Latest news with #RafaelHernandez
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
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Simcoe Cruises To Victory On Front End In Bold Venture
Simcoe Cruises To Victory On Front End In Bold Venture originally appeared on Paulick Report. Simcoe stormed to the lead early and then powered away down the lane to take the $150,000 Bold Venture (G3) for 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Woodbine. Simcoe dueled briefly with Old Chestnut a few strides out of the gate in the 6½-furlong event contested on the Woodbine main track, with the latter backing off to settle into second, Junior Hot Shot in third and Ice Chocolat (BRZ) fourth. After clocking an opening panel in :22.40, Simcoe, under Rafael Hernandez, widened his advantage to three lengths through a half in :45.01, and then played catch-me-if-you-can heading into the turn for home. On top by four lengths in early stretch, the Katerina Vassilieva trainee was five lengths clear of his closest pursuer at Robert Geller's stretch call, as the race was on for second. Simcoe crossed the wire a 5¾-length winner. Victory Achieved rallied to finish second, 1¼ lengths ahead of I'm A Gambler (IRE). Playmea Tune, a stablemate of Simcoe, was fourth. The final time was 1:15.42. It was the first stakes victory for the dark bay son of Uncle Mo out of the Pulpit mare Aurora Lights. 'He's a consistent horse since the end of last year, and he's been running huge every single time,' praised Vassilieva. 'I did expect a good effort today, maybe not for him to win quite so much, but I knew that it was possible for this horse. 'I just think he gets really confident when he's on the lead. Rafi made sure he got the lead today, and it seems like when he gets it, he just doesn't look back.' A homebred (Ontario) for Chiefswood Stables Limited, the 5-year-old gelding, now 6-4-0 from 18 starts, was runner-up in the Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) on May 31. Simcoe, who has a record of 4-4-0 over his past eight engagements, paid $13.10 for the win. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
French Filly Oujda Wins Woodbine's Sweet Briar Too In U.S. Debut
French Filly Oujda Wins Woodbine's Sweet Briar Too In U.S. Debut originally appeared on Paulick Report. Oujda (FR), under a strong ride from Rafael Hernandez, rallied impressively to win Saturday's $125,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine. Trained by Will Walden for owner Woodford Thoroughbreds LLC, the 5-year-old daughter of Sioux Nation out of the Elusive Quality mare La Conseillante looked right at home on the E.P. Taylor turf after an exceptional effort over the world-renowned course. Queen of the Mud (IRE) and Sickle Dance both got away sharply in the six-furlong feature for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, with Sickle Dance the leader through an opening quarter in :22.79 over firm ground, while Oujda settled into fourth of 10 along the rail in the early going. Queen of the Mud held a slim advantage over Sickle Dance and graded stakes winner Dontlookbackatall after a half in :44.80, but a host of runners, including Oujda, came calling as the long drive to the wire commenced. A winner's circle trip was up for grabs in early stretch, as Hernandez had Oujda off the rail and looking to reel in Dontlookbackatall. Ready to Jam, supplemented to the race, was also full of run to the outside, while stablemate Ticker Tape Home came with an inside bid with less than 200 yards to the finish line. At the wire, Oujda was 1¼ lengths clear of Ready to Jam. Ticker Tape Home, a further half-length back, was third, a neck ahead of late-running Metaphysical. Dancing Duchess was scratched. The final time was a brisk 1:07.98 (the track record is 1:06.88, set by Kasuga on July 7, 2017). Hernandez was delighted to see the strapping Oujda, a Group 3 winner in France, stand tall in her first North American test. 'I had a phone call today,' said Hernandez. 'He [William Walden] told me, 'Raffy, just let her break, ride like you own her and just ride with confidence, and she's going to do everything.' 'I just wanted to save ground and ride confident. That's what I did – just put her clear down the lane." Oujda arrived at the Sweet Briar Too off a victory in Group 3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise at Chantilly on October 26, 2024. Bred in France by SCEA Du Grand Chene Haras Du Bois, the chestnut mare out of the Elusive Quality mare La Conseillante is now 7-2-1 from 17 starts. Oujda debuted in November of 2022 with a second at Chantilly and broke her maiden in her next start, on March 12, 2023, at Compiegne. A $996,613 (USD) purchase at the 2024 Tattersalls December Mare Sale, she paid $9.60 for Saturday's win. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Aug 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Olivia Rose Dominates Ballade Rivals On Front End
Olivia Rose Dominates Ballade Rivals On Front End originally appeared on Paulick Report. Olivia Rose earned her fourth career stakes crown after dominating the $100,000 Ballade on Sunday at Woodbine. Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the six-furlong race for Ontario-sired older fillies and mares, Olivia Rose, under Rafael Hernandez, glided to the front while 4-5 Little Teddy, riding a two-race win streak, settled into second through an opening quarter in :22.95. Advertisement Olivia Rose was a half-length clear of mutuel choice Little Teddy after a half in :45.53, with the pacesetter looking confident and in control as she rounded the turn for home. At the head of the lane, the daughter of Silent Name (JPN) out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Sunrise kicked away from her pursuers, holding a two-length advantage at Robert Geller's stretch call. At the wire, she was 7½ lengths the best. Little Teddy was second, 1½ lengths ahead of Talk to Ya Later. Taquanyah and Silent Sky rounded out the order of finish. 