Tag: Racing

Fresh off a visually impressive win in an ungraded stakes Nov. 19, C R K Stable's Justique heads a field of six sophomore fillies going seven furlongs in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Originally scheduled to be run on New Year's Day, the Santa Ynez was re-drawn Thursday due to this past Sunday's races being cancelled. With Justique remaining the horse to beat, she'll face five rivals, all of whom were scheduled to run on Jan. 1.

Trained by John Shirreffs, Justique, in a come-from-behind performance reminiscent of the great Zenyatta, walked out of the gate in the seven furlong Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 19, was about 10 lengths off the lead at the half mile pole, cruised into contention while within herself around the far turn and won as she pleased by 2 ¼ lengths under a hand ride from Victor Espinoza.

Purchased for $725,000 as a Keeneland September Yearling, Justique, who is by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, went largely unnoticed in her 5 ½ furlong debut July 31, as she won from far off the pace at odds of 8-1.

Subsequently third, beaten 5 ½ lengths at 6-5 as she stretched out to a mile and one sixteenth in the G2 Chandelier Stakes here Oct. 8, Justique was nonetheless favored when off at 3-2 in the Desi Arnaz.

Off slowly in all three of her starts, Justique will likely employ similar tactics as she takes on a competitive group of classmates that will include three Bob Baffert trainees.

Richard Mandella's Ice Dancing, an impressive one length gate to wire maiden winner going a flat mile on Nov. 25 at Del Mar, finished a half length behind Justique two starts back in the Chandelier Stakes and rates serious consideration as she cuts back to one turn.

A grey or roan filly by Frosted, Ice Dancing who is owned by Ramona and Perry Bass and bred in Kentucky by their Bass Stables, LLC, was third in the G1 Del Mar Debutante going seven eighths three starts back and will be ridden by Mike Smith in what will be her fifth career start and her third graded stakes engagement.

Of the three Baffert entrants, Huntingcoco, Parody and Fast and Shiny (who was supplemented), Parody, would appear to have the most speed, while Huntingcoco a 6 ¾ length first out maiden winner who has been beaten double digits in two subsequent stakes engagements, most recently a fifth place run behind Justique in the Desi Arnaz, may have the most upside.

THE GRADE 3 SANTA YNEZ STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 8 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. Satin Doll—Edwin Maldonado—120
2. Fast and Shiny—Ramon Vazquez–120
3. Justique—Victor Espinoza—122
4. Parody—Juan Hernandez—120
5. Huntingcoco—John Velazquez—120
6. Ice Dancing—Flavien Prat–120

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12 noon, with admission gates opening at 10 a.m.

The post Justique Merits Top Billing In Rescheduled Santa Ynez appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Reigning New York-bred champions Bankit and My Boy Tate will square off for the sixth time in their respective 36-race careers in Sunday's $100,000 Say Florida Sandy for New York-breds 4-years-old and upward going seven furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's Bankit, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, has secured seven career stakes victories, including a last out conquest of the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble on December 4 at the Big A, where My Boy Tate finished 6 1/2 lengths back in third.

The bay son of perennial leading New York sire Central Banker also captured last year's one-mile Evan Shipman through the rejuvenated Wilson Chute at Saratoga Race Course.

A productive 2021 season saw Bankit earn honors for New York-bred Champion Older Male, notching victories in that year's open company John B. Campbell at Laurel Park as well as the one-mile Commentator at Belmont Park, where he earned a career and field best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. Bankit has earned a field-best $1,258,405 through a record of 36-8-11-5.

“He's a great guy to have around. He always seems to have something good going on. He doesn't need a whole lot of time off and he typically makes money. What more can you say? He's a professional racehorse,” said David Fiske, racing and bloodstock advisor for Winchell Thoroughbreds.

A stakes winner at all three NYRA tracks, Bankit also captured Finger Lakes' New York Derby in 2019. He has won stakes at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

“He's pretty versatile,” Fiske said. “Sometimes, once you get them going and going well, you need to run them, especially in New York in the wintertime. You don't have to work them too many times. As long as you run them at a regular interval, that keeps them happy.”

Jose Lezcano, a perfect 3-for-3 aboard Bankit, will return to the irons from post 3.

Bankit will do battle with fellow New York-bred champion My Boy Tate, who was named 2021 Champion Male Sprinter. Owned by Little Red Feather Racing in partnership with trainer and breeder Michelle Nevin – a three-time Say Florida Sandy winning conditioner – My Boy Tate captured the inaugural running of this race in 2018, which also was his stakes debut.

