Tim Yakteen | Horse Racing Free Tips

OBS Grad Practical Move Looking for Roses

Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. has never been to the Kentucky Derby. Not even as a spectator. However, the 2023 renewal may very well change that fact after Practical Move (Practical Joke), who he owns in partnership with his wife Leslie and Roger Beasley, stamped himself a major Classic contender with a victory in last weekend's GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita.

“My wife and I were very emotional after the win,” said Pierre Amestoy. “It was phenomenal. It was exhilarating. We're just elated.”

“I guess we're heading to the Kentucky Derby!” he laughed.

Adding some dramatic flavor to the story, the Amestoy's trainer, Tim Yakteen, had just taken over several of Bob Baffert's Classic contenders, including three colts that would make it into the San Felipe lineup on race day.

Was Amestoy worried?

“It was all about the trip,” he said. “As long as we didn't get stopped, or bumped or fall down out of the gate. It was more about something silly happened rather than fearing any of the other horses.”

He added, “Tim told us that this horse has been maturing and coming along, getting stronger and better. We were really confident in our horse going into the race.”

“He will point him toward the Santa Anita Derby [Apr. 8], that is the right progression. Hopefully, everything goes good there and then on to the Kentucky Derby. And if we can get a good trip there and get up to the top third of the pack, then I think we have a real chance. I think our style has been working and I think it often works in the Kentucky Derby too.”

Coming up Aces in the First Sales Foray
Up until last year, the Amestoys bred their own state-foaled runners at their five-acre farm in Albuqurque, New Mexico. However, once they determined they wanted to dive into the 2-year-olds in training sales scene, and branch out beyond the New Mexico racing scene, it didn't take long to hit paydirt.

Teaming up with Beasley last spring at the OBS Spring Sale, the Amestoys extended to $230,000 for the son of Practical Joke, who was represented by his first 3-year-olds in 2022. The final price represented the second highest priced offspring by his sire at that venue. Offered as Hip 97 by Eisaman Equine, the late Apr. 30 foal covered an eighth of a mile in :10.1 during the breeze show.

“That was the only box we could not check,” said Amestoy of the late foaling date. “We much would have preferred to have had a Feb. 30 colt than an April foal. But physically, he didn't look behind. Yes, it was a concern at first, but Tim said, “let him take us there.” If we needed to, we were prepared to back off and wait. We let him tell us.”

Extolling the colt's virtues, he continued, “He was never undersized and we could see the maturity in him even at that point. He was big enough, he had enough bone and a great foot. He had the scope and the walk. Most importantly, he had the mentality. We went and saw him every day we were there. We watched him and we thought there would be room to improve being that he was young.”

Ack Naughty selling at the 2023 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale | Keeneland

Adding some nuance to the colt's page, New York-based Ack Naughty had amassed over $300,000 during her racing career while competing mainly on the turf for Sol Kumin and partners and trainer Chad Brown, who had Practical Joke in the barn at the same time. Later combining their resources when both sire and dam had retired, Brown and Kumin are registered as the colt's breeders

After producing a Complexity colt in 2022, Ack Naughty sold for $500,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale, however, the foal she was carrying at the time was stillborn. Practical Move is from the family of champion Vino Rosso.

“We liked his sire because he was a speed sire,” he said. “He was a good miler and a three-time Grade I winner and by one of the hottest horses in the world, Into Mischief. So the top side was strong. On the bottom, we liked that the mare was stakes placed and earned over $300,000. She is by Afleet Alex, so there was distance there. We were hoping that the top side would bring the speed and the bottom side the stamina. So this time, it looks like it worked out.”

Once hitting the racetrack, Practical Move showed talent early, finishing second behind the Bob Baffert-trained Cave Rock (Arrogate)–a subsequent dual Grade I winner–going 6 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Del Mar before finishing third next time over that same track and distance. Second under the wire but later promoted to first after the disqualification of Baffert trainee Fort Bragg (Tapit) while stretching to a mile at Santa Anita last October, he was third behind two more Baffert runners–Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) and Newgate (Into Mischief)–in the seven-panel GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 20. Given one more start at two, the bay proved an easy winner of the 1 1/16-mile GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 17.

“After the Los Alamitos Futurity we gave him a little time off, and he actually blossomed over that time,” said Amestoy. “He put on 45 pounds and he kept it. He is all muscle and has turned into an absolute specimen.”

“We've always been Thoroughbred people”
Following their latest win, much has been made of the Amestoy's involvement in Quarter Horse racing. Indeed, they have held a significant stake in the Quarter Horse industry over the past two decades, having campaigned the likes of champions First to Flash (2002) and First Moonflash (2009). However, Amestoy is quick to point out that Thoroughbreds was always the main attraction.

