Tag: Robert LaPenta

‘Prince’ Leads Royal Procession in King’s Plate

On paper, it appeared that Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) had many things going for him heading into the 164th King's Plate at Woodbine. Trained by Mark Casse, who is one of only a handful of individuals who has been honored by both the U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fames, the chestnut was benefitting from the services of another Canadian stalwart in Patrick Husbands. Not to mention he is owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, the latter well-known for having campaigned the likes of a trio of Classic winners–2019 Preakness hero War of Will, in addition to a pair of Queen's Plate scorers–Lexi Lou (2014) and Wonder Gadot (2018). However, despite the super-stacked street cred, the gelding was given only tepid support at 8-1 to give Casse his third victory in the oldest continuously run race in North America.

As expected, taking much of the pre-race play in the 17-horse field was GSW Kalik (Collected), trained by four-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Chad Brown. Installed the 4-1 favorite, the colt weighed in slightly ahead of third betting choice Stanley House (Army Mule). While Paramount Prince seemed to take in all the hubbub that goes hand-in-hand with the big race days, Kalik bypassed the indoor enclosure entirely and set up shop in the outside ring early, proceeding to work up a fierce sweat by the time the field made their way out to the track.

Still giving the gate crew all they could handle in the moments right before the break, the favorite wasn't in much of a hurry at the start, stationing himself toward the back early as his counterpoint, Paramount Prince, bounced to the front with relative ease. Carving out a quarter mile in :23 1/5 as longshots Velocitor (Mor Spirit) and Silent Miracle (Silent Name), followed by Casse's other runner–the filly Elysian Field–were within striking distance, the gelding continued to show the way following an honest but comfortable half-mile in :47.41. Still zipping along in front as the Woodbine Oaks winner started to turn the screws on Velocitor up the inside through three quarters in 1:11.81, Paramount Prince was given his cue from Husbands at the quarter pole, as his nearest pursuers were also set down for the final push. Given several right-handed reminders late just to remain on task, the gelding had enough left in the tank to score by 1 1/2 lengths over Elysian Field, co-owned by Barber and Team Valor International. Stanley House rallied from far back early to round out the triactor, while Velocitor came home fourth, seven lengths behind the winner. Favored Kalik never got into the mix of things, finishing 13th.

Sunday's King's Plate card yielded record handle of $18,127,726, up from the previous record of $18,005,973 generated in 2019.

“I didn't want to change anything that was already working,” offered Husbands when asked whether his instructions were to get to the front early. “But he left there running and he just did his own thing.”

Husbands also was winning his third Plate, following a score with ultimate Triple Crown winner Wando and Lexi Lou, for Casse and Barber.

He added, “I knew the first time around, that it was going to take a good horse to beat him.”

“At the end of the day, you've got to let the horses talk and don't get too cocky. I had a clean break, I let him do what he likes to do best, and he just enjoyed the running. I asked him to get over on his right lead and he was just gone. He just glides over the ground.”

Casse explained, “He often wins the race at the start. He just breaks so fast. And there was a lot of speed. He's so quick from the gate and that's where he won it. He outbroke them and I knew when he went by us the first time he was traveling well.”

“I was with Gary Barber, and we saw the half in :47 and I said, 'That's not too bad.' And that Elysian Fields, she's just so tough, she came up. But it was a dream come true.”

Bred in Ontario by Ericka Rusnak, Paramount Prince was the first horse bought at auction by Langlois and his wife Charmaine, who made the purchase through then-trainer Jamie Attard. For Attard, Paramount Prince won when getting thrown in against $40,000 maidens going six panels over Woodbine's Tapeta surface last November. Barber bought into the Ontario-bred  following his first start, however, left him with Attard for the remainder of his 2022 campaign. Sent to Casse following a third facing Ontario-breds in the Clarendon S. in December, Paramount Prince kicked off 2023 with a second to One Bay Hemmingway (Danger Bay)–who returned to win the following month–in a six-furlong optional claiming event Apr. 30.

Stepping back into stakes company for his next start, he was runner-up behind Kaukokaipuu (Mr Speaker) in Woodbine's seven-furlong Queenston S. June 11, but seemed to relish the added yardage, winning by five lengths at odds of 11-1 in his latest start in the Plate Trial S. July 23.

The gelding came into the Plate looking to become the first horse since Big Red Mike (2010) to notch the Trial-Plate double. Not Bourbon, in 2008, and Eye of the Leopard, in 2009, also recorded the double.

“When he came to us in Ocala, he was a different horse. We were shocked he was getting beat the first couple of times,” recalled Casse. “I think the key to that is he just doesn't want to run short. And he just wants to use his speed.”

