Tag: Racing

With six fancied runners at the 27th Dubai World Cup program this Saturday, champion trainer Charlie Appleby will be represented across four races. Multiple wins for the Godolphin handler would not surprise, given his unerring consistency whenever and wherever he saddles his horses.

There is always one question reporters can't help asking of a top trainer before they send out several high-profile runners at a showpiece meeting: which one are you most excited about?

But instead of any probing, the information arrives unprompted.

“Rebel's Romance is the one I am most looking forward to,” Appleby volunteers.

The Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic boasts a truly stellar cast headed by Equinox, Japan's reigning Horse of the Year; last year's winner Shahryar, also from Japan; Irish Derby hero Westover and, among others, Mostahdaf who was so dominant in the Neom Turf Cup in Riyadh last month.

It speaks volumes that Rebel's Romance receives Appleby's top-billing in the face of such competition, but his rationale is simple.

“He is unbeaten in five starts over a mile and a half on turf, three of those at Group 1 level, including a Breeders' Cup,” he explains. “You can't really ask for much more than that.”

The Dubawi gelding already has victory at this meeting on his record – successful in the UAE Derby in 2021 – and hopes are clearly high for another with the trainer undeterred by Rebel's Romance missing his intended start on Super Saturday owing to a minor inflammation.

“Ideally, he would have had a race start leading into the big night, but he did a racecourse gallop ten days ago and we were delighted with that,” he says. “It's a race of real strength in depth with formlines all over the world coming together, but he's a terrific horse who has done nothing but improve as he has got older.”

Appleby unleashes two in the Group 1 Dubai Turf, namely Nations Pride and Master Of The Seas, with stable jockey William Buick opting to ride the former.

“Nations Pride is a very solid and straightforward horse,” he continues. “You can pop him anywhere. He is a strong traveler over further so dropping back to nine furlongs won't be a problem and I'd have no worries if he led.

“We were impressed with how he won the Dubai Millennium Stakes last month over 10 furlongs. His preparation has been good.

“Master Of The Seas, on the other hand, needs the pace on to get his head down and the reason William is riding Nations Pride is because he is that bit more versatile tactically. It was a bit frustrating for Master Of The Seas in the Jebel Hatta last time when he was an unlucky loser. The early part of the race was a bit messy, he got shuffled back before finishing very strongly.

“But he's always been a very good horse. He was a short head second in his 2,000 Guineas, so he definitely has the ability to be right in the finish if things drop right.”

Appleby is doubly represented again in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup, via Siskany and Global Storm.

Appleby says: “Siskany comes here on the back of a win over one mile six furlongs [2,800 metres] last month. I see he is favorite on the early markets and I think he's a worthy favorite. He is in very good order, he has that course experience, he is drawn to get the cover he needs and he has very good acceleration.

“He has never gone two miles before so it's possible the petrol gauge will be flashing towards the end, but his class should take him a long way.”

“As for Global Storm, he won the City Of Gold on Super Saturday when he was ridden forward. I'd expect he races fairly close to the pace again and he can take a sit if others want to force the pace.

“It will be his first time over the distance, but he was strong at the finish over 12 furlongs on Super Saturday and there is plenty of stamina on his dam's side of the pedigree. He won't look out of place in a very competitive race.”

Completing the sextet is Al Suhail in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint down the Meydan straight.

Appleby concludes: “Al Suhail is going back to six furlongs. He has only tried it once, at Ascot last year but he did too much in front on softish ground and we can draw a line through that.”

“We have always felt this race would suit him. He certainly won't lack pace and he is in great order. I think the draw could be a deciding factor in what looks a very open race.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Winner Rebel’s Romance Takes On Dubai Sheema Classic In 2023 Debut appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Multiple Grade 1 winner Santin tops a full field of 12 older horses and two also-eligibles that entered Saturday's $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed) at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Cup Classic will go as Race 10 of 13 with a post time of 5:13 p.m. The thrilling day of racing at Turfway Park will feature a total of six stakes contests led by the 52nd running of the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3). The other stakes on the program are the 41st running of the $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks; the 37th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes; the 41st running of the $250,000 Latonia Stakes; and the 36th running of the $250,000 Rushaway.

Santin is set to begin his 5-year-old season on Saturday at Turfway with jockey Adam Beschizza in the saddle. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Santin had a solid 4-year-old campaign with victories in the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) and $1 million Arlington Million (G1) at Churchill Downs. The TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic will be Santin's first start over the Tapeta surface but the son of Distorted Humor has been preparing locally for this start with a series of five works at Turfway. Santin will break from post No. 9.

Last year's Kentucky Cup Classic winner King Cause was supplimented to this year's field and his connections hope he can record a repeat victory at Turfway. Owned by Nice Guy Stables and trained by Mike Maker, King Cause scored an upset 19-1 victory in last year's race when he led wire-to-wire under jockey Manny Franco. More recently, King Cause scored another upset victory in the Knickerbocker Stakes (G3) at Belmont at Aqueduct and enters the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic following a sixth-place effort in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Jockey Gerardo Corrales has the mount from post 10.

