Eclipse Award Winners Clash in Vanity in Today's Edition
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POINT OF ENTRY First Yearlings This Summer! “...he had extraordinary DAILY ability.” –Shug McGaughey AAAAA SSSSASS THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016 WWW.BLOODHORSE.COM K A A K K K KK IN TODAY’S EDITION LANDRY: A RIDER WITH FINESSE 4 LANI BREEZES, OTHERS ARRIVE AT BELMONT 5 PURSES TO INCREASE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS 6 CHARITABLE MAN DIES AT 10 6 TEN OAKS WINNERS PRODUCE DERBY VICTORS 7 STONESTREET TOPS AUSTRALIAN SALE DAY ONE 8 PIMLICO TO HOST MID-ATLANTIC DAY 9 FIRST SOLO GROUP I WIN FOR BAKER 9 SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES NYRA BILL 10 BENOIT PHOTOGRAPHY Champion mare Beholder will take on Stellar Wind in the grade I FOR MONMOUTH, IT'S FAR FROM OVER 11 Vanity at Santa Anita RESULTS 12 ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS CLASH IN VANITY ENTRIES 14 By Jeremy Balan LEADING LISTS 21 rainer Richard Mandella caught the essence of Tthe June 4 Vanity Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park in succinct fashion. Spendthrift Farm's three-time champion Beholder is set to take on fellow Eclipse Award winner Stel- lar Wind, along with a group of talented sprinters stretching out. "It's a real race this time," Mandella said of the mile, $400,000 event—prior to 2016, the Vanity was run at 1 1/8 miles, and prior to 1987 it was 1 1/4 miles at Hollywood Park. That’s not to say the 6-year-old daughter of Henny Hughes hasn't proven herself to be a top racemare in the country—it's just that she's largely been unchal- lenged. Even against males, in the 2015 Pacific Classic (gr. I), she made the summer feature at Del Mar a laugh- er, routing the field by 8 1/4 lengths in her first start at 1 1/4 miles. (continued on page 3) BLOOD-HORSE DAILY Download the FREE smartphone app PAGE 1 OF 21 Download the FREE smartphone app ECLIPSE AWARD WINNERS CLASH IN VANITY (continued from page 1) Mandella has seen nothing to doubt his superstar will bring anything other than her top form in the 2016 campaign. "She appears to be as good as she's ever been," Blood-Horse Mandella said. "We'd like to think she's going to keep getting better." Trainer John Sadler likes the distance for Hronis DAILY APP Racing's champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, Stellar Wind. It will be the 4-year-old Curlin filly's season debut. Providing updated "We're in a route race and there's seven horses, so the rail is OK," Sadler said. "I'd have preferred post news and analysis 3 or 4, but the post is what it is. The first race back, we wanted to run at home. There's a lot of things we THROUGHOUT THE DAY like about the race—except Beholder." Sadler played it cool answering questions regard- Plus view recent stakes, ing Stellar Wind returning from a seven-month layoff and maintaining her 3-year-old form, when she won allowance and MSW race four graded events—the Santa Ysabel (gr. III), San- videos, entries and more! ta Anita Oaks (gr. I), Summertime Oaks (gr. II), and Torrey Pines (gr. III)—and ran second by a neck to Stopchargingmaria in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I). "I can say this for sure—she's herself," Sadler said. "She's coming back as good as last year. You don't know what step forward she might take, but you're hopeful." Great Lady M (gr. II) winner Finest City will make her two-turn debut for trainer Ian Kruljac and Seltzer Thoroughbreds, and Terry Lovingier's Santa Monica (gr. II) winner Lost Bus will try a main-track route for the first time. The most dangerous sprinter entered appears to be Taris, but trainer Simon Callaghan said it is "like- ly" the Flatter mare will pass to take on males in the Triple Bend Stakes (gr. I) June 25. "Most likely, we're going to wait, but I've got to dis- cuss it with the owners and we'll make a decision (by Friday)," Callaghan said. BH Contact us (800) 582-5604 or (859) 278-2361 Comments, Story Ideas [email protected] Advertising Questions [email protected] Customer Service © 2016 Blood-Horse LLC [email protected] BLOOD-HORSE DAILY Download the FREE THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016 PAGE 3 OF 21 smartphone app LANDRY: A RIDER WITH FINESSE "They say we get along well," the soft-spoken By Karen Johnson Landry said. "I just try to keep things equal between me and the horse, where he is comfortable and I'm ometimes the most beautiful things in life are comfortable." Sthe ones you don't see coming. Just ask Jermal Exaggerator has looked the part of a healthy and "Peedy" Landry, exercise rider for Preakness Stakes happy contender since arriving in New York May 29 to (gr. I) winner Exaggerator. begin preparations for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Landry, 25, a native of Lafayette, La., received a (gr. I) June 11. The son of Curlin has been bright-eyed call this spring that resulted in a journey completely and energetic in two gallops on the main track, May unimaginable to him before. 30 and 31, and was the same when he jogged twice Landry galloped horses a few years ago for Exag- around the one-mile training track June 1. gerator's trainer, Keith Desormeaux, in Louisiana. "He's just a feel-good horse," Landry said. "He's When the trainer left to set up shop in Southern happy. When he is (training), he's just playful. This California, Landry decided to remain home. morning, he felt great. He threw in a couple of But when Desormeaux and Julie Clark, his girl- bucks—it was more like he was stretching and hav- friend and assistant, were seeking a rider who had ing a feeling-good type of buck. He pays attention to the finesse to manage their high-energy runner, Lan- what is going on and knows what is surrounding him. dry came to mind just a couple of weeks before the "This is really new to me and exciting," Landry Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). added. "I love traveling with (Exaggerator) and see- "The horses love him," Clark said. "He can get on ing new things. The crowds just have me in shock—a a tough one and just make them relaxed and calm. I lot of people with cameras taking pictures. I've think it's Peedy's personality. (His) attitude ... his vibe never been around that much publicity before. It's on a horse ... there is nothing about his presence on awesome." BH a horse that says, 'Go. We have to hurry.' I love that. He's a happy guy (and) always has a big smile. He's a positive person. "I also think a big part of it, too, is that he doesn't have any idea how talented he is. He thinks horses go like that for every- body, and they don't. He makes a big difference." Landry, who has been galloping hors- es for 10 years— first on a Louisiana farm and later at Evangeline Downs and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots—is at a bit of a loss to explain exactly why he and NYRA Exaggerator click. Exaggerator walking at Belmont Park May 31 BLOOD-HORSE DAILY Download the FREE THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016 PAGE 4 OF 21 smartphone app LANI BREEZES, OTHERS ARRIVE AT BELMONT by van from Churchill Downs in good order. By Bloodhorse Staff WinStar Farm's Creator, the Arkansas Derby (gr. I) winner, breezed five furlongs in 1:02 in his last work at oji Maeda's UAE Derby (UAE-II) winner Lani Churchill before shipping to New York and according Kturned in a typically lengthy breeze June 1 at Bel- to trainer Steve Asmussen, is likely to breeze June 6. mont Park, his penultimate work for the $1.5 million Meanwhile, Dale Romans' horses—Preakness Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 11. runner-up Cherry Wine and Brody's Cause, seventh After walking around the 1 1/2-mile oval, the Ken- in the Kentucky Derby—arrived separately, unloading tucky-bred colt galloped and picked up speed before on the backside at Belmont. the seven-eighths pole. Under exercise rider Eishu Connections of Wild About Deb are on the fence Maruucha, Lani gained momentum nearing the five- about running in the Belmont. The horse was most eighths pole, breezing fractions of :12 3/5, :25, and recently third behind Unified and Governor Malibu in :37 for the opening three furlongs, according to New the May 14 Peter Pan (gr. II). York Racing Association clockers. "We are going to see how he comes back from The son of Tapit earned an official time of 1:02.09 for the breeze and see how he trains over the next few five furlongs and galloped out to six furlongs in 1:15 4/5. days," trainer Phil D'Amato said. "He came back (from Lani, whose routine normally includes several one start in 2015) extremely strong as a 3-year-old laps around the track, wrapped up his training with a and he seems to thrive from race to race. He's a leisurely stroll over Big Sandy. horse we think a lot of, and we want to make sure we Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Exaggerator and keep him going throughout the year." Lani are the only two Belmont runners to compete in The 1 1/2-mile Belmont would be the fourth start all three legs of the Triple Crown.