UPI Horse Racing Roundup – August 18, 2014
August 18th, 2014By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI Racing Writer
In a big weekend of turf racing, an upset in the Arlington Million spoiled an otherwise nice day for the Euros in Chicago but Kingman confirmed his supremacy with a handy win on soft going in France.
Stopchargingmaria was a convincing winner of the Diana at Saratoga and a pair of turf-running, 3-year-old fillies emerged victorious in New York and California stakes.
Royal Ascot gets a new Group 1 event — a sprint, no less — and New York racing gets a new voice.
Sprint on to the following:
Turf
Hardest Core, making his first graded stakes start, rolled by two top international runners in deep stretch to post a stunning upset win in Saturday’s Group I Arlington Million. Magician and Side Glance, who appeared to be fighting it out for the win at mid-stretch, settled for second and third. Hardest Core, a 4-year-old Hard Spun gelding, finished 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:01.51 with Eriluis Vaz in the irons. He had won three straight races and four of his last five coming into the Million and trainer Edward Graham said he was training “super.” Graham said he considered the Million, the Grade I Sword Dancer at Saratoga and the American St. Leger on the Million undercard before plunking for the big race.
“All three races were tough,” he said. “I thought the short field would be better. He doesn’t know what he’s running against.”
The race is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Asked whether he now will consider the ultimate American class jump to that race, which was won last year by Magician, Graham said, “I think so. It’s a scary thing to think about. But I think so.”
The trainer said every accomplishment is a bonus for Hardest Core, who nearly died a year ago from complications from his gelding.
Joseph O’Brien, who rode Magician, said he had “no excuses. He might have been better at 12 furlongs but he ran a good race.”
Smoking Sun, making his first start since finishing second in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines Cup, finished next-last in a field of seven after losing a shoe during the race, beating only last year’s Million winner, Real Solution.
“He didn’t show up today,” said Real Solution’s rider, Javier Castellano.
Adelaide, supported by the top Irish connections, was good enough to win Saturday’s $500,000, Grade I Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds at Arlington Park despite drifting out badly in the final furlong. After tracking the pace, the Galileo colt moved powerfully to the lead midway down the stretch. Despite left-handed encouragement from jockey Ryan Moore, Adelaide steadily shifted right and passed the finish line much closer to the grandstand side than the rail. That allowed pacesetting Tourist to hang around close enough to finish second by just 1 1/2 lengths. Sheldon finished third. Adelaide, from the Coolmore combine and trained by Aidan O’Brien, came to the race off a close second in the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational last month. He now has three wins and three seconds from six career starts.
“The horse on the lead was getting a bit of a soft hand,” said Moore, who has won many of the world’s top races, “so I didn’t want to move up too early. Adelaide just had more class than the field and got the job done. He’s run in France, Ireland, England, America and America again.”
The colt now is reportedly targeting Australia and the weight-for-age Cox Plate.
Main Sequence hesitated at the start of Sunday’s $500,000, Grade I Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap at Saratoga, had only one rival beaten as the field swung into the third turn but then accelerated sharply through the final sixteenth to just edge Imagining for the win. Twilight Eclipse shadowed Imagining through most of the 1 1/2 miles and finished third. Main Sequence, a 5-year-old Aldebaran gelding, finished in 2:24.72 on firm going with Rajiv Maragh in the irons for trainer H. Graham Motion. He previously was trained in England with modest results, never living up to the promise shown in a second-place finish to Camelot in the 2012 Epsom Derby. Main Sequence now is 2-for-2 in the United States and both wins came in Grade I events. He took the United Nations at Monmouth in July with similar tactics, also by a neck. Motion said the bad break is typical of Main Sequence and worrisome.
“It really helps a horse like this when they go an honest pace in these races, and so often they don’t,” he said. “It’s going to be tough for him. When he’s running against these kind of horses, if he’s going to spot them those kind of lengths it’s going to be tough … I knew he was a really good horse but you don’t expect to win these kinds of races right off the bat like this.”
