I'LL HAVE ANOTHER WINS PREAKNESS THRILLER

Click above to watch I’ll Have Another winning the 137th Preakness Stakes…
(Image : Daily Mail - Footage : M Pearson)

PREAKNESS STAKES (Grade 1)
Pimlico, Dirt, 1900m
19 May 2012

Maybe it wasn’t Sunday Silence and Easy Goer coming down to settle the GI Preakness Stakes Saturday at Old Hilltop, but J. Paul Reddam’s I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) and Bodemeister (Empire Maker) put on an outstanding show in their own right, duplicating their 1-2 finish from the GI Kentucky Derby two weeks ago and creating the first Triple Crown bid since Big Brown (Boundary) went for the sweep back in 2008.

Bodemeister, favored in the rematch at 17-10, won the break and made the lead passing the stands for the first time, while - somewhat surprisingly - Creative Cause emerged as the nearest pace presence. I’ll Have Another jumped fairly and was handy enough while racing in about the three path, but was nudged out a bit wider by Went The Day Well (Proud Citizen) approaching the clubhouse turn. The Team Valor runner backed off a bit, and that allowed Mario Gutierrez to tuck into a three-wide spot around the turn and into the backstretch. Back on the front end, Bodemeister and Mike Smith were coasting along through an opening half-mile in :47.68, not taxing on paper, but perhaps an above-par pace over a dull strip. Creative Cause was in good striking position from second, while I’ll Have Another was three wide, but covered up behind his grey fellow Californian.

Bodemeister was still going smartly on the engine at the three eighths marker, and Gutierrez seemed to have a few seconds of hesitation as he tried to decide whether to go inside or outside of Creative Cause. He remained off that one’s heels to the quarter pole, was switched out thereafter and was a bit clumsy in switching his leads. It looked for a few strides as if I’ll Have Another might have work to do to catch the free-wheeling Bodemeister, but he continued to plug away with dour determination, took aim on the Bob Baffert runner entering the final half-furlong and pegged him back in the final two strides. Creative Cause finished third, though nearly nine lengths off the top two. The winning rider admitted to expecting a dogfight in the waning stages. “I knew it was going to be a little bit of a tough race,” he said. “But I’ll Have Another had a tremendous kick in the end. So I could feel my horse racing ground and everything was definitely the way. So it’s a great feeling when you’re riding a horse that’s giving you a hundred percent. He’s an amazing horse.”

For every trainer who has not excelled under the Triple Crown spotlight, there is a Doug O’Neill. His leadup to Saturday’s Preakness included throwing out the first pitch prior to the Orioles-Yankees game at nearby Camden Yards and various public appearances. In fact, O’Neill took time out on national television in the winner’s enclosure, to call out the first names of at least a dozen people, most likely young people, whose acquaintance he had made during his time in the city.

Much maligned, O’Neill is clearly cut from a different mold and has flourished in the aftermath of the Kentucky Derby. He was very much at ease after finally making his way to the post-Preakness press gathering.

Q: Your wife is known for being allergic to horses. Is she allergic to I’ll Have Another?

A: It’s amazing. The large checks seem to keep her from itching and coughing.

Q: And what about the next three weeks?

A: Certainly the intensity and pressure will be on the rise.

Q: Are you looking forward to it?

A: I am. I’m excited. I’m surrounded by so many fun people. Just having fun with them. That is kind of doing our thing around the barn. We work hard and take good care of the horses. When injuries come up, we just regroup, take care of them, and we just have a really good atmosphere in the barn. That helps us have time to keep everything very loose for me and the horses and the staff.

So look out NYC. Team O’Neill is on their way.

Extract from Thorougbred Daily News

MASTER OF HOUNDS DRAWS WORLD CUP POLE POSITION

Mike de Kock trained Master of Hounds wins the 10 March Jebel Hatta (Gr1)
(Photo : The National)

US$10,000,000 DUBAI WORLD CUP (Group 1)
Meydan, All-Weather, 2000m
31 March 2012

Mike de Kock-trained Master Of Hounds drew pole position of the 14 runners in the ballot for barrier positions for the world’s richest race, the $10-million Dubai World Cup, over 2000m on the synthetic track at Meydan on Saturday.

It is an ideal draw for Master Of Hounds, who was caught late in the UAE Derby at last year’s Dubai World Cup meeting when trained by Irishman Aidan O’Brien. Master Of Hounds led virtually throughout on the turf on Super Saturday at Meydan recently in his dress-rehearsal for the big night.

The connections of the horses did the draws for their runners at a function on Wednesday and Yousuf Al Sayegh, racing manager for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, said: “There was only gates 1 or 14 left (when our name was pulled) and we preferred to be inside.”

