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Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mindframe Defeats All-Star Cast In Stephen Foster
Mindframe Defeats All-Star Cast In Stephen Foster originally appeared on Paulick Report. Mindframe's future as a stallion at the Hancock family's Claiborne Farm had already been determined, but the 4-year-old Constitution colt further enhanced his resume on Saturday with a second consecutive Grade 1 victory over a top-class field in the $1-million Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Advertisement In what jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. called the "most professional race in his whole career," Mindframe tracked pacesetter First Mission from the start, moved to the front in mid-stretch, then held off late-running Sierra Leone – last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner – by one length. First Mission, coming off a win in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap, held third, 1 1/4 lengths farther back and a neck ahead of 2024 G1 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in fourth. Hit Show, winner of this year's G1 Dubai World Cup, finished fifth, with Ashcroft, the final Grade 1 entry for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, finishing last. Skippylongstocking was scratched. Favored at 9-5, Mindframe paid $5.76 to win after covering nine furlongs on a fast main track in 1:47.48. First Mission set all the fractions, going the first quarter in :23.94, a half-mile in :47.94, six furlongs in 1:11.46, and a mile in 1:34.93. "We're just incredibly proud of him for how he was able to stretch out his natural speed today," said Mindframe's trainer, Todd Pletcher. "Sierra Leone came with a huge run around the turn and he had to hold off some top-class horses and was able to do so." The Stephen Foster, first run in 1982, is a "Win and You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge Series racing, providing the winner with an automatic fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic, to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Advertisement Pletcher was winning the Stephen Foster for the second time, after taking the 2024 running with Kingsbarns. He races for the partnership of Vincent and Teresa Viola's St. Elias Stables and Mike Repole's Repole Stable. Bred in Maryland by R. Larry Johnson, Mindframe was purchased from the Betz Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $800,000. He was produced from the Street Sense mare Walk of Stars. Mindframe didn't race until March 30 of his 3-year-old campaign, but it was a memorable debut, winning a seven-furlong Gulfstream Park maiden race by 13 3/4 lengths and earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure. He was similarly impressive next out, taking a Churchill Downs allowance/optional claiming event by 7 1/4 lengths on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby won by Mystik Dan. Mindframe's Beyer Speed Figure that day was 97 compared to 100 for Mystik Dan. Five weeks later, Mindframe made his stakes debut in the G1 Belmont Stakes, run at 1 1/4 miles at Saratoga while Belmont Park was being rebuilt. Sent away at 5-1, Mindframe challenged Dornoch in the stretch, poking his head in front briefly, but then drifted out late to lose to Dornoch by a half-length. Six weeks later he tackled Dornoch again in the G1 Haskell, but the result was the same. Mindframe was given the rest of the year off because of bone bruising, but was victorious on his return in the G2 Gulfstream Park Mile March 1. Next out in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes on Kentucky Derby day, Mindframe earned his first G1 triumph, winning by a neck over dead-heat runners-up Banishing and Nysos. Advertisement "To do what he's done in his career, never finished worse than second, just missed winning a classic in his third lifetime start, won a Grade 1 at seven furlongs and now nine furlongs," said Jacob West, bloodstock manager for Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., where Mindframe will enter stud at the end of his racing career. What's the year-end goal for Mindframe? "He's so versatile, he can do whatever he wants, whether it be the (Dirt) Mile, the Sprint, or the Classic," West added. "He's one of those horses. Todd said it a little bit ago – he's a generational horse because of what he's been able to do." The pace scenario for the Stephen Foster changed when Saffie Joseph Jr. opted to scratch Skippylongstocking, who was expected to be the speed in the race. Luis Saez seized the advantage by sending First Mission from the inside post position, but Mindframe never allowed him to get more than a one-length advantage. Sierra Leone, meanwhile, was last early as is his custom, but approaching the far turn Flavien Prat put the Gun Runner colt into contention with a three-wide move. Mindframe slipped away to a two-length lead with a furlong to run and while Sierra Leone cut that margin to a length at the wire, he wasn't a threat to the winner. 'He broke really sharp last time sprinting but we figured today might be a different scenario," Ortiz said of Mindframe. "He was able to track just off the pace and had a perfect trip. He had to come running. This was a really good field today and I'm really proud the way that he finished to hold off some of the best horses in the country right now.' Advertisement Prat said of Sierra Leone: "He came with a big run for me today but was just kind of grinding down the lane and just couldn't catch the winner. He tried hard but just didn't quite have enough punch today." This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'All The Talent In The World': Course Record Setter Rhiannon Possible For Diana
