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Forte Survives Inquiry in Jim Dandy Thriller

Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion Forte (Violence) just got up to nail the pacesetting Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) by a nose and had to survive a stewards' inquiry in a roughly run renewal of Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. in the Saratoga slop.

Racing with blinkers for the first time, the 3-4 favorite traveled kindly on the inside in third beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. as Saudi Crown led the field of five through fractions of :23.93 and :48.10.

All dressed up with nowhere to go approaching the quarter pole, Ortiz Jr. forced his way out at the top of the stretch and Forte bumped repeatedly with Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) as they straightened. Racing in between rivals down the lane, Forte kept on fighting from very tight quarters and showed the heart of a champion to nail the narrow GIII Dwyer S. runner-up, who was drifting out several paths late himself, on the money.

“You're the one with a target on your back and you've got another stable (Brad Cox) with three horses in there,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We were expecting some race tactics. I think once he was able to get himself in the clear and the horse on the lead (Saudi Crown) kept drifting out, out, out and maybe into the eight path at one point. Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] said that compromised him a little bit from moving forward sooner.”

Pletcher added, “He loves the game. He's always been that way, he's always trained super. He's very competitive in the afternoons, he's an intelligent horse.”

Ortiz Jr. said, “I was close to the rail (looking for room in stretch run). The horse in front stayed there. I had a chance to hit the clear, I did. As soon as I hit the clear, my horse go forward.

He continued, “The horse in front, I don't know if he see something, but he was getting out bad. He kept coming out, coming out, but I'm on his heels. It was hard to stop at the moment of the race. I was right there. I was close to making the lead. At the same time, I have the other horse (Angel of Empire), finally we get straight and he corrects his horse and we get to the wire and thank God, we get a head in front at the end.”

The Jim Dandy is the traditional local prep for the GI Travers S. Aug. 26, a race that Pletcher had indicated is the main summer goal for Forte.

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Forte, scratched on the morning of the GI Kentucky Derby with a well-documented foot bruise, ran a strong second in the 1 1/2-mile GI Belmont S. while making his first start since capturing the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 1.

Forte's connections are currently appealing his disqualification from a win in last summer's GI Hopeful S. at Saratoga due to the presence of meloxicam in his system.

Pedigree Notes:

Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola bought 43 yearlings for more than $16 million to top the sheets for the first of two straight years at the 2021 Keeneland September sale. Forte was a $110,000 purchase out of that auction.

Forte is one of six top-level winners for Violence. Forte's broodmare sire Blame has 14 stakes/six graded winners out of his daughters.

Forte is the first foal out of Queen Caroline, with her now-juvenile colt Dr. Park (Uncle Mo) hammering for $850,000 to Mayberry Farm at Keeneland September. Her third dam is the MGSW Jeano (Fappiano), whose descendants also include champions Folklore (Tiznow) and Essential Quality (Tapit); Japanese champion Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}); and additional GISW Come Dancing (Malibu Moon). The family traces tail-female to the great La Troienne through her Broodmare of the Year granddaughter by War Admiral, Striking.

Saturday, Saratoga Race Course
JIM DANDY S. PRESENTED BY DK HORSE-GII, $485,000,
Saratoga, 7-29, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.61, sy.
1–FORTE, 124, c, 3, by Violence
                1st Dam: Queen Caroline (MSW, $401,608), by Blame
                2nd Dam: Queens Plaza, by Forestry
                3rd Dam: Kew Garden, by Seattle Slew
($80,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $110,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable; B-South Gate Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $275,000. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 9-7-1-0, $2,954,830. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Saudi Crown, 118, c, 3, Always Dreaming–New Narration, by Tapit. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-FMQ Stables; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $100,000.
3–Angel of Empire, 124, c, 3, Classic Empire–Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve. ($32,000 RNA Wlg '20 KEENOV; $70,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Forgotten Land Investment Inc & Black Diamond Equine Corp (PA); T-Brad H. Cox. $60,000.
Margins: NO, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 0.75, 3.50, 5.70.
Also Ran: Disarm, Hit Show.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

 

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Justify’s Heartland Impresses In ‘Rising Star’ Debut At Del Mar

When Hall of Famer Bob Baffert debuts a well-bred 2-year-old colt at Del Mar's summer meeting, the horse racing world pauses to pay attention. Taking money opposite the MyRacehorse entry of A Day to Remember (American Pharoah), Heartland (Justify) proved his mettle with a near last-to-first effort to become the newest 'TDN Rising Star'.

