueled through an opening quarter-mile in 22.60 seconds and a half-mile in 45.15 over the fast main track with Candy Man Rocket enjoying the pace battle from third.

Alvarado gave Candy Man Rocket his cue through the turn and the dark bay responded in kind, putting a head in front at the stretch call and battling briefly with a game Twisted Ride as Beren faded. Candy Man Rocket was in command for good at the furlong marker and powered through the wire a 1 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:09.33. Twisted Ride completed the exacta by a half-length over Stage Left with Drafted, Beren, and Mr Phil rounding out the order of finish.

Alvarado has guided the dark bay through each of his last nine starts and said he was relieved to be back in the winner's circle after the Oaklawn experience.

“To be honest, we weren't expecting him to be nice and relaxed in the saddling area, because last time when they went to saddle him, we kind of lost him right there in the paddock and post parade,” Alvarado said. “By the time I got on, he was all washed out and very nervous. Then, warming up he never relaxed and I knew he wasn't going to give me his best effort – that's what happened. You've got to draw a line through his last race. Today, he behaved in the post parade and warming up and he was a complete gentleman, nice and relaxed. He came out with a big run today.”

Alvarado said the pace duel played into his hands.

“That was the trip we were looking for, and thank God everything was setting up perfectly,” Alvarado said. “I was sitting right where I wanted to be and I had the horse right under me to help me. The rest was just him. I had to nudge him along a little bit turning for home and he responded so well. I thought he was traveling beautiful and he was just waiting for me. Right when we turned for home, I knew he was going to be there for me.”

The win-friendly Candy Man Rocket made the grade in the 2021 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs and narrowly missed in that year's Gold Fever here when a nose back of Beren. Mott said he will nominate Candy Man Rocket to the 6 1/2-furlong $250,000 True North (G2) on June 10 at Belmont.

The Pennsylvania-bred Twisted Ride, a multiple stakes-winning son of Great Notion, shipped in from Parx for trainer Michael Moore on the back of a four-race win streak that included scores in the Fishtown and Page McKenney with Hernandez aboard.

“He ran great. He didn't win but he finished a great second,” Hernandez said. “It's a difficult race and he ran great. I was behind in the turn and I didn't want to move too soon, but I didn't want to wait too long. The number four [Candy Man Rocket] is a nice horse.”

Bred in Kentucky by R.S. Evans, Candy Man Rocket is out of Kenny Lane, by Forestry. He banked $96,250 in victory while improving his record to 11-6-1-0. He paid $7.40 for a $2 win ticket.

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