Welcome to 2023 Kentucky Derby Prospect Snapshots, where we’ll take a look each week at a recent winner on the Triple Crown trail, usually from the Road to the Kentucky Derby schedule from which the racehorses earn points toward qualifying. The 1 ¼-mile, $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve will be held May 6, 2023, at Churchill Downs.
Tag: Racing
‘Back On Her Game Now Going One Turn’: Yuugiri Streaks Into Friday’s Madison
Undefeated in one-turn races, Mr. and Mrs. Tsunebumi Yoshihara's Yuugiri will try to keep that streak alive Saturday when she tackles Grade 1 company in the 22nd running of the $600,000 Madison this Friday on opening day at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.
After finishing 13th in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) last May, Yuugiri did not return to the races until Dec. 30 at Oaklawn Park.
“Going into the Oaks, we thought stamina might be a question,” said trainer Rodolphe Brisset of Yuugiri, who worked a half-mile here Sunday in :48.80. “We gave her the time off after that, and she is a different horse now. The maturity and physically she is much bigger – it is everything you want to see, and the timing was the key.”
Yuugiri won at first asking as a 2-year-old going six furlongs at Churchill Downs and followed that with stakes placings at 1 1/16 miles that put her on the road to the Kentucky Oaks. Her journey was highlighted by a victory in the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park.
“We've got her back on her game now going one turn,” Brisset said of Yuugiri, who has won her three sprint starts by a combined 13 lengths.
Ricardo Santana Jr., who was aboard for Yuugiri's two victories this winter at Oaklawn, will have the mount Saturday in the seven-furlong Madison.
In addition to Yuugiri on Saturday, Brisset may have a runner in the $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association in Storyteller Racing's Peacock Lass. The Appalachian would serve as the debut effort on grass for Peacock Lass, who worked a half-mile in :48.20 over the fast main track Monday morning.
The post ‘Back On Her Game Now Going One Turn’: Yuugiri Streaks Into Friday’s Madison appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
Five Takeaways You Need to Know From Action-Packed Weekend on Kentucky Derby Trail
Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from an exciting Saturday of racing action that included the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa and the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.
Mine That Star Rolls To Comfortable Sunland Park Handicap Score
Mine That Star, a Pioneerof the Nile half brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mine That Bird and multiple Grade 1 winner Dullahan, took charge at the quarter pole and cruised to a 3¼-length win in the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap on Sunday in New Mexico.
Sent off the favorite under veteran Ken Tohill, Mine That Star was winning for the eighth time from 20 career starts while posting his fifth stakes victory and for the first time from two starts this year for trainer Nancy Summers.
Mine That Star, who was fourth in the Ft. Bliss Stakes Jan. 20 at Sunland Park in his previous start, paid $5.40 for Sunday's win after finishing the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.55 on a fast track.
Chasing from second, about a length behind early pacesetter Limonite through six furlongs, Mine That Star was five wide through the second turn before angling in, dispatching that rival, and easily holding back Zestful, who came on late for second. Limonite held on for third, 4½ lengths behind Zestful, in the field of five.
Early fractions were :24.43, :48.21, :1.12.61, and 1:37.55.
Mine That Star, a 6-year horse campaigned by Judge Lanier Racing LLC, earned the winner's share of $93,000 to increase his lifetime earnings to $424,898.
Bred in Kentucky by Phil and Judy Needham, Bena Halecky, and WinStar Farm LLC, Mine That Star was produced by Mining My Own, by Smart Strike. Taylor Made Sales Agency offered him at the 2020 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, where his current owners bought him for $35,000.
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