Tag: Triple Crown

Gold Square's graded stakes-placed Slip Mahoney, who is targeting the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack, breezed a half-mile in :48.40 on Saturday with assistant trainer Dustin Dugas up over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

Slip Mahoney, trained by Brad Cox, completed the work in company with Juddmonte's stakes-placed Capella, who is aiming for a start in the $250,000 Gazelle (G3) on Wood Memorial Day. Capella was piloted through the work by jockey Manny Franco.

“The work was great,” said Dugas. “Slip Mahoney was on the inside and it was a really good move from the both of them. They broke off well and galloped out in 1:01, so it was a good gallop out. I was happy with it and both came back really well.”

The Wood Memorial is the final local prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6 at Churchill Downs, awarding 100-40-30-20-10 qualifying points to the top five finishers. Similarly, the Gazelle is the last local prep for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 5, offering the same point structure to the top-five finishers.

Slip Mahoney, a gray son of Arrogate, was last seen finishing a closing second in the Gotham (G3) on March 4 here, rallying from 13th of 14 runners to finish 7 1/2 lengths back of the victorious Raise Cain. He earned 20 qualifying points for the effort and is currently 26th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard as of Sunday.

Updated Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

“He didn't really require much encouraging yesterday,” Dugas said of the work. “He was going about it in a really nice way.”

Capella, a Quality Road filly and a half sister to the Cox-trained multiple graded stakes winner Bonny South, earned 15 Kentucky Oaks points when finishing third in the Busher on March 4 at the Big A, placing her in 28th on the leaderboard.

Dugas said he and Franco have been encouraged by Capella's recent string of works.

“Manny was really happy with her,” said Dugas. “Just the way she works and does things, she does it very professionally and well within herself. She's a really cool and honest filly. She's really settled in since she's been here and she took a second to get her bearings, but she's very comfortable now. Fingers crossed if everything goes well that we can make it to the first Friday in May.”

Cox is also expected to start Gary and Mary West's graded stakes winner Hit Show in the Wood Memorial on the heels of a dominant 5 1/2-length victory in the Withers (G3) on February 11 at the Big A. Dugas said Hit Show, who breezed six furlongs in 1:12.60 Saturday at Fair Grounds, is expected to ship to Belmont Park after an anticipated final work next weekend at the Louisiana oval.

The post Wood Memorial Hopeful Slip Mahoney Breezes In Company With Gazelle Probable Capella appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. boasts a stellar 3-0-2 record from seven graded stakes starts at Aqueduct, including wins by Mischevious Alex in the 2021 Carter Handicap (G1), Drain the Clock in the 2021 Bay Shore (G3), and Officiating in last year's Tom Fool Handicap (G3).

He will look to add to his local success when he sends out Vegso Racing Stable's Kentucky homebred Lord Miles in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G2) on April 8. The Barbados native could also send Run Cory Run or Knox for the Kentucky Derby (G1) prep which offers qualifying points on a 100-40-30-20-10 scale to the top five finishers.

Joseph has started three horses in the Wood, all of them longshots, finishing fourth in 2019 with Math Wizard [64-1], while Skippylongstocking [17-1] and A.P.'s Secret [49-1] ran third and fourth, respectively, in last year's edition that featured a photo finish between two eventual classic winners in the victorious Mo Donegal, the Belmont (G1) winner, and Early Voting, Preakness, the Preakness (G1) victor.

Joseph said he has no fear of being a longshot in sophomore stakes.

“With 3-year-olds, you never know when they're going to step up,” Joseph said. “The Wood has been a productive race for us. We haven't won it, but those horses ran well and that gave us confidence to try different races with them off of that.”

Lord Miles, by Curlin and out of the Majestic Warrior mare Lady Esme, made his first three starts at Gulfstream Park. He graduated on debut in a six-furlong sprint in November before a rallying third in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man in which he was defeated just three-quarters of a length.

“He trained very good for his debut, but he was very green that day. He broke good and then dropped back and that's been a problem we've had with him. But he still won that day going away,” Joseph said. “In the Mucho Macho Man, at an extended distance, he should have been able to sit more handy, but it was a similar thing. He broke good and dropped back – at the quarter pole he was last and then he came running and just got beat.”

Joseph attempted to address the lack-of-focus issue by adding blinkers to Lord Miles' repertoire for the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull (G3) in February, but the bay colt broke poorly and never factored. Last out, with blinkers off in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 11, Lord Miles again posted an in-and-out performance, when sitting as close as fourth early on before dropping back to eighth and eventually finishing fifth.

“He put on blinkers in the Holy Bull and I was very disappointed. He didn't run up to par that day,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He came back in the Tampa Bay Derby and ran sneaky good again, but he's inconsistent in his races and how he travels. At the quarter-pole last time, it looked like he was completely done and then he came back on and ran fifth.”

Joseph said he is hopeful stretching out to nine furlongs will benefit Lord Miles.

“I think the distance will be good for him, but we just need to teach him to be more handy throughout the races,” Joseph said. “It just seems like he's always struggling on-and-off the bridle. We're hoping he can put it together. In the morning, he's very handy, it's just in his races he's been doing this. If he can run a complete race, he has the ability.”

Gentry Farms' Run Cory Run, by Accelerate, was purchased for $32,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. He graduated at second asking in January at Tampa Bay Downs traveling one mile and 40 yards to best next-out winner Summer Cause.

The Kentucky-bred Run Cory Run finished fourth last out in a nine-furlong optional-claiming tilt won by likely Wood Memorial rival Classic Catch, who is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.

“He broke his maiden well at Tampa and is coming out of a decent allowance race,” Joseph said. “He's a horse that's progressive and the distance shouldn't be a problem, so it would be a chance to see where we're at.”

Run Cory Run is out of the Indian Charlie mare Frere Pilgrim, who is a half sister to graded stakes winner Tamarind Hall.

Arindel's Florida-homebred Knox, by Brethren, boasts a record of 1-1-1 from six starts. He graduated at first asking in June at Gulfstream and most recently closed to finish second in a seven-furlong optional-claimer at the Florida oval.

“He always gives himself a lot to do. We've been trying to get him into longer races here and the races just won't go,” Joseph said. “He ran good here the other day and the distance will be no problem with him.”

Out of the stakes-winning Afleet Alex mare Alexandra Rylee, Knox's full brother, Clapton, captured the one-mile Gil Campbell Memorial Handicap last year at Gulfstream.

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Two Phil's stamped himself a horse to watch at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May with a convincing 5¼-length victory in the $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), the marquee race Saturday at Turfway Park.

Owned in partnership by Patricia's Hope and Phil Sagan, Two Phil's earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his victory in the Jeff Ruby Steaks, adding to his growing total of now 123 points. Runner-up Major Dude tallied 40 points followed by third-place finisher Funtastic Again (30 points), fourth-place Wadsworth (20 points), and fifth-place Maker's Candy (10 points).

Two Phil's was ridden by Jareth Loveberry and is trained by Larry Rivelli. The son of former Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Hard Spun completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.03 on the all-weather track

Loveberry positioned Two Phil's in seventh in the early stages of the Jeff Ruby Steaks, 2¾-lengths off pacesetter Funtastic Again's quarter-mile time of :23.49. Up the backside, Funtastic Again and jockey Gerardo Corrales continued to dictate the pace through a half-mile in :47.84. At the half-mile pole, Two Phil's moved up to fourth, two lengths off the pace. Around the far turn, favored Major Dude began to make his challenge in the two-path while Loveberry spun Two Phil's three-wide. At the top of the stretch Two Phil's poked his head in front and drew clear in the late stages.

“The original plan probably wasn't to run in this spot,” Rivelli said. “I was just looking for the best route to get Two Phil's to the Kentucky Derby (G1). With this race on the calendar I thought it was the perfect timing and perfect spot. We're on our way to the Derby.”

Two Phil's rewarded his backers with $7.64 for the win. Major Dude with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. finished second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Funtastic Again.

Rivelli reported Two Phil's will now head back to Hawthorne Park and ship to Louisville about three-weeks out of the Kentucky Derby. The talented 3-year-old has a lifetime record of 4-1-1 from eight starts and purse earnings of $683,450.

Wadsworth crossed the wire fourth followed by Maker's Candy, Congruent, Baby Billy, Escapologist, Bluebirds Over and Point Proven.

