Tag: Racing

Trainer Ray Handal will hope to see impressive maiden winner Promiseher America relish a stretch-out to nine-furlongs in Saturday's $250,000 Gazelle (G3) for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Gazelle, which awards 100-40-30-20-10 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks (G1) to the top-five finishers, is one of four graded events slated for Saturday's card, which co-features the $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2), a 100-40-30-20-10 qualifier for the Kentucky Derby (G1); and the $200,000 Bay Shore (G3).

Owned by Hoffman Thoroughbreds and Tom F. McCrocklin, the daughter of American Pharoah was last seen graduating at third asking in a one-turn mile maiden special weight on February 19 over the local going, rallying from fourth-of-5 to post a dominant 6 1/4-length score under Dylan Davis. The effort was awarded a 73 Beyer Speed Figure and came on the heels of a runner-up finish sprinting seven furlongs on January 15.

“We're taking on some deep waters but she breezed great, so all systems go. We'll take a shot and I think she'll do really well with the stretch out,” said Handal. “I think the longer the better for her. You never know until you put them in there, but she certainly has the build and pedigree for it.”

Promiseher America posted her final work for the Gazelle on Saturday, breezing a half-mile in :50.85 over the Belmont Park training track in company with Valentine Racing's Admire My Crown.

“I didn't want to do too much and wanted to keep her to task,” said Handal. “We wanted an endurance type of breeze and she galloped out six [furlongs] in about 1:16. She really conducts herself in a professional manner, and she's the same way in the mornings. She does whatever you need her to do and she's very push-button. She's ready.”

Handal's other stakes hopeful this week is Adelphi Racing Club and Cutair Racing's New York-bred Funny How, who streaks into Friday's $150,000 Distaff Handicap (G3) with five consecutive victories dating to a third-out graduation against open company in September at Belmont at the Big A.

A 4-year-old daughter of Overanalyze, Funny How's latest victory was a 4 1/4-length triumph in the state-bred Broadway for the first stakes score of her career. All five of Funny How's victories have come over the Aqueduct main track at distances from six to seven furlongs. She finished on-the-board in her two other starts when third in a pair of state-bred maiden special weights at Belmont and Saratoga Race Course.

Funny How, bred by Hibiscus Stables, turned in her final work on Friday, covering a half-mile in :49  flat with jockey Katie Davis in the irons.

“Every work has been awesome, and this one was a little quicker than I wanted it,” Handal said, with a laugh. “She galloped out really nicely and we were looking for 49.50, but I don't think we can get her to go any slower. She was almost in a canter. When they do it like that, it's OK to go a little quick. Good horses have a higher cruising speed, and she's a good example of that.”

The post ‘We’ll Take A Shot’: Dominant Maiden Winner Promiseher America To Stretch Out For Gazelle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Double B Racing Stables' Repo Rocks, a leading contender for Saturday's $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) at seven furlongs, has posted a pair of bullet works at his Parx Racing base since an impressive 3 1/4-length score in the $125,000 Stymie on February 25 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jamie Ness, the 5-year-old Tapiture gelding worked a half-mile in :47.46 on March 18 and followed on March 27 with a five-eighths effort in :58.36.

“He's been tearing the track up, but he's been doing that for a while now,” Ness said. “He's a horse that likes to train. We train on him pretty strong and as you can see by his workouts, fast horses work fast. We'll give him a little blowout again tomorrow and if everything goes right, we'll be right on track. We're just trying to follow the same path that we followed to the last couple stakes.”

Repo Rocks, carrying a field-high 124 pounds in the one-turn mile Stymie, overcame a troubled trip under regular rider Andrew Wolfsont where he was boxed in behind rivals in third position before finding a way out late in the turn to best Grade 1-placed Miles D.

Ness said a good result next weekend could propel Repo Rocks to the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1)  on June 10 at Belmont Park which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.

“If he runs good on the weekend and comes out of it well, that would definitely be in play,” Ness said. “The owner is from the area, so I want to run him up there as much as possible.”

Repo Rocks is undefeated in four starts since joining the Ness stable, taking the Let's Give Thanks in November and Blitzen on January 4 at Parx ahead of an 8 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) on January 28 at the Big A that garnered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure. Wolfsont, who earned his first graded score in the Toboggan, has piloted Repo Rocks throughout the four-race all-stakes win streak and will retain the mount.

Ness, a perennial leading trainer Parx, won the training title at the recently concluded Laurel Park winter meet. He has previously chased Grade 1 glory with Ghost Hunter [11th, 2017 Arlington Million] and Sneaking Uponyou [6th, 2010 Nearctic at Woodbine], but said he is hopeful that Repo Rocks is capable of landing him a fourth career graded score as a trainer.

