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Pacific Classic Field Takes Shape

Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) and Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), first and third in last month's GI Haskell S. at Monmouth, appear likely for a rematch in the Sept. 2 G1 FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic.

Following his Haskell victory, trainer Richard Mandella indicated the Pacific Classic was possible for the Pin Oak Stud runner, however, upon returning to Del Mar, the Hall of Famer began considering the $125,000 Shared Belief S. instead. Facing older horses in the Classic, the sophomore would run against his own division in the Shared Belief.

In the end, Mandella went back to his initial intention to run in the Classic.

“We're a little heavier on the million dollars,” Mandella said. “I have my price, you know.”

Geaux Rocket Ride worked five-furlongs in 1:01.40 (21/45) at Del Mar Friday.

Returning off a five-month respite, Zedan Racing's Arabian Knight faded to third in the Haskell after contesting a hot pace. The $2.3 million OBS Spring Sale grad was favored in the Haskell following an impressive win in the GIII Southwest at Oaklawn in January.

The Bob Baffert trainee has worked twice since returning to the West Coast, the most recent a seven-furlong move in 1:24.40 at Del Mar Friday.

The Hall of Famer is also pointing Defunded (Dialed In) to the Classic. Fourth in the GII San Diego S. last month, he previously won the GI Hollywood Gold Cup and the GII Californian.

Also nominated, Grade III winner Order and Law in addition to a pair from the Doug O'Neill barn–Slow Down Andy (Nyquist)

and SW Katonah, has developed an issue following a victory in the July 8 Pleasanton Mile.

“He's battling a bruised foot,” O'Neill says. “So we have to play it by ear.”

Also listed as possible for next month's Classic, GISW Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) and MGSW Rattle N Roll (Connect), who is also being considered for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, run on the same day as the Classic.

 

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A Winning Ride For Wonder Ride In Spa Maiden

Wonder Ride (Gun Runner) is by one of the best sires in the sport and comes from a winning barn in the Kenny McPeek stable. But Saratoga bettors overlooked her in Sunday's first race, a seven-furlong dirt maiden for 2-year-old fillies. She was sent off at 10-1.

You probably won't get 10-1 again on her anytime soon. Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Wonder Ride was never far back, but the jockey remained patient. She got rolling near the top of the stretch, split horses and then took over in the final yards to win by a half-length over race favorite Stellamaris (Catalina Cruiser). She covered the distance in 1:24.60.

“We weren't surprised at all,” McPeek said. “She's done everything from the beginning really well.”

That Wonder Ride was able to sit behind horses and allow her jockey to be patient was exactly what McPeek was expecting.

“We want them to sit behind horses and learn to relax,” he said. “I think Julien had the chance to take the bait and send her up in there but he stayed steady and relaxed. That's my typical instructions to my riders. Be patient with young horses and teach them to finish. She's learned her lessons and she's fast and smart. I think she wants to go longer than this.”

Wonder Ride is owned by Scott Leeds's Walking L Thoroughbreds. Leeds is the co-breeder along with Fest Miles. Leeds owned and McPeek trained Wonder Ride's dam, Wonderment (Cosmonaut), the winner of the GIII Bourbonette Oaks.

“Scott has put a lot of heart, energy and money into this game and now he has this filly who has been training like a really good thing,” McPeek said. “I really need to get him a Grade I winner. Fingers crossed, maybe this one is the one. He puts a lot of energy into this game.”

Just a week earlier, Leeds sold Wonder Ride's full sister at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale for $650,000.

1st-Saratoga, $111,300, Msw, 8-13, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:24.60, ft, 1/2 length.
WONDER RIDE (f, 2, Gun Runner–Wonderment {GSW, $394,870}, by Cosmonaut) went off as the 10-1 shot in this debut and though she bobbled at the start, the first timer rated along the rail just off the speed up the backstretch. Rounding the far turn, the gray filly built a head of steam, was initially in tight at the eighth pole, but once she tipped to the outside, she ran on nicely to win by half a length over the favorite Stellamaris (Catalina Cruiser). The winner, whose yearling full-sister was bought for $650,000 by Barstool's Dave Portnoy at last week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, is out of a GIII Bourbonette Oaks winning dam who visited Medaglia d'Oro for next year. Third dam SP Video Babe (T.V. Commercial), a half-sister to GII Forego H. hero Ziggy's Boy (Danzig), is responsible for MGISW Videogenic (Caucasus). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC; B-Walking L Thoroughbreds LLC & Fest Miles (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.

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Cox Team Readies for Next Test at Saratoga

Trainer Brad Cox sent out a host of graded-stakes winners for workouts at Saratoga this weekend, including GI Coaching Club American Oaks winner Wet Paint (Blame), who is targeting Saturday's GI Alabama S.

The Godolphin homebred posted her second work since her Oaks victory, covering five furlongs in 1:02.24 over the Oklahoma dirt training track in company with recent allowance winner and GSP Slip Mahoney.

“1:02 and a super good work,” said Cox. “She's been very steady and very good up here in the mornings. I like the way she came out of it and she's set up to go the mile and a quarter.”

Cox also sent out Godolphin's Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) for a sharp five-furlong move in :59.22 over the Oklahoma track Saturday, her penultimate work before the GI Ballerina H. Aug. 26.

“Awesome work. It was very quick and good, not just quick,” said Cox. “A good gallop out as well, so she's set up for the Ballerina.”

Matareya was last seen finishing third in the June 24

GIII Chicago S. at Ellis behind Steve Asmussen trainee Society (Gun Runner), who also worked five-eighths in 1:00 flat Sunday over the Oklahoma main track.

Victorious in last season's GI Acorn S., Matareya took the GI Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs two starts back.

On Sunday, Miacomet Farm's Heavenly Sunday (Candy Ride) breezed over the Oklahoma training turf in preparation for Saturday's GII Lake Placid S. She was last see finishing second in the July 1 Tepin S. at Ellis.

“She's doing great. It was an awesome breeze, and all of her works here over the turf have been great,” said Cox. “I love her gallop outs and the way she's acting. I'm super pleased with her and hopefully, we get a good setup.”

Cox indicated a decision has not been made as to where Juddmonte's Set Piece would return following a win in Saturday's GI Arlington Million at Colonial Downs.

“I'll talk it over with Prince Khalid and his family and make a decision,” said Cox.

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Daughter Of Omaha Beach Gives Her Sire His First Stakes Win At Ellis

Spendthrift's freshman sire Omaha Beach (by War Front) picked up his first stakes winner Sunday when daughter Hot Beach came from off the pace to take down the Ellis Park Debutante S. Still a maiden since settling for second as the beaten favorite when tackling five furlongs on debut over this track July 7, the dark bay got bet all the way down to 2-1 from her 10-1 morning line. Fourth behind a pair of early longshot leaders in Intermittent Fast (Tapwrit) and Twirling Queen (Twirling Candy), Hot Beach rated patiently before coming with a three-wide charge into the turn to effectively seal the race. Favored Youalmosthadme, who sat further back than usual after a stumble at the break, tried to close into her but Hot Beach had things wrapped up despite never changing leads, going on to win safely.

In addition to being Omaha Beach's first stakes winner, Hot Beach is also her sire's seventh individual winner this year. Already a half-sister to a trio of graded-stakes runners, Hot Beach counts her third dam as champion 3-year-old filly Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat). Her dam foaled a Charlatan filly this year before visiting WinStar's Life Is Good for next season. Click for the Equibase.com chart.

 

ELLIS PARK DEBUTANTE S., $150,000, Ellis, 8-13, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:24.32, ft.
1–HOT BEACH, 118, f, 2, by Omaha Beach
                1st Dam: Hot Water, by Medaglia d'Oro
                2nd Dam: Elusive Heat, by Elusive Quality
                3rd Dam: Xtra Heat, by Dixieland Heat
($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG).
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Cobalt
Investments, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch; J-Declan Cannon.
$88,520. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $103,920. *1/2 to
Tracksmith (Street Sense), SW & GSP, $282,133; Scalding
(Nyquist), MGSW, $325,800; Hot and Sultry (Speightster),
SW & GISP, $409,970.
2–Riperton, 120, f, 2, Constitution–Kimberlea K, by Indian
Evening. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-OXO Equine LLC (KY); T-Paulo
Lobo. $30,200.
3–Youalmosthadme, 122, f, 2, Oxbow–Good Gator, by Good
and Tough. ($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing LLC,
Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Black Type
Thoroughbreds; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope
McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $14,600.
Margins: 2, 3/4, NK. Odds: 2.20, 7.26, 0.96.
Also Ran: Tx Women for Arts, Twirling Queen, Edistrudis, Grace Given, Easy Red, Intermittent Fast. Scratched: Dancing Princess.

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