Two Phil's is by Hard Spun out of the General Quarters mare Mia Torri. He was bred in Kentucky by co-owner Phil Sagan.

JEFF RUBY STEAKS QUOTES:

Jareth Loveberry, jockey, Two Phil's (winner): “Three weeks ago I suffered a hairline fracture in my left fibula but I'm pretty high on life right now and don't feel that too much. Two Phil's has seemed to get better each week this winter at Fair Grounds. Last time he had a beatiful trip but he seems to do his best running while behind horses. I think h'es getting better with each start. He ran well in the Lecomte but I thought he was even better in the Risen Star. It's just very exciting to be partnered with a horse like this and a team that's supported me.”

Larry Rivelli, trainer, Two Phil's (winner): “The original plan probably wasn't to run in this spot. I was just looking for the best route to get Two Phil's to the Kentucky Derby. With this race on the calendar I thought it was the perfect timing and perfect spot. We're on our way to the Derby.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey, Major Dude (runner-up): “I was just second best to the winner today. I sat a great trip and was in a perfect spot. The winner outkicked us going for home.”

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Spendthrift Farm's Kingsbarns ran his record to a perfect three-for-three with a front-running 3 1/2-length victory under Flavien Prat in Saturday's Grade 2, $1-million TwinSpires Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. The Uncle Mo colt gave trainer Todd Pletcher a record fifth Louisiana Derby win while earning 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

Disarm, ridden by Joel Rosario, finished second for trainer Steve Asmussen, who was tied with Pletcher for most Louisiana Derby wins going into this year's renewal. Jace's Road finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third for trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux, with Shopper's Revenge and Ricardo Santana Jr. fourth, and Sun Thunder and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. fifth in the field of a dozen 3-year-olds.

The second through fifth-place finishers, respectively, received 40-30-20-10 Derby qualifying points.

Instant Coffee, the 3-2 favorite and one of three starters for trainer Cox (Jace's Road and Tapit's Conquest were the others), finished sixth after rallying extremely wide from off the pace. He was followed by Tapit's Conquest, Cagliostro, Baseline Beater, Denington, Curly Jack and Singer Ruler.

Kingsbarn, named for a Scottish golf links, covered 1 3/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:57.33 and paid $11 to win as the second betting choice.

Bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group, Kingsbarns was an $800,000 purchase at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale of 2-year-olds in training at Gulfstream Park. The colt, who breezed a quarter mile in :20 3/5, was consigned by Tom McCrocklin, who purchased Kingsbarns on behalf of Champion Equine as a yearling for $250,000 at the previous year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale from Paramount Sales.

Kingsbarns is the second foal out of the Tapit mare, Lady Tapit, who won one race and was placed in a Grade 3 stakes at Santa Anita.

Prat was the third rider for Kingbarns in as many starts. When the colt debuted in a one-mile maiden race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 14, Luis Saez was in the irons for the 1 3/4-length win from just off the pace. Next out in a mile and 40 yard Tampa Bay Downs allowance race on Feb. 12 that Kingsbarns won by 7 3/4 lengths , Antonio Gallardo was aboard.

Saez opted for Instant Coffee, who he'd ridden to victories last November in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs and the G3 Lecomte at Fair Grounds on Jan. 21. Prat flew in from California for the day, also winning the G2 New Orleans Classic aboard West Will Power for Cox earlier in the day.

Seizing the opportunity in a field devoid of much early speed, Prat sent Kingsbarns to the lead from the outset, going the opening quarter mile in :24.71 under pressure from Jace's Road, then relaxed into a comfortable gallop while maintaining a one length lead over that rival through a half-mile in :49.60 and six furlongs in 1:14.69.

By the time the field reached the top of the stretch, the mile clocked in 1:39.13, Kingsbarns had opened up by 4 1/2 lengths and cruised to the wire without being seriously threatened.

The Louisiana Derby has been won in recent years by Epicenter (2022 3-year-old male champion), Hot Rod Charlie (2021, later winner of the G1 Pennsylvania Derby), Girvin (2017, later winner of the G1 Haskell) and Gun Runner (2016 winner and Horse of the Year in 2017). The last Louisiana Derby winner to also win the Kentucky Derby was Grindstone in 1996.

 

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