Latest news with #LuisSaez
Forbes
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Gosger Hopes To Make The Grade In The Haskell Stakes
Trainer Brendan Walsh and his team hope to lead Gosger to the winner's circle in the Haskell Stakes Report card time can represent some anxious moments. Do you have the numbers to be considered one of the good ones in your class? School is still in session for the three-year-old Thoroughbreds and a big test is coming up for one runner in particular at the Haskell stakes on July 19. Gosger is a beautifully marked son of Nyquist that made himself well-known with a courageous run in the Preakness Stakes. Under the masterful conditioning care of Brendan Walsh, this powerful striding colt came within a neck of shocking the world at odds of 15-1 in the second leg of the Triple Crown series. He may have not gotten the A+ he was looking for at Pimlico, but a stellar performance in just his fourth career start was still something to behold. 'He absolutely ran great in the Preakness', says Walsh. 'We think he ran a winning race, we just unfortunately were up against a fantastic horse in Journalism that overcame a lot and just refused to lose.' In the 150th Preakness, Walsh's charge broke beautifully under jockey Luis Saez and stalked a solid pace (23.16 opening quarter, 46.66 half mile). Turning for home, this grandson of Tapit took the lead and rolled clear while Journalism was trading paint with a pair of runners five lengths behind. As the wire drew closer, Gosger saw his lead diminish as the powerful and far more experienced Journalism dug deep. Eclipsed at the shadow of the finish pole, this youngster lost his cigar to a run for the record books. The final sixteenth of a mile turned in by Journalism is said to perhaps be the fastest in Preakness history. Prior to his heroics at old Hilltop, Gosger had given the wily Walsh all the signs he was ready for a big test. After a second-place finish in his only start at two, this Kentucky-bred won his three-year-old debut at Gulfstream Park in February, then aced the graded stakes exam with an impressive score in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. 'We have always thought highly of him', says Walsh, a native of Cork, Ireland. 'He was bred to be a good horse but we just had to be a little more patient with him. Illness and a big growth spurt set him back just a bit, but we like what he is doing now'. The performances at Keeneland and Pimlico, along with recent works have the Gosger team excited about a run in the Haskell Stakes. Contested at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, this mile and an eighth run over the Oceanport dirt offers $1 million in purse money and an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Facing another stellar field with Luis Saez back aboard, Gosger will have a chance to prove he belongs at the top of this class of three-year-old males. 'Luis was eager to get back on him for this race and we are very excited for this opportunity', says Walsh. 'Gosger has not always been the best work horse but recent efforts in training have been very good. He always shows up on race day and we hope to see him continue to move forward.' The grade 1 Haskell Stakes will be run on July 19 as the centerpiece of a card that features six Stakes races. Gosger currently has two wins and two second place finishes in four lifetime starts with career earnings of $692, aced the Lexington Stakes test on April 12
Forbes
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Breaking Down The 44th Running Of The Stephen Foster Stakes
Churchill Downs will play host to the Stephen Foster Stakes on June 28 Danny Brewer The Thoroughbred racing season has many highlights. Certain events are always recognized as 'big' in the general sports fan's eyes as those are the ones they are most familiar with. What the casual horse racing fan must realize is there are many great races besides the Triple Crown Series and Breeders' Cup. As years pass and talent matriculates, certain races will be 'bigger' on certain occasions same as it is in college football. Tennessee- Alabama, Ohio State-Michigan, Florida-Georgia games are always 'big', but in certain years they are 'BIGGER' based on happenstance. The 44th running of the Stephen Foster at Churchill downs on June 28 features a talent-laden field that makes this race one of the 'BIGGER' ones on the 2025 calendar. Let's take a peek at the entrants and provide a thought on each. Horses will be listed by post position with trainer, jockey, and morning line odds. Projected post time is 6:03 eastern time and it is race 11 on the card. 1 First Mission (Brad Cox, Luis Saez 4-1 )- The trainer/jockey combo is one of the most dangerous in the game today. Having won the Oaklawn Handicap back on April 19, this son of Street Sense has six career victories and finished in the top three in nine of twelve career starts with just over $2 million in earnings. A player for sure. 2 Mindframe (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr. 7-2 )-Another excellent conditioner/pilot combination makes this lightly raced son of Constitution a threat. Won the 7 furlong Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby day in his last start and has two wins beneath the twin spires. With four wins and two seconds in six career starts he has to be in all your exotic wagers. 3 Skippylongstocking ( Saffie Joseph Jr., Jose Ortiz 6-1)-Two wins and two thirds in four starts this year. This son of Exaggerator won the Hollywood Gold Cup in his last start and was third in this race a year ago. Has banked over $3 million and his last twenty four starts have been in Stakes company. Do not think he wins but can absolutely get a piece of the pie. 4 Sierra Leone (Chad Brown, Flavian Prat 5-2)-The 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic champ makes his second start as a four-year-old and has never finished worse than third in ten career starts. This son of Gun Runner has been brilliant at times and always comes with a big late run. Sometimes it is just too late. He will be there at the end and can win if his rider gets him in the race early. Mystik Dan came home first on May 31 in the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs Julie Clark Coady Photography 5 Mystik Dan (Kenny McPeek, Brian Hernandez Jr. 3-1)-The 2024 Kentucky Derby Champion