Tag: Triple Crown

Yuji Hasegawa's Perriere captured the listed Hyacinth Stakes, a stop on Japan's Road to the Kentucky Derby, Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse, winning by 1 1/2 lengths from Z Lien.

The Hyacinth is a Kentucky Derby qualifying race and awarded points on a 30-12-9-6-3 basis to the top five finishers. Several of the runners in the 14 field are nominated to the U.S. Triple Crown series, including Perriere.

The Japan-bred Henny Hughes colt, the race favorite guided by Yuichi Fukunaga for trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa, covered the 1,600-meter (about one-mile) event in 1:37.2 on the dirt track rated as standard.

Z Lien was 3 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Eclogite, the latter also a Triple Crown nominee. Great Sand Sea checked in fourth, and Goraiko, a Triple Crown nominee, was fifth.

Making his 2023 debut, Perriere improved his record to 2-0-1 from three career starts, all on dirt. Winner of his career bow Nov. 12 at Tokyo, he was subsequently third in a listed one-mile race at Kawaskai Dec. 14 to close his juvenile campaign but was ready for a winning effort Sunday in his stakes breakthrough.

Perriere was bred by Champions Farm from the Fuji Kiseki mare Soft Rime.

Japan's path to the Kentucky Derby continues with Fukuryo March 25 at Nakayama with qualifying points of 40-16-12-8-4 to the top five finishers.

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The Oaklawn racing department listed nine probables Sunday morning for the $1-million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. The Rebel is Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race, a series that concludes with the $1.25-million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1.

Expected Rebel entrants are Bourbon Bash for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux), Event Detail (Paulo Lobo), Frosted Departure (Kenny McPeek), Giant Mischief (Brad Cox), Gun Pilot (Steve Asmussen), Red Route One (Asmussen), Reincarnate (Bob Baffert), and Verifying (Cox).

Cox (four) and Baffert (three) have combined to win seven of Oaklawn's last 10 Kentucky Derby points races, including the first two in 2023. Victory Formation (Cox) captured the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at one mile Jan. 1. Baffert won the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 with unbeaten Arabian Knight. Arabian Knight wasn't nominated to the Rebel.

Reincarnate, from the first crop of champion Good Magic, has won his last two starts, including the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) at 1 mile Jan. 8 at Santa Anita. Baffert has won the Rebel a record eight times.

The Rebel will bring back the 2-3 Southwest finishers in Red Route One and Frosted Departure, respectively. Verifying, in his 3-year-old debut, was a powerful 5 ¼-length first-level allowance winner Jan. 14 at Oaklawn. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify covered a mile over a fast track in 1:37.23. Gun Pilot, second to Verifying Jan. 14, returned to post a sharp two-length entry-level allowance victory at 1 mile Feb. 4 at Oaklawn. Bourbon Bash finished second in the race.

Lightly raced Giant Mischief (2 for 3) will be making his 3-year-old debut in the Rebel. The son of champion sire Into Mischief concluded his 2022 campaign with a troubled runner-up finish in the Remington Park Springboard Mile Dec. 17 at Remington Park. Confidence Game finished third in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds in his last start.

The Rebel will offer 100 points (50-20-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. Horses trained by Baffert remain ineligible to collect qualifying points, owing to a suspension by Churchill Downs. The suspension stems from Baffert's Medina Spirit being disqualified from his 2021 Kentucky Derby victory because of a medication violation.

Post positions for the Rebel and two other Feb. 25 stakes races – $300,000 Honeybee (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Carousel for older female sprinters – will be drawn Monday. The Honeybee is Oaklawn's second of three points race for the Kentucky Oak (G1).

Early Honeybee probables include the Cox-trained Wet Paint, who won the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 at Oaklawn. Taxed, Defining Purpose, Take Charge Briana and Olivia Twist, the 2-3-4-5 finishers, respectively, in the Martha Washington are also expected for the Honeybee.

The Honeybee will offer 100 points (50-20-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies. Secret Oath, last year's Honeybee winner, also captured the Kentucky Oaks. The Honeybee is the final major local prep for the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles April 1.

The Carousel is expected to attract, among others, 2022 Fantasy champion Yuugiri for trainer Rodolphe Brisset and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Pretty Birdie for trainer Norm Casse.

Yuugiri completed major preparations for the six-furlong Carousel by working a half-mile in :48.20 over a fast track Sunday morning at Oaklawn. Brisset was aboard Yuugiri, who breezed with Rebel nominee Talladega. Yuugiri was a sharp allowance winner sprinting of her Dec. 30 comeback at Oaklawn.

