Tag: Todd Pletcher

Gun Runner’s ‘Rising Star’ Locked Overcomes Wide Journey in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (c, 2, Gun Runner–Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon), a flashy Saratoga maiden winner at second asking Sept. 1, showed his class as the 3-5 favorite while overcoming a wide trip in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland.

Drawn widest of all in post eight, the chestnut didn't get off to the sharpest of beginnings and raced five to three wide around the clubhouse turn. He was out in the clear and one from the back through fractions of :24.47 and :48.23. Under a ride by Jose Ortiz on the far turn, he made a flashy, five-wide sweep to hit the front at the top of the short stretch.

Locked looked well on his way to a runaway win, but the three-for-three The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) wasn't going out without a fight. The Wine Steward fought on gamely along the rail down the stretch, but Locked proved too much and forged clear late to win by a well-earned half-length. Generous Tipper (Street Sense) was third.

Locked was featured in Steve Sherack's Second Chances series after rallying smartly from last after getting steadied at the start to finish a very promising third sprinting on debut at Saratoga Aug. 5. He romped by 7 1/4 lengths to earn his diploma in 'Rising Star' fashion out of Saratoga's one-mile Wilson Chute Sept. 1. The distant runner-up that day Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) returned to break his maiden at Aqueduct on Friday.

“He's a colt that we always felt like the further, the better,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who also captured this race with subsequent GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte (2022), Carpe Diem (2014) and We Miss Artie (2013). “He kind of got a little bit of two-turn experience in that sort-of two-turn mile race at Saratoga (his maiden win Sept. 1), which is always a difficult race. But I thought he was super-impressive at Saratoga, and he's just been a colt that's done everything right since day one.”

Pletcher added, “You like to think it moves them forward. He was hung out very wide on both turns. He didn't have a real easy trip, but he's talented enough to overcome it.”

Pletcher and winning co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners also got the money with Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the female equivalent GI Darley Alcibiades S. on Friday's opening day program at Keeneland.

Pedigree Notes:

Locked, a $425,000 Keeneland September graduate, becomes the seventh Grade I winner for his leading young sire. Gun Runner was also represented by Saturday's GII Chandelier S. heroine Chatalas. Malibu Moon is now the broodmare sire of nine winners at the top level.

Locked was produced by a winning half-sister to MGISW Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW & GISP Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). The Gun Runner/Malibu Moon cross is already responsible for GSWs Shotgun Hottie and Runninsonofagun. Locked is also bred similarly to MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner), who is out of a Flatter mare.

Locked's dam produced a colt by Caravaggio in 2022 and a filly by Tiz the Law this year. She was bred back to Early Voting.

Saturday, Keeneland
CLAIBORNE BREEDERS' FUTURITY-GI, $580,750, Keeneland, 10-7, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.06, ft.
1–LOCKED, 122, c, 2, by Gun Runner
                1st Dam: Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon
                2nd Dam: Gabriellina Giof (GB), by Ashkalani (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Paola Quatraro (Ire), by Cure the Blues
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($425,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm; B-Rosa Colasanti (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $358,050. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1, $428,400. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–The Wine Steward, 122, c, 2, Vino Rosso–Call to Service, by To Honor and Serve. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($70,000 Ylg '22 SARAUG; $340,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher; B-Sequel Thoroughbreds LLC, Lakland Farm & Mark Toothaker (NY); T-Michael J. Maker. $96,250.
3–Generous Tipper, 122, c, 2, Street Sense–Stopshoppingdebbie, by Curlin. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($130,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Jeff Prunzik & Melissa Prunzik (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $57,750.
Margins: HF, 3 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.76, 3.96, 17.35.
Also Ran: Northern Flame, West Saratoga, Just Steel, Awesome Road, Baytown Chatterbox. Scratched: Timberlake.

Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Walmac Farm; B-Rosa Colasanti (Ky); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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Oct. 7 Insights: Well-Related Juveniles Debut on Both Coasts

2nd-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:32p.m. ET
GALLANT MISCHIEF (Into Mischief), a $480,000 KEENOV purchase in 2021, will put his best foot forward in this first juvenile maiden on a packed Keeneland card for conditioner Mark Casse and owner Tracy Farmer. A half-brother to MGISW Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), he comes into this contest with a string of very strong works at Ellis Park, including three successive bullets starting Aug. 17 (1/12), Aug. 30 (1/17) and Sept. 10 (1/22). Gallant Mischief is out of a half-sister to a host of accomplished 'Berties' including MGSW Hurricane Bertie; MGSW & GISP Allamerican Bertie-dam of MSW Homerun Berti and graddam of multiple course-record setter MSW & GSP Believe in Bertie.  TJCIS PPs.

11th-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 6:18p.m. ET
Booth (Mitole), a $225,000 OBSMAR procurement this past spring, will take to the track after a Super Saturday of racing at Keeneland with an eye on breaking his maiden for trainer Steve Asmussen and the Heiligbrodts. Half-brother to GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Bright Future (Curlin), the colt can also count GI Hopeful S. winner Nutella Fella (Runhappy) in his extended female family.

To his inside and unveiling for the powerhouse WinStar and Siena Farms partnership is Rapoport (Consitution), who hails from the young broodmare Tiz Breathtaking (Tiznow), winner of the GIII Mazarine S. in Canada. This is the female family of the venerable Shared Account, dam of fellow Breeders' Cup champion Sharing, and of GSW Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun). The $300,000 KEESEP grad is trained by Todd Pletcher. Flying the flag for homebreds will be Godolphin's Nash (Medaglia d'Oro), who is out of a multiple graded stakes-winning half-sister to GSW Just Louise, dam of MGSW & MGISP Forbidden Kingdom. The half-brother to GSP Sara Street (Street Sense) will break from the rail for Brad Cox. TJCIS PPs.

6th-SA, $61k, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 6:39p.m. ET
A princely $1.7 million KEESEP acquisition for Zedan Racing, Coach Prime (Quality Road) will debut from the far outside of a packed maiden for Bob Baffert. A half-brother to MSP Dr Oseran (Kitten's Joy), he hails most notably from the female line of Spunoutacontrol, who accounts for MGSW & MGISP Fed Biz; SW Spun Silk–dam of GISW Joking (Distorted Humor) and granddam of MGSW Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance); and the dam of three stakes winners on the New York circuit. This is the extended family of noted stallions Tale of the Cat and Johannesburg. TJCIS PPs.

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A Graded Stakes Saturday We Never Want To End

The parade of graded stakes races this Saturday is like a Christmas tree laden with presents. Towards the end of the celebration, as the wadded paper congregates, there will be a customary wistfulness that slowly sets in. We never want it to end.

With 17, yes 17, graded races on the docket–nine of those have Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' status–it is going to be a splendid day to receive as Belmont at the Big A, Keeneland Race Course, Woodbine Racetrack, Gulfstream Park, Hastings Racecourse and Santa Anita Park hustle to apply the Scotch tape. Cue the carols, please.

Heading to the venerable Big A in Ozone Park, the graded menu expanded when last weekend's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. was added to Saturday's slate. The 12-furlong grass test includes the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Rebel's Romance (Dubawi {Ire}) who looking for some New York redemption after unseating his rider around the far turn in the late-July running of the GII Bowling Green S. at Saratoga. The Charlie Appleby trainee is set to face the queen of the blades in MGISW War Like Goddess (English Channel), who still has plenty of fight in her as she faces the boys again for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

If one Grade I wasn't enough for you on this card, then we are going to add two more just for good measure. The GI Frizette S. is a passageway to the GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies and Repole Stable has the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Life Talk (Gun Runner), who broke her maiden at second asking Aug. 31 at Saratoga by 6 1/2 lengths. The Todd Pletcher trainee will have to contend with Stonestreet's Emery (More Than Ready), who scratched out of Friday's GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland to run here for trainer Brad Cox. Also present is Godolphin homebred Central Avenue (Street Sense), who debuted a winner at Colonial Downs, and will try to stretch out for trainer Michael Stidam.

“She [Central Avenue] started going seven-eighths and we thought that might be a little short for her, but she got up anyways,” Stidham said. “She always looked in the mornings like she would come running late and she would [run like that]. The mile is going to be even more helpful for her style.”

