Tag: Triple Crown

BG Stables' Kentucky homebred Lugan Knight came out on the winning end of a thrilling stretch duel with New York-bred Arctic Arrogance in Saturday's $150,000 Jerome, a one-turn mile for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Lugan Knight earned 10 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs, with 4-3-2-1 points awarded to the next four finishers, respectively.

The bay son of Goldencents out of the Speightstown mare Sly Roxy, ridden to victory by NYRA's 2022 leading rider Dylan Davis, answered the question McCarthy had asked of his ability beyond the sprint distance, demonstrating his proficiency going a route of ground in his stakes debut.

“I told Dylan earlier that with the stretch out, the horse might lay a little bit closer,” said McCarthy. “He bounced on out of there and it looked like the fractions weren't too crazy fast. In my opinion, they didn't go as fast early as I thought they would.”

Lugan Knight broke evenly from post 3 as the Kendrick Carmouche-piloted Andiamo a Firenze came away the quickest of all to his outside. Carmouche took back on Andiamo a Firenze as the field of seven exited the chute, allowing Lugan Knight to take command and mark an opening quarter mile in :23.41 over the good main track.

Arctic Arrogance, with Jose Lezcano up, tracked in second to the outside of Lugan Knight as General Banker attempted to improve position down the backstretch but keenly ran up on the heels of longshot Narciso Dali and settled near the back of the pack after a half-mile in :47.70.

Lezcano asked Arctic Arrogance for more as the field rounded the turn and found himself on even terms with Lugan Knight at the top of the lane. The pair quickly drew away from the rest of their rivals and battled furiously down the lane with both horses giving their all as they passed the eighth pole. Lugan Knight had something left in the final 100 yards and put his neck in front to successfully fend off his foe by a half-length in a final time of 1:37.77.

General Banker, who swung wide and rallied well under Andre Worrie, finished another seven lengths back in third with Neural Network completing the superfecta. Andiamo a Firenze, Narciso Dali, and Valenzan Day rounded out the order of finish. Circling the Drain was scratched.

McCarthy said Lugan Knight's trip gave him confidence that he would win the stretch battle.

“I was happy with the way the horse broke. He found himself prominent early and it looked like around the turn he still had a little bit of run,” said McCarthy. “I was not surprised to see how well he dug in down the lane. It looked like he was always just going a touch better than the other horse. You hate to say you're confident, but it always looked like he kept that horse at bay. Just a tough horse and a gutsy performance. I was glad to see he was able to get the mile.”

Davis said Lugan Knight found his best stride despite a lackluster break.

“He broke OK, not the best. But then he did end up getting into a little bit of a rhythm and was able to establish the lead,” Davis said. “Once I got there, he was very comfortable even with the challenge on my outside. He fought hard for me down the stretch. I really thought that horse [Arctic Arrogance] was going to come up to him and pass him, but he was not giving up. He really opened my eyes a little bit down there around that last eighth of a mile. I was impressed with that run.”

It was the second career victory for Lugan Knight and first against winners, adding to a maiden score at second asking sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs in October at Keeneland. He entered the Jerome from a close third-place effort in a six-furlong optional claimer on November 26 at Churchill Downs where he rallied four-wide from five lengths off the pace and came up 1 1/2 lengths shy of the victorious Victory Formation, who exited that effort to win the Smarty Jones on January 1 at Oaklawn Park.

Now that Lugan Knight has proven his abilities at one-mile, McCarthy said he could potentially turn his attention to the $250,000 Withers (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on February 4 at the Big A, a race that awards 20-8-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

“We'll see. I'll have to give Dylan a call and ask him what he thinks and go from there,” McCarthy said. “A mile was a question mark for me but it looked like he passed that test today. We'll have to wait and see.”

Lugan Knight, whose second dam is Canadian champion mare Roxy Gap, banked $82,500 in victory and maintained a perfect on-the-board record of 4-2-1-1. He returned $9.10 for a $2 win wager.

Linda Rice, trainer of Chester and Mary Broman's New York homebred Arctic Arrogance, said the son of Frosted could be given a more prominent trip in his next outing.

“We missed a work in between and the horse was a little heavy, but he ran well,” said Rice. “Jose and I were just discussing and we think we're just going to put him on the lead next time. He fights on the lead. Today, he didn't go past. But I think it might have to do a little bit with his weight.”

Arctic Arrogance finished a game second in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen in December at the Big A and is likely to continue down New York's path to the Kentucky Derby in the Grade 3 Withers.

“He didn't win but he put in a great performance,” Rice said. “As far as I'm concerned, we're going to keep going to the next race and as Mr. Broman and I discussed, we'll take it one race at a time and see how far we get.”

