Tag: Racing

Under a perfectly timed ride from Antonio Gallardo, Mission of Joy rallied resolutely from off the pace and dug in late to prevail in a duel to the finish line in the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.

The Kitten's Joy filly, seventh through six furlongs, swung six wide into the stretch to launch her bid, and thrust out her neck with a powerful surge to defeat second wagering choice Alpha Bella in the 1 1/16-mile turf test. She covered the distance in 1:41.12 under firm footing and returned $12 for the win.

Juniper's Moon, who led by a half-length in early stretch, hung on for third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Alpha Bella while 9-5 favorite Free Look was fourth in the field of 12 3-year-old fillies.

Trained by Graham Motion for Madaket Stables LLC and RyZan Sun Racing LLC, Mission of Joy has won both starts this year and improved her record to 3-0-0 from four career starts. The $90,000 winner's share of the Florida Oaks purse boosted her lifetime bankroll to $119,807.

Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm, Mission of Joy was produced by the Smart Strike mare Smart Mission. She was a $32,000 purchase from her breeder by Ryan Zabrowski at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale.

Florida Oaks Quotes

Winning trainer H. Graham Motion: “I thought she was super impressive and I thought Tony gave her a very cool ride. He was very patient. She really did it impressively. She fought for it and she showed a lot of heart. Since we got her down to (Tampa Bay Downs), I can't say enough about what a good job Annie (assistant Anne Sinchak) has done with her. They've done a great job with this filly. To be honest, I did not know she was this kind of filly – she really stepped up today.”

Winning assistant trainer Anne Sinchak (on-site): “Oh my God, that was amazing. I'm so excited. I couldn't stop screaming. She was amazing. She did everything the way you wanted her to – settled, relaxed nice and came with a run, everything you wanted. It makes it more exciting when (the plan) comes together. We knew she was a good filly so it was kind of taking a shot, see what she has and go from there. She's been training well and doing everything right, so it was worth a shot and it paid off.”

Winning jockey Antonio Gallardo: “Tampa is my house! She felt really good. She's a little bit complicated, her motion, but the exercise riders, the assistant, everyone in the barn does a good job with her. She can be a little difficult in the gate, and they do a really good job with her. When you have so many people who put so much work in a horse and now you win that race that you want to win, it feels really good. When this filly sees the front, she is really hard to beat.”

The post ‘She Fought For It’: Mission Of Joy Victorious In Florida Oaks Battle appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Briland Farm's 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath Stamped herself as a filly to watch in 2023 with her impressive victory at Oaklawn Park in Saturday's $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) before an on-track crowd of 36,000.

The Arrogate filly was making her first start since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who collected his fourth win in the race.

Ridden for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione, Secret Oath was the last away from the inside post position and settled into seventh-place early as Lovely Ride set the pace of :23.63 and :48.39 for the first half mile. After being moved to the outside down the backside, she advanced into striking position around the final turn and came five wide into the stretch before drawing off to win by 2¾ lengths over multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, the slight 11-10 favorite, who encountered traffic late. Interstatedaydream finished third, a head back.

Secret Oath's winning time was 1:43.26 over a fast track.

Hot and Sultry, Le Da Vida, Lovely Ride, Hidden Connection, and Moon Swag completed the order of finish.

Secret Oath improved her record to 6-2-4 from 14 starts and has now earned $1,982,267. She returned $4.80 as the 7-5 second choice.

The Azeri is the final local prep for the $1-million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) Saturday, April 15. Lukas said after the race that Secret Oath would be pointed towards that race.

Azeri Stakes Quotes

Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione: “I didn't want to rush her off her feet. I know what kind of kick she has, so I just let her kind of find herself in the place she wanted to be. Going into the (second turn), she tried to go about the three-eighths pole. Just took a little hold of her and she came right back to me. Swung her out coming down the stretch. Showed her the whip once and she finished the job well.”

Winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas: “She's got such a long stride. She just kicks. When she kicks it in like that, her stride increases about four feet. She just eats that ground up. It's impressive to watch it. I thought she would run a big one today. I have so much respect for Steve Asmussen's filly (Clairiere). I was confident she would run a big one, but when you've got a field this tough, you've got to beat them. I just thought she would throw a real good one today because I did everything I wanted to do with her coming into it. I didn't have to adjust a work or anything. I did it all when I wanted to. I thought I had her tuned.”

Jockey Joel Rosario, second on Clairiere: “She came running. The other filly (Secret Oath) ran a good race today. She came moving forward, but it looked like the winner got the jump in the clear outside. That's how it goes.”

Jockey Florent Geroux, third on Interstatedaydream: “She ran a great race. I thought I was second, to be honest. Very good race. Just off the lead, nice and relaxed. Found some room on the inside and I went for it. Got out-bobbed right there at the end by Clairiere for second. Thought she ran a great race, and the winner was very impressive today.”

Trainer Norm Casse, fourth with Hot and Sultry: “I'm extremely pleased with the way that she ran. We're trying to do something she hasn't done before. Took her a little while to shut off. Got hung wide in the first turn and turning for home, we were in front of some really nice fillies, and it took a lot of nice fillies to run by us. I was very excited with the way that she ran.”

The post Oaklawn Face-Off: Secret Oath Draws Off In Azeri, Clairiere Second appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In only his fourth career start, 5-year-old Spirit of Makena made short work of five rivals as he stalked well-fancied Forbidden Kingdom to the top of the lane and sprinted clear for a decisive 1½-length score in Saturday's $200,000 San Carlos (G3) at Santa Anita.

Owned by his breeder, Bruce Chandler, Spirit of Makena, who is trained by George Papaprodromou, got seven furlongs under veteran Joe Bravo in 1:22.06.

A close second around the turn, Spirit of Mekena, a son of Ghostzapper, burst clear leaving the three sixteenths pole and was never threatened thereafter.

“He's pretty special, let's see what tomorrow brings,” said Bravo. “I'm really excited to be dealing with good horses. Everybody hopes they run like that, it's just a good feeling when they do.”

A 1¾-length allowance winner going six furlongs Feb. 11, Spirit of Makena was off at 5-2 and paid $7 for the win.

Out of the Gilded Time mare Win for M'lou, Spirit of Makena, in his first stakes appearance, now has three wins and a second. With the San Carlos winner's share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $227,600.

“Coming out of the last race he won, he came out of it great and he's been training great,” said Papaprodromou, who notched his second stakes win of the meet. “He was doing great leading into this race and we tried. Obviously, it was a tough spot (but) we gave it a shot. He ran huge and what can I say? He's a nice horse.”

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Forbidden Kingdom was clearly second best on the day, finishing 1¼ lengths in front of race favorite Get Her Number.

Second in the Malibu (G1) on Dec. 26, Forbidden Kingdom finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Get Her Number, who held off the late charge of Howbeit by a head.

Fractions on the San Carlos, run on a main track listed as good, were :22.60, :44.96 and 1:08.56.

The post Lightly Raced Spirit Of Makena Captures San Carlos In Stakes Debut appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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