2012 Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I) winner Little Mike earned a return trip to that race when he held off Big Blue Kitten to win the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Invitational Turf Classic (gr. I) at Belmont Park by a nose.
Ridden for the first time by jockey Mike Smith, Little Mike entered the Joe Hirsch having not won a race since the Breeders' Cup Turf last November, and having not finished better than fourth in four starts this year. As a result, he was sent off at odds of 7-1 in a field that contained two-time grade I winner Big Blue Kitten, Arlington Million (gr. I) winner Real Solution, as well as world record-holder Twilight Eclipse.
Breaking from the far outside post position, Little Mike got off to a very good start and showed interest in challenging for the early lead, but after pacemaker Joes Blazing Aaron secured that position in the initial furlong, Little Mike took back to rate in fifth place, just behind King Kreesa, Imagining, and Nutello. Twilight Eclipse, Slumber, Real Solution, and Big Blue Kitten were the trailers.
Following quick fractions of :23.92, :47.70, 1:11.57, and 1:35.70, Little Mike unleashed a strong challenge on the far outside to gain command of the lead entering the homestretch. Big Blue Kitten, Real Solution, and Slumber were all rallying as well, but Little Mike successfully held them all off to win by a nose in the quick time of 2:25.00 for twelve furlongs.
Big Blue Kitten rallied well along the rail to finish second, a length clear of stablemate Real Solution. Slumber was another neck back in fourth, followed by Twilight Eclipse, Imagining, King Kreesa, Nutello, and Joes Blazing Aaron.
Little Mike, a son of Spanish Steps out of the Wavering Monarch mare Hay Jude, is trained by Dale Romans and owned by Priscilla Vaccarezza.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Laughing wins again in Flower Bowl Invitational
The remarkable Irish-bred mare Laughing won her fourth consecutive race -- and second grade I of the season -- when she held off entrymate Tannery to win the $600,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (gr. I) by a half-length.
With Jose Lezcano aboard, Laughing got off to a quick start and went straight to the early lead, setting pedestrian fractions of :25.68, :51.56, and 1:16.02 while leading by a length over Somali Lemonade and White Rose. Mystical Star, Valiant Rose, and Tannery were in the middle of the tightly-bunched pack, while Qushchi and Kissable were the trailers.
Entering the final half-mile, Laughing began to pick up the pace, sprinting through her fourth quarter in :23.46 to reach the quarter pole in front by a length and a half. Thereafter, Laughing ran her final quarter in a blazing :22.86, which was enough to carry her to a fairly easy half-length triumph.
Tannery, who ran as a coupled entry with Laughing, rallied to edge Mystical Star for second by a neck, while Qushchi was another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Kissable, Somali Lemonade, White Rose, and Valiant Girl completed the order of finish.
Laughing, a daughter of Dansili out of Comic, by Be My Chief, is trained by Alan Goldberg and owned by Richard Santulli.
With Jose Lezcano aboard, Laughing got off to a quick start and went straight to the early lead, setting pedestrian fractions of :25.68, :51.56, and 1:16.02 while leading by a length over Somali Lemonade and White Rose. Mystical Star, Valiant Rose, and Tannery were in the middle of the tightly-bunched pack, while Qushchi and Kissable were the trailers.
Entering the final half-mile, Laughing began to pick up the pace, sprinting through her fourth quarter in :23.46 to reach the quarter pole in front by a length and a half. Thereafter, Laughing ran her final quarter in a blazing :22.86, which was enough to carry her to a fairly easy half-length triumph.
Tannery, who ran as a coupled entry with Laughing, rallied to edge Mystical Star for second by a neck, while Qushchi was another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Kissable, Somali Lemonade, White Rose, and Valiant Girl completed the order of finish.
Laughing, a daughter of Dansili out of Comic, by Be My Chief, is trained by Alan Goldberg and owned by Richard Santulli.
Private Zone holds on in Vosburgh Stakes
California shipper Private Zone picked up the first grade I victory of his career when he held off a late charge from Justin Phillip to win the $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational (gr. I) by a neck.
Ridden to victory by Martin Garcia, Private Zone got off to a very quick start from the far outside post position and quickly took command of the lead, running the opening quarter in a quick :22.62. Strapping Groom and The Lumber Guy were his closest pursuers, followed by Justin Phillip, Bahamian Squall, Candyman E, and Forty Tales.
Following a half-mile in a blazing :44.86 seconds, Private Zone entered the homestretch well in command of the lead, but Justin Phillip was looming a major threat on the outside, and at the sixteenth pole, Justin Phillip actually took the lead. But Private Zone proved extraordinarily tenacious, and battled back to win by a neck in the very quick time of 1:08.02 seconds.
Strapping Groom held on for third, 4 1/2 lengths behind Justin Phillip and a half-length clear of Forty Tales. Bahamian Squall, Candyman E, and The Lumber Guy completed the order of finish.
Private Zone, a son of Macho Uno out of Auburn Beauty, by Siphon, is trained by Doug O'Neill and owned by Good Friends Stable. He has compiled a record of 5-6-1 from 19 starts, with earnings of $513,820.
Ridden to victory by Martin Garcia, Private Zone got off to a very quick start from the far outside post position and quickly took command of the lead, running the opening quarter in a quick :22.62. Strapping Groom and The Lumber Guy were his closest pursuers, followed by Justin Phillip, Bahamian Squall, Candyman E, and Forty Tales.
Following a half-mile in a blazing :44.86 seconds, Private Zone entered the homestretch well in command of the lead, but Justin Phillip was looming a major threat on the outside, and at the sixteenth pole, Justin Phillip actually took the lead. But Private Zone proved extraordinarily tenacious, and battled back to win by a neck in the very quick time of 1:08.02 seconds.
Strapping Groom held on for third, 4 1/2 lengths behind Justin Phillip and a half-length clear of Forty Tales. Bahamian Squall, Candyman E, and The Lumber Guy completed the order of finish.
Private Zone, a son of Macho Uno out of Auburn Beauty, by Siphon, is trained by Doug O'Neill and owned by Good Friends Stable. He has compiled a record of 5-6-1 from 19 starts, with earnings of $513,820.
Graydar returns a winner in Kelso Handicap
Grade I winner Graydar, unraced due to injury since winning the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) back in April, made a successful return to the races at Belmont Park on September 28th when he won the $400,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) in gate-to-wire fashion.
With jockey Edgar Prado aboard, Graydar broke cleanly and quickly assumed command of the lead, running the first quarter-mile in :23.41 to lead the way by one length over Souper Speedy. The latter was, in turn, a length in front of Easter Gift, who was racing on the inside of Hymn Book. Brujo de Olleros, Praetereo, and Jackson Bend were the trailers.
Following an easy half-mile in :47.11, the pace began to pick up a bit, and the third quarter was run in a stiff :23.36. Turning for home, Graydar was still in front by a length over Souper Speedy, but Brujo de Olleros was gearing up with a strong challenge on the far outside. Passing the eighth pole, Graydar was still clinging tenaciously to the lead, and while Brujo de Olleros seemed ready to run right by, Graydar found enough left in the tank to preserve a three-quarters of a length advantage to the finish line, which he reached in a very quick 1:34.08 for one-mile.
Brujo de Olleros finished second, a neck in front of the late-charging Hymn Book. Souper Speedy was fourth after having to check off heels in deep stretch, while Easter Gift, Praetereo, and Jackson Bend completed the order of finish.
Graydar is a four-year-old son of Unbridled's Song out of Sweetest Smile, by Dehere. Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stable, Graydar has compiled a career record of five wins and a third from six starts, with earnings of $841,560. His biggest career victory to date came in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
Graydar is being pointed toward a start in either the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) or Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park this November.
