UPI Horse Racing Roundup – November 23, 2015
November 23rd, 2015By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
Exaggerator emerged as a legitimate Kentucky Derby prospect with a big-money win in Louisiana while one of the world’s top milers, Able Friend, was upset in Hong Kong in a diverse weekend of Thoroughbred racing.
Britain’s top riders flexed their muscle a long way from home as Ryan Moore won the Group 1 Mile Championship in Japan and Silvestre De Sousa took down a graded stakes event at Del Mar in California.
There were some sparkling efforts on the U.S. grass, from coast to coast.
And, despite best efforts and high hopes, hugely popular international star Red Cadeaux has succumbed to the injury suffered at the end of the Melbourne Cup.
Let’s look at the 2-year-olds first because winter is coming and no one can stay depressed with a good 2-year-old in the barn!
Juvenile Colts & Geldings
Exaggerator is squarely in the picture for the 2016 Kentucky Derby after an all-out victory in Saturday’s $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot, just lasting by a neck over late-running Sunny Ridge. Harlan Punch was 4 3/4 lengths back in third. Exaggerator, a Curlin colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a muddy track in 1:46.48 with Kent Desormeaux at the controls for his trainer brother, Keith. He previously won the Grade II Saratoga Special, finished second in the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland and fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“I told him (Kent) to get him settled and the rest is up to him,” Keith Desormeaux said. “He made the decision to get Exaggeratior to the lead. He could easily have taken him back. That’s why he’s in the Hall of Fame. That was Kent’s judgment call. If he doesn’t take the lead he could be eight-wide on a bullring track.”
The trainer said Exaggerator will not race for the rest of the year and will prepare for his 3-year-old campaign in California. Asked about his Kentucky Derby prospects, the trainer said, “He’s bred for it. He has the precociousness and the athleticism for it. The Derby is a long way off so we have time to recover and we had a fun trip today.”
Exaggerator is No. 2 on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” point standings with 16 points — 14 behind the leader, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist.
Juvenile Fillies
La Appassionata’s undefeated record vanished in a puff of smoke as Jet Black Magic ran by her in the stretch run of Saturday’s $400,000, Grade III Delta Downs Princess and went on to win by 4 1/4 lengths. La Appassionata finished second, 7 1/4 lengths clear of Above Fashion. The 1 mile on a muddy, sealed track took 1:42.14 with Roberto Morales up on the winner. Jet Black Magic finished third, 8 lengths behind La Appasionatta, in her last start three weeks ago. The victory was her second in four starts. La Appassionata, a Bernstein filly, won her first two starts easily.
Ami’s Mesa was off a step slowly in Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine, advanced through the turn and found another gear in the final sixteenth to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Conquest Babayaga. Jennifer Lynnette finished third. Ami’s Mesa, a Sky Mesa filly, ran 7 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:23.43 under Luis Contreras. She now is 2-for-2 for trainer Josie Carroll.
On the turf
Lochte advanced into a plodding pace through a driving rainstorm turning for home in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Tropical Turf Handicap at Gulfstream Park West, battled to the front and drew off to a 4-lengths victory. Flashlight held second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Amigo. The favorite, All Included, ran evenly to finish fifth. Lochte, a 5-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles in a glacial 1:50.95 with Matthew Rispoli aboard. Everyone was being cautious because of the weather and the final time was some 7 seconds slower than that turned in two races earlier by fillies and mares in the My Charmer Handicap. Lochte posted his third straight win, all on the South Florida circuit.
“Everything went good,” said winning trainer Marcus Vitali. “He broke good and had a good trip. That’s my theory, I tell you guys every time. Trip, trip, trip. Everything went his way today. I just didn’t want him getting in a lot of trouble.”
Javier Castellano, who rode All Included, said the rain was “unbelievable … It rained so hard in such a short time. The horses were splashing and most of the horses didn’t like it much. My horse, he likes it soft, don’t get me wrong. But not that kind of soft.”
The race officially was run over firm turf despite the downpour.
Sky Flight raced just behind the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct, moved into contention a furlong out and won a head bob over Aztec Brave in the last jump. The favorite, Reload, finished third. Sky Flight, a Sky Mesa colt, ran 1 mile on yielding turf in 1:37.69 with Joel Rosario in the irons. He won for the second straight time, following an allowance victory at Keeneland.
“Perfect trip with the one-hole,” said Randi Melton, assistant to winning trainer Mark Casse. “We were able to sit off the speed to see what it was like and try to have a little something to aim at, which is what Joel did. He’s such a tremendous rider.”
Filly & Mare Turf
Canadian invader Button Down shrugged off cold, rainy conditions to win Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Cardinal Handicap at Churchill Downs by 1 1/2 lengths. Lady Fog Horn and Lacy were second and third, both at big prices. Button Down, with Paco Lopez in the irons, tracked the pace, swept by the leaders in the lane and finished as easily the best. The 9 furlongs over yielding turf went in 1:56.19.
“She has just been an amazing filly,” said winning trainer Josie Carroll from her base at Woodbine. “Every time she goes over there, she comes back better.”
