Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Zedan Racing Stables' MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) will skip Saturday's GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap, at Belmont Park.
Taiba worked seven-furlongs in 1:27.40 Friday at Santa Anita in what was to be his final prep for the one-turn mile. He has not raced since an eighth-place effort in the G1 Saudi Cup February 25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.
“His works have been good, but not like I'd like to see them. I just don't think he's ready for something like that yet,” said Baffert. “I'm going to wait and run him at Del Mar. He's doing well, but not well enough for the Met Mile. To run in the Met Mile, you have to bring your 'A' game and I don't think he's quite there yet.”
“I don't know if he's ready to go a mile against top horses,” Baffert conceded. “He's not quite back to where he was. That's a long way to go to run against Cody's Wish.”
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan's GI Preakness S. winner National Treasure (Quality Road) is slated to breeze Monday in preparation for the GI Belmont S.
Baffert said he is hopeful that National Treasure will appreciate the added ground in the 1 1/2-mile “Test of the Champion.”
“You never know until they do it,” Baffert said. “He handled the Preakness distance and it wasn't a problem for him. We're all in the same boat. None of them probably want to go that far, but if they don't go too fast, they can do it.
“I just want him to show up like he did at Pimlico,” added Baffert. “He's never really run a bad race. All his races have been competitive. He's a pretty consistent horse. He's happy and he'll breeze tomorrow and hopefully everything goes well.”
Zedan Racing Stables' graded-stakes placed Arabian Lion (Justify), a winner of the Sir Barton S. last time out, was initially under consideration for Saturday's Belmont S. but Baffert decided to point him to the GI Woody Stephens instead.
“On the turnback, sometimes they run well. We'll send him back to two turns again after that,” Baffert said.
A deluge of some 270 ml of rain–that's better than 10 inches for those of us less acquainted with the metric system–fell over the Tokyo Racecourse Friday and into early Saturday, leaving the turf course officially soft for the first of the two days of weekend racing.
Sunday dawned with perfect weather and by the time the field entered the gates for the G1 Yasuda Kinen, the course had been upgraded to good-to-firm, and that played right into the hands of Sunday Racing's Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who came storming home down the centre to successfully defend her title in the spring mile feature. She joins Yamanin Zephyr (Jpn) (1992-93) and the great Vodka (Jpn) (2008, 2009) in putting wins back-to-back and is the third winner of the Yasuda Kinen in the last four years to carry the Sunday Racing black-and-red colours.
Sent off the fourth betting pick at 32-5, largely owing to her widest draw in 18, Songline was alertly away and settled just ahead of midfield and wide as Win Carnelian (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) set a predicatbly furious tempo in advance of G1 Osaka Hai hero Jack d'Or (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) and the white mare Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune). Four off the rail and without cover for a time down the back of the course, Songline was eased back a spot or two by Keita Tosaki and critically managed to draft in behind recent G1 NHK Mile Cup winner Champagne Color (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) racing down the side.
Win Carnelian led narrowly into the long straight, but was soon besieged by Jack d'Or, who nosed in front with just shy of 400 metres to race. The chestnut, trying the mile for the first time, battled on bravely despite the demanding pace and took them deep into the final furlong, but Songline, switched off heels once heads were turned for home, was rallying strongly and raced over the top for the victory. Serifos (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), a forward factor throughout, bid one off the fence in the late stages and was just home for second ahead of favoured Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), who finished his final 600 metres in a race-fastest :32.8. It was the latter's third straight Yasuda Kinen placing, having finished third in 2021 after beating Songline in the NHK Mile Cup and second last year.
Songline has been sparingly raced since her win last year, and was only 10th in defence of her title in the G3 1351 Turf Sprint in Riyadh in February before besting Sodashi last time in the May 14 G1 Victoria Mile.
“I was able to gallop her last week and felt that her form had improved, so I had every confidence in her today,” said Tosaki, who took the 2011 Yasuda Kinen aboard Real Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and was winning his 11th JRA Group 1. “The position we found was ideal, she responded beautifully and demonstrated her strong turn of foot and speed today. To score two Group 1 wins in a row is just incredible and I feel she is still steadily progressing.”
The Yasuda Kinen serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Songline, who also earned a berth in the Filly & Mare Turf via the Victoria Mile success, was an intended runner in last year's Mile, but plans were scuppered due to inflammation in her epiglottis. Connections confirmed she will be pointed towards this year's Mile, to be held at Santa Anita Nov. 4.
Pedigree Notes:
Songline is the most accomplished runner by Kizuna, easily the best sire son of the late Deep Impact (Jpn) to date. The homebred is one of 22 black-type and 12 group winners for the 2013 G1 Tokyo Yushun hero, whose other elite-level scorer is G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200m) victress Akai Ito (Jpn). Himself victorious in the 2013 G2 Prix Niel and fourth to Treve (Fr) in that year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Kizuna has also made an impression on foreign soil as a sire, as his son Deep Bond (Jpn) took out the G2 Qatar Prix Foy ahead of an Arc appearance in 2021, while Bathrat Leon (Jpn) posted surprise victories in the 2022 G2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai and in this year's 1351 Turf Sprint.
