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Lady Rocket Gets A Slice Of Pumpkin Pie At Belmont

Irad Ortiz, Jr. completed a stakes double by guiding Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing's Lady Rocket to a prominent score in Sunday's second division of the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Earlier on the card, Ortiz, Jr. guided Truth Hurts to a rail-skimming score in the first division of the Pumpkin Pie for trainer and co-owner Chad Summers.

“They split the race so I got lucky I ended up on the right two horses,” said Ortiz, Jr. with a laugh.

Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat entered from a runner-up effort to Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint contender Bella Sofia in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap on September 26 at Belmont.

The graded stakes-placed Always Carina, with Jose Ortiz up, broke alertly and battled gamely on the lead with Lady Rocket through splits of :23.22 and :46.70 over the sloppy and sealed main track.

Lady Rocket edged clear of Always Carina through the turn as Glass Ceiling was angled off the rail late in the turn by Dylan Davis and set her sights on the leader. Lady Rocket, two lengths clear at the stretch call, was kept to task by Ortiz, Jr. and stayed on strong to secure a narrow head score over Glass Ceiling in a final time of 1:24.11.

Lake Avenue, Always Carina, Regal Retort, and Easy to Bless rounded out the order of finish. Piedi Bianchi and Don't Call Me Mary were scratched.

Ortiz, Jr., who was aboard for the Gallant Bloom effort, said his filly fought gamely to secure the win.

“I was just looking at the wire, trying to get there and keep riding hard and straightforward,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “I concentrated on the win, so I just kept riding. She gave me everything she had.”

Dustin Dugas, assistant to Cox, said the plan was to find a prominent trip for the dark bay, who was a gate-to-wire winner of the Pink Ribbon on August 27 at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, W. Va.

“Before the race, Brad I and talked about it and we wanted to get her on the bridle and away from there on a good note,” Dugas said. “She broke out of there running. Irad said maybe around the turn, he might have moved a touch early, which ultimately at the end of the race made it a little closer, but she dug in deep and found that class she needed to get to the wire first.”

Bred in Kentucky by La Ciega and Tale of the Cat Syndicate, Lady Rocket banked $55,000 in victory, while improving her record to 10-5-3-1. She returned $5.20 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing returns Friday at Belmont Park with packed 10-race card which includes the $200,000 Ticonderoga for New York-bred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; the $150,000 Tempted for juvenile fillies going a one-turn mile; the $100,000 Awad for juveniles going 1 1/16 miles on the turf; and the $100,000 Atlantic Beach, a six-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Giangiulio Readies Sea Foam For Empire Classic

Ten Strike Racing and Four Corners Racing Stable's Sea Foam provided trainer Michelle Giangiulio a memorable first career win by capturing the nine-furlong $100,000 Evan Shipman Handicap, a nine-furlong test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up in August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Last out, Sea Foam finished a distant eighth after setting the pace under Joel Rosario in the 12-furlong Grade 3 Greenwood Cup on September 25 at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa.

The 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro breezed a half-mile in :50.09 Friday over Big Sandy in preparation for a start in the $300,000 Empire Classic, a nine-furlong test for state-breds 3-years-old and up on October 30.

“He had a good work. He came out of his last race really well,” Giangiulio said. “He set a perfect pace and I think he handled the distance fine, but Joel told me the 7-horse [Sheer Flattery] moved so early that he really had to ride him for quite a bit. It messed up the race for us. Going a mile and a half, you can't move early but he really didn't have a choice. We'll put a line through that race and head for the Empire Classic.”

Giangiulio, who took out her license late last year, had previously worked with a number of trainers including Tom Morley, Horacio DePaz, Joe Sharp, and her uncle, Carlos Guerrero.

The up-and-coming conditioner sent out her first starter, Parade Field, to a third-place finish in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., and the gelding was claimed for $25,000. Her second [Easy Shot] and fourth [Wagon Boss] starters were also claimed.

Giangiulio went to the claim box in order to restock her barn but said she initially struggled to halter new talent before landing Sea Foam for $45,000 out of a winning effort in a nine-furlong state-bred optional-claiming route on July 30 at the Spa

“Before we got Sea Foam, I was losing a lot of shakes up at Saratoga. I must have lost at least 12 shakes in a row,” Giangiulio said. “And then one day, I won a two-way shake to claim a filly off of Bruce Brown and the following day I dropped on Sea Foam and won a two-way shake. It's funny how it worked out because if I'd won some of those shakes at the beginning of the meet, I probably wouldn't have ended up with Sea Foam.”

Bred in the Empire State by Waterville Lake Stables, Sea Foam is out of the graded-stakes winning Unbridled's Song mare Strike It Rich.

