Tag: Racing

Broome took the step up to two miles in his stride when striking late to take the $1-million Dubai Gold Cup (G2)by a neck in a pulsating finish.

It looked as though Subjectivist would roar back to the form of his emphatic 2021 victory in this race when rounding the bend for home with a narrow lead, but he was soon headed by the strong-traveling Siskany for Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team.

However, Ryan Moore once again showed why he is one of the best pilots in the world by striking late on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Broome, whose well-timed challenge was enough to overthrow Siskany and seal a narrow neck success while covering the distance in 3:16.83 to break the turf course record of 3:17.77 set by Subjectivist two years ago.

It was a first win in the race for both trainer and jockey, quite remarkable given their record in staying races the world over.

That victory provided some welcome compensation for Broome's part-owner Masaaki Matsushima, who on Friday was forced to scratch leading Japanese hope Do Deuce from the Dubai Turf (G1).

M.V. Magnier, representing owners Coolmore, said: “Aidan was very confident he would handle the trip. He's danced every dance and travelled around the world. We are lucky to have him.”

“Very happy for all involved, Mr. Matsushima has supported us well over the last few years so it is great to share a win with him.”

“He's a very brave horse,” Moore said of Broome, a 7-year-old horse by Australia out of Sweepstake, by Acclamation (GB). “He's a Group 1 winner, he's got high class form. The pace was strong and we just had to wait for a bit of room at the top of the straight. He's so brave, though, he puts his head down and he gave me everything. It's a pleasure to ride a horse like him.

“He's done a lot of racing and he always runs his race, but you're never quite sure how they will handle a step up in distance until they come out and do it. It's one of the biggest nights of the year, I'm always delighted to come out here. It's always tough to get a winner so I'm delighted to get one tonight.”

Dubai Gold Cup Quotes:

Siskany (2nd), jockey William Buick said: “Super run. We were worried the distance might just test him in the last furlong or so but he gave me everything and the race went exactly to plan apart from being headed late by a good horse.”

Subjectivist (3rd), jockey Joe Fanning said: “I am delighted with that. It felt like he is back to himself and he seemed to pull up well. From the wide gate we were posted a bit but he settled for me a few lengths off the lead. I got going on him off the home turn and though he got headed he kept on for me to place. Off that, we can maybe look forward with a little confidence for the season ahead, hopefully.”

Assistant trainer Mark Johnston, who prepared the six-year-old when he scored by almost six lengths in 2021, added: “The next few days will be a bit stressful to see if he has come through it all OK. If he is good to go, though, it'll be the Ascot Gold Cup next.”

Ardakan (4th), jockey Damian Lane said: “He travelled well and I got a good toe into the race. At the top of the straight, I thought he had a big chance of winning. They have run a really good time so probably just got caught off his limit there.”

El Habeeb (5th), jockey Andrea Atzeni said: “He ran a good race, he finished off quite nicely. That was his first run this year and he's a nice horse for the future.””

Quickthorn (6th), jockey Oisin Murphy said: “I'm very happy with him. He's run well and I think back in England he's going to have a very good year.”

Sisfahan (7th), jockey Jack Mitchell said: “He is not a two-mile horse but he has run great. He needs pace in the race.”

Enemy (8th), jockey Richard Kingscote said: “Around the bend I was latching on to Ryan thinking that would be perfect. I wanted Ryan to commit early. I was not able to get on to the winner's terms, though.”

Al Nayyir (10th), jockey Patrick Dobbs said: “He was just a bit keen early and too close to the place. He was overracing a bit.”

Added trainer Doug Watson: “He's still very young. We have next year.”

Global Storm (13th), jockey James Doyle said: “Just not good enough. He ran a super race on Super Saturday but he doesn't stay this far.”

Trawlerman (14th), jockey Frankie Dettori: “No show.”

Get Shirty (15th), jockey Daniel Tudhope said: “He ran no race.”

The post Broome Takes Dubai Gold Cup In Course-Record Time appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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UAE-based trainer Doug Watson stamped his name on the $1-million Godolphin Mile (G2) for the third time at Meydan Racecourse Saturday after Isolate did as his name suggested and kept himself ahead of the pack, going wire-to-wire under  United States-based jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

The 5-year-old Mark Valeski horse broke well and hit the front with defending champion Bathrat Leon in close quarters alongside fellow Japan traveler Win Carnelian. Isolate traveled strongly and after turning for home with the least of urgings, he stretched fully to run home 5 1/2 lengths clear.

Time was 1:35.71, just off the track record of 1:35.21 set by Watson-trained One Man Band in 2016 Godolphin Mile.

