Tiz the Bomb ‘Primed’ For Jeff Ruby Steaks

A veteran of just seven career starts, Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) has already won races on dirt and turf and looks to stay perfect in two starts on the synth in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park.

A $330,000 graduate of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase, the bay aired in a rained-off event over the Ellis main track to graduate at second asking last July, then switched to the grass to take the lucrative Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Sept. 6 and the Oct. 10 GII Bourbon S. at Keeneland. Second–though pari-mutuelly first–in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, he flopped when seventh in the GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 5 and took nicely to this surface when outgaming Bourbon runner-up and Juvenile Turf seventh Stolen Base (Bodemeister) in the Mar. 5 John Battaglia Memorial S. The latter adds blinkers Saturday afternoon. In addition to the Triple Crown, Tiz the Bomb holds entries for the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas over Newmarket's straight mile Apr. 30 and for the G1 Cazoo Derby going a mile and a half at Epsom June 4.

Dowagiac Chief (Cairo Prince) is the owner of the field's best Beyer Speed Figure, having earned an 88 for his five-length romp in the grassy Black Gold S. at the Fair Grounds Mar. 5. Fifth and beaten four lengths at 42-1 in the Bourbon S., the $110,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase is a full-sister to Cairo Diamond, who made each of her five career starts on the synthetic main track at Woodbine, coming from the clouds to break her maiden in what was her final appearance.

Red Run (Gun Runner) ran out a half-length winner of the Jan. 30 Texas Turf Mile last time, leaving Stolen Base and Dowagiac Chief behind in third and fourth, respectively. The Winchell homebred is meant to be any kind, as he is out of a full-sister to champion Untapable (Tapit); to GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}), runner-up in the 2010 GI Toyota Blue Grass S. on the Polytrack; and to the dam of GSW Majestic Eagle (Medaglia d'Oro).

The outposted Blackadder (Quality Road), last-out winner of the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, is expected to scratch in favor of next Saturday's GI Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland. The defection will allow Swing Shift (Midnight Storm) to draw in off the also-eligible list.

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Stolen Base Leads The Field In Newly-Named Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile

Sam Houston Race Park will host its annual Houston Racing Festival on Sunday, Jan. 30. A special post time of 1:45 pm (CT) has been set for the marquee day of the 2022 Thoroughbred meet with six featured stakes.

As previously reported, two graded stakes will be contested: the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic and the Grade 3, $200,000 John B. Connally Turf. A very promising forecast of clear skies and temperatures in the mid-60's is on tap for the Sunday afternoon program.

One of the undercard stakes features a very competitive field and a new name in honor of Robert L. Bork, former Sam Houston Race Park president. The $200,000 Texas Turf Mile for 3 year-olds has been renamed the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. Bork, who made a tremendous impact on the racing industry, nationally and in Houston, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2021 at the age of 83.

Members of the Bork family will present the trophy following the running of the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile. Dan Bork, who serves as assistant racing secretary/stakes coordinator at Churchill Downs and racing secretary at Ellis Park, speaks proudly of his father's accomplishments in the racing industry.

“My father was a respected racing executive for over four decades,” he said. “He truly loved horse racing and the development of Sam Houston Race Park as the first Class 1 racetrack in Texas meant a great deal to him. His wife, Judith, my son, Owen, my sister Dina and brother Michael look forward to honoring him on Sunday.”

A field of eleven will enter the starting gate for this one-mile feature for 3-year-olds on the Connally Turf Course.

Stolen Base, who competed in the 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, has been tabbed as the 3-1 morning line choice. The son of Bodemeister is owned by Three Diamonds Farm and Deuce Greathouse. Trained by Mike Maker, he won his debut at Saratoga last July and advanced directly into stakes competition. The Kentucky-bred colt ran second in the Grade 2 Bourbon at Keeneland before finishing seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5. Giovanni Franco has the call and will break from post position seven.

“He had some traffic issues in the Breeders' Cup, but ran a credible race,” said Maker, who will also saddle Pure Panic and Grantham in the Bob Bork. “Stolen Base has been working well for his 3-year-old season.”

Horses trained by Eclipse Award winning trainers Steve Asmussen, Todd Pletcher, and Brad Cox will also be in the mix. Asmussen will saddle Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC homebred Red Run and Down Cold, who is owned by L and N Racing LLC and Team Hanley. Joel Rosario has the call on Red Run, sired by Gun Runner. Veteran rider Stewart Elliott, who rides first call for Asmussen in Texas and Oklahoma, will guide the gelded son of Mastery.

