Tag: Saratoga Race Course

Mott Makes 70th Birthday A Winning One

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Arriving just in time at the wire, Elite Power (Curlin) added to Bill Mott's massive resume of Grade I triumphs Saturday and yet another birthday victory to his remarkable total at Saratoga Race Course.

With his thrilling come-from-behind score by a head over Gunite (Gun Runner) Saturday in the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H., the 4-year-old Juddmonte colt provided the Hall of Famer with a very nice present on his 70th birthday. By extending his winning streak to eight, Elite Power gave Mott his 24th Saratoga victory on his birthday. Since the birthday countdown started in 1992, Mott has had at least one winner in 18 of the 27 years there has been racing at Saratoga on July 29.

“It's been a productive date up until this point,” Mott said with a smile.

Elite Power was the last of Mott's six starters on the Saturday program affected by rain. By the time the Vanderbilt was run at 4:45 p.m., the main track was sealed and listed as sloppy and turf racing had been curtailed. In his first try on a wet track, Elite Power was able to collar and get his head in front of Gunite just before the wire.

After taking part in the winner's circle photograph, Tina Mott said her husband is well aware of the Saratoga birthday angle that came life when he won with his first three starters on his 39th birthday.

“I razz him about it,” she said. “Like, 'Oh, it's your birthday. You have to win a race.'”

Mott's last winner on his birthday was in 2018 and Tina Mott said he joked about it. He was 0-for-5 since Length (War Front) won a maiden special weight race on his 65th birthday.

“He's like 'all the pressure's off now,'” she said. “But he likes to always win at least one on his birthday.”

According to Equibase, Mott entered this season at Saratoga with 464 victories, 91 of them in stakes. Elite Power was his fifth winner so far and third in a stake. Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) started the stakes run this summer in the GIII Kelso S. and Scotland (Good Magic) got to the wire first in the Curlin S..

Mott saddled his first horse at Saratoga Race Course in 1984 but did not have a starter on his birthday until 1992 when he won the fourth with Missed the Storm, the fifth with Richman and the sixth with Patriot Strike. In the eighth, Tourney finished second by a head to Distinct Habit in the GIII Schuylerville S. Missed the Storm returned the next year to win the GI Test S., which was run two days after his birthday

Following his breakout birthday year, Mott won with three of five starters. He had one winner in 1994, two in 1995. Since then, he has been 0-for-the-29th eight times. In 2015, he did not have a starter on the program. On his birthday, Mott is 24 of 86, a 27.9 winning percentage. Among the wins are the 2000 Test with Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold) and the 2006 GI Diana S. with Angara (GB) (Alzao).

Mott said he figured that his lineup on Saturday might produce another birthday win.

“I really thought I was in with some good chances, starting out in the second race and we finished second with [High Oak (Gormley)] the longest odds we had on the board. I thought we were in with the chance with a couple horses particularly there, particularly with this horse and then we've scratched the filly [Spungie (Hard Spun)] in the [ninth] race. They're off the turf. So I thought we had some chances. You Look Cold [Frosted] finish third [in the fifth]. She ran well. She gave a good effort. The main thing is that they all run well. The birthday thing, winning on your birthday is fun, but the most important thing is that we generate Grade I winners for a major stable like this horse did today. That's what it's really all about. It's about winning, winning the major races and horses like this going to the stud barn.”

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Sunday Insights: $1.2-Million Into Mischief Filly Makes The Saratoga Races

6th-SAR, $136.5K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 4:08 p.m.
Sunday's racing slate features a daughter of Into Mischief who fetched $1.2-million at FTSAUG sale when she was purchased by Koji Maeda. MUGEN, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joel Rosario, is out of GI Test S. heroine Paola Queen (Flatter). TJCIS PPs

1st-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:10 p.m.
Heading to Saratoga's turf, there are number of first timers here worth mentioning. Sands of War (War Front) brought $550,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale and the Cherie DeVaux trainee's dam Egyptian Storm (Pioneerof the Nile)–a $750,000 purchase at FTKNOV in 2019–is a half-sister to Triple Crown champ Justify (Scat Daddy). Speaking of that Horse of the Year, he is the sire of Justdeny, who was a $175,000 KEEJAN and $460,000 KEESEP buy and whose second dam Nell Gwyn (Ire) (Danehill) counts European Horse of the Year Rock of Gibraltar (Ire) as a full-brother.

Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) from Christophe Clement's stable was a TATTOCT Ylg graduate who was purchased by Mike Ryan for $416,346 and her dam Cercle d'Or (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) is a half to G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Another Chad Brown trainee will seek to break her maiden in $240,000 KEENOV weanling turned $650,000 KEESEP yearling Spendalot (More Than Ready). The gray filly is a full-sister to stablemate and MGSW Consumer Spending.

