Tag: Top News

Annapolis Returns A Winner In Opening Verse

Barring his disastrous start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile last fall, Annapolis has been the picture of consistency throughout his career–never placing worse than second in seven prior starts dating back to Sept. 2021. The 'TDN Rising Star' earned success at the highest level with his win in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. leading into that Breeders' Cup, where a missed break derailed his race. Despite an awkward beginning to Thursday's feature race at Churchill, Annapolis was able to establish good stalking position in sixth, content to sit behind horses as Get Smokin (Get Stormy) paced the field through easy opening fractions of :24.29 and :49.33. As space opened up for his move, Annapolis swung out and swept into contention with an eye-catching rally exiting the far turn. Still hung on the outside down the lane, he took aim on late leader Churchtown and just had the time to drive by, nailing his rival in the final jumps to post the narrow victory.

“He got the job done today,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. “Luis [Saez] was riding, and I was riding, and coming to the wire, he got his head in front. In the Breeders' Cup Mile (GI), he stumbled at the break, but I kept asking, and he kept trying. And he was facing some very good horses. It's nice to see him back and in great condition. Hopefully, he'll have another great year.”

Out of GSW/MGISP My Miss Sophia, Annapolis has a 2-year-old full-brother, Eisenhower, and a newborn half-sister by Gun Runner. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

OPENING VERSE S., $297,500, Churchill Downs, 5-4, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:35.73, fm.
1–ANNAPOLIS, 124, c, 4, War Front–My Miss Sophia (GSW &
MGISP, $605,040), by Unbridled's Song. 'TDN Rising Star'.
O/B-Bass Stables, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$175,270. Lifetime Record: GISW, 9-6-2-0, $1,341,370. *Full to
Nevisian Sunrise, SP, $196,180.
2–Churchtown, 120, g, 4, Air Force Blue–Complicated, by
Blame. ($65,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $40,000 RNA Ylg '20
KEESEP). O/B-William Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo (KY);
T-Roger L. Attfield. $56,700.
3–Set Piece (GB), 120, g, 7, Dansili (GB)–Portodora, by
Kingmambo. O/B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Brad H.
Cox. $25,850.
Margins: HD, 2, HD. Odds: 0.83, 7.88, 3.70.
Also Ran: English Bee, Stitched, Get Smokin, Kentucky Ghost, Time to Party, Gray's Fable, Camp Hope, Native Thunder. Scratched: Sky and Sand.

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Kentucky Derby Report: Eventful Thursday Morning Beneath the Twin Spires

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With no shortage of racing fans, horsemen and media lined up along the outer rail, the Churchill Downs backstretch got awfully quiet in a hurry as Verifying (Justify) lost his exercise rider leaving the five-eighths marker during Thursday morning's special training session for GI Kentucky Derby and Oaks horses.

A big tip of the cap goes out to outriders Greg Blasi and Lee Lockwood, who did a fantastic job of apprehending the GI Blue Grass S. runner-up at the quarter pole.

Trainer Brad Cox later reported that Verifying was in fine form following the mishap and remains on target for the Derby.

The siren went off for a second time just moments later as last term's GI TVG Del Mar Debutante S. heroine And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) beelined for her current digs at Barn 24 after rearing up and losing her rider exiting the track. Trainer Peter Miller said that all was O.K. with the 15-1 Kentucky Oaks longshot afterwards.

Practical Move (Practical Joke)–the subject of plenty chatter after just jogging the past few days–made his presence felt while out for a routine gallop. Nearly six hours later, however, trainer Tim Yakteen broke the gut-punching news that Practical Move would be scratched from the Derby due to an elevated temperature. Really doesn't get much rougher than that.

On a much lighter note, it was business as usual for Todd Pletcher's imposing trio of Kentucky Derby morning-line favorite Forte (Violence), unbeaten Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) and Tapit Trice (Tapit), who all galloped a mile and three eighths at 7:30 a.m.

If anyone stood out on the sunsplashed morning during Thursday's trackwork, it had to be the stunning chestnut Disarm (Gun Runner). He just couldn't be looking any more locked and loaded for the first Saturday in May.

With the late defections of Practical Move and the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Lord Miles (Curlin), Cyclone Mischief (Into Mischief) and Mandarin Hero (Jpn) (Shanghai Bobby) have drawn into the body of the Derby field.