Sea Foam boasts significant back class having captured the 2017 Notebook at Aqueduct and a year later won the New York Derby at Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y., and the Albany at Saratoga.

On August 5, Joey Loose Lips, claimed by Giangiulio for $25,000, ran a game second in a Saratoga allowance route as a live longshot. The dark bay Effinex gelding opened up a three-length lead at the top of the stretch but was nailed at the wire by Bingo John, who had been a regular workmate of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality.

Six days later, Sea Foam was sent to the lead in the Evan Shipman and extended a two-length lead at the stretch call to an impressive five-length score providing Giangiulio her first win in just her sixth career start.

“It's like a story you read about. It's not something you expect to experience yourself and it was amazing to have that as my first career win,” Giangiulio said. “I had almost won an allowance race the week before with a horse I had claimed and he ran a super race but we just got nicked at the wire. I thought that was going to be my first win, but the following week we went and won the stake. It was just meant to be.”

Giangiulio, who currently oversees five horses at Belmont, said she will look to add to her stable as she prepares for a fall/winter campaign at the Big A.

“Hopefully, we can keep the ball rolling,” Giangiulio said.

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Essential Quality Earns 107 Beyer Speed Figure In Travers Win, BC Classic Ultimate Goal

Godolphin homebred Essential Quality continued to display his excellence with a superb performance in Saturday's $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., picking up a fourth Grade 1 triumph.

Essential Quality, traveling in second position under meet-leading rider Luis Saez, was 3 ½ lengths off pacesetter Midnight Bourbon down the backstretch before inching his way closer to the front nearing the far turn. The pair engaged in a dramatic stretch battle, with the 2020 Champion 2-Year-Old coming out on the winning end by a neck and recording a 107 Beyer Speed Figure.

Winning dramatic stretch duels in prestigious races are nothing new for Essential Quality, who won the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5 after battling with Hot Rod Charlie in the stretch. He arrived at the Runhappy Travers off a half-length win in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on July 30 at the Spa, fending off an inside rally from Keepmeinmind, who was fourth in the Travers.

Essential Quality became the first Champion 2-Year-Old to notch a Travers win since Street Sense in 2007 and joined Tiz the Law [2020], Summer Bird [2009], Birdstone [2004], Point Given [2001], Lemon Drop Kid [1999], and Thunder Gulch [1995] as horses to sweep the Belmont Stakes-Travers double. Additionally, he became the first horse since Arts and Letters in 1969 to win the Belmont, Jim Dandy, and Travers.

Trainer Brad Cox said the $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic is the ultimate goal but has not yet decided whether Essential Quality will race once beforehand.

“He looked great this morning. He's in good shape,” Cox said. “[Godolphin USA President] Jimmy Bell and I spoke about that this morning, there's no pressure to make a decision right now. We'll just let the dust settle and enjoy this victory for a little bit. I think that's the right thing to do. We'll make a decision in a week or two weeks. The most important thing is watching him and how he trains.”

Through eight victories in nine lifetime starts, Essential Quality has displayed various tactics, having won from just off the pace in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity and the Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland, as well as from far back in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he made up nine lengths to secure a victory.

“He's a versatile horse,” Cox said. “He seems to show up regardless of the pace. He's shown that he knows how to negotiate a trip and accept what's thrown his way. He knows how to overcome things.”

Cox spoke volumes of this year's 3-year-old crop and said it's a testament to Essential Quality's accomplishments.

“It's very, very good, and that's not just because we have two very good ones in Essential Quality and [Grade 1 Haskell Invitational winner] Mandaloun,” Cox said. “Horses like Hot Rod Charlie, Midnight Bourbon, Jackie's Warrior, and Keepmeinmind were all good horses that played a role as 2-year-olds last year and have been able to continue on at 3. Jackie's Warrior and Essential Quality were both dual Grade 1 winners at two and three. It means a lot. Hopefully, we can keep marching forward and on to the Breeders' Cup.”

Cox has been more involved in the Spa meet this season than he has in years past, which has paid dividends to the Louisville-born conditioner. Three weeks ago, Cox saddled Knicks Go to a victory in the Grade 1 Whitney.

“I've kind of been in and out of Saratoga in years past, but this year I've been here a good bit and it's really grown on me,” Cox said. “Moving forward, I'd like to spend all of my summers here. Being here and doing well in big races, that makes you enjoy it. It's a special place. Between the Travers and the Whitney, these are great accomplishments. It's a lot of teamwork and we have a great team.

“I can see myself spending more time here in years to come,” Cox added. “It's a great place, the whole town is all about racing. It's a special place for sure.”

