Showing all posts tagged "Thoroughbred Horse Racing"
Dalmore under consideration for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Dalmore under consideration for Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Dalmore, the winner of the Grade 3 Affirmed at Santa Anita, is being considered for a start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, trainer Keith Desormeaux said. The Grade 1, $1 million race will be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Dalmore, who is based at the Southern California track, is coming off a runner-up finish in the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby on Sept. 10 at Louisiana Downs. He was edged by a half-length by Texas Chrome, who returned in his next start to capture the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.
Texas Chrome also is a candidate for the BC Dirt Mile.
Desormeaux said Dalmore had a nice breeze Saturday. If the horse goes in the BC Dirt Mile, he will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux.
Dalmore has a strong record over the Santa Anita main track. He is 3-for-6 on the surface and popped his best Beyer Speed Figure, a 102, in the Affirmed after covering a mile and a sixteenth in a quick 1:40.80.
Dalmore races for Big Chief Racing, Rocker O Ranch, and Desormeaux.
Posted on October 5th, 2016
Santa Anita: Postponed "unlikely" for Breeders' Cup Turf
Santa Anita: Postponed "unlikely" for Breeders' Cup Turf
Postponed, the beaten favorite in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly Racecourse in France, is doubtful to start in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, trainer Roger Varian said on Tuesday.
In a brief telephone conversation, Varian said Postponed has run for the final time this year. In the Arc, Postponed finished fifth, 6 1-2 lengths behind Found, as the 15-8 favorite.
"I think it's unlikely now," Varian said when asked if Postponed would still be sent to California. Varian said the focus would be on preparing Postponed for the 2017 season.
Postponed was beaten for the first time this year in the Arc. He won twice in Dubai in March - in the Group 2 City of Gold Stakes and Group 1 Sheema Classic, the latter a $6 million race on the undercard of the Dubai World Cup. In England, Postponed won the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom in June and the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August.
Posted on October 5th, 2016
Stakes lineups for Friday opener at Keeneland
Stakes lineups for Friday opener at Keeneland
Divisional leader A.P. INDIAN was assigned the rail slot in a field of 7 entered in the G2 Phoenix S., one of 2 stakes drawn for the Friday opener at Keeneland.
The main Friday feature, the G1 Alcibiades for 2yo fillies, got a full field of 14. Here follow the draws for both:
G2, $250,000 Phoenix (R8); 3yo&up; 6 furlongs
1. A.P. INDIAN, J.Bravo
2. W.B. SMUDGE, J.Leparoux
3. AMI'S FLATTER, F.Geroux
4. ALSVID, C.Hill
5. LIMOUSINE LIBERAL, J.Ortiz
6. THE GREAT WAR, J.Garcia
7. CINCO CHARLIE, R.Santana Jr.
G1, $400k Alcibiades (R9); 2yo fillies; 1 1/16 miles
1. FUN, B.HernandezJr
2. SULLY'S DREAM, C.Hill
3. QUEEN BERNARDINA, J.Bravo
4. DANCING RAGS, A.Cruz
5. LADY HANSEN, L.Saez
6. CAROLINE TEST, J.Ortiz
7. COLD HEARTED PEARL, J.Castanon
8. DREAM DANCING, F.Geroux
9. PRICE TOO HIGH, I.OrtizJr.
10. BENNER ISLAND, R.Albarado
11. DIADURA, C.MarquezJr.
12. I'MLUCKYSGIRL, M.Mena
13. FOR HONOR, R.Santana Jr.
Posted on October 5th, 2016
Connect likely to freshen up for Cigar Mile
Connect likely to freshen up for Cigar Mile
Connect, winner of the Grade 2 $1.25 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 24, will likely make his next start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 26, trainer Chad Brown said.
Brown said the Breeders' Cup Classic is not a race he and owner Paul Pompa Jr. are focused on. Brown said the BC Dirt Mile is a possibility as is the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25 but the Cigar Mile appears to be Brown's preference.