King Cause is one of five Maker trainees in the body of the Kentucky Cup Classic field. The others are Founder, Leblon, Fancy Liquor and Ocean Atlantique. His sixth trainee, Richiesgotgame, drew post 14 on the also-eligibles.

Originally, Kentucky Derby 148 winner Rich Strike was scheduled to run in the Kentucky Cup Classic but his connections have opted to run elsewhere.

Here is the complete field for the TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Two Birds (John McKee, Jeff Hiles)

2. Founder (Joe Ramos, Maker)

3. Wentru (Jack Gilligan, Will Walden)

4. Leblon (Umberto Rispoli, Maker)

5. Wolfie's Dynaghost (John Velazquez, Jonathan Thomas)

6. Fancy Liquor (Joe Talamo, Maker)

7. Ready to Purrform (Fernando De La Cruz, Brad Cox)

8. Ocean Atlantique (Walter Rodriguez, Maker)

9. Santin (Beschizza, Walsh)

10. King Cause (Corrales, Maker)

11. Abaan (Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher)

12. Camp Hope (Chris Landeros, Kenny McPeek)

(AE) 13. Verstappen (Declan Cannon, Walsh)

(AE) 14. Richiesgotgame (Edgard Zayas, Maker)

AMO Racing's speedy New York Thunder will attempt to keep his perfect record intact against a competitive field of eight 3-year-old sprinters in the 37th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes over six furlongs.

New York Thunder arrived last week to Turfway Park from his winter base at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Jorge Delgado, the fleet-footed son of Nyquist dominated his debut by 6 ½ lengths on Nov. 27 at Gulfstream Park. New York Thunder capped his abbreviated 2-year-old season with a 1 ¾-length first-level allowance victory. The Animal Kingdom Stakes will be New York Thunder's first start as a 3-year-old. He'll be ridden by Jose Morelos from post No. 7.

Another aspiring 3-year-old that's entered in the Animal Kingdom is Westerberg Limited, John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor's impressive Turfway maiden special weight winner Eye Witness. Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux, Eye Witness won at second asking on New Year's Day at Turfway. Desormeaux travelled to Turfway from California for the mount on the speedy son of City of Light. Eye Witness and Desormeaux will break from post 4.

Here is the complete field for the Animal Kingdom from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Libertango (Jareth Loveberry, Wayne Catalano)

2. Brazen Boy (Chris Landeros, Jordan Blair)

3. Olazabal (Gerardo Corrales, Eric Foster)

4. Eye Witness (Desormeaux, Ward)

5. Swirvin (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr.)

6. Moonstrike (GB) (Adam Beschizza, Jeff Engler)

7. New York Thunder (Morelos, Delgado)

8. Tiger Paw (IRE) (Luan Machado, Anna Meah)

The Animal Kingdom Stakes is named in honor of the 2011 Kentucky Derby winner who rose to stardom following his victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (formerly known as the Spiral).

Franco Meli's Grade 3 winner Il Malocchio is set to make her 2023 debut against a cast of 11 filly and mares that entered Saturday's $250,000 Latonia Stakes at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming.

Trained by Martin Drexler, Il Malocchio spent her winter preparing for her 5-year-old campaign at Palm Meadows in South Florida. The Ontario-bred daughter of Souper Speedy capped her 2022 campaign with convincing victories in the $150,000 Maple Leaf (G3) and $100,000 La Prevoyante Stakes at Woodbine. Prior to her wins in the Maple Leaf and La Prevoyante, Il Malocchio's resume includes wins in the $100,000 Victorian Queen and $250,000 Bison City. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the riding assignment in the Latonia Stakes from post No. 4.

Other accomplished fillies and mares that entered the Latonia include Kaleem Shah's multiple graded stakes placed Bellamore; Dixiana Farms' $125,000 Wintergreen Stakes winner Grand Ave Girl; and Juddmonte's local allowance winner Idiomatic.

Here is the complete field for the Latonia Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Grand Ave Girl (Luan Machado, Kenny McPeek)

2. Candy Raid (Kent Desormeaux, Keith Desormeaux)

3. Ready to Venture (GB) (Kazushi Kimura, Mike Stidham)

4. Il Malochio (Velazquez, Drexler)

5. Idiomatic (Chris Landeros, Brad Cox)

6. Purrfect (Fernando De La Cruz, Stidham)

7. Regal Realm (Rafael Hernandez, Jonathan Thomas)

8. Kate's Kingdom (Irad Ortiz Jr., Will Walden)

9. Vezpa (BRZ) (Joe Ramos, Paulo Lobo)

10. Bali Belle (Gerardo Corrales, Gerardo Rodriguez)

11. Bellamore (Martin Garcia, Simon Callaghan)

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's impressive Gulfstream Park maiden special weight winner Santorini will lead a wide-open field of 12 3-year-olds plus two also-eligibles that entered the $250,000 Rushaway Stakes. The Rushaway Stakes, run at 1 1/16 miles, was made the 8 race on the 13-race Jeff Ruby Steaks Day card.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Santorini drew clear in a Jan. 21 maiden contest at Gulfstream Park by two lengths. The son of Twirling Candy enters the Rushaway following a troubled sixth-place finish in the Colonel Liam Stakes where he had to check in the late running of the one-mile turf contest. Originally, Santorini was under the care of Rodolphe Brisset and competed on Dec. 9 at Turfway in a maiden special weight contest when he was narrowly defeated by Olazabal. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the mount from post No. 4.

