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First Stakes Winner for Freshman Sire Enticed at the Big A

Shimming Allure finished a credible fourth in a very competitive renewal of Keeneland's GI Alcibiades S. last month, and found the step back to easier company to her liking, taking the Tempted S. at Aqueduct Sunday.

Not particularly hurried out of gate 1, the filly found herself near the back as longshot Belle's Blue Bell (Girvin) cut out respectable opening splits in :23.03 and :46.48. Flanked by Perfectly Wicked from the back, Shimmering Allure picked up the tempo markedly exiting the backstretch and swung out several paths wide turning for home. Still four lengths back straightening for home, she powered down the center of the lane, collared the late-leading Vino Rouge midstretch and drew off to score by three lengths. Perfectly Wicked was a clear third.

“She was a filly we knew would come from behind,” said winning jockey Junior Alvarado. “She broke very well and they outran her the first part, but I knew there was going to be a lot of speed since there was a lot of fillies coming from sprints so that helped her to get a fast pace up front.”

He continued, “I bought my time and let her get her feet underneath. When we hit the three-eighths pole, I started tapping the shoulder and she turned it on. I knew I had enough horse to get there at the end, so I tipped out at that point and she finished up very well.”

A non-factoring seventh in her debut against sales-restricted company at Ellis in June, she finished second in her next two, including a six-panel Saratoga test Aug. 13. She broke through with the win trying a mile for the first time Sept. 20, the Kentucky-bred got off a beat slow while trying open company for the first time at Keeneland Oct. 6, but finished a good fourth behind Candied-who subsequently finished third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last Saturday–in the 1 1/16-mile test.

According to Nick Galati, assistant to Kenny McPeek, “She ran good so last time and Ken told me right away that he wanted to run in the Tempted. I think this was the plan and she just turned a corner. She liked going two turns and last time it was a really tough race but she hung in there for a good fourth. Today, she was ready. I'm sure we'll find a good spot. She's really a nice filly, for sure. We always thought she was a nice filly, even the first time she ran in Saratoga, she ran real well. She sprinted a couple of times and it set her up nicely. I think she just keeps getting better. She seems to like any track she runs on also, so she's honest.”

Bred by Clifton Farm, the $40,000 Fasig-Tipton July yearling purchase is out of stakes-placed Shimmering Tale. The 19-year-old mare is also responsible for stakes-placed Shimmering Dream (Alternation) and My Daughter's Song (Songandaprayer). She produced a full-brother to the winner last term and was bred back to Frosted this term.

The winner represents the first stakes winner for freshman sire Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro), who is out of MGISW It's Tricky (Mineshaft). The Darley stallion, who currently has 17 winners from his first crop, stands for $5,000.

TEMPTED S., $150,000, Aqueduct, 11-5, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:37.84, ft.
1–SHIMMERING ALLURE, 120, f, 2, by Enticed
              1st Dam: Shimmering Tale (SP), by Wild Again
              2nd Dam: Lady Sky Racer, by Skywalker
              3rd Dam: Boomer Lady, by Time to Explode
($40,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Walking L
Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Clifton Farm, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G.
McPeek; J-Junior Alvarado. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 6-2-2-0,
$189,095. *1/2 to Shimmering Dream (Alternation), SP,
$241,377.
2–Vino Rouge, 120, f, 2, Vino Rosso–Seeking the Blue, by Arch.
($180,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Harold Lerner
LLC and Team D; B-Payson Stud, Inc (KY); T-Anthony W.
Dutrow. $30,000.
3–Perfectly Wicked, 120, f, 2, Wicked Strong–Perfect Sister, by
Perfect Soul (Ire). ($16,000 Ylg '22 EASOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Respect the Valleys, LLC; B-BHMFR, LLC (KY); T-Brittany T.
Russell. $18,000.
Margins: 3, 3 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.05, 4.60, 13.40.
Also Ran: Caitlinhergrtness, Don't Tell Kelly, Belle's Blue Bell, Enfuega, A Primera Vista. Scratched: Caress, Vicountess.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Trainer Henry Johnson Captures Career Win 1000

Henry B. Johnson saddled the 1,000th winner of his career when City Ghost won the seventh race at Delta Downs Friday. The 82-year-old has been training Thoroughbreds since 1983.

