Tag: Triple Crown

Impressive as their budding young star was in winning his stakes debut and keeping his race record unblemished in Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile at Laurel Park, the connections of Hillwood Stable's 2-year-old Frosted colt Post Time aren't allowing themselves to look too far ahead.

Trainer Brittany Russell was pleased Sunday with the way Post Time emerged from his 3 ¾-length triumph over Maryland Million Nursery winner Johnyz From Albany to improve to 3-0 since launching his career Oct. 7.

“He came out of the race good. He had probably about three bags full of peppermints. All good,” said Russell, who celebrated the win with her husband, jockey Sheldon Russell, 3-year-old daughter Edy, and 1-year-old son Rye.

“At the barn last night, we're back there and Edy's feeding him candy. He's super kind in the barn. He's a little nippy – he's a colt – but he's just a really neat horse,” she added. “I think he just goes out and does what he does.”

Post Time's latest performance was his most impressive, trailing an unpressured Johnyz From Albany by as many as 9 ½ lengths after a quarter-mile before unleashing a bold move on the far turn to get into contention, moving up on even terms with the leader, surging past and drawing off without urging under Eric Camacho.

“The move that he made around the turn,” Russell said. “You've got Johnyz, who's a proven horse in Maryland, loose and still many lengths ahead of him. Just the way he comes to him and the way he leaves him, yesterday was a professional effort.

“I watched the race in the paddock so I walked up the stairs to watch him gallop out and his ears are pricked and it looked like he was just galloping, but Eric was trying to pull him up. He was still going,” she added. “It was pretty fun. He won a stake basically in a hand ride. He didn't come out of a gallop.”

Camacho rode 787 winners from 2004-16 and only had single mounts in 2017 and 2021 before climbing aboard Post Time for his unveiling. Camacho, whose last stakes win came with Debt Ceiling in the 2013 First State Dash at Delaware Park, works for Russell as an exercise rider and has been instrumental in bringing along a colt that was as green as he was talented.

“He really was a quirky horse early on, and he really has come around now. I would like to think that he's a much nicer version of himself now than he was when we walked him over for his maiden run,” Russell said. “It's nice to see, for both of them. Eric has done a lot of work with him.”

Bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman, Dr. Brooke Bowman and Milton Higgins III, Post Time has steadily stretched out in his races, winning a 5 ½-furlong off-the-turf maiden special weight by two lengths and an Oct. 27 optional claiming allowance by 6 ¾ lengths sprinting six furlongs. He captured the seven-furlong Maryland Juvenile, restricted to Maryland-bred/sired horses, in 1:23.98 over a main track rated muddy.

Owner Ellen Charles named Post Time in tribute to her grandmother, Marjorie Meriwether Post, a businesswoman, socialite, philanthropist and owner of the General Foods Corp. who died in 1973. Hillwood is also the name of Post's former estate in Washington, D.C. that is now a decorative arts museum.

“He almost gives you a little bit of a heart attack, because he always drops back. But he's always been able to catch up and win,” Charles said. “[Saturday] he really took it to the extreme, I thought, but it all worked out well. Post Time knows best.”

Laurel will host one final open stakes for 2-year-olds this year – the seven-furlong, $100,000 Heft Dec. 26. In 2023, Maryland's series of stakes for 3-year-olds starts with the $100,000 Spectacular Bid going seven furlongs Jan. 21 and continues with the one-mile, $100,000 Miracle Wood Feb. 18; 1 1/6-mile, $100,000 Private Terms March 18 and 1 1/8-mile, $125,000 Federico Tesio April 15 – a 'Win and In' qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses to the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1).

The first closing date for 2023 Triple Crown nominations, at a cost of $600, is Jan. 28, 2023. Nominations can also be made by the late March 28 deadline for $6,000.

“I'm staying super level. You never know what you're going to get day-to-day with these horses, and I'm trying to stay really cool,” Russell said. “We'll get him back to the track. Ellen and I spoke slightly about what we might do with him next and I think we're on the same page.

“Let's get him back to the track and make sure everything's good with him and then we'll move forward,” she added. “I think we're going to stay grounded.”

Russell saddled another 2-year-old winner Sunday in Madaket Stables' second-time starter L Street Lady ($3.60), a $125,000 daughter of Munnings who captured the opener in front-running style. Pressed through three furlongs by New Rome, L Street Lady took a two-length lead into the stretch and sprinted clear to win the 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight by 7 ½ lengths in 1:05.11 over a main track rated good.

It was the second mount for Sheldon Russell and first win since he returned Dec. 2 following an 11-day absence after being unseated when his mount, Raise Your Game, stumbled at the start of Race 6 Nov. 19 at Laurel.

The post Connections Staying ‘Grounded’ With Undefeated Juvenile Colt Post Time appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Chester and Mary Broman's New York homebred Arctic Arrogance, who finished a game second to Dubyuhnell in Saturday's Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, will target either the Jerome Stakes in January or the Grade 3 Withers in February at the Big A for his next start.

“He came back good and we'll get him back to the track in a few days. I was very happy with the race,” said trainer Linda Rice. “I was considering waiting for the Jerome, but I said, 'You know what, we better go now.' We'll either run in the Jerome or the Withers [next]; I've got to see how he comes out of the race.”

The one-mile Jerome offers 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, while the nine-furlong Withers provides 20-8-6-4-2 points.

Arctic Arrogance, who earned four qualifying points towards a start in the Kentucky Derby for his performance, made his open-company debut off a prominent victory in the state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 30 at Belmont at the Big A. There, he set the tempo and was challenged by Starquist at the half-mile call, but pulled away easily from his rivals at the top of the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths.

He showed similar front-running tactics in the Remsen and was pressured by Dubyuhnell throughout as the pair put seven lengths between them and the rest of the field at the top of the stretch. The two put on a show down the lane and battled gamely to the wire, but Dubyuhnell gained the advantage nearing the finish and bested Arctic Arrogance by a half-length.

Rice said she is proud the gray son of Frosted's performance throughout the year.

“Four starts is enough for a 2-year-old and it's been a terrific campaign for him,” said Rice. “To have him run second at a mile and an eighth is fantastic.”

The post ‘I’ve Got To See How He Comes Out Of The Race’: Remsen Runner-Up Arctic Arrogance Could Aim For Jerome Or Withers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables' Dubyuhnell began his journey down the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on a high note with a hard-fought victory in Saturday's  Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack for trainer Danny Gargan.

Dubyuhnell earned the winner's share of the 10-4-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points awarded to the top-five finishers, placing him in fifth on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

“He's a really talented horse and I know yesterday they gave him a big number,” said Gargan. “He's a horse who is going to get better with time. He's developing and maturing and he's still playing around out there. He was flickering his ears back and forth and he's still got a lot left in there; with time he'll give more and more. If he gets much faster, he'll be really fast.”

The Good Magic colt was fourth on debut in a seven-furlong sprint in September at Saratoga Race Course and arrived at the nine-furlong Remsen from a maiden win going one-mile over a sloppy and sealed Big A on October 2, the same track condition he faced in the Remsen when stretching out to two turns for the first time.

“It's a progression. We ran him seven-eighths and then a mile and now a mile and an eighth,” said Gargan. “We were looking for a route race when we ran him seven-eighths but it's limited with what races go. We were lucky enough we got a race in him and then he came back and broke his maiden. Things sometimes work out and it all fell into place for him.”

That experience helped Dubyuhnell come out on the winning end of a dramatic stretch duel with the New York-bred Arctic Arrogance yesterday, stalking just behind the Linda Rice trainee before the pair opened up seven lengths on the field at the stretch call and went stride for stride until Dubyuhnell inched clear under left-handed encouragement from Jose Ortiz. A determined Dubyuhnell scored the half-length victory in a final time of 1:50.88.

“They went three quarters in 1:12 and when you're going a mile and an eighth at Aqueduct, that's a pretty fast pace,” said Gargan. “I was pretty confident down the stretch because you could tell when Jose hits him left-handed, he takes off more. I said to Jose, 'You really weren't going after him much.' He said, 'There was no one coming and I knew I could beat the horse on the inside.' He rode him with a lot of confidence and that was good to see for a 2-year-old.

“He'll get a mile and a quarter,” added Gargan. “He doesn't have to go much further to get the mile and a quarter. Going a mile and an eighth and at the end of it having more than the other horses is pretty exciting to see.”

Gargan said Dubyuhnell will head to Florida to continue his training with his eye on a potential return to Aqueduct for a start in the Grade 3 Withers in February and/or the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April.

“We'll see how things go this winter and then map out a plan for him for the spring,” said Gargan. “We'll probably run two or three times this winter and maybe come back for the Withers and if not, the Wood, because we know he likes the track. Those are definitely options, and he could also run at Gulfstream one time. Mo Donegal ran once at Gulfstream and came back for the Wood, so he could do something like that.”

Dubyuhnell is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Forest Wildcat mare Wild Gams, who was named the 2008 New Jersey-bred horse of the year and was purchased for $1 million by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings that same year. In addition to Dubyuhnell, she has produced multiple graded stakes winner Cazadero, graded stakes-placed Almost Famou,s and stakes winner Mt. Brave.

The post ‘He’ll Get A Mile And A Quarter’: Remsen Winner Dubyuhnell To Head To Florida, Connections Mull Return For Aqueduct Classic Preps appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Cash is King and LC Racing's undefeated Tuskegee Airmen will make his graded stakes debut for trainer John Servis in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a nine-furlong main track test for juveniles, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Remsen, which offers 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby to the top-five finishers, is part of a stacked card highlighted by the Grade 1, $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets, along with the Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand and the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle, offering 10-4-3-2-1 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks to the top-five finishers.

Tuskegee Airmen, a bay son of Street Sense, enters from an impressive 3 1/4-length score in the one-mile Rocky Run on October 15 at Delaware Park where he showed a strong turn of foot under Paco Lopez to secure his first stakes win. Tuskegee Airmen broke outwardly from post 5-of-6 and tracked in fourth behind the pace set by fellow Remsen aspirant Midnight Trouble through the first three-quarters. He appeared well-beaten as the field rounded the final turn, but the bay colt had something left under urging from Lopez and ducked down to the rail for the drive to the wire and persevered in a final time of 1:37.74.

