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Happy Medium, Venti Valentine Work Toward Next Starts

Jay Em Ess Stable's Happy Medium (Runhappy) posted his first breeze since his 'TDN Rising Star' performance Dec. 18, which was his third consecutive daylight win. The freshly minted 4-year-old was out for a half-mile work Sunday over the Belmont training track, getting the four furlongs in an easy :51.22.

“He worked well this morning,” said trainer Michelle Nevin. “It was just an easy breeze, which was what I wanted.”

A $300,000 Keeneland September yearling, Happy Medium had debuted with a third at Aqueduct last March before heading to the sidelines for six months, then reappeared to scorch a six-furlong maiden special weight at Belmont Sept. 30 by 9 1/4 lengths. An allowance in the slop at the Big A Nov. 13 resulted in a five-length score and the bay continued his tour de force Dec. 18, again at Aqueduct but this time over a fast track, by seven lengths. In addition to earning 'Rising Star' status, he also earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Nevin said no specific plans have been made for the gelding's next start.

Also working–albeit in Florida–toward her next start was another New York star from this past fall in SW & GSP Venti Valentine (Firing Line). Campaigned by NY Final Furlong Racing Stable and Parkland Thoroughbreds, the now 3-year-old worked a half-mile in :50.80 Saturday at Palm Meadows Training Center.

“She's doing really good and that was a great run from her last time,” said Edgar Estevez, assistant to trainer Jorge Abreu. “Jorge is very pleased with the way she came out of the race and he decided to give her a little bit of a rest and start her back up down at Palm Meadows. She's taking it easy right now.”

After breaking her maiden on debut Sept. 26 going six panels at Belmont, Venti Valentine captured the Maid of the Mist S. at a mile Oct. 30 and was second by a neck in the GII Demoiselle S. Dec. 4 at Aqueduct at nine furlongs. In the Demoiselle, she earned four qualifying points toward the GI Kentucky Oaks, to be held May 6. Estevez indicated her next start on the path to the Oaks is yet to be determined.

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Hot Rod Charlie Tunes Up for Breeders’ Cup

Trainer Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) began tightening the screws for the Nov. 6 GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a four-furlong move at Santa Anita Saturday morning. Out at 7:45 a.m., the popular dark bay, known for his gritty style, had Mike Smith in the irons. The Hall of Famer was filling in for regular rider Flavien Prat, who was riding at Keeneland Saturday.

“He went a half-mile in 48 and change and galloped out in 1:01 and three,” said O'Neill. “He looked good. It was his first piece of exercise since the Pennsylvania Derby win. If all goes well and he stays injury-free, he'll have three more works between now and Nov. 6.”

Hot Rod Charlie was wearing French blinkers for the work. O'Neill said it was likely he'd wear the same equipment in the Classic.

Owned by Boat Racing LLC, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing, and William Strauss, Hot Rod Charlie won his first Grade I event in the Sept. 29 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. He has also won the GII Louisiana Derby this year, but he's made headlines more for the races he didn't win, most notably the July 17 GI TVG.com Haskell S., where he finished first but was placed seventh for heavy interference. Hot Rod Charlie has also placed in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont S., in addition to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year.

With a number of frontrunners committed to the Classic, Hot Rod Charlie's ability to sit just off the pace may be a powerful weapon.

“We've got options,” said O'Neill. “He's shown he can win on the front or from sitting behind, so I like where we're at. He's definitely a versatile colt. We'll probably have two more works at Santa Anita and head to Del Mar on the 25th where he'll have his last work.”

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XBTV Bypasses Video Milestone for Saratoga and Del Mar Meets

Edited Press Release

One month into this summer's Saratoga and Del Mar meets, XBTV.com has already uploaded more than 1,000 morning video workouts for racing's marquee meets. This milestone provides handicappers with 'behind the scenes' access to the nation's top horses and future stars and remains available without cost to 1/ST account holders. XBTV's workouts are also available on TDN's homepage.

“You can refer to published workouts and form assumptions based only on final time, but the opportunity to view the video and gain an understanding of how the drill was accomplished can turn an educated guess into a confident wager,” said Jeff Siegel, Xpressbet.com handicapper and analyst. “Especially at Saratoga and Del Mar, where fitness, quickness and readiness among 2-year-olds and layoff runners must be accurately evaluated, the videos at XBTV.com provide the missing link to the handicapping process that the serious horseplayer simply cannot be without.”

XBTV's video workout library is available at no cost for 1/ST account holders. To setup a free 1/ST account, simply visit www.XBTV.com and provide your name, email address and date of birth. A 1/ST account also allows customers to access the 1/ST BET and Xpressbet betting platforms as well as BETMIX handicapping software.

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Whitmore Works for Vanderbilt; ‘Technique’ Slated to Run

Reigning champion sprinter Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect), third in his latest start in the May 1 GI Churchill Downs S., recorded his final serious breeze Friday in preparation for the GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. July 31 at Saratoga. The 8-year-old, who won the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Keeneland, went a half-mile in :48.78 seconds over a fast main track, 12 days after completing the same distance in a swift :47.21 seconds. Trained by Ron Moquett, the gelding has amassed more than $4.4 million in lifetime earnings through a record of 41-15-13-4, which includes seven graded stakes victories at four different racetracks. His only prior victory at the highest level was registered in the 2018 GI Forego S. at Saratoga.

Whitmore was second in last year's Vanderbilt, finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Volatile prior to a seventh in the 2020 renewal of the Forego, contested over a sloppy track.

“He went very well this morning,” Moquett said. “I told the rider I wanted :48 or :49 and he did it, and did it the right way so I'm very pleased. He's training well, doing well, and I like the way he's running. I couldn't be more pleased with how everything is right now. He likes the surface at Saratoga. It's a good track and it seems like he's settled right in.”

Moquett indicated the Breeders' Cup Sprint is the main objective with the possibility of using the GII Phoenix S. Oct. 8 at Keeneland will serve as a springboard. Whitmore captured the 2017 Phoenix. Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr., who has piloted Whitmore 17 times, including his last three starts, and will have the call for the Vanderbilt.

August Dawn's Three Technique (Mr Speaker) is also on target to contest the Vanderbilt. He finished third most recently in the seven-panel GII John A. Nerud S. at Belmont July 4.

“We've made the commitment to see how he handles sprinting and concentrate on the races that fit that category for him,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart. “He's always trained fairly well up here. Since he came in during the spring, he's been training forwardly and doing very well.”

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