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Shackleford Filly Swiftest at OBS Saturday

A filly by Shackleford (hip 573) worked the fastest quarter-mile of the week when covering the distance in :20 3/5 during Saturday's fourth session of the under-tack show ahead of next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June Sale of 2-Year-Olds. Consigned by Jonathan Navas's Navas Equine, the bay filly is out of Moondancer (Cuvee) and from the family of Grade I winner Kitten's Dumplings.

“She was always training well and has a good mentality,” Navas said. “But last week when she prepped at OBS, she went :21 1/5. I usually prep at 70%, nothing crazy. So that was a very good solid preparation and she just kept improving from there. She was eating good and feeling better every single morning getting closer to the breeze show. Fortunately enough, this morning she just repeated or improved what she had been showing me.”

Navas purchased the youngster for $7,500 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

“You just have to be in the right place at the right time,” Navas said of the bargain purchase. “I just happened to be lucky–maybe a few people had already purchased their horses and I was lucky to be there at the right time when the ring was a little lonely and there wasn't too much competition. I fell in love with her right away. I liked her body, her conformation and her size–she's got to be taller than 16 hands. It seemed like the right price, so I just went for it.”

From a racing family in Venezuela, Navas has been in the U.S. since 2005.

“I've always been around the racetrack,” he said. “I've been an assistant trainer for a few people and I exercise horses.”

Navas launched his consignment last year and his first group of graduates includes Windy City Red (Chitu), who sold for $54,000 at last year's OBS June sale and went on to finish third in last year's Speakeasy S. before competing in the GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

“I like competition and I don't get comfortable doing just one thing,” Navas said of the decision to start Navas Equine. “I like challenging myself. And that's one of the things that led me to try to open my own consignment and go and do great things if it's possible. At least to try it out.”

Based in Ocala, Navas aims to pinhook between 10 and 15 yearlings a year.

“I have clients, but not a lot of clients, so most of them are my horses,” Navas said. “But I've been doing breaking and training and getting good feedback. I have Marc Tacher, which is Sonata Stables. I am the one who is doing all of his breaking and training and then we send them to another consignment for them to finish the preparation and go to sales and racing. I've been fortunate to have good people supporting me.”

Seven horses worked the furlong in a co-bullet :10 flat Saturday: hip 570, a filly by Neolithic consigned by Hidden Brook on behalf of Patricia Generazio (video); hip 603, a colt by Central Banker consigned by RiceHorse Stable (video); hip 648, a filly by Bal a Bali (Brz) consigned by Little Farm Equine (video); hip 660, a colt by Bal a Bali consigned by Harris Training Center (video); hip 661, a gelding by Neolithic consigned by Two Oaks Equine (video); hip 697, a filly by Klimt consigned by Sugar Hill (video); and hip 713, a filly by The Big Beast consigned by Envision Equine (video).

The under-tack show concludes with a final session beginning at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The June sale will be held next Wednesday through Friday with bidding beginning daily at 10:30 a.m.

The post Shackleford Filly Swiftest at OBS Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Godolphin Not Playing Around in Just a Game

A grey pair of Godolphin-owned, Charlie Appleby-trained fillies off at 7-1 and last seen competing in Meydan's G2 Balanchine S. in February dominated Saturday's GI Longines Just a Game S., with Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) running down fleet-footed stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) late. Longshot and fellow 'Rising Star' Daddy is a Legend (Scat Daddy) rounded out the trifecta. Trainer Chad Brown, who had three chances for his fifth-straight Just a Game title, could do no better than fourth with Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom).

Balanchine winner Summer Romance zipped out to the front as anticipated and cleared off comfortably as Althiqa was guided to the hedge in third last by Mike Smith. The leader still seemed to be in complete control after a half in :46.90 and six panels in 1:10.46, but Althiqa was loaded as she looked for running room at the top of the stretch. Smith tried briefly to tip wide, but then opted to go for an inside run and that proved the winning move–Althiqa squeezed inside of Summer Romance in the final sixteenth to prevail by 3/4 of a length.

