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On the Rise: Annise Montplaisir
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By Wandering Eyes · Posted
When 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) went wire-to-wire to take out the 2023 GI Pacific Classic, it made trainer Bob Baffert the winningest trainer in the relatively short history of the event with seven winners, surpassing the late Bobby Frankel. The Hall of Fame conditioner will have every chance to extend that record when he sends out fellow 'Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in a compelling renewal of the 10-furlong feature Saturday afternoon, with an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance Nov. 1 up for grabs. Perfect in three starts at two and three, including the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes in his first trip around two turns, the $550,000 OBS April grad was set a very tall task returning from a 15-month absence in the seven-furlong GI Churchill Downs Stakes May 3. Drawn one from the outside and wide into the lane after sitting worse than midfield, he came running to dead-heat for second with recent GII Charles Town Classic hero Banishing (Ghostzapper), the pair beaten a neck by 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution). Passing on a trip east for the GI Met Mile, Nysos romped in the May 31 GIII Triple Bend Stakes, finishing well clear of GII Pat O'Brien Stakes hero Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper), and he was last seen a comfortable winner of the GII San Diego Handicap July 26. Campaigned by Baoma Corp., Nysos–also a $130,000 KEENOV weanling and $150,000 FTKOCT yearling–is the 8-5 morning-line favorite, just ahead of pin-up 3-year-old Journalism (Curlin, 9-5) and 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light, 3-1), and Baffert is taking nothing for granted. “It's a strong race,” Baffert said following the draw. “Fierceness on his best day can beat us. Journalism has had a remarkable year. He's danced every dance and he still looks fantastic. I have a lot of respect for those horses and the other horses. You don't know how it's going to play out.” Indeed, Journalism has been campaigned ambitiously, but has held up remarkably well, having taken a dramatic renewal of the GI Preakness Stakes either side of runner-up efforts to Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes. The $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase gave last week's GI Travers Stakes a miss in favor of this off a gritty victory in the GI Haskell Invitational Stakes July 19. “All signs for the last few weeks have pointed towards this race,” primary owner Aron Wellman said. “When you [have] a partnership, you want to be respectful and make sure that we're all on the same page. So there are a lot of moving parts that we have to make sure we attend to. Just wanted to be sure we huddled up all the players. And obviously keep a close eye on the horse, too.” At times brilliant and at other times a complete enigma, Fierceness will have his work cut out for him against the top two if he doesn't fire his best shot. Outstanding in defeat in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic here at Del Mar, he returned breathing fire in the May 2 GII Alysheba Stakes, but he'd need to lift on his last two–an alibi-free second in the Met and a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the GI Whitney Stakes Aug. 2. The Pacific Classic is the fourth of five graded events on the biggest day of racing at the seaside. Formidable Man (City of Light) is perfect in five starts over the Jimmy Durante turf course and will cut back in trip for the GII Del Mar Mile, having run down Cabo Spirit (Pioneeerof the Nile) in the GII Eddie Read Stakes going nine panels July 27. The contest also marks the return to action of Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), runner-up in last year's Pacific Classic ahead of a 13-1 upset of the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. The ageless Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) has drawn widest in gate 11 for the GII Del Mar Handicap, a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Turf, as he looks to win the 11-furlong heat for a remarkably fourth straight season. The progressive Final Boss (American Pharoah) should be on or near the pace, while Truly Quality (Quality Road) is in the mix with a return to the same form that saw him best Balniknov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}) in the GII Hollywood Turf Cup last November. Motorious (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) won last year's 'Win and You're In' GIII Green Flash Handicap and used it as a springboard to a near-miss second in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint two months later. He makes just his second trip to the races in 2025, having come with his trademark turn of speed to win the GIII Daytona Stakes down the hill at Santa Anita June 14. Queen Maxima (Bucchero) had next-out GI Jaipur Stakes heroine Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy) behind when taking the GIII Unbridled Sidney Stakes at Churchill May 2 and she is probably best forgiven her sixth in the one-mile Osunitas Stakes July 20 when she endured a sub-optimal trip. First Peace (Funtastic) makes his first appearance since annexing the GII Eddie D. Stakes 11 months ago and is capable, though the five-furlong distance is a query. Baffert looks to have a stranglehold on the GIII Torrey Pines Stakes, with even-money Tenma (Nyquist) from the rail and the commonly owned Howin (Gun Runner) drawn