Tag: Racing

Millionaire C Z Rocket and fellow graded stakes winners Double Crown, Repo Rocks and Weyburn are among 36 accomplished older sprinters nominated to the $250,000 General George (G3) Saturday, Feb. 18 at Laurel Park.

The 47th running of the General George for 4-year-olds and up and 71st edition of the $250,000 Barbara Fritchie for older fillies and mares, both sprinting seven furlongs, headline a Winter Carnival program featuring six stakes worth $900,000 in purses including the $100,000 Miracle Wood, the next stop in Maryland's series for 3-year-olds on the road to the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1).

Altamira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, Gary Barber and Tom Kagele's 9-year-old C Z Rocket, based in California with trainer Peter Miller, is a 12-time career winner, three in graded-stakes, with nearly $2 million in purse earnings. He has also placed seven times in graded races, three of them Grade 1, including runner-up finishes in the 2020 and 2022 Breeders' Cup Sprint, the latter at odds of 31-1 in his most recent start.

Double B Racing Stables' Repo Rocks has won each of his last three starts, all in stakes, capped by the seven-furlong Toboggan (G3) last out Jan. 28 at Aqueduct. All three of those wins have come since joining the barn of trainer Jamie Ness, including the Let's Give Thanks and Blitzen at his home track of Parx.

Chiefswood Stables Limited's Weyburn is unraced since finishing off the board in his lone turf try last summer in the King Edward (G2) at Woodbine. The George Weaver trainee is a multiple stakes winner topped by the one-mile Gotham (G3) in 2021.

Built Wright Stable's Double Crown upset the one-mile Kelso (G2) last fall at Aqueduct, his third career stakes win. Also twice graded-stakes placed, the 6-year-old most recently ran third in a one-mile allowance Jan. 30 at Parx and is one of 11 horses nominated by owner-trainer Norman 'Lynn' Cash, a list that includes stakes winner Eastern Bay, exiting back-to-back runner-up finishes in the Vosburgh (G2) and Bold Ruler (G3), the latter by a nose Oct. 29 at Aqueduct.

Other Cash nominees include Beverly Park, a 26-time career winner on a four-race win streak; stakes winner Gagetown, fourth in a troubled trip Feb. 4 at Laurel; multiple stakes winners Monday Morning Qb and Sir Alfred James; and Pirate Rick, fourth in the Toboggan. Sir Alfred James ran third in the 2022 General George behind Cordmaker and War Tocsin, also nominated back by owner-trainer Uriah St. Lewis.

Also prominent among General George nominees are multiple stakes winners Beren, Shake Em Loose, Smooth B and Threes Over Deuces; Factor It In, 8-for-13 lifetime at Laurel coming off back-to-back stakes wins including the 6 ½-furlong Fire Plug Jan. 21; and Weyburn's stablemate Today's Flavor, riding a three-race win streak.

Tsunebumi and Sekie Yoshihara's Yuugiri, winner of the 1 1/16-mile Fantasy (G3) last spring at Oaklawn Park, tops 21 nominees to the Barbara Fritchie. Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, the 4-year-old daughter of 2011 Preakness winner Shackelford returned from nearly eight months between starts with a front-running allowance victory Dec. 30 at Oaklawn sprinting six furlongs.

Jerry Robb-trained stablemates Fille d'Esprit and Street Lute, owners of 14 combined stakes wins, are also nominated. Fille d'Esprit, third in last year's Fritchie, opened her 7-year-old season Jan. 21 with a 5 ¼-length score in the six-furlong What a Summer at Laurel, while Street Lute returned from a seven-month layoff to be fifth in a 5 ½-furlong optional claiming allowance Feb. 4.

Cloud Nine Stable's Betsy Blue, based in New York with trainer Linda Rice, was third in the one-mile Go for Wand (G3) Dec. 3 and won the 6 ½-furlong Garland of Roses Dec. 10 and seven-furlong Interborough Jan. 21 at Aqueduct in her last three starts. Also nominated from New York is Steven Schoenfeld's Union Lake, a last out winner sprinting 6 ½ furlongs at Aqueduct that ran third in the 2022 Prioress (G2).

R.A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rock Ridge Racing, BlackRidge Stables and James Brown's Pass the Champagne is a 5-year-old mare with two wins and three seconds from six career starts that was second by a head to two-time Eclipse champion Malathaat in the 2021 Ashland (G1). Also trained by Weaver, she returned from nearly a year away to run second in the 1 1/16-mile Wayward Lass Jan. 14 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Multiple stakes winners Buy the Best, Disco Ebo, Hybrid Eclipse, Malibu Beauty, Swayin to and Fro and stakes winner Prodigy Doll are among other notable Fritchie nominees.

Local stakes winners Coffeewithchris and Prince of Jericho top 23 nominees to the Miracle Wood. Preceded by the Jan. 21 Spectacular Bid, the one-mile Miracle Wood is followed in Maryland's 3-year-old stakes series by the $100,000 Private Terms at 1 1/16 miles March 18 and $125,000 Federico Tesio going 1 1/8 miles April 15 – a 'Win and In' qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to May 20 Preakness at historic Pimlico Race Course.

