Saturdays $750,000 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N J, came up looking like a Grade I turf race should, with a solid mix of old and young performers in the field of nine, including Presious Passion, who will be out to duplicate his 2008 score in the mile and three-eighths event.
Only this time, victory wont come as a surprise for the six-year-old son of Royal Anthem, and you definitely wont get 13-1 at the windows. Presious Passion turned in a powerful prep for the 56th running of the U.N. by winning the Monmouth Stakes on June 13, regaining the lead in deep stretch after he looked beaten.
That race set him up right for this, and Im happy with him, said Presious Passions trainer, Mary Hartmann. Hes coming up to the race the right way.
Presious Passion, who was slow to come around at age four, has turned into a professional racehorse at five and six, and comes into this running of the United Nations as a multiple graded stakes winner with more than $1.2 million in career earnings.
He acted like a wild kid at four, Hartmann said. It wasnt until he turned five that he learned to relax and stopped doing stupid things all the time.
Last year was the geldings best season yet, with victories in the Grade I United Nations, Grade II W.L. McKnight and Grade III Pan American. This year, hes won the Grade II Mac Diarmida and the Monmouth Stakes and comes into the U.N. ready to roll.
I dont breeze him between races, Hartmann said, because he gallops so aggressively every day. And it seems like it takes most of the day when we bring him out.
Ive tried to keep him relaxed and happy between races, the trainer said. He goes out after the last break when theres no traffic on the track and he can be relaxed. He stands out there for a half-hour, and then he backs up to the quarter-pole and stands for another 15 minutes, and then he gallops two miles. It keeps him happy.
There will be some new shooters gunning for Presious Passion in this edition of the U.N., including the 4-year-olds Court Vision and Wesley. There will also be some venerable challengers like Better Talk Now, the 2005 U.N. winner who tries again this year at age 10 after running a solid third in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap on Belmont Stakes Day at Belmont; and eight-year-old Brass Hat who captured the Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs last time out.
As a Breeders Cup Challenge Win and Youre In race, the United Nations offersng a berth in the November 7 $3 million Breeders Cup Turf at Oak Tree at Santa Anita to the winner.
SEVEN INVADERS ARRIVE FOR SUNDAYS AMERICAN OAKS AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
New Zealand trainer Wayne Hillis is a man of his word. When I was here with Boulevard of Dreams five years ago, I told Marty after the race that I would be back, Hillis said Wednesday from Hollywood Park.
Boulevard of Dreams finished seventh behind winner Ticker Tape in the 2004 American Oaks but Hillis has higher hopes for Puttanesca in the $700,000, Grade I test at 1 miles on turf Sunday.
A New Zealand-bred filly who cleared quarantine Wednesday morning after being flown here Monday, Puttanesca was one of seven out-of-state fillies invited by racing secretary Martin Panza to have settled into their stalls at the Inglewood, Calif., racetrack. Seven California-based invitees double the field size to 14.
Puttanesca won the Group II New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes in January at the American Oaks distance of ten furlongs. The chestnut, the only 4-year-old in the lineup because of her Southern Hemisphere foaling, has recorded two firsts, three seconds and two thirds in 11 starts.
Hillis has given a call to jockey Glen Boss to ride the filly for the first time. Hes a leading rider from Australia, has won the Melbourne Cup two or three times, and has ridden internationally in Hong Kong and England, said Hillis of the veteran.
Puttanesca has been joined in the Hollywood isolation barn by Apple Charlotte from England and Rare Ransom from Ireland.
Apple Charlotte, an English-bred victorious in three of four starts in England, worked an easy seven furlongs on Cushion Track in 1:27.80 under exercise rider John McCauley. Mike Smith will have the riding assignment.
Meanwhile Jeff Byrne, assistant to trainer Dermot Weld, hopes that Rare Ransom can follow in the footsteps of Dimitrova, who won this race for Weld in 2003.
Shes very sound and has a lovely constitution, said Byrne after galloping the filly one mile on the main track. Shes a very straight-forward horse.
