Tag: Racing

Godolphin LLC's homebred Wet Paint can become just the second horse to sweep what are now Oaklawn's three Kentucky Oaks points races with a victory in Saturday's $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.

Probable post time for the Fantasy, the 10th of 13 races, is 5:35 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:30 p.m. The Fantasy will offer 200 points to the top five finishers (100-40-30-20-10, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

Program favorite Wet Paint (70 points) has already secured a spot in the Kentucky Oaks after winning Oaklawn's $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 and the $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. Only one horse, Eight Belles in 2008, has swept the Martha Washington (second division), Honeybee and Fantasy.

The projected 10-horse Fantasy field from the rail out: She's Lookin Lucky, Cristian Torres to ride, 119 pounds, 5-2 on the morning line; Grand Love, Tyler Gaffalione, 119, 8-1; Towhead, Isaac Castillo, 119, 10-1; Taxed, Rafael Bejarano, 119, 30-1; Take Charge Briana, Reylu Gutierrez, 119, 20-1; Wet Paint, Flavien Prat, 122, 8-5; Pate, Florent Geroux, 119, 20-1; Royal Spa, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119, 4-1; Olivia Twist, David Cabrera, 122, 20-1; and Condensation, Francisco Arrieta, 119, 10-1.

Wet Paint, a daughter of champion and 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame, is perfect in three career starts on dirt. All three races, including the Martha Washington and Honeybee, have been around two turns and over off tracks.

Wet Paint rallied from 10th after three-quarters of a mile in the Honeybee, storming to the lead just inside the sixteenth pole under Prat. Wet Paint received a Beyer Speed Figure of 83 for her three-length Honeybee victory after generating a 67 for her Oct. 26 maiden victory at Horseshoe Indianapolis and a retroactively adjusted 83 for the Martha Washington.

“Her works have been impressive throughout the winter on a fast track, so I'm optimistic that she'll be as good on a fast track as she is on a wet track,” trainer Brad Cox said. “It looks the like the race dynamics could play in her favor, based off the (past performances) and how much speed appears to be the race. We obviously don't know until they run the opening quarter, opening half, but I like what I see.”

The Fantasy also brings back Condensation, Grand Love, Towhead, Take Charge Briana, Olivia Twist and Taxed, 2-3-5-7-8-9, respectively, in the Honeybee.

Condensation, at odds of 21-1, set the pace in the Honeybee before being overhauled by Wet Paint. Condensation was a front-running winner of her previous start, a first-level allowance at 1 mile Feb. 11 at Oaklawn, for trainer Chris Hartman.

“She ran a respectable race off a two-week layoff,” Hartman said, referring to the Honeybee. “Hopefully, we can get this thing penciled in the right way. She's running good, so we'll see what happens.”

Grand Love, beaten 3 ¾ lengths, was making her first start since finishing sixth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at 1 1/16 miles Nov. 4 at Keeneland for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

“She's always been so impressive to train,” Asmussen said. “I like the fact that she finally settled a little bit, and I think she got plenty out of it (Honeybee). And we'll go from there. She deserves this opportunity.”

Take Charge Briana adds blinkers and switches to newly minted Fair Grounds riding champion Reylu Gutierrez for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Willis Horton Racing (Kevin Horton of Marshall, Ark.). Take Charge Briana finished fourth in the Martha Washington, seventh in the Honeybee and second, beaten a neck, in a March 19 allowance race at 1 1/16 miles.

“We know she's fit,” Lukas said. “A successful day for her would be if we could run third. We'll try to get that black type on a very expensive filly, so we're going to try something different.”

New shooters include lightly raced Royal Spa for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, who saddled Yuugiri to win last year's Fantasy, and She's Lookin Lucky for trainer Matt Shirer.

Royal Spa, a daughter of Violence, won her career debut sprinting Nov. 18 at Churchill Downs, then stretched out to 1 1/8 miles in the $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) Dec. 3 at Aqueduct in her next start and finished fourth, beaten 4 ¾ lengths. Royal Spa resurfaced in a first-level allowance sprint March 2 at Oaklawn and drew off by 1 ¾ lengths under Santana. She tries two turns again Saturday.