The Pizza Man swooped to the lead turning for home in Saturday’s $400,000 American St. Leger at Arlington Park and held off globetrotting Dandino, who fell 1 length shy of catching the Illinois-bred winner in the shadow of the wire. Havana Beat and Moment in Time finished third and fourth, giving the European contingent three of the four top placings. The Pizza Man, a popular local favorite, is owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds and trained by Roger Brueggemann. Florent Geroux, a French import, rode the American winner to victory over the foreign invaders. In last year’s St. Leger, Dandino caught another Illinois-bred, Suntracer, in the final yards for the victory. This year, Suntracer failed to fire, finishing next-last of 10. The Pizza Man, a 5-year-old gelding by English Channel, ran the 1 11/16 miles on firm turf in 2:47.44. The Pizza Man posted his fourth straight win. In that stretch, he has raced considerably lower on the class ladder, with two of the wins coming in restricted events. In his last previous outing, however, the gelding stepped up to win the Grade III Stars and Stripes over the same Arlington turf. Geroux said he wasn’t worried about racing behind the early leader.
“I was waiting for him to tell me when to do,” he said.
Frankie Dettori, who rode Dandino, said, “I had the perfect race. Turning in, I thought we would win … He ran really hard to the line. He’s coming back to form now.”
Karibu Gardens got by Reporting Star in the final yards to win Saturday’s $200,000 (Canadian), Grade II Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine by 3/4 length. Money Talker faltered late to finish third, just a nose farther back. River Seven was fourth. The favorite, Aldous Snow, finished sixth, beating only Forte Dei Marmi. Karibu Gardens, a 4-year-old Flower Alley colt, ran 1 1/4 miles on firm turf in 2:02.46 with Luis Contreras in the irons. It was his first stakes start but fourth win from eight career races.
“I had a perfect trip on the outside watching everybody and keeping my horse in the race,” said Contreras. “When I asked him to go, he gave me a good kick.” Trainer Josie Carroll said hopes remain high for Karibu Gardens despite some behavior issues.
“He’s a bit of a character. He doesn’t always have his mind on business. Let’s hope when he really focuses that we have something nice,” Carroll said.
The third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, Saturday’s $500,000 (Canadian) Breeders’ Stakes on the grass at Woodbine, found Ami’s Holiday emerging from mid-pack to sweep to a 3/4-length victory over Interpol. Squeeze the King led late but finished third. The favorite, Unikat, chucked it in late and finished last of 12. Ami’s Holiday, a Harlan’s Holiday colt, ran 1 1/2 miles on firm going in 2:30.12 with Luis Contreras up. Ami’s Holiday finished second behind superfilly Lexie Lou in the Queen’s Plate, then was third in the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie. He was the only horse to run in all three legs.
“I think it speaks a lot for this horse,” said winning trainer Josie Carroll. “We talk a lot about horses not having the constitution that they used to, but this is the culmination of a breeding program … interjecting stamina into a race horse.”
Across the pond at Newbury, Seismos appeared to have given up the ghost with several furlongs to run in Saturday’s Group 3 Betfred Jeoffrey Freer Stakes — run at the same distance as the American St. Leger. Red Cadeaux got by him. So did Cafe Society and Willing foe. But with Martin Harley providing the encouragement, Seismos kept on rolling while the others began to labor. And, at the wire, Seismos had completed the comeback, winning by a neck over Willing Foe. Seal of Approval and Red Cadeaux were close in third and fourth.
Filly & Mare Turf
The American forces were supposed to be dominant in Saturday’s $750,000, Grade I Beverly D. at Arlington Park. But someone forgot to tell Euro Charline, jockey Ryan Moore and trainer Marco Botti. The 3-year-old Myboycharlie filly swept to the lead at mid-stretch and was all out to win by 3/4 length, with Stephanie’s Kitten, the favorite, second with a late run between horses. Irish-based Just the Judge hugged the rail to finish third. The remainder of the order of finish was filled mainly by the locals, save French-based filly Sparkling Beam, who could not overcome an outside draw and finished eighth. Euro Charline went to the post at odds of more than 10-1 despite finishing a close fifth and a close third in a pair of Group 1 races in England earlier this year and despite getting the riding services of one of the world’s foremost riders.
“She traveled real sweet and kicked on nicely like a good filly should,” Moore said. Euro Charlene became the first 3-year-old filly to win the Beverly D. in its 25th running and Barry Irwin, principal of the owning Team Valor International, said trainer Marco Botti had to talk him into bringing her. “He’s been bugging me for a month and I finally gave in,” Irwin said.
Frankie Dettori, who rode Stephanie’s Kitten, said, “I had a s**t trip.”
