Tag: Racing

Defending champion Whereshetoldmetogo, a 13-time career stakes winner, and graded stakes winners Cordmaker and Double Crown top 24 horses nominated to the $75,000 Howard & Sondra Bender Memorial Friday, Nov. 25 at Laurel Park.

The seven-furlong Bender for 3-year-olds and up and $75,000 Politely for fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs, both restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses, come on the first of back-to-back stakes days over Thanksgiving weekend.

Laurel will serve up three $100,000 stakes Saturday, Nov. 26 – the 1 1/8-mile Richard W. Small for 3-year-olds and up, City of Laurel for 3-year-olds and Safely Kept for 3-year-old fillies, each going seven furlongs.

A 7-year-old gelding owned by Madaket Stables, Ten Strike Racing, Michael Kisber and BTR Racing, Inc. trained by Laurel fall meet leader Brittany Russell, Whereshetoldmetogo owns 17 career wins but had a four-race win streak snapped when second by a half-length as the favorite in a 5 ½-furlong allowance Oct. 29 at Delaware Park.

Whereshetoldmetogo has won eight of 11 career starts at Laurel – seven of those victories coming in stakes – and is 4-for-6 lifetime going seven furlongs including last year's Bender, his most recent attempt, when he rallied for a popular neck triumph. He lost for the first time this year last out, following wins in the Not For Love and an optional claiming allowance at Laurel and the Alapocas Run and New Castle at Delaware.

Hillwood Stable's Cordmaker ran sixth in a one-mile optional claiming allowance Nov. 4 at Laurel, his first start in 259 days since becoming a graded-stakes winner in the Feb. 19 General George (G3), also at seven furlongs. The gelded 7-year-old son of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin has won 14 lifetime races, 10 of them in stakes.

Both Whereshetoldmetogo ($967,795) and Cordmaker ($990,880) are chasing the $1 million mark in lifetime purses.

Built Wright Stables' Double Crown sprung a 42-1 upset of the one-mile Kelso (G2) Oct. 29 at Aqueduct just seven days after finishing fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Maryland Million Classic at Laurel. Owned and trained by Norman 'Lynn' Cash, he is joined by three of his stablemates as nominees – 2021 Maryland Million Classic winner Monday Morning Qb, exiting an optional claiming allowance triumph Nov. 7 at Laurel; 2020 Polynesian winner Eastern Bay, a stakes runner-up in three of his last four starts including the Vosburgh (G2) and Bold Ruler (G3) at Aqueduct; and Going to the Lead.

Also prominent among nominees are Oct. 22 Maryland Million Classic winner Ournationonparade, scratched from the Claiming Crown Jewel Nov. 12; 2021 Maryland Million Sprint winner Air Token, third by a neck in last year's Bender; multiple stakes winner Tappin Cat; 2021 Concern winner Alwaysinahurry; and 2020 Maryland Million Sprint winner Karan's Notion.

Trainer John 'Jerry' Robb has won the past two runnings of the Politely with Anna's Bandit (2019) and Princess Kokachin (2021) and has one of 21 nominees for this year's race in CJI Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm's Fillie d'Esprit. The 6-year-old Great Notion mare has earned nine of her 11 lifetime wins at Laurel including two of her four stakes wins, most recently in the Oct. 22 Maryland Million Distaff.

Divine Huntress, a 3-year-old daughter of Divining Rod owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Long Valley Stables and trained by Graham Motion, is nominated for her first start since running fourth in the Aug. 26 Charles Town Oaks (G3). She won the seven-furlong Miss Disco against Maryland-bred/sired horses July 30 at Laurel one start after finishing second Belmont Park's Acorn (G1).

Holly Hill Stables' Edie Meeny Miny Mo, runner-up in the 2021 Monmouth Oaks (G3), gave trainer Michelle Hemingway her first career stakes winner in the July 2 Regret at Monmouth Park. She ended a 2 ½-month break between starts finishing second in an open six-furlong allowance Oct. 30 at Laurel behind multiple stakes winner Dontletsweetfoolya.

