Tag: Slow Down Andy

Awesome Start to Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet

Santa Anita kicks off its Autumn meet in style this weekend, highlighted by eight graded stakes, including Saturday's GI Awesome Again S., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' for the Nov. 4 Classic.

As is his custom, trainer Bob Baffert is armed with a slew of Classic prospects, however, he confirmed last week that one of the early Classic favorites–GI Pacific Classic scorer Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo)–would bypass this local Breeders' Cup Classic prep. Also missing this weekend's lineup, GI Haskell Invitational winner Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) is expected to train straight up to the Classic, as will GI Whitney S. victor White Abarrio (Race Day).

However, despite Arabian Knight's absence, Baffert, who has won this race five times since the re-naming of the Goodwood in 2012, once again looms large, unleashing a pair of Grade I winners–defending champ Defunded (Dialed In) and National Treasure (Quality Road), winner of this season's GI Preakness S.

Defunded has shown a strong affinity for The Great Race Place, having won there in five of nine starts, including victories in this season's GII Californian and GI Gold Cup. Fourth behind Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) in the GII San Diego H. at Del Mar, Defunded finished sixth behind stablemate Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) in the 10-furlong Pacific Classic Sept. 2. The 5-year-old appears likely to be kept company on the front end early by Classic winner National Treasure who, along with MGISP Skinner (Curlin), is one of only two sophomores in the field. Runner up in the GI American Pharoah S. at this venue last fall, he rounded out the season with a third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November. Third in the GIII Sham S. in January and fourth in the Apr. 8 GI Santa Anita Derby, the colt went to the front early and remained tough late to head the ultra-game Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Wilting to sixth while stretching to 12 furlongs for the GI Belmont June 10, the bay never got into the mix of things-in while in absence of blinkers–in the GI Travers S. over 10 furlongs Aug. 26. In a rider's edition of musical chairs, Juan Hernandez replaces Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard the Classic winner, while Edwin Maldonado, gets the call on Defunded Saturday.

Sporting some solid credentials himself, Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) offered a good showing last time out when third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Arabian Knight and runner-up Geaux Rocket Ride, in the Pacific Classic and followed up with a second-place effort in the 8 1/2-furlong GII San Diego H. at Del Mar July 29. He was also sixth in the GI Met Mile earlier in June.

Victorious in last season's GIII Sunland Derby and the grassy GII Del Mar Derby, the Doug O'Neill trainee rounded out 2022 with a third behind Cody's Wish (Curlin) in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland Nov. 5.

Also attempting to get back into the winner's circle Saturday, Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) recorded his biggest career score in the GI Santa Anita H. over 1 1/4 miles in March before coming up a head short while cutting back to nine panels in the GII Oaklawn H. the following month. Tiring to sixth in a rerouted renewal of the GI Stephen Foster S., contested at Ellis July 1, the gelding was eased after a problematic start last time out in the Pacific Classic and will try to rebound in this cut back. Trained by Ed Moger, the $420,000 Fasig-Tipton Horses in Training graduate, a winner of last season's GII Californian over this track and trip, has hit the board in six of seven starts at Santa Anita.

 

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Saturday Runners Return Fine, Look To The Future

Three conditioners divided-up the five graded stakes races on Pacific Classic Day. Bob Baffert and Phil D'Amato won two each and Doug O'Neill grabbed the other one. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the three winning trainers top the trainer standings at Del Mar heading into Sunday's racing.

Bob Baffert was in the grandstand Sunday morning watching some of his horses work. Back at the barn, his Pacific Classic winner, Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was resting-up from his race; Baffert indicating the 'TDN Rising Star' came out of the race fine.

“That was a good race for him,” Baffert says. “He ran hard.”

Arabian Knight punched his ticket to the Breeders' Cup Classic with his wire-to-wire win Saturday and time will tell as to whether or not he'll run in a prep before the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita in November.

“We don't know what we're going to do there yet,” Baffert says. “We'll give him a couple weeks.”

Same could be said for his rival Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), who came up a neck short. It was a winning effort and for that he got to sleep in.

“We haven't had him out of bed yet,” trainer Richard Mandella said Sunday morning, “but he looked good last night. I think he'll be all right.”

The third-place finisher in the Pacific Classic also came out of his race in good order. Trainer Doug O'Neill says Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) will be pointed to the Breeders' Cup but he did not mention a prep race.

O'Neill's assistant, Leandro Mora, was very proud of  Andy'.

“He just needs a little change in luck,” Mora says with a smile. “We need Baffert to go somewhere else. He sure can do those big races.”

On the East Coast, all was well with the runners from Saturday's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said he was pleased with the effort from Bright Future (Curlin) and that he emerged from the race in good order.

“He looks excellent and came out of the race well,” said Pletcher. “Happy guy.”

Trainer Michael Stidham expressed a strong sense of pride in Godolphin's homebred Proxy (Tapit) who, despite lacking racing room down the backstretch, was able to launch a strong stretch drive to come up a nose shy of the victory.

“He certainly stamped himself in that top group to go to the Breeders' Cup,” Stidham said. “I would say right now, we're looking at just going straight to the Breeders' Cup.”

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Pacific Classic Field Takes Shape

Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), first and third in last month's GI Haskell S. at Monmouth, appear likely for a rematch in the Sept. 2 G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic.

