Tag: Racing

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One will meet her rival Sconsin for the eighth time Saturday in the $300,000 Open Mind (Listed), and trainer Neil Pessin hopes she can avenge her defeat from last year's race.

Bell's the One got the better of Sconsin by 2 ½ lengths in the $200,000 Lady Tak one month ago. In last year's Open Mind, Bell's the One finished a half-length behind the Greg Foley-trained Sconsin in the Open Mind.

“She's taken us on a lot of journeys and I'm so thankful for her,” Pessin said. “I was pretty confident with her going into the Lady Tak and I wasn't holding back like I normally do talking about her.”

Bell's the One has been dominant at the six-furlong distance throughout her career and has recorded eight of her 12 lifetime victories going three-quarters of a mile. Entering this year's Open Mind, the 6-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection sports two swift half-mile moves in company with stablemate Fine Cotton. Two weeks ago, Bell's the One recorded the best half-mile move of 106 horses to breeze at the distance when she cruised :47. Last week, Bell's the One was the best of 90 other horses when she skittered four furlongs in :46.80.

Aside from Bell's the One and Sconsin in the Open Mind, stakes-winning Joyful Cadence could loom large for Bill Simon's WSS Racing and trainer John Ortiz. Joyful Cadence finished 1 ½ lengths behind Bell's the One in the Lady Tak after setting swift opening quarter-mile fractions of :22.42 and :45.42.

“I think she's right there with Sconsin and Bell's the One,” jockey Rey Gutierrez said. “She ran so well last time and Bell's the One and Sconsin are two very nice mares. Joyful Cadence is going in the right direction and is right there with them. I think she's ready to run a big effort.”

The six-furlong Open Mind will go as Race 7 of 11 with a post time of 3:50 p.m. The compact field of five female sprinters will be one of five stakes featured on the program. The others are the $300,000 Iroquois (GIII), $300,000 Pocahontas (GIII), $400,000 Locust Grove and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Here is the complete field for the Open Mind from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Sconsin (Tyler Gaffalione, Foley, 8-5); Joyful Cadence (Gutierrez, Ortiz, 7-2); Cheetara (CHI) (Vincent Cheminaud, Ignacio Correas IV, 15-1); Bell's the One (Lanerie, Pessin, 6-5); and Club Car (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ben Colebrook, 5-1).

The post ‘She’s Taken Us On A Lot Of Journeys’: Pessin Grateful For Bell’s The One appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keystone Thoroughbreds' Noah And The Ark, sent to post at odds of 41-1 under Harrison Beswick, drew off to a nine-length score in Thursday's Grade 1, $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap, a 2 1/2-mile inner turf test over the jumps for older horses on Opening Day of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.

Thursday's card was billed as a preview for the Grade 1, $250,000 Grand National slated for October 15 at Far Hills with reigning Eclipse Award-winner The Mean Queen returning off an 11-month layoff in the $75,000 William Entenmann Novice in Race 1 and Snap Decision looking to secure a fourth Grade 1 score in the Lonesome Glory one race later. Both steeplechase stars went off at odds of 1-5 but were found second best on a day of upsets.

Noah And The Ark, trained by Todd McKenna, was making his first appearance since his Carolina Cup day score in May 2021 at Camden. The 8-year-old Vinnie Roe gelding, carrying 140 pounds, tracked in third position as Snap Decision, assigned a field-high 168 pounds under Graham Watters, led the field through the first two circuits of firm Big A turf.

Beswick gave Noah And The Ark his cue approaching the final turn and advanced with purpose, vaulting beyond Snap Decision to open up a 6 1/2-length lead at the stretch call and widening to the wire in a final time of 4:34.83. Snap Decision completed the exacta by three-quarters of a length over Ask Paddington, who was a nose better than Song for Someone. Rounding out the order of finish were Amschel, Redicean, Belfast Banter and Iranistan.

“We went a Grade 1 pace but if you're traveling comfortably, you're sat on a pretty good horse. He did it all so well,” Beswick said. “His jumping is out of this world. He's so quick and always, in my mind, been a Grade 1 horse, but it's just taken this amount of time to get him to that stage. To have done that off the layoff he had is a remarkable training feat.