The post Road To The Kentucky Derby: Front-Running Lugan Knight Hangs On To Win Jerome Thriller appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The only horses not trained by Bob Baffert in Sunday's $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) are Spun Intended, a highly regarded maiden for trainer Mark Glatt, and Packs a Wahlop, a two-time stakes winner on turf for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Spun Intended is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line behind Baffert's National Treasure (2-1) in a field of six set for the one-mile Sham, which awards 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a scale of 10-4-3-2-1 to the top five finishers.

Last month at Del Mar when making his second start, Spun Intended ran off to break his maiden by 6 ½ lengths when sprinting 6 ½ furlongs. In his debut at Santa Anita a month earlier, the Hard Spun colt was narrowly edged a half-length by Baffert's Fort Warren.

“He might have won first time but had a pretty wide trip,” Glatt noted Saturday morning.

Spun Intended was bought at last year's OBS March sale for $125,000 by the partnership of Edge Racing and Muir Hut Stables. Glatt said the colt displayed ample ability immediately upon his arrival at Santa Anita last year.

“We bought him and then turned him out for a couple months after the rigors of going through the 2-year-old sale,” Glatt said. “But when he came back in, you could just tell he was a good-minded horse. I don't think he ever missed a beat once he got in my barn.”

Glatt added Spun Intended is a “big horse” and “one of the most impressive things we saw at the sale was that for a big horse, he was very efficient and good-moving horse. He kind of touted himself right from the start.”

The Sham will mark the two-turn debut of Spun Intended, who drew the outside stall and will again have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons.

Pedigree suggests the added distance of the Sham should not be a problem. Spun Intended is out of the First Dude mare Flora Dora, who placed in multiple graded stakes going a route of ground including the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at nine furlongs in 2016.

“First time around two turns, you never know about that, but all indications are it should be fine for him,” Glatt said. “We'll see what happens.”

Spun Intended enters the Sham off of consecutive bullet works. He drilled six furlongs in 1:11 on Dec. 26 followed by a five-furlong move in 58.8 seconds with Smith up on Monday.

“It was a little quicker than I wanted, but he does things so easily,” Glatt said of Spun Intended's final drill. “A work in 58 and change for him is not like 58 and change for most horses. I worked him with a little company and he pulled past that horse. Mike never moved on him. It was about as easy a 58 and change as you are going to get.”

As for Packs a Wahlop (6-1), he'll be trying dirt for the first time since he caught a sloppy track in his debut at Gulfstream Park in June. He was subsequently sent to Southern California and moved to turf where he would win three straight including the Grade 3 Del Mar Juvenile Turf and Grade 3 Zuma Beach in October at Santa Anita.

Most recently, Packs a Wahlop was sent to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf where he finished eighth at 5-1.

Mullins said switching to dirt for a race like the Sham, which is an official prep for the Kentucky Derby, was part of the long-range strategy for Packs a Wahlop.

“We had planned on running him on dirt after the Breeders' Cup. Obviously if it doesn't work out we'll go back to the grass,” Mullins said.

Owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, Packs a Wahlop is by Creative Cause out of the City Zip mare City by the Day. He was purchased at last year's OBS April sale for $270,000.

In the Sham, Packs a Wahlop will wear blinkers for the first time.

“He likes to be up near the front and we're hoping that helps him get there,” Mullins noted.

Packs a Wahlop will have a new rider in the Sham. With Smith opting for Spun Intended, Ramon Vazquez will be aboard for the first time.

“Ramon has worked him a couple times and really likes him,” Mullins said.

The Sham goes as the featured eighth race on Sunday with an approximate post time of 3:30 p.m. (PT).

The field in post position order with jockey, morning line odds: Newgate, Frankie Dettori (6-1); National Treasure, John Velazquez (2-1); Speed Boat Beach, Flavien Prat (5-2); Reincarnate, Juan Hernadez (8-1); Packs a Wahlop, Ramon Vazquez (6-1); Spun Intended (5-2).

The post Spun Intended, Packs A Wahlop Take On Baffert Foursome In Sham appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Newly turned 3-year-olds Hoosier Philly and Curly Jack rejoined trainer Tom Amoss' barn at Fair Grounds. Both are coming off sensational 2-year-old campaigns, and following the Churchill Fall Meet, they were freshened up at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Versailles, Kentucky.

“They'll both point towards the preps for the Louisiana Derby (G2) and (Fair Grounds) Oaks (G2),” Amoss said. “The Risen Star (G2) for Curly Jack and the Rachel Alexandra (G2) for Hoosier (Philly).”

