‘Everything Looks Good’ With Rhyme Schemes After Saratoga Special Win

Pura Vida Investments' Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper), winner of Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S., exited his easy victory in good form Sunday, according to trainer Norm Casse, who charted a fall campaign for the colt.

“Everything looks good [Sunday] morning and he seems happy; no complaints,” said Casse, who celebrated his fifth career graded victory. “Overall, it's so rewarding. I've been doing this for a long time and Saratoga is an iconic place–the Saratoga Special is an iconic race. Just to be involved is humbling, and to win it is something to be really proud of.”

Sixth on debut in May at Churchill Downs, he rebounded with the addition of blinkers to score at second asking June 15 at Ellis.     He proved his versatility in the Saratoga Special while winning under regular rider Ricardo Santana, Jr.

“He's a true professional,” said Casse. “We don't have to do too much with him because he's so talented; we just let him go through the motions between races, and that's good enough for him. That's what's most exciting about him is the fact that we haven't really had to grind on him to get him to this place where he is now.”

The colt will now be pointed to the Spa's seven-furlong GI Hopeful S. Sept. 4, which will likely be used a springboard to Keeneland's GI Breeders' Futurity going a 1 1/16-miles on Oct. 7.

“Unless he suggests otherwise, I think that's the most rational thing to do,” said Casse. “I know he's still a fresh horse and I can't imagine why he can't come back in three weeks and run just as well. Ideally, the Hopeful will be next and then the Breeders' Futurity after that. The way he trains and his overall demeanor suggests he's a two-turn horse. The horses have the answers, so we'll figure it out as we do it.”

In the juvenile filly division, Casse is represented by recent maiden winner Empire Island (Classic Empire), who is possible to try Grade I company in the Sept. 3 Spinaway S. A homebred for Marylou Whitney Stables, Empire Island came from off the pace to earn a 3/4-length score over Lady Moscato (Quality Road) in a six-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 6.

“There's a slight chance she could come back in the Spinaway, but she's going to have to train herself into that spot,” said Casse. “I feel like she's kind of the opposite of Rhyme Schemes in that we had to press on her a little bit more. It seems like the race took a little more out of her. That's a pretty salty spot, and I need a fresh, ready horse for that.”

Casse added that Robert Masterson's GII Fair Grounds Oaks winner Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) remains possible for Saturday's GI Alabama S., but is also considering the Cathryn Sophia S. Aug. 22 at Parx.

“There's an outside chance she could run in the Alabama, but she's got multiple options,” said Casse. “I'm leaning towards running her in something a little less demanding. I feel like she's lost her mojo a little bit and it's my job to get that back. Sometimes, the best way to do that is a little bit of class relief.”

The post ‘Everything Looks Good’ With Rhyme Schemes After Saratoga Special Win appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Kentucky Oaks ‘Picture’ Goes Through Cox Barn

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a division still crying out for a clear-cut leader, a full field of sophomore fillies will take centerstage in a deep renewal of Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Brad Cox will have three chances, including the top two choices on the morning-line, to collect a third Oaks trophy following wins with Monomoy Girl in 2018 and Shedaresthedevil in 2020.

After sweeping the Oaklawn Park series for 3-year-old fillies, Godolphin homebred and 5-2 Oaks morning-line favorite Wet Paint (Blame) shoots for a fourth straight victory following a visually impressive come-from- behind win in the GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 1.

“She can make you a little nervous with her running style, but overall she's just been really consistent,” Cox said. “She'll love the mile and an eighth here. If she puts in her run, she's going to be tough. She just brings it every time.”

Front-running Bourbonette Oaks heroine Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) could vie for favoritism with her stablemate despite never racing on dirt before. Cox will also saddle GII Fair Grounds Oaks third-place finisher The Alys Look (Connect).

“The Alys Looks is flying under the radar, but I love the way she's developing,” Cox said. “Botanical needs to step up on the dirt, but I like what I am seeing. Physically, she looks great. She's doing really well.”

Last year's champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) looks for her first victory since capturing the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. She was a disappointing sixth behind Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 7.

Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) has taken a major step forward for trainer Norm Casse in two attempts since turning three, led by a 3 1/4-length victory over Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 25.

Affirmative Lady (Arrogate), hung out wide in post 13, also enters in top form following a breakthrough win in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Apr. 1. She's gone two-for-two since adding blinkers for Graham Motion.

The gone-too-soon Arrogate, responsible for last year's Oaks winner Secret Oath, will also be represented by GISW and GII Santa Anita Oaks runner-up And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate).

With a delightful forecast calling for cloudy skies and a high of 75 degrees, the stacked 13-race Kentucky Oaks program also includes: a deep field of 10 in the GI La Troienne S., featuring last year's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate); a fantastic renewal of the GII Alysheba S., led by GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner Art Collector (Bernardini); unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings)'s graded stakes debut in the GII Eight Belles S.; and the grassy GII Edgewood S. and GIII Modesty S. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) will also line up on the undercard in the Unbridled Sidney S.

