Vertem Futurity Trophy Post Stakes Racing Roundup

©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

This Saturday, the European road to the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) takes us to Doncaster Racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England where MAGNA GRECIA has been tabbed as the 7-5 Twinspires.com morning line favorite in the Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy Post Stakes.

To date, Magna Grecia is 1-1-0 in two starts for trainer Aidan O’Brien and he comes into this race off second-place finish in the Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (Group 3). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MAGNA GRECIA close up, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, dueled with winner inside final furlong until close home.

Magna Grecia showed a lot of grit dueling with Persian King in the final furlong but came up a neck shy of victory.

Invincible Spirit, the sire of Magna Grecia, was a competitive sprinter that compiled a 7-1-1 record in 17 starts.

As a two-year-old, Invincible Spirit compiled a 2-0-1 record in four starts with wins in the Selsey Maiden Stakes and Ripon Champion Trophy Stakes.

Invincible Spirit only made two starts at three and he finished off the board in both those starts.

As a four-year-old, Invincible Spirit was 3-1-0 in six starts and he was the top-rated older sprinter in Ireland in 2001. His stakes wins were in the Aon MacDonagh Boland Stakes (Group 3), the Ruinart Champagne Hackwood Stakes and the M-real Conditions Stakes. He finished second in Prix de Meautry Royal Barriere Stakes (Group 3).

At the age of five, Invincible Spirit was 2-0-0 in five starts with victories in the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup (Group 1) and Duke of York Stakes (Group 3).

As a stallion, Invincible Spirit has sired numerous Group Stakes winners including the Classic Champion Thorougbreds Lawman and Kingman.

His best runner on the Kentucky Derby Trail was Vale of York who won the 2009 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1).

With an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® Magna Grecia has the potential to earn Group Stakes honors and I look for him to run another good race.

A long shot I like is CIRCUS MAXIMUS (15-1) and he’s also trained by O’Brien. He comes into this race with a 1-0-1 record in three starts including a third-place finish in the Masar Godolphin Autumn Stakes (Group 3). Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

CIRCUS MAXIMUS tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, headed and short of room entering final furlong, kept on one pace.

Circus Maximus was running well along the rail when he was slightly impeded by Persian King in the final strides.

Galileo, the sire of Circus Maximus, is a Classic Champion Thoroughbred and multiple Group Stakes winner that compiled during his racing career a 6-1-0 record in eight starts with $2,245,373 in career earnings.

Galileo made only one start as a two-year-old, easily winning by an impressive 14 lengths.

As a three-year-old, Galileo won his season debut in the Ballysax Stakes. He followed that with his first Group win in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trail Stakes (Group 3). Galileo then earned classic honors with wins in the Vodafone Epsom Derby (Group 1) and the Budweiser Irish Derby (Group 1). His last group win was in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Group 1).

As a stallion, Galileo was champion sire in 2008 and from 2010 to 2017 with 73 Group One winners and numerous Classic Champion Thoroughbreds:

Capri (St. Leger, Irish Derby,), Found (Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe), Frankel (2,000 Guineas), Australia (Epsom Derby, Irish Derby), Ruler Of The World (Epsom Derby), Magician (Irish 2,000 Guineas), Gleneagles (2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas), The Gurkha (French 2,000 Guineas), Churchill (2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas), Roderic O’Connor (Irish 2,000 Guineas), Treasure Beach (Irish Derby), Capri (Irish Derby, St. Leger), Soldier Of Fortune (Irish Derby), Order Of St George (Irish St. Leger), Cape Blanco (Irish Derby), Sixties Icon (St. Leger) and New Approach (Epsom Derby).

With an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® Circus Maximus is the best-bred colt in this herd. He’s an improving colt with the potential to take another step forward in his fourth start of the season and, perhaps, upset at a nice price.

TURGENEV (4-1) comes into this race with a 2-1-0 record in three starts for trainer John Gosden including a win in the British EBF Crown At Stowupland Novice Stakes last out at New Market Racecourse. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

TURGENEV chased leaders, progress to lead over 3f out, driven clear over 1f out, easily.

