Be Your Best and Skippylongstocking give Ortiz and Joseph a stakes double at Santa Anita
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Be Your Best ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.26, the fastest time in the race for fillies and mares since 2017, when Lady Eli won in 1:45.29.
The 5-year-old Ireland-bred mare and Ortiz traveled from the East Coast to compete. It was Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.'s first career win at Santa Anita.
About 30 minutes later, Ortiz rode odds-on favorite Skippylongstocking to a three-quarters of a length victory in the $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup for Joseph.
'It was amazing to get that Grade 1, then you don't want to go home with Skippy getting beat,' Joseph told track officials by phone. 'So for him to go out there and win a historic race like the Hollywood Gold Cup was truly special.'
In the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, Britain-bred King of Gosford and jockey Flavien Prat won.
King of Gosford ran the distance on turf in 1:33.52 and paid $10.80, $4.80 and $3.60. Mi Hermano Ramon was second and Cabo Spirit was third.
In the Gold Cup, Skippylongstocking ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.64 and paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. He increased his career earnings to over $3.6 million with 11 wins in 32 starts.
Midnight Mammoth returned $7.20 and $3.60 and Extensive paid $2.40 to show.
It was Skippylongstocking's eighth graded stakes victory at six different tracks.
'He's just a hard-knocking horse who takes his track with him everywhere he goes,' Joseph said. 'He's a sound horse and he's very strong mentally. We'll be forever grateful for him.'
In the Gamely, Be Your Best paid $6.20, $3.80 and $3.00. Lady Claypoole returned $8.20 and $4.60 and Liguria returned $5 to show.
'She is a very good filly and she showed it,' Joseph said. 'This is really big for us.'
Be Your Best has six wins in 20 career starts and earnings of over $1 million.
___
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
9 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tottenham condemns racist abuse of Mathys Tel after UEFA Super Cup
LONDON (AP) — Tottenham has slammed the 'cowards' who racially abused French forward Mathys Tel after the team's loss to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout in the UEFA Super Cup. The 20-year-old Tel, who is Black, was one of two Tottenham players who failed to convert their penalties as they lost the shootout 4-3 to PSG after a 2-2 draw. 'We are disgusted at the racial abuse that Mathys Tel has received on social media following last night's UEFA Super Cup defeat,' Tottenham said in a statement. 'Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards — hiding behind anonymous user names and profiles to spout their abhorrent views.' Tottenham said the club will work with the authorities and social media platforms to take 'the strongest possible action against any individual we are able to identify.' 'We stand with you, Mathys,' Spurs added. Tel, who joined the team on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich in the offseason after a loan spell last season, came on as a substitute in the 79th minute when Tottenham was 2-0 ahead. He hit his penalty wide of the goal in the shootout. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Champions League winner PSG may find it harder to defend the French title this season
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain dominated Ligue 1 last season, losing only two games as it benefited from a lack of domestic rivalry to also embark on a victorious Champions League campaign. But things might prove more difficult for coach Luis Enrique and his PSG team this season, because Marseille and Monaco are determined to mount credible title challenges after strong summer signings. PSG also has a long-awaited local derby against newly-promoted Paris FC to contend with. Get ready for PSG vs. PFC. But first, the season begins with Marseille at Rennes on Friday. Monaco is at home to Le Havre on Saturday and PSG is at Nantes on Sunday. Here's a look at the upcoming season: —- Intercity rivalry For the first time in 35 years two Paris-based soccer clubs are in Ligue 1. Paris FC's takeover by France's richest family, the Arnaults of luxury empire LVMH, also saw energy drink giant Red Bull become a minority stakeholder. It gives PSG fans a genuine city rivalry against a very close neighbor. Because Paris FC, also known as PFC, changed stadium following its promotion and will now play at the 20-000-seat Stade Jean-Bouin — which is right across the street from PSG's Parc des Princes. PFC owner Antoine Arnault, the son of billionaire Bernard Arnault, used to be a PSG season-ticket holder. 'I've loved PSG since I was 12,' Antoine Arnault said. 