Tag: Racing

Arindel homebred Clapton pulled off a 21-1 upset victory in Saturday's $150,000 Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream Park under an aggressive ride by Emisael Jaramillo.

The Ghostzapper, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older horses on the main track, was one of 10 stakes worth a total of $2.35 million in purses on Saturday's 14-race card headlined by the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa.

Clapton ($44.40) was rated off the pace set by Surly Furious into the backstretch before Jaramillo went on the offensive with a three-wide drive to pull alongside the pacesetter and stalker O'Connor on the turn into the homestretch. Clapton battled O'Connor through the stretch before edging clear to score.

Clapton, a Florida-bred 5-year-old homebred son of Arindel resident sire Brethren out of the Afleet Alex mare Alexandra Rylee, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.94, a final time built on early fractions of :24.38 and :48.79. O'Connor, making his first start since finishing off the board in the $3-million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 28, easily help second over a tiring Surly Furious.

Ghostzapper Quotes

Winning Racing Manager for Arindel Brian Cohen (Clapton): “I'm just so happy for the horse and everyone that works with the horse. He just ran such a good race. He's been running against such tough horses all winter, and he ran a big one.”

“[Brethren] has given us everything. He's given us runners – long, short, turf. [They're all] just runners. They want to run. He's been great. Clapton, race after race, he just tries his hardest.”

Winning jockey Emisael Jaramillo: “A graded stakes win for Arindel, connections that thank God have supported me for a long time; I love this horse. I went to the barn several times to request the chance with him again, a horse that I have ridden since he was a baby, since he was a 2-year-old, so I had a lot of faith in him. The homestretch was a mano-a-mano with Irad [Ortiz Jr. on O'Connor], the type of race and show fans come to watch. He's a great jockey, a great person, and a great friend, and he shook hands and congratulated me after the race.”

The post Clapton Springs 21-1 Surprise In Ghostzapper appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Two starts after being claimed by trainer Mike Maker for $50,000 on behalf of owner Michael Dubb, 8-year-old Therapist secured the first graded stakes victory of his long career Saturday in the $200,000 Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 62nd running of the 1 ½-mile Pan American for 4-year-olds and up on grass was the second of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.35 million in purses on a spectacular 14-race program anchored by the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa for 3-year-olds.

Even-money favorite Master Piece had the lead in the stretch and appeared poised to win, but he was caught and passed inside the sixteenth pole by Therapist on the inside and Bay Street Money on the outside. Therapist, a New York-bred son of Freud out of the Smart Strike mare Lady Renaissance,, prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 2:29.22 and paid $11.00. Master Piece finished third, a length behind Maker-trained Bay Street Money. Maker also finished fourth with Wicked Fast.

Primarily racing in New York, Therapist entered the Pan American with 11 victories in 38 starts, but was winless in five graded stakes races. Following a victory in a starter allowance on Gulfstream's Tapeta track on Feb. 11, Maker prepared the gelding for his first try at 1 ½ miles. Therapist and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. sat behind early fractions of :23.35 , :48.53, and the mile in 1:38.78 and then made a run toward the lead.

Pan American (G2) Quotes

Nolan Ramsey, assistant to winning trainer Mike Maker (Therapist): “He's an old, class horse. He does everything right. He's easy to train. This was his first start at this distance, but his pedigree says he'll run long, so we tried him here and it worked out.”

Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Therapist): “No worries despite the slow start, because that's just what he does. I let him find his stride until the five-eighths pole, and I was hoping to find space on the outside. The two horses in front went wide, so I found the space I was looking for in the 2-3 path, and he responded well. He always does, because his trainer [Mike Maker] is one of the best at these marathon distances.”

Winning owner Michael Dubb (Therapist): “This particular 8-year-old is a New York-bred, and I race in New York all summer long. My thought was, I knew he was well taken care of because the previous trainer who is also a trainer of mine is a great caregiver. They decided to move the horse along, and they sold him for a pretty good price. He wound up in a claiming race and I said, 'I think we can win some New York-bred races.' I was never dreaming we would do this. We have conversations about pedigree, and this horse knows his way to the winner's circle; it's his 12th time. The pedigree really screamed long and we said, 'Let's give it a try and see what happens.' Then you have Irad Ortiz as your pilot, and it all comes together.”

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Punchbowl, who is perfect in her two career starts, both at Oaklawn Park, will step up to Grade 1 competition in the $600,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies April 7 at Keeneland, trainer Brad Cox said.

A homebred for Gary and Mary West, Punchbowl, after a tardy start, inhaled most of the field while sprinting in her Feb. 11 debut, then scored a wire-to-wire 4 ¼-length victory in first-level allowance race at 1 1/16 miles March 5.

