Love Love Me Do finishes fifth at Belterra

After winning in her last outing at Belterra Park on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, Love Love Me Do tried to stretch out from six furlongs on dirt to a mile on the turf on Saturday, Aug. 29, and finished in fifth place in the eight horse field under her regular rider, Yuri Yuranga.

Love Love Me Do, who won her last outing on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015 at Belterra Park, tried to stretch out to one-mile on the turf on Saturday, Aug. 29, and finished in fifth-place under her regular rider, Yuri Yuranga. (File photo by Tim Wilson)

Winning the race was Ange Grise, with Longcoldwinter second, Lastofthe Moniqns third, Sunday Look fourth, Misery's Joke sixth, Lil Watt seventh and Gladis True Love eighth.

Ange Gris, who is by Leroidesanimaux (Brz)-Matiere Grise (Fr), y Kaldouneves (Fr), ran the one-mile turf race on a track rated Firm in 1:36.19. She now has three wins, 13 seconds, seven thirds and $83,036 in earnings in 42 career starts.

In the race, according to the Equibase.com race chart, "Love Love Me Do was well placed in mid-pack, ran evenly with no rally;" meaning she broke from gate six, settled into fourth place, then fell to fifth place and stayed there till the finish line.

Love Love Me Do, who is by Birdstone-Belle Chante, by War Chant, currently has one win, two seconds and $6,385 in earnings in nine career starts.

She is owned by Dr. Bryan Waldridge, who is the equine vet at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., and trained by Tim Wilson, the farm manager at Old Friends.

(Information provided by EquiBase.com and Brisnet.com)

Keen Ice upsets American Pharaoh in Travers Stakes

Saratoga, "The Graveyard of Champions" claimed its newest victim on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the 146th running of the $1.6 million Travers Stakes, as Keen Ice, with jockey Javier Castellano riding, caught overwhelming 1-to-5 race-favorite American Pharoah in mid-stretch and went on to a three-quarter length victory in the race. Finishing third was Frosted.

Keen Ice, with jockey Javier Castellano, overtook Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in mid-stretch and went on to win the 146th running of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, April 29. (Photo by Jessie Holmes / EquiSportPhotos.com)

 "I thought from the early fractions they might be going a little slow, but you can't really tell from the times always. It's how they're doing it," said winning trainer Dale Romans. "So watching my horse, they looked like they were really running and they were working, and I could see my horse was getting through on the inside, like we needed to be, and we got the tip-out at the right point. Then he switched to his right lead and had dead aim on them. And he just wore 'em down."

As to what his horse's win might mean to American Pharoah's legacy, Romans graciously said, "American Pharoah's legacy is not tarnished in any way. Secretariat got beat, Seattle Slew got beat, Affirmed got beat. They [the owners and Bob Baffert] are great sportsmen for keeping him running and taking a chance with him. He has run very hard all year and he ran a very good race today. He was pressed, [Frosted] took it to him, and we were fortunate to be running behind."

Ever gracious himself, even in defeat, Baffert said, "I want to congratulate the connections of Keen Ice for a great win."

He then went on to share his thoughts about his horse's run in "The Mid-Summer Classic"…

"I think Pharoah, down the backside, he was struggling a little bit," said Baffert. "I could tell by Victor's body language that he didn't have the power that he usually has. What we saw the last three-eights was just guts. After he finally shook Frosted off, I thought that maybe there's a chance. You could tell he was empty. He just fought back valiantly, but it wasn’t his day today. You really don't know. We gambled; we brought him up here. He showed us all the signs that he was ready to go. You really don't know until they actually run."

Keen Ice, who is by Curlin-Medomak, by Awesome Again, ran the 1-1/4 mile dirt race on a track rated Fast n 2:01.57.

In the race, American Pharoah, with jockey Victor Espinoza riding, broke cleanly from gate two and charged to the lead by the first turn. Right on his outside was Frosted, ridden by Javier Castellano, who planted himself in that spot and then pressured the Triple Crown champion with every stride they took.

