| Horse Racing at The Downey Profile® Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown Coverage | |
FILLY & MARE TURF
Last Updated Nov. 3, 2009
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|
Post |
Horse |
ML |
Jockey |
A |
Owner |
Trainer |
|
1 |
Visit (GB) |
10-1 |
J. Velazquez |
4 |
Juddmonte Farms |
Bobby Frankel |
|
2 |
Forever Together (KY) |
5-2 |
J. Leparoux |
5 |
Augustin Stables |
Jonathan Sheppard |
|
3 |
Rutherienne (KY) |
8-1 |
A. Garcia |
4 |
Virginia Kraft Payson |
Christophe Clement |
|
4 |
Magical Fantasy (KY) |
3-1 |
A. Solis |
4 |
David Bienstock, Paul Mandabach & Charles Winner |
Paddy Gallagher |
|
5 |
Pure Clan (KY) |
5-1 |
G. Gomez |
4 |
Lewis G. Lakin, IEAH Stable & Pegasus Group Holdings |
Bob Holthus |
|
6 |
Midday (GB) |
4-1 |
T. Queally |
3 |
Juddmonte Farms |
Henry Cecil |
|
7 |
Dynaforce (KY) |
8-1 |
K. Desormeaux |
6 |
John A. Chandler |
Bill Mott |
|
8 |
Maram (KY) |
15-1 |
J. Lezcano |
3 |
Karen N. Woods & Saud bin Khaled | Chad Brown |
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FOREVER TOGETHER
MAGICAL FANTASY
MARAM
MIDDAY
PURE CLAN
RUTHERIENNE
VISIT
DYNAFORCE (KY)
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: John A. Chandler
Breeder: John A. Chandler
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Dynaformer (Roberto, Andover Way)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Aletta Maria (Diesis (GB), Pharlette (FR))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-2-22-1-4 (34) 1.13
Age: 6
Aug. 8, Grade I Beverly D. Stakes, Arlington Park, 1 3/16 Mile (T). Dynaforce (7-1) upset Pure Clan (3-2), who ran third, beaten 1 1/2 length. In between them at the wire was Alnadana (8-1), an Irish-bred European import trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre. Kent Desormeaux, hot on the turf this Summer, rode the winner, who was timed in 1:58.29 on a track rated good.
Dynaforce was third behind Pure Clan in the Grade III Modesty Handicap over the same course four weeks earlier.
The winner stalked the pace of the locally based Tizaqueena through easy fractions of :25.24, :50.67, 1:15.65 and 1:39.77 while making sure to keep the well-regarded Alnadana at bay until the top of the stretch.
Pure Clan made a belated run, too late to get up for the win.
Kent Desormeaux: “I had a nice easy pace to the half and then let her stretch it out in an attempt to take the foreign turn of foot away from them down the lane. That’s the way to beat the European horses. You can go as slow as you want the first three-quarters, but you can’t wait ‘til the quarter pole to turn it on, and you have to be mounted too. You still have to have the ability to get the kick to the wire.”
Oct. 3, Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational, Belmont Park, 1 1/4 Mile (T). On soft ground, upon which Dynaforce had performed well in the past, she finshed second from last in a poor effort, leading one to think that something went wrong with her during the race. Either that, or she didn't like being hit in the face with a driving rain.
Pure Clan won the race, Criticism second, Queen of Hearts third.
FOREVER TOGETHER (KY)
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard
Owner: Augustin Stables
Breeder: White Fox Farm
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Belong to Me (Danzig, Belonging)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Constant Companion (Relaunch, Wedding Picture)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-5-16-0-0 (30) 2.75
Age: 5
After three straight victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last Fall, Forever Together was defeated June 6 in the Grade I Just A Game at Belmont Park over a yielding turf course.
Aug. 1, Grade I Diana Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Against a field of 10 that featured six graded or group stakes winners, Forever Together (4-5 favorite) was kept clear on the outside and made a late winning run. She was timed in 1:48.21 on a course rated good.
Carribean Sunset (9-1) raced fairly forwardly, split horses in the stretch, and finished well for second, beaten a head. Rutherienne (9-2) had traffic trouble and finally got loose late to hit the wire third, another three parts back.
Jonathan Sheppard, winning trainer: “To keep running that well at that level – it takes a tremendous horse to do that. I was a little concerned they were being strung out more than I expected, but Julien did start to ease up in a nice striking position around the turn. She was loafing a little bit and the filly on the inside (Carribean Sunset) finished rather gamely. Keeping in mind she hadn’t run in a while and giving weight to the other horses, it was an outstanding performance.”
Julien Leparoux, winning jockey: “She’s an amazing mare. She relaxed good, and I had a good trip all the way around. She had the same closing kick she had last year in this race, too. This was a good group of fillies, and she beat them again. She’s awesome!”
Sept. 20, Grade II Canadian Stakes, Woodbine, About 1 1/8 Mile (T). Princess Haya (15-1) upset Forever Together (3-10) by a nose, with Much Obliged (8-1) a head back in third and Points of Grace (4-1) a two-length loser in fourth. Forever Together conceded 11 pounds to the winner.
Princess Haya came up the rail under Rafael Bejarano after tracking Forever Together and Julien Leparoux from the inside around the far turn.
Points of Grace attended the moderate pace set by longshot Lomaki (25-1), then vied for the lead mid-stretch with Much Obliged before the top two finishers came running by.
On turf rated firm, the clock stopped at 1:45.03.
Oct. 10, Grade I First Lady Stakes, Keeneland, One Mile (T). Diamondrella finished strongly to defeat Tizaqueena and favored Forever Together. Rajiv Maragh rode the winner.
