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Down Doug O’Neill’s Dubai Shedrow: Trainer Makes History With First Locally-Based American String

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Trainer Doug O’Neill has long been one of the pioneers of the collective American training colony and this year he is taking that to another level by sending 11 horses for the Dubai World Cup Carnival. On Monday morning, the winner of 38 Grade/Group 1 races, two editions of the Kentucky Derby (G1), five Breeders’ Cup races, a Japan Cup Dirt (G1) and Godolphin Mile (G2) walked the shedrow and discussed the set—one that makes history as the first bona fide American string ever during the 10-week, $12.8 million international showcase.

“Knock on wood—all have traveled well, we don’t have any temps at all and they all have good appetites,” said the trainer of 11 millionaires. “They look good and we’re really happy about everything. Normally we bring one or two for World Cup, so it’s so different with 11, but I like it.

“It took me a couple days, but I’m adapting well to the jet lag, just like the horses, and getting into a routine,” O’Neill continued. “A lot of that is thanks to Frank Gabriel (Executive Director of Racing), John (Nicholas, Quarantine Manager) and Stephanie (Cooley, International Racing Liaison). They’ve really helped us have a smooth transition and we couldn’t be happier.”

BLITZKRIEG (rated 110) leads the battle this week as one of three O’Neill and assistant Leandro Mora will start fresh off the plane on Thursday. A winner of five from 15, the well-bred son of War Front has worked his way up in class and was an impressive winner of the San Francisco Mile (G3) at Golden Gate last April. He then was seventh on the dirt in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) before a seven-month layoff. He returned last out in the Joe Hernandez (G2) on turf, closing admirably to be fourth in a blanket finish astern Al Quoz Sprint hopeful Texas Wedge. He lines up in a highly competitive edition of the $250,000 Al Fahidi Fort (G2) on turf—a tough assignment, no doubt.

O’NEILL: “I had to freshen him up after the summertime. His last race was a paid workout and a sharpener. We were very impressed. He was closing in down the lane going 5½ furlongs, which is definitely not enough distance for him. We entered him for the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort and the seven furlongs will be good for him. He’s a talented horse and we’re excited about him and seeing what he can do here. If he stays injury-free and keeps doing well, he’s a Dubai World Cup night kind of horse for us. The Americans seem to do best in the turf sprints, but we’ll let him tell us.”

PRODIGAL SON (98) lines up in Thursday’s $175,000 Dubai Dash (Listed) over 1000m on turf and will have to run a straight course for the first time. Owned by Reddam Racing, one of O’Neill’s long-time clients (and owner of Godolphin Mile winner Spring at Last), the son of Square Eddie comes in off two excellent performances in allowance company, including a victory last out (Dec. 29) over 1110m on turf. He closed his final 250m in 17.20 seconds, winning for the third time in 11 starts.

O’NEILL: “We entered him in the Dubai Dash over five furlongs and he’s a quick horse. I think he’ll do just fine with the straight course. Being a son of Square Eddie—they’re just so honest. He’s coming off a nice win at Santa Anita around a bend and I don’t think the distance or setup here will be an issue for him.”

PARSIMONY (100) is a tall, well-built grey son of Dominus who has a lone victory from 20 starts, but has finished second seven times. He is the third of the Thursday triad and will look to double his win count in the $135,000 Jebel Ali Port over 2000m—his first try at the American classic dirt distance. While it took him 18 starts to break his maiden, the Reddam Racing-owned colt chased some of the best 3-year-olds of 2019, including a distant second to champion Game Winner in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3). A veteran of three other graded stakes, he was a good second in the 1800m Cinema Stakes on the turf and a solid fourth on dirt in 1400m allowance company over Santa Anita’s Breeders’ Cup weekend.

O’NEILL: “He’s one we’re dreaming about for the World Cup. I know his form doesn’t show it, but he’s such a talented horse. He’s been really unlucky and we’re hoping to get lucky over a mile and a quarter on Thursday. He ran second to Baffert’s Game Winner at Los Al. For a split-second there, he gave him a scare and us a thrill. He has shown us in the mornings that he has Grade 1 talent, we just haven’t seen it in some of his afternoon races. We’ve seen him do special things in the morning and I’ve got a feeling he’s going to bring his American morning form to the evenings here in Dubai. I think getting over here, you can tell they’re all enjoying it. The confidence and tranquillity come together in the mornings for good horses and you see it, but the pressure of the afternoons in America can zap their energy a little. I’ve watched (the surroundings) here the last couple days—it’s such a European, tranquil and horse-friendly setup. I’m really excited to see how this guy performs with that.”

FIGHT ON (105) is a beautifully bred 5-year-old son of Into Mischief with four wins from 20 starts. Owned by C T R Stables and Steven Keh, he was a $340,000 Keeneland purchase who is less than $4,000 from returning his sale price. A stakes winner last spring in a competitive renewal of the 1700m Fifth Season (Listed) at Oaklawn Park, he has finished in the top four in eight of his past nine starts, including a fourth last out behind Dubai World Cup hopeful Gift Box in the 1700m San Antonio (G2) at Santa Anita.

O’NEILL: “He’s a dream horse for the Godolphin Mile and will run, I believe, on Jan. 30 over a mile on the dirt ($175,000 90+ handicap). He’s an Into Mischief whose big claim to fame was winning a stakes at Oaklawn. He’s a cool horse who had to freshen up and had a sprint comeback race. He’s also a tough horse who should be ready to run a good 1600m here.”

FORE LEFT (105) is a promising Reddam-owned 3-year-old with plenty of seasoning at this point in his career. A son of rising sire Twirling Candy, he has won three from eight, including the Tremont (Listed) at Belmont Park and Sunny Slope at Santa Anita—both sprints. He was fifth in the 1400m Del Mar Futurity (G1), seventh in the 1700m American Pharoah (G1) against some of the top of his generation and enters off a poor showing on turf in the 1600m Cecil B. DeMille (G3).

O’NEILL: “He will go in the (UAE) 2000 Guineas (G3) at a mile on the dirt. He’s our real dream for the UAE Derby. The distance is a real question mark, but he trains like he can stretch out and the distance wouldn’t be a problem, but I know his form says the opposite. He won nicely at Belmont and Del Mar. He beat Strong Constitution, who is a real runner. I think he will do well and he has tremendous gate speed that will get him into position early in the race and we’re excited to see how that works out. I guess we’ll see on Feb. 6.”

WILDMAN JACK (98) is an exciting sprinter by Goldencents, one of the top young stallions in the USA. O’Neill trained Goldencents, who was owned by Wildman Jack’s owner, W.C. Racing. From five starts, the homebred bay 4-year-old gelding has finished in the top three in all, including a good-looking victory last out over 1100m on turf on Dec. 1. Speed figure aficionados will appreciate that he has the highest Equibase Speed Figure (112) of any of the O’Neill 11.

O’NEILL: “He’s a special horse, but he doesn’t wow you in person. He’s fast and talented, but he shows it on the track. He’s given us 110% and he’s really been good here. He loves the windows here in the stalls and looking around at Meydan. We’re excited about him. We might try him on the dirt—he’s been training really well on it—in the ($200,000) Al Shindagha Sprint (G3) on Jan. 30.”

OCEAN FURY (97) is an improving son of Stormy Atlantic who, like many of his sire’s offspring, has gone well on turf. Seventh last out in the Mathis Brothers Mile (G2) at Santa Anita, he was third in the Let It Ride Stakes and won an allowance in eye-catching style on Sept. 27, four races back, over 1600m. Ocean Fury is owned by Abbondanza racing, Neil Haymes, Mark Schlesinger and assistant trainer Leandro Mora. He has won three of his 11 starts and nearly $40,000 more than his $75,000 sale price, while also owning an impressive 109 Equibase Speed Figure.

O’NEILL: “He is likely going in the 90-105 1600m turf handicap on Jan. 30. He’s a good allowance horse who has knocked heads with some good horses back home. He’s probably one of our lower-rated horse, but he’s a really honest horse. He hasn’t run on the dirt and we were actually thinking about running him in the 1600m on dirt, but we’re probably putting Fight On in there and keeping this guy on the grass for now. He even has the look of a dirt horse; very muscular. Maybe we will try him on it (afterward).”

ONE FLEW SOUTH (95) has had hopes held high by his connections for quite some time, including entering the Arkansas Derby (G1) after only two starts. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, he was sixth in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1) astern Omaha Beach and Dubai Golden Shaheen hopeful Shancelot and then finished a decent third 13 days later in a turf sprint astern well-regarded stablemate Carnivorous. By Giant’s Causeway out of multiple stakes winner Sky Haven (Sky Mesa) and with only six starts, the Gabriel Duignan, William Duignan and Tranquillity Investments-owned 4-year-old is the epitome of unexposed.

O’NEILL: “He won impressively first-time out at Turfway and we bought him and then he went up against some tough horses. He was a bit rushed, but he had time after that. Even though his current form may not look good, I think he’ll outrun it. He’s more than likely a 1600m kind of horse and we’re looking at the two turf sprints (1200m $175,000 Listed Dubai Sprint and 1400m $135,000 90-108 handicap) on Feb. 6 with him to get started.”

TRUCK SALESMAN (93) appears to be one of O’Neill’s favourites, based solely on the tone with which he describes the swift son of Can the Man. First or second in seven of 12 starts, the 4-year-old Alejandro Mercado-owned gelding has been clashing with tough California sprint allowance fields, including finishing runner-up on Nov. 29 over 1200m in a race where Parsimony finished fourth, 2¼ lengths behind. He is pointing toward the 1200m dirt handicap for horses rated 90-108 on the seventh night of the DWC Carnival.

O’NEILL: “Truck Salesman is a fast horse we brought over thinking about the dirt sprints. His first race, if all goes well, is going to be on Feb. 13, I believe. I’m looking forward to seeing how he does here.”

TOROSAY (93), like a few of O’Neill’s 11, has plenty of room (and time) for improvement and has shown ample speed in short order, including breaking the 1100m turf course record (1:01.49) at Santa Anita, which was eclipsed last weekend. Second to Prodigal Son last out in a turf sprint, he shares an ownership with Truck Salesman and is also a son of Goldencents. Raced only four times, he has one win and two seconds—both in his previous two starts before shipping. The first of those runner-up finishes was astern well-regarded Bob Baffert trainee Speed Pass on Dec. 7 over 1200m.

O’NEILL: “He’s a talented son of Goldencents who could be any kind. The owner has been super-patient with him and letting him develop. We are looking at the ($135,000) Feb. 13 handicap (90-105) at 1000m on the turf for him. He’s four now and this will be his fifth start. I think he could give us a good season this year. He’s lightly raced, still can improve and was just beat by Prodigal Son last time. He’s owned by W.C. Racing’s Glen Sorgenstein, who has been a super-patient, great gentleman to work with.”

I WILL NOT (85) is a Reddam-owned son of Square Eddie who has a sole victory from four starts, but is a full-brother to the immensely quick Found Money. A sophomore, he broke his maiden over 1200m and exits a third in allowance company over the same trip at Del Mar on Nov. 30.

O’NEILL: “He’s a 3-year-old son of Square Eddie who has shown talent. We have brought him and Fore Left with UAE Derby dreams. We’re going to try him in the Meydan Classic Trial at seven-eighths on the grass.”

The post Down Doug O’Neill’s Dubai Shedrow: Trainer Makes History With First Locally-Based American String appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Following Six-Week Freshening, Synchrony Will Seek Three-Peat In Fair Grounds Stakes

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In his fourth local work since finishing a close eighth in the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on October 5, Pin Oak Stable’s 7-year-old homebred Synchrony breezed six furlongs in 1:14.00 over a fast track on Monday morning at Fair Grounds. He continues to prepare for the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) (Formerly known as Fair Grounds Handicap) on Feb. 15, a race he has won the last two years.

The son of Tapit added two graded stakes wins to his resume in 2019. After successfully defending his title in the Fair Grounds Handicap (G3) in February, the Michael Stidham trainee followed up with a third place finish to Horse of the Year finalist Bricks and Mortar in the locally run Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2), a race he had won the year prior, in March. That is Synchrony’s only loss in five career starts over the Stall-Wilson turf course.

After a seventh place finish in the Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1) at Churchill Downs in May, Synchrony would bounce back with heartbreaking second in the Monmouth Stakes (G2) at Monmouth Park on May 25. He secured his second graded stake win of 2019 in the King Edward Stakes (G2) at Woodbine at the end of June.

Following his victory in Canada, Synchrony would close his 2019 campaign with a fifth in the Woodbine Mile (G1) and a close eighth (beaten only 1 1/2 lengths) in the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2).

“We are planning on having him ready for the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) on February 15 ($150,000, nine furlongs turf),” trainer Mike Stidham said. “We left him in Kentucky and gave him six weeks off at KESMARC (equine therapy and rehab) where he got away from the racetrack routine and just did some work on the AquaTred. We brought him in fresh and I feel like he’s good as he’s ever been right now.”

The 7-year-old Synchrony owns a career record of 25-9-4-6 ($908,652). A win in the Fair Grounds Stakes (G3) would leave him just dollars shy of achieving millionaire status.

The post Following Six-Week Freshening, Synchrony Will Seek Three-Peat In Fair Grounds Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Hooked On Horse Racing: Sol Kumin

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Tired of all the bad news? So were we. Tonight, we start our new series where we ask people from non-horse racing families two questions: how they get hooked, and how they’ll hook someone else on horse racing.

SOL KUMIN

What was the experience that made you fall in love with horse racing?

Lady Eli. When we bought our first group of horses 5-6 years ago we knew absolutely nothing about the sport of horse racing. In that first group, we ended up with future champion and Breeders Cup winner Lady Eli. The experience of owning a racehorse named after your wife and taking you on a journey around the country is what made me fall in love with horse racing. We experienced the highs of racing, watching her break her maiden at Saratoga racetrack with my wife and kids and then the Breeders’ Cup win at Santa Anita with partners, friends, and family. Then we felt the lows when she stepped on a nail and came down with laminitis, but we grew much closer to her in visiting with her in the barns and at the farm whenever we could get there. Then, of course, her comeback wins after being sick and winning Grade Is at four and five years old to retire a champion. That experience was it for me, it got me hooked.

Would you commit to creating one new fan this year and, if so, what would be the experience you use to introduce them to the sport?

Saratoga. Saratoga Race Course is where I take anyone I want to experience a perfect day of horse racing. The town of Saratoga is magical for seven weeks every summer when the racing industry takes over this beautiful upstate New York town. My favorite part of the day is the early morning on the backside, and treating someone that has never been around racing to a morning “behind the curtain” is where I start. I begin showing them the barns, visiting the horses, the trainers, the grooms, the jockeys, (Dunkin’s for an iced coffee) and explaining how everything works. Following the morning up with a day at the races and then an evening in town for dinner makes for a perfect Saratoga day. If that doesn’t get them hooked, I don’t know what will!

Want to participate? Email suefinley@thetdn.com

The post Hooked On Horse Racing: Sol Kumin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Protestors Vocal at Santa Anita After Third Horse Death in Three Days

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A small group of protestors and the news media were back in force at Santa Anita Sunday after Tikkun Olam (Temple City) collided with another horse on the training track and was euthanized. It was the third equine fatality in as many days at the track.

Tikkun Olam’s fatal injury followed breakdowns by Harliss (Midshipman) Friday and Uncontainable (Acclamation) Saturday, respectively–both of which were on the turf–and prompted the strongest denunciation yet from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

“Three dead horses in three days requires immediate action,” PETA spokeswoman Brooke Rossi said. “The California Horse Racing Board was recently given the authority, in legislation backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, to suspend racing, and now it must do exactly that.

“There is no sense in the board allowing racing and deaths to continue until it enacts all its own pending regulations and acts on the recommendations of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. If it takes the closure of a track to stop the deaths, then close the track.”

Last year, a state bill passed unanimously granting the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) unilateral authority to suspend racing at a licensed California racetrack without a 10-day public notice period. According to CHRB spokesperson, Mike Marten, the board has not discussed the option of exercising that new authority at Santa Anita at this time.

“We have no evidence at this time that the racing surfaces played a role in the fatalities,” Marten explained. “And therefore, there’s no active discussion in moving the races away from Santa Anita.”

On Monday, California Thoroughbred Trainers CTT) president Eoin Harty emphasized the scrutiny horses in California are currently put under during training and in pre-race examinations.

“We are going above and beyond on what is expected of any trainer anywhere, that I know of,” Harty said. “With the exception of Hong Kong, I can’t think of any tighter constraints on a trainer than there are in California.”

The fatalities over the weekend were picked up across multiple local news outlets. “We want to bring awareness to the public because we believe when the public knows better that they will do better and that they will fight to protect the rights and at this point the lives of animals that have no say or choice in this bloodsport,” Amanda Lunberg of the group Horse Racing Wrongs told the local CBS station.

She gave a similar interview to Fox-11 News, which sent a helicopter to the scene that appeared to fly low over the horses while they were racing.

Local news celebrities even weighed in on Twitter. “The ‘improved safety measure’ at Santa Anita aren’t working…” tweeted ABC-7’s anchor Jory Rand after the accident on the training track.

The post Protestors Vocal at Santa Anita After Third Horse Death in Three Days appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.