Tag: Racing

The plan for Miss J McKay going into Saturday's $100,000 Abundantia at Gulfstream Park: Give the multiple stakes-winning mare an opportunity to defend her title in the five-furlong turf sprint for fillies and mares during a winter campaign before sending her off to the breeding shed.

“The original plan was to run her this winter and put her in foal, but after the way she won today, I think everything is up in the air,” said Miguel Clement, trainer and part-owner Christophe Clement's son and assistant trainer. “I'm sure my father and his partners will think about that afterwards.”

Purchased at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $335,000, Miss J McKay was in peak form Saturday, surging from off the pace in the stretch and drawing away to a convincing 1 ¼-length victory under Tyler Gaffalione. The 5-year-old daughter of Hangover Kid's fourth stakes success was her first start for Oakwood Stables, Cheyenne Stable LLC and Clement, who had previously trained the Maryland-bred mare for another partnership.

“Her 'A' races are pretty spectacular to watch. She's been a little unlucky in some of her races the past year,” Miguel Clement said. “My father always loved this filly. I don't know if you noticed but he's part-owner of this filly. He's always loved her. He's very happy to be a part of the filly. When she went to the ring, he decided he had to put another partnership together to keep her in the stable.”

Miss J McKay recovered from a slight bump at the start to settle off the early pace set by multiple-stakes winner Miss Auramet, who was under intense pressure from the start from Imagery and Stony Point to her outside. Miss J McKay started a three-wide rally leaving the backstretch before swinging five-wide into the stretch and launching her impressive winning drive.

Miss J McKay ($9.80) ran five furlongs over a turf course rated as good in :56.68. Imagery finished second, a neck ahead of Stony Point.

The Abundantia co-headlined the Christmas Eve program with the $100,000 Janus, a five-furlong turf dash for 3-year-olds and up won by Peace Sign Stable's Belgrano ($23.40).

The Frank Russo-trained 8-year-old son of War Front took advantage of a hotly contested early pace to rally late to score a narrow decision over pacesetter Nothing Better. Paco Lopez rode Belgrano, who ran five furlongs in :55.94.

The Sunshine Meet's leading trainer was Saffie Joseph Jr., and the leading jockey Miguel Vasquez.

The post ‘I Think Everything Is Up In The Air’: Miss J McKay Scores Abundantia Repeat At Gulfstream, Retirement To Breeding Shed Could Be Postponed appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Don Alberto Stable's Forza Di Oro gets the honors of morning line favorite at 7-2 in the $100,000 Tenacious Stakes Monday at Fair Grounds, but last year's Tenacious exacta returns in the form of Estate of James J. Coleman Jr.'s Chess Chief and Lothenbach's Happy American, who is cross-entered in the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto three races earlier on the card.

The 58th running of the 1 1/16 miles Tenacious will go as Race 13 at 6 p.m. (CT), the last dance on the “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card. The spectacular day of racing features the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes (Race 11) and $100,000 Untapable (Race 12). Those races offer qualifying points (10-4-3-2-1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Oaks respectively.

 The older female counterpart to the Tenacious, the 1 mile and 70 yards $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes, will go as Race 3. The $100,000 Richard R. Scherer Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for older runners, is scheduled as Race 9.

Taking on the likes of Olympiad, Life is Good, and Hot Rod Charlie, Chess Chief has not been able to translate his big late kick into a win in 2022. The 6-year-old trained by Dallas Stewart has five wins at Fair Grounds, and he is knocking on the door of $1 million lifetime earnings.

“He's done pretty well this year, but just ran into a lot of real tough horses,” Stewart said. “He's just a real campaigner. He's a hard knocking warrior. He's on for the race. He's training wellk. Worked a good 5/8ths.  He loves this place, he's a New Orleans horse.”

Tabbed at 10-1 in the morning line, Chess Chief drew post No. 8 and he retains the services of Rey Gutierrez, who rode him to victory on this date last year.