She said Button Down now will be turned out for a break.
“She ran in Europe, she flew over and she ran all season, so I would like to see her freshen up and we’ll look at a real strong campaign next year,” he said.
Rusty Slipper, with British riding champ Silvestre de Sousa up for his Del Mar debut, tracked the pace in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Red Carpet Handicap at Del Mar, surged to the lead at mid-stretch and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Elektrum, the favorite, also put in a late bid to finish second. Three Hearts went out to big early lead and finished third, 9 lengths behind Elektrum. Rusty Slipper, a 5-year-old Lemon Drop Kid mare, ran 11 furlongs on firm turf in 2:15.34. It was her second win from three races this fall after a difficult summer campaign. De Sousa said trainer Graham Motion was concerned about the No. 11 post but confident.
“He said he thought he had the best horse in the race. He told me to come away from there and get a good spot. I was concerned about the post but she came away well and we got a good spot. Then she went on from there.”
Victor Espinoza, aboard Elektrum, claimed foul for an incident shortly after the start but the stewards let the result stand. The victory was only the second of De Sousa’s time in the United States, from 42 mounts. Asked if he will stay in California or head back to New York to continue his U.S. visit, De Sousa said, “It’s up to the trainers.”
Three Irish-bred distaffers, all recently shipped south from New York, completed the trifecta in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III My Charmer Handicap at Gulfstream Park West. Lady Lara got first run on the early pace and drew off late to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Hope Cross was second, a nose in front of Sandiva. Lady Lara, a 4-year-old Excellent Art filly, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:43.32 with Jose Lezcano up for trainer Bill Mott. She was winless in five starts while journeying north earlier this year.
“She’s been unlucky if you look back, where she’s drawn the 13 and 14 hole several times,” Mott said. “Today she was able to get an inside post so she could at least try to save a little ground around the first turn.”
Mott said Lady Lara will be nominated to several stakes at Gulfstream “and we’ll just see how she’s doing.”
International
Japan
Ryan Moore said he believed his mount, Maurice, was the best in the 16-horse field in Sunday’s Group 1 Mile Championship at Kyoto and that his job was to keep the 4-year-old Screen Hero colt out of trouble so he could show his stuff. Showing why he’s among the world’s best riders, that’s what Moore did. Maurice raced in mid-pack, avoiding trouble, shot to the lead with about 300 meters to run and got home first by 1 1/4 lengths. Last year’s runner-up, Fiero, was a bridesmaid again while the odds-on favorite, Isla Bonita, missed the break and settled for third with a late rush. Maurice picked up his first Group 1 victory in the Yasuda Kinen in June and became only the sixth runner to claim both races in the same year.
“I knew that he was probably going to be the best miler in the race and it was just a question of getting a clean trip and hopefully if we kept things straightforward, he would be able to show that he’s the best horse, and he did,” Moore said. “He showed a really good turn of foot in the last 400 meters. I rode him when he was a 2-year-old but he’s developed into a fast, strong horse.”
Hong Kong
Top miler Able Friend was upset in Saturday’s final round of local preps for the Dec. 13 Longines Hong Kong International Races. But the outcome of all three races at Sha Tin served notice once again that Hong Kong’s best once again will be tough to beat when the rest of the world comes calling. The locals have won the last four runnings of the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup, the last nine editions of the Mile and nine of the past 12 runnings of the Sprint. Only in the 2,400-meters Vase have overseas raiders found consistent success and it’s noteworthy that the 2,400 meters was the only distance absent from Saturday’s card.
In the Group 2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Mile, Beauty Flame took charge late and went on to post a major upset under Gerald Mosse as Able Friend could do no better than third. Beauty Flame won by 1 3/4 lengths from Contentment, finishing the 1 mile in 1:33.74 over a course that appeared to be rewarding early speed. Still, Beauty Flame was not a total shock as he twice finished second to Able Friend last season in Group 1 events.
“I’m a little bit more than hopeful now,” winning trainer Tony Cruz said about next month’s Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile. “To me, the horse will be spot on for international day. He’ll be better than today.”
Able Friend’s trainer, John Moore, had predicted victory both Saturday and next month.
After the race, he said jockey Joao Moreira reported, “The track suited horses that were on the speed — that those on the speed were going to do better today. He still broke 22 seconds coming home (21.87). He’s well enough. People might put it down to a flat run but I’d put it down to circumstances — the pattern of the race and so forth. He’ll be absolutely right for the Mile in December.” Designs On Rome, getting a workout before the 2,000-meters Cup in December, finished sixth. Dan Excel beat only one.
Military Attack was a narrow second in last year’s Hong Kong Cup and served notice Saturday he might be ready to contend again with a hard-earned win in the Group 2 Longines Jockey Club Cup. With Zac Purton in the irons, the 7-year-old former Hong Kong Horse of the Year found a spot between rivals after a ground-saving trip, worked past Blazing Speed 100 meters out and held on to win by a head over that rival. Beauty Only was third, 1/2 length farther back. Trainer Casper Fownes said he has struggled to keep Military Attack fit enough to compete at the top level, struggling with foot issues last year and joint and suspensory issues this season.
“It’s been a battle, day in and day out,” he said. “He’s getting on in age but I’m sure he’ll still be a force on the big day.”
Gold-Fun took the point with some 150 meters left in Saturday’s Group 2 BOCHK Wealth Management Jockey Club Sprint and jockey Christophe Soumillon managed to keep him sufficiently focused the rest of the way to win by a comfortable 1 1/4 lengths. Peniaphobia, who could take down the US$1 million Global Sprint Challenge with a win next month, dueled for the lead and finished second with Not Listenin’tome third. Gold-Fun, a year-old, competed in the Mile last year but the Richard Gibson trainee now is top shelf for the 1,200 meters on Dec. 13.
“He won by a good margin and Richard said he is unfit today,” Soumillon said, indicating the trainer didn’t have Gold-Fun fully cranked for the prep. “So I reckon he’ll be better next time.” Lucky Nine finished fourth.
Otherwise:
Delta Downs
Cougar Ridge moved to the front at the eighth pole in Saturday’s $250,000 Delta Mile and battled gamely to a 3/4-length victory over the favorite, Departing. Rise Up led early and finished third, 7 1/4 length farther in arrears. Cougar Ridge, a 5-year-old Johannesburg gelding, finished in 1:39.59 with Robby Albarado steering over the muddy track. It was his fourth straight win.
Kyriaki tracked the pace in Saturday’s $200,000 Treasure Chest for fillies and mares, engaged Diva’s Diamond in the stretch and prevailed by a head over that foe. It was another 9 1/4 lengths back to Haunted Heroine in third. Kyriaki, a 5-year-old Scat Daddy mare, ran 1 mile on a muddy track in 1:40.50 under Mario Gutierrez. She won two straight races in California this summer after a brief freshening, then was overmatched in the Grade I Zenyatta in her previous start.
Mayla tracked the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 Orleans Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, took the lead in the lane and won by 4 3/4 lengths over Lunar Gaze. The favorite, My Miss Venezuela, led early and finished third, another 5 1/2 lengths behind. Mayla, a Sharp Humor filly, got 7 furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:27.24 with Colby Hernandez up.
Nublado Bling led all the way to a 5 3/4-lengths victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Sam’s Town Stakes for 3-year-olds. Powder Keg and Thirtysilverpieces completed the trifecta. Nublado Bling, a Too Much Bling colt, ran 7 furlongs on a muddy track in 1:26.57 under Gerardo Mora.
Woodbine
Stacked Deck raced closely behind the pace in Sunday’s $200,000 (Canadian), Grade II Kennedy Road Stakes, came to the lead entering the stretch and got clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Passion for Action was second, Goodoldhockeygame third and the favorite, Calgary Cat, checked in eighth. Stacked Deck, a First Samurai gelding, ran 6 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:08.34 under Luis Contreras. He was bouncing back from a 10th-place showing in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and a sixth-place finish in last year’s Kennedy Road.
“When I saw him in the paddock, I knew he was on his game,” said winning trainer Barb Minshall. “He’s gained weight every race this year. I think he’s got stronger every race. He’s had a lot of races in the last couple months, but it hasn’t taken anything out of him.”
Churchill Downs
Bagg O’Day rallied from last of nine to take Saturday’s $80,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes by 3/4 length over W.B. Smudge. The favorite, Alsvid, was gaining late after some traffic issues but settled for show money. Bagg O’Day, a 4-year-old gelding by Five Star Day, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.91 with Joe Rocco Jr. riding.
Mahoning Valley
Thanksgiving week continues strong in Ohio as Mahoning Valley on Monday features the top three finishers from the Perryville Stakes on the Breeders’ Cup Saturday undercard squaring off again in the inaugural running of the $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint. That would be Hebbronville, who outfinished Bayerd in the Keeneland race with pacesetting Lewys Vaporizer hanging on for third. The field also includes Zayat Stables’ Sharm and the Maggi Moss-owned Tanner’s Popsicle.
News and notes
Red Cadeau has been euthanized because of complications from the injury sustained in the Nov. 3 Melbourne Cup — a race in which he finished second three times in five appearances. The 9-year-old was pulled up at the end of the race with an injury to his left front fetlock.
Trainer Ed Dunlop said in the days following the race there was hope Red Cadeaux would recover to retire in Australia. This week, he said, complications became “irreversible and the decision to euthanize the horse, while terribly hard, was made in his best interest.”
Red Cadeaux won seven times, including the Group 1 Hong Kong Vase in 2012. In addition to the three runner-up showings at Melbourne, he also finished second in the 2013 Dubai World Cup, the 2012 Coronation Cup in England and this year’s 2015 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Australia.
Owner Ron Arculli added, “For a race that stops a nation, we were lucky to have a horse that touched a nation. We will miss Red Cadeaux dearly.”
Arculli is a former chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
