UPI Horse Racing Roundup – June 15, 2015
June 15th, 2015By ROBERT KIECKHEFER
UPI RacingWriter
Beholder proved she’s back for real, Noble Bird staked a claim in the Classic division and the Prix de Diane went to a long shot — all in weekend racing.
Also, a pair of important turf miles went different directions.
We’ll move straight ahead.
Distaff
Beholder appears to be well and truly back from the problems that kept her out of last year’s Breeders’ Cup. The 5-year-old Henny Hughes mare had no problem with five rivals in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Adoration Stakes at Santa Anita, tracking the pace until given her cue by Gary Stevens, then winning ridden out by 1 1/4 lengths. Warren’s Veneda gave chace but could do no better than second, 7 1/4 lengths ahead of her closest competitor. Beholder ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:41.67.
“It was a pretty easy race for her,” Stevens said. “I rode her like she was the best mare out there and she was … Beholder is as good of a horse as I’ve ever sat on.”
She won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2012 and the Distaff in 2013 but was forced to miss a try for a repeat last year. In her comeback race in April, she easily won the Santa Lucia Stakes over the same course and distance as Saturday’s effort.
“I’m relieved and delighted,” trainer Richard Mandella said after the Adoration. He said he’s looking at the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar on Aug. 1 and the Zenyatta back at Santa Anita as stepping stones back to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
Frivolous rallied from just off the pace to score a 32-1 upset win in Saturday’s $200,000, Grade II Fleur de Lis Handicap for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs. The favorite, Sheer Drama, rallied in the stretch but flattened out and settled for second, 1 1/2 lengths back and a head in front of Tiz Windy. Frivolous, a 5-year-old mare by Empire Maker, ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.22 with Jon Court up. She won the Grade II Falls City Handicap over the track in November, beating Don’t Tell Sophia and others, but had looked inept at best in her only two previous starts this year.
“I don’t know where we’ll go next but we’re just going to enjoy this win and look for a race a little later,” said winning trainer Victoria Oliver.
“This was a ‘Win and You’re In’ (for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff) so we’ll just pick our spots and hopefully get here there in the fall.”
Checkered Past just got by pacesetting favorite Unspurned in the final yards to win Saturday’s $100,000 (Canadian) Trillium Stakes at Woodbine by a neck. Miss Mischief was a close third. Checkered Past, a 5-year-old Smart Strike mare out of the A.P. Indy mare Catch the Flag, ran 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track in 1:43.29 with Eurico Da Silva up.
Classic
Noble Bird tracked the early pace from a respectful distance in Saturday evening’s $500,000, Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs, surged to the lead on the turn and opened up a daylight lead, then held off Lea to win by a neck. It was another 5 1/2 lengths back to Hoppertunity in third and Commissioner beat only one rival. Noble Bird, a 4-year-old Birdstone colt, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:47.28 with Shaun Bridgmohan in the irons and could be an important new player in this division for trainer Shaun Bridgmohan and his owner, John Oxley. Noble Bird broke his maiden on the fifth try at Del Mar last summer, then worked his way through his conditions this spring at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland. He finished second in the Grade II Alysheba at Churchill Downs on Oaks Day.
“I’ve been around a lot of good horses and he’s been working about as good as I have seen a horse train — just week after week,” said Norm Casse, assistant to trainer Mark Casse. “We’d probably have to look at the older horse races at Saratoga. I think he deserves to be in that discussion.”
Trainer Bill Mott said Lea will move along to the Whitney. Bob Baffert said Hoppertunity “ran well. They were running so ultimately I think he ran well.”
The race was a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Island Town held the early lead in Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Matt Winn Stakes for 3-year-olds, was headed by the favorite, Fame and Power, but came again to win by 1/2 length over that rival. Private Prospect was 3 1/2 lengths farther back in third. Island Town, a Hard Spun gelding, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.46 for jockey Julien Leparoux. It was his first stakes start and followed an allowance victory over the track in which he rallied from off the pace.
“He’s a seriously talented horse,” said Island Town’s trainer, Ian Wilkes. “I’m going to enjoy this but the Indiana Derby is a logical spot for him.”
Fame and Power was coming off a win in the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico.
