Tag: san carlos stakes

For Spirit of Makena’s Connections, Patience Is a Virtue Rewarded In San Carlos

For owner/breeder Bruce Chandler, patience was a virtue rewarded when his eye-catching Spirit of Makena captured the GIII San Carlos S. in just his four career start.

A head shy from perfection in his spaced-out career, Spirit of Makena debuted late in his 4-year-old season; not seen until an Aug. 5 maiden special at Del Mar last season. He was hounded every step of the way on his step up to allowance optional company Sept. 11 in his first trip at the mile and just couldn't hold off Holden the Lute (Midnight Lute) on the wire. Gone until Feb. 11 this year, he outdueled GSP Anarchist (Distorted Humor) in a six-panel optional claimer dash at Santa Anita to return to the winner's enclosure as his prep for this graded contest.

Taken off the front as Forbidden Kingdom was allowed to set his own pace, Spirit of Makena was never far behind and content to track off the rail to avoid hooking into a speed duel. Urged along by Joe Bravo as the pair rolled into the turn, he hit the lead by the three-sixteenths and left Forbidden Kingdom in his wake to pull clear under steady handling by 1 1/2 lengths. Forbidden Kingdom kept open ground on the rest of the field as Get Her Number rolled in from the back to close out the trifecta.

“Coming out of the last race he won, he came out of it great and he's been training great,” said conditioner George Papaprodromou, who notched his second stakes win of the meet. “He was doing great leading into this race and we tried.  Obviously, it was a tough spot [but] we gave it a shot. He ran huge and what can I say? He's a nice horse.”

Pedigree Notes:

Spirit of Makena becomes the 94th stakes winne/50th graded winner for his leading sire Ghostzapper. The Ghostzapper cross over Gilded Time is also responsible for MGISW Shaman Ghost.

The most accomplished runner from his three-time winning dam, Spirit of Makena has a 3-year-old unraced half-sister by Merit Man. He hails from the extended female family of 10-time victor and Canadian staple GSP Spigot (Plugged Nickel).

Saturday, Santa Anita
SAN CARLOS S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL-GIII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 3-11, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.06, gd.
1–SPIRIT OF MAKENA, 120, h, 5, by Ghostzapper
          1st Dam: Win for M'lou, by Gilded Time
          2nd Dam: Take the Picture, by Doneraile Court
          3rd Dam: I'vegotthatfeeling, by Regal Classic
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Bruce Chandler (KY); T-George Papaprodromou; J-Joe Bravo. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $227,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Forbidden Kingdom, 124, c, 4, American Pharoah–Just Louise, by Five Star Day. ($300,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $40,000.
3–Get Her Number, 124, h, 5, Dialed In–Fancier, by Bernstein. ($45,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Philip & Brenda Robertson (KY); T-Peter Miller. $24,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 2.50, 1.80, 1.70.
Also Ran: Howbeit, Holden the Lute, Clem Labine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post For Spirit of Makena’s Connections, Patience Is a Virtue Rewarded In San Carlos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

‘As Good As He’s Ever Looked’: Flightline Breezes Half-Mile For March 5 San Carlos

Undefeated and unchallenged Flightline, a horse on everybody's radar, continued to prepare for his 4-year-old debut in Santa Anita's Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes March 5, working a half-mile at the Arcadia, Calif., track on Sunday in :47.80 under Juan Leyva.

Former jockey Leyva is assistant trainer to John Sadler, who conditions the undefeated son of Tapit, winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu Stakes by 11 ½ lengths on Dec. 26 and his three races to date by a combined margin of 37 ½ lengths.

“He went very well, looked super, as good as he's ever looked, going a half-mile in 47 and four and (galloping) out (five furlongs) in a minute flat, effortlessly,” Sadler said.

“We're right on track for the San Carlos (at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Malibu).”

As to Flightline's growing reputation, Sadler said, “I don't think it would be braggadocios to say he obviously is on everybody's radar in racing, because he looks like such an exceptional horse.”

As dominant as he is in his races, Sadler said the $1 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase is a sweetheart under the shed row.

“He's nice around the barn,” Sadler said. “He can be tough on the race track, but around the barn he's very nice.”

Source of original post

March 5 San Carlos Next For Flightline; Unbeaten Colt Could Face Life Is Good In Met Mile

Undefeated and unchallenged Flightline worked four furlongs at 6:30 Sunday morning under Juan Leyva as he prepares for his 4-year-old debut in Santa Anita's Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 5.

“He went in 47 and four (47.80) according to the (Santa Anita) clockers,” trainer John Sadler said. “I had him in 48 and one on my watch, but more important is the way he went.

“He looked very comfortable and it was just a start on the road back. He'll return in the San Carlos, but the big goal is the Met Mile (Grade 1 at Belmont Park on June 11).”

Flightline, a $1 million son of Tapit, won the Grade 1 Runhappy Malibu States by 11 ½ lengths on Dec. 26. He has captured his three starts by a combined margin of 37 ½ lengths and now a potential Race of the Century looms should he face Life Is Good in the Met Mile.

Life Is Good was an easy winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and dominating winner over Horse of the Year favorite Knicks Go in Saturday's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Sadler was asked about a possible meeting of the two in the Met Mile. “It would be a terrific race,” he said, “very exciting.”

Stay tuned.

The post March 5 San Carlos Next For Flightline; Unbeaten Colt Could Face Life Is Good In Met Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Flightline Works for San Carlos

Unbeaten Flightline (Tapit) tuned up for his expected 4-year-old debut in the Mar. 5 GII San Carlos S. with a four-furlong work in :47.80 (6/86) at Santa Anita Sunday.

“I had him in :48 and one on my watch, but more important is the way he went,” said trainer John Sadler. “He looked very comfortable and it was just a start on the road back. He'll return in the San Carlos, but the big goal is the [June 11 GI] Met Mile.”

Flightline, unchallenged in three lifetime starts, was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Santa Anita last April and he added an optional claimer at Del Mar in September before a devastating 11 1/2-length victory in the Dec. 26 GI Runhappy Malibu S. in his most recent start.

Asked about a possible meeting with Saturday's impressive GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational winner Life Is Good (Into Mischief), Sadler said, “It would be a terrific race, very exciting.”

The post Flightline Works for San Carlos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights