Gulfstream: Holy Bull, Forward Gal, Swale Recaps

By David Joseph —-

Irish War Cry; Gulfstream File Photo

Undefeated Irish War Cry Romps in G2 Holy Bull
Eclipse Champion Classic Empire 3rd; Gunnevera 2nd

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Isabella de Tomaso’s Irish War Cry remained undefeated in three starts with a dominating front-running victory in Saturday’s $350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park, soundly defeating Eclipse Award champion Classic Empire and multiple graded-stakes winner Gunnevera, who finished third and second, respectively.

Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Curlin scored by 3 ¾ lengths over Gunnevera, who finished another 5 lengths ahead of Classic Empire, the 1-2 favorite in a field of 3-year-olds that was reduced to seven upon the early scratches of Fact Finding and Fire for Effect.

“There’s nothing quite like being involved in these 3-year-old races,” said Motion after Irish War Cry stamped himself as a prominent Triple Crown candidate. “It’s a great atmosphere here today. It’s what we all like to do. It’s pretty exciting.”

Classic Empire, who was making his first start since clinching the championship for the outstanding 2-year-old of 2016 with a victory in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 5, was a little reluctant to enter the starting gate for the 1 1/16-mile and broke a step slow before quickly attaining a good stalking position under Julien Leparoux.

“He gets a little hot, but maybe hotter than normal, so I don’t know. We will regroup. He had no excuse that way, none whatsoever,” said trainer Mark Casse, whose champion had won four of five starts last season. “They kind of tried to pin him in a little bit on the first turn and Julien used a little bit of him. We had a good trip.”

The lightly raced Irish War Cry entered the Holy Bull off a pair of victories at Laurel Park, an off-the-pace 4 ½ length score in a Nov. 11 maiden race before prevailing by a nose after setting the pace in the Marylander Stakes Dec. 31.

“He’s a really nice horse and I was obviously really high on him, but when you’re running against the juvenile champion, you have reservations. I was torn. I was toying with the idea of running in the Sam Davis (at Tampa Bay Downs, Feb. 11). I thought it might be a little easier race, because he’s so lightly raced. But the more I looked at it, the way he was working, I just thought we had to take a shot today.”

Sent to post at the 4-1 third betting choice, Irish War Cry broke alertly under Joel Rosario and assumed the pacesetting role into the first turn, continuing on to set fractions of 24.14 and 47.92 for a half mile. Talk Logistics tracked Irish War Cry while saving ground along the backstretch under Paco Lopez with Classic Empire to his outside. Leparoux sent Classic Empire after the pacesetter on the far turn. After a brief challenge on the turn into the homestretch, the Casse-trained colt began to weaken as Irish War Cry kicked clear by 3 ½ lengths in mid-stretch. Gunnevera, who had won the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G1) in his most recent start in November, was rated just behind the pacesetters along the backstretch and kicked in to finish a clear second, well clear of Classic Empire.

Irish War Cry ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.52.

“He broke very nice. I thought the favorite was going to show some speed but it looked like he didn’t come out of there well and I came out of there very well, so I just kept hold of my spot where I was,” Rosario said. “Actually he really kicked on again. He was in the lead and very comfortable and turning for home I asked him a little bit and he responded. I was very happy with that.”

The Holy Bull, which anchored a 12-race program with five stakes, is a key prep for the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on March 4 and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 1 on the Road to the Triple Crown.

“I really haven’t gotten beyond today. I don’t know if I want to run in every race. It will be hard enough to run back in one of them, obviously, but we’ll figure it out,” said Motion, who saddled Animal Kingdom for a victory in the 2011 Kentucky Derby (G1).

Classic Empire had won four of five races during his championship 2-year-old season, including the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“We had a good trip. I got in the clear on the first turn and there was really no excuse. He came back good and we’ll see what happens,” Leparoux said. “He got a little bit warm but after that we a good trip and every chance and he just didn’t kick at the end.”

Gunnevera broke his maiden at Gulfstream in July before venturing to Saratoga to capture the Saratoga Special (G2). After finishing a wide fifth behind Classic Empire in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, he made a big splash in the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (G3) in November, rallying from 10th and last to score by 5 ¾ lengths.

“Unfortunately, there was no speed in the race. It didn’t set up for my horse. After [trainer] Todd Pletcher scratched [Fact Finding], everything changed,” Castellano said. “You can say I put him close to try to get him in the race, but that’s not his style. He needs to relax and make one big run. That’s best for him.”

Talk Logistics finished fourth, followed by Cavil, Perro Rojo and Shanmsaan.

$350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2) Post-Race Quotes

Winning time: 1:42.52
Winning margins: 3 ¾, 5, 5 ¼
Winning payoff: $10.80

Order of finish: Irish War Cry, Gunnevera, Classic Empire, Talk Logistics, Cavil, Perro Rojo, Shamsaan

Trainer Graham Motion (Irish War Cry, 1st): “There’s nothing quite like being involved in these 3-year-old races. It’s a great atmosphere here today. It’s what we all like to do. It’s pretty exciting.”

“He’s a really nice horse and I was obviously really high on him, but when you’re running against the juvenile champion, you have reservations. I was torn. I was toying with the idea of running in the Sam Davis [at Tampa Bay Downs, Feb. 11]. I thought it might be a little easier race, because he’s so lightly raced. But the more I looked at it, the way he was working, I just thought we had to take a shot today.”

“I kind of thought we’d inherit the lead. I told [jockey] Joel [Rosario] I wanted him to settle. I didn’t want to get to telling him what to do. I had a feeling we’d end up on the lead. I thought the favorite might be on the lead, but he inherited the lead and he was very confident.”

On $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), March 4 and the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) April 1 as possible targets – “I really haven’t gotten beyond today. I don’t know if I want to run in every race. It will be hard enough to run back in one of them, obviously, but we’ll figure it out.”

Jockey Joel Rosario (Irish War Cry, 1st): “I had a good trip. He broke sharp, very nice, and he decided he wanted to go on and I just let him be happy where he was. He ran a big race.”

“Graham [Motion] is a very good trainer. He always wants to keep his horses happy and do whatever they want and that’s what I tried to do. It looked like he was happy where he was. He was cruising along nicely, and he took them all the way.”

“He broke very nice. I thought the favorite was going to show some speed but it looked like he didn’t come out of there well and I came out of there very well, so I just kept hold of my spot where I was.”

“Actually he really kicked on again. He was in the lead and very comfortable and turning for home I asked him a little bit and he responded. I was very happy with that.”

Trainer Antonio Sano (Gunnevera, 2nd): “I think it was a very good race. I think the last two furlongs, [jockey Javier] Castellano had a little bump but he ran good. I’m very happy with him.”

Jockey Javier Castellano (Gunnevera, 2nd): “Unfortunately, there was no speed in the race. It didn’t set up for my horse. After [trainer] Todd Pletcher scratched [Fact Finding], everything changed. You can say I put him close to try to get him in the race, but that’s not his style. He needs to relax and make one big run. That’s best for him.”

Trainer Mark Casse (Classic Empire, 3rd): “He gets a little hot, but maybe hotter than normal, so I don’t know. We will regroup. He had no excuse that way [in where he was positioned] ; none whatsoever. They kind of tried to pin him in a little bit on the first turn and [jockey] Julien [Leparoux] used a little bit of him. We had a good trip.”

Jockey Julien Leparoux (Classic Empire, 3rd): “We had a good trip. I got in the clear on the first turn and there was really no excuse. He came back good and we’ll see what happens. He got a little bit warm [warming up] but after that we a good trip and every chance and he just didn’t kick at the end.”

Jockey Paco Lopez (Talk Logistics, 4th): “The race was unbelievable. I didn’t want to make the lead and I was there between [Irish War Cry] and [Classic Empire]. After [Irish War Cry] made the lead I put him second and the favorite was outside of me. I moved my horse and he ran pretty good. He’s still improving.”

Jockey Nik Juarez (Perro Rojo, 6th): “Going into the race, [trainer Nick] Zito and I were happy with how the horse was working. I wasn’t disappointed with how he ran today. I have a better feel for him after today and I think we’re going to change a few tactics on him next time. We expect some good things out of this horse.”

Tequilita Springs 14-1 Upset in $200,000 Forward Gal (G2)
Holds Off G1 Winner Pretty City Dancer for Third Straight Win
Kitten’s Cat apropos winner of $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes

Unraced in 11 weeks and facing the biggest test of her young career, Dorothy Matz’s homebred Tequilita took the lead in mid-stretch and stubbornly held off Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer to win Saturday’s $200,000 Forward Gal (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

The 37th running of the seven-furlong Forward Gal for 3-year-old fillies was the third of five stakes, four graded, worth $950,000 in purses topped by the $350,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull (G2), Gulfstream’s first major prep for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1).

Also on Saturday’s card were the $200,000 Swale (G2) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, and the $100,000 Sweetest Chant (G3) for sophomore fillies and $100,000 Kitten’s Joy for 3-year-olds, both at one mile on turf.

The Forward Gal marked the third straight victory and first against graded company for Tequilita ($31), winner of Laurel Park’s Smart Halo Stakes in her juvenile finale Nov. 19. Overlooked at odds of 14-1 in a field of nine, she ran the distance in 1:24.36 over a fast main track.

It was a special triumph for Michael Matz, who trains the bay filly for his wife and also trained Tequilita’s sire, 2012 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Union Rags, and her mare, 2006 Chilukki (G2) winner Sangrita, also owned by his wife.

“It’s great. You know the family,” Michael Matz said. “We’ve sort of figured out her running style and where she wants to break. For a while she was showing too much speed, and now I think we went from a mile to six furlongs and back to seven, [so] if we want her to go longer we can get her to sit still and still make a nice run. I think she’s still figuring out what she’s supposed to do.”

Breaking from Post 2 under jockey Luis Saez, Tequilita settled in fourth while kept in the clear three wide as fellow Laurel stakes winner Ms Locust Point, the 6-5 favorite, ran the first quarter-mile in 22.53 seconds with Bode’s Dream and Wildcat Kate to her outside.

Tequilita began to pick up steam and was switched another path wider by Saez following a half-mile in 45.45 seconds with Pretty City Dancer, dead-heat winner of the Spinaway (G1) last summer also making her seasonal debut, also launching her bid. They straightened for home and closed in on a tiring Ms Locust Point approaching the eighth pole and Tequilita dug in through the final sixteenth to prevail by a half-length.

“[Matz] told me to break and be patient, and when you come to the stretch, just let her run. We had a good trip,” Saez said. “When we came to the three-eighths pole, I had a lot of horse. We came into the stretch and, man, I see the other horse coming, and I never give up. I just keep riding.”

Tequilita ran five times as a 2-year-old, finishing second to subsequent Grade 1 winner Dancing Rags in a Laurel maiden race going one mile last September before graduating the next month at Keeneland. She idled a bit after assuming the lead in the six-furlong Smart Halo at the top of the stretch before going on to win by a length.

Pretty City Dancer was a clear second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of 45-1 long shot Brahms Cat. It was another length back to Summer Luck in fourth followed by Ms Locust Point, Wildcat Kate, My Lerler, Lirica and Bode’s Dream.

“We watched the race before and I said to Luis, ‘You see the speed come back to you? That’s you,’ and that’s all I said,” Matz said. “He kept busy on her and she fought those other horses off To fight a Grade 1 winner off like that, I’m impressed. We always thought she could go longer, and I think she can.”

Brown Enjoys ‘Favorable Outcome’ in Saturday’s G2 Swale

Favorable Outcome made a return to dirt and the winner’s circle Saturday at Gulfstream Park, capturing his 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Swale (G2) at Gulfstream Park.

Making his first start since finishing well back in his turf debut in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 4, the Chad Brown-trained colt scored by three-quarters of a length over favored Three Rules in the seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-olds.

Although he finished strongest of all in the six-horse field, Favorable Outcome is not nominated to the Triple Crown.

“Obviously, we planned on keeping him sprinting and on dirt. About three weeks ago I just started breezing him and he was much fitter than I thought,” Brown said. “I looked at the race and I figured let’s run him in here and if he wins that would be great knowing that he is not even a 100 percent fit and it should set up well for him and we can build on it. He ran terrific; he should get a lot out of it.”

Jockey Javier Castellano rated Favorable Outcome off a solid pace set by Derek’s Smile, who set fractions of 23.02 (seconds) and 45.88 into the backstretch. Leaving the backstretch, Vanish made a move inside the pacesetter, as John Velazquez asked Sonic Mule for his run on the outside. Sonic Mule took the lead on the turn into the stretch, pressured by Three Rules to his outside, while Favorable Outcome mounted an even wider bid outside of the 4-5 favorite ridden by Cornelio Velasquez.

Three Rules, who swept the Florida Sire Stakes series last year, grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch with Favorable Outcome, the 2-1 second betting choice looming dangerous to his outside. Three Rules continued on gamely but was unable to hold off Favorite Outcome, who completed the seven furlongs in 1:23.03.

“We had a plan before the race. He broke well out of the gate and I took my time and they went pretty quick early. I had to come around wide on the outside a little bit but I think that was the key to win the race. We had a lot of patience in the beginning and it paid off in the end. I felt like I had plenty of horse,” Castellano said. “I didn’t use him early in the race and I knew when I asked he’d respond, and he did. I think he’ll take another step forward. He’s a young horse, a nice horse and still developing.”

Three Rules, who had won five straight races at Gulfstream to launch his career, finished 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Sonic Mule in his first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 5.

“He run a good race. We’re disappointed that we didn’t win but the horse that beat us is a nice horse. Disappointed we didn’t win but not disappointed in the horse,” said Bert Pilcher, whose Shade Tree Thoroughbreds owns the Jose Pinchin-trained runner-up with Tom Fitzgerald and Geoff Roy. “You can’t win every one. It looks like he came back. I don’t know if he got a little tired or he just got outrun.”
Favorable Outcome, who earned $120,000 for Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, captured his career debut at six furlongs at Saratoga in August and finished an even third in the Champagne (G1) at Belmont in October prior to his subpar showing in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
“It’s going to be a campaign of just one-turn dirt races this whole year,” Brown said. “There are a lot of good races for 3-year-olds in that category.”

Gulfstream Park is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; XpressBet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.