Lastly, Causeway's Jewel (More Than Ready) is a full-brother to MGSW and GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel. Her dam is a half to both MG1SW Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy), plus GISW and GISP Free Drop Billy (Union Rags). Also, $500,000 KEESEP buy Miz Sense (Street Sense)'s dam produced GSW Canoodling (Pioneerof the Nile) and she is a half-sister to champion 2-year-old colt Shanghai Bobby (Harlan's Holiday). Both will look to draw off the also-eligible list. TJCIS PPS

9th-WO, $111K, Msw, 3yo/up, 7f, T, 5:27 p.m.
Ready Shakespeare (More Than Ready) was set to begin his career Thursday at Woodbine before the card was canceled because of the heat. Click here for his Insight. TJCIS PPS

8th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 8:39 p.m.
Swinging out west to Del Mar, Gate of Paradise (Arrogate) will be making her debut for trainer John Shirreffs. At OBSMAR, the gavel dropped at $950,000 and to view her prior under tack breeze, along with others from this race, click here.

Another filly to watch is Thermal (Nyquist) from John Sadler's shedrow, who brought $625,000 at FTSAUG sale. Her latest works July 17 at Santa Anita (4f, :47.60, 8/39) and July 24 at Del Mar (5f, :59.60, 3/53) flatter. TJCIS PPS

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Making Waves: Monmouth Success For Kingman Filly

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by Startup Mentality, who won the Monmouth curtain-raiser on Haskell Day in Oceanport, New Jersey.

Kingman Filly Succeeds On Haskell Undercard

Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown teamed up to take the first race on GI Haskell S. day at Monmouth Park with Startup Mentality (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) (video).

A 300,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, the daughter of Fine Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was bred by Mountarmstrong Stud. The full-sister to fellow winner Night Battle (Ire) was making her first start, while her dam has fillies by Lope De Vega (Ire) and Night Of Thunder (Ire) born in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Fine Time is a full-sister to three stakes winners anchored by Group 1 winner Passage Of Time (GB), herself the dam of burgeoning young sire Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who won four group races and was second in the GI Manhattan S.; and a half-sister to G1 Falmouth S. heroine Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar).

Juddmonte's Kingman is the sire of several celebrated runners in the U.S., with a strike rate of 55% for 30 winners from 54 to race. His stakes winners stand at eight (15%) in that jurisdiction.

 

 

California Flair For Havana Grey Gelding

CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz and Michael Nentwig's Almendares (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) won his first start in the U.S. at Del Mar last weekend (video).

Originally a 16,000gns Tattersalls December foal, the D. R. Tucker-bred was picked up for 14,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling by Meadowview Stables. From five starts over Dundalk's all-weather surface, the relative of G1 July Cup heroine Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) eked out two wins for Mrs. S Slattery and trainer Andrew Slattery. The Del Mar race for his new connections was his first in the U.S. Out of the winning Glace (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), Almendares has a juvenile, winning full-sister named Graceful Thunder (GB) and a yearling half-sister by Ardad (Ire).

A Champion First-Crop Sire in Britain and Ireland, Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey has sired two winners from four runners (50%) in the U.S. His Lady Hollywood (GB) was second in the Listed Limestone S. at Keeneland. Overall, he has 11 stakes winners worldwide, with Jasour (GB) leading his quintet of group winners.

 

 

Siyouni Filly Puts It All Together At The Spa

Qatar Racing and Leora Judah's Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) won a Saratoga affair by a neck for trainer Brendan Walsh on Thursday afternoon (video).

Part of The Gadfly Partnership breeding programme, the G3 Prestige S. heroine also won the Listed John Musker Fillies S. for trainer James Ferguson when she raced in England. The relation of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches heroine Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has a Zoustar (Aus) 2-year-old half-sister.

The Aga Khan stallion Siyouni has sired 13 winners from 36 runners (36%) in the U.S. Four of that number are stakes winners (11%), and a trio have won at Grade III level–Sacred Life (Fr), La Signare (Fr), and Love And Thunder (Ire).

 

 

Eylara Shines At Del Mar

John McCormack's Eylara (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) won her first race in her fifth start in the U.S. at Del Mar for trainer Phil D'Amato on Thursday evening (video).

Bred by His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs, the 5-year-old daughter of the stakes-placed Eytarna (Ire) (Dubai Destination) won one of her six starts in Ireland for Dermot Weld in the green and red silks of her breeder, before being purchased for €350,000 at the Goffs November Sale by McCormack.

A half-sister to three black-type horses including five-time group winner Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was also placed at the top level in Ireland, Hong Kong and England, Eylara is also a half-sister to a yearling filly by Teofilo (Ire) and a weanling colt by Lucky Vega (Ire). Her second dam is blue-hen Ebaziya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who produced a quartet of Group 1 winners.

Coolmore's Gleneagles has 10 winners from 17 runners (59%) in the U.S., including the GI Man o' War S. hero Highland Chief (Ire).