“She's got a big heart and she's very, very honest, so she's going to run good,” said Smith. “You're just going to have to make a trip when it's time to move on. I was actually going to tip out, but she kind of leaned in like she wanted to drop to the fence, so I just let her. It was a small hole but [Appleby] told me she had a big heart, and she got on through there. She might suit American racing really well. We might want to keep her here.”

A stakes winner in France and group-placed both there and in Great Britain last year at three, Althiqa kicked off her campaign with a decisive tally in Meydan's G2 Cape Verdi S. going this distance Jan. 28 before running on for third in the Balanchine.

“We're obviously delighted with it and we knew we had two competitive fillies,” said Appleby, whose last Stateside victory came with Godolphin's Line of Duty (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. “It's one of those days when we prepped well, I was confident they would run a big race and they justified it. They are two fillies who ran well over the winter in Dubai in Group 2s–one won the Balanchine and the other won the Cape Verdi–and they came out there to America and put it to the sword again. It's a great effort by the team there and we might think about leaving them there for [July 17 GI Diana S. at] Saratoga. Althiqa hit the line strong enough and she wasn't stopping. It was an opportunity to get a [Grade I], and luckily we did.”

Appleby and Godolphin were also represented Saturday by smashing G1 Cazoo Derby winner Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

As for the decision to enlist Smith, Appleby said, “Mike gave us our first Grade I in the [2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf] with Outstrip (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), so it's great to team up again. With Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}0 [having developed an infection and dropping out of consideration for the GI Belmont S. presented by NYRA Bets] earlier this week and this, it's just the ups and downs of it all. We've seen it here in the UK and you just have to roll with the punches.”

Saturday, Belmont
LONGINES JUST A GAME S.-GI, $500,000, Belmont, 6-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:33.90, gd.
1–ALTHIQA (GB), 118, f, 4, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Mistrusting (Ire) (SW-Eng, $120,206), by Shamardal
                2nd Dam: Misheer (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB)
                3rd Dam: All For Laura (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charles Appleby;
J-Mike E. Smith. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-3, $466,213.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: A++.
2–Summer Romance (Ire), 120, f, 4, by Kingman (GB)
1st Dam: Serena's Storm (Ire), by Statue of Liberty
2nd Dam: Princess Serena, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Serena's Sister, by Rahy
(300,000gns Ylg '18 TATOCT; €800,000 2yo '19 ARQMA).
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Round Hill Stud (IRE); T-Charles Appleby.
$100,000.
3–Daddy Is a Legend, 118, m, 6, by Scat Daddy
1st Dam: Randie's Legend, by Benchmark
2nd Dam: Eternal Legend, by Gold Legend
3rd Dam: Eternal Search, by Northern Answer
($140,000 Wlg '15 KEENOV; $160,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Hill,
Jim and Susan; B-HnR Nothhaft Horseracing LLC (PA); T-George
Weaver. $60,000.
Margins: 3/4, 1 3/4, 1. Odds: 7.40, 7.20, 12.30.
Also Ran: Regal Glory, Pocket Square (GB), Zofelle (Ire), Always Shopping, Abscond, Tamahere (Fr), New York Girl (Ire). Scratched: Blowout (GB), Sweet Bye and Bye. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Althiqa is the eighth highest-level winner and one of 37 group/graded winners for Dark Angel (Ire), who is also the sire of this April's impressive GI Maker's Mark Mile hero Raging Bull (Fr), and 2018's GI Shoemaker Mile S. upsetter Hunt (Ire). The late Shamardal has sired the dams of 30 graded/group winners, including six now at the top level.

Dam Mistrusting is herself a daughter of Group 2 winner and G1SP Misheer. Her 3-year-old son Magical Land (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) has been second or third in all five outings for these connections, while Althiqa's 2-year-old full-sister Before Dawn (Ire) was second at Newmarket May 15 and a close fourth in the Kempton all-weather on Wednesday. Mistrusting produced a Dark Angel colt last term and a Kodiac (GB) filly this March.

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Letruska Wires the Ogden Phipps

Letruska (Super Saver) continued her ascension with a powerful, front-running performance in Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont Park, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The bay was backed as the 6-5 favorite in this scratched-down field of five after posting a heart-stopping victory over the brilliant Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17.