'You will never hear me say anything negative about PSG.' The teams meet at Parc des Princes on Jan. 4. Paris FC will host PSG on May 16, the season's final round. Marseille offense Coach Roberto De Zerbi has been proactive with his signings but his best move was keeping hold of influential midfielder Adrien Rabiot. Marseille bolstered its attack by signing highly-rated Brazilian winger Igor Paixão in a deal that could rise to 35 million euros ($40.6 million). Veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored 30 goals for Marseille two seasons ago, has returned. Attacking midfielder Angel Gomes joined from Lille and U.S. winger Tim Weah arrived from Juventus. They supplement an attack already featuring Mason Greenwood, who scored 21 league goals last season, and skilful finisher Amine Gouiri. But the team's heartbeat is Rabiot. He was Marseille's best player last season following a surprise move from Juventus, and the 53-cap France international said he turned down offers to move during the offseason. 'I couldn't see myself leaving when I think the best is ahead of us,' Rabiot told Le Provence newspaper. 'We've put something into place with the coach and I want to be part of what's ahead.' Monaco's challenge Monaco started last season strongly but faded badly due to poor defending and erratic goalkeeping. Coach Adi Hütter is determined to correct that and the Principality club has recruited veteran goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecky from Bayer Leverkusen. Paul Pogba has also joined, along with Ansu Fati. Pogba was once among the world's best midfielders, and now he's trying to re-ignite a career derailed by injuries and a doping ban. Fati was once considered among the world's best young players in the way Lamine Yamal is now. The tricky winger has joined on a season-long loan from Barcelona, offering the former teen prodigy another chance to resurrect his career. With the prolific Mika Biereth in attack alongside forward Folarin Balogun, and with Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche supporting them from midfield, the goals should flow for Monaco. Veterans return As well as Pogba, there will be plenty of interest in how Olivier Giroud and Florian Thauvin do. All three won the 2018 World Cup with France, although Thauvin was a fringe player. The 38-year-old Giroud — France's all-time record scorer with 57 goals — has joined Lille after leaving Los Angeles FC. After winning Ligue 1 with Montpellier in 2012, Giroud joined Arsenal, then won the Champions League with Chelsea and the Italian league with AC Milan. Thauvin joined from Serie A club Udinese and returns to Ligue 1 after playing the best soccer of his career for Marseille, scoring 53 league goals across three seasons from 2016-19. PSG's goalkeeper uncertainty Gianluigi Donnarumma was arguably PSG's best player during its stellar Champions League campaign. But he reportedly wants to leave after the club signed Lucas Chevalier from Lille. Donnarumma's future at PSG is in doubt after he was dropped from the squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup win against Tottenham. Promoted clubs Metz and Lorient went up with PFC. Lorient won Ligue 2 thanks to striker Eli Junior Kroupi's 22 goals. Metz has Jonathan Fischer, a former substitute teacher, in goal. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ohtani pitches into 5th inning and triples, but O'Hoppe spurs Angels past Dodgers 6-5 for sweep
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani yielded four runs on five hits while pitching a season-high 4 1/3 innings, but Logan O'Hoppe delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels swept the season Freeway Series with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night. Ohtani fanned Mike Trout twice among his seven strikeouts. He also tripled and scored in the first inning, but struck out in his final three at-bats. Will Smith hit a two-run homer and Mookie Betts had two RBI singles for the defending World Series champion Dodgers, who have lost four straight. They've fallen into second place in the NL West behind the San Diego Padres, who arrive at Dodger Stadium on Friday for a weekend series. The sub-.500 Angels improbably swept both three-game series against the Dodgers this season. They've won a franchise-record seven straight over their crosstown rivals. Ohtani mostly looked sharp in his first trip to the Angel Stadium mound since he left it with what turned out to be a torn elbow ligament in August 2023. He gave up a homer to Taylor Ward in the second, but settled in until the fifth. Ohtani left with a 5-4 lead, and the Dodgers' beleaguered bullpen nearly made it stand up despite having five high-leverage arms on the injured list. One inning earlier, Angels rookie Bryce Teodosio robbed Andy Pages of a homer with a leaping catch in right-center. Brock Burke (6-1) pitched the eighth, and Kenley Jansen got his 23rd save. Key moment After the Angels loaded the bases in the eighth against Justin Wrobleski (4-4) and Edgardo Henriquez, O'Hoppe put the Angels ahead with his clutch single. Key stat Ohtani has 15 strikeouts over his last 8 1/3 innings. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Up next Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 3.14 ERA) seems likely to take the mound Friday against San Diego. Yusei Kikuchi (6-7, 3.37) will start Friday in West Sacramento for the Angels. ___ AP MLB:
