Tag: Top News

‘Everything Looks Good’ With Rhyme Schemes After Saratoga Special Win

Pura Vida Investments' Rhyme Schemes (Ghostzapper), winner of Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S., exited his easy victory in good form Sunday, according to trainer Norm Casse, who charted a fall campaign for the colt.

“Everything looks good [Sunday] morning and he seems happy; no complaints,” said Casse, who celebrated his fifth career graded victory. “Overall, it's so rewarding. I've been doing this for a long time and Saratoga is an iconic place–the Saratoga Special is an iconic race. Just to be involved is humbling, and to win it is something to be really proud of.”

Sixth on debut in May at Churchill Downs, he rebounded with the addition of blinkers to score at second asking June 15 at Ellis.     He proved his versatility in the Saratoga Special while winning under regular rider Ricardo Santana, Jr.

“He's a true professional,” said Casse. “We don't have to do too much with him because he's so talented; we just let him go through the motions between races, and that's good enough for him. That's what's most exciting about him is the fact that we haven't really had to grind on him to get him to this place where he is now.”

The colt will now be pointed to the Spa's seven-furlong GI Hopeful S. Sept. 4, which will likely be used a springboard to Keeneland's GI Breeders' Futurity going a 1 1/16-miles on Oct. 7.

“Unless he suggests otherwise, I think that's the most rational thing to do,” said Casse. “I know he's still a fresh horse and I can't imagine why he can't come back in three weeks and run just as well. Ideally, the Hopeful will be next and then the Breeders' Futurity after that. The way he trains and his overall demeanor suggests he's a two-turn horse. The horses have the answers, so we'll figure it out as we do it.”

In the juvenile filly division, Casse is represented by recent maiden winner Empire Island (Classic Empire), who is possible to try Grade I company in the Sept. 3 Spinaway S. A homebred for Marylou Whitney Stables, Empire Island came from off the pace to earn a 3/4-length score over Lady Moscato (Quality Road) in a six-furlong maiden special weight Aug. 6.

“There's a slight chance she could come back in the Spinaway, but she's going to have to train herself into that spot,” said Casse. “I feel like she's kind of the opposite of Rhyme Schemes in that we had to press on her a little bit more. It seems like the race took a little more out of her. That's a pretty salty spot, and I need a fresh, ready horse for that.”

Casse added that Robert Masterson's GII Fair Grounds Oaks winner Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) remains possible for Saturday's GI Alabama S., but is also considering the Cathryn Sophia S. Aug. 22 at Parx.

“There's an outside chance she could run in the Alabama, but she's got multiple options,” said Casse. “I'm leaning towards running her in something a little less demanding. I feel like she's lost her mojo a little bit and it's my job to get that back. Sometimes, the best way to do that is a little bit of class relief.”

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Baffert Firster Has Things Down To A ‘T’: A 40th Rising Star for Into Mischief

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Pastor T (c, 2, Into Mischief–Top Quality, by Quality Road) covered stacks of ground from a wide draw, but overcame the tough trip to graduate by 4 1/4 impressive lengths to be named the afternoon's second 'TDN Rising Star', the 40th of the all-conquering Into Mischief's sons and daughters to be accorded such honors.

The colt's worktab–both at Santa Anita and over the local strip–didn't so much whisper 'ready' as much as it screamed it and the bay was duly dispatched as a 2-5 mortal to open his account for a barn that strikes with nearly three of every 10 firsters. Drawn eight of eight, Pastor T was one of the first to break the line, but several others were equally smartly away meaning that the heavy favorite was trapped out off the track through an opening quarter-mile in a strong :21.79. Ridden along three furlongs out, Pastor T commenced his wide rally and was more or less on even terms with second-timer I Win Again (Speightstown) at the quarter pole. Juan Hernandez threw his mount over onto his right lead at the furlong grounds and Pastor T took care of the rest, gliding home an easy winner.

A $280,000 Keeneland September yearling, Top Quality–a full-sister to SW Boston Post Road–was a three-time stakes winner in the Pacific Northwest and in British Columbia and was hammered down to WinStar for $335,000 at Keeneland January in 2019. She was mated with the late More Than Ready as a maiden mare, and the results were positive, as American Speed gained black-type with a runner-up effort in this year's Leonatus S. at Turfway Park for these connections. The yearling full-sister to Pastor T was bought back on a bid of $725,000 at this week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, and Top Quality produced an Uncle Mo colt this term before visiting Justify.

