Tag: Racing

Gary Barber's Grade 1-placed Make Mischief will make her first outing over the grass in Friday's $125,000 John Hettinger, a nine-furlong inner turf test for New York-bred fillies and mares at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Make Mischief was set to make her turf bow last out in the restricted Yaddo Handicap on August 26 at Saratoga Race Course, but heavy rain forced the race onto a muddy and sealed main track.

After allowing Wasp to set the tempo for the first half mile of the one-mile test, Make Mischief easily took command at the top of the lane under a confident Dylan Davis and coasted home a geared down 8 1/2-length winner over returning rival Ice Princess.

“She's doing very well. She was definitely superior in the Yaddo. From the beginning, we always thought highly of her. She's made over $700,000 and she's been good to us,” said Casse.

Out of the Speightstown mare Speightful Lady, the 4-year-old daughter of Spendthrift Farm's leading sire Into Mischief is a half sister to four winners on the turf, something Casse said gives him hope that she will take to the lawn.

“We've been anxious to try her on the turf. If you look at her siblings, they've enjoyed the turf,” said Casse. “Into Mischiefs can do anything, so we're anxious to give her a try.”

Make Mischief has been a model of consistency in her three seasons of racing, hitting the board in 15-of-20 starts. She kicked off her career with a debut score sprinting five furlongs in June 2020 at Belmont Park before earning consecutive stakes placings in the Schuylerville (G3), Adirondack (G2), and Seeking the Ante.

As a sophomore, she moved to the barn of Chris Englehart for her first four outings of the season, going 3-for-4 and picking up her first stakes victory in the Maddie May. Returning to Casse that April, she earned two more graded placings with third-place efforts in the Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs and Acorn (G1) at Belmont where she was defeated just 1 1/2 lengths by multiple graded stakes winner Search Results. She went on to finish second, beaten a neck, in the Fleet Indian against state-breds at Saratoga before finishing out the year with a third in the Empire Distaff Handicap that fall.

This year, Make Mischief has continued her good form, finishing on-the-board in 4-of-5 outings that began with a dominant 10 1/4-length optional claiming score in April at the Big A. She captured the Critical Eye Handicap at Belmont two starts later before finishing third in the Princess Rooney (G2) at Gulfstream Park and subsequently scoring in the Yaddo.

Bred by Avanti Stable, Make Mischief will exit post 2 in rein to regular pilot Dylan Davis.

Trainer Jorge Abreu will hope to see Runaway Rumour find her best stride again as she searches for her first win since July 2021.

A homebred for Larry Goichman, Runaway Rumour was last seen finishing a close second in the Violet against open company on September 3 at Monmouth Park. There, she rated 2 1/2 lengths off the pace under Luis Cardenas and went four-wide in the turn before battling with Flighty Lady and the victorious graded stakes winner Vigilantes Way down the stretch to come up just a half-length shy of the victory.

“She's doing well,” Abreu said. “I think her being so wide for all the race kind of compromised her a bit, but she got beat by a good horse, so it's not like she got beat by an allowance horse. She got beat by a nice, talented horse. I think she's coming back. I want to get her head back on track.”

Abreu said he had considered trying Runaway Rumour in the Athenia (G3)  on Saturday at the Big A, but opted to bring her back against state-breds for the first time since an even fifth-place finish in the Mount Vernon in May at Belmont.

“She needs to win. She always shows up and she always run her race, but she has to come up with a win,” Abreu said. “I was going to run her in the Athenia, but I said, 'let me give her a little class relief and see.' You'll have one or two that can run, but I think she's classy enough that she can handle the New York-bred division.”

A 4-year-old daughter of Flintshire, Runaway Rumour won her first three outings as a sophomore in 2021, including her lone stakes victory in the Wild Applause at Belmont. She went on the earn her first graded placing with a runner-up effort in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at the Spa en route to on-the-board finishes in the Pebbles and Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont.

Flavien Prat is tasked with the mount from post 7.

Conditioner Christophe Clement will be represented by two runners in Michael Dubb and Michael J. Caruso's Classic Lady [post 1, Joel Rosario] and Harrell Ventures, Kenneth Beitz, Gail Beitz and West Point Thoroughbreds' Classic Colors [post 3, Jose Ortiz].

Classic Lady, a 7-year-old Jimmy Creed dark bay, will return to state-bred company after finishing an even sixth last out in the Dr. James Penny Memorial (G3) on July 12 at Parx Racing. One start prior, she was defeated a nose by Giacosa in the Mount Vernon after setting the pace. Classic Lady is looking for her third stakes victory after scoring wins in the 2020 Dayatthespa at Saratoga and the Ticonderoga last year at Belmont.

Classic Colors, a 4-year-old Street Sense filly, makes her stakes debut for Clement on the heels of a troubled fourth-place finish facing open company in a first-level allowance on September 2 at the Spa. There, she closed well from eight lengths off the pace in 10th of 11 to be defeated just 2 1/2 lengths despite a poor break where she was squeezed and lost ground. She was a narrow winner of a second-level state-bred optional claimer in May at Belmont.

Completing the field are four-time winner Marvelous Maude [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer Chad Brown, Andrew Williams-trained stakes-placed Vienna Code [post 5, Eric Cancel], Grade 3-placed Ice Princess [post 6, Luis Saez] for conditioner Danny Gargan, and last-out winners Pure Bode [post 8, Jose Lezcano] for trainer Jim Ryerson and Finest Work [post 9, Manny Franco] for George Weaver.

The John Hettinger is named in honor of the late New York Racing Association Inc. board member who greatly supported Thoroughbred racing and breeding in New York.

The post ‘Into Mischiefs Can Do Anything’: Make Mischief Set For First Turf Test In John Hettinger appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles' City Man has become a New York fan favorite, garnering stakes victories in each of his four years of training. The graded-stakes winning Empire State-bred added to his accomplishments on Saturday, setting a course record in the nine-furlong $125,000 Ashley T. Cole at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the 5-year-old son of Mucho Macho Man completed the 1 1/8 miles over Aqueduct's firm outer turf in 1:46.95, while earning his sixth career stakes victory. The winning effort registered a 96 Beyer Speed Figure and enhanced his lifetime earnings to $761,800.

Clement said City Man could target the $200,000 Mohawk going 1 1/16 miles against fellow state-breds on October 30 during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. He finished third to Somelikeithotbrown in last year's running of the Mohawk.

“He came out of his race in good shape. He was impressive yesterday,” Clement said. “There are a few stakes in New York for him. The Mohawk could be the goal. We'll see how he's doing.”

City Man's Ashley T. Cole coup came only 19 days following a late closing second in the Grade 3 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga Race Course. He commenced the 2022 Saratoga meet with his biggest victory to date, defeating open company in the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple on July 15 to produce a career-best 104 Beyer.

“That's what good horses do, they overcome things,” Clement said.

City Man has garnered six stakes triumphs through a career that dates back to his 2-year-old campaign of 2019 in which he made his first four starts over the main track, graduating at first asking in an off-the-turf state-bred maiden special weight at Saratoga before winning the Spa's Funny Cide. But the dark bay has since displayed a knack for turf, posting his next five stakes victories on grass.

Off The Hook, operated by Joe Appelbaum and Carlos Morales, bought City Man for $20,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed sale and later sold him to Reeves Thoroughbred Racing for $185,000 at the 2019 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Appelbaum, who also serves as president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, spoke high volumes of the Fasig-Tipton October Sale in Saratoga.

“There's always a good residual value with those horses because people realize that even if the horse isn't a million dollar horse, they can still race it and do a pretty good job economically because of the elevated purse structure in the New York-bred program,” Appelbaum said.

Appelbaum spoke of his familiarity with Mucho Macho Man, who was campaigned by Reeves and won the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). As an owner, Off The Hook campaigned Grade 1 winner Turbo Compressor, who finished third behind Mucho Macho Man in the 2012 Sunshine Millions Classic for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park in a field that also included graded stakes winners Ron the Greek, Duke of Mischief and Adios Charlie.

“That was some race. Four graded stakes winners came out of that race, so we kind of knew how good he was,” Appelbaum said of Mucho Macho Man. “Even though he wasn't the most commercial of sires, we had a lot of confidence in buying a good, tall horse by Mucho Macho Man. When we had City Man, he was great. He breezed well and we sold him to Dean and Patti Reeves pretty nicely. He's worked out well–a graded stakes winner and a multiple New York-bred stakes winner, so it's great.”

