Gufo Gets 104 Beyer Speed Figure For Sword Dancer, Targets Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Next

Otter Bend Stables' Gufo continued his career-long stretch of ultra-consistent efforts when holding off Japan for a neck victory in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., improving his career ledger to 7-2-3 in 12 races.

Gufo, bred in Kentucky by John Little and Steve Cainelli, earned a personal-best 104 Beyer for his second career Grade 1 victory and first since the Belmont Derby Invitational in October. He cracked triple digits for the second time in three starts after garnering a 100 for his third-place finish in the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Stakes Day June 5.

Clement said Gufo will now target the $500,000 Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/2 miles on October 9 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“He came out of his race in very good shape and I was very proud of him. He looks very good this morning,” Clement said.

Clement added blinkers to Gufo before his start in the Grand Couturier going 1 1/2 miles on July 5 at Belmont. After winning that contest by one length, Clement kept the blinkers on, with the 4-year-old Declaration of War colt responding by rallying from last-of-7 under jockey Joel Rosario to make a strong three-wide move in the upper stretch before digging in.

“We put the blinkers on and it helped Joel get in a better position,” Clement said. “It put him more in contention to run a better race.”

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski's Senbei improved to 2-for-2 with a 2 3/4-length win in the Funny Cide during New York Showcase Day.

Bred in the Empire State by Dr. Jerry Bilinksi, Senbei went gate-to-wire to capture the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint. Clement said he has not picked out a next spot yet for Senbei, who won his debut by 4 3/4 lengths on July 18 at Saratoga before going 2-for-2 at the prestigious summer meet.

“He came out of his race perfect. I was very impressed,” Clement said.

Senbei was a $280,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland Association January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Clement's 1-2 finishers in the West Point presented by Trustco Bank on New York Showcase Day both are set for fall spots at Belmont, Clement said, with City Man targeting the $125,000 Ashley T. Cole for state-breds 3-years-old and up going 1 1/8 miles on the turf on September 24.

City Man, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles and bred by Moonstar Farm, bested stablemate Therapist by a nose on Friday in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes.

Clement said he will likely run Oak Bluff Stables' Therapist, who earned his first stakes black type in five attempts dating to his win in the 2020 Artie Schiller in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, back at Belmont as well.

“He ran a really good race again. He's just a fun horse. He's still consistent and he still tries,” Clement said.

Therapist has registered Beyer numbers of 90 or greater in 10 consecutive starts dating to June 2020.

The post Gufo Gets 104 Beyer Speed Figure For Sword Dancer, Targets Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Next appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Friday Card Features Six New York Bred Stakes At Saratoga

State-breds will take center stage Friday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., with an 11-race card offering a half-dozen stakes for horses bred in the Empire State comprising New York Showcase Day. The six stakes are worth a combined $1.15 million.

“Saratoga New York Showcase Day is the flagship event on the calendar for our state's breeders and owners,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “We're proud to partner with NYRA to feature an all New York-bred card at the premier racing meet in the country with competitive fields, lucrative purses and six state-bred stakes totaling $1.15 million. This day is a culmination of the hard work our breeders and everyone involved in the New York-bred program do daily to make our program great. It also highlights the advantages of breeding and owning state-breds in New York.”

Friday's card is headlined by the $250,000 Albany, a 1 1/8-mile main track contest for sophomores in Race 9. The lucrative card will include the $200,000 Fleet Indian for sophomore fillies going 1 1/8 miles in Race 7; the $200,000 Funny Cide, presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, for 2-year-olds sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in Race 4; the $200,000 Seeking the Ante for 2-year-old fillies at 6 1/2 furlongs in Race 2; the $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf in Race 8; and the $150,000 Yaddo, a handicap for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the Mellon turf course in Race 10.

Trainer Christophe Clement will be represented by five horses across four stakes on the card, including Senbei [Funny Cide], Pay Grade [Fleet Indian], and Classic Lady [Yaddo], along with Therapist and City Man in the West Point.

“It's a big deal,” Clement said of the all-state-bred card. “I've got quite a few New York-breds, and, with the clients we have and the money we have to spend, we concentrate on the New York-breds because we have a better chance to get a stakes horse in the division.”

In the featured Albany, Americanrevolution [post 2, Luis Saez] will look to continue his upward trajectory following a 7 ¼-length victory in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes in Farmington, N.Y.

The son of Constitution handled his two-turn debut with flying colors, arriving at the New York Derby off a narrow triumph against next-out winner Water's Edge in a June 20 maiden event going six furlongs at Belmont Park.

Trainer Kelly Breen will saddle two contenders for Ron Lombardi's Mr. Amore Stable in It's a Gamble [post 1, John Velazquez] and It's Gravy [post 9, Joel Rosario].

It's a Gamble, a son of English Channel, earned an open company stakes victory when capturing an off-the-turf edition of the Jersey Derby on May 28 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. The three-time winner broke his maiden over the Mellon turf last summer at Saratoga and defeated winners over the Aqueduct outer turf in the final start of his 2-year-old season.

It's Gravy, by Freud, is in search of his first victory since breaking his maiden on January 16 over a muddy and sealed main track at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y. The bay gelding arrives off of a third-place finish in the NYSSS Cab Calloway on July 28 at Saratoga.

Completing the field are Purple Hearted [post 3, Eric Cancel], Bingo John [post 4, Manny Franco], Bobby Bo [post 5, Flavien Prat], Anejo [post 6, Junior Alvarado], Joey Loose Lips [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], and Our Man Mike [post 8, Jose Ortiz].

Stakes action will kick off in Race 2 with CJ Thoroughbreds' stakes-winner Miss Alacrity [post 1, John Velazquez] looking to stay undefeated when headlining the Seeking the Ante.

Miss Alacrity, bred by Milfer Farm, dominated in her debut with a 10-length score in May over the Belmont Park main track. Moved to turf last out, the Munnings filly drew away to a 2 3/4-length score in the Colleen on August 1 at Monmouth. Trainer Wesley Ward will switch her back to the main track on Friday.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will send out Stonestreet Stables' Velvet Sister [post 6, Joel Rosario], a 9 3/4-length debut winner in June at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., for her second stakes appearance after running fourth in the Grade 3 Schuylerville on July 15 at the Spa. Velvet Sister was a $500,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Also in the field is Joseph Bucci's Laoban's Legacy [post 2, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], a 7 3/4-length debut winner for trainer Jeremiah Englehart; McConnell Racing Stable and Darlene Bilinski's Hideout [post 5, Eric Cancel], making her stakes debut for trainer Wayne Potts; November Rein [post 3, Jose Ortiz], who broke her maiden at second asking on July 16 here for conditioner Kelly Breen; and Succulent [post 4, Dylan Davis], looking for her first win, for trainer Phil Gleaves.

In the Funny Cide, Senbei [post 1, Manny Franco], a first-out winner by 4 3/4 lengths on July 18 for Clement, will take the step up in class. The Candy Ride colt, owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski and bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, earned a 73 Beyer for his victory last month.

“He's doing well,” Clement said. “He's still very tender and very green.”

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's Run Curtis Run [post 7, Jose Ortiz] will put his 2-for-2 streak on the line for trainer Mike Maker. The son of Summer Front followed his debut win on July 2 at Belmont with a 3 3/4-length victory in the Rick Violette for state breds on July 21 in his Saratoga bow.

Other contenders include the Robertino Diodoro-trained Happy Happy B [post 2, David Cohen]; Shipsational [post 3, Luis Saez], a 6 3/4-length first-out winner last month at the Spa for Edward Barker; Montebello [post 5, John Velazquez], a $400,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale for Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert; Daufuskie Island [post 8, Dylan Davis], an Englehart trainee who won by five lengths on August 12 here; Bourbon's Hope [post 6, Joel Rosario], a winner on July 9 at Belmont, for trainer Charlton Baker; and Who Hoo That's Me [post 4, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], trained by Jorge Abreu.

[Story Continues Below]

The Fleet Indian will see A Little Bit O' Irish Sass [post 5, Luis Saez] attempt a third consecutive triumph for trainer Richard Schosberg. The gray or roan daughter of Laoban broke her maiden over next-out winners Raffinity and Epona's Dream over a sloppy and sealed main track on July 2 at Belmont Park en route to a score in the New York Oaks on July 26 at Finger Lakes.

Gary Barber's Make Mischief [post 9, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] brings open company class to the Fleet Indian field, having secured graded stakes black type in this year's Grade 2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the daughter of leading sire Into Mischief captured the Maddie May on February 20 at Aqueduct in her lone stakes coup.

Clement will saddle two-time winner Pay Grade for owner Robert Evans. The daughter of Tonalist, also trained by Clement and owned by Evans, defeated winners last out on July 10 at Belmont Park going a one-turn mile. Pay Grade broke her maiden at third asking on March 26 going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct.

“Pay Grade is coming into this race very well,” Clement said.

Jockey Eric Cancel, aboard for both victories, will retain the mount from post 2.

Completing the field are Betsy Blue [post 1, Jose Ortiz], Byhubbyhellomoney [post 3, Joel Rosario], Out First [post 4, Jose Lezcano], U Guys Are No Fun [post 6, Andre Worrie], Epona's Dream [post 7, Dylan Davis] and Coffee Bar [post 8, Flavien Prat].

Bond Racing Stable's graded-stakes winner Rinaldi [post 2, Luis Saez], last-out winner of the Grade 3 Forbidden Apple on July 16 at the Spa, will look to defend his title in the 42nd running of the West Point presented by Trustco Bank.

Clement will saddle a strong pair of graded-stakes placed veteran turfers in Oak Bluff Stables' 6-year-old homebred Therapist [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles, and Patty Searles' 4-year-old City Man [post 7, Rosario].

“We know them very well at this point, they've been around forever,” Clement said of the veteran duo. “It won't be an easy race but they are both doing very well.”

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher sends out a strong pair for Repole Stable in Grade 1-placed Mo Ready [post 8, Flavien Prat] and three-time winner Microsecond [post 4, Jose Ortiz]. Rounding out the field are Graded On a Curve [post 3, Javier Castellano], Lord Flintshire [post 5, Dylan Davis], and Sanctuary City [post 6, Manny Franco].

A loaded field of 10 line up for the Yaddo headlined by Lawrence Goichman homebred Myhartblongstodady [post 3, Jose Lezcano], who returns to defend her title after scoring gate-to-wire last summer. The 6-year-old Scat Daddy bay, trained by Jorge Abreu, boasts a record of 13-5-2-3 with purse earnings of $344,216.

Strong opposition will be provided by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables' Clement-trained Classic Lady [post 2, Joel Rosario], who finished third in last year's Yaddo and didn't re-surface until a fourth-place finish last out on July 31 in an open optional-claiming event on the Monmouth Park turf.

Rounding out the field are Dancingwthdaffodls [post 1, Dylan Davis], Giacosa [post 4, Luis Saez], Kreesie [post 5, John Velazquez], Chocolate Cookie [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Mike's Girl [post 7, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], Pecatonica [post 8, Javier Castellano], Dancing Kiki [post 9, Jose Ortiz], and Kilkea [post 10, Flavien Prat].

Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

The post Friday Card Features Six New York Bred Stakes At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Maker Talks Next Starts For Cross Border, Somelikeithotbrown

Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border continued his dominance on the Saratoga turf with a decisive 1 1/4-length score in Saturday's $250,000 Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 7-year-old New York-bred tracked in third position as Channel Maker and Channel Cat – fellow progeny of English Channel – set the early pace over the inner turf. Luis Saez tipped Cross Border out a path for the stretch run and the dark bay ridgling responded with a powerful turn of foot to secure the win and a 100 Beyer.

Trained by Mike Maker, who tops the Spa trainer standings with 12 wins heading into Sunday's card, Cross Border boasts a record of 7-6-1-0 on the Saratoga turf, including four wins on the inner course.

“The race shaped up like it looked on paper,” Maker said. “We had a great trip and we were fortunate enough to get the job done. He came back super.”

Bred in the Empire State by Berkshire Stud and B.D. Gibbs, Cross Border went 3-for-3 over the local turf in 2019, led by an open allowance score.

Last year, Cross Border stepped things up a notch, winning the state-bred Lubash ahead of a win in the Bowling Green by disqualification. He completed his 2020 Spa campaign with a runner-up effort to Channel Maker in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer.

Maker said Cross Border will now target a return engagement in the $750,000 Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 28. The 1 1/2-mile turf contest for 4-year-olds and up is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” qualifier to the $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar.

Maker said he is hoping to send out another New York-bred for a stakes win this summer when he saddles multiple graded stakes winner Somelikeithotbrown in the $150,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank, a 1 1/16-mile test for state-breds 3-years-old and up on August 27.

“We have another New York-bred, Somelikeithotbrown, who will show up in the West Point and Cross Border will come back in the Sword Dancer,” Maker said.

Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's Somelikeithotbrown has made three starts on the Saratoga turf, including a maiden win ahead of a runner-up effort in the 2018 Grade 3 With Anticipation. Last year, the talented bay, bred in the Empire State by Hot Pink Stables and Sand Dollar Stables, won the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch in gate-to-wire fashion.

Maker will also look to secure a Grade 1 win later in the meet with Three Diamonds Farm's Kentucky-bred Army Wife in the $600,000 Alabama, a 10-furlong test for sophomore fillies on August 21.

By Declaration of War, Army Wife will be in search of a graded-stakes hat trick following scores in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., and the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks on July 2 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa.

Maker, who is four wins clear of Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher heading into Day 14 of the summer meet, credited his staff for the strong start to the meet.

“We have a lot of horses that fit the book well and we're fortunate enough to get some wins,” Maker said. “I know we're on top but we've got a long way to go. It would be great for the staff [to win the meet] and they deserve it.”

The post Maker Talks Next Starts For Cross Border, Somelikeithotbrown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights