By Marty McGee
Lexington, KY – When Keeneland fans last saw her, Panty Raid was winning the biggest race of the meet. A victory in the Spinster Stakes last fall capped a remarkable year during which the filly hi for the modern-day racetrack cycle by winning graded stakes on dirt, turf and synthetics.
The 14th runnin of the Grade 3 Doubledogdare Stakes is the spot that trainer Todd Pletcher has handpicked for the return of Panty Raid, who heads a field of seven entered in the Friday feature at Keeneland. A 4-year-old Glencrest Farm filly who was judiciously withheld from the Breeders’ Cup last year after winning the Spinster three weeks beforehand, Panty Raid is a major hopeful for the 25th Breeders’ Cup championship in October, when the BC Distaff will be run at Santa Anita, said Pletcher.
“It was a tough decision on the Breeders’ Cup last year, but we just didn’t feel like there was a perfect race for her at that time,” he said. “In hindsight, we certainly felt comfortable, considering the (sloppy) conditions, with our decision not to rush her back.
“She’s such a versatile filly. She can run so well on any surface, and we felt we could have a really bi year with her. We freshened up and now here we are, ready to go.”
Panty Raid, with Garrett Gomez to ride, will break from post 6 in the $125,000 Doubledogdare, a 1 1/16 mile race, which was carded as the ninth of 10 Friday races. Besides the Spinster, Panty Raid, a daughter of Include, also won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed-Susan Stakes on Pimlico dirt and the Grade 1 American Oaks on the Hollywood Park turf last year.
If her comeback is to be foiled, the most likely upsetters are Say You Will, a Darley Stable filly who most recently was second in the Grade 2 La Canada at Santa Anita; Indescribable, whose three victories include an allowance romp over the Keeneland Polytrack last fall; and Meribel, who won the 2006 Valley View Stakes in her lone try over the Keeneland Polytrack.
The rest of the field is Marquee Delivery, Carriage Trail, and I’m in Love.
The Doubledogdare is part of the late pick four (races 7-10) with a guaranteed pool of $200,000. The race is named for the two-time champion filly (1955-56) owned by Claiborne Farm.
Happy Ticket, Grade One Winner with lifetime earnings of $1,688,838, gave birth to her first foal on March 16, a colt by Distored Humor for owner Stewart Madison.
Happy Ticket is currently boarded at Glencrest Farm and also raced in the Glencrest colors. She is scheduled to be bred back to Empire Maker.
Fantasy Farms is hoping that hip 21 will be a star. The bay colt, a $325,000 KEESEP yearling, is out of a half-sister to the dam of G1 Santa Anita Derby hopeful On the Virg (Pulpit). Consigned by Jerry Bailey Sales Agency, agent, he was purchased for $450,000 at Barretts yesterday. Larry Richardson signed the ticket. “I bought him for Frank Marshall—he and some of his friends are involved in Fantasy Farms.” Marshall knows something about stardom. The Hollywood honcho has produced such hits as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “The Color Purple,” Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “The Sixth Sense,” and, appropriately, “Seabiscuit.” It was on the set of that film that Richardson ran into Marshall. “We met when he was doing that movie, and I’ve been buying horses for him for a couple of years. He is also partners in Sassafras Racing (co-owner of On the Virg). We’ve had some luck, and now we’re trying to grow a little.” Out of stakes-placed Informative, the colt worked an eighth in :10 2/5 at the first preview. “We liked the family, and we hope he runs to his looks.” Was the price what he expected? “Well, they always bring more than you want, but it was a fair price,” Richardson said. “That’s the market.” A native of Louisiana and son of a Quarter Horse trainer, Richardson worked for Nelson Bunker Hunt. “He brought me to Lexington,” the agent said. “I worked for him for a lot of years, and I’ve been buying horses since he went out of business.”
*On the Virg is owned and raced by Glencrest Farm and Partners.
February 9 – Beau Dare, a five-year-old by Military, scored a victory in the 6 furlong Correction Handicap at Aqueduct by half a length.
Run in the colors of Walts David Stable LLC, Beau Dare was bred in Kentucky by Mike Walts and is out of the Beau Genius mare Gen Corp Purposes.
Trained by Bruce Levine, Beau Dare has lifetime earns of $315,458.
Grade 1 winner GUN SALUTE (Military), who was purchased privately late last year and shipped to Dubai earlier this month, worked for new trainer Doug Watson on Monday, according to a report on the Dubai Racing Club's drcnewswire.com.
With jockey Mick Kinane aboard, the six-year-old bay traveled five furlongs on the main track at Nad al Sheba.
"He has covered that in exactly a minute, and we are very pleased," Watson said. "Mick certainly likes the horse, and he is an exciting addition to our Carnival team."
Watson added that Gun Salute would likely use a February 9 turf handicap as a prep for the March 29 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), a nearly nine-furlong turf contest on Dubai World Cup night.
Formerly trained by Bill Mott, Gun Salute captured the Secretariat S. (G1), American Derby (G2), Hawthorne Derby (G3) and Forerunner S. in 2005. He raced only once in 2006, finishing third in the Gulfstream Park S. (G1), and was sidelined for 11 months. Gun Salute took time to regain his best form in 2007, but he ended his campaign with a smart Keeneland allowance score and a third-place performance in the River City H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. He has compiled a record of 19-7-1-4 with $783,099 in earnings.
Gun Salute is now owned by a partnership formed by bloodstock agent Ben McElroy. Plans call for him to return to the United States after his tilt at the Duty Free.
January 27 – Wicklow Vamp, by Military, captured a 7 ½ furlong event at Gulfstream Park by 1 ½ lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by Nancy Shuford, Wicklow Vamp is out of the Proper Reality mare Intowin.
Peter Walder trained the Military mare to her fourteenth career victory.
December 27 – Rack Thief, a three-year-old colt by Military, scored his second career victory as the favorite in a 1 1/16 mile event on the turf at Sam Houston Park by 5 ¼ lengths.
Out of Miss Landers, by Vaguely Noble, Rack Thief was bred in Kentucky by James Godwin.
Henry Johnson Jr. trains the Military colt for Stewart Mather Madison.
December 26 – Beau Dare, a four-year-old filly by Military captured a 6 furlong allowance victory at Aqueduct by 3 ¼ lengths, easily leading the field from the quarter pole.
Bred by Mike Walts in Kentucky, the Bruce Levine trainee is out of the Beau Genius mare, Gen Corp Purposes.
Beau Dare has lifetime earnings of $266,828.
November 29 – Dance for Military, a two-year-old colt by Military captured his maiden victory in a 5 ½ furlong event on artificial surface at Turfway Park by a neck.
Bred in Kentucky by Timber Ridge Farm Inc, the Military colt is out of Dance in Place by Out of Place and is owned by Robert Egizii.
Dance for Military was trained to his maiden victory by Jimmy Corrigan.
Panty Raid had been under consideration for the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) or the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) but was not entered by Pletcher because the trainer was not happy with results of blood work done on the 3-year-old daughter of Include.
“She has rebounded well and she looks great,” Pletcher said. “She had a good breeze on Friday (a half-mile in :50.13 at Belmont Park), so everything looks on schedule at this stage.”
