Tag: Racing

Entries were taken for opening day Friday at Santa Anita as the track's 18-day Autumn Meet will get underway with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m.

Santa Anita will again offer free General Admission and parking, along with $3 beers and $5 margaritas each Friday during the Autumn Meet.

With entries now set for Friday, the stage is set for Breeders' Cup Challenge Weekend as 10 stakes will be offered on Saturday and Sunday, including the Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up prepping for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Along with the Awesome Again, five other stakes, the Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship, the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D, the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile and the $85,000 Unzip Me, will all be part of a blockbuster program on Saturday with first post time at 12:30 p.m.

Four stakes will be offered on Sunday, the Grade 2, $200,000 Zenyatta, the Grade 3, $100,000 Chillingworth, the Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City and the $100,000 Speakeasy, which is a Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race providing the winner with a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 4.

First post time on all weekends through closing day, Sunday, Nov. 6, will be at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet Kicks Off With Friday’s Nine-Race Card appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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CSLR Racing Partners' Awesome Strong will have the opportunity to become the 10th horse to sweep the colts and geldings division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series in Saturday's $400,000 In Reality at Gulfstream Park.

The In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile finale of the 2022 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions, will co-headline Saturday's program with the $400,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile FFS series for fillies in which Arindel's Lynx will also seek a sweep of her division.

The colts and geldings and filly divisions have not been swept in the same year since the series' inception in 1982.

First race post Saturday for the 11-race program is 12:25 p.m.

Awesome Strong is undefeated in three career starts, which include dominating victories in the $100,000 Dr. Fager and the $200,000 Affirmed that have given him a chance to sweep the FFS colts and geldings series.

“I'm excited and happy and grateful to be here and to have a chance to win the series,” trainer Jorge Delgado said. “This is a blessing. There is no pressure.”

Awesome Strong has been installed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 12 colts and geldings. The son of Awesome Slew made a spectacular debut May 6 when he overcame early traffic and drew off to win a 4 ½-furlong maiden race by six lengths. The Florida-bred colt had tipped Delgado of his immense potential while training for his debut with jockey Miguel Vasquez aboard.

“It was seven days before his first race. He breezed [a half-mile] in 47 [seconds] in company and he opened up maybe eight lengths on very good competition. The plan was to go nose to nose, but Miguel couldn't keep the horse there any longer and the horse went out there on his own. He went 47 and galloped out [five furlongs] in 59,” Delgado recalled. “I was a little concerned that afternoon about the horse coming back OK and if the horse was muscle-sore because the breeze was such a strong breeze for a 2-year-old. But he was perfect. That day I knew I had a good horse.”

The eye-catching debut caught the attention of CSLR Racing Partners, who purchased Awesome Strong for $500,000 and made the decision to keep him in Delgado's stable.

“The owners have shown all their support to me and the barn. They've supported every move we've made and every idea we've had. They've been very supportive. They have shown us their trust in our program,” Delgado said. “They're high-quality people who are horse-loving.”

Awesome Strong rewarded his new owners with a victory in the Aug. 6 Dr. Fager, in which he led throughout the six-furlong distance to score by 4 ¾ lengths. He came right back to win the Sept. 2 Affirmed, the seven-furlong second leg of the FSS series in which he rated just off the early pace on the backstretch before drawing away by three lengths in the stretch.

The In Reality will be Awesome Strong's first start around two turns.

“He's been showing me all the signs I want to see. He's been training slow gallops at long distances. I wanted to make him show me that he can definitely go the distance,” Delgado said. “He's been maturing and I think he will relax more in the race. He's definitely trained properly to go two turns.”

Awesome Strong will break from the No. 8 post position in the starting gate for his bid to become the first horse to sweep the colts and gelding division since Three Rules (2016)

“I try not to think too much about it. I was hoping for a post on the inside. I'm just hoping for a clean break,” Delgado said. “Once we get a clean break, we're going to be fine.”