"Our first choice is probaby to freshen the horse up for the Cigar Mile," Brown said. "Horse has had plenty of racing this summer, he's fit and he'll benefit from a little freshening."
Connect, a son of Curlin, has won 4 for 5 races this year with his only loss being a sixth-place finish behind runaway winner Arrogate in the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 27. Connect emerged from the Travers with a lung issue.
He defeated Gun Runner by one-half length in the Pennsylvania Derby and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.
Posted on October 5th, 2016
Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale posts gains
Fasig-Tipton Midlantic yearling sale posts gains
The increased interest in nearby state-bred programs manifested into gains at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale on Tuesday, including a $450,000 Curlin colt bringing the second-highest price in the auction’s history.
The auction saw 268 yearlings sold for $6,436,600, up 23 percent from the 2015 edition, which saw 274 yearlings bring $5,228,800.
The average sale price saw an increase of 26 percent to $24,017 from $19,083, while the median went unchanged at $10,000. The buyback rate finished at 17 percent, a sharp drop from 27 percent in 2015.
At the top of the market, 11 yearlings changed hands for six figures, up from the five to do so last year. The number of horses to bring $50,000 or more rose to 33 from 24.
Charles Zacney of Cash Is King LLC went back to the proverbial well to buy the sale-topper, going to $450,000 for a Curlin colt, two years after buying Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia from the same sale.
The colt is the most expensive horse to sell at the Midlantic fall yearling sale since 2004, when Mark Reid Bloodstock Agency bought the Silver Deputy colt Their He Goes for an auction-record $500,000.
The chestnut colt is out of the winning Awesome Again mare Formalities Aside, whose seven foals to race are all winners, including Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Awesome Flower and stakes-placed runners If Not For Her, Aye d'Eclair, and Awesome Devine. He is the first foal out of Formalities Aside to change hands for six figures at public auction.
Second dam Well Dressed also produced Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed, Grade 3 winner Witty, Grade 1-placed Helsinki, and graded producer Life Well Lived, who is herself the dam of Grade 3 winner American Patriot. The extended family includes Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S.
The colt was bred in Maryland by the partnership of Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Milton Higgins III, which bought Formalities Aside as a broodmare prospect for $30,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky winter mixed sale.
Becky Davis consigned the colt, as agent.
Zacney purchased the day's two most expensive offerings, buying a $290,000 Uncle Mo filly out of the unplaced Two Punch mare Two Classy earlier in the day.
The sale’s top filly was bred in Pennsylvania by Charles McClay, and Two Klassy’s one winner from two runners is the Grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Uptown Boy. Darby Dan Farm consigned the filly as agent.
Zacney bought Cathryn Sophia for $30,000 out of the 2014 Midlantic fall yearling sale. The Maryland-bred Street Boss filly has won six of nine starts for earnings of $1,229,720.
In addition to the Kentucky Oaks, Cathryn Sophia’s victories include the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes and Davona Dale Stakes, as well as the non-graded Princess of Sylmar Stakes and Gin Talking Stakes.
Posted on October 5th, 2016
Clues to Betting Claiming Races

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Posted on October 4th, 2016
Lost Raven Makes the Grade in Miss Preakness | BloodHorse.com
Repole Stable's Lost Raven showed a new dimension May 20 at Pimlico Race Course and it paid off for her first graded stakes victory.
On or near the front in all seven of her starts prior to Friday, the homebred Uncle Mo filly raced in eighth in the 10-filly field in the Adena Springs Miss Preakness (gr. III) field early (13 1/2 lengths back after a quarter in :22.69 and 9 1/2 back after a half in :45.94) and still had to make up five lengths in sixth at the top of the stretch.
But she made up the ground quickly. Under jockey John Velazquez, the Todd Pletcher-trained filly blew by pacesetter Quick Release with fellow closer One True Kiss and prevailed by three-quarters of a length, finishing off the six-furlong, $100,000 race in 1:11.43. Watch Video
Last time out, Lost Raven won the six-furlong Cicada Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack March 26 by leading at every point of call.
