Belmont at the Big A Notes 10/3

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

Belmont at the Big A Notes

The Queens M G chooses G1 Frizette; Axthelm to G3 Belmont Turf Sprint
Correto steps up in re-scheduled G2 Miss Grillo
Determined Kingdom confirmed for G3 Belmont Turf Sprint
Dashman steps up for G3 Jockey Club Derby
Smoken Wicked looks for breakthrough in G1 Champagne

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – C Two Racing Stable and Mathis Stable’s The Queens M G will look to double her graded wins tally in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile for juvenile fillies, at Belmont at the Big A. The Frizette, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 1 at Del Mar, also offers the top-five finishers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee was purchased privately out of a 45-1 winning debut for owner-trainer Israel Acevedo in April at Keeneland. The Thousand Words dark bay has since made four stakes starts at Saratoga, including a troubled seventh as the mutuel favorite in the Astoria in June ahead of a redemptive 44-1 score in the Listed Schuylerville sprinting six furlongs in July.

The Queens M G romped to a nine-length victory in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Adirondack in August before faltering to fifth last out when competing over muddy and sealed footing in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Spinaway.

Although cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alcibiades on Saturday at Keeneland, Joseph, Jr. confirmed The Queens M G [post 2, Dylan Davis, 10-1ML], who has remained in training at Saratoga, will race in the Frizette.

“It’s a shorter ship and it made more sense to bring her here and see how she gets on,” Joseph, Jr. said. “It looks like she’ll get a fast track and that was important, too. We didn’t want to catch a sloppy track again.

“She had three races in succession so that goes through your mind too, but we feel the Spinaway [result] was more the track than the race. She’s bounced out of it well,” Joseph, Jr. added.

Joseph, Jr. said The Queens M G looms a strong contender if she runs back to her Adirondack effort.

“She definitely was impressive that day,” Joseph, Jr. said. “The mile is unknown, but we feel pretty optimistic about it the way she trains.”

The Daily Racing Form reported Thursday that Senza Parole, the 3-5 morning line favorite for the Frizette, will scratch and is out for the year with a physical issue.

Joseph, Jr. noted that Paradise City, a maiden winner on September 6 at Gulfstream Park that he also entered in the Frizette, will also scratch in favor of an easier spot.

“We wanted to take a look but it’s a bit quick back to face that caliber and ship, so we’ll try allowance company first and take it step by step,” Joseph, Jr. said.

Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Michael Iavarone and Jules Iavarone’s multiple graded stakes-placed Axthelm will look to make the grade in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint.

Although cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland, Joseph, Jr. said Axthelm would appreciate the extra half-furlong in the six-furlong outer turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up listed as Race 6 here.

The 5-year-old Into Mischief horse sports a record of 8-2-0-3 this year, including optional-claiming wins in March at Gulfstream and on September 1 at Kentucky Downs. He arrives from a rallying third to the victorious Cogburn in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint while racing on six days’ rest at Kentucky Downs.

“The extra distance will help him,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He’s training well. He had two races at Kentucky Downs and one easy breeze back at Palm Meadows. We didn’t have to do much – he seems to be in good order and hopefully he will run well. He went through a period there where he didn’t run well but now, he’s back on track.”

Axthelm, listed at 6-1 on the morning line, will exit the inside post under Dylan Davis.

C Two Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagnano’s White Abarrio, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, is training towards a return to action. He was last seen finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 8 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga.

The 5-year-old Race Day horse, who has banked in excess of $5.1 million through a 17-7-1-3 record, has worked back twice over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga, including a three-eighths breeze in 38.22 October 1.

Joseph, Jr. said White Abarrio is working towards the goal of the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup in January at Gulfstream Park – a race he previously attempted when eighth in 2023.

“He had his second work back and he’s in good order so far,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He’ll ship down to Florida this week and do the rest of his preparation down there. He’ll run before the Pegasus, but where and when we just don’t know yet.”

Daniel Alonso’s multiple graded stakes-winning multimillionaire Skippylongstocking finished second in Saturday’s Grade 2 Woodward here, stalking Masqueparade from second position in the nine-furlong route and taking command at the stretch call but missing by three-quarters of a length to the closing Tapit Trice. The 5-year-old Exaggerator bay earned a 97 Beyer for his game effort over the muddy and sealed track.

“I thought he ran well. He just got ran down by Tapit Trice, who is a very good horse,” Jospeh, Jr. said. “We were second best on the day. You always want to win but we can’t complain about the effort. We got a good trip, and I thought we lost nothing in defeat.”

Joseph, Jr. said Skippylongstocking will now point towards the Breeders’ Cup in November at Del Mar with both the Classic and Dirt Mile under consideration. He finished third in last year’s Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.

“We’re going to go to the Breeders’ Cup, but which race yet is hard to say,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He’s come out of the race well energy wise and looks in good order, so we’re happy with him.”

Joseph, Jr. said he remains proud of the talented nine-time winner, who has banked in excess of $3 million while winning at five different tracks.

“He’s a warrior. We put him in all different kinds of scenarios, and he just goes track to track and he shows up. He’s a model of consistency,” Joseph, Jr. said.

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Correto steps up in re-scheduled G2 Miss Grillo

Calumet Farms’ Kentucky homebred Correto will make her stakes debut in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Graham Motion, the English Channel chestnut was also entered in Friday’s Grade 2 Jessamine at Keeneland but is confirmed to race here in Sunday’s 1 1/16-mile inner turf test for 2-year-old fillies which offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar. The Miss Grillo was originally scheduled for last Sunday but was canceled and re-drawn due to significant rainfall.

Motion lamented his filly losing her original post 4 when the race was re-drawn with Correto now slated to exit post 11 under Jorge Ruiz – although the post is one better than the 12-hole draw they were assigned in the Jessamine.

“It is what it is, but she’s doing well,” Motion said. “I struggled with sending her to Kentucky because we’d already shipped her up to New York and not run, so we’ll just keep her there.”

Correto [post 11, Jorge Ruiz], a full-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Spooky Channel, is out of the multiple stakes-placed Kitten’s Joy mare Spooky Kitten. She made a professional winning debut on September 1 over the undulating turf at Kentucky Downs, tracking from fourth position in a seven-furlong maiden special weight before edging clear to a 1 3/4-length score. The winning effort over a robust field of 11 rivals registered a 72 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The English Channels tend to be a little headstrong, but she’s a nice type of filly,” Motion said. “We obviously liked her to send her to Kentucky Downs because those maidens are very competitive. She was very professional considering what they deal with there.”

Correto has worked back twice over the Fair Hill synthetic, including a five-eighths breeze in 1:02 flat September 30.

“I’ve been very pleased with how she worked since she ran,” Motion added. “I’ve only worked her on her own because she does quite a bit. With a 2-year-old, I normally don’t do that – they have to be quite professional to work on their own, and she’s done things nicely.”

Motion said a good result Sunday would likely propel Correto to the Breeders’ Cup.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but that’s why we’re in there,” Motion said. “I would imagine this [more distance] would be what she wants.”

Motion will debut Walmac Farm’s Kentucky homebred Jenn in Race 5 here Sunday, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf route for juvenile fillies. By Justify and out of the Galileo mare Prose, Jenn’s stakes-winning third dam Cappucino Bay produced multiple Grade 1-winning multimillionaire Medaglia d’Oro.

“She’s a nice type of filly,” Motion said. “She didn’t seem like one to sprint first time out.”

Jenn [post 1, Jorge Ruiz] has worked extensively over both dirt and synthetic at Fair Hill, including a half-mile gate breeze in 49 flat over the dirt on September 19.

“She’s done things nicely enough,” Motion said. “The only reason I’d question her is she’s quite a big filly and she’s a little bit slow from the gate – being in the one hole, that’s a little bit of a concern. I don’t necessarily crank my horses up to run their best race first time out, but she’s done plenty to get started. She’s more than fit.”

Motion will send out Shamrock Farm’s stakes-placed Thegirlfromireland [post 5, John Velazquez, 9-2ML] in Race 2 on Friday here, a 1 3/16-mile allowance optional-claimer over the outer turf for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up.

The 4-year-old Goldencents bay won a restricted nine-furlong turf route in June at Laurel Park and returned on September 2 in a nine-furlong optional-claimer to run second to graded stakes-winner Prerequisite.

“She’s a filly that appreciates a distance and that’s why I’m bringing her to New York,” Motion said. “She needs further, and you don’t get to do that much around here even through she’s a Maryland-bred. She’s a nice filly – very classy.”

Amerman Racing’s Trikari captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational here in July and followed with a stylish win over next-out stakes winner Brilliant Berti in the Grade 2 Secretariat at Colonial Downs.

The sophomore son of Oscar Performance finished a close fourth when facing elders for the first time in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita Park, landing 1 1/2-lengths back of the victorious Johannes, while narrowly missing place honors to runner-up Almendares and third-place Conclude.

“He got back here Tuesday and was under tack today and looks really well,” Motion said. “He’d done plenty this year and he really wasn’t beaten far the other day. He ran a credible race – beaten a nose and a neck against pretty good older horses, and the winner will probably be one of the favorites at the Breeders’ Cup.”

Motion said Trikari, who posted a 47-1 upset in the Grade 2 American Turf in May at Churchill, could now point to the Grade 3, $600,000 Bryan Station, a one-mile turf test for sophomores on October 26 at Keeneland.

“We’ll probably take him to Keeneland and run in the 3-year-old race at the end of the meet and that will be it for the year,” Motion said.

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Determined Kingdom confirmed for G3 Belmont Turf Sprint

Determined Kingdom, who ended up on the also-eligible list of Saturday’s Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland, is confirmed to run in Saturday’s Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint, a six-furlong outer turf test for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Phil Schoenthal for Matt Dorman’s Determined Stables and Kingdom Bloodstock Inc., the 5-year-old Virginia-bred son of Animal Kingdom has more than outperformed his $47,000 purchase price at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale.

Determined Kingdom, through four seasons of racing, has banked $671,539 through a 23-9-2-3 record topped a trio of wins in the Punch Line [2022-24] at Colonial Downs to go along with stakes scores in the 2021 Jamestown and 2023 Meadow Stable both at the Virgina oval.

He enters from a pace-pressing three-quarter length score over stakes-winner Whenigettoheaven in a Colonial Downs handicap on August 31, covering the 5 1/2-furlongs in a track record time of 1:02.28.

Schoenthal credits Dorman for taking a departure from their initial gameplan of focusing on fillies to take a chance on the well-bred gelding, whose second dam is the Group 1-winning Entrepreneur mare Damson.

“Matt had sold his company [Credible Behavioral Health], and it was the first year he was jumping into the game at a much higher level than he had previously,” recalled Schoenthal. “Our game plan was to buy well-bred yearling fillies that had residual value as broodmares.

“We went to the sales at Keeneland and Saratoga and might have spent $2 million on eight or nine yearling fillies,” continued Schoenthal. “But really nothing at the Timonium sale fit his M.O. but he was there to meet people and say hello.”

Schoenthal was shopping for a number of clients at the Maryland sale and the Virginia-bred Determined Kingdom, listed as Hip 540 for breeder/consignor Audley Farm Equine, made a strong impression.

“He was a beautiful yearling colt – strong, athletic and balanced,” Schoenthal said. “I took Matt to see the horse because Audley Farm had given $200,000 for that mare [Filia] and she never raced. So, I wanted Matt to see him to show that some of these yearling fillies that we just bought might not race but I wanted him to see what he might get from that as a broodmare.”

Dorman was equally impressed by the young prospect, but Schoenthal noted he was concerned with Determined Kingdom slated to go to the ring near the end of the sale.

“One of the problems at a horse sale is you have no control over the order they go into the ring and the horse you like the most might go last, and in his case, he was 10 hips from the end,” Schoenthal said. “But I can’t sit on my hands and not buy horses hoping to buy him and then if I get outbid, I walk away with no horses. I was really in a bit of a bind, and I felt he would probably sell for more money than I could afford.

“Fortunately, Matt called me up and said, ‘Buy all the horses you need to buy for the partnerships and for yourself and at the end of the day, if you still want him – I’m good for 50.’

Empowered by Dorman, Schoenthal was able to land Determined Kingdom.

“That was awesome because it was not our plan at all to buy colts,”

Schoenthal said. “I ended up going partners with him and we got him for $47,000 and the rest is history. He’s been a really fun horse to have. It’s a credit to Matt for trusting me and stepping up and taking a swing.”

Schoenthal compares Determined Kingdom to the ultra-consistent Maryland-bred Sonny Inspired, who banked $643,045 through a 65-11-7-14 record over seven seasons of racing after being purchased for just $20,000 at Timonium.

“I’ve had a couple horses in my career that we’re real campaigners like him,” Schoenthal said. “A horse like Sonny Inspired – he went long, short, turf, dirt, it didn’t matter. He would just show up and run.”

Schoenthal said Determined Kingdom has become one of his favorites.

“He’s been paying the bills on the barn for a long time,” Schoenthal said. “He’s a cool horse and he has a big personality. He wants to talk to you and be in your business all the time. He’s a neat horse to have around.

“When you have these horses that stay around for 4-or 5 years it’s a lot of fun because they become a part of your family,” Schoenthal added. “When you have one that’s sound and loves the game, it changes everything for you.”

Schoenthal said he’s looking forward to seeing if Determined Kingdom [post 7, Victor Carrasco, 10-1ML] can break through at the graded level here on Saturday.

“I’ve always felt that maybe 5 1/2-furlongs isn’t his best distance – six or seven furlongs might really be what he wants to do, so I’m excited that he gets to run at Aqueduct,” Schoenthal said.

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Dashman steps up for G3 Jockey Club Derby

Frances Rainin’s Dashman is undefeated in two starts this year, and will look to keep the momentum rolling in Saturday’s Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Brian Lynch, the son of Oscar Performance contests the final leg of the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA)’s lucrative series of turf races for sophomores, which began with Trikari’s score in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby in June here and was followed by Carson’s Run’s coup in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby in August at Saratoga Race Course.

Lynch had success in this series with Oscar Performance when capturing the Belmont Derby in 2017 and said Dashman looks the part.

“He’s by the right stallion, that’s for sure,” Lynch said. “He’s always been a lovely horse, and it took him a little bit to get going – he had an issue after a race in Florida, but we gave him a bit of time off and he’s paid us back by coming back and finishing off a nice 3-year-old year.”

Dashman debuted with a sixth-place finish last September at Churchill Downs and went on to finish a respective third and second in his final two starts of the year at the Louisville oval and at Gulfstream Park in December. He returned with aplomb off a seven-month respite to graduate against elders in a nine-furlong maiden in July at Ellis Park, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths against 10 foes with a mid-pack stalking trip engineered by Declan Cannon.

Last out, the bay colt aced his first test against winners when stretching out to 1 5/16 miles in a September 1 allowance facing elders at Kentucky Downs. There, Cannon held him in third through the first half-mile before inching closer to come within one length of the lead at the stretch call.

Dashman found more with every stride to collar the pacesetting Vesture in the stretch and draw off to a 2 1/2-length win over nine rivals in a final time of 2:07.67.

“He’s doing well, so we thought we’d sneak up there and give it a shot,” Lynch said. “He has grown into a much stronger, more professional horse. This weekend, he should love the distance. It’s always a good sign when a three-year-old can beat older horses. He’s pretty versatile and he shows up when you need him. He’s a sort of horse I like.”

Lynch said he is hopeful Dashman can sit a bit more forwardly again Saturday when he emerges from post 2-of-7 under Manny Franco.

“It’s going to be a jockeys’ race for sure, so hopefully he’s got a good forward position and isn’t too far off it,” Lynch said. “I’m sure it will set up for some sort of sprint for home, so hopefully he’s in the finishing crew.”

Bred in Kentucky by Frankly Speaking, Dashman is out of the winning Johar mare Fly By, making him a half-brother to 2021 Grade 2 Miss Grillo-winner Sail By.

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Smoken Wicked looks for breakthrough in G1 Champagne

Valene Farms’ graded stakes-placed Smoken Wicked will look to turn the tables on familiar rival Chancer McPatrick in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, a one-turn mile for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Champagne awards the winners with a berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 1 at Del Mar. In addition, the Champagne offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

“He’s training good and eating good,” said conditioner Dallas Stewart. “He’s a very nice-framed horse, very good-minded. He’s always happy to train, but he’s just gotten bigger and stronger with time.”

The son of Bobby’s Wicked One got off to a good start in June when capturing his debut by 7 1/2 lengths sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs at Evangeline Downs for trainer Sturges Ducoing. He was then moved to the Stewart barn to finish a closing second to Politically Correct at odds of 32-1 in the 12-horse Listed Bashford Manor on June 30 at Churchill Downs.

His last two efforts came at Saratoga Race Course when finishing a stalking third to Showcase in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on August 10 ahead of a change in tactics when setting the pace in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Hopeful on September 2. There, he marked splits of 22.76 seconds and 45.70 over the fast main track, maintaining a one-length lead at the stretch call. The chestnut colt fought on bravely, but could not hold back the rush of Chancer McPatrick, Ferocious, and Incentive Pay as he was defeated 3 1/4 lengths.

Stewart said he envisions a more measured trip in the Champagne for Smoken Wicked when he emerges from post 7-of-10 in rein to Dylan Davis.

“I think if he can sit off the pace just a little bit, that might really help him,” Stewart said. “We know he’s fit and ready to go, and we’ve got a great rider – I’m glad to have Dylan.”

As for a rematch with Chancer McPatrick, Stewart said he welcomes the challenge.

“He only got beat by less than four lengths in the Hopeful,” Stewart said. “We’ll see what happens. I think he’s ready, and we’re not scared at all.”

Bred in Louisiana by Tom Curtis and Wayne Simpson, Smoken Wicked was a $38,000 purchase at the Breeders Sales of Louisiana’s 2023 Yearling and Mixed Sale. He is out of the winning Street Boss mare Street Smoke, whose half-sister Prophesy produced stakes-winner Devil’s Due West.

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