Tag: Racing

Racing returns to historic Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C., on Saturday for the 88th running of the Carolina Cup Races. Anchored by the $50,000 Carolina Cup, which this year will be run as a stake for novice jumpers ages four and up at 2 1/8 miles, the card includes four other hurdles, all of which will be contested at the same distance. Gates open at 9 a.m.; first race post time is 1:30 p.m.

Four horses will face starter Stirling Young in the Carolina Cup, and a lot of attention will likely be on Sonny Via's Welshman, trained by Hall of Famer Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters. After coming off the flat in 2021, the son of Flintshire made seven starts over hurdles last year. The 4-year-old broke his maiden at first asking at Foxfield in the spring by nearly nine lengths and, after gaining experience in a couple of tough spots at the Iroquois Races and in Saratoga, put it all together in the fall. He romped by eight lengths in a handicap for horses rated at 115 or less at Virginia Fall in Middleburg, then concluded the season with a determined victory in the $75,000 AFLAC Supreme novice stakes at Callaway Gardens, topping a strong field that included stakes winners Ljay and Theocrat.

Like Welshman, South Branch Equine's Who's Counting switched to jump racing last year after beginning his career on the flat in 2021. And since day one, he's been money in the bank. In five hurdle starts (to go along with a pair of return appearances on the flat), the Maryland-bred, trained and ridden by Sean McDermott, had two wins, two seconds, and a third. In his final 2022 start, in the Harry Harris Stakes for 4-year-olds at Far Hills, Who's Counting closed stoutly to finish second, beaten a half length by Ljay, and a half length ahead of eventual novice champion Proven Innocent.

Louisiana-bred Step to the Bar has two NSA victories since joining the circuit in 2019, both coming at Shawan Downs (a maiden and non-winners of two allowance). Following the latter last fall, the then-6-year-old, who runs in the colors of Del Rio Racing under the tutelage of trainer Kate and jockey Bernie Dalton, stepped up to stakes company in the AFLAC Supreme, but wasn't a factor. Likewise he failed to threaten in his only other stakes appearance, which came in last year's Carolina Cup, won by Atlantic Friends Racing's Historic Heart.

The wild card in the Cup is first-time NSA starter Caramelised, a veteran British-bred and raced 5-year-old hurdler owned by Sharon Sheppard and Gill Johnston, and handled by leading 2022 conditioner Leslie Young. The son of Dansili has four wins in 16 starts and will be ridden by David England, an experienced 36-year-old from the UK, who made his NSA debut at Aiken last week.

Saturday's card also includes two $30,000 maiden-special-weight hurdles; a $25,000 maiden claimer; a $25,000 handicap for horses rated at 115 or less; and a training-flat event. For full entries, click here.

If you can't make it to the races in person, you can watch the free live stream via the NSA website. The live stream is sponsored by Brown Advisory.

The post NSA: Six Races On Tap For Saturday’s Carolina Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Adding intrigue to Saturday's nine-race card at Santa Anita Park, which is highlighted by the Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine on turf, is the return of $1.7-million auction buy Ultimate Gamble in a one-mile maiden race on the main track for trainer Mark Glatt.

Ultimate Gamble was purchased last year by owner Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal at the OBS April 2-year-olds in Training Sale. He commanded the second-highest price at the sale behind only Arabian Knight, who sold for $2.3 million. Arabian Knight has since gone 2-for-2 on the track, which includes a win in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn on Jan. 28, for owner Zedan Racing and trainer Bob Baffert. Arabian Knight is currently out of training with plans to return for a summer campaign.

Ultimate Gamble made his one and only start on Aug. 13 at Del Mar when going 6 ½ furlongs on the main track. In his bow, Ultimate Gamble hooked a field that included Cave Rock and Practical Move, both of whom would go on to be multiple graded stakes winners.

At Del Mar, Ultimate Gamble stalked pacesetter Cave Rock while second along the inside before weakening to finish fourth. Cave Rock would be a six-length winner over runner-up Practical Move.

Ultimate Gamble is a dark brown colt by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Ghostzapper mare Eltimaas, which makes him a half brother to 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Drefong. He has worked six times for his sophomore bow, which includes three straight six-furlong drills. Last Saturday, Ultimate Gamble worked the distance from the gate in 1:13.20.