"I was a little concerned, because she's never been that far back in her career," Pletcher said. "I knew that (:22.69) at Pimlico is flying, so I was hoping the fractions were fast enough to allow her to come from behind."
Off as the 7-2 second choice Friday, Lost Raven paid $9.80, $5.20, and $3.80 across the board. One True Kiss brought $14.20 and $8.60, and Quick Release delivered $9 to show.
She's All Ready finished an even fourth, followed by Right There, Moment Is Right, Ultra Brat, R Girls a Charmer, Simple Surprise, and Banree to complete the order of finish.
Lost Raven was bred in Kentucky, out of the Elusive Quality mare Elusive Raven, and has a 4-1-1 record from eight starts with $290,350 in earnings.
Posted on October 4th, 2016
Gritty Noted and Quoted Takes Chandelier

Gritty Noted and Quoted Takes Chandelier
by Frank Angst @BH_FAngst
After finishing fourth in her grade I debut in the Del Mar Debutante, Noted and Quoted found success in her second try at the top level with a half-length victory in the $300,000 Chandelier Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
After tracking early leader With Honors through most of the 1 1/16-mile race, jockey Rafael Bejarano asked Noted and Quoted for more in early stretch and the daughter of The Factor surged to the lead as With Honors held second. Zapperkat finished third. The victory gives trainer Bob Baffert 10 wins in the Chandelier.
"I have to give Bob a lot of credit for this," said Bejarano who secured his fourth Chandelier win since 2011. "Baffert told me that he thought I might want to stay on Noted and Quoted because she was going to be prepared to run the mile and a sixteenth. And, he was right. American Cleopatra (who finished eighth) was right next to me but Stewart (Elliott, on American Cleopatra) didn't have enough horse and mine was the better horse today." The Chandelier marked her first try at two turns.
Speedway Stable's Noted and Quoted completed the distance in 1:44.88 on a fast track.
The Chandelier is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race to the Juvenile Fillies (gr. I). Peter Fluor of Houston races as Speedway Stable.
LNJ Foxwoods' With Honors, who was trying dirt for the first time after winning her first two starts on turf, including a stakes race at Del Mar, raced well from the inside post under Flavien Prat. The daughter ofWar Front skipped through a quarter-mile in :23.29 and a half-mile in :47.10, while Bejarano kept Noted and Quoted close.
Noted and Quoted challenged after six furlongs in 1:11.81 then powered to the lead in early stretch.
"When they turned for home, I thought, 'That's a good filly (With Honors) that ran second.' I have a lot of respect for her," Baffert said. "(Noted and Quoted) is a very slight filly. I don't have to do a lot with her, but the fact that she's already proved she can go two turns—that's what we were trying to find out with her. I'm pretty proud of her effort, because she ran against a really great filly."
Noted and Quoted paid $16.80 to win, $8.40 to place, and $5.80 to show, while With Honors paid $10.60 and $7.60 to place and show. Zapperkat, the 5-2 favorite in her stakes debut, paid $3.80 to show.
Trainer Keith Desormeaux believes With Honors will move forward in the Breeders' Cup.
Posted on October 2nd, 2016
Gormley Wins Stakes Debut in FrontRunner

Gormley Wins Stakes Debut in FrontRunner
by Frank Angst @BH_FAngst
Gormley made his stakes debut a winning effort, scoring a three-length, front-running win in the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1 at Santa Anita Park.
Trained by John Shirreffs for owners Jerry and Ann Moss, Gormley broke well from the rail under Victor Espinoza and cruised through a quarter-mile in :23.72 and a half-mile in :47.18. The son of Malibu Moon opened a big advantage in the far turn, extending that advantage to 3 1/2 lengths in the stretch, and was not seriously threatened by 1-5 favorite and last-out Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) winner Klimt, who rallied for second. Straight Fire came in another 4 1/2 lengths back in third.
