Latest news with #GamelyStakes
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Horse named after vet who tragically died saving champion Lady Eli wins on debut
Cherie DeVaux-trained colt Dr Agne charged through under Jose Ortiz to win on his Saratoga Racecourse debut - a performance which was extra special for connections A horse named after a vet who tragically died after saving champion Lady Eli has won its first race. The star thoroughbred suffered life-threatening laminitis when she stepped on a nail after taking the 2015 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes and was nursed back to health by Dr Robert Agne. Sadly just months later, the vet passed away at the age of 54 when his bicycle was struck by a car in Vermont. Thanks to his quick intervention, Lady Eli was able to overcome the condition in both front feet and went on to further Grade One glory. When she retired after earning nearly $3,000,000, connections decided to name one of her foals Dr Agne in a fitting tribute. And the white-faced bay, sired by outstanding stallion Into Mischief, came from well off the pace to make a perfect start on his debut. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, who was assistant to Chad Brown during Lady Eli's career, Dr Agne surged through from the home turn under Jose Ortiz. The colt passed the tiring leaders and held off a charge from favourite Epic Desire to score by a length for the partnership of Madaket Stables LLC, Twin Brook Stables and Belladonna Racing LLC. Dr Agne's widow Carrie Agne held back tears after Friday's seven furlong contest, run in a time of 1:25.97. "Seeing this, it's like, what comes to my mind is they have the same heart," she told told America's Day at the Races. "They just really try.' Now aged 13, Lady Eli fought back from her health issue to claim the Flower Bowl Stakes (2016), Gamely Stakes (2017), Diana Stakes (2017) and Ballston Spa Handicap. Undefeated when she became ill, a record which included the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf of 2014, Brown said Dr Agne of Rood And Riddle Equine Hospital and Dr Bryan Fraley of Fraley Equine Podiatry gave her great care. "She has excellent hoof growth and is moving comfortably," he stated at the time. "She gets out to graze for 30 minutes daily in my courtyard, and she's really enjoying that. This can often be a long process, but we couldn't be more pleased with her progress." Dr Agne is now set for a turf campaign after hitting the target at the same venue where Lady Eli broke her maiden in 2014. "He overcame a lot, and I'm just so pleased that Carrie was here and that we got to share this with her, " said DeVaux.
NBC Sports
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Be Your Best and Skippylongstocking give Ortiz and Joseph a stakes double at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, Calif. — Be Your Best led all the way to earn her first Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths 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.
Fox Sports
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Be Your Best and Skippylongstocking give Ortiz and Joseph a stakes double at Santa Anita
Associated Press ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Be Your Best led all the way to earn her first Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths Monday 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: in this topic
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Be Your Best and Skippylongstocking give Ortiz and Joseph a stakes double at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Be Your Best led all the way to earn her first Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths Monday 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:
Washington Post
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Be Your Best and Skippylongstocking give Ortiz and Joseph a stakes double at Santa Anita
ARCADIA, Calif. — Be Your Best led all the way to earn her first Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths Monday 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.