Personal Diary rallied from last of eight to post a mild upset win in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade I Del Mar Oaks. With Corey Nakatani riding, the City Zip filly advanced between horses on the turn, came out for running room and finished strongly to score by 2 3/4 lengths from Stellaris. The early leader, My Conquestedory, faded to finish third and the favorite, finished fourth after leading briefly in the stretch run. Personal Diary finished 9 furlongs on firm turf in 1:47.56. It was only her second career win, though she did finish second in the Grade III Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs in June.
“The race came up about the way I thought it would and my filly put me in the right spot,” said Nakatani, who is recovering from a severe bout of flu that sidelined him for three days. “From there, it was just a matter of making sure we did it good. She’s a nice filly and it’s going to be fun to see where she goes from here.”
Crown Queen defeated all three 3-year-old fillies who lined up against her in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade II Knob Creek Lake Placid Stakes at Saratoga. The Smart Strike filly shadowed the pace set by Duff One, then hooked up in a battle down the lane with that one and Xcellence, finally prevailing by 1/2 length. Duff One held second as the longest chance on the board. Xcellence, third in the Group 1 Prix Diane at Longchamp earlier this year, was third, a head back. Grade I Belmont Oaks winner Minorette finished last, another 1 length in arrears. Crown Queen, with John Velazquez up, ran 1 1/8 miles on the firm inner turf course in 1:47.91. She now has won all three of her starts this year, moving from a maiden win at Belmont Park through an allowance victory earlier at Saratoga.
“She showed she really belonged at the top level,” said winning trainer Bill Mott.
Turf Sprint
Breton Rock held on to win Saturday’s Group 2 Betfred Hungerford Stakes at Newbury in England by a short head from Gregorian. Brazos was third in the six-horse order of finish. Breton Rock, a 4-year-old gelding by Bahamian Bounty, has been winning regularly in minor stakes but scored his first group stakes win. Gregorian won this race last year, defeating Soft Falling Rain. The winner is trained by David Simcock and Martin Lane applied the winning ride.
Turf Mile
Despite some concern about the soft going, Kingman had no trouble besting four rivals in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville, winning by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths under James Doyle. Andoin finished second, followed by Olympic Glory, Rizeena and Red Dubawi. Kingman won for the seventh time in eight starts, a record marred only by his second-place finish to Night of Thunder in the 2,000 Guineas. He is the prohibitive advance wagering favorite for the QE II on British Champions Day at Ascot in October but wouldn’t it be fun to see him run against Wise Dan, Variety Club and some others in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on All Saints Day at Santa Anita? The Invincible Spirit colt is trained by John Gosden for Khalid Abdullah. “He wasn’t in love with the ground but his class showed,” Gosden said. Frankie Dettori rode Olympic Glory and Ryan Moore piloted Rizeena on short rest after riding Saturday at Arlington Park.
Istanford took a pass on Saturday’s Grade I Del Mar Oaks in favor of Friday’s $90,000 Sandy Blue Handicap because trainer Michael Stidham thought the 1-mile test would suit better than the 9-furlong Oaks. Istanford responded, not only winning, but winning by a comfortable 3 3/4 lengths with Miss Machiavelli making only minor inroads into her lead in the closing stages to finish second. Tiz Kissable came from well back to finish third. Istanford, a Florida-bred daughter of Istan, finished in 1:34.81 over firm going with Rafael Bejarano riding. Istanford won the Grade III Arlington Classic going 1 1/16 miles in May but was losing ground at the end. She then finished seventh in the 9-furlongs, Grade III Regret at Churchill Downs, fading from the lead, but bounced back to win the Grade II San Clemente last month when turned back to 1 mile.
“She’ll stay here for now, but we’re looking at a Grade I at Keeneland, the First Lady, or there’s a race at Santa Anita called the Autumn Mist,” Stidham said. “I’m not going to say I’ll never go longer than a mile with her … but a mile is a good distance for her.”
Distaff
What the Travers is to the 3-year-old males, the Alabama is to the 3-year-old fillies and Stopchargingmaria used Saturday’s $600,000, Grade I renewal to vault to the top of her class. The Tale of the Cat filly raced close to a rather plodding pace until she got a cue from jockey John Velazquez on the stretch turn. She quickly moved to the leaders and prevailed by 3/4 length over a late-running Joint Return. Miss Besilu finished third. Stopchargingmaria finished 1 1/4 miles on a fast track in a not-too-fast 2:05.14. It was her third straight win, following the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico and the Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks earlier in the Spa meeting.
“Today I was actually taking her back, trying to get her to relax behind other horses,” Velazquez said. “Finally, past the half-mile pole I gave her her head and let her hit her stride. All of a sudden the horse on the lead started getting out, and somebody else got through on the rail – I was pretty mad about it – but she showed up and put up a good fight.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher said the win puts Stopchargingmaria “in the mix” for year-end honors. “But we’ve got to keep winning.” He mentioned the Cotillion on Sept. 20 at Parx and the Beldame on Sept. 27 at Belmont Park as options, adding, “It probably will be one of those.”
Classic
Farhaan raced last of six through the first half of Sunday’s $100,000 Alydar Stakes at Saratoga, advanced toward the leaders on the stretch turn and found the best turn of foot in the lane, winning by 3 1/4 lengths over Stomin Monarcho. Alpha led the way, then gave way to finish third, 5 lengths farther back. Farhaan, a 5-year-old son of Jazil out of a Danzig mare, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.87 with Irad Ortiz Jr. handling the reins. It was just his third start of the year, following a win in the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct and a fifth-place showing in the Grade III Ben Ali on the Keeneland all-weather course. Kiaran McLaughlin trains both Farhaan and Alpha, who has resisted all efforts to establish him at the highest level.
“We thought Alpha would win,” McLaughlin said, noting traffic issues compromised his chances. “That’s why we had Farhaan as a backup plan and it worked out great … He was ready today. Maybe we’ll have higher goals for him later … We’ll have to think about Alpha. He ran well. He didn’t just fall in a heap.”
Balance of Power came from the back of the pack to win Sunday’s $150,000, Grade III Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park by 1/2 length. Pants On Fire, still progressing after his winter trip to Japan, appeared to have the race won after claiming the lead from Valid at the top of the lane but could not resist the winner. Valid finished third. Balance of Power, a 4-year-old Silver Train gelding, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:48.78 with Charles Lopez up. He was coming off two straight second-place finishes at Delaware Park.
“There was no real plan,” said trainer and co-owner David Jacobson. “I left it up to Chuckie (Lopez). We had been targeting this race for a while. He beat some real nice horses today. Pants on Fire and Valid are real solid animals.”
Edison switched it on in the stretch run in Saturday’s $200,000 (Canadian), Grade III Canadian Derby at Northlands Park, shaking loose to score by 11 1/2 lengths over Remembertobreathe. Private Money Game finished third. The favorite, The Spinmeister, started wide, raced wide the whole 11 furlongs and settled for fifth with a belated move. Edison, a Florida-bred Bernardini colt, finished in 2:21.38 with Rico Walcott in the irons. It was his third straight win and fourth from his last five starts, stretching back to his maiden victory at Gulfstream Park in January.
Code West rallied by pacesetting Right to Vote in the final yards to win Saturday’s $175,000 Governors Cup at Remington Park by 1/2 length. For Greater Glory came from last to get show money and the favorite, Sunbean, tossed in a rare clunker, finishing a dull fifth. Code West, a 4-year-old Lemon Drop Kid ridgling, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:49.82 with Cliff Berry riding. It was his first victory since the Grade III Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs 14 months ago.
Sprint
Prudhoe Bay dueled for the early lead, got it and then outfinished Favorite Tale by 3/4 lengths in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Jersey Shore Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park. Glacken Too finished third. Prudhoe Bay, a Florida-bred Songandaprayer colt, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.08 with Paco Lopez up. He posted only his third career win. The first two came at Ocala in December and April.
“I thought he ran fantastic, but that doesn’t surprise me,†said winning trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. “He’s really been training great. I wasn’t really thrilled with the post, the rail is tough, but Paco handled it great and did what he needed to do today.”
Filly & Mare Sprint
Judy the Beauty rallied from off the pace to win a scratch-shortened, $150,000, Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on Sunday. With Mike Smith up for trainer Wesley Ward, Judy the Beauty got by the speeding leaders three-wide and won by 1 1/4 lengths. Madame Cactus also ran well late to finish second and the pacemakers, Reneesgotzip and Amaranth, completed the order of finish. Judy the Beauty, a 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare, ran 6 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:15.63.