Pletcher also said he had three possibilities for the 133rd running of the $500,000-added Clark Handicap (gr. II) to be run Nov. 23 at a mile and an eighth on the main track.
“A.P. Arrow is here, and Magna Graduate and Fairbanks are under consideration,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher did not know if he would have anything for a pair of closing-day 2-year-old features, the $250,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (gr. II) and the $250,000 Golden Rod (gr. II) for the fillies. Both races are a mile and a sixteenth on the main track.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships marked the first time since 2001 that Pletcher did not have an entry in at least one of the juvenile races.
“It looked like in the summer that Ready’s Image was our best 2-year-old, but he got injured in the Champagne, so that knocked out of (the Breeders’ Cup)” Pletcher said. “It has been a little bit of a slow crop to develop, so we are hoping somebody will step up to the plate.”
KAELIN JOINS THE “300 CLUB” AT CHURCHILL DOWNS: When the Argentine Alliance’s Patricia won the fourth race on the Oct. 31 card, she gave Forrest Kaelin his 300th training victory at Churchill Downs. Kaelin became the seventh trainer to saddle 300 winners under the Twin Spires.
“I have been coming here for 57 years,” said Kaelin, who earned his 301st victory Nov. 2 with Mysius. “I rode here from 1952-62 and probably started training here in 1963 or ’64.”
Kaelin spends most of the year at Churchill Downs with Barn 46 as his home base and recently has spent winters at Tampa Bay Downs.
“My first year here, we were stabled in what is (Bill) Mott’s barn now (Barn 19),” said Kaelin, who saw his first Kentucky Derby in 1952, won by Hill Gail. “That was our home. We lived there.”
Kaelin fondly looked back on the days when horses ran more frequently than they do today.
“It was nothing back then to run in the Derby Trial when it was on Tuesday and then come back in the Derby. Ben Jones used to do that all the time,” Kaelin said. “I had a horse that I rode named Noble Warrior and he won two races in two days … May 6 and 7, 1958.”
NOTES: Haps Stable’s Casino Evil suffered an inside sesamoid fracture to his left front leg during the Nov. 3 $221,600 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III). He was fitted with a Kinsey splint and is back at Barn 45 for trainer Mike Tomlinson...Plans for Darpat S.L. Stables’ Istan were undetermined Nov. 4, a day after the 5-year-old horse’s record 8 ¾-length triumph in the Ack Ack (gr. III). “He’s looking good this morning,” said Kenny McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “I talked briefly with Bill this morning, but no decision has been made on what is next for Istan.”
Honey Ryder, who placed in the last two runnings of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT), arrived Oct. 29 at the Greathouse family's Glencrest Farm near Midway, Ky., to become a broodmare. Owned by John Greathouse Jr. and Dan Tayloe, she is booked to Kingmambo.
By Lasting Approval out of the Affirmed mare Cuando Quiere, 6-year-old Honey Ryder retired with 13 wins from 33 races and earnings of $2,784,160. A true distance specialist, she won as far as 1 1/2 miles, and her average winning distance was about 10 1/2 furlongs.
According to Greathouse, Kingmambo has plenty to offer as a stallion. "It's going to be hard to know what Lasting Approval will cross well with, but with Kingmambo we're going with a proven sire who has sired multiple champions and a horse that gets grass horses," said Greathouse, who named Honey Ryder after a character in the James Bond move Dr. No. "Am I condemning myself to the grass (with the resulting foal)? You bet!"
Honey Ryder finished second to Lahudood in the Oct. 27 Filly & Mare Turf after encountering difficulties. "She got banged up, but there were others who had the same problems," Greathouse said.
"She certainly could have gone back and run again," Greathouse added. "If there were a spot where I could have gotten her over $3 million, I might have taken one more shot, but that opportunity is not there."
Honey Ryder won 10 stakes, seven of which were graded, including the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park and the E.P. Taylor Stakes (Can-IT) at Woodbine. She set course records in two graded stakes at Gulfstream Park.
"The winning races are the easiest to point to as the best, but the one that showed she was going to be different was the 2004 La Prevoyante (Handicap, gr. IIIT, at Gulfstream) as a 3-year-old against good older fillies," Greathouse said. "It was around three turns, and she got in some tight traffic the first turn. The jock had to take a hold of her, and it took all the run out of her. She went from head-to-head for the lead, a place where I didn’t want her to be, to last trailing by many lengths. I thought she got hurt, She was last turning for home, but came flying at the end and got beat a length and a half. We figured out that a mile and a half and a mile and three-eighths is right up her alley."
Bred by Diane Perkins' Wimborne Farm, Honey Ryder is a half-sister to two stakes winners. Greathouse bought her for $70,000 in the name El Scott Farm from the Wimborne dispersal in 2002.
November 1 - Honey Ryder, runner-up in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf arrived at Glencrest Farm on October 30.
Career highlights for the grey mare that is owned by Glencrest included wins in the Flower Bowl S.–G1, Sheepshead Bay H.-G2, Glen Falls H-G3, Orchid H.-G3, and runner- up in the United Nations Handicap and third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in 2006.
Honey Ryder is scheduled to be bred to Kingmambo in 2008.
October 31 – Beau Dare battled to the wire in the 5 furlong Witches Brew Stakes on turf at the Meadowlands to finish second by a head.
The four-year-old filly was bred by Mike Walts in Kentucky and is owned by Walts David Stables LLC.
October 28 – Forza Bruta a three-year-old by Military won a 1 1/16 mile event on the turf by a length at Aqueduct.
Out of the Flying Chevron mare Royal Favor, Forza Bruta was bred in Kentucky by Eugene Guy.
Forza Bruta is trained by Harold James Bond for owners Greyledge Stable.
October 20 – Missions Dream captured a one mile turf event at Louisiana Downs by 3 ½ lengths.
Out of the Beau Genius mare Gen Corp Purposes, Missions Dream was bred in Kentucky by Mike Walts and is owned and trained by Jorge Gomez.
October 12 – Gun Salute, by Military and out of Hail Roberta, scored a victory in a 1 1/16 mile turf allowance at Keeneland leading by 1 ¼ lengths.
Trained to his seventh career victory by William Mott, Gun Salute was bred in Kentucky by owner Brant Laue and has lifetime earnings of $761,496.
Glencrest Farm’s Panty Raid ran a disappointing fifth the last time she met rival Lady Joanne. But in the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) (VIDEO) Oct. 7 at Keeneland, the 3-year-old daughter of Include exacted her revenge in convincing fashion, launching an impressive four-wide move in the stretch to defeat Lady Joanne by a half-length.
Riding Panty Raid for the first time, Garrett Gomez sat off the pace while pacesetters Lady Joanne and Sugar Shake dueled through three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.12. By the time the field of 11 reached the top of the lane, Stronach Stable’s Sugar Shake was beginning to tire, while Lady Joanne, who had soundly defeated Panty Raid in the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 18 at Saratoga, was doing her best at the rail.
But Gomez, who had rated throughout the backstretch and was as far back as fifth after three-quarters, was just beginning the get the multiple graded-stakes winner in high gear. By the time they reached mid-stretch, Panty Raid had drifted wide but still had enough to reel in the betting favorite with steady urging.
"She ran a big race," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "Obviously, there were some high quality fillies in there. It was a big performance; just shows her versatility."
Said Gomez, "She was all there. My main concern was around the first turn, just getting her off the bridle a little bit. She traveled really well for me."
The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.30.
The victory earned Panty Raid, who was bred in Kentucky by Heaven Trees Farm, an automatic berth in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Oct. 27. Pletcher was non-commital on the World Championships, saying he would wait to see how Panty Raid came out of the race before deciding on whether to go to New Jersey.
Going off as the second choice, Panty Raid, out of Private Account mare Adventurous Di, paid $8.20 to win. The exacta (2-8) with Lady Joanne was worth $31.40. Joseph Allen’s Teammate finished well to take third, another half-length back.
Panty Raid has now won four races this year, three of them graded stakes. The dark bay filly has done no worse than second in six of eight career starts and has earned more than $1 million.
October 4 – Three-year-old Rack Thief, captured his maiden victory in a 7 ½ furlong event on the turf at Louisiana Downs by 2 ¼ lengths.
By Military and out of Miss Landers, by Vaguely Noble, the bay colt was bred in Kentucky by James Godwin.
Rack Thief is owned by Stewart Mather Madison and was trained to his maiden victory by Henry B. Johnson Jr.
September 26 – Favored Military three-year-old, Forza Bruta, scored his maiden victory by 2 ¾ lengths in a one mile maiden event at Belmont.
Bred in Kentucky by Eugene Guy, Froza Bruta is owned by Grey Ledge Stable and trained by James Bond.
September 16 - Two-year-old Mr. Muffin Man led as the favorite in a 6 ½ furlong Maiden Special Weight at Northlands Park.
The Kentucky-bred colt is a 2006 Keeneland September graduate, consigned by Tarleton Farm, and was purchased by Stan Ryan for $65,000.
Mr. Muffin Man is trained by Greg Tracy.
September 13 – Hip number 1123, Champali’s first Keeneland yearling, and out of the Meadowlake mare Meadow Flyer, was purchased by John Ferguson for $200,000.
The Kentucky-bred chestnut colt is a half brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Henny Hughes (Hennessy – Meadow Flyer) and was consigned by Trackside Farm for Liberation Farms.
Champali also sired, Bow Tie Pasta, the fourth session sale topper at OBS, who was purchased for $62,000 by WRC Thoroughbred.
Watch for the remaining Champali yearlings yet to sell at Keeneland, hip numbers: 2638, 2862, 2869, 3551, 4138, 4212, 4218, 4314, 4326, 4329, 4457, 4526, 4658, 4857, 4974, 5113, 5288, and 5482.
Three-year-old Hautain, by Military, won a one mile maiden event at Turfway Park September 9th.
Owned and bred by Walts-David Stables, the three-year-old out of the A.P. Indy daughter Happy Brook, battled the leader and edged away for a one length victory under the direction of Tim Glyshaw.
Honey Ryder and Panty Raid, both under the direction of Todd Pletcher, breezed on July 29 in preparation for their next races.
Honey Ryder galloped a half in :49 3/5 and is heading for her second attempt at the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) at Arlington Park on August 11. In her last start, Honey Ryder took on the boys at Monmouth in the United Nations Handicap (gr. IT) finishing second just behind English Channel and found victory earlier in the year when she captured the Sheepshead Bay Handicap (gr. IIT).
Panty Raid breezed a half mile in :48 2/5 in preparation for her August 18 start in the Alabama Stakes (gr.1) at Saratoga, where she will face Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Rags to Riches. Panty Raid is coming off her first grade one win in the American Oaks (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park and a victory in the Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II).
USA TODAY horse racing writer Tom Pedulla looks at 12 of the top horses expected to run during the six-event Breeders’ Cup Challenge (“Win and you’re in”) series that kicks off Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.”
HONEY RYDER
Record, Earnings: 31:13-3-8; $2,343,310
Breeders’ Cup Target: Filly & Mare Turf
Next Scheduled Start: Beverly D. (Aug. 11; Arlington Park, Ill)
Owner: Glencrest Farm (LLC)
Breeder: Wimborne Farm, Inc, (KY)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Career Highlights: Mare showed exceptional ability when she battled the boys in the United Nations Handicap at Monmouth and placed second to stablemate English Channel. Finished third in the Filly & Mare Turf in 2006
Championship Potential: Can be forgiven for her only poor performance this year because it came in Dubai. Other than that, her late kick can be counted on everytime.
Quotable: “ She’s run second twice against males this year. She’s been a great mare for us running as a six-year-old. Hopefully, she will show up in the Filly & Mare Turf on Breeders’ Cup Day.” –Todd Pletcher
Other horses in USA TODAY’s Dashing Dozen include, Preakness winner Curlin, United Nations winner English Channel, Flashy Bull, Hard Spun, Lava Man, Nashoba’s Key, Belmont Stakes winner Rags to Riches, Ready’s Image, Smokey Stover, Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and The Tin Man.
Champali's first yearlings are prepping for the 2007 sale season. His first offerings at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July sold well with his top priced filly bringing $67,000.
Keeneland Selected Yearlings September 10-23, 2007
Colt: 1123
Sanford Stakes-G2 winner Ready’s Image has multiple associations with Glencrest stemming back three generations. His third dam, Turn n’ See was owned by Glencrest and was bred to farm stallion Wavering Monarch. That mating produced Turn a Phrase, who was sold as a weanling, but then repurchased later as a broodmare. She in turn was bred to farm stallion Clever Trick and the resulting foal, Clever Phrases is the dam of the two-year-old
Patrician Lady battled for the lead and took a clear advantage to win the 6 furlong Allowance for three-year-old fillies by 1 3/4 lengths.
Multiple graded stakes winner Military ranked fourth among all Kentucky sires in the 2006 APEX ratings for two-year-olds. Sired by Danzig, Military has made a name for himself as a leading young sire with Grade One winner Gun Salute and stakes winners Atten Hut, Tin Can Sailor, Beau Dare, and Wicklow Vamp.
For more information on Apex ratings please visit http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com.
Glencrest Farm's Panty Raid, making her turf debut for trainer Todd Pletcher, got a dream stalking trip under Edgar Prado to win the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) for 3-year-old fillies in a mild surprise on the Hollywood Park turf course Saturday.
Pletcher made it back-to-back wins in the American Oaks after taking last year's running with the Eclipse Award-winning filly Wait a While.
"It was a beautiful trip," Prado said. "We were in the perfect position, and when I asked, she really responded. She proved today that she could go either way, turf or dirt."
Panty Raid, a dark bay Include filly, was the winner of the Black-Eyed Susan (gr. II) in her last start at Pimlico May 18. She has now won three in a row for Pletcher, who earlier in the day won the $750,000 United Nations (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park with English Channel. Pletcher didn't travel from his East Coast base for the race, so assistant Ginny DePasquale saddled his horses.
"It's pretty wide open where we will take her next," DePasquale said. "I had a lot of confidence in her, and I really thought she could do it today because she tries hard and gives it her all every time."
Perfectly positioned on the outside while racing close to a meandering pace, Panty Raid overtook the leaders in upper stretch after a three-wide bid on the final turn. She inched away gamely from the furlong pole and was under full urging as she hit the wire three parts of a length in front in a time of 2:01 2/5 for the 1 1/4-mile distance on a baking firm course. Sent off as the fourth choice in the nine-horse field, the winner paid $13, $5.40, and $3.20. Valbenny, the local hope after winning the Honeymoon Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIT) in her last start, returned $3.40 and $2.60 as the 5-2 wagering favorite. Anamato was $3.60 to show.
Panty Raid earned her fourth victory in six lifetime starts -- all but one coming this year -- and boosted her earnings to $692,275 with Saturday's winning purse of $450,000. Out of the Private Account mare Adventurous Di, Panty Raid was bred in Kentucky by Heaven Trees Farm and was sold for $275,000 at Keeneland's 2-year-old sale in April 2006.
John W. Greathouse, Jr. has two fillies running Saturday, Honey Ryder against the boys at Monmouth Park in the United Nations Handicap-G1 and Black Eyed Susan-G2 victress Panty Raid, travels across country to try the turf in Hollywood Park's American Oaks Invitational-G1. Both were purchased by Greathouse at auction and are trained by the nation's leading trainer Todd Pletcher.
Greathouse will be on hand at Monmouth for Honey Ryder's match up against males, led by Breeder's Cup Turf winner Better Talk Now and English Channel-G1. "She traveled well to Dubai but failed to fire at Nad al Sheba," commented Pletcher. She returned to Belmont to win the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay for a second time.
Across country Panty Raid joins other Pletcher invaders at Hollywood. "Panty Raid has been very good on dirt, but (rider) Prado said all along she would like turf, and she has worked very well on it here," said Pletcher in reference to drills at Belmont Park.
Greathouse is hoping for big efforts from both his girls on Saturday, with Breeder's Cup Day races the ultimate goal for both.
Glencrest Farm's Honey Ryder, handled patiently by Garrett Gomez, swept past stablemate Safari Queen inside the final sixteenth of a mile to make it back-to-back victories in the $150,000 Sheepshead Bay Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Belmont Park inner turf course Saturday.
The Todd Pletcher-trained Honey Ryder, who had a five-race losing streak on the Belmont lawn prior to her win in last year's 1 3/8-mile Sheepshead Bay for fillies and mares, has now won three in a row over the course, including last fall's Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT). Saturday's race was her first since finishing 11th in the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-I) on the World Cup program March 31.
Pletcher also trains Saturday's runner-up, 13-10 Safari Queen, who was the narrow second choice to 11-10 pick Honey Ryder. Honey Ryder carried top weight of 123 pounds, four more than Safari Queen.
“I’ve always thought the shipping back from Dubai thing has always been overrated,” Pletcher said. “The horses that we’ve brought back have always come back in good form. This filly came back -- and could have run a month ago. This is the spot we circled to point for. Fractions weren’t real fast, but she rated kindly. It was a good effort. I was hoping for a dead-heat, though. Safari Queen ran a game race and I’m very proud of her.”
Honey Ryder, a 6-year-old daughter of Lasting Approval--Cuando Quiere, by Affirmed, raced without blinkers for the first time in ages Saturday. The change in equipment had little obvious effect on her running style as she fell back to next-to-last in the field of seven for most of the journey. After moving up between horses on the final turn, Gomez angled Honey Ryder to the far outside coming into the stretch and she drove to victory by one length in a time of 2:13 on a firm course.
“Two or three of them left there in good shape, so I went ahead and nudged her right before we went under the wire to stay a little closer,” Gomez said. “Just as we went a little way, I changed my mind. I said, `They’re going at a pretty good clip. Let me just back off.’ I got myself shuffled back a little bit. From then on, she is just a true professional.”
Safari Queen, ridden by John Velazquez, was forwardly placed on the outside of the pacesetters as 96-1 shot Moon Dolly led Cliffrose through a sensible clip of :23 3/5, :48 3/5 and 1:13 2/5. In upper stretch, the Argentine-bred Safari Queen collared the leaders and inched away to gain the clear advantage, but she could not hold off Honey Ryder charging down the center of the course. Safari Queen finished three quarters of a length in front of Hostess and Channing Hill, who finished with interest after tracking the leaders along the inside into the lane.
Honey Ryder won for the first time in three starts in 2007. Prior to the disappointing trip to Nad Al Sheba, Honey Ryder faced males in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup (gr. IT) and missed by a neck while finishing second to Jambalaya. Her win Saturday was the 13th in a 30-race career that has earned $2,193,310.
She paid $4.30, $2.40 and $2.20. Safari Queen, a four-time graded winner in her previous five starts, returned $2.40 and $2.10. Hostess, coming off a strong second in an overnight stakes at 10 furlongs over the course on May 3, was $4.40 to show.
Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher, the national earnings leader with more than $12 million in purses, seeks to pad those figures with an invasion of Hollywood Park for the three richest races of the meet the next two weekends.
Pletcher confirmed from his New York base Wednesday that he will ship A.P. Arrow west Thursday for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) on Saturday. On Tuesday he will fly three fillies west: champion Wait a While for the $1 million CashCall Mile (gr. IIT) on July 6, and Audacious Chloe and Panty Raid for the $750,000 American Oaks (gr. IT) on July 7.
Audacious Chloe has won four of five turf starts while Panty Raid will make her grass debut in the American Oaks after winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico for her third victory in five outings. David Flores has the call on Audacious Chloe, while Edgar Prado will remain aboard Panty Raid.
“Audacious Chloe has run real well on turf and I’m hoping she will handle a mile and a quarter,” said Pletcher of the Team Valor co-owned More Than Ready filly. She has strung together three straight stakes victories on the turf at Gulfstream, Keeneland and Monmouth, the longest at 1 1/16 miles.
“Panty Raid has been very good on dirt, but Prado said all along she would like turf, and she has worked very well on it here,” said Pletcher in reference to drills at Belmont Park.
Pletcher, who shipped a 17-horse division to Hollywood Park from November to April for the first time last winter, said he planned to follow suit again this fall.
Patrician Lady broke her maiden in style winning wire-to-wire and defeating a group of fillies and mares by 9 lengths in a 4 1/2 furlong maiden special weight.
Reenlisted stalked the pace and rallied on the second turn to prevail in the stretch and win by a length in a one mile event for three-year-olds and up.
MG1SW Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval), who was unsuccessful in her bid to beat the boys in the Mar. 31 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic, makes her first start since that overseas trek in the GII Sheepshead Bay H. at Belmont Park tomorrow. The six-year-old mare captured four of seven starts last season, including a nose decision in the Oct. 7 G1 Flower Bowl Invitational H. She capped the year with a third-place finish in the G1 Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf, and was beaten by just a neck when second in her 2007 opener, the Feb. 24 G1 Gulfstream Park BC H. Connections opted to take on colts again at Nad al Sheba, but the gray mare failed to fire, finishing 11th behind Vengeance of Rain (NZ). “She never really got on track last time,” trainer Todd Pletcher explained, adding, “She’s trained very well since coming back.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher appears to have the competition over a barrel in Saturday's Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Handicap as he is scheduled to seend out both Honey Ryder and Safari Queen in the 1 3/8-mile turf stakes.
Honey Ryder, who won this race and the Flower Bowl Invitational over this course last year, will be making her first start since finishing 11th in the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 31. She finished third in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare turf last November.
The raid was on at cloudy Pimlico Friday. Panty Raid, under Edgar Prado, came from off the pace to win the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) with authority.
The 3-year-old daughter of Include, sat patiently while racing at the rail on a track that most of the day was favoring speed. She ran down the front runners in the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile event under steady right-handed urging to gain her first stakes win by one length over a game Winning Point.
A convivial crowd of 25, 167 braved the overcast skies on Black-Eyed Susan day at Pimlico, enjoying thirteen live races and sending nearly $10.7 million through the betting windows on what is
Panty Raid nearly became a stakes winner two races back when she was beaten a head in the March 24 Bourbonette (gr. III) at
Baroness Thatcher, the 17-10 favorite in the eight-horse Black-Eyed Susan field, made the lead out of the gate and was followed by Enchanting Star, Grace Happens and Panty Raid as the group ran down the stretch the first time and through the first turn.
They ran the opening quarter in :24.05 and a half in :48.08 as Garrett Gomez kept Baroness Thatcher on the lead. Enchanting Star and Joe Rocco were dueling in second as Grace Happens took third and Panty Raid settled nicely in fourth. They went six furlongs in 1:11.90.
Baroness Thatcher still had a comfortable 1 1/2-length lead as the field cornered for home, with Enchanting Star coming under pressure in second, followed by Winning Point, under Luis Garcia, and Panty Raid.
As they straightened away down the stretch, Panty Raid was full of run and split horses. She won with something in reserve after taking control at the sixteenth pole as Winning Point jut got second, a neck better than Baroness Thatcher. The final time was 1:50.07.
"I started to get worried at the half-mile pole because she didn’t grab the bit," said Prado, a perennial champion at the
Bred in
“I could see at the half-mile pole Edgar was asking her for a little more," Pletcher said. "It looks to me like she’s a filly that’s very steady. She keeps coming and that’s why I thought the mile and an eighth would suit her very well.”
Out of the Private Account mare Adventurous Di, the dark bay filly was purchased for $275,000 at the 2006 Keeneland April auction of 2-year-olds in training.
Panty Raid paid $5.80, $3.40, and $2.60, while Winning Point returned $4 and $2.80.
Psychic Star led by two lengths as he captured a 1 mile 70 yard event for three-year-olds and up at Calder.
PANTY RAID (Include--Adventurous Di {SP}, by Private Account) opened plenty of eyes in her
Panty Raid is owned by Glencrest Farm LLC, and trained by Todd A Pletcher.
Honey Ryder has arrived in
Grade 1 winner Happy Ticket (Anet -- Love and Happiness, by Septieme Ciel), the richest Louisiana-bred of all time, has been retired from racing, according to Daily Racing Forum. She will be sent to Glencrest Farm in Kentucky, but breeding plans have not yet been finalized. "I wanted to have her here in New Orleans in case we wanted to continue to run," owner/breeder Stewart Madison told DRF. "I've just kind of been on the fence, and after a while I said, you know, she's really done everything she could do and she deserves to have the day off as they say. She's really in good physical shape. She's happy as can be, and she's done everything for us we could ever ask. She's just been a great racehorse for us."
Trained by Andrew Leggio Jr., the blazed-faced bay whistled through her first nine races, including the G3 Chicago Breeders' Cup H., before losing her perfect record when second to Madcap Escapade in the 2005 G2 Princess Rooney H. at Calder. She rebounded by defeating eventual G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Pleasant Home in the G1 Ballerina S. and was second to Ashado in the G1 Beldame S.
Happy Ticket kicked off 2006 with a victory at Evangeline Downs before sustaining a heartbreaking pair of neck losses at Oaklawn, to Round Pond in the G3 Azeri Breeders' Cup H. March 11 and to Spun Sugar in the G1 Apple Blossom H. April 8. She rebounded with a victory in the G2 Fleur de Lis H. at Churchill June 17 and made her final career start in the November 4 G1 Breeders' Cup Distaff, where she crossed the line third before being put up to second. Happy Ticket heads to the breeding shed with a record of 20-12-6-0 and earnings of $1,688,838.
*Happy Ticket is currently in foal to Distored Humor and due to foal March 2008.
Todd Pletcher, coming off a record-smashing year in North America that earned him his third consecutive Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer, plans to send five horses to the United Arab Emirates for Dubai World Cup day, March 31.
Pletcher has confirmed that he is aiming two entries each for the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-1) and the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-1), as well as grade 1 winner Honey Ryder for the US$5 million Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-1).
Pletcher also praised Honey Ryder, who just missed capturing the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf Stakes by a neck to Jambalaya on February 22 in her first start against males.
A 6-year-old mare owned by Glencrest Farm, Honey Ryder has been a model of consistency, winning 12 of 28 starts and placing 10 times while bankrolling $2.1 million.
"We expected her to run well, and hopefully she'll improve off that," Pletcher said of the Gulfstream effort. "She certainly earned her way over there to Dubai."
Five-year-old mare by Military, Haveagoodtime, pressed the pace and dueled down the stretch to capture the victory by a neck in a six and one half furlong event for four-year-old and upward fillies and mares.
Honey Ryder, winner of the Flower Bowl Invitational S.-G1 crossed the wire in third Emirate Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf-G1spot just behind Europian Horse of the Year, Ouija Board and Film Maker. The three-year-old Todd Pletcher trainee had defeated Film Maker in the G3 Glens Falls H. in Saratoga last summer and has had a previous slew of wins including GI E.P. Taylor S at Woodbine and R.G. Dick BC H. at Delaware Park.
Honey Ryder is not afraid of a fight. The gray mare bested Film Maker by a neck in the GIII Glens Falls H. at Saratoga last summer, took the GI E.P. Taylor S.at Woodbine by a half length in October and capped a hat trick of victories with a head tally in the R.G. Dick BC H. at Delaware Park July 15. She ran out of real estate when fourth in the Aug. 12 GI Beverly D. S., but got up in time yesterday. Rated just off the pace as stablemate Jade Queen cut out the fractions, Honey Ryder was set down at the top of the lane and battled her way between the pacsetter and super solid Film Maker to get the nod in a tight finish. "It was not easyfor her to do what she did," said jockey John Velazquez. "She got squeezed between horses and kept running. While the other horses had a clean trip coming to the quarter-pole, I had to squeeze my way out. I tried to do what was best for the horse by saving ground and waiting for our time. Luckily it worked out well, she put up a good fight."
A colt by Booklet topped Tuesday's action at Keeneland September selling to John Brocklebank, agent, for $500,000. Out of the unraced Wavering Monarch mare Fees Waived, hip 2804 was consigned by Vinery Ltd. The bay was bred in Kentucky by Glencrest Farm. Booklet, winner of the 2002 G1 Fountain of Youth S., died of colic in 2004. His first foals are yearlings of 2006.
Wicklow Vamp, a five-year-old mare, by Military captured an allowance at Calder Race Course on September 3. Finishing 6 ¼ lengths in front for the 1 mile win and $23,000 purse.
Military Dream also collected another win for her sire in a 6 furlong event for three-year-olds and up fillies and mares at Louisiana Downs. Finishing clear by 2 lengths, came from the outside to run down the center to win going away.
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Happy Ticket wondered what was going on. She was alert and ready to race as she occupied the first stall in the paddock prior to the third race last Saturday at Louisiana Downs.
But the race was for Quarter Horses.
Happy Ticket was in the paddock to make a personal appearance. She is the second-richest Louisiana-bred of all-time, and was honored before the eight Thoroughbred stakes on the Louisiana Downs Champions Day card.
As a Grade 1 winner of $1.2 million, she is just $33,215 shy of surpassing Louisiana-bred leader Scott's Scoundrel.
The milestone could come in her next start. Happy Ticket's owner, Stewart Madison, and her trainer, Andrew Leggio, are pointing her for the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster at Keeneland on Oct 8, provided she handles the new Polytrack surface at the Lexington, Ky., track.
"Our plans are to go to Keeneland, to go there maybe 10 days to two weeks prior to the race and work on that Polytrack that they have over there," said Leggio.
If Happy Ticket handles the new surface, she will run in the Spinster, then remain in Kentucky for the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4. If she does not handle the Polytrack in her work, she will ship from Kentucky to New York for the Grade 1, $600,000 Beldame at Belmont Park on Oct. 7.
Julien Leparoux has the mount on Happy Ticket in either race, said Madison. He rode her to victory in the Grade 2, $300,000 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs in June, and was also aboard for her last start Aug. 6, when she finished second in the Grade 2, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar.
Glencrest Farm owned Panty Raid (f, 2, Include--Adventurous Di (SP)), broke her maiden first time out in the 2nd race of the day, a six furlong maiden two-year-old filly race, at Saratoga on August 10. An $110,000 FTKJUL yearling and purchased as a juvenile by Glencrest for $275,000 at KEEAPR, stole the show posting an impressive victory at first asking. Forwardly placed by John Velazquez, the 4-1 chance was pressed through :22.68 and :46.52 splits, but had plenty left for the stretch, cruising home a 7 3/4-length victress over 9-5 Autobahn Girl (A.P. Indy). Panty Raid, a half to Franc (Woodman), SW-Fr, $153,319, becomes the sixth winner for her freshman sire (by Broad Brush).
“Stay tuned... A top filly in top hands is very dangerous!”
(Airdrie Stud TDN advertisement)
Panty Raids next start is scheduled for the GI - Spin Away Stakes at Saratoga.
photo credit Adam Coglianese
Saturday's $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes has lured three of the top-ten ranked contenders for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) Division in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association's latest poll.
Honey Ryder, ranked second, fourth-ranked Film Maker, and number six Gorella (Fr) are all slated to contest the 1 3 1/6-mile turf race for fillies and mares three years old and older.
The powerful 11-horse Beverly D. field also drew Grade 1 winner Sharp Lisa, multiple Grade 2 winner Wend, multiple Grade 3 winner Rich in Spirit, Grade 3 winners Chic Dancer and Royal Copenhagen (Fr), and English- and Irish-classic placed three-year-old Rising Cross (GB).
Honey Ryder, a five-year-old Lasting Approval mare trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Glencrest Farm, totes a three-race winning streak into the Beverly D. Her only loss in four starts this season came on March 4 at Gulfstream Park when she was third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths by Wend in the Honey Fox Handicap (G3).Happy Ticket returned to Louisiana Downs on Tuesday afternoon following her second-place finish in the Grade 2, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar and will make one more start before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, said her trainer, Andrew Leggio Jr.
Leggio said Happy Ticket is to run in either the Grade 1, $600,00 Beldame at Belmont Park on October 7 or the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster at Keeneland on October 8. Last year, she was second in the Beldame.
Happy Ticket walked the shed row on Wednesday.
"She’ll probably walk for 10 days or so," said Leggio. "That’s what I do with her every time she runs, just let her get back her energy, let her get pumped up again."
Happy Ticket won the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis at Churchill Downs in June, and earlier this year was second in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap.
Happy Ticket Race Record:
Life: 18 13 4 0 $1,236,838
2006: 4 3 2 0 $454,578
2005: 6 3 2 0 $535,500
Honey Ryder kicked off a three-race winning streak in this event last year, taking it by 5 1/4 lengths. She followed with a neck victory in the GIII Glens Falls H. at Saratoga before reaching new heights with a half-length tally in the GI E.P. Taylor S. at Woodbine in October. Freshened after that performance, the gray mare returned to be third in the Mar. 4 GIII Honey Fox H., then was back in the winner’s circle after the Apr. 1 GII Orchid H. She added a one-length success in the May 27 GII Sheepshead Bay H. last time out and was odds on to defend her title here. Rated off snail-like fractions of :53.96 and 1:19.93, Honey Ryder was still able to run down pacesetter Olaya, getting up in the shadow of the wire.
Adieu, a filly who showed great promise as a juvenile, but was winless in her first two three-year-old starts, regained prominence Saturday as she circled the leaders and charged home to a 21/4-length victory in the $500,900 Delaware Oaks (G2) at Delaware Park.
Heavily favored Hystericalady set a sensible pace, covering the first six furlongs in 1:12.12, but the Hollywood Park shipper tired nearing the stretch. Amandatude moved boldly to the lead, but could not withstand Adieu and jockey John Velazquez.
Owned by Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith, the Kentucky-bred El Corredor filly won four of six starts last year, including the Frizette Stakes (G1) and Spinaway Stakes (G2), but ended the year on a sour note with a seventh place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). In her most recent start, Adieu finished fourth in the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park for trainer Todd Pletcher. She opened 2006 with a runner-up finish in the La Troienne Stakes (G3) on May 6 at Churchill Downs, her first start since the Breeders’ Cup. “I think the third race back is, a lot of the times, the best in a return cycle,” Pletcher said.
Adieu was raised, bred and sold by Glencrest Farm
Happy Ticket won 10 of her first 11 starts, including a 5 1/2-length romp in the GI Ballerina H. last August. She was a half-length behind champion Ashado when second in the GI Beldame S. Oct. 1. The bay returned to take a Louisiana-bred stakes at Evangeline Downs in February, but missed by a neck in both the Mar. 11 GII Azeri BC S. and the GI Apple Blossom H. and took to the bench.
Back here after a two-month freshening, she was caught off-guard by the start, but soon had crowd’s choice Oonagh Maccool in her sights through temperate early fractions. Jockey Julien Leparoux asked the question at the quarter pole and Happy Ticket responded, running down the favorite in the shadow of the wire. With the win, she became a millionaire!
Charles Wacker’s homebred Oonagh Maccool (Ire) will try to remain unbeaten in four starts this season as she takes on Grade 1 winner Happy Ticket in the $300,000 Fleur de Lis handicap (G2) on Saturday, June 17, at Churchill Downs.
Her stiffest opposition most likely will come from Stewart Madison’s homebred Happy Ticket, a winner of 11 of 16 career starts with four second-place finishes for trainer Andy Leggio Jr.
The five-year-old Anet mare won all seven of her starts as a three-year-old, her first season of racing, and three of six starts last year, including the Chicago breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) at Arlington Park and the Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
Happy Ticket opened her season with a 51/2-length victory in the Louisiana Premier Night Distaff Stakes and enters off back-to-back neck losses to Round Pond and Spun Sugar in the Azeri Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) and Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), respectively.
Military will have two of his top performs competing in Saturday’s Stephen Foster under card at Churchill Downs. Three year old Beau Dare is first up in the Grade 3 Regret S. followed shortly by four year old Beaugeste in the Grade 3 Mint Julep H.
Beau Dare’s previous stakes highlights have included a win in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S. and a second in the Jessamine S in 2005 accumulating lifetime earning of over $120,000. Beaugeste is winner of two allowance races at three, both of which were at Churchill Downs, with total earnings of $114,761.
Glencrest Farm’s Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) improved her record at 11 furlongs to four wins in five tries with her success in the GII Sheepshead Bay H. at Belmont. The grey could face the boys at that distance. “We’ve kicked around the idea of trying the United Nations (GI, 11fT, 7-8),” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “We’ll keep all of our options open.”
Honey Ryder had gone from strength to strength in the last year, after a close fifth in last year’s Sheepshead Bay, the grey rattled off three straight wins at Delaware, Saratoga and Woodbine, capping her season with a tally in the GI E.P. Taylor S. Oct. 23. The long-distance specialist came up a bit short in her seasonal bow, finishing third in the 8 1/2-furlong GIII Honey Fox H. at Gulfstream Mar. 4. But she responded with a successful title defense in the GII Orchid H. Apr. 1, setting a mark of 2:23 for the 12-furlong race, and was ready to run here. After saving ground in the early stages, the crowd’s choice angled out in the lane and finally got past the stubborn pacesetter Noble Stella. “She’s a better mare than she was a year ago,” said Todd Pletcher. “Everybody finished up well; it was a good race.”
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Happy Ticket worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 last Saturday at Louisiana Downs as she continues to train strongly for the Grade 2, $300,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 17.
The race will be Happy Ticket's first start since finishing second by a neck to Spun Sugar in the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park on April 8. Before that race, she was second by a neck to Round Pond in the Grade 3, $175,000 Azeri on March 11.
"Those two races, she ran her heart out," said Andrew Leggio Jr., who trains Happy Ticket for Stewart Madison. "We figured she needed a little rest. We gave her 10 days of eating grass, having fun."
Happy Ticket's work Saturday was her second since the Apple Blossom. She was a dappled picture of health when she came onto the track at about 9 a.m. under jockey Lonnie Meche. Happy Ticket turned in the quickest move of seven at the distance, and came home her final quarter in 23.59 seconds, according to clockers at Louisiana Downs.
"It was a pretty strong work, without asking her to run," Leggio said. "She just did it on her own. She's doing great. She can't train any better."
Happy Ticket returned to the track on Tuesday. She could work again next Wednesday, May 31, or on Thursday, June 1, said Leggio.
The year-end goal is the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Madison and Leggio are discussing the path to take to get her there, and beyond the Fleur de Lis will look at options in California and New York.
Madison said races of interest include the Grade 1, $250,000 Go for Wand at Saratoga on July 30 and the Grade 2, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar on Aug. 6. "That's just real tentative," said Madison.
Madison bred Happy Ticket, a daughter of Anet, a Grade 2 winner and grandson of Icecapade. Her dam is Love and Happiness, who is a daughter of Septieme Ciel.
"The cross between Icecapade and Septieme Ciel is good, and I liked Anet," said Madison. "He was a very versatile racehorse."
Madison raced Love and Happiness, and was advised to keep her as a broodmare because of the heart she showed on the track. She won 3 races and finished second in 3 others in 8 career starts. Happy Ticket has her dam's determination, and is a winner of 11 of 16 starts and $977,260.
"She gives you everything she's got," said Madison.
Happy Ticket's biggest win came in last year's Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga
Happy Ticket was bred and raised at Glencrest Farm.
Unbridled Slew (Red Bullet) caused a sensation when working a record eighth-of-a-mile in :9 3/5 and backed up the frenzy with a sale-record price of $2.5 million at the Barretts May Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley Stable made the winning bid.
Sold as hip 80, Unbridled Slew is out of Sookloozy (Avenue of Flags) and was consigned by Ciaran Dunne’s Wavertree Stables, agent. The juvenile was purchased for $190,000 by Mike Akers’s Dapple Bloodstock and David Greathouse at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the Greathouse Bloodstock Pinhook Venture II.
Military’s 3 year old daughter Beau Dare, returns to racing action today at Oaklawn in the instant Racing Breeders Cup S.
Beau Dare is the winner of the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies S. and was second in the Jessamine S in 2005.
This is her full brother.
Before the April 1 Orchid H. (G3) at Gulfstream Park, defending champion Honey Ryder appeared poised to deliver another good performance. In the race itself, she far exceeded those sedate expectations. Honey Ryder's effort in the 1 1/2-mile contest was nothing short of scintillating. The Todd Pletcher-trained gray rated comfortably behind a fast pace for a marathon, and with John Velazquez apparently motionless in the saddle, she swept to the front leaving the far turn. The best was yet to come. As the talented Grade 2 winner OLAYA (Theatrical [Ire]) followed her into the stretch, about a length or so behind, and for a nanosecond looked as though she might just make a race of it, Honey Ryder kicked into overdrive. Watching the powerful gray draw off by four lengths, leaving the classy Olaya for dead, was a thing of beauty. Her final time was 2:23, reportedly a new course record, which was more than a second faster than the males posted in the Pan American H. (G3) two races later on the card (2:24 1/5).
All of which begs the question: how would Honey Ryder have fared in the Pan American? Honey Ryder earned a 111 BRIS Speed figure for the Orchid, while Pan American winner SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup) was given a 107, but the two races shaped up differently. In the Orchid, the female pacesetters kept up their taxing march, getting the six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 and the mile in 1:35 4/5 before fading in the drive. In contrast, the males in the Pan American slowed down the tempo in the middle stages, posting splits of 1:13 1/5, 1:38 2/5 and 2:01 2/5. After that breather, Silver Whistle sprinted home in a sub-:23 final quarter. In comparison, Honey Ryder drew to within a length of the leader through 1 1/4 miles in 1:59 3/5, yet she still came home in a shade less than :23 2/5. Moreover, it's worth noting that Silver Whistle was all out to get to get the nod in the photo, while Honey Ryder was all alone with no dangers anywhere nearby. Indeed, she was traveling so well throughout that searching end-to-end gallop, that I'm tempted to think that she could well have won the Pan American.
Honey Ryder was no slouch last year, having narrowly defeated Grade 1 queen FILM MAKER (Dynaformer) in the Glens Falls H. (G3) at Saratoga and crowning her season with a victory in the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) on a yielding course at Woodbine last October, but she looks much improved this year as a five-year-old. With Film Maker back working steadily for trainer Graham Motion after her winter break, a rematch between these two would be fascinating.