The other top race of the day at 'Belmont West' is the GI Champagne S., which offers a ticket straight to the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile. Once again, Repole Stable held David Aragona's attention with 6-5 morning-line favorite Fierceness (City of Light). The 'TDN Rising Star' had his own way in the Saratoga mud Aug. 25 when the bay colt won that debut by 11 1/4 lengths. His main rival could be fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Timberlake (Into Mischief), who is also entered in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

Rounding out the action at Aqueduct is a trio of Grade III turf events which include the Waya S. with GISW McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), the Belmont Turf Sprint with GSW Big Invasion (Declaration of War) and finally, English import Measured Time (Frankel {GB}) is up against GISP Webslinger (Constitution) in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational.

Locked | Sarah Andrew

The Keeneland Association which just kicked off its October meet on Friday, has its own take on Christmas come early. Taking to the Haggin Turf Course, the GI First Lady S. for older females sports a rematch of the July running of the GI Diana S. between Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) and MGISW In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The former bested the latter at Saratoga and the Chad Brown stablesmates are set to do battle again. Not to be overlooked is the Joseph O'Brien trainee Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) who returns to the U.S. after finishing fifth in the G1 Matron S. at Leopardstown Sept. 9.

Moving right along to some more Grade I festivities, the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity offers the winner a shot in the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile. 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) won at second asking by 7 1/4 lengths at Saratoga Sept. 1 with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm-owned chestnut colt for trainer Todd Pletcher will take on New York-bred undefeated hero The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) for trainer Mike Maker and possibly the aforementioned Timberlake.

“He [Locked] was impressive the time he went two turns at Saratoga,” said Pletcher. “One reason he came here and Fierceness stayed in New York for the Champagne is that I thought the Champagne suited him better with the one start. It worked well that we could find a Grade I for both of them.”

The capstone to Keeneland's Super Saturday is the GI Coolmore Turf Mile, which allows access to the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile. Fresh off his 3 3/4-length first North American score in the GI Woodbine Mile, Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will challenge Up to the Mark (Not This Time), who was last seen winning GI Manhattan S. at Belmont. Lane's End recently announced that the 4-year-old colt trained by Todd Pletcher would head their way for stud duty at the conclusion of his racing career.

A pair of Grade II races will complete the Keeneland Saturday graded offering. First, the Woodford S. welcomes turf sprint specialist and G1 Nuthorpe S. at York victor Live In The Dream (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) from the yard of Adam West. Meanwhile, MGSW and MGISP Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) tries to secure her spot in the GI Breeders' Cup PNC Bank Filly & Mare Sprint when she sets sail against six others in the Thoroughbred Club of America S.

Before heading west, both Gulfstream Park and Woodbine Racetrack card a graded race each. GSP Maryquitecontrary (First Dude) switches from Shug McGaughey's barn to David Fawkes, as she returns to her home track in the GIII Princess Rooney S, a race which also feeds into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. Up at Woodbine, the GIII Durham Cup S. finds G1 Dubai World Cup runner-up Algiers (Ire) (Shamardal {Ire}) making his first start in North America after trainer Simon Crisford scratched him from the GII Woodward S. last weekend.

Staying put in Canada, Hastings Racecourse cards the GIII BC Premier's H. for 3-year-olds and up. The race includes Accidental Hero (Mo Town), who bested his rival Sunbird (Orb) in the GIII BC Derby last month.

Anisette | Benoit

It would not be a graded Saturday without 'The Great Race Place' and Santa Anita Park has its share. Of course, the GI American Pharoah S., which TDN covered in a special edition on Friday, is a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Juvenile S. 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) will square off against seven others in the feature, which includes stablemate Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso).

Speaking of juveniles, the fillies get their chance to shine in the GII Chandelier S. On the line is the opportunity to make the starting gate in the GI Breeders' Cup NetJets Juvenile Fillies. One of the top contenders is Laurent (Practical Joke). The Peter Eurton trainee was second Sept. 9 in the GI Del Mar Debutante S. The dark bay filly is in the blocks right next to the Zedan Racing's Dua (Arrogate). The Bob Baffert trainee was third in the GIII Sorrento S. at Del Mar Aug. 12.

