Gun Runner Filly Does the ‘Talk’-ing In the Demoiselle

Dropping out of a pair of Grade I races, Repole Stables and Todd Pletcher's Life Talk (Gun Runner) earned 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks with an impressive win in the GII Demoiselle S.

Second by a head to future GISP Alys Beach (Omaha Beach) on debut, Life Talk came back with a 6 1/2-length win at second asking upstate in August. Unfortunately for daughter of Gun Runner, she then twice ran into likely 2-year-old filly champion Just F Y I (Justify) in both the GI Frizette S. (in which she finished third) and at last month's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies where she was fourth.

Always bet like a winner Saturday, Life Talk broke at even money under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and enjoyed a rail-hugging trip as the field stacked up six wide to her outside into the first turn. Most of All (Quality Road) kept pace a half-length back as the fillies sorted themselves out but the field of eight remained tightly bunched as the favorite handled the tempo through a :24.10 opening quarter. Kept just off the rail over a main track listed as muddy, Life Talk cruised up front into the far turn, shook off Most of All passing the quarter pole and was left to contend with a strong closing run from both Shimmering Allure (Enticed) and Dolomite (Unified) to her outside. Shimmering Allure got closest but Life Talk was up to the task and kicked away again into the final sixteenth, opening up to the wire to win in front-running fashion.

“Obviously, [the good break] was all Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] and Todd [Pletcher] coming up with a game plan,” said Amelia Green, assistant to winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “With how the track's playing today, you need to get position and like Irad said, she warmed up good and he made the most of it. No one else wanted the lead, so he made the most of that situation. She seemed happy out there and did everything very professionally.”

“It is great to see her back in this performance,” added Irad Ortiz, Jr. “Because it was a great race [in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies], she ran so good to get beat last time. She got beat by three lengths and she come back maybe a little quick after that tough race, flies back all the way here but we have a great team, they all do a great job, the assistants and the trainer. She was one hundred percent.”

Pedigree Note:

The 26th stakes winner and 19th graded winner for sire Gun Runner, Life Talk is out of a winning Bernardini mare who has produced two other winners from as many to race. As a broodmare sire, Darley's late stallion Bernardini has sired the dams of 82 stakes winner. The dam, a half-sister to GSW Indian Firewater (Indian Charlie), saw her yearling Maclean's Music filly bring $140,000 in January's Keeneland Horses of All Ages Sale while her wealing Bolt d'Oro filly brought a final bid of $250,000 last month at Keeneland November. Touchy Feely is due on a cover to Cyberknife in 2024.

 

Saturday, Aqueduct
DEMOISELLE S.-GII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 12-2, 2yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:51.10, my.
1–LIFE TALK, 118, f, 2, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Touchy Feely, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: Touched, by Touch Gold
                3rd Dam: Bay Barrister, by Miswaki
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $335,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-Gun Runner Syndicate, Mulholland Springs LLC & Tom Grether Farms Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-1, $364,250. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Shimmering Allure, 120, f, 2, Enticed–Shimmering Tale, by Wild Again. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($40,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Clifton Farm, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $50,000.
3–Dolomite, 118, f, 2, Unified–Sunset Ridge, by Algorithms.
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (NY); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1, 8 1/4. Odds: 1.00, 5.20, 8.50.
Also Ran: Most of All, Caldwell Luvs Gold, Vino Rouge, Ringy Dingy, Cozee Rags. Scratched: Caress.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Brown Can Equal Whittingham Record In Hollywood Derby

The late Charlie Whittingham won his first Hollywood Derby back in 1967 with Tumble Wind and the last of his four victories in the race in 1989 with Live The Dream. Chad Brown added his name to the list of Hollywood Derby winners courtesy of Annals of Time (Temple City) in 2016 and followed up with Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in 2018 and Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) two years later. In Saturday's renewal of the nine-furlong event, Brown will send out a pair of lightly raced sophomores while looking to draw even with the 'Bald Eagle.'

Favored at 9-5 on the morning line is Program Trading (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who will try to give Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables a record-breaking three wins in the race. The ridgling made rapid progress this season, capping a three-race winning streak with a head defeat of Webslinger (Constitution) in the GI Saratoga Derby over yielding turf Aug. 5. Accordingly made the 7-10 chalk for the Sept. 9 GIII Virginia Derby, the bay led into the final furlong only to be upstaged by Integration (Quality Road), who franked the form in the GII Hill Prince S. in his next appearance.

“He was a little close to a fast pace,” Brown said of the Virginia Derby. “It might have did him in in the end where he got caught by a good horse. Hopefully he'll work out a better trip this time.”

Brown also sends out Redistricting (GB) (Kingman {GB}) for Klaravich, who exits a two-length Aqueduct allowance victory Oct. 28.

“He finished well,” Brown said, “and I think he's ready to step back up into a big race like this.”

Webslinger has been out of the top three just once in his eight starts this term and was a luckless third when last seen in the GII Twilight Derby on the Breeders' Cup undercard Nov. 4.

The two horses that finished ahead of him also line up here. Seal Team (GB) (War Front) came from worse than midfield to upstage Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) by a half-length, but might need a touch of luck from the widest alley in this field of nine.

Two-year-old fillies head to the post in the co-featured GIII Jimmy Durante S. Brown looks set to saddle the favorite in the one-mile test in the form of Lady de Berry (Practical Joke), a debut sixth to future GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Just F Y I (Justify) on Saratoga debut Aug. 26 before graduating impressively going two turns over the Keeneland turf course Oct. 27. Go With Gusto (Medaglia d'Oro), third in the GI Summer S., failed to draw into the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and was a mildly troubled second in the Qatar Gold Mile in the Breeders' Cup Friday lidlifter. She tries sex-restricted company for the first time in her career.

Cigar Mile Anchors Big Weekend at the Big A

Downgraded though it has been and lacking a standout runner, Saturday's GII Cigar Mile H. still offers a half-million dollar purse and a full field of 12 to challenge handicappers.

Trainer Todd Fincher makes a rare appearance on the New York circuit, but he brings in a horse with a big chance in the form of Joe Peacock Jr.'s Senor Buscador (Mineshaft). Two-for-three over this distance, including the GIII Ack Ack S. going Churchill's one-turn configuration last October, the 5-year-old entire took advantage of a strong pace up ahead to upset the GII San Diego H. at Del Mar this past July. Fourth in the GI Pacific Classic and third in the GI Awesome Again S., he ran on decently to finish seventh, beaten 5 1/4 lengths, behind White Abarrio (Race Day) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 4.

“He ran really good in the Breeders' Cup,” Fincher said. “He just got way, way back–almost 19 lengths back. I think he started his run too early. He made up a ton of ground down the backside and he actually flattened a little down the lane, which I've never seen him do.”

Senor Buscador worked a best-of-27 five furlongs over the Belmont training track in 1:00 4/5 Nov. 25 in preparation for the Cigar Mile.

Qatar Racing's Everso Mischievous (Into Mischief) looks the main danger as he goes for his fourth straight victory and fifth from seven starts. Picked up for just $85,000 at last year's Keeneland Horses of Racing Age Sale, the bay broke his maiden at second asking and has not tasted defeat in five months, including wins in the Sept. 23 Harrods Creek S. at Keeneland and the GII Forty Niner S. over this course and distance Oct. 28, where he had the re-opposing Dr Ardito (Liam's Map) and Accretive (Practical Joke) in his wake.

Dornoch (Good Magic), the full-brother to recently retired GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage, looks a handful facing nine other juvenile males in the GII Remsen S. The $325,000 KEESEP acquisition was second in his first two trips to the races, including the Aug. 26 Sapling S. at Monmouth, and was an impressive 6 1/4-length maiden winner at Keeneland Oct. 14. Moonlight (Audible) matched Dornoch's 90 Beyer Speed Figure when airing by eight in a local rained-off maiden Sept. 28, but was fractionally disappointing when runner-up to Liberal Arts (Arrogate) in a sloppy renewal of the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Sept. 29. Rick Dutrow, Jr. has won with eight of his last 24 starters dating back to the Breeders' Cup Classic. The following afternoon he sent out Where's Chris (Twirling Candy) to upset the previously unbeaten Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in the Nashua S.

The fillies' counterpart, the GII Demoiselle S., is topped by Repole Stable's Life Talk (Gun Runner), third in the local GI Frizette S. Oct. 7 ahead of an even fourth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Shimmering Allure (Enticed) is the most experienced of this group, having made six previous racetrack appearances. A maiden winner at fourth asking in a restricted event at Churchill in September, the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton July grad was a midpack fourth in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland Oct. 6, but bounced back to best Vino Rouge (Vino Rosso) by three convincing lengths in the Nov. 5 Tempted S.

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First Stakes Winner for Freshman Sire Enticed at the Big A

Shimming Allure finished a credible fourth in a very competitive renewal of Keeneland's GI Alcibiades S. last month, and found the step back to easier company to her liking, taking the Tempted S. at Aqueduct Sunday.

Not particularly hurried out of gate 1, the filly found herself near the back as longshot Belle's Blue Bell (Girvin) cut out respectable opening splits in :23.03 and :46.48. Flanked by Perfectly Wicked from the back, Shimmering Allure picked up the tempo markedly exiting the backstretch and swung out several paths wide turning for home. Still four lengths back straightening for home, she powered down the center of the lane, collared the late-leading Vino Rouge midstretch and drew off to score by three lengths. Perfectly Wicked was a clear third.

“She was a filly we knew would come from behind,” said winning jockey Junior Alvarado. “She broke very well and they outran her the first part, but I knew there was going to be a lot of speed since there was a lot of fillies coming from sprints so that helped her to get a fast pace up front.”

He continued, “I bought my time and let her get her feet underneath. When we hit the three-eighths pole, I started tapping the shoulder and she turned it on. I knew I had enough horse to get there at the end, so I tipped out at that point and she finished up very well.”

A non-factoring seventh in her debut against sales-restricted company at Ellis in June, she finished second in her next two, including a six-panel Saratoga test Aug. 13. She broke through with the win trying a mile for the first time Sept. 20, the Kentucky-bred got off a beat slow while trying open company for the first time at Keeneland Oct. 6, but finished a good fourth behind Candied-who subsequently finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last Saturday–in the 1 1/16-mile test.

According to Nick Galati, assistant to Kenny McPeek, “She ran good so last time and Ken told me right away that he wanted to run in the Tempted. I think this was the plan and she just turned a corner. She liked going two turns and last time it was a really tough race but she hung in there for a good fourth. Today, she was ready. I'm sure we'll find a good spot. She's really a nice filly, for sure. We always thought she was a nice filly, even the first time she ran in Saratoga, she ran real well. She sprinted a couple of times and it set her up nicely. I think she just keeps getting better. She seems to like any track she runs on also, so she's honest.”

Bred by Clifton Farm, the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase is out of stakes-placed Shimmering Tale. The 19-year-old mare is also responsible for stakes-placed Shimmering Dream (Alternation) and My Daughter's Song (Songandaprayer). She produced a full-brother to the winner last term and was bred back to Frosted this term.

The winner represents the first stakes winner for freshman sire Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro), who is out of MGISW It's Tricky (Mineshaft). The Darley stallion, who currently has 17 winners from his first crop, stands for $5,000.

TEMPTED S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 11-5, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:37.84, ft.
1–SHIMMERING ALLURE, 120, f, 2, by Enticed
              1st Dam: Shimmering Tale (SP), by Wild Again
              2nd Dam: Lady Sky Racer, by Skywalker
              3rd Dam: Boomer Lady, by Time to Explode
($40,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Walking L
Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Clifton Farm, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G.
McPeek; J-Junior Alvarado. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0,
$189,095. *1/2 to Shimmering Dream (Alternation), SP,
$241,377.
2–Vino Rouge, 120, f, 2, Vino Rosso–Seeking the Blue, by Arch.
($180,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Harold Lerner
LLC and Team D; B-Payson Stud, Inc (KY); T-Anthony W.
Dutrow. $30,000.
3–Perfectly Wicked, 120, f, 2, Wicked Strong–Perfect Sister, by
Perfect Soul (Ire). ($16,000 Ylg '22 EASOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Respect the Valleys, LLC; B-BHMFR, LLC (KY); T-Brittany T.
Russell. $18,000.
Margins: 3, 3 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.05, 4.60, 13.40.
Also Ran: Caitlinhergrtness, Don't Tell Kelly, Belle's Blue Bell, Enfuega, A Primera Vista. Scratched: Caress, Vicountess.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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