“We're only a small operation,” Beswick added. “We've had huge help from Todd's daughter, Skylar, and Liam McVicar, who's an ex-jockey. It makes it all that much sweeter. He's a horse of my lifetime. I've won on him all across England and the Carolina Cup last year. They don't come around too often.”

Beswick guided the Irish-bred Noah And The Ark to victory in the Tiddesley Wood Handicap Hurdle in July 2019 at Worcester in his final European start.

The chestnut made his stateside debut in September 2020 at Saratoga and notched his first U.S. win at Camden before taking time off due to tendonitis.

McKenna said he wasn't surprised to see Noah And The Ark set sail after racing in sixth position early on.

“I saw him come from the clouds at a racetrack in England and thought if he could do it there, he can definitely do it here,” McKenna said. “Was I surprised he caught Snap Decision? I guess so. Harry made the right move when he did. He made up a ton of ground here this last time under the wire. It was perfect. He got the horse in winning position.”

Noah And The Ark, bred in Ireland by J. A. Slattery, returned $84.50 with his earnings now totaling $136,338 through a 15-6-0-1 record.

Fisher said he was pleased with the effort from Snap Decision, who entered from a dominating performance in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Handicap on August 17 at Saratoga Race Course where he overcame 164 pounds to come home an impressive 13 1/4-length winner in the 2 3/8-mile test.

“He ran well. I told him he [Watters] could do whatever he wants to do,” Fisher said. “If they're going fast, he can sit back. Or he can go to the front.”

While Fisher settled for second in the Lonesome Glory, he did saddle the winner of the $75,000 William Entenmann Novice as Proven Innocent, owned by Bruton Street – US, arrived in the final stride under Jamie Bargary to collar The Mean Queen.

State of Affair led the field of six older horses through the early stages of the 2 3/8-mile inner turf test over the jumps as The Mean Queen, assigned a field-high 158 pounds as the lone mare in the field, stalked outside in fourth position after getting away last at the start under Parker Hendriks.

The Mean Queen, a three-time Grade 1-winner racing off an 11-month layoff, advanced into third position the second time past the wire and was in command down the backstretch for the final time.

Bargary and Proven Innocent rallied stoutly down the lane to the outside of The Mean Queen and the rivals battled to the wire with the former prevailing by a head in a time of 4:25.26. Howyabud, Going Country, Booby Trap and State of Affair rounded out the order of finish. Bandua was scratched.

Fisher said the 4-year-old Blame gelding, who carried 149 pounds and returned $19, may have benefitted from recency of form over the returning Champion mare.

Proven Innocent, a maiden winner on the flat at Belmont in September, had posted a record of 4-2-1-0 over the jumps heading into Thursday's test, including a last out allowance score at the same distance on August 31 at Saratoga Race Course.

“She's had a year off and that helped. He's a nice horse, though,” Fisher said. “He won at Belmont on the flat and then he won over jumps at Saratoga. That's how he won at Saratoga too, he just got up at the last minute.”

Bargary tipped his cap to both halves of the photo finish.

“We battled the whole way up the straight with the champion that the mare is and my lad was just very tough and he got it done in the end,” Bargary said.

Hendriks said he was proud of the effort from The Mean Queen.

“She ran well. She jumped great. She's good and slick. She just got tired,” Hendriks said. “Fair play to Jamie, he nailed her right on the line which is what he had to do. She was fending him off but just got nailed at the wire. She hasn't run in 11 months and just needed the run.”

Keri Brion, trainer of The Mean Queen, said the difficult break hampered her mare's chances.

“I'm super proud of her. She ran a gallant race,” Brion said. “She spotted the field four or five lengths, carried top weight and hasn't run in 11 months – I couldn't be happier with her. Of course, you'd love to win but she'll be prepped and primed for Far Hills off of this.”

Brion said she's hopeful The Mean Queen and Snap Decision will battle for redemption in the Grand National on October 15 at Far Hills.

“We'll go to the big one. The American Grand National is where you'll see her next,” Brion said. “The two stars will hopefully be back together and show everybody that those are the two best horses in the country.”

