Tag: Racing

In his first try down Santa Anita's unique hillside turf course, First Peace found room at the rail turning for home and prevailed by one length over longshot Mas Rapido in the $100,000 John Shear Stakes for 3-year-olds Sunday as owners Rancho Temescal LLC and Red Baron's Barn LLC padded their meet-leading races-won number to 13.

Trained by Mark Glatt and ridden by Mike Smith, First Peace, a Kentucky-bred colt from the first crop of Three Chimneys Farm resident sire Funtastic, a Grade 1 winner on turf, got about 6½ furlongs in 1:11.50 on a course rated as firm.

Third, about five lengths off of speed merchant Helladic at the half-mile pole, Smith bided his time at the dirt crossing behind both Helladic and Nullarbor. When Helladic drifted out just a bit, Smith dove inside and was able to keep Mas Rapido safe in a big effort.

“He was oozing confidence from the time I got on him,” said Smith. “He really loved coming down the hill, so we may have a whole lot of fun with him coming down that hill. I wanted to make sure that I gave him a fair chance to get through and not put him in a spot that was going to be dangerous for both of us. When the horse on the lead came out, it gave us the opportunity, because I was so loaded, when I did ask him, he was in there quick.”

Shortening up out of three consecutive races at one mile on turf, most recently a second place finish in the Eddie Logan Stakes Dec. 30 First Peace was off at 4-1 and paid $10 for the win.

“I've been a big fan of this horse since the day he got into my barn,” said Glatt, who got his second win of the day, moving him into fourth place in the Classic Meet standings on closing day with his 23rd overall win. “Going a mile…He's an aggressive horse and he hasn't learned to quite settle (at that distance) and I think it's hurt him in a couple of his mile races, even though he's run really well in those races.

“I thought that down the hill was going to be right up his alley. Sometimes you never know unless you try it. If they like the layout…but he's a runner. He was able to relax a little and sit behind the speed and Mike did a wonderful job on him and pushed the button when he could and the horse responded.”

A $75,000 purchase by Rob Orr at the 2022 OBS June sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age, where Lucan Bloodstock consigned him, First Peace is out the Point of Entry mare Peace Opportunity. Third two starts back in the Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3) at Del Mar Dec. 4, First Peace is now 2-2-1 from six career starts. With Sunday's winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $141,300.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, English-bred Mas Rapido finished well but couldn't go with the winner, finishing 3 ¾ lengths in front of Valiancer.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Valiancer saved ground at the rail to the top of the lane, angled out and out ran 3-5 favorite Conclude by three quarters of a length for third money.

Fractions on the race were :21.19, :43.20, and 1:05.65.

Live racing will resume with first post time at 1 p.m. (PT) for opening day of Santa Anita's Hollywood Meet on Friday, April 21. Santa Anita will be open for simulcast wagering, with free parking and admission, this Thursday through Sunday.

The post ‘He Really Loved Coming Down The Hill’: First Peace Cruises To First Stakes Win In Santa Anita’s John Shear appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom McCrocklin's Promiseher America earned a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure when capturing Saturday's Gazelle (G3) for sophomore fillies going nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In winning the final local prep on the Kentucky Oaks trail, Promiseher America earned the maximum allotment of 100 points towards the prestigious Grade 1 test at Churchill Downs while also providing trainer Ray Handal with his first graded stakes conquest.

“I was watching the replay this morning and watching the coverage,” Handal said. “It's so cool. It's been a long time coming, so I'm happy we finally got it done. And what a way to do it, with a horse now going to one of the biggest races in the country on one of the biggest weekends of the year.”

Handal reported that Promiseher America was nominated to the Oaks following her Gazelle triumph.

“We did that yesterday,” Handal said. “$1,500 to nominate so we went ahead and did that.”

Promiseher America, by 2015 Triple Crown winner and Hall of Famer American Pharoah, entered the Gazelle after making the third time the charm in a local February 19 maiden test going a one-turn mile. She stalked the pace from fourth down the backstretch before taking command at the stretch call and darting away to a 6 1/2-length score.

Handal spoke of how her maiden win encouraged him to take a chance in the Gazelle.

“I've been one to take shots. You only get these restricted races once and if there was a time to swing, this was it,” Handal said. “Every now and then you get lucky, and it worked out here. She's a good young horse, she continues to improve, and I see her taking another step forward. I think she'll get better and who knows, maybe she shocks the world in four weeks.”

Promiseher America will remain at Belmont Park to train for the Kentucky Oaks, according to Handal.

“I'd rather just keep her in her routine here and worry about if she likes the track and adjust things when she gets there. I like keeping them all under one roof as long as possible,” Handal said.

Bred in Kentucky by Robert and Lawana Low, Promiseher America is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Promisedyouheaven, whose dam Hurricane Bernie is a half sister to two-time Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection [2012-13]. She was bought for $75,000 at the 2022 OBS spring 2-year-olds in training sale.

On Friday, Handal saddled Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing's Funny How to a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap. The seven-furlong event ended the New York-bred Overanalyze filly's five-race win streak.