“He is a very talented son of Gun Runner and in the capable hands of Joel,” said Asmussen. “Down Cold had a nice win at Sam Houston (on January 6) and deserves the opportunity to run at this level.”

Pletcher, who won the 2017 Houston Ladies Classic with Unbridled Mo, will ship in Chanceux for Harrell Ventures, LLC. This will be just the fourth start for the Speightstown colt, who ran second in the $100,000 Dania Beach earlier this month at Gulfstream Park.

“That was his first start around two turns, so we thought this race would be a good fit, plus the Harrells live in Houston” said Pletcher. “Very nice of Sam Houston to name the race after Bob Bork, who was such an admired leader in our industry.”

Cox, who won the 2018 Houston Ladies Classic with Tiger Moth, will be represented by Bloodline, owned by Karl and Cathi Glassman. The son of Uncle Mo will make his stakes debut after winning a main track allowance at Fair Grounds on December 31. He will also ship Dean Maltzman's homebred Kaely's Brother from Fair Grounds, who last competed in the $75,000 Sugar Bowl on December 27.

The Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile will run as the sixth race on the card with an approximate post time of 4:23 pm (CT). The field, from the rail, with riders and morning-line odds:

  1. Bloodline, Marcelino Pedroza, Jr , 12-1;
  2. Dowagiac Chief, James Graham, 8-1;
  3. Malibu Thunder, Ezequiel Lara, 50-1;
  4. Chanceux, Reylu Gutierrez., 4-1;
  5. Down Cold, Stewart Elliott, 15-1;
  6. Pure Panic, Richard Eramia, 5-1;
  7. Stolen Base, Giovanni Franco, 3-1;
  8. Kaely's Brother, Adam Beschizza, 6-1;
  9. Screwball, Ry Eikleberry, 20-1;
  10. Grantham, Tyler Gafflione, 6-1;
  11. Red Run, Joel Rosario, 11-1.

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Doctor Jeff Faces 11 Talented Juveniles In Saturday’s Saratoga Special

Doctor Jeff, fresh off his debut win last month at Belmont Park, will take the step up in class and face stakes company for the first time as part of a 12-horse field of talented juveniles in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite at Saratoga Race Course.

The 116th running of the Saratoga Special, contested at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in Race 9, is one of two stakes on the 11-race card that will be bolstered by the Grade 1, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap for 3-year-olds up going one mile on the inner turf in Race 10 that is a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile.

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's Doctor Jeff won first out in a six-furlong sprint taken off the turf at Belmont on July 10. The Street Boss colt earned a Saratoga Special field-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure for his 2 1/4-length victory for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and subsequently shipped to Saratoga, where he recorded three breezes over the main track, including a bullet five-furlong work in 59.61 seconds on Sunday.

“I'm just very happy with the way he's training over here,” Rodriguez said. “He beat some tough horses the first time and he did it the right way. We just take it day-by-day, but he's been training over here for a while. If he doesn't like the track now, he's never going to like it.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for Doctor Jeff's win and the winner of last year's Saratoga Special riding Jackie's Warrior, will have the return call from post 8.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, fresh off a whirlwind week in which he broke the record for most wins by a North American thoroughbred trainer, will have a strong chance to add to that total in saddling a pair of Winchell Thoroughbred homebreds in Gunite and Red Run.

The duo are both sons of Gun Runner, who Asmussen also trained during a stellar career that netted two Eclipse Awards, including 2017 Horse of the Year honors as well as that year's Champion Older Dirt Male.

“It's extremely exciting. All a part of what makes racing great,” Asmussen said. “We're fortunate to have horses like that and then have the chance for them to prove it. It's amazing how he stamps them just with their attitude. Obviously, he gave them a tremendous amount of ability to find more than what matters. Winning and losing is usually the amount of effort willing to be applied.”

Gunite has given that effort through his first three starts, improving in each race, culminating with a maiden-breaking win last out on June 26 going six furlongs at Churchill Downs. Gunite ran third on debut in April over a sloppy and sealed track at five furlongs and stayed at the same distance in following with a runner-up effort on a fast Churchill course in May.

Asmussen said stretching Gunite out in his last start was beneficial.

“The distance had everything to do with it,” Asmussen said. “Going from five-eighths, five-and-a-half, three-quarters and go third, second and first. That's how it felt to us.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr. will have the mount for a third consecutive time, drawing post 2. Gunite will add blinkers.

Red Run also could be a colt who might appreciate added distance. He boasts an impressive pedigree out of the Tapit mare Red House, who is a full-sister to 2014 Kentucky Oaks winner and Champion 3-Year-Old filly Untapable.

Red Run won going five furlongs on a sloppy Churchill track on May 9 before running fifth in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor on June 26 at Churchill stretched out to six furlongs.

“He's going to need considerably further. The pedigree suggests it also with his female side of the family,” Asmussen said. “I chose him to run here for his next step; he's needing one.”

Manny Franco will be in the irons from the outermost post 12.

Fellow Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will also send out a couple of talented colts, including Phoenix Thoroughbreds' Double Thunder, who won the Bashford Manor by 4 3/4 lengths under Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez. The son of Super Saver is 2-for-2 to start his career, winning on June 5 at Monmouth before graduating against stakes company later in the month.

After drawing away at Churchill and improving his career earnings to a field-high $116,850, Double Thunder will compete at Saratoga for the first time, teaming again with Velazquez in breaking from post 7.

Pletcher's other contender, Repole Stable's Midnight Worker, showed an affinity for Saratoga already, edging Bourbon Heist by a head for a debut win going six furlongs at the historic track on July 24.

Midnight Worker, a son of Outwork, will pick up the services of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., departing from post 5.

Nakatomi added to trainer Wesley Ward's ever-growing list of first-out winners in April at Keeneland with a victory in a 4 1/2-furlong contest over a sloppy and sealed track. That set up the Firing Line gelding's cross-Atlantic trip to Ascot, where he ran eighth in the Group 2 Norfolk going five furlongs on June 17.

Owned by Qatar Racing, M. Detampel and D. Howden, Nakatomi registered a breeze on the Saratoga main track on Thursday and will see Hall of Famer Javier Castellano will pick up the mount for the first time, exiting the inside post.

Greg Tramontin's Ottoman Empire was a debut winner, topping an 11-horse field in a five-furlong sprint on June 20 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Tom Amoss then moved the son of Classic Empire up in class early in the Saratoga meet, where he ran fourth in the six-furlong Grade 3 Sanford over a main track rated good on July 17.

Ottoman Empire, a $120,000 purchase at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, will look to parlay his graded stakes experience into black type, picking up the services of jockey Dylan Davis from post 3. He will also add blinkers.

Robert Masterson's Glacial won his first race for trainer Norm Casse in May at Churchill before running third in the Bashford Manor in his previous start. The son of Frosted, a $140,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training will pick up the services of Tyler Gaffalione in breaking from post 10.

Rounding out the field is High Oak, a first-out winner for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott on June 26 at Belmont [post 11, Junior Alvarado]; Stolen Base, a debut victor on July 23 at Saratoga for meet-leading trainer Mike Maker [post 6, Jose Ortiz]; Dance Code, third in the Grade 3 Sanford after winning his debut in June at Parx for conditioner Juan Vazquez [post 9, Jose Lezcano]; and Kitodan, who broke his maiden at fourth asking in July at Gulfstream Park, for trainer Jorge Delgado [post 4, Chantal Sutherland].

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Big Field Set for Bashford Manor

A wide-open field of 11 juveniles, including one filly, will line up for Saturday's GIII Bashford Manor S. at Churchill Downs.

The 3-1 morning-line favorite Glacial (Frosted) dueled free after a slow start to post a 2 1/2-length debut victory over the stakes-placed maiden Vodka N Water (Fed Biz) beneath the Twin Spires May 29. The $140,000 OBSMAR graduate, produced by an unraced half-sister to GISW Cupid (Tapit), is trained by Norm Casse.

Lansdowne (Super Saver), a half-brother to MGISW Midnight Lucky (Midnight Lute), led by five lengths at the stretch call en route to a front-running, 1 1/2-length debut victory for Dallas Stewart at Churchill May 22.

Winchell homebred Red Run (Gun Runner) became the first winner for his highly regarded freshman sire with a three-wide rally on debut in the Churchill slop May 9. Red Run is the first foal out of an unraced full-sister to champion 3-year-old filly and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Untapable (Tapit).

Double Thunder (Super Saver) posted a field-best 60 Beyer Speed Figure for Todd Pletcher in a debut victory at Monmouth June 5.

Keeneland debut winner Shesgotattitude (Tiznow), drawn widest of all in post 11, takes on the boys for a second straight time for John Ennis following a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Juvenile S. in the slop Apr. 28.

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