Songline's second dam was kin to three Japanese stakes winners, while her great-granddam not only bred a trio of black-type winners, but is also responsible for Reizend (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}). She serves as the dam of the globetrotting Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}), who won the 2019 G1 Qatar Nassau S. while placing in the G1 Hong Kong Cup and G1 Dubai Turf.
Luminous Parade is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Sonic Line (Jpn) (Real Impact {Jpn}), a yearling full-brother to Songline and foaled a colt by Satono Diamond (Jpn) Apr. 21.
Sunday, Tokyo, Japan YASUDA KINEN-G1, ¥347,400,000, Tokyo, 6-4, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:31.40, gd/fm.
1–SONGLINE (JPN), 123, m, 5, by Kizuna (Jpn) 1st Dam: Luminous Parade (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S 2nd Dam: Luminous Point (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn) 3rd Dam: Soninke (GB), by Machiavellian
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; T-Toru Hayashi; J-Keita Tosaki; ¥183,780,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-KSA, 15-7-2-1, $6,030,499. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Serifos (Jpn), 128, c, 4, Daiwa Major (Jpn)–Sea Front (Fr), by Le Havre (Ire). O-G1 Racing; B-Oiwake Farm; ¥73,080,000.
3–Schnell Meister (Ger), 128, h, 5, Kingman (GB)–Serienholde (Ger), by Soldier Hollow (GB). O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥45,540,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, HD, NK. Odds: 6.40, 4.80, 3.20.
Also Ran: Gaia Force (Jpn), Jack d'Or (Jpn), Red Mon Reve (Jpn), Sodashi (Jpn), Win Carnelian (Jpn), Soul Rush (Jpn), Elusive Panther (Jpn), Matenro Orion (Jpn), Cafe Pharoah, Danon Scorpion (Jpn), Champagne Color (Jpn), Meikei Yell (Jpn), Namur (Jpn), Naran Huleg (Jpn), Dolce More (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.
Window Shopping (American Pharoah) pounced on long-time leader Ancient Peace (War Front) with a furlong to run in Saturday's GII Summertime Oaks and edged away late to a first win at the graded stakes level.
Beaten for speed, the $700,000 Keeneland September purchase settled between rivals just behind the pace which was set inside by GI Kentucky Oaks third The Alys Look (Connect) with outside pressure from Ancient Peace. The well-backed second favorite, The Alys Look began to back out of it with three-eighths of a mile to race, leaving Ancient Peace alone on the lead, while farther back, Lily Poo (Tapiture) was traveling ominously well and loomed a threat three deep into the stretch. Ancient Peace battled on bravely at the fence, but Window Shopping kept grinding away beneath Hector Berrios, grabbed the front-runner with less than a furlong to travel and inched clear.
A troubled sixth in a one-mile turf maiden at Del Mar last November, Window Shopping romped by 16 1/2 lengths in an off-turf test going a mile here Mar. 17. That effort earned her a shot at the Apr. 8 GII Santa Anita Oaks and the chestnut gave a decent account of herself when seven lengths third and beaten just a half-length for second behind the then-unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin).
Pedigree Notes:
Window Shopping is the 36th worldwide stakes winner and 22nd group/graded winner for Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Window Shopping's dam posted her career high in the 2015 GIII Monmouth Oaks and was second to America (A.P. Indy) in that year's GIII Turnback the Alarm H. Connections had her in training for a time at four in 2016, but she did not make another trip to the races and was purchased by International Equities Holding for $700,000 at Keeneland January in 2017, the second priciest offering of the auction.
Delightful Joy's first foal was Zainalarab (War Front), a $1-million graduate of the 2019 Keeneland September Sale, before Window Shopping was hammered down to Steve Young for $700,000 at the same event two years later. Delightful Joy is also represented by a yearling Into Mischief filly and was most recently covered by the same sire.
The cross of American Pharoah over Tapit mares has resulted in GISW Harvey's Lil Goil and Japanese listed winner Reframe.
Saturday, Santa Anita SUMMERTIME OAKS-GII, $201,000, Santa Anita, 6-3, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:45.01, ft.
1–WINDOW SHOPPING, 120, f, 3, by American Pharoah 1st Dam: Delightful Joy (GSW, $179,200), by Tapit 2nd Dam: Graeme Six, by Graeme Hall 3rd Dam: Polish Ruby, by Polish Pro 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($700,000
Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Perry R. Bass II and Ramona S Bass.;
B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Richard E.
Mandella; J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $120,000. Lifetime Record:
4-2-0-1, $208,700. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ancient Peace, 120, f, 3, War Front–Deceptive Vision, by
A.P. Indy. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($180,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG; $650,000 3yo '23 KEEJAN).