Off at 4-5 as the gates opened, the race looked like it may be over for the colt before it even began when Heartland ducked to the inside in the opening strides and nearly unseated jockey Juan Hernandez. Now racing next to last as the field carried on up front, the Baffert trainee never looked panicked, rating nicely through an opening quarter in :21.23 set by Slider (Jimmy Creed) and A Day to Remember racing in tandem. Still with just one horse beat into the far turn, Heartland began to make up ground, first overtaking the second flight of Invincible (Uncle Mo) and Head Lad (St Patrick's Day) before spinning through a wide gap along the fence to draw even with the pacesetters a furlong from the wire. Doing his best running late, Heartland cruised by Slider and opened up for the decisive victory before galloping out a mile ahead of the competition.

The seventh 'Rising Star' for second-crop sire Justify, who was a 'Rising Star' himself, Heartland will surely seek to follow in the footsteps of his half-brother, champion 2-year-old colt, MGISW, and young sire Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile). Sambuca Classica, herself a daughter of SW/MGISP In Her Glory, is also responsible for Exclamation Point (Concord Point), SP, $290,540, Anytime Magic (Fusaichi Pegasus), MSW, $202,945 and Uptown Twirl (Twirling Candy), MSW, $170,714. More recently, she foaled a yearling filly from the first crop of Eclipse Champion older dirt male Improbable (City Zip) but failed to report a foal this year when bred to Quality Road. She was part of the first book of mares to visit MGISW Life Is Good (Into Mischief) for a 2024 foal.

1st-Del Mar, $82,500, Msw, 7-29, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 1:03.20, ft, 2 lengths.
HEARTLAND, c, 2, Justify
                1st Dam: Sambuca Classica, by Cat Thief
                2nd Dam: In Her Glory, by Miswaki
                3rd Dam: Forever Waving, by Hoist the Flag
Sales History: $575,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP. 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-CHC INC., Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

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Elite Power Noses Out Gunite In Vanderbilt, Keeps Win Streak Going

Now, that's how you celebrate a birthday.

Champion sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) came charging down the sealed, sloppy stretch at Saratoga to nail Gunite (Gun Runner) by a head in Saturday's GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. on Hall of Famer Bill Mott's 70th birthday.

Racing over a wet surface for the first time, the even-money favorite was sixth though an opening quarter in :22.64. He was tipped out by Irad Ortiz, Jr. approaching the quarter pole and set his sights on the aforementioned slight second choice, who enjoyed first run and was beginning to get away. Elite Power was just getting started, however, and kept on motoring home to get there in dramatic fashion to win his eighth straight.

“It looked like Gunite certainly had the jump on him turning for home,” Mott said. “Great, great, great effort on this horse. He's a big, strong horse, heavy horse. He handled (the off track) well, but it doesn't have to be his best surface and I think it's great. There was that question beforehand. You just don't know. It's like trying a new distance for the first time. When you try a new track surface, you just don't know what's going to happen. But class came through.”

Elite Power's winning streak also includes last term's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 5, the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia Feb. 25 and the GII True North S. at Belmont Park June 10.

“For him to put up a streak like this against top competition just really boils down to him being a really good horse,” Mott said. They don't do it by accident.”

Mott added that Elite Power would likely target the GI Forego S. at Saratoga Aug. 26.

Pedigree Notes:

Elite Power, a $900,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by Juddmonte, is one of 54 graded winners, 20 at the Grade I level, for the mighty Curlin.

Broodmare sire Vindication, the unbeaten winner of the 2002 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Arlington, is responsible for 12 graded winners, six at the top level.

Elite Power is bred on the same Curlin/Vindication cross as GI Preakness S. winner Exaggerator. Elite Power's dam Broadway's Alibi, a MGSW & GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up and Robsham homebred, brought $2.15 million from Alpha Delta Stables while in foal to Smart Strike at the 2013 KEENOV sale. Broadway's Alibi is also represented by a Curlin colt of 2021.

Elite Power's fourth dam is champion 2-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Eliza (Mt. Livermore). This is also the family of GISW and young sire Dialed In (Mineshaft).

“(The late) Prince Khalid was the one that wanted to win the Kentucky Derby,” Juddmonte's Garrett O'Rourke said. “We bought this guy by Curlin out of a mare that was second in the Kentucky Oaks. That was our dream. But this is a very, very good consolation prize. That was Prince Khalid's idea and dream at the time, but now we've moved on to his sons who are taking a tremendous interest and they're the ones carrying this forward. I'm thanking them for the point of view of Juddmonte and I think it's great for the whole legacy of Juddmonte that they're carrying it through.”

