Tag: Triple Crown

Frank Sumpter's homebred Wild On Ice outdueled a determined late challenger and got clear in the closing strides to capture the $600,000 Sunland Derby (G3) as the longest shot in the field Sunday at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

Sent off at 35-1 odds and ridden by veteran Ken Tohill, Wild On Ice tracked from third through six furlongs, then went six wide through the second turn before snatching the lead in upper stretch. He shook off a strong bid from Low Expectations and powered across the finish line 1 1/4 lengths clear of that rival, who was the second-longest shot at 21-1 odds.

Henry Q, who sprinted out to lead early, could not withstand the rallies from Wild On Ice to his outside and Low Expectations to his inside, and finished third in the six-horse field. Favorite Hard to Figure pressed Henry Q through the opening quarter mile before leading briefly into the home turn but had no closing kick and faded to last.

Trained by Joel Marr, Wild On Ice returned $72.80 after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.39 on a fast track. It was the first career graded stakes win for both Marr and Tohill, the latter having ridden since 1979.

The Sunland Park Derby is a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and provided points on a 50-20-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers,, respectively, toward eligibility for the May 6 classic at Churchill Downs. Wild On Ice was not nominated to the Triple Crown but his connections can submit a late nomination at a cost of $6,000 on March 27.

The Sunland Park Derby victory marked the first in a stakes for Wild On Ice, who was third in the Mine That Bird Derby Feb. 28 following a ninth-place finish in the Riley Allison Derby Jan. 29, both at Sunland Park, but Texas-bred Tapizar gelding was ready for a breakthrough and dug in when challenged to notch the lucrative win Sunday.

Wild On Ice, who is out of the Grand Slam mare Slamitagain, won for the third time from five career starts and boosted his overall earnings to $405,400 with the $356,400 winner's share of the Sunland Park Derby purse.

The post Wild On Ice Springs 35-1 Upset In Sunland Park Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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OXO Equine's Transect, who finished tenth in the Gotham (G3) March 4 at Aqueduct, could return for the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8. The nine-furlong test for sophomores offers 100-40-30-20-10 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Trained by Paulo Lobo, the Gun Runner colt failed to handle a muddy and sealed main track in the Gotham, finishing a distant 10th-of-14 in the one-turn mile that saw the victorious Raise Cain garner 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

“He did not like the muddy track three weeks ago in New York,” Lobo said.

Transect breezed back a bullet half-mile in :48 flat on March 18 over the dirt surface at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington and is scheduled to breeze again this week.

Lobo said the added ground in the Wood Memorial would benefit the Gun Runner colt, who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Divine Escapade, a half sister to Grade 1 winner Mi Sueno.

“The way that he works and gallops out, I think it will help him,” Lobo said.

Transect, a $300,000 purchase from consignor James Keogh at the 2020 Keeneland November breeding stock sale, entered the Gotham from a pair of wins sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs over Tapeta at Turfway Park, including a debut score from off-the-pace on January 20 ahead of a front-running effort on February 10.

The post Two-Time Turfway Winner Transect Under Consideration For Wood Memorial appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Several prospects targeting the $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8 worked on Sunday, including Practical Move, Geaux Rocket Ride, and Skinner, the top-three finishers in the Grade II San Felipe here March 4.

Trainer Tim Yakteen clocked Practical Move working five furlongs in :59 with a gallop-out completed in 1:12. Practical Move was officially credited with a five furlong work in :59.20.

“Straightforward drill, looked good,” Yakteen said. “He was just cruising like he always does. It makes my job easier.”

Geaux Rocket Ride, who made his stakes and two-turn debut in the San Felipe (G2), also worked six furlongs for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. He completed the move in 1:12.20.

“The rockets are ready to fire,” Mandella said.

Skinner drilled six furlongs in 1:14.0 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Also working was National Treasure, who was scratched as the morning-line favorite in the San Felipe due to a bruised foot. He worked six furlongs in 1:12.20. Last week, Yakteen said National Treasure would run in either the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby or Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland also on April 8.

