Tag: Racing

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin at 12:15 a.m. (ET) Saturday at Tokyo Racecourse where Yuji Hasegawa's maiden winner Plavi is the 5-2 favorite against nine Japanese-breds in the $220,325 Cattleya Stakes.

The Cattleya, run at about one mile, will award the top five finishers points on a 10-4-3-2-1 scale for the stand-alone Japan Road to the Kentucky.

Trained by Haruki Sugiyama, Plavi broke his maiden Oct. 1 at Chukyo Racecourse, located about four hours west of Tokyo. The chestnut son of Duramente will be ridden in the Cattleya by Keita Tosaki from post No. 2

Several horses that entered the Cattleya have breeding familiar to many North Americans. There are two sons of 2018 Lukas Classic ((G3) winner Mind Your Biscuits: Mirror of Mind (5-1) and Toa Raiden (11-1).

The Cattleya will go as Race 9 of 12 prior to the featured Capital Stakes in Race 11. Sunday's card at Tokyo features the Grade I Japan Cup worth a purse of approximately $5.5 million.

There have been four horses based in Japan that have run in the Kentucky Derby: Ski Captain (14th, 1995); Lani (9th, 2016); Master Fencer (6th, 2019), and Crown Pride  (13th, 2022).

The post Japan Road To Kentucky Derby Starts With Cattleya Stakes At Tokyo Racecourse appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Surrounded by a spirited crowd and a festival atmosphere, Big Chief Racing, Rocker O Ranch, and trainer Keith Desormeaux's Surveillance won the 98th edition of the $175,000 Thanksgiving Classic at Fair Grounds.

Some handicappers might call him a horse for the course, some might say the six-furlong distance suits him best, but Desormeaux thinks he knows why all four of the 5-year-old Constitution gelding's wins have come at the New Orleans track.

“He loves the surface here, he loves (jockey) James (Graham), or an even simpler explanation: The horse just might be Cajun,” Desormeaux said in the winner's circle.

In a field of seven sprinting on the fast main track, Chattalot broke sharply to the lead and moved through the opening fractions in :22.12 and :45.16. The filly Carribean Caper kept closest to the leader, but after maintaining a one-length lead at the stretch call, Chattalot opened up late and appeared poised to wire the field.

After stalking on the rail from midpack, the favorite Heart Rhythm battled past the filly in the homestretch, but right when he struck for the lead, the dappled gray Surveillance came hustling late on the outside of those two to win by a half-length while covering six furlongs in 1:09.93.

Heart Rhythm rallied on terms with the winner, but settled for second. It was another two lengths back to the pacesetting Chattalot, who held on for third. Carribean Caper rounded out the superfecta.

“(Surveillance) can be a little bit tricky,” Graham said. “I was happy where I was sitting (coming out of the turn), and when I squeezed him, he went. He didn't slow down much coming toward the wire.”

Surveillance, bred in Kentucky by Kendall E. Hansen, M.D. Racing LLC, returned $10.80.

With the Thanksgiving Classic trophy in hand, Desormeaux explained how he used the recent Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs to ready Surveillance for the win.

“Him being a tricky horse is an understatement,” Desormeaux said, echoing Graham's comment. “I know it seems different for me to run him back 10 days after another stake, but the horse is really difficult to train and I actually used that stake as a prep for this race.”

Surveillance has $346,367 lifetime earnings and a career record of 4-3-5 from 20 starts. His dam is the Mizzen Mast mare Majorelle. Big Chief Racing bought him from consignor Scott Mallory for $25,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The post ‘This Horse Just Might Be Cajun’: Horse For Course Surveillance Captures Fair Grounds’ Thanksgiving Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's recently imported Bellstreet Bridie “came off the plane running” Thursday at Del Mar, laying up close early, then firing through the lane in the $151,500 Red Carpet Stakes (G3), the featured attraction on the Thanksgiving Day card.

The 3-year-old British-bred Sir Percy filly had just shipped in from England earlier this week after a 12-race career in her native land. She ran the Red Carpet's 1 3/8 miles in 2:15.67 on firm turf while finishing 4 1/4 lengths best under jockey Flavien Prat. Her U.S. trainer is Mark Glatt.

Finishing second in the test for fillies and mares was Irish-bred Quattroelle, also owned by the Red Baron/Rancho Temescal connections but trained by Jeff Mullins. Running third was Queen Ofthe Temple. Favorite Sister Otoole was fourth in the eight-horse field.

Bellestreet Bridie picked up a check for $90,000 for her efforts and pushed her earnings mark to $135,316. Her career line stands at 4-4-3 from 13 starts.

Bellestreet Bridie, who was bred by Ashbrittle Stud, paid $10. Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal bought her last month for $311,166 at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in Newmarket. She was produced by the Medaglia d'Oro mare Mambo Gold, whose dam Mambo Jambo is a full sister to Kentucky-bred two-time European champion filly Divine Proportions.

RED CARPET STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY FLAVIEN PRAT (Bellstreet Bridie, winner) – “I didn't know much about her; it's my understanding she's only been here (from Europe) for a few days. Mark (trainer Glatt) didn't know much either, so we were even. She jumped (broke) well and that made me happy; I was able to put her in the race. Sometimes with the European horses they don't come away from there too well. But she was running all the way and then when it was time she finished up strong.”

TRAINER MARK GLATT (Bellstreet Bridie, winner) – “They did a terrific job with her overseas after we purchased her, keeping her fit, keeping her ready for this race. Really, all my job to do was to keep her happy and as strong as we could after a long ship like that. I'm just pleased to get that kind of start with her after spending a good amount of money on her. We got her Grade 3 placed now.”

The post Recent Import Bellestreet Bridie Hits The Ground Running In Del Mar’s Red Carpet In U.S. Debut appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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