Wesley Ward | Horse Racing Free Tips

Irad Ortiz, Jr. Voted Jockey Of The Week After Fourth Straight Shoemaker Award

Three-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. travelled to the West Coast from his base in New York for the races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club during Breeders' Cup week. He returned to New York having won four stakes at Del Mar and put an exclamation point on his outstanding week by winning a stakes race at Belmont Park on Sunday. His accomplishments earned Jockey of the Week Nov. 1 through Nov. 7. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Breeders' Cup weekend began with “Future Stars Friday” with all stakes races dedicated to two-year-olds. Riding for trainer John Sadler, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Big Switch in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Presented by PNC. Off in post position six in the field of eight, Big Switch took command in upper stretch and drew off to a convincing 2-3/4 lengths victory in 1:22.39 for six furlongs.

”I didn't have to do much,” said Ortiz. “I had a good trip. She just ran and that's all there was to it.”

Trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. combined for the third straight year to win the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. This year Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Twilight Gleaming (IRE). The fastest out of the gate, Twilight Gleaming (IRE) led all the way to win by a half-length over Go Bears Go covering the five furlongs on the turf in :56.24.

On Saturday, the duo of trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. struck again with Golden Pal in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Golden Pal went right to the lead and was never pressured, posting a 1-1/4-length win for the five furlongs on the turf in: 54.75.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded to me when I asked him for the run down the stretch,” said Ortiz, Jr.

The next race saw Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher give a leg up to Ortiz, Jr. on Life Is Good in the G1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Life Is Good took command out of the gate and cruised to 5-3/4 lengths victory after a mild challenge from Ginobili.

“I had the perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “When we go to the quarter pole, he re-broke for me. What a nice horse to ride.”

Ortiz, Jr. was awarded the Bill Shoemaker Award for the fourth year in a row as Outstanding Jockey at the Breeders' Cup.

Back to Belmont Park on Sunday, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Orglandes (FR) for trainer Chad Brown in the Zagora for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 1-1/2 miles on the Widener turf. Off as the favorite in the field of seven, Orglandes (FR) got up right before the wire to win by a neck over Beautiful Love and Joel Rosario in 2:29.28. Ortiz, Jr. also collected the leading rider title at Belmont Park.

Ortiz, Jr. outpolled Mitchell Murrill with the most wins for the week, Jose L. Ortiz with two G1 Breeders' Cup victories, Joel Rosario with two G1 Breeders' Cup wins and Chantal Sutherland with nine wins for the week.

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Golden Pal Out Of Gate Like A Rocket, Runs Away With Turf Sprint

Many top trainers know that the break is everything in a sprint race, and Golden Pal provided a textbook example in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, taking the lead and never looking back for conditioner Wesley Ward.

Golden Pal and Irad Ortiz Jr. rocketed out of the third starting gate so quickly, television commentators watched the replay to verify his gate had indeed not opened before his competitors'. After a sharp break, Golden Pal kept clear of the rest of the field throughout the five-furlong race and drew away by 1 1/4 lengths from a valiant closing effort by Lieutenant Dan in the stretch. Lieutenant Dan and Frankie Dettori had given chase to the blistering early pace of :21.71 and :43.34. The final time was :54.75, equalling a course record set by Fast Parade on Aug. 16, 2006.

Golden Pal was the 5-2 favorite in the race, and paid $7.00, $4.60, and $3.60. Lieutenant Dan settled for second, while Charmaine's Mia was third.

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, et al own the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo, who was bred in Florida by Randall E. Lowe. Golden Pal is out of Midshipman mare Lady Shipman. He was an RNA at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $325,000, where he was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

Golden Pal was the winner of last year's G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and came to this race off a win in the G2 Woodford on Oct. 9 at Keeneland. He also picked up a win in the G3 Quick Call.

Golden Pal's connections confirmed to media he will likely stay in training next year, with 2022 goals to be determined.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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Uncle Mo’s Golden Pal Speeds to Second BC Win in Turf Sprint

Breaking like shot out of a cannon, Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) marked his return to Breeders' Cup competition following a win in 2020 to double up with a score in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Sent off what seemed to be a bit of an overlay, the 5-2 favorite was sure-footed at the start, streaking to the front and cutting out a brisk quarter in :21.71. With Lieutenant Dan (Grazen) in hot pursuit through an equally fast half in :43.34, last year's GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner turned for home about a length ahead of the GII Eddie D. S. scorer, kicked on all boosters in the stretch, and despite Lieutenant Dan's best intentions late, the Wesley Ward trainee was not for catching, crossing the wire 1 1/2 lengths ahead. Charmaine's Mia rounded out the trifecta. Last season's defending champion Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) never got into the mix of things, finishing eighth.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded when I asked him for run down the stretch,” said winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr. “I was confident coming for home and he still felt very strong. He was ready today.”

The victory is the second of the weekend for Ward and Ortiz Jr., who teamed up to win Friday's GII Juvenile Turf Sprint with Twilight Gleaming (Ire). It is the sixth Breeders' Cup victory for Ward and 13th for Ortiz, but first for both in the Turf Sprint.

“He's got the title–he's the best horse [I've ever trained], affirmed Ward. “Bruce Headley, a great trainer, once told me when he had [Sprint Champion] Kona Gold, 'stay in there long enough and you'll get one as good as this.' I hope everyone in horse racing has a horse like this, as special as he is. He's just fast. He's mature and he has so much upstairs, as well. He has so much natural ability. What a horse.”

