By Frank Angst,
In Tune proved up to the challenge of stepping into stakes company as she outlasted House Rules in the stretch to win the $300,000 Gulfstream Oaks (gr. II) Saturday, March 29 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer's homebred In Tune improved to three wins in three starts, all at Gulfstream, as the daughter of Unbridled's Song outlasted a stretch-long duel with House Rules and Alex Solis to post a neck victory in the 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.
Under Javier Castellano, In Tune punched her ticket to the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) as she was awarded 100 points in the qualifying system for that Churchill Downs race. After Saturday's race winning trainer Todd Pletcher said In Tune has handled each step up in class and stretch out in distance and will be pointed to the Kentucky Oaks, assuming she comes out of the race in good order.
"It's rare that you have one come along this quickly, a short maiden to a long 'allowance-other than' to a graded stakes," Pletcher said. "She stepped up in class and distance each time and passed every test, so I'm very proud of her. She showed a lot of courage down the lane."
Pletcher has won four of the past five Gulstream Oaks as he saddled Dreaming of Julia last year after winning in 2010 with Devil May Care and in 2011 with R Heat Lightning.
Joseph Shields Jr.'s House Rules settled for second place to an undefeated filly trained by Pletcher for a second straight time as the daughter of Distorted Humor was runner-up in the Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) to Onlyforyou, who suffered a fatal breakdown while training after that effort.
In Tune completed the Gulfstream Oaks in 1:50.19 on a fast track. It was 2 3/4 lengths back to third-place finisher America, a Bobby Flay homebred who secured her first stakes placing.
Even-money favorite In Tune returned $4, $2.80, $2.20. House Rules paid $4.20 to place and $2.80 to show, while America returned $3.60 to show.
In Tune is the third stakes winner for the Affirmed mare Wichitoz, who also has produced Affirmatif and Chitoz.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84091/in-tune-in-rhythm-in-gulfstream-oaks-win#ixzz2xP4yGwfI
By Claire Novak,
Devil's Cave did all her running from the start as the 1-2 favorite in the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park on March 29, so stablemate Gamay Noir picked up the pieces in deep stretch to win at odds of 49-1 (VIDEO).
Off alertly in the 1 1/8-mile test for older fillies and mares, 123-pound highweight Devil's Cave went straight to the lead and was pressured throughout by multiple graded stakes winner Unlimited Budget. That rival ranged over from the outside post in a field of six to sit about half a length off the flank of the front-runner, tracking reasonable opening fractions of :24.12 and :47.67 before quickening through three-quarters in 1:10.78.
"It was too much weight on Devil's Cave, and I didn't think Unlimited Budget was going to push her like that," trainer Marty Wolfson said of Alpha Delta Stables' winner of the Feb. 16 Sabin Stakes (gr. II).
Gamay Noir, meanwhile, was well reserved by jockey Paco Lopez and inched her way up to striking position coming off the far turn. The 4-year-old Harlan's Holiday filly dug deep through a mile in 1:36.04 and sealed the deal inside the final sixteenth, getting up by three-quarters of a length after bumping a few times with fourth-place finisher Private Ensign. She posted a final time of 1:49.84 on the fast track and survived a stewards' inquiry into the stretch run.
"(At the top of the stretch) I had a lot of horse, and the other horse (Private Ensign) came over and forced me to come out," Lopez said. "I put my horse outside and she came over just a little bit and I took a hold, and my filly didn't have a problem. I went right by the other horse.
"I told (the stewards), 'I didn't bump the horse. I didn't come over on the horse—you can look.' I took a hold and moved her away. I didn't hit her with the whip, nothing. It didn't affect the race and I had a lot of horse."
Unlimited Budget, making her second start off the layup and a return to the graded ranks after running fourth in a March 8 Gulfstream allowance, was second, a neck ahead of Devil's Cave. After came Private Ensign, Triple Arch, and Oasis at Midnight. Call Pat.Molly Morgan scratched.
Gamay Noir returned a hefty $100.20, $20.20, and $4.80 on a $2 win ticket, while Unlimited Budget brought $4.20 and $2.40 with Devil's Cave paying $2.10.
Bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm out of the Unbridled mare Uncork, Gamay Noir was a $15,000 purchase from the Fares Farm dispersal at the 2013 Keeneland January horses of all ages sale when consigned by Lane's End. She raced for Crumbaugh Lane and trainer Kellyn Gorder through her first 11 outings, until she was claimed by Wolfson and Chasing Tail Stables for $100,000 this January at Gulfstream.
The Rampart was the first graded stakes score for the bay filly and her first win since a November optional claimer for her former connections on the turf at Churchill Downs. She wheeled back off a fourth in the March 15 Wayward Lass Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on the dirt at Tampa Bay Downs, and prior to that was fifth in the Sabin at Gulfstream, her only graded attempt prior to the Rampart. She now has five wins and four thirds from 15 starts and earnings of $196,366.
"I claimed her for running a route on dirt," Wolfson said. "When I ran her in Tampa she got in all kinds of trouble. She should have won. Paco rode her just like I wanted (in this race), where she makes one run, three-eighths of mile on the outside."
When Wolfson was asked if he was surprised to win with his longshot, he said Gamay Noir's effort in the Wayward Lass was sneaky good.
"She ran huge," he said. "You had to see it... she got in all kinds of trouble and should have won that race. I never would have run her back this quick, except for the way she ran."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84088/gamay-noir-picks-up-rampart-pieces-at-49-1#ixzz2xP4WGqas
By Myra Lewyn,
Hey Leroy ran down longtime leader Mr. Online and won the $100,000 Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) in the final stride March 29 at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
Making his stakes debut, the former claimer flashed a swift turn of foot through the stretch and completed a last-to-first rally for Alex Solis, catching Mr. Online at the finish line.
Midnight Cello showed some brief early speed before Mr. Online took charge down the backstretch to take control and opened a clear lead, tracked by Grand Tito and 2-1 favorite Salto.
Opening up by 2 1/2 lengths in early stretch for Kendrick Carmouche, Mr. Online looked poised for a winning return after his close second in the Canadian Turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) last time out. But a victory was not to be.
Swinging out for the drive, Hey Leroy rapidly closed with ground-consuming strides to snatch the win in a scintillating finish, completing the one-mile test in 1:32.49 on firm turf.
Always in a striking position, Salto had little when called on and finished third in the nine-horse field.
In his previous start, Hey Leroy won a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer March 15 to snap a four-race streak of runner-up finishes. He opened 2014 on winning note, going a mile the day after New Year's day.
Azpurua claimed Hey Leroy for $20,000 out of a fourth-place finish at Saratoga Race Course last summer when owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
"Going into the stretch, I told the rider, 'Don't give him too much,' and he did a nice ride because he took care of the horse, and the horse finished strong like he always does," Azpurua said. "He's going to be a nice horse, and he showed so far that he can make it.
"We're going to take it easy on him now and wait for the right spot for him."
At 11-1 odds, Kentucky-bred Hey Leroy returned $25.60, $9.40 and $4.40. Mr. Online, also at 2-1, paid $4 and $3, and Salto was worth $2.80. Tetradrachm was fourth, followed by Grand Tito, Midnight Cello, Fredericksburg, Kharafa, and Five Iron to complete the order of finish. Cozzetti, Csaba, and Catron were scratched.
A 4-year-old gelding by Any Given Saturday , Hey Leroy has bankrolled $174,991 since his original purchase for a mere $2,000 at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale. Hidden Brook consigned on behalf of Spruce Lane Farm, which bred him out of the winning Gulch mare Galashey.
"He was giving his heart and down the stretch he gave even more," Solis said.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84099/hey-leroy-pounces-from-last-in-appleton#ixzz2xP45DGNJ
By Claire Novak,
Trainer Tom Albertrani did a masterful job getting Godolphin's Anjaz ready to roll with more than a seven-month gap between races, and the 5-year-old racemare rewarded that effort March 29 with a decisive gate-to-wire victory in the $150,000 Orchid Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park (VIDEO).
The last time racing fans saw Anjaz, she was en route to a runner-up finish 1 3/4 lengths behind Qushchi in the Aug. 5 Waya Stakes going 1 1/2 miles on the Saratoga Race Course lawn last summer. She was no stranger to Gulfstream Park or the Orchid, however; after making her first seven starts in Great Britain, her U.S. debut was a fourth-place finish in last year's edition.
"They've been struggling with her, and it's just a relief. Everyone's overjoyed, and that's what people want," said Albertrani's assistant, Joe Murphy. "Tommy"s done an excellent job prepping her for this... he did a great job with her, and I think she can do a little bit more."
Returning from her hiatus with New York jockey Rajiv Maragh in to ride, the daughter of Street Cry did not disappoint as she led throughout, setting easy early fractions of :24.74, :49.18, and 1:14.17. Viva Rafaela, alternately tracking a length to a length and a half back of the leader's outside flank, prompted the pace under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez but could never quite get on even terms.
Anjaz posted a mile in 1:37.95 and had plenty of run left to hold off her seven rivals coming off the final turn. She responded straight and true when set down for the drive and drew to a 2 1/2-length win. Viva Rafaela was best of the rest, while Clearbrook, half a length back, gained the show.
"The race played out really good," Maragh said. "She broke really sharp and took me around the track very comfortably in the beginning, and I had a lot left to finish with.
"Once she established the lead, it was a mile and a half so everyone was pretty much being patient with a long distance to go. All the horses got into a nice flow. It was a pretty steady kind of race. I was fortunate to get it easy, and I'll take it like that. It worked out pretty good."
Off at odds of 5-1, Anjaz returned $12, $6.20, and $4.20, as Viva Rafaela paid $8.20 and $5 with Clearbrook bringing $7.20. Caroline Thomas, Stick to Your Guns, 9-5 favorite Aigue Marine, Inimitable Romanee, and Hunter Forward completed the order of finish. Antonia Autumn scratched.
Anjaz was bred in Kentucky by Darley out of the group I-winning Sadler's Wells mare Playful Act. She is a half sister to the grade II-winning Giant's Causeway runner Giants Play, who won the New York Stakes (gr. IIT) in 2011 at Belmont Park and was third in that year's edition of the Orchid. This victory improved her record from 12 starts to 4-2-1, with earnings of $195,378. She notched two wins before coming to the U.S. in 2013; this was her first North American victory and her first graded stakes score.
"We worked hard, and it worked out; when I saw 49 I knew she'd be playing with them," Murphy said. "Rajiv held her together, and that's all we wanted to do. Tommy would have to make the next call, but hopefully, I think she has a couple more in her."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84095/anjaz-aces-orchid-second-time-around#ixzz2xP3KYOqj
By Jack Shinar
Newsdad, making just his second start in the past year, closed with authority to nip outsider Vertiformer at the wire in the $200,000 Pan American Stakes (gr. IIT) on the turf at Gulfstream Park March 29 (VIDEO).
James S. Karp's Kentucky homebred son of Arch , the less fancied of two runners for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, has started just once since finishing third in last year's Pan American. The classy stayer, going against the grain over a speed-favoring turf course, charged from last with a half mile to run to defeat an unlucky Vertiformer by a neck while getting the 1 1/2-mile distance in a superb time of 2:22.77 over firm going.
The clocking was just off the track mark of 2:22.63 established last year in the Pan American by Twilight Eclipse.
Joel Rosario took over the mount on 5-1 shot Newsdad from Mike Smith, who competed at Fair Grounds Saturday, drove Newsdad to victory down the center of the course. Vertiformer, looking for room while racing just behind the leading group, squeezed through along the inside in deep stretch and just missed. Slumber, the Mott-trained 2-1 favorite for Juddmonte, finished third in the field of 10 older turf performers.
Joes Blazing Aaron, off at 22-1, showed the way into the stretch over Joha and Russian Greek and shook loose briefly after posting fractions of :24.03, :47.50, 1:12.29, and 1:36.18 for the opening mile. But the leaders at that point all fell back as the closers came on late.
Newsdad was still last at that point but would up his charge rounding the final bend as the leaders reached the quarter pole in 1:59.30, and stayed wide through the lane to get the lead in the final strides. He then held off a determined Vertiformer, ridden by Joe Bravo. It was half a length back to Slumber, who also closed with interest for John Velazquez while edging Joes Blazing Aaron for the show.
Joes Blazing Aaron was followed by Charming Kitten, Joha, Admiral Kitten, Suntracer, Ocean Seven, and Russian Greek.
Newsdad, out of the Pulpit mare Storm Tracer, returned from an absence of more than 11 months to post a lackluster seventh in an allowance/optional claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream turf March 1. The dark bay horse won the 2012 Pan American by two lengths and also took that fall's Fayatte Stakes (gr. IIT) on the Keeneland lawn.
His sixth win from 23 lifetime starts boosted Newsdad's career earnings to $619,085.
Under equal weights of 117 pounds, Newsdad paid $12.60, $7.40, and $5 as the third choice. Vertiformer returned $10 and $5.80 as part of a $147.40 exacta. The Briitsh-bred Slumber paid $3.20.
Morning line pick Amira's Prince was scratched after running second as the favorite in the Marvin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots earlier in the day.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84101/newsdad-shows-something-extra-in-pan-american#ixzz2xP2aV44A
By Claire Novak,
If horseplayers had a question of which runner to bet in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park on March 29, the one Javier Castellano was named on seemed as sure a shot as any.
Seeking his first Florida Derby victory but out to gain his fifth overall victory on the afternoon card at the South Florida oval, Castellano delivered the kind of ride that illustrates exactly why he's one of the best in the nation.
Third in the pocket trip early on behind pacesetting Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winner Wildcat Red, Castellano sent his mount off the final turn through a paint-scraping gap along the rail. The lightly raced Constitution responded with a surge to get up by a neck (VIDEO), acing his stakes debut and collecting 100 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
"I'm very, very proud of him," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who collected his fourth victory on the Florida Derby Day card. "It's a testament to the quality of horse he is—to go from a maiden to an allowance to a grade I and to show a different running style and get some dirt in his face and put in an effort like that against much more seasoned horses. It was a huge effort."
Wildcat Red fought back brilliantly in his first try at the 1 1/8-mile distance after setting measured fractions of :24.01, :48.19, and 1:12 under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. But in the end, despite battling hard into the final furlong after a mile in 1:36.46, he could not withstand the craftily ridden son of Tapit .
"We lost the rail at one point and Castellano was smart enough to take the rail at the top of the stretch, and that was it," trainer Jose Garoffalo said of Wildcat Red, the D'wildcat runner, who won the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) sprinting before stretching out in the Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby. "It was a hell of a race. I think we're thinking seriously to go to Kentucky if the horse comes back in good shape.
"I'm not disappointed, it was a hell of a race, he did a great job and he was himself like he usually is. We just got beat. I think (Javier) Castellano (on Constitution) was very, very smart and took the rail, and that was the difference. That's why we lost the race. He never quit running...You know when he gets in a battle with Wildcat Red, it's going to be a battle. It gives you confidence moving forward, knowing he got some education and got some dirt in his face."
Final time for the sophomore test was 1:49.16 on a fast track.
Even-money favorite Cairo Prince, who had not raced since winning the Jan. 25 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II), finished a lackluster fourth behind General a Rod, who was 1 1/4 lengths back in third. East Hall, Matador, Spot, and Allstar completed the order of finish.
"We're obviously disappointed," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "He flattened out late. He looked like he got there and in the clear, which is what he likes and he just flattened out. So, it's disappointing, but we'll look to carry on and go on to the Derby and hope that we regroup and he rebounds from this effort.
"Maybe the nine weeks (off) was telling on him, maybe the inside was better, it's hard to say, but we'll regroup and move on to May 3. (Jockey Luis Saez) just said that he got there and flattened out a little bit. He's fine, he just didn't fire like he did last time. If 24 (points) don't get us in, then we don't go to Kentucky. We feel like we'll get in and if we don't, we won't."
With the UAE Derby (UAE-I) and Louisiana Derby (gr. II) run the same day, there was a bit of shifting on the leaderboard for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field. LeComte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's In Trouble came back to take the Louisiana Derby and now sits on top of the standings with 120 points. UAE Derby winner Toast of New York is second with 100 points, and Constitution ranks third. Wildcat Red is fifth (90) behind Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) winner Intense Holiday, who was second in the Louisiana Derby. Cairo Prince is currently 16th on the list with 24 points, but could lose that spot with major preps like the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), Arkansas Derby (gr. I), and Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) still to come.
Off at odds of 3-1 in his stakes debut and just his third start for WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, Constitution paid $8.60, $4.20, and $3.60 with his third consecutive win. Wildcat Red brought $4.80 and $3.40 at 7-2, while 9-2 General a Rod paid $3.40.
"At the three-eighths pole I thought I'd have to go around the two pacemaker horses," said Castellano, the leading rider in the nation who broke his own single-season record for wins at Gulfstream earlier this month. "But one thing, it was kind of early and second, I was going to lose a lot of ground. I just took my shot and it worked out great...I didn't want to get to the hole and move too soon, a premature move. My mount is a young horse and stretching out to a mile and an eighth. You want to take consideration and save something for the end. I didn't want to check and lose the race like that. I had my spot and I kept it all the way to the top of the stretch."
"I was very confident with the horse. The first time I rode the horse, he really impressed me. He broke slow out of the gate and he kind of ran off on the backside and I hooked up with the pacemaker. We went in :22, :44 and the horse still had something in the tank at the top of the stretch. That impressed me very much. As soon as I jumped off the horse, I told Mr. Walden and Mr. Pletcher, 'That's a super horse.' I've never seen a horse like that, a first-time starter, do that the way he did it. It was impressive."
Bred in Kentucky by Grapestock LLC & Fox Hill Farms out of the Distorted Humor mare Baffled, 3-year-old Constitution was a $400,000 purchase by Twin Creeks Racing at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling from the Vinery Sales consignment. The winner's share of the Florida Derby purse bumped his earnings to $649,350.
"I've ridden him twice, and the second time was very impressive," Castellano said. "We stretched him out, he broke better out of the gate, he ran two turns. I think he learned a lot the second time. He was able to relax beautifully in the race. I think the horse is learning little by little, and he has got a great future."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84102/constitution-edges-wildcat-red-in-fl-derby#ixzz2xP2GXuYl
