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03-06-2025
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Miguel Clement Looking To Build On Father's Legacy With Trio Of Contenders In Manhattan
Miguel Clement Looking To Build On Father's Legacy With Trio Of Contenders In Manhattan originally appeared on Paulick Report. In an impressive showing for the barn of the late Christophe Clement, the trio of Far Bridge, Carson's Run and Deterministic have long been pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., after preparing for their campaigns in Florida this winter. The recent passing of their conditioner in late May was deeply felt across the racing community and the trio will now look to add to the trainer's much-respected legacy as they make their first start for Clement's son and longtime assistant, Miguel. Advertisement 'Dad loves the Manhattan, and this was the plan a long time ago,' Miguel Clement said of the trio's entry in a race that Christophe won three times with Forbidden Apple [2001], Gio Ponti [2009] and Winchester [2010]. 'Historically speaking, it's been a terrific race. It's probably one of the best races that we have because it's a race where you have the best stayers and the best milers all meeting in the middle. 'All three horses are doing very well and it's exciting,' Clement added. 'It's time to run.' The Manhattan [Race 12], a 1 3/16-mile Mellon turf test for older horses, is one of eight graded stakes slated for Saturday's loaded 14-race card headlined by the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in Race 13. First post is 10:45 a.m. Eastern. Leading the charge for Clement is LSU Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Far Bridge, whose win in the 1 3/8-mile Grade 2 Man o' War on May 10 at Belmont at the Big A marked the final graded stakes victory for Christophe, and graded stakes win number 239 after a storied 34-year career. In the Man o' War, Far Bridge was piloted by Hall of Famer Joel Rosario to a stalking one-length victory under a hand-ride, taking command in the final turn and driving home in a final time of 2:17.24. Advertisement Far Bridge returns to the course that saw him upset the Grade 1 Sword Dancer in August, a pacesetting victory by one length over Measured Time. He switched up tactics next out with a stalk-and-pounce score over War Like Goddess in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in September at Belmont at the Big A. 'If you want, he can be on the lead, and has tactical speed if you need it,' Clement said. 'He can also come from last and has a great turn-of-foot. That makes him very tough. He's not dependent on ground or pace. He can do whatever you'd like.' Far Bridge has won four of his last five starts – all with Rosario at the helm – including the Grade 3 Pan American to kick off his campaign in March at Gulfstream Park. Clement said the pairing of Rosario and Far Bridge is easy to summarize. Advertisement 'They're a dynamic duo. I think that's the best way to put it,' he concluded. Clement said Far Bridge, who also won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational as a sophomore for trainer Todd Pletcher, would likely prefer a bit more ground than he'll cover on Saturday, but that his talent should allow him to put forth a strong effort. 'He's top class,' Clement said. 'He has an affinity for Saratoga, and in terms of distance, I'm sure he would appreciate more – but he's so versatile, and he's probably good enough that he can handle a range of distances. Top class horses, even if it's not their optimal distance, they still win.' Rosario will guide Far Bridge from the outermost post 9. Advertisement The pair of multiple graded stakes-winner Deterministic [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche] and dual Grade 1-winner Carson's Run [post 4, Dylan Davis] arrive from a 1-2 finish in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Fort Marcy on May 3 at Belmont at the Big A, a race that saw Deterministic set a new track record of 1:45.70 over the outer turf. 'He's doing well and he's versatile,' Clement said of Deterministic, who seeks his first Grade 1 score for owners St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable. The 4-year-old Liam's Map dark bay flashed his talents early in his career on dirt, graduating impressively in August 2023 here and returning last March to win the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct Racetrack before a pair of off-the-board efforts in graded dirt routes at the Big A. A switch to turf brought back the spark he showed earlier in the year, and the colt has never been off-the-board in six starts over the lawn. His 6-3-2-1 turf record includes Grade 3 wins last year in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs and the Hill Prince at the Big A, as well as a third in his lone try at the Grade 1 level in last year's Saratoga Derby Invitational won by Carson's Run. He began his current campaign with a pacesetting second in a nine-furlong off-the-turf allowance in April at Keeneland. Advertisement Deterministic already had a race on his 2025 resume heading into the Fort Marcy, and now the same can be said for West Point Thoroughbreds and Steven Bouchey's Carson's Run after his brave Fort Marcy effort behind his stablemate in his first start off a more than five-month layoff. 'He needed a race under his belt. I think he's improved from the run,' Clement said. 'There's plenty of him – plenty of substance – he will only benefit from a race under him. I thought he ran a terrific race.' Carson's Run already boasts a win over the course and distance in the aforementioned Saratoga Derby, his second top-level victory after taking the Summer Stakes as a juvenile at Woodbine. The 4-year-old Cupid colt's sophomore campaign also included a win in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational in October at Belmont at the Big A and a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Nashville Derby in September at Kentucky Downs. While a powerhouse trio looms large for the Clement barn, there are no guarantees in a loaded field that includes dual Grade 1-winning New York-bred Spirit of St Louis [post 6, Manny Franco], who is also in the conversation of divisional sovereignty alongside Far Bridge. Advertisement Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn's 6-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro has flourished this year against open company after two seasons running against almost exclusively state-bred company, often trouncing his competition with seven wins [four stakes] from 11 outings against fellow New York-breds. In October, Brown tried the evergreen dark bay against graded competition for the first time when a 2 1/2-length fifth in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile at Keeneland. Two starts later, Spirit of St Louis more than proved he belonged in the big leagues, notching a rallying neck score in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park. A fourth in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic in March at Fair Grounds did little to dissuade the betting public on May 3 at Churchill Downs, where Spirit of St Louis was last seen scoring another Grade 1 triumph in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic as the 3-1 post-time favorite. 'He's remarkably consistent this horse,' the gelding's five-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown said. 'He's reached a level this year that I didn't even see coming. I'm just trying to keep him where he's at right now – happy and sound.' While Spirit of St Louis has successfully answered the question of class, he is now left to prove his ability beyond nine furlongs. The presence of Grade 1 Belmont Stakes-winner Lemon Drop Kid on the bottom side of his pedigree suggests he'll pass the test. Advertisement 'We'll try it – he's certainly bred for it,' Brown said of the distance. 'I would have thought last year that his best distance was a mile, and this year, he's proven to be effective beyond that, which is a pleasant surprise.' Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Spirit of St Louis is a full-brother to Grade 1-winner Bar of Gold, who found her best stride sprinting over the dirt to victory in the 2017 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. A neck back of Spirit of St Louis in the Pegasus World Cup Turf was West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Integration [post 2, Flavien Prat], a last-out seventh in the Turf Classic at Churchill. Co-owner Sol Kumin congratulations jockey Manny Franco after Spirit of St Louis won the Turf Classic at Churchill DownsNellie Carlson photo Trained by three-time Manhattan-winning Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the Quality Road 5-year-old has placed in four Grade 1s, and boasts graded victories in the 2023 Grade 2 Hill Prince and 2024 Grade 2 Red Smith – both over the Aqueduct green – and the 2023 Grade 3 Virginia Derby at Colonial. Though he has not contested Saturday's distance in his 13 starts, he did finish a game second in last year's Grade 1 Arlington Million going a touch farther at 10-furlongs. Advertisement The West Coast racing scene will be represented by Amerman Racing's classy Kentucky homebred Endlessly [post 1, Umberto Rispoli], who stretches out from a third in the one-mile Grade 3 American on April 20 at Santa Anita Park off a more than nine-month layoff. 'He's doing very well,' trainer Michael McCarthy said. 'It is nice to have him back. Obviously these big turf races will kind of be on his schedule all summer long.' The 4-year-old Oscar Performance bay began his career a perfect 3-for-3 in 2023, including Grade 3 scores in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf at its namesake oval and the Zuma Beach at Santa Anita Park. He went on to post a respectable sophomore campaign that was led by wins on synthetic in the Listed El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park en route to off-the-board finishes in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on turf to close out the year. McCarthy pointed to Endlessly's route stakes wins as evidence to support that Endlessly will relish the added distance in the Manhattan. Advertisement 'I don't think it is an issue for him. I think he is wanting more ground,' McCarthy said. 'In his victories last year in the El Camino Real Derby and the Jeff Ruby at one mile and an eighth, he was very good. I don't think going one mile and three-sixteenths on the grass is going to be an issue for him.' Completing the field are graded stakes-winner Highway Robber [post 3, Cristian Torres] for trainer Brian Lynch, Grade 3-placed Corruption [post 8, Jose Ortiz] for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse; and the streaking Tucson [post 7, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], a $1.3 million yearling purchase that makes his stakes debut for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. Television coverage of Belmont Stakes Day will air across the FOX Sports family of networks beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern [FS1] prior to national broadcast coverage on FOX beginning at 2:30 p.m. For the complete Belmont Stakes Racing Festival television schedule, visit NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and the best way to bet every race of the four-day meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two-Day Special Wagers Featured During Belmont Stakes Racing Festival