With jockey Edgar Prado aboard, Graydar broke cleanly and quickly assumed command of the lead, running the first quarter-mile in :23.41 to lead the way by one length over Souper Speedy. The latter was, in turn, a length in front of Easter Gift, who was racing on the inside of Hymn Book. Brujo de Olleros, Praetereo, and Jackson Bend were the trailers.
Following an easy half-mile in :47.11, the pace began to pick up a bit, and the third quarter was run in a stiff :23.36. Turning for home, Graydar was still in front by a length over Souper Speedy, but Brujo de Olleros was gearing up with a strong challenge on the far outside. Passing the eighth pole, Graydar was still clinging tenaciously to the lead, and while Brujo de Olleros seemed ready to run right by, Graydar found enough left in the tank to preserve a three-quarters of a length advantage to the finish line, which he reached in a very quick 1:34.08 for one-mile.
Brujo de Olleros finished second, a neck in front of the late-charging Hymn Book. Souper Speedy was fourth after having to check off heels in deep stretch, while Easter Gift, Praetereo, and Jackson Bend completed the order of finish.
Graydar is a four-year-old son of Unbridled's Song out of Sweetest Smile, by Dehere. Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stable, Graydar has compiled a career record of five wins and a third from six starts, with earnings of $841,560. His biggest career victory to date came in the Donn Handicap (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.
Graydar is being pointed toward a start in either the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) or Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park this November.
Princess of Sylmar edges Royal Delta in thrilling Beldame Invitational
The remarkable three-year-old filly Princess of Sylmar brought her season to a close by upsetting two-time Eclipse champion Royal Delta in the $400,000 Beldame Invitational (gr. I) on September 28th at Belmont Park.
Ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Princess of Sylmar settled back in fourth place early on as Roman Invader and 3-10 favorite Royal Delta led the way through very quick fractions of :23.78, :46.71, and 1:10.53. Rounding the final turn, Princess of Sylmar rallied along the inside of Centring and then shifted to the outside to take aim at Royal Delta. The pair struggled briefly for command of the lead, afterwhich Princess of Sylmar took command and drew off under mostly a hand ride to win by a very impressive two lengths. The final time for nine furlongs was a quick 1:47.93 seconds.
Royal Delta stumbled briefly at the start, and seemed to lack a bit of her usually vigor during the early stages of the race, but nevertheless ran very well in defeat. She finished 6 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Centring, who was in turn 4 1/4 lengths in front of And Why Not. Roman Invader trailed the field.
For Princess of Sylmar, the Beldame marked her fourth consecutive grade I triumph, following victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), and Alabama Stakes (gr. I). Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by King of Prussia Stable, Princess of Sylmar has compiled a record of eight wins, one second, and one fourth from ten career starts, with earnings of $1,607,220.
Princess of Sylmar is a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Majestic Warrior out of Storm Dixie, by Catienus.
Ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, Princess of Sylmar settled back in fourth place early on as Roman Invader and 3-10 favorite Royal Delta led the way through very quick fractions of :23.78, :46.71, and 1:10.53. Rounding the final turn, Princess of Sylmar rallied along the inside of Centring and then shifted to the outside to take aim at Royal Delta. The pair struggled briefly for command of the lead, afterwhich Princess of Sylmar took command and drew off under mostly a hand ride to win by a very impressive two lengths. The final time for nine furlongs was a quick 1:47.93 seconds.
Royal Delta stumbled briefly at the start, and seemed to lack a bit of her usually vigor during the early stages of the race, but nevertheless ran very well in defeat. She finished 6 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Centring, who was in turn 4 1/4 lengths in front of And Why Not. Roman Invader trailed the field.
For Princess of Sylmar, the Beldame marked her fourth consecutive grade I triumph, following victory in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), and Alabama Stakes (gr. I). Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by King of Prussia Stable, Princess of Sylmar has compiled a record of eight wins, one second, and one fourth from ten career starts, with earnings of $1,607,220.
Princess of Sylmar is a Pennsylvania-bred daughter of Majestic Warrior out of Storm Dixie, by Catienus.
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