Tag: saratoga

Forte Survives Inquiry in Jim Dandy Thriller

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion Forte (Violence) just got up to nail the pacesetting Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) by a nose and had to survive a stewards' inquiry in a roughly run renewal of Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. in the Saratoga slop.

Racing with blinkers for the first time, the 3-4 favorite traveled kindly on the inside in third beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. as Saudi Crown led the field of five through fractions of :23.93 and :48.10.

All dressed up with nowhere to go approaching the quarter pole, Ortiz Jr. forced his way out at the top of the stretch and Forte bumped repeatedly with Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) as they straightened. Racing in between rivals down the lane, Forte kept on fighting from very tight quarters and showed the heart of a champion to nail the narrow GIII Dwyer S. runner-up, who was drifting out several paths late himself, on the money.

“You're the one with a target on your back and you've got another stable (Brad Cox) with three horses in there,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We were expecting some race tactics. I think once he was able to get himself in the clear and the horse on the lead (Saudi Crown) kept drifting out, out, out and maybe into the eight path at one point. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] said that compromised him a little bit from moving forward sooner.”

Pletcher added, “He loves the game. He's always been that way, he's always trained super. He's very competitive in the afternoons, he's an intelligent horse.”

Ortiz Jr. said, “I was close to the rail (looking for room in stretch run). The horse in front stayed there. I had a chance to hit the clear, I did. As soon as I hit the clear, my horse go forward.

He continued, “The horse in front, I don't know if he see something, but he was getting out bad. He kept coming out, coming out, but I'm on his heels. It was hard to stop at the moment of the race. I was right there. I was close to making the lead. At the same time, I have the other horse (Angel of Empire), finally we get straight and he corrects his horse and we get to the wire and thank God, we get a head in front at the end.”

The Jim Dandy is the traditional local prep for the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, a race that Pletcher had indicated is the main summer goal for Forte.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte, scratched on the morning of the GI Kentucky Derby with a well-documented foot bruise, ran a strong second in the 1 1/2-mile GI Belmont S. while making his first start since capturing the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 1.

Forte's connections are currently appealing his disqualification from a win in last summer's GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga due to the presence of meloxicam in his system.

Pedigree Notes:

Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola bought 43 yearlings for more than $16 million to top the sheets for the first of two straight years at the 2021 Keeneland September sale. Forte was a $110,000 purchase out of that auction.

Forte is one of six top-level winners for Violence. Forte's broodmare sire Blame has 14 stakes/six graded winners out of his daughters.

Forte is the first foal out of Queen Caroline, with her now-juvenile colt Dr. Park (Uncle Mo) hammering for $850,000 to Mayberry Farm at Keeneland September. Her third dam is the MGSW Jeano (Fappiano), whose descendants also include champions Folklore (Tiznow) and Essential Quality (Tapit); Japanese champion Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); and additional GISW Come Dancing (Malibu Moon). The family traces tail-female to the great La Troienne through her Broodmare of the Year granddaughter by War Admiral, Striking.

Saturday, Saratoga Race Course
JIM DANDY S. PRESENTED BY DK HORSE-GII, $485,000,
Saratoga, 7-29, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.61, sy.
1–FORTE, 124, c, 3, by Violence
                1st Dam: Queen Caroline (MSW, $401,608), by Blame
                2nd Dam: Queens Plaza, by Forestry
                3rd Dam: Kew Garden, by Seattle Slew
($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-South Gate Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $275,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 9-7-1-0, $2,954,830. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Saudi Crown, 118, c, 3, Always Dreaming–New Narration, by Tapit. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-FMQ Stables; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $100,000.
3–Angel of Empire, 124, c, 3, Classic Empire–Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve. ($32,000 RNA Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Forgotten Land Investment Inc & Black Diamond Equine Corp (PA); T-Brad H. Cox. $60,000.
Margins: NO, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.75, 3.50, 5.70.
Also Ran: Disarm, Hit Show.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

 

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Elite Power Noses Out Gunite In Vanderbilt, Keeps Win Streak Going

Now, that's how you celebrate a birthday.

