Monition Puts Perfect Record On Line In Friday’s Gio Ponti At Aqueduct

Hinkle Farms' homebred Monition will bring a perfect record into Friday's $150,000 Gio Ponti, a 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The Gio Ponti is one of three stakes on a packed Friday card, including the $200,000 Grade 3 Comely at nine furlongs for sophomore fillies and the $150,000 Forever Together in a 1 1/16-mile turf test for fillies and mares.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Monition hasn't put a foot wrong through two career starts under jockey Brian Hernandez. The English Channel gelding rallied to a professional three-quarters of a length debut win, advancing inside rivals on the turn and splitting the leaders in the final furlong to capture a one-mile maiden special weight over firm turf at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., in September.

“He broke mid-pack and had a nice turn-of-foot at the end,” DeVaux said. “He ran really well. You never know going long first time if they're going to need a race or not, so I was really pleased with him. He had always trained well, so it wasn't a huge surprise.”

Monition followed by demonstrating a new dimension, posting a gate-to-wire score when stretched out to nine furlongs over good going against older allowance company on October 9 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

DeVaux credited Hernandez for the prominent trip.

“Brian made the decision. He saw there wasn't a lot of speed on paper and knew the horse could break sharp,” DeVaux said. “When he made the lead, he made the right decision and let the horse stay comfortable there. It was quite impressive.”

Monition has breezed back five times at Keeneland, including a half-mile in :48.60 on November 16. He will make his Big A debut under jockey Luis Saez from the outermost post 8.

DeVaux said Saez will have plenty of options with the versatile Monition.

“It's going to be up to Luis to play the break and see. If no one is going to go, it's definitely in his wheelhouse to do so,” DeVaux said.

WellSpring Stables' Queen's Plate-winner Safe Conduct, who competed in two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown, will make his racing return to New York for trainer Phil Serpe.

The Bodemeister colt enters from starts in the first and third legs of the prestigious Canadian series at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, having won the 162nd running of the $1 million Queen's Plate at 10 furlongs on Tapeta in August ahead of an eighth-place effort in the 12-furlong Breeders' Stakes over yielding turf in October.

Safe Conduct, who sports a ledger of 8-3-1-0 with field-high purse earnings of $606,364, won a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer over firm Belmont turf in May by 2 1/2-lengths in besting Public Sector, who has since developed into a multiple graded stakes winner.

Safe Conduct exited that effort to finish fourth in the off-the-turf G3 Pennine Ridge in May and faded to eighth in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational in July over good going ahead of his Queen's Plate run.

The talented bay, bred in Ontario by Mitchell Kursner, breezed five-eighths in 1:02.25 November 7 over the Belmont inner turf and followed with an easy five-eighths over Big Sandy in 1:03.86 on November 18.

Jose Lezcano, aboard for the win at Belmont in May, has the call from post 7.

Repole Stable's multiple graded-stakes placed Never Surprised, by Constitution, boasts an all-turf record of 5-2-3-0 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

The Kentucky-bred bay made his first two career starts last November at the Big A, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight ahead of a gate-to-wire score in the 1 1/16-mile Central Park.

Never Surprised has made his three sophomore starts in graded company, finishing second in each of the one-mile G3 Kitten's Joy in January at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., the 1 1/16-mile G3 Saranac in September at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the nine-furlong G2 Hill Prince in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The latter two efforts were both won by Public Sector.

He worked a half-mile in :50.35 on November 19 over the Belmont dirt training track.

“He's training forwardly like he always does. He's a very eager horse in the mornings and he's a little bit that way in his races,” Pletcher said. “Hopefully, he can repeat his form here – he's 2-for-2 at Aqueduct and seems to like the course. Kendrick [Carmouche] has certainly had some success with him.”

Kendrick Carmouche, aboard for both wins and the last-out Hill Prince, retains the mount from post 6.

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Thomas Albrecht, Vincent Fusaro, and James Klein's New York-bred Ocala Dream arrives from a close fifth, defeated just two lengths, in the seven-furlong Carle Place contested over firm footing on October 22 at Belmont.

Trained by Tom Morley, the Effinex chestnut captured the New York Stallion Stakes Series Spectacular Bid for eligible state-sired 3-year-olds going seven furlongs over the Widener turf at Belmont in June.

He exited that effort to finish off-the-board in the NYSSS Cab Calloway in July at Saratoga but made amends with a rallying nose score in an open 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming test ahead of the Carle Place.

Dylan Davis, who has piloted the colt in his last two starts, retains the mount from post 5.