“Even when my wife trained in the 70s and 80s, she trained Thoroughbreds. And even today, we probably have 3 to 1 more Thoroughbreds than Quarter Horses,” said Amestoy.

He continued, “We have done very well in the Quarter Horse industry. We've had two champions, lots of graded and Grade I wins, but Thoroughbreds have always been our first play.”

Explaining the decision to venture into Quarter Horses over a decade ago, he explained, “When you race in New Mexico, there is a lot of Quarter Horse racing. So even though we were winning Thoroughbred races in New Mexico, there were still four to five races a day for Quarter Horses. So, we thought, 'Heck, why don't we play in there?' There are a lot of races and money we can be playing for and it's right at home.”

Practical Move's co-owner Pierre Amestoy, Jr. and jockey Ramon Vazquez | Benoit Photo

Following the Amestoy's marriage in 1988, the couple purchased a farm in Paris, Kentucky, Lobo Farm, while choosing to reside in New Mexico, where Pierre operated his construction and development company.

“We stood stallions, had broodmares and pinhooked yearlings, we just about did it all,” said Amestoy of his Kentucky-based operation.

Despite all their success with Quarter Horses, it was their Thoroughbred operation that yielded of the couple's biggest coups in either industry. In 2008, Irish Cherry (Irish Open) sold for $2.7 million at the Keeneland January sale. Sold in partnership with Mike Abraham, the then 14-year-old mare was best known for producing MGISW Spun Sugar and GSW Daaher.

“We bought Irish Cherry in foal to Storm Cat [for $800,000 at KEENOV in 2006] and we bred her back to Ghostzapper. We had a very nice pinhook there. We did very well at the sales. We also sold several high-dollar yearlings in Kentucky as well.”

After selling Lobo farm in 2011, the Amestoys opted to focus on their Quarter Horse operation as well as their small group New Mexico-based Thoroughbred mares, usually numbering about five to six. The resulting yearlings were sent to the Amestoy's training center next to Sunland Park, and from there, the youngsters would either go to the sales or the remain in training with the Amestoy's New Mexico-based trainer, Todd Fincher.

When asked why much of the post San Felipe news led with the narrative describing the Amestoys as 'Quarter Horse owners', he said, “We had the farm in Kentucky for 12 years. We bred there, we raced there. We've done it all there. We have a substantial background with Thoroughbreds. It's probably because this is the first time that we got to this level [in Thoroughbred racing]. But we've been doing this a long time and have been good at it.”

Sales Savvy
While all roads lead to Thoroughbreds, the Amestoy's most important Thoroughbred to date was derived through a connection made via their Quarter Horse dealings. And that important alliance spearheaded the decision to take a swing at the Thoroughbred sales in search of a Classic horse.

“After we sold our farm, we concentrated on racing in New Mexico because the purses were very good. That's when I met my current partner, Roger Beasley, through a mutual friend and we bought some Quarter Horses together. We did really well together. [Early last year, we were just talking and [Beasley] said, 'Pierre, why don't we get a couple of Thoroughbreds and let's try and go for the big races.' So I said, “I have the experience and I'll do the work.” There was a sale [OBS] coming up in Florida and Leslie and I said we would go down for a week and find a couple.”

And the venture proved fruitful.

“We went out there, and found Practical Move and we found another, Blessed Touch [Girvin], who ran third [in the GIII Santa Ysabel S.] last Sunday.”

The $140,000 OBS Spring buy, who won second time out at Santa Anita last October, subsequently finished runner up in the Desi Arnaz S., in November. Additionally, the partnership purchased a colt by Valiant Minister for $38,000 and, in conjunction with Mike Abraham, secured a $50,000 colt by Munnings, who had been slated to run on the San Felipe undercard and was scratched because of a minor issue but is expected to return.

“He appears to have some talent,” said Amestoy of the Munnings colt.

While breeding to race had been the Amestoy's M.O. for much of their past involvement in the Thoroughbred game, the sparkling success of their first foray into public sales last season makes it a safe bet that they will be returning to the well this year.

“Roger and I were just talking the other day and he asked, Partner, do you want to go back [to OBS]? In order to find another one we would have to go back!” he said with a laugh. “We might go back to OBS and sniff around and see what we can find.”