returned to wining ways on May 31 in the Blame Stakes at Churchill. Appears to be in top form coming into this one. If jock can work out another classic rail ride this son of Goldencents will be back in the winner's circle. Our top pick here. Hit Show is one of two Brad Cox trainees running in the Foster Renee Torbitt Coady Photography 6 Hit Show (Brad Cox Florent Geroux 9-2)- This son of Candy Ride shook up the world with a closing from the clouds win in the 2025 Dubai World Cup on April 5. Fourteen of his last fifteen starts have been in Stakes company but sometimes the first start back after a trip to Dubai can be challenging. Certainly a contender in this one…as they all are. 7 Ashcroft (D Wayne Lukas Julien Leparoux 30-1)- Will be the sentimental favorite because of his trainer. Only two wins in twelve starts and none in stakes company. Not sure he belongs here but goodness knows Mr. Lukas knows a heck of a lot more about this game than perhaps anyone ever. Can't win if you ain't in.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Special Horse': Favorite Patch Adams Powers Clear In Woody Stephens
'Special Horse': Favorite Patch Adams Powers Clear In Woody Stephens originally appeared on Paulick Report. Patch Adams confirmed on Saturday what his connections suspected all along--he's a sprinter. Advertisement The Into Mischief colt proved to be a burgeoning sprint star on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox, who subsequently brought his talent to Saratoga, where on the Belmont Stakes undercard the former potential classic hopeful revealed an elite aptitude at a shorter distance in the $500,000 Woody Stephens (G1). Luis Saez roused Patch Adams from just off the pace and he stormed down the center of the track to dispatch Madaket Road and pacesetter Macho Music for a 2 1/4-length victory. Madaket Road hung on for second, and Big Truzz was third another 3 1/4 lengths back. Champion Citizen Bull was fourth and Macho Music faded to finish seventh. 'It was a pretty exciting stretch (run)," Saez said of Patch Adams, the 3-1 favorite in field of 10 3-year-olds "This horse, I really like him. He was working pretty well and today he came with a good run." Advertisement Saez hustled Patch Adams right out of the gate and the pair stalked the pace set by Macho Music and Madaket Road through swift fractions of :22.11, :44.40, and 1:08.73 through six furlongs. While gaining ground near the quarter pole, Patch Adams was hustled to the outside and came charging into contention. He got in front in the final furlong, drew clear. "He was in a perfect spot the whole way," Saez said. "And, man, when he came to the top of the stretch he gave me a pretty good turn of foot.' Time for the seven furlongs 1:21.35 on a track rated as muddy. Patch Adams returned $8.80 for the win. Advertisement Patch Adams earned his first stakes victory Saturday and entered following a 2 1/4-length win sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on May 3 at Churchill. Under some consideration for the Kentucky Derby earlier this year when he was fourth in a pair of graded stakes on the classic trail. He had, however, shown his preference for sprinting earlier, earning a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his 10 1/2-length triumph to break his maiden in his second start going the Woody Stephens distance in November at the Louisville track. 'Obviously it took him two starts to break his maiden, but when he did break his maiden he was very impressive at Churchill Downs," Cox said. "We thought he would stretch out based off the way he breezed and how he galloped out and worked with the pace before the [Grade 3] Southwest Stakes. Didn't break that day and didn't really get a good trip in the [Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby] obviously. It is kind of odd to have a horse that breaks as well as he does going one turn but couldn't get out of the gate going two turns. Once again, horses will make you scratch your head sometimes. We kind of scratched our heads this winter and into the spring, but he turned it around at Churchill Downs and we cut him back and he responded again today." Patch Adams was bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, which campaigns him with China Horse Club Inc. "He showed that he's a seven-furlong horse the day he broke his maiden and has been telling us what he wants to do," said Elliott Walden, President, CEO, and Racing Manager of WinStar Farm. Advertisement 'One turn is what he wants to do. He's an Into Mischief out of a Distorted Humor mare (Well Humored); the second Grade 1 winner we have had this year like that along with Tappan Street. Two different types, Tappan Street wants to go longer than this one, but I think he could get a mile. 'We'll probably come back for the [Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 23 at Saratoga]. He ran kind of quick back here and been at it all year; gone to Oaklawn, gone to Tampa — and he's not a super big horse. He's a special horse. I think he's got more there and will be really tough running back. It's just exciting to win a Grade 1 with a really well-bred colt from the family of [WinStar-owned Dubai World Cup winner] Well Armed — a great family that's been very good to us.' This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Good Cheer takes the crown at 151st Kentucky Oaks
Good Cheer, ridden by Luis Saez, surged to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Friday. Drexel Hill placed second, with Bless the Broken finishing third. Fans in festive hats packed the stands to watch the thrilling race in Louisville, Ky.
USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who won the 2025 Kentucky Oaks? Watch Good Cheer's comeback victory
Who won the 2025 Kentucky Oaks? Watch Good Cheer's comeback victory Before the world of horse racing turns its attention to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, there's still plenty to celebrate from Friday night's Kentucky Oaks. Good Cheer won the Lilles for the Fillies with jockey Luis Saez riding the Brad H. Cox-trained thoroughbred. It's third win for the Louisville-based trainer in the Kentucky Oaks since 2018. Good Cheer was the heavy favorite at 6-5 and paid off on those short odds. Drexel Hill took second while Bless the Broken nabbed third. Here's a full replay of the race: There you have it!
