Tag: Racing

Three Diamonds Farm's 6-year-old gelding Ocean Atlantique cruised to a front-running 5 ¼-length victory in Saturday night's $125,000 Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway Park.

Trained by Mike Maker and ridden by Walter Rodriguez, Ocean Atlantique completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.75 over the Tapeta surface.

Ocean Atlantique and Rodriguez left little doubt on their plan from the break and took command of the Dust Commander field into the first turn through a solid opening quarter-mile fraction of :23.85. Up the backstretch, Ocean Atlantique began to open up on second-place Accredit and, around the far turn, following a half-mile split of :47.65 and six-furlong clocking of 1:11.70, Ocean Atlantique skittered away to an insurmountable four-length advantage while under a hand ride from Rodriguez.

Camp Hope and 8-5 favorite Beatbox had a spirited battle for second where Camp Hope got the better of last year's Dust Commander winner by a scant nose. It was another 3 ½ lengths back to Grade 1 winner In Love followed by Fancy Liquor, Harlan Estate, Price Talk, Accredit, and Lincoln City. Mejthaam was an early scratch.

Ocean Atlantique rewarded his backers $19.84 for the win.

Ocean Atlantique improved his record to 4-4-2 from 20 career starts and boosted his career purse earnings to $276,120. The 6-year-old gelding is by American Pharoah out of the Giant's Causeway mare Tare Green. He was bred in Kentucky by Indian Creek.

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While favorite Hoosier Philly toiled to no avail down the long Fair Grounds stretch, Godolphin homebred Pretty Mischievous took charge from pacesetter Miracle in the final furlong and edged ahead late to capture the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) Saturday.

The daughter of Spendthrift Farm's leading sire Into Mischief. Pretty Mischievous and Miracle separated themselves from four overmatched rivals through the lane and then battled to the finish line. Pretty Mischievous prevailed by three-quarters of length.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Pretty Mischievous tracked from third, then second, early as Miracle laid down pedestrian fractions of :25.02 and :48.85 through the first half mile. Angling to the three path Pretty Mischievous to the three path around the turn, she fought nearly every step through the lane to secure the narrow victory.

Pretty Mischievous finished the 1 1/16-mile trip in 1:45.15 on a fast track and returned $18.20 for the win.

Previously unbeaten Hoosier Philly, making her highly anticipated season debut, finished third as the 2-5 favorite, 7 3/4 lengths behind Miracle. She bobbled at the start, raced in last place down the backstretch under Edgar Morales, then angled six wide for the stretch run but could not keep pace with the top two.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous earned her first graded win and second consecutive stakes win: She came into the Rachel Alexandra off a  victory in the Untapable on Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds. Her record improves to 4-0-1 from five career starts and earnings of $421,310.

The race is a qualifier for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) May 5 at Churchill Downs with the top five finishers awarded points on a 50-20-15-10-5 basis.

Kentucky-bred Pretty Mischievous was produced by Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer, by Tapit.

RACHEL ALEXANDRA QUOTES

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey, Pretty Mischievous, (winner): “Before she ran Brendan told me we had a really special one in the barn. She keeps improving physically and mentally. Today, I sat in a perfect spot and let Johnny (Velazquez) go on Miracle while Luis (Saez and Vahva) tracked inside.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer, Pretty Mischievous (winner): “She never missed a beat from her first start at 2 until now. We knew we'd have to give her a rest at some point because we didn't want to go to the well too often. We were quietly confident she'd be good enough and today we found out she is. Now, we'll see how she comes out of things, talk things over with the ownership team, and get her to be 110% on the big day in May.”

John Velazquez, jockey, Miracle (runner-up): “She was in the perfect spot today. It was the first time going two real turns and she handled things well.”

Edgar Morales, jockey, Hoosier Philly (third): “I think the stumble at the start cost a lot. I had nowhere to go when they were going so slow. Every horse is going to finish going :25. It's part of the game. It is what it is. It was her first race back and she was faced was a lot of adversity. She's always in the bridle, but I had to take a hold of her because everyone was going so slow. “

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Robert and Lawana Low's Classy Edition, second to Kathleen O. in last year's Davona Dale (G2), turned the tables on the 4-5 favorite in Saturday's $150,000 Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The Royal Delta, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares, is named in honor of the Hall of Fame three-time Eclipse Award champion who captured six Grade 1 stakes for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott during a career spanning 2010-2013.

Classy Edition, the even-money second choice ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., obtained a tactical advantage over the Shug McGaughey-trained 4-5 favorite while stalking early pacesetter Jungle Juice during dawdling fractions of :25.28 and :50.15 for the first half mile.