Not so fortunate in the draw was fancied USA challenger Game On Dude, whose trainer Bob Baffert suffered a heart attack in Dubai earlier this week. Game On Dude, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year, was the last horse out the hat and the only remaining starting gate berth was No 14, the outside draw in the field. But his connections were far from dismayed.

Owner Bernie Schiappa said: “Perfect position. Lanni (part-owner of Game On Dude who passed away last year) was born on 14 March, so 14 is a special number for us. It’s perfect. The outside is fine with me. I can’t repeat what Bob said on the phone.” (Baffert is recovering rapidly in a Dubai hospital.)

Chantal Sutherland, who will ride Game On Dude, added: “It’s fine. Whatever happens, I’ll deal with it. He has a tendency to sometimes break slow and if he was to do that, it could put us in a bit of a predicament on the rail, so on the outside we have more options.”

Sutherland will become the first woman to ride in the Dubai World Cup when she partners Game On Dude in Saturday’s contest. Another USA challenger Royal Delta, who many pundits are tipping to win, got the ideal draw in No 7 stall. Her trainer Bill Mott said: “It’s the middle of the field. She’ll get a good look at the field from there and number seven has been our lucky number. We’d love for her to win. The reason we’re really here is to see if we can win. I can’t predict the outcome but she is doing really well - well enough to win a race like this.”

Royal Delta has all the credentials to become the first female runner to win the World Cup. She packs loads of ability and has won on both dirt and synthetic surfaces.

Comments from the connections of the other runners about the barrier draws:

Eishen Flash (Post 2) - trainer Hideaki Fujiwara said: “Actually I wanted to take the middle part of the gate, but those posts were all taken. I decided at the stage between the 2 and 9, and took 2. This horse showed good performance from the inside at home, so it’s okay.”

Zazou (Post 3) - owner Werner Heinz said: “I would have preferred to be more in the middle, but those places were taken. I think No 3 is very good. I think you’re better off inside than outside.”

So You Think (Post 4) - Keith Dalton, representing trainer Aiden O’Brien, said: “I was on the phone to Aidan and he chose the fourth position, so I guess we’re happy.”

Smart Falcon (Post 5) - trainer Ken Kozaki said: “It is an ideal draw. It is not too inside. It was what we wanted to draw.”

Planteur (Post 6) - owner Ahmad Al Falasi said: “We wanted somewhere between 4 and 7 so I was happy that 6 was available.”

Monterosso (Post 8) - Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford said: “We talked to all of our jockeys in the race and they felt from stall 8 outward is the place to be. It can get very tight on the inside, especially if the pace is slow. If you miss the kick, you’re likely to be in trouble. The pace looks likely to come from Game On Dude in stall 14, which has panned out well for us. Monterosso can sit handy, he finishes his races well.”

Silver Pond (Post 9) - trainer Doug Watson said: “The gate is good. He can push on from there and hopefully travel around midfield. He doesn’t have the greatest turn of foot, so the idea will be to be just behind the pace and kick off the turn.”

Transcend (Post 10) - owner Koji Maeda said: “No 10 is what I wanted to draw because we can watch the other runners inside of us.”

Capponi (Post 11) - Crisford said: “Being on the outside is preferable to being on the rail. Capponi just needs a handy position to be out of trouble and to have a clear run. He likes to start building on it from the home bend and he should have his chance to do that from his draw. The question remains whether he is good enough but (jockey) Ahmed Ajtebi has built up a good rapport with the horse, who fully deserves his chance.”

Prince Bishop (Post 12) and Mendip (Post 13) - trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “I spoke to Frankie Dettori before the draw and he said he would prefer between (stalls) 8 and 12 for Prince Bishop and we’ve drawn 12, so I’m happy with that. I wanted him to be relaxed and happy, so I think being out wide is best for him. Mendip would also be best being out wide and I’m happy with his position.”

Extract from Mike de Kock Racing

BECKY THOMAS : MAKING A DIFFERENCE

“Click above to view a few photos of our trip…”

SUMMERHILL
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

Ricardo Christian
Assistant Pre-training Manager
Summerhill StudThabiso Mgoza and I had the privilege to spend the last 6 months in ‘racing paradise’. If you have had the privilege to experience the ‘sport of kings’ in the United states then you have an idea of what this journey has been like for us.

Our mentor Becky Thomas, pin-hooker; breeder; trainer and owner of Sequel Bloodstock, generously took on another two Summerhill recruits last year and I am lucky enough to tell the story this time. We left our green pastures in Mooi River, late November and found ourselves surrounded by what Floridians proudly boast to be the ‘training capital of the world’ - and it truly surpasses that. Ocala (Marion County) hosts over 1,200 thoroughbred training centres. Furthermore, the county ranked third nationally a couple of years back (behind two counties in Kentucky) in total value of horses sold.  Horses are big business in Marion County and Sequel Bloodstock is a prime example. Overwhelming, would be too subtle of a word for our first impression.

