umberto rispoli | Horse Racing Free Tips

Closing Remarks, Rispoli Team Up For California Cup Oaks Victory

With a nightmarish trip in her last start behind her, Harris Farms' homebred Closing Remarks powered to an impressive one-length win in Saturday's $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. One of three fillies in the field trained by Carla Gaines, Closing Remarks was ridden by Umberto Rispoli and covered one mile on turf in 1:35.62.

Named for the longtime owner/breeder and trainer who passed away this past Sept. 3 at 79, the Leigh Ann Howard Cal Cup Oaks is part of the CTBA's lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired three year old fillies.

Fourth, about two lengths off of longshot leader Super Game at the top of the stretch, Closing Remarks wheeled three-wide and was free-running to the wire as she easily held off the late run of Warrens Candy Girl on the money.

Full of run with nowhere to go turning for home in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes going a mile on turf at Del Mar Nov. 28, Closing Remarks, in her fourth career start, was off as the 5-2 second choice in a field of 10 sophomore fillies and paid $7.80, $4.40 and $3.60.

By Vronsky, out of the Unusual Heat mare Orange Cove, Closing Remarks notched her first stakes win and her second win from four overall starts. With the winner's share of $110,000, she increased her earnings to $149,500.

Far back early, Warrens Candy Girl closed well to prevail by 1 ½ lengths for second over Super Game with Drayden Van Dyke up. Off at 5-1, Warrens Candy Girl paid $5.60 and $3.80.

Trained by Brian Koriner and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Super Game made things interesting at 50-1, as she enjoyed a roughly two-length advantage on the winner a furlong out, but tired to finish third by a neck over Dylans Wild Cat and paid $17.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.60, 46.96, 1:11.15 and 1:23.56.

The post Closing Remarks, Rispoli Team Up For California Cup Oaks Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Van Dyke, Rispoli Handed Days Over Repeated Whip Use Infractions

California riders Drayden Van Dyke and Umberto Rispoli will each be serving three-day suspensions for repeatedly violating new whip rules in the state. Both riders have been fined for previous whip rule violations, which now prohibit jockeys from hitting horses overhanded, hitting more than six times in a race, or hitting more than two times in succession.

Rispoli will serve his days Jan. 16, 17, and 18 for the latest offense in the fifth race at Santa Anita on Jan. 8. Van Dyke will serve his days Jan. 17, 18, and 22 after violating the rules in the third race the following day.

It is the fourth offense related to whip use in 60 days for both riders.

Jockeys at Santa Anita have spoken out against the rules, which were approved by the California Horse Racing Board in late 2020. Hall of Famer Mike Smith took up for his fellow riders, raising questions about the safety of under-handed whip use and also voicing concerns about the fairness of whip limitations to horseplayers.

Read Smith's open letter to the CHRB on the issue here.

Chilean-Bred Sanenus Makes Early Move A Winning One In La Canada

Ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli, Chilean-bred Sanenus made what appeared to be a premature move, but instead, the race was over early, as she took command around the far turn en route to an impressive six-length win in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Trained by Michael McCarthy for owner/breeder Matriarca, Sanenus got 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:45.44.

Third, just a half length off of dueling leaders Fighting Mad and Hard Not to Love down the backstretch, Rispoli decided to press the issue heading to the half-mile pole and was large and in charge mid-way around the far turn.

“I've been on her several times in the morning,” said Rispoli. “I knew she was a very good filly. Today, I asked her a bit at the half-mile pole and she responded well. At the top of the stretch, she was looking around and I was just hoping she was going to stay focused. She finished well and I think she has more there.”

A Group 1 winner at age three in her native Chile, Sanenus was most recently third in the G3 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs Nov. 21 and was off at 7-1 today in a field of seven older fillies and mares, returning $17.00, $8.20 and $4.60.

The La Canada marked the first stateside win in her fourth try for McCarthy and with the winner's share of $120,000, Sanenus now has earnings of $219,700. A 5-year-old mare by Scat Daddy out of the Tale of the Cat mare Belgian Chocolate, Saenus now has five wins from 12 career starts.