A proven horse for course, My Boy Tate brags a 19-8-4-2 record at the Big A. In addition to his 2018 Say Florida Sandy score, he also secured triumphs in non-consecutive editions of the Hollie Hughes [2018 and 2021], as well as the 2020 NYSSS Thunder Rumble and the 2021 Haynesfield. He crossed the wire first in last year's Say Florida Sandy, but was disqualified to fourth.

Manny Franco, the pilot aboard four of My Boy Tate's 11 career wins, will ride from post 1.

The Elkstone Group's Wudda U Think Now will seek his fourth career stakes coup for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The 6-year-old Fast Anna gelding enters off a 3 1/4-length triumph in the one-mile Alex M. Robb on December 17 at the Big A under Dylan Davis. Fourth to My Boy Tate in the Hudson in October, Wudda U Think Now won last year's Hollie Hughes in February at the Big A and the John Morrissey in August at Saratoga.

Wudda U Think Now sports a 10-6-2-0 record at Aqueduct.

“I think this a good race for him to run with his own kind,” Rodriguez said. “It looks like a solid group of New York-breds so we're taking a chance. The good thing is his best races are at Aqueduct. He's won six races there, so he gets over the track well. I wish we had a couple of more days, but he's training well.”

Davis will once again pilot Wudda U Think Now, who breaks from post 4.

Completing the field are multiple stakes-placed Reggae Music Man [post 2, Jose Gomez] and stakes-winner Market Alert [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche].

The Say Florida Sandy honors the 2001 New York-bred Horse of the Year who boasted a 21-7-5-3 record at Aqueduct, including victories in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler, Hollie Hughes and Gravesend. He retired in 2003 with earnings in excess of $2 million and an overall record of 98-33-17-12.

The Say Florida Sandy is carded as Race 8 on Sunday's nine-race card. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct winter meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack winter meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Reigning New York-Bred Champs Bankit, My Boy Tate Face Off For Sixth Time In Sunday’s Say Florida Sandy Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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R. Larry Johnson's Souzak is scheduled to make his U.S. debut in Saturday's $100,000 Dania Beach at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., where the son of Kodiac will seek his fourth victory in a row.

The Dania Beach, a mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds, will co-headline an 11-race program with the $100,000 Ginger Brew, a mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf.

Souzak was purchased at the Arqana Arc Sale for $392,080 only hours after collecting his third straight victory Oct. 1 at Longchamp.

“He won the day of the sale. Larry picked him out, and I contacted Nicolas de Watrigant,” said trainer Graham Motion, who called upon the prominent French bloodstock agent to bid on the French-bred colt on Johnson's behalf.

Following the sale, Motion had considered entering Souzak in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Keeneland.

“Timing-wise, it would have given us five weeks if we wanted to take a shot, but he got sick,” Motion said.

Souzak recovered at Motion's training base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, where he worked three times before shipping to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach Country where he breezed once in preparation for the Dania Beach.

“He's training well, but I don't have a feel for how he'll do Saturday,” Motion said. “He's a nice horse, a straightforward horse.”

Joel Rosario has the mount aboard Souzak, who is scheduled to clash with six rivals in the Dania Beach, including Spendthrift Farm LLC's Major Dude and Mark Grier's Candidate.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher trains Major Dude, who most recently finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The son of Bolt d'Oro captured captured the Pilgrim (G1) in his turf debut at Belmont in his prior start.

“He's a very straightforward, very professional colt. He always has been. He took to the grass really well in the Pilgrim,” Pletcher said. “Unfortunately, he drew Post 13 in the Juvenile [Turf] and he was never able to really tuck in and save any ground. I thought he ran really well to only get beat 3 ¾ lengths. I think from a different draw it could have been closer.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount aboard Major Dude.

Arnaud Delacour-trained Candidate is undefeated in two turf starts following an off-the-board finish in his debut over a sloppy Laurel main track. The son of Exaggerator broke his maiden with a front-running 2 ¼-length score at Laurel before winning by 4 ½ lengths in a Tampa allowance.

“He's done nothing wrong on the turf,” Delacour said. “Obviously, he's got tactical speed. He was a touch aggressive the last time at Tampa, but after about a furlong and a half he settled nicely. Hopefully he can do the same on Saturday.”

Spencer McDonald's Cheerful Charlie, a son of Adios Charlie who is multiple stakes-placed on Tapeta; Tami Bobo and Lugamo Racing Stable LLC's Congruent, who finished third in the Pulpit in his first start on turf last time out; Marie Trombetta and Three Diamonds Farm's Barzini, who is 2-for-2 on turf at five-furlongs, graduating at Laurel before scoring a gutsy optional claiming allowance last time out; and Watters Edge LLC's Worthington, who as won his last two starts on turf at Keenland and Churchill Downs; round out the field.

The post French Import, Three-Time Winner Souzak Makes U.S. Debut For Motion In Saturday’s Dania Beach appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Lael Stables' Navy Goat will face eight rivals including fellow stakes winners Showgirl Lynne B and Grade 1-placed Cairo Consort as she chases a third straight victory in Saturday's $100,000 Ginger Brew at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 12th running of the Ginger Brew for fillies is one of two one-mile turf stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds on a xx-race program, along with the 15th renewal of the $100,000 Dania Beach. First race post time is 12:10 p.m.

Repole Stable and Town and Country Racing's Cairo Consort will be racing first time for her new connections since being purchased for $875,000 out of Fasig-Tipton's fall mixed sale in November. She had two wins, a second and two thirds in six starts at 2, all but her debut coming on Woodbine's turf course.

“She's very straightforward, very professional, and she's trained well,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She's done everything right since she's come in. We've been very pleased with what we've seen.”

Cairo Consort won the 6 ½-furlong Catch a Glimpse in her stakes debut last August, one start after breaking her maiden, then ran second as the favorite in the Natalma (G1) and third at 19-1, beaten 4 ¾ lengths, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland. Both races came at the Ginger Brew distance.

“She's a good-looking filly, well-built, got a good disposition and a good mind. Obviously, her race record has been very good,” Pletcher said. “Winner of the Catch a Glimpse, second in a Grade 1 and third in the Breeders' Cup. Those are pretty solid credentials.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call on Cairo Consort, a daughter of Cairo Prince, from Post 3.

“It looks like she's pretty versatile in her running style,” Pletcher said. “Depending on what the pace scenario is, Irad will be able to kind of place her where she feels most comfortable.”

Navy Goat, a bay daughter of undefeated Grade 1 winner Army Mule, fetched $450,000 as a 2-year-old in training last April and debuted running third as the favorite in a five-furlong turf sprint in August at Monmouth Park.

From there, Navy Goat graduated by a neck after getting bumped at the start of a one-mile maiden special weight on the grass at Kentucky Downs before heading south, where she captured the Nov. 19 Juvenile Fillies going a mile and 70 yards on Gulfstream's Tapeta course.

“I like her. I was really happy with the way she won at Kentucky Downs,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “We wanted to wait and get the right spot for her. She got it done last time in state-bred company, but she did it right. That was a little bit of a weaker race compared to what we're going to see on Saturday, but she did it in style so we're happy with her.”

Delacour was also pleased with how Navy Goat overcame trouble at the start again last time, when she hit the gate at the break and raced near the back of the pack early before getting into contention entering the stretch and drawing off to win by 2 ½ lengths.

“At Gulfstream the last time we were up against it a little bit. She didn't break that well and then it was a very slow space in front of her so it took a while for her to settle,” he said. “So, the fact that she was still able to finish was really encouraging to me.”

Joel Rosario, up for her maiden triumph, has the call on Navy Goal from Post 7.

“Depending on what the pace is going to be, she can sit pretty close or even mid-pack if the pace is hot,” Delacour said.

Westlake Racing Stable's Showgirl Lynne B drew the rail for her sophomore debut after concluding 2022 with successive off-the-board stakes finishes. The Bob Hess trainee opened her career with three straight wins, the first two of them sprinting over Gulfstream's Tapeta course, the second in last August's Sharp Susan.

Four horses return in the Ginger Brew after running in the 7 ½-furlong Wait a While on the Gulfstream turf Dec. 10 – Stephanie's Charm (third), Isabel Alexandra (sixth), Lady Azteca (seventh) and Bel Pensiero (11th). Stephanie's Charm also ran second in the one-mile, 70-yard Our Dear Peggy Sept. 17 on the Tapeta.

Completing the field are Anna Karenine, a winner of two of five starts last year in Europe entered for her U.S. debut; and Erna, exiting a popular neck maiden special weight triumph Dec. 11 at Gulfstream at the course and distance.

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