Forever Together, the even-money favorite, who trailed the field behind very moderate fractions going down the backstretch, made her run too late and finished third.
Diamondrella, the second choice in the betting, paid $7.20 to win at 5-2 odds. Tizaqueena was 11-1. The race was timed in 1:38.66 on soft turf.
Hotlantic held a wide lead going into the second turn after opening fractions of :24.35 and :48.13, but Tizaqueena began closing ground leaving it. As Tizaqueena was going to the front, Diamondrella was furiously closing ground while Forever Together finally got into gear.
Tizaqueena couldn't hold off Diamondrella, who won by three-quarter length. Forever Together, who did a lot but much too late, was the same distance back in third.
Julien Leparoux, Forever Together: “I had a bad trip and the turf wasn’t that great. She ran a big race even though the ground wasn’t the best for her. She’s still going to be a good horse for sure.”
Jonathan Sheppard, trainer of Forever Together: “I thought she ran a tremendous race. She got kind of boxed in a little bit at the back of the pack and had to drop back a little bit too far to get out just going the flat mile. She just couldn’t quite get there, but I thought she ran great. I’m proud of her, I thought she ran well.
“I think that at this stage, (the distance) is (too short). But she made up a lot of ground.
“Yes, we’re still planning to go (to Breeders' Cup--definitely yes.”
MAGICAL FANTASY (KY)
Trainer: Paddy Gallagher
Owner: David Bienstock, Paul Mandabach & Charles Winner
Breeder: Rodes S. Parrish & Charles Beach IV
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Diesis (GB), Sharpen Up (GB), Doubly Sure (GB))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Kissing Gate (Easy Goer, Love's Reward (IRE))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-1-11-4-4 (26) 0.93
Age: 4
She went into the Mabee with victories in the Santa Barbara Handicap and Gamely.
Aug. 16, Grade I John C. Mabee Stakes, Del Mar, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Magical Fantasy (2-1), who rose to prominence a year ago by winning the Grade I Del Mar Oaks at 42-1, put it a nice come-from-behind performance. Next-to-last on the turn for home, Alex Solis guided Magical Fantasy between horses, and she unleashed a devastating burst of speed which propelled her to a one-length triumph.
Gotta Have Her (7-1), with Tyler Baze up, was a bang-up second, followed by Patricia's Gem (4-1), who held on gamely for third another half-length back after setting the pace into the stretch under Victor Espinoza. Fourth in the field of nine was Visit (5-1).
Magical Fantasy ran her final furlong in 11 seconds flat to secure the triumph with a time of 1:47.17 over the inner Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Initial fractions: :23.96, :48.17, 1:12.08, 1:35.62.
Alex Solis: “She’s been working great. She just seems like a different horse. She’s so full of confidence. She loves it here at Del Mar.
"At the quarter pole, I had a good position and I thought I was in good shape. I was inside, but I had so much horse I thought I could push someone out of the way if I had to. As it worked out, I got through and everything was fine."
Paddy Gallagher: “She looks like she’s improving a little bit at a time. She has a lot of enthusiasm, and she looks really good. We’re very lucky she likes it here. She beat a lot of nice fillies. She had to run to catch them. I was thinking if she could get out she’d be OK. Alex tried to get out once, and it didn’t work, but then he got her outside and she came running. I was a little worried at the early fractions. Everybody was talking about a lot of speed in the race, but all the jocks rode smart races.”
Oct. 10, Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/4 Mile. Favored at 6-5, Magical Fantasy got up mid-stretch to narrowly win.
Visit, who was the late leader until Magical Fantasy took over in a wide stretch run, held off Black Mamba by a nose for the place. Timed in 1:59.59 going 10 furlongs over a firm turf course, Magical Fantasy prevailed by a half-length.
Early in the going, Magical Fantasy was reserved in sixth behind sensible fractions of :24.02, :47.58 and 1:11.98 set by Charming Legacy. Visit sat behind the leader until she left the far turn. Magical Fantasy seized the lead and was between Visit and Black Mamba as she crossed the finish line first.
She paid $4.40 to win and surpassed the million-dollar mark in earnings. From 17 starts, she has six wins and four seconds. She added this win to others this year in the Grade I Won Gamely Stakes, the Grade I John C. Mabee Handicap and the Grade II Santa Barbara Handicap.
Paddy Gallagher, trainer of Magical Fantasy: “Alex knows the horse, so I don’t have to give him instructions. We’ll see how she is, but this is our best chance to have a Breeders’ Cup runner, so I think we’ve got to take our best shot. The first three fillies all ran good and were all right there. It was a good horse race, and it was nice to come out on the winning end. That’s the number one hope, to stay here and train up to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Alex Solis, rider of the winner: “I was very happy with the pace and I was happy to see four horses together up front. Even though they weren’t going that fast, they’re still eyeballing each other and putting pressure on each other. I was really impressed with the way she ran today. She keeps getting better and better. I was worried about the pace on paper, but the main thing with this filly is to put her in a good position and let her run her race.
“I come out and work her most of the time, and I knew she was training great. Those two bullet works (Oct. 4 and Sept. 27), she gave us, she did it without even asking her.”
MARAM (KY)
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Karen N. Woods & Saud bin Khaled
Breeder: Palides Investments N V, Inc. & Hair 'Em Corp.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Sahm (Mr. Prospector, Salsabil (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): American Dreamer (Quest for Fame (GB), Reflection)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 12-2-14-4-0 (32) 1.91
Age: 3
Maram won the 2008 Juvenile Fillies Turf at 11-1 odds. She was given an extended break after that.