alongside. Motorious | Benoit photo Derby Day At Kentucky Downs The racing at Kentucky Downs heats up quickly on Saturday, with four graded events carded at distances from six furlongs to an extended mile and a quarter. Sophomores compete for the second-richest prize available to their age group in the GIII Nashville Derby, with a gross purse of $3.5 million available to horses bred in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. But it is the race's lone foreign shipper, Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko), who could be favored to take the trophy back to Europe for the second year running following the exploits of Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in 2024. The mount of Frankie Dettori, the bay colt won last year's G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket and was third in the G1 Futurity Trophy, and while he has yet to taste victory in 2025, he has performances on the page that make him very dangerous in a spot like this. Third in May's G2 Dante Stakes at York, an Epsom Derby trial over the same 10 1/2 furlongs he faces here, he was runner-up in the G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket July 10 and that piece of form was given a big boost when the victorious El Cordobes (GB) (Frankel {GB}) subsequently won the GI Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga. Wimbledon Hawkeye most recently missed by a nose in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood July 31. “(Wimbledon Hawkeye) backs up his runs,” said trainer James Owen. “He's been very solid and consistent. He's a very sound athletic horse; he could be ridden in any kind of way. I think he ticks a lot of the boxes. I don't know what boxes you've got to tick, but I have no worries about him traveling. He eats every night. He trains every day. He's not flashy. He just does his job. If I told him he was coming, he'd be looking forward to it.” America's best chance to reclaim the hardware is Amerman Racing's Test Score (Lookin At Lucky), who was second in the GI American Turf in May before going one better in the GI Belmont Derby at Saratoga the following month, defeating World Beater (Oscar Performance), who turned the tables in the Aug. 2 GI Saratoga Derby, with Test Score a close third. Test Score | Sarah Andrew Tomasello (Authentic) also has form through World Beater, having finished third to him and King of Ashes (Street Sense) in the May 31 Audubon Stakes at Churchill. The bay went on to frank the form with a clear-cut success in the KD Preview Nashville Derby at Ellis Aug. 2 to punch his ticket to this. Triple Crown alums Sandman (Tapit) and Burnham Square (Liam's Map) try the turf for the first time, and with this much money up for grabs, who's to blame them? Winner of the GI Arkansas Derby and third in the Preakness, Sandman sheds the shades after finishing fifth in the GII Jim Dandy Stakes July 26. Burnham Square, whose dam Linda (Scat Daddy) ran third to Miss Temple City (Temple City) in the 2017 GIII Ladies Turf on this course, was a non-threatening fifth in the GI Haskell Stakes last time. Longshot players could well gravitate to Simulate (Kitten's Joy), visually impressive in annexing a first-level allowance at Saratoga July 18 prior to finishing second in the one-mile GII Secretariat Stakes at Colonial Aug. 9. He had no luck in running on that occasion and this stretch out in trip should hit him right between the eyes. “The horse is doing well,” trainer Bill Mott said. “We realize we're coming back on short rest, but we didn't want to bypass the race. He can probably do it. He's coming off a couple of very good races.” 'TDN Rising Star' Hill Road (Quality Road) won his maiden at first asking at Leopardstown, a nice galloping track, and returns to the grass off a distant third in the Jim Dandy. The aforementioned Ag Bullet is back to defend her title in the $2-million GII Ladies Turf Sprint over 6 1/2 furlongs. A troubled seventh in the Unbridled Sidney, she took on the boys in the Jaipur and treated them to a two-length beating at the Spa. The versatile and beautifully bred Zeitlos (Curlin) is not out of this as she seeks her first stakes win on the lawn. Winner earlier this season of the Skipat Stakes on the main track, the chestnut came running late to finish a half-length behind the very classy Future Is Now (Great Notion) in the GIII Caress Stakes at Saratoga, with Time to Dazzle (Not This Time) a neck back in third. The GII Mint Kentucky Turf Sprint, with its $2-million pot, offers the winners a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, a race won a couple of years ago by Nobals (Noble Mission {GB}). The 6-year-old is not impossible to improve on his fourth-place effort from a year ago, but still needs to find a few lengths off a third, beaten three-parts of a length, behind Bear River (Flameaway) in the KD Preview Turf Sprint at Ellis Aug. 3. Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) ran his eyeballs out to be second to Cogburn (Not This Time) in last year's renewal, but returns arguably not in the same sort of form as 12 months ago. Winner of the G1 QE II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2024, the 9-year-old has a pair of runs under his belt this term, a sixth in the G3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last month and a 10th in the G2 Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Aug. 1. Frankie Dettori rides. Howard Wolowitz (Munnings) validated 3-1 favoritism in last year's GI Franklin-Stamps Stakes at this venue, was a better-than-it-looks ninth at the Breeders' Cup and added the Holiday Cheer Stakes over the Turfway synth. He was last seen finishing down the field in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint in Saudi Arabia back in February, but has been training up a storm at Saratoga for Jose D'Angelo. Fresh off a front-running score in the GII Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial on Aug. 9, Charlene's Dream (Qurbaan) shows up in the GIII Kentucky Downs Ladies' Turf Stakes over a mile. A Texas-bred and therefore running for a fraction of the prizemoney, the $35,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic breezer also counts this year's GIII Gallorette Stakes among her conquests. Lady Ilze (GB) (Territories {Ire}) began her career in Poland, winning three of her five starts last year at two, and demonstrated she might be up to a task like this with a 10-1 upset in the G2 German 1000 Guineas in May. She outran 50-1 odds to be fifth and not beaten all that far behind BC Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Cinderella's Dream (GB) (Shamardal) in the G1 Falmouth Stakes July 11. Also in with legitimate claims are the Hugo Palmer-trained G3 Valiant Stakes heroine Cheshire Dancer (Ire) (Phoenix of Spain {Ire}) and GIII Honey Fox Stakes winner Special Wan (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), a latest third in the GI Just A Game Stakes June 6. 'Rising Star' Maidens Face Unbeaten Pair In Spinaway Closing weekend at the Spa gives the juvenile set a chance to compete for Grade I laurels, beginning with Saturday's Spinaway Stakes, a Breeders' Cup Challenge race for the GI Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 31. The seven-furlong feature brings together a pair of impressive maiden winners that each earned the 'TDN Rising Star' designation on debut squaring off against a couple of fillies with stakes scores already in the bag. Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) turned in arguably the top performance from a 2-year-old filly during the meet, striking from just off the pace to graduate by 3 3/4 lengths back on July 26. That win came at the expense of Tennessee Belle (Yaupon), who earned a 'Rising Star' of her own when romping by better than seven lengths in her most recent try. “I thought she was impressive. She's a nice filly who has trained very well,” Pletcher said. Ornellaia (Girvin), a $1.15-million purchase out of the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale this past May, opened her account at first asking from well off the pace, and the runner-up that afternoon, Steer Clear (Street Sense), graduated nicely at the Spa on Friday. 'TDN Rising Star' Ornellaia | Sarah Andrew Mythical (St Patrick's Day) is unbeaten and virtually untested in her three tries to day, including the Tremont Stakes June 5 and a 3 1/4-length success from Meringue (Frosted) in the GIII Adirondack Stakes Aug. 3. The latter will be scratched in favor of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies on Sunday. Percy's Bar (Upstart) was the four-length winner of a 4 1/2-furlong maiden at Keeneland on Apr. 23 debut and most recently posted a five-length romp in the June 29 Debutante Stakes at Churchill. The top three placegetters from the 11-furlong GII Glens Falls Stakes July 27 reunite for Saturday's GII Flower Bowl Stakes, with the winner receiving the free invite to the GI Filly & Mare Turf. La Mehana (Fr) (Al Wukair {Ire}) looms the one to beat off her 8 3/4-length thrashing of stablemate Bellezza (Ire) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Long Ago (GB) (Roaring Lion), but easy underfoot conditions may have aided her cause, at least to some extent. When last seen over the mile-and-three-eighths distance, 'TDN Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) proved narrowly best in the GIII Long Island Stakes and she cannot be dismissed with any confidence. The GIII Prioress Stakes has lured just a half-dozen sophomore filly sprinters and it could come down to a battle between 'TDN Rising Star' Long Neck Paula (Uncle Mo), a two-time black-type winner in search of a breakthrough at the graded level, and the less-exposed 'Rising Star' Delightful Claire (Thousand Words), who earned a 95 Beyer when graduating by 9 1/4 lengths over seven furlongs on Aug. 2. The post Saturday Preview: Nysos A Narrow Choice Over Journalism, Fierceness In Pacific Classic appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Three-year-old Journalism will face champion Fierceness and the nearly undefeated Nysos in the $1 million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 30 at Del Mar.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
A civil judgment entered in a New Jersey court Aug. 28 requires Joe Hardoon and his father Jonathan Hardoon to pay Al Gold's Gold Square $450,000 following theft allegations against the younger Hardoon while acting as Gold Square's bookkeeper.View the full article -
By Wandering Eyes · Posted
Jupiter Stable's Phileas Fogg is already a graded stakes winner at 1 1/4 miles over the Saratoga main track and will look to repeat that feat in the Aug. 31 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) as he looks for his first top-level stakes victory. View the full article -
Does anyone know the betting figures for Auckland last Friday night? Note that the average field size for 8 of the races was only 6 starters?? Seriously how on earth anyone can think that Auckland should be getting heavily subsidised and has a rosey future has to be deluded surely? Things are just getting worse for Auckland and no promising signals apart from HRNZ saying that things are positive!
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