Prince of Jericho ran second to Coffeewithchris in the Dec. 30 Heft at Laurel before reversing that finish with a four-length triumph in the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid. Prince of Jericho is trained by Brittany Russell, who won the 2021 Miracle Wood with Maythehorsebwithu, while Coffeewithchris' trainer, John Salzman Jr., is the defending Miracle Wood champion following Local Motive's victory in 2022.

Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Arctic Arrogance has been first or second in all five of his starts in New York for Rice. He won the Oct. 30 Sleepy Hollow against fellow New York-breds and has run second by a half-length in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) Dec. 3 and one-mile Jerome Jan. 7 in his two most recent starts.

C Z Rocket's undefeated stablemate, Tom London, Terry Lovingier and Eugene Zondlo's Thirsty John, was nominated to the Miracle Wood after a front-running half-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile California Cup Derby Jan. 7 at Santa Anita. It was the first start in nearly eight months for the Stay Thirsty colt since a 3 ¼-length maiden score sprinting 4 ½ furlongs last May.

The seven-furlong Wide Country attracted 21 nominations including 2022 Maryland Million Lassie winner Chickieness; Girl Trouble, a winner of back-to-back sprint stakes at Parx; L Street Lady, who beat Chickieness in the Jan. 21 Xtra Heat at Laurel; and out-of-town stakes winners Opus Forty Two, Sally's Sassy and Stonewall Star.

The Wide Country is followed at Laurel by the $100,000 Beyond the Wire going one mile March 18 and $125,000 Weber City Miss going 1 1/16 miles April 15, a 'Win and In' qualifier for the 99th Black-Eyed Susan (G2) May 19 at Pimlico.

Double Crown, Monday Morning Qb and Shake Em Loose are also among 35 nominees to the $100,000 John B. Campbell for 4-year-olds and up going about 1 1/16 miles, along with defending champion Galerio and fellow stakes winners Armando R, Forewarned, Hello Hot Rod, Nimitz Class, Ournationonparade, Plot the Dots, Sea Foam and Vance Scholars.

Rounding out the stakes action is the $100,000 Nellie Morse for older fillies and mares at about 1 1/16 miles that saw 23 horses nominated led by Fille d'Esprit, Hybrid Eclipse, Malibu Beauty and Pass the Champagne. Others include Fille d'Esprit stablemate Award Wanted, winner of the Jan. 21 Geisha at Laurel; Grade 3 winner Battle Bling; Grade 3-placed Cover Version; and Jan. 1 Ladies winner Falconet.

The post Graded Stakes Winners C Z Rocket, Yuugiri Among Stakes Nominees For Laurel’s Winter Carnival Card appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Whisper Hill Farm LLC's Charge It made a much-anticipated and triumphant return from a seven-month layoff Sunday at Gulfstream Park, scoring an always-in-control 1 1/2-length victory in the featured $87,000 optional claiming allowance.

Sidelined since capturing the July 2 Dwyer at Belmont Park by a dazzling 23 lengths, Charge It stalked a solid early pace before moving to the lead leaving the far turn and continuing on to a comfortable decision over late-rallying Vittorio.

“You never take anything for granted in this game. The horse was training super. We felt like we had him ready off the layoff,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He was stalking some pretty nice fractions and did it nicely. The horse that finished second had some pretty good form too. It was what we were hoping to see.”

Charge It, the 1-5 favorite in a field of seven in Race 8, ran 1 1/16 miles under Luis Saez in 1:41.96. over a track rated good.

“The trip was great. He's a pretty fast horse. The key with him was to try to make him relax behind horses and he did great. He laid off and did it perfect,” Saez said. “We came to the half-mile pole, and I had so much horse. I just let him go a little early so he can breathe and be all right, and at the top of the stretch I just came with him and didn't really do anything. I didn't let him go because we wanted to save something. He felt very good. He's doing unbelievable. He came back great.”

Charge It graduated by 8 ½ lengths at Gulfstream in his second career start last February before overcoming a starting gate issue to finish second behind White Abarrio in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) in April. The Pletcher trainee finished off the board in the Kentucky Derby (G1), in which he encountered some traffic, before rebounding with his spectacular showing in the Dwyer.

“Our big goals for the summer are the Met Mile (G1) and the Whitney (G1),” Pletcher said. “We have to figure out what we're going to do between now and the Met Mile.”

The post ‘It Was What We Were Hoping To See’: Charge It Roars Returns From Layoff With Comfortable Gulfstream Triumph appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rhea Moon, who earned her second-straight stakes win in the American Oaks (G1) Dec. 26 on Santa Anita's opening day, returned to the work tab Sunday when drilling an easy three furlongs in :37.20  on the training track.

On what was a wet morning at Santa Anita, nearly 200 horses had timed workouts either on the main track or training track. Country Grammer and Taiba each continued their preparations for the rich Saudi Cup when each worked seven furlongs in 1:25.60.

Additionally, multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Brickyard Ride continued to gear up for his comeback with a six-furlong move in 1:13.6 under Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez. Brickyard Ride, who has won 12 of 23 starts and banked $744,977 for trainer Craig Lewis and owner-breeder Alfred Pais, has not started since last May when fifth in the Triple Bend (G2).

