Tag: Racing

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Morris Bailey, and Michael J. Caruso's Soldier Rising has been something of a hard-luck horse since joining the barn of trainer Christophe Clement last summer. But the veteran conditioner is hopeful that fortune will be on his side in a 12-horse field for Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith for 3-year-olds and upward going 11 furlongs on the Aqueduct Racetrack inner turf.

Solider Rising, a 4-year-old Frankel gelding, was a close third in last year's Red Smith, coming from last-of-10 and finishing a half-length in arrears of Serve the King, who was a neck better than Grade 1-winner Channel Cat. That effort followed his first two starts for Clement, which were a pair of runner-up efforts behind international stalwarts in the Turf Triple series. He finished behind State of Rest, a Grade/Group 1 winner in four different countries, in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational and eventual Champion Turf Male Yibir in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational.

This year, Soldier Rising earned his first trip to the winner's circle under Clement's tutelage when contesting a second-level allowance optional claimer over a yielding inner turf course at Belmont Park on June 3. He followed with a hard-fought second to 2020 Champion Turf Male Channel Maker in the Grand Couturier on July 8 before victoriously cutting back to 1 3/16 miles in a third-level allowance optional claimer three weeks later at Saratoga Race Course.

Solider Rising proved himself highly competitive amongst some of the best the turf division has to offer in his last two starts, both at Grade 1 level going 12 furlongs. Following a late-closing third behind stablemate Gufo in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 27 at Saratoga, he was a troubled fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 8 at Belmont at the Big A. He made an inside rally in the stretch of the Joe Hirsch poised for a placing, but had to steady passing the chute and finished fourth beaten 3 1/2 lengths by Grade 1-winning turf mare War Like Goddess.

“I thought in his last race, he did not have much racing luck,” said Clement, who saddled Flag Down [1995] and Grassy [2011] to previous Red Smith scores. “He was down on the inside. He had to check at the eighth pole and he's a steady kind of horse with a great turn of foot. If you stop his momentum, it's a bit difficult. The mare was much the best that day and I thought we could have been second with a better trip.”

Clement said he is anxious to get Solider Rising a well-deserved sakes victory.

“He's a nice horse, he's competitive and we're trying to win a stakes with him,” Clement said. “It will be his last race of the year and we'll pull the plug after that and we'll see what happens.”

Solider Rising boasts a reliable 14-4-5-3 record with earnings of $721,211. He began his racing career in France under the care of French champion trainer Andre Fabre for whom he went 4-2-2-0.

Jose Ortiz, the pilot in both of Solider Rising's stateside victories, will ride from post 9.

Trainer Al Stall, Jr. will ship up Reigning Spirit following a narrow second level allowance triumph on October 9 at Keeneland. The Town and Country Racing Kentucky homebred son of War Front, out of three-time winner Upperline, was nearly 10 lengths off the pace and was widest of all in the final turn but had enough momentum to get his nose on the wire first.

“He really ran a good race. He blew up to the lead like he was just going to go on by, but he's still learning things,” Stall, Jr. recalled. “He really idled and finished with a little more in the tank than you'd think. Thank goodness he got his nose down and won. The turn of foot he showed was nice to see.”

A sixth-out graduate going 1 1/16 miles in February 2021 at Fair Grounds Race Course, Reigning Spirit did not return to action until nearly one calendar year later when sixth in an allowance event at the New Orleans oval, but made his second start off the bench a triumphant one at the same racetrack. He launched a breakthrough performance in May when finishing a close second at 62-1 odds in the Grade 3 Louisville on May 21 at Churchill Downs. Following that effort, he finished third in a Saratoga second level allowance optional claimer and a distant sixth at the same level at Kentucky Downs – both with Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the irons.

“We were hunting three turns and that was the only spot there,” Stall, Jr. said of the Louisville. “When the turf went south, the race that we targeted didn't come to pass. He needed the race in Saratoga. He ran a good race with Johnny, positioned well, just not quite punching like we thought he would. He's a big, big horse and he wasn't so balanced over at Kentucky Downs. I think the flat type of courses are better for him.

“It took us a long time but hopefully we found a nice niche with him. We're trying these types of races,” Stall, Jr. continued. “That's our game plan. He's run really well, he's in good form and we're looking forward to running him.”

Junior Alvarado will ride Reigning Spirit for the first time from post 7.

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic alumnus Astronaut will make his first start since finishing third in the 12 furlong test for trainer Tom Albertrani.

The John B. O'Connor-owned 5-year-old son of Quality Road made two starts for his current trainer as a sophomore before shipping to the West Coast with John Shirreffs, capturing the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last August at 24-1 odds before finishing 12th in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf last November at Del Mar. Following a distant eighth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile in September, he was transferred back to Albertrani and earned his first Grade 1 placing in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, where he recorded a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Kendrick Carmouche will retain the mount from post 4.

Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher's Temple brags field-best earnings of $733,113 as well as a graded-stakes triumph at the Red Smith distance for trainer Mike Maker. The 6-year-old Temple City gelding captured the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida on March 5 at Gulfstream Park in his most recent victory, while earning placings when third in the Grade 1 United Nations in July at Monmouth Park and the last out Grade 3 Sycamore on October 14 at Keeneland, where he finished a length behind Grade 1-winner Highland Chief.

In the money in all three starts over the Big A turf, Temple captured the 2019 Gio Ponti during his sophomore year.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will ride Temple from post 8.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott seeks his first Red Smith conquest since saddling turf champion Theatrical to victory in 1987 when sending out Team Valor International's Mooney Love. The 4-year-old Australia bay made his North American debut a winning one in July in a last-out first level allowance going 12 furlongs over the Saratoga inner turf.

Bragging a consistent 12-4-1-3 record, Mooney Love has won races in both Italy and Germany before coming stateside.

Breaking from post 6, Mooney Love will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

Four-time Eclipse Award winner and three-time Red Smith winner Chad Brown will saddle William S. Farish's homebred Highest Honors [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Peter Brant's Balthus [post 3, Manny Franco].

A stakes winner on dirt as a sophomore, the 6-year-old Highest Honors has proven useful as a turf stayer having finished third in the aforementioned Louisville, Grand Couturier and Sycamore.

Balthus will look to give Brown and Brant their second straight Red Smith coup, having collaborated with last year's winner Serve the King. The Irish-bred 4-year-old son of Galileo did not break his maiden until May going 10 furlongs over the Belmont inner turf and followed with two more scores going long distances on the grass. He enters off a fifth-place finish in the Sycamore.

Completing the field are Daunt [post 2, Jalon Samuel] – who looks to become the first 3-year-old to win the Red Smith since Monarch's Maze [1999] – Larry Goichman's graded-stakes placed Shawdyshawdyshawdy [post 5, Jorge Vargas, Jr.] – who arrives off two straight wins – multiple stakes-placed Beacon Hill [post 10, Dylan Davis], stakes-winner Dynadrive [post 11, Eric Cancel] and multiple stakes-placed New York-bred Cold Hard Cash [post 12, Jose Lezcano]. Kinetic Sky and I Am the Law have been entered for main track only.

Known as the Edgemere Handicap until 1981, the Red Smith pays tribute to the late Pulitzer Prize winning author and sportswriter Walter Wellesley “Red” Smith, whose 55-year career in journalism covered a wide array of sports, including horseracing, for the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Times.

The Red Smith is carded as Race 9 on Saturday's 10-race program, which also features the $120,000 Central Park [Race 5, 1:46 p.m.] and the Grade 3, $175,000 Fall Highweight [Race 8, 3:14 p.m.]. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct fall 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 fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Hal, a son of Accelerate-Purely a Dream, goes for his third win in as many starts in the Grade 3, $150,000 Grey Stakes, part of a Saturday Woodbine card that also features the Grade 3, $150,000 Mazarine Stakes.

Trained by Darwin Banach, Hal arrives at the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race for 2-year-olds off a strong debut on Oct. 2, and an equally impressive encore in the Display Stakes on Nov. 5.

“He's doing really, really well,” said Banach. “For some reason, it's amazing when they know they've won a stakes race. They seem to grow up, mature and get the hang of it.”

In his career bow, under Justin Stein, the chestnut gelding, at 13-1, was four lengths on top at the stretch call in the 7-furlong main track allowance race, crossing the wire 1 ¼ lengths on top in a time of 1:23.69.

Owned by Suzi Shoemaker and First Corp. Thoroughbreds (who co-bred with Lantern Hill Farm LLC), Hal followed up that performance with a stellar showing in his first stakes test.

Sent on his way at 2-1, Hal duelled down the lane with Ticker Tape Home, and earned a hard-fought half-length victory in a time of 1:22.00.

Stein praised the poise and perseverance of the chestnut.

Banach, who has 315 career wins, continues to marvel at the maturity of his young star in the morning and afternoon.

“I think the one thing that stands out is how easy it is to train him. It just makes everything so easy. You don't have to worry about anything with a horse like this. His last win, he had to dig down, and he wanted to win that race. I think that filly [Ticker Tape Home] could have kicked on if he didn't decide, 'This is going to be my race.' I saw that desire of wanting to win down the lane, and to me that was the most impressive part. That was a $625,000 Mark Casse purchase we were up against. You don't go walking by them by accident.”

Hal, who worked 5 furlongs in 1:03.80, breezing, over the Tapeta on November 19, is in good order heading into the Grey.

“He's doing great. The work, it was just a little maintenance thing. He didn't go very fast, but we just protected him a little bit. Justin came back and said, 'I just have so much horse all the time.' He's very happy about it. He said it's all systems go, and we're in the same mind mode. And this horse, he's a character for sure. He spends most of his time in bed. Eating mints and sleeping are his two loves in life.

“These kinds of horses make us,” continued Banach. “They make our careers, they make us what we are. He's that kind of horse. I would say [trainer] Phil England made me into the trainer I am today, but a lot of the horses I've been able to be around, had the opportunity to work with, like [multiple graded stakes star Sky Conqueror] and those types, experiencing those moments make you the trainer you are and the person you become. Hopefully, it just keeps evolving. Having a horse like Hal certainly give you plenty of reason for optimism.”

Other starters include Bluebirds Over, an impressive debut winner for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

Bred and owned by Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson, the son of English Channel romped to an eight-length score over a mile and 70 yards on the Gulfstream synthetic on November 5.

Sent off at 5-1, Bluebirds Over stopped the teletimer in 1:42.71.

“It was a very nice effort,” praised Joseph. “He had trained well on the dirt leading up to the race. Obviously, he's got turf in him being an English Channel, so Tapeta was the closest thing we could get. But he ran well. He's a horse that won as visually pleasing as a horse could win. It's going to be tough going second time out against these horses, but we're going to give him a try.”

Last year, God of Love, a chestnut son of Cupid, won the Grey.

The Mazarine has attracted Honor D Lady, a dark bay daughter of Honor Code.

After two pleasing results at Gulfstream, including a maiden-breaking score last time out, Honor D Lady will test out the Toronto oval in her third career start.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. for Final Furlong Farm, the dark bay romped to a 7 ½-length victory on the Hallandale synthetic on October 7, crossing the wire in 1:43.76 in the 1 1/16-mile affair.

One race earlier, in her career debut, Honor D Lady was second, 14 ½ lengths behind winner Infinite Diamond in a one-mile trek over the Gulfstream dirt.

“The first race we ran her on the dirt because she had trained okay, but we were always trying to get her on the turf or the Tapeta,” said Joseph. “We were following her half-brother [Churchtown] who has run well on the Tapeta and grass at Woodbine. That was one of the reasons for trying the Tapeta, to get her around two turns. We think she's a two-turn filly where distance is going to be the key with her. We thought going into the second race that she had a good chance to win, and she exceeded our expectations a bit. She quickened up nicely and we considered Woodbine right after that.”

Bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo, Honor D Lady worked 3 furlongs, breezing, in :37.80 over the Woodbine Tapeta on November 21.

“It's a Grade 3 race, but it makes a lot of sense. She vanned up to Toronto, and we wanted her to have plenty of time in advance to give her a blowout a few days before the race.”

Honor D Lady has seemed to take well to her new surroundings.

“She's been fine. She's been eating well, which you want to see when they ship. So far, so good. The one thing with her is that she is feisty. You have to be careful because she will kick you. If you don't pay attention and you go in her stall, she will kick you. Even going around the shedrow, you better make sure you are aware of where she is. She will look to kick you. She's very feisty in that way, but on the track she is all business.”

Edgard Zayas will be in the irons on Saturday.

Mrs. Barbara, a dark bay daughter of Bodemeister, took the 2021 running of the Mazarine.

First post for the 11-race card is 1:20 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 GREY STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Mo Tourist – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

2 – Renegade Rebel – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

3 – One Bay Hemingway – Jose Campos – Sid Attard

4 – Bluebirds Over – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

5 – Hal – Justin Stein – Darwin Banach

6 – Forever Dixie – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

7 – Ryder Ryder Ryder – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 MAZARINE STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Collect Dattt – Leo Salles – Kevin Attard

2 – Forever Dixie – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

3 – Renegade Rebel – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

4 – State of Mind – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

5 – Peacock Lass – Justin Stein – Rodolphe Brisset

6 – Honor D Lady – Edgard Zayas – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

7 – Ryder Ryder Ryder – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

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Gold Standard Racing's undefeated Hoosier Philly headlines a field of 10 2-year-old fillies that were entered in Saturday's $400,000 Golden Rod (Grade 2) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile Golden Rod is the next stop on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The Top 5 finishers of the race will receive points based on a 10-4-3-2-1 scale in their attempt to qualify for the first Friday in May.

The Golden Rod will go as Race 10 of 12 on the special “Stars of Tomorrow II” program that features all 2-year-old races. First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The other featured events on the card include the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), $200,000 Ed Brown and $200,000 Fern Creek.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Hoosier Philly dominated her six rivals in the $200,000 Rags to Riches by 7 ½ lengths under jockey Edgar Morales. The gray daughter of Into Mischief began to garner the attention of many onlookers during her morning training prior to her debut where she was bet down to even-money favoritism and scored by 1 ¾ lengths in a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight contest. On Nov. 10, Hoosier Philly had her most serious preparation toward the Golden Rod when clipped five furlongs in :58.20 at Churchill Downs. Hoosier Philly and Morales will break from post No. 4.

One of Hoosier Philly's rivals that entered the Golden Rod was Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous. The undefeated daughter of Into Mischief is a perfect 2-for-2 and, like Hoosier Philly, both of her victories come at Churchill Downs. Pretty Mischievous broke her maiden Sept. 18 by 2 ¼ lengths and returned Oct. 30 where she splashed to a 1 ¾-length allowance win over the “sloppy” racetrack. Pretty Mischievous has been well backed in both of her starts. She was the 2-1 favorite in her debut against 11 rivals and was heavily bet to 1-5 against five fillies in her allowance win. Churchill Downs' leading rider Tyler Gaffalione will retain the mount from the rail.

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

1. Pretty Mischievous (Gaffalione, Walsh);
2. Mustang Lady (Rafael Bejarano, Troy Newton);
3. American Rockette (Florent Geroux, Bill Mott);
4. Hoosier Philly (Morales, Amoss);
5. Black Forest (Gerardo Corrales, Fausto Gutierrez);
6. Knockyoursocksoff (Julien Leparoux, Chris Block);
7. T Max (Jack Gilligan, Will Walden);
8. Pure Pauline (Ricardo Santana Jr., Todd Pletcher);
9. Take Charge Briana (Luis Saez, D. Wayne Lukas); and
10. Defining Purpose (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek).

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