“I was pretty pleased,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We got to a good spot and it looked like Irad had a lot of horse, just waiting to pull the trigger.”

Kathleen O., who won three stakes last season at Gulfstream, got away a bit slowly from the starting gate and raced sixth of seven horses along the backstretch. As Classy Edition moved seemingly effortlessly to the pacesetter on the far turn, Javier Castellano had gotten Kathleen O.'s run underway. The favorite passed horses with a wide sweep to enter contention on the turn into the homestretch, but Classy Edition was able to kick clear on fresh legs and continued on to register a comfortable 1¾-length victory.

“She was going good on the backside. We were going slow but she was close to the lead,” Ortiz said. “I let her do her thing and she did the rest.”

Classy Edition ($4.20) ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.15 to register her fifth victory in seven career starts. Kathleen O. finished second, four lengths clear of Don't Get Khozy.

Classy Edition made an impressive return from a nine-month layoff to win a mile optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Jan. 11 by 5 ¼ lengths.

“We really thought highly of her. She showed quality. She ran a good second in the race here and then needed some time off,” Pletcher said. “She came back really well. I thought her comeback race was excellent. We kind of had a little tactical edge today and she was able to get it done.”

Kathleen O., who had finished a close second in the Nov. 25 Comely (G3) at Aqueduct, had outfinished Classy Edition to win last year's seven-furlong Davona Dale by two lengths but was unable to make a serious run in the stretch Saturday.

“She ran really well. Unfortunately, it was a slow pace — :25, :50.,” Kathleen O.'s jockey Javier Castellano said. “For a come-from-behind horse it was too much to ask.”

New York-bred Classy Edition is from the first crop of Ashford Stud stallion Classic Empire, who had another graded stakes winner later Saturday at Fair Grounds when 3-year-old colt Angel of Empire captured the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Bred by Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman, Classy Edition was produced by the Bernardini mare Newbie. Offered by Sequel Bloodstock at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern 2-year-olds in training sale, she sold to the Lows for $550,000.

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Willis Horton Racing LLC's 2022 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner Last Samurai proved he's a horse for the course when he came from off the pace to win his third overall Oaklawn stakes in Saturday's $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) before a Hot Springs, Ark., crowd of 35,000.

With leading rider Cristian Torres in the saddle, Last Samurai got off to a slow start and was forced to settle near the back of the field as Long Range Toddy took the early lead through an opening quarter mile in :23.74. West Will Power, the 8-5 favorite, was eager to run and split horses to take control before a half mile in :47.33. He battled head and head with Law Professor around the turn and into the stretch before being collared in the final furlong by the winner, who drew off to win by 1 ½ lengths over the favorite. Law Professor held on for third. The winning time was 1:42.19 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track.

“He got an excellent ride from Cristian (Torres),” Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said. “We wanted to make sure he had a place to run. That's all we asked him. We said he might not get away very well and he didn't. We just said, 'Give us a place to run. He'll keep coming. Don't quit on him.' That's exactly the way the race unfolded.”

Rated R Superstar, the 10-year-old veteran stakes winner, was fourth and was followed by Hero Status, Long Range Toddy, Keystone Field and Fifth Season Stakes winner Ginobili, who had a rough trip.

Last Samurai, a 5-year-old Malibu Moon horse, improved his record to 5-4-4 in 23 starts and has now earned $1,607,639. He returned $18.80, $6.40 and $3.60 at odds of 8-1.

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. first post. There will also be a special Presidents' Day Monday card starting at 12:30 p.m. and featuring the annual Oaklawn cap giveaway.

Stakes Quotes:

Winning jockey Cristian Torres, Last Samurai: “Honestly at the start, when he broke a little slow, I was worried just a little bit. But when I saw there was a lot of pace in front of me, I didn't panic. He got the position the way I wanted and I was just waiting until the hole opened. As soon as it opened up and I asked him, he was there for me. Everybody saw the way he finished.”

Winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Last Samurai: “He got an excellent ride from Cristian (Torres). We wanted to make sure he had a place to run. That's all we asked him. We said he might not get away very well and he didn't. We just said, 'Give us a place to run. He'll keep coming. Don't quit on him.' That's exactly the way the race unfolded.”

Jockey Joel Rosario, second on West Will Power: “He did everything he could. Broke a little bit slow. Going into the first turn, he looked like he was in a good spot. The horse that ran us down (Last Samurai), he ran a good race.”

Trainer Rob Atras, third with Law Professor: “I thought Jose (Ortiz) gave him a good ride. On the (second) turn, I thought we were in a good position to win. That's all you can ask the rider to do and the horse to do.”

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