Todd Pletcher | Horse Racing Free Tips

U.S. Claims Multiple H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Awards

Americans were among those honored Mar. 4 at the sixth edition of HH Sheikh Mohammed Horse Racing Excellence Awards at Meydan Racecourse. The ceremony commemorates some of the leading connections who participated at the Dubai World Cup meeting, as well as a pair that were decided by public vote.

“The HH Sheikh Mohammed Horse Racing Excellence Awards were founded in 2017 as an expression of His Highness' love for racing and passion for horses,” said Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, General Manager of Dubai Racing Club. “They recognize the best in the industry, with a nod towards those who have supported our Dubai World Cup meeting, as well as giving racing fans a chance to vote on their favorites through the People's Choice and Best Local Jockey awards.”

French trainer Andre Fabre was given this year's 'Lifetime Achievement Award,' while the popular vote went to Baaeed (GB) for 'People's Choice' and Bernardo Pinheiro for 'Best Local Jockey.'

Here are the American winners:
Best Horse – LIFE IS GOOD
Bred by Gary and May West, the son of Into Mischief sold for $525,000 dollars to China Horse Club at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Life Is Good went on to earn more than $4.5 million throughout his career, which saw him win eight of his 11 starts, including four Grade I races. He finished fourth behind Country Grammar in the G1 Dubai World Cup.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for most of his career, Life Is Good returned to the U.S. and won the GI Whitney H. at Saratoga, which earned him an international rating of 125. That made him the highest-rated horse to come out of the 2022 Dubai World Cup meeting.

Best Owner – WINSTAR FARM and CHINA HORSE CLUB
Winstar Farm and China Horse Club (CHC) combined for joint-ownership of Life Is Good with CHC's Eden Harrington and Morgan Harries representing the partnership.

“These awards acknowledge the exceptionalism of Life Is Good and the phenomenal journey he continues to take China Horse Club and WinStar Farm on,” said Vice President Harrington. “We also congratulate WinStar Farm, with whom we have shared a succession of life changing moments, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz and the entire team involved with Life Is Good. We also look forward to continuing to support horse racing in Dubai in years to come.”

Best Jockey – IRAD ORTIZ
The Eclipse Award winner, Irad Ortiz continues to be one of the most successful in North America over the past decade, and he led all jockeys in Grade I event wins since the 2022 Dubai World Cup meeting.

Best Trainer – TODD PLETCHER
Also the reigning Eclipse Award winner, Todd Pletcher collected 15 Grade I races, making him the most successful to compete at the 2022 Dubai World Cup meeting.

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Champion Forte Returns on Action-Packed Saturday

Last year's champion 2-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) kicks off his sophomore season in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park, one of 14 graded stakes races on tap Saturday.

The Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable colorbearer concluded his campaign with his third straight win at the top level in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Nov. 4.

“It seems like he's gotten even better and better since [the Breeders' Cup],” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It's great to have won with the foundation he has and the experience he has going into these races.”

Last term's GI Champagne S. winner and fellow 'Rising Star' Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) also makes his first start of 2023. He was fourth after some trouble at the start for trainer Chad Brown in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The Fountain of Youth field also includes Bill Mott-trained stablemates Rocket Can (Into Mischief) and Shadow Dragon (Army Mule), one-two across the line in the local prep GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 4. The rail-drawn GIII Swale S. winner General Jim (Into Mischief) will be scratched, according to trainer Shug McGaughey.

The Fountain of Youth offers 100 GI Kentucky Derby points (50-20-15-10-5).

The stacked 14-race program at Gulfstream also features: the GII Davona Dale S., led by unbeaten 3-year-old filly Red Carpet Ready (Oscar Performance); the GII WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile S., headlined by last term's runaway GIII Dwyer S. winner and 'Rising Star' Charge It (Tapit); the GII Mac Diarmida S.; GIII Honey Fox S.; GIII Herecomesthebride S.; GIII Canadian Turf S.; and GIII The Very One S.