The cross of Into Mischief over Quality Road is now responsible for four winners from five starters. Three of Into Mischief's 17 Grade I winners are out of mares sired by Gone West-line stallions (Authentic, Mia Mischief, Mischievous Alex) and that same cross is found in an additional four of Into Mischief's graded winners.

8th-Del Mar, $83,000, Msw, 8-12, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:04.15, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
PASTOR T, c, 2, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Top Quality (SW & GSP-Can, MSW-USA, $139,704), by Quality Road
2nd Dam: Lemon Bay, by Bernardini
3rd Dam: Sweet Fervor, by Seeking the Gold
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,200. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree, or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-Siena Farm LLC & WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

 

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With Determined Run, Deterministic Tops Loaded Saratoga Maiden

It wasn't that Deterministic (Liam's Map) blew away the field in Saturday's fifth race at Saratoga, enroute to earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors. The $625,000 Keeneland September purchase won by just a half-length over 24-1 shot Hurricane Nelson (Khozan). But considering who he beat and how he did it, Deterministic very well may have a bright future.

“There's so much promise when you win a race like this,” said co-owner and NYRA Board member Steven Duncker. “This was a war out there today. Everybody liked their horses and they ran pretty fast. You want to live in the moment, but it's hard not to think of the future.”

In the eight-horse field, seven of the horses had sold at auction and the collective sales price was $2,925,000. That includes the $950,000 paid for Chaperone ($950,000) and the $525,000 paid for 6-5 favorite Eliminate (Curlin).

As the field broke from the gate in the seven-furlong test, things didn't look good for Deterministic. The Christophe Clement trainee, ridden by Joel Rosario, was seventh up the backstretch. Approaching the turn, Deterministic was in threatening position, but he was six-wide and would have to catch Hurricane Nelson, who grabbed a clear lead after putting away Informed Patriot (Hard Spun), the full-brother to GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Spun to Run (Hard Spun).

Deterministic is owned by the partnership of Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Duncker and Vicarage Stable. Duncker said that Deterministic is among the first group of horses he has owned with Viola.

“We've been friends with Vinnie for a long time and we all know of his success,” Duncker said. “He was nice enough to come to us and say let's get a group together and split them up between Christophe and Todd (Pletcher). It's been a great process. With owning horses, the consumption comes before the race. We've had a lot of fun with this for six, eight months. You bond a little more when that's the case. I've got to give a lot of credit to Vinnie for being such a great partner. He's an incredible guy and his team has made this special for us.”

Owned and trained by Gustavo Delgado, the trainer of GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic), the lone homebred in the race, turned in a strong performance to finish second. Eliminate, who is owned by the partnership of Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable, was third, beaten four lengths.

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Flameaway’s Dreamfyre Streaks Home to Score in Sorrento

Dreamfyre (f, 2, Flameaway–Appreciating, by Sky Mesa) debuted in a Pleasanton stakes against the boys and put on a similar performance here against the graded stakes-quality fillies in the GIII Sorrento S. Once again on the lead from the jump, Dreamfyre would not let any go by her in the lane and spurted home in 1:10.52 as Benedetta (City of Light) ran on for second. Well-regarded Dua (Arrogate) had to settle for third.

Sales history: $130,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR. O-Danny A. Eplin; B-John C. Oxley; T-O. J. Jauregui.

 

Saturday, Del Mar
SORRENTO S. PRESENTED BY KEENELAND SALES-GIII, $201,000, Del Mar, 8-12, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.52, ft.
1–DREAMFYRE, 120, f, 2, by Flameaway
           1st Dam: Appreciating (GSP, $105,093), by Sky Mesa
           2nd Dam: Hello Barbara Sue, by Dehere
           3rd Dam: Barbara Sue, by Big Spruce
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $140,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Danny A. Eplin; B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-O. J. Jauregui; J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $165,000. *1/2 to Nasreddine (Nyquist), GISP. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Benedetta, 118, f, 2, City of Light–Tessie Flip, by Grand Slam. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($290,000 RNA Ylg '22 KEESEP; $750,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR). O-Kaleem Shah, Inc.; B-Springhouse Farm & Dromoland Farm (KY); T-Simon Callaghan. $40,000.
3–Dua, 120, f, 2, Arrogate–Attempt to Name, by Consolidator. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($400,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Wynnstay INC, Donna Moore & Jim Richardson (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: 3HF, 7 1/4, HF. Odds: 3.60, 1.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Motet, Ur in Trouble, Vinos Angel, Kythira. Scratched: Feisty Mitole.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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