Rounding out the field are Kygo [post 1, Manny Franco], a formerly French-based son of Adlerflug making his North American debut for trainer Mike Maker; the graded-stakes placed Original [post 3, Javier Castellano], who captured the one-mile Manila in July at Belmont for trainer John Terranova; and the Irish-bred Gussy Mac [post 2, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], who removes blinkers in search of his first win in North America for trainer Niall Saville. Boldish was entered for the main track only.

The Gio Ponti is slated as Race 8 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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

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Daunt Goes For First Stakes Win In Friday’s Awad

Marc Keller's Kentucky homebred Daunt will look to make his stakes debut a winning one in Friday's $100,000 Awad, a 1 1/16-mile Widener turf test for juveniles at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

The Awad is one of four stakes on Friday's packed card, including the $200,000 Ticonderoga, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for state-bred fillies and mares; the $150,000 Tempted, a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies; and the $100,000 Atlantic Beach, a six-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds.

Trained by Bobby Ribaudo, Daunt, a 2-year-old Nyquist colt, finished a close fifth in his August debut traveling 1 1/16-miles over the firm turf at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He overcame a bobbled start to graduate at second asking with a strong rallying effort traveling 1 1/16-miles over firm Belmont turf on September 23.

Ribaudo said Daunt has matured considerably.

“He was a playful colt and we were considering gelding him, but he's really turned around,” Ribaudo said. “His race in Saratoga was real good. We just wanted to see what he was all about in that spot. He came back here and broke his maiden and it was a troubled trip for a young horse, but he handled it well mentally.”

The well-related Daunt is out of the graded-stakes placed Artie Schiller mare Promotional, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winner and $2 million earner Marketing Mix.

Keller purchased Promotional for $275,000 in foal to Nyquist out of the 2019 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. A Glen Hill Farm homebred, the turf-focused Promotional made all but two of her 18 career starts at 1 1/16-miles or beyond, including a runner-up effort in the 12-furlong 2017 Grade 3 Dowager at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

“She was with Tom Proctor her whole career for Glen Hill, so she was in good hands racing wise. She's a homebred of theirs and we bought her in foal to Nyquist,” Ribaudo said. “This is her first foal and it turned out to be real nice. We have a Speightstown out of her but we're thinking about going back to Nyquist.

“The mare was all distance,” Ribaudo added. “She was placed going long in stakes and this horse [Daunt] shows the same kind of talent and he never gets tired.”

Ribaudo said if Daunt continues to improve, he would be a good fit for NYRA's Turf Triple Series.

“He's going to be a very nice horse next year,” Ribaudo said. “I'm hoping he stays around for those long races here next year for 3-year-olds.”

Daunt breezed a half-mile in :50.22 seconds October 24 over firm Belmont inner turf, which was softened somewhat by overnight rain. Ribaudo said he expects Daunt will be able to handle less-than-firm footing this weekend if needed.

“Since the race, he's really been training good. I worked him the other day on the turf and he did well,” Ribaudo said. “Soft turf is tiring for young horses but he never gets tired, so I don't think it will affect him as much it might the other horses.”

Manny Franco will have the call from post 3.

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Royal Spirit graduated on debut at 1 1/16-miles over firm Spa turf in August for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. By Into Mischief, the $450,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase purchase was bumped at the break before rallying to finish second last out in the one-mile Nownownow over good turf at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., on September 26.

Pletcher said he's hopeful of a good effort on Friday.

“I think he's proven he's a stakes quality horse,” Pletcher said.

Royal Spirit will emerge from post 6 under Paco Lopez.

General Ken, a recent private purchase for owner Louis Lazzinnaro, will make his stakes debut for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

A Violence juvenile, General Ken earned a 74 Beyer for a front-running 7 1/4-length maiden score traveling a mile and 70 yards over good turf at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., on September 15.

General Ken has breezed five times at Belmont with his last two works coming over the inner turf, including a five-eighths effort Saturday in 1:01.40.

Dylan Davis will pilot General Ken from post 2.

Rounding out the field are maiden winners Geno [post 5, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], Artie's Angel [post 1, Wilmer Garcia], and Ohtwoohthreefive [post 4, Eric Cancel].

The Awad is slated as Race 7 on Friday's 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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

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Into Mischief Colt Sails to ‘Rising Star’-dom at Belmont

Sent off at odds of 3-4 to open his account at first asking, Overstep (Into Mischief) turned on the afterburners through the Belmont stretch to become yet another 'TDN Rising Star' for his all-conquering stallion.

