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Gamine Too Tough in Ballerina

Gamine kicked off the Grade I action at Saratoga Saturday with a front-running score in the GI Ballerina H. Away alertly from her rail draw, the heavy favorite went straight to the front and was pushed along by Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music) through an opening quarter in :23.20 and a half in :45.68 with Lake Avenue in tow. Showing the way into the lane, the bay filly was kept to task by pilot John Velazquez, drawing clear for a facile victory. Lake Avenue held second and fellow California raider Cece completed the trifecta. The Ballerina is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint at Del Mar in November.

“The :23 felt pretty comfortable, :45 was pretty comfortable,” said Bob Baffert's assistant Jimmy Barnes. “[They were gaining on her] slightly, but once Johnny got her to switch leads, I wasn't really concerned. They were moving but we were still running. She sure does enjoy New York. She's been good and solid. The Gamine machine–that's her.”

“I'm a very happy man,” said owner Michael Lund Petersen. “I was very nervous today, only because she was giving so much weight away [126 pounds], so you just never know. I was thrilled to see she got the start we wanted. From there, I was just hoping she would hold on.”

Opening her account with a trio of victories, including an 18 3/4-length tour de force in the GI Acorn S. last June, Gamine romped by seven lengths in the GI Test S. at the Spa in August. Third as the favorite when extended to nine furlongs for the GI Kentucky Oaks, the $1.8 million EASMAY purchase dominated the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint in November, to clinch the Eclipse Award for top female sprinter. Romping in the GIII Las Flores S. Apr. 4 at Santa Anita, the bay wired the GI Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill May 1 and demolished the field by 10 lengths in the GII Great Lady M. S. last time at Los Alamitos July 5.

Pedigree Notes:

Gamine is one of 10 Grade I winners and 44 graded victors for super sire Into Mischief. Her stakes-placed dam Peggy Jane is also the dam of the 3-year-old colt Splashtown (Speightstown), a $300,000 FTKOCT purchase raced in a partnership between breeder Stonestreet Stables and Starlight Racing. The Todd Pletcher trainee finished eighth in his lone start at Gulfstream in May. Peggy Jane's recent produce includes an unraced juvenile filly by Ghostzapper, a yearling colt by Kantharos and a 2021 colt by Into Mischief. She was bred back to that Spendthrift kingpin. This is also the family of Canadian champion Dynamic Sky (Sky Mesa).

Saturday, Saratoga
KETEL ONE BALLERINA H.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.61, ft.
1–GAMINE, 126, f, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Peggy Jane (SP, $102,050), by Kafwain
2nd Dam: Seattle Splash, by Chief Seattle
3rd Dam: Grand Splash, by Bucksplasher
($220,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $1,800,000 2yo '19 EASMAY).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Grace Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R. Velazquez. $275,000. Lifetime
Record: 10-9-0-0, $1,681,500. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lake Avenue, 119, f, 4, by Tapit
1st Dam: Seventh Street (MGISW, $716,000), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Holiday Runner, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Dixie Holiday, by Dixieland Band
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $100,000.
3–Ce Ce, 123, m, 5, by Elusive Quality
1st Dam: Miss Houdini (GISW, $187,600), by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: Magical Maiden, by Lord Avie
3rd Dam: Gils Magic, by Magesterial
O/B-Bo Hirsch LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $60,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.35, 18.00, 4.10.
Also Ran: Sconsin, Estilo Talentoso, Truth Hurts, Casual.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Ellis Park to Honor Backstretch Workers Who Rescued Horses From Fire

Ellis Park plans to honor Marvin Prado and other backstretch workers involved in rescuing six racehorses and one stable pony during a fire in the track's receiving barn last Sunday. They hope to do so during this weekend's races, contingent on the availability of Prado, whose daughter was born two months premature the day after the fire and is still hospitalized.

The barn was engulfed in flames in a matter of 20 minutes and those on the scene say the man of the moment was Prado, with assistance from fellow Kenneally grooms Cristobal Munoz and Estuardo Godoy. Brendan Walsh's grooms Salvador Hernandez and Jose Garcia also were involved, including extricating their stable pony, the retired racehorse Scuba, from the barn.

“They are guys who have been with us a long time,” Kenneally said. “They are good people, so their natural instinct is to try to help. If there's a situation where you're needed, they're the type of people who will jump in and do the right thing.”

Prado noticed the flames while emptying a wheel barrow and yelled to his coworkers. According to those at the scene, Prado jumped into action and one by one retrieved the six racehorses, getting them out by their halters without a lead shank and handing them to his colleagues, who then found empty stalls for the horses.

Prado estimated it took “two or three minutes” to get the six horses out. Five minutes later, he said the barn was completely immersed in flames. Seven fire departments assisted to extinguishing the fire.

Asked later why he went back into the flaming barn, Prado said: “There wasn't any option. The horse had to get out.”

“Racing is a way of life. Taking care of our horses is a way of life,” said Michael Ann Ewing, owner and trainer of Bold and Bossy who was involved in the fire a day after getting loose on the highway. “These guys who stepped in–most of them I've never met–they're heroes. They just dropped everything. Especially those guys who ran into a burning barn without thinking and saved seven horses. Because it could have been really bad.”

“These acts of bravery are a testament to the real folks who represent this industry in largely unseen capacities and actions,” said Ellis Park racing secretary Dan Bork. “To do what they did, to run into a building engulfed in flames–and then go about their business as if nothing ever happened, like what they did wasn't anything out of the ordinary–they're true heroes with their totally selfless acts of courage.

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Munnings Colt Lives Up to the Hype, Gets ‘Rising Star’ Nod at the Spa

Jack Christopher (c, 2, Munnings–Rushin No Blushin, by Half Ours) entered the starting gate on the GI Runhappy Travers S. undercard with a lofty reputation based off his morning breezes for Chad Brown, including a five-furlong drill from the gate in :59 3/5 (2/35) at the Spa Aug. 7, and lived up to the hype with a flashy 'TDN Rising Star' debut performance.

He broke sharply and pressed Back to Normal (Liam's Map) on the outside through an opening quarter in :21.83. The even-money favorite poked his blaze face in front approaching the quarter pole, took over shortly thereafter with a shake of the reins, and put on a show down the lane after receiving no fewer than four left-handed reminders from Jose Ortiz to win going away by 8 3/4 lengths. Hoist the Gold (Mineshaft) was second.

The winner's dam, also represented by a Mo Town filly of 2020, was bred to Complexity for 2022. Rushin No Blushin, a maiden of eight career starts, was claimed for $50,000 out of her career finale by owner/trainer Neil Pessin at Keeneland in 2013. The half-sister to MGISW and useful sire Street Boss (Street Cry {Ire}) subsequently brought $70,000 from Castleton Lyons, in foal to Congrats, at the 2014 KEENOV sale.

The Speightstown/Half Ours cross was represented just Friday evening by new stakes winner Door Buster (Speightster) in the Sylvia Bishop Memorial S. at Charles Town.

This is the seventh 'Rising Star' for Munnings.

“We're not one to really tighten the screws on these horses first time out, particularly dirt horses, but this horse just took us there,” winning trainer Chad Brown said on Saratoga Live in the winner's circle. “I'm so proud of him–especially mentally. The talent was always there, but when they come together mentally right before the debut and show their class, it's a relief for a trainer.”

Brown added that the GI Champagne S. at Belmont Park could be next for Jack Christopher.

2nd-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-28, 2yo, 6f, 1:09.85, ft, 8 3/4 lengths.
JACK CHRISTOPHER, c, 2, by Munnings
                1st Dam: Rushin No Blushin, by Half Ours
                2nd Dam: Blushing Ogygian, by Ogygian
                3rd Dam: Fruhlingshochzeit, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
Sales history: $145,000 RNA Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $135,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister; B-Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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Constitution Colt Romps in Albany

Americanrevolution added another impressive tally to his resume with a dominant score in the Albany. Riding the rail in fifth through a :23.49 opening quarter, the chestnut maintained that position as Bobby Bo put up a :47.33 half-mile. Taking closer order on the backstretch run, Americanrevolution ranged up to confront the leader turning for home and the pair battled to the wire with Americanrevolution drawing clear late to win. Bobby Bo held second and it was a long way back to third-place horse.

“I thought we would be a little closer to the pacesetter, but we got a little traffic and a little dirt around the turn,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “He came away in good position turning up the backside and continued to improve his spot. It seemed like he was always traveling well.”

Fourth behind GI Haskell Invitational S. winner Mandaloun (Into Mischief) on debut against open company at Keeneland in October, he was transferred from trainer Rodolphe Brisset to New York-based Pletcher. Graduating by a neck in an Empire-bred event at Belmont June 20, he romped by 7 1/4 lengths when extended to two turns in the state-bred New York Derby at Finger Lakes July 19.

Polly Freeze is also responsible for the unraced juvenile colt Bold Journey (Hard Spun) and a yearling filly by Collected. She was bred to Frosted last spring. Polly Freeze is a half-sister to MGSW Gouldings Green (Charismatic) and SW Filare L'Oro (Hard Spun), dam of MGSW Silver Dust (Tapit) and GSP Forza Di Oro (Speightstown). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

ALBANY S., $250,000, Saratoga, 8-27, (S), 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.94, ft.
1–AMERICANREVOLUTION, 124, c, 3, by Constitution
                1st Dam: Polly Freeze, by Super Saver
                2nd Dam: Elusive Gold, by Strike the Gold
                3rd Dam: Save My Soul, by I'ma Hell Raiser
($275,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG). O-CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm LLC;
B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (NY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher; J-Luis Saez. $137,500. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0,
$271,535.
2–Bobby Bo, 118, c, 3, Speightster–Auspicious, by Indian
Charlie. ($110,000 Ylg '19 SARAUG; $1,100,000 RNA 2yo '20
OBSAPR). O-Little Red Feather Racing; B-Danzel Brendemuehl
Classic Mares (NY); T-Bob Baffert. $50,000.
3–It's a Gamble, 124, c, 3, English Channel–Yes It's Pink, by Yes
It's True. O-Mr. Amore Stable; B-Ron Lombardi (NY); T-Kelly J.
Breen. $30,000.
Margins: 5, 11HF, HF. Odds: 0.70, 2.65, 24.00.
Also Ran: Our Man Mike, Anejo, Joey Loose Lips, It's Gravy, Bingo John. Scratched: Purple Hearted.

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