Yakteen also worked Reincarnate and Fort Bragg on Sunday. Reincarnate went five furlongs in :59.80. He is ticketed for the Arkansas Derby (G1) Saturday at Oaklawn Park. Winner of the Sham (G3) at Santa Anita April 8, Reincarnatewent to Oaklawn last month and was a troubled third in the Rebel (G2) on Feb. 25.

Fort Bragg was entered for Sunday's Sunland Park Derby (G3) but was scratched in favor of the Florida Derby (G1) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, a race in which he drew post 10 in a field of 12. Fort Bragg is the second choice at 5-1, with Todd Pletcher's champion juvenile male Forte installed at the 4-5 favorite from post 11. Fort Bragg worked five furlongs in :59.40.

In all, there were 282 workers at Santa Anita Sunday.

The post Practical Move, Geaux Rocket Ride Among Workers For Santa Anita Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Southern California-based Reincarnate was among 11 horses entered Sunday morning for the $1.25-million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles April 1 at Oaklawn.

Post positions for the Arkansas Derby and the $600,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies April 1 were drawn Sunday morning in the Larry Snyder Winner's Circle. Reincarnate was installed the 5-2 program favorite for the Arkansas Derby, which is Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby (G1) points race.

The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 points to the top five finishers (100-40-30-20-10, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Reincarnate, who is trained by Tim Yakteen, will be returning to Oaklawn after finishing a troubled third in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. The Rebel was Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby points race. Red Route One opened his 3-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish behind unbeaten Arabian Knight in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 before finishing second in the Rebel. The Southwest was Oaklawn's second Kentucky Derby points race.

Two-time Eclipse Award winning trainer Brad Cox is scheduled to send out Angel of Empire, who returns to Oaklawn after winning the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds in his last start.

Angel of Empire, a son of 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire, finished second behind stablemate Victory Formation in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1 at Oaklawn.

Rocket Can won the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 4 and finished second behind champion Forte in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) March 4. Both 1 1/16-mile races were at Gulfstream Park. Rocket Can is owned by prominent North Little Rock, Ark., businessman Frank Fletcher, who is seeking his first victory in the Arkansas Derby, a race he covets the most.

The speedy Two Eagles Rivers exits a sharp entry-level allowance victory at 1 mile Feb. 19 at Oaklawn and has trained sharply for his graded stakes debut. Two Eagles River is trained by Chris Hartman.

The projected Arkansas Derby field from the rail out: Bourbon Bash, Reylu Gutierrez to ride, 15-1 on the morning line; Interlock Empire, David Cabrera, 20-1; Harlocap, Ricardo Santana Jr., 15-1; Two Eagles River, Nik Juarez, 10-1; Airtime, Cristian Torres, 15-1; Angel of Empire, Flavien Prat, 9-2; Rocket Can, Junior Alvarado, 4-1; Reincarnate, John Velazquez, 5-2; King Russell, Rafael Bejarano, 30-1; Red Route One, Tyler Gaffalione, 3-1; and Kolomio, James Graham, 30-1.

Multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Wet Paint was made the 8-5 program favorite for the Fantasy, which is Oaklawn's third Kentucky Oaks (G1) points race.

Trained by Brad Cox, Wet Paint has already earned 70 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points following sparkling victories in the Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 and the Honeybee Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. Wet Paint is unbeaten in three career starts on dirt. All three races, including the Martha Washington and Honeybee at Oaklawn, have been on off tracks.

The 1 1/16-mile Fantasy will offer 200 points to the top five finishers (100-40-30-20-10, respectively) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

The projected 10-horse Fantasy field from the rail out: She's Lookin Lucky, Cristian Torres to ride, 5-2 on the morning line; Grand Love, Tyler Gaffalione, 8-1; Towhead, Isaac Castillo, 10-1; Taxed, Rafael Bejarano, 30-1; Take Charge Briana, Reylu Gutierrez, 20-1; Wet Paint, Flavien Prat, 8-5; Pate, Florent Geroux, 20-1; Royal Spa, Ricardo Santana Jr., 4-1; Olivia Twist, David Cabrera, 20-1; and Condensation, Francisco Arrieta, 10-1.

Post positions for two other stakes races April 1 – $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses and the inaugural $200,000 Hot Springs for 3-year-olds at 1 mile – will be drawn Monday.

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