Tag: Racing

BBN Racing's Mo Stash earned his first graded stakes win in Friday's Grade 3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland, taking the field of 3-year-olds gate-to-wire through 1 1/16 miles over the “good” turf in 1:43.05. The son of Mo Town, ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Vicki Oliver, held off top choice Nagirroc by three-quarters of a length at the wire. Mo Stash was sent to post at odds of 5-1, and paid $12.96 for the victory.

Mo Stash was second when sprinting over Keeneland's turf in the Indian Summer Stakes last fall, then stretched out to finish fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) over the same course. He then backed up to a mile on the turf in his sophomore debut when he finished second in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Saez cleverly nursed the colt's speed through Friday's Transylvania, doing just enough to establish an advantage into the clubhouse turn. Though the pair completed the first quarter in 23.69 seconds, Saez backed off the pace down the backstretch to mark the half-mile in :48.41. Though the co-top choice Nagirroc ranged up alongside Mo Stash around the far turn, Saez asked for more and Mo Stash was happy to deliver. The colt fought all the way through the wire to earn his first graded stakes win and second career victory, improving his overall record to 6-2-2-0 for earnings of over $160,000.

Bred in Kentucky by Rhineshire Farm, Mo Stash is out of the Smart Strike mare Making Mark Money. A half-brother to BBN and Oliver's 2021 Kentucky Derby starter Hidden Stash, Mo Stash commanded a final bid of $130,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Nagirroc's second-place effort was his first start of 2023; the Graham Motion trainee had finished ahead of Mo Stash when third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Sent to post as the co-favorite at 7-2, Naggiroc (Lea) paid $4.84 to place.

Webslinger (9-2) closed from far back for trainer Wayne Catalano to catch third over 15-1 longshot Mi Hermano Ramon, trained by Mark Glatt.

One race earlier on the card, Corona Bolt ($6.82) gave trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux a one-length victory in the $400,000 Lafayette Stakes. The Stonestreet-owned son of Bolt d'Oro ran seven furlongs over Keeneland's fast main track in 1:23.21. Hejazi checked in second while Freezing Point was third.

“I think he's meant to be a one-turn horse,” Cox said of Corona Bolt. “When you do that, you have to breeze them a little sharper, maybe not train them quite as much throughout the week. Overall I think he's found his thing around one turn. I'm not sure how far he wants to go. I want to congratulate (owner) Stonestreet (Stables). He's a very, very good colt. I'm thankful for the opportunity with him and I think he has a big future. We need to find some graded stakes for him and we're excited about what lies ahead.”

The post Mo Stash Refuses To Yield In Gate-To-Wire Transylvania Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said that C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano's multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire White Abarrio spiked a temperature after shipping up to New York from Florida and will scratch from Saturday's Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Last year's Grade 1 Florida Derby-winner arrived at Belmont Park on Tuesday from his home base at Gulfstream Park and the conditioner said the colt will now target the Grade 3, $175,000 Westchester on May 5, a one-turn mile over Big Sandy for older horses.

“He had a little temperature Tuesday and we treated him that night. He seemed to be OK when we entered him on Wednesday, but this morning he coughed a couple times and that was the last straw for us,” Joseph, Jr. said. “It's disappointing to miss a chance at a Grade 1, but that's how it goes. All being well, he'll stay there and train and point for the Westchester.”

Joseph, Jr. said his two contenders for Saturday's Grade 2 Wood Memorial – Lord Miles and Knox – are in good order.

White Abarrio captured the Florida Derby at Gulfstream in April en route to finishing 16th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He completed a productive 7-2-1-1 sophomore campaign in December with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets.

The 4-year-old Race Day colt, a five-time winner at Gulfstream, made his seasonal debut with an eighth-place effort in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational, before the conditioner decided to focus the gray on one-turn tests beginning with a sharp optional-claiming win sprinting seven furlongs on March 4 at Gulfstream that garnered a career-best 103 Beyer.

White Abarrio's long-term goal is the Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan on June 10 at Belmont Park.

The post White Abarrio Scratched From Carter With Fever; Westchester Posited As Next Start For Joseph Trainee appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Secret Oath completed major preparations for the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 15 at Oaklawn with a five-furlong bullet workout Friday morning for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and breeder/owner Briland Farm (Robert and Stacy Mitchell).

Breezing over a fast surface immediately after Oaklawn opened for training, Secret Oath covered the distance in 1:00 under her regular breeze rider, jockey Mickaelle Michel. It was the fastest of 23 works recorded at the distance. Secret Oath recorded splits of :12.40 for her opening eighth of a mile, :25.20 for a quarter mile, :37.20 for 3 furlongs and :48.20 for a half-mile before galloping out 6 furlongs in 1:14.80, according to lead clocker Jim Hamilton.

Friday's work was the third for Secret Oath since her 2 ¾-length victory in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles March 11. The Azeri was Oaklawn's final major prep for the 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom, among the country's biggest two-turn prize for older females.

“She did just everything perfect,” Michel said, noting the target time for the work was 1:00. “It was easy for her.”

Secret Oath was a finalist for an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2022 after winning Oaklawn's $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes and $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) and the $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. The Azeri marked the 4-year-old debut for Secret Oath, who has a 6-2-3 record from 14 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,982,267.

Also working toward the Apple Blossom Friday morning at Oaklawn was Hot and Sultry for trainer Norm Casse and prominent Arkansas owners Alex and JoAnn Lieblong. Hot Sultry, fourth in the Azeri, breezed a half-mile in :47.80. She galloped out 5 furlongs in :59.80 and 6 furlongs in 1:13. The Azeri was the two-turn debut for Hot and Sultry, who won the $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 furlongs Jan. 21 at Oaklawn.

Millionaire Grade 1 winner Clairiere, also pointing for the Apple Blossom, galloped Friday morning at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and breeder/owner Stonestreet Stables (Barbara Banke). Clairiere finished second in last year's Apple Blossom and second in the Azeri, which was her 5-year-old debut.

Post positions for the Apple Blossom and the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 15 will be drawn Monday. The Count Fleet is for older horses at six furlongs.

The post Secret Oath ‘Perfect’ In Final Workout For Apple Blossom Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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