“Mentally, the light hasn't gone on yet, but he has flashed some talent,” said Servis. “We are excited about him. His last race at the three-eighths pole, I didn't think he was going to beat a horse. He dropped back under a drive and it looked like he was finished and all of a sudden, he went back to running again. We're letting him bring himself along at his pace. He's doing it all on raw talent and the sky is the limit.”

The victory came three weeks after a dominant debut score sprinting seven furlongs in stalking fashion at Parx. He closed from eighth-of-14 under Luis Saez to post the 5 1/2-length victory over next-out winner Didinger.

Tuskegee Airmen is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Lucky Cover, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-placed Team Colors and stakes-winner Team of Teams. His second dam, Teammate, was a dual Grade 2-winner and is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner and leading sire War Front. Tuskegee Airmen was purchased for $290,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

“He'll run all day. He's a big, strong horse,” said Servis. “Ironically enough, I was actually the underbidder on him for another client, and then ended up getting him in my barn and I was really happy about that.”

Saez has the call from post 2.

Chester and Mary Broman's New York homebred Arctic Arrogance, a grey son of Frosted, enters from a dominant victory over returning rival Quick to Accuse in the state-bred Sleepy Hollow on October 30 at Belmont at the Big A for trainer Linda Rice.

Ridden to victory by Jose Lezcano, Arctic Arrogance made the early lead and was briefly headed by Starquist at the three-quarters call, but kicked clear at the top of the stretch and drew away to a 4 1/2-length score, stopping the clock in 1:37.90. The effort was awarded an 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Rice said Arctic Arrogance has come a long way to earn a stakes victory.

“We had a hard time getting him to leave the gate and he was a difficult gate horse,” said Rice, who won the 1996 Remsen with The Silver Move. “After that, he's been a horse who wants to be heavy, and between races I was able to get more works into him. He's in very good shape in regards to that right now.”

The Sleepy Hollow came on the heels of Arctic Arrogance's lone loss in three career outings when runner-up to longshot winner Jackson Heights in the state-bred Bertram F. Bongard sprinting seven furlongs in September at Belmont at the Big A. There, he set the tempo to the top of the stretch under Lezcano, but was collared at the sixteenth pole by Jackson Heights and settled for second two lengths back.

Arctic Arrogance, whose other start was a debut pacesetting victory on September 5 at Saratoga, has been assigned post 4 with Lezcano aboard.

Rupp Racing's New York-bred Quick to Accuse will also make his first start outside state-bred company after finishing second to Arctic Arrogance in the Sleepy Hollow for conditioner Horacio De Paz. There, he rallied from fifth-of-10 to make up considerable ground under regular pilot Manny Franco, but could not catch the runaway winner.

De Paz said he is hopeful Quick to Accuse, who is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed New York-bred Mr. Buff, will relish two turns.

“I think the two-turns will be easier for him, but we won't know for sure until we try him,” said De Paz.

The bay colt was a dominant winner at second asking, posting a visually impressive 9 3/4-length victory in a one-mile state-bred maiden special weight on October 7 at Belmont at the Big A in gate-to-wire fashion. That effort came on the heels of a debut fourth-place finish sprinting seven furlongs over a sloppy and sealed main track in August at Saratoga Race Course.

“He's not as stout as Mr. Buff, but he's a good-sized horse. He needed his first race and came back and won nice second time out,” De Paz said. “We tried him in the stake and that was a good field of horses to test him against and I was happy with his efforts. He got a little antsy in the gate. This looks like a logical spot.”

Franco will ride again from post 6.

Graded stakes-placed Prove Right enters as the most seasoned horse in the field for trainer James Chapman, who co-owns the Justify colt with Stuart Tsujimoto. Prove Right was last seen finishing a close third 2 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Champions Dream in the Grade 3 Nashua on November 6 at the Big A. He set the pace in the one-mile test but was collared by the winner and runner-up Full Moon Madness in the stretch, finishing eight lengths ahead of fourth-place American Speed.

Prove Right graduated at second asking in June at Churchill Downs and is still in search of his first victory against winners after he crossed the finish line first in a half-mile optional claimer in August at Timonium, but was disqualified and placed third. The Remsen will be his ninth lifetime start and second outing beyond sprint distances.

Jose Gomez has been tasked with the ride from post 3.

Completing the field are David L. Neilson's Midnight Trouble [post 5, Paco Lopez], who finished second to Tuskegee Airmen in the Rocky Run for trainer Peter Walder; and last-out maiden winners in Alexandres LLC's Il Miracolo [post 1, Javier Castellano] for trainer Antonio Sano and West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables' Dubyuhnell [post 7, Jose Ortiz] for trainer Danny Gargan.

The Remsen is slated as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race program. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

The post ‘Sky Is The Limit’: Tuskegee Airmen Ready For Takeoff In Remsen appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post