Tag: Racing

Four defending champions, four prior winners and Grade 3-winning fan favorite Cordmaker are among 310 pre-entries in eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 37th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program Saturday, Oct. 22 at Laurel Park.

Five races on the groundbreaking Maryland Million program are scheduled for the turf. Entries will be taken and post positions drawn Wednesday, Oct. 19. Post time on Maryland Million Day is 11:30 a.m.

The richest race on the program, the $150,000 Classic going 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up, drew 28 pre-entries led by Hillwood Stable's Cordmaker, who has not raced since becoming a graded-stakes winner in the Feb. 19 General George (G3) at Laurel. It marked the fourth straight win and 10th stakes victory for the 7-year-old gelding by two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin. Trained by Rodney Jenkins, he has breezed six times since Sept. 2 for his return.

Prendimi posted a front-running 12-1 upset of last year's Classic, a neck ahead of multiple stakes winner Tappin Cat, who is also pre-entred. Joining them are 2020 Classic winner Monday Morning Qb and Norman 'Lynn' Cash-trained stablemate Double Crown, a multiple stakes winner twice graded-stakes placed; stakes winners Cynergy's Star, Galerio, Twisted Ride and Vance Scholars; The Poser, third by a length to Prendimi last fall; and multiple stakes-winning filly Malibu Beauty.

The last horse to win the Classic in back-to-back years was Admirals War Chest in 2015 and 2016. Other repeat winners are Timely Warning (1990-91), Algar (1997-98), Docent (2002-03) and Eighttofasttocatch (2011, 2013-14).

Vance Scholars, winner of the 1 3 1/6-mile Bald Eagle Derby Aug. 6 at Laurel and placed in two consecutive stakes – all races rained off the grass, is also among 22 horses pre-entered for the $125,000 Maryland Million Turf. The group includes 2019 Turf winner Mr. d'Angelo, who ran fourth in 2020 but missed last year's race; 2021 Maryland Million Turf Starter Handicap winner B Determined; Johng and Street Copper, respectively second and third to Somekindofmagician last fall; and stakes winners Midnight Hauler and Nick Papagiorgio.

The Turf's companion race, the $125,000 Ladies for fillies and mares 3 and up scheduled for 1 1/8 miles on the grass, saw 23 horses pre-entered led by multiple stakes winners Can the Queen and Malibu Beauty, the latter yet to race on turf; Maldives Model and Amplio Esquema, respectively second and fourth last year; and My Thoughts, a last-out stakes winner at Penn National.

Hello Beautiful made history last fall when she became just the seventh horse to win three Maryland Million races following a second straight triumph in the $100,000 Distaff. Her trainer, Brittany Russell, pre-entered three horses going for a title defense in the seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3 and up – Gamestonks; Juror Number Four, third last out in the Sept. 30 Tax Free Distaff; and Jester Calls Nojoy, unraced since finishing second to Luna Belle in the Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship last December.

Also prominent among pre-entrants are stakes winners Breviary, Climber, Edie Meeny Miny Mo, Fille d'Esprit, Malibu Beauty, Princess Kokachin and Proper Attire, the latter finishing fourth as the favorite in Thursday's second race at Laurel, a 5 ½-furlong starter optional claimer that was rained off the turf.

The $100,000 Sprint for 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs matched the Distaff as most popular among horsemen with 32 pre-entries. The list includes defending champion Air Token; 2020 winner Karan's Notion; May 21 Chick Lang (G3) winner Jaxon Traveler; Whereshetoldmetogo, who counts 13 stakes among 17 lifetime wins and is approaching $1 million in purse earnings; fellow multiple stakes winners Alottahope, Fortheluvofbourbon and Local Motive; Eastern Bay, second in the Oct. 8 Vosburgh (G2) at Aqueduct; and stakes winners Alwaysinahurry, Cynergy's Star, Kenny Had a Notion and Twisted Ride.

Gordon Keys' Grateful Bred, winless in six starts this year with four seconds, all in stakes, is pre-entered to defend his title in the $100,000 Turf Sprint, a 5 ½-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up. Among other pre-entrants are Alwaysinahurry, B Determined, Can the Queen, Cynergy's Star, Grade 3-placed Hemp and stakes winners Justwaveandsmile and Miss J McKay.

Juveniles will be in the spotlight in the $100,000 Nursery for 2-year-olds and $100,000 Lassie for 2-year-old fillies, both sprinting six furlongs. The Nursery's 26 pre-entries include stakes winners Bandits Heart and Paymengold along with stakes-placed Heldish, Lost Weekend and Riccio, while the Lassie attracted 30 pre-entries led by stakes-placed Chickieness,

Back for the sixth straight year are the $50,000 Turf Starter Handicap for 3-year-olds and up, where 2020 Turf winner Pretty Good Year is among 22 pre-entrants, and $50,000 Turf Distaff Starter Handicap for fillies and mares 3 and older, both scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Rounding out the stakes action are the $40,000 Starter Handicap for 3-year-olds and up, whose pre-entries including defending champion No More Talk, and $40,000 Distaff Starter Handicap for fillies and mares 3 and older, each sprinting seven furlongs.

Edgar Prado leads all Maryland Million jockeys with 18 wins, one more than fellow Hall of Famer Ramon Dominguez. Jevian Toledo, Maryland's leading jockey by wins this year, J.D. Acosta and Charlie Marquez each won two Maryland Million races in 2021.

Dale Capuano and Hall of Famer King Leatherbury, who together have combined for more than 10,000 career victories, rank 1-2 among Maryland Million trainers with 14 and 10 wins, respectively.

Named for the late Hall of Fame and 13-time Emmy Award-winning broadcaster who helped launch the groundbreaking concept in 1986, the Jim McKay Maryland Million has evolved into the second-biggest day on the state's racing calendar behind only the Preakness Stakes (G1). 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrates the stallions who stand in the state as well as a rich and diverse racing history that dates back to the founding of the Maryland Jockey Club in 1743.

The post Laurel: Jim McKay Maryland Million Day Attracts 310 Pre-Entries appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The Far Hills Races at Moorland Farm in New Jersey kicks off its second century with the 101st running of the National Steeplechase Association's marquee meet, a feast of seven sensational matchups anchored by the Grade 1, $250,000 Grand National which has drawn an international assembly of classy jumpers.

Click here for all the entries: https://nationalsteeplechase.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FarHills-Overnight-WedEntries1.pdf

A field of nine is expected for the feature, including six Irish-breds, a German-bred and English-bred, and the lone runner with a Kentucky pedigree, the star of the show, Bruton Street-US' Snap Decision, trained by Hall of Famer Jack Fisher and ridden once again by Graham Watters. Two of the Irish-breds have made the trip from Europe specifically for the Grand National.

Unlike the recent Lonesome Glory at Aqueduct, where the dual 2022 Grade 1 winner was upset by 41-1 Noah and the Ark, who was getting 28 pounds from Snap Decision under the race's handicap conditions, the Grand National is a weight-for-age contest. All runners will carry 156 pounds over 2 ⅝ miles. That's 12 pounds less than Snap Decision shouldered at Aqueduct.

Though Buttonwood Farm's The Mean Queen, who narrowly bested Snap Decision in the 2021 Grand National to clinch the Eclipse Award, will miss the race with an untimely injury – a continuation of bad luck that has limited her to a single start this season – the field taking on the 8-5 morning-line favorite has strong credentials.

Jack Fisher saddles another venerable veteran in Snap Decision's Bruton Street stablemate and the 2020 Eclipse-Award winner, Moscato. Now 11, Moscato, by virtue of his age, was ineligible to compete on the NYRA circuit this year. He's a 12-time winner of nearly half-a-million dollars, but has raced only twice in 26 months. He was competitive but finished far behind Iranistan and Snap Decision, the runner up, in the G II Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg Spring, but was no factor in the G1 Iroquois in Nashville several weeks later, which his stablemate won. He had a training-flat prep for the Grand National last month at Shawan Downs. Connor Hankin rides.