The post Kentucky Oaks ‘Picture’ Goes Through Cox Barn appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Southlawn in Good Company with Stable Pony John Jones

A lithe, dappled bay daughter of Pioneerof the Nile, whose striking features and poetic stride make her easy to pick out on the main track at Churchill Downs, GI Kentucky Oaks contender Southlawn has certainly caught the attention of many leading up to her Run for the Lilies this Friday.

But what many may not know is that trainer Norm Casse's stable pony, who escorts the filly to and from the track each morning, is also a star in his own right, as he is none other than multiple stakes winner John Jones (Smarty Jones).

Bred in Maryland by Nancy Lee Farms, John Jones debuted as a 3-year-old at Pimlico for his breeder and trainer Ferris Allen. He continued on for those connections throughout his first 14 starts, picking up three wins along the way, until he was claimed for $25,000 by trainer Lacey Gaudet and owner Matt Schera at Laurel Park in July of 2016.

And it was there he'd stay for the rest of his racing career, quickly evolving from the stable's newest addition to a staple of the Gaudet barn, known well enough in Maryland as he was across the rest of the Mid-Atlantic circuit.

“His first race in the barn, when he won the [2016] Mister Diz S. [going three-quarters on the turf] and beat Ben's Cat, I remember Stan Stalter interviewing me and saying, 'What do you think you're going to do next?' And I said, 'A mile on the dirt,'” said Gaudet. “He never really ran back to that race on the turf, but he was an amazing dirt horse for us, we had so much fun with him.”

Though the dark bay gelding wasn't the easiest of horses to deal with in the barn, he made up for it with his dedication and consistency on the track, in the mornings and during the afternoon, and most notably with his unique personality.

Gaudet recalls a morning that a tour group, with children whose ages ranged from 10 to 18, walked through the barn. John Jones, in one of the first few stalls by the office, watched with rapt attention.

“Most of our stable is kind and they're used to peppermints and treats, but the way John Jones just brought himself to the front and made himself such a presence to these kids, they just gravitated to him. He engaged so much with these children and everybody seemed to have to touch him and he just had to put his nose on everybody. It was just kind of a 'stand back and watch moment,'” said Gaudet. “He was always a tough horse, he was kind of aggravating and always wiggling, stuff like that, but when it came time for his attitude and personality to shine, people of all backgrounds just really gravitated to this horse. He knew he was something special and could give them something special too.”

In his 33 starts across five seasons for Team Gaudet, he picked up two more stakes victories–taking the Jennings S. two years in a row–and hit the board in five others, including a trip down to Gulfstream Park where he finished third in the 2016 Claiming Crown Jewel S.

“I think it was in the week or two before Laurel Park shut down [due to COVID-19 in early 2020], he won a three-other-than and beat one of our other horses. He was set for such a big comeback, we thought he was going to have such a stellar year. When COVID-19 hit, we gave some of the horses time off and he came back and trained fine, but he never really raced quite as well. I don't know if he just thought it must have been his time to retire because he'd gotten time off, but it was kind of a confusing moment for him, as for all of us,” said Gaudet. “His owner Matt Schera was so great about it. He was like, 'Look, we're at a crossroads. It's either run him for $25,000 and watch him get claimed and probably go through the claiming ranks or we can retire him and find him a new job.'

“I jumped at the opportunity. I can't thank Matt enough for allowing us to be able to retire him and give him a happy home.”

John Jones made his final start Nov. 20, 2020 at Laurel Park, retiring with a record of 12-4-6 from 47 career starts with a total of $600,364 in earnings. Though Gaudet had hoped to find him a home where he could be a show horse or point towards the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, those plans never panned out, so instead John Jones spent some time with Gaudet's string at Delaware Park before coming home to her family's farm in Upper Marlboro, Md.

The gelding spent nearly two years enjoying a life of leisure on the farm, sharing a field with fellow Smarty Jones gelding Concealed Identity, Gaudet's late father Eddie's first GI Preakness S. starter (2011). But earlier this year, Gaudet noticed a change in John Jones demeanor, as if he was trying to make it clear he had had enough of 'just hanging out.'

It was around that time, in mid-February, when Gaudet got the news that Blimey (Limehouse), her veteran trainee turned seasoned pony that she had sent to join Casse's team as the stable pony just a couple of years prior, had passed away in his stall at Fair Grounds. He was 16 years old.

“[Blimey] ran until he was 9 and he was just a fun racehorse to have. He was the first pony we sent to Norm and his assistant Will [Cano] loved Blimey. Norm was always very happy to have him in the barn and he did credit him with helping a lot of the fillies and the babies. I think it really gave Will, who rode him, the opportunity to watch more and be more hands-on in the development of Norm's younger horses,” said Gaudet. “I loved him. Will had that connection with him and he was absolutely crushed [when he died]. I just kept saying, 'We need to get Will another pony.'”

