salvator mundi | Horse Racing Free Tips

Connagh’s Quay Brings $65,000 To Top Keeneland May Digital Sale

Connagh's Quay, a 3-year-old colt from the first crop of champion Flintshire, brought a final bid of $65,000 from Kirkwood Stables, agent, to be the highest price of Keeneland's May Digital Sale, held today as part of Keeneland's Digital Sales Ring platform.

Consigned by owner and breeder Juddmonte, Connagh's Quay is out of the Empire Maker mare Routine. He is a half-brother to 2021 Grade 3 W. L. McKnight winner Tide of the Sea and from the family of multiple Grade 1 winners Tates Creek and Sightseek. The colt was offered as a racing or stallion prospect.

TEC Racing paid $35,000 for graded stakes-placed Salvator Mundi, a 5-year-old gelding by Artie Schiller. Out of the Horse Greeley mare Conquest Lil Miss, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner My Conquestadory, Salvator Mundi was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent.

The one-day mixed May Digital Sale grossed $144,000 for six horses. Summary results are available by clicking here.

Keeneland will host its next Digital Sale on June 29. Additional digital sales are scheduled for July, August, October and December.

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D’Amato Has Trio Of Turf Runners Pointing To Feb. 6 San Marcos

Phil D'Amato has three horses nominated to next Saturday's Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at a mile and a quarter on turf at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., and all are possible starters for the trainer who celebrates his 45th birthday March 11.

The three are Acclimate, Count Again and Salvator Mundi. Although they gained a week due to rain, each would be coming back on a relatively short turnaround, led by Acclimate, third as the 19-10 favorite in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic on Jan. 16.

Count Again disappointed at even money when eased in the G2 San Gabriel Stakes on Jan. 2, while Salvator Mundi was a creditable third in an overnight race on Jan. 8.

“They're all under consideration,” D'Amato said. Count Again won the G2 Seabiscuit at Del Mar last Nov. 28, but was eased as the even-money favorite in the San Gabriel after being just three lengths off the pace midway through the race.

“He took a funny step right at the top of the stretch and Juan (Hernandez) just kind of wrapped up on him to make sure he was all right. Luckily, he was.

“For sure I'll run Acclimate and Salvator Mundi. It's a rather quick comeback for Acclimate, but I had this race in the back of my mind for him. It was hard to pass up 200 grand ($200,000 purse) against Cal-breds (in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank at a mile and an eighth), but at the same he's coming back at a distance he prefers (in the San Marcos).

“I always had this race planned for him, if he came out of the Unusual Heat in good shape, and he really has, so we'll look to wheel him back going a mile and a quarter.”

Salvator Mundi, a 5-year-old son of outstanding turf miler and grass sire Artie Schiller, was claimed for $40,000 in September of 2019 at Keeneland and has won twice in seven starts for D'Amato since. The San Marcos would be only his third stakes race in 16 career starts.

“He's just kind of learning where he needs to be placed to be most effective,” D'Amato said of the bay gelding who stalked the pace before weakening to finish sixth in the G2 John Henry Turf Classic at a mile and a quarter last Sept. 26.

“I think he merits another chance at a mile and quarter for sure, the way he's come out of that race.”

This will be the 69th running of the San Marcos, won last year by LNJ Foxwoods' United, ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Richard Mandella.

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Red King Gives Red-Hot D’Amato Sixth Del Mar Handicap Victory In Seven Years

The victory by Red King in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Handicap brought attention to the rise of Phil D'Amato in the Del Mar trainer standings and the increased success of his stable after a chilly start.

At the delayed start of the second week of the meeting, Friday, July 31, D'Amato runners had two wins in 23 starts. Subsequent start-the-weekend numbers were: 3-for-29 on August 7, 7-for-43 on August 14 and 11 for 51 last Friday.

With one win Friday and two Saturday – the D'Amato/Umberto Rispoli combination followed up the Handicap victory with Salvator Mundi ($11.20) in the 11th race nightcap – D'Amato now has 14 wins from 60 starters and only trails Peter Miller by one on the leaderboard.

“Things have been clicking well the second half of the meet,” D'Amato said via text. “All those horses that finished second and third at the beginning of the meet have been able to come back and win. That really helps.

“Also, the ability to breeze turf horses on the turf here at Del Mar has really helped. I think it keeps the grass horses happier and they perform better in their races.”

Red King, a 6-year-old son of English Channel bred by Calumet Farm and owned by Little Red Feather Racing, had five works on the Del Mar turf leading up to his first start since a June 21 victory in the San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita.

Given a masterful ride by Rispoli, Red King was able to pull off a $10.60 upset of heavy favorite United. The Handicap, sponsored by the Japan Racing Association, is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Keeneland.

D'Amato has now won the last four editions of the Del Mar Handicap and six of the last seven. After back-to-back victories in 2014-'15 with Big John B, D'Amato won with Hunt in 2017, Fashion Business in 2018 and Acclimate in 2019.

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