Appelbaum said City Man was part of Off The Hook's first season of breeding and buying New York-breds to sell as a 2-year-olds.

“He was a good horse from the beginning. When we bought him, we only paid $20,000 for him which I thought was a pretty good value,” Appelbaum said. “He was good the whole way through. The respect we had for Mucho Macho Man led us to buy a horse that we did well with and the client did well with, while adding to the fact that the client was the one who owned Mucho Macho Man to begin with. It all came full circle.”

Off The Hook has consigned and pinhooked high-caliber performers such as 2009 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner and champion Informed Decision; graded stakes winner Break Water Edison; and Japanese millionaire A Shin Wezen.

“We try to sell 40 to 50 horses a year and many of which we've either bred ourselves or are homebreds of our clients,” Appelbaum said. “For a while we did a lot in the yearling market, but we do a lot less now although we do buy some. We've had a real good strike ratio with the horses we've sold. When you compare us to a lot of other places, a lot of our horses wind up being runners.”

And City Man has added his name to Off The Hook's list of premier graduates.

“He runs his rear end off every time. He's exactly what you want in a horse,” Appelbaum said. “He's been real successful at it. First, Dean Reeves is a great guy. He supports the game and he's a client of ours. We love seeing him successful. To have your opinion confirmed and have your hard work validated at the track is always gratifying.”

This year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Sale, which features a catalogue of 235 weanlings, broodmares and broodmare prospects, is scheduled for Monday, October 17 at 10 a.m. at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The post ‘He’s Exactly What You Want In A Horse’: New York-Bred Course Record-Setter City Man Source Of Pride For Off The Hook appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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CSLR Racing Partners' Awesome Strong and Arindel's homebred Lynx will attempt to achieve rare sweeps Saturday of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Both undefeated juveniles, Awesome Strong, a 2-year-old colt by Awesome Slew, is favored in the $400,000 In Reality, and Lynx, a 2-year-old daughter of Brethren, is favored in the $400,000 My Dear Girl.

Awesome Strong would become the first colt to sweep the three-race male division series since Three Rules in 2016, while Lynx would be the first filly to sweep the series since Scandalous Act in 2013. While there have been 13 horses that have sweeps of their division, the feat has never been achieved in the filly and male divisions in the same year.

Awesome Strong, who won the $100,000 Dr. Fager by 4 ¾ lengths and the $200,000 Affirmed by three lengths, is expected to be heavily favorite in Saturday's $400,000 In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile FFS finale that has drawn a field of 12 colts and geldings.

The son of Awesome Slew, who debuted at Gulfstream with a six-length victory May 22, will be challenged by Juan Alvarado-trained Turbo, who finished second in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed, and Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Apocalypso, who closed from 11^th to check in third in the Affirmed.

Awesome Strong drew Post 8; Turbo will break from Post 6; Apocalypso drew the rail.

Lynx, who captured the $100,000 Desert Vixen by 1 ¼ lengths and the $200,000 Susan's Girl by 4 ¾ lengths, headlines a field of 10 fillies in the $400,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile FSS finale for fillies.

The homebred who debuted with a 1 ¾-length triumph at Gulfstream May 19, will face Ralph Nicks-trained Guardian Angel, the Susan's Girl runner-up, Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained Time Passage, a half-sister to 2021 My Dear Girl winner Outfoxed, and Dreaming in Style, a daughter of Girvin who graduated in style by 3 ½ lengths Sept. 9.

Lynx drew Post 2 for the My Dear Girl, one stall inside Guardian Angel. Time Passage will break from the Post 6.

The Florida Sire Stakes series has produced five Eclipse Award winners – Smile (1984 Sprinter), Not Surprising (1995 Sprinter), Big Drama (2010 Sprinter), Brave Raj (1986 Juvenile Filly), and Awesome Feather (2010 Juvenile Filly).

                 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes  

To be Run Saturday, Oct. 1  

$400,000 In Reality  

2-Year-Old Males, 1 1/16 miles 

1.	Apocalypso	Edgard Zayas	Saffie Joseph Jr.	5-1
2.	Knox	Leonel Reyes	Saffie Joseph Jr	30-1
3.	Belts 'n Brooks	Edgar Perez	Ralph Nicks	20-1
4.	Diamond Cool	Romero Maragh	Patrick Biancone	10-1
5.	Commandant	Luca Panici	David Braddy	3-1
6.	Turbo	Edwin Gonzalez	Juan Alvarado	12-1
7.	Rockin Roller	Kevin Krigger	Eddie Plesa Jr.	6-1
8.	Awesome Strong	Miguel Vasquez	Jorge Delgado	5-2
9.	Tigre	Jason Huayas	Roger Laurin	10-1
10.	Fifty One Fifty	Jose Morelos	Luis Ramirez	20-1
11.	Cajun Hope	Emisael Jaramillo	Michael Yates	8-1
12	Hard to Handle	Paco Lopez	David Fawkes	8-1

 

$400,000 My Dear Girl 

2-Year-Old Fillies, 1 1/16 miles  

 

1.	High Fashion Lady	Ken McPeek	Chantal Sutherland	5-1
2.	Lynx	Edgard Zayas	Carlos David	30-1
3.	Guardian Angel	Edwin Gonzalez	Ralph Nicks	20-1
4.	Dreaming in Style	Kevin Krigger	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10-1
5.	Dorth Vadar	Marcos Meneses	Michael Yates	3-1
6.	Time Passage	Paco Lopez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	12-1
7.	Marvelous Lady	Emisael Jaramillo	Saffie Joseph Jr.	6-1
8.	Cajun Tease	Miguel Vasquez	Michael Yates	5-2
9.	Atomically	Edgar Perez	Jose Pinchin	10-1
10.	Sherlyn Go Go	Leonel Reyes	Michael Maker	20-1

The post Undefeated Awesome Strong, Lynx Attempt Rare Sweeps in FTBOA Sire Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Grade 1 winner Gunite, the odds-on 3-5 favorite, ran down front-running stakes winner Conagher with a furlong to run and scored a three-length victory in Saturday night's second running of the $274,500 Harrods Creek for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs.

Winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful at 2, the Harrods Creek was Gunite's third sprint stakes win of the year, adding to July triumphs in the Maxfield at Churchill Downs and Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga. Prior to the Harrods Creek, Gunite finished second to top 3-year-old sprinter Jack Christopher in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) at Saratoga.

Gunite clocked seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:21.95 under Tyler Gaffalione, who rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ron Winchell).

The winner's share of $166,710 increased Gunite's earnings to $814,809 with a record of 5-4-1 in 11 starts.

“He's run extremely well his last three races,” Asmussen said. “He's had a very good season so far for us. He's a nice horse to have for the Winchells. Being a son of Gun Runner makes it even more special.”

Conagher, who broke from post No. 4, dictated the terms in the field of seven through comfortable fractions of :22.86 and :45.46 but Gunite, who had the outside post, never let the leader get away as he sat a no more than 1 ½ lengths off his right hip down the backstretch. Into the turn, Gunite engaged Conagher and the two raced shoulder to shoulder leaving the turn and into the stretch before Gunite comfortably passed the leader at the final furlong marker and drew clear late despite racing on the wrong the lead leg.

“He's one of my favorite horses to ride,” Gaffalione said. “His last few races he's really proved his talent. He has a lot of grit late in his races and shows that each time he runs.”

Gunite returned $3.26. Conagher, under Joe Rocco Jr., finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of Strava in third.

Friar Laurence, Hippodrome, Double Thunder, and Editorial Comment completed the running order.

Gunite was bred in Kentucky is out of the Cowboy Cal mare Simple Surprise.

The race honors the neighborhood of Louisville centered near Harrods Creek at the intersection of River Road and Wolf Pen Branch Road. It is roughly bordered by the Ohio River to the west and US 42 to the east. Formerly an unincorporated community, it was designated a neighborhood of Louisville when the city merged with Jefferson County in 2003.

The post ‘He Has A Lot Of Grit In His Races’: Favorite Gunite Overhauls Pacesetter Conagher, Coasts Clear In Harrods Creek appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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