Monday, February 06 2012
NYRA NOTES: Sunday, February 5, 2012
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Sporting a brand-new New York Giants cap in honor of their appearance in tonight’s Super Bowl XLVI, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported this morning that Alpha returned from his Withers CXXXII victory in good order and would likely take the next step to the Kentucky Derby in New York.
“We’ll look at the Gotham/Wood, talk to [Godolphin racing manager] Simon Crisford and see if we want to run him two more times, or one more time,” said McLaughlin, referring to Aqueduct Racetrack’s Grade 3, $400,000 Gotham on March 3 and the Grade 1, $1 million Resorts World New York City Casino Wood Memorial on April 7. “We like having him here in New York.”
Saturday, February 04 2012
CALIBRACHOA MAKES ANOTHER WINNING RUN IN TOBOGGAN
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Calibrachoa stalked longshot pacesetter Diski Dance and drove past that opponent in the stretch to post a repeat victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Toboggan on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Part of a coupled entry that went off as the 2-5 favorite, the Repole Stable representative bobbled at the start but recovered to track Diski Dance through fractions of 23.35 and 46.07. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez set down Calibrachoa inside the quarter pole, and the dark bay passed Diski Dance with a furlong remaining before going on to a 2 ¼-length decision. Caixa Eletronica, coupled in the wagering with the winner, was third.
ALPHA GETS AN “A” IN WITHERS WIN
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Alpha took a big step along the road to the Kentucky Derby on Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, drawing clear to an emphatic 3 ¼-length victory as the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers for 3-year-olds.
Leaving from the outside in the field of six, the Bernardini colt was floated wide on the first turn but then settled in about two lengths behind pacesetter How Do I Win as he led through an opening quarter-mile in 23.71 and a half in 48.04. Moving up three-wide on the far turn, Alpha took command at the top of the stretch when asked and was never threatened as he cruised under the wire for his second straight stakes win of 2012.
NEW YORK WATCH: THE LUMBER GUY
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Lumber Guy was more than OK on January 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack as he skipped and jumped clear to a 9 ¼-length debut victory against eight maiden New York-bred 3-year-olds.
Leaving from post position 2, The Lumber Guy wasted no time getting to the front, leading by 1 ½ lengths two furlongs into the race with an opening fraction of 22.79 seconds and widening his advantage to two lengths through a half in 46.12. He was never shown the whip in the lane by jockey Jose Valdivia, Jr. as he pulled clear from Smarty Julips, who chased the winner in second from start to finish.
Friday, February 03 2012
WITHERS DAY TO INCLUDE $98K DOUBLE PICK 6 CARRYOVER
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Saturday Pick 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack will feature a $98,922 double Pick 6 carryover and three stakes, including the 132nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers.
The sequence begins with race 5, which has a scheduled post time of 2:13. The Withers, the fifth leg of the Pick 6, is headed by Godolpin Racing’s Alpha, who looks to post consecutive stakes victories at the Big A, having taken the Count Fleet on January 7.
Wednesday, February 01 2012
DOMINGUEZ RECLAIMS OUTRIGHT LEAD IN JOCKEY STANDINGS FOLLOWING 4-WIN WEDNESDAY AT BIG A
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Ramon Dominguez reclaimed the lead in the Aqueduct Racetrack inner-track jockey standings by winning four races on Wednesday.
Fourth in race 1 and without a mount in race 2, Dominguez picked up his first winner in race 3 when he guided Ms. Bird Watch ($3.70) to victory and capped his own rolling $22.20 Double with a score in race 4 aboard Princess Mara ($10.60). He was second with his next mount in race 6, posted a runway win in race 7 with Congo ($8.60), was nipped on the wire when runner-up by a neck in race 8, and concluded the card with winner’s circle appearance aboard Shalaka ($7.50) in race 9.
NICOLE H TOPS CORRECTION CROWD
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Fresh off a repeat victory in the New Year’s Day Interborough Stakes, Nicole H will try to maintain her momentum as she heads a field of seven female sprinters in Saturday’s 73rd renewal of the six-furlong, $100,000 Correction Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Winner of four of her last five starts, Nicole H is a perfect 3-for-3 over the inner track, having taken the Garland of Roses in her final start of 2010 in addition to the last two runnings of the Interborough. Between her Interborough victories she captured the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap over the Big A main track last April, and then was sidelined with a respiratory infection for six months. In her first start off the layoff, she came up a nose short to It’s Me Mom in the Robert O’Malley Stakes at Suffolk Downs on October 22.
REPOLE ENTRY TAKES ON TOUGHIES IN TOBOGGAN
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In 2011, Calibrachoa earned his first graded stakes victory with a half-length triumph in the Grade 3, six-furlong Toboggan. Saturday, Calibrachoa will be joined by fellow Repole Stable color-bearer Caixa Eletronica when he makes a title defense at Aqueduct Racetrack in the $150,000 race.
Now 5, Calibrachoa is 5-0-1 from six starts at Aqueduct and is unbeaten in three outings over the inner track. Most recently, he was third, beaten four lengths in the Big A’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap on the main track November 26. Caixa Eletronica, who beat one horse to finish fifth in the Cigar Mile, returned to take the Rise Jim overnight stakes by 4 ¾ lengths January 8. The coupled entry was made the 7-5 favorite for the Toboggan.
WILL ALPHA REIGN SUPREME IN WITHERS?
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – On the first Saturday in May, only 20 hopefuls will get to line up in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. On Saturday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack, seven 3-year-olds will try to take a big step on the road to the Derby in the 132nd running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Withers.
“The Withers is an important race because it’s graded and you don’t get to run in the Derby unless you have those graded stakes earnings,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, who will saddle Alpha, the even-money favorite on the morning line, in the 1 1/16-mile Withers. “When you look at the schedule, you start with the first Saturday in May, and work back from there. We are taking the Withers as an important step, and maybe, maybe, afterward we’ll talk about what we’re going to do.”
Monday, January 30 2012
NYRA NOTES: Sunday, January 29, 2012
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Assistant trainer Artie Magnuson reported that “everything is great in Barn 11” following Redding Colliery’s victory in the $75,000 Evening Attire, one of a trio of victories on Saturday for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin at Aqueduct Racetrack.
“That was really special,” said Magnuson of Redding Colliery, who was making only his second start in 14 months. “I say this all the time, but we’re lucky to have this kind up here, we really are. It looks like the March 17 Excelsior [Grade 3, $150,000] is the next logical step, so we’re going to head that way for now.”
Sunday, January 29 2012
LOVE AND PRIDE THE QUEEN OF THE AFFECTIONATELY
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Love and Pride took control at the start and never looked back in the $75,000 Affectionately for fillies and mares, running away to a 7 ½-length victory over Bahia Beach on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Leaving from post position 1, Love and Pride quickly secured the lead in the opening strides and was taken in hand by jockey Cornelio Velasquez to set fractions of 24.92, 49.41, and 1:13.54. Bahia Beach moved up to challenge the leader at the quarter pole, but Love and Pride rebuffed that bid and extended her advantage in the stretch.
REDDING COLLIERY LOOKS SHARP IN EVENING ATTIRE
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Tested at top of the stretch by 4-5 favorite I Want Revenge, the front-running Redding Colliery battled back along the inside and went on to a two-length victory Saturday afternoon in the $75,000 Evening Attire at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Making only his second start in 14 months, the 6-year-old son of Mineshaft went straight to the lead under jockey Alan Garcia and set comfortable fractions of 23.87, 47.81 and 1:11.63 seconds with the favorite in close pursuit. Rounding the turn, I Want Revenge edged up alongside the pacesetter, but began drifting out in the stretch and was unable to hold off the resurgent gray, who covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.05.