Side-by-side, the two horses battled all the way around the track, and slowly, it appeared, Frosted's relentless pursuit began to have an effect on American Pharoah as they entered the final turn.

Some would say Frosted's connections planned to race this way in hopes that, if they pressured American Pharoah, after all of his travel and Triple Crown races, he would finally tire and then their horse could go on and get the win.

Others, however, might say that Frosted was sent out as a rabbit to tire American Pharoah so that some horse, any horse, would beat him in this day.

Either way, the plan worked, because, as the horses neared the end of the final turn, Frosted took a slight lead. But, American Pharoah, champion that he is, battled back fiercely and retook the lead in the upper stretch.

But, clearly, the battle between the two horses had taken its toll on American Pharoah.

Meanwhile, Keen Ice, who went off at 16-to-1, had broken cleanly, but then moved five-wide before heading into the first turn. He then slid over into the two-path about mid-pack for most of the race.

At the quarter pole, Keen Ice moved between horses near the half-mile pole, and then continued along between horses until the three-eighths pole.

Castellano shifted Keen Ice to the outside near the quarter pole, and then waited till his horse switched leads. Once he did that, Castellano used a right-handed whip near the eighth pole to really get his horse going.

At the sixteenth-pole, with American Pharoah tiring, but still ahead of Frosted, Keen Ice caught up to the champion, then passed him and, while American Pharoah tried to catch up, Keen Ice crossed the wire a three-quarter length winner.

Frosted was third in the 10-horse race for 3-year-olds by 2-1/4 lengths, followed by Upstart, Texas Red, Frammento, Smart Transition, Tale of Verve, Mid Ocean and King of New York.

"That's horse racing," said a very happy Castellano. "Anything can happen in horse racing, that's what makes this a great game. American Pharoah is a great horse, taking nothing away from him. Turning for home, at the three-eighths pole, I saw those two horses head-to-head and I said, 'That's a good sign.' When I saw the quarter-pole, I was getting closer to him, and I didn't see him take off. I saw those two horses backing up to me really quick and that's when I thought I had it. When my horse kept getting closer and closer, I started getting more and more excited and thought, 'This is it. It's going to be my fifth Travers.' And here I am."

After the race, Espinoza talked a little about his ride aboard American Pharoah, who he said just didn't seem right on this day.

"He was not the same like when I've always been riding before," he said. "When he went to the gate, I noticed he was sweating a little bit and he never had even a tiny bit of sweat before. Today, he was a little bit sweaty.

"Once I broke, I put him right on the lead and the pace was not too fast; it was good," he continued. "I felt like from the five-eighths pole, his energy level was not the same as it was before. He was not as strong as I'm used to. He got around there but not quick enough.

"Turning for home, he was still trying so hard and I opened up two, three lengths, but I felt like it was not quick enough to get to the wire with the other horse coming on the outside."

Owned by Donegal Racing, Keen Ice came into the race with only one win. He now has two wins, one second, three thirds and $1,490,395 in 11 career starts.

As for American Pharoah's future, according to a Sunday, Aug. 30 article on BloodHorse.com, owner Ahmed Zayat might have stunned the racing-world when he said, "So my gut's saying, if the horse showed me that he tailed off, he's not the Pharoah I know, then there's no question in my mind that the right thing to do is to retire him."

In the same article, Baffert was also non-committal about his horse future, saying, "I don't know. I wanted to see how taxing this race was on him. This is something we have to sit and figure out. I'm not really used to being in the position with him, so it's sort of hard to digest right now."

The original plan was to have American Pharoah next run in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31, and then have him retire to stud at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky. Now, we'll all have to wait and see.

American Pharoah fell victim to "The Graveyard of Champions" – Saratoga – on Saturday, Aug. 29, when he lost to Keen Ice in the Travers Stakes. (Photo by Jessie Holmes / EquiSportPhotos.com)

 A bit of history to end this article…

Two other horses tried to pull off the Triple Crown-Travers sweep, but failed. In 1930, a 100-to-1 long shot, Jim Dandy, beat Gallant Fox, and in 1978, Affirmed won the race, but then was disqualified to second for interfering with his long-time rival, Alydar, who was moved up for the win.

One horse that did complete the sweep was Whrilaway, who did it in 1941.

As for horses that have lost at Saratoga, which helped give the track its legacy as "The Grave Yard of Champions" …

1919: The greatest Thoroughbred of all time, Man o'War lost to a horse named Upset as a 2-year-old in the Sanford Memorial Stakes. It was the only loss in Man O'War's career. (At the time, there was no starting gate. Only a webbed barrier where the horses waited for the start. When they gave the signal to start, Man O'War's back was to the field, and by the time he had turned to start running, the field had a nice head start. Still, he came back to finish second.)

1930: As previously mentioned, Jim Dandy defeated Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in the Travers Stakes.

1973: Secretariat was upset in the Whitney Stakes that year by a horse named Onion.

In addition to the Travers Stakes, there were six other stakes races on the card on Saturday; five of them Grade 1s. Here are the winners of those races:

* Personal Ensign Stakes (G1): Sheer Drama

* Ballerina Stakes (G1): Unbridled Forever

* King's Bishop Stakes (G1): Runhappy

* Forego Stakes (G1); Private Zone

* Sword Dancer Invitational (G1): Flintshire (GB) (A very impressive win)

* Ballston Stake (G2): Dacita (Chi)

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, BloodHorse.com, NYRA.com, PedigreeQuery.com. Also, Secretariat.com, for info on a few horses that lost at Saratoga.)

Jess's Dream wins debut race

The legend of Curlin, Rachel Alexandra and the late Jess Jackson continued on Monday, Aug. 24, at Saratoga, as their 3-year-old son, Jess's Dream scored an impressive one-length victory in his debut race.

Jess's Dream, with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez riding, won his debut race at Saratoga on Monday, Aug. 24. Breaking from gate 3, the son of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra scored a one-length victory in the sixth race. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

It came in the sixth race on the day's card, a Maiden Special Weight for 3-year-olds and up.

Breaking from post position three with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez riding, Jess's Dream broke the slowest of the seven-horse field after possibly hitting the left-side of the gate, and then settled into last place near the rail.

He stayed in that position for a good portion of the race, but then as the field moved into the final turn, he bean to pick up the pace.

Moved off the rail coming out of the turn and into the stretch, he eventually ended up in the seven-path near midstretch. All the while, as he moved outside, he began picking off the horses in front of him.

Finally, near the finish line, he caught up to the race leaders, gained a small lead, and at the wire, won by a length over Securitiz.

Finishing third was Godrevy, with All Rise, who had led most of the way, finishing fourth, with Captain Tim, Sharm and Prodigal rounding out the fieldl

"I broke today and left him along until he was ready," said Velazquez. "At the half-mile pole, I started getting after him and he started catching up to horses. One he caught up to the group, he knew it was time to run."

Jess's Dream, who is by Curlin-Rachel Alexandra, by Medaglia d'Oro, ran the 1-1/8th mile race on a dirt track rate Fast in 1:49.06.

Afterwards, winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin talked about how special the horse is and how much he means to the fans.

"It wasn't easy to get him (Jess's Dream) to the races. We've had him for a year, but it's taken a year to get him here. It was like a Grade 1. It was pretty special because of who it is, and listening to the fans clap. It's great to win her at Saratoga with this horse because the appreciate him."

Jess's Dream is owned by Stonestreet Stables, which was owned by Jess Jackson, the owner of both Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. He had dreamed of the mating of his two great horses for a long time, but, sadly died in 2011, a year before Jess's Dream was born.

Today, Stonestreet is managed by Jackson's wife, Barbara Banke, who on this day, enjoyed the racing tradition started by her late husband with Jess's Dream.

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com and NYRA.com.)

Beholder beats the boys in a romp in Pacific Classic

It was a Saturday to remember for the ladies on both coasts on Aug. 23, 2015.