Two-Day Special Wagers Featured During Belmont Stakes Racing Festival originally appeared on Paulick Report. The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has announced a selection of special wagers to be offered during the five-day 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to be held from Wednesday, June 4 through Sunday, June 8 at Saratoga Race Course. Highlighted by the 157th edition of the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7, the 2025 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival will include 27 stakes races with purses totaling $11,275,000, the richest purses and highest number of stakes offered since the launch of the multi-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival in 2014. An array of two-day wagers is highlighted by the 'All Dirt' Pick 6, which will open on Friday, June 6 and concludes with the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on Saturday, June 7. The 'All Dirt' Pick 6 will feature a $0.20 base wager and low 15 percent takeout. The two-day 'All Turf' Pick 5 will offer a $0.50 base and 15 percent takeout, featuring grass racing in all legs beginning Friday and continuing on Belmont Stakes Day. There will also be various two-day Pick 4s and special Doubles across the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Two-day 'All-Dirt' Pick 6 The two-day 'All-Dirt' Pick 6 opens on Friday and continues Saturday, ending with a mandatory payout in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. The sequence begins on Friday with the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses [Race 6] and Grade 1 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford [Race 9], continuing Saturday with the Grade 3 True North [Race 7], Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap [Race 8] and Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun [Race 11], before concluding with the Belmont Stakes in Race 13. Two-day 'All-Turf' Pick 5 The two-day 'All Turf' Pick 5 opens on Friday with the Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino [Race 12] and the Grade 1 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing [Race 13], resuming on Saturday with the Grade 1 Jaipur [Race 9], the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge [Race 10] and ending with the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan in Race 12. Additional Belmont Stakes Racing Festival wagers on offer include: Two-day Pick 4 There will be three two-day Pick 4s across the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, starting on Wednesday with Race 9 [Mount Vernon] and Race 10, ending on Thursday with Race 1 [Listed Tremont] and Race 2. The same set-up is offered back up on Thursday with a Pick 4 that begins with the final two races, Race 9 [Grade 3 Poker] and Race 10, the sequence concluding with Friday's first two events Races 1-2. Friday will feature a similar format with a two-day Pick 4 starting in Race 13 [Grade 1 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing] and Race 14, finishing with Belmont Stakes Day's Races 1-2. The above two-day Pick 4 sequences include a $0.50 minimum, 24% takeout and a mandatory payout. Doubles There are four special 'Double' wagers on offer that conclude with the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets offering a $5 minimum and 18.5% takeout. These wagers begin with the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn [Race 11] and Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino [Race 12] on Friday, and Saturday's offerings start with the Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap [Race 8] and the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun [Race 11]. Epsom-Belmont Double There will be one additional special 'Double' with overseas action from the Group 1 Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse [Race 5 on June 7] and the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, offered at a $2 minimum with 18.5% takeout. Advertisement The traditional $1 Pick 6 will be offered on each day of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. On Saturday, it includes five Grade 1s among six graded events [Races 8-13], concluding with the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets. Belmont Stakes Day will feature six Pick 5 wagers with all but the opening and late Pick 5 offering a mandatory payout. In addition to the traditional early and late Pick 5s, there will be sequences from Races 3-7, 5-9, 7-11 and 9-13. An additional middle Pick 5 wager with a mandatory payout will be offered on Wednesday, June 4 [Races 4-8] and Thursday, June 5 [Races 3-7]. While the June 6 Friday card will include three additional middle Pick 5s [Races 3-7, 5-9, and 7-11] with mandatory payouts. Sunday's nine-race card will feature a middle Pick 5 [Races 3-7] on Closing Day of the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Television coverage of Belmont Stakes Day will air across the FOX Sports family of networks beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern [FS1] prior to national broadcast coverage on FOX beginning at 2:30 p.m. For the complete Belmont Stakes Racing Festival television schedule, visit NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and the best way to bet every race of the four-day meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