Upon arrival, we wasted no time and joined the Sequel team in the barns before our first sunrise starting at 5h30am. Becky and her team involved us in all aspects of the farm to get the whole ‘savoir faire’ down to every detail. It was not just eyes and ears; we were hands on from day 1. We walked away with a wealth of knowledge on keeping of barns, maintaining the horses nutritional needs, the racehorse soundness, 2 year old sales, pedigree analysis, training techniques and all the ins and outs of the ‘pin-hooking’ business. Riding her 2 year olds was our most vital part of this training programme and certainly what we valued most out of it. We were lucky enough to have ridden and worked with the progeny of the world’s leading Sires, such as, Bernadini, Distorted Humor, Freud, Elusive Quality, Read The Footnotes, Rock Hard Ten - amongst many. With the help of Becky, our riding has gone from strength to strength. As South African pre-training riders, the US training techniques and riding styles differ so much from our ways back home and in the beginning we really battled with the big 2 year old bruts.

The actual sales in the states was an amazing experience on its own; showing horses to some of the world’s leading trainers, such as Bob Baffert who came to view Sequel’s horses at the Barrets Sales in California.

Our six months in America exceeded our expectations, everything from training on the farm to working at the sales. Becky Thomas gave us an unbelievable opportunity and also taught us not just about horses but about the American lifestyle and the different traditions and cultures.

Becky’s motto was ‘make a difference’ and if Becky only knew what a difference her team and herself have made on our lives and the people we share it with back here in South Africa, then I know this scholarship programme (40 graduates later) is only a start of many successful things to come.

Ricardo Christian

PLUM PRETTY WINS KENTUCKY OAKS 137

Plum Pretty wins the 137th Kentucky Oaks (Grade 1)
(Image : NBC - Footage : Churchill Downs)

KENTUCKY OAKS (Grade 1)
6 May 2011

When she first got off the van, I called her “Plum Ugly,” trainer Bob Baffert admitted as he headed to the winner’s circle after the G1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs yesterday. “But now she’s beautiful.”

Peachtree Stable’s Plum Pretty (Medaglia d’Oro) gave Baffert his second Oaks winner; his first was Silverbulletday (Silver Deputy) in 1999. A 6-1 chance, the bay tracked Summer Soiree (War Front) through fractions of :23.65, :46.99 and 1:11.25. She drove to the lead when they straightened into the lane and looked home free, but jockey Rosie Napravnik wheeled 16-1 St. John’s River (Include) off the rail inside the eighth pole and the longshot came flying. It was close, but the wire came just in time for Plum Pretty to hold on by a neck. “Everybody talks about how long the stretch here is at Churchill Downs,” Napravnik said after the race. “I wish it was just a nose longer today.”

Plum Pretty made one start at two, graduating at first asking at Oak Tree October 27. The bay came back to be third in the January 15 G2 Santa Ynez Stakes and she was 5 1/2 lengths behind winner Zazu when completing the triple in the February 5 G1 Las Virgenes Stakes. Connections hit the road in search of a softer field, and boy, did they find one. The Pennsylvania-bred was bet down to 1-20 in the March 27 Sunland Park Oaks and made those slim odds look right on the money as she romped home a 25-length winner over five grossly overmatched rivals.

The Peachtree colorbearer proved that effort was no fluke yesterday. Content to settle off the runaway Summer Soiree (War Front) early, she had no trouble collaring the tiring leader as they raced around the bend and was flicking her ears as they hit the lane.

Jockey Martin Garcia sent her on about her business and she had opened up daylight by the time they hit the sixteenth pole. St. John’s River moved off the rail and hit the gas, but ran out of real estate late. “Great trip; great filly,” Garcia said. “I couldn’t have asked for more.” Added trainer Bob Baffert, “That was awesome. We hoped she’d run like that. She thought she was at Sunland Park.”

KENTUCKY OAKS (Grade 1)
FINAL RESULT

#	Horse	Sire	Jockey	Trainer
1	PLUM PRETTY	Medaglia d’Oro	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert
2	ST. JOHN’S RIVER	Include	Rosie Napravnik	Andrew Leggio
3	ZAZU	Tapit	Joel Rosario	John Sadler
4	JOYFUL VICTORY	Tapit	Mike Smith	Larry Jones
5	BOUQUET BOOTH	Flower Alley	John Velazquez	Steve Margolis
6	KATHMANBLU	Bluegrass Cat	Julien Leparoux	Ken McPeek
7	DAISY DEVINE	Kafwain	Jimmy Graham	Andrew McKeever
8	STREET STORM	Stormy Atlantic	Shaun Bridgmohan	Steve Margolis
9	SUAVE VOIR FAIRE	Suave	Miguel Mena	Daniel Michael Smithwick
10	SUMMER SOIREE	War Front	Gabriel Saez	Larry Jones
11	HER SMILE	Include	Garrett Gomez	Todd Pletcher
12	LILACS AND LACE	Flower Alley	Javier Castellano	John Terranova
13	HOLY HEAVENS	Holy Bull	Kent Desormeaux	Bernard Chatters