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Kentucky Oaks ‘Picture’ Goes Through Cox Barn

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a division still crying out for a clear-cut leader, a full field of sophomore fillies will take centerstage in a deep renewal of Friday's GI Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Brad Cox will have three chances, including the top two choices on the morning-line, to collect a third Oaks trophy following wins with Monomoy Girl in 2018 and Shedaresthedevil in 2020.

After sweeping the Oaklawn Park series for 3-year-old fillies, Godolphin homebred and 5-2 Oaks morning-line favorite Wet Paint (Blame) shoots for a fourth straight victory following a visually impressive come-from- behind win in the GIII Fantasy S. Apr. 1.

“She can make you a little nervous with her running style, but overall she's just been really consistent,” Cox said. “She'll love the mile and an eighth here. If she puts in her run, she's going to be tough. She just brings it every time.”

Front-running Bourbonette Oaks heroine Botanical (Medaglia d'Oro) could vie for favoritism with her stablemate despite never racing on dirt before. Cox will also saddle GII Fair Grounds Oaks third-place finisher The Alys Look (Connect).

“The Alys Looks is flying under the radar, but I love the way she's developing,” Cox said. “Botanical needs to step up on the dirt, but I like what I am seeing. Physically, she looks great. She's doing really well.”

Last year's champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) looks for her first victory since capturing the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. She was a disappointing sixth behind Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic) in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 7.

Southlawn (Pioneerof the Nile) has taken a major step forward for trainer Norm Casse in two attempts since turning three, led by a 3 1/4-length victory over Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks Mar. 25.

Affirmative Lady (Arrogate), hung out wide in post 13, also enters in top form following a breakthrough win in the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Apr. 1. She's gone two-for-two since adding blinkers for Graham Motion.

The gone-too-soon Arrogate, responsible for last year's Oaks winner Secret Oath, will also be represented by GISW and GII Santa Anita Oaks runner-up And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate).

With a delightful forecast calling for cloudy skies and a high of 75 degrees, the stacked 13-race Kentucky Oaks program also includes: a deep field of 10 in the GI La Troienne S., featuring last year's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Secret Oath (Arrogate); a fantastic renewal of the GII Alysheba S., led by GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice) and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner Art Collector (Bernardini); unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Munnys Gold (Munnings)'s graded stakes debut in the GII Eight Belles S.; and the grassy GII Edgewood S. and GIII Modesty S. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel (Mizzen Mast) will also line up on the undercard in the Unbridled Sidney S.

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Youalmosthadme Beats The Boys To Stay Perfect In Kentucky Juvenile

Privately purchased after an impressive 8 1/2-length win when unveiled at Keeneland April 19, Youalmosthadme made it two-for-two with a win as the heavy 1-5 favorite in the Kentucky Juvenile S. at Churchill Downs Thursday. The only filly facing a field of maiden colts, the bay was sent right to the front to set a sharp opening quarter in :22.52. Only briefly challenged into the far turn by Tranche, she easily turned back that rival with a surge past the quarter pole and came home on cruise control, hitting the wire 8 3/4 lengths ahead of Lou's Legacy who got up in second. Good Gator has a yearling filly by Get Stormy and was bred back to Midshipman for 2023. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

KENTUCKY JUVENILE S., $197,500, Churchill Downs, 5-4, 2yo, 5f, :57.49, ft.
1–YOUALMOSTHADME, 117, f, 2, by Oxbow
                1st Dam: Good Gator (SP), by Good and Tough
                2nd Dam: May Gator, by Green Alligator
                3rd Dam: Thesixthofmay, by Classic Account
($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Qatar
Racing, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Black Type
Thoroughbreds; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope
McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $123,500.
Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $170,000.
2–Lou's Legacy, 118, c, 2, Tapiture–Biogio's Gift, by Any Given
Saturday. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Hugo Andrade; B-Lou Dunn
Diekemper Trust (KY); T-Hugo Andrade. $40,000.
3–Tranche, 118, c, 2, Collected–Theory of Change, by
Archarcharch. ($210,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-William Peoples; B-Hidden Brook Farm (KY); T-Luis Mendez.
$20,000.
Margins: 8 3/4, 1, 24. Odds: 0.27, 9.91, 9.17.
Also Ran: Lil Anthony, Who's Snow Trouble. Scratched: Hibernacle.

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