“Impressive,” Smith said. “Extremely impressive. I’ve been wanting to ride this mare for a long time. I finally got to and it sure looks like I picked the right day. She’s something. She can run with any of them. Boys too. Look out!”
Elsewhere:
England
Sure they know how to have fun in England, even in the home of Thoroughbred racing. Eleven runners went to the post in Saturday’s Barry Silkman Double O Seven Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket — restricted to grey horses. Moonspring was the winner, finishing 1/2 length ahead of Baby Strange. It was his first win on the turf and fifth overall.
Arlington Park
Annulment rallied from just off the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 first division of the Hatoof Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, then won a four-way scramble to the wire by a nose over Tempers Flair. V V Goodnight finished third as the favorite. Annulment, a Broken Vow filly, finished about 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:44.82 with Javier Castellano in the irons.
In the $75,000 second division of the Hatoof, Kiss Moon rallied late to win by 1 length over Maria Maria with Lovely Loyree picking up third. Kiss Moon, a Malibu Moon filly, went to the post as the favorite and finished about 1 1/16 miles on the lawn in 1:42.83 under Robby Albarado.
I Got It All rallied to the lead late in Saturday’s $65,000 Straight Line Stakes for 3-year-olds and edged clear at the end, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over Stormy Pacific. Good Bye Greg finished third as the favorite. I Got It All, a Tiz Wonderful gelding, ran 1 mile on the all-weather course in 1:37.36 with Channing Hill in the irons.
Arapahoe
Passed Due passed most of his rivals in the late going in Sunday’s $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity for 2-year-olds and outfinished Stratagem to win by a nose. It was 8 1/4 lengths farther back to Ms. Battlefield in third. Passed Due, an Indiana-bred colt by Pass Rush, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:11.97 under Miguel Fuentes Jr.
Get Happy Mister seized control in the stretch run to win Saturday’s $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic by 2 3/4 lengths over Magical Twist. Leadem in Ken finished third and the favorite, Ground Support, lost ground late to get home sixth. Get Happy Mister, a 4-year-old First Samurai gelding, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:51.22 with Michael Ziegler up.
Remington Park
Ivan Fallunovalot stalked the pace in Saturday’s $75,000 David M. Vance Sprint Stakes, moved to the lead in the stretch and won by 3/4 length over Ghost Is Clear. Okie Ride finished third and the favorite, Good Lord, beat only one. Ivan Fallunovalot, a 4-year-old gelding by Valid Expectations, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.40 with Lindey Wade in the irons.
Northlands Park
Tempered Sapphire stalked the early pace in Friday’s $75,000 (Canadian) City of Edmonton Distaff, then kicked clear to win by 10 1/4 lengths. Saturday Nite Ride was best of the rest, with Miss Derek third. Tempered Sapphire, a 5-year-old mare by Tempered Appeal, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.40 under Rico Walcott.
Thistledown
Rivers Run Deep tracked the pace in Sunday’s $50,000 Honey Jay Stakes for Ohio-breds, got through at the quarter pole and won well in hand by 2 lengths over Quasi Folle. Candy Bites finished third. Rivers Run Deep, a 3-year-old Ready’s Image colt, got 6 furlongs on a good track in 1:10.08 with Jareth Loveberry in the irons.
News and notes
New York Racing Association has announced the appointment of Larry Collmus as the organization’s next race caller. The voice of the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup for NBC Sports, Collmus will succeed Tom Durkin, who retires after more than two decades in the high-visibility role. Collmus will continue working with NBC and the Breeders’ Cup and continue to call races during the winter at Gulfstream Park. Collmus started his career in 1985 at Bowie Race Course at age 18. He has called races at Birmingham, Golden Gate Fields, Suffolk Downs, Monmouth Park, Aqueduct, Gulfstream and Churchill Downs.
Ascot Racecourse, in an effort to boost the standing of European sprinters, has announced the addition of a Group 1 event at 6 furlongs, restricted to 3-year-olds, during the 2015 Royal meeting. That will give Royal Ascot three Group 1 sprints and, to sort out the contenders, the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee henceforth will be closed to 3-year-olds. Ascot Chief Executive Charles Barnett said it is hoped the new race, yet to be named, “will now become a significant new option for 3-year-old sprinters at Royal Ascot before they go on to compete against their elders in the Darley July Cup and beyond.”