Among other Politely nominees are Aug. 27 Timonium Distaff winner Breviary; Combat Queen, a winner of back-to-back 5 ½-furlong sprints at Laurel, the latter Oct. 30; stakes-placed Juror Number Four and Startwithabang; and multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty, entered in Laurel's Nov. 12 Thirty Eight Go Go.

The post Five Stakes Anchor Laurel’s Thanksgiving Weekend Action appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Stephanie Seymour Brant's Salimah drew clear to a three-length score in her stakes debut Sunday's $135,000 Winter Memories, a 1 1/16 mile outer turf test for sophomore fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Irish-bred Salimah was one of three entrants for trainer Chad Brown, who also sent out third-place Veronica Greene and sixth-place Eminent Victor, who went to post the lukewarm 5-2 favorite.

Salimah broke alertly from post 2 under Jose Ortiz and settled in third position to the inside of the Irad Ortiz Jr.-piloted Vernoica Greene as Jorge Vargas Jr. hustled Tasweya to the lead through splits of :24.35 and :49.12 over the yielding going.

Tasweya opened up a four-length advantage down the backstretch with Myriskyaffair tracking in second and Salimah continuing to save ground in third to the inside of her stablemate. Veronica Green advanced into the final turn with Eminent Victor following that move as Tasweya began to tire.

A patient Ortiz waited until late in the turn to angle his charge out a path and take aim to the outside of Veronica Greene, pulling clear under right-handed encouragement to score in a final time of 1:44.69. The Joel Rosario-piloted Candy Light arrived with a late run to complete the exacta by a nose over Veronica Greene with Spirit And Glory, Myriskyaffair, Eminent Victor, Parnac, She's a Mia and Tasweya rounding out the order of finish.

Ortiz, who was aboard Salimah for the first time in the afternoon, said he felt comfortable throughout.

“Today, she switched off beautifully behind horses on the backside,” Ortiz said. “From there, we had a great trip every step of the way. We were traveling well and I felt like a winner every step of the way.”

Ortiz said he wasn't concerned about the modest fractions.

“Here at Aqueduct, there are tight turns so the pace is going to be slower a lot of the time. But I think [the time of the race] doesn't matter as much,” Ortiz said. “There were some quality fillies in that race. They could go two seconds faster next time on a faster track. The turns are pretty tight, so horses have a tendency to slow down a little bit.”

Salimah, an El Kabeir gray out of the stakes-winning Dark Angel mare Promised Money, was unraced as a juvenile and has now won  three of four career starts. She entered from a rallying one-length score last out in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on September 30 at Belmont at the Big A.

The victory provided Brown a third Winter Memories score following past success with Rymska [2017] and Duopoly [2020].

Candy Light, a multiple stakes-placed daughter of Candy Ride, entered from a rallying allowance score over older company in October at Keeneland for trainer Graham Motion.

“She came running,” said Rosario of Candy Light's closing effort. “Being inside there, she made that move but I was just second-best today. I think she was fine today [with the distance]. With the ground, she took a little time today to get going, but she came with her run. Maybe a mile and an eighth would help her a little bit.

“She kept trying,” he added. “I didn't know if we were going to get second, but she kept moving and trying hard. I'm glad we were a good second today.”

Bred in Ireland by Yeomanstown Stud, Salimah banked $74,250 in victory. She returned $8.70 for a $2 win ticket.

The post ‘I Felt Like A Winner Every Step Of The Way’: Salimah Takes Winter Memories In Stakes Debut At Aqueduct appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Sunday Racing Co.'s Geraldina, a 4-year-old daughter of their two-time Japan Horse of the Year and Fillies' Triple Crown winner Gentildonna, captured the $2,451,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) on Sunday at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan, earning her first win at the highest level.

Trained by Takashi Saito, Geraldina broke her maiden in her third start as a 2-year-old and, though unable to run in the classics in her 3-year-old spring campaign, notched three consecutive wins from July. She entered Sunday's race off her first graded win in the All Comers (G2) on Sept. 25, which was her sixth graded challenge.