Rare Ransom has won two of seven starts in Ireland and finished fourth in the Group I Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh in her last start May 24 for owner Lady OReilly. Weld is expected to arrive later Wednesday.
The three foreign arrivals were joined in the stable area by four Eastern invitees: Gozzip Girl from New York, The Best Day Ever from Kentucky, Magical Affair from Maryland and Afternoon Stroll from Pennsylvania who were flown West on Monday.
The seven shippers will be joined by seven local horses in the eighth running of the American Oaks. The probable lineup: Apple Charlotte (jockey: Mike Smith), Rare Ransom (Patrick Smullen), Puttanesca (Glen Boss), Gozzip Girl (Kent Desormeaux), Magical Affair (Julien Leparoux), The Best Day Ever (Corey Lanerie), Afternoon Stroll (Joseph Talamo), Well Monied (Joel Rosario), Mrs Kipling (David Flores), Acting Lady (Rafael Bejarano), Third Dawn (Garrett Gomez), Lexlenos (Alex Solis), Nan (Corey Nakatani) and Pretty Unusual (Tyler Baze).
FLEET FIELD OF NINE ASSEMBLED FOR GRADE I PRIORESS AT BELMONT
The only Grade I six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies in the United States, the $300,000 Prioress at Belmont Park has long been a showcase for some of the fastest fillies on the planet, from Ta Wee in 1969 to Safely Kept in 1989, Xtra Heat in 2001 to Indian Blessing in 2008.
The 62nd edition, part of a trio of graded stakes to be run on Saturday, July 4, including the Grade II, $400,000 Suburban Handicap and the Grade II, $200,000 Dwyer, shows why it deserves its Grade I status, having attracted a field of nine outstanding fillies headed by Grade I Acorn Stakes winner Gabbys Golden Gal.
Trained by Bob Baffert, who won last years edition with Indian Blessing, Gabbys Golden Gal will be turning back from the flat mile of the Acorn, in which she blazed wire to wire in 1:34.79.
I think shes going into the race just as good as she did for the Acorn, said Tonja Terranova, who oversees Bafferts New York-based horses. Her last two breezes have been in hand.
In six starts, Gabbys Golden Gal has registered three wins, one second and one third, with her only off-the-board performance coming behind Rachel Alexandra in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, in which she led for six furlongs before giving way.
Shes very fast, added Terranova. Bob has always had a lot of confidence in her.
Heart Ashley brings a three-race winning streak into the Prioress, comprised of back-to-back Grade III wins in the Cicada at Aqueduct Racetrack on March 14 and the Miss Preakness at Pimlico on May 15. The daughter of Lion Heart, trained by Steve Asmussen, has been first or second in each of her six lifetime starts.
This is the race shes been pointed towards for a long time, Asmussen. Shes a very fast filly. In a Grade I sprint on dirt for three-year-old fillies, everyone is going to show up.
That includes On the Menu, who handed Heart Ashley her worst defeat by 7 lengths in an allowance at the Fair Grounds.
The Prioress is going to deserve its Grade I status here, said On the Menus trainer, Larry Jones, who won the Prioress in 2006 with Wildcat Bettie B. This filly has been doing very well, and weve always been high on her. One of the reasons was she ran so well against Heart Ashley, whos a very nice filly.
EMIRATES AIRLINE SUMMER RACING PRESENTED BY THE NTRA TO BEGIN JULY 25
The broadcast schedule for Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA has been set with the kickoff telecast slated for Saturday, July 25. The series, to air on the ESPN networks, will provide comprehensive, live coverage of Grade I summer racing fixtures from three of Americas most loved racing venues.
Beginning with the Grade I, $350,000 Eddie Read Stakes on the turf from Del Mar (July 25, ESPN2, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET), Emirates Airline Summer Racing Presented by the NTRA will take viewers from coast to coast as it showcases some of racings biggest starsmany of whom will go on to compete in the November 6-7 Breeders Cup World Championships.