Filly & Mare Turf
Prado’s Sweet Ride came from last of six to win Saturday’s $100,000, Grade III Regret Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs, edging by pacesetter Lady Zuzu in the final yards to score by a head. Return to Grace finished third and the favorite, Don’t Leave Me, left her backers in the lurch, finishing fourth. Prado’s Sweet Ride, an Illinois-bred daughter of Fort Prado, ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:51.88 with Julien Leparoux handling the reins. She now has won four of her last five starts, all on the grass.
“The mile and an eighth was very enticing,” said winning trainer Chris Block. “I had the older siblings and they could go that far … The ultimate goal would be the Pucker Up at Arlington (on Aug. 15). I’ll have to see what I can find.”
Turf Mile
King Kreesa led all the way to a 17-1 upset win in Saturday’s $300,000, Grade III Poker Stakes at Belmont Park, winning by 3/4 length over Vyjack, who was running on turf for the first time. The favorite, Chilean-bred Il Campione, finished third, a head farther back, in his first U.S. start. King Kreesa, a 6-year-old King Cougat gelding, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:33.48 with Jose Ortiz up.
“I think a mile is his best distance,” Ortiz said. “Maybe he could stretch out a little bit, but a mile is perfect.”
King Kreesa won the Poker in 2013 but has had his ups and downs since, including a 12th place finish in the Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin in December of 2013.
Talco outfinished the even-money favorite, Midnight Storm, in Saturday’s $400,000, Grade I Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita, winning by 1/2 length. Seek Again finished third. Talco, a 4-year-old, French-bred colt by Pivotal, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:35.00 under Rafael Bejarano. He now has three wins and two seconds from his last five starts.
“My horse gave me such a big kick off the turn, we were able to challenge (Midnight Storm) right away and then we outran him to the finish,” Bejarano said. “The whole key to winning today was being able to stay inside around the far turn and really kicking well.”
France
Star of Seville, with Frankie Dettori riding confidently, raced prominently from the early stages in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix de Diane at Longchamp, moved to the lead with some 2 furlongs to run and wasn’t threatened thereafter, winning by 1 length over Physiocrate. Little Nightingale finished third and the fancied Queen’s Jewel faded to finish 11th. Star of Seville, a Duke of Marmalade filly trained by John Gosden, finished 1 mile, 2 1/2 furlongs on good turf in 2:05.69. Star of Seville had won four straight races before getting home ninth in the Investec Oaks earlier this month but she was one of several impeded in the stretch run in that race.
Elsewhere:
Woodbine
Danish Dynaformer swept by the leaders late to take Sunday’s $150,000 (Canadian) Plate Trial by 3/4 length over Conquest Curlinate. Conquest Boogaloo finished third. Danish Dynaformer, by Dynaformer, ran 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:49.81 with Luis Contreras up. The race was marred by the fatal injury of the favorite, Danzig Moon, who collided with a trailing R U Watchingbud, who fell but later walked off. Neither jockey was injured.
Asked about Danish Dynaformer’s chances for next month’s Queen’s Plate, Contreras said, “It feels really good. He’s so nice. You can do anything you want with him in a race. That’s a racehorse.”
Academic seized the lead in Sunday’s $500,000 (Canadian) Woodbine Oaks for Canadian-sired 3-year-old fillies and wasn’t caught, posting a 66-1 shocker. The odds-on favorite, London Tower, gave chase late but finished second, 1 3/4 lengths in arrears. Season Ticket was third, also with a late run. Academic, a daughter of Henny Hughes, ran 9 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:48.86 with Justin Stein up.
Seffeara shook loose from traffic in time to take Saturday’s $125,000 (Canadian) Bold Ruckus Stakes for 3-year-old Ontario-sired steeds at Woodbine by 3 1/4 lengths over Goodoldhockeygame. Super Colerosa finished third. Seffeara, an Old Forester gelding, ran 6 furlongs on firm turf in 1:09.13 with Gary Boulanger up.
Santa Anita
Amaranth led from the start in Sunday’s $75,000 Desert Stormer Stakes for fillies and mares and got home first, a comfortable 11/4 lengths ahead of Wasted at Midnight. The favorite, Sam’s Sister, checked in third. Amaranth, a 4-year-old Mr. Greeley filly, ran 6 furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.42 with William Antongeorgi III aboard.