As for Rhea Moon, her victory in the 1 1/4-mile American Oaks for trainer Phil D'Amato followed a win in the Autumn Miss (G3) going one mile at Santa Anita on Oct. 29.

D'Amato last week said Rhea Moon was “getting a little working vacation” but would likely return in a stakes sometime in March. Local turf stakes options would include the Buena Vista (G3) at a mile on March 4; Santa Ana (G3) at 1 ¼ miles on March 12; or possibly wait for the Royal Heroine (G2) at a mile on April 1.

The post ‘A Little Working Vacation’: American Oaks Victress Rhea Moon Works At Santa Anita, Likely For March Return appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Klaravich Stables' Interpolate notched her first stakes triumph for trainer Chad Brown in Sunday's $100,000 Ruthless, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Ridden to victory by Eric Cancel, who picked up the mount from the injured Kendrick Carmouche, Interpolate stalked and pounced to victory under a well-timed ride to pass pacesetter Girl Trouble down the stretch and post the 2 1/2-length score.

“She's always shown a lot of potential in the mornings and it's one of those things with young horses where she's developed week-to-week and month-to-month mentally,” Brown said of the filly by Spendthrift Farm's leading sire Into Mischief. “Eric allowed her to really put her development all together today by allowing her to run how she wanted. I'm very proud of her.”

Breaking sharply from post 2, Interpolate was taken back by Cancel and settled in fourth as post-time favorite Girl Trouble vied for command with an advancing Royal Poppy to her outside through an opening quarter mile in :24.53. Brown's other entry, Senior Prank, tracked along the rail in third after breaking inwardly from the inside post under Manny Franco and rushing up to gain position.

Royal Poppy secured a half-length lead as the field rounded the turn with Girl Trouble to her inside, but Interpolate loomed large in the three-path and made up ground with every stride to come to even terms with her two rivals after a half-mile in :48.50. Royal Poppy began to backpedal at the top of the stretch as a stubborn Girl Trouble continued to give chase down the lane, but Interpolate had plenty left to draw away from her rival and cross the wire first in a final time of 1:26.44 over the fast main track.

Girl Trouble held place honors by 2 3/4 lengths over the late-running Malibu Moonshine, who suffered her first loss in her fourth career start. Royal Poppy rounded out the superfecta with Senior Prank completing the order of finish.

Interpolate's victory came on the heels of a troubled trip on January 3 at Parx Racing where she was bumped and steadied at the start of the Parx Futurity and finished a distant fourth behind Girl Trouble over a sloppy and sealed main track.

“She didn't break well at Parx and then she was rushed into the race. It just unfolded pretty bad and you add in a sealed track into that, I put a line through it,” Brown said. “I love how Eric filled in here and got her out of the gate but didn't rush her and let her find her stride. I felt comfortable when she was taking him through every stage of the race – that's really what I wanted to see, for her to be taking the rider somewhere. That's the way she prefers to train and run and I'm proud of the filly.”

Cancel said Interpolate was professional in her victory.

“She felt pretty good. She was pretty nice and smooth,” said Cancel. “Looking at her last race, it looks like she had a little bit of a rough trip, but I just tried to not get in her way today. I tried to let her be comfortable out there and she did the job.”

The win was Brown's ninth from 18 starters at the Big A this year, an accomplishment he said can be attributed to his team at Belmont Park.

“My New York team has really been cooking on all cylinders with the win percentage as you can see,” said Brown. “They've been executing all their duties to the highest degree, so I'm very proud of them, too.”

Brown said Interpolate is more likely to cut back to six furlongs in the $100,000 Cicada on March 18 rather than stretch out to one mile in the $200,000 Busher on March 4, which offers 50-20-10-15-5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points.

“I don't think [the Cicada] is a bad idea,” said Brown. “I think the way she rated today, she clearly showed that she can sit off horses and move when willing. She's not just a one-dimensional horse who needs to be up close to the pace. If I had to choose between the two, I think a cutback with some pace in front of her would probably be more to her liking than trying to stretch her out too far. But we'll ultimately leave it up to how she trains.”

Bred in Kentucky by Capital Bloodstock from the Tapit mare Keesha, Interpolate banked $55,000 in victory and improved her lifetime record to 2-0-0 from four starts. Eaton Sales sold her to Cayuga Capital for $300,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale.

Intepolate returned $11.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Butch Reid Jr., trainer of the Jose Lezcano-piloted Girl Trouble, said the dual stakes winner may have struggled with the surface.

“She didn't really get a break early on,” Reid, Jr. said. “Jose said he was a little unsure about the track. He thought it was a little bit heavier than she's been used to and that she struggled with the track a little bit. That said, the winner is a legitimate horse and I thought she ran well.”

Reid added that he will wait to make a decision on the Busher for Girl Trouble.

“We'll take it one step at a time, see how she comes out of it and make a decision from there,” said Reid.

The post Into Mischief Filly Interpolate Cruises To First Stakes Score In Ruthless appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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