Tag: Racing

Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll, emphatic winner of the 2021 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, headlines an evenly matched field of seven 4-year-olds and up entered Wednesday for Saturday's 92nd running of the $300,000 Ben Ali (G3) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track.

The Ben Ali will go as the ninth race on Saturday's 10-race program with a 5:16 p.m. ET post time. First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Rattle N Roll won three stakes 2022 highlighted by a score in the Oklahoma Derby (G3). In his 2023 debut, Rattle N Roll was fourth in the New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 25.

Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount and will break from post position five.

Another entrant with graded stakes success at Keeneland is Peachtree Stable's Tawny Port.

Winner of the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) last spring, Tawny Port also won the Ohio Derby (G3) last June and enters the Ben Ali off a fifth-place finish in the Essex (G3) on March 18 at Oaklawn Park. Trained by Brad Cox, Tawny Port will be ridden by Flavien Prat and break from post seven.

Arriving Monday at Keeneland from South Florida was Daniel Alonso's multiple Grade 3 winner Skippylongstocking. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Skippylongstocking enters the Ben Ali off a 3¼-length victory in the Challenger (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on March 11.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount and will break from post position four.

The field for the Ben Ali, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

1. Pioneer of Medina (Tyler Gaffalione, 118 pounds),
2. Trademark (Rafael Bejarano, 118),
3. Call Me Fast (Julien Leparoux, 118),
4. Skippylongstocking (Ortiz Jr., 118),
5. Rattle N Roll (Hernandez Jr., 118),
6. Happy American (James Graham, 118),
7. Tawny Port (Prat, 118).

The post Keeneland’s Ben Ali Attracts Evenly-Matched Field Of Seven appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's defending champion Channel Maker, who won the 2020 Eclipse Award as North America's champion turf male, headlines a field of 10 4-year-olds and up entered Wednesday for Saturday's 38th running of the $350,000 Elkhorn (G2) going 1½ miles on the turf.

The Elkhorn will go as the eighth race on Saturday's 10-race program with a 4:44 p.m. ET post time. First post is 1 p.m.

Trained by Bill Mott, the 9-year-old Channel Maker will attempt to become the fourth horse to win the Elkhorn in consecutive years. The others were Musketier (GER) in 2010 and 2011, Kim Loves Bucky in 2002 and 2003 and the Mott-trained African Dancer in 1998 and 1999.

Seventh in the W.L. McKnight (G3) in his 2023 debut, Channel Maker will be ridden Saturday by John Velazquez and break from post position one.

Trinity Farm's Red Knight, who won the W.L. McKnight in his most recent start, will be one of two entries in the Elkhorn for four-time race winner Mike Maker. Red Knight, who won the 2020 Sycamore (G3) here in the fall of 2020, will be ridden by Gerardo Corrales and break from post five.

Maker, who won the Elkhorn with Dark Cove (2013), Da Big Hoss (2016), Bigger Picture (2019) and Zulu Alpha (2020), also will send out Michael Hui's Value Engineering. Winner of the Mac Diarmida (G2) in his most recent start after a runner-up finish in the McKnight, Value Engineering will break from post two under Tyler Gaffalione.

The field for the Elkhorn, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

1. Channel Maker (Velazquez, 118 pounds),
2. Value Engineering (Gaffalione, 120),
3. Rising Empire (Florent Geroux, 118),
4. Another Mystery (Jareth Loveberry, 118),
5. Red Knight (Corrales, 120),
6. Shawdyshawdyshawdy (Adam Beschizza, 118),
7. Howe Street (Flavien Prat, 118),
8. Highest Honors (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118),
9. Verstappen (Declan Cannon, 118),
10. Tiz the Bomb (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118).

The post Ageless Channel Maker Headlines Saturday’s Elkhorn At Keeneland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There is something special about winning the first race of the meet. It sets the tone for the season. That is just what Tay did for the Scott Mullins Stable Tuesday, April 18 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Starting from the outside post six, Tay and Jockey Alberto Burgos were in contention early on the outside of the five and one-half furlong event. Sacred Sky and Joe Ramos held down the early lead on the inside but around the final turn, Tay and veteran racehorse Double Tuff with Rodney Prescott moved as a team toward the leaders. At the head of the stretch, those two began to put some distance between themselves and the remainder of the field. Midway through the stretch, Tay took over and was hand ridden to the wire for the three and three-quarter length win as the longest shot on the board. Double Tuff was second over Sakic and Malcolm Franklin, who rallied up late for third.

“We gave him (Tay) some time off and he's been training here all winter,” said Mullins. “This horse has never left the state. He was born right down the road at our Sugar Creek Farm. It is a great feeling to win the first race. And I could not do any of this without Cynthia (Gastel). She works so hard for our stable.”

Tay paid $65.40 for the win. The four-year-old son of Deputy Storm was making his first start of 2023. It was his second career win in eight starts over the past two years. Unraced at two, Tay now has more than $42,000 on his card for the Mullins Stable, who also owns him.

It also marked a first for newcomer Burgos, who made his racing debut in the event.

“This is my first race here and it's a great feeling to win this race,” said Burgos, a native of Puerto Rico. “I worked this horse a few times over the winter. He has been working well. I am very happy to be here and to get a win in my first race.”

Burgos comes in from riding at Presque Isle Downs last year. He is currently in his fifth year as a jockey and had six wins for the 2023 season to his credit prior to his win at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Overall, he has 104 wins and more than $2 million in earnings.

Another horse adding to his bankroll was Ahardhabittobreak and Francisco Quintero, who won the first Quarter Horse race of the meet. The Tony Cunningham trained Indiana bred gelding was a winner by a neck over Heza Royal Wagon and Cesar Esqueda. I Beacha and Fernando Morin finished third.

Ahardhabittobreak, a 3-year-old son of Habits Secret earned his first career win in his sixth career start. He is owned by Teresa and Mike Gross.

Wagering for the 10-race card topped $2.85 million, nearly $1 million ahead of last year's season opener for handle. Horseshoe Indianapolis is back in action for the second day of racing Wednesday, April 19 beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The 21st season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Friday, Nov. 17. Live action will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday post time set for 2:10 p.m. Saturday racing will be held during the summer months featuring six all-Quarter Horse dates June 3, July 1, July 22, Aug. 12, Sept. 2, and Oct. 7 beginning at 10:45 a.m. Indiana's featured event, the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby is set for Saturday, July 8 with a first post time of 12 p.m. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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