On Aug. 8, Maram made her 3-year-old debut in the Hettinger Stakes at Saratoga, winning by a half-length over Bluegrass Princess and timed in 1:34 3/5 in the one-mile turf race.
On Oct. 12, Maram finished third, beaten a neck by Miss Catalyst, in the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park. The winner went the turf mile in 1:34.
In each race, and in her Juveniel Fillies Turf win, Maram came from off the pace and made a good late run--although she arrived at the front with a furlong left in the Hettinger and dug in to prevail.
MIDDAY (GB)
Trainer: Henry Cecil
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert, Hope (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Midsummer (GB) (Kingmambo, Modena)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-3-17-1-0 (26) 1.74
Age: 3
Midday was beaten a head in the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom in June, then finished third in the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh before going on to the Nassau.
The owner had Breeders' Cup winners Banks Hill (2001) and Intercontinental (2005).
Aug. 2, Group 1 Nassau, Goodwood, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Extremely boggy conditions didn’t put a damper on the chances of Midday, who was slow to leave the starting gate but quickly was put into a secure position by Tom Queally.
Two furlongs out, Midday stormed to the lead and flew under the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of the favorite Rainbow View. The Nassau was the first win in a Group 1 for Midday.
Quote from Sept. 17: “Midday may go for the Filly & Mare Turf, and we will make a final decision after she has run in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on October 4,” said owner Abdullah’s European racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. “Her victory in the Nassau Stakes was especially sweet, particularly on that ground, but she’s acted on a faster surface earlier in the season and going to Santa Anita wouldn’t be a problem.“
Oct. 4, Group 1 Prix de l’Opera, Longchamp, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Midday finished third to Shalanaya, beaten only a length and a half. The race was timed in 2:01.80 on ground rated good. She was edged out for second by a short head.
The comments from Racing Post: "4th halfway, 3rd straight, ridden to challenge 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on until headed 100yds out, kept on under pressure, lost 2nd on line."
Midday was the 11-4 favorite in the race.
PURE CLAN (KY)
Trainer: Bob Holthus
Owner: Lewis G. Lakin, IEAH Stable & Pegasus Group Holdings
Breeder: A. Lakin & Sons Inc.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Pure Prize (Storm Cat, Heavenly Prize)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Gather the Clan (IRE), General Assembly, What a Summer)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 4-6-7-1-0 (18) 3.00
Age: 4
July 11, Grade III Modesty Handicap, Arlington Park, 1 3 1/6 Mile (T). Pure Clan lived up to her 4-5 off odds second time off the layoff, rallying from last to easily capture the race by 2 1/2 lengths on Million Preview Day. Julien Leparoux rode. Pure Clan covered the distance in 1:55.27.
Tizaqueena led most of the way and held on for second, a neck before Dynaforce. Pure Clan sat off the early pace of :25.29, :49.89 and 1:13.63. With about three furlongs left, Leparoux went four wide and drew off.
"We had a good trip, and she ran a very, very good race," said Leparoux. "She won easily and she was the best. I was very pleased with her."
Aug. 8, Grade I Beverly D. Stakes, Arlington Park, 1 3/16 Mile (T). Dynaforce (7-1) upset Pure Clan (3-2), who ran third, beaten 1 1/2 length. In between them at the wire was Alnadana (8-1), an Irish-bred European import trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre. Kent Desormeaux, hot on the turf this Summer, rode the winner, who was timed in 1:58.29 on a track rated good.
Dynaforce was third behind Pure Clan in the Grade III Modesty Handicap over the same course four weeks earlier.
The winner stalked the pace of the locally based Tizaqueena through easy fractions of :25.24, :50.67, 1:15.65 and 1:39.77 while making sure to keep the well-regarded Alnadana at bay until the top of the stretch.
Pure Clan made a belated run, too late to get up for the win. “There was no pace, and that hurt our chances,” said Julien Leparoux. “She closed well.”
Oct. 1 NOTE: “This is our Breeders’ Cup right here,” Holthus said of the upcoming Flower Bowl at Belmont Park.
Oct. 3, Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational, Belmont Park, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Owner Lakin and trainer Holthus did not particularly want to run Pure Clan over soft ground in the 1 1/4-mile, Grade I Flower Bowl--and they nominated her to other races at other venues. Once they arrived in New York, the die was cast, and it worked out despite a deluge that rendered the track boggy.
When the gate opened, Leamington set out under Edgar Prado and loped through a half-mile in :53.81 and six furlongs in 1:20.43. Javier Castellano tracked and pressed off her right flank on Criticism, while Pure Clan raced up close behind Dynaforce and Queen of Hearts.
As the field entered the turn, favored Dynaforce began to fall back along the rail, while Pure Clan and Irish import Moneycantbuymelove moved closer to the leaders. Criticism opened up a 1 1/2-length lead in the upper stretch, but Pure Clan was poised to pounce and wore down the leader to win by 2 3/4 lengths. She crossed the finish line in a slow time of 2:12.43.
The 5-2 second choice in the wagering, Pure Clan paid $7.20 for the win. Pure Clan had secured her second Grade I victory of her 15-race career on a course labeled soft and earned $360,000 to improve her lifetime earnings to $1,627,498.
Queen of Hearts finished third followed by Moneycantbuymelove, Leamington, Dynaforce and Beauty O’Gwaun.
Bob Holthus, winning trainer: “She ran a great race. I’m glad it’s over. She showed more speed today than normal. She was in the race all the way. Julien had confidence. It’s always good to get Grade I’s.
Julien Leparoux, winning rider: "She ran well today. We wanted her behind the pace so she would make a big run at the end. The turf course was really soft, and she had to work hard at it in the stretch. Still, she got the job done."
Oct. 4 NOTE: While he was reticent about Breeders' Cup beforehand, Holthus said after the race, "The thing is, if we could win the Breeders' Cup, she'd probably win the Eclipse Award. That would increase her value. I think it was her best race. I think she’s a little more mature. It’s easy to say now, but I thought she was going to win going into the first turn.”
RUTHERIENNE (KY)
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Owner: Virginia Kraft Payson
Breeder: Payson Stud Inc.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Pulpit (A.P. Indy, Preach)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Ruthian (Rahy, Adoryphar)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-6-18-0-0 (34) 2.78
Age: 4
She is almost always involved at the end of her races.
Aug. 1, Grade I Diana Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Carribean Sunset (9-1) raced fairly forwardly, split horses in the stretch, and finished well for second, beaten a head. Rutherienne (9-2) had traffic trouble and finally got loose late to hit the wire third, another three parts back.
Against a field of 10 that featured six graded or group stakes winners, it was Forever Together (4-5 favorite) who was kept clear on the outside and made a late winning run for Jonathan Sheppard. She was timed in 1:48.21 on a course rated good.
Christophe Clement, trainer of Carribean Sunset and third-place finisher Rutherienne: “They both ran very well, both ran a very good race. I wouldn’t mind (if Sheppard) to go in another place, for once. Maybe tell Sheppard to go somewhere else next time.”
Aug. 29, Grade II Ballston Spa Handicap, Saratoga, 1 1/16 Mile (T). On soft ground, Rutherienne (9-5 favorite) surged to the lead approaching the wire, only to be caught by Salve Germania, a German horse starting in the U.S. for the first time at 24-1 odds. The winner was behind very slow fractions, trapped behind a wall of horses in the stretch, and still closed for the win. The final time was a 1:47.25, about as slow as you will ever see at this distance in a graded race.
To add insult to injury, the winner was unruly in the paddock, ran off in the post parade, and misbehaved at the gate.
Completing the order of finish were My Princess Jess, Cocoa Beach, Teamgeist, Captain’s Lover, and Closeout.
Christophe Clement, trainer: “(Rutherienne) ran very well. She was just second best on the day. I think she would have been very tough on firm turf.”
Alan Garcia, jockey aboard Rutherienne: “I got beat today, that’s all I can say.”
Sept. 19, Grade III Noble Damsel Stakes, Belmont Park, One Mile (T). She faced seven others and was 2-5 in the final ballot. But it was tougher than her odds for Rutherienne, although she proved her mettle while battling with Quiet Meadow (9-1 fourth choice) to win by a nose.
Rutherienne sat in last, well off brisk early fractions of :22.75 and :47.17 set by Meadow Saffron. She started moving on the turn and advanced to split rivals in midstretch and challenge Quiet Meadow, who had taken the lead. The two drew off from the rest of the field for a blistering final quarter in :22.34. It looked like Rutherienne would let down her backers, but she finally got up by a long nose.
Her final time was 1:34.34.
Completing the order of finish were Social Queen, Meadow Saffron, Grande Annee, American Border and Stealin’ Kisses.
Christophe Clement, winning trainer: “The bottom line, it was a very tight race, a very good race. They both opened up on the rest of the field, but I’m delighted with my filly. It’s been a long time since she’s won a race, and, as I said, she ran a very good race. They were flying that last quarter. She’s been so consistent. Look at her career – she’s never run a bad race. I know she only won by a nose today, but she’s a very good filly. The second filly (Quiet Meadow) ran a very good race too. We’ll enjoy this, I’ll call my owner, and go from there.”
Winning jockey Alan Garcia: “Right past the finish line, I said, ‘Javier, congratulations.’ It was so tight, I thought he had won. It was a good race. She got a little timid between horses, but then she really dug in. She’s a very nice horse.”
VISIT (GB)
Trainer: Bobby Frankel
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Oasis Dream (Green Desert, Hope (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Arrive (GB) (Kahyasi (IRE), Kerali (GB))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 2-3-11-2-0 (18) 1.40
Age: 4
Fourth in the 2008 Filly & Mare Turf at age 3.
Visit has had some success on the West Coast, running second in the Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park in May and third in the Santa Ana Handicap in March, but she still has yet to win in the United States. Going into the Yellow Ribbon, she finished fourth in the Grade I John C. Mabee, won by Magical Fantasy.
She took on a strong field in the Yellow Ribbon, Garrett Gomez felt she would have to improve.
“She’s had some nice runs, but she’s going to have to step up,” Gomez said. “She’s got the capability. She was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. If she runs the way she did when she first arrived, she’ll be really solid. She’s had some nice runs since; it’s just that she hasn’t found the winner’s circle yet.”
Oct. 10, Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/4 Mile. Favored at 6-5, Magical Fantasy got up mid-stretch to narrowly win.
Visit, who was the late leader until Magical Fantasy took over in a wide stretch run, held off Black Mamba by a nose for the place. Timed in 1:59.59 going 10 furlongs over a firm turf course, Magical Fantasy prevailed by a half-length.
Early in the going, Magical Fantasy was reserved in sixth behind sensible fractions of :24.02, :47.58 and 1:11.98 set by Charming Legacy. Visit sat behind the leader until she left the far turn. Magical Fantasy seized the lead and was between Visit and Black Mamba as she crossed the finish line first.
