Mohaymen Best In Holy Bull, Sunny Ridge Takes Withers, Flora Dora Wins Busanda

THE WEEKEND WRAP UP

Jan. 30th – 31st

All Sunny in Withers Stakes

In an upset performance over Flexibility, Sunny Ridge took the Withers Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack on January 30. The gray/roan gelding by Holy Bull gained another 10 points for a total of 18 as he crossed the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of front-runner Vorticity.

Sunny Ridge, ridden by Manuel Franco, broke from the outside in the field of six and settled down in second behind Vorticity. He stayed in that position through a quarter mile in :24.56, half mile in :49.81, and three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.70. As the leaders entered the top of the stretch, Sunny Ridge engaged Vorticity and gradually edged clear for a final time of 1:46.99. Behind the pair in third was Adventist, making his stakes debut. Flexibility, who entered the race as the heavy favorite, received a ground saving trip along the rail in fourth but came up empty. Donegal Moon and King Kranz rounded out the order of finish.

The Withers boosted Sunny Ridge’s record to three wins and two places from six starts. His career earnings now sit at $524,752. His trainer, Jason Servis, does not yet appear to have Derby fever but looks to be leaning more toward the Preakness.

Payouts
Sunny Ridge $9.50 $4.20 $5.30
Vorticity ———- $6.00 $7.90
Adventist —————  $8.60

$1 Trifecta → $308.00

Mohaymen Romps in Holy Bull

Saturday’s $350,000 Gr. 2 Holy Bull Stakes saw Mohaymen gallop to an impressive win over Gulfstream’s dirt track. The 3-year-old son of Tapit was the best in a short field of six runners, which included Breeders’ Cup Juvenile graduates Greenpointcrusader and Conquest Big E. Neither were up to par with the favorite, though.

Breaking a bit slow from the gate, Mohaymen moved up to sit patiently in between leaders Perfect Saint and Greenpointcrusader, who set early fractions of :24.64, :49.06 before giving way. At the three-quarter call, jockey Junior Alvarado shook Mohaymen loose by a half length, who opened to win by 3 ½ lengths under an easy hand ride. The order of finish behind the winner (with Kentucky Derby points) is as follows: 2nd – Greenpointcrusader (4), 3rd – Fellowship (2), 4th – Conquest Big E (1), 5th – Frontier Ranger, 6th – Perfect Saint. Final time for the 1 1/16 mile race: 1:42.07.

Kentucky-bred by Clearsky Farms, Mohaymen was purchased during the Keeneland September 2014 Yearling Sale by Shadwell Stable for $2,200,000. To date he remains undefeated in four career starts with a 7 ¼ length combined margin of victory and $559,830 in career earnings. His Romp in the Gr. 2 Holy Bull awarded him 10 points towards the Kentucky Derby, ranking him second in the standings behind Nyquist.

$0.10 Superfecta → $2.06

Flora Dora Takes Busanda S. 

After severe weather kept horses off the tracks last weekend, Aqueduct welcomed friendlier skies and footing on Sunday, January 31st for the Kentucky Oaks pointed Busanda Stakes. Of the eight in the field Flora Dora proved to be the best, eating up ground to take the lead from Scatoosh strides from the wire.  

The race got off to a bad start for the #9, Arch or Nothing, who tossed jockey Ruben Silvera right out of the gate. Lost Raven, with Manuel Franco up, set fractions of :24.55, :49.32 and 1:14.03 before losing the lead to Scatoosh, who took over briefly and was outrun by late charging Flora Dora. “She’s always been a very patient filly,” trainer Marialice Coffey said in a post race interview. “She closes very well, but I feel she also has tactical speed, and she can put herself in the mix. Today she did, so I was happy with that.”

Order of finish behind the winner (with Kentucky Oaks points) is as follows: 2nd – Scatoosh (4), 3rd – Lost Raven (2), 4th – Dreams to Reality (1), 5th – She’s So Fine, 6th – Alto Belle, 7th – Invite, 8th – Arch or Nothing. Final time for the 1 mile 70 yard race: 1:45.40

Flora Dora is a 3-year-old filly by First Dude and out of Aidan (Dixieland Band). Florida-bred by Dizney Double Diamond LLC, she was consigned by Taylor Made Stables during the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale in August of 2014 and was purchased by current owner Coffeepot Stable for $87,000. To date Flora Dora’s record stands 5-2-1-0 with career earnings of $415,332. Her win in Sunday’s Busanda S. puts her in 6th place on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. The win is her first since breaking her maiden in October and her first career stakes achievement. 

Payouts
Flora Dora $7.40 $3.50 $2.80
Scatoosh ——— $3.60 $3.00
Lost Raven ————$3.20

$1 Trifecta $16.60

Cathryn Sophia Comes Through in Forward Gal

Usually quick to get out of the gate and settle in front, Cathryn Sophia had a bit of a different start in Saturday’s Forward Gal Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The 3-year-old filly was making her graded stakes debut in the seven-furlong contest and didn’t disappoint her backers.