 

Saturday, Saratoga
ALFRED G. VANDERBILT H.-GI, $350,000, Saratoga, 7-29, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.22, sy.
1–ELITE POWER, 126, h, 5, by Curlin
           1st Dam: Broadway's Alibi (MGSW & GISP, $521,500), by Vindication
           2nd Dam: Broadway Gold, by Seeking the Gold
           3rd Dam: Miss Doolittle, by Storm Cat
($900,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Juddmonte; B-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.. $192,500. Lifetime Record: Ch. Sprinter, 11-8-0-1, $2,635,711. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Gunite, 124, c, 4, Gun Runner–Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $70,000.
3–Dean Delivers, 120, g, 4, Cajun Breeze–Slick and True, by Yes It's True. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Stonehedge LLC (FL); T-Michael Yates. $42,000.
Margins: HD, 6 1/4, 5. Odds: 1.10, 1.20, 9.50.
Also Ran: Gun It, Synthesis, Awesome Aaron, Little Vic.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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Occult Dominates Rivals in Monmouth Oaks

It was a Halloween exacta come early as Occult (Into Mischief) dominated the GIII Monmouth Oaks over a determined Foggy Night (Khozan), giving jockey Feargal Lynch the black-type double in New Jersey.

Steadied last out in the GI Acorn at Big Sandy, but recovering well enough to finish third, the 7-5 favorite had already tasted success early this year in New York as the Busanda S. victress at Aqueduct before running fifth in the GIII Gazelle behind Promiseher America (American Pharoah).

Racing four wide after the jump and settling well in that spot off the rail, she was content to watch the contest unfold from seventh as the leading flight debated the pace. Advancing on the backside and five wide into the far bend, Occult caught the eye as she effortlessly circled the field to take charge at the top of the lane. Widening with every stride, she drew off from her rivals and left them 10 1/4 lengths in her wake as Foggy Night and Riding Pretty closed out the trifecta.

“She's a very big filly who needs time to find her stride and get into a nice rhythm. She'll keep going all day once she gets into her stride, so stamina was never an issue with her. I saw there was some cheap speed in here, so I let them go,” said the winning rider. “At the half-mile pole, I was just trying to find a way clear. Because she's such a big striding filly, you think you're going nowhere. But when I watch the replay, I am sure I will be impressed with the way she was moving. It's all about rhythm and momentum with a big horse like that.”

When asked if he'd been given any specific instructions to adhere to, Lynch replied: “Chad Brown never really ties you down with any instructions. He's great to ride for that way. We have a lot of faith in each other. He just said `get a good trip and win.'”

A half-sister to a pair of accomplished Tapits in Exulting and Magical, the latter with her own 2-year-old daughter by Into Mischief named Illusion, Occult is the most recent black-type runner for their dam and the 65th winner at the graded level for her sire. She has a 2-year-old full-brother Imagination and a 2023 half-brother already named Make My Day (Gun Runner).

 

Saturday, Monmouth Park
MONMOUTH OAKS-GIII, $272,500, Monmouth, 7-29, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.74, ft.
1–OCCULT, 119, f, 3, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Magical Feeling (GSW & GISP, $554,532), by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Magical Mood (GB), by Forestry
3rd Dam: Good Mood, by Devil's Bag
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($625,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Alpha Delta Stables, LLC; B-Peter E Blum Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Feargal Lynch. $150,000. Lifetime Record: GISP, 6-3-0-1, $327,450. *1/2 to Magical (Tapit), SW, $164,550; and Exulting (Tapit), MSW, $687,370. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click  for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free  Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Foggy Night, 121, f, 3, Khozan–Settling Seas, by Stormy Atlantic. ($20,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Pine Brook Farm; B-Brent & Crystal Fernung (FL); T-Robert E Reid Jr. $50,000.
3–Riding Pretty, 116, f, 3, Jack Milton–High Renaissance, by Girolamo. 1ST BLACK-TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK-TYPE. O/B-Holly Crest Farm (NJ); T-Eddie Owens Jr. $35,000.
Margins: 10 1/4, 1 1/4, HF. Odds: 1.40, 2.80, 27.50.
Also Ran: Atthecrossroads, Promiseher America, Seduction, Vegas Magic, Miss New York, Shidabhuti, Ruthanne. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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