Tag: Racing

Vastly improved since switched to turf, the Pete Eurton-trained Exaulted sat close to the early pace, took charge turning for home, and kicked clear as much the best to take Sunday's $100,000 American Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita.

Owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable and ridden by Juan Hernandez, the 6-year-old Twirling Candy horse got one mile on firm turf in 1:33.65.

With longshot Bob and Jackie under Jose Valdivia Jr. showing the way, Exaulted stalked just to his outside and when Hernandez asked him midway around the far turn, he kicked on like horse who's capable of handling tougher competition next time.

“We just kind of ran out of options,” said Eurton. “He wasn't running as well as a 5-year-old…(something) just wasn't right, so I think as a last resort we thought we'd give him a try on the grass. I think (spacing) is the key for him with a long year. He is big, he's heavy…(Juan Hernandez) is just phenomenal, this guy. (He) is riding with no fear, he just so confident in his abilities, and it shows you right there and in many other (cases).”

A winner of two consecutive one-mile turf allowances here on Jan. 2 and Feb. 5, Exaulted, in his first stakes assignment on grass, was pounded down to the second choice in a field of six older horses and paid $5.80 for the win.

Third in both the San Carlos (G2) and Triple Bend Stakes (G2) going seven furlongs on dirt here in March and May of 2021, Exaulted, who is out of the Gilded Time mare Gilded Miracle, has unquestionably found a new home on turf.

In getting his first stakes win in career start number 14, Exaulted picked up $60,000, increasing his earnings to $303,660 while notching his fourth overall victory.

Bred in Kentucky by Jack Swan III, Exaulted was purchased by C R K Stable for $200,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale, where Select Sales consigned him.

“We broke a little slow because he kind of moved before we broke, but it worked out fine,” said Hernandez, who got his meet-leading 12th stakes win and 55th win overall, 28 clear of runner-up Flavien Prat's 27. “The other horse went and I just stalked him and I was just really confident in him. He was in the bridle and around the three eighths, I thought I had a lot of horse.

“There wasn't a lot of speed, but the fractions today looked really strong. He's really professional, I just gave him a target and turning for home, I shook the reins and he exploded. He's getting better every race.”

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Argentine-bred Irideo was last turning for home and put in a solid run to finish a half length in front of third-place finisher Bob and Jackie.

Off at 10-1, Bob and Jackie held off 7-5 favorite and fourth-place finisher Du Jour by a neck.

Fractions on the race were :22.71, :46.45, 1:10.17, and 1:21.89.

The post ‘He’s Getting Better Every Race’: Exaulted Makes The Grade In American At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing's New York-bred Funny How rides a five-race win streak into her graded stakes debut in Friday's 69th running of the $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3) for older fillies and mares at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Funny How, a 4-year-old Overanalyze bay, enters the seven-furlong test off a triumphant stakes debut in the February 12 Broadway, defeating her Empire State-bred counterparts by 4 1/2 lengths under Katie Davis. Despite breaking a step slow and unable to establish her usual tactical position down the backstretch, Funny How was able to take command into the stretch drive after moving into the two-to-three path. She shook clear in the final eighth of a mile to triumph over the graded stakes placed duo of Betsy Blue and Bank Sting. The victory garnered a career-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure.

Funny How began her hot streak in her Big A debut, breaking her maiden going six furlongs against open company in September over next-out winners Arrogant Lady and Kitten's Appeal. She defeated fellow New York-breds in her following two efforts before stretching out to seven furlongs against open allowance company on January 7.

Trainer Ray Handal said Funny How has been taking considerable leaps forward with each race.

“She gets bigger and stronger every time she runs. She just keeps on growing, widening and strengthening. She was a good horse to start with and she's turned into an absolute beast of an animal,” Handal said. “For her to win would definitely solidify what she's been doing. We're just giving her the shot that she deserves. She's been beating up on New York-breds all winter and run through her ranks, so she deserves the chance to show what she can do against open graded stakes company. She couldn't be doing any better going into it, so I'm excited.”

Handal spoke of how difficult it is for a horse at any level to be such a model of consistency.

“This is everyone's dream,” Handal said. “You can go 5-for-5 with any horse and it would be spectacular, even in the claiming ranks. But to do it in allowance and stakes races is that much more impressive. It's tough to show up like that every time you put them in the gate, and she does. We're looking forward to next weekend.”

A victory would provide Handal with his first graded stakes victory.

“It would be special, especially for this ownership,” Handal commented. “Matt Cutair has been a big advocate for the Adelphi Racing Club, Jordan Zotts [Adelphi Racing Club Managing Partner] and those guys started it all. They've been so influential and have been with me from the very beginning. It would be special to win my first graded stakes for them.”

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

Davis, who also is in pursuit of her first graded stakes victory, will maintain the mount from post 7.

Trainer Rob Atras will saddle Robert A. Derr's formful Rossa Veloce, who brags field-best earnings of $476,510 and a record of 15-9-4-2.

The 5-year-old Girolamo mare added “stakes winner” to her resume in the last out local Correction on March 11 and has finished no worse than second since being claimed by trainer Rob Atras in September five starts back. After capturing her debut for Atras in a state-bred optional claimer in October at Belmont at the Big A, she registered a field-best 102 Beyer in a November 13 open company allowance.

The Distaff will be Rossa Veloce's first start going seven furlongs since June 2021, when finishing a distant sixth off a layoff against state-bred optional claiming company.

“We don't really know if seven furlongs is her distance, but we don't really want to ship her out of town either,” Atras said. “She runs so well here and she's in good form. She's always been a nice filly with some back class. She came out of form but we were able to get her back in a really nice spot where she's able to get her confidence back up.”

Bred in the Empire State by John Scott Rogers, Rossa Veloce is out of the Hard Spun mare Spuntastic, and was purchased for $12,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

Jose Ortiz, a three-time Distaff winner, will pilot Rossa Veloce from post 6.

Grade 1-placed Pass the Champagne makes her third start off an 11-month layoff, entering from a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie on February 18 at Laurel Park.

The George Weaver-trained Flatter mare was a close second to eventual two-time champion Malathaat in the shland (G1)  in April 2021 at Keeneland, which was only her third lifetime start. Following a distant 12th in the next out Kentucky Oaks (G1), also won by Malathaat, she was away from action until the following February but returned on a winning note when defeating Gulfstream Park allowance company. She did not return until January when second in Tampa Bay Downs' Wayward Lass on January 14 going 1 1/16 miles.

“It was good. It wasn't ideal going two turns, but the race was there and she was ready,” Weaver said of the Tampa Bay Downs effort. “She was a little bit short of winning there, but it was a good comeback race. She's had little small things here and there, and it definitely wasn't the plan to have her on the shelf all the time.”

Breaking from post 1, Pass the Champagne will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Chad Brown will send out Klaravich Stables' Gerrymander, who will make her first start since a distant eighth in the Cotillion (G1) on September 24 at Parx Racing. The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief is the lone graded stakes winner in the field, taking last year's Mother Goose (G2) on June 25 at Belmont Park.

Manny Franco will ride Gerrymander from post 2.

Completing the field are the Jimmy Ferraro-trained pair of Easy to Bless [post 3, Jackie Davis] and Meraviglioso [post 5, Jaime Torres], as well as 10-time winner Hydra [post 4, Jose Gomez] and Mommasgottarun [post 8, Eric Cancel], who finished last-of-5 in Sunday's Top Flight here.

The post Funny How Looks To Extend Five-Race Win Streak In Aqueduct’s Distaff appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s graded stakes-placed Falconet repelled a late rally from post-time favorite Kathleen O. to secure her second stakes victory in Sunday's $100,000 Top Flight, a nine-furlong test for older fillies and mares, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Falconet worked out a stalking trip under Jose Lezcano to post the determined victory, her first since taking the Ladies Stakes over the same course and distance on January 1. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo arrived from a runner-up effort in the February 18 Heavenly Prize Invitational traveling a one-turn mile at Aqueduct.

“She appears to prefer the two turns,” said Byron Hughes, Pletcher's Belmont Park-based assistant. “She's very consistent but the two turns is something she seems to enjoy more.”

Away cleanly from the inside post in the field of five, Falconet took back along the rail as Mommasgottarun was angled to the two-path from post 3 to take command through the first turn and mark an opening quarter-mile in :23.88 over the fast main track.

Falconet held a one-length advantage over the Dylan Davis-piloted Timeless Journey down the backstretch while Kathleen O., the 2-5 mutuel favorite who broke a step slow under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, trailed in last as the half-mile elapsed in :48.79.

Falconet came under a ride from Lezcano entering the far turn and advanced to the outside of Mommasgottarun to put her head in front as the rail remained open for Timeless Journey to find room and challenge for the lead. Meanwhile, Kathleen O. ranged up on the far outside to make her run at the top two approaching the eighth pole. Falconet kicked clear from Timeless Journey near the sixteenth pole and drew off to cross the wire 2 1/4 lengths clear of Kathleen O. in a final time of 1:51.42.

Timeless Journey completed the trifecta a half-length behind Kathleen O. with the Pletcher-trained Let Her Inspire U finishing fourth, a half-length ahead of Mommasgottarun. Easy to Bless, who is entered in Friday's Distaff Handicap (G3) at the Big A, and Sweet Willemina were scratched.

Hughes said he was pleased with the trip Lezcano worked out for Falconet.

“I thought Jose did a great job of helping her out of there going into the first turn and sat just behind the speed,” said Hughes. “He saved ground throughout, tipped her out around the far turn and was able to pull away a little bit at the end.”

Lezcano, who has been aboard for all three of Falconet's starts this year, echoed Hughes' sentiments about Falconet's preferred distances.

“She's nice – she did everything right,” said Lezcano. “She broke well today. I think last time the [shorter] distance got to her and they went so slow. I think today, with more distance she was confident the whole way. When I asked her, she went on very well.”

The victory capped a prosperous weekend for Pletcher, who sent out top Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Forte to a gutsy victory in the Florida Derby (G1) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, one of four victories on the card at the Hallandale Beach oval. Pletcher, who also trains Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Kingsbarns and Tampa Bay Derby (G3) victor Tapit Trice, is expected to start the trio of Dreamlike, Classic Catch, and Crupi in the  $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on Saturday at the Big A, a 100-40-30-20-10 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby.

“We're all excited. Forte ran big yesterday,” said Hughes. “We have Tapit Trice and Kingsbarns, so we're pretty pumped up at where we're sitting now with those runners. We'll see how we do in the Wood – maybe we'll have one more.”

Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, Falconet  was produced by Grade 1 winner Birdatthewire, by Summer Bird. She banked $55,000 in victory and boosted her total purse earnings to $392,340 through a record of 4-4-0 from nine career starts. She returned $9 for a $2 win ticket.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey sent Kathleen O. north from Gulfstream Park to make her second start of the year off a game runner-up finish in the Royal Delta (G3) on February 18. Castellano, who has piloted the daughter of Upstart in all of her eight starts, said a quicker tempo would have helped today.

“She never breaks out of the gate, but she can run and she finished up well,” said Castellano. “She tried really hard. Unfortunately, it was a small field and a slow pace. I don't think it was the right set up for her. She comes from behind horses, so I wish we had a little more pace for a better set up. I'm disappointed but sometimes the way the race unfolds is a disadvantage to the horses coming from behind. She's the type where, the more you ride, the more they give it to you. When they go slow, they aren't going to stop.”

The post ‘She Did Everything Right’: Falconet Easily Bests Favorite Kathleen O. In Top Flight appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saturday's  Santa Anita Oaks (G2) could have up to a field of eight, including Faiza and And Tell Me Nolies, the top-two finishers in the Santa Ysabel (G3) March 5 at the Arcadia, Calif. track.

Faiza, the expected favorite in the Oaks, completed her final major preparations on Saturday with a six-furlong work in 1:12.60 for trainer Bob Baffert. The Girvin filly is a perfect 4-for-4 which includes additional stakes wins in the Starlet (G1) and Las Virgenes (G3).

And Tell Me Nolies, winner of last year's Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier (G2), returned from a four-month layoff in the Santa Ysabel and was beaten 2 ¼ lengths by Faiza. Trained by Peter Miler, she also had her final tune-up on Saturday with a five-furlong work in 1:01.80.

Two fillies coming off sharp maiden wins are also expected for the Oaks. Clearly Unhinged was a front-running 3 ¼-length winner in her how going 6½ furlongs here on Feb. 5. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the Bernardini filly worked a bullet on Saturday when going five furlongs in :59.60. It was the fastest of 53 moves at the distance.

Clearly Unhinged earned a 89 Beyer Speed Figure for her debut win, which is the highest recorded among the prospective group for the Oaks.

Princess Bettina, who won the China Doll on turf here March 18 for trainer Peter Eurton, is also targeting the Oaks. She returned to work tab on Saturday with an easy half mile move in 49.20 seconds.

Also listed as possible for the Oaks by the Santa Anita racing office are romping maiden winner Window Shopping and stablemate Venganza for trainer Richard Mandella; Justique, who was fourth in the Santa Ysabel for trainer John Shirreffs; and Gila, who won a $30,000 maiden-claimer by 12 ½ lengths on March 12 at Santa Anita for trainer Steve Knapp.

After training hours Sunday, Mandella confirmed he plans to enter both Window Shopping and Venganza. Window Shopping aired by 16½ lengths in maiden race taken off the turf at Santa Anita March 17. It was the American Pharoah filly's only start this year and first since debuting on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 13. Venganza won her debut March 1 at Santa Anita in a six-furlong maiden race that was also taken off the turf.

The post Faiza, And Tell Me Nolies Among Fillies Expected For Santa Anita Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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