Following his Haskell victory, trainer Richard Mandella indicated the Pacific Classic was possible for the Pin Oak Stud runner, however, upon returning to Del Mar, the Hall of Famer began considering the $125,000 Shared Belief S. instead. Facing older horses in the Classic, the sophomore would run against his own division in the Shared Belief.

In the end, Mandella went back to his initial intention to run in the Classic.

“We're a little heavier on the million dollars,” Mandella said. “I have my price, you know.”

Geaux Rocket Ride worked five-furlongs in 1:01.40 (21/45) at Del Mar Friday.

Returning off a five-month respite, Zedan Racing's Arabian Knight faded to third in the Haskell after contesting a hot pace. The $2.3 million OBS Spring Sale grad was favored in the Haskell following an impressive win in the GIII Southwest at Oaklawn in January.

The Bob Baffert trainee has worked twice since returning to the West Coast, the most recent a seven-furlong move in 1:24.40 at Del Mar Friday.

The Hall of Famer is also pointing Defunded (Dialed In) to the Classic. Fourth in the GII San Diego S. last month, he previously won the GI Hollywood Gold Cup and the GII Californian.

Also nominated, Grade III winner Order and Law in addition to a pair from the Doug O'Neill barn–Slow Down Andy (Nyquist)

and SW Katonah, has developed an issue following a victory in the July 8 Pleasanton Mile.

“He's battling a bruised foot,” O'Neill says. “So we have to play it by ear.”

Also listed as possible for next month's Classic, GISW Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) and MGSW Rattle N Roll (Connect), who is also being considered for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, run on the same day as the Classic.

 

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Senor Buscador Upsets San Diego

If there is a will, there is a way, and the 'Senor' found a way. Senor Buscador mowed down rivals late in the GII San Diego H. to pick up the second Graded stakes victory of his career at 13-1 odds.

Starting his 2023 season with a dominating score in Sunland's Curribot H. Mar. 5, he ran fourth in a salty rendition of the GII Oaklawn H., and could not overcome early crowding in the GI Hollywood Gold Cup, finishing fifth behind returning foe Defunded (Dialed In) and GISW & G1SW Country Grammar (Tonalist).

Last after the jump and in the rear of the field for the lion's portion of the contest, Senor Buscador was perfectly content to watch it all unfold as Brickyard Ride and Slow Down Andy dueled for the pace control. Off the rail into the leading bend and five wide around the second as runners closed ranks, he was rolling under a full head of steam as he arrived in the lane in fourth but quickly closing the gap. Drawing alongside a leg-weary Brickyard Ride, who was about to be overtaken by Slow Down Andy, the winner continued his relentless grind to eventually prevail by 1 1/4 lengths.

After the race, both rider and trainer–who picked up their first stakes win of the meet here–were thrilled with the effort, and echoed similar sentiments about the horse's propensity to leave the blocks on the slower side.

“I told him [jockey Geovanni Franco] to just let the horse do his thing, don't panic and start riding early,” said Fincher after the race. “He's got one strong kick. He'll start picking them up at the half-mile pole on his own. Wait as long as you can, then push the button. He'll never do anything but fall back out of the gate, so we needed a good set-up.”

Hailing from a very busy family, a half-brother to a Graded stakes winner and two listed winners, Senor Buscador is out of New Mexican icon Rose's Desert, who made her name dominating that circuit. The 10-time winning racemare found similar acclaim as a producer, and has several young offspring in the wings including 2-year-old filly Aye Candy (Candy Ride {Arg}); a yearling Rose A (Hard Spun); and 2023 colt The Hell We Did (Authentic). That dam visited the venerable Into Mischief for 2024. This is the extended family of GSP Shaker Knit as well as a host of successful Argentinian black-type earners.

 

Saturday, Del Mar
SAN DIEGO H.-GII, $302,000, Del Mar, 7-29, 3yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:42.54, ft.
1–SENOR BUSCADOR, 119, h, 5, by Mineshaft
           1st Dam: Rose's Desert (MSW, $626,035), by Desert God
           2nd Dam: Miss Glen Rose, by Peaks and Valleys
           3rd Dam: Snippet, by Alysheba
O-Peacock Family Holdings LP; B-Joe R Peacock Sr. & Joe R Peacock Jr. (KY); T-Todd W. Fincher; J-Geovanni Franco. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 12-6-0-1, $667,427. *1/2 to Sheriff Brown (Curlin), MSW, $558,681; 1/2 to Our Iris Rose (Ghostzapper), SW, $307,880; 1/2 to Runaway Ghost (Ghostzapper), GSW, $783,509. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Slow Down Andy, 122, c, 4, Nyquist–Edwina E, by Square Eddie. O/B-Reddam Racing, LLC (CA); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $60,000.
3–Brickyard Ride, 120, h, 6, Clubhouse Ride–Brickyard Helen, by Southern Image. O/B-Alfred A. Pais (CA); T-Craig Anthony Lewis. $36,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 1 3/4, HF. Odds: 13.50, 3.90, 14.20.
Also Ran: Defunded, Tripoli, Royal Ship (Brz), Missed the Cut, American Admiral, Tisquantum. Scratched: Piroli.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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