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Saturday’s Racing Insights: Omaha Beach Filly Debuts Around Two Turns Over Turf

1st-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 6:00 p.m.
WITHOUT CAUSE (Omaha Beach) tackles two turns over the turf in this debut run. Dam Without (Tiznow), out of MGSW Mary's Follies (More Than Ready), is a half-sister to GIII Transylvania S. victor Night Prowler (Giant's Causeway), champion female turf horse Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) and Japanese champion dirt horse Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah). Trained by Mark Casse, the $180,000 Keeneland September Yearling sale graduate will have Adam Beschizza in the saddle.

Also out for her first test is Bridewood Farm homebred Moshine (Uncle Mo), a Brendan Walsh trainee slated to be ridden by Declan Cannon. The bay filly is out of GI Chandelier S. heroine Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon)–a half to the dam of MGSW Souper Hoity Toity (Uncle Mo)–who was purchased for $3.4 million by West Bloodstock in foal to Into Mischief at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed Sale. The resulting filly went for $475,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale to North Hills Co. Moshine hails from an extended female family under her third dam which includes Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (Phone Trick) and his half-sister's MGSW son, Favorite Tale (Tale of the Cat). TJCIS PPS

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Expensive Liam’s Map Duo Debut at Nakayama

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for Sunday running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:

4th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
SONIC STAR (c, 2, Into Mischief–Carolina Bertie, by Speightstown) is the first foal from his unraced dam, a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), who has been represented by 36 winners from his two crops to race in Japan. A $300,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at Keeneland September last year, the Feb. 5 foal hails from the family of MGSWs Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot) and Allamerican Bertie (Quiet American). Yuga Kawada has the call. B-Nancy C Shuford (KY)

DOBBIACO (c, 2, Street Boss–Rubindy, by Bernardini) fetched just $25,000 as a KEESEP yearling, but improved dramatically and was hammered down for $450,000 at OBS March after breezing a furlong in :10 flat. There is pedigree to boot, as Rubindy is a half-sister to GSW Mo Tom (Uncle Mo); SW/MGISP Beautician (Dehere); MGSW Red Ruby (Tiznow); and SW Bella Castani (Big Brown). B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY)

4th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
GRAN ORCA (c, 2, Liam's Map–Layla, by Union Rags) was the joint most-expensive of his sire's 58 yearlings sold (75 ring) in 2022 when hammering to TN Racing for $625,000 at Keeneland September 12 months ago. The dark bay's dam, an impressive maiden winner at first asking over six furlongs, is a full-sister to GI Santa Anita H. winner Express Train, who graduated by better than 14 lengths in his second career start. Third dam November Snow (Storm Cat) won the 1992 GI Alabama S. B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY)

HISTORIAI (c, 2, Liam's Map–Cara Bella, by Ghostzapper) sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $525,000 at Keeneland September last year, the third-priciest yearling by his sire. A half-brother to GISW Silent Poet (Silent Name {Jpn}), the Mar. 31 foal is out of a half-sister to 2000 GI Preakness S. winner Red Bullet (Unbridled) and SW Millennium Allstar (Meadowlake). Stone Farm acquired the unraced Cara Bella for $60,000 in foal to Silent Name at Keeneland November in 2017. B-Stone Farm (KY)

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Saturday Preview: Parx Feature Marks Last Major Derby of the Year

For the connections of 11 3-year-olds, the GI Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Saturday represents a last-ditch effort to pick up an elusive Derby win and while it's not the Derby win most started out the year in search of, the $1 million purse, Grade I status and strong history of past winners makes it a coveted race to win nonetheless.

Since Hall of Famer Woody Stephens trained Smarten (Cyane) to earn the inaugural Pennsylvania Derby trophy in 1979, a number of good 3-year-olds have also emerged from the nine-furlong feature victorious, including GI Preakness S. winner Summer Squall (Storm Bird) in 1990 and 1987 Canadian Horse of the Year Afleet (Mr. Prospector), as well as Dixieland Band (Northern Dancer), Skip Trial (Bailjumper), Wallenda (Gulch), Macho Uno (Holy Bull), Harlan's Holiday (Harlan), Will Take Charge (Unbridled's Song), Frosted (Tapit), West Coast (Flatter) and the recently retired Taiba (Gun Runner) a year ago.

In 1985, in what was one of the more memorable editions, GI Wood Memorial S. winner Broad Brush (Ack Ack), with Angel Cordero Jr. aboard on a beyond sloppy track, bolted toward the outside rail while on the lead past the quarter pole, gave up a dozen lengths into the top of the lane but made it all up in the stretch to win while racing closer to the outside rail than the inside rail.

Bayern (Offlee Wild) in 2014 and Macho Uno in 2000 are so far the only runners to complete the Pennsylvania Derby-Breeders' Cup Classic double. Will Take Charge in 2013 and West Coast in 2017 are so far the only two to be named the champion 3-year-old male after winning the Parx main event.