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Donegal Momentum Aims For Graded Breakthrough In Poker
Donegal Momentum Aims For Graded Breakthrough In Poker originally appeared on Paulick Report. Donegal Racing's Donegal Momentum looks to make the grade in Thursday's $300,000 Poker (G3), a one-mile inner turf test for older horses on Day 2 of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. Advertisement Trained by Tom Morley, the 4-year-old Uncle Mo dark bay has made three graded stakes attempts, his best finish a one-length third in the Hollywood Derby (G1) going nine furlongs in November at Del Mar. That effort capped a strong sophomore campaign highlighted by a two-length score in the one-mile turf Gio Ponti at Belmont at the Big A. 'The Poker was his second main target of the year after the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland which we opted to skip due to having to run against Carl Spackler on soft ground,' said Morley. 'The Poker has been our main focus for much of this year and since he came back as a 4-year-old.' Donegal Momentum returned for his 4-year-old season successfully when taking an about one-mile optional-claimer on March 6 at Fair Grounds. He subsequently misfired on the main track in the seven-furlong Grade 2 Carter ahead of a last-out half-length second to returning rival Sherlock's Jewel in a one-mile optional claimer on good turf May 8 at Belmont at the Big A. Last out, Donegal Momentum dueled with Big Everest on the front end through the opening half-mile and led into the final sixteenth before being run down by Sherlock's Jewel. Advertisement 'Race dynamics got him beat last time,' said Morley. 'I'm really looking forward to possibly getting this horse on a firm turf course. He has been plagued by rain for the past year, and has never actually run on a genuinely firm turf course other than California where one mile and an eighth was too far for him.' Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who has piloted Donegal Momentum in all eight starts other than the Gio Ponti, returns to ride from post 8. Out of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Moon Dash, Donegal Momentum was a $375,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Donegal Racing, who campaigned 2017 Poker winner Ballagh Rocks. Wharton Connell Racing's Kentucky homebred Sherlock's Jewel [post 6, Dylan Davis] entered his aforementioned score over Donegal Momentum from a similar closing victory in a one-mile optional-claimer in March at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, the 5-year-old Lea gelding successfully shifted back to turf after a past campaign of four dirt efforts, including a second to multimillionaire Skippylongstocking in Tampa Bay Downs' Grade 3 Challenger. Advertisement 'He seems to be doing good,' said McGaughey. 'We decided to try dirt at Tampa and then in the stakes and he ran good. I think he favored the dirt course at Tampa, I'm not sure if that's something I'd try again, maybe an off-the-turf race, but he favors the turf.' Spendthrift Farm's multiple graded stakes winner Major Dude [post 4, Irad Ortiz Jr.] looks for his first win of 2025 in his fifth attempt. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the 5-year-old Bolt d'Oro bay missed by a nose to next out graded-winner Fort Washington three starts back in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Canadian Turf in March at Gulfstream Park. Most recently Major Dude was a two-length third in the one-mile Listed Opening Verse on May 1 at Churchill Downs. 'He's as consistent as they come. He's in good form, so we'll try again,' said Pletcher, who has won this event three times. 'He's a consummate pro. He shows up every time and comes out every morning ready to train. I think his ideal trip is to have a little pace to run at where you can cover him up. Unfortunately, he didn't get much pace at Churchill last time, which compromised his chances.' Major Dude holds a career record of 22-7-4-3 with in excess of $1.1 million in earnings, capturing the 2022 Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont at the Big A, the 2023 Grade 3 Kitten's Joy at Gulfstream and the Grade 2 Penn Mile at Penn National, as well as the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale last year at Gulfstream. Advertisement Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch's Grade 1-placed Filo Di Arianna [post 3, Jose Ortiz] is set for the second start of his 9-year-old season. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Grade 1-placed Drosselmeyer gelding was a pacesetting neck second to Emmanuel in this event in 2023. 'He's at the top of his game. He's just starting to get warmed up,' said Casse, who saddled Ice Chocolat to wire the past edition of the Poker. 