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Aguri Becomes First Japanese Winner for Caravaggio

Sent off the $2.30 (13-10) favorite to make the necessary improvement off a debut third at Hanshin in late June, Aguri (Jpn) (Caravaggio) became the first Japanese winner and 22nd winner overall for leading freshman sire (by Scat Daddy) with a facile victory in a one-mile maiden over the turf at Tokyo Racecourse Saturday afternoon.

Drawn the middle of the gate in a field of 13, the gray colt took up a forward position beneath jockey Yuga Kawada, settling just off the pacesetter behind modest early sectionals. Maintaining that stalking role into the final 600 meters, Aguri was held together while traveling on the bridle into the final furlong, was shaken up mildly and strode home a very comfortable three-length winner (see below). He covered his final three furlongs in :35 flat and stopped the clock in a solid 1:35.3.

Aguri is the first foal out of the privately acquired One Time Waltz (War Front), a winning daughter of champion Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a Group 3 winner and four times placed at Group 1 level in Europe and winner in America of the 2011 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. Old Time Waltz foaled Aguri Mar. 4, 2019, and the colt took his place at the 2020 JRHA Select Sale on the island of Hokkaido, hammering to owner Masahiro Miki for ¥105 million ($982,202). Old Time Waltz is also the dam of a yearling colt by Daiwa Major (Jpn) that fetched ¥64 million ($596,511) at last year's JRHA Select Foal sale and a weanling colt by Suave Richard (Jpn) that was hammered down for ¥58 million ($525,582) at this year's foal sale.

Caravaggio, who has now sired winners in five different countries, has already been represented by four black-type winners, two at group level, including G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. heroine Tenebrism as well as MGSW/G1SP Agartha (Ire). Caravaggio's GSW half-sister My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus) resides in Japan and is the dam of five winners from seven to the races, including GSP Satono Gold (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) and the 2-year-old colt Purpur Ray (Jpn) (Isla Bonita {Jpn}), a two-time winner from three runs who broke his maiden at second asking at Niigata in a record time of 1:33.3.

Having stood at Coolmore Ireland from 2018, Caravaggio was relocated to Coolmore America for this season, where he commanded a fee of $25,000.

WATCH: Aguri becomes the first Japanese winner for leading first-crop sire Caravaggio

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Chad Brown’s Breeders’ Cup Brigade Works at Belmont

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown worked multiple Breeders' Cup contenders on a crisp and overcast Saturday morning at Belmont Park.

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Champagne S. winner Jack Christopher (Munnings) breezed five furlongs in 1:00.85 (4/18) in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The move was completed in company with GI Frizette S. runner-up Gerrymander (Into Mischief), who is possible for the one-mile $150,000 Tempted S. Nov. 5 at Belmont.

“He's trained brilliant since day one and he continues to do so,” Brown said. “I'm very impressed with that horse every time he works.”

Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}), a last out winner of Belmont's GII Beldame S., went a half-mile in :48.66 (11/74) in preparation of the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 6.

Brown also sent a number of Breeders' Cup hopefuls to breeze over the firm inner turf Saturday, including grassy GISWs Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Tribhuvan (Fr) (Toronado {Ire}). Both horses are bound for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and worked five furlongs in tandem in 1:01.55 (3/9).

“They worked very well,” Brown said. “They were a good team together. I was very pleased with the work.”

Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) registered his first move since taking the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Oct. 9 at Belmont, recording a solo half-mile in :50 (9/18). He is also on target for the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Two-time GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S. winner My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}) breezed five furlongs in 1:02.02 (6/9) in company with GIII Athenia S. heroine Pocket Square (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) in preparation for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

“For right now, she's doing everything I'm asking her to do,” Brown said of Pocket Square. “I really liked her work today and her gallop out. I would like to try her going that far. I know it's a huge step up in class, but I'm very, very pleased with how she's doing and I think she can get a piece of it.”

The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf-bound Consumer Spending (More Than Ready), a last out winner of Laurel's Selima S., worked five furlongs in 1:02.25 (8/9) in company with graded-stakes placed maiden Kinchen (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

“She worked solid and galloped out strongly,” Brown said. “She's coming into the race that right way. It's a big step up but she's an improving horse.”

Trainer Christophe Clement, meanwhile, also breezed a pair of Breeders' Cup hopefuls over the Belmont grass– MGISW Gufo (Declaration of War) (Turf) (four furlongs in :48.66); and GIII Futurity S. winner Slipstream (More Than Ready) (GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf) (four furlongs in :51.14).

