Tag: Racing

As he's done thousands of times throughout an incredible career, jockey Joe Bravo again made the last run in Saturday's $200,000 Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita as Cabo Spirit surged in the shadow of the wire to collar favored Speaking Scout and win by a half length.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit, a 3-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, got 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:49.46.

With longshot Go Joe Won setting leisurely early fractions, Bravo saved ground while sixth with Cabo Spirit, about three lengths off the lead a half mile out.

Into the bridle, Cabo Spirit bided his time behind a three-horse spread and then found a seam four-deep three sixteenth of a mile from home and was fully extended to get up in time.

Owned by Kretz Racing LLC, Cabo Spirit, who finished well when fifth, beaten 2 ½ lengths in the Del Mar Derby (G2) Sept. 3, was off at 5-2 in a field of eight and paid $7.40.

A winner of the La Jolla Handicap (G3) two starts back, Cabo Spirit, who is out of the Shamardal mare Fancy Day, now has three overall stakes wins, all on turf. With the winner's share of $120,000, he increased his earnings to $438,560 while running his overall mark to 4-3-3 from 15 starts.

Speaking Scout, who got a perfect stalking trip under Juan Hernandez, made the lead leaving the furlong marker and was second best as the 2-1 favorite.

Perfect Flight, who was lapped on the pacesetter turning for home, couldn't go with the top two late and was third, a nose in front of Go Joe Won.

The solid favorite at 2-1 with four minutes to post, War at Sea was a veterinary scratch.

Cabo Spirit was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm.

Fractions on the race were :25.07, :49.89, 1:14.68, and 1:38.25.

TWILIGHT DERBY (G2)  QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

JOE BRAVO, CABO SPIRIT, WINNER: “Cabo laid a little bit closer to the pace today than he usually does. If you know him, he's kind of a laid-back horse who sits back and then it's go get 'em. I got a message in the Paddock that it was the owners' birthday, so we had to pull it off. Birthday candles for everybody!

“I've rode this horse a few times, so you get the personality and get to know the animal. George just did such an amazing job bringing him around. This horse has some issues and all he has done is get better and better since the gelding took effect.

“I was really proud of the guy. I knew he was training coming into the race. He had me worried because we were lagging so close to pace early on, and I guess the times explain why he was laying so close to pace. This is a horse that we really had high hopes on early on. Today you can see how focused he was. From the eighth pole to the wire, he really bellied out, and you see what he did from there.”

TRAINER QUOTES

GEORGE PAPAPRODROMOU, CABO SPIRIT, WINNER: “I was getting kind of worried, the way they were going kind of slow like that. Joe had him in the right spot and I was confident, he was travelling well up the backside and turning for home I was a little worried but luckily, they opened up for him and he won from there. Last time there was no pace for him and that I think made him fall back, but he made a big run, went wide and that cost him a little bit, but today everything went perfect. I was concerned with the fractions, going that slow but we got it done.

“I think probably the Hollywood Derby is next.”

The post Late Surge Propels Cabo Spirit To Victory In Santa Anita’s Twilight Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Estate of Scott Zimmerman's Runninsonofagun had lived up to his name at graded stakes level all year long but finally secured his first high-caliber triumph with a hard-fought win against elders in the $200,000 Bold Ruler (G3) at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by veteran conditioner John Toscano Jr., Runninsonofagun entered the Bold Ruler off a string of five stakes placings, four at graded level, including third-place finishes in the Grade 3 Gallant Bob on September 24 at Parx Racing and the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course. The Gun Runner gelding was a bridesmaid no more in Saturday's test, re-rallying to best Eastern Bay by a nose to earn his fourth career triumph.

Runninsonofagun exited post 8 under Kendrick Carmouche and was in sixth position down the backstretch as Meraas took control through an opening quarter-mile in :22.50 over the fast main track. Around the far turn, a trio of runners came onto even terms with a retreating Meraas through a half-mile in :45.77, including a five-wide Runninsonofagun, who battled longshots Greeley and Ben and Factor It In to his inside down the stretch.

In the final sixteenth, Eastern Bay, one of three Norman Cash trainees in the field, came through with a late kick and appeared poised for victory. But Runninsonofagun found his second wind in the final strides as the two horses hit the wire in tandem, stopping the clock in 1:10.07 for the six-furlong contest.