Big 'Cap Day at Santa Anita

The GI Santa Anita H. anchors a 12-race card at the Great Race Place Saturday. A wide-open field of 11 includes: GISWs Defunded (Dialed In), second last time in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S.; GI Clark S. winner Proxy (Tapit); and GI Hollywood Gold Cup S. winner There Goes Harvard (Will Take Charge); last out GII San Pasqual S. winner Newgrange (Violence); and last year's Big 'Cap second and third-place finishers Warrant (Constitution) and Stilleto Boy (Shackleford).

Sophomores, meanwhile, will take centerstage in the GII San Felipe S., which offers 50-20-15-10-5 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

Four horses formerly trained by Bob Baffert, including the top two on the morning-line in GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third and GIII Sham S. third National Treasure (Quality Road) and $3.55-million EASMAY topper and last-out maiden winner Hejazi (Bernardini), will now be eligible to earn Derby points after transferring to the barn of trainer Tim Yakteen. Yakteen will also saddle comebacking GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner Practical Move (Practical Joke).

Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) dives right into the deep end for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella following a jaw-dropping debut victory going six furlongs Jan. 29. Skinner (Curlin), Grade I-placed as a maiden last term, kicked off his sophomore season with a visually impressive maiden win of his going a mile here Feb. 12.

Nine turf milers, led by 9-5 morning-line favorite Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}), will line up in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. The Big 'Cap undercard also includes the GII Buena Vista S.

Derby Points on the Line in Gotham

A wide open and overflow field of 15 3-year-olds have been entered for Saturday's GIII Gotham S. going a one-turn mile at the Big A.

The two-for-two Eyeing Clover (Lookin At Lucky), favored at 4-1 on the morning-line, takes on stakes company for the first time for red-hot trainer Brad Cox.

Former Bob Baffert runners GII Los Al Futurity S. runner-up Carmel Road (Quality Road) and GII San Vicente S. third Fort Warren (Curlin) make their first starts for Tim Yakteen and Brittany Russell, respectively.

Lugan Knight (Goldencents) was a game last out winner over track and trip in the Jerome S. Jan. 7.

The Gotham carries 100 Kentucky Derby points (50-20-15-10-5).

Aqueduct's 10-race card also includes the GIII Tom Fool H. for older sprinters.

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Forte Named 7-5 Morning-Line Favorite For Fountain Of Youth

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's Forte (Violence) completed his preparation for his 2023 debut in next Saturday's GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park after breezing five furlongs in 1:01.99 Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs.

“Last week was the work we wanted to make sure that we were on target,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We got a good strong work into him. We got a good work today, but after last week, we weren't looking for him to do too much. We're right on schedule and think we are where we want to be.”

The 2022 2-year-old champion is the 7-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile stakes for sophomores, which will headline a program with nine stakes, including eight graded stakes, worth $1.85 Million in purses.

“He seems to be thriving right now,” Pletcher continued before Forte drew the No. 4 post position Saturday afternoon. “I hope he can continue on that trajectory. We're super pleased with the way he's coming into the race.”

“With that type of seasoning, I'm very comfortable with two races leading up, hopefully, to the Derby,” Pletcher said. “We've approached it from various angles and felt like this was the right path for him. So far everything has been going to plan. Hopefully, it continues to do that.”

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Mutasaabeq Set to Begin Stud Career at Pleasant Acres

Graded stakes winner Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief–Downside Scenario, by Scat Daddy) has arrived at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Florida where he will stand his first season at stud for a fee of $6,500.

Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his debut win at Saratoga in 2020, Mutasaabeq was third in the GI Runhappy Hopeful S. in his second career outing before winning the GII Bourbon S. over the turf at Keeneland for Shadwell Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher. He added a win in the Mucho Macho Man S. in his lone start at three.

“Mutassabeq is a perfect fit for Florida and for Florida breeders. Not only does he have an impressive pedigree on his sire and dam lines, he was also a talented racehorse with a tremendous turn of foot,” said Pleasant Acres director of stallion services Christine Jones. “We are proud to have the only first year Into Mischief sire in Florida for 2023.”

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