Pletcher thrilled with elusive Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) score; Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in play for Happy Saver
by NYRA Press Office
- Pletcher thrilled with elusive G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup score; G1 Breeders' Cup Classic in play for Happy Saver
- Mystic Guide likely to bypass Breeders' Cup Classic
- Hamm delighted in first career G1 win with Dayoutoftheoffice in Frizette
- Civil Union impresses in G1 Flower Bowl score; Code of Honor to target either G1 Cigar Mile or G1 Clark
- Tamahere earns 90 BSF for G2 Sands Point score; Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie breeze on the turf for G1 BC Filly and Mare Turf
- Jackie's Warrior earns 100 BSF in G1 Champagne triumph
- Apprentice rider Charlie Marquez out four weeks
- Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 returns nearly $400; handles $126K
After numerous close defeats in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup including a disqualification from victory in last year's edition, trainer Todd Pletcher secured the elusive win Saturday when Wertheimer and Frere's unbeaten sophomore Happy Saver rode the rail to victory in the prestigious classic-distance race.
Pletcher, who had finished second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup previously with Keen Ice [2017], Palace Malice [2013], Stay Thirsty [2012], Quality Road [2010], Lawyer Ron [2007] and Newfoundland [2004], saddled Vino Rosso in last year's running, who crossed the wire first but was ultimately disqualified to second for interference with Code of Honor in the stretch run.
Pletcher said the long-awaited victory with the son of Super Saver was welcome.
"That was a race that had been alluding us for a while," Pletcher said. "I thought we broke through last year only to be disqualified. Not only had we not won it, but we had seven seconds, a number of which were very close. It was a very rewarding win for the whole team and it was nice to do it for the Wertheimers, who have been loyal supporters of ours for a long time. He's by Super Saver and out of a mare we trained, so it was a great win all the way around.
"He looks good," Pletcher added. "He seemed to bounce out of everything well. He's a little bit tired, which I would expect after running a race like that. It seems like he's in good shape."
Following a debut victory on June 20 at Belmont Park, Happy Saver bested older winners going two turns at Saratoga en route to a triumph in the September 7 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, ahead of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he earned a career best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
Pletcher praised his newly minted Grade 1-winner on being able to make such a swift climb up the ladder.
"What he's been able to accomplish you don't see very many other horses do," Pletcher said. "He went from a seven-furlong maiden on June 20 to a mile and an eighth allowance at Saratoga, to a mile and an eighth stake at Laurel and came back to Belmont and then to win a Grade 1 going a mile and a quarter against older horses is something you don't see very often."
In winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup, a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" event, Happy Saver earned an all-fees paid entry into the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, which Pletcher said is under strong consideration.
"That's what we're going to think about," Pletcher said. "We'll see how he bounces out of this and let him take us there when he wants to. Speaking to the Wertheimers last night, they're in no rush and they plan on racing him next year."
Should Happy Saver make the trip for the Breeders' Cup, he would seek to give Pletcher a second straight win in the Classic after winning last year's edition at Santa Anita with Vino Rosso. Wertheimer and Frere have never won the Classic, but owned Breeders' Cup heroes Halfbridled, who took the 2003 Juvenile Fillies for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, and international superstar Goldikova who captured three consecutive runnings of the Mile from 2008-10.
Happy Saver's sire Super Saver gave Pletcher his first triumph in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in 2010 after a slew of placings.
"I don't see a lot of similarities," Pletcher said. "The one thing I would say is that from a physical standpoint, they're both very good-looking and well-balanced horses. Super Saver could get a little intense in the paddock and this one is more laid back."
Other possible Breeders' Cup contenders for Pletcher include Grade 1-winners Valiance [Distaff] and Halladay [Mile] as well as impressive maiden winner Likeable [Juvenile] and Grade 2 Bourbon winner Mutasaabeq [Juvenile Turf].
Pletcher also spoke of recent first out maiden winner Malathaat, who gave Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 2,000th win at Belmont Park, and said that the $100,000 Tempted on November 6 going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct could be in play for the regally-bred daughter of Curlin out of the Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Dreaming of Julia.
"I thought she ran really well the other day," Pletcher said. "She's obviously bred to be a very nice filly."
***
Mystic Guide likely to bypass Breeders' Cup Classic
Trainer Michael Stidham said he was highly satisfied with Godolphin's Mystic Guide and his hard-fought second in his Grade 1 debut in the $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup but stated the son of Ghostzapper is unlikely for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic.
"Most likely we will bypass it, but that won't be officially decided until we take a good look at the horse and see how he's doing," Stidham said. "I'll talk to [Godolphin USA president] Jimmy Bell and we'll have a discussion regarding it."
A last out winner of the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on September 5 at Saratoga, Mystic Guide has never finished off the board in six lifetime starts and finished three-quarters of a length to the outside of Happy Saver.
"We were delighted," Stidham said. "It was obviously a small field, very tactical, and a rider's race. But our horse ran hard and just got beat. I'm happy with his first step up to a Grade 1."
Stidham said he is looking forward to what could be on the horizon for Mystic Guide as a 4-year-old.
"We've got a lot to be excited about," Stidham said. "We were careful with when we ran him and where he ran him throughout the year, and it paid off. We're going to try and parlay that into next year."
Following an impressive five-length maiden victory at second asking going two turns at Fair Grounds on March 21, Mystic Guide was placed against winners at Belmont Park and ran third in the Grade 3 Peter Pan on July 14 at Saratoga before winning the Jim Dandy. A Kentucky homebred, Mystic Guide is out of the five-time Grade 1-winning A.P. Indy mare Music Note.
***
Hamm delighted in first career G1 win with Dayoutoftheoffice in Frizette
Through the first three races of her career, Dayoutoftheoffice has handled every challenge. Stretched out for a third consecutive time and stepping up in class, the daughter of Into Mischief won the one-mile Grade 1, $250,000 Frizette for juvenile fillies on Saturday at Belmont Park.
A debut winner going 4 ½ furlongs in May at Gulfstream Park, trainer and co-owner Timothy Hamm entered her against more challenging competition for her second start, resulting in a six-length triumph in the Grade 3 Schuylerville going six furlongs on July 16 at Saratoga Race Course. Bolstered by that effort, Hamm stretched her out again once more in her Grade 1 bow yesterday, and Dayoutoftheoffice responded with a two-length score in the Frizette, earning an all-fees paid berth to the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 6 at Keeneland.
"She came out of the race good and ate everything up and looks good this morning," said Hamm, who co-owns the horse with Siena Farm, her breeder. "She makes it seem easy. You get so many of these horses that whatever you try, it doesn't seem to work. Then you get these good ones and it makes it seem like a real easy job."
Ridden by Junior Alvarado, Dayoutoftheoffice completed the Frizette by outkicking the favorite Vequist, earning a personal-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure. After handling increased distance in every start, Hamm said he is confident the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' 1 1/16-mile distance won't be a major impediment next month.
"Her demeanor is great. She's very calm and very push-button," Hamm said. "She'll do whatever the rider asks her to in the mornings, so she's easy to train. That's the best thing about her. You never have to worry about her eating. When she trains, she does it exactly the way you want her to do it.
"We always thought she wanted more ground," he added. "I have all the confidence she can handle the mile and a sixteenth. She's trained like it and she acts like it."
Hamm will be saddling his first-ever Breeders' Cup contender, adding a milestone to a career that started with his first victory with Rose Colored Lady at River Downs in 1996.
"It's very exciting. This is what we all work for," Hamm said. "All the trainers work to get in spots like this. Whether you're at the top of the training class or the bottom, everyone's goal is to get horses in great spots. It's special."
Hamm picked up his first career Grade 1 win and his fourth graded stakes victory overall, joining Joanies Bella [2001 Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Lassie] and Afternoon Stroll [2009 Grade 3 Appalachian]. Dayoutoftheoffice ended an 11-year graded stakes drought with her Schuylerville score and gave Hamm a win in the prestigious Frizette, which has seen 13 previsions winners earn the Eclipse Award as Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.
"It's awesome. I always thought I'd win a few Grade 1s and you wonder when the first one would come," Hamm said. "You do something long enough and stick to it, the odds are it's going to happen. It's great. You get it out of the way and hope you can move on for more.
