Hastings' Weekly Round-Up
There is much to entertain racing fans this weekend, with important Grade 1 Kentucky Derby pointers happening in Florida and Arkansas, as well as the little matter of the $12 million Dubai World Cup
Three for the Notebook
Three lightly-raced fillies take centre stage this week as we try to unearth potential livewires ahead of the new season. These sophomores were essentially no more than kindergarten kids last season. However, all learned some important lessons and each of their respective trainers is excited to see their girls continue to progress again this term. Just a normal amount of progression and a smattering of racing luck could well see all three make a name for themselves in 2024 — Nigel Reid
1. FEBRUARY, 3yo f by Mo Town — Ease It On Over (Shackleford)
Trainer: Dino Condilenios
Owner: Swift Thoroughbreds
PURCHASED out of the 2022 CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale from Prescott Farms, FEBRUARY endured something of a trial by ordeal in her sole juvenile outing; twice losing momentum in traffic congestion before chasing home the far more experienced LIZZIE’S RAYNE to finish second in the CTHS Sales Stakes. Indeed “Lizzie” had already won the BC Debutante and would then go on to take the Sadie Diamond on her next outing. With the Stakes-Placed DONNA WYN and the well-regarded DAZ LIN FORCE behind her on her debut, February has already proved she belongs among the best of her generation and, as Dino Condilenios recently confirmed, connections are obviously excited to see how she progresses.
Condilenios said: “She’s a lovely filly and put in a fantastic effort on her only run. It was a rough race for her, as well, and she will hopefully have learned a lot from the experience.”
2. DREAMING D’ORO, 3yo f by Always Dreaming – Dame Iris (Medaglia d’Oro)
Trainer: Patty Leaney
Owner: Joe and Gloria Russo
SIMILARLY to February, DREAMING D’ORO is a graduate of the CTHS Yearling and Mixed sale, where she was consigned by Whitewood Farms and purchased by Joe and Gloria Russo. Although an early foal, Dreaming D’Oro is out of an unraced half-sister to the talented British stayer, SPANISH MISSION, and should leave both her juvenile performances, over the sharp three-and-a-half furlongs, well behind as she steps up in distance this year. Her first outing, last July, saw her well supported in the betting market before she finished a creditable second to the smart-looking HARTLEY MANOR. She returned to action in September and, despite being drawn outside of the six runners, kept on gamely to finish fourth to BAKBURNER – a filly well-regarded enough to make her debut in the BC Cup Debutante Stakes the previous month. Her trainer Patty Leaney is certainly sweet on the filly.
Leaney said: “She has a lovely nature. I’m happy that she seems to have gone the right way over the winter, anyway. Now we just have to wait and see.”
3. SAILINGFORTHESTARS, 3yo f by Bakken — Sailingforthesun (Sungold)
Trainer: Pat Jarvis
Owner: Wil-A-Way Farm, Gail Jewsbury, Pat Jarvis
Plucked out of the CTHS Yearling and Mixed Sale for a bargain $7,100, “Pippa” as she’s known in the barn, has reportedly done a lot of growing over the winter and, physically at least, appears to have left her juvenile days, when she was a small and compact specimen, well behind. Her sole outing came in September, in the same race as Dreaming D’Oro, where she ran superbly to finish less than two lengths behind the winner, BAKBURNER. According to connections, to say she has “wintered well” would be an understatement, as her trainer recently confirmed.
Jarvis said: “She’s like a different horse and we couldn’t be more delighted. She always had some fire in her last year and she’s definitely still got that, but she’s really come on physically and just looks much more of an athlete now.”
Frieda Stronach: Matriarch of Adena Springs
One of the most beloved first ladies of Canadian horse racing, Frieda passed away on March 25th at the age of 80.
Courtesy Canadian Thoroughbred:
Elfriede Stronach, Frieda to the Thoroughbred community, passed away in Canada on March 25 at the age of 80, according to a report in the Austrian news outlet Kleine Zeitung.
As one of the first ladies of Canadian horse racing as owner of Stronach Stables and Adena Springs with her husband, billionaire Frank Stronach, the news came as a shock to the racing world.
Born Elfriede Sallmutter in Weiz, Styria, she met her husband-to-be on a skiing trip and they have been together for 60 years. The couple have two children, Andrew and Belinda, and three grandchildren. Frieda was very much involved in her husband’s love for horse racing, which included hundreds of mares producing stakes winners all over the world from farms in Aurora, ON, Lexington, KY and Ocala, FL.
Frieda, who preferred to stay out of the spotlight, was always described as graceful, down-to-earth and reserved with a deep love of horses. Whether it was including hundreds of barn staff to help name the young horses, planning matings, or cheering on their homebreds at the track, Frieda was keen on racing and breeding.
Owner Mauro Comensoli Passes
OUR sincere condolences go to family and friends of multiple Stakes-winning owner/breeder, Mauro Comensoli, who passed recently. Mauro, whose AVADIVA (Skimming) won both Brighouse Belles Stakes and the Strawberry Morn Handicap for trainer Robert Anderson, enjoyed racing success right up to the end, with his two Dino Condilenios-trained homebreds, STANFORD NORTH (Stanford) and DIVAANY (Numaany), both winning maidens in 2023.
Courtesy Vancouver Sun:
With profound sadness we announce the passing of Mauro Comensoli, beloved husband of Leslie Wallace, father to Derek, brother to Viviana, and grandfather of Ava & Lucas. Predeceased by his brother Stephen and daughter Gina.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Thursday April 11th at Pitt Meadows Golf Club, 13615 Harris Rd., Pitt Meadows. The family would be very grateful if, in lieu of flowers, donations are made to the Alzheimer's Society of British Columbia. Please send donations by cheque to Suite 300 - 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1E2 or donate online at alzbc.org.
Arkansas Derby Preview by Matt Dinerman
Courtesy Oaklawn:
TEN entrants contest a mile and an eighth in the $1,500,000 G1 Arkansas Derby. #9 Mystik Dan freaked in the slop when stalking the pace, riding the rail to the lead in upper stretch and tearing away for an eight-length romp in the G3 Southwest. It was arguably the most impressive 2024 Kentucky Derby prep win we’ve seen. Some may say the monster effort was due to an affinity for the wet going, but keep in mind he broke his maiden over a fast track and earned a 96 Beyer for the effort. We think he’s the real deal. #2 Timberlake only had five works in his arsenal off a layoff and still handily defeated his rivals in the G2 Rebel. He’ll likely be more cranked up this time for trainer Brad Cox, who seeks to become the first trainer ever to win three consecutive Arkansas Derby’s. #7 Muth is a heavy hitter from the Bob Baffert barn that hasn’t done much wrong, finishing first or second in all five lifetime starts. Runner up finisher in last year’s G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile, the $2,000,000 2-year-old in training purchase was last seen rolling over sprinters in the G2 San Vicente at Santa Anita. Although Baffert always has his horses fit and ready, Muth isn’t necessarily as fast, or at least significantly faster, than our top two picks on their best day. Graded stakes winner #6 Liberal Arts was third home in the Southwest and likely needed the race off a break. He’ll be more tuned up this time. #10 Imperial Gun was a super impressive maiden winner who tactically didn’t receive the trip he needed to be successful in his first start against winners in an allowance on Rebel Day. He’s eligible to outrun his odds.
Florida Derby:
Most Successful Stop on Road to Triple Crown
Courtesy Gulfstream Park – The $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa has become widely recognized as the most successful stop on the Road to the Triple Crown, having produced 59 winners in the historic Spring Classic series from 46 starters in Gulfstream Park’s tradition-rich stakes for 3-year-olds.
Since the inaugural running of the Florida Derby in 1952, starters in the 1 1/8-mile stakes have gone on to win 25 runnings of the Kentucky Derby (G1) – a 33 percent success rate from 72 editions of prep. Mage captured last year’s Run for the Roses following a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby.
While the Florida Derby is one of the surest routes to Triple Crown glory, there has been no firm formula for success in Gulfstream Park’s prestigious prep the past 25 years. Yet, a recent trend has developed among its winners – entering the Florida Derby in winning form. Last year, Forte became the 11th consecutive Florida Derby winner coming off a victory, whether it came in the Fountain of Youth (G2), Holy Bull (G3), a handicap, an allowance or an out-of-state stakes.
Horses entered in Saturday’s Derby coming off a victory are Hades, Bail Us Out, Seminole Chief, Conquest Warrior, and Iris’s Dream.
During the past 25 years, Fountain of Youth starters have gone on to win the Florida Derby nine times. The second-most successful formula for Florida Derby success has been to prep against non-stakes company. Eight Florida Derby winners were allowance or starter allowance participants. The Holy Bull had the third-highest Florida Derby success rate among its starters with five winners in Gulfstream’s premier Triple Crown prep – four of whom won the 1 1/16-mile stakes.
All but two of the last 25 Florida Derby winners raced at Gulfstream Park in their final prep. Nyquist (2016), who won the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita before winning the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, and Empire Maker (2003), who finished second in the Sham Stakes and went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby and win the Belmont Stakes (G1), both prepped at Santa Anita.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has saddled a record seven winners in the Florida Derby. All seven had won their Florida Derby prep races. Scat Daddy (2007), Quality Road (2009) and Forte (2023) won the Fountain of Youth. Audible (2018) captured the Holy Bull. Constitution (2024), Always Dreaming (2017), and Known Agenda (2021) all came off allowance scores. Materiality (2015) parlayed an Islamorada Handicap victory into Florida Derby glory. Always Dreaming went on to capture the Kentucky Derby.
Pletcher-trained Fierceness, who was voted 3-year-old Eclipse Award champion after capturing the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita, is expected to be heavily favored to win Saturday’s Florida Derby.
The son of 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner City of Light finished a disappointing third in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull following a troubled start and a wide trip. He would become the first Pletcher trainee to capture the Florida Derby following a loss in his final prep, as well as the first Florida Derby winner coming off a defeat since Take Charge Indy, who had finished second in an allowance before scoring in 2012.
Dubai World Cup (G1) Preview
THE Todd Fincher-trained superstar Senor Buscador attempts the Herculean task of adding the $12 million Dubai World Cup to the $20 million Saudio Cup he annexed in February. The size of the task, and the depth of talent aligned against him, is illustrated by his morning line odds which see him regarded as a borderline outsider to win the Middle East’s most prestigeous race. The Daily Racing Form preview for the race, due off at 9:35am (PST) Saturday morning.
Easter Sunday Breakfast
New Stride News
Don’t Forget to Book Your Tickets!
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Saturday, March 30