Gormley improved to two-for-two, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.57. He returned $23.60 to win, $5 to place, and $3 to show while Klimt paid $2.20 and $2.10. Straight Fire paid $2.20 to show.
Gormley won his maiden special weight debut going 6 1/2 furlongs Sept. 4 at Del Mar and easily made the jump to grade I winner.
"You know, it's always a surprise as you train in the morning and you hope they can improve in the afternoon. You don't ever know until the afternoon," Shirreffs said. "After you've won your first race you settle in and you just move on. He's a young horse, he's learning. He needs to focus a little bit and once he gets focused he's got it handled."
Espinoza, who secured his fourth FrontRunner victory, said he didn't necessarily plan to go to the lead with Gormley.
"I originally wanted to take back a little bit and let him run in the end ... I was on the rail and didn't want to take him back then, so I let him run," Espinoza said. "This horse can run well wherever he runs. He's a very talented young horse and he's going to improve for the future."
Gormley punches his ticket to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) as the FrontRunner is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race. The winners of the 2014 and 2015 FrontRunner, American Pharoah (under Espinoza) and Nyquist, went on to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, Gormley is the first starter out of the stakes-winning Bernstein mare Race to Urga.
Bob Baffert, trainer of Klimt, said the son of Quality Road made a nice rally but was probably too far back early.
"That gave him a lot to do. He just didn't fire away from the gate, didn't break like we were hoping he would. But he ran a good race; he closed," Baffert said. "We know he can handle the distance. The quality is there; it just needs to come out of him."
Posted on October 2nd, 2016
Forever Unbridled Glides to Beldame Victory

Forever Unbridled Glides to Beldame Victory
by Evan Hammonds @BH_EHammonds
Charles Fipke’s Forever Unbridled, the 3-5 favorite, swept to the lead turning for home and won Belmont Park’s Beldame Stakes (gr. I) by 2 1/4 lengths. Tiger Ride finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Penwith in third. Off the Tracks, the 7-2 second choice, finished another three-quarters of a length back in fourth.
The time for the nine furlongs was 1:50.24 over a track listed as muddy (sealed). Joel Rosario was up for trainer Dallas Stewart. Stewart had a big day, as his Tom's Ready upended Runhappy in the Ack Ack Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs.
Forever Unbridled paid $3.80 to win, $2.60, and $2.40. Tiger Ride returned $8.40 and $5.30 and Penwith paid $4.50 to show.
Forever Unbridled was unhurried early as Paola Queen set the early pace over the wet going. She had a clear lead through an opening quarter of :24.34 and a half-mile in :49.03 as Off the Tracks gave chase in second with Tiger Ride (on the rail) and Penwith not far behind. The field bunched as they rounded the bend, as Penwith made great headway on Paola Queen, but Forever Unbridled was inhaling them all. After six furlongs in 1:14.06, Forever Unbridled was well clear after a mile in 1:38.07. Her final eighth came in a quick :12.17.
"She's not quick (out of the gate) but she broke OK," Rosario said. "I ended up being very close to the lead because they were going slow. I was just trying to take my time with her, not turn her loose and stay on the outside. I could feel she was getting over the track very good. She was taking me there nicely and I was pretty much just a passenger."
With a $400,000 purse, Forever Unbridled took home $240,000, increasing her bankroll to $1,411,600 off a record of 5-3-3 in 13 starts.
“I thought it was great,” Stewart said. “The rain just drove me nuts. If you looked at the weather the last three days, I almost had her on a van and got her out of here. They said like three inches of rain and you don't want to get into a bad racetrack going into the Breeders' Cup but they kept changing the forecast, things got better. So, thank God, we left her here. The track superintendent did a great job with how good the track looks.
“This filly…I think there’s more to come. She's tough, she really is. So long as she comes back good and everything's good (she'll run in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, gr. I)."
Posted on October 2nd, 2016