Another intriguing prospect that entered the Rushaway Stakes is Surfside Stables' local maiden special weight winner Midnight Rising. Trained by Jordan Blair, the talented son of Mendelssohn impressively drew clear by 2 ½ lengths in his March 2 debut under jockey Luan Machado. In his lone start, Midnight Rising was stuck behind several horses but Machado was able to find room at the head of the stretch and drew off in hand late at odds of 10-1. Machado will be back aboard for the Rushaway from post 9.

Here is the complete field for the Rushaway from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Itzos (Gerardo Corrales, Paulo Lobo)

2. Roja Redemption (Joe Ramos, Lobo)

3. Worthington (Umberto Rispoli, Mike Maker)

4. Santorini (Ortiz, Pletcher)

5. Quadra Island (Fernando De La Cruz, Brad Cox)

6. Stonemount Reunion (Sammy Bermudez, David Rider)

7. Ocean Pointe (Orlando Mojica, Richard Estvanko)

8. Reckoning Force (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh)

9. Midnight Rising (Machado, Blair)

10. Ironsides (Declan Cannon, Vicki Oliver)

11. Rarified Flair (Chris Landeros, Kenny McPeek)

12. Moon Landing (John Velazquez, Michael McCarthy)

(AE) 13. Unified Weekend (Sonny Leon Antonio Sano)

(AE) 14. Movisitor (Declan Cannon, Ed Vaughan)

The post Multiple Grade 1 Winner Santin Headlines Turfway’s Undercard Action On Jeff Ruby Steaks Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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LNJ Foxwoods and Clearsky Farms' Botanical, the dazzling 6 ½-length winner of the $150,000 Cincinnati Trophy Stakes three weeks ago, headlines a field of 11 3-year-old fillies that entered Saturday's $300,000 Bourbonette Oaks (Listed) at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming in Florence, Ky.

The top 5 finishers in the Bourbonette Oaks will receive points on a 50-20-15-10-5 scale towards the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1).

The 1 1/16-mile Bourbonette Oaks will go as the 11th race on the stakes-laden 13-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. and the Bourbonette Oaks has a scheduled post time of 5:43 p.m. The Bourbonette Oaks is one of six stakes events on the Jeff Ruby Steaks Day card from Turfway Park. The other stakes contests are the 52nd running of the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), the 23rd running of the $300,000 TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Classic (Listed); the 37th running of the $250,000 Animal Kingdom Stakes; the 41st running of the $250,000 Latonia Stakes; and the 36th running of the $250,000 Rushaway.

Trained by Brad Cox, Botanical is undefeated in three starts over the Turfway Park Tapeta surface. The daughter of Medaglia d'Oro crushed a field of 11 on Nov. 30 to break her maiden by 10 ¾ lengths. Two starts ago, Botanical was tested against first-level allowance company and made quick work of her nine rivals by 4 ½ lengths. In the Cincinnati Trophy, Botanical sat nine lengths behind a runaway pacesetter and easily defeated her six rivals as the heavy 4-5 favorite. Jockey Chris Landeros will have the return call and break from post No. 5.

Chief among Botanical's top rivals in the Bourbonette Oaks is Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran's California-shipper Ag Bullet. Trained by George Papaprodromou, Ag Bullet is scheduled to make her first start outside California in the Bourbonette Oaks. Based at Santa Anita, Ag Bullet tabbed her first stakes victory in her last start when she gamely held off The Wild Grazer by a neck in the $100,000 Lady Shamrock Stakes. The gray daughter of Twirling Candy will break from post 11 with Umberto Rispoli in the saddle.

Another stakes winner that entered the Bourbonette Oaks is D. J. Stable's Renegade Rebel. Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Rafael Hernandez, Renegade Rebel is slated to make her 3-year-old debut in the Bourbonette Oaks. As a 2-year-old, Renegade Rebel impressively broke her maiden by seven lengths at Woodbine and followed that victory one month later with a front-running score in the $150,000 Mazzarine Stakes (G3). Renegade Rebel will break from the rail.

Here is the complete field for the Bourbonette Oaks from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Renegade Rebel (Hernandez, Casse)

2. Bolivie (IRE) (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brendan Walsh)

3. Olympic Prank (Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr.)

4. Thirty Thou Kelvin (Kazushi Kimura, John Terranova)

5. Botanical (Landeros, Cox)

6. Always At Ease (Kent Desormeaux, Keith Desormeaux)

7. Miss New York (Jose Morelos, Jorge Delgado)

8. Flashy Gem (John Velazquez, Brad Cox)

9. Shewillghostu (Sonny Leon, Eric Reed)

10. Medaglia Forever (Fernando De La Cruz, Rusty Arnold)

11. Ag Bullet (Rispoli, Papaprodromou)

The post Undefeated At Turfway, Botanical Chasing Oaks Points In Saturday’s Bourbonette Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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