O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-John W.
Sadler. $40,000.
3–Lily Poo, 120, f, 3, Tapiture–Cool Moves, by Hold Me Back. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners;
B-Michael Meeks (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $24,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, 3. Odds: 3.50, 15.70, 15.10.
Also Ran: Anywho, Doinitthehardway, The Alys Look, And Tell Me Nolies. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Robert LaPenta, e Five Thoroughbred Racing and Madaket Stables' Kalik (Collected) took control of Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S. in the first sixteenth of a mile, was beautifully rated from the front by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and had enough in the tank to hold off 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) and Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the stepping-stone to the GI Belmont Derby in five weeks' time. In so doing, he was becoming the second graded stakes winner in the space of 15 days for his Airdrie Stud-based sire (by City Zip) after Taxed caused an 11-1 surprise in the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan S. on Preakness weekend.
“On paper, he [Kalik] was lone speed,” said trainer Chad Brown, winning the race for the third time. “He's a class horse with a lot of quality to him. We thought on paper that if he could get out there and control the race, he would at least have a final say.”
Sometimes things go exactly according to script. Kalik won the break and headed off his rivals prior to the first corner, covering the opening couple of furlongs in :24.69 and the half in a hassle-free and the half in an equally comfortable :49.17. Going along nicely within himself on the second turn, Kalik kicked over onto his right lead with about a furlong and a half to race and proved not for catching. Far Bridge was under heavy urging three furlongs out and at one point was more or less the back marker, but jumped back into the bridle and weaved his way through to just beat Silver Knott out of second.
Well-beaten on his main-track debut at Aqueduct in September, Kalik perked up with a runner-up effort going two turns on the grass down the Cross Island Oct. 23 and headed south for the winter. The $80,000 FTKNOV weanling turned $200,000 KEESEP yearling validated even-money support on his return St. Patrick's Day at Gulfstream and made it two straight with an all-the-way allowance score over a mile and sixteenth of this course May 7.
“The horse really just blossomed over the winter,” Brown continued. “He put a bunch of weight on and he matured. He was like an immature teenager last year. He always trained well, but he was just a stick figure kind of horse. Now he's filled out and turned into a real man.”
While the July 8 Belmont Derby is an obvious near-team objective, Ontario-bred Kalik could pay a visit to the Great White North over the coming months.
“In the summertime, if he stays healthy, I'm really interested in the [Aug. 20 C$1-million] King's Plate,” Brown said. “It's a race we've never won and it's an interesting idea for this horse down the road.”
Pedigree Notes:
Kalik's dam is a daughter of the talented multiple graded winner Sara Louise, whose Grade III-winning half-sister Just Louise (Five Star Day) produced two-time GSW and GISP Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah). After foaling a Hard Spun filly in 2022, Coronation Street was offered pregnant to Collected at last summer's Fasig-Tipton Selected Horses of All Ages Sale, but was bought back when bidding stalled out at $11,000. She produced a full-sister to Kalik this past Mar. 25.
Kalik and Taxed are the bookends of a seriously productive couple of weeks for Collected. Two days after the Black-Eyed Susan, Conclude took the Desert Code S. on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita, while Playground Legend won her maiden at Monmouth May 28 and Royal Velvet and second-crop colt Gewurztraminer graduated at Pimlico and Churchill, respectively, on May 29. Collected was also represented by his first Japanese winner when the Shadai-bred Collectanea broke through Saturday at Tokyo.
Saturday, Belmont PENNINE RIDGE S.-GII, $200,000, Belmont, 6-3, 3yo, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.85, fm.
1–KALIK, 118, c, 3, by Collected 1st Dam: Coronation Street, by Street Cry (Ire) 2nd Dam: Sara Louise, by Malibu Moon 3rd Dam: Kings Lynn, by Mt. Livermore 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($80,000
Wlg '20 FTKNOV; $200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Robert V.
LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables
LLC; B-Peter A. Berglar Racing Interests, LLC & Anderson Farms
(Ontario) (ON); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $110,000.
Lifetime Record: 5-3-1-0, $224,675. *1/2 to Bringer of Rain
(Twirling Candy), GSP, $116,910. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Far Bridge, 118, c, 3, English Channel–Fitpitcher, by Kitten's
Joy. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-LSU Stables; B-Calumet Farm (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher. $40,000.
3–Silver Knott (GB), 120, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–God Given
(GB), by Nathaniel (Ire). (725,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT).
O-Godolphin, LLC; B-St Albans Bloodstock LLP (GB); T-Charles
Appleby. $24,000.
Margins: 1, HD, 2. Odds: 2.95, 1.75, 1.55.
Also Ran: Lachaise, Freedom Trail, Congruent, Belouni (Fr). Scratched: Sharar. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