Fellow UAE-trained Law Of Peace, Bhupat Seemar's charge, encountered immense traffic after a poor break yet found his way into second bravely in the hands of Richard Mullen, while Antonio Cintra's Atletico El Culano took third a further three-quarters adrift in the hands of Jose da Silva.

Bathrat Leon took fourth a further neck back for Yahagi and Ryusei Sakai, while Everfast, another trained by Watson, was fifth another head back under Oscar Chavez.

“I'm just thrilled for Sheikh Rashid (bin Humaid al Nuaimi) and the whole team at home,” Watson said. “I've been here for almost 30 years, I've progressed from being in charge of the ambulance at the first Dubai World Cup to now having winners on the night. It's quite remarkable.

“It's unbelievable, he's big and long and you saw the way he broke, he didn't shoot out of the gates–you have to ride him along. Once he gets into his stride, he's pretty amazing.

“Tyler did a great job getting him out and going, getting a nice pace on and he stays a mile, we can definitely say that now. I wasn't quite sure until he turned in and there wasn't much going with him.”

Gaffalione said: “I felt it going into the gate. He gave me this unbelievable feeling. He always breaks a step slow, but when I asked him he had so much power and the plan worked perfectly. That was amazing.

“I was supposed to ride here with Sir Winston in 2020, but obviously it didn't go ahead. I've always dreamed of winning here and to have achieved it, it's so special.”

Godolphin Mile Quotes:

Law Of Peace (2nd), jockey Richard Mullen said: “Very good after the start.”

Atletico El Culano (3rd), jockey Jose da Silva said: “So proud of him today.”

Assistant trainer Julio Olascoaga added: “He ran a great race, we're very happy for the horse & connections. Deserved a good result. Ended up being a proper miler when we always thought 2000m was his best.”

Everfast (5th), jockey Oscar Chavez said: “I couldn't be happier with the run. He tried really hard and only got tired the last 50m otherwise I think we get placed.”

Discovery Island (7th), jockey James Doyle said: “Never happy with him, never had much energy about him. He just ran a little bit flat.”

Raaeb (8th), jockey Dane O'Neill said: “He ran a solid race, we were just in a different league today.”

Desert Wisdom (9th), jockey Adrie De Vries said: “He just got shuffled back a little bit. He jumped out trying to follow the Japanese horse and then there was a bit of shuffling and I got shuffled back a few positions.”

Golden Goal (10th), jockey Sam Hitchcott said: “Wide draw did for us. Couldn't get in and the race got away on us.”

Royal Mews (12th), jockey Tadhg O'Shea said: “He never travelled really.”

Prince Eiji (13th), jockey Pat Dobbs said: “He got very upset beforehand and was never at the races today.”

Egot (14th), jockey Mickael Barzalona said: “Raced in midfield but not much to say after that.”

The post Gaffalione Pilots Isolate To Front-Running Godolphin Mile Score appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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August Dawn Farm's undefeated Maple Leaf Mel returned victoriously from a seven-month layoff with a 7 3/4-length romp in Friday's $100,000 East View for New York-bred sophomore fillies sprinting six furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, N.Y.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart, Maple Leaf Mel is now 3-for-3 and notched the second stakes win of her career, entering from a victory in the state-bred Seeking the Ante over a sloppy and sealed main track on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course. The daughter of Cross Traffic was an impressive five-length winner on debut going the East View distance on August 10 at the Spa.

Ridden to victory by regular pilot Joel Rosario in the East View, Maple Leaf Mel broke sharply from post 4 and quickly took command of the seven-horse field exiting the chute. Maple Leaf Mel raced one length clear of the Jose Lezcano-piloted Les Bon Temps with longshot Security Code tracking in third along the rail under Manny Franco through an opening quarter-mile in 23.15 seconds over the fast main track.

Maple Leaf Mel maintained her lead approaching the turn as Lezcano urged Les Bon Temps for more and Banterra swung four-wide wide from mid-field to set her sights on the pacesetter, who marked a half-mile in 47.41. A confident Rosario only needed to give a shake of the reins at the top of the stretch for Maple Leaf Mel to kick clear from her rivals, drawing away at the eighth pole from an all-out Security Code to coast home in-hand in a final time of 1:12.75.

Security Code held place honors by two lengths over Les Bon Temps with Little Linzee closing from fifth to complete the superfecta. Banterra, Queens Masterpiece and Lady Mine, who bobbled at the start, completed the order of finish.

Englehart said he was pleased Rosario made the trip up from Florida to retain the mount aboard Maple Leaf Mel.

“That was super. Joel has worked her the last couple of times down in Florida and I was happy that he wanted to come up and ride her – that gave me a lot of confidence,” said Englehart. “It seems like she's made the transition from 2-to-3 and hopefully she can continue to get better.”