On the east coast, Embellish the Lace scored her first graded-stakes victory in the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, while on the west coast Beholder beat the boys in dominating style in the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Racetrack and became the first filly to win the race in 25 years.

Here's a recap of those two big races.

Let's start with the Pacific Classic (G1) where Beholder, a 5-year-old filly who has won so many great races in her career, took on the boys for the first time in hear career.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, Beholder broke cleanly from the starting gate and settled into third-place for most of the race.

Then, as the field was rounding the final turn, Beholder, moving three-wide coming out of the turn, just completely blew by race-leader Bayern as if he was standing still, and exploded down the stretch, opening up a wider and wider lead until finally crossing the finish line an 8-1/4-length winner over second-place Catch a Flight (Arg.).

Beholder, with jockey Gary Stevens riding, beat the boys in a 8-1/4-length romp, as she won the $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2015, at Del Mar Racetrack (Photo by BenoitPhoto.com)

Finishing third in the seven-horse race for 3-year-olds and up was Red Vine, followed by Hopportunity, Imperative, Hard Aces, Class Leader, Bailoutbobby, Bayern and Midnight storm.

Beholder ran the 1-1/4-mile race on a dirt track rated Fast in 1:59.77. It was the first time the filly had ever run that distance in a race.

Afterwards, Stevens said that Beholder did it "all by herself;" he never raised is whip.

“The funny thing was (about her move on the far turn), is that I didn’t do that," said Stevens. "She did. You could see her ears straight up. She was just going so easy. We went by Bayern like he was tied. Then when we straightened away I pushed the button and she went on with it. I’ve never felt anything like that on a racetrack before. And I don’t think she’s done yet. She’s got a few more in her. And she’s got a special place in my heart.”

Added winning trainer, Richard Mandella, “I’ve never felt emotion over a race quite like this. When she made that move, it just took my breath away. I’m flabbergasted. I expected her to run well or I wouldn’t have put her in this race. But I didn’t think she’d beat those colts up like that. You know how some people get emotional when they get old. I think I’m in that mode. I’m just starting to turn.”

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, Beholder's margin of victory was the second largest in the race behind only Game On Dude, who won the race by 8-1/2 lengths in 2013. Game on Dude is now retired at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky.

With her win in the Pacific Classic, Beholder now has 14 wins, three seconds and $4,256,600 in 19 career starts.

Beholder, a two-time Eclipse award winner by Henny Hughes-Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek, had already earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) with her win earlier this year in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1). Now, with her win in the Pacific Classic, she has also earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

It will be interesting to see which race her connections decide to run her in. If she runs in the Distaff, she will be trying for her second win in the race. She also won it in 2013 as a 3-year old. Beholder also won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in 2012.

If she runs in the Breeders' Cup Classic, that could set up a show down with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and oh what a race that could be.

The Breeders' Cup will be held at Keeneland on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31.

In the 135th running of the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, all eyes seemed to be on three horses: the Larry Jones-trained duo of Lovely Maria, winner of the 2015 Kentucky Oaks (G1) in May, and I'm a Chatterbox, who had finished second in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) in July; and the Todd Pletcher-trained Curalina, who had won the Acorn Stakes (G1) in June and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1).

However, it was Embellish the Lace, ridden by Javier Castellano, who everyone should have been watching.

Off at 6-to-1 odds, Embellish the Lace went gate-to-wire to easily score her first graded-stakes victory by 1-1/4 lengths over I'm a Chatterbox.

Embellish the Lace, wit jockey Javier Castellano riding, won her first graded-stakes race on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2015, as she captured the 135th running of the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

"I didn't expect her to be on the lead, but nobody went," said Castellano. "We put up good numbers all the way, and it paid off. I tried to rate a little bit the first turn, but nobody wanted to take it, so I took it. I knew they were coming but the way she turned for home, I had so much confidence. When I asked her a little bit, she took off. The one thing about her is she goes all day. She passed the wire and she galloped out strong."

For trainer Tony Dutrow, it was the first Alabama Stakes victory in his career, and he was very happy afterwards.

"I always hoped of winning a race like that, and when it comes, it's just so gratifying, so humbling, so magical," he said. "And, special is a great word, which sums up all that."

Finishing third in the seven-horse race for 3-year-old fillies was Curalina, followed by Danette, Include Betty, Lovely Maria and Sweetgrass.

Embellish the Lace, who is by Super Saver-Expanse, by Distant View, ran the 1-1/4-mile dirt race on a track rated Fast in 2:01.97.

Owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, Embellish the Lace now has three wins and $413,340 in five career starts.

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, BloodHorse.com, NTRA.com, MTC.com and PedigreeQuery.com)

Love Love Me Do scores first career win at Belterra Park

Love Love Me Do just kept getting closer and closer to the winner's circle in her last three races.

An eighth-place finish on May 22, 2015 in her first start for owner by Dr. Bryan Waldridge, who is the equine vet at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., and trained by Tim Wilson, the farm manager at Old Friends, she followed that up with a second on June 13, and second on June 26; both also at Belterra Park.

Following those two races, they let her out on a farm to just rest, relax and be a horse for a month.

Then, on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, 5-year-old Love Love Me Do finally put it all together, and with regular rider, Yuri Yuranga aboard, rallied down the stretch five-wide, reeled in all of the horses in front of her, past them easily and crossed the finish line a 1-1/4-length winner over My Lil Anto.

Love Love Me Do, with jockey Yuri Yuranga riding, won her first race on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, at Belterra Park for owner Dr. Bryan Waldridge, who is the equine vet at Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., and trainer Tim Wilson, the farm manager at Old Friends. (Photo by Rick Capone/KentuckyHorsePhotos.com)

Finishing third in the 12-horse Maiden Claiming Race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up was Ceresride, followed by Hurricane Sophia, Our Little Joy, Shades of Sunset, Tucupita, Blushing Shine, Lady Fitz, Lady Goldie, Gullies Treasure and Pino Grigio.

Love Love Me Do, who is by Birdstone-Belle Chante, by War Chant, ran the six furlong race on the dirt track rated Fast in 1:14.34. She now has one win, two seconds and $6,385 in earnings in nine career starts.

More important, on this Sunday, she and all of her connections are having so much fun, you'd think they just won the Kentucky Oaks.

The Pizza Man wins 2015 Arlington Million

It was a big day of racing at Arlington Park on Saturday, Aug. 15, with five big stakes races on the card.

In the biggest race of the day, the Arlington Million (G1), The Pizza Man, who just seems to love Arlington Park, rallied down the stretch under jockey Florent Geroux, and then out-dueled Big Blue Kitten at the wire to score a neck victory in one of the most exciting finishes of the day.

The Pizza Man, who seems to just love Arlington Park, proved that again on Saturday, Aug. 15, with a neck victory in the Arlington Million. (Photo by Four Footed Fotos/FourFootedFotos.com)

Finishing third in the 13-horse race for 3-year-olds and up was Shining Copper, who had led almost the entire race until the end.

"I'm always confident when I ride him, he loves to win and knows where the wire is," said Geroux in an Aug. 15 BloodHorse.com article. "But, I had no horse the whole way. It looked like he was struggling over the very soft track.

"But, when I put him outside, he started to hold up and grabbed the bit again and I was thinking, 'Oh boy, he's going for a big one here!' He is a local horse and even going to the track there was a lot of people cheering for us, and I'd like to thank them."

The Pizza Man, who is by English Channel-I Can Fan Fan, by Lear Fan, ran the 1-1/4-mile race on a turf track rated Yielding, in 2:02.20.

Rounding out the field was Up With the Birds in fourth, followed by Elleval (Ire), Wake Forest (Ger), Belgian Bill (GB), Slumber (GB), Bookrunner, Quiet Force, Triple Threat (Fr), Legendary (GB) and Maverick Wave.

Since the Arlington Million is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race, The Pizza Man also secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Keeneland on Saturday, Oct. 31, with his win.

Owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds and trained by Roger Brueggemann, The Pizza Man now has 14 wins, one second, two thirds and $960,537 in earnings in 22 career starts. He also won the American St. Leger Stakes at Arlington a year ago on Arlington Million Day.

In the other stakes races at Arlington Park on Saturday, the winners were:

* Pucker Up Stakes (G3): Mizz Money

* American St. Leger Stakes (G3): Lucky Speed (Ire)

* Secretariat Stakes (G1): Highland Reef (Ire)

* Beverly D. Stakes (G1): Watsdachances (Ire) got the win following a DQ of Secret Gesture (GB), who crossed the wire first, but

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, BloodHorse.com and Brisnet.com.)

Honor Code squeaks out Whitney Stakes victory

Honor Code used an impressive stretch run to not only catch up to race leader Liam's Map, but then lunge forward under the guidance of jockey Javier Castellano to capture a neck victory in the $1.25 million Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015.

Honor Code, left, with jockey Javier Castellano riding, charged down the stretch and squeaked by Liam's Map to get the win in the $1.23 million Whitney Stakes on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Liam's Map finished second, while Tonalist finished third in the nine-horse race for 3-year-olds

Rounding out the very impressive field was Wicked Strong in fourth, followed by V.E. Day, Lea, Normandy Invasion, Moreno and Noble Bird.

Honor Code ran the 1-1/8th-mile race on a dirt track rated fast in 1:47.82.

The win gave Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his third win in the Whitney, and his first one since 1989 with Easy Goer. He also won they year before in 1988 with Personal Ensign.

"He's (Honor Code's) an amazing horse," said McGaughey. "He has been, really, from the start, from his maiden race here in the slop when it looked like he was hopelessly beaten, and he won. He's really grown into himself. We're very excited and very happy about today. To be able to win a race like the Whitney is a big feather in our cap."

For Honor Code, it was his second Grade 1-stakes victory in a row, as he also won the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont on June 6.

In addition, the Whitney was part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series, so Honor Code earned an automatic spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Owned by Lane's End Racing and Dell Ridge Farm, Honor Code, who is by A.P. Indy-Serena's Cat, by Storm Cat, now has six wins, two seconds and $1,978,260 in earnings in nine career starts.

In one other race on Saturday, this one the Black Tie Affair Handicap at Arlington Park, Yankee Dealer, with jockey Timothy Thornton riding, came from deep in the pack, then rallied down the stretch to pull off a victory by a head over Sweet Luca.

Sweet Luca finished second, while Super Soldier finished third in the eight horse field of 3-year-olds and up.

Yankee Dealer, who is by Yankee Gentleman-Lady Dealer, by Prospectors Gamble, ran the 1-1/16th-mile race on a turf course rate firm in 1:42.85.

Trained by Michael Reavis, and co-owned by Reavis and Greco Racing Stable, 6-year-old Yankee Dealer now has 11 wins, seven seconds, three thirds and $367,452 in earnings in 33 career starts.

Black Tie Affair was the 1991 Horse of the Year, and upset winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic that same year..

Black Tie Affair, 1991 Horse of the Year, was retired to Old Friends in , and was euthanized due to laminitis in July 2010. (Photo by Rick Capone/KentuckyHorsePhotos.com)

He was retired to Old Friends in 2009, and was euthanized due to laminitis in July 2010.

(Information gathered from EquiBase.com, NYRA.com, BloodHorse.com, and PedigreeQuery.com)

American Pharoah romps in Haskell Invitational

All the worrying about how American Pharoah would run in his next race after winning the Triple Crown was all for nothing.

On Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, American Pharoah took to the track for the first time since winning the Belmont Stakes (G1) and capturing the 12th Triple Crown in history and made it look easy in the $1.75 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (G1).

American Pharoah, with jockey Victor Espinoza riding, romped to victory in the $1.75 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Photo by Jessie Holmes / EquiSportPhotos.com)

In front of the largest crowd in Monmouth Park history – 60,983 screaming fans – American Pharoah broke from post position four with his regular rider Victor Espinoza aboard, bobbled just a little, then quickly recovered and took up a stalking position just to the outside of race leader Competitive Edge around the first turn, down the back stretch and into the final turn.

Then, as he rounded the final turn, American Pharoah exploded near the end of the turn, took the lead by the quarter pole and then charged down the stretch opening up a huge lead by the midpoint of the stretch.

At that point, Espinoza slowed him down to save energy for whatever his next race would be, which let Keen Ice begin to catch up and made fans a bit nervous for just a second.

However, there was never any doubt as to who the winner would be in the race, as American Pharoah crossed the finish a 2-1/4-length victor.

Finishing second in the seven-horse race for 3-year-olds was Keen Ice, while Upstart finished third.

“It was pretty easy,” said Espinoza. “For me the key was just coming out of there running. I didn’t want to get into any bumping out of the gate. I just wanted to let him run his race. I knew that other horse (Competitive Edge) would want to take the lead, so I sat back just a little bit, maybe a half-length behind. ... “He (American Pharoah) did everything by himself. It was pretty easy. Pretty impressive.”

Rounding out the field was Competitive Edge in fourth, followed by Top Clearance, Dontbetwithbruno, and Mr. Jordan

American Pharoah, who is by Pioneerof the Nile out of Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman, ran the 1-1/8th-mile race on the dirt rated fast in 1:47.95.

If Espinoza had not slowed American Pharoah down he not only would have won by a wider margin, but, according to MonmouthPark.com, he would have broken "the Haskell stakes record of 1:47 flat (held jointly by Majestic Light and Bet Twice)."

American Pharoah's time was also only one second slower than the "track record of 1:46 4/5 set by Spend a Buck in 1985 and equaled by Jolie’s Halo in 1992."

American Pharoah's trainer, Bob Baffert, who has now won the Haskell eight times, was a bit nervous prior to the race, but was very well relieved afterwards.

“I was so nervous today,” said Baffert. “I was pretty anxious. I was more nervous than any time I’ve run him. He got a little stirred up in the paddock. He was pretty fresh because he’s had a lot of time between races. I wanted him sharp today because I knew the pace was going to be fast.

“Competitive Edge, he’s a fast horse. He was just cruising. Down the backside, I saw Victor had a hold of Pharoah and I looked at those fast fractions, but it looked like he was going in :48. It’s something that every time we run him or work him, he’s just getting stronger and better."

Baffert is truly enjoying his moments with American Pharoah. He realizes how special this horse is and has just been taking everything in as this race season has gone along.

“What I saw was amazing. I watched like a fan today," said Baffert. "I’m looking at this horse like, where did he come from? I’ve had some really nice horses, but this horse, what he does is just incredible. He makes me emotional because he’s a gift from God.”

Owned by Zayat Stables, it was the eighth-straight win for American Pharoah, giving him eight wins and $5,630,300 in nine career starts.

In addition, the Haskell was a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race, so American Pharoah has a starting spot waiting for him in the Breeders Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

At this time, Ahmed Zayat, owner of Zayat Stables, and Baffert are undecided on what their horse's next race will be. Possibilities include the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 29 and the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Sept. 19 at Parx Racing.

The ultimate goal, of course, is the Breeders' Cup Classic, where it is expected that this great champion will make the final start of his career before heading to stud right up the street at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky.

(Information provided by EquiBase.com, MonmouthPark.com, BloodHorse.com, and PedigreeQuery.com.)

Beholder, Texas Red get big wins

As horse racing fans around the United States await Triple Crown winner American Pharoah's return to the track in the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Aug. 02, 2015, there were plenty of other races for every one to enjoy on Saturday, Aug. 1.

At Del Mar in the $300,750 Clement L. Hirsh Stakes (G1), fan-favorite and race-favorite Beholder ran three-wide down the backstretch, moved between horses going around the final turn to take a slight lead, and then kicked clear and blasted down the stretch to win the race by an impressive seven lengths.

Beholder, with jockey Gary Stevens riding, looked impressive in her seventh-length victory in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, Aug. 1. (Photo by BenoitPhoto.com)

Finishing second in the eight-horse race for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up, was Yahilwa, while Warren's Venada ran third.

Rounding out the field was My Sweet Addiction fourth, followed by Honey Ride, My Monet, Legacy, and Thegirlinthatsong.

Beholder ran the 1-1/16th-mile race on the dirt track rated fast in 1:4.81.

"She's just amazing; she's scary," said Stevens. "I worked her the other day and got off and said, 'Boss (to trainer Richard Mandella), I don't know how this is possible, but I think she's getting better.' She's improving and things are getting easier for her. She went from being a cantankerous kid to a laid-back grandma.

"I told Richard I was just going to let her fall out of there (the gate) today and see where I was going into the first turn. That we'd figure it out from there. We had a spot and they slowed it down on us. Finally, I just said, 'That's it," and I let her go. Her acceleration just put us in front without really trying. The race was effectively over at the six and a half (furlong pole). She's just too much. This isn't work. I'll tell you. This is fun."

Added Mandella, "… I was glad to see that she got out of the inside and got in the clear where she wouldn't be compromised in her chance to win anyway. Gary did a masterful job of doing that and when they went down the backside, it looked like poetry."

With the win, Beholder, a 5-year-old by Henny Hughes-Leslie's Lady, by Tricky Creek, now has 13 wins, three seconds and $3,656,000 in earnings in 18 career starts.

In addition, the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes is a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" race, so she earned a starting spot in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Oct. 30.

After the race, Mandella laid out the future possible plans for Beholder, which could take the two-time Eclipse award winning filly to a race against "the boys" in just three weeks.

"We may take a look at the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) (Saturday, Aug. 22 at Del Mar)," he said. "It has been in the back of my mind for a while. The timing is good. We're far enough away from the Breeders' Cup to do it too. The question will be that it's three weeks (to the race) and will she look good enough to o that. It'll be up to her and (owner) Mr. (B. Wayne) Hughes, obviously. I'll have to get his approval."

At Saratoga on Saturday in the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), a race for 3-year-olds, last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, Texas Red, returned to the winner's circle after holding off a hard-charging Frosted for a half-length win.

Texas Red, right, returned to his winning ways on Saturday, Aug. 1, as he won the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga with jockey Kent Desormeaux riding. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Finishing third in the four-horse race was Japan, followed by Frammento in fourth.

For Texas Red, who had showed so much promise heading into this year's Triple Crown races until an abscess in his right front foot sidelined him, it was an impressive victory.

"He just gallop along to the quarter poll," said winning jockey Kent Desormeaux in an Aug. 1, Bloodhorse.com article. "I had so much left that I got to the (front) quicker than I thought I would. He kind of idled on the lead a little bit that last three sixteenths of a mile, but when challenged (by Frosted) he had tons left. The most encouraging thing about the entire ride was the energy left galloping out. I think I'm sucking more wind that he is from the race."

Texas Red ran the 1-1/8th-mile race on the dirt track rated fast in 1:48.77. He now has three wins, three seconds, one third and $1,692,300 in eight career starts. His last win came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November at Santa Anita.

Texas Red is trained and co-owned by Keith Desormeaux, Kent's brother. The other co-owners are Erich Brehm, Lee Michaels, Wayne Detmar and Gene Voss.

In other stakes races at Saratoga on Saturday:

* Holy Boss (Street Boss-Holy Grace, by Holy Bull), with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. riding, won the $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2). He is owned by Jerry Durant and trained by Steve Asmussen.

* Rock Fall (Speighttown-Renda, by Medaglia d'Oro), with jockey Javier Castellano riding, on the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1). He is owned by Stonestreet Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher.

* Red Rifle (Giant's Causeway-May Night, by Gulch), with Castellano riding once again, won the $250,000 Bowling Green Handicap (G2). He is owned by Twin Creek Racing Stables and trained by Pletcher.

(Information provided by EquiBase.com, BloodHorse.com, DMTC.com, NYRA.com, and PedigreeQuery.com)