Humberto Ascanio, assistant trainer for Visit to Bobby Frankel: ”My filly ran good. I’m proud of her. The other filly is the real deal.”
Garrett Gomez, aboard Visit: “She ran well. There wasn’t going to be much pace in there. The filly on the outside (Internallyflawless) was tracking me, and I know her because I’ve ridden her before. They didn’t send her. So I let my filly run while laying second. She traveled beautifully for me. She just kind of got outkicked to the wire today. But she ran well, for something she doesn’t usually do. She’s usually covered up. So this gives her another dimension. Bobby Frankel always thought she might be alright like this today, so I was glad to see her do what she did.”
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: John A. Chandler
Breeder: John A. Chandler
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Dynaformer (Roberto, Andover Way)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Aletta Maria (Diesis (GB), Pharlette (FR))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-2-22-1-4 (34) 1.13
Age: 6
Aug. 8, Grade I Beverly D. Stakes, Arlington Park, 1 3/16 Mile (T). Dynaforce (7-1) upset Pure Clan (3-2), who ran third, beaten 1 1/2 length. In between them at the wire was Alnadana (8-1), an Irish-bred European import trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre. Kent Desormeaux, hot on the turf this Summer, rode the winner, who was timed in 1:58.29 on a track rated good.
Dynaforce was third behind Pure Clan in the Grade III Modesty Handicap over the same course four weeks earlier.
The winner stalked the pace of the locally based Tizaqueena through easy fractions of :25.24, :50.67, 1:15.65 and 1:39.77 while making sure to keep the well-regarded Alnadana at bay until the top of the stretch.
Pure Clan made a belated run, too late to get up for the win.
Kent Desormeaux: “I had a nice easy pace to the half and then let her stretch it out in an attempt to take the foreign turn of foot away from them down the lane. That’s the way to beat the European horses. You can go as slow as you want the first three-quarters, but you can’t wait ‘til the quarter pole to turn it on, and you have to be mounted too. You still have to have the ability to get the kick to the wire.”
Oct. 3, Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational, Belmont Park, 1 1/4 Mile (T). On soft ground, upon which Dynaforce had performed well in the past, she finshed second from last in a poor effort, leading one to think that something went wrong with her during the race. Either that, or she didn't like being hit in the face with a driving rain.
Pure Clan won the race, Criticism second, Queen of Hearts third.
FOREVER TOGETHER (KY)
Trainer: Jonathan Sheppard
Owner: Augustin Stables
Breeder: White Fox Farm
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Belong to Me (Danzig, Belonging)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Constant Companion (Relaunch, Wedding Picture)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 9-5-16-0-0 (30) 2.75
Age: 5
After three straight victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf last Fall, Forever Together was defeated June 6 in the Grade I Just A Game at Belmont Park over a yielding turf course.
Aug. 1, Grade I Diana Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Against a field of 10 that featured six graded or group stakes winners, Forever Together (4-5 favorite) was kept clear on the outside and made a late winning run. She was timed in 1:48.21 on a course rated good.
Carribean Sunset (9-1) raced fairly forwardly, split horses in the stretch, and finished well for second, beaten a head. Rutherienne (9-2) had traffic trouble and finally got loose late to hit the wire third, another three parts back.
Jonathan Sheppard, winning trainer: “To keep running that well at that level – it takes a tremendous horse to do that. I was a little concerned they were being strung out more than I expected, but Julien did start to ease up in a nice striking position around the turn. She was loafing a little bit and the filly on the inside (Carribean Sunset) finished rather gamely. Keeping in mind she hadn’t run in a while and giving weight to the other horses, it was an outstanding performance.”
Julien Leparoux, winning jockey: “She’s an amazing mare. She relaxed good, and I had a good trip all the way around. She had the same closing kick she had last year in this race, too. This was a good group of fillies, and she beat them again. She’s awesome!”
Sept. 20, Grade II Canadian Stakes, Woodbine, About 1 1/8 Mile (T). Princess Haya (15-1) upset Forever Together (3-10) by a nose, with Much Obliged (8-1) a head back in third and Points of Grace (4-1) a two-length loser in fourth. Forever Together conceded 11 pounds to the winner.
Princess Haya came up the rail under Rafael Bejarano after tracking Forever Together and Julien Leparoux from the inside around the far turn.
Points of Grace attended the moderate pace set by longshot Lomaki (25-1), then vied for the lead mid-stretch with Much Obliged before the top two finishers came running by.
On turf rated firm, the clock stopped at 1:45.03.
Oct. 10, Grade I First Lady Stakes, Keeneland, One Mile (T). Diamondrella finished strongly to defeat Tizaqueena and favored Forever Together. Rajiv Maragh rode the winner.
Forever Together, the even-money favorite, who trailed the field behind very moderate fractions going down the backstretch, made her run too late and finished third.
Diamondrella, the second choice in the betting, paid $7.20 to win at 5-2 odds. Tizaqueena was 11-1. The race was timed in 1:38.66 on soft turf.
Hotlantic held a wide lead going into the second turn after opening fractions of :24.35 and :48.13, but Tizaqueena began closing ground leaving it. As Tizaqueena was going to the front, Diamondrella was furiously closing ground while Forever Together finally got into gear.
Tizaqueena couldn't hold off Diamondrella, who won by three-quarter length. Forever Together, who did a lot but much too late, was the same distance back in third.
Julien Leparoux, Forever Together: “I had a bad trip and the turf wasn’t that great. She ran a big race even though the ground wasn’t the best for her. She’s still going to be a good horse for sure.”
Jonathan Sheppard, trainer of Forever Together: “I thought she ran a tremendous race. She got kind of boxed in a little bit at the back of the pack and had to drop back a little bit too far to get out just going the flat mile. She just couldn’t quite get there, but I thought she ran great. I’m proud of her, I thought she ran well.
“I think that at this stage, (the distance) is (too short). But she made up a lot of ground.
“Yes, we’re still planning to go (to Breeders' Cup--definitely yes.”
MAGICAL FANTASY (KY)
Trainer: Paddy Gallagher
Owner: David Bienstock, Paul Mandabach & Charles Winner
Breeder: Rodes S. Parrish & Charles Beach IV
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Diesis (GB), Sharpen Up (GB), Doubly Sure (GB))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Kissing Gate (Easy Goer, Love's Reward (IRE))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 6-1-11-4-4 (26) 0.93
Age: 4
She went into the Mabee with victories in the Santa Barbara Handicap and Gamely.
Aug. 16, Grade I John C. Mabee Stakes, Del Mar, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Magical Fantasy (2-1), who rose to prominence a year ago by winning the Grade I Del Mar Oaks at 42-1, put it a nice come-from-behind performance. Next-to-last on the turn for home, Alex Solis guided Magical Fantasy between horses, and she unleashed a devastating burst of speed which propelled her to a one-length triumph.
Gotta Have Her (7-1), with Tyler Baze up, was a bang-up second, followed by Patricia's Gem (4-1), who held on gamely for third another half-length back after setting the pace into the stretch under Victor Espinoza. Fourth in the field of nine was Visit (5-1).
Magical Fantasy ran her final furlong in 11 seconds flat to secure the triumph with a time of 1:47.17 over the inner Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
Initial fractions: :23.96, :48.17, 1:12.08, 1:35.62.
Alex Solis: “She’s been working great. She just seems like a different horse. She’s so full of confidence. She loves it here at Del Mar.
"At the quarter pole, I had a good position and I thought I was in good shape. I was inside, but I had so much horse I thought I could push someone out of the way if I had to. As it worked out, I got through and everything was fine."
Paddy Gallagher: “She looks like she’s improving a little bit at a time. She has a lot of enthusiasm, and she looks really good. We’re very lucky she likes it here. She beat a lot of nice fillies. She had to run to catch them. I was thinking if she could get out she’d be OK. Alex tried to get out once, and it didn’t work, but then he got her outside and she came running. I was a little worried at the early fractions. Everybody was talking about a lot of speed in the race, but all the jocks rode smart races.”
Oct. 10, Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/4 Mile. Favored at 6-5, Magical Fantasy got up mid-stretch to narrowly win.
Visit, who was the late leader until Magical Fantasy took over in a wide stretch run, held off Black Mamba by a nose for the place. Timed in 1:59.59 going 10 furlongs over a firm turf course, Magical Fantasy prevailed by a half-length.
Early in the going, Magical Fantasy was reserved in sixth behind sensible fractions of :24.02, :47.58 and 1:11.98 set by Charming Legacy. Visit sat behind the leader until she left the far turn. Magical Fantasy seized the lead and was between Visit and Black Mamba as she crossed the finish line first.
She paid $4.40 to win and surpassed the million-dollar mark in earnings. From 17 starts, she has six wins and four seconds. She added this win to others this year in the Grade I Won Gamely Stakes, the Grade I John C. Mabee Handicap and the Grade II Santa Barbara Handicap.
Paddy Gallagher, trainer of Magical Fantasy: “Alex knows the horse, so I don’t have to give him instructions. We’ll see how she is, but this is our best chance to have a Breeders’ Cup runner, so I think we’ve got to take our best shot. The first three fillies all ran good and were all right there. It was a good horse race, and it was nice to come out on the winning end. That’s the number one hope, to stay here and train up to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Alex Solis, rider of the winner: “I was very happy with the pace and I was happy to see four horses together up front. Even though they weren’t going that fast, they’re still eyeballing each other and putting pressure on each other. I was really impressed with the way she ran today. She keeps getting better and better. I was worried about the pace on paper, but the main thing with this filly is to put her in a good position and let her run her race.
“I come out and work her most of the time, and I knew she was training great. Those two bullet works (Oct. 4 and Sept. 27), she gave us, she did it without even asking her.”
MARAM (KY)
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Karen N. Woods & Saud bin Khaled
Breeder: Palides Investments N V, Inc. & Hair 'Em Corp.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Sahm (Mr. Prospector, Salsabil (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): American Dreamer (Quest for Fame (GB), Reflection)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 12-2-14-4-0 (32) 1.91
Age: 3
Maram won the 2008 Juvenile Fillies Turf at 11-1 odds. She was given an extended break after that.
On Aug. 8, Maram made her 3-year-old debut in the Hettinger Stakes at Saratoga, winning by a half-length over Bluegrass Princess and timed in 1:34 3/5 in the one-mile turf race.
On Oct. 12, Maram finished third, beaten a neck by Miss Catalyst, in the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park. The winner went the turf mile in 1:34.
In each race, and in her Juveniel Fillies Turf win, Maram came from off the pace and made a good late run--although she arrived at the front with a furlong left in the Hettinger and dug in to prevail.
MIDDAY (GB)
Trainer: Henry Cecil
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert, Hope (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Midsummer (GB) (Kingmambo, Modena)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 5-3-17-1-0 (26) 1.74
Age: 3
Midday was beaten a head in the Group 1 Oaks at Epsom in June, then finished third in the Group 1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh before going on to the Nassau.
The owner had Breeders' Cup winners Banks Hill (2001) and Intercontinental (2005).
Aug. 2, Group 1 Nassau, Goodwood, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Extremely boggy conditions didn’t put a damper on the chances of Midday, who was slow to leave the starting gate but quickly was put into a secure position by Tom Queally.
Two furlongs out, Midday stormed to the lead and flew under the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of the favorite Rainbow View. The Nassau was the first win in a Group 1 for Midday.
Quote from Sept. 17: “Midday may go for the Filly & Mare Turf, and we will make a final decision after she has run in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on October 4,” said owner Abdullah’s European racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe. “Her victory in the Nassau Stakes was especially sweet, particularly on that ground, but she’s acted on a faster surface earlier in the season and going to Santa Anita wouldn’t be a problem.“
Oct. 4, Group 1 Prix de l’Opera, Longchamp, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Midday finished third to Shalanaya, beaten only a length and a half. The race was timed in 2:01.80 on ground rated good. She was edged out for second by a short head.
The comments from Racing Post: "4th halfway, 3rd straight, ridden to challenge 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on until headed 100yds out, kept on under pressure, lost 2nd on line."
Midday was the 11-4 favorite in the race.
PURE CLAN (KY)
Trainer: Bob Holthus
Owner: Lewis G. Lakin, IEAH Stable & Pegasus Group Holdings
Breeder: A. Lakin & Sons Inc.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Pure Prize (Storm Cat, Heavenly Prize)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Gather the Clan (IRE), General Assembly, What a Summer)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 4-6-7-1-0 (18) 3.00
Age: 4
July 11, Grade III Modesty Handicap, Arlington Park, 1 3 1/6 Mile (T). Pure Clan lived up to her 4-5 off odds second time off the layoff, rallying from last to easily capture the race by 2 1/2 lengths on Million Preview Day. Julien Leparoux rode. Pure Clan covered the distance in 1:55.27.
Tizaqueena led most of the way and held on for second, a neck before Dynaforce. Pure Clan sat off the early pace of :25.29, :49.89 and 1:13.63. With about three furlongs left, Leparoux went four wide and drew off.
"We had a good trip, and she ran a very, very good race," said Leparoux. "She won easily and she was the best. I was very pleased with her."
Aug. 8, Grade I Beverly D. Stakes, Arlington Park, 1 3/16 Mile (T). Dynaforce (7-1) upset Pure Clan (3-2), who ran third, beaten 1 1/2 length. In between them at the wire was Alnadana (8-1), an Irish-bred European import trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre. Kent Desormeaux, hot on the turf this Summer, rode the winner, who was timed in 1:58.29 on a track rated good.
Dynaforce was third behind Pure Clan in the Grade III Modesty Handicap over the same course four weeks earlier.
The winner stalked the pace of the locally based Tizaqueena through easy fractions of :25.24, :50.67, 1:15.65 and 1:39.77 while making sure to keep the well-regarded Alnadana at bay until the top of the stretch.
Pure Clan made a belated run, too late to get up for the win. “There was no pace, and that hurt our chances,” said Julien Leparoux. “She closed well.”
Oct. 1 NOTE: “This is our Breeders’ Cup right here,” Holthus said of the upcoming Flower Bowl at Belmont Park.
Oct. 3, Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational, Belmont Park, 1 1/4 Mile (T). Owner Lakin and trainer Holthus did not particularly want to run Pure Clan over soft ground in the 1 1/4-mile, Grade I Flower Bowl--and they nominated her to other races at other venues. Once they arrived in New York, the die was cast, and it worked out despite a deluge that rendered the track boggy.
When the gate opened, Leamington set out under Edgar Prado and loped through a half-mile in :53.81 and six furlongs in 1:20.43. Javier Castellano tracked and pressed off her right flank on Criticism, while Pure Clan raced up close behind Dynaforce and Queen of Hearts.
As the field entered the turn, favored Dynaforce began to fall back along the rail, while Pure Clan and Irish import Moneycantbuymelove moved closer to the leaders. Criticism opened up a 1 1/2-length lead in the upper stretch, but Pure Clan was poised to pounce and wore down the leader to win by 2 3/4 lengths. She crossed the finish line in a slow time of 2:12.43.
The 5-2 second choice in the wagering, Pure Clan paid $7.20 for the win. Pure Clan had secured her second Grade I victory of her 15-race career on a course labeled soft and earned $360,000 to improve her lifetime earnings to $1,627,498.
Queen of Hearts finished third followed by Moneycantbuymelove, Leamington, Dynaforce and Beauty O’Gwaun.
Bob Holthus, winning trainer: “She ran a great race. I’m glad it’s over. She showed more speed today than normal. She was in the race all the way. Julien had confidence. It’s always good to get Grade I’s.
Julien Leparoux, winning rider: "She ran well today. We wanted her behind the pace so she would make a big run at the end. The turf course was really soft, and she had to work hard at it in the stretch. Still, she got the job done."
Oct. 4 NOTE: While he was reticent about Breeders' Cup beforehand, Holthus said after the race, "The thing is, if we could win the Breeders' Cup, she'd probably win the Eclipse Award. That would increase her value. I think it was her best race. I think she’s a little more mature. It’s easy to say now, but I thought she was going to win going into the first turn.”
RUTHERIENNE (KY)
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Owner: Virginia Kraft Payson
Breeder: Payson Stud Inc.
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Pulpit (A.P. Indy, Preach)
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Ruthian (Rahy, Adoryphar)
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 10-6-18-0-0 (34) 2.78
Age: 4
She is almost always involved at the end of her races.
Aug. 1, Grade I Diana Stakes, Saratoga, 1 1/8 Mile (T). Carribean Sunset (9-1) raced fairly forwardly, split horses in the stretch, and finished well for second, beaten a head. Rutherienne (9-2) had traffic trouble and finally got loose late to hit the wire third, another three parts back.
Against a field of 10 that featured six graded or group stakes winners, it was Forever Together (4-5 favorite) who was kept clear on the outside and made a late winning run for Jonathan Sheppard. She was timed in 1:48.21 on a course rated good.
Christophe Clement, trainer of Carribean Sunset and third-place finisher Rutherienne: “They both ran very well, both ran a very good race. I wouldn’t mind (if Sheppard) to go in another place, for once. Maybe tell Sheppard to go somewhere else next time.”
Aug. 29, Grade II Ballston Spa Handicap, Saratoga, 1 1/16 Mile (T). On soft ground, Rutherienne (9-5 favorite) surged to the lead approaching the wire, only to be caught by Salve Germania, a German horse starting in the U.S. for the first time at 24-1 odds. The winner was behind very slow fractions, trapped behind a wall of horses in the stretch, and still closed for the win. The final time was a 1:47.25, about as slow as you will ever see at this distance in a graded race.
To add insult to injury, the winner was unruly in the paddock, ran off in the post parade, and misbehaved at the gate.
Completing the order of finish were My Princess Jess, Cocoa Beach, Teamgeist, Captain’s Lover, and Closeout.
Christophe Clement, trainer: “(Rutherienne) ran very well. She was just second best on the day. I think she would have been very tough on firm turf.”
Alan Garcia, jockey aboard Rutherienne: “I got beat today, that’s all I can say.”
Sept. 19, Grade III Noble Damsel Stakes, Belmont Park, One Mile (T). She faced seven others and was 2-5 in the final ballot. But it was tougher than her odds for Rutherienne, although she proved her mettle while battling with Quiet Meadow (9-1 fourth choice) to win by a nose.
Rutherienne sat in last, well off brisk early fractions of :22.75 and :47.17 set by Meadow Saffron. She started moving on the turn and advanced to split rivals in midstretch and challenge Quiet Meadow, who had taken the lead. The two drew off from the rest of the field for a blistering final quarter in :22.34. It looked like Rutherienne would let down her backers, but she finally got up by a long nose.
Her final time was 1:34.34.
Completing the order of finish were Social Queen, Meadow Saffron, Grande Annee, American Border and Stealin’ Kisses.
Christophe Clement, winning trainer: “The bottom line, it was a very tight race, a very good race. They both opened up on the rest of the field, but I’m delighted with my filly. It’s been a long time since she’s won a race, and, as I said, she ran a very good race. They were flying that last quarter. She’s been so consistent. Look at her career – she’s never run a bad race. I know she only won by a nose today, but she’s a very good filly. The second filly (Quiet Meadow) ran a very good race too. We’ll enjoy this, I’ll call my owner, and go from there.”
Winning jockey Alan Garcia: “Right past the finish line, I said, ‘Javier, congratulations.’ It was so tight, I thought he had won. It was a good race. She got a little timid between horses, but then she really dug in. She’s a very nice horse.”
VISIT (GB)
Trainer: Bobby Frankel
Owner: Juddmonte Farms
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Sire (Sire’s Sire, Dam): Oasis Dream (Green Desert, Hope (IRE))
Dam (Dam’s Sire, Dam): Arrive (GB) (Kahyasi (IRE), Kerali (GB))
Dosage Profile (Points) Index: 2-3-11-2-0 (18) 1.40
Age: 4
Fourth in the 2008 Filly & Mare Turf at age 3.
Visit has had some success on the West Coast, running second in the Gamely Stakes at Hollywood Park in May and third in the Santa Ana Handicap in March, but she still has yet to win in the United States. Going into the Yellow Ribbon, she finished fourth in the Grade I John C. Mabee, won by Magical Fantasy.
She took on a strong field in the Yellow Ribbon, Garrett Gomez felt she would have to improve.
“She’s had some nice runs, but she’s going to have to step up,” Gomez said. “She’s got the capability. She was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. If she runs the way she did when she first arrived, she’ll be really solid. She’s had some nice runs since; it’s just that she hasn’t found the winner’s circle yet.”
Oct. 10, Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes, Santa Anita, 1 1/4 Mile. Favored at 6-5, Magical Fantasy got up mid-stretch to narrowly win.
Visit, who was the late leader until Magical Fantasy took over in a wide stretch run, held off Black Mamba by a nose for the place. Timed in 1:59.59 going 10 furlongs over a firm turf course, Magical Fantasy prevailed by a half-length.
Early in the going, Magical Fantasy was reserved in sixth behind sensible fractions of :24.02, :47.58 and 1:11.98 set by Charming Legacy. Visit sat behind the leader until she left the far turn. Magical Fantasy seized the lead and was between Visit and Black Mamba as she crossed the finish line first.
Humberto Ascanio, assistant trainer for Visit to Bobby Frankel: ”My filly ran good. I’m proud of her. The other filly is the real deal.”
Garrett Gomez, aboard Visit: “She ran well. There wasn’t going to be much pace in there. The filly on the outside (Internallyflawless) was tracking me, and I know her because I’ve ridden her before. They didn’t send her. So I let my filly run while laying second. She traveled beautifully for me. She just kind of got outkicked to the wire today. But she ran well, for something she doesn’t usually do. She’s usually covered up. So this gives her another dimension. Bobby Frankel always thought she might be alright like this today, so I was glad to see her do what she did.”
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