Tag: Racing

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.

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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.

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Millionaire Mr. Wireless returns to Oaklawn in search of his fourth career stakes victory in Friday's inaugural $150,000 Lake Ouachita for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

Probable post time for the Lake Ouachita, the 10th of 11 races on the penultimate day of the 68-day meeting, is 5:46 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:20 p.m.

The projected nine-horse Lake Ouachita field from the rail out:

1. Forza Di Oro, Isaac Castillo to ride, 117 pounds, 9-2 on the morning line;
2. Joe Frazier, Kylee Jordan, 117, 15-1;
3. Mailman Money, Gabriel Saez, 117, 6-1;
4. Ain't Life Grand, Martin Garcia, 119, 12-1;
5. Icarus, David Cohen, 121, 30-1;
6. Great Escape, Francisco Arrieta, 121, 8-1;
7. Mr. Wireless, Deshawn Parker, 119, 2-1,
8. Frosted Grace, Cristian Torres, 121, 3-1; and
9. Perfect Flight, Mitchell Murrill, 119, 15-1.

Program favorite Mr. Wireless, as a 3-year-old, ran twice at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting, breaking his maiden at a mile and clearing his first allowance condition at 1 1/16 miles. Both victories were by a nose. The maiden victory was over future Grade 1 winner Stilleto Boy, who finished a close third in the $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 22. Mr. Wireless also won the $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) and $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3) later in 2021 and the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at 1 mile and 70 yards July 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Mr. Wireless made his last four starts at Fair Grounds – all stakes – and recorded three runner-up finishes before finishing third, beaten 5 ½ lengths by West Will Power, in the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles March 25. West Will Power is the 2-1 program favorite for the $600,000 Alysheba Stakes (G2) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles Friday at Churchill Downs. Also entered in the Alysheba are 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike; Last Samurai, winner of the 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and runner-up this year; Grade 1 winner Art Collector; and Grade 2 winner Smile Happy, third in this year's $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3). Mr. Wireless was nominated to the Alysheba, but trainer Bret Calhoun opted for the more conservative route.

“He's a gelding and we really don't have a whole lot to prove and those are the top races,” Calhoun said. “He's run hard all winter and been unfortunate not to win and we thought we needed to find a place that wasn't quite as competitive as a race like that.”

Mr. Wireless ($1,000,907) surpassed $1 million career earnings in the New Orleans Classic. The 5-year-old son of Dialed In has compiled a 6-4-2 record from 16 career starts.

“He tries every single time,” Calhoun said. “He's had a very successful career. He's been a little unfortunate in his last few, but it's not from lack of effort.”

Grade 3 winner Forza Di Oro exits a third-place finish in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles March 18 at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox. Forza Di Oro made his previous two starts at Fair Grounds, finishing third, just behind Mr. Wireless, in the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes Dec. 26 and $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) Jan. 21. Both races were 1 1/16 miles. Forza Di Oro is seeking his first victory since a July 2021 allowance at Saratoga – West Will Power was second – when with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

“Knocking on the door,” said Cox, who also now trains West Will Power. “Thought his last race was really good. Hopefully, it (class relief) will get him over the top and get him to the winner's circle because he hasn't been there in a while.”

Robertino Diodoro, Oaklawn's leading trainer this season, is scheduled to send out Grade 3 winner Great Escape and Frosted Grace. Both horses exit allowance victories at the 2022-2023 Oaklawn meeting. Great Escape captured the $200,000 Canadian Derby (G3) Aug. 20 at Century Mile, setting a track record (2:01.35) for 1 ¼ miles.

“Both horses are doing good,” Diodoro said. “Unfortunately, they're going to be running against each other.”

Ain't Life Grand won the $200,000 Iowa Derby at 1 1/16 miles July 9 at Prairie Meadows and, in his 4-year-old debut, finished seventh behind Frosted Grace in a March 18 allowance at 1 1/16 miles for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.

Mailman Money, seeking his first career stakes victory, exits a 1 1/16-mile allowance victory March 24 at Fair Grounds for Calhoun.

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