Tag: Triple Crown

Following a triumphant stakes debut in Saturday's Withers (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Gary and Mary West's Hit Show will remain in New York at trainer Brad Cox's Belmont Park division to train for his next start.

Hit Show, a gray son of Candy Ride, earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his 5 1/2-length conquest of the nine-furlong test under jockey Manny Franco, earning 20 points towards the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs. He entered the Withers from a sharp victory against winners on December 17 going a two-turn mile at Oaklawn Park. Initially entered in the Grade 3 Southwest on January 28 at the Arkansas oval, Cox called an audible with Hit Show and sent him to New York for the Withers.

“He looked good this morning. He cooled out well yesterday and came back in good shape,” said Cox's Belmont-based assistant Dustin Dugas. “He was at the front of the stall, and bright eyed this morning. We're happy with him and he was happy with himself.”

While all options are currently on the table for Hit Show, Cox said he would strongly consider the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on April 8 – the final local Kentucky Derby qualifier, which offers 100-40-30-20-10 points to the top-five finishers.

“He's always been a horse that we thought would be better with more ground based off pedigree, how he runs, and what he's shown us in his races,” Cox said. “I think we obviously look at the Kentucky Derby and one race between now and then. What race that is, I don't know yet. It very well could be the Wood Memorial. He obviously likes the racetrack there and we'll see how things go.”

A second generation Kentucky homebred, Hit Show is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Tapit mare Actress, who, in 2017, posted nine-furlong graded stakes wins in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course and the Grade 3 Comely at the Big A.

Hit Show is one of 38 Triple Crown-nominated horses under Cox's care.

The post ‘I Think We Obviously Look At The Kentucky Derby’: Hit Show Could Target Wood Memorial On Road To Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Bill Dory and Adam Ference's Chase the Chaos, trained by Ed Moger Jr., broke through for his first stakes win Saturday when unleashing a determined late rally to capture the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at Gold Gate Fields.

Ridden by Armando Ayuso, Chase the Chaos won by 1½ lengths from 9-5 favorite Gilmore, who was guided by Jose Valdivia Jr.

An Astern gelding, Chase the Chaos was winning for the third time from six career starts and came in off an allownace/optional claiming victory at Golden Gate Dec. 30, which followed back-to-back stakes-placings at the Bay Area racetrack: second in the Gold Rush Stakes and third in the Golden Nugget Stakes Nov. 12.

Chase the Chaos returned $10.40 after completing the El Camino Real Derby's 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:51.68 on the synthetic surface.

Harcyn checked in third, one length behind Gilmore in the field of eight 3-year-olds.

The El Camino Real Derby provided the winner an automatic berth to the Preakness (G1) in May at Pimlico Race Course. The race is also a Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier, providing points on a 10-4-3-2-1 basis to the top five finishers.

Chase the Chaos's $60,000 winner's share of the El Camino Real Derby purse increased his lifetime bankroll to $123,000. He was bred in Pennsylvania by Mr. and Mrs. Dale N. Krapf from the Uncle Mo mare Live the Moment. Bill Dory picked him up as a weanling for $10,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, where Ballysax Bloodstock consigned him.

The post Chase The Chaos Posts First Stakes Win In El Camino Real Derby, Earns Preakness Berth appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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A full field of 14, including Grade 3 winner Curley Jack and stakes winner Victory Formation, were entered for the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) Feb. 18, and on Saturday five of them breezed.

The 1 1/8-mile Risen Star is a Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier, offering 50-20-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

Two workers from trainer Brad Cox's barn, Victory Formation and Tapit's Conquest, are entered in the Risen Star, along with Angel of Empire who did not breeze on Saturday. Both Victory Formation and Tapit's Conquest went five furlongs, though not together, and each stopped the clock at 1:00.40 (fourth fastest of 62 timed moves at the distance).

“Tapit's Conquest went in company with an unraced mate,” Fair Grounds clocker Frank McGoey said. “He pulled well clear late in a strong move.”

Determinedly went four furlongs for Mark Casse in :49, the 17th best of 86 at that distance.

Trainer Tom Amoss sent out Curly Jack to drill  four furlongs, stopping the clock in :48.60 (11/86).

Single Ruler went five furlongs for trainer Keith Desormeaux in 1:01.80 (30/62).

The connections of Banishing chose the allowance race on the undercard, instead of the Risen Star. The Brendan Walsh-trainee caught McGoey's attention, as well.

“Banishing was visibly best in his work with St John's (unraced 3-year-old colt),” McGoey said. “Jockey Jareth Loveberry was up in a solid 1:01.40 through five furlongs and out in 1:13.60.”

The Louisiana Derby Preview Day showcases six stakes, including the $400,000 Risen Star; the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2); the $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes (G3); the $150,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3); the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes, and the $100,000 Albert M. Stall Memorial Stakes.

The post Risen Star Hopefuls Drill Saturday At Fair Grounds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Just when a race seems more wide open than you can imagine and any one of eight or nine horses seems to have a chance to land in the winner's circle, along comes this Pletcher fellow to snap you back to reality.

Hall of Famer and reigning Eclipse Award outstanding conditioner Todd Pletcher won his record seventh Sam F. Davis Stakes in the rain at Tampa Bay Downs, as his 3-year-old Litigate turned in a sustained rally under jockey Luis Saez and held off long-shot Groveland by 1 1/4 lengths to win the $250,000 Grade 3 event.

Classic Car finished third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Groveland.

Litigate picked up 20 “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying points after completing the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.83. Another longshot, Classic Car Wash, finished third in the 11-horse field, with betting favorite Dubyuhnell never getting untracked and finishing eighth.

Litigate paid $7.60 to win as the second wagering choice. “I'm very pleased with Litigate,” Pletcher said from his south Florida base after winning the Sam F. Davis for the first time since 2016 with Destin. “He got a good position early and finished well. We thought he would appreciate two turns.”

Saez was able to secure good position in fifth place early, keeping Litigate out of trouble and saving his best for the stretch run.

“That was magnificent,” Saez said. “The game plan was trying to break from the start and pick up some spots. He ran from there pretty well and when he came to the top of the stretch, I felt like I had a lot of horse and let him run free and keep going. I had plenty of horse and he was running pretty nice.”

The victory, Litigate's second from three career starts, was worth $120,000 to owner Centennial Farms, raising Litigate's bankroll to $182,590.

“It's exciting to be on the Kentucky Derby trail,” said Centennial Farms president and co-owner Donald Little Jr., who bought the Blame colt from Nursery Place for $370,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale. “He just really improved mentally from his last race (a second-place finish on Jan. 8 at Gulfstream) and put it all together today. Luis gave him a really tactical ride. He broke him early, got in there and saved some ground in the first turn and then he moved him to the outside and let him rock.”

Litigate, bred in Kentucky by Nursery Place, Donaldson and Broadbent, was produced by the Mineshaft mare Salsa Diavola.

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