“I loved what I saw the other day,” Brisset said. “Based on her works and her maturation, I was kind of hoping to see a different horse and I think we did. She stuck in a pocket, in :21 and change, :45 and change, I think, and when the hole opened, she just exploded. And she needed the race, too. I love this spot for her.”

She's Lookin Lucky broke her maiden by 13 ¼ lengths in a 1 mile and 70-yard off-the-turf event Feb. 9 at Fair Grounds and finished second, beaten 4 ¼ lengths by Punchbowl, in an entry-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles March 5 at Oaklawn. Punchbowl (2 for 2) is a stablemate of Wet Paint and being pointed to the $600,000 Ashland Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles April 7 at Keeneland, Cox said.

“She's usually forwardly placed,” said Shirer, seeking his first career graded stakes victory. “The last two races I ran her, she's been pretty close up. Drawing the rail is a little bit tough, so we've just got to work out a trip. There's plenty of speed in there, so just got to be careful of that. Just need a clean trip, really.”

After winning the Martha Washington, Honeybee and Fantasy, Eight Belles finished second against males in the Kentucky Derby. Will's Secret, campaigned by the now-deceased Willis Horton, won the Martha Washington and Honeybee in 2021 before running third in the Ashland and Kentucky Oaks.

Secret Oath scored runaway victories in last year's Martha Washington and Honeybee before tackling males in Oaklawn's $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1). Secret Oath finished third in the Arkansas Derby before winning the Kentucky Oaks in her next start for Lukas.

The $1.25 million Kentucky Oaks (G1) at 1 1/8 miles is May 5 at Churchill Downs.

The post ‘Race Dynamics Could Play In Her Favor’: Wet Paint Goes For Oaks Prep Sweep At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Fresh off what appeared to be the best race of his career, Bob Baffert's Du Jour retains the services of European legend Frankie Dettori and heads a field of six older horses going one mile on turf in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 American Stakes at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old gelding by Temple City, Du Jour took the G2 American Turf at Churchill Downs in his fifth start at age three on May 1, 2021 and was subsequently transferred to Bill Mott, running in three turf stakes–finishing a close fourth in the G1 Belmont Derby, third in the G1 Saratoga Derby Invitational, and eighth in an ungraded stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 5, 2021.

Back with Baffert for his final start at age three, Du Jour was a distant fifth at 5-2 in Santa Anita's G2 Mathis Mile on Dec. 26, 2021. Idle for all of 2022, Du Jour came back running here on Feb. 4, finishing second by a nose to Earls Rock going one mile on turf in the G3 Thunder Road Stakes while earning a 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori in the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) March 4, Du Jour put in a furious rally but finished second by a neck to yet another Phil D'Amato-trained Irish-bred, Gold Phoenix, earning a career-best 98 Beyer.

Owned by Natalie Baffert and Debbie Lanni, Du Jour would be best served by a fast pace, but given the race shape, he may have to lay a bit closer to the pace in the American than he did in the Kilroe, a race in which he was eighth and last at the half mile pole. With an overall mark of 11-3-3-2, Du Jour has earnings of $671,720.

Owned by Anthony Fanticola, 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding Earls Rock is also at the top of his game. A game head allowance winner going a mile and one sixteenth on turf at Del Mar two starts back on Dec. 4, he prevailed by a nose over Du Jour in the G3 Thunder Road Feb. 4 while earning a career-top 94 Beyer. A fresh commodity as his connections opted to skip the Kilroe Mile March 4, Earls Rock will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli as regular rider Flavien Prat will be out of town on Sunday.

In what will be his first Grade 1 assignment, Earls Rock bids for his third win in a row and his fifth victory from eight overall starts—seven of which have been stateside with D'Amato.

C R K Stable's Exaulted, who will be making his first turf stakes appearance, is also bidding for his third consecutive turf win, as he comes off a pair of very impressive one mile allowance scores on Jan. 2 and Feb. 5 and will be ridden for the third consecutive time by leading man Juan Hernandez.