“He's doing really well and we're pleased with how he's coming into the race,” Glatt said Thursday. “He's a big, beautiful horse. Probably a little too big to be a really effective 2-year-old. He just needed some time to fill out, which he has. We'll see what he can do on Saturday.”

Ultimate Gamble, who will be ridden for the first time by Frankie Dettori, is the 8-5 second choice on the morning line behind Textthelegend in Saturday's fourth race. The card kicks off at 1 p.m.

The field in post position order:

1. Palagio, Joe Bravo (7-2);
2. Lift Off, Mike Smith (6-1);
3. Texthelegend, Juan Hernandez (8-5);
4. Ultimate Gamble, Frankie Dettori (9-5);
5. Seventeen Black, Umberto Rispoli (12-1);
6. Flat On, Ramon Vazquez(8-1).

The post $1.7 Million OBS April Buy Ultimate Gamble Returns In Saturday Maiden Race At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Oaklawn created the Matron Stakes to enhance its program for older female sprinters and with the hope of earning graded status quickly.

So far, so good.

Friday's inaugural $250,000 Matron has lured a field of seven, including Grade 1 winner Matareya for trainer Brad Cox, multiple Grade 2 winner Wicked Halo for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, and Grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie for trainer Norm Casse.

Probable post time for the six-furlong Matron, which anchors a 10-race card, is 4:58 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:35 p.m., with the Matron going as the ninth race.

The projected Matron field from the rail out:

1. I'm the Boss of Me, Francisco Arrieta to ride, 117 pounds, 15-1 on the morning line;
2. Matareya, Flavien Prat, 117, 5-2;
3. Pretty Birdie, David Cabrera, 124, 7-2;
4. Dealing Justice, Isaac Castillo, 124, 15-1;
5. Teddy's Barino, Frankie Dettori, 121, 7-2;
6. Wicked Halo, Tyler Gaffalione, 117, 2-1; and
7. Samurai Charm, Ricardo Santana Jr., 117, 10-1.

After closing her 2-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish behind eventual Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath in a one-mile allowance race at Oaklawn, trainer Brad Cox targeted one-turn races for Matareya at 3. Cox was rewarded as Matareya, a homebred daughter of Pioneerofthe Nile for Godolphin, won four consecutive starts, including the $400,000 Beaumont Stakes (G3) at about seven furlongs in April at Keeneland, $500,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs in May at Churchill Downs and the $500,000 Acorn Stakes (G1) at a mile in June at Belmont Park.

Cox decided to stop on Matareya following a third-place finish in the $500,000 Test Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs Aug. 6 at Saratoga in preparation for a 4-year-old campaign. A supplemental nominee, the Matron is Matareya's expected bridge to the $750,000 Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs May 6 at Churchill Downs, Cox said. The Matron will be Matareya's first start against older horses.

“She's training amazing,” Cox said of Matareya, who has been based this winter and early spring at Fair Grounds. “Three-quarters is probably not her cup of tea, but this is a great spot to get her started. It's a prep for what we're hoping will be Kentucky Derby Day in the Derby City Distaff.”

Program favorite Wicked Halo hasn't started since finishing third in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at seven furlongs Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Sandwiched around a third-place finish behind Matareya and Pretty Birdie in the Eight Belles and the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Wicked Halo won four consecutive starts, including the $250,000 Prioress Stakes (G2) at six furlongs Sept. 2 at Saratoga and the $350,000 Raven Run Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs Oct. 22 at Keeneland. Wicked Halo ran twice at the 2021-2022 Oaklawn meeting, finishing fourth in the $150,000 Dixie Belle Stakes and third behind Pretty Bridie in the $150,000 Purple Martin Stakes. Both 6-furlong races were for 3-year-old fillies.

After winning the Purple Martin, the speedy Pretty Birdie returned to Oaklawn to win the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs Dec. 17 and run second to Yuugiri in the $150,000 Carousel Stakes at 6 furlongs Feb. 25 in her last start.

“With Pretty Birdie, we have a fitness edge over two really nice fillies,” Casse said, referring to Matareya and Wicked Halo. “But probably more importantly is tactically and race-shape wise, I think we're at a bit of an advantage. I feel like both of those horses are better suited going a little longer. Personally, I think Pretty Birdie is sitting on a really big race. We're going to go over there pretty confident.”