Live racing resumes Friday at Belmont at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of every day of Belmont at the Big A on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post Noah And The Ark Springs 41-1 Upset Over Snap Decision In Lonesome Glory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Having proven himself against a solid field of stakes winners, Jun Park and Delia Nash's Sibelius is ready to take the next step in a progression his connections hope land the 4-year-old gelding in the Breeders' Cup this fall.

Sibelius exited his dominating 7 ½-length triumph in the $100,000 Lite the Fuse Sept. 10 at historic Pimlico Race Course in good order, and the son of Not This Time will be aimed at a return to graded competition in the Phoenix (G2) Oct. 7 at Keeneland, where South Florida-based trainer Jerry O'Dwyer plans to keep a small string.

The Phoenix serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 5, also at Keeneland. The Lite the Fuse, Phoenix and Sprint are all contested at six furlongs.

“He's looking good. Obviously he's expected to be a little tired the following day and he was a little bit, but he's back bouncing out there again and we're going to aim him for Keeneland,” O'Dwyer said. “It was a super effort the other day. He was pretty good.”

Sibelius was the only non-stakes winner in a field of six for the Lite the Fuse that included May 21 Maryland Sprint (G3) winner Jaxon Traveler along with Nimitz Class, Quick Tempo, Wendell Fong and Wudda U Think Now. Still, Sibelius was made the 2-1 program favorite for the race and went off at 9-5, just 10 cents more than post time favorite Jaxon Traveler.

Pressed on the lead through a half-mile by Quick Tempo, Sibelius took a 4 ½-length cushion into the stretch when Jaxon Traveler launched his bid but was unable to make up ground as the winner pulled away under a hand ride from Junior Alvarado to finish up in 1:09.30. Alvarado came in from New York to ride Sibelius for the second straight time, following a 3 ¾-length optional claiming allowance triumph Aug. 10 at Saratoga, also sprinting six furlongs.

“It surprised me how easily he won the last race, to be honest. He was taking on some stakes winners. Going into the race I thought it was a very good spot for him to take the next step, but [you're] taking on the likes of Jaxon Traveler who is a very nice horse and ran a hell of a race,” O'Dwyer said. “It's very pleasing when you see your horse win and put a nice horse like that away like he did. I think Jaxon Traveler ran his race, but I just think our horse was the best horse on the day.”

Sibelius made his career debut running second in a maiden special weight last March at Laurel Park, graduated at second asking then went unplaced in three consecutive stakes including the Concern at Pimlico. The Lite the Fuse was his first stakes attempt since finishing sixth in the Robert Hilton Memorial last August at Charles Town.

His effort in the Lite the Fuse earned Sibelius a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 105 and his second straight in triple digits, following a 100 for his race at Saratoga. His numbers have improved each time out for five consecutive races.

“It's going to be a big ask trying to win a 'Win and You're In' race, but if he was to win it the owners would be keen and I'd be keen as his trainer to take a shot [in the Breeders' Cup],” O'Dwyer said. “When they run a career-best Beyer you always want to see them back it up. It gives you a bit of confidence that he's definitely on the improve and going the right way.”

O'Dwyer's confidence is further bolstered by the fact that Sibelius' maiden victory came sprinting 6 ½ furlongs in his only previous try at Keeneland, where he was the narrow favorite over 11 rivals last April.

“You like to see them perform over the course that you're going back running over. I don't have much worries about him going to any track. He's performed well at lots of different tracks now,” he said. “I think this is his year where he's finally maturing, developing and getting stronger and turning into the horse that we thought he might be.”

O'Dwyer started out in the Midwest, winning his first career race at Belterra Park in 2014, before moving to the Maryland circuit where he was primarily based between 2017 and 2021 until relocating to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, to start this year.

“Maryland will always be a special place for me. It really helped get me going and praise God we'll have plenty of more runners there,” O'Dwyer said. “I love being in Florida. It's a great environment. I want to be based there but I still want to be able to travel the circuit and take some nice horses and be able to do the Keenelands and Churchills and Saratogas. That's the main objective and goal.”

Should Sibelius earn his way to the Breeders' Cup, it would be the first starter in the World Championships for O'Dwyer, who began as a jockey in Ireland and England before coming to the U.S. to gallop for trainer Al Stall Jr. and subsequently working for trainers Bill Mott, Michael Matz and Andrew McKeever until going out on his own.

O'Dwyer's best horses include multiple stakes winner Needs Supervision and V.I.P. Ticket as well as 2019 Remsen (G2) winner Shotski, his lone graded-stakes triumph to date. He also trains 3-year-old stakes winner and 2021 Nashua (G3) runner-up Cooke Creek, who will rejoin him at Keeneland following some time off.

“Those are the days you want to be taking part in. That's why we do this,” O'Dwyer said. “We're all in it for the big days and the exciting days and that's where we want to be. That's what gets you up every morning, having a horse like Sibelius there. It took a while for him to come around, but I always did like him. I think he's a later-developing horse that's just reaching his full potential.”

The post After Career-Best 105 Beyer, Sibelius Poised To Give Jerry O’Dwyer First Breeders’ Cup Starter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There's nothing quite as satisfying for a Thoroughbred trainer as a plan that comes together with a promising 2-year-old. That's the case with Power Attack, a son of War Dancer trained by Kent Sweezey, who takes aim at Saturday's $500,000 purse in the Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Nownownow, at a mile on the grass, highlights the final weekend of the meet at the Jersey Shore track.

“It has kind of been our plan all along to get to this race with him,” said Sweezey. “I'm actually surprised we got here – shocked in a way – because it's horse racing. I'm excited about the opportunity.”

The Nownownow has attracted a field of 10, and because it's a big-money grass race, trainer Chad Brown enters with a horse that, on paper, will be the one to beat. Oxymore is 2-for-2 lifetime, winning a pair of grass sprints in New York.

But Sweezey likes his horse's chances for a variety of reasons. He owns a win and two seconds from three career starts, making him the most experienced horse in the field. He is convinced that Power Attack wants two turns as well, even though all of his career starts have been at five furlongs.

“I actually do not think sprinting is his game,” said Sweezey, who splits divisions between Monmouth Park and Gulfstream. “From what I see he is very much a two-turn horse. He's training great. He looks awesome. I want nothing more than to win one of Monmouth Park's biggest races.”

Sweezey came close to doing that earlier in the meet, when Epic Bromance finished second at odds of 72-1 in the Grade 1 United Nations. The Brown-trained Adhamo, the 9-5 favorite, wound up winning by 1½ lengths.

But these are 2-year-olds, which means anything can happen and trainers can dream big.

Power Attack, co-owned by Tee-N-Jay Farm and Sweezey, has already far exceeded his $20,000 yearling cost. He was second in his debut in Maiden Special Weight company at Belmont Park on June 9 on the dirt, then won a state-bred Maiden Special Weight race on the grass at Belmont on July 8. He ran into a buzzsaw in the Tyro Stakes at five furlongs on the turf at Monmouth Park in his last start when he was a well-beaten second to Sharp Aza Tack, who went on to be second in the $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile at Kentucky Downs.

“When we bought him I didn't think he would have the speed that he does,” said Sweezey. “We sent him to Thorostock (in Ocala, Fla.) with Nick Sallusto and they broke him. Nick kept calling me saying `I like this horse.' I was like `Come on, Nick. Be honest with me. Just tell me the truth.' He said `No, I really like this horse.' ”

Kendrick Carmouche, who was aboard the colt's first two career starts, will be in for the ride.

“These are 2-year-olds, so you never know,” said Sweezey. “A couple of them have gone two turns but a lot of them have not. We have the most experience with three races. Some horses only have one. And we have yet to finish worse than second.

“I'm looking forward to this. This is what we have been pointing to since the beginning of the season. When I look at the field I see us getting a good trip. I think he has enough speed to put us in the first flight and hopefully some of those horses are not meant to go that far.”

Admission and parking are free for the final two days of the meet. First race post time Saturday and Sunday is 12:15 p.m.

The post Sweezey Aiming High With Power Attack In Monmouth’s $500,000 Nownownow Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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