Bob Baffert has saddled four winners to lead all trainers and this year sends out Reincarnate (Good Magic) in his first start since capturing the Los Alamitos Derby 2 1/2 months ago. Regular rider Juan Hernandez will be at Parx to ride the colt, who drew the far outside post position, and is the slight morning line favorite at 3-1.

“We call him Moby Dick,” Baffert said of the big gray colt. “He is a big, strong white horse; he has the same coloring as Moby Dick.

“I have always been very high on the horse. We have always liked him. He is the kind of horse that will run up near the lead and be forwardly placed.”

Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) seeks an initial stakes score after a runner-up finish behind champion Forte (Violence) in the GII Jim Dandy S. last out at Saratoga two months ago. Brad Cox trains the colt, who was also second in the GIII Dwyer S. on July 1 at Belmont Park, for FMQ Stables.

“I love how he's doing,” Cox said “We've been pointing for this ever since he ran second [in the Dwyer} at Belmont.”

Todd Pletcher tightens the girth on a pair Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable runners in Dreamlike (Gun Runner) and Crupi (Curlin).

Dreamlike was third in a very tight finish in the GI Wood Memorial S. as a maiden in the spring and graduated to winner status in July on Saratoga's opening weekend, but was then a disappointing fifth as the 4-5 favorite in a first-level allowance race at Saratoga a month later. Crupi was seventh in the GII Risen Star S. and ninth in the Wood as a maiden earlier this spring, but is riding a two-race win streak including his maiden and an allowance company at Monmouth Park and Saratoga, respectively.

“They're both training well,” Pletcher said. “Dreamlike is coming off a little bit of a disappointing race, but he's always shown potential. Crupi is coming off a good effort. Considering those things, it's worth a swing.”

LNJ Foxwoods's homebred Scotland (Good Magic) is coming off a disappointing sixth-place finish in the muddy GI Travers S. in his graded stakes debut after winning three of his first four starts, including the Listed Curlin S. at Saratoga in July. Bill Mott trains the gelding, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado again.

West Coast Cowboy (West Coast), from the first crop of his Pennsylvania Derby-winning sire, was briefly on the GI Kentucky Derby trail earlier this year, finishing third in the GII Holy Bull S. and seventh in the GI Florida Derby. Saffie Joseph Jr.'s 31-1 chance Math Wizard (Algorithms) upset this race in 2019, the now significantly accomplished trainer's very first graded stakes winner.

“[West Coast Cowboy] is a big, strong horse that seems to be improving,” Joseph said. “He is not at the top level yet, but he seems to get better and better every time he runs.

“Sometimes you just have to take chances. Sometimes it works out, but most of the time it doesn't. You can't be afraid to run them in the race.”

Pretty Mischievous Stars in History-Rich Cotillion

Pretty Mischievous | Sarah K. Andrew

The GI Cotillion S., run every year except one since 1969, boasts some of the more notable sophomore filly names as past winners. The names of champions Shuvee (Nashua)–who won the inaugural running–Susan's Girl (Quadrangle), My Juliet (Gallant Romeo), Revidere (Reviewer), Ashado (Saint Ballado), Havre De Grace (Saint Liam), My Miss Aurelia (Smart Strike), Untapable (Tapit), Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) are all listed in the history books.

'TDN Rising Star' and GI Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) seeks a fourth straight Grade I win after taking the tragedy-marred GI Test S. at Saratoga last out. She also won the GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds back in February. Tyler Gaffalione will ride for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“I was looking at her record the other day and it's unbelievable,” Walsh said of the Godolphin homebred. “It's a testament to her. Look, you have to have the ammunition, but it is a testament to her. I haven't had too many of them that have been able to keep it that consistent for that long. Generally, you hit some bump, or they'll back up, something. She's won seven of nine and the couple times she got beat she was second or third. It will be nice if we can pull it off again Saturday.”

Eight will try to take down the clear division leader, including California-bred shipper Ceiling Crusher (Mr. Big) from the Doug O'Neill barn. She is coming off a win in the GIII Torrey Pines S. at Del Mar three weeks ago and makes her first foray outside of the Golden State for the 1 1/16-mile main track affair.

“It is always a concern until you do it,” O'Neill said. “I had the great Lava Man, who was so brilliant in California, but once you had to sleep in another hotel room and try to perform on the road, he just couldn't do it. In my expectations, she ranks as one of the top 3-year-old fillies, but, until you do it against the best, on the road, it's all just hot air.”

Chad Brown will saddle GIII Monmouth Oaks winner Occult (Into Mischief) while Tom Amoss will sent out another good Into Mischief filly in the stakes-winning Hoosier Philly.

Pennsylvania Derby Undercard Loaded with Stakes

Three of the other ten stakes on the Parx Saturday card are graded, including the GIII Turf Monster, which the four-win streaking Roses For Debra (Liam's Map) for Christophe Clement in the five-furlong grass dash; GIII Brooklyn S. winner Next (Into Mischief) seeking a third straight stakes win in the grassy GII Greenwood Cup 1 1/2 -mile marathon; and the Steve Asmussen-trained GSW Ryvit (Competitive Edge) hoping to get back to winning in the GII Gallant Bob S. after a pair of disappointing fifth-place finishes in stakes company in his last two.

Dogwood Rounds Out Saturday Graded Stakes Action

Down further south at Churchill Downs, nine 3-year-old fillies will sprint the seven furlongs in the GIII Dogwood S. The lightly raced Yesternight (Midnight Storm) drew the rail and the role of 3-1 favorite after a second-place finish in the Cathryn Sophia S. at Parx in her black-type debut a month ago.

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GMP Farm Looks Ahead After a Banner Summer

When Anthony Melfi purchased a 100-acre property in Schuylerville, New York two years ago, he and his partner Gary Gullo did not want to have what would be just another farm. Instead, they hoped to create something that could have a lasting impact on the sport of racing.

“We thought that if we could get something that's unique, we could improve the horse racing business a little bit,” explained Gullo. “We didn't want to have a regular farm just to have a farm. We wanted to make a difference, trying to help this industry out as best as possible.”

Their vision would soon become GMP Farm, an equine rehabilitation and training center with state-of-the-art facilities and a long list of services available to help equine athletes return to top form.

They started with the original barn, which was once home to Stone Bridge Farm training center, but quickly began construction on a second due to high demand. They redid the base of their seven-eighths Tapeta training track and developed an expansive list of rehabilitation services including a cold water spa, Theraplates, cryotherapy, thermal imaging, laser therapy and more. This spring, they added an equine hyperbaric chamber.

Melfi and Gullo's efforts were rewarded this year as GMP Farm has been a model of success. With a capacity of 60 horses, the operation located 15 minutes from Saratoga has been in full swing as it has attracted horses from some of the top barns in the country.

“Bill Mott has been a big supporter of us,” said Gullo. “Todd Pletcher, Linda Rice, Rudy Rodriguez, Ray Handal–we have all different trainers sending us horses. It's a pleasure to have them have faith in us to get their horses right and send them back.”

GMP Farm's hyperbaric chamber was added early this year | Katie Petrunyak

A veteran trainer himself before he teamed up with his longtime client Melfi to start GMP Stable in 2020, Gullo said the expertise his team has to offer has been a major factor in getting GMP Farm off and running.

“We know how to take care of horses and we know what to look for,” he explained. “When they leave here, they look great. Their weight is good and they're dappled out. Being a trainer, I know what I expected when horses came off the farm and 90% of the time they were too fat or to thin. Then I would have to give them 30 days or so just to get them back to where I wanted them. We know what other trainers expect and we better deliver what they want.”

GMP Farm is managed by Steve Rydowski, who worked under Hall of Famer John Nerud and was a longtime assistant for Gullo.

“We've gotten very good reviews,” said Rydowski. “A lot of owners will touch back with me after the horse ran and they'll say, 'Wow, this horse ran one of the best races he's run.' So it's been very positive. Between all of us, we're very hands on. We pay attention to detail with the horse, determining what's going on and where to go from there on each individual horse.”

The facility is not restricted to racehorses. Gullo estimated that about 65% of the horses in their care have been Thoroughbreds, but they've also brought in many Standardbreds. They've also worked with a number of equestrian-type horses, even attracting an Olympic-level jumper.

GMP Farm was a popular destination for both horses and humans during the Saratoga race meet. Not only did many of the top horsemen in the business stop by to see the evolution of the operation, but the farm was also the host of a performance of Robert Montano's Off-Broadway show “Small” and it brought in visitors looking to enjoy the property's human spa destination, Sacred Spa and Wellness.

While the hubbub of the Saratoga season has since quieted down, Gullo said he believes that their facility will stay busy on into next year, noting that the additions of a temperature-controlled barn last year and the hyperbaric chamber this spring should attract all types of equine athletes in the coming months.

“Last year we might have been 30% full in the wintertime,” he shared. “But I feel like this winter there are going to be more people from Belmont that will ship up and more of the trotters that will be at Saratoga or Yonkers. And you've also got your equestrian horses that are starting to funnel in.”

But Gullo isn't all that worried about having a packed barn year-round. He said GMP Farm is in it for the long game.

“We're really not looking so much at numbers,” he said. “We're looking at building something that's going to be great for the horses. We just want to have the horses and do the great job that we do.”

Gullo and Melfi are already looking into how they can continue to improve their facility. Gullo said they are considering the additions of a swimming pool and an aqua-treadmill.

Even as demand grows as more owners and trainers utilize their services, Gullo said they don't intend on increasing their intake too much. Instead, he said they have their sights on expanding in a different way.

“We don't want to get too big,” he said. “Actually we're looking at maybe trying to have this as a template to go somewhere else with this type of thing. Maybe Ocala, the World Equestrian Center, or Wellington–somewhere like that where we could do the same thing.”

The key to future success, he reiterated, will be having the right people behind the project.

“You can have this beautiful place that looks great, but if you don't have the right people in place, it's going to fail. You have to have qualified people that know what they're doing. The people who work here make it special. Anthony makes it special. There are a lot of moving parts, but everybody's proud of it. And that makes a difference too, when you're really proud of what you do.”

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