United States of America
Arcangelo proves the right 'choice' in Travers 154
Having added a maiden success in the G1 Kentucky Derby to his Hall of Fame resume at long last aboard Mage (USA) (Good Magic {USA}) in early May, jockey Javier Castellano continued a magical ride when teaming with Jena Antonucci to make history in the G1 Belmont S. on the progressive Arcangelo (USA) (Arrogate {USA}), as the connections of Mage turned their collective attention to the second half of the season.
Mage resumed with a very good runner-up effort when reportedly not fully fit for last month's G1 TVG.com Haskell S., a steppingstone to the G1 Travers S., and a burning question over the next three weeks or so revolved around which colt would be the apple of Castellano's eye come the final Saturday in August. For her part, Antonucci always expressed confidence that Arcangelo would win out at the end of the day, and so it proved, as Luis Saez was named on Mage when Castellano declined to commit in a manner deemed timely enough.
A decision - or non-decision, as the case was – having been made, Castellano was now locked into the son of the late 2016 Travers romper Arrogate (USA) for a race he'd won a record six times previously, most recently with Catholic Boy (USA) in 2018.
“I never give up,” Castellano said. “I always work hard for moments like this. I've been up and down and thank God I've been lucky enough to win my seventh Travers. It's like the Super Bowl for Tom Brady. I'm so blessed to have people supporting me. When people support your career, it's great.”
Arcangelo needed next to no encouragement to keep pace with the leading group, and, once eased out into the four path, made ominous progress outside the typically one-paced Tapit Trice (USA) (Tapit {USA}) who plugged into third, ahead of stablemate Forte (USA) (Violence {USA}) in fourth, while Disarm (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) finished second and Mage was unplaced.
“I feel like on the backside I had so much horse, I could blow by and open up by 10 and I just took my time and let him develop,” Castellano added. “I put him outside, enjoyed my ride and very lucky and thankful and blessed you guys gave me the opportunity and a lot of confidence to ride the horse and working together every single step. It seems to me he's a super horse. Keep our fingers crossed, keep him sound. All the credit to Jena. She does such a good job with the horses.”
It was another feather in the cap of Antonucci, the first of her sex to train a Belmont winner and now a Travers winner.
“The significance of accomplishing anything in any gender at the top of any sport or industry is a gift,” she said. “It doesn't come without the team and without every single person on our team. The significance of this is hard to put into words right now.
“The significance of accomplishing anything in any gender at the top of any sport or industry is a gift.” - Jena Antonucci
“Anyone that wants something bad enough, you just have to work your tail off for it. It doesn't matter – man, woman, boy, girl – that's just white noise. If you want it, go fight for it and make it happen for yourself.”
It had been 77 days since the Belmont, but Antonucci had no problem whatsoever bringing Arcangelo into the Travers off works.
“It just never was a layoff in my mind with this horse,” she explained. “I understand the traditionalists of this sport are always going to view gaps in that manner. This horse has had his entire career that way because (owner) Jon (Ebber) wants this horse to be brought along slowly, correctly and be given the time he needs to grow up. I feel we have respected that with the horse and Jon has respected that with the horse.”
Bolshoi Ballet romps in Sword Dancer
Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), winless since capturing the 2021 G1 Belmont Derby Invitational S., was on the top of his game turning in a powerful performance at odds of 5-1 in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' G1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer at Saratoga. Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was second; Pioneering Spirit (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) finished third.
Echo Zulu completes Gun Runner Grade I sprint double
L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Echo Zulu (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), second to Goodnight Olive (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}) when that one solidified her champion female sprinter honors in last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Fillies & Mare Sprint, asserted her position atop that division this year with a convincing tally over that same rival in Saturday's G1 Ballerina H. at Saratoga. She was also the second Grade I winner for her connections sired by Gun Runner (USA) on the card.
“She was picking it up nicely when I asked her to,” said winning rider Florent Geroux. “Felt like I was in control pretty much all the way through the race, and when I asked her turning for home, she gave me this other gear… She's amazing. I'm just very grateful for the opportunity the owners and Steve Asmussen have given me to ride her. She's a champion and I'm just the lucky pilot.”
Asmussen, who was celebrating his second win in the Ballerina added, “We were extremely confident in how she's been doing. She's dotted all the 'i's' and crossed all the 't's'. She was unbelievable coming out of her last race and coming into this. Just had a tremendous amount of confidence that she would do exactly how she did.
Of the match-up with Goodnight Olive, the Hall of Famer said, “Someone asked me, 'How do you see it?' and I said, 'Well I assure you that we have respect for each other.' That's how it ought to be. That's what makes these races so great. The development that she has shown is so much like her father Gun Runner. The longer you had him, the faster he was and that's how she's been. As great as she ran in the Honorable Miss and coming out of her first triple-digit Beyer, your confidence was it was a prep. She's four-for-four here at Saratoga and has another Grade I win on her resume. Obviously, she's as fast as a horse can go.”
Co-owner Ron Winchell noted, “Last year we were trying to get her ready and kind of push her into getting into the Breeders' Cup, and it wasn't like she was 100 per cent fit. Coming to this year, we had enough time to get her right, and now we are here today where we think she is at her best. We will worry about (Breeders' Cup plans) tomorrow.”
Gunite turns tables on Elite Power in Forego
Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Gunite (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}), winner of the track-and-trip G1 Hopeful S. as a juvenile and runner-up in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens S. 12 months ago, parlayed a tactical advantage Saturday into a vengeful victory in Saratoga's G1 Forego S. The Steve Asmussen pupil had come up a head short of 2022 champion sprinter Elite Power (USA) (Curlin {USA}) in the G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. going a furlong shorter in the slop here on July 29, and was 6-5 to get the better of that formidable foe this go around.
“He broke alertly, put himself in a good spot,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione. “The difference between today and last time was, going the three-quarters, you've got to use him a little more than you'd like to. Seven-eighths suits him a little bit better. He's a big colt, just let him get into his stride and let him do his thing.”
“Gunite is just a very special horse to race at the level he has for as long as he has and do it consistently,” said Asmussen, who has now won three of the last five Foregos despite his trainee Jackie's Warrior (USA) (Maclean's Music {USA}) being upset in the race last year. “It was a very tough defeat for (Gunite) in the Vanderbilt and for him to not blink an eye, come back and lay it down again today just proves what a special horse he actually is.
“Elite Power is a great champion. I can't say how much I respect him, being by the unbelievable Curlin. But Gunite has seen good horses, and he doesn't blink. That's what makes him so special.
“The horse gives us a tremendous amount of confidence. Tough defeat in the Vanderbilt, but the next day all he wanted was another chance at him. Today was his chance and he proved how truly good he is.”
Fatalities mar Travers Saturday at Saratoga
On a day that was supposed to be a celebration of the G1 Travers S., a pall was cast over Saturday's card at Saratoga when two horses broke down on the card and had to be euthanised.
Including racing and training, they were the sixth and seventh equine deaths during racing at the meeting.
One Saturday fatality was on the turf, the other on the dirt. Both horses were ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.
The day's second fatality came in the G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. on the main track. The undefeated colt New York Thunder (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) appeared to have the race won as he drew clear of the field nearing the sixteenth pole, but suffered a catastrophic injury to his left forelimb. The race was reminiscent of the G1 Test S. in which Maple Leaf Mel (USA) (Cross Traffic {USA}) was yards away from a win in a Grade 1 event, only to break down in the shadow of the wire.
New York Thunder was euthanised on the track with a catastrophic injury to his left front fetlock, according to the AAEP on-call veterinarian, Dr Luis Castro.
“New York Thunder sustained a catastrophic injury to his left front leg in the stretch run of Race 9 on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course,” said a press release from NYRA on the fatalities. “Despite the immediate response of on-site veterinarians, the horse was humanely euthanised due to the severity of the injury. New York Thunder was trained by Jorge Delgado and ridden by Tyler Gafflione, who was uninjured.”
Europe
Too Darn Hot's Darnation too good in the Prestige
Newtown Anner Stud's homebred Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) improved off a debut third at Haydock to post an impressive 10l tally over the same seven-furlong distance at Thirsk last month and made a smooth transition upped to pattern-race level with a game tally in Saturday's G3 William Hill Prestige Fillies' S. at Goodwood.
Winning by 2l from Carla’s Way (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) and Flight Plan (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
Too Darn Hot has shuttled to Darley Australia, Kelvinside and will stand the 2023 breeding season for $44,000 (inc GST).
Justify's Opera Singer impressive in the Flame Of Tara
Sent off the even-money favourite for Saturday's G3 Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF S. at a wet Curragh, Ballydoyle's Opera Singer (USA) (Justify {USA}) came home alone to reward that faith.
“She had a lovely run the first day and then the second day she ran a stormer as well,” Aidan O'Brien said. “Ryan thought he was going to beat the winner the last day, the line just came a little bit soon, but she's come forward lovely. These Justifys improve, the minute they go up in distance they take off. I'd say she's the kind of filly for the (G1) Fillies' Mile, she's straightforward and she goes forward.”
Sioux Nation's Letsbefrankaboutit wins the Round Tower
Coming into Saturday's six-furlong G3 Heider Family Stables Round Tower S. off an eye-catching third in a median sires series maiden over the same trip and Curragh track earlier in the month, Alymer Stud's Letsbefrankaboutit (Ire) (Sioux Nation {USA}) justified 2-1 favouritism to provide the Paddy Twomey stable with another notable Pattern-race success.