Delgado is confident that Awesome Strong has the physical and mental attributes to handle the challenge.

“He's very athletic. He's tall but he's athletic. He carries himself very well,” Delgado said. “He's a very smart mover. He jogs very smoothly and when he breezes, he's very professional. He's a big horse but an athletic horse.”

Vasquez has the return call aboard the Delgado trainee.

Smile was the first to sweep the colts and geldings division of the FSS series in 1984. Naked Greed (1991), Seacliff (1995), Sir Oscar (2003), Express Tour (2000), Big Drama (2008), Jackson Bend (2009), Fort Loudon (2011) and Three Rules (2016) have also swept the series.

Arindel's Turbo, who finished second in both the Dr. Fager and the Affirmed, is rated second at 4-1 in the In Reality morning line. The Juan Alvarado-trained colt, who finished an even second in the Dr. Fager, closed from eighth with a six-wide rally to get the place, four-lengths clear of the third-pace finisher.

“He's pretty fast. In the last leg, he got hung out really wide. He made a good run. He ran hard. Awesome Strong is a really nice horse for Jorge,” Arindel's Brian Cohen said. “We're going to try to catch him again.

Edwin Gonzalez has the return call on the homebred son of Brethren, who drew the No. 6 post position.

“I don't think the two turns should be a problem. He's got a good post and Edwin knows him. Edwin seems to think the further the better for him,” Cohen said. “Hopefully, he can catch him this time.”.

Arindel will also be represented in the In Reality by Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Knox, another son of Brethren who bypassed the Affirmed after finishing a late-closing fourth in the Dr. Fager. Knox had previously captured his debut at five furlongs after rallying from off the pace.

“He ran fourth in the Dr. Fager. He's a horse that doesn't have too much early speed. I didn't see us making up in four weeks enough improvement to beat Awesome Strong,” Joseph said. “I thought it made more sense to give him a little freshening and go straight to the mile-and-a-sixteenth. That would give him his best chance to compete.”

Joseph is also scheduled to saddle Magic Cap Stables' Apocalypso, who recovered from bumping at the start of the Affirmed to rally from 11th to finish third. The son of Girvin graduated at first asking at Gulfstream Aug. 6, scoring by a neck in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight race.

“First time he showed some resiliency to battle back and win. Last time, he didn't break the best and got bumped at the start and he ended up so far behind. Getting up to finish third, I though was very creditable,” Joseph said. “Hopefully, he'll break well and put himself in a closer spot. I think he has a chance.”

Leonel Reyes has the call on Knox, while Edgard Zayas the return mount aboard Apocalypso, who is rated third in the morning line at 6-1.

Sandra New, Aaron Haberman and Tai Granada's Hard to Handle, who finished third behind Apocalypso in his debut, enters the In Reality off an impressive 5 ½-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight races for Florida-breds.

Paco Lopez is scheduled to ride David Fawkes-trained Hard to Handle for the first time in the In Reality.

Smith Ranch Stables' Fifty One Fifty, who finished second behind Apocalypso in his debut, will be equipped with blinkers for the first time In Reality after finishing second behind Hard to Handle last time out.

Jose Morelos has the return mount aboard the gelded son of Khozan.

William Churly and Shadowbrook Farm Inc.'s Cajun Hope, third in the Dr. Fager and fifth in the Affirmed; Champion Equine LLC's Commandant, sixth in the Dr. Fager and fourth in the Affirmed; Donald Mensh's Rockin Roller, who overcame a slow start to win his debut in a Sept. 9 $50,000 maiden claiming race; trainer Roger Laurin's Tigre, who finished third in last Saturday's Armed Forces; Jacks or Better Farm Inc.'s Belts and Brooks, a full brother to 2018 Affirmed winner and In Reality runner-up Garter and Tie; and Diamond 100 Racing Club LLC and Amy Dunne's Diamond Cool, who is coming off a third-place finish in his debut behind Turbo; round out the field.