Pretty Birdie was beaten 3 ½ lengths by Yuugiri over a sloppy surface after setting fractions of :21.41 for the opening quarter and :44.97 for a half-mile. Pretty Birdie won the Purple Martin and Poinsettia in gate-to-wire fashion. Yuugiri is skipping the Matron in favor of the $600,000 Madison Stakes (G1) for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs April 8 at Keeneland.

“I just feel like she really likes Oaklawn Park,” Casse said, referring to Pretty Birdie. “I feel like the last race against Yuugiri, I'm not so sure she likes an off track as much as a fast main track. We set some serious fractions in the last race. I don't know if we're going to have to do that this go round.”

Pretty Birdie is seeking her fourth career stakes victory. She won the $150,000 Schuylerville (G3) for 2-year-old filly sprinters in 2021 at Saratoga.

I'm the Boss of Me finished second to the Casse-trained Hot and Sultry in the $150,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters Jan. 21 at Oaklawn for trainer Greg Compton. Teddy's Barino did not make the trip from California and will be scratched.

The post Oaklawn’s New Matron Stakes Draws Strong Group Of Female Sprinters appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prior to Somebody's Problem entering trainer Greg Foley's care in 2022, the veteran conditioner never listened to country artist Morgan Wallen, who was the inspiration of the 3-year-old filly's name.

Foley quickly found himself having Wallen on his regular playlist and will likely be listening to the song “Somebody's Problem” on his way to Turfway Park Saturday for her seasonal debut in the $125,000 Serena's Song Stakes.

“This filly is always making me listen to Morgan Wallen now,” Foley joked. “My boys (assistant trainers Travis and Alex Foley) are big fans of Morgan Wallen and the owners (Hoolie Racing Stable) came up with name before she arrived in our barn.”

When Somebody's Problem made her second-career start at Ellis Park, Travis and Alex listened to “Somebody's Problem” about 15 times on their one hour and 45 minute drive from Churchill Downs. When she impressively broke her maiden by 6 ¾ lengths, the Foley team doubled the amount of times they played the song on the way back to Louisville.

Somebody's Problem quickly found herself in stakes company following her maiden-breaking performance. Just three weeks after her first-career victory, Somebody's Problem shipped to Prairie Meadows where she won the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Debutante by 4 ¼ lengths.

“She showed a lot of talent last year and I'm excited to have a big year with her,” Foley said. “She got a break after she didn't run well in the Myrtlewood Stakes at Keeneland and came back to us at Fair Grounds looking like a million bucks. She doesn't have 'heartbreaker blue eyes' like the song says but the premise is the same. She's a really good looking filly.”

Somebody's Problem drew post 11 of 12 for the six furlong Serena's Song. She'll be ridden by Gerardo Corrales.

“I think this race is a good spot to get her year started,” Foley said. “She's ready to go.”

The Serena's Song is the final stakes contest of the Turfway Park season. The six-furlong event will go as Race 7 of 9 with a post time of 8:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 5:55 p.m.

Here is the complete field for the Serena's Song from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

1. Bulsara (Walter Rodriguez, Michael Trombetta, 5-1)

2. Sally's Sassy (Joe Talamo, Jonathan Wong, 15-1)

3. Personal Pursuit (Joe Ramos, Mark Casse, 8-1)

4. Safeen (Adam Beschizza, Eddie Kenneally, 15-1)

5. Cora Pearl (Tommy Pompell, Brett Brinkman, 30-1)

6. Collecting Flatter (Rafael Hernandez, Josie Carroll, 8-1)

7. Sunday Shoes (Jareth Loveberry, Wesley Ward, 7-2)

8. Willow Bend (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook, 12-1)

9. Jill Jitterbug (Manny Esquivel, Ryan Walsh, 10-1)

10. Twice as Sweet (Declan Cannon, Brendan Walsh, 6-1)

11. Somebody's Problem (Corrales, Foley, 8-1)

12. B G Warrior (Fernando De La Cruz, Ron Kahles, 6-1)

For more information and to make dining reservations, visit www.Turfway.com.

The post Named For Morgan Wallen Song, Somebody’s Problem Kicks Off 2023 Season In Turfway’s Serena’s Song Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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