Added Steven Miyadi, trainer of runner-up Lieutenant Dan, “He wasn't ready to run against a rocket ship. He ran great, probably the best race of his life.”

A runner-up finish in last year's G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot proved but a taste of what was still to come for the Coolmore partners-owned runner, who rounded out his 2-year-old campaign with wins in Saratoga's Skidmore S. followed by a narrow victory on Breeders' Cup day at Keeneland. Given time off following a minor setback earlier this season, Golden Pal returned a winner in the GIII Quick Call S. at the Spa July 15 but didn't show his best when seventh in the G1 Nunthorpe S. at York Aug. 20. Freshened after that, the Florida bred went wire-to-wire last time out in the 5 1/2-furlong GII Woodford S. at Keeneland Oct. 9.

Pedigree Notes:
Golden Pal was certainly bred to be a good one, becoming the 10th Grade I/Group 1 winner for Coolmore's Uncle Mo. His illustrious dam, 'TDN Rising Star' Lady Shipman, who missed by a neck in the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint–was also bred by the colt's breeder, Randy Lowe. The graded-winning mare produced an Omaha Beach colt Mar. 24 and is back in foal to Uncle Mo. A Violence half-brother to Lady Shipman RNA'd for $170,000 at Fasig-Tipton July. For more on Lowe and Golden Pal, click here for a Second Chances column.

Saturday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT-GI, $920,000, Del Mar, 11-6, 3yo/up, 5fT, :55.22, fm.
1–GOLDEN PAL, 124, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Lady Shipman (GSW-Can, MSW & GISP-USA, $902,387), by Midshipman
2nd Dam: Sumthingtotalkabt, by Mutakddim
3rd Dam: Nannetta, by Falstaff
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($325,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Magnier,
Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B., Smith, Derrick and Westerberg;
B-Randall E Lowe (FL); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
$520,000. Lifetime Record: 8-5-2-0, $1,299,056. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lieutenant Dan, 126, g, 5, Grazen–Excusabull, by Indian
Charlie. O/B-Nick Alexander (CA); T-Steven Miyadi. $170,000.
3–Charmaine's Mia, 123, m, 5, The Factor–Charming Vixen, by
Bernstein. ($40,000 RNA Wlg '16 KEENOV; $4,000 Ylg '17
KEESEP). O-Agave Racing Stable, Medallion Racing and Rockin
Robin Racing Stables; B-Gunpowder Farms LLC (KY); T-Philip
D'Amato. $90,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, 3HF, NK. Odds: 2.50, 4.60, 28.10.
Also Ran: Emaraaty Ana (GB), A Case of You (Ire), Gear Jockey, Kimari, Glass Slippers (GB), Extravagant Kid, Chaos Theory, Fast Boat, Caravel. Scratched: Arrest Me Red, Beer Can Man, Bombard, Commander (Fr), Hollywood Talent, The Critical Way.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Express Train Scratched from Classic, BC Friday Wrap

Express Train (Union Rags), slated to contest Saturday's GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, was scratched the morning of the race because of swelling in his hind right hock.

“He was schooling in the paddock three days ago and he got a little playful, jumping around and kicked himself,” trainer John Shirreffs said. “He'll be fine with a little more time and we plan on running him next year.”

Also withdrawn Saturday morning, Lael Stable's Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) was forced to miss Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“We had a little foot issue and changed the horse's shoes,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “It kept getting better, but we erred on the side of caution.”

“She was perfect [Saturday] morning,” he confirmed. “She jogged up perfect and is with [GII Juvenile Turf Sprint] third-place finisher Kaufymaker and fifth-place finisher and post-time favorite Averly Jane] on a plane [to Keeneland].”

L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), runaway winner of Friday's GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, will get some time off before returning for a 3-year-old campaign, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

“She needs a bit of a break now. So that she can fill in, she needs to grow,” he said. “She's not a big filly in stature, but as a Gun Runner, he was extremely talented, but he [later] developed into the best in the world.”

Earlier this season, the TDN Rising Star won the GI Spinaway S. and GI Frizette S. prior to her latest score.

Reflecting on Friday's victory, he added, “I think it's as simple as she's faster than they are. And, I think that's what she's been all year. She continues to be just extremely satisfying. When you look at a four-race year, three Grade Is and the style in which she's done it. All of her races are fast, her numbers are good. And, against the best company, that's as good as it gets. You catch the [GI] Alcibiades winner [JuJu's Map] and the [GIII] Pocahontas winner [Hidden Connection]. They made it here. And, she was better on the day. We're very proud of that.”

According to trainer Bob Baffert, Speedway Stables' Corniche (Quality Road) is also done for the season following his win in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

“He won't race again this year,” the Hall of Famer confirmed. “We don't have any specific plans for him.”

Baffert was also responsible for Juvenile contestants Pinehurst (Twirling Candy, 5th) and Barossa (Into Mischief, 9th).

“All my horses came out of the race well,” Baffert said. “I thought his [Corniche's] race was very impressive. He's a really, really fast horse and this performance shows what a brilliant horse he is.”

Bobby Flay's Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was already heading back East following her win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Friday. The Flay homebred gave her trainer, Christophe Clement, his first win in a Breeders' Cup race.

“She ran very well and got a great ride,” said Clement. “She's a good filly. For me the biggest accomplishment of the whole deal–of course it's great to win the Breeders Cup–is that her owner/breeder Bobby Flay chose us with a filly that is very well bred and we were able to do this. It is very meaningful for me.”

Looking ahead, Clement added that New York's turf triple crown is a likely for next season.

“That would be the goal of the moment, but we have time to think about it,” he said.

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