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Arabian Knight Out of Derby Consideration

Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) has been withdrawn from consideration for the GI Kentucky Derby, according to a statement tweeted by the colt's owner, Zedan Racing, Saturday night. The statement read, “Arabian Knight is no longer under consideration for the KY Derby. Trainer Tim Yakteen wasn't happy with his last work and we feel it's in Arabian Knight's best interest not to rush and allow him more time to develop. We know he's a superior talent and our plan is to point him toward a summer and fall campaign.”

Purchased for $2.3 million at last year's OBS April sale, Arabian Knight debuted with a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut at Keeneland last November. He returned this year to win the Jan. 28 GIII Southwest S. by 5 1/2 lengths for trainer Bob Baffert. He was transferred to Yakteen's barn following that effort and most recently worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 (3/4) at Santa Anita Mar. 9.

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The Week in Review: Forte’s Dominance was Expected, but Practical Move Truly Impressed

'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence)'s dominant sophomore debut in Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream is understandably going to generate glowing headlines because of his kingpin status as the comebacking divisional champion. But that sharp win shouldn't overshadow the thoroughly convincing GII San Felipe S. score by Practical Move (Practical Joke) t Santa Anita, which on its own terms was emphatic enough to merit a significant reshuffling of the deck of GI Kentucky Derby contenders.

The Fountain of Youth S. has evolved into somewhat of a “trap” race for high-profile 3-year-olds, with 12 of the last 16 favorites going down to defeat prior to this year's running. In fact, 10 years ago, one of those odds-on losers was Forte's sire, the then-undefeated Violence. He lost the 2013 edition by a half-length to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Orb, but Violence sustained a right front sesamoid fracture that necessitated his retirement after only four races.

Forte, of course, had no idea he was up against a historical trend that featured a familial plot twist when the starter sprung the latch Saturday. He had a clean break and tracked the action fifth into the first turn, racing while into the bit and eager to close gaps on the heels of the frontrunners through opening quarter-mile splits of :24.05 and :23.60.

Irad Ortiz, Jr., was able to dial back Forte's enthusiasm a touch while settling into a rhythmic stride down the back straight, and true to the tactics this colt displayed at age two, Forte asserted his presence while giving the impression he was sizing up the leaders and had them well within his striking sights.

Entering the far bend, Ortiz mulled his options for about a sixteenth of a mile, which is a tactical luxury a jockey enjoys only when he knows he has a willing partner who can take off like a rocket with just a subtle flick of the wrists.

As the 15-1 pacemaker Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) got softened up by first and second runs from two stalkers through a third-quarter split of :24.19, Forte inhaled the three of them at the head of the lane with an all-in move that left him only three-sixteenths of a mile to fully unwind over Gulfsttream's short-stretch configuration.

Forte responded to Ortiz's rousing, but the jockey quickly sensed his mount didn't need much in the way of aggressive encouragement. Under his own power, Forte leveled off with a brief but discernible burst of late-race acceleration that put him 4 1/2 lengths clear of the leaders at the wire. The final-quarter split was :24.90 and the last sixteenth was :6.38 for a 1:43.12 finish and a 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

That Beyer represents a two-point regression from the 100 Forte earned when winning last November's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable.

But Forte was geared down in the late stages of the Fountain of Youth when it was obvious that a winning outcome had been assured, and his more-in-the-tank performance was visually strong enough that it doesn't make sense to quibble over numbers in this instance.

Meanwhile, on the Left Coast…

Practical Move had already done a little avenging on behalf of his sire, Practical Joke, by winning the GII Los Alamitos Futurity back in December. That's because, despite being a top contender on the 2017 Derby trail, Practical Joke never won a two-turn race (although he did rack up a trio of Grade I victories up to one mile around one turn).

Yet bettors weren't too keen Saturday that his son, Practical Move, could win again over 1 1/16 miles in the San Felipe, letting this Tim Yakteen trainee go off as the 4-1 fourth choice coming off a three-month layoff. But a heady ride by Ramon Vazquez drove home the fact that this colt is swiftly rising through the ranks as a dangerous Derby commodity.

Breaking from post two, Practical Move brushed the gate, then absorbed some minor bumping from the horse down to his inside. Unfazed, he took up the chase while fourth through the first turn, hugging the rail. He remained unruffled with a rank rival to his outside, then willingly accepted a rating hold by Vazquez as the field cornered onto the backstretch.

Once the field hit the back straightaway, the riders avoided the rail like it was strung with barbed wire. Of the nine, Practical Move was closest to the inside, in the three path. The pace was honest, with quarter-mile splits of :23.14 and :23.98 for the first half mile. Vazquez edged his mount up incrementally–a nice display of grace under pressure–and Practical Move was jointly second 3 1/2 furlongs out.