"The Frizette is one of the major juvenile filly races each year," he added. "It's one of the targets for these good fillies. In the history of our training, we've had a niche with 2-year-old fillies, so it's fitting it [first Grade 1 win] came that way."
Hamm said Dayoutoftheoffice will head to Pennsylvania for a short respite before training at Keeneland heading up to the Breeders' Cup.
"She's going to Presque Isle and will spend four days just relaxing and getting a little R and R and we'll go down to Keeneland and train to the Breeders' Cup there," Hamm said.
***
Civil Union impresses in G1 Flower Bowl score; Code of Honor to target either G1 Cigar Mile or G1 Clark
Allen Stable's homebred Civil Union extended her streak to four wins with a head score in Saturday's Grade 1, $250,000 Flower Bowl Invitational.
The 5-year-old War Front grass specialist entered the 10-furlong Widener turf test for fillies and mares on a winning run of form that launched in a June 21 allowance tilt at Belmont and continued through scores in the 12-furlong River Memories on July 12 at Belmont and the 11-furlong Grade 2 Glens Falls at Saratoga.
McGaughey said he was pleased with the rallying effort Saturday under Joel Rosario from post 3 which garnered a 97 Beyer Speed Figure and a "Win and You're In" berth to the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf on November 7.
"I was a little surprised we were back where we were," said McGaughey. "I thought we'd break and have position, but we had an inside post and Joel elected to save ground and made a good move. I was very pleased with her. She came out of the race just fine."
McGaughey said W.S. Farish homebred Code of Honor, a last-out second to Complexity in the Grade 2 Kelso, will point to either the Grade 1, $250,000 Cigar Mile for 3-year-olds and up on December 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack or the Grade 1, $500,000 Clark, a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up on November 27 at Churchill Downs.
"He's doing good. We'll point him to the Clark in Louisville or the Cigar Mile here," said McGaughey.
Last year, the Noble Mission chestnut captured the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga en route to being elevated to victory in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in a four-win sophomore season that also included a score in the Grade 3 Dwyer on Big Sandy.
Code of Honor owns a record of 4-1-1-1 in 2020 which includes a win in the Grade 3 Westchester on a muddy Belmont track in June.
Phipps Stable homebred Breaking the Rules worked five-eighths in 1:01.06 Sunday morning on the inner turf in preparation for the Grade 2 Knickerbocker, a nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds and upward which was rescheduled from Monday to Sunday, October 18 due to expected heavy rainfall.
McGaughey said the extra week won't be a negative for the 5-year-old graded-stakes placed War Front horse.
"He was ready to roll," said McGaughey. "He went very good this morning."
Emory Hamilton's two-time allowance winner Hungry Kitten breezed a half-mile in 51.44 Sunday on the inner turf. The 4-year-old Kitten's Joy filly, out of the multiple graded-stakes winner Hungry Island, was expected to target the Grade 3, $125,000 Dowager on October 18 at Keeneland but McGaughey said he's now looking for other options.
"She worked fine," said McGaughey. "I was planning to send her to Kentucky but I'm going to look for something else."
Courtlandt Farm homebred Americanus, a 3-year-old War Front colt, joined McGaughey's barn this summer after posting a record of 2-1-1 in five dirt starts for former conditioner Mark Hennig.
A debut winner in September 2019 at Belmont, Americanus notched a seven-furlong allowance win in February at Gulfstream Park ahead of a prominent third in the 1 1/16-mile Unbridled at the Hallandale Beach oval.
McGaughey has breezed Americanus on both dirt and turf at Belmont, including a half-mile Sunday in 50 flat on the inner turf, as he prepares the colt for an allowance start.
"I'm having a hard time getting a read on him," said McGaughey. "He seems to be doing what he does on the grass easy, but he's never run on it before. I'll probably try him on the dirt first and go to the grass if we need to."
Chiefswood Stables' homebred Forty Zip, a 3-year-old City Zip filly, earned a career-best 75 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating by a nose in a nine-furlong maiden special weight on the Belmont turf on September 27.
McGaughey said the Ontario-bred Forty Zip is likely to make her next start in the $250,000 Wonder Where, a 10-furlong turf test for Canadian-bred sophomore fillies on October 31 at Woodbine Racetrack.
***
Tamahere earns 90 BSF for G2 Sands Point score; Rushing Fall and
Swift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables' Tamahere earned a 90 Beyer for her stylish two-length score in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Sands Point at one-mile on the Belmont turf for sophomore fillies.
Tamahere had Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons for her North American debut, which came off a nearly four-month layoff from her 7 ½-length romp in the Prix la Sorellina at La Teste De Buch in her native France.
"She ran great. It was real impressive," said four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown. "She was reluctant to load but we can work on that. The rest of her race was great."
Brown said the Wootton Bassett bay could have one more start this season but will return for a 4-year-old campaign.
"She may or may not have one more start this year. I'll have to talk to the owners," said Brown.
Klaravich Stables' Reinvestment Risk garnered a career-best 91 Beyer for a second-place finish in Saturday's Grade 1 Champagne when 5 ½-lengths in arrears to undefeated Jackie's Warrior in the one-turn mile for juveniles.
"I was disappointed that he couldn't have made more of an impact in the race," said Brown. "He chased the winner who was ultra-impressive. I'll talk to the owner this week and see where we go from there."
With Ortiz, Jr. up, Reinvestment Risk chased the winner from second in the six-horse field but was unable to make up ground.
"It would have been nice if there was some pace and someone to go with that horse, but that said the horse was super impressive and I'm not sure it would have mattered," said Brown. "I don't want to take anything from the winner. He did what he was supposed to do and is a very talented horse and they've done a good job developing him."
Shadwell Stable homebred Almanaar, an 8-year-old Dubawi gelding, made an impressive return to the races on Saturday by defending his title in the Grade 3 Monmouth, a nine-furlong turf route at Monmouth Park.
The one-length victory under Joe Bravo marked the chestnut's first start since taking last year's edition of the Monmouth when it was a Grade 2 contested in May 2019.
Brown said he was pleased with the effort by Almanaar, who had trained at Saratoga and Belmont into his winning return.
"He's trained well and run well on the course - and in that race - in the past," said Brown. "It was a logical place to get him started. He came in off the layoff and showed his class."
Peter Brant's 2018 Champion Turf Female Sistercharlie worked in tandem Sunday on the Belmont inner turf with e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Rushing Fall covering five furlongs in 1:01.05 in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland.
"They continue to train well as a pair. They're both training towards the Breeders' Cup together," said Brown.
Rushing Fall, a five-time Grade 1-winner, captured the Grade 1 Diana last out on August 23 at Saratoga. Sistercharlie, a seven-time Grade 1-winner, is a half-sister to recent Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass. Both mares will be retired following the Breeders' Cup.
Brown said he doesn't take the opportunity to oversee their morning breezes for granted.
"You kind of pinch yourself in the morning. We don't have too many of those training sessions left to watch," said Brown.
Sistercharlie captured the 2018 renewal of the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs, while Rushing Fall will make her second Breeders' Cup appearance following a winning effort in the 2017 Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.
Klaravich Stables' Digital Age and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Michael J. Ryan's Valid Point worked in company through five-eighths in 1:01.22 Sunday on the inner turf.
The 4-year-old Valid Point, a three-time winner in seven starts, hasn't hit the board in four starts following his Grade 1 Secretariat score in August 2019 at Arlington Park.
Digital Age, a 4-year-old Invincible Spirit colt, boasts a record of five wins and two seconds from 11 starts with purse earnings in excess of $1.2 million. He captured the Grade 1 Turf Classic last out on September 5 at Churchill Downs.
"Valid Point has had a disappointing year so far, but he's training well. We'll figure it out. Digital Age will point to the Breeders' Cup Mile," said Brown.
Digital Age is likely to face stablemates Raging Bull, Uni and Without Parole in the Breeders' Cup Mile.
***
Jackie's Warrior earns 100 BSF in G1 Champagne triumph
J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior earned a career-best 100 Beyer for his second Grade 1 victory in the $250,000 Champagne at Belmont Park for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.
Piloted by Joel Rosario, the juvenile son of Maclean's Music parlayed his winning effort in the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful into another Grade 1-victory, when displaying his usual frontrunning style early on and extending his advantage throughout the stretch run, sailing home a 5 ½-length winner.
