Monday Morning. Whew, did you watch football this weekend? Sport, bloody hell. As for racing, a stellar card at Fair Grounds highlighted the domestic show. A clash of the titans, of the ages, at Ascot powered the international action.
It’s rare in today’s world of all-roads-lead-to-Cheltenham to see a January matchup of Britain’s best 2-mile chaser Shishkin and Ireland’s best 2-mile chaser Energumene. The latter put them to the sword early in the Clarence House, seemed to have Shishkin pinned, only for Shishkin to rally with resolution reserved for the very best. Epic. Cheltenham is 50 days away.
Derby winner (?) Mandaloun returned with a resolute win over Midnight Bourbon in the Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Juddmonte homebred looks poised for a strong 4-year-old season, a trip that goes through Saudi Arabia.
James Graham rallied Call Me Midnight to upset the Lecomte for Keith Desormeaux. The last stride is the key stride. It took the son of Midnight Lute five tries to break his maiden and two tries to win a stakes. The Risen Star is next. Listen to In the Room with James Graham.
First Constitution dominated the Jazil at Aqueduct Saturday. The Chilean-bred is a long way from his stateside debut at Saratoga in the summer. It was a 44-length drubbing that day.
Magic Circle navigated 9 furlongs to wire five rivals in the Busanda at Aqueduct Sunday. Jose Ortiz picked up the ride, a boy-voyage gift for the 2017 Eclipse Award winner who will begin riding at Gulfstream Park this week.
Ride of the Weekend
Charlie Deutsch aboard highweight Royale Pagaille to win the Peter Marsh at Haydock Saturday. An artist over fences, Deutsch saved ground, saved energy, saved drama, gradually working his way into the race like a safecracker. They won the 3 3/16-mile handicap by half-length over Sam Brown.
By the Numbers
27-1: Price of Thoroughbred Racing Calendar Play of the Day Rock Chant, a late-running, tepidly maneuvered third at Wolverhampton Saturday.
28-26-26: Win totals for Dylan Davis, Trevor McCarthy and Kendrick Carmouche at the top of the Aqueduct jockey standings.
58: Start for 10-year-old Backsideofthemoon who takes his game on the road to Parx for an allowance race.
8: Favorites that won on Sunday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct.
9-5: Odds on “All Other 3-Year-Olds” after wagering closed Sunday for Pool 2 of Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Smile Happy, winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November, was the second choice at 8-1.
59: Dollar payoff on a $2 wager on Call Me Midnight in the Grade 3 Lecomte.
4: Winners apiece at Fair Grounds for Jessica Paquette and Tom Law in the Handicapper’s Corner Saturday. Jessica’s “season” total sits at 8-for-24 while Tom lurks at 6-for-24. The others? Rob Whitlock and Charles Bedard are 5-for-24 and John Shapazian is 3-for-24. Say what?
Riverdee Stable Names of the Day
Roadside. First race at Turf Paradise. The 4-year-old is by Street Sense.
Ropers N Wranglers. Fifth race at Turf Paradise. Just seems like an appropriate name at the Arizona oval.
Keep It Rolling. Fifth race at Turf Paradise. In honor of our friend Dan Pride.
Worth Repeating
“Yeeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.”
The Special’s Tom Law when the Bengals’ Evan “Money” McPherson kicked the game-winning field goal Saturday
“And we’re hoping the plane is scheduled to fly in here.”
Oaklawn Park racing secretary Pat Pope about an expected full field in the Southwest Stakes
“I said to my assistant Matt (Nicholls) this morning that we need a horse to rescue us this season. First Flow managed it last year and what are the chances of this happening today? Ever since this race was announced, we said this is where we want to go. He loves soft ground and we were always very likely to get that here. He has done his job for the season.”
Trainer Kim Bailey after Two For Gold won the Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield Park
“I left Cheltenham three weeks ago with my tail between my legs, but he is a good horse who has done me proud. It is nice he has turned up on the big day and well done to Lingfield for putting on fantastic prize money.”
Trainer Ollie Murphy after Brewin’upastorm won the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle
“What gives you confidence is the horse’s confidence. He was exuding that today.”
Trainer Keith Asmussen of Lecomte Stakes winner Call Me Midnight
“At Belmont, when she finished second, I was hoping that Manny didn’t [use the crop] the way he did because she doesn’t like the whip too much. I told him, ‘Don’t try to surprise her because she ducks in and out.’ Jose is one of the top riders in the country and we are happy to get him in the race. Nothing against Manny; I told the owner that if we couldn’t get Jose we would try to get Manny.”
Rudy Rodriguez, trainer of Busanda Stakes winner Magic Circle and change in riders from Manny Franco to Jose Ortiz
“With a horse like this you have to take what they give you. You’re not always going to get the best of trips. She ran well and finished up good and proved what we thought – there’s no distance that’s too long for this filly. We haven’t lost faith in her.”
Trainer Butch Reid on Busanda runner-up Morning Matcha
“Hell, it’s a month away. That’s an eternity the way I run ‘em, but yes, absolutely.”
Desormeaux on running Call Me Midnight in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds
Condolences
Sad news for Swilcan Stable’s Tom and Sue McGrath with the passing of their blue-hen mare Vero Amore, who succumbed to complications from colic while in foal to Nyquist. The dam of champion Vequist, also by Nyquist, died at age 10 Jan. 20.
“I am so sorry to announce the passing of Vero Amore,” Tom McGrath said. “She was an amazing competitor and an equally amazing mare. Needless to say, we are devastated.”