Digging deep to regain the lead, Spun Sugar edged fellow Grade 1 winner Happy Ticket after a thrilling stretch duel en route to a neck win in the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
A determined Spun Sugar battled back after dropping a head behind Happy Ticket in early stretch of the 11/16-mile race. Spun Sugar handed Happy Ticket her second straight defeat after clinging to the lead in deep stretch, finishing in 1:42.59 on a fast track. Grade 2 winner La Reason finished third, 61/2 lengths behind Happy Ticket.
Happy Ticket broke on top in the race for older females but quickly relinquished her lead to Spun Sugar, igniting a duel for command which lasted right down to the wire. Stalking the pace in third for six furlongs, Happy Ticket moved up on the turn and challenged Spun Sugar, who was positioned closest to the inside. But Happy Ticket could not outlast Spun Sugar, who held on to notch her second graded stakes win.
Stewart Madison’s Happy Ticket was assigned high weight of 119 pounds for Saturday’s $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) at Oaklawn Park, and looms as the possible favorite in the absence of familiar rival Round Pond in the 11/16-mile race for older fillies and mares.
Happy Ticket made her Oaklawn debut in her previous start the Azeri Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) and battled Round Pond from start to finish before coming up a neck short in that race. “I am really looking forward to the race with or without Round Pond,” Happy Ticket’s trainer Andrew Leggio Jr. said. “There are some nice mares in there.”
Honey Ryder proved that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the Turf Distaff division with a comprehensive victory here. The defending champion of this event, the gray added scores in the Robert G. Dick BC H. at
Allowed to lope along towards the back of the pack, Honey Ryder eased out four wide approaching the final turn, advanced in hand at the quarter pole and won as much the best. “I think this is probably the best race she’s ever run, which is saying a lot because she’s been such a very good, consistent mare,” commented winning trainer Todd Pletcher. “We’ll take a look at the [GIII] Bewitch S. (Apr. 26) at Keeneland and play it from there.”
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"She is so classy and intelligent, and has great balance."
Walter Hillenmeyer, Woodlyn Farm on fist reported foal 1.26.06
Champali colt out of Back To The Future
"A striking foal with good bone and attitude."
(Dr. Charles Kidder, DVM)
Evenly matched and nearly mirroring each other stride-for-stride, Round Pond and Happy Ticket engaged in a soft duel around the
Round Pond broke on top with Happy Ticket only a half-length back and gaining, shortening the margin to a head through moderate early fractions. Happy Ticket, dueling off the rail, gained the lead briefly in the stretch as Round Pond accepted the challenge. Tenacious and professional, Round Pond found another gear and dug in with diligence, refuting the omnipresent Happy Ticket to put a neck in front at the wire in a final time of 1:43.93 for the 11/16 miles over a fast track. Platinum Ballet made a good late rush to finish 11/4 lengths behind Happy Ticket in third.
Happy Ticket (Anet) galloped two miles on Wednesday in preparation for a showdown against fellow Grade 1 winner Round Pond (Awesome Again) in the $175,000 Azeri Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) on Saturday.
Happy Ticket the winner of the 2005 Ballerina Stakes (G1) arrived in Hot Springs, Arkansas, following a three-hour van ride from Bossier City, Louisiana, on Monday.
“She seems to have no problem handling the track,’’ trainer Andy Leggio Jr. said. “She’ll gallop Thursday and Friday. Then on Saturday, she’ll walk in the morning and run in the afternoon.”
Happy Ticket and Round Pond will face a field of fillies and mares that may include Private Gift (Unbridled), the winner of the 2005 Truly Bound Breeders’ Cup Handicap. Trainer Neil Howard expects to make a decision about Private Gift today.
“His profile is about speed. He’s correct, with a powerful build, very much like Henny Hughes.” (Tom Evans, breeder)
Gun Salute, winner of the Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park last August, faced a deep field of accomplished older horses in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G1) on February 25th.
Einstein was first out of the gate with Gun Salute in hot pursuit. As they passed the finish line the first time, Gun Salute closed to be on even terms with his rival. The pair continued to duel down the backstretch, in the stretch, Einstein gained the advantage over Gun Salute, only to face a new challenge from a rapidly closing Go Deputy. Gun Salute held on to finish third in the Grade 1.
Happy Ticket returned to the track on Saturday and proved she had rebounded from a disappointing finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) with a 51/2-length victory in the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff Stakes at Evangeline Downs.
Happy Ticket opened her career with eight straight wins in her native Louisiana before taking her show on the road with a win in the GIII Chicago Breeders’ Cup H. last June at Arlington.
Sent off the prohibitive favorite in her homecoming, Happy Ticket veered in at the break, but was straightened out and stalked the pace. She moved into contention midway on the turn for home and easily took charge en route to an authoritative score covering the distance in 1:38.78 on a fast track. Stewart Madison’s homebred five-year-old Anet mare appeared to be comfortable throughout her one-mile trip under jockey Robby Albarado to win going away.
Happy Ticket was bred and raised at Glencrest Farm.
Grade 1 winner Happy Ticket is expected to make her seasonal debut during Louisiana Premier Night on Saturday at Evangeline Downs. The evening showcasing Louisiana-breds is highlighted by the $150,000 Louisiana Premier Night Championship Stakes. Six stakes races for Louisiana-breds featuring a total of $570,000 in purses will be contested.
Happy Ticket the winner of the 2005 Ballerina Stakes (G1) and Raspberry Wine are the lone stakes winners entered in the $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff Stakes, a one-mile race for older females. Two other $100,000 races the
Happy Ticket was bred and raised at Glencrest Farm.
Grade 1 winner Happy Ticket was at Oaklawn Park last week to run in an allowance, but when the race did not fill she worked there instead, breezing five furlongs in 1:01.24. She worked right after the renovation break on Sunday, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.68 under Robby Albarado.
The drill served two purposes. For one, it prepares Happy Ticket for her first start since the Breeders' Cup, the one-mile, $100,000 Louisiana Premier Night Distaff at Evangeline Downs on Feb. 18. It also gave her a chance to get familiar with Oaklawn, where she is scheduled to start in both the Grade 3, $175,000 Azeri Breeders' Cup on March 11, and the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 8.
Happy Ticket was bred and raised at Glencrest Farm.
Military is among Bill Oppenheim’s selection of 45 horses, all at stud fees below $50,000 or the equivalent, who consistently score an APEX rating between the 1.50 and 2.00 range in the vast majority of the eight key APEX categories.
“Military has great APEX numbers from just 71 foals in three small crops, especially strong for B, as well as A, Runners, and for two-year-olds.” (Bill Oppenheim, TDN 02/08/06)
Adieu’s top-flight juvenile campaign has earned her the double distinction of being an Eclipse Award finalist in the Two-Year-Old Female Division and second highest weighted filly in the Experimental Free Handicap. Her assigned weight is 122, just one pound lighter than Eclipse winner Folklore, who received the standard impost of 123 for top Experimental fillies.
Adieu’s debut held the promise of good things to come, as she scored a 111 Beyer under a hand ride in a 4 ½ length maiden victory at Keeneland. Inaugurating her stakes career in her second start, she won