saratoga | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tiz The Law Beats The Rain, Has Final Kentucky Derby Breeze

For his final piece of serious preparation for the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, Sackatoga Stable's New York-bred Tiz the Law went five furlongs in 59.21 seconds over the Saratoga Race Course main track on Saturday in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trainer Barclay Tagg scheduled the work to avoid the anticipated rain showers, so the four-time Grade 1 winner was among the first horses to step foot onto the track at 5:45 a.m., just fifteen minutes before precipitation made its way to the Capital Region.

Piloted by exercise rider Heather Smullen, the son of second-crop sire Constitution went his first three-eighths in 36.01 before galloping out in 1:12.01 on the fast main track, which was raked and harrowed.

“Everything went fine. He came back well,” Tagg said. “He did everything he was supposed to do. I'm satisfied with this work. We had to make the decision this morning to work him. We made the decision around 4:00. Luckily, it wasn't raining when he was working. It's supposed to rain all day, and the track may be worse tomorrow. I'm glad we got the work in.”

Tiz the Law, who is atop the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 372 qualifying points, will be the likely favorite of the “Run for the Roses,” arriving at the prestigious event off a runaway triumph in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 8. Unbeaten in four starts this season, he won the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park before becoming the first New York-bred in over a century to win the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20.

Tiz the Law following Saturday's breeze at Saratoga

A win in the Kentucky Derby would be a second victory in the American Classic for both Tagg and Sackatoga Stable, who teamed up to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide, who became the first and so far only New York-bred to win the prestigious event.

Tiz the Law is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday. Manny Franco will have the call in the Kentucky Derby.

Bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the graded stakes winning Tiznow mare Tizfiz and was hammed down to $110,000 when being purchased at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale of New York-breds.

The post Tiz The Law Beats The Rain, Has Final Kentucky Derby Breeze appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Uncle Mo’s Bye Bye Melvin Takes To Soft Turf in Saranac Upset

Bye Bye Melvin took to the rain-soaked turf well at Saturday Saturday, upsetting the GIII Saranac S. at 19-1. Stalking from a joint second through a glacial opening quarter in :27.17, the bay sat back a bit in third, letting Embolden (The Factor) move up to contest the pace with leader Don Juan Kitten through a half in :51.54. Under a ride approaching the far turn, Bye Bye Melvin was churning up sod as he brushed with his neighbor Bodecream (Bodemeister) at the top of the lane, but found his footing in the final sixteenth, surging late to nail Don Juan Kitten on the line.

He’s a late developer. He’s been a little bit of a project in that way, but I’m not surprised with the way he ran. He slugs it out and he obviously handled the soft turf better than most.”

Graduating by 8 1/4 lengths at fourth asking at Tampa Dec. 7, Bye Bye Melvin followed suit with an optional claimer score there Jan. 8. A well-beaten 10th on the main track for the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 7, he was seventh in the GIII Kent S. at Delaware July 4 and checked in second last time in the Jersey Derby at Monmouth July 26.

Pedigree Notes:

Bye Bye Melvin is the 63rd black-type winner and 35th graded winner for his sire Uncle Mo. The winner is a half to talented turf distaffer Mean Mary, a two-time graded winner who finished second in last week’s GI Diana S. at the Spa. Bye Bye Melvin is the most recent produce for their Grade I-winning dam Karlovy Vary.

Saturday, Saratoga
SARANAC S.-GIII, $100,000, Saratoga, 8-29, 3yo, 1mT, 1:39.92, sf.
1–BYE BYE MELVIN, 118, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Karlovy Vary (GISW, $448,596), by Dynaformer
2nd Dam: The Right Pew, by Pulpit
3rd Dam: Packet, by Polish Navy
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O-Alex G.
Campbell, Jr.; B-Alex G. Campbell, Jr. Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY);
T-H. Graham Motion; J-John R. Velazquez. $55,000. Lifetime
Record: 9-3-1-1, $107,965. *1/2 to Mean Mary (Scat Daddy),
MGSW & GISP, $496,160. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Don Juan Kitten, 119, c, 3, Kitten’s Joy–Romance Project, by
Not For Love. ($77,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-Kenneth L. & Sarah
K. Ramsey; B-Cantrell Family Partnership (KY); T-Danny
Gargan. $20,000.
3–Bodecream, 122, g, 3, Bodemeister–Call Mariah, by Dixie
Union. ($50,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $50,000 3yo ’20 FTKHRA).
O-Repole Stable; B-Judy Hicks, Kathryn Nikkel & Sanford
Robertson (KY); T-Michael J. Maker. $12,000.
Margins: HD, 2HF, 3/4. Odds: 19.50, 2.00, 7.60.
Also Ran: Embolden, Irish Mias, Three Technique, L’Imperator (Fr), Vanzzy. Scratched: Big Dreaming, Ima Pharoah, Turn of Events. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Uncle Mo’s Bye Bye Melvin Takes To Soft Turf in Saranac Upset appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Tiz the Law Tops Derby/Oaks Contenders Putting in Final Works

Likely GI Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) topped a list of sophomores putting in their final breezes ahead of the Run for the Roses/Lilies Saturday, covering five panels in :59.21 (1/3) on the Saratoga main track.