'He's just a really good horse and he loves what he does. He's all racehorse.' The Brazilian-bred Filo Di Arianna, a four-time Grade 2-winner at Woodbine Racetrack at distances ranging from six furlongs to one mile, was second to Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O'Houlihan last out in the Thorncliffe sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta on May 4 there. Advertisement A relatively new face to watch out for is the French-bred Intellect [post 2, Flavien Prat] for five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown. The 4-year-old Intello gelding was third in a 1 1/16-mile allowance on April 24 at Keeneland when making his stateside and barn debut. He rallied from 8th-of-12 to miss second by a nose. Intellect came from the care of Henri-Francois Devin, who sent him out to win the Listed Prix du Pont Neuf in front-running fashion last April at Longchamp. He is owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Steven Bouchey. Rounding out the field are dual graded stakes-placed Cameo Performance [post 1, Manny Franco], who is cross-entered in the Grade 3 Arlington on May 31 at Churchill Downs for trainer Brendan Walsh; Grade 3-placed Depiction [post 7, John Velazquez] for conditioner Cherie DeVaux; and Mischievous Angel [post 5, Paco Lopez] for trainer Jorge Abreu. Yo Daddy and Magnolia Midnight are entered for the main track-only. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
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George Weaver Eyes Woody Stephens For Promising Lafayette Winner Colloquial
Harrell Ventures and Starlight Racing's promising stakes winner Colloquial worked five furlongs in 1:03.25 on Thursday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1) on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Trained by George Weaver, the son of his dual Grade 1 winner Vekoma was last seen winning the seven-furlong Lafayette (L) on April 7 at Keeneland. There, he showed a new dimension when setting the pace after two solid efforts from off-the-pace, including an eye-catching local seven-length graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at second asking that garnered a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Advertisement The 2 1/4-length Lafayette saw him earn an 88 Beyer, the same number he earned on debut last June when a nose second to subsequent graded stakes winner Mentee in a track record-setting performance. 'We've been happy with him,' Weaver said. 'We've been waiting for this race for a long time, and now we're getting close.' Weaver said the chestnut's versatility is the mark of a top-level horse. 'Good horses are [versatile], and they can adjust to situations,' Weaver said. 'He's talented, so luckily he's good enough to have that versatility. I don't think he's tied to any one way of running. I'm sure this will be a competitive race, but I wouldn't trade places with anybody.' Advertisement Colloquial is one of several candidates for Weaver at this year's Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The veteran conditioner also has Dorth Vader, Sacred Wish, and Soontobeking nominated to races during the five-day Festival. John Ropes' Grade 2 winner Dorth Vader was a troubled fourth last out in the La Troienne (G1) on May 2 at Churchill Downs, enduring a bumpy trip into the first turn while running in third position under John Velazquez. She went on to finish just 1 1/2 lengths behind the victorious Raging Sea with just a head and three-quarter-lengths separating the minor awards between Taxed, Randomized and Dorth Vader. Weaver said Dorth Vader is likely being pointed to the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 6, which offers a 'Win and You're In' berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in November at Del Mar. 'She had horse and was running the whole way, and it was pretty tight in the first turn,' Weaver said. 'She was on the rail and [Randomized] stopped her progress. We're just hoping for a good, clean trip [in the Phipps].' Advertisement Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, Christopher Dunn and Anthony Spinazzola's Grade 1 winner Sacred Wish was a last-out seventh – defeated just 2 1/2-lengths – in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on May 3 at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old Not This Time mare has been a model of consistency, currently holding a 14-for-20 in-the-money record that includes a Grade 1 triumph in last year's Matriarch at Del Mar, and over $1.1 million in earnings. Weaver said the dark bay, who worked a half-mile in 51.25 seconds yesterday over the Oklahoma dirt, has been nominated to the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game on June 5 at the Festival, but he is unsure if that will be her next start. 'We'll see how her next work goes,' Weaver said. 'We're kind of up in the air about her next start.' Advertisement Our Blue Streaks Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds' consistent New York homebred Soontobeking is targeting the $200,000 Mike Lee for state-bred sophomores on the June 4 Opening Day of the Festival. Co-owned by Weaver, the son of King for a Day has put together a respectable 12-3-3-4 record with $363,428 in earnings, led by a stakes triumph in the state-bred Gander on March 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack. 'We're looking forward to seeing him again,' Weaver said of the colt whose last effort was a runner-up finish in the NYSSS Times Square on April 13 at Aqueduct. 'You appreciate the horses that always show up, and he does. He just overcomes with try.' Beyond the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, Weaver is eyeing a return next month to Royal Ascot, where he won the Group 2 Queen Mary in 2023 with Crimson Advocate. This year, Weaver is hopeful he'll be represented by two juveniles for owner Dew Sweepers in stakes winner Sandal's Song and maiden-winning New York-bred Tough Critic. Advertisement 'It's a hard thing to get done,' Weaver said of winning at the prestigious meeting. 