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News

LOOKIN AT LUCKY LANDS 135TH PREAKNESS STAKES

Click above to watch the 135th Preakness Stakes
(Photo : The Rail - Footage : NBC Sports)

WHAT’S LUCK GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) endured difficult trips this season when third in the GI Santa Anita Derby and sixth last time out in the GI Kentucky Derby. His athleticism and raw talent allowed him to overcome trouble to win the GII Rebel Stakes in his seasonal debut back in March. In trying to change his luck, trainer Bob Baffert, already a four-time winner of the GI Preakness Stakes, made the audacious decision to sack champion jockey Garrett Gomez in favor of the upstart Martin Garcia. Instructed to keep his mount clear of any possible trouble, the 25 year-old rider settled Lookin At Lucky in centerfield and three wide, rallied four wide into the stretch and outgamed First Dude (Stephen Got Even) for a well deserved victory.

All eyes were on WinStar Farms’ Super Saver (Maria’s Mon), who was looking to become the eighth horse since 1997 to head to New York with a Triple Crown shot. He was sent off the public’s 19-10 favorite to do so, while Lookin At Lucky, who endured a nightmarish opening quarter mile in Louisville a fortnight ago and did exceedingly well to finish sixth, was the clear second choice to rebound at $2.40-1. First Dude, coming off a third in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes April 10, made a favorable impression during his morning trackwork at Pimlico, and won the break to set a strong pace with Super Saver, reverting to pace-pressing tactics, close up in second.

Jackson Bend (Hear No Evil) wasn’t far away in third, while California raider Caracortado (Cat Dreams) raced in fourth through the early exchanges, just ahead of Lookin At Lucky. “I was trying to save as much ground as I could into the first turn,” Martin Garcia explained. “After that, [trainer] Bob [Baffert] told me to do what I wanted.” Further back in the field were GII Illinois Derby runner-up Yawanna Twist (Yonaguska), Kentucky Derby third Paddy O’Prado (El Prado) and Schoolyard Dreams (Stephen Got Even), runner-up earlier this year in the GIII Tampa Bay Derby.

First Dude got his opening quarter mile in a testing 0:22.91 and was nary allowed to take a deep breath, with the Derby winner hounding him through a half-mile in a strong 0:46.47. Midway up the backstretch, Garcia had eased Lookin At Lucky into about the three path and clear of any potential disaster, then asked his colt to go at the half-mile pole. He shifted out into the four path for the run around the far turn and set his sights on First Dude, who was still plugging away and looking dangerous on the front end. With Garcia busy at work, imploring his mount with a right handed stick to the colt’s right shoulder, Lookin At Lucky edged past a stubborn First Dude just north of the eighth pole and outslugged his rival to the wire. Jackson Bend just missed the place spot, while Yawanna Twist was a clear fourth.

Bob Baffert got to know Pimlico’s infield winner’s circle very well, winning the Preakness four times in the span of six years, but yesterday’s score was his first since War Emblem (Our Emblem) wore the Black-Eyed Susans in 2002. Winning never loses its luster, the silver-haired conditioner admits. “It’s just as exciting,” he offered. “I know it’s been a few years. I mean, this was a different kind of win - this was more of a redemption win. This horse is such a warrior. He wants to win; he tries so hard. So I wanted to win it for the horse, you know, ‘cause he tries so hard every time. I mean, the Derby, he had that rough trip. Santa Anita Derby, rough trip. But, you know, every time he had those rough trips, he came back. He’s got a great mind. He’s a cool horse He’s just a really great athlete. I mean, he’s one of the best horses I’ve ever had.”

“It’s amazing. He’s still a baby. He’s so immature. He’s not even three years old yet. His birthday is May 27th. He’s just starting to grow right now.” Baffert indicated that a decision on a run in the GI Belmont Stakes June 5 would come over the next several days.

Calvin Borel predicted a Triple Crown winner in the afterglow of Super Saver’s Derby win, but, for the 33rd straight year, there will be no series sweep. In the end, it was too much, too soon. “It was an honest pace with First Dude hanging in there,” trainer Todd Pletcher commented. “Coming off a huge effort in the Derby, the two weeks was too short. When they went to the far turn, you could see that Calvin was squeezing and asking him to go get that horse, and he just couldn’t do it. He hung in there. He kept fighting. He tried hard. It was back a little quick for him. Now we’ve got time to come back for a big summer.”

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News