Champion sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) came charging down the sealed, sloppy stretch at Saratoga to nail Gunite (Gun Runner) by a head in Saturday's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. on Hall of Famer Bill Mott's 70th birthday.

Racing over a wet surface for the first time, the even-money favorite was sixth though an opening quarter in :22.64. He was tipped out by Irad Ortiz, Jr. approaching the quarter pole and set his sights on the aforementioned slight second choice, who enjoyed first run and was beginning to get away. Elite Power was just getting started, however, and kept on motoring home to get there in dramatic fashion to win his eighth straight.

“It looked like Gunite certainly had the jump on him turning for home,” Mott said. “Great, great, great effort on this horse. He's a big, strong horse, heavy horse. He handled (the off track) well, but it doesn't have to be his best surface and I think it's great. There was that question beforehand. You just don't know. It's like trying a new distance for the first time. When you try a new track surface, you just don't know what's going to happen. But class came through.”

Elite Power's winning streak also includes last term's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 5, the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia Feb. 25 and the GII True North S. at Belmont Park June 10.

“For him to put up a streak like this against top competition just really boils down to him being a really good horse,” Mott said. They don't do it by accident.”

Mott added that Elite Power would likely target the GI Forego S. at Saratoga Aug. 26.

Pedigree Notes:

Elite Power, a $900,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Juddmonte, is one of 54 graded winners, 20 at the Grade I level, for the mighty Curlin.

Broodmare sire Vindication, the unbeaten winner of the 2002 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Arlington, is responsible for 12 graded winners, six at the top level.

Elite Power is bred on the same Curlin/Vindication cross as GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator. Elite Power's dam Broadway's Alibi, a MGSW & GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up and Robsham homebred, brought $2.15 million from Alpha Delta Stables while in foal to Smart Strike at the 2013 KEENOV sale. Broadway's Alibi is also represented by a Curlin colt of 2021.

Elite Power's fourth dam is champion 2-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Eliza (Mt. Livermore). This is also the family of GISW and young sire Dialed In (Mineshaft).

“(The late) Prince Khalid was the one that wanted to win the Kentucky Derby,” Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke said. “We bought this guy by Curlin out of a mare that was second in the Kentucky Oaks. That was our dream. But this is a very, very good consolation prize. That was Prince Khalid's idea and dream at the time, but now we've moved on to his sons who are taking a tremendous interest and they're the ones carrying this forward. I'm thanking them for the point of view of Juddmonte and I think it's great for the whole legacy of Juddmonte that they're carrying it through.”

 

Saturday, Saratoga
ALFRED G. VANDERBILT H.-GI, $350,000, Saratoga, 7-29, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.22, sy.
1–ELITE POWER, 126, h, 5, by Curlin
           1st Dam: Broadway's Alibi (MGSW & GISP, $521,500), by Vindication
           2nd Dam: Broadway Gold, by Seeking the Gold
           3rd Dam: Miss Doolittle, by Storm Cat
($900,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Juddmonte; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $192,500. Lifetime Record: Ch. Sprinter, 11-8-0-1, $2,635,711. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gunite, 124, c, 4, Gun Runner–Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $70,000.
3–Dean Delivers, 120, g, 4, Cajun Breeze–Slick and True, by Yes It's True. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Stonehedge LLC (FL); T-Michael Yates. $42,000.
Margins: HD, 6 1/4, 5. Odds: 1.10, 1.20, 9.50.
Also Ran: Gun It, Synthesis, Awesome Aaron, Little Vic.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Saturday’s Saratoga Notes: Cox and Pletcher Runners Headline Worktab

West Will Power (Bernardini), a last-out winner of the GI Stephen Foster S., worked five furlongs in 1:02.24 (1/4) in company with the stakes-placed Tapit Shoes (Tapit) for trainer Brad Cox over Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Saturday.

West Will Power, owned and bred by Gary and Mary West, is under consideration for either next Saturday's GI Whitney S. or the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 2 at the Spa.

“It's a very prestigious race. It means a lot,” Cox said of the Whitney. “We'll see how things unfold after this work and make a decision a little bit later. We'll speak with the West team and come up with a plan.”