“This is a Grade 1 and it's not an easy race. We'll have to bring our 'A' game and hopefully we have him ready for that,” Ness said. “He's prepared and I think he's shown that he's capable of performing at that level. I'm just looking forward to it – no jitters. I'm just hoping everything goes right from now until when they open up the gates, and may the best horse win.”

Bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III, Repo Rocks boasts a record of 8-6-6 from 33 career starts and purse earnings of $639,621.

The post ‘We’ll Have To Bring Our ‘A’ Game’: Repo Rocks Ready To Join Elite Ranks In Carter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Law Professor has plenty of options moving forward following his 4 1/4-length score in the Excelsior on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Law Professor overcame some eager moments through the first turn with a trio of contenders battling for the lead, but was able to track a swift pace set by Keystone Field before making a two-to-three-wide move under jockey Manny Franco and edging clear in the stretch.

Trainer Rob Atras reported the 5-year-old Constitution gelding was in good order following his impressive score in the nine-furlong test for older horses, where he equaled a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He cooled out well, and jogged nice this morning. He's sound and he ate up everything, so that's what you want to see,” Atras said.

Atras credited Franco for exercising good judgement aboard Law Professor, who he has now piloted to two stakes victories.

“Manny got him relaxed and in a good rhythm,” Atras said. “You could tell he was ranging up and finished up well. There were a couple of anxious moments going into that first turn, but Manny did a great job.”

Saturday's win was Law Professor's fourth lifetime stakes conquest, and third while under Atras' tutelage. He captured the January 7 Queens County over the local surface, which also produced a 98 Beyer. In his debut for Atras, he won the restricted Tapit in September over the Kentucky Downs lawn. While under the care of Michael McCarthy, he captured the off-the-turf Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2) in December 2021.

Law Professor entered the Excelsior off a third-place finish to next-out graded stakes winners Last Samurai and West Will Power in the Razorback (G3)  on February 18 at Oaklawn Park.

Atras said he would nominate the talented dark bay to multiple stakes events, including the nine-furlong $1-million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) on April 22.

“[Oaklawn Park Racing Secretary] Pat Pope called me up and said, '22 days, $1 million!' We'll nominate and take a look,” Atras said. “I would have to talk to Randy [Gullatt] from Twin Creeks about it. He would have to agree, and I would have to look at the race and think we would have a chance to win or at least be very competitive. It's tough and expensive to ship.”

Given his dual surface versatility, the $200,000 Fort Marcy (G2)  on May 6 going nine furlongs on the turf at Belmont Park could also be a viable option for Law Professor. The previous day at Belmont offers the $175,000 Westchester (G3) going a one-turn mile over the main track, which would mean a cut back in distance.

“It wouldn't be out of the cards,” said Atras, when asked of a return to grass. “But he's running so well on dirt right now, we kind of want to keep him there. He's run some good numbers on grass as well though.”

Atras expressed no interest in the $250,000 Brooklyn (G2) on June 10 at Belmont Park, citing its 12-furlong distance.

“I don't know if a mile and a half is him. I like more of a two-turn mile and an eighth for him,” Atras said. “We'll probably nominate out of town and just try to pick the best spot. If we're going to ship, we want to go somewhere where we can win, not just run for second or third.

“It's a good problem to have,” Atras continued. “It's nice to have a horse like this where you have options and you have to think about these things.”

Law Professor, a Kentucky homebred, is out of the Ghostzapper mare Haunted Heroine – a dual stakes winner on turf. His second dam Mona Mia produced Grade 1-winning turf millionaire Celestine.

The post ‘It’s A Good Problem To Have’: Astras Has Plenty Of Stakes Options For Excelsior Victor Law Professor appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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West Coast Stables' Grade 1-placed Pride of the Nile worked six furlongs in 1:16 under Ferrin Peterson Sunday morning on Keeneland's main track  in preparation for Friday's $600,000 Central Bank Ashland (G1).

Trained by Doug O'Neill, the Pioneerof the Nile filly shipped to Keeneland in mid-March after a troubled trip in the Santa Ysabel (G3) at Santa Anita on March 5.

“I was glad to get her,” said Stephanie Murray, who oversees the O'Neill string at Keeneland. “Today was her third work here. The first time, she worked on the (all-weather) training track because of the rain.”

Runner-up in the Starlet (G1), denied by a head by Faiza, Dec. 10 and Las Virgenes (G3) Jan. 28, both at Santa Anita, Pride of the Nile has compiled 17 points toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), which ranks 28th for the race that is limited to the top 14 point earners that pass the entry box. The Ashland offers 200 points toward the Oaks on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale for the first- through fifth-place finishers.

O'Neill is expected to be at Keeneland Friday, and Frankie Dettori will have the mount on Pride of the Nile.

The post O’Neill’s Starlet Runner-Up Pride Of The Nile Breezes Toward Ashland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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