Handal said he would likely keep Funny How against graded company for her next start in the Grade 3, $175,000 Vagrancy on May 14 at Belmont Park going 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track with the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian on May 6 at Belmont going a one-turn mile as a viable alternative.

“I think we keep going this route until she says otherwise,” Handal said. “More than likely we'll go to the Vagrancy. I guess the Ruffian isn't off the table, but I'm leaning toward the Vagrancy at 6 1/2. It gives her more time. The Ruffian is a little quicker back and plus it's usually a tough race.”

Bred by Hibiscus Stables, Funny How is a half-sister to multiple New York-bred stakes winner Funny Guy.

Handal has been in notable winning form recently, securing victories in four of his last eight starts. His other two fresh off a triumph include Merrylegs Farm's New York homebred Listentoyourheart, who secured a career-best 100 Beyer in a Friday state-bred allowance going seven furlongs.

The 6-year-old Afleet Alex gelding earned his fourth career victory and first under Handal's care. Previously trained by Christophe Clement, Listentoyourheart won Finger Lakes' Aspirant during his juvenile season. Handal said he would likely try open company with Listentoyourheart.

“I thought he'd run well, but I didn't expect that. I'm lucky we have all his conditions still,” Handal said. “We'll see how he fares against open company.”

Also on Friday, Handal sent out New York-bred Gem Mint Ten to a maiden win at third asking going six furlongs on the outer turf. The sophomore Laoban colt could stretch out for his next start according to Handal, who sung praises on behalf of owners Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing.

“Good for the Adelphi group. I think he wants a little more ground. We'll keep swinging away with him. He looks like one with a future,” Handal said. “The barn is rolling right now. My team and I work hard so it's nice to see it come around for us. It's been a grind. It doesn't ever get easier but it's nice to see the horses running the way they are.”

The post ‘Maybe She Shocks The World In Four Weeks’: Gazelle Victress Promiseher America Stamps Ticket To Kentucky Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Japan's champion juvenile filly of 2022, Liberty Island, responded with a class performance as the overwhelming race favorite in her 3-year-old debut for owner Sunday Racing Co., to claim her second Group 1 victory in the $2,309,000 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse.

Liberty Island, unhurried out of the gate, relaxed third from the rear along the rails early, angled out to secure a clear path, and made headway along the outside with a little more than 600 meters to go.

Still positioned behind with much ground to cover after circling wide into the stretch, the Duramente filly responded with a powerful finishing speed to mow down her foes with every stride until finally pinning the leader just before the wire for a three-quarter-length victory.

Time was 1:32.1 for the 1,6000 meters (about one mile) on turf.

“I feel relieved to have done my job of guiding her to the wire in time (to win),” winning jockey Yuga Kawada said. “We picked an inside draw and she wasn't keen to hurry out of the gate so the position (behind) was where it was going to be. But she was relaxed today, was in good rhythm in the race and clicked into gear nicely, so this is where she ended up (winning) so I am glad. Now that we have accomplished our aim in the first (race) of the Triple Crown (for fillies), I hope that we can meet expectations in the (next race of the series, the Yushun Himba [G1] [Japanese Oaks]).”

Sixth favorite Kona Coast tracked the pacesetter in second and maintained at the leader's tail coming into the homestretch. The Kitasan Black filly soon inherited the lead from Mozu Meimei who weakened before reaching the final furlong and carried on strongly, successfully fending off Perifania on her outside, but was outfinished in the last strides by Liberty Island, who came charging up with tremendous force

Fifth favorite Perifania was forwardly positioned around fourth outside a rival and showed a good turn of speed down the center lane in the homestretch, finishing just a neck short of reaching Kona Coast in the full field of 18.

Liberty Island, who is trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, was bred in Japan by Northern Racing. Her dam is Yankee Rose, by All American. Her record includes a victory in last year's Hanshin Juvenile Fillies (G1).

The post Champion Liberty Island Convincing Winner Of Japanese 1000 Guineas appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Godolphin's reigning champion turf male Modern Games and graded/group winner With The Moonlight wasted no time getting familiar with their surroundings Sunday morning at Keeneland, where both are being aimed for top-level turf races. The homebred pair trained on the main track shortly after it opened at 5:30 (ET).

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the pair trained at Churchill Downs Saturday morning and then were vanned to Keeneland Saturday afternoon, according to Chris Connett, the head traveling lad.

Modern Games, winner of the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) Presented by PDJF last fall at Keeneland, had Lorna Ford aboard Sunday morning, while With The Moonlight, winner of the Saratoga Oaks Invitational (G3) last summer and a two-time Group 2 winner earlier this year in Dubai, had Graham Colbert in the saddle.

Modern Games, a 4-year-old Dubawi colt, is expected to start in Friday's 35th running of the $600,000 Maker's Mark Mile (G1), and With The Moonlight, a 4-year-old Frankel filly, is pointed toward Saturday's 35th running of the $600,000 Jenny Wiley (G1) for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. Both races are on the turf.

The post Godolphin’s Champion Modern Games, Graded/Group Winner With The Moonlight Targeting Top Keeneland Turf Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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