rodolphe brisset | Horse Racing Free Tips

Flay Buys Into Belmont Contender We the People

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has acquired an interest in recent GIII Peter Pan S. romper and 'TDN Rising Star' We the People (Constitution), who figures to be one of the top betting choices in Saturday's GI Belmont S. on Long Island. The famed restaurateur also bought into Creator (Tapit) ahead of his Belmont victory in 2016. Flay joins an ownership group that consists of WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm on the Rodolphe Brisset trainee.

“I'm thrilled to join the We the People team,” said Flay. “I have been an admirer of this colt since he started his career at the beginning of this year. I want to thank Lisa and Kenny Troutt of WinStar for giving me this exciting opportunity. Winning the 2016 Belmont with Creator will be a moment that me and my family will never forget.”

WinStar President, CEO, and Racing Manager Elliott Walden, added, “We appreciate Bobby wanting to partner with us again. He is great for the business, and a great partner.”

A 5 3/4-length debut winner going a mile at Oaklawn Feb. 12, We the People earned 'Rising Star' honors with a five-length allowance tally in Hot Springs one month later. He failed to fire when a low-odds seventh in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 2, but turned it around in a big way in the Peter Pan May 14, leading every step of the nine-furlong trip to score by 10 1/4 lengths.

A $110,000 Keeneland November weanling, We the People was a $220,000 Keeneland September purchase and was knocked down to WinStar for $230,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale.

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Top Contenders Put in Final Belmont Breezes

Several major contenders for next week's $1.5-million GI Belmont S. completed their final serious preparations Saturday morning. Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher seeks his fourth Belmont trophy, and sent out his pair of representatives, GII Wood Memorial S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and GI Longines Kentucky Oaks runner-up Nest (Curlin), to an in-company half in :49.90 (68/129) over the Belmont training track. Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Jose Ortiz, respectively, piloted the pair, who Pletcher caught breaking off in :24.80 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 and seven furlongs in 1:27.20.

“I thought it was good. I liked the way they finished and galloped out,” Pletcher said. “Those horses seem to be in good form. This was more of a maintenance work. They had a strong work last week with a big, long gallop out. This week we wanted just a maintenance type of work, which they were able to execute properly.”

Mo Donegal exits a fast-finishing fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7, while GI Central Bank Ashland S. heroine Nest will look to become Pletcher's second filly to win this race, following in the hoofsteps of 2010 heroine Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy).

Also appearing on the Belmont tab was WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' We the People (Constitution), who covered a solo half-mile on the main track in :47.59 (9/66, out in 1:00.40). Two-for-two at Oaklawn to kick off his career, the $230,000 FTFMAR acquisition bounced back from a seventh-place run in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 2 to air by 10 1/4 lengths in the local GIII Peter Pan S. May 14.

“It was a little fast,” said trainer Rodolphe Brisset. “The track with the moisture in it will carry you. He couldn't have done it any easier. He was just galloping. He repeated what we've been seeing the whole time here. It looked like he really enjoyed it to me. We've got to have a good week now.”

Belmont longshot Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), fifth in the GI Preakness S. May 21, breezed a five-eighths over Big Sandy in 1:02.41 (13/17).

“We're coming back in three weeks, so we weren't looking for much. We wanted a steady, long and easy breeze and that's what we got,” trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said.

GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) put in a strong two-mile gallop Saturday.

“He was great,” said conditioner Eric Reed. “The rider said he was moving good and liked it. When he came down the stretch, I was loving the way he was moving today. He can get into his stride and not get distracted here. We went two miles today and tomorrow we'll probably back it up a little bit.”

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Pletcher Stars, Including Potential Belmont S. duo, Highlight Busy Worktab

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's potential GI Belmont S. duo of Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and the filly Nest (Curlin) worked in company Friday morning.

Nest, with Jose Ortiz aboard, and Mo Donegal, who was piloted by Irad Ortiz, Jr., went to the fast main track under cloudy skies and temperatures in the 60s. Nest worked to the inside of Mo Donegal as both horses completed their five-furlong moves in 1:02.99, followed by an extended three-eighths gallop out.

“The main thing I tried to emphasize to Jose and Irad was that I wanted a good, steady, long gallop out breeze. I wasn't concerned about how quickly they went,” Pletcher said. “They got into a good rhythm. I had them out in 1:02 4/5, but what I particularly liked was the three-eighths after the finish line, they galloped out strongly. Both riders said that when I told them on the radio to let them go ahead and go out another eighth, both horses jumped up underneath them and showed they still had something left in the tank, so I was happy. I think both horses have good foundations. I just wanted a good, steady, stamina-building breeze and I thought we were able to accomplish that.”

Mo Donegal, owned by Donegal Racing and Repole Stable, was fifth in the GI Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs, where he broke awkwardly from the rail and was forced wide in the final turn. He entered the Derby following a neck win over eventual GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) in the GII Wood Memorial S. Apr. 9.

Produced by the A.P. Indy mare Marion Ravenwood, Nest, the full-sister to GI Santa Anita H. winner Idol, was a dominating winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland en route to a runner-up effort as the lukewarm favorite in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

“Pedigree wise, it's a no brainer. You've got Belmont all over her pedigree, so I think she'll run that far. That's a huge part of the consideration,” Pletcher said. “She's given us every indication since the Oaks that she's doing well.”

Last year's champion 3-year-old filly 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) was also on the Belmont work tab Friday, working in company with graded stakes winner Fearless (Ghostzapper) through five-eighths in 1:00.60 over the training track. She is currently on track for the GI Ogden Phipps S. June 11. Three-time graded winner Fearless is being aimed at the GII Brooklyn Invitational June 11.

'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), a last out fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup in March, breezed a half-mile in :49.05 over the training track. The GI Pegasus World Cup hero resumed serious training at WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier this month. Pletcher said Life Is Good is targeting the GII John A. Nerud July 2 at Belmont with the GI Whitney Aug. 6 as a long term goal.

“He worked this morning in :48 and change, did it very easily,” Pletcher said. “I think he's maintained his conditioning level very well, so right now we have the Nerud on July 2, which gives us five weeks back to the Whitney. That's what we're thinking right now.”

Also on the work tab for Pletcher was GIII Bay Shore S. winner 'TDN Rising Star' Wit (Practical Joke), who posted a five-eighths breeze in 1:01.05 in preparation for the GI Woody Stephens S. June 11.

We the People Breezes for Belmont Stakes…

WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm's We the People (Constitution) put in his penultimate work Friday in preparation for the GI Belmont S., covering a half-mile in :48.39 over the Belmont main track.

“It was an easy half, very routine for him,” said trainer Rodolphe Brisset, who was aboard for the work. “It was exactly what we were looking for. Just a maintenance work to put us in a perfect spot for next week. We just like the way he's been acting and training here. He's not an easy horse and he looks like he's maturing at the right time. Hopefully, the next two weeks will be the same.”

The 'TDN Rising Star' posted a resounding win in the GIII Peter Pan S. May 14, the final local prep for the “Test of the Champion.” We the People led every step of the way over a good and sealed Big Sandy to win his first graded stakes by 10 1/4 lengths. He earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“We were happy with the number and you will always have people say it was a sealed track and an easy lead,” said Brisset. “But I just feel like that was the right effort right before the Belmont and I think it's the right move to point him to the big one now.”

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Constitution’s We the People Takes Flight in Peter Pan

'TDN Rising Star' We the People (Constitution) put on a show for those that braved the rain at Belmont Saturday–and the fans watching at home–with a dominant and seemingly effortless victory in the GII Peter Pan S., the local prep for the GI Belmont S. June 11.

Dispatched as the 5-2 second choice behind 2-1 favorite Set Sail (Malibu Moon), We the People broke alertly and hustled up to take immediate control. Clicking off opening splits of :23.46 and :47.24 on a clear lead, the bay was still well within himself under a motionless Flavien Prat turning for home. Prat shook the reins at the colt at the top of the lane and We the People instantly responded, opening up on the field with ease to win for fun by 10 1/4 lengths. Golden Glider (Ghostzapper) was the runner-up with Electability (Quality Road) in third. Favored Set Sail never made any impact, finishing sixth.

“[In the Arkansas Derby] Everyone broke well and all sent [for the lead] so I found myself wide and had to take back, drop in, and he didn't understand what I wanted from him from that point on,” Prat said. “Today, he broke well and got me into the race. I wanted a clean trip and to be in the clear and see what he could do from there. He responded really well.”