With Jose Ortiz subbing for his sidelined brother Irad Ortiz, Jr. once again here, Letruska seized the early advantage and was tracked by last year's GI Kentucky Oaks and last out GI La Troienne S. heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) through fractions of :23.49 and :46.76. The pride of Mexico began to let it out a notch rounding the far turn, hit the top of the stretch in complete command and was never seriously threatened en route to a convincing tally.

Bonny South (Munnings) tagged her aforementioned Brad Cox-trained stablemate for second.

“This is back-to-back Grade I wins,” winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez said. “She showed her potential. This is a speed horse that can run long distances. Today, she confirmed what we saw in the Apple Blossom. She's progressed with age and taking the blinkers off. She ran like a big horse.

He continued, “When she would run on the lead, she never saw the other horses. She has improved so much more. She has this class to her. She really likes to run. Now, we need to focus on the Breeders' Cup with the form that we have. These races are really tough. We'll check how she does. She's a very sound filly and I hope she continues like this.”

Letruska began her career with six straight victories in Mexico, including a pair of Group 1 tallies. She was tabbed as the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2019.

Her U.S. campaign has so far also included victories in Gulfstream's Copa 2019 Invitacional del Caribe S., Saratoga's GIII Shuvee S. last summer, Gulfstream's GIII Rampart S. Dec. 12 and Sam Houston's GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. Jan. 31. She came up just a head short of Shedaresthedevil in the GII Azeri S. Mar. 13.

Pedigree Notes:

Letruska, purchased in utero for $100,000 at KEENOV in 2015, is one of five Grade I winners for the expatriated Super Saver. Successful Appeal is also the broodmare sire of GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit) and a total of 11 graded winners. Letruska is one of three black-type performers for her Grade II-placed dam, a full-sister to Grade I winner J P's Gusto and a half-sister to Kid Majic (Lemon Drop Kid), the dam of two-time Sovereign Award winner and GSW Miss Mischief (Into Mischief) and MSP Mind Out (Tapit). Letruska's third dam produced Pacific Spell (Langfuhr), whose daughter Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) won the 2008 GI Kentucky Oaks en route to an Eclipse Award. Magic Appeal is the dam of the 2-year-old colt Ocotzingo (Hard Spun), a yearling colt by Arrogate and had a filly by Malibu Moon this year.

Saturday, Belmont
OGDEN PHIPPS S.-GI, $480,000, Belmont, 6-5, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:41.25, ft.
1–LETRUSKA, 122, m, 5, by Super Saver
1st Dam: Magic Appeal (GSP), by Successful Appeal
2nd Dam: Call Her Magic, by Caller I. D.
3rd Dam: Malibu Magic, by Encino
O-St. George Stable LLC; B-St. George Stables, LLC (KY);
T-Fausto Gutierrez; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $275,000. Lifetime Record:
Ch. 3yo Filly-Mex, 19-14-1-1, $1,432,319. *1/2 to Trigger
Warning (Candy Ride (ARG)), MSW & GISP, $555,378. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bonny South, 120, f, 4, by Munnings
1st Dam: Touch the Star, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Nijinsky Star, by Nijinsky II
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$100,000.
3–Shedaresthedevil, 122, f, 4, by Daredevil
1st Dam: Starship Warpspeed, by Congrats
2nd Dam: Andria's Forest, by Forestry
3rd Dam: Andriana B., by Far North
($100,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $20,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP;
$280,000 2yo '19 KEENOV). O-Qatar Racing, Flurry Racing
Stables, LLC & Autry Lowry, Jr.; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY);
T-Brad H. Cox. $60,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1, 10 1/4. Odds: 1.20, 2.50, 1.65.
Also Ran: Queen Nekia, Water White. Scratched: Swiss Skydiver, Valiance.
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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Jimmy Creed’s Casa Creed Flies Late to Take Jaipur

There appeared on paper to be a lack of pace in Saturday's GI Jackpocket Jaipur S., but that could only mean one thing–the two back markers, Bill Mott pupils Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) and Chewing Gum (Candy Ride {Arg}), flew home from out of the clouds to cap a near $168 exacta for a buck. With the victory, Casa Creed also earned an automatic berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this fall. Even-money favorite Bound for Nowhere (The Factor) could only manage third after being pestered on the lead.