Essential Quality is out of the multiple-stakes placed Elusive Quality mare Delightful Quality. He is a direct descendant of the influential broodmare La Troienne.

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Cox potentially holds a strong hand for the Breeders' Cup Classic with Essential Quality and Knicks Go, who breezed for the first time since his Whitney triumph on Friday morning. The four-time Grade 1-winning son of Paynter went an easy half-mile in :49.15 over the Oklahoma training track.

Knicks Go will target the $400,000 Grade 3 Lukas Classic on October 2 at Churchill Downs as his final prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

“It was an incredible move and I was proud of him,” Cox said. “I didn't ask him to do much, but he did it the right way. We'll keep him here until the first of September and go from there.”

Cox saddled Ten Strike Racing's Whittington Park, a New York homebred, to a maiden special weight victory on Saturday at second asking. Third in his debut on August 1 at Saratoga, the son of Midnight Lute led the 6 ½-furlong race at every point of call, winning by 7 ½ lengths under Manny Franco. He registered a 69 Beyer for the win.

“We've always liked him. I had the opportunity to see him in Florida in March and he had a good physical,” Cox said. “We didn't feel that we had him quite ready to win first time, but he really got something out of it. We added the blinkers and had a couple of good moves since.”

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Sea Foam Goes Gate To Wire In Evan Shipman; First Win For Trainer Michelle Giangiulio

Ten Strike Racing and Four Corners Racing Stable's Sea Foam made every pole a winning one to provide trainer Michelle Giangiulio her first career win in Wednesday's $100,000 Evan Shipman Handicap, a nine-furlong test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course.

Claimed for $45,000 out of a winning effort in a nine-furlong state-bred optional-claiming route on July 30 at Saratoga, Sea Foam provided Giangiulio her first win in just her sixth career start.

“My mind is blown right now,” Giangiulio said. “It's just epic. My first starter was in [February]. I actually got my trainer's license right at the end of 2020. This is only my sixth start; I have five horses. I've had one win, three seconds and two thirds, so they've been running really, really good.”

Sea Foam broke sharply from post 3 under Joel Rosario and led the five-horse field into the first turn with 3-2 mutuel favorite Mr. Buff pinned to the rail by Three Jokers as the opening quarter-mile elapsed in 24.10 seconds on the fast main track.

Sea Foam dictated terms down the backstretch through a half-mile in 48.10 and three-quarters in 1:12.27 as Three Jokers continued to press with Mr. Buff unable to stretch his significant frame.

Danny California, an optional-claiming winner on Saturday at the Spa, advanced outside rivals through the final turn, but Sea Foam opened up a two-length lead at the stretch call and drew off to a five-length score in a final time of 1:50.91.

Three Jokers completed the exacta by three lengths over Danny California. Rounding out the order of finish were Winston's Chance and Mr. Buff.

Giangiulio said the classy Sea Foam exited his recent win in good order.

“He came out of his last race really well and this race came up a light field. We said we might as well take a shot,” Giangiulio said. “I figured we'd have a huge chance and we might as well run him if he's good, and it worked out.

“I just told Joel to break and go,” she added. “The horse runs best on the lead and that's how he wins. He gave him a perfect trip.”

Giangiulio said she was impressed with the way Sea Foam extended his advantage out of the final turn.

“I didn't think he was going to open up like that,” Giangiulio said. “With Three Jokers coming up to him a little, I guess he just needed to see another horse to kick back in, and he did. It was awesome.”

A 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro, out of the graded-stakes winning Unbridled's Song mare Strike It Rich, Sea Foam captured the 2017 Notebook at Aqueduct and a year later won the New York Derby at Finger Lakes and the Albany at Saratoga.

Rosario said Sea Foam was traveling comfortably throughout.

“He took the lead and he likes to do that. He was going nice and easy and past the three-eighths [pole], he kind of got away a little bit and he ran big again,” Rosario said. “He showed that he improves when he goes to the lead. He's a really nice horse and he tries hard all the time.”

A former assistant to trainers such as Joe Sharp and Tom Morley, Giangiulio boasts a perfect in-the-money record though six starts, sporting a ledger of 6-1-3-2, dating to a third-place finish by Parade Field in February at Aqueduct.

Subsequent starters for Giangiulio include Easy Shot [2nd, June 17 at Belmont Park], True Castle [2nd, July 4, Belmont], Wagon Boss [3rd, July 15, Saratoga], and Joey Loose Lips [2nd, August 5, Saratoga].

Bred in the Empire State by Waterville Lake Stables, Sea Foam banked $55,000 in victory while improving his record to 23-9-3-2. He paid $12 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race card highlighted by the 17th running of the $100,000 Saratoga Dew. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

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