Chief among those who stand in Chess Chief's way is Forza Di Oro. Previously trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the 2020 Discovery (G3) winner will make his first start for trainer Brad Cox. The 5-year-old horse has only raced once in 2022, finishing 15 lengths back in the Philip H. Iselin (G3) at Monmouth Park. Earlier in his career when trained by Bill Mott, he ran fifth in the 2021 Woodward (G1) and also finished third to Max Player and Happy Saver in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Florent Geroux will break aboard Forza Di Oro from post No. 5.

Another top horse entered in the Tenacious Stakes is Jack Wagon Stable's Intrepid Heart. After he finished second in all four starts since transferring into his barn, including last out in the Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill, trainer Joe Sharp decides to take the blinkers off

Jon Lapczenski and JIL Stable's Mr. Wireless got his nose down in front of pacesetter Here Mi Song and a fast-closing South Bend to win an allowance race over a one-turn mile last out at Churchill Downs. The 2021 Oklahoma and West Virginia Derby winner has won six of his 12 races, three of those coming at the Tenacious distance.

The full field for the Tenacious from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds):

1. Business Model (Edgar Morales, Brendan Walsh, 15-1);

2. Spa City (Martin Garcia, Eddie Kenneally, 15-1);

3. Intrepid Heart (Adam Beschizza, Joe Sharp, 9-2);

4. Beaver Hat (Marcelino Pedroza Jr., Brian Williamson, 30-1);

5. Forza Di Oro (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 7-2);

6. Captivating Moon (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block, 8-1);

7. Farmington Road (Luis Saez, Cherie DeVaux, 8-1);

8. Chess Chief (Rey Gutierrez, Dallas Stewart, 10-1);

9. Happy American (James Graham, Neil Pessin, 6-1);

10. Five Star General (Corey Lanerie, Grant Forster, 20-1);

11. Gentle Soul (David Cohen, Bret Calhoun, 20-1);

12. Rightandjust (Alex Castillo, Shane Wilson, 20-1);

13. Mr. Wireless (Deshawn Parker, Bret Calhoun, 6-1).

Formful Sprinters To Meet In Richard R. Scherer Memorial

In some ways, Susan Moulton's two-time Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) starter Manny Wah stands out in the field of seven older entered in 17th running of the $100,000 Richard R. Scherer Memorial Stakes, a six-furlong dirt dash for 3-year-olds and up.

Although he edges out the field in class, Manny Wah is winless in six tries on Fair Grounds' dirt track.

Surveillance, owned by Big Chief Racing, Rocker O Ranch, and Keith Desormeaux, is three-for-three over the local oval, and having won the  Thanksgiving Classic, he wears the track's older male sprint crown until proven otherwise.

Trained by Wayne Catalano, the 3-1 morning line second-favorite won October's Phoenix (G2) at Keeneland to earn his second entry to the Breeder's Cup Sprint, where he finished 4th (5th in 2020). A late-runner through and through, Manny Wah consistently fires and in 35 races he has finished in the money 20 times, but only five of those are wins. As a 3-year-old on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail he ran in Fair Grounds' Derby preps series beginning with the Sugar Bowl. He is on the duck over the local dirt track in six tries, but he dazzled all with his late turn of foot when winning the 2021 Kenner in his first ever turf start.

Along for many of Manny Wah's late runs, Corey Lanerie will work with post No.7 to navigate a ground saving late run into a suspect pace set-up given the presence of only one true front runner, Dawn and Scotty Robin's High Cruise who Diliberto tabbed at 20-1 in the morning line.

If you didn't watch Jay Emm Ess Stable's Miles Ahead's last start you'd still be wondering if he can win anywhere but at Gulfstream Park. But he did just that powering home to win the Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs in September. To be fair, his 11 prior wins came only at Gulfstream because that is the only track he raced before being transferred through several different trainers and now is in the hands of Kentucky-based Paul McGee. He was scratched on the track prior to the Bet On Sunshine, a race won by Bango. Six furlongs is this sprinter's specialty and he's drawn favorably with post No. 2. His jockey Martin Garcia rode him to victory at Churchill. Oddsmaker Mike Diliberto crowns Miles Ahead the favorite at 5-2.

Other top horses entered into the Richard R. Scherer Memorial include David Ingordo's lightly raced Tulane Tryst who is seven times in the exacta out of nine runs and enters after firing bullet workout on Dec 10. TEC Racing's Heart Rhythm's form since being claimed by trainer John Ortiz cannot be denied. He finished second to Surveillance in the Thanksgiving Classic after running a new top speed figure when winning an allowance at Keeneland in October. Eight of Tamaroak Partners' Bango's 11 wins have come at Churchill Downs including November's Bet On Sunshine in his last.

The field for the Richard R. Scherer Memorial Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds):

1. Bango (Edgar Morales, Greg Foley, 7-2);

2. Miles Ahead (Martin Garcia, Paul McGee, 5-2);

3. Tulane Tryst (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cheire DeVaux, 9-2);

4. Heart Rhythm (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 6-1);

5. High Cruise (Colby Hernandez, Alberto Antonio, 20-1);

6. Surveillance (James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 6-1);

7. Manny Wah (Corey Lanerie, Wayne Catalano, 3-1).

Silverbulletday Winner Charlie's Penny Returns For 'Spanky' Broussard Memorial

Pegged as the 7-5 morning line favorite, Lothenbach Stables' Charlie's Penny enters the 58th running of $100,000 Joseph E. “Spanky” Broussard Memorial Stakes on a two-race win streak. The 2021 Silverbulletday winner faces a field of five older fillies going 1 mile 70 yards.

Chris Block trains the 4-year-old by Race Day, who will be traveling two turns for just the second time in her nine-race career. The Minnesota-bred's win streak began with the Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship at Canterbury Park. Next out she defeated open allowance company at Churchill Downs. Breaking from post No. 5 she will be ridden by Jareth Loveberry.

One of Charlie's Penny's rivals in the Broussard is Farfellow Farms' Moon Swag. Exiting a distant fourth in the Falls City (G3), this Brendan Walsh trainee won her first start off a year-long layoff, beating allowance company going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland in October. Her first win at two-turns, she defeated Broussard rival Powder River by 2 3/4 lengths. Drawing the rail, the 4-year-old Malibu Moon filly attracts the services of Luis Saez.

The full field for the Sugar Bowl Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):

1.Moon Swag (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh, 5-2);

2. Bow Bow Girl (James Graham, Chris Richard, 8-1);

3. Powder River (Florent Geroux, Norm Casse, 4-1);

4. Lil Kings Princess (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 6-1);

5. Charlie's Penny (Jareth Lovebery, Chris Block, 7-5).

The post Chess Chief Seeks Tenacious Repeat, Formful Sprinters Set To Meet In Scherer Memorial On ‘Road To The Derby Kickoff Day’ At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Turf racing returns for Monday's “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, La. With the portable rail set at 34 feet, starters will be limited to eight runners for the $100,000 Buddy Diliberto Memorial and the female counterpart, the 1 1/16 miles $100,000 Blushing K.D. (Race 6). With the same parameters, racing will return to the turf on Dec. 31 for the runnings of the $100,000 Pago Hop and the $100,000 Woodchopper. If all goes well, as is expected, Fair Grounds will continue to run limited turf races starting Jan. 5.

With a first post of noon CT for a 13-race card, “The Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card features the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes (Race 11) and $100,000 Untapable (Race 12). Both races offer the last chance for Kentucky Derby and Oaks dreamers to earn qualifying points (10-4-3-2-1) as 2-year-olds.

Lothenbach Stables' Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) winner Captivating Moon gets the morning-line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto's blessing as the favorite in an overdrawn field of eleven older males in the 17th running of the Diliberto Memorial. There's little drop off from the top as the race named after the beloved New Orleans sportscaster has five foes tabbed between 3-1 and 4-1; eight between 3-1 and 6-1.

Trained by Chris Block, Captivating Moon has only won once in the past two years, coming from last to first over a yielding course in the 2021 Fair Grounds (G3) at boxcar odds of 43-1. The 7-year-old by Malibu Moon did, however, win the 2019 edition of the Buddy D over a sloppy main track. Jareth Loveberry takes the reins and will be breaking from post No. 5.

Chief among his competitors in the Buddy D is the 3-time graded stakes winner Spooky Channel, owned by NBS Stable. Not seen since October of 2021 when he won the Sycamore (G3) at Keeneland, the English Channel 7-year-old trained by Jason Barkley suffered a setback last December when training for this race and had to scratch.

“Spooky is coming off the layoff,” Barkley said. “We've had him ready for a month and have just been waiting for the turf course to open up. He gallops strong and he's passing the eye test in the mornings. I think he is the best horse in the race. He wants to go a little further (than 1 1/16 miles), but it's a great starting spot.”

Tabbed at 4-1 in the morning line, Spooky Channel gets the services of James Graham and will begin his return to the races from post No. 6.

Stablemate Bizzee Channel is making his second start for the Barkley barn since being transferred from Lacy Gaudet by owner Baron Racing Stables.

“Bizzee is doing really well,” Barkley said. “We took the blinkers off for this race, and I like that move for him because he can get too aggressive and then not finish. Hopefully he'll relax off the lead, in there. If he's on the lead, that's fine, but he runs best just off the leaders.”

Adam Beschizza will ride the graded stakes winner for the first time, breaking from post No.4

Other top horses entered into the Buddy D Stakes include Jerry Romans Jr. and Hamilton Smith's English Tavern who is three-for-five at the distance and Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch's Spanish Kingdom who finished second in the $394,000 Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs last September.

Here is the complete field for the Fern Creek from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

1. Temper Tantrum (Mitchell Murril, Armando Hernandez, 8-1);
2. Risk Manager (Corey Lanerie, Sarah Davidson, 10-1);
3. Big Agenda (Luis Saez, Joe Sharp, 12-1);
4. Bizzee Channel (Adam Beschizza, Jason Barkley, 6-1);
5. Captivating Moon (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block, 3-1);
6. Spooky Channel (James Graham, Jason Barkley, 4-1);
7. English Tavern (Deshawn Parker, Michelle Lovell, 7-2);
8. Spanish Kingdom (Brian Hernandez Jr., Joe Sharp, 5-1);
9. AE Gentle Soul (Rey Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun, 6-1);
10. AE Runnin' Ray (Martin Garcia, Joe Sharp, 7-2);
11. AE Happy American (James Graham, Neil Pessin, 7-2).

My Racehorse Stable and Spendthrift Farm's A Mo Reay headlines a field of eight older fillies and mares entered in Monday's 15th running of the $100,000 Blushing K.D. Stakes, going 1 1/16 miles on the Stall-Wilson turf course.

Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-1 morning line favorite has made only two starts on the grass, most recently finishing fifth in the Pebbles (G3), two lengths back from the Chad Brown French-bred Faith In Humanity. Recently transferred from Todd Pletcher's barn, the 3-year-old has posted four morning workouts since arriving at Fair Grounds, including a 5-furlong 1:00.80 bullet on Dec 10. Florent Geroux will guide the Uncle Mo filly from post No. 6.

One of A Mo Reay's main rivals in the Blushing K.D. is the Godolphin homebred Lake Lucerne. Though the Brandan Walsh trainee is winless in 2022, she has started in four graded stakes, including her last out fifth to Dalika in November's Cardinal (G3) at Churchill Downs. Slated at 7-2 by morning-line oddsmaker Mike Diliberto, the 5-year-old mare by Dubawi will break from post No. 7 with Brian Hernandez Jr. aboard.

Other top horses entered into the Blushing K.D. Stakes include Susan Moultan's Jack Bishop stakes-winner Oliviaofthedesert trained by Wayne Catalano and Dream Big Racing's Carpe Vinum who makes his first start for trainer John Ortiz after being transferred from Phil D'Amato's barn.

Here is the complete field for the Blushing K.D. Stakes from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, and morning line odds):

1. Island Hideaway (Adam Beschizza, Karl Broberg, 6-1);
2. Mo Clare's (Jareth Loveberry, Chris Block, 8-1);
3. Wave of Goodness (Mitchell Murrill, Armando Hernandez, 8-1);
4. Carpe Vinum (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz, 7-2);
5. Oliviaofthedesert (Corey Lanerie, Wayne Catalano, 5-1);
6. A Mo Reay (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 3-1);
7. Lake Lucerne (Brian Hernandez Jr., Brendan Walsh, 7-2);
8. Quinn Ella (Emmanuel Nieves, Cesar Govea, 15-1).

The post Turf Racing Returns At Fair Grounds With Pair Of Monday Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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In 2020, Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic hero Authentic became the 10th 3-year-old male trained by Bob Baffert to win a divisional Eclipse Award. On a blockbuster opening day card at Santa Anita Monday, a potential 11th such champion could emerge for the Hall of Fame trainer in the Grade 1, $300,000 Malibu.

There is a case to be made for the honor if the Baffert-trained Taiba were to prevail as expected in the seven-furlong feature for sophomores on opening day. A win would make Taiba the only 3-year-old male this season with three Grade 1 triumphs of the season, adding to his previous scores in the Santa Anita Derby and Pennsylvania Derby. Taiba also nearly bagged another Grade 1 this summer in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, when he came up just a head short to Cyberknife.

Meanwhile, the presumed frontrunner in the division is Eastern-based Epicenter, who was injured in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 5 and subsequently retired. He had a single Grade 1 tally this season, which came in the historic Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

But helping to boost the case for Epicenter are wins in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and G2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, G2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, plus runner-up finishes in both the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes.

On Wednesday at Clocker's Corner, Baffert opted for diplomacy when it comes to a potential championship for Taiba.

“I don't want to get into that discussion. I don't have a vote so I don't know,” he said.

In the Malibu, Taiba will be sprinting for the first time since a six-furlong debut win at Santa Anita in March. He most recently was beaten just a half length for second after a troubled start in the Breeders' Cup Classic going 1 1/4 miles, which was won by undefeated superstar Flightline.

“He missed the break, sort of slipped leaving there and he lost position,” Baffert said of Taiba's Classic run. “We wanted him like where Epicenter was (fifth after a quarter mile), but Epicenter beat us to the spot.”

Taiba would improve his position under Mike Smith in the Classic and while no match for Flightline, he was just edged for runner-up by the older horse Olympiad.

“We were hoping we would run second. I knew trying to beat Flightline would be difficult,” Baffert said.

A $1.7 million auction purchase last year, Taiba has worked four times at Santa Anita since the Breeders' Cup and shows two bullet drills on the tab. He blazed a half mile in 46.6 seconds on Dec. 3 and came back with another bullet on Monday when completing five furlongs in 59.6 seconds.

Baffert indicated he was not overly concerned about the cutback to seven furlongs.

“When he broke his maiden he went nine and change (officially 1:09.8). He's a fast horse,” Baffert added.

Joining Taiba in the Malibu starting gate for Baffert will be Messier. Sidelined following a 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Messier returned in a Nov. 5 allowance at Keeneland where he dueled on the lead for a half mile and then faded. Baffert said the Empire Maker colt bled in that effort.

“(Jockey John Velazquez) pulled him up and he had a little bit (of blood) on the nose,” Baffert said. “I don't know why as he had never done that before. But he's come back and worked and hasn't bled, so I'm not sure why it happened.”

Similar to that allowance race, Messier in the Malibu will race without the anti-bleeding medication Lasix as it is not permitted in California stakes races.

The Malibu is carded as the 10th race on Monday's 11-race opening-day program.

The field:

1. Forbidden Kingdom, Juan Hernandez (3-1);
2. Messier, John Velazquez (6-1);
3. Apprehend, Ramon Vazquez (8-1);
4. Nakatomi, Tyler Gaffalione (10-1);
5. Hoist the Gold, Joel Rosario (12-1);
6. Taiba, Mike Smith (6-5);
7. Perfect Flight, Ricardo Santana Jr. (12-1);
8. Strava, Flavien Prat (15-1);
9. Straight No Chaser, Edwin Maldonaldo (20-1).

The post ‘He’s A Fast Horse’: Baffert Not Concerned About Taiba Handling Shorter Distance In Malibu appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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