Eastern Bay, second in the Grade 2 Vosburgh on October 8, finished a half-length ahead of third-place finisher Factor It In. Completing the order of finish were Greeley and Ben, Drafted, Steinbeck, Jalen Journey, Jaxon Traveler, Repo Rocks, and Meraas.

Carmouche said the swift early pace was beneficial.

“He was running into it well. Around the turn, I was sitting easy. He made the lead and he kind of waited, and as soon as that horse passed him, I gave him a little bit more and he laid his head down and went right back at it,” Carmouche said. “He's been running against tough horses all summer. He finally made the lead with less horses and he just didn't know what to do. But once that horse came up to him outside, he really laid down and ran.”

The victory provided Toscano  with his second graded stakes triumph in nearly four decades of training. His last graded win came with Sinister G, an upset winner of the Grade 2 Lane's End [now the Jeff Ruby Steaks] at Turfway Park in 2004.

“It's gratifying. We finally got the right race for him and he came through,” Toscano said. “When he made that move at the three-eighths pole, I knew he would come running. When he got the lead, it was like he was waiting on horses. He started running again when that horse came alongside him. He kicked in, otherwise he would have been beat. Thank God that horse came and made him go on with it.”

Toscano claimed Runninsonofagun for $40,000 on New Year's Eve out of a winning maiden effort at the Big A.

“We were very fortunate to claim him. He's by Gun Runner and it's unbelievable how good the first crop is,” Toscano said. “Luckily, he's part of that group. You can't get them for $40,000 anymore.”

Toscano said that the spirit of his late owner, Scott Zimmerman, helped carry him to victory.

“Scotty passed away recently, and his wife [Karen Zimmerman] decided to keep the stable,” Toscano “Luckily, she's got a nice horse. Scotty would have been here with bells on. He never missed a race. He rode [with] him the last 70 yards and got him home.”

Carmouche said the recent passing of Runninsonofagun's owner made the victory that much sweeter.

“I'm glad the horse is still fighting,” Carmouche said. “This is what brings people together — racehorses — I love it. This is the Sport of Kings.”

Now sporting a record of 4-1-5 from 11 starts, Runninsonofagun has earned $369,700 after banking $110,000. He became only the fourth 3-year-old to defeat elders in the Bold Ruler, joining inaugural winner Chief Tamanco [1976], Clearly Now [2013] and Maximum Security [2019].

Bred in Kentucky by Dattt Farm, Runninsonofagun is out of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Golden Artemis.

The post Runninsonofagun Provides Connections Sentimental Victory In Bold Ruler Thriller appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gary and Mary West's homebred West Will Power took the lead out of the gate and never was threatened in posting a 6 3/4-length victory over stablemate Fulsome in the $350,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday afternoon to highlight the closing day of Keeneland's 17-day Fall Meet.

Joel Rosario sent West Will Power right to the front and led the field of five through fractions of :25.17, :49.17 and 1:13.93 while maintaining a daylight advantage. At the head of the stretch, West Will Power expanded his lead and coasted to his first stakes victory.

Brad Cox trains West Will Power, who covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.68. It is the second victory in the race for Cox and Rosario with the former saddling 2018 winner Leofric and the latter scoring on Tom's d'Etat in 2019.

West Will Power is a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bernardini out of the Wild Event mare Wild Promises. Now 12-5-5-0 in his career, West Will Power earned $217,000 in the Hagyard Fayette to increase his earnings to $525,230.

West Will Power returned $4.74. Fulsome, ridden by Florent Geroux and trained by Cox, finished three-quarters of a length in front of Last Samurai under Tyler Gaffalione.

It was another 3½ lengths back to King Fury with favored First Captain finishing last.

HAGYARD FAYETTE QUOTES (G2)

Brad Cox (trainer of winner West Will Power and runner-up Fulsome): “I think (West Will Power) likes being on the front. He likes the two turns. I want to start by thanking Team West (owners Gary and Mary West) for giving us the horse. We had to back off him last fall; he had a couple of minor issues. They gave him plenty of time. They were patient, and patience pays off in this game. It worked out today. I was very proud of the horse and the effort.”

