Tag: Racing

Faiza, unbeaten in three starts for trainer Bob Baffert, will try and add a third graded stakes win to the resume Sunday when she takes on five rivals in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. The Santa Ysabel, which is a point-paying prep for the Kentucky Oaks, was originally scheduled for last Saturday but was rescheduled after racing was canceled due to rain.

Faiza is exiting a narrow half-length victory in the G3 Las Virgenes going a mile at Santa Anita on Jan. 28. Sent off at even money, the Girvin filly was up near the pace throughout under Ramon Vazquez before prevailing over Pride of the Nile, who also returns in the Santa Ysabel. About three lengths farther back in third in the Las Virgenes was Justique, who also wheels back in the Santa Ysabel.

Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, Faiza was purchased for $725,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale.  She won her debut sprinting at Del Mar on Nov. 12 and came right back to win the G1 Starlet going 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10.

Faiza will break from the outside stall in post six on Sunday. Flavien Prat, who was aboard for Faiza's first two victories, takes over in the irons.

West Coast Stables' Pride of the Nile will get her third crack at Faiza after finishing a close second in both the Starlet and Las Virgenes. Prior to tangling with Faiza, Pride of the Nile made her first three starts on turf and won two for trainer Doug O'Neill including a first-level allowance going a mile at Del Mar Nov. 12.

Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez has ridden Pride of the Nile in each of her last four starts and again has the call on Sunday.

And Tell Me Nolies returns to action following an eighth-place finish in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 at Keeneland. Trained by Peter Miller, And Tell Me Nolies reeled off three straight wins prior to the Breeders' Cup including the G1 Del Mar Debutante and G2 Chandelier going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Oct. 8.

Owned by Peter Redekop, And Tell Me Nolies was a $230,000 purchase at last year's OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training. She has worked eight times since mid-January for her comeback. Vazquez, who  was aboard for all five starts last year, again has the call Sunday.

Justique will look to regain her winning form after failing to menace in the Las Virgenes. Trained by John Shirreffs, Justique previously won the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz and was third behind And Tell Me Nolies in the Chandelier when trying two turns for the first time.

Owned by C R K Stable, Justique was a $725,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale. She will again be ridden by Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza, who has been aboard for all four previous starts.

The post Faiza, And Tell Me Nolies, Justique Battle In Santa Ysabel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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After finishing second by a head in last year's Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, eastern invader Warrant will try and do one better Saturday in the 86th running of the Big 'Cap.

Trained by two-time Eclipse Award winner Brad Cox, Warrant arrived at Santa Anita on Tuesday from Fair Grounds in New Orleans where he is based. The 5-year-old horse by Constitution got his first feel for the Santa Anita main track on Thursday with an open gallop.

“He's settled in, he trained this morning and is doing well,” Cox said by phone from New Orleans Thursday morning.

In last year's 1 ¼-mile Big 'Cap, Warrant pressed the pace under Flavien Prat before poking a head in front at the quarter pole. In the stretch drive, Warrant was confronted on his outside by Express Train and the pair dueled to the wire with Express Train coming out the narrow winner under Victor Espinoza.

“He ran well and that was a very encouraging effort,” Cox said. “All winter we've had the mindset to bring him back to California.”

Warrant prepped for his second Big Cap with an allowance win at Fair Grounds on Jan. 26. That effort followed almost seven months on the sidelines, which Cox said was the result of him “just being a little tired” the second half of the season. Prior to last year's Big Cap, Warrant was third in the Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds on Jan. 22.

“He's pretty much on the same pattern as last year,” Cox said. “Obviously last year he prepped in a stakes, but we wanted to get one run in him and I thought that allowance went well.”

Warrant, the 4-1 co-second choice on the morning line, will again have Prat in the irons for this year's Big Cap. They will break from post six in a 12-horse field.

“Hopefully we can do even better this year,” Cox said.

The Santa Anita Handicap goes as the 12th and final race on Saturday's card with an approximate post time of 5:30.