Trained by Peter Eurton, Exaulted, a 6-year-old full horse by Twirling Candy out of the Guilded Time mare Gilded Miracle, took both of his allowance races by 1 ¾ lengths and certainly appears to have found new life on the grass. Earning a solid 93 Beyer on Feb. 5, Exaulted, unbeaten in two turf tries, has an overall mark of 13-3-3-4 as he approaches his first graded assignment on turf.

An ungraded stakes winner going one mile on turf six starts back on July 24, Argentine-bred Irideo is a deep closer who will have to hope for a fast pace with Hector Berrios back aboard on Sunday. A 7-year-old gelding trained by Marcelo Polanco, Irideo flew late to be fourth, beaten three quarters of a length by Earls Rock and Du Jour in the G3 Thunder Road Feb. 4 and again merits serious consideration in a longshot role.

Owned by Pozo de Luna, Inc., all but one of Irideo's 15 starts have been on turf, as have four out of his five career wins.

THE GRADE 3 AMERICAN WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

1. Earls Rock—Umberto Rispoli—124
2. Bob and Jackie—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—124
3. Du Jour—Lanfranco Dettori—124
4. Exaulted—Juan Hernandez–120
5. Vanzzy—Joe Bravo—122
6. Irideo—Hector Berrios–124

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. with admission gates opening at 11 a.m.

The post Santa Anita: Dettori Will Partner Du Jour In Sunday’s American Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Winngate Stables' dual graded-stakes winner Kathleen O. will make the second start of her 4-year-old campaign in Sunday's $100,000 Top Flight, a nine-furlong main track test for older fillies and mares at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainer Shug McGaughey captured the Top Flight previously with Educated Risk [1994], Cat Cay [2001], Daydreaming [2004], and Carrumba [2016] and shares the win record with Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who will saddle two contenders here.

Kathleen O., the lone graded winner in the field, brags field-high earnings of $478,255 and a record of 7-4-2-0. Her graded stakes conquests came early during her sophomore season with triumphs in Gulfstream Park's Grade 2 Davona Dale and Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks before a troubled fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

A dark bay or brown daughter of Upstart, Kathleen O. enters off a late-closing runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on February 18 at Gulfstream. There, she broke a step slow and was sixth-of-7 down the backstretch before launching a four-wide move around the far turn and finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind a prominent Classy Edition.

“The horse made an easy lead that day and there was no pace,” said McGaughey. “It wasn't really her type of set up, but she still ran a good race.”

Kathleen O. enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign, which also included a win in the Cash Run at Gulfstream en route to her Davona Dale score.

“She looks good. She's still tall and kind of lanky, but she has filled out quite well,” McGaughey said. “She's fresh and she's been working real well this winter.”

McGaughey said a strong effort in the Top Flight would likely warrant Grade 1 aspirations for Kathleen O., who will race with blinkers on.

“We'll see how she runs in there,” McGaughey said. “Somewhere along the line I'd like to run her back in a Grade 1 for her pedigree. I'd like to have her good for those two turn races at Saratoga.”

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and Bridlewood Farm, Kathleen O. is the first progeny out of the stakes-placed Blame mare Quaver, whose second dam is multiple graded stakes producer Pretty N Smart. Kathleen O. was bought for $275,000 at the 2021 OBS April Sale.

Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano, the pilot in all seven of Kathleen O.'s lifetime starts, will maintain the mount from post 4. He will pursue his second straight Top Flight conquest after guiding last year's winner Exotic West.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher also pursues a record fifth Top Flight conquest when sending out WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s Falconet [post 1, Jose Lezcano] and CHC Inc.'s Let Her Inspire U [post 7, Manny Franco].

Pletcher's previous Top Flight scores include Mini Sermon [2007], Leah's Secret [2008], Teen Pauline [2014] and Another Broad [2019].

Falconet, a 4-year-old bay daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Grade 1 winner Birdatthewire, was a last-out second to Frost Point in the February 18 Heavenly Prize Invitational over the local surface. This effort saw her cut back to a one-turn mile after ringing in the New Year on a winning note in the nine-furlong Ladies on January 1.