In the race before the American Pharoah S., turf routers will load at the mouth of the downhill course for the GII Rodeo Drive S. Looking for a chance to return for the Breeders' Cup Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf is the undefeated Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}). The 3-year-old will take on older females for the first time. After coming over from England last spring, the Leonard Powell trainee won three in a row, including the GI Del Mar Oaks by 2 3/4 lengths.

Anisette is going to have to try and get past the 9-5 morning-line favorite Didia (Arg) (Orpen) though. She was the runner-up in the GI New York S. at Belmont Park June 9 and has a history of winning from off the bench for trainer Ignacio Correas. Add in some seasoned Southern California stayers like MGSW Closing Remarks (Vronsky) and MGSW Neige Blache (FR) (Anodin {Ire}), and the Rodeo Drive is going to be quite the shopping spree at the windows.

Here's to a Saturday of graded racing that never ends.

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Candy Ride’s Candied Stays Perfect in Darley Alcibiades

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Candied (f, 2, Candy Ride {Arg}–Toni Tools, by Roaring Fever), a 3/4-length, come-from-behind debut winner sprinting at Saratoga Aug. 20, stayed perfect while stretching to two turns in Friday's 'Win and You're In' GI Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland.

The 4-1 chance raced in between horses rounding the clubhouse turn in fifth. She advanced into fourth approaching the quarter pole, made a flashy, sweeping move at the top of the stretch, and, despite hanging on her left lead down the stretch, went on to defeat favored runaway GIII Pocahontas S. heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole) by a length. Alys Beach (Omaha Beach) was third.

Previously unbeaten GI Spinaway S. heroine Brightwork (Outwork), off as the 9-5 second choice, tired to finish a well-beaten fifth after pressing the pace while making her two-turn debut here.

“That was my biggest concern,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said of Candied diving into the deep end at just second asking here. “I thought the filly had the talent to do it. I was just concerned about the seasoning. Several of the fillies in here that we had to beat today had good, solid campaigns and she was just making her second start.”

Pletcher continued, “But I'll tell you, she trained impressively before her debut and she then just kept getting better afterwards. She was finishing her works and galloping out like she wanted more ground. Luis (Saez) has been pretty high on her since he first worked her at Saratoga, so we're happy to see her meet expectations.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Pletcher will also be well-represented by 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) in Saturday's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland.

Pedigree Notes:

Candied becomes the 115th stakes winner/56th graded stakes/19th Grade I winner worldwide for Candy Ride. The stakes-winning New York-bred Toni Tools, a $15,000 purchase by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock at the 2022 KEEJAN sale, produced a colt by Solomini this year and was bred back to Mind Control.

 

Friday, Keeneland
DARLEY ALCIBIADES S.-GI, $600,000, Keeneland, 10-6, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.17, ft.
1–CANDIED, 122, f, 2, by Candy Ride (Arg)
                1st Dam: Toni Tools (SW, $193,339),
                                by Roaring Fever
                2nd Dam: Patine, by Smart Strike
                3rd Dam: Burnish, by Menifee
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE
I WIN. ($165,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred
Partners; B-Buck Pond Farm, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-Luis Saez. $358,050. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $415,800.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–V V's Dream, 122, f, 2, by Mitole
                1st Dam: Quay, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Skipper Tale, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. ($130,000 Wlg '21
KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-MJM Racing and
Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek); B-Mark Stansell (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $115,500.
3–Alys Beach, 122, f, 2, by Omaha Beach
                1st Dam: Pray for Leslie, by Bernardini
                2nd Dam: C J's Leelee, by Mizzen Mast
                3rd Dam: Fight to Love, by Fit to Fight
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. ($120,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Greg Tramontin; B-Jeff
Kerber (KY); T-Thomas M. Amoss. $57,750.
Margins: 1, 5 3/4, HD. Odds: 4.08, 1.48, 16.30.
Also Ran: Shimmering Allure, Brightwork, Crazy Cami, Alpine Princess, Wine On Tap. Scratched: Emery.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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