 

Pedigree Notes:

With the victory, Paramount Prince becomes the ninth black-type winner for his sire, Society's Chariman. The King's Plate winner is out of SP Platinum Steel, a daughter of stakes winner Crafty Toast and a half-sister to GI Carter winner and Hill 'n' Dale stallion Army Mule (Friesan Fire).

Sunday, Woodbine
KING'S PLATE S., C$1,004,500, Woodbine, 8-20, (C), 3yo, 1 1/4m (AWT), 2:01.93, ft.
1–PARAMOUNT PRINCE, 126, g, 3, by Society's Chairman
                1st Dam: Platinum Steel (SP, $171,013), by Eddington
                2nd Dam: Crafty Toast, by Crafty Prospector
                3rd Dam: Give a Toast, by Storm Bird
(C$21,000 Ylg '21 CANSEP). O-Michael J. Langlois and Gary
Barber; B-Ericka Nadine Rusnak (ON); T-Mark E. Casse;
J-Patrick Husbands. C$600,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-1,
$580,871.
2–Elysian Field, 121, f, 3, Hard Spun–Elysian, by Smart Strike.
($50,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $70,000 2yo '22 OBSOPN). O-Team
Valor International and Gary Barber; B-Anderson Farms Ont.
Inc. (ON); T-Mark E. Casse. C$200,000.
3–Stanley House, 126, c, 3, Army Mule–Stormy's Song, by
Unbridled's Song. ($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000 RNA Ylg
'21 FTKJUL; $120,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-John E. and Diana L. Russell; B-Elevage II, LLC & St. Elias
Stables LLC (ON); T-Michael P. De Paulo. C$100,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 4. Odds: 8.00, 4.60, 4.40.
Also Ran: Velocitor, Touch'n Ride, Enjoythesilent, Cool Kiss, Twin City, Philip My Dear, Moon Landing, Wickenheiser, Twowaycrossing, Kalik, Morstachy's, Kaukokaipuu, Silent Miracle, Midnight in Malibu. Scratched: El Cohete, Runaway Charlie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

O-Michael J. Langlois and Gary Barber; B-Ericka Nadine Rusnak; T-Mark Casse.

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Uncle Mo Filly Wins First Out At Spa On Friday

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:11.29, my, 1 1/2 lengths.
COREY AND QUINN (f, 3, Uncle Mo–Youcan'tcatchme {Ch. Female Sprinter-Can, MGSW, $425,710}, by The Daddy) debuted as the 7-5 favorite here and after yielding the front up the backstretch to Spun Special (Hard Spun), the bay filly took over the lead around the far turn. With a sixteenth left, she found more to turn back a charge from La Girvina (Girvin) to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Out of an extended female family which includes GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Alabama S. heroine Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior), the winner's dam is responsible for Arnie (City of Light), a 2-year-old colt who was purchased last year for $400,000 Ylg KEESEP by CRK Stable. She foaled Feb. 11 a filly after being bred back to Street Sense and she visited Maxfield for next year. Sales History: $250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Robert V. LaPenta, Madaket Stables LLC and ERJ Racing, LLC; B-Woods Edge Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.

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Pletcher Hit With Suspension for Bute Positive

The New York Gaming Commission has suspended Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher 14 days and fined him $2,000 after a horse he trained tested positive for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone during a 2022 race at Saratoga.

Via text message, Pletcher said he is appealing the penalty. He declined to comment further.

The Paulick Report was first with the story.

The horse in question, Capensis (Tapit), was the even-money favorite in the 10th race at Saratoga on July 30, 2022 and finished sixth. He is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC. He has not run since winning the Sept. 6, 2022 GIII Virginia Derby. A gray colt, he sold for $2 million at the 2020 Keeneland September sale.

The ruling, which was posted to the Gaming Commission's website on Sunday , states that phenylbutazone was present at a concentration in excess of 0.3 micrograms per milliliter in violation of 9 NYCRR 4043.3 (a) (26).

Pletcher is also dealing with another suspension handed down by New York regulators. He was fined $1,000 and suspended 10 days after tests revealed that his trainee Forte (Violence) tested positive for Meloxicam following his win in the GI Hopeful S. last summer at Saratoga. Pletcher has appealed that suspension, as well.

In addition, Pletcher is facing two possible violations in Florida, where, according to Florida Gaming Control Commission Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering records posted online, he had a Class IV and Class V drug positive in December. According to reports, the Pletcher-trained Mind Control (Stay Thirsty) tested positive following the Sept. 24 Parx Dirt Mile, in which he was initially awarded the victory through disqualification. That case is also pending.

Asked why the New York case was just now coming to light, Brad Maione, the Director of Communications for the New York Gaming Commission said the following in an email to the TDN.

“By practice and procedure, when there is a possible rule infraction or violation, the Stewards set a time to meet, providing an affected party the informal opportunity address the matter. Following the meeting, the Stewards collectively evaluate potential rule infractions and, if appropriate, the State Steward will issue a ruling.