Maple Leaf Mel has now won all three of her career starts in front-running fashion, but Englehart said the grey filly does not necessarily need the lead.

“I left it up to Joel. I don't think it matters with her,” said Englehart. “I've worked her plenty of times as a 2-year-old behind horses and let her tip out and make a run. She's just a racehorse. If you put her there, she's going to try and repel everyone that comes to her. She likes to run. It's as simple as that. She likes to do what she's doing.”

Rosario, who returned to the Big A for the first time since December, said Maple Leaf Mel has grown mentally and physically as a sophomore.

“She was nice and comfortable and she was always there for me,” said Rosario. “She was just waiting for somebody to challenge her. It looked pretty easy for her today. She's very talented. She had a lot of speed and it was a great race for her coming back off the layoff. She seems like she's a little more mature and focused. It looks like she's grown up the way she's supposed to.

“Down the backstretch, it seemed like she wasn't worried about anything,” Rosario continued. “She was always there for me and she was just waiting for someone to challenge her. After that, she was ready to go.”

Englehart added that August Dawn Farm owner Bill Parcells, the two-time Super Bowl winning Hall of Fame NFL coach, has expressed his desire to score an elusive Grade 1 win with Maple Leaf Mel and could try the filly in open company going forward. A path towards Grade 1 glory could include a start in the $125,000 Bouwerie sprinting seven furlongs against state-breds on May 29 at Belmont Park.

“Coach wants to win a Grade 1 and my goal is to win a Grade 1 with her for him,” said Englehart. “We've talked about a couple different spots. The Bouwerie is an option, but it's a little further away than we wanted coming off this race. We'll see how she comes out of it and I'll have a nice, long talk with Coach on the way back up to Saratoga today and see what he wants to do.”

Bred by Joe Fafone, Maple Leaf Mel banked $55,000 in victory and boosted her total purse earnings to $213,400. Out of the twice-winning City Place mare City Gift, she was a $150,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. She returned $2.60 on a $2 win wager as the 1-5 post-time favorite.

Manny Franco, aboard Security Code, said the Phil Serpe trainee ran admirably to earn the third stakes placing of her career.

“She ran a good race to get second. My filly ran well, we were just second best,” said Franco. “I was right where I wanted to be on the backstretch, right behind the favorite and that's what I did.”

Live racing resumes Saturday at the Big A for New York Claiming Championship Day, featuring six starter events on the 10-race program. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct winter meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Graded stakes winner Elm Drive looms a major threat for trainer Phil D'Amato when she returns from a six-month layoff in Saturday's Grade 3 Desert Stormer going six furlongs on the main track.
Installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for her comeback, Elm Drive has been sidelined since Sept. 24 when she finished sixth in the Weather Vane Stakes at Pimlico going six furlongs. The Weather Vane was the anchor leg of a two-race eastern excursion for Elm Drive that ended her 2022 campaign. Prior to the Weather Vane, she was sent to New York and transferred to trainer Michelle Nevin where she tried the Grade I Test at Saratoga on Aug. 6. She finished seventh.
Now back with D'Amato, Elm Drive has been preparing for her comeback since early December. On Monday, the 4-year-old Mohaymen filly had her final tune-up when working five furlongs in 1:00.40 under jockey Ramon Vazquez.
D'Amato noted Elm Drive has been pointed to this spot for about a month. In a field of six, she will break from post five with Vazquez aboard for the first time.
“She's happy and fresh, and has had two nice drills over the track,” D'Amato noted. “Ramon breezed her last time and thought she was ready to go. She drew a nice outside post, which should help, and I'm sure he'll have her out there in a nice forward position.”
Elm Drive made just four starts last year with her lone win coming in the Angels Flight Stakes here in May. Her biggest victory came as a 2-year-old in the Grade II Sorrento at Del Mar.
Despite the lengthy layoff and persistent rain this winter which has hindered many training schedules, D'Amato is expecting a strong effort from Elm Drive on Saturday.
“She's had a lot of foundation,” D'Amato said of Elm Drive's training. “We've had her back for a long time. The rain has only prevented us from running earlier.”
The Desert Stormer goes as the eighth race on Saturday with a scheduled post time of 4:37 p.m. The co-second choices at 3-1 are Stella Noir, who moves to dirt after 10 starts on turf for trainer Keith Desormeaux; and Dance to the Music, who lures the services of Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez for her second start off a nearly six-month layoff. She is trained Mark Glatt.
The field in post position order: Violent Runner, Edwin Maldonado (4-1); Half Past Twelve, Tiago Pereira (8-1); Dance to the Music, Juan Hernandez (4-1); Elm Drive, Ramon Vazquez (6-5); Stella Noir, Luis Contreras (3-1).

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