Latest news with #WinStarFarm
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Book'em Danno Wins True North With Late Surge
Book'em Danno Wins True North With Late Surge originally appeared on Paulick Report. Atlantic Six Racing's Book'em Danno showed strong closing ability to register a pair of stakes wins as a sophomore and utilized a similar tactic Saturday to notch his first stakes score as a 4-year-old, running down Mullikin in deep stretch with a strong outside move to capture the Grade 3, $400,000 True North on Belmont Stakes Day at Saratoga Race Course. Advertisement The Derek Ryan-trained Book'em Danno, who ran a competitive fourth in the tightly contested Grade 1 Churchill Downs in May last out, continued a run of success at the Spa that includes a victory in last year's Grade 1 Woody Stephens. He earned a victory for the second consecutive Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, with jockey Paco Lopez keeping him off Concrete Glory's early speed in leading the seven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 22.21 seconds and the half in 44.72 over the sloppy and sealed main track. WinStar Farm's Mullikin, winner of the Grade 1 Forego in his last Saratoga start in August, was urged up by rider Flavien Prat to take command entering the stretch. When straightened for home, Lopez set down Book'em Danno and gave strong right-handed encouragement with plenty of daylight to the outside. The duo linked up in a thrilling final furlong duel, with Book'em Danno pulling ahead near the wire to register the victory by 1 1/4 lengths in recording a 1:14.64 final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs for older runners. Mullikin, a multiple graded stakes winner for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, finished 2 3/4- lengths clear of Crazy Mason for runner-up honors. Nutella Fella was a nose better than mutuel favorite Nakatomi, who tossed his head at the start and spotted the field five lengths. Surveillance and Concrete Glory completed the order of finish, while Full Moon Madness scratched. Advertisement Book'em Danno won for the eighth time in 14 starts and added to his millionaire status by increasing his career bankroll to $1.36 million. The Bucchero gelding, bred in New Jersey by Gregory J. Kilka and Bright View Farm from the Ghostzapper mare Adorabella, returned $6.60 on a $2 win bet. 'He's had some bad luck in his races where he got beat a head and a neck, but I really wasn't afraid of anybody today,' Ryan said. 'The six [furlongs] is a little short for him; six and a half, seven is his trip. Paco gave him a great ride. He loves to be on the outside. I've been preaching that for the last year, and I finally got someone who will do it for me. So, I was very happy. I said, 'Sit third, but make sure you're on the outside.' 'He'll run on anything,' Ryan added. 'Good horses, they said they'll run on a tin roof. He's just a good horse.' Book'em Danno earned a career-best 104 Beyer in August at Saratoga last summer via a third-place finish in the seven-furlong Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, defeated 1 1/4 lengths by Domestic Product. On Saturday, Book'em Danno garnered a winner's circle trip on one of racing's most prestigious days. Advertisement 'It was a great, great effort.,' Ryan said. 'He [Lopez] rode him perfect, just like I wanted, sit on the outside, sit off the pace, and turning for home go get 'em. I couldn't have gotten a better ride, and Paco's riding like a demon right now. It's unbelievable, as good as he's riding. He came up [to Monmouth Park] one Sunday, took the day off and came up and worked [Book'em Danno]. He rode his sister, and he worked him as a 2-year-old but he's been out of town. He's been driving me crazy to ride this horse ever since. It's working out.' Ryan said he is unsure of the next target yet but was appreciative of what Book'em Danno has done for his career. 'I would be retired and be in Saudi Arabia if it wasn't for this horse,' Ryan said. 'I was ready to take a job out there. But, then he came along, and it all worked out.' Mullikin, one of four Saratoga Grade 1-winning entrants, has finished on the board in seven of his last eight starts, including second in the Grade 2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires at Aqueduct to cap his 4-year-old year one start after running third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar. Advertisement 'I had a good trip today, just second best,' Prat said. Crazy Mason, ridden by Manny Franco for trainer Gregory Sacco, again earned black type after winning the Grade 2 Carter presented by NYRA Bets last out in April at the Big A. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
17-05-2025
- Sport
Favorite Margie's Intention handles the slop at Pimlico, wins the Black-Eyed Susan
BALTIMORE -- Margie's Intention splashed her way to victory in the Black-Eyed Susan. Shortly after a substantial storm soaked the track at Pimlico, she overtook Paris Lily on the outside toward the end of the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, winning by three-quarters of a length Friday. It was Margie Intenton's fifth straight race finishing in the top two, a streak that began when she won by nearly a dozen lengths in January at the Fair Grounds. That race, like this one, was in sloppy conditions. 'We haven't had her that long, but she performed well on an off track this winter,' trainer Brad Cox said. 'I thought she moved forward today. It was a demanding race. She was under a ride turning for home and she finished the race off.' The storm darkened the sky above the track and delayed the Black-Eyed Susan for over an hour. The one remaining race after it was canceled. With jockey Flavien Prat on board, Margie's Intention was the 5-2 favorite at race time. Runnin N Gunnin, the morning line favorite, had fallen all the way to 10-1 by the time she left the gate. Sure enough, she was no factor, finishing last in the nine-horse field. Paris Lily, who had won on a sloppy track in her previous start, began impressively and was in front in the second turn. She was eventually overtaken by Margie's Intention on the outside. 'She ran great on a nice, easy lead,' said Joel Rosario, Paris Lily's jockey. 'The trainer told me to go forward with her so I did and got her in front. ... She kicked for home but the outside horse was too much at the end.' Kinzie Queen was third. This was the first stakes victory for Margie's Intention after she finished second in the Flashy Prize and the Crescent City Oaks in March. She was trained then by Brendan P. Walsh, and she was sold after the Crescent City Oaks — her most recent race before this one. 'We'd seen her at the 2-year-old sale. We'd looked at her then,' said Elliott Walden, president and CEO of co-owner WinStar Farm. 'It made sense to us. We bought her privately, then turned her over to Brad. Brendan had done a great job with her. We have plenty of horses with Brad, and that was the only reason for the change.' Margie's Intention paid $7, $4 and $3.20 on Friday, finishing in 1 minute, 52.05 seconds. The $1 exacta paid $21.30, and a $1 trifecta paid $115.40.
San Francisco Chronicle
17-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Favorite Margie's Intention handles the slop at Pimlico, wins the Black-Eyed Susan
BALTIMORE (AP) — Margie's Intention splashed her way to victory in the Black-Eyed Susan. Shortly after a substantial storm soaked the track at Pimlico, she overtook Paris Lily on the outside toward the end of the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, winning by three-quarters of a length Friday. It was Margie Intenton's fifth straight race finishing in the top two, a streak that began when she won by nearly a dozen lengths in January at the Fair Grounds. That race, like this one, was in sloppy conditions. 'We haven't had her that long, but she performed well on an off track this winter,' trainer Brad Cox said. 'I thought she moved forward today. It was a demanding race. She was under a ride turning for home and she finished the race off.' The storm darkened the sky above the track and delayed the Black-Eyed Susan for over an hour. The one remaining race after it was canceled. With jockey Flavien Prat on board, Margie's Intention was the 5-2 favorite at race time. Runnin N Gunnin, the morning line favorite, had fallen all the way to 10-1 by the time she left the gate. Sure enough, she was no factor, finishing last in the nine-horse field. Paris Lily, who had won on a sloppy track in her previous start, began impressively and was in front in the second turn. She was eventually overtaken by Margie's Intention on the outside. 'She ran great on a nice, easy lead,' said Joel Rosario, Paris Lily's jockey. 'The trainer told me to go forward with her so I did and got her in front. ... She kicked for home but the outside horse was too much at the end.' Kinzie Queen was third. This was the first stakes victory for Margie's Intention after she finished second in the Flashy Prize and the Crescent City Oaks in March. She was trained then by Brendan P. Walsh, and she was sold after the Crescent City Oaks — her most recent race before this one. 'We'd seen her at the 2-year-old sale. We'd looked at her then,' said Elliott Walden, president and CEO of co-owner WinStar Farm. 'It made sense to us. We bought her privately, then turned her over to Brad. Brendan had done a great job with her. We have plenty of horses with Brad, and that was the only reason for the change.' Margie's Intention paid $7, $4 and $3.20 on Friday, finishing in 1 minute, 52.05 seconds. The $1 exacta paid $21.30, and a $1 trifecta paid $115.40. ___
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tappan Street wins Florida Derby, setting up potential redemption story for famed rider
It's been six years since jockey Luis Saez finished first aboard Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby. Six years since Saez stood and waited anxiously while stewards spent 20 minutes reviewing video of the race. Six years since they disqualified Maximum Security and placed him 17th for interfering with another horse. The 32-year-old Panamanian jockey – one of the nation's premier riders – wondered if he would ever get another chance to win his first Derby for real, officially. Standing inside the winner's circle after piloting Tappan Street to victory in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Saez sensed the real possibility that the colt could be his salvation – his redemption. 'It would be sweet,' Saez said. Tappan Street stamped himself as a top contender to win the Run for the Roses on May 3 at Churchill Downs with a 1 ¼-length triumph over 8-5 favorite Sovereignty. 'The whole way, I had a lot of horse,' Saez said. 'I had a lot of confidence the whole way. When he got to the top of the stretch, I knew it was going to be tough to catch him. Everything came out perfect.' The Florida Derby has produced 25 winners of the Kentucky Derby and Tappan Street, a lightly raced colt with only three career races under his belt, could be the next. 