'All The Talent In The World': Course Record Setter Rhiannon Possible For Diana originally appeared on Paulick Report. CHP Racing's Rhiannon took to the Belmont at the Big A turf like a bird in flight Friday, making a successful return to the races in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer over the outer course in a 1:45.60 record time. Advertisement With Irad Ortiz Jr. up for trainer Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro mare showed the way through fractions of 24.10 seconds, :47.97 and 1:11.66 over the firm footing. She opened up by 3 1/2 lengths at the stretch call and finished up strong under a hand ride to score by four lengths, besting the previous course record of 1:45.70 set by Deterministic in the Fort Marcy (G2) on May 3. Deterministic exited that effort to capture the Resorts World Casino Manhattan (G1) during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. The Florida-based Phil Hatfield, who operates CHP Racing with his wife, Christine, was thrilled with the performance which earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure. 'She had to run, but she made it look easy,' Hatfield said. 'I think there was more in the tank there if you really wanted to push her. It was nice to break that record up there at Aqueduct. 'It was an exciting race for us because that mare has been stop, start, stop, start. Chad has done a great job and been very patient with her,' he added. Advertisement The lightly raced bay was making just her fifth career start and first since a prominent four-length allowance score here in November in her lone start last year. She made three sophomore starts, including a second-out graduation in September 2023 before a close fifth in the Pebbles (G3) that November, both at the Big A. Rhiannon was selected by Mike Ryan for $550,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was broken in Florida by Niall Brennan. 'She has all the talent in the world. Hopefully, she comes out of the race in great shape,' Hatfield said. 'Mike found her for us at the yearling sale in 2021 and she went from Kentucky to Niall Brennan, who breaks all our yearlings, and they always liked her. In fact, Niall's assistant said she was his favorite that year. Chad saw her and liked her, and he's had her ever since – of course, off and on, because she's had little things that come up and needed time to heal, but she always comes back with a vengeance.' Rhiannon is out of the graded stakes-winning Uncle Mo mare Auntie Joy, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Divine Oath. Rhiannon's fourth dam is Hall of Famer Personal Ensign. Advertisement A potential next spot for Rhiannon could be the $500,000 Dunkin' Diana (G1) on July 12 at Saratoga Race Course. 'That's what everybody is talking about, and we hope that happens,' Hatfield said. 'She's exciting. She's a big mare, probably 16.3 [hands] but a lot of refinement – she's my kind of horse, elegant with a lot of leg underneath her. She has every bit of that. 'My wife named her, obviously a big Fleetwood Mac fan,' Hatfield added, with a laugh. 'When she gets ready to race, we turn that song on and crank it up and get motivated for the race.' Hatfield said it's a privilege to have horses with Brown, who has won the Diana a record nine times. Advertisement 'He loves to win every race there, doesn't he - but the Diana, especially,' Hatfield said. 'If she ends up in the Diana, we'll get up there one way or the other. It's fun to have horses with him…Rhiannon has proven herself now, so we'll look forward to seeing where he goes with her.' CHP Racing co-owns the Brown-trained Praetor with William H. Lawrence and Gainesway Stable. The sophomore son of Into Mischief graduated by a neck in September at Aqueduct over another famous son of Into Mischief in Sovereignty, who went on to capture both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. 'I say that to people all the time,' said Hatfield of the frontrunning maiden win traveling a one-turn mile. 'He looks a bit like Sovereignty if you look at him head on with that narrow little star, strip, snip on his face. He's an impressive horse with a lot of talent.' Praetor, a $725,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, romped by 7 1/2-lengths in his seasonal debut in March in a one-mile optional-claimer at Gulfstream Park, but faltered to a 5 1/2-length third as the favorite in his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) in April at Keeneland. The top-two from the Lexington have since posted good results with the victorious Gosger returning to run a game second to Journalism in the Grade 1 Preakness, while runner-up Bracket Buster captured Saturday's NYRA Bets Pegasus (L) at Monmouth Park. Advertisement Praetor was nominated to the \Woody Stephens (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day June 7 at Saratoga Race Course but was not entered. 'He got sick. He was ready to go. He was cranked and ready to do well Chad thought and unfortunately, we had to pull back,' Hatfield said. 'He's back training again, but I'm not sure where Chad has him pointed. 'He was a little disappointing in the Lexington,' Hatfield added. 'I think they thought the two turns that early was too long for him and that's why they were going to shorten him up and put him in the Woody Stephens but that didn't come to pass. We'll see.' This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Be Your Best and Skippylongstocking give Ortiz and Joseph a stakes double at Santa Anita
In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, King of Gosford and jockey Flavien Prat, outside, overpower Mi Hermano Ramon (Hector Berrios), middle, and Cabo Spirit (Lanfranco Dettori), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, Monday, May 26, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In a photo provided by Benoit Photo,Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., right, hold off Midnight Mammoth (Armando Ayuso up), inside, to win the Grade II $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Monday, May 26, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Skippylongstocking, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade II $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Be Your Best, center front, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade I $300,000 Gamely Stakes horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Be Your Best, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade I $300,000 Gamely Stakes horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Be Your Best, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade I $300,000 Gamely Stakes horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, King of Gosford and jockey Flavien Prat, outside, overpower Mi Hermano Ramon (Hector Berrios), middle, and Cabo Spirit (Lanfranco Dettori), inside, to win the Grade I, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, Monday, May 26, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In a photo provided by Benoit Photo,Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., right, hold off Midnight Mammoth (Armando Ayuso up), inside, to win the Grade II $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Monday, May 26, 2025 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Skippylongstocking, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade II $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Be Your Best, center front, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade I $300,000 Gamely Stakes horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) In this image provided by Benoit Photo, Be Your Best, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, wins the Grade I $300,000 Gamely Stakes horse race Monday, May 26, 2025, at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP) ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Be Your Best led all the way to earn her first Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Gamely Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths Monday at Santa Anita. Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Be Your Best ran 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:46.26, the fastest time in the race for fillies and mares since 2017, when Lady Eli won in 1:45.29. Advertisement The 5-year-old Ireland-bred mare and Ortiz traveled from the East Coast to compete. It was Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.'s first career win at Santa Anita. About 30 minutes later, Ortiz rode odds-on favorite Skippylongstocking to a three-quarters of a length victory in the $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup for Joseph. 'It was amazing to get that Grade 1, then you don't want to go home with Skippy getting beat,' Joseph told track officials by phone. 'So for him to go out there and win a historic race like the Hollywood Gold Cup was truly special.' In the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, Britain-bred King of Gosford and jockey Flavien Prat won. Advertisement King of Gosford ran the distance on turf in 1:33.52 and paid $10.80, $4.80 and $3.60. Mi Hermano Ramon was second and Cabo Spirit was third. In the Gold Cup, Skippylongstocking ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.64 and paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. He increased his career earnings to over $3.6 million with 11 wins in 32 starts. Midnight Mammoth returned $7.20 and $3.60 and Extensive paid $2.40 to show. It was Skippylongstocking's eighth graded stakes victory at six different tracks. 'He's just a hard-knocking horse who takes his track with him everywhere he goes,' Joseph said. 'He's a sound horse and he's very strong mentally. We'll be forever grateful for him.' Advertisement In the Gamely, Be Your Best paid $6.20, $3.80 and $3.00. Lady Claypoole returned $8.20 and $4.60 and Liguria returned $5 to show. 'She is a very good filly and she showed it,' Joseph said. 'This is really big for us.' Be Your Best has six wins in 20 career starts and earnings of over $1 million. ___ AP horse racing:
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Preakness 2025: Every winner from Saturday's racing program at Pimlico
Here's a recap of every race in Saturday's program on 2025 Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. For live coverage of the day, click here. The Batoff Goldie Saturday's opening race, a 6-furlong race, broke on a track in good condition despite Friday's storms. Advertisement Radical Right led out of the gate and around the first turn before Augusta Melody took control approaching the final stretch and secured the day's first win, finishing in 1 minute, 10.76 seconds. Jockeyed by Irad Ortiz Jr., the heavy favorite paid out $3.80 on a $2 bet to win, $2.80 on a $2 bet to place and $2.40 on a $2 bet to show. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Taylor Lyons at tlyons@ 410-332-6200 and
