Latest news with #gradedstakes
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brilliant Berti Victorious In Wise Dan
Brilliant Berti Victorious In Wise Dan originally appeared on Paulick Report. A fourth generation homebred for the Klein family, Brilliant Berti picked up his second career graded stakes win in the $500,000 Grade 2 Wise Dan Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on June 28. The 4-year-old son of Noble Mission completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.41 over the firm, yet rain-softened, turf. 'Brian did a great job at getting him to settle,' trainer Cherie DeVaux told Churchill Down's Kaitlin Free. 'He kicked clear and ran a great race.' Advertisement The Wise Dan was the seventh win for Brilliant Berti in 11 career races. He won his first graded stakes in the G3 Bryan Station States at Keeneland in October, and won the American Derby for 3-year-olds on the turf on this card last year. Sent out from the DeVaux barn, Brilliant Berti was relegated to midpack after the break. With no pace in the early stages, Seminole Chief from the far outside cleared the field to lead heading into the first turn. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. placed Brilliant Berti in fourth heading into the first turn. Seminole Chief led the seven-horse field along the backstretch, setting fractions of :24.96 and :50.31. Mi Hermano Ramon took over the lead from Seminole Chief with an early move in the middle of the home turn, as Brilliant Berti began his own rally a length behind. Brilliant Berti briefly dueled with Mi Hermano Ramon, before putting that foe away. As they duked it out, Taking Candy and Lagynos charged up the rail but Brilliant Berti was able to hold on by three quarters of a length. Stablemate Taking Candy got up for second with Lagynos in third. Californian-invader Mi Hermano Ramon and Fort Washington finished in a dead-heat for fourth. Sent off as the 5-2 post-time favorite, Brilliant Berti paid $6.08 for the win. 'They both came back with a lot of dirt on them,' Devaux continued. 'There was a lot of give.' This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Good Spot For Her': Striker Has Dial Targets Honorable Miss For Graded Stakes Debut
'Good Spot For Her': Striker Has Dial Targets Honorable Miss For Graded Stakes Debut originally appeared on Paulick Report. Chief Horse Futures' Striker Has Dial is on track for a targeted start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss, a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, on July 20 at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Horacio De Paz, the 4-year-old Dialed In bay was a hard-fought second in the six-furlong Skipat (L) on Preakness Day May 17 at Pimlico Race Course, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind Zeitlos, who exited to run third in Saturday's Grade 2 Chicago at Churchill Downs. 'We are pointing her to the Honorable Miss. I think the six furlongs will be a good spot for her,' said De Paz. 'We gave her some time off after Pimlico and now she is back and breezing. We'll have to see how competitive she is there.' De Paz believes the spacing between races might work to Striker Has Dial's benefit. She has made three starts already this year, winning a pair of six-furlong optional claimers in January and March at Aqueduct Racetrack, the former returning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure. 'She ran all winter. Since last year, even. She broke her maiden last May and has been going steady since,' De Paz said. 'Her last race was a brave effort on her part, coming off two of her top numbers, too, so she was maybe going to regress a little bit. Honestly, that was still a very good run.' Striker Has Dial was also second in the restricted Wilton in July at the Spa, among her 11-3-5-1 record with $251,172 in earnings. De Paz outlined some potential plans for other Spa stakes horses in the barn, including Sounds Like a Plan, who is possible for the state-bred $150,000 Rick Violette on July 17; as well as Awesome Czech and Can't Fool Me, who will utilize an allowance race to prep for a start in the state-bred $150,000 Yaddo on August 22. This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