Keystone Thoroughbreds' Noah and the Ark, who at age 8 captured the Lonesome Glory coming from midpack to score by nine lengths in his only start this year, will attempt to topple his foe again for owner-trainer Todd McKenna and regular rider Harry Beswick. But it will be a considerably tougher task at equal weights.

Leading 2022 trainer Leslie Young has European import Pistol Whipped, owned by Anthony and Mark Speelman, ready and rested. Pistol Whipped, a National Hunt Cup winner for legendary trainer Nicky Henderson, shipped stateside and finished second to Snap Decision in the Iroquois, but bled in the Sheppard at Saratoga in August. He'll be permitted to use lasix at Far Hills. Top European rider Nico DeBoinville crosses the Atlantic for the mount, as he did for Pistol Whipped's two previous outings. Young has another newcomer, Song For Someone, a highly accomplished seven-year-old German-bred, who runs in Gil Johnston's orange and brown silks. Song for Someone was a bit washy before his U.S. debut in the Sheppard, where he mounted a rally but tired in the drive. His performance in the Lonesome Glory was somewhat similar. Tom Garner rides.

With The Mean Queen on the sidelines, trainer Keri Brion is calling on recent stable addition Metahorse Racing's Ask Paddington to fill her big shoes. Ask Paddington was on a four-race win streak coming into his first NSA start, in the Lonesome Glory, and the four-year-old got up for third, just three-quarters of a length behind Snap Decision, despite some shaky jumping early on. Danny Mullins, one of three European-based riders flying over for the event, has the mount. Mullins is no stranger to Far Hills, having captured the 2017 Grand National with Mr. Hot Stuff. He also rode Ask Paddington at Aqueduct.

Since launching his NSA career in the spring, Irv Naylor's Belfast Banter, trained by Cyril Murphy, boasts a second-place finish in the David Semmes Memorial at Great Meadow in May, a race run so bizarrely that it's tough to handicap off of it. But he was no threat in either the Sheppard or Lonesome Glory. In the former, though, he made up ground after the final flight to pass tiring rivals in the long run on the flat to the wire. Jamie Bargary, who has been on a tear since August, will be aboard.

One of the two European shippers is Hewick, trained by Irishman John Joseph “Shark” Hanlon and ridden by Jordan Gainford. Installed as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, the seven-year-old, a bargain-basement acquisition known as “the peoples' champion” for his triumphant exploits, won three hurdle races and four over chase fences including the Galway Plate in July at 16-1. He's won in England and Ireland, over good and soft turf, so that should suit him well at Far Hills. The only question is whether the distance might be a bit short for him. He also has two DNFs this season, notably unseating his rider three weeks ago in the Guiness Kerry National Handicap at Listowel.

Also making the journey with Hewick is Global Citizen, 10, trained by Englishman Ben Pauling and ridden by Kielan Wood. A four-time hurdle winner, Global Citizen boasts a score in the Johnny Henderson handicap chase over heavy ground at the prestigious Cheltenham Festival in March. Whereas the race might be too short for Hewick, it may be too far for Global Citizen, whose 28-1 shocker at Cheltenham came at 2 miles. Most of his races have been at even shorter distances. In his previous start last month, Global Citizen was pulled up. Pauling has twice ventured to the U.S. before, both in 2018 and both in Grade 1s, when he saddled Oskar Denarius in the A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga and Jaleo in the Grand National. Both finished out of the top three.

How to watch

The Grand National will be broadcast live on America's Day at the Races, produced by the New York Racing Association in partnership with Fox Sports. Coverage begins at 12:30 p.m. Fox NYRA host Acacia Clement will anchor the coverage from Far Hills joined by Joe Clancy and Richard Migliore.

America's Day at the Races will air on FS2 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

As always, you can alternately watch Saturday's races via live stream from the link on the NSA homepage, www.nationalsteeplechase.com. The stream, sponsored by Brown Advisory, is offered through Mandolin, which hosted the NSA spring meets. There is a fee to watch the stream, and meets can be viewed and paid for individually or for the entire Fall season.