The post Undefeated Awesome Strong Seeks Clean Sweep In Saturday’s Florida Sire Stakes Finale appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Saturday's eight-race card at Shawan Downs in Cockeysville, Md., was a reminder of what makes steeplechase racing at the hunt meets a day of glorious family fun. Fans picnicking under the bright blue autumn sky in a relaxed, picture-perfect setting of rolling hills and trees, and the non-stop excitement of top-flight athletes competing for purse money and prestige.

The $160,000 card consisted of four 2-mile hurdle events, a pair of timber races at 3 ⅛ miles, and two flat training races at 1 ⅜ miles.

In the featured $35,000 Brown Advisory timber stakes, Northwoods Stable and Sheila Williams' Storm Team, a striking chestnut son of Candy Ride, won for the ninth time in his long and productive career, with a front-running 5 ¾-length score over arch-rival Andi'amu. Storm Team, ridden by Graham Watters and trained by Hall of Famer Jack Fisher, became the default leader when Irv Naylor's Junior Senator fell at the second fence. From there, the eight-year-old took charge, but didn't get much of a breather as Andi'amu, the 2019 timber champion trained by Leslie Young and ridden by Freddie Procter, shadowed his foe, with the duo switching leads several times until Storm Team drew clear over the last fence and through the stretch. Andi'amu, who runs in the colors of Tom and Roxy Collins' Ballybristol Farm, held the place spot, a length clear of Fat Chance Farm's Flaming Sword, who fired late under Barry Foley.

For Storm Team, who has now captured two of three this season, it boosted his career bankroll to $271,465, and his record to nine wins, six seconds, and eight thirds in 36 starts.

In other action:

A “Fleet” footed performance

Ciarrai Bloodstock's Fleeting Atte, a Maryland-bred son of Afleet Alex, made his National Steeplechase Association debut a winning one, taking the opener, a $20,000 hurdle restricted to three-year-olds.

With trainer Sean McDermott doing double duty in the saddle, Fleeting Atte was content to sit off the pace set by Achsah O'Donovan's Greylover (Jamie Bargary). With less than three-quarters-of-a-mile to go, McDermott made his move, overtaking the frontrunners, who also included Michael Smith's Hoffman, and Gordon Keys' Keys Discount. The winning margin was 4 ¼ lengths over those two.

In his six previous starts on the flat, mostly at Laurel, Fleeting Atte boasted three in-the-money finishes. In his most recent effort, he scored in a maiden special weight contest at Delaware Park.

Regally bred Awakened says good night to 10 rivals in maiden hurdle

Coming off a victory on the flat at Colonial Downs for jumpers who started but didn't win at the recently completed meet, Riverdee Stable's Awakened sat unhurried behind the two leaders for most of the going, then got into gear at the head of the lane under Jamie Bargary and won going away by 7 1/2 lengths in the $30,000 maiden hurdle.

The Phipps-bred five-year-old son of Curlin out of the multiple graded stakes winner Daydreaming, also bred by the Phipps family, began his jump-racing career at Middleburg last spring, finishing second in his maiden debut, then was a close second again at Colonial Downs in July prior to his win over Colonial's turf course earlier this month.

Fightinirishtabit sends Telegram a message in thrilling duel

In the closest finish of the day, Daniel Denefrio's seven-year-old son of Tiznow made it two in a row with a hard-fought neck victory over Atlanta Hall Racing's Telegram in a handicap for horses rated at 115 or less, or entered for a tag of $20,000.

With Harry Beswick in the saddle, Fightinirishtabit, trained by Ricky Hendriks, allowed Telegram and Michael Smith's Project Two to battle it out on the front end for nearly the entire length of the race. Two jumps from home, Beswick asked his mount for more, and the race was on as the duo dug in and went nose to nose in the final hundred years. Project Two was third under Tom Garner, and the rest of the field was far back.

Fightinirishtabit was coming off of a far easier win in a 110 handicap at Colonial Downs in August, where he romped by 14 lengths.