On August 8, the scene shifts to Arlington Park outside Chicago for the Grade I Arlington Million (ESPN 4:30-6:00 p.m. ET), which annually attracts top grass runners from around the world for its seven-figure purse. The Arlington Million also serves as a Breeders Cup Challenge Win and Youre In event for the Breeders Cup Turf.
The series concludes on August 29 with the $1 million Shadwell Travers Stakes from Saratoga (ESPN, 4:30-6:00 p.m. ET). Known as the Mid-Summer Derby, the 2009 Travers could bring together all three winners from this years Triple Crown eventsDerby winner Mine That Bird, Preakness heroine Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes victor Summer Bird.
We are very pleased to once again partner with ESPN in bringing racing fans key summer contests from three of the sports showpiece racetracks, said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA.
RACING TO HISTORY
July 2, 1989: Jockey Steve Cauthen became the first rider in history to sweep the worlds four major derbies after winning the Irish Derby with Old Vic. He had previously won the Kentucky Derby with Affirmed (1978), the Epsom Derby with Slip Anchor (1985) and Reference Point (1987) and the French Derby with Old Vic (1989).
July 2, 2007: Following a four-day carryover of $3,274,505, Hollywood Parks Pick Six pool reached a record $10.87 million. The days 13 winning tickets were worth $576,064.40 each.
July 3, 1937: The Del Mar Turf Club, with crooner Bing Crosby as president and actor Pat OBrien as one of the club officers, opened for racing.
July 3, 1977: Seattle Slews nine-race winning streak came to an end in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, when he finished fourth, beaten 16 lengths by J.O. Tobin.
July 3, 1982: D. Wayne Lukas-trained Landaluce, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., won the first of her five consecutive victories at Hollywood Park. The daughter of Seattle Slew, owned by Barry Beal and Lloyd French, died of a viral infection in November of that year, but was posthumously voted champion two-year-old filly of 1982.
July 4, 1954: Two-year-old Ribot won his first race, the Premio Tramuschio. He concluded his career in 1956, with 16 wins in as many starts.
July 4, 1972: Two-year-old Secretariat, ridden by Paul Feliciano, ran fourth to winner Herbull in his racing debut, blocked badly throughout the race, at Aqueduct. It was the poorest placing of Secretariats career.
July 4, 1976: Charlie Whittingham swept the top three spots in the American Handicap at Hollywood Park with his trainees King Pellinore, Riot in Paris and Caucasus. On July 26, he repeated the feat in the Sunset Handicap, with Caucasus first, King Pellinore second and Riot in Paris third.
July 4, 1978: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won his first $100,000 stakes raceover the turftaking the American Handicap with Effervescing, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., at Hollywood Park.
July 4, 1998: Elusive Quality ran the fastest mile in history in the Poker Handicap at Belmont Park. The five-year-old horse was timed in 1:31 3/5 over a firm turf course.
July 4, 2000: Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze scored his 7,000 career victory aboard This Is the Moment at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif. Baze became the sixth jockey to join the 7,000-win club.
July 5, 1991: Jockey Ray Sibille won his 3,000th career race, aboard Sporting Surf at Pleasanton.
July 6, 1975: Locust Hill Farms undefeated filly Ruffian engaged Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure in a match race at Belmont Park. Racing on the lead, Ruffian sustained a severe leg injury and was pulled up by jockey Jacinto Vasquez. The filly was euthanized the following day when efforts to save her proved futile.
July 6, 1977: In the second of their 10 meetings, Alydar defeated Affirmed to win the Great American Stakes at Belmont Park. This was the first of Alydars three victories over Affirmed.
July 7, 1934: Mary Hirsch became the first female to be licensed as a Thoroughbred trainer, in Illinois. Hirsch subsequently was licensed in Michigan that year and two years later, on April 9, she was licensed by The Jockey Club to train in New York.
July 10, 1982: Landaluce, a two-year-old daughter of Seattle Slew, won the Hollywood Lassie Stakes by 21 lengths under the guidance of Laffit Pincay Jr. She ran the six furlong race in 1:08, just 3/5 of a second off the track record at Hollywood Park.