How to wager

Outside of the NYRA circuit and a few hunt meets, pari-mutuel wagering on steeplechasing is a rarity, but on Saturday fans have the chance to bet on all their favorites through 4NJBets, which is partnered with TVG. To sign up, deposit, and wager, you'll need to download the 4NJBets app or visit 4njbets.com. Fans are encouraged to sign up, and to download the app, in advance and be sure to use promo code 200FARHILLS. That way, you can place your first win wager up to $200 on a single horse and get it back as wagering credit if you don't win. Note that there will not be mutuels tellers onsite for wagering.

For fans who live outside of the state of New Jersey, wagering can be done through either TVG or NYRABets.

The post Snap Decision, Noah And The Ark Meet Again In Far Hills’ Grand National appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Baaeed will face eight high-class opponents when he makes his eleventh and final racecourse appearance of a wonderful career in a QIPCO Champion Stakes, which also sees the return to the top level of last year's Cazoo Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes winner Adayar.

Since making an unheralded debut in an ordinary maiden at Leicester last June, Baaeed has gone unbeaten through his ten races, the last six of them at Group 1 level, earning comparisons with Frankel, who ended his own flawless campaign brilliantly here ten years ago.

The Sea The Stars colt was especially impressive when stepped up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in York's Juddmonte International, where Frankel also scored a similar wide-margin win on his penultimate appearance.

William Haggas has steered clear of making comparisons with Frankel, and he is unable to pinpoint quite what makes Baaeed so special, but he did not hold back when he said: “I've often likened what I do to being headmaster at a boarding school and this horse would get ten A stars at GCSE, he'd be captain of rugby, cricket, football and hockey, he'd breeze into Cambridge and he'd be Prime Minister. He's got it all. He's just good at everything he does.”

Remaining unbeaten has become all the more important the longer Baaeed's winning run has continued. Haggas said: “I think people want to see a really, really top horse stay unbeaten and win in style. Staying unbeaten is terribly important now that we are nearly there. Frankel obviously was unbeaten, but few are in a career at that level. It would be sad if he was beaten, but not for the people who beat him.

“I respect Adayar very much, as I respect Bay Bridge, who looked a fantastic horse at Sandown, but they've got to go to beat him.”

He added: “Everything so far this year has gone exactly as we wanted it to go when we sat down in March to decide our program. It's been half a miracle to get to this situation in the position we are in. The only slight caveat is that he might have gone to Ireland, because it sat very well in his program, but Sheikha Hissa was very keen for him to have just one more run after York, either in the Arc or the Champion, and we've probably made the right decision as it's turned out.

“He's so straightforward. He's been very sound, he has a fantastic mind, and he works how he races. So far he has passed every test, and his work on Monday was good. We are very happy. It's up to him now.”

While it would be easy to assume that it's all about Baaeed so far as the Haggas camp is concerned, the stable will also be represented by Dubai Honour and My Prospero, either of whom would have prospects in a more routine renewal.

Haggas said: “Dubai Honour was second last year, but it might not be soft enough for him. He's a good horse in his own right though, and he comes good at this time of year. He's going to have cheekpieces on and James Doyle gets a good tune out of him, so I think he'll run well.

“My Prospero has potential. He's a very talented horse but unfortunately when he won the Group 2 in France he slipped over after the line and he's taken a long time to come right. He's right now and he impressed both Tom (Marquand) and I in a piece of work on Tuesday. He probably wouldn't want it too soft.”

Adayar is the highest rated opponent Baaeed has ever met, although he is officially 8lb behind him on 127. His three-year-old campaign ended disappointingly when he was only fifth here 12 months ago, but that race came just 13 days after a better run under demanding conditions in the Arc. Reports suggest he is back to his best.

Charlie Appleby said: “I've been delighted with him. His preparation has gone well and he goes to Ascot in great shape – in better shape than a year ago without a shadow of a doubt. We couldn't have been more pleased with the way he did it at Doncaster on his return to the track, or more importantly the way he's come out of it.