The field in post position order:

1. There Goes Harvard, Kazushi Kimura (12-1);
2. Parnelli, Victor Espinoza (20-1);
3. Newgrange, Frankie Dettori (6-1);
4. Stilleto Boy, Kent Desormeaux (5-1);
5. Defunded, Juan Hernandez (7-2);
6. Warrant, Flavien Prat (4-1);
7. Heywoods Beach, Ramon Vazquez (20-1);
8. Hopper, Mike Smith (8-1);
9. Scarlet Fusion, Edwin Maldonado (12-1);
10. Tisquantum, Hector Berrios (30-1);
11. Proxy, John Velazquez (4-1).

The post Brad Cox Ships Warrant West For Big ‘Cap: ‘Hopefully We Can Do Even Better This Year’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dubai Turf and Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa is among a top-class group of horses who have arrived in Dubai ahead of the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 25.

The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa became the third-highest earning Japanese-trained horse of all time after his victory in Riyadh, which was gained in front-running style from Country Grammer. The reigning Dubai World Cup winner also flew in from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and he will attempt to become only the second dual winner of the $12million race. Panthalassa has been nominated for the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Turf, with trainer Yoshito Yahagi expected to announce a decision closer to race day.

Country Grammer was joined on the short flight by the Steve Asmussen-trained Gunite, who is nominated for the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Winner of the G2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga last summer, the four-year-old finished second to Breeders' Cup winner Elite Power in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Sunday.

Third in the Riyadh Sprint was four-year-old Remake who has also travelled on to the UAE where he will take his chance in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, as will Justin, who has visited Dubai before, finishing eleventh in the 2021 Shaheen.

In total, 13 Japanese-trained horses made the onward journey to Dubai from Saudi. They include Bathrat Leon (pictured), winner of the 2022 G2 Godolphin Mile, who landed the 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh but is now likely to switch back to dirt for a defense of his title.

Vin De Garde, placed in the last two editions of the Dubai Turf for trainer Hideaki Fujiwara, is also back for another attempt, while Lauda Sion will attempt to better his ninth in last year's G1 Al Quoz Sprint.

Crown Pride, winner of the 2022 G2 UAE Derby over this track, will form part of a strong Japanese challenge in the Dubai World Cup, in which he will be joined by G1 February Stakes winner Café Pharoah, who finished third in the Saudi Cup. Geoglyph, fourth in Saudi, is another nominated for the big race, as is Jun Light Bolt, seventh.

The Japanese will have a strong hand in the G2 UAE Derby with Derma Sotogake, third in the Saudi Derby over a mile, having travelled onto Dubai, as has Continuar, who finished fifth.

The recently landed team is completed by the Hideyuki Mori-trained Echt, seventh in the Red Sea Turf Handicap, who is likely to head to the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup.

“It was gratifying to see our 2022 Dubai World Cup winners do so well in Saudi, with Panthalassa and Bathrat Leon winning and Country Grammer running an honorable second,” said Stephanie Cooley, International Manager for Dubai Racing Club.

“We are delighted that so many top class horses have travelled on from Saudi and they will now have plenty of settling in time ahead of the big day. The Japanese look likely to have their strongest Dubai World Cup team ever, with several more arriving over the next few weeks.”

The Japanese team on the big night will be bolstered by G1 Arima Kinen winner Equinox, the highest-rated three-year-old in training in 2022, who runs in the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic along with defending champion Shahryar, while Serifos and Do Deuce have accepted invitations to the G1 Dubai Turf. Japan Cup winner Vela Azul will switch to dirt for the World Cup, where he will be joined by Ushba Tesoro and T O Keynes, all of whom will fly straight to Dubai from Japan.

Earlier this week there was another early arrival when Grade 1 winner Shirl's Speight, trained by Roger Attfield, settled into International Stables ahead of his run in the G1 Dubai Turf.

The post Country Grammer, Gunite, Shirl’s Speight Among U.S. Contenders For March 25 Dubai World Cup Meeting appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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