Falconet additionally earned black type going two-turns during her sophomore season when second in both the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks in July at Prairie Meadows and the Seneca Overnight 2 1/2 months later at Churchill Downs. Falconet's lone off-the-board effort took place in the local Grade 3 Comely in November, where she stumbled at the start and finished fourth beaten 2 1/2 lengths.

New York-bred stake-winner Let Her Inspire U will stretch back out to nine furlongs following a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming victory against open company on February 24 at the Big A. The Practical Joke bay, bred by Pine Ridge Stables, captured last year's nine-furlong Empire Distaff on October 30 at Belmont at the Big A in her lone stakes victory. She brags a consistent 11-5-2-2 record and $413,080 in earnings.

Merrylegs Farm's New York homebred Timeless Journey will face open stakes company for the first time for trainer Ray Handal. The 6-year-old Verrazano mare was victorious against state-breds in the last out Biogio's Rose going a one-turn mile on March 12, where she was off a step slow and took to the rear of the compact field passing the chute. She got going approaching the turn, and established command passing the stretch call to win by 1 1/2 lengths over the good main track.

Handal said the 1 1/16-mile $200,000 Critical Eye Handicap on May 29 at Belmont Park against fellow Empire State-breds is a long term goal for Timeless Journey.

“I really don't want to sit on her until the end of May, which is when the next New York-bred stakes for her is,” Handal said. “She bounced out of her last race in good order. It'll be tough competition but if we can get a piece of it, I think it's happy days and we're on to New York-bred company where we should be pretty tough for the rest of the year.”

Timeless Journey's Biogio's Rose victory came following a nine-furlong win against open company on January 26 at the Big A, where she equaled a career-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure with a 1 1/2-length win over fellow Top Flight aspirants and next out winners Mommasgottarun and Let Her Inspire U.

“She got a dream trip when she won going the mile and an eighth before winning the stake,” Handal said. “There was a lot going on in that race. Mommasgottarun got shuffled back and ran on. But my filly ran big and had things go her way. It gives me confidence that the distance shouldn't be so much of an issue.”

Timeless Journey is out of the multiple stakes-winning Utopia mare Matchmadeinheaven, who is a half-sister to stakes-winners See More Spirit and Pentelis, as well as the graded stakes-placed Chasin' Wimmin.

Breaking from post 6, Timeless Journey will be ridden by Dylan Davis – the jockey in her last five starts.

Following a successful Big A winter meet as leading conditioner, Linda Rice will look to start the spring meet off right when saddling Ronald Stewart's five-time winner Mommasgottarun for her stakes debut. The 4-year-old Maclean's Music filly was a 3 1/4-length winner going a one-turn mile in a March 17 allowance optional claimer last out under Eric Cancel.

Claimed by Rice for $50,000 out of a December 31 claiming event going seven furlongs from trainer Robert Falcone, Jr., Mommasgottarun has won 2-of-3 starts under her current conditioner's care. She crossed the wire second in her debut for Rice – a nine-furlong optional claiming test on January 12 – but was elevated to first.

Bred in Ontario by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Mommasgotta run is out of the Tiznow mare Love in Tokyo, whose dam Lisa T. is a half-sister to 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. She hails from the prominent bloodlines of influential matriarch La Troienne.

Cancel retains the mount from post 5.

Completing the field are 10-time winner Easy to Bless [post 2, Jackie Davis] and stakes winner Sweet Willemina [post 3, Kendrick Carmouche].

The Top Flight honors C.V. Whitney's two-time Champion Hall of Famer, who was named Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 1931 and Champion 3-Year-Old-Filly in 1932. Trained by Tom Healey, Top Flight boasted an unbeaten record in seven starts during her juvenile season, capturing the Lassie, Spinaway and Matron against fillies. She defeated colts in the Saratoga Special, Pimlico Futurity and Belmont Futurity, the latter of which saw her defeat the following year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Burgoo King as well as Belmont Stakes winner Faireno. As a 3-year-old, she captured the Acorn, Ladies, Arlington Oaks, Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama.

The Top Flight is slated as Race 7 on Sunday's eight-race program at the Big A. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

The post ‘She Has Filled Out Quite Well’: Kathleen O. Begins 4-Year-Old Campaign In Sunday’s Top Flight appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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