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NYRA Bets Now Available in Michigan

Edited Press Release

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Saturday that NYRA Bets, LLC (NYRA Bets), is now available in the state of Michigan for residents ages 21 and older.

“NYRA Bets is the best way to bet the races, and we are thrilled that horseplayers in Michigan can download the app today to access NYRA Bets,” said Matt Feig, General Manager of NYRA Bets.

New users who sign up for NYRA Bets today are eligible to earn up to $200 in a deposit match with a $25 Free Play. For additional information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Empire Maker Colt Ices Rivals, Scores Rising Star Distinction

Crunched into 2-5 favoritism to build on a debut second at Los Alamitos at the end of June, Messier (Empire Maker) made a bold run to the front fully three furlongs from home and coasted in by 6 1/2 lengths to become a new 'TDN Rising Star' in Friday's fourth race from Santa Anita. Away only fairly beneath Flavien Prat, the $470,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase graduate worked his way up into a chasing second as the debuting Godsend (Midshipman) went a strong gallop up ahead of him. Prat allowed the heavy chalk to stride into the lead midway on the turn, widened without being asked into the stretch and was not fully extended while scoring by a margin that could have been significantly more. He stopped the clock in 1:10.26. Don't Swear Dave (Connect) completed the exacta, one spot ahead of Messier's stablemate Blackadder (Quality Road).

The winner counts Sovereign Award-winning 3-year-old filly Catch the Ring (Seeking the Gold) as his third dam. She is in turn responsible for champion Catch the Thrill (A.P. Indy), the dam of the current stakes winner Curlin's Catch (Curlin). Messier has a foal half-sister by Candy Ride (Arg), and his dam–herself the winner of the 2014 Trillium S. over Woodbine all-weather–was most recently bred to another standout for the same connections in Authentic.

Messier is the 12th 'Rising Star' for his sadly departed stallion and second in five days, joining Keeneland maiden winner Haughty. Messier's powerful ownership group nicknamed The Avengers has campaigned fellow Empire Maker-sired 'Rising Stars' Classier, winner of the GI Los Alamitos Derby in July; and Eight Rings, the 2019 GI American Pharoah S. hero. With Donato Lanni acting as agent, the conglomerate bought three more Empire Maker colts at last month's Keeneland September sale for a combined $550,000.

“He came out of that race with a little bruised bulb in his heel,” said Tom Ryan of co-owner SF Racing when asked about Messier's progress from his June 27 unveiling at 1-2 to Friday's breakout performance. “It was nothing major, but you're better to give them plenty of time. We had given him the experience of a race, and it's amazing how horses really thrive and step forward off that experience. Over the summer, he had gradually come back to himself, and he'd shown plenty in the mornings in his recent works.”

The Avengers' deep class of 2-year-old colts also includes the likes of GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity winner Pinehurst (Twirling Candy).

“He definitely looks like he's got unlimited potential,” Ryan said of Messier. “He's got size and scope–distance won't be an issue with him. He's sound, and mentally he's all there. He's exactly the right kind of horse for Bob Baffert. He's thriving on training and he's a very willing individual.”

Messier is named after NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier, who was a teammate of Ryan's wife Katie's father Pat Hughes, along with the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr on those legendary Edmonton Oilers teams of the 1980s.

“I was fortunate enough to go to Edmonton with Katie's father when they were voted the greatest NHL team in history [in 2017, for the 1984-85 team],” Ryan said. “Katie's uncle, Mark Napier, also played for that team, so it was an amazing family event. Clearly I have no connection to hockey, but Katie is as connected as can be. We had such a nice time, and met some great players–hockey players to me are just the coolest, most modest guys. One of the players who stood out to me was Mark Messier. I've met him several times, and he's always so poised, and such a cool guy; modest beyond belief, and incredibly fit despite having been retired for a long time. He really, really impressed me, and I suppose he was and easily could be considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time.”

4th-Santa Anita, $61,500, Msw, 10-22, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.26, ft,
6 1/2 lengths.
MESSIER, c, 2, Empire Maker
                1st Dam: Checkered Past (MSW, $334,284), by Smart Strike
                2nd Dam: Catch the Flag, by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Catch the Ring, by Seeking the Gold
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $45,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Donovan, Catherine, Masterson, Robert E. and Schoenfarber, Jay A.; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Bob Baffert. *$470,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL.

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