Aqueduct Racetrack Notes 01/14

NYRA PRESS OFFICE —-

Aqueduct Racetrack Notes

Gin Gin garners 73 BSF for $100K Busanda victory
White Abarrio works for G1 Saudi Cup; Guanare targets Jimmy Winkfield or Spectacular Bid
Dr B targets Listed $150K Interborough; Uncle Heavy points to G3 Withers
GSW Law Professor back on the work tab

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Calumet Farm’s Kentucky homebred Gin Gin, a daughter of their stakes-winning stallion Hightail, placed herself on the Kentucky Oaks trail with an off-the-pace score in Saturday’s $100,000 Busanda at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by two-time Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the bay filly was awarded a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for her one-length triumph over Princess Mayfair that was engineered by Trevor McCarthy.

For her victory in the nine-furlong test for sophomore fillies, Gin Gin earned the maximum allotment of 20-10-6-4-2 qualifying points to the top five finishers, respectively, towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May at Churchill Downs.

Dustin Dugas, Cox’s Belmont Park-based assistant, said Gin Gin emerged from the effort in good order Sunday.

“She came back good,” said Dugas. “I was really happy with the trip she had and Trevor gave her a great ride. In the first turn, he had her in a good spot and it was a masterful ride. When he did switch outside, it seemed she really ran on. She showed a little greenness in the stretch, but she gained a ton of experience. We always get those kind of rides from Trevor.”

Gin Gin emerged from the inner post in the five-horse field and tracked in third down the backstretch as Princess Mayfair set splits of 24.01 seconds, 47.93, and 1:12.19 over the muddy and sealed footing. Gin Gin had skimmed the rail throughout to the inside of post-time favorite Shimmering Allure before McCarthy opted to angle her around the pacesetter in the final turn.

Gin Gin loomed large on the outside as the pair drew clear from their rivals down the lane. Gin Gin continued to gain with every stride to pass a resolute Princess Mayfair near the sixteenth marker and complete the course in 1:53.31.

Dugas said Gin Gin’s stakes victory was rewarding after the filly overcame some nervousness thanks to a schooling trip to the Big A on Thursday.

“She’s been here for a little over a month and when she came in, she was a bit quirky and on edge,” said Dugas. “She shipped in from Churchill Downs and it’s quieter here and more open. She has really settled into herself, and the paddock schooling session really helped. She was a good girl in the paddock that day. It really worked out and the team all came together for her.”

Shortly after the Busanda, Cox noted Gin Gin would likely target the nine-furlong, Grade 3 Gazelle in early April at the Big A, which awards 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the top-five finishers.

“Why not,” said Dugas. “She’s proven she likes it at Belmont and over there at Aqueduct, and we really like her here.”

Gin Gin is out of the graded stakes-placed Hard Spun mare Before You Know It, who won the Karakorum Electra and finished second in the Grade 3 Top Flight Handicap in 2015, both at the Big A. Before You Know It’s half-sister, Instant Reflex, produced Hard to Justify, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November.

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White Abarrio works for G1 Saudi Cup; Guanare targets Jimmy Winkfield or Spectacular Bid

C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable’s White Abarrio was chief among the initial entries for the Group 1, $20 million Saudi Cup in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

The Rick Dutrow, Jr. trainee, last-out winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park, could face a rematch in the about nine-furlong Saudi Cup with Classic runner-up Derma Sotogake.

White Abarrio entered the Classic from a powerful 6 1/4-length score in the Grade 1 Whitney in August at Saratoga Race Course. He has remained at Santa Anita following the Classic where he has worked back four times, including a half-mile effort this morning in 50.60.

“He just breezed this morning and he’s doing great – fantastic. Not a straw in his path,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

Dutrow, Jr. said White Abarrio is thriving since his Breeders’ Cup coup.

“It’s just unbelievable that we have him in the stable. He’s a very special horse,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He’s so beautiful and his body is all filled out. He takes your breath away. Even a regular person looking at him says, ‘What a beautiful horse.’ He carries himself like that and he’s just great, man. He’s on it.”

The 5-year-old Race Day horse is nominated for an Eclipse Award in the Older Dirt Male category which includes Cody’s Wish and Elite Power and he is expected to be in the mix for Horse of the Year honors.

“He should be,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He showed up his last two starts the right way. He should be in the mix without a doubt.”

Dutrow, Jr. has a pair of promising Kentucky-bred sophomores for P and G Stable in maiden winner El Capi and last-out optional-claiming winner Guanare.

El Capi, by Maclean’s Music, is out of the Flatter mare Nightlife Baby, who is a half-sister to stakes-placed Eddington’s Note. He earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for his first-out graduation sprinting seven furlongs over muddy and sealed footing here on December 2. The third-place finisher of that event, Conquest Warrior, graduated impressively Saturday at Gulfstream when overcoming a difficult start to win by a half-length and garner an 84 Beyer.

El Capi, a $220,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase, worked a half-mile in 49.65 on New Year’s Day.

Dutrow, Jr. said he has yet to select a spot for El Capi’s next start.

“You won’t see him on the tab for a bit – maybe a couple weeks,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

Guanare, by Runhappy, is out of the stakes-placed City Zip mare Cast in Silver, who is a half-sister to Palace Malice – winner of the 2013 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and 2014 Grade 1 Met Mile.

Guanare debuted in August at Gulfstream Park for trainer Rodolfo Garcia and is 2-for-2 in 6 1/2-furlong sprints here since joining Dutrow, Jr. in New York, taking a maiden claimer in October over sloppy and sealed going ahead of a 6 3/4-length optional-claiming romp over next-out winner Iridescent. The last-out effort garnered an 88 Beyer.

The $27,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase worked a half-mile in 51 flat Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He’s doing good. We’re very happy with Guanare,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “All of his breezes since he’s come to us from Florida have been good.”

Dutrow, Jr. said Guanare is under consideration for a stakes start on January 27 in either the six-furlong $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield here or the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid on January 27 at Laurel Park.

“Hopefully we can run him in one of those spots. That will be a big day for him and we’ll be hoping that he shows up,” Dutrow, Jr. said.

J and N Stables and Diamond M Stable’s New York-bred Dancing Buck finished a game second in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez on December 30 at Santa Anita in his debut for Dutrow, Jr.

“We were very happy with him. He’s a hard-knocking horse,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He’ll stay out there for now and if we can find a nice little spot for him and he’s doing good, we’ll run him. If not, we’ll bide our time and come back here to face the New York-breds.”

One Santa Anita option for Dancing Buck is the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 San Simeon on March 9.

The 6-year-old War Dancer gelding, bred by J and N Stables, made the grade in the 2022 Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint.

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Dr B targets Listed $150K Interborough; Uncle Heavy points to G3 Withers

Trainer Butch Reid, Jr., who won the Grade 3 Go for Wand with Dr B and the NYSSS Staten Island with Morning Matcha in December at the Big A, will look to add to his recent local success when Dr B returns for Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Interborough.

Cash is King and LC Racing’s Dr B, a 6-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Liam’s Map, has banked $583,240 through a record of 22-6-7-2 and will look to retire in style in the Interborough – a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

“This will probably be her last start,” Reid, Jr. said. “Right now the plan is to breed her after this one regardless of the outcome.”

Dr B made the grade in the 2022 Grade 3 Go for Wand with a powerful frontrunning performance that garnered a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure. She successfully defended her title last out in the one-turn mile over muddy and sealed footing with a similar frontrunning effort that registered an 86 Beyer.

She has breezed back twice at her Parx Racing base, including a half-mile effort in 49.90 Friday.

“It went really well. She was nice and in control and did it with a lot of style. We’re extremely happy with how she’s coming into the race,” Reid, Jr. said.

Dr B, out of the graded stakes-placed Proud Citizen mare Boleyn, is a half-sister to the Reid, Jr.-trained stakes winner Stand Up Comic as well as stakes-winner Hi Holiday.

Reid, Jr. said he is pointing Milam Racing Stables’ Pennsylvania-bred stakes winner Uncle Heavy to the Grade 3, $250,000 withers here on February 3. The nine-furlong test for sophomores offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-five finishers, respectively.

Uncle Heavy, by Social Inclusion, was bred in the Keystone State by Barbara Reid – Reid, Jr.’s sister-in law – and has made three starts at Parx that includes a winning debut in open company sprinting six furlongs in October and a rallying score in the one mile and 70-yard Wait For It against state-breds over good and sealed going on December 27.

“He’s been a real pleasant surprise,” Reid, Jr. said. “He won the Wait For It in his first time going around two turns here in December. He’s a big, strong horse and I think the further the better, so we’ll take a chance going a mile and an eighth.

“He’s got plenty of size and a big, long stride on him,” Reid, Jr. added. “I don’t think there’s a distance he’ll be scared of.”

Uncle Heavy is out of the winning New York-bred Tiz Wonderful mare Expect Wonderful.

Reid, Jr. noted that the multiple graded stakes-placed Pennsylvania-bred Morning Matcha, a comfortable 3 3/4-length winner of the NYSSS Staten Island, is enjoying some down time in Ocala and will look to return in April at Parx to defend her title in the state-bred Unique Bella.

“She’s on Barry Eisaman’s farm and will be coming back this year,” Reid, Jr. said. “She’s getting a nice freshening and we’ll look to bring her back in the same spot we started her in last year.”

Morning Matcha, by Central Banker and out of the multiple stakes-placed Iam The Iceman mare Home Ice, earned a Grade 1 placing when second in last year’s Cotillion at Parx Racing and owns additional stakes conquests in the Main Line and Unique Bella, both at the Bensalem oval. The $18,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale purchase has banked $899,740 through a 24-6-7-7 record.

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GSW Law Professor back on the work tab

Trainer Rob Atras has enjoyed a strong start in his first foray at Fair Grounds Race Couse where he has won with 4-of-6 starters to make up for off-the-board efforts last month by Law Professor and Neat in stakes company at the Louisiana oval.

Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Kentucky homebred Law Professor finished eighth in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial which was contested at 1 1/16-miles over firm Fair Grounds turf.

“He washed out bad in the paddock again,” Atras said of the now 6-year-old

Constitution gelding, who has done much of his best running at Aqueduct where he boasts a record of 4-2-1-1 led by nine-furlong scores over the main track last year in the Queens County and Excelsior.

Law Professor has since returned to New York and worked a half-mile in 49.66 Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He seems to do well up here. He worked good but we haven’t really picked out anything for sure for him yet,” Atras said. “We just wanted to get him back up here and breeze him a couple times and go from there.”

Atras said he’s not certain if Law Professor will look to make a title defense in the Listed $150,000 Excelsior on March 30 and will take a patient approach with the talented gelding, who made the grade in December 2021 in an off-the-turf renewal of the Grade 2 Santa Anita Mathis Mile while in the care of trainer Michael McCarthy.

“I’m hoping we can get him back to that level. We’ll see how he handles things,” Atras said. “A guy I used to work for said, ‘time is money – you have to take time to make money,’ and I try to take that approach.”

Law Professor made a winning debut for Atras in the restricted Tapit traveling one mile and 70 yards in September 2022 over the Kentucky Downs turf. He followed one month later with a game second to Life Is Good in a compact renewal of the nine-furlong Grade 1 Woodward contested over a sloppy and sealed main track here.

Red White and Blue Racing’s Neat, a 3-year-old Constitution colt, captured a pair of 1 1/16-mile turf events last year, romping to a 4 1/4-length maiden win over next-out winner St James the Great on October 21 at Laurel Park and following with a professional 3 1/2-length optional-claiming score over next-out winner Card Trick on November 25 at Fair Grounds.

Neat, a $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes-placed turfer Louder Than Bombs. He stalked the pace last out in his dirt debut in the 1 1/16-mile Gun Runner under Reylu Gutierrez but faded to sixth.

“In hindsight, I maybe should have instructed Reylu to put him a little more forward,” Atras said. “He got a little far back and took dirt and didn’t like that. He made a little middle run. I’m thinking all in all, dirt is not his game. The main thing is he came out of the race good.”

Atras said Neat will point to the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile on January 27 at Sam Houston.

Atras and owner Michael Dubb haltered Play Good Pay Good out of a winning maiden claiming effort on December 14 at Fair Grounds. The now 3-year-old daughter of Congrats made every pole a winning one in the six-furlong main-track sprint and earned a 65 Beyer.

The $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase is entered a in a trio of spots at Fair Grounds, including for the main-track only in a Friday starter allowance as well as on Saturday in both a one-mile and 70-yard allowance optional claimer in Race 3 and the $150,000 Silverbulletday at the same distance in Race 10.

Atras said Play Good Pay Good is likely to start in the Saturday allowance.

“I like the filly and hope she’s a good claim, but ideally we’d have her in a starter but we couldn’t get one to go,” Atras said. “We cross-entered in those spots to take a look but I’m pretty sure we’ll be running her in the ‘1X’ going a mile. In a perfect world, I would have sprinted her one more time in a starter. I think she will be able to stretch out eventually, but off a maiden win it’s not easy to stretch out against winners but we’ll take a shot and see how does.”

Play Good Pay Good is out of the winning Victory Gallop mare Racyn With Gracyn, who is a full-sister to stakes winner Jazzy Gallop.

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