The Cox-trained Verifying (Justify), a narrow winner of the GIII Indiana Derby, worked a half mile in :48.75 (13/53) in company with the maiden Fighting Back (Lookin At Lucky) over the Oklahoma training track.

Cox said that Verifying will point to the seven-furlong GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Aug. 26 at Saratoga.

“He went a really good half. I wasn't looking to do a whole lot with him, but he was on it,” Cox said. “He was ready to do something.”

Charge It Breezes for Whitney…

'TDN Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit), a front-running winner of the GII Suburban S. last out downstate, worked a half mile in :48.77 (28/101) Saturday morning over the main track in his final tune up for next Saturday's Whitney.

“I thought it was excellent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He did it well in hand and looked good doing it. I've been very pleased with the way he's trained since the Suburban.”

Pletcher continued, “He's a horse that's always trained really strongly and shown hints that he's capable to run a big race. His (GIII) Dwyer was brilliant. His Suburban, I thought, was his most professional race. He's starting to put it all together consistently. It's a very tall order going up against the best older horses in training, but we're happy with the way he's coming into it.”

Pletcher added that fellow 'Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), fifth in the GI Haskell, will target the GI Travers S. Aug. 26.

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Second Chances: ‘Mor’ to Come from Munnings Filly at the Spa

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Lamorna (f, 2, Munnings–Freudie Anne, by Freud) kicked off her career for Hall of Famer Bill Mott with a better-than-it-looked fourth-place finish sprinting over the Saratoga grass July 20.

Last of 10 after getting squeezed at the start, the 7-1 chance was immediately under a ride from jockey Luis Saez and caboosed the field through an opening quarter in a sharp :22.02. She began to catch the eye with a flashy, sweeping move on the far turn and was hung out seven wide as they straightened for home.

The blaze-faced chestnut continued to rally down the stretch, and, despite racing a bit greenly from there with multiple lead changes, finished only 1 1/4 lengths adrift of the very promising Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies S.-bound Kodiac Wintergreen (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

Campaigned in partnership by Arnmore Thoroughbreds and West Paces Racing, Lamorna earned a strong 70 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“I was so proud of her,” Arnmore Thoroughbreds's Megan Jones said. “She ran a 14 1/4 Ragozin, which is a huge 2-year-old filly number on the grass. I didn't think she had it easy, either. They came in on her at the start and the winner came out on her at the top of the lane.”

Jones, a former vice president of Team Valor International, continued, “As a baby, when they make that big move on the turn and catch up, you expect that they might flatten out and get tired, but she just kept dropping her head down and trying. I would look to see her back here at Saratoga. She came out of the race super, really good energy. And mentally, she figured out what it was all about.”

Bred in Kentucky by Fergus Galvin, Marc Detampel, Jayne Johnson and Adrian Wallace, Lamorna went through the ring twice at Keeneland, bringing $155,000 from Stoneriggs Farm as a KEENOV weanling and $320,000 from Arnmore Thoroughbreds as a KEESEP yearling.

The versatile New York-bred Freudie Anne, a half-sister to MSW Frostie Anne (Frost Giant), won eight of her 25 career starts, including the New York Stallion Series S. over the Saratoga grass and East View S. on dirt at Aqueduct.

The Munnings over Freud cross is responsible for GSW & GISP Catalina Red. Lamorna is also bred similarly to MGSW and two-time GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Om (Munnings), who was produced by a Tabasco Cat mare. Leading young Ashford Stud stallion Munnings is the sire of 26 graded winners.

“I think she's gonna be a pretty versatile filly,” Jones said. “Her mother won short and long, turf and dirt. We were just getting her started there. She's just a real pleasure.”

Jones's fledgling partnership has approximately 10 horses in training, including the 4-year-old homebred filly Poppy Flower (Lea), winner of the GIII Intercontinental S. earlier this summer at Belmont Park.

“I buy fillies as yearlings to race and to add to the broodmare band,” Jones said. “It's hard to win first out, but at the end of the day, as long as you come out of that first race feeling like you have a good individual that we can keep with us for years to come, that's what's really important to us. I am really grateful to my partners because I loved her so much (at Keeneland September) last year.”

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