Step to the Bar steps up in allowance

Del Rio Racing's Step to the Bar captured his first race since breaking his maiden at Shawan Downs at last year's meet, going wire-to-wire under Bernie Dalton to hold off Nancy Reed's Bright Eyed Eagle by 1 ¼ lengths.

Riding for his wife, trainer Kate Dalton, the veteran reinsman dictated the pace from the drop of the flag while Bright Eyed Eagle and Gerard Galligan sat within striking distance from the get-go. At Galligan's urging, Bright Eyed Eagle advanced through the field and made it a race, dueling with the winner gamely but coming up short. Riverdee Stable's Senor Seville, with Ross Geraghty, finished third, barely holding off stablemate Queens Empire.

Cracker Factory breaks timber maiden by daylight

Seven-year-old Cracker Factory made his first trip to the winner's circle in nearly four years with a facile score in the $15,000 timber maiden, giving Jamie Bargary his second winner on the card and his eighth since the summer season began.

Owned by Daisy Fenwick's The Hundred Acre Farm and trained by Mark Beecher, the British-bred son of Poet's Voice put in his best effort in a dozen U.S. starts following a career in the UK.

Sitting in mid-pack in the field of nine until the last quarter-mile, Cracker Factory responded as soon as Bargary stepped on the gas, and the race was over. Runnerup Cause for Pardon (Ballybristol Farm), piloted by Tom Garner, ran a similar race to the winner and put in a late run to be clearly second best. Bruton Street-US' Notjudginjustsayin, with Connor Hankin up, was third.

And on the flat

Two training-flat contests, with a total of 27 runners, completed the day. In the first division, Fiona Fox earned her first NSA victory with a 2 ½-length tally aboard Merriebelle Stable's Grey Falcon for trainer Elizabeth Voss. Turks Head Turf's Always Cool, with Mell Boucher riding for her mom, Lilith, was second, while Blythe Miller Davies' Brave Deacon, ridden by son, Teddy, and trained by husband, Joe, were third. Also in the field were City Dreamer, Riverdee Stable's multiple stakes winner, and Upland Partners' timber ace Mystic Strike, prepping for bigger events down the road.

Also prepping for major races ahead was 2020 Eclipse-Award-winning jumper Moscato, who finished fifth in the second training-flat race, which was won by Andrew Russo's Refi, ridden by Elizabeth Scully and trained by Todd Wyatt. Refi prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths over Rolling Tide's Gold, ridden by Bernie Dalton, and S. Rebecca Shepherd's Clint Maroon (Jamie Bargary).

Full results can be found here: https://nationalsteeplechase.com/racing/

The post Shawan Downs Recap: Storm Team Runs Away From Andi’amu In Brown Advisory Timber appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A competitive field of nine was drawn on Monday for the $100,000 Hawthorne Derby, presented by BetMakers. The 52nd running of the Hawthorne Derby will take place as race seven on Saturday at 1 1/8 miles on the Hawthorne turf course.

The very evenly matched field is led by Speaking Scout, from the barn of Graham Motion. Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Speaking Scout comes into the Hawthorne Derby as one of the more seasoned runners, making 11 career starts. Racing primarily on the turf in 2022, Speaking Scout followed up a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Kitten's Joy at Gulfstream in February with an allowance score over the Keeneland turf in April. That victory was followed by four consecutive turf stakes efforts. Speaking Scout finished a good fourth in the Grade 3 Kent at Delaware on July 2, followed by a fourth-place finish in the Bald Eagle Derby at Laurel on August 6. His most recent race came in the Dueling Grounds Derby on September 5, a race where he was only a length off the lead mid-stretch before tiring late. Speaking Scout is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Hawthorne Derby and will be ridden by Jareth Loveberry.

Second-choice at 7-2 is Encourage from the barn of Kenny McPeek. Owned by Stephen Baker, the move to the turf has brought out a different racehorse in 2022. After three juvenile starts on the main track that produced no better than a fourth-place finish, Encourage was away from the races for eight months before returning on August 12. In that maiden race at Ellis Park, Encourage settled mid-pack early before rallying late to win by a head. He returned three weeks later at Kentucky Downs, producing a big performance in a turf allowance, again resulting in a head victory. Chris Emigh rides Encourage on Saturday.

Another horse that has been fantastic since moving to the turf is American Mayhem for owner Doubledown Stables, Inc. and trainer James DiVito. Debuting this May, American Mayhem made three starts on the Churchill Downs dirt before moving to the turf. He rallied from the back of the pack to break his maiden on July 24 at Ellis Park and followed that victory with an allowance score at Ellis on August 26. He tried stakes-company in his most recent start, finishing third in the Gun Runner Stakes as the favorite. Orlando Mojica gets the call on the 4-1 third choice.

Trainer Mike Maker sends a pair out in the Hawthorne Derby with 6-1 Wicked Genius and 8-1 Camp David. Owned by Paradise Farms Corp. & David Staudacher, Wicked Genius was claimed into the Maker barn on April 14 for $50,000 off a sixth-place effort at Keeneland. In his next start, he shifted to the turf at Churchill and was a winner when in for a $75,000 tag. He followed that race with another turf score, this time at Kentucky Downs against Starter-company on September 1. Jose Lopez rides Wicked Genius. Camp David draws the rail for owner Three Diamonds Farm. After a maiden victory to close out his two-year-old season last October at Keeneland, Camp David made his first three-year-old start at Horseshoe Indianapolis on May 17, winning a dirt allowance. After a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 12, Camp David chased the pace before tiring in his most recent start in the Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs.

Hugh Robertson also has a pair in the Hawthorne Derby with Xavey Dave and Tonka Warrior. The Minnesota-bred Xavey Dave is owned by the Estate of Warren L. Bush. Spending the winter in New Orleans, Xavey Dave won a Fair Grounds turf allowance on March 25. After a fourth-place effort in a Keenland turf allowance in April, Xavey Dave spent the summer at Canterbury Park. He made four stakes starts at Canterbury, most recently finishing second in the Blair's Cove on September 10. Eduardo Gallardo rode Xavey Dave in that race and rides again on Saturday. Tonka Warrior enters the Hawthorne Derby with three victories from seven career starts. After finishing third in his debut at Oaklawn on April 23, Tonka Warrior also spent the summer at Canterbury, breaking his maiden and winning a pair of allowance races, one of those coming on the turf. Victor Santiago rides Tonka Warrior for owner Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC.

Bens Malice enters the Hawthorne Derby as the most seasoned horse, making 13 starts and winning three races. Owned by Pete Mattson and trained by Tim Padilla, Bens Malice has made nine starts on the turf, finishing first or second in seven of those nine races. Along with a pair of allowance wins on the turf, Bens Malice finished second in the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on March 12. He also posted a runner-up effort in the Mystic Lake Derby on June 22 and finished third in the Minnesota Derby on August 13 at Canterbury. Regular rider Alonso Quinonez is in to ride Bens Malice.

Protonic Power races for owner Antonio Donato and Armando Hernandez. After posting a couple of early season wins at Gulfstream Park, Protonic Power was claimed for $16,000 at Ellis on July 17 and then claimed again for $30,000 two weeks later at Ellis. His most recent performance was a third-place effort at Horseshoe Indianapolis on September 14 in an allowance race that was taken off the turf. Javier Tavares rides in the Hawthorne Derby.

Hawthorne Race Course, Chicago's Hometown Track, races year-round in 2022. The winter harness season concluded on Sunday, March 20. Spring thoroughbreds kicked off Saturday, April 2 and concluded Saturday, June 25. The summer harness season began on Thursday, June 30 and raced through Sunday, September 11. Fall thoroughbreds returned on Friday, September 23 and race through Saturday, December 31. For any information about Hawthorne Race Course visit our website www.HawthorneRaceCourse.com.

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