Off last and scrubbed on to keep pace, Casa Creed passed Chewing Gum early on as he traveled in the two path behind splits of :22.06 and :44.65. Still with lots to do at the head of the lane as Bound for Nowhere seemed to still have horse, Casa Creed began to inhale foes down the center of the track. He seemed to take announcer John Imbriale by surprise as he blew past the leader near the sixteenth pole, and Chewing Gum mirrored that one's move to make it all about Mott.

“[Casa Creed] ran great,” said Mott, who had won the Jaipur three times previously. “It looks like sprints suit him, for sure.”

Casa Creed had been competing primarily in turf miles, and took the seven-furlong Elusive Quality S.–named for one of Mott's prior Jaipur winners–here Apr. 24.

“I missed the break a little,” winning pilot Junior Alvarado admitted. “I got worried right away because when sprinting the last thing you want to do is break slow. The first sixteenth of a mile, I was last and he was going so fast. I was thinking that they had to be going pretty quick up front. He started picking it up little by little and still going so fast. As soon as I turned for home and put him in the clear, I asked him a bit and then he pulled the reins out of my hands. It was a beautiful run from the three-sixteenths to the wire.”

Alvarado continued, “He's versatile. He's been unlucky with races, but he's always been hard knocking. He gets beat, but gets beat trying against really nice horses. We started figuring it out these past couple of races. He showed today that he's a serious sprinter.”

Casa Creed's prior career highlight came when he took the GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. in 2019. He went winless last year with a third in the GI Fourstardave H. and 12th in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Second in Gulfstream's GIII Tropical Turf S. again over eight panels Jan. 9, the bay was a close sixth in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile S. at Santa Anita Mar. 6 before ending his winless drought in the Elusive Quality.

Casa Creed is owned by Lee Einsidler's LRE Racing and Mike Francesa's JEH Racing.

Saturday, Belmont
JACKPOCKET JAIPUR S.-GI, $400,000, Belmont, 6-5, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:08.04, gd.
1–CASA CREED, 120, h, 5, by Jimmy Creed
                1st Dam: Achalaya, by Bellamy Road
                2nd Dam: Wild Heart Dancing, by Farma Way
                3rd Dam: Star of Wicklow, by Fast Play
   1ST GRADE I WIN. ($15,000 Ylg '17 OBSWIN; $105,000 Ylg '17
KEESEP). O-LRE Racing LLC and JEH Racing Stable LLC; B-Silver
Springs Stud, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado.
$220,000. Lifetime Record: 20-5-3-3, $755,408. *1/2 to
Chess's Dream (Jess's Dream), GSW, $166,680. Werk Nick
   Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Chewing Gum, 120, h, 6, Candy Ride (Arg)–Shared Heart, by
Forestry. O-Wachtel Stable, Pantofel Stable and Zaro, Jerold L.;
B-Wertheimer Et Frere (KY); T-William I. Mott. $80,000.
3–Bound for Nowhere, 124, h, 7, The Factor–Fancy Deed, by
Alydeed. ($310,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP). O/T-Wesley A. Ward;
B-Wayne, Gray & Bryan Lyster (KY). $48,000.
Margins: 2, 3/4, HD. Odds: 10.80, 28.00, 1.00.
Also Ran: Stubbins, Got Stormy, Fast Boat, Gregorian Chant (GB), Greyes Creek, Sombeyay. Scratched: Completed Pass, Oleksandra (Aus), Secret Rules. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:

Casa Creed is one of four graded winners, and the first Grade I winner, for well-regarded value sire Jimmy Creed. One of those four is Kanthaka, who missed by a neck in this even last season. Casa Creed is one of only two graded winners out of a Bellamy Road mare–the other is Casa Creed's half-brother Chess's Dream (Jess's Dream), winner of January's GIII Kitten's Joy S.

Florida-based breeder Loren Nichols bought dam Achalaya for $15,000 while she was carrying Chess's Dream at the 2018 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. He bought her back for $195,000 at KEENOV '19 while she was carrying a Distorted Humor colt. Achalaya, a daughter of MGSW turfer Wild Heart Dancing from the family of GISW Man from Wicklow (Turkoman), most recently visited Omaha Beach.

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