Tag: Society

Two Phil’s Headlines Ohio Derby

Two Phil's (Hard Spun), a too-good-to-lose second after racing on top of a hot pace in the GI Kentucky Derby, kicks off the second half of his season in Saturday's GIII Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

The GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks winner has been firing bullets for trainer Larry Rivelli at Hawthorne since, including a five-furlong move in :59 (1/14) June 8.

Jockey Gerardo Corrales will replace the injured Jareth Loveberry in the irons.

'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo), drawn one to the inside of the 8-5 morning-line favorite in post three, came within a head of defeating subsequent GI Belmont S. winner Arcangelo (Arrogate) in a thrilling renewal of the GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont May 13. The bay has been favored in all three of his previous career starts for trainer Brad Cox.

The field of eight also includes 59-1 GII Wood Memorial S. upsetter Lord Miles (Curlin). He was a late scratch from the Kentucky Derby and his trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. was suspended indefinitely by Churchill Downs when two of his horses died from unexplained causes leading up to the first Saturday in May.

Grade I Winners Meet in Chicago…

Grade I winners Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) and Society (Gun Runner) will throw down in Saturday's GIII Chicago S. going seven furlongs at Ellis Park.

Godolphin homebred Matareya, a debut winner over this track during her 2-year-old season, has a pair of top-level wins on her resume–the 2022 GI Acorn S. at Belmont Park and the GI Derby City Distaff S. most recently on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

Society, a front-running heroine of last term's GI Cotillion S. at Parx, cuts back to one turn following a well-beaten ninth in the GI La Troienne S. May 5.

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Asmussen Trio Tune Up at Keeneland

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen sent out a trio of breezers Sunday morning at Keeneland to their final preparations for next weekend's Breeders' Cup World Championships. GI Classic contender Epicenter (Not This Time) covered a half-mile in an easy :50.80 (23/25); GI Juvenile Fillies-bound Grand Love (Gun Runner) went the same distance in :50.20 (19/25); and streaking GI Distaff hopeful Society (Gun Runner) got the half-mile in :49.60 (12/25).

“Epicenter worked a nice, smooth half-mile,” Asmussen said. “I am extremely pleased with how he is coming into the Classic.”

The six-time Breeders' Cup-winning conditioner added, “The track is in excellent shape, and it was a typical week of work for us. I am extremely happy with who we have and the shape they are in.”

Asmussen is expected to work four more of his Breeders' Cup contenders on Monday.

One other notable Breeders' Cup runner to work Sunday in Lexington was Edgeway (Competitive Edge), who will aim to go one better than she did in last year's GI F/M Sprint and who covered five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.20 (1/14).

“We looked at the weather and made up our minds this morning to work, even though it was coming back in five days,” trainer John Sadler said, alluding to a wet forecast for Sunday into Monday. “She went a minute and change and galloped out in 1:13, and she was well within herself. It was very good–nice and smooth.”

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Epicenter Highlights Busy Asmussen Worktab; Rich Strike Classic-Bound

Champion Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) and probable champion Epicenter (Not This Time) topped a busy worktab for Steve Asmussen's potential Breeders' Cup starters Sunday morning at Keeneland as the racing world draws closer than two weeks away from the 39th World Championships in Lexington Nov. 4-5.

With exercise rider Wilson Fabian aboard, Echo Zulu drilled five furlongs in :59 2/5 in company with Marsalis (Curlin). The move was the fastest five-eighths of 30 Sunday over the fast main track. Echo Zulu, who returned off a layoff to win the GIII Dogwood S. last out, is being pointed to the $1-million GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Next was Peter Blum Thoroughbreds' Society (Gun Runner). With jockey Florent Geroux aboard, Society worked 5 furlongs in :59 4/5 in company. A winner of five of six starts, including the GI Cotillion S. in her most recent outing, Society is being pointed to the $2-million GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. Also working before 6 a.m. was Stonestreet Stables' Clairiere (Curlin), who breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00 4/5 with Joel Rosario aboard in company. Clairiere, like Society, is being pointed to the Distaff.

Following the first track renovation break that ended at 7:30, Winchell Thoroughbreds' GI Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful Epicenter worked five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 with Rosario up in company.

“He's a nice horse and I am just glad to be on him,” Rosario, who has ridden Epicenter in his past seven races, said. “He's more mature and looks like he has grown and is stronger. He finished up good; training really good.”

This was the fourth local work for Epicenter, who has compiled four wins and three seconds in 2022 highlighted by a victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. in his most recent start.

“This morning was more of the same,” owner Ron Winchell said. “He did what he needed to do.”

Winchell picked up two more possible Breeders' Cup hopefuls Saturday at Keeneland when homebreds Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) won the GII Lexus Raven Run S. and Gunite (Gun Runner) took the Perryville S. Wicked Halo could go to the Filly and Mare Sprint and Gunite to the $2-million GI Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint.

On the West Coast, likely prohibitive GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Cave Rock (Arrogate) worked six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 (1/5) at Santa Anita in company for trainer Bob Baffert. The undefeated colt was last seen dominating the GI American Pharoah S.

In other Breeders' Cup news, the connections of GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) announced that the over-achieving chestnut will be pointed to the Classic over a potential start in the GI Clark H. Nov. 25 at Churchill.”Rich Strike is doing as good as he ever has, and [owner] Rick [Dawson] feels that he deserves the chance to take on the best in the world,” trainer Eric Reed said.

Reed planned to bring Rich Strike to Keeneland from his base at the Mercury Equine Center Sunday afternoon with the colt scheduled to gallop Monday morning before moving Monday afternoon to the barns on Rice Road that will serve as the home to all Breeders' Cup runners. Rich Strike is expected to work Tuesday morning.

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Asmussen Quintet Tunes Up for Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Steve Asmussen sent five Breeders' Cup contenders out to work Sunday at Keeneland.

Grade I-winning fillies Clairiere (Curlin) and Society (Gun Runner), working in company, went five furlongs in a bullet :59.80 (1/34) in preparation for the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. The duo worked through fractions of :11.80, :23.80, :35.60, :47.60, :59.80 and out six furlongs in 1:13.20.

Epicenter (Not This Time), off since winning the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27, worked five furlongs in company in 1:00.20 (3/34) in preparation for the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The sophomore worked through fractions of :12.60, :24.60, :37.40, 1:00.20 and out six furlongs in 1:14.

Champion Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), aiming for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, went five furlongs in company with maiden winner Marsalis (Curlin) in 1:02.80 (25/34). The filly, who suffered the first loss of her career when fourth in the GI Kentucky Oaks, rebounded with a win in the Sept. 24 GII Dogwood S. last time out.

Also working Sunday at Keeneland, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies contender Grand Love (Gun Runner) went five furlongs in 1:00.60 (7/34) while working with maiden winner Bella Runner (Gun Runner).

“They put in good, solid moves,” Asmussen said Sunday. “They came out of it good and cooled out nicely, and we've got Jackie's Warrior [working] tomorrow. I am extremely pleased with how the preparation has gone. The weather has been excellent. The race track is in good shape and I love the shape they are in.”

Trainer Wesley Ward had a pair of Breeders' Cup contenders work Sunday at Keeneland. Kimari (Munnings), considered possible for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint or the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 (7/34). Nakatomi (Firing Line), a possible Sprint candidate, worked a half-mile in :48.80 (10/50).

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