'It's hard to win over there, even when you have the right horse – they run big fields, and you have to ship a long ways. It makes it exciting to do it, and hopefully everything goes smoothly and they run their race.' Sandal's Song looks to follow the path of Crimson Advocate after a stylish debut graduation in the five-furlong Royal Palm Juvenile by 1 1/2 lengths with a stalk-and-pounce trip engineered by Luca Panici. The Mendelssohn chestnut, who was a $75,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, overcame a hop at the start to sit off the pace down the backstretch and responded kindly into the lane to draw off to the victory in a final time of 56.30 seconds. Weaver said Sandal's Song is likely pointing towards the Norfolk (G2) for juveniles sprinting five furlongs on June 19. 'They've only had that race [the Royal Palm Juvenile] for the last couple of years, and we've been fortunate enough to get horses that have a chance to compete in it,' Weaver said of the race that awarded Sandal's Song a $25,000 equine travel stipend for Royal Ascot. Advertisement The New York-bred Tough Critic was also impressive in his debut, taking a 5 1/2-furlong maiden on April 24 at Keeneland by 1 1/4 lengths with a deep-closing trip under Eclipse Award-winning rider Flavien Prat. The $350,000 Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale purchase is by Caravaggio and is out of is out of the Invincible Spirit mare Thatchit, a half-sister to 2009 Norfolk winner Radiohead. Weaver said Tough Critic is being considered for the six-furlong Coventry (G2) on June 17 or the five-furlong Windsor Castle (L) on June 18.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scottish Lassie, Shred the Gnar Work Toward Acorn
Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable and trainer Jorge Abreu's Grade 1 winner Scottish Lassie worked Sunday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma training track in preparation for the $500,000 DK Horse Acorn (G1) for 3-year-old fillies on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The daughter of McKinzie breezed a solo five furlongs in 1:04 flat shortly after the conclusion of the 8:15 renovation break, her first work since her seasonal bow when third in a May 1 optional claimer at Belmont at the Big A. Advertisement 'It was good, and more than enough,' Abreu said. 'She came out of her race with good attitude and is doing everything good, like her old self.' Scottish Lassie graduated in style last year with a nine-length trouncing of the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont at the Big A, which awarded her a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies where she finished an even fourth. In her return last out, she broke awkwardly and had trouble finding her footing before being rushed up into contention to duel head-to-head for the lead. She weakened in the lane and finished three lengths behind the victorious Cassiar. Abreu added Scottish Lassie will have two more works in preparation for the nine-furlong Acorn. Bred in Kentucky by Winchester Farm, Scottish Lassie was an $85,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She is out of the winning Bodemeister mare Bodebabe, a half-sister to stakes-winner Windmill and stakes-placed Ignitis. Advertisement Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing's Shred the Gnar was back on the work tab with her sights set on the Acorn . Trained by Brian Lynch, the Into Mischief bay is pointed to the 1 1/8-mile test following two dominant pacesetting scores, including by seven lengths last out in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer on Kentucky Oaks Day at Churchill Downs. She breezed a half-mile in 47.60 seconds on Saturday at the Louisville track as she readies for a step up in class. 'She is pointing to the Acorn,' said Lynch. 'I just got a maintenance half-mile into her as she is pointed towards the Acorn. She worked by herself. Her last effort was pretty self-explanatory. Everything seems to be going great with her.' Shred the Gnar previously graduated second-out by 6 1/2 lengths going one-mile in March at Gulfstream Park. That performance earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure, which she improved to a career-best 94 in her last race. On debut, she was a neck second sprinting six furlongs in February at Gulfstream. Advertisement Also on the tab Saturday at Churchill Downs for Lynch was Grade 1-placed Highway Robber, a 5-year-old Hard Spun gelding who earned a career-best 100 Beyer for a one-length third to Spirit of St Louis in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Highway Robber, owned by Susan and Jim Hill, breezed a half-mile in 50.80 with an eye towards the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 7 Belmont Stakes Day at the Spa. 'He's tentatively schedule to go into the Manhattan,' said Lynch. 'He's an honest horse. It was just a maintenance work, first work back since his last race, letting him stretch his legs.' Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing's Owen Almighty finished a highly respectable fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, but Lynch said the Speightstown bay will likely pass on Belmont Stakes Racing Festival engagements. 'He's not slated to do anything up there,' said Lynch, adding that the colt is doing well. 'We are just giving him a little more time. No plans for him at the moment, just going to let him do his thing.'