“Umberto did a great job, he had to niggle a little bit at her to kind of keep her in the game around the first turn,” said McCarthy. I thought she was in a great position up the backside and she went up to engage those fillies leaving the half-mile pole. At the quarter, she had her ears up and I love the way she opened up. The La Canada has a great history and a lot of really nice mares have won this race over the years and this is a nice race to have on her resume.”

Ridden by Mike Smith, Miss Stormy D rallied to be second by a nose over Hard Not to Love and paid $12.00 and $5.80 while off at 14-1.

Hard Not to Love, who was the second choice at 3-1, was done early and finished third, 6 ½ lengths clear of Never Be Enough. Ridden by Ricky Gonzalez, Hard Not to Love paid $3.00 to show.

Fighting Mad, the 4-5 favorite with Abel Cedillo, was also a pace casualty and had no answer for the winner five-sixteenths from home, finishing fifth.

Fractions on the race were 23.30, 46.37, 1:11.28 and 1:38.20.

The post Chilean-Bred Sanenus Makes Early Move A Winning One In La Canada appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘It’s Gonna Be A Big Hit’: Santa Anita’s New Turf Chute Gets Rave Reviews

On a stunningly beautiful Monday morning, Santa Anita's all-new turf chute, which parallels the track's seven furlong main track chute, was put to the test as a pair of horses broke from the starting gate at a 6 ½ furlong setting and transitioned across the main track and back to the turf course “proper” with aplomb.

Trainer Vladimir Cerin's Lady Noguez, ridden by Umberto Rispoli and Neil Drysdale's Cosmo, with Flavien Prat up, were allowed to run up the backstretch prior to being pulled up as they headed to the far turn.

“What a beautiful addition,” said Prat. “This new chute is fantastic and it's in a great place. Both of the horses handled the dirt crossing with no problem at all and I can't wait to start riding races over this in the afternoons.”

Rispoli was likewise ecstatic regarding the promise of Santa Anita's newest addition.

“It's perfect, there's a slight bend to the right coming out of the gate and then you've got a nice run to the dirt crossing,” he said. “This gives us a lot of options with the kinds of races we can run and I think everybody is going to want to get their horses on it. They've done a great job getting this ready for opening day and I really think it's going to provide some great racing.”

Designed by track consultant Dennis Moore and “green lighted” by Santa Anita's Chief Operating Officer, Aidan Butler, the turf chute project was undertaken on Aug. 17 and involved removal of blacktop and extensive excavation in order to get the running surface elevated and compacted to the level of the main track, which it intersects at approximately the three quarter pole.

“This is a great step forward,” said Moore. “I wanted everything to go just like it did this morning. Those two horses crossed the dirt here with no problem.”

“It's really, really cool to see all of this hard work come together,” said Butler, who will be jetting to Gulfstream Park tomorrow morning to oversee racing operations there. “It looks terrific and this new chute really solidifies our turf offerings here at Santa Anita. It was designed to stand the test of time and here's hoping it's here for many years to come.”

Retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who is now involved in racehorse ownership and is one of America's most highly respected racing analysts on Fox Sports 1, was also on-hand for this morning's demonstration.

“This provides a totally new component to our turf arsenal,” said Stevens. “I actually got a little choked up watching those horses cross the dirt because it reminds me of the downhill crossing and all the races I rode here. I think it's gonna be a big hit. I know I'd sure like to ride it.”

Two other jockeys of note, Hall of Famer Mike Smith and budding star Drayden Van Dyke, joined Stevens on the inside rail.

“It looks really good,” said Smith. “Same as with the downhill, I think Jay (Slender) will load 'em from the outside in, with that little bend to the right.”

“I think everybody was interested in how those horses would handle crossing the dirt, and they did it with no problem,” said Van Dyke. “This is great news for everybody.”

The turf chute, which is 80 feet wide and approximately 800 feet long, will accommodate sprint races at distances of six and 6 ½ furlongs, while Santa Anita's traditional Camino Real Hillside Course will continue to be available to horses running distances of a mile and a quarter and up.

To view this morning's turf chute demonstration, please click here.

While the public will not be admitted for live racing due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, fans are encouraged to follow Santa Anita's live racing via XpressBet.com and 1stBet.com. For more information regarding Santa Anita's upcoming Winter/Spring Meet, including post times, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post ‘It’s Gonna Be A Big Hit’: Santa Anita’s New Turf Chute Gets Rave Reviews appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post