“It's nice to get it out of the way, because it was a long time getting it done,” said Johnson.

Breeder and owner Russell Welch and his wife, Janis, were at Delta Downs for the win by their filly by Shaman Ghost. Welch has trusted Johnson with his Texas and Louisiana-breds for the past seven years.

“He was sort of humbled by it all,” Welch said of the post-race presentation. “We are both rodeo cowboys and H.B. does an outstanding job breaking babies. He did tell me that evening that reaching the milestone would never have been possible without the support of his owners.”

Johnson concurred with Welch, citing Dennis Milligan, Jerry Myers, Greg Hoffman, Jerry Chiles, David and Susan Bunn, as well as Paul and Marianne Phillips as a few of his longtime owners.

“I have been fortunate to have great owners who understand the importance of patience,” acknowledged Johnson.

Prior to his training career, Johnson was a rodeo competitor specializing in-bull and steer riding. In a training career that spans four decades, Johnson has saddled 6,486 horses with earnings over $15 million. Top earners included Albert's First ($477,318); Wa Bert ($356,488); Political Whit ($347,190); Icy Gentleman ($320,795) and Jimi's a Star ($314,060).

Johnson credits his wife, Jinnie, who is a major part of his operation, assistant trainer Jose Gomez and Oscar Nunez, who he hails as the “backbone” of the stable's grooms.

Retirement is not on the immediate radar for Johnson, who will turn 83 in January.

“I like doing what I do and can't think of anything else I would enjoy as much as this,” Johnson said.

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White Abarrio to Aim for Saudi Cup

A day after his victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, trainer Rick Dutrow was already mapping out a plan to take White Abarrio (Race Day) to the Feb. 24 G1 Saudi Cup. Dutrow said he hopes to leave the 4-year-old at Santa Anita for a while and probably will take him to Saudi Arabia to be prepared for the race.

“I would be comfortable running him in the Saudi Cup in his next start,” Dutrow said. “I'm going to be pushing for it. I think that's where this horse belongs.”

Dutrow said White Abarrio has established himself as one of the top horses in the world.

“From all the horses we've seen run, I think that it's going to take a big effort for a good horse to beat him in his next start,” the trainer said. “It's going to take a good horse to run a big race to beat them because this next race seems like it is absolutely tailor-made for him, a mile and an eighth around one turn.”

Should everything go to plan in Saudi Arabia, Dutrow said White Abarrio could head to the G1 Dubai World Cup in March before returning stateside to defend his titles in the GI Whitney S. and Classic.

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Delahaye Graduates After Sharp Big A Return To The Races

4th-Aqueduct, $85,000, Msw, 11-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.89, fm, 3 1/4 lengths.
DELAHAYE (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Bella Carina, by War Front) was last seen missing by a neck on debut in February at Gulfstream Park. Rewarded as the 3-5 choice here, the dark bay was taken back into second along the rail as she passed the grandstand, waited for her cue around the far turn and she powered past War Princess (War Front) to triumphantly return to the races. Her unraced dam's first progeny, the winner has a yearling half-brother by Not This Time and an April half-brother by Gun Runner. Not bred for next year, Bella Carina counts as half-siblings MGSW Valid (Medaglia d'Oro) and GI Ruffian Invitational H. victress Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon), who herself produced $1.2 million Keeneland September buy from last year Cartucho (Gun Runner). Under Delahaye's third dam we find GI Carter H. hero Swagger Jack (Smart Strike) and his older half-sister GSW Tap Dance (Pleasant Tap). Sales History: $550,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $61,450. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-William H. Lawrence and Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (Goncalo B. Torrealba); B-Three Chimneys Farm, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

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