'We have five weeks (to the Kentucky Derby),' said winning trainer Brad Cox. 'This was a step forward today.' Said Elliott Walden, president and racing manager of WinStar Farm, one of the colt's owners: 'I think he's going to very live horse going into the Kentucky Derby.' Tappan Street, who sold at auction for $1 million as a yearling, hadn't raced even once until Dec. 28 when he made his debut, defeating a group of maidens at Gulfstream Park by just under two lengths. One month later, he returned with a second-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes. The Florida Derby marked only his third start. 'Anytime you have a young horse like this and you give them eight weeks between starts, it's always a concern,' Cox said. 'But this is a very smart horse. He's intelligent.' Starting from Post No. 9 in the field of 10, Tappan Street broke well, allowing Saez to guide him into a close stalking position. Sovereignty, who broke to his outside, immediately took up the chase, two lengths behind Tappan Street. But Tappan Street never allowed Sovereignty to go past. 'I saw him (Sovereignty) and I let my horse go a little more, and he gave me a good turn of foot,' Saez said. Sovereignty, coming off a victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, finished well enough to likely earn a trip to Churchill for the Kentucky Derby. 'I don't think the fact that he didn't win doesn't mean he didn't run a good race,' said his trainer, Bill Mott. 'This doesn't have to be his best race. Sometimes you can look at it and say, maybe that's a good thing. You don't want their best race before the big event (Kentucky Derby).' Even third-place finisher Neoequos could make a case for a trip to Kentucky. 'He ran a huge race,' jockey Edgard Zayas said of Neoequos, who finished 2 ¾ lengths behind Sovereignty. For Saez, though, a Kentucky Derby would carry extra meaning. 'It would be the best,' Saez said. 'The Kentucky Derby for us is going to be everything.'
Miami Herald
30-03-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Tappan Street wins Florida Derby, setting up potential redemption story for famed rider
It's been six years since jockey Luis Saez finished first aboard Maximum Security in the Kentucky Derby. Six years since Saez stood and waited anxiously while stewards spent 20 minutes reviewing video of the race. Six years since they disqualified Maximum Security and placed him 17th for interfering with another horse. The 32-year-old Panamanian jockey – one of the nation's premier riders – wondered if he would ever get another chance to win his first Derby for real, officially. Standing inside the winner's circle after piloting Tappan Street to victory in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, Saez sensed the real possibility that the colt could be his salvation – his redemption. 'It would be sweet,' Saez said. Tappan Street stamped himself as a top contender to win the Run for the Roses on May 3 at Churchill Downs with a 1 ¼-length triumph over 8-5 favorite Sovereignty. 'The whole way, I had a lot of horse,' Saez said. 'I had a lot of confidence the whole way. When he got to the top of the stretch, I knew it was going to be tough to catch him. Everything came out perfect.' The Florida Derby has produced 25 winners of the Kentucky Derby and Tappan Street, a lightly raced colt with only three career races under his belt, could be the next. 'We have five weeks (to the Kentucky Derby),' said winning trainer Brad Cox. 'This was a step forward today.' Said Elliott Walden, president and racing manager of WinStar Farm, one of the colt's owners: 'I think he's going to very live horse going into the Kentucky Derby.' Tappan Street, who sold at auction for $1 million as a yearling, hadn't raced even once until Dec. 28 when he made his debut, defeating a group of maidens at Gulfstream Park by just under two lengths. One month later, he returned with a second-place finish in the Holy Bull Stakes. The Florida Derby marked only his third start. 'Anytime you have a young horse like this and you give them eight weeks between starts, it's always a concern,' Cox said. 'But this is a very smart horse. He's intelligent.' Starting from Post No. 9 in the field of 10, Tappan Street broke well, allowing Saez to guide him into a close stalking position. Sovereignty, who broke to his outside, immediately took up the chase, two lengths behind Tappan Street. But Tappan Street never allowed Sovereignty to go past. 'I saw him (Sovereignty) and I let my horse go a little more, and he gave me a good turn of foot,' Saez said. Sovereignty, coming off a victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, finished well enough to likely earn a trip to Churchill for the Kentucky Derby. 'I don't think the fact that he didn't win doesn't mean he didn't run a good race,' said his trainer, Bill Mott. 'This doesn't have to be his best race. Sometimes you can look at it and say, maybe that's a good thing. You don't want their best race before the big event (Kentucky Derby).' Even third-place finisher Neoequos could make a case for a trip to Kentucky. 'He ran a huge race,' jockey Edgard Zayas said of Neoequos, who finished 2 ¾ lengths behind Sovereignty. For Saez, though, a Kentucky Derby would carry extra meaning. 'It would be the best,' Saez said. 'The Kentucky Derby for us is going to be everything.'