Slated for Saturday, Feb 18, the $400,000 Risen Star  and the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra are the third of four local preps for the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), each offering up 50-20-15-10-5 qualifying points.

A perfect 3-for-3 as a 2-year-old, Hoosier Philly's earned 10 points towards the Kentucky Oaks with her Golden Rod (G2) romp at Churchill Downs in November. She defeated Knockyoursocksoff and the eventual Untapbale winner Pretty Mischievous by five lengths going 1 1/16 miles. Prior to that the Into Mischief filly won the Rags to Riches Stakes by 7 1/2 lengths at the Louisville track.

“Hoosier Philly is something,” Amoss said. “She's something different than I've ever had. If she stays healthy she is going to wow the world.”

As a 2-year-old Curly Jack posted a 2-2-0 record from six starts, amassing $417,580 in earnings. He won the Iroquois Stakes (G3) in September at Churchill Downs, beating the 2022 Gun Runner winner Jace's Road, Damon's Mound, Echo Again, and others. In his most recent start the Good Magic colt finished second to Instant Coffee in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2), also at Churchill. He currently sits second behind Forte on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 17 already in the bank.

The post Refreshed Hoosier Philly, Curly Jack Rejoin Amoss Barn, To Point For Fair Grounds Top 3YO Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The Road to the Kentucky Derby officially kicks off Sunday at Santa Anita with the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes going a flat mile. Six sophomore colts are set to go postward, which includes a quartet for Bob Baffert led by 2-1 morning-line favorite National Treasure.

Baffert, an eight-time Sham winner and a six-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, provided insight on all four of his starters on Friday.

National Treasure won his debut sprinting at Del Mar in September and returned to finish second behind stablemate Cave Rock when stretched to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 1 American Pharoah. The Quality Road colt, who was a $500,000 auction purchase as a 2-year-old, was subsequently sent to Keeneland for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile and finished third, beaten about 3 ¾ lengths by Forte, the de-facto 2-year-old male champion of 2022 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Since the Breeders' Cup, National Treasure has signaled his readiness for the Sham with several fast works that includes a bullet six-furlong work in 1:11.6 on Monday.

“This is the time of year you see them mature, and this horse is maturing,” Baffert said. “I think he ran a big race in the Breeders' Cup and he's continued to work that way.”

National Treasure will break from post 2 on Sunday with John Velazquez returning to the irons.

Newgate will be back around two turns following a second-place finish behind stablemate Havnameltdown in the Grade 3 Bob Hope going seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 20. Prior to that effort, the Into Mischief colt was sent to Keeneland for his two-turn debut in the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at 1 1/16 miles. Dispatched at 11-1, Newgate showed speed for a half mile before fading to fifth, 7 ¼ lengths adrift of winner Forte.

“I think he's better than what he's shown,” Baffert said of Newgate. “He's kind of a slower-maturing type physically and mentally. We're trying to figure him out and that's what these races are for.”

Newgate, who was an $850,000 auction purchase as a yearling, will break from the rail in the Sham with new rider Frankie Dettori in the irons.
Speed Boat Beach returns to dirt following a pair of stakes wins on grass, which includes the Grade III Cecil B. DeMille most recently when stretched to a mile at Del Mar on Dec. 4. Last week, the son of Bayern was scratched from the Eddie Logan Stakes on turf.

“He's a horse we've been thinking about sending to the Saudi Derby and Dubai, so I wanted to give him a prep on dirt,” Baffert said.

Speed Boat Beach could be the pacesetter on Sunday under Flavien Prat.

“He's extremely fast, definitely the quickest of the group,” Baffert said.

Rounding out Baffert's Sham starters is Reincarnate, a front-running maiden winner when going a mile at Del Mar on Nov. 25. The Good Magic colt, who commanded $775,000 at auction, has four works since including a six-furlong drill in 1:13 last Friday.

“He's a big, strong horse,” Baffert said. “He's not as quick as those other horses, but he can jump up if the pace is quick. He wants to go a mile and a quarter. Distance is going to be his friend.”

Baffert's eight Sham Stakes scores include the last three, with Newgrange (2022), Life Is Good (2021) and Authentic, who would go on to also win the Kentucky Derby in 2020.

The field: 1. Newgate, Frankie Dettori (6-1); National Treasure, John Velazquez (2-1); Speed Boat Beach, Flavien Prat (5-2); Reincarnate, Juan Hernandez (8-1); Packs a Wahlop, Ramon Vazquez (6-1); Spun Intended, Mike Smith (5-2).

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