“He learned a lot the last day when he had to race on his own, he won his race,” Twomey said. “He was a bit babyish before the race the last day but he was very good today, didn't put a foot wrong and did what I hoped he'd do. It takes a lot for me to run a maiden in a Group 3, but I just thought he might be fit for it. He's a big horse, we won't overdo it this year and hopefully we'll have a nice horse for a couple of years to come.”
Dark Angel's Angel Bleu pounces late for Celebration Mile triumph
Marc Chan's 2021 G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and G1 Criterium International hero Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) had been in and out of form in eight outings since registering those career highlights as a juvenile and backed up a fourth in last month's G2 Summer Mile with a last-gasp win in Saturday's G2 William Hill Celebration Mile at Goodwood.
“It's always the old boys that get you out of trouble,” admitted Ralph Beckett. “I'm thrilled to bits because it didn't really happen for him at three. That rain was very helpful for him this morning. I think I'm right in saying that's Hector’s (Crouch) biggest win, so I'm pleased for him too.”
Quickfire double for Marc Chan as Kinross eases to City Of York success
With Angel Bleu having annexed the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood just 20 minutes earlier, 'TDN Rising Star' Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) stepped forward to register a quickfire double for the Marc Chan-Ralph Beckett axis by successfully defending his title in Saturday's Sky Bet City Of York S. on the Knavesmire.
Last term's G1 Prix de la Foret and G1 British Champions Sprint hero backed up a third in Newmarket's G1 July Cup with a second renewal of Goodwood's G2 Lennox S.
“It's great, what a horse and on my last day (riding at York), boom, have that,” beamed Frankie Dettori. “He is my favourite horse; he's a great horse and I love him. I had Stradivarius last year and Enable the year before. I've got a pretty nice route. Take him to Ascot (for the G1 British Champions Sprint), France (for the G1 Prix de la Foret), then Hong Kong and be off, be gone. I thought this could be my last one so I'm going to enjoy it. I rode right to the end, waved to everyone, bye!”
Beckett added, “He's an extraordinary horse and we won't have another like him. He's a proven Group 1 horse and I very much hope we can go for the Breeders' Cup Mile again and the Prix de la Foret in between. He had a sore foot going into Goodwood and had a shoe off after a week. He's done this off one piece of work and has an amazing constitution. What a horse he is. To have done what he keeps doing is extraordinary, but he's happiest on a racecourse and that's the bottom line. If he's taking it well, we'll keep going, what's the point in hanging around? He's a gelding and what else are we going to do with him? He could go everywhere.”
Zoustar’s Lezoo makes winning return
Lezoo (GB), a daughter of Widden Stud’s Zoustar returned to the winner’s circle in the Listed Hopeful S. at Newmarket.
The European Champion 2YO filly in 2022 had been unplaced in her last two career starts but under Andrea Atzeni was able to win by a neck to take her record to five wins from eight starts.
“This race suited perfectly as Ralph (Beckett) said. He waited for this. We were worried when the rain came but Lezoo has done it nicely. She's a tough filly and we are back on track now. There was no air of frustration with her campaign, it just didn't happen in the 1000 Guineas and at Royal Ascot,” said Joe Tuite, assistant trainer.
Son of Fastnet Rock wins Ebor
The Willie Mullins-trained Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock) is Melbourne Cup-bound after booking his ticket with a victory in Ebor H. at York.
The 5-year-old son of the Coolmore Stud-based Fastnet Rock was ridden by Frankie Dettori.
“Credit to him, he showed some guts and stuck his neck out for the last bit because I thought I was beat,” Dettori told ITV Racing.
“He’s a horse that needs cover, and I found myself in front three out so I thought, 'Well I’ve messed that up!'
“It's unbelievable to win on my last ride. I thought coming here today to win on Kinross would be great, but I didn’t expect this one. It’s double sweet.
“I said to Willie 'Listen I’m going Down Under for my last rides so please consider me' and he said he will, but only time will tell.”
Mullins said he will attempt to convince the owners to head to Melbourne for the first Tuesday in November.
“I’ll have a word Margaret and Andrew Heffernan who own the horse, they’re away with family today and couldn’t be here. But I’ll speak to them and see if they’re interested in going down to Australia and I’m sure they’d love to.
“I think the horse will pass the tests to be able to run in it no problem – unless they do a brain scan after his antics going to the start! He’s a good sound horse and we’d look forward to going to Melbourne.
“But today is about Frankie, a remarkable jockey and I thought he was brilliant on Absurde.”
“Frankie has shown us what he can do. I thought he was beaten half a furlong out, I don’t know where Frankie got his energy from in the last 100 yards.
“He pulled that one out of the fire I thought, he was brilliant on him."