July 11, 1997: Breeders Cup Ltd. announced that supplemental entry fees would be added to the purses of Breeders Cup Championship Day events.
July 12, 1971: Bold Ruler, sire of 82 stakes winners, including Secretariat, died at Claiborne Farm.
July 13, 1986: Jockey Kent Desormeaux rode his first winner, a three-year-old filly named Miss Tavern, in the fifth race at Evangeline Downs.
July 13, 1996: Cigar tied Citations record of 16 consecutive victories, winning the Citation Challenge at Arlington International Racecourse.
July 13, 2006: The condition of injured Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro took a turn for the worse when it was discovered that the colt has developed acute laminitis in his left hind foot.
July 13, 2007: Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby, was retired. The popular New York-bred gelding then began a second career as a stable pony.
July 14, 1951: In his last race, Calumet Farms six-year-old Citation won the Hollywood Gold Cup by four lengths, and became racings first millionaire horse.
July 14, 1999: Television Games Network (TVG) made its official debut with horse racing programming available to 1.1 million C-band satellite homes though Superstar/Netlink Group, the nations largest satellite programming provider.
July 15, 1966: Dr. Fager won his first race by seven lengths at Aqueduct racetrack. He was sent off at odds of 10-1.
July 15, 1972: After finishing fourth in his racing debut on July 4, Secretariat won his first race, under jockey Paul Feliciano. The six-length victory occurred at Aqueduct.
July 15, 1987: Jack Van Berg became the first trainer to win 5,000 races when he sent Arts Chandelle, a $10,000 claimer, to victory at Arlington Park.
July 15, 1999: The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) confirmed that it had completed its purchase of the horseracing assets of Winner Communications via its newly formed subsidiary, NTRA Investments LLC.
July 15, 2000: Three-year-old filly Hallowed Dreams kept her record perfect and tied Cigars and Citations record of 16 consecutive wins by taking the Dixie Miss Stakes at Louisiana Downs.
WEEKEND STAKES RACES (unrestricted stakes in N.A. worth $75,000 and up)
FRIDAY, JULY 3
Bashford Manor Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, Grade III, 6F, Churchill Downs
Flawlessly Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Hollywood Park
Mr. Prospector Stakes, 3up, $75,000, 6F, Monmouth Park
SATURDAY, JULY 4
United Nations Stakes, 3up, $750,000, Grade I, 1 3-8M (T), Monmouth Park
Suburban Handicap, 3up, $400,000, Grade II, 1 1-4M, Belmont Park
Prioress Stakes, 3yo fillies, $300,000, Grade I, 6F, Belmont Park
Salvator Mile Stakes, 3up, $250,000, Grade III, 1M, Monmouth Park
Dwyer Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, Grade II, 1 1-16M, Belmont Park
Firecracker Handicap, 3up, $150,000, Grade II, 1M (T), Churchill Downs
American Handicap, 3up, $150,000, Grade II, 1 1-8M (T), Hollywood Park
Chicago Handicap, 3up (fm), $150,000, Grade III, 7F, Arlington Park
Dale Baird Memorial Stakes, 3up, $75,000, 5 1-2F, Mountaineer Park
Firecracker Stakes, 3up (fm), $75,000, 1M (T), Mountaineer Park
Independence Day Stakes, 3up, $75,000, 1M (T), Mountaineer Park
SUNDAY, JULY 5
American Oaks Invitational, 3yo fillies, $700,000, Grade I, 1 1-4M (T), Hollywood Park
Triple Bend Handicap, 3up, $300,000, Grade I, 7F, Hollywood Park
Tom Fool Handicap, 3up, $200,000, Grade III, 7F, Belmont Park
Jersey Shore Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, Grade III, 6F, Monmouth Park
Locust Grove Handicap, 3up (fm), $100,000, Grade III, 1M (T), Churchill Downs
MONDAY, JULY 6
Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap, 3up (fm), $200,000, 1 1-16M (T), Philadelphia Park
Indiana Downs Distaff Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M (T), Indiana Downs
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Oliver Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, 1M (T), Indiana Downs