On leading the Fall Meet trainer standings with one race remaining:

“It's great. Keeneland is very special to us, to our whole team. It means a lot to come here both in the spring and the fall. They're both tough meets. They're short but they're tough. I'm very proud of my son, (assistant trainer) Blake (Cox). This is his second time being here in the fall. I'm proud of my whole team, but he stepped up, he did a good job, and I can tell you he really wanted to win this, or be part of it. The whole team, the whole staff: Congratulations to our group and our team and the Wests as well.”

Joel Rosario (winning jockey): “He looked very comfortable (racing on the front end). Like (trainer) Brad (Cox) said, 'Just let him go do his thing.' He was pretty confident today and turning for home he just kept moving forward.”

Florent Geroux (rider of Fulsome): “(My trip) went great. He was in the back, and I was able to save ground pretty much all the way. I just tipped him out down the lane, and we were just second best today. He ran really good. The winner appeared to have much speed in the race so he was able to set a pretty easy fraction and from there he just kept on going.”

Luis Saez (rider of beaten favorite and fifth-place finisher First Captain): “He rode with them, but he couldn't keep going; he just couldn't stay going. From the beginning I thought they went pretty quick in front and when we tried to get going he never responded.”

The post ‘Just Let Him Do His Thing’: West Will Power Aces Fayette In Gate-To-Wire Romp On Keeneland’s Closing Day appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Back at her preferred distance, Phil D'Amato's Irish-bred Going Global was nothing short of brilliant in defending her title in Saturday's $200,000 Goldikova Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita by 1 ½ lengths.

In what figures to be her career finale, the diminutive 4-year-old Mehmas filly got one mile on turf in 1:33.85 under Umberto Rispoli.

A restrained third, about 2 ½ lengths off her pacesetting stablemate Burgoo Alley around the first turn, Going Global got on terms with the early leader at the top of the lane and burst clear for her ninth career stakes win—eight of which have come in graded company.

Although second to Avenue de France, who was off the board today, in the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on turf Sept. 10 at Del Mar, Going Global was bet down to 1-5 favoritism in a field of six fillies and mares today and paid $2.60.

One for four in Ireland, Going Global made her 13th stateside start today with D'Amato and registered her sixth win from seven tries over the Santa Anita turf. She won last year's Goldikova by 1 1/2 lengths at Del Mar.

Ticketed for Keeneland's Fasig-Tipton “Night of the Stars” Sale on Nov. 6, Going Global, who is owned by CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano, picked up $120,000 for the Goldikova win, increasing her earnings to $1,137,292 from an overall mark of 10-2-1 from 17 starts.

Next to last, about six lengths off the lead heading into the far turn, England's Rose rallied well through the lane under Victor Espinoza to finish 3 ½ lengths better than longshot Karakatsie for second money.

Close early, Karakatsie outfinished Burgoo Alley for third by a neck with Joe Bravo up.

Going Global, who is out of the Invasor mare Wrood, is campaigned by CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano.

Fractions on the race were :23.69, :47.57, 1:10.80, and 1:22.26.

GOLDIKOVA STAKES (G3) QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES
UMBERTO RISPOLI, GOING GLOBAL, WINNER: “I was on the right horse. She is very easy to ride. Once I hit the turn to go home, I just pressed the button and she did the rest. She can go forever, and it's a good way to go out. It's always sad to see a horse like her go. I feel so privileged and grateful to have been on her for her final race.”

TRAINER QUOTES
PHIL D'AMATO, GOING GLOBAL, WINNER: “She's just the epitome of a champion in my heart. She's done so much for me. She's won many graded stakes in stylish fashion and she's probably the best grass filly I've ever trained.

“It means a lot and to send her out, potentially a winner, I mean that's what I thought we owed to her, and she did it in stylish fashion.

“She just has all the attributes, the heart, the will and an unbelievable turn of foot.”

MICHAEL NENTWIG, GOING GLOBAL, WINNER: “She is an amazing filly. She is a once in a lifetime horse. It is sad to see her go. This is tough (fighting back tears). She is so tough. She leaves next Thursday for the sale. If the right price is not met, then we will bring her back and decide about racing her again.”

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