“Changes to the split-sample procedures have been instituted to reduce the ability of an affected party to game the system. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a trainer advised of a positive drug violation will now be afforded no more than two-weeks to identify and make arrangements for the split-sample to be tested…

Finally, you should be aware that the procedural processing of split-samples has remained constant since initiation. The Commission does not announce medication infractions until considered by the judges or stewards. As of Friday morning, there were three Thoroughbred and two Standardbred split-samples outstanding at a qualified, accredited independent laboratories. The Commission is awaiting return of their findings.”

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Collected’s Kalik Wires Pennine Ridge

Robert LaPenta, e Five Thoroughbred Racing and Madaket Stables' Kalik (Collected) took control of Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S. in the first sixteenth of a mile, was beautifully rated from the front by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and had enough in the tank to hold off 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) and Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the stepping-stone to the GI Belmont Derby in five weeks' time. In so doing, he was becoming the second graded stakes winner in the space of 15 days for his Airdrie Stud-based sire (by City Zip) after Taxed caused an 11-1 surprise in the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. on Preakness weekend.

“On paper, he [Kalik] was lone speed,” said trainer Chad Brown, winning the race for the third time. “He's a class horse with a lot of quality to him. We thought on paper that if he could get out there and control the race, he would at least have a final say.”

Sometimes things go exactly according to script. Kalik won the break and headed off his rivals prior to the first corner, covering the opening couple of furlongs in :24.69 and the half in a hassle-free and the half in an equally comfortable :49.17. Going along nicely within himself on the second turn, Kalik kicked over onto his right lead with about a furlong and a half to race and proved not for catching. Far Bridge was under heavy urging three furlongs out and at one point was more or less the back marker, but jumped back into the bridle and weaved his way through to just beat Silver Knott out of second.

Well-beaten on his main-track debut at Aqueduct in September, Kalik perked up with a runner-up effort going two turns on the grass down the Cross Island Oct. 23 and headed south for the winter. The $80,000 FTKNOV weanling turned $200,000 KEESEP yearling validated even-money support on his return St. Patrick's Day at Gulfstream and made it two straight with an all-the-way allowance score over a mile and sixteenth of this course May 7.

“The horse really just blossomed over the winter,” Brown continued. “He put a bunch of weight on and he matured. He was like an immature teenager last year. He always trained well, but he was just a stick figure kind of horse. Now he's filled out and turned into a real man.”

While the July 8 Belmont Derby is an obvious near-team objective, Ontario-bred Kalik could pay a visit to the Great White North over the coming months.

“In the summertime, if he stays healthy, I'm really interested in the [Aug. 20 C$1-million] King's Plate,” Brown said. “It's a race we've never won and it's an interesting idea for this horse down the road.”

Pedigree Notes:

Kalik's dam is a daughter of the talented multiple graded winner Sara Louise, whose Grade III-winning half-sister Just Louise (Five Star Day) produced two-time GSW and GISP Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah). After foaling a Hard Spun filly in 2022, Coronation Street was offered pregnant to Collected at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Selected Horses of All Ages Sale, but was bought back when bidding stalled out at $11,000. She produced a full-sister to Kalik this past Mar. 25.

Kalik and Taxed are the bookends of a seriously productive couple of weeks for Collected. Two days after the Black-Eyed Susan, Conclude took the Desert Code S. on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita, while Playground Legend won her maiden at Monmouth May 28 and Royal Velvet and second-crop colt Gewurztraminer graduated at Pimlico and Churchill, respectively, on May 29. Collected was also represented by his first Japanese winner when the Shadai-bred Collectanea broke through Saturday at Tokyo.

Saturday, Belmont
PENNINE RIDGE S.-GII, $200,000, Belmont, 6-3, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.85, fm.
1–KALIK, 118, c, 3, by Collected
1st Dam: Coronation Street, by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon
3rd Dam: Kings Lynn, by Mt. Livermore
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($80,000
Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Robert V.
LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables
LLC; B-Peter A. Berglar Racing Interests, LLC & Anderson Farms
(Ontario) (ON); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $110,000.
Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $224,675. *1/2 to Bringer of Rain
(Twirling Candy), GSP, $116,910. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Far Bridge, 118, c, 3, English Channel–Fitpitcher, by Kitten's
Joy. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-LSU Stables; B-Calumet Farm (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000.
3–Silver Knott (GB), 120, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–God Given
(GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (725,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT).
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Charles
Appleby. $24,000.
Margins: 1, HD, 2. Odds: 2.95, 1.75, 1.55.
Also Ran: Lachaise, Freedom Trail, Congruent, Belouni (Fr). Scratched: Sharar.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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