 

 

Honourable Mention

Featured in an earlier column, is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), who won the GII San Clemente S. on Saturday (video). Now the 10th stakes winner for her sire worldwide, she is his fifth group winner.

 

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A Jim Dandy Of A Graded Stakes Weekend

Equine or human, history is always about the six degrees of someone in racing's world. For instance, at 100-1 Jim Dandy beat Triple Crown champion Gallant Fox in the 1930 edition of the Travers S., which only featured four entries total.

The horse who set up the longshot by engaging in a speed duel with the favorite over the mud was Whichone, a colt owned by Harry Payne Whitney (yes, that important family). And what other Thoroughbred did Whitney own? Well, that would be Upset, who did just that, when he handed the great Man o' War his only career loss. And that is a minor example of a nexus.

As part of the Saratoga weekend card, it seems fitting that Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. is the main prep for next month's GI Travers S. Horse racing, like life, always reflects irony of some type.

In this year's edition, Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) isn't going to be 100-1. However, compared to the experience of GIII Matt Winn S. victor and 'TDN Rising Star' Disarm (Gun Runner), Eclipse champion 2-year-old and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence), who will be wearing first-time blinkers, Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), winner of the GIII Withers S. and second in the GII Wood Memorial S., and GI Arkansas Derby star and GI Kentucky Derby third Angel of Empire (Classic Empire), the 3-year-old colt has something to prove after running second last time out in the GIII Dwyer S. July 1 at Belmont Park. The Brad Cox trainee passed the eye test in his debut at Keeneland in April and against allowance company May 21 at Churchill Downs.

Not to be missed on the Saratoga Saturday card is another race with historical connections in spades. This year's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. will feature a rematch from February's G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia in which the reigning Eclipse champion dirt sprinter and GISW Elite Power (Curlin) stepped away as GISW Gunite (Gun Runner) gave chase for second. The $900,000 Keeneland September buy built on that win with another impressive display in the GII True North S.

Elite Power | Sarah Andrew

Elite Power worked a half mile alone in :51.22 Sunday over the Oklahoma training track in a breeze that Mott indicated was similar to the chestnut's half-mile work in :51.11 on Oct. 28 over the same surface ahead of his Breeders' Cup victory. “That's him by himself,” Mott said. “He's run well off of those kind of works right before his races. He did that in Saudi. He was working :51 before he won the Breeders' Cup. He wouldn't wow anyone when he's working by himself.”

Looking elsewhere on Saturday in North America, Monmouth Park will card its own Oaks. The Grade III includes Promiseher America (American Pharoah) from Ray Handal's stable and Occult (Into Mischief), who was last seen running third to MGISW Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in the GI Acorn S. on the Belmont S. undercard.

In the wake of cancellations due to heat the past couple of days, Woodbine Racetrack will hope to run the GII Seagram Cup for 3-year-olds and up. Tyson (Tapit) will garner much attention since the 4-year-old gray colt won the GIII Dominion Day S. last time out for trainer Josie Carroll.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will have plenty of action to contribute as their program includes the GII San Diego H. and the GI Bing Crosby S., which offers a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' voucher for the GI BC Qatar Racing Sprint.

Both Del Mar races sport field sizes of 10-plus. The San Diego includes MGISW Defunded (Dialed In), who won Santa Anita's GI Gold Cup May 29 and will carry the most weight here at 125. With 12 hopefuls entered for the Bing Crosby, Anarchist (Distorted Humor) returns to California after running second to Elite Power in the GII True North S. The 4-year-old colt will face some veteran runners in G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen hero Sibelius (Not This Time) and MGISW and '21 winner Dr. Schivel (Violence).

Rebel's Romance works at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

Shifting to Sunday, not to be missed on the stakes slate are a pair of Grade IIs for 3-year-olds and up over the turf. Saratoga's Bowling Green S. has enticed GI Breeders' Cup Turf conqueror Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for trainer Charlie Appleby. Last seen running a well-beaten seventh in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic in March, the 5-year-old gelding will look to get his second half of his season off on the right foot.

“He's a well-traveled horse; Germany, Keeneland, England and Dubai,” said Appleby's traveling assistant Chris Connett. “He's traveled this trip pretty well and he's settled in good shape. He's a typical Dubawi, he's got better with age. He's a big horse that's really grown into his frame. Hopefully, we'll get to see him at his best on Sunday.”

Count Again | Horsephotos

Meanwhile the Eddie Read S. at Del Mar includes four entries from Phil D'Amato's shedrow, including MGISW Count Again (Awesome Again), winner last time out of the GI Shoemaker Mile S. May 30 at Santa Anita Park, and MGSW Balnikov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}), who is looking to bounce back after finishing eighth in that same race. The competitive Leo Powell trainee and MGSW Dicey Mo Chara (GB) (Adaay {Ire}) goes out for a barn that won last weekend's GII San Clemente S. The 5-year-old gelding's last start yielded a finished third-place finish at Santa Anita May 13 in the GIII San Luis Rey S.

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