But then the inside passage tightened up, and Vazquez had to take hold of Practical Move for a few crucial strides. The leader, Hejazi (Bernardini), still looked strong at that point, and two other horses were launching bids in the clear on the outside.

In an instant, Practical Move got relegated back to fourth. It was the type of positioning misfortune that costs races, and when you're trying to make the cut in a crucial Derby qualifying stakes, it can cost you an entire campaign.

Yet Vazquez never panicked, nor did Practical Move shy from his tight inside spot. Hejazi was soon spent, and he showed it by drifting out to the four path at the head of the lane after a robust third-quarter split in :23.96.

Practical Move deftly cut the corner when that seam opened, and he was as good as gone, kicking home under light encouragement to win with purpose by 2 1/2 lengths.

The final-quarter split was :24.59 and his final sixteenth was clocked in :6.34.

Owned in partnership by Leslie Amestoy, Jean Pierre Amestoy, Jr., and Roger Beasley, Practical Move earned a 100 on the Beyer scale, upping his Los Al Futurity number by 12 points.

There have now been 15 points-earning Derby qualifying stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt in 2022-23, and Practical Move owns the two fastest final clockings: 1:41.65 in the Los Al Futurity and 1:42.10 in the San Felipe.

Also Noteworthy…

Now that favorites have won the Fountain of Youth S. the past three years, the companion filly stakes on the same afternoon, the GII Davona Dale S., has become the 'bombs away” race on the first Saturday in March. The $95.40 win by Dorth Vader (Girvin) in this season's renewal was preceded by upset winners who paid $107.60 and $105.00 in 2021 and 2019…Interesting that Davona Dale herself only raced twice at Gulfstream. But the champion 3-year-old filly of 1979 did start her eight-race sophomore win streak there in the Bonnie Miss S., a run that included five Grade I victories before she lost at 1-5 odds in the GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. In a training move filed under the “you'll never see this again” category, Davona Dale then gallantly wheeled right back against colts in the GI Travers S. one week later, only to finish fourth.

The 2022 GI Kentucky Oaks winner, Secret Oath (Arrogate) will have a new jockey for her 4-year-old debut in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Saturday. Luis Saez, who has been aboard Secret Oath in her last six starts, is committed to pilot 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit) in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby, so trainer D. Wayne Lukas has named Tyler Gaffalione to ride. “Luis has got a [Kentucky] Derby prospect that he's really high on and didn't want to give it up. He really agonized over that decision, but he's afraid that he might lose [the call on Tapit Trice]. He's going to try to talk me into putting him back on. If Tyler rides a big race, he'll have a little trouble getting back on,” Lukas said

Here's wishing Hawthorne Race Course good luck with trying out a nationwide-low 12% takeout on win, place and show bets at the six-month meet that started Sunday. During the first three months of the season, Hawthorne will be racing on Sundays and Thursdays with a 2:30 p.m. Central first post.

“By shifting Saturday racing to Thursday in the spring, we will face less competition on the national scene while being able to make Hawthorne a more visible track to the wagering public,” said the track's racing director, Jim Miller.

Yes, it's the first week of March, and we already have two North American horses with perfect 5-for-5 records on the new season. Dulcimer Dame (Mineshaft), a 6-year-old Charles Town-based mare who races at the starter-allowance level, roared home by 5 1/2 lengths as the 1-5 fave in Saturday's eighth race at the West Virginia oval. She races for owner Richard Burnsworth and trainer Anthony Farrior. Earlier on Mar. 4, the Arizona-stabled Metarose (Metaboss) necked out a 3-2 favored win in a Turf Paradise starter-allowance. The 5-year-old mare is campaigned by owner Miguel Gallegos and trainer Miguel Hernandez.

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Inside ‘Move’ a Winning One in San Felipe

Trainer Tim Yakteen had five of the 11 entrants in Saturday's GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita–four of which were transferred from the Bob Baffert barn–but the horse who had been with him from the start, Practical Move (Practical Joke), emerged victorious in the GI Kentucky Derby prep.

With new stablemate and morning-line choice National Treasure (Quality Road) forced to scratch with a foot issue, Practical Move was backed at 4-1, having not been seen since annexing the GII Los Alamitos Futurity decisively in December. He worked his way into a perfect ground-saving spot a few off seven-figure Hejazi (Bernardini), and inched ominously closer heading for home, only to find himself with no real running room and being forced to tap on the brakes. Hejazi came off the fence into the stretch as favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) was pumped on outside, however, and Practical Move now had all the real estate he needed to stretch his legs. He took a few up-and-down strides while sorting out his leads, but leveled off powerfully to report home 2 1/2 lengths clear in 1:42.01. Richard Mandella-trained Geaux Rocket Ride completed the exacta, with John Shireffs pupil Skinner (Curlin) rounding out the triple.

The former Baffert runners were led by Hejazi in fourth, followed by Fort Bragg (Tapit) fifth and Mr Fisk (Arrogate) sixth.

The winner was second behind future MGISW Baffert monster Cave Rock (Arrogate) on debut at Del Mar Aug. 13, and was third to the aforementioned National Treasure back at that venue a few weeks later. He was promoted from second to first after being interfered with by Fort Bragg when stretched to a mile here Oct. 10, and cut back a furlong to be third in the GIII Bob Hope S. Nov. 20 behind two other Baffert trainees before his breakout performance at Los Al.

“This horse keeps getting better and better every day,” said winning rider Ramon Vazquez. “He can go inside or outside. He is comfortable wherever. He lets me do my job and he does the rest. I only rode him once [in the Los Alamitos Futurity], but I know he is very aggressive from the gate, so I let him do his thing. He galloped out very good. I have always dreamed of winning the Kentucky Derby. I had one previous chance in 2015 [with Mr. Z] for Mr. [D. Wayne] Lukas. I'm hoping for another chance here.”

Yakteen, celebrating his first San Felipe trophy (his former boss Baffert has nine), said of the winner, “He is a very healthy horse. He is a phenomenally gifted horse. I am amazed at how strong he is and how he has matured from a 2-year-old to a 3-year-old. Everything has fallen into place. There was only one challenge before this race, I felt we needed to get one more work in.

“There is nothing more satisfying than winning, so I am taking this in stride. I have to give kudos to my staff and thank them for the job they have done. They are the unsung heroes here.

“I've also got to tip my hat to [owners] Leslie and Jean Pierre [Amestoy]. They were the ones who went to Florida and bought this horse.

“I plan to start him again. I want to leave the canvas blank now and we'll make the call later, but I think he will have one more start before the [Kentucky] Derby.”

With the 50 points he picked up Saturday, Practical Move sits second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60.

Co-owner Leslie Amestoy said, “This was our dream. It's been our dream for years and we love the colt, we are so happy and we really think we have a great horse.”

Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. added, “We've seen him improve every race, almost. The first couple of races, he was green and didn't know how to switch leads. Tim has brought him along perfectly and has taught him, and now he's finishing like we expected he could finish. Like Leslie said, I think we've got a good one.”

Saturday, Santa Anita
SAN FELIPE S.-GII, $402,000, Santa Anita, 3-4, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.01, ft.
1–PRACTICAL MOVE, 124, c, 3, by Practical Joke
                1st Dam: Ack Naughty (MSP, $310,450), by Afleet Alex
                2nd Dam: Dash for Money, by General Meeting
                3rd Dam: Hot Lear, by Lear Fan
($90,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $230,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr. and Roger K.
Beasley; B-Chad Brown & Head of Plains Partners (KY); T-Tim
Yakteen; J-Ramon A. Vazquez. $240,000. Lifetime Record:
6-3-1-2, $434,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the
free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Geaux Rocket Ride, 120, c, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–Beyond
Grace, by Uncle Mo. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE. ($350,000 Ylg '21 FTKJUL). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-OXO
Equine LLC (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $80,000.
3–Skinner, 120, c, 3, Curlin–Winding Way, by Malibu Moon.
($40,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP; $510,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-C R K
Stable LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY);
T-John A. Shirreffs. $48,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 4.20, 2.70, 2.80.
Also Ran: Hejazi, Fort Bragg, Mr Fisk, Chase the Chaos, Genius Jimmy, Bluegrass Go Go. Scratched: Crypto Ride, National Treasure.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
Practical Move, a :10 1/5 OBSAPR breezer, is one of four Northern Hemisphere graded winners for her sire (10 overall). He is one of eight worldwide graded/group winners out of a mare by GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. hero Afleet Alex. Also among that group is 2019 Belmont winner Sir Winston.

Dam Ack Naughty was just a $20,000 SARAUG RNA, but racked up more than $310,000 in New York turf events for Sol Kumin and partners and trainer Chad Brown, who had Practical Joke in the barn at the same time. Ack Naughty produced a Complexity colt in 2022 before selling to Chester and Mary Broman for $500,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale. The Upstart foal she was carrying at the time was unfortunately stillborn. Ack Naughty hails from the family of champion older horse Vino Rosso.

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