Drawn one from the outside in stall eight, the $360,000 Keeneland September yearling pressed the pace outside of 7-1 chance Silver Samurai (First Samurai), appearing to have that one whenever Irad Ortiz, Jr. elected to pull the trigger. On even terms with 2 1/2 furlongs left to run, Overstep was shaken up once heads were turned for home, immediately opened daylight on his rivals and went on to score by 6 3/4 lengths while being eased up for the final 70 yards. The outposted Asymmetric (Upstart) looked to brush the gate at the start and trailed for the opening half-mile, then finished willingly down the center of the track to secure place honors.

The 27th Rising Star for Into Mischief, Overstep is out of an unraced dam who topped the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale on a bid of an even $1 million from owner Chester Broman. He and his wife Mary were represented Friday as breeders by 'Rising Star' Classy Edition (Classic Empire) in the Joseph A. Gimma S., while their operation has also been responsible for GIII With Anticipation S. winner Coinage (Tapit x Bar of Gold) as well as the maiden winner Adversity (Arrogate x Artemis Agrotera) over the past several weeks.

Modest Maven is a half-sister to GSP Lassofthemohicans (Indian Charlie), while third dam Big Dreams (Great Above) produced multiple champion sprinter Housebuster (Mt. Livermore) and GSW/GISP Quero Quero (Royal Academy). The latter is the dam of Glen Hill Farm's 2-year-old filly Muted (Into Mischief), who aired by 7 1/4 lengths on Gulfstream debut Sept. 3. The female family was developed by Clarkland Farm, also the breeder of Into Mischief. Modest Maven is the dam of a yearling Frosted colt, a filly of 2021 by that Darley America stallion and was most recently bred to Authentic.

6th-Belmont, $75,000, (S), Msw, 9-25, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.15, ft, 6 3/4 lengths.
OVERSTEP, c, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Modest Maven, by Uncle Mo
2nd Dam: Dream Street, by Tale of the Cat
3rd Dam: Big Dreams, by Great Above
Sales history: $360,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $41,250. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Repole Stable & St Elias Stable; B-Chester & Mary R Broman (NY); T-Todd A Pletcher.

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Keeneland September Sale Blows Past 2020 Totals With Five Sessions Still To Go

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington, Ky., completed its sixth of 11 sessions on Sunday with cumulative sales of $278 million, exceeding total sales of $238 million recorded for last year's entire 12-day auction.

To date, Keeneland has sold 1,169 yearlings through the ring for $278,883,000, for an average of $238,565 and a median of $180,000.

Demand for Thoroughbred racing prospects continued to drive strong results Sunday, the final day of Book 3, when 280 yearlings brought $33,461,000, for an average of $119,504 and a median of $87,500.

First-crop sire City of Light was represented by Sunday's two top-priced yearlings and three of the session's five high sellers.

Topping the session was a colt by City of Light from the family of recent TVG Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner Grace Adler who sold for $700,000 to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable and St. Elias. Consigned by Farfellow Farms, he is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Hessie's Girl and also from the family of Grade 1 winner Bullsbay and Grade 3 winner Our Khrysty. Our Khrysty is the dam of Grace Adler.

West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable and St. Elias, was the session's leading buyer, acquiring five yearlings for $1,325,000.

Breeze Easy/Tom McGreevy, agent, paid $525,000 for a filly by City of Light who is a half-sister to stakes winner Mizzen Beau. Her dam, the stakes-placed Donna Getyourgun, by Stormy Atlantic, is a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Clearly a Queen. The filly was consigned by Warrendale Sales, agent.

A colt by Violence brought $500,000 from Maverick Racing. Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, consigned the colt, who is out of the winning Congrats mare Tulira's Star and from the family of Grade 3 winner Mountain General.

With sales of $3,557,000 for 29 yearlings, Taylor Made Sales Agency was the session's leading consignor.

BBA Ireland went to $475,000 for a colt by Gun Runner who is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Royal Mo and stakes winner Tara From the Cape. Consigned by Brandywine Farm and Gun Runner Syndicate, he is out of Royal Irish Lass, by Saint Ballado, and from the family of Grade 2 winner Irish Linnet.

City of Light also sired the colt from the family of champion Xtra Heat who sold to Wesley Ward for $460,000. Woodford Thoroughbreds, agent, consigned the colt, whose dam is the Congrats mare Sudden Heat.

The September Sale continues Monday and runs through Friday, Sept. 24. All sessions begin at 10 a.m. ET.

The entire September Sale is streamed live at Keeneland.com.

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