The 1 1/16-mile Ashland will offer 200 points (100-40-30-20-10, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks (G1), the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

Cox also trains Wet Paint, who was the program favorite for the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Saturday at Oaklawn. Wet Paint (70 points) has already secured a spot in the Kentucky Oaks after winning Oaklawn's Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 and the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25.

After considering the Ashland for Wet Paint, Cox opted to keep her at Oaklawn and send Punchbowl to the Ashland.

“Here's the way I looked at it: Wet Paint, she's 2 for 2 at Oaklawn, as the other horse is, too,” Cox said. “But it (Ashland) gives her more time. It's giving Punchbowl a little more time. Honestly, it was easy to figure out from a trainer's standpoint. Keeneland is a mile and a sixteenth, the Ashland. It's a shorter stretch. Doesn't mean a speed horse is going to win it, but I think you help yourself if you're able to at least get involved in the race. Wet Paint, obviously, doesn't have much speed out of the gate and it's a short stretch at Keeneland. Punchbowl has more early speed. It was actually easy to decide who really belonged where.”

Punchbowl, a daughter of Uncle Mo, will likely need a top-two finish in the Ashland to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks, which is limited to 14 starters.

“This is a very nice prospect for this year,” jockey Florent Geroux said after guiding Punchbowl to her March 5 victory. “We've always thought she could route. I was a little bit afraid of the inexperience. She had only run one time sprinting. I was not expecting her to be on the lead, my filly. When I asked her down the lane, she rebroke again. Very excited about her.”

Punchbowl, in company, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 Friday morning at Oaklawn in preparation for the Ashland. Another locally based 3-year-old filly, Effortlesslyelgant, worked a half-mile in :50.80 Friday morning. Effortlesslyelgant, a March 19 allowance winner at 1 1/16 miles, is being considered for the Ashland, trainer Norm Casse said.

The post ‘Very Excited About Her’: Cox’s Two-Time Oaklawn Victress Punchbowl To Make Big Step Up In Ashland appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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British-bred Behind Enemy Lines turned in an impressive performance in his North American debut Saturday, winning the $100,000 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park by two lengths.

The eighth running of the Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds sprinting 7 ½ furlongs on the turf was the first of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.35 million in purses on a 14-race program anchored by the $1-million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa for 3-year-olds.

Trained by Jack Sisterson for new owners Talla Racing, Rockingham Ranch, and David Bernsen, Behind Enemy Lines stalked the early pace set by Drinking Problem of :25.05 and :48.80. Jockey Jose Ortiz moved him to the outside in the second turn and he quickly accelerated to grab the lead. He extended his advantage in the stretch, reached the wire in 1:30.35 and paid $8.40 to win.

Behind Enemy Lines, a colt from the first crop of Irish Group 1 winner Sioux Nation out of the Invincible Spirit mare Autumn Snow, began his career in Ireland with trainer Joseph O'Brien and previous owner Justin Casse. He broke his maiden Jan. 4 at Dundalk before shipping to the U.S., where on Saturday he became the first U.S. stakes winner for his sire, a Kentucky-bred son of Scat Daddy who stands in Ireland at Coolmore.

LFG Racing's Anglophile, making his first start since July 30 for trainer Brian Lynch, closed for second at 16-1. NBS Stable's Dunedin was third.

Behind Enemy Lines was bred by The Brigadier Partnership.

Cutler Bay Quotes

Winning trainer Jack Sisterson (Behind Enemy Lines): “He trained like he was going to perform this afternoon. All he had to do was bring his works to the afternoon, and we thought it was going to be a big performance. I have to give all the credit in the world to the owners for allowing me to be patient with him. A lot of guys want to get them here and run straight off the plane. But we thought he was a good horse when he arrived [two months ago], and we trained him that way, and it's paid off for them. We might look at the American Turf Stakes on Kentucky Derby day and see if he'll stretch out a bit for those big races. But the owners will make the decision.”

Winning jockey Jose Ortiz (Behind Enemy Lines): “My first victory for Jack Sisterson with a horse coming from his good friend Joseph O'Brien; they thought the colt would be a good fit for Gulfstream because of his natural speed, and he did show it today. I had had the chance to breeze the horse for the race, and I thought he had the talent to accomplish what we did today. All I had to do was to decide whether to go around the horses or between them, and once I did, he provided a great kick.”

The post Behind Enemy Lines Takes Gulfstream’s Cutler Bay In U.S Debut, Becomes First U.S. Stakes Winner For Sioux Nation appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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