The native New Yorker was one of the first on the track at

5:45 a.m. in an attempt to beat the incoming rainstorm. With regular breeze rider Heather Smullen in the irons, the flashy bay covered his first three furlongs in :36.01 and galloped out in 1:12.01.

“Everything went fine. He came back well,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He did everything he was supposed to do. I’m satisfied with this work. We had to make the decision this morning to work him. We made the decision around 4:00. Luckily, it wasn’t raining when he was working. It’s supposed to rain all day, and the track may be worse tomorrow. I’m glad we got the work in.”

Tiz the Law is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Monday and regular rider Manny Franco will join him Louisville.

California Contingent Put in Final Preparations

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert sent out Derby contender Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) and Oaks runner Gamine (Into Mischief) for their final breezes at Del Mar Saturday.

‘TDN Rising Star’ Gamine covered six furlongs in 1:11.60 (1/5) with Juan Ochoa in the irons. The $1.8-million EASMAY topper was clocked in splits of :24.40, :36.60 and :59.40, working in company with SW Quality Response (Quality Road), who was given a half-mile in :48 flat. A dazzling winner of both the GI Acorn S. and GI Test S., Gamine is expected to be one of the top choices in the Oaks.

“She worked beautifully,” Baffert said. “She’s coming into the race very well and I’m very happy with her right now. It’s going to be a tough race, very competitive, but we’re excited and she looks ready for it.”

MGSW Thousand Words, victor of the Shared Belief S. last out, went five furlongs in :59.80 (2/53), going in splits of :11.80 and :36 flat and galloping out six panels in 1:11.40. He worked in company with maiden Tapitution (Constitution), who covered the distance in 1:01.

Champion Storm the Court (Court Vision) also breezed at Del Mar Saturday, going six furlongs in 1:12.80 (2/5) under exercise rider Austin Solis.

“A good work, all we were looking for,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “If he comes out of it well, we’re headed East.”

Grade I winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code) breezed late Saturday morning in SoCal, working seven furlongs in 1:27.20 (2/2) with Hall of Famer Mike Smith aboard. He was clocked in splits of :25.80, :37.80, :50.20, 1:02.80 and 1:14.80 with a one mile gallop-out time of 1:40.60.

“I just wanted an easy seven eighths,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He got it; we’re good to go. Now we just need a bit of luck. You need some of that in that race.”

The West Coast contingent for the Oaks and Derby is scheduled to ship Monday. John Velazquez rides Gamine and Baffert’s top Derby contender Authentic (Into Mischief); Florent Geroux has the call on Thousand Words; and Julien Leparoux is slated to ride Storm the Court.

Derby & Oaks Breezers Out in Full Force at Churchill

Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), Gamine’s chief market rival in the Run for the Lilies, was among the Oaks and Derby contenders breezing beneath the Twin Spires Saturday. The GI Alabama S. heroine went a half-mile in :49.20 (8/40).

“We went to the frontside [to watch],” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “It was just a happy half-mile, just something to stretch her legs a little bit. Uncomplicated. Brian knows her well. It was nice of him to come by and get on her. All systems go.”

GIII Lecomte S. victor Enforceable (Tapit) breezed a half-mile in :49.60 (16/40) under jockey Adam Beschizza.

“I thought the work was perfect,” said Beschizza, who also had worked Enforceable over the winter at Fair Grounds. “He went a scratch under :50. Mark [Casse] and [assistant trainer] David [Carroll] just wanted to keep the lid on it. His major work was in the bag.”

GII Tampa Bay Derby hero and GI Arkansas Derby runner-up King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) went an easy four furlongs in :52.20 (39/40). The bay went in splits of :14.40 and :27.20 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:05.20.

“[Trainer Juan Avila] asked me to go easy and it was exactly what the horse needed,” exercise rider Edgar Garcia said. “I thought he galloped out around the turn well and was moving very easy on the track. He doesn’t need to do much, he’s pretty fit.”

GIII Indiana Derby runner-up Major Fed (Ghostzapper) was also out for his final move Saturday, going five panels in a best-of-36 :59 flat.

The post Tiz the Law Tops Derby/Oaks Contenders Putting in Final Works appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Selflessly Turns Tables On Sweet Melania In Lake George

Klaravich Stables' Selflessly finished well back of Sweet Melania when running fifth in the Grade 3 Wonder Again in June the previous time the two faced each other. But Friday, the Chad Brown trainee got the better of her rival, overtaking her in the final jumps for a victory by a nose in the Grade 3, $100,000 Lake George for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

After that effort in the one-mile Wonder Again at Belmont Park, Selflessly returned to the same distance at the Spa a fresh horse two months later. With David Cohen picking up the mount as Irad Ortiz, Jr. recovers from an injury, Selflessly tracked in fifth position as Windracer led the 10-horse field through the opening quarter-mile in 23.92 seconds and the half in 48.48 on the inner turf course labeled good.

Sweet Melania, the 3-5 favorite conditioned by Todd Pletcher, powered through an opening along the rail out of the final turn and was urged home by jockey Jose Ortiz. But the two-time graded stakes winner couldn't repel Selflessly, who Cohen angled out slightly to Sweet Melania's outside, gaining ground in the final sixteenth before getting up just ahead of hitting the wire in a final time of 1:36.06.

“We were happy to get a good trip behind the horse [Sweet Melania] I thought would take us the whole way,” said Cohen, who won his first graded stakes since 2018 and first at Saratoga since the 2012 Travers when he piloted Golden Ticket to a dead heat for first with Alpha. “You never really want to get stuck behind a horse that's going to back up into you. My filly really finished up strong and showed a lot of heart.

“Chad and I had the same idea,” Cohen added. “We thought there would be two or three to go and we really wanted to get her out aggressively and not get shuffled back into the first turn and played it by ear. If Sweet Melania was on the lead and I was fortunate to get behind her then great she would take me the rest of the way and if not just figure it out from there. We went to Plan B and Plan C real quick. Everything got bottled up into that first turn and as Chad requested, if we didn't send her out of there strong, we would have been shuffled seven eight back and probably never have the chance to get up for the win.”

The stretch drive featured a duel between the charges of the top-two leading trainers of the summer meet. With the win, Brown tied Pletcher for the top mark with 24 victories apiece. The 40-day meet has eight days remaining before closing on Labor Day, September 7.

Selflessly won her second graded stakes and first since capturing the Grade 2 Miss Grillo in September at Belmont. That preceded her fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita to cap her 2-year-old year. After a seven-month break, the More Than Ready filly made her sophomore bow in the Wonder Again before returning to Saratoga for the first time since her runner-up debut effort a year to the date of the Lake George.

“The first race of the year I was a little disappointed watching the race unfold and when we got her back to the barn, she had some cuts on the backs of her legs. She missed some training after that race to heal up, so she probably had an excuse in there,” Brown said. “My team at Belmont has had this horse all meet getting her ready and they really did a great job. David stepped in today when Irad couldn't ride and I'm really proud of him. He rode a great race and we were happy to put him on the horse. I use him occasionally and we certainly ride against him a lot. He rides particularly well on the turf saving ground.”

Off at 14-1, Selflessly returned $30.60 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career earnings to $219,000.

“Some loyal Chad Brown fans made money today, for sure,” Brown said about winning with a rare longshot at the Spa.

Sweet Melania, owned by Robert and Lawana Low, finished a half-length in front of Witez for second. The daughter of 2015 Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah has never finished off the board in eight starts, moving to 3-2-3.

“Todd handicapped the race really well and he thought the two outside horses had more speed than we did,” Ortiz said. “In my mind, I was going to save when I break and those two went fast at the break, so it was easy for me to sit there. I sat very controlled the whole way around and had a good spot on the rail. She gave me a good run. The last couple of jumps, the other horse came to me, but she dug in and fought hard. It was a good race. Tough beat.”

Micheline, Sugar Fix, American Giant, My Sassy Sarah, Windracer, Velvet Crush and Cat's Pajamas completed the order of finish. Miss Peppina, entered for the main track only, was scratched.

Live racing resumes Saturday at Saratoga with an action packed 11-race card which will feature four graded stakes races, including the Grade 1, $300,000 Forego presented by America's Best Racing at seven furlongs over the main track, the Grade 1, $500,000 Sword Dancer going 1 ½ miles over the inner turf, the Grade 3, $100,000 Saranac for 3-year-olds going one mile over the inner turf and the Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam for 3-year-olds going six furlongs over the main track. First post is 1:10 p.m.

The post Selflessly Turns Tables On Sweet Melania In Lake George appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post