Belmont Park
Celestine got first run to the lead in Sunday’s $100,000 Wild Applause Stakes for 3-year-old fillies and held off a determined late bid by Partisan Politics, winning by a nose. Stormy Regatta finished third. My Year Is a Day got loose before the start and was scratched. Celestine, a Scat Daddy filly, ran 1 mile on firm turf in 1:34.18 with Rajiv Maragh in the irons.
Albuquerque
Ole Winedrinker Who kicked into gear in the lane in Saturday’s $150,000 Downs of Albuquerque Handicap and left a half dozen rivals in his dust, winning by 4 3/4 lengths. Isn’t He Clever was best of the rest, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Big Tall Paul. Ole Winedrinker Who, a 6-year-old, Texas-bred gelding by Sligo Bay, ran 9 furlongs on a fast track in 1:52.64 with Isaias Enriquez in the irons.
Belterra Park
Jac’s Fact closed briskly outside pacesetting favorite Rivers Run Deep in the stretch run of Sunday’s $75,000 Sydney Gendelman Memorial Handicap for Ohio-breds and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths over that one. Rookie Gladden was well back in third. Jac’s Fact, a 4-year-old Kentucky Dane colt, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.78 with Megan Fadlovich up. The race originally was carded for the turf.
Presque Isle Downs
Cactus Kris stalked the pace in Sunday’s $100,000 Satin and Lace Stakes for fillies and mares, then bested Disco Barbie at the wire by a head. Monster Sleeping finished third. Cactus Kris, a 4-year-old daughter of Cactus Ridge, ran 5 1/2 furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:02.70 with Huber Villa-Gomez up.
Prairie Meadows
There was nothing wrong with Sumting Wong in Saturday’s $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap for Iowa-bred fillies and mares. The 5-year-old daughter of Pikepass blasted away from the field in the lane, winning by 11 lengths over Rallydownthealley. I tour was third. Sumting Wong, with Alex Birzer up, ran 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.51.
Excessive led all the way in Saturday’s $75,000 Cyclones Handicap for Iowa-breds, besting Oh My Gravy by 3 1/4 lenghts. Zeki finished third. Excessive, a 4-year-old gelding by Zanjero, finished 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.71, also toting Birzer.
Monmouth Park
Fast Flying Rumor went right to the front in Sunday’s $60,000 Select Stakes for 3-year-olds and never gave up the lead, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over the odds-on favorite, Souper Colossal. Bluegrass Singer finished third. Fast Flying Rumor, a West Acre gelding, ran about 5 1/2 furlongs on firm turf in 1:02.26 with Samuel Camacho Jr. riding.
Golden Gate Fields
Rock Me Baby rallied from last of eight to win Saturday’s $50,000 Albany Stakes by 1 length over Streamside. Serbian Syclone finished third. Rock Me Baby, a 6-year-old Rock Hard Ten gelding, got 5 furlongs on firm turf in 57.76 seconds with Corey Nakatani in for the ride.
Gulfstream Park
Westminster Road came three-wide to the lead in the stretch run in Saturday’s $60,000 Miss Patti Handicap for 3-year-old fillies and went on to win by 1 3/4 length from the early leader, Cosmic Harmony. Susie Bee was a neck farther back in third. Westminster Road, a daughter of Quality Road, ran 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.05 for jockey Edgard Zayas.
Northlands Park
Killin Me Smalls was all alone at the end of Saturday’s $50,000 (Canadian) Spangled Jimmy Handicap, 9 1/4 lengths ahead of 50-1 chance Aces Again. For Cash finished third. Killin Me Smalls, a 5-year-old gelding by Marcavelly, ran 1 mile on a fast track in 1:36.57, well in hand of jockey Ruben Lara.
Emerald Downs
Stryker Phd came from last of 11 to win Sunday’s $50,000 Budweiser Handicap by a neck over Noosito. Absolutely cool finished third. Stryker Phd, a 6-year-old Bertrando gelding, got 1 mile on a fast track in 1:35.57 with Leslie Mawing in the irons.