“We know how good he is,” said winning trainer Rodolphe Brisset, who also saddled fourth-place Western River (Tapit). “He's just his own enemy sometimes because he's a little cocky. Today was good. He got a little warm in the paddock and we gave him a shower and you could see he kind of relaxed and was drying up. I thought the warmup was good compared to Arkansas. Of course, if we bring one all the way here it's because we thought he had a shot to do that. He can run on anything. He's one of those kind.”

As for running one or both of his pupils in the Belmont, Brisset said, “We [brought] both here to see if we could consider the Belmont. Obviously, We the People passed the test and I think I'll have to watch the replay and take my time and wait 10 days to decide on Western River. He only got beat [less than] a half-length for second. I don't think the race set up for him too because they went in :47 1/5 and it wasn't really fast enough to make that big kick. We know the two turns may be the key, too, for Western River.”

A $110,000 KEENOV weanling turned $220,000 KEESEP yearling, We the People summoned $230,000 from WinStar at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale after breezing in :10 3/5 as part of the dispersal of the estate of the late Paul Pompa. He is the third former Pompa horse to win a graded stakes this year, following G1 Dubai World Cup winner Country Grammar (Tonalist) and GI Jenny Wiley S. victress Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom).

Graduating by 5 3/4 lengths going a mile on debut at Oaklawn Feb. 12, We the People earned the 'Rising Star' nod when repeating that effort in an Oaklawn optional claimer exactly one month later. Attempting to get on the GI Kentucky Derby trail, he ran in the Apr. 2 GI Arkansas Derby–his first start without Lasix–but failed to fire, finishing seventh.

Pedigree Notes:
We The People is the second son of Constitution to win the Peter Pan, following 2021 victor Promise Keeper. He is the 21st worldwide graded winner (13 NH & 8 SH) and 34th worldwide black-type scorer (22 NH & 12 SH) for the young WinStar phenom. The colt is also the 29th graded victor and 54th black-type winner out of a daughter of the pensioned Tiznow. We the People is bred on the same Constitution/Tiznow cross as the stallion's best son, Tiz the Law, whose quartet of Grade I wins includes the Belmont S., albeit that was the year it was run at 1 1/8 miles as the first leg of the Triple Crown in 2020.

We the People's unraced dam Letchworth is a daughter of GI Ballerina H. winner Harmony Lodge (Hennessy), who also produced SW & MGSP Armistice Day (Declaration of War) and GSW Stratford Hill (A.P. Indy). Harmony Lodge's dam is GSW Win Crafty Lady (Crafty Prospector), who is responsible for MGSW & GISP millionaire and sire Graeme Hall (Dehere) and GSW Win McCool (Giant's Causeway). This is also the family of Grade I winners Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon) and Pinehurst (Twirling Candy).

The Barbe family's Henley Farms acquired Letchworth for $40,000 at the 2019 Keeneland January sale with We the People in utero. She has since produced a juvenile colt by Always Dreaming, who brought $220,000 at the recent OBS April Sale, and a yearling colt by Audible. She was bred back to More Than Ready.

Saturday, Belmont
PETER PAN S.-GIII, $200,000, Belmont, 5-14, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.27, gd.
1–WE THE PEOPLE, 118, c, 3, by Constitution
               1st Dam: Letchworth, by Tiznow
               2nd Dam: Harmony Lodge, by Hennessy
               3rd Dam: Win Crafty Lady, by Crafty Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($110,000
Wlg '19 KEENOV; $220,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '21
FTFMAR). O-WinStar Farm LLC, CMNWLTH & Siena Farm
LLC; B-Henley Farms Inc. (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset; J-Flavien
Prat. $110,000. 'TDN Rising Star' Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0,
$230,250. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Golden Glider, 118, c, 3, Ghostzapper–Golden Scarf, by
Orientate. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($395,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV). O-Gary Barber, Manfred
Conrad, & Penny Conrad; B-Nursery Place & Dicken Equine
(KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $40,000.
3–Electability, 118, g, 3, Quality Road–Spindle, by Hard Spun.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($300,000 Wlg
'19 KEENOV). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.; B-Purple H
Bloodstock (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $24,000.
Margins: 10 1/4, NO, NK. Odds: 2.95, 4.70, 3.35.
Also Ran: Western River, Cooke Creek, Set Sail, Complete Agenda, State Planning.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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