Breaking out from the outermost post in the field of 18 fillies and mares, Geraldina traveled wide toward the rear and advanced rounding the last corners as the widest. Displaying her powerful late drive that timed the fastest last three furlongs in the field, the Maurice filly caught up with the front-runner after passing the 200-meter pole, dueled briefly with Win Marilyn 100 meters out, then pulled away for jockey Cristian Demuro in the last 50 meters for a 1 ¾ length win.

Time for the 11 furlongs (about 1 3/8 miles) was 2:13 on a turf course rated as yielding.

“The filly was traveling very well in the last corner, came out and gave a good turn of foot,” Demuro said of Geralina, a daughter of Maurice who was sent off the fourth choice abd returned $20.20 in North American pools. “The last time when she won, it was a good race, so I was pretty confident with her. Gentildonna was a good filly and I think Geraldina can be like her dam.”

Traveling three-wide around sixth, fifth pick Win Marilyn made headway after the third corner and briefly took command 200 meters out. The Screen Hero chestnut, however, was overtaken by fast-closing eventual winner after a brief duel in the last 100 meters and was then challenged by 12th choice Lilac, who launched the second fastest late kick after racing in 17th position. The two dueled strongly nearing the wire to share the runner-up spot.

Race favorite Daring Tact settled in mid-division around eighth and was unable to pull out from the pack at the stretch to finish sixth.

Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1) victress Magical Lagoon pressed the pace in second but was unable to make use of her late kick due to the heavy going and finished 18th.

“We were able to race in good position, but she likes quick ground and the rain, unfortunately, took her chance away,” jockey Shane Foley said. “I urged her to go from the third corner but she didn't respond.”

Like her dam, Geraldina was bred by Northern Racing. Gentildonna, by Deep Impact, won all three legs of the 2012 Japanese Fillies Triple Crown en route to a unanimously voted Best 3-Year-Old Filly Award from the Japanese Racing Association as well as the Horse of the Year Award. A string of defeats led to a rider change in 2013, from Yasunari Iwata to Ryan Moore, at the end of which Gentildonna became the first horse to win the Japan Cup (G1) twice (2012, 2013).

In her 5-year-old season, Gentildonna won her second Horse of the Year Award from the JRA, as well as the Older Filly and Mare Award. She defeated males in the 2014 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), including Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Magician. Gentildonna finished fourth in her third consecutive Japan Cup but rebounded with a victory in the Arima Kinen (G1) over the same horses in the final start of her career.

Overall, Gentildonna, whose dam Donna Blini (by Bertolini) was also a Group 1 winner, won 10 races from 19 career starts, including seven Group 1 events, and earned ¥1,726,030,400 (about $14.3 million).

The post Geraldina, Daughter Of Iconic Japanese Racemare Gentildonna, Wins Queen Elizabeth II Cup, Irish Oaks Winner Magical Lagoon Last appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keystone Field, owned by Kirk Wycoff's Three Diamonds Farm, swept past early leaders Benevengo and Frosted Grace leaving the final turn and determinedly turned back a late charge by 2-1 favorite Intrepid Heart to win Saturday's $199,875 Claiming Crown Jewel at Churchill Downs – the most lucrative of eight starter allowance races for the nation's top claiming-level horses – by a half-length.

The Jewel, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up that raced for a claiming price of $35,000 or less in 2021-22, headlined Saturday's 24th annual Claiming Crown Championship Series, which was staged at Churchill Downs for the first time. Inaugurated in 1999 at Canterbury Park in Minnesota, the Claiming Crown had been staged for the last decade at Gulfstream Park in south Florida. In its Louisville debut, the Claiming Crown lured blue-collar horses from around the country.

Keystone Field stopped the teletimer in 1:53.29 over the main dirt track that was rated “sloppy” following more than an inch of early morning precipitation in the Louisville area, which included snow flurries as temperatures dipped into the mid-30s.

“We knew when it came up sloppy that a son of Candy Ride should handle the surface great,” Wycoff said.