Island Saint took the lead and set opening fractions of :22.71 and :45.54, and three quarters in 1:09.89. She was followed by Ballet Diva and Rontos Lily while Cathryn Sophia ran in fourth under jockey Joel Rosario. Gradually the pair made up ground on the inside, biding their time, and then shifted out. Cathryn Sophia switched to the wrong lead but that didn’t affect her performance as she cleared the field by several lengths under a hand ride. The final time for the race was 1:22.04. Island Saint held on to finish second with Ballet Diva in third.

Cathryn Sophia is now 3 for 3 for trainer John Servis. She boosts her career earnings to $212,760 and earned 10 points on the scale for the Kentucky Oaks. Her connections are pointing her toward the Davona Dale (G2) on February 27.

$1 Trifecta → 11.70

Awesome Banner Simply Awesome in SwaleAwesome Banner took the lead at the start of the Swale Stakes (G2) and never looked back as he took the race by an easy five lengths Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Having raced exclusively at the Florida oval, it was clear that he liked the surface and he did nothing but further confirm that with this latest victory.

Jockey Jose Caraballo sent Awesome Banner to the lead from the three hole and took the field through fractions of :22.68, :45.07, and 1:08.88. He was pressed on the outside by Noholdingback Bear until they were leaving the backstretch, and then began to pull away from the field. Economic Model and Richie the Bull ran after him but were on match. Noholdingback Bear, Ready Dancer, and Cardio Cowboy completed the order of finish for the race. The final time was 1:21.81.

Awesome Banner, a son of Awesome of Course and out of Miranda Stands, now boasts a perfect record of 3 for 3 and his career earnings are $215,020. He may be pointed toward the Fountain of Youth but trainer Stanley Gold is making no commitments yet.

$1 Trifecta → $21.50

Surprise from J R’s Holiday in Kitten’s Joy

At 19-1, J R’s Holiday was the longest shot on the board when the gates opened for the Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, but he was much the best that day. The 3-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday earned his second straight victory and his first in a stakes race.

Don’t Be So Salty led the field of six through fractions of :23.49 and :47.96 for a half-mile and 1:11.42 for the six furlongs. J R’s Holiday, ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, trailed the field as they entered the first turn. He moved to fifth and then went wide in the backstretch to move to a better position. From there he was able to move back over to the rail. As the horses made their way down the stretch, Don’t Be So Salty bore out and made way for J R’s Holiday to surge to victory in a final time of 1:35.20. Don’t Be So Salty was disqualified to fourth for his move, moving Azar to second and Little Mo to third. Life Imitates Art and Conquest Daddyo completed the order of finish.

J R’s Holiday paid $40.80 to win, $12.40 to place, and $6.40 to show. A $55,000 purchase from the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Florida select two-year-olds in training sale, the colt is now 3-1-1 from eight starts for trainer Jose Garoffalo and owner J.R. Racing LLC. He has earned $132,875.

$1 Trifecta → $799.70

Pricedtoperfection All Game in Sweetest Chant

Pricedtoperfection, a 3-year-old daughter of Temple City, was assertive as she won the Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream on Saturday afternoon. Her margin of victory was three-quarters of a length, plenty to earn her the winner’s share of the purse.

Go Ro Ro Go was pressed in the lead by Born to be Winner and Little Cyclone as Pricedtoperfection sat off the pace early in the race. For a brief time in the stretch, Born to be Winner took over the lead, but ultimately fell back to third. Under jockey Joel Rosario, Pricedtoperfection moved closer to the leaders entering the turn. She looked the perfect image of an easy winner until the early leaders tired, forcing her to pull up slightly. Rosario angled her in toward the rail but found his spot closed off and switched direction, sending his mount between horses instead. They were up in time to keep Spinamiss, who came up late, in second.

The Sweetest Chant is the first stakes win for Pricedtoperfection, who was previously second in the Ginger Brew Stakes at Gulfstream and ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland. From five career starts she has a 2-1-1 record and earnings of $129,960. Saturday’s victory marks the fifth consecutive win in the Sweetest Chant for trainer Chad Brown; his previous winners were Consumer Credit, Ready to Act, Premier Steps, and Dayatthespa.

Payouts
Pricedtoperfection $11.40 $5.00 $4.40
Spinamiss (IRE) ——— $10.40 $6.80
Born to Be Winner —————-$21.00

$1 Trifecta → $1,473.30

Pacific Heat Sizzles in California Cup Oaks

Pacific Heat took the turf like a fish to water in Saturday’s $200,000 California Cup Oaks at Santa Anita Park. The flashy 3-year-old bay daughter of Unusual Heat took charge of the eight horse field at the quarter pole and won stylishly by more than five lengths

Going in the heavy favorite, Pacific Heat stalked pacesetter Roo’s Valentine an,d with very little urging from jockey Flavien Pratt, took over the lead – completing the mile turf route in 1:35.75. Patriotic Diamond, who pressured Pacific Heat on the backstretch finished second and fellow Peter Eurton trainee Cheekaboo was third.