"We're just celebrating our win," said Asmussen's Belmont Park-based assistant trainer Toby Sheets. "The horse came out of the race in good shape and we'll go from there. He's a spectacular individual."
Sheets said Midnight Bourbon, who ran third in the Champagne, also emerged from the race in good shape. The son of Tiznow picked up his second placing in a graded stakes event. He was previously second in the Grade 3 Iroquois on September 5 at Churchill Downs.
"I was very happy with him. He ran his race," Sheets said.
Jackie's Warrior, now unbeaten in four lifetime starts, earned an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile after winning the Champagne, which is a Breeders' Cup "Win And You're In" event. He will likely arrive as one of the favorites for the 1 1/16-mile event on November 6 at Keeneland, in attempt to give Asmussen his eighth triumph in a Breeders' Cup race.
Bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables, Jackie's Warrior was purchased for $95,000 from the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.
***
Apprentice rider Charlie Marquez out four weeks
Apprentice jockey Charlie Marquez will be out four weeks after fracturing his right wrist in the last race of Saturday's card at Belmont Park.
His agent, Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero, Jr., said Marquez will return to ride at the fall meet at Aqueduct Racetrack, which runs from November 6 through December 6. The 17-year-old Marquez won three races during the Belmont fall meet, starting with Wushu Warrior on September 25 and following with Forgotten Hero on October 1 and Noble Thought on October 4.
Marquez, aboard Rock N Warrior for Race 11 over Belmont's inner turf on Saturday, was unseated early on the backstretch in Saturday's finale. Rock N Warrior was apprehended and walked off under her own power.
***
Saturday's Cross Country Pick 5 returns nearly $400; handles $126K
Saturday's Cross-Country Pick 5 encompassing an all-graded stakes sequence from Belmont Park, Keeneland Race Course and Monmouth Park returned $397.75 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager with a total pool of $126,982.
Almanaar started things off by becoming the first of two favorites to win in the Cross Country Pick 5, initiating the wager with a one-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Monmouth for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the New Jersey-based track's turf in Race 8. Trained by Chad Brown, the English-bred Almanaar came from well off the pace, tracking in eighth position in the nine-horse field before finishing strong under jockey Joe Bravo to hold off Serve the King by a head in a final time of 1:49.22. Almanaar returned $5 on a $2 win bet.
Civil Union won the first Grade 1 of the sequence in Belmont's Race 8, handling a stretch-drive showdown by besting the Brown-trained My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay to win the $250,000 Flower Bowl for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 1 ¼ miles on the inner turf. A "Win and You're In" qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf next month at Keeneland, the Flower Bowl saw Civil Union hit the wire in 2:01.28 under jockey Joel Rosario, paying $8.10. Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey won the Flower Bowl for the second time in the last four runnings, joining War Flag in 2017.
Keeneland got in the action when Mr Freeze topped Aurelius Maximus by a neck in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track in Race 8. The Dale Romans trainee, off as the favorite, paid $5.20. Ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, Mr Freeze posted a final time of 1:50.71.
Brown trained his second winner of the sequence, saddling the French-bred Tamahere to a two-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Sands Point for sophomore fillies in Belmont's Race 10. Making her United States debut, Tamahere overcome some initial reluctance approaching the gate before the race. Once the race started, she showed top form, surging home under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to win the one-mile turf test in a final time of 1:35.21. She paid $7 to win.
Closing out the Cross Country Pick 5 was the second Grade 1 of the contest, with Harvey's Lil Goil registering a three-quarter length win in the Grade 1, $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in Keeneland's Race 9. Harvey's Lil Goil sat in second position as Sweet Melania led the seven-horse field of 3-year-old fillies before gaining command by the stretch and completing the 1 1/8 mile turf course in 1:48.72. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott and ridden by Martin Garcia, Harvey's Lil Goil, who ran third in the Grade 1 Alabama in August at Saratoga Race Course, paid $9.20.
The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.
The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.
Gambling Problems? The New York Racing Association encourages responsible wagering. If gambling is a problem for you or someone you care about, help is available 24 hours a day. Scan here to talk with someone now about your gambling. Or call toll-free 1-877-8-HOPE-NY.