“We know we've got a big task ahead of us, taking on Baaeed, but he's 100 percent the Adayar of old. We are relaxed about the ground. If it's decent ground then Baaeed will be hard to beat, but if it's testing we've got the experience in those conditions and we know he stays a mile and a half, so the stiff ten furlongs will suit him.”

He added: “I've no regrets at all about missing the Arc. It was a great race to watch and I was delighted for Sir Mark and all of his team, but I've no regrets whatsoever about not running there.”

One-time Derby favourite Stone Age, who was a close fifth behind stable-companion Luxembourg in last month's Irish Champion Stakes, represents Aidan O'Brien, who won here with Magical in 2019.

The field is completed by Noel Meade's Helvic Dream, who was a Group 1 winner in last year's Tattersalls Gold Cup; Jim Bolger's Mac Swiney, who won the 2021 Irish 2000 Guineas and was third here a year ago; and Roger Varian's Royal Champion, an easy Listed winner at Ayr last time.

The post ‘He’s Got It All’: Brilliant Baaeed Headlines Saturday’s QIPCO Champion Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

It was a race to the finish for Trainer Tim Eggleston. Both of his entrants, Mansfield Tiger and Too Bad Justice battled each other down the stretch, sure to bring the title home to the Eggleston barn. In the end, Mansfield Tiger got the slight edge for the win in the 9th running of the $100,000 ITOBA Stallion Season Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Mansfield Tiger, ridden by Sammy Bermudez, made his presence felt early in the race, taking over the top spot before the first turn in the one-mile event. Dossier and Marcelino Pedroza Jr. held their ground inside for second and Too Bad Justice, ridden by Joe Ramos, had moved into a stalking position to their outside through the first turn. Down the backstretch, Ramos took hold of Too Bad Justice and backed off the top two heading to the half to reserve some energy for the second half. Mansfield Tiger remained comfortable on the lead heading into the final turn.

Midway through the turn, Too Bad Justice began to make a second move toward Mansfield Tiger and by the time they had reached the top of the stretch, the race was between the two stablemates. Mansfield Tiger held his ground on the inside, and Too Bad Justice actually got a head in front a few times, only to feel Mansfield Tiger come back on them. Just steps before the wire, Mansfield Tiger was able to take over for the final time and win the race by a neck over Too Bad Justice. Killer Hotrod and Eddie Perez moved in late for third.

Mansfield Tiger and Too Bad Justice, both owned by Jason Kaylor and Matt Kwiatkowski with Roger Browning part of the partnership on Too Bad Justice, shared the photo space for the winner's circle shot with their connections set in the middle. Mansfield Tiger paid $6.60 for the win, the second choice behind Too Much Justice.

“This race means a lot to us,” said Kaylor. “When we bought both of these horses, we knew they were eligible to this race. We were hoping we would be able to run in it. 'Tiger' is a big horse, and he likes two turns, so this was a race for him. And Sammy (Bermudez) and Joe (Ramos) are the jockeys we love riding them. Matt, Roger, and I want to thank Tim and his team for this. It sure means a lot.”

Mansfield Tiger, a son of Pataky Kid, is now four for seven in 2022 for Kwiatkowski and Kaylor and is on a small win streak with back-to-back wins. Too Bad Justice, which includes Browning on the ownership, is a son of Harry's Holiday and is two for seven this season. He earned a stakes win earlier in the year. Now, both horses are stakes winners and between the two of them, they have earned more than $270,000 racing primarily on the Indiana circuit.

“I really liked both horses in this race and really didn't know which one would win,” said Eggleston. “The race kind of set up like I thought it might and they were both right there at the end. I'm really happy for Matt (Kwiatkowski), Jason (Kaylor) and Roger (Browning) with these horses. I appreciate the opportunity they have given me with them.”

The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

The post Mansfield Tiger Bests Stablemate In ITOBA Stallion Season Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post