“The biggest question to me was not the turf but whether she could get two turns, and there was no question today. Flavien said she’s a little aggressive and I think in time she’ll learn how to pace herself,” said Eurton. “Her confidence level’s been up and she looks great.”

Pacific Heat was purchased by owners Sharon Alesia, Mike Burns and Ciaglia Racing as a yearling in 2014 for $175,000 at the Barretts October sale. Easily paying for herself, Pacific Heat has earned $250,250 and has won three out of four starts.

Order of finish: Pacific Heat, Patriotic Diamond, Cheekaboo, Run for Retts, Run like the Boss, Roo’s Valentine, Just Google Me, Hurricaine Callie.

$1 Trifecta → $27.50
$1 Superfecta → $309.60

Smokey Image’s Talent Clear in California Cup Derby

The undefeated Smokey Image and Triple Crown winning jockey Victor Espinoza could smell the roses after their dominating 8 ½ length victory in Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita. The fiery haired 3-year-old California-bred colt by Southern Image proved he could not only handle two turns; he could do it easily – going a mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.49.

Racing for the first time under the instruction of Santa’s Anita’s leading lady Carla Gains, who took over training for the colt in November, Smokey Image fought for the early lead and went wire-to-wire with minimal pressure from Espinoza.

“He reminds me of California Chrome! The same color right?” Espinoza laughed.” I hope he’s as good as him. It’s hard to compare them at all. This is only the first time I have ridden him. I would like to see him in another race, and then I will know more. The way he ran today was very impressive. Hopefully, I can get my next Kentucky Derby.”

A homebred owned by Irvin Racing Stable, Smokey Image is a perfect six for six and has earned $435,100. As a 2-year-old, he captured the Golden State Juvenile, the I’m Smokin, Cavonnier Juvenile and Everett Nevin Stakes.

Order of Finish: Smokey Image, Tough It Out, Xingontothebone, Glory Bound, Record Highs, Demonslayer, Loyalist.

$1 Trifecta → $38.00

Sunday Rules Outruns the Boys in Cal Cup Sprint

Showing the males how it’s done, 5-year-old mare Sunday Rules went wire-to-wire in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint defeating a field of six boys over six furlongs. Breaking fiercely from the gate, Sunday Rules and jockey Edwin Maldonado maintained the lead to win by more than two lengths – finishing 1:08.42.

In her first-ever start against males, the small mare with a large stride was game and fought off Raise a Secret who challenged her in the stretch but was unable to catch her. Sunday Rules owner Nick Alexander and trainer Phil D’Amato intended to run the mare in last week’s Santa Monica Stakes but she was unable to enter due to an inflamed hock.

“We missed the Santa Monica because of a spider bite,” said Alexander.  “Her hock blew up, but it was the spider that caused it…I know it’s (taking on males) not always something you should do and I was ready to take the blame for it, but it worked out.”

Sunday Rules was bred by owner Alexander and has won eight of nine starts, earning $534,840.  Her most notable victories include: the Generous Portion Stakes, the Spring Fever Stakes and the Kalookan Queen Stakes.

Payouts
Sunday Rules  $5.80 $4.80 $3.80
Raised a Secret —– $11.40 $7.40
Solid Wager —————-$5.80

$1 Trifecta $148.20

Velvet Mesquite Dazzles in Sunshine Millions Turf Sprint

Velvet Mesquite and Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux dominated Santa Anita’s famous downhill turf course in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint. Winning by almost two lengths, the bay mare, bred by Harris Farms, went four wide at the top of the stretch and rallied to capture her fifth career victory.

Breaking quickly, Velvet Mesquite settled into third behind dueling pacesetters Heaven’s Stairway and Nite Delite. Crossing the dirt, Desormeaux steered Velvet Mesquite around the leaders and set up a clear drive for the wire – finishing in 1:13.14 and breaking her seven race losing streak.

“Her last race was a tough one,” said Velvet Mesquite’s trainer Blake Heap.  “She got the (early) lead and that’s really not what we wanted.  Today, everything went perfect.  She wants to be just off the pace and everything went right.”

Velvet Mesquite has won 5 of her 19 starts and is owned by Harris Farms. To date, she has earned $433,446.

Payouts
Velvet Mesquite $7.80 $4.40 $3.20
Qiaona ————— $7.60 $4.60
Heavens Stairway ———–$5.60

$1 Trifecta → $281.00

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 PROMINENT HORSES. TRACKS COVERED INCLUDE SANTA ANITA, DEL MAR, LOS ALAMITOS (TB), GULFSTREAM PARK, TAMPA BAY DOWNS, AQUEDUCT, BELMONT PARK, SARATOGA, KEENELAND, CHURCHILL DOWNS, OAKLAWN AND MONMOUTH PARK.

 Follow us on Twitter @EverythingEqLLC