Mohaymen and Cathryn Sophia Brilliant in Preps

THE WEEKEND WRAP UP

Feb. 27th – 28th

FEATURE: California Chrome Sensational In Dubai World Cup Prep

Last Thursday, 2014 Horse of the Year and fan favorite California Chrome effortlessly won the $150,000 Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Weighed down with 15 extra pounds to help level the playing field, Chrome still romped under Triple Crown winning jockey and regular pilot Victor Espinoza.

Fully recuperated from a less than stellar 2015, and now under new management, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is out to capture the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March. Narrowly missing victory in the world’s richest race last year, Chrome’s connections shipped him to Meydan in early February to give the stunning 5-year-old as much time as possible to prepare.

In case you missed Chrome’s dazzling victory on Thursday (please come out from under the rock), he sat off the leader in his typical fashion and closed like a freight train with very little urging from Espinoza. The final time was 2:04.32 going a mile and quarter.

“It was easy,” Espinoza said. “The way he looked was the way he won. I didn’t want to overdo it with him today too much, because there’s a short period of time until the next race.”

Assuming all goes according to plan, after the Dubai World Cup California Chrome will close out the year in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park — his preferred track — and be off to the breeding shed with owners Taylor Made Farm.

“If we could ever get lucky, he’d wind up being the richest (American) Thoroughbred ever, passing Curlin, who was a great Thoroughbred, and it would be an honor for that to happen,” said trainer Art Sherman.

Mohaymen Stays Undefeated in Fountain of Youth

Sunshine played host to this year’s $400,000 Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth, the Kentucky Derby prep and main attraction on Saturday’s card at Gulfstream Park. A small field of six was highlighted by heavy favorite Mohaymen, who cruised to a 2 ¼ length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race, once again remaining undefeated.

Breaking nicely from post number six, the grey son of Tapit was bumped by Awesome Speed after Golden Ray drifted him out. Four-wide entering the first turn, Mohaymen remained close to the early trailer (Fellowship) before moving up between horses and settling in third. Awesome Banner led the pack going the quarter in 23.52 and the half in 47.07 then gave way to Zulu. Piloted by John Velazquez, Zulu went six furlongs in 1:11.02 and showed grit trying to hold off the favorite as they made their way around the final turn. At the quarter pole, the two dueled neck and neck, but it was all Mohaymen, who stuck his head in front of his foe at the top of the stretch and surged to the wire, stopping the clock at 1:42.84.

Now a perfect 5-for-5, Mohaymen is a 4x grade two winner with earnings of $805,350. Out of a Dixie Union mare, the 3-year-old was purchased as a yearling at Keeneland for $2,200,000 by owners Shadwell Stables. Though he has yet to cover his seven digit price tag, he is proving to be a force to be reckoned with, possessing athleticism, agility, intelligence and heart. The colt’s performance in the Fountain of Youth earned him a 115 Equibase speed figure — the fastest since Quality Road’s 119 in 2009.

The Fountain of Youth is a Kentucky Derby prep carrying points of 50-20-10-5. Mohaymen currently heads the leaderboard on the road to the Kentucky Derby with 70 points — 19 points ahead of Gun Runner (2nd) and 40 points ahead of Nyquist (3rd).

Remaining Kentucky Derby preps carrying points of 50-20-10-5 include: Gotham (Aqueduct 3/5), Tampa Bay Derby (Tampa Bay Downs 3/12), San Felipe (Santa Anita 3/12), Rebel (Oaklawn 3/19), Sunland Derby (Sunland Park 3/20) and Spiral Stakes (Turfway Park 4/2).

Payouts
Mohaymen $2.80 $2.10 $2.10
Zulu ————- $3.20 $2.60
Fellowship ————- $3.40

Cathryn Sophia Brilliant In Davona Dale

Gulfstream Park’s February 27th race card offered plenty of graded stakes action including the $200,000 Gr. 2 Davona Dale for 3-year-old fillies looking to earn some points towards a start in the Kentucky Oaks. The mile long contest was highlighted by heavy favorite Cathryn Sophia. The John Servis trained daughter of Street Boss simply romped in a brilliant performance that saw her gallop to the wire seven lengths ahead of her competition.

Arguably one of the top fillies in this year’s crop, Cathryn Sophia broke a from post number five and was sent out by jockey Javier Castellano to track the leaders in fourth. Up front, Dearest set the pace, running the quarter in a modest 24.05, while R Girl’s a Charmer and Bagema dueled behind the leader. Maintaining the lead, Dearest ran the half in 47.12 and went six furlongs in 1:11.18 and was then confronted by Cathryn Sophia, who took over at the quarter pole and charged clear of the group at the top of the stretch. Lewis Bay, who sat behind the winner finished second while pacesetter Dearest hung on for third and R girls a Charmer rounded out the superfecta in fourth. Bagema finished fifth and Ronto’s Lilly was sixth and last. The final time for the race was 1:36.61.

Out of a mare by Mineshaft, Cathryn Sophia is an undefeated multiple graded stakes winner, Maryland-bred by Robert T. Manfuso. Purchased out of the Fasig-Tipton Eastern Fall Yearling sale in September of 2014 for $30,000 by Charles J. Zacney, she is owned by Cash is King LLC. In four career starts, Cathryn Sophia has earned more than ten times her original price tag with $335,520 and has an outstanding combined winning margin of 41 ½ lengths.

“She’s the real deal,” shouted owner Charles Asensio as the filly crossed the wire. “You’re not going to see another like her!” Connections of the filly have not shown interest in a start prior to the Kentucky Oaks, where Cathryn Sophia will face west coast superstar Songbird on the first Friday in May.

The Rachel Alexandra Stakes is a Kentucky Oaks prep carrying points of 50-20-10-5. Following her win in the Davona Dale, Cathryn Sophia is currently the top ranked filly on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 60 points — 10 points ahead of Rachel Alexandra S. 70-1 longshot winner Venus Valentine, who is currently ranked second.

Remaining Kentucky Oaks preps carrying points of 50-20-10-5 include: Santa Ysabel (Santa Anita 3/5), Honeybee (Oaklawn 3/12), Sunland Park Oaks (Sunland Park 3/20) and Bourbonette Oaks (Turfway Park 4/2).

Payouts
Cathryn Sophia $2.40 $2.10 $2.10
Lewis Bay ———– $2.80 $2.20
Dearest ——————– $2.20

Mo d’Amour Gains First Stakes Victory in Busher S.

Mo d’Amour earned her second win of 2016 – and her first stakes victory – in the $125,000 Busher Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Todd Pletcher trainee came into the race off an easy 4 1/4th length win in an allowance optional claiming race at Laurel Park on Feb. 6 and maintained her winning form easily.

Whistling Straits took control of the lead shortly out of the gate in the 1 1/16 mile contest on Saturday, taking the field of seven through a quarter in :24.78 and a half in :49.51. Tracking her in second and third respectively were Lost Raven and the favorite, Katniss the Victor. The latter was bumped at the start by Lost Raven but both quickly recovered. Jockey Aaron Gryder sent Katniss the Victor to the lead at the five-sixteenths mark, and the pair briefly held the lead. Mo d’Amour, under jockey Christopher DeCarlo, was bumped at the start and settled for tracking the pace. About the time Katniss the Victor took the lead, DeCarlo angled his own mount out four wide and took over from Katniss the Victor. She took the win by two lengths in a final time of 1:47.37.

Mo d’Amour, a three-year-old daughter of sizzling sire Uncle Mo, now has 3 wins and a third from 5 starts for earnings of $147,940. She is owned by King of Prussia Stable, who also teamed up with Pletcher to win the 2013 Busher Stakes with Gr. 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Princess of Sylmar.

Payouts
Mo d’Amour $10.00 $6.10 $3.40
Dreams to Reality — $14.80 $6.20
Katniss the Victor ———- $2.50

$2 Exacta → $117.00
$2 Trifecta → $336.50
$2 Superfecta → $1,040.00

Heart to Heart Proves All Heart in Gr. 3 Canadian Turf

Heart to Heart, the Canadian champion popular for his heart shaped star, seized control of the field and never looked back in Gulfstream Park’s $150,000 Gr. 3 Canadian Turf Stakes going one mile over turf. It was his second start, and second victory, of 2016.

Out of the gate, jockey Julien Leparoux sent 5-year-old Heart to Heart to the front, where the pair ticked off fractions of :23.86, :48:01 and 1:11.45. Avanzare and Long On Value pounded after the leader, but it was to no avail; Heart to Heart was still full of steam as they entered the stretch. He crossed the wire 2 ½ lengths ahead of second place finisher Long On Value for a final time of 1:33.52. Divisidero, making his first start since July 2015, closed strongly to finish a neck back in third.
Heart to Heart, Canada’s 2014 Champion 3 year-old, has 9 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds from 20 starts. His earnings sit at $726,030 after Saturday’s victory.

Payouts
Heart to Heart $3.80 $2.80 $2.40
Long On Value —— $4.40 $3.20
Divisidero —————– $3.20

Converge Determined in Gr. 3 Palm Beach Stakes

Paul Pompa Jr.’s 3-year-old colt Converge used the rail to his advantage in Saturday’s $150,000 Gr. 3 Palm Beach Stakes a 1 1/16-mile race run over the turf at Gulfstream Park. Under jockey Javier Castellano, the bay got up in time to win by three-quarters of a length on firm turf.

The son of Sidney’s Candy broke slow and was the last of the 13 horse field to leave the gates as American Phantom took the lead. Giant Run pressed the pace as the field went through a quarter in :23.11. After six furlongs, Giant Run took over and briefly held the lead. As the field came into the second turn, Castellano had Converge in a prime position to move and angled out as they neared the quarter. A spot opened up nearing the sixteenth-pole and Castellano sent his mount through. The pair continued to wear down foes until they were ahead of Giant Run, hitting the wire three-quarters of a length in front for a final time of 1:40.64. Ousby was a nose back in third.

The Palm Beach Stakes was Converge’s third career start and his first since the Oct. 30 Awad Stakes at Belmont Park, where he finished second. The colt’s other start, a maiden special weight, was also a victory. The earnings for the Chad Brown trainee stand at $141,560.

Payouts
Converge $7.80 $4.80 $4.00
Giant Run —– $9.80 $8.00
Ousby ————— $7.00

X Y Jet Continues Streak in Gulfstream Park Sprint

X Y Jet won his first start for new owners Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm, bringing his winning streak to 5 in a row on Saturday, February 27th. The grey gelding held on to the lead to take the $100,000 Gr. 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths over a field of seven.

The 4-year-old son of Kantharos bobbled at the start, but recovered quickly under jockey Emisael Jaramillo and set the pace from along the rail. Trouble Kid was not content to let the leader go alone, battling him through a quarter in :21.84 and a half in :43.92. Swiftly, X Y Jet moved ahead and put Trouble Kid away by two lengths. Behind him, Candip attempted to close but could not catch the winner. The final time for the 6 ½ furlong race was 1:15.95.
From 14 starts, X Y Jet has 6 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third, totaling earnings of $365,653. Trainer Jorge Navarro plans to send the gelding to Dubai, where he will look to start in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-1) on March 15th.

Payouts
X Y Jet $3.00 $2.40 $2.10
Candip —— $5.40 $3.60
Ready for Rye —– $2.60

Catch a Glimpse Triumphantly Returns in Herecomesthebride

Keeping the successful 2016 debut of last year’s Breeders’ Cup winners alive, Catch a Glimpse won Saturday’s Gr.3 Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old filly trained by Mark Casse traveled 1 1/16 on the turf in 1:42.63 with jockey Florent Geroux aboard, easily winning by 3 ½ lengths.

Notably green with her training, Catch a Glimpse was simply too naturally talented for her competition. Breaking from post position eight, Catch a Glimpse stalked early leader and long shot Vieja Luna Coming until taking over at the quarter pole. Into the stretch, her outstanding turn of foot carried her to victory, making up for her missed lead change.

“She’s still learning and not 100% professional,” assistant trainer Norman Casse said. “But she’s obviously very talented and she’ll get even better as she goes on. It was good (the return) and we’re excited to have her back, and we look to moving forward from here.”

Catch a Glimpse is by City Zip and is owned by Gary Barber, Michael James Ambler and Windways Farms. To date she has won four of five starts and has $767,562 in career earnings.

Payouts
Catch a Glimpse $3.20 $2.20 $2.10
Lira —————— $2.80 $2.40
Gone Away —————– $4.20

Guns Loaded Thrives in Joe Hernandez S.

On a quiet weekend of stakes action at Santa Anita, patrons on track witnessed another rags to riches story when Guns Loaded, a former claimer, emerged victorious in the $75,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes — a 6 ½ furlong turf race for 4-year-olds and up.

Under a perfect trip and ride by jockey Santiago Gonzalez, Guns Loaded sat second early as the expected pacesetter, Rocket Heat, went straight to the front to set a quick opening quarter in 21.32 and half mile in 43.14. The son of D’Wildcat gradually moved forward under little urging to challenge Rocket Heat, crossing the dirt path and onto the main turf course, then took over the lead past the final furlong and kicked clear under a hand ride to win by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:12.60 over favored Rocket Heat, who finished a head in front of third place runner Hunt.

Claimed for $32,000 back in December of 2015 at Los Alamitos, Guns Loaded has earned his connections, Westside Rentals.com, Neil Haymes, Leo Rodriguez and Steve Rothblum $108,300. The 5-year-old is a Florida-bred trained by Doug O’Neill and has 7 wins in 25 starts with $346,570 in career earnings. This was Guns Loaded’s third victory this meet at Santa Anita, where he is a proven winner over the hillside turf course as well as on the main track.

Payouts
Guns Loaded $14.80 $6.00 $3.20
Rocket Heat ——– $3.80 $2.60
Hunt (IRE) ————— $2.80
Holy Lute

$1 Superfecta $242.60

Faulifer Upsets Sand Springs S.

Irish-bred mare Faufiler gave her backers plenty to smile about Saturday when she flew down the stretch to score by a length in the $100,000 Sand Spring Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The Graham Motion trainee paid $27.80 to win.

Jockey Edgar Prado was in no hurry leaving the gates and gave his mount a ground-saving trip through the second turn. The pair angled out into the lane, and under urging from Prado, Faufiler came charging. Favored Partisan Politics was second with Celestine another half-length back in third.

The Sand Springs Stakes was the first start of the year for Faufiler, who has 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds from 12 starts. From those starts she has earned $216,260.

Payouts
Faufiler (IRE) $27.80 $10.40 $6.60
Partisan Politics —– $4.40 $3.20
Celestine ——————- $3.80

$1 Trifecta → $351.20
$1 Superfecta → $1,557.70

Manhattan Dan Shines in the Texas Glitter

Kicking off Saturday’s card at Gulfstream Park, Manhattan Dan captured the second running of the $75,000 Texas Glitter Stakes by a dazzling five lengths. The 3-year-old son of Big Brown and jockey Javier Castellano sprinted five furlongs on the turf in :54.97.

Breaking sharply from the gate Manhattan Dan, who finished seventh in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, took the lead and never looked back. Putting up blistering fractions 21.49 and 43.80, Manhattan Dan was easily able to maintain his quick pace and ran away with the $75,000 purse.

The Gary Contessa trainee is owned by Platinum Seven LLC, Guarino, Dan and Runner Runner Investments LLC. In his eight career starts he has earned $145,518.
Payouts
Manhattan Dan $6.80 $3.60 $3.00
Noholdingback Bear — $3.00 $2.60
Monster Bea —————- $4.40

$1 Trifecta → $56.20

THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP COVERS 3-YEAR-OLD KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS PREPS, BREEDERS’ CUP “WIN AND YOU’RE IN” RACES, AND STAKES RACES FEATURING NOTEWORTHY HORSES. TRACKS COVERED INCLUDE SANTA ANITA, DEL MAR, LOS ALAMITOS (TB), GULFSTREAM PARK, TAMPA BAY DOWNS, AQUEDUCT, BELMONT PARK, SARATOGA, KEENELAND, CHURCHILL DOWNS, OAKLAWN, MONMOUTH PARK AND FAIR GROUNDS.

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