Pretty Birdie won the $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes at 5 ½ furlongs Dec. 17 at Oaklawn in her last start.

Weather permitting, the infield will be open for the first time this season Feb. 25.

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Already deep in Triple Crown prospects, Brad Cox snared another Kentucky Derby qualifying prep race on Saturday when Albaugh Family Stables' Angel of Empire split horses in mid-stretch under Luis Saez and went on to win Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

One of three runners for Cox in the Risen Star's field of 14 3-year-olds, Angel of Empire – a Pennsylvania-bred colt from the second crop of the Pioneerof the Nile stallion Classic Empire – was sent off at odds of 13-1 and paid $29.40 to win after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.47.

Sun Thunder, a 16-1 longshot for Kenny McPeek, finished one length  behind the winner in second, with Larry Rivelli-trained Two Phil's 1 3/4 lengths farther back in third after battling with the runner-up for the lead for much of the stretch run. Cox-trained Tapit's Conquest finished fourth, with Keith Desormeaux-trained Single Ruler fifth. Cox's third entry, 9-5 favorite Victory Formation, winner of the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Jan. 1, was prominent early but faded late to be ninth.

Angel of Empire moved to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 54 points after earning 50 qualifying points for the Risen Star win. The second through fifth finishers earned 20-15-10-5 points respectively. Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Previous Triple Crown prep races won by Cox include the G3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds with Instant Coffee, the G3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct with Hit Show, and the Gun Runner Stakes at Fair Grounds with Jace's Road. Other promising 3-year-olds in the Cox barn are Verifying, Giant Mischief, and Eyeing Clover.

“He's been working very well at Oaklawn and we knew he'd love the distance,” Cox said of Angel of Empire. “He's a mile and an eight, mile and a quarter horse.”

Earlier in the day, Cox recorded his 2,000th career victory with 3-year-old maiden winner Bishops Bay, one of four winners he saddled on the 13-race Fair Grounds card. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer said the G2 Louisiana Derby, G1 Arkansas Derby, and G1 Blue Grass Stakes would be under consideration for Angel of Empire. “We'll let the dust settle,” he said. “See how he comes out of it and go from there.”

Determinedly and Reylu Gutierrez seized the early advantage in the Risen Star, going the opening quarter mile in :23.34 and the half in :47.50. Harlocap and John Velazquez, second early, gained a narrow advantage going into the far turn, passing six furlongs in 1:12.21, but they were quickly taken on by Two Phil's and Jareth Loveberry, Sun Thunder and Brian Hernandez Jr. raced in 12th early and moved into contention rounding the final turn while looking for racing room. When he found a seam, Hernandez drove Sun Thunder to a narrow advantage over Two Phil's with an eighth of a mile to run, the first mile clocked in 1:38.52.

Angel of Empire settled into a ground-saving position early while racing ninth. Saez moved him into closer contact with the leaders entering the far turn, rallied five wide into the stretch and had the most momentum after reaching the furlong grounds.

The winner, an April 9 foal, was bred in Pennsylvania by Forgotten Land Investment Inc. and Black Diamond Equine Corp. Produced from Armony's Angel, by To Honor and Serve, Angel of Empire was purchased by Iowa-based Albaugh Family Stable for $70,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The win was the third in five lifetime starts for Angel of Empire.He finished second behind stablemate Victory Formation in his previous start, the Smarty Jones Stakes, Jan. 1 at Oaklawn.

 

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Geaux Rocket Ride, a smashing 5 ¾-length winner going six furlongs in his Jan. 29 bow at Santa Anita, remains on track for the San Felipe (G2) on March 4 following a sharp work on Thursday.

By Candy Ride out of the Uncle Mo mare Beyond Grace, Geaux Rocket Ride drilled five furlongs in 1:00.40 over a main track listed as fast. It was his second work since his promising unveiling.

“He went good and is doing great,” Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said. “We're aiming for the San Felipe.”

Contested at 1 1/16 miles, the San Felipe serves as a lead-in to the Santa Anita Derby (G1)on April 8 and is also a qualifier for the Kentucky Derby (G1), offering points on a 50-20-15-10-5  basis to the top five finishers.

Geaux Rocket Ride was let go as the 6-1 fourth choice in a six-horse field for his debut. He broke alertly under Flavien Prat, led the field through fractions of :22 and :44.62 for the opening half mile before extending his advantage through the stretch. Geaux Rocket Ride won in a final time of 1:09.52 and earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“It was impressive,” Mandella recently noted.

Geaux Rocket Ride was a $350,000 auction purchase from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale, where James Bernhard signed the ticket. The colt, bred in Kentucky by OXO Equine LLC, is campaigned by Pin Oak Stud.

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