'I like her,' said Hernandez, who swept all three Woodbine weekend stakes, taking the Victoria Stakes with Casson and the My Dear with Border Czar, both on Saturday. 'We wanted to make sure we broke on top and get the pace. Advertisement 'I know he (Austin Adams, aboard Little Teddy) was next to me all the way. I wanted to just get the jump before he was coming and getting closer to me.' Bred and owned by Gabe Grossberg from the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Sunrise, Olivia Rose arrived at the Ballade off a third-place finish at 5½ furlongs on the Toronto oval's main track on May 3, in her seasonal debut. The 4-year-old, trained by Mark Casse, won the 2023 running of the South Ocean Stakes, and last year's editions of the Fury Stakes and Thunder Bay Stakes. With the victory, Olivia Rose is now 5-4-1 from 14 starts. She broke her maiden in her third career start, on August 26, 2023, a 13¾-length stunner going 6½ furlongs on the Woodbine main track. She paid $6.20 for the Ballade win. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
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Casson Leads In Trifecta For Mark Casse In Woodbine's Victoria
Casson Leads In Trifecta For Mark Casse In Woodbine's Victoria originally appeared on Paulick Report. Casson, under Rafael Hernandez, bested stablemates Jupiter and Rude Procedure and led in a 1-2-3 finish for trainer Mark Casse in the $125,000 Victoria Stakes (L) on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine. Advertisement Earlier in the week, assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan wondered what it would be like to see the Casse trio, all debut winners, go up against one another in their first stakes appearance. Sullivan was undoubtedly pleased with the result in the 5½-furlong main track engagement for 2-year-olds. Rude Procedure and first-time starter Valley of Kings vied for the lead steps out of the gate, but it was Casson, off a step slowly, who would seize control strides before the opening quarter in :22.79. The roan colt continued to lead the way and widened his advantage over Rude Procedure. Hernandez called upon a confident Casson into the turn for home as the duo looked to separate themselves from their pursuers, while Jupiter split foes, looking to track down the free-wheeling frontrunner. Advertisement Ahead by three at the stretch call, Casson glided to the wire a 2 ½-length victor. Jupiter was second, 2¾ lengths ahead of Rude Procedure. Fistfulofmoney was fourth and Valley of Kings was fifth. The final time was 1:04.31. 'He broke a little slow,' said Hernandez. 'He was outside, so he broke a little bit out, and when I tapped him in the shoulder, he started picking up. So, I let him cruise. 'My horse was just kind of waiting for me to start moving there to give me a second gear. I had total confidence.' It was the second straight superlative showing from Casson, who is named after A. J. Casson, a member of the famed Canadian group of artists known as the Group of Seven. Advertisement A son of Caravaggio out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Zee Ro Drop, Casson turned heads after a dazzling debut win on May 11 at Woodbine. Sent on his way as the 3-5 choice, he was in command at every call in the 4 ½-furlong main track maiden special weight sprint, crossing the wire a four-length winner in :52.69. Owned by Manfred and Penny Conrad, and bred by Ballycroy Training Centre & Villa Rosa Farms, Casson was purchased for $200,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa. He returned $9.20 for the Victoria win. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Serendipity Scores Front-Running Selene Win In Stakes Bow
Serendipity Scores Front-Running Selene Win In Stakes Bow originally appeared on Paulick Report. Serendipity, making her first stakes appearance, put on a front-running masterclass to take the $150,000 Selene Stakes (G3) for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Woodbine. Advertisement Sent on her way as the 5-2 second choice in the field of eight, Serendipity, with Rafael Hernandez in the irons, was sent to the lead steps out of the gate in the 1 1/16-mile main track event and took her rivals through an opening quarter in :24.93. On top by 1 1/2 lengths over Nata Trouble after a half in :50.29, the daughter of Street Sense out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Cafe Belle, drove clear around the turn for home en route to a well-measured 2 ½-length triumph in 1:45.22. Tiz Her Money was second, Somethinabouther was third and No Time was fourth. "She's a filly who always showed a lot of ability," said Jaime Roth, of LNJ Foxwoods. "She is a beautiful mover. We thought she'd take to the Tapeta, and she sure did. "As usual, Josie has done an incredible job with our horses, especially with the ones who come to her barn with a few races under their belt. She understands them quickly. We are excited for her future at Woodbine." Advertisement It was the second score, to go along with a runner-up effort, from three starts for the bay filly owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods. 'I think she's an exceptionally nice filly,' said Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll. 'I know her connections all thought the same. It was their opinion she would take to the synthetic and they were spot on. She's come up here and done nothing but train well.' Serendipity debuted in winning fashion, taking a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Gulfstream by 3 ¼ lengths on March 23. She was second in a one-mile dirt race – it was originally scheduled for the turf – at Belmont at the Big A on May 9. Bred in Kentucky by Scott Clarke, Reynard Bloodstock, Nicky Drion, S. Murat & Michael B., Serendipity was a $250,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale. She paid $7.90 for Saturday's win. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
