Tag: Racing

Ziaerati breezed a half-mile in company in :50.89 Saturday over the Belmont dirt training track in preparation for Saturday's 200,000 Busher, a one-turn mile for sophomore fillies that offers 50-20-15-10-5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Trained and co-owned by Robert Falcone Jr. in partnership with John Grossi's Racing Corp., the Into Mischief bay was piloted in the breeze by Trevor McCarthy, who is expected to return from injury and ride for the first time since November 18 on Friday at Aqueduct.

“She worked good. She went in company with an older horse,” Falcone said. “She went real smooth and could have gone a lot faster if we let her. I told Trevor to let her gallop out and as soon as he let his hands down at the wire, she took off and had a really big gallop out.”

Ziaerati was an impressive gate-to-wire winner on debut under Dylan Davis, annexing a field of six on January 15 here in a seven-furlong maiden special weight by 8 1/4 lengths. The runner-up of that event, Promiseher America, returned to win a one-mile maiden event by 6 1/4-lengths on February 19.

“She won the first time out so easily and so impressively. I'm excited to see her in stakes company,” Falcone said.

McCarthy will pick up the mount for the Busher.

“He's a smart rider and a strong rider and it's good to have him back,” Falcone said.

Bred in Kentucky by Whitehorse Stable, Ziaerati is out of the stakes-placed Munnings mare Zia and was purchased by Grossi for $145,000 at the OBS March sale of 2-year-olds in training.

The post ‘I’m Excited To See Her In Stakes Company’: Sharp Debut Winner Ziaerati On Target For Saturday’s Busher appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Double B Racing Stables' Repo Rocks garnered a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for his impressive 3 1/4-length score in Saturday's $125,000 Stymie, a one-turn mile for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jamie Ness and piloted by Andrew Wolfsont, Repo Rocks was boxed in behind rivals in third position before finding a way out late in the turn and bounding away to an impressive score over Grade 1-placed Miles D. Sent to post as the even-money favorite, Repo Rocks carried 124 pounds, giving a six-pound advantage to each of his five rivals.

“It wasn't the best trip, but in a short field that happens. Fortunately, we overcame it,” said Ness, who would have preferred to set the tempo. “Yesterday, I was worried they might bunch up on him if we took back. Maybe next time there will be a little more speed in the race and we can target a couple horses. Every race is different.”

Repo Rocks returned to his Parx Racing base in good order and is likely to cut back slightly in distance for the seven-furlong $300,000 Carter Handicap (G1) on April 8 at Aqueduct.

Ness said if Repo Rocks continues to progress, a long-term target would be the $1-million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) in November at Santa Anita Park.

“All options are on the table, but we're going to try and focus on New York,” Ness said. “The Carter would be great and the Met Mile if we're good enough. Right now, that's what we want to do, but we'll see how it comes along.”

The 5-year-old Tapiture gelding is undefeated since joining the Ness stable, taking the Let's Give Thanks in November and Blitzen on January 4 at Parx ahead of an 8 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) on January 28 at the Big A that garnered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure. Wolfsont has piloted Repo Rocks throughout the four-race all-stakes win streak.

Repo Rocks posted a record of 2-2-2 from 11 starts last year, including a second in the Toboggan and a third in the Tom Fool Handicap (G3), both at the Big A, as well as completing the trifecta in the John A. Nerud(G2) at Belmont Park while in the care of trainer Juan Vazquez. He made seven starts for conditioner Gregory DiPrima from April through October before joining Ness.

“He's as good a horse as I've had. Usually, to get a horse like this, I have to get him through the claim box,” Ness said. “I'm just happy to have him and I'm glad he's a big, fit, and sound nice-training horse. Hopefully, he continues that way. We have a nice stable of blue-collar horses, so to get a nice stakes horse like this is special for us.”

Bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, Repo Rocks improved his record to 8-6-6 rom 33 career starts and purse earnings of $639,621.

The post “He’s As Good A Horse As I’ve Had’: Ness Has Carter, Met Mile On Spring Radar For Repo Rocks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Dixiana Farms' Grand Ave Girl took command of the early pace and was never headed to win Saturday's $125,000 Wintergreen Stakes at Turfway Park.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, and ridden by jockey Luan Machado, Grand Ave Girl completed the one-mile distance in 1:37.12.

Grand Ave Girl and Machado broke on top of the field of 11 fillies and mares and cruised to an opening quarter-mile fraction of :24.11. Up the backside, Grand Ave Girl increased her early command on the field by 3 ½ lengths through a half-mile clocking of :47.75. Around the far turn, Grand Ave Girl felt her first challenge of the race from Kate's Kingdom, who made a sweeping move under jockey Jack Gilligan. In late stretch, Grand Ave Girl spurted clear of her rival for a 1 ¾-length victory. Purrfect finished a neck back of Kate's Kingdom to round out the top three.

It was another 2 ¼ lengths back to fourth-place finisher Maybe Later followed in order by Charges Dropped, Opening Buzz, Bella Conchita, Tap Dancing Lady, Candy Raid, Burgoo Alley, and Guana Cay.

Grand Ave Girl rewarded her backers with a $2 mutuel payout of $17.34 for the victory.

Grand Ave Girl is daughter of Claiborne Farm resident sire Runhappy out of the Holy Bull mare One More. She was bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock. The 5-year-old mare improved her lifetime record to 6-2-4 from 16 starts and purse earnings of $325,356.

The post Grand Ave Girl Powers Gate To Wire For Wintergreen Win At Turfway appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Over a wet track, Godolphin homebred Wet Paint unveiled a masterpiece by storming from last to first in Saturday's $300,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn.

The winner of the Martha Washington Stakes at the Hot Springs, Ark. track in her previous start is 3-for-3 on wet tracks and now moves to the top of the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) Leaderboard for trainer Brad Cox with 70 total points. The Honeybee was worth 50-20-15-10-5 Oaks qualifying points to the Honeybee's top five finishers.

The daughter of Blame fell behind in the 1 1/16th-mile race over a track labeled sloppy, but navigated through the field under Flavian Prat to nab front-runner Condensation before pulling away to a three-length victory as the 8-5 favorite. Her winning time was 1:45.35.

Wet Paint paid $5.40 for the victory and is now has three wins from five starts. Condensation held second after prompting a fast pace with Grand Love running evenly to finish third.

Condensation secured 20 points towards Kentucky Oaks eligibility and Grand Love received 15 points. In addition, fourth-place finisher Gambling Girl received 10 and fifth-place finisher Towhead got five points.

Bred in Kentucky, Wet Paint has $334,100 in lifetime earnings. Her dam is the Street Cry mare Sky Painter.

Honeybee Stakes Quotes

Winning trainer Brad, Wet Paint: going into the first turn I was little concerned. She was pretty far back and taking a lot of dirt. She showed a lot of heart to be able to handle these conditions today. She showed she liked the wet track and I think as the distances get longer she'll keep improving. The Kentucky oaks is our goal and I think timing wise the Fantasy or the Ashland is the next logical goal.”

Winning jockey Flavien Prat, Wet Paint: “To be honest, I was worried about how far back I was. I mean, I didn't think I had much chance from where I was. She had to give a kick somewhere and that was in the stretch. On the backside I was galloping, but the problem was I was far back and it was a slow pace. But she finished up well.”

Trainer Chris Hartman, second with Condensation: she's a super nice filly. She ran great today. Down the lane she was pretty green but she showed a lot of heart on the lead.

The post Road To The Kentucky Oaks: Big Late Charge Propels Wet Paint To Honeybee Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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