Gerardo Corrales rode the winner for trainer Mike Maker, who collected his second Claiming Crown win on the day and record-extending 22nd victory in the championship series. Earlier, Maker won the $109,850 Glass Slipper with Paradise Farms Corp.'s Invaluable ($8.18), who was ridden by Luis Saez.

“We knew this horse had good turf form but we thought we could improve him getting him on the dirt,” Maker said. “He had a great trip today and handled the sloppy track very well.”

Keystone Field earned $113,000 for the win and improved his record to 21-6-2-3—$391,529. He paid $15.78, $6.76 and $5.28 at odds of 6-1.

“When I bet he was 10-1 and got backed pretty heavily after that,” Wycoff said. “I left the (Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale) a few hours ago and it's a great sale but winning races is better. … (Intrepid Heart) ran well on his outside but we ended up getting the jump on him from the inside.”

Intrepid Heart, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $3.68 and $2.90. Benevengo, with Saez up, was another 7 ¼ lengths back in third and paid $4.20.

Tiz Rye Time, Digital, Decision Maker, Frosted Grace, defending champion Twelve Volt Man and Calibrator completed the order of finish. Ournationonparade was scratched.

Keystone Field became eligible for the Jewel while winning a Jan. 7 race at Santa Anita while running for a $25,000 claiming tag. Previously owned by Perry R. Bass II and Ramona S. Bass and trained by Richard Mandella, he was privately purchased following a fourth-place finish in a $25,000 starter allowance on March 19 and came to Kentucky. This marked his third victory in five dirt starts since the purchase.

“I was delighted to see the Claiming Crown come to Churchill,” Wycoff said. “We actually purchased this horse from California to run it back on the dirt. That usually isn't what we do, it's usually the other way around (dirt to turf).”

Keystone Field is a 7-year-old gelded son of Candy Ride (ARG) out of the In Excess (IRE) mare She's an Eleven and was bred in Kentucky by C R K Stables LLC.

Also on the Claiming Crown card, trainer Tom Van Berg and jockey Florent Geroux teamed to win their second Claiming Crown race of the day when The Queens Jules ($19.14) determinedly surged back from the inside rail to hang a nose on Divine Leader in the $138,755 Rapid Transit. Earlier, Petit Verdot ($6.42) won the $160,600 Tom Metzen Memorial. Both horses were owned by Van Berg's partnership Grit to Glory Racing. Van Berg also saddled the winner of the first race, an $8,000 claiming event, with Justin's Quest ($4.66) for three wins on the day.

Paco Lopez rode two winners to extend his Claiming Crown win record to 16. He won the $167,150 Tiara aboard Out of Sorts ($14.08) for owner John Fanelli and trainer Bobby Mosco, and concluded the program with a triumph aboard FAS Racing (Adis Smajlovic)'s Palace Coup ($4.14) in the $160,010 Emerald for trainer Joe Sharp, who also trains Intrepid Heart.

Out of Sorts was one of two horses who shipped in from Pennsylvania's Parx to win a Claiming Crown event. The other was Gregg O'Donnell's Hero Tiger ($10.32) in the $106,899 Ready's Rocket Express for trainer John Kirby and the second Claiming Crown win of the day for Saez.

All other Claiming Crown winners were based in Kentucky, including Jeff A. Hiles and Thorndale Stable LLC's Time for Trouble ($18.08), who won the $108,433 Iron Horse Kent Stirling Memorial for Hiles and jockey Joe Talamo.

The Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial, Tiara and Emerald were transferred from turf to dirt because of snowfall.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a 10-race card that features a trio of $300,000 stakes: the Grade 3 River City for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf; $300,000 Bet On Sunshine (Listed) for sprinters at six furlongs; and $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) for filly and mare sprinters at six furlongs. There also is a $36,023 carryover in the 20-cent Derby City 6 and a $6,987 carryover in the $1 Super Hi 5. First post is 1 p.m.

The post Keystone Field’s Jewel Win Gives Maker 22nd Claiming Crown Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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