Gaudet pulled John Jones out of the field in March, rode him for a couple of weeks, and called her brother-in-law.

“He's very green but he's good. He's doing everything right and he just needs to be ridden, all morning long. I know Will wants a pony, so just let me send him out to you. If he doesn't work out, you can send him back,” she said.

Though everyone was excited for him to embark on this new chapter, it was still a bit emotional for the team who had spent all of those years with him at the track in Maryland, particularly Gaudet's groom, Abel Sanchez. Though Sanchez no longer works full-time in racing, he still comes to help Gaudet on the weekends, and he was there Sunday, Apr. 16, the day they loaded John Jones onto a van bound for Churchill Downs.

“I have so many videos of [Abel]'s son, who would just have to come in and see John Jones. The boy didn't know one thing about horses, didn't know one from another, but he knew John Jones and he would come in and just feed him peppermints. And John Jones would just stand there and eat a hundred if he could. He was so gentle with that little boy,” said Gaudet. “Abel walked him to the van and he started crying.”

John Jones has settled right into life as a pony in the Casse barn, serving an important role in the lead-up to the first Friday in May while also helping to ease the pain of losing Blimey as he follows in his hoofprints as Will's new partner.

“I really loved Blimey. He would follow me and he'd wait for me. He was my favorite. He'd know when I was coming and I'd give him peppermints. I'm trying to do the same with Mr. John,” said Cano. “The more time I work with him and he gets to know me more, he'll be a nice pony. The first few days he was a little fresh, but that's normal because it was his first time at Churchill Downs, but now he's doing great. I'm happy with him.

“We're excited with Southlawn and it's nice to have a pony to walk up with her and wait for her. I really appreciate Lacey Gaudet helping us out. It's nice to have a pony in the barn, especially this kind of horse.”

If the company Southlawn keeps in the Casse barn is any indication of her potential for success on Friday and the rest of her career, there is no doubt her future is bright.

The post Southlawn in Good Company with Stable Pony John Jones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Streaking Wet Paint Headlines Full Field Drawn for Kentucky Oaks

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Godolphin homebred Wet Paint (Blame), an impressive come-from-behind winner in three straight while sweeping the Oaklawn Park series for 3-year-old fillies headed by the GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 1, was tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Conditioned by two-time Kentucky Oaks-winning trainer Brad Cox, Wet Paint was assigned post seven in the full field of 14. Flavien Prat will ride.

Cox will also saddle impressive Bourbonette Oaks heroine and 4-1 second-choice Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) (post six), who tries dirt for the first time; and GII Fair Grounds Oaks third-place finisher The Alys Look (Connect) (post two; 15-1).

Cox won the 2018 Oaks with Monomoy Girl and the 2020 Oaks with Shedaresthedevil.

“I thought it was a good draw for all of these fillies,” Cox said. “Botanical and Wet Paint are in the middle of the gate which is fine for both of them. The Alys Look is inside but can work out a trip from there.”

Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) (post four; 8-1) figures to receive plenty of tote support following a pair of visually impressive tallies for trainer Norm Casse this term, headed by a 3 1/4-length win over Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) (post 14; 10-1) in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

“I think it's a perfect draw,” Casse said. “I played baseball my entire life and I was No. 4. So, it's my lucky number.”

Champion Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) (post five; 12-1), trained by Norm's father Mark Casse, looks to get back on track following a head-scratching sixth in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland.

The gone-too-soon Arrogate, responsible for last year's Oak's winner Secret Oath, will be represented by GII Gulfstream Park Oaks heroine Affirmative Lady (Arrogate) (post 13; 10-1) and GII Santa Anita Oaks runner-up And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) (post nine; 15-1).

The Oaks field also includes last out 20-1 GI Central Bank Ashland S. upsetter Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) (post 11; 12-1).

The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks serves as the highlight of Friday's 13-race program that begins at 10:30 a.m. The Oaks will go as the day's 11th race with a 5:51 p.m. post time.

From the rail out, the complete field for the Kentucky Oaks with morning-line odds:

1-Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) (20-1)

2-The Alys Look (Connect) (15-1)

3-Gambling Girl (Dialed In) (15-1)

4-Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) (8-1)

5-Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) (12-1)

6-Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) (4-1)

7-Wet Paint (Blame) (5-2)

8-Promiseher America (American Pharoah) (30-1)

9-And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) (15-1)

10-Flying Connection (Nyquist) (15-1)

11-Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) (12-1)

12-Dorth Vader (Girvin) (20-1)

13-Affirmative Lady (Arrogate) (10-1)

14-Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) (10-1)

Also-Eligibles: Taxed (Collected) (20-1); Julia Shining (Curlin) (15-1); and Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief) (30-1).

The post Streaking Wet Paint Headlines Full Field Drawn for Kentucky Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights