win and you're in | Horse Racing Free Tips

Poetic Flare, Order Of Australia Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth In Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes

Mrs. J.S. Bolger's 3-year-old Poetic Flare (IRE), a two-time Group 1 winner, and Order of Australia (IRE), the defending US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) champion, lead Wednesday's Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood Racecourse. The Qatar Sussex Stakes winner will earn an automatic starting position and fees paid into this year's US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Qatar Sussex Stakes winner to start in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, which will be run at a mile on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

The Qatar Sussex Stakes will be televised live on TVG with an approximate post time of 10:35 a.m. ET.

Challenging older runners for the first time in the Qatar Sussex Stakes, Poetic Flare, trained by Jim Bolger, has won five races in eight starts, including three this year. A son of Dawn Approach (IRE) out of the Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) mare Maria Lee (IRE), Poetic Flare captured the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at 1 mile on May 1 at Newmarket, defeating Master of The Seas (IRE) by a short head at 16-1. That win was followed by a sixth-place finish as the 5-2 favorite in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) (G1) at ParisLongchamp on May 16. Just six days later, Poetic Flare was entered in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas (G1) at The Curragh, where he finished second by a short head to stablemate Mac Swiney (IRE). However, Poetic Flare returned to his winning ways with his most impressive performance to date, taking the 1-mile St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 15 by 4 1/4-lengths.

“Poetic Flare has been very well since the St James's Palace Stakes,” said Jim Bolger to Goodwood.com. “We're very happy with his work and he seems to be improving further. I was expecting and hoping for him to win at Ascot but possibly not as spectacularly as he did.”

Trainer Aidan O'Brien, who has won the Qatar Sussex Stakes five times, has entered Order of Australia and Lope Y Fernandez (IRE), the first and third-place finishers, respectively, in last year's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland. Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Anne Marie O'Brien, the 4-year-old Order of Australia came off the also-eligible list to win by a neck at 73-1 over stablemate Circus Maximus (IRE). Order of Australia made his first start of 2021 in the “Win and You're In” Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, finishing eighth. He rebounded in his next start, though, scoring a 1 1/4-length triumph in the 7-furlong Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) at The Curragh on July 18.

The 4-year-old Lope Y Fernandez, owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor, finished second to Palace Pier (GB) in the Queen Anne Stakes by 1 ½ lengths in his third start this year. A son of Lope de Vega (IRE), Lope Y Fernandez began 2021 with a 5 ½-length victory in the listed 1-mile Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown on April 14. He started next in the 1-mile Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) at Newbury on May 15, but was not a factor, finishing eighth as the 5-1 second choice.

[Story Continues Below]

Three-year-old fillies Alcohol Free (IRE) and Snow Lantern (GB) were the first two finishers in the 1-mile Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot on June 18. The 1 ½-length victory in the Coronation was Alcohol Free's second Group 1 triumph. Owned by Jeff Smith and trained by Andrew Balding, the daughter of No Nay Never claimed her first Group 1 in last year's Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Alcohol Free began this year with a win in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (G3) at Newbury on April 18. In her first start against older fillies and mares, Alcohol Free finished third to Snow Lantern in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) at Newmarket on July 9.

Rockcliffe Stud's Snow Lantern, trained by Richard Hannon, has finished in the money in her four starts this year. A gray daughter of Frankel (GB), Snow Lantern broke her maiden in the 1-mile Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at Newbury on April 18. She finished third in the listed Oaks Farm Stables Fillies' Stakes at York on May 14 prior to her second-place effort in the Coronation. Sent off at 6-1 in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes, Snow Lantern moved off the rail in the final two furlongs and surged to the front to catch QIPCO 1000 Guineas (G1) winner Mother Earth (IRE) by a half-length.

Juddmonte's 4-year-old Kentucky homebred Tilsit, trained by Charlie Hills, comes into the race off a win in the 1-mile Betfred Summer Mile Stakes (G2) at Ascot on July 10. That victory came after a second-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Prix d'Ispahan (G1) at ParisLongchamp on May 30. A son of First Defence, Tilsit has a win over the Goodwood course, taking last year's 1-mile Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (G3).

The post Poetic Flare, Order Of Australia Chasing Breeders’ Cup Berth In Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

With NYRA Ban Overturned, Baffert Plans To Enter Gamine At Saratoga

After a judge overturned the New York Racing Association's ban of Bob Baffert on July 14, the trainer told the Daily Racing Form he plans to enter reigning champion sprint mare Gamine in the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28.

NYRA notified Baffert ahead of the Belmont Stakes that it was suspending his ability to enter horses in races or have stall space at its racetracks due to his recent history of medication violations, the conflicting statements he provided to media around the Medina Spirit scandal, and Churchill Downs' suspension of the trainer.

Judge Carol Bagley Amon of the Eastern District of New York determined that NYRA's suspension of Baffert should not have taken place without some sort of hearing allowing him to address the organization's accusations against him. Although NYRA was asserting its private property rights in the case, Amon said the organization is closely entwined enough with the state that its suspension of Baffert constituted a state action, thereby requiring due process.

Gamine, a 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, is undefeated in three starts in 2021. She won the G3 Las Flores at Santa Anita on April 4, the G1 Derby City Distaff on May 1 at Churchill Downs, and the G2 Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 5. She has breezed twice at Del Mar since the Great Lady M victory.

The only blemish on Gamine's nine-race career is a ninth-place finish in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, after which Baffert has kept the filly to sprint distances.

The Ballerina, contested over seven furlongs, is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint this fall at Del Mar.

Hollendorfer To Enter Antigravity In Saturday’s Haskell

Antigravity, a perfect two-for-two at Monmouth Park, became a late addition to Saturday's TVG.com Haskell Stakes when Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer announced he will enter the son of First Samurai in the $1 million Grade 1 race.

Hollendorfer was initially considering Antigravity for the Haskell before deciding to opt instead for the $75,000 Tale of the Cat Stakes on July 25 at Monmouth Park. Those plans changed back on Monday, according to Dan Ward, who oversees Hollendorfer's division at Monmouth Park.

With the late addition of Antigravity, the Haskell field has grown to seven with the three Triple Crown runners-up (Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Hot Rod Charlie), Following Sea, Pickin' Time and Basso all expected to start.

Antigravity is owned by Dennis January and Hollendorfer LLC.

“The owner (January) wants to enter,” said Ward. “He thinks running third or fourth in the Haskell is better than winning the stakes we were considering. He wants to take a shot because who knows when you will get another chance like this?”

Antigravity broke through in his 11th career start – and first ever at Monmouth Park – when he won a Maiden Special Weight race on June 6. He followed that by winning an allowance optional claimer on June 26, a race in which Haskell contender Basso finished sixth.

Those have been his only two tries at Monmouth Park after racing at Del Mar, Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park.

David Cohen has been enlisted to ride.

“The horse is doing great,” said Ward. “He's doing super. You can see he has gotten more confidence with the two wins. And we know he likes the track.”

Antigravity worked 1:04 breezing for five furlongs on Sunday, with Ward saying “it was just a maintenance work. We weren't looking for too much.”

Antigravity sports a 2-2-2 line from seven starts this year and is 2-3-3 overall from his 12 career starts.

The post position draw for the 54th edition of the Haskell is 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Monmouth Park.

The post Hollendorfer To Enter Antigravity In Saturday’s Haskell appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Belmont Fall Stakes Schedule Released

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced the stakes schedule for the 28-day fall meet at Belmont Park, which will include 20 graded stakes, including 47 stakes worth $11.15 million in purses. The fall meet, which will run from Thursday, Sept. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 31 will offer four Grade I races and five “Win and You're In” qualifiers to the Breeders' Cup in November at Del Mar. The first Breeders' Cup qualifier is the $1-million Jockey Club Derby for 3-year-olds going 1 1/2 miles on the turf Sept. 18. That card will also feature the GI Jockey Club Oaks and Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational.

The meet's first graded races will take place Sept. 25-26, headed by the GII Kelso H. and the GIII Athenia S. The following day will offer the GII Gallant Bloom S., with the undercard rounded out by the Bertram F. Bongard S. for New York-bred juveniles going seven furlongs.

Seven graded stakes make up the weekend of Oct. 2-3, highlighted by Saturday's GI Woodward S. and the GI Champagne S. affording a spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile to the winner. The undercard will feature the GII Miss Grillo S. and the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint. Grade I action continues on the following day with the GI Frizette S., Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' for the Juvenile Fillies. The day will also include the GII Pilgrim S. and GIII Fasig-Tipton Waya S.

The Saturday, Oct. 9 card includes the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the GII Vosburgh S., a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint and the GIII Matron S. The following afternoon will offer the fall meet's final Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint qualifier with the GIII Futurity S. in addition to the GII Beldame S. and GIII Knickerbocker S.

Closing weekend will offer eight stakes for New York-breds on Empire Showcase Day Oct. 30, led by the Empire Classic. A trio of $250,000 stakes includes the Empire Distaff, Sleepy Hollow S. and Maid of the Mist S. Also on tap are a pair of $200,000 contests in the Mohawk S. and Ticonderoga S., in addition to the $150,000 Iroquois S. and Hudson S. The meet will conclude with five stakes–the Zagora S., the Pumpkin Pie S., Awad S. and the Chelsey Flower S.

A trio of stakes have been added to the fall schedule–the $100,000 Glen Cove for sophomores fillies sprinting seven furlongs on the turf Oct. 15; the $100,000 Carle Place S., for 3-year-olds also going seven furlongs on the turf Oct. 22; and the $100,000 Oyster Bay S. for 3-year-olds and up going seven furlongs on the turf will be run Oct. 29.

For the complete Belmont Park fall meet stakes schedule, please visit www.NYRA.com/stakes.

The post Belmont Fall Stakes Schedule Released appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post