Turgenev looked good cruising to an easy novice stakes victory to runner up Il Paradiso who was a yearling (Hip 201) we profiled at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Dubawi, the sire of Turgenev, is a multiple Group Stakes winner and Classic Champion Thoroughbred that compiled a 5-1-1 record in eight starts.

As a two-year-old, he was undefeated in three starts with wins in the National Stakes (Group 1) and Superlative Stakes (Group 3).

At the age of three, Dubawi was 2-1-1 in five starts with wins in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Group 1) and the Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group). He finished second in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) and he was third to Motivator and Walk In The Park in the Epsom Derby Stakes (Group 1).

As a stallion, Dubawi is the sire of numerous Group Stakes winners including the Classic Champion Thoroughbreds Makfi, Waldpark and Night of Thunder. His best runner on the Kentucky Derby Trail was Mubtaahij who finished eighth in the 2015 Derby.

With an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® Turgenev is the second-best-bred colt in this herd and I look for him to run a good race.

Honorable mention goes to King Ottokar (20-1) and Phoenix of Spain (5-1).

*****

A total of 35 prep races comprise the USA Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road and four races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer

1. Mohawk (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien

2. Japan, 10, Aidan O’Brien

3. Royal Marine (IRE), 10, Saeed bin Suroor

4. Sydney Opera House (GB), 4, Aidan O’Brien

5. Mount Everest (IRE), 4, Aiden O’Brien

6. Broome (IRE), 4, Aiden O’Brien

7. Cape of Good Hope (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien

8. Power of Now (IRE), 2, M. O’Callaghan

9. Anodor (FR), 1, F. Head

10. Victory Command, (IRE), 1, Mark Johnston

11. Sovereign (IRE), 1, Aiden O’Brien

12. Boitron (FR), Richard Hannon

2018/2019 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Game Winner, 10, Bob Baffert, $360,000

2. Knicks Go, 10, Ben Colebrook, $314,085

3. Complexity, 10, Chad Brown, $275,000

4. Cairo Cat, 10, Ken McPeek, $86,490

5. Signalman, 4, Ken McPeek, $100,000

6. Code of Honor, 4, Shug McGaughey

7. Tight Ten, 4, Steve Asmussen, $67,900

8. Gunmetal Gray, 4, Jerry Hollendorfer, $60,000

9. Call Paul, 2, Jason Servis, $170,000

10. Rowayton, 2, Jerry Hollendorfer, $96,000

11.+Standard Deviation, 2, Chad Brown, $50,000

12. Pole Sitter, 2, Brad Cox, $17,950

13. Sombeyay, 1, Todd Pletcher, $158,500

14. Tobacco Road, 1, Steve Asmussen, $51,150

15. +Aurelius Maximus, 1, Chad Brown, $30,000

16. Jefe, 1, Keith Desormeaux, $18,000

          + = Horses picked as yearlings on 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sales list.

From foal to finish line™: Dixiana Bourbon Stakes Winner Current Adds To List Of Graded Stakes Winners

Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® Software Tabs 2017 Keeneland Yearling Sale Graded Stakes, Stakes Winners, Placers

By Calvin L. Carter and Dallas Carter

©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® continues to show its prowess as a sales analytical tool with the results of this past weekend’s national and international stakes races.

CURRENT, a chestnut colt by Curlin out of Crosswinds by Storm Cat raced at the back early in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3) and made a powerful stretch drive, 5½ lengths off the leader War of Will, to get up at the wire and win by a nose. Current paid $11.80 for the win, $5.40 for place and $3.80 to show. Here’s the video of the race:

"He's been training very professionally," said trainer Todd Pletcher's assistant, Ginny DePasquale, in a Blood-Horse news story. "We've really thought a lot of this horse. Todd thought he had a good future, so he sent him here and, of course, he was right. We're really happy about today."

Current was a yearling (Hip 1149) at the 2017 Keeneland September sale that was profiled by Classic Champion Thoroughbreds, LLC. In addition, we also profiled from that 2017 Keeneland sales list colts that are graded stakes and stakes placers.

STANDARD DEVIATION, a bay colt by Curlin out of False Impression by A.P. Indy, was a yearling (Hip 1630) we profiled and he finished third in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1). Here the video of that race:

Standard Deviation raced at the back early, 10½ lengths off the lead, and made up a lot ground in the stretch to get up for third-place.

AURELIUS MAXIMUS, a bay colt by Pioneerof the Nile out of La Reina by A.P. Indy, is another yearling (Hip 415) we profiled and he just missed finishing third by a nose in the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. We look for him to improve on that effort as the races get longer.

IL PARADISO, a chestnut colt by Galileo out of Famous by Danehill Dancer, was a yearling (Hip 201) we profiled at the 2017 Keeneland Yearling Sale and he finished second just 1½ lengths shy of vicory in the British EBF Crown At Stowupland Novice Stakes at the Newmarket Racecourse in Suffolk, England. Here’s the video of that race.

We also profiled SEMOUM, a bay colt by Bernardini out of No Curfew by Curlin,  as a yearling (Hip 558) and on June 21 he won the Snooty Frox Ebf Novice Stakes at Ripon Racecourse.

*****

Welcome to Classic Champion Thoroughbreds, LLC: a new vision, standard of excellence for an old industry. Classic Champion Thoroughbreds is an innovative bloodstock consulting firm and leader in cutting-edge software analysis of Thoroughbred breeding, sales and race potential.

The ability to know the potential of a horse before he goes to the breeding shed, sales ring or race track is of utmost importance.

In 2015, we debuted our Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® software as a racing, handicapping analytical tool for Kentucky Derby 141. Our analysis showed that AMERICAN PHAROAH (1^st), DORTMUND (3^rd), FROSTED (4^th), and DANZIG MOON (5^th) had the potential to be a classic champion.

In 2016, we debuted our Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® software as a sales analytical tool at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Of 2,334 yearling colts, we profiled 101 colts that had an A or A+ grade ranking and from that sales list we now have 13 horses from that sales list that are either winners or placers in graded stakes and stakes races: five are graded stakes winners, four are graded or group-placed, one horse is a stakes winner and three others are stakes-placed. Also, four horses from our sales list ran in the 2018 Kentucky Derby:

Eclipse Champion Two Year Old Colt, GOOD MAGIC (Hip 845), winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (G1) and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), VINO ROSSO (Hip 528), winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), FREE DROP BILLY (Hip 104), winner of the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1), and the multiple graded-stakes placed SOLOMINI (Hip 662).

Good Magic finished a respectable second in the Derby just 2¹/₂ lengths shy of victory to the talented Justify.

In addition, we also have from that 2016 Keeneland sales list Matt Winn Stakes (G3) winner KING ZACHARY (Hip 956) and ARCHAGGELOS (Hip 2138), winner of the Grey Stakes (G3). HOLLYWOOD STAR (Hip 395) is a multiple graded stakes-placed colt. Graded stakes-placed colts are MISSISSIPPI (Hip 888) and COAT OF ARMS (IRE), (Hip 446), a Group-placed colt in Ireland.

GUNNISON (Hip 474) is a stakes winner and WENTZ (Hip 1029) is a multiple stakes-placed colt. Other stakes-placed colts from our sales list are: STRONGER (Hip 4154) and TIGERBEACH (Hip 2001).

CANADIAN GAME (Hip 293) is a stakes-placed colt from our Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale list giving us an overall total of 14 horses from the 2016 sales that are either winners or placers in graded stakes and stakes races.

The empirical data gathered by the robust power of the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® software easily shows which horses have the potential to be quality stakes winners or classic champions.

From foal to finish line™, the Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® is a proven analytical tool you need for breeding, purchasing at auction and racing equine champions: http://bit.ly/2E99liF.

Champagne Stakes Racing Roundup

©2018 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby presents two marquee races this Saturday beginning with the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) at Keeneland Racecourse and wrapping up with the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Let’s look at the 146^th running of the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) where COMPLEXITY heads a herd of 10 runners as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Post time is 5:35 p.m. ET.

Complexity is stepping up in class and he comes into this race off a maiden debut win for trainer Chad Brown. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

 COMPLEXITY broke in and a step slow, moved up near the inside to take the lead, controlled the action in the two path near the turn, was asked approaching the quarter pole, extended the advantage under a strong hand ride in upper stretch, was put to a right-handed whip near the furlong marker, drew away under the whip into the final sixteenth then was placed under a hand ride to the wire while much the best.

Complexity looked good leading from gate to wire to win his maiden debut by an easy 4¼ lengths.

Maclean’s Music, the sire of Complexity, was an exceptionally fast colt that, in his one and only career start, recorded a 114 Beyer Speed Figure – “The highest debut Beyer since the advent of Beyer Speed Figures.” To see his debut race, click here.

Currently, Maclean’s Music stands stud for $25,000 at Hill ‘n Dale farm and he’s the sire of Classic Champion Thoroughbred Cloud Computing (2017 Preakness Stakes), California Music (G2W), Wicked Lick (G2PL), Rockshaw, Swing and Sway, and Made Me Shiver.

Complexity has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® ranking, but his Behavior Index could potentially make him competitive in this race.

AURELIUS MAXIMUS (6-1) is also trained by Chad Brown and he comes into this race with a 1-0-1 record in two starts including a nice maiden win last out at Belmont Park. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

AURELIUS MAXIMUS away forwardly placed, prompted the pacesetter two to three wide, whittled away at the deficit after stepping onto the turn, taking charge at the midway point, got cued up in the general of the three-sixteenths marker, scampered away before getting wrapped up in the final seventy yards.

Aurelius Maximus cruised to an easy 7¾ length victory over a sloppy track with jockey Joel Rosario effortlessly riding “High, Wide and Handsome” (Tex Ritter).

Pioneerof the Nile, the sire of Aurelius Maximus, was a pretty good middle-distance runner and multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 2-0-1 record as a two-year-old including a win in the CashCall Futurity (G1) and a third-place finish in the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

As a three-year-old, Pioneerof the Nile was 3-0-1 in five starts with wins in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2), San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) in route to a second-place finish in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (G1).

As a stallion, his best runners to date on the Kentucky Derby Trail include Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Classic Empire and Cairo Prince.

With an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, Aurelius Maximus is the best-bred colt in this herd and he was a yearling (Hip 415) we profiled at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Undefeated in two starts, CALL PAUL (4-1) comes into this race off a win in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) for trainer John Servis. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

CALL PAUL got bumped at the start by MEADE who broke inwards twice and in turn bumped very lightly with SPINOFF, vied inside a pair early on from the two path until taking sole command five furlongs from home, briefly held a safe advantage until TIGHT TEN latched on to the outside once more half a mile from home as SPINOFF backed away, came under light coaxing tucked inside through the turn, spun just off the inside for home roused for the stretch drive, got bumped off stride as TIGHT TEN lugged in at the three sixteenths, came under a near sided stick brushing with that rival a furlong from home, dug in gamely through to the finish coming very slightly outwards to brush his main danger a sixteenth from home and prevailed safely on the wire drifting very slightly being shown a near sided stick in the last jumps.

Call Paul showed a lot of grit in his stretch duel with Tight Ten to prevail by one length at the wire.

Friesan Fire, the sire of Call Paul, was a multiple graded-stakes winner that compiled a 5-1-3 record in 18 starts with $679,356 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, Friesan Fire was 1-1-1 in four starts with a third-place finish in the 7-furlong Futurity Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

At the age of three, Friesan Fire set the Derby trail ablaze at the Fair Grounds with wins in the LeComte Stakes (G3), Risen Star Stakes (G3) and Louisiana Derby (G2) en route to an eighteenth-place finish in the Kentucky Deby (G1).

As a four-year-old, Friesan Fire won the Louisiana Handicap.

Call Paul has an A Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and I look for him to run a good race.

TROPHY CHASER (10-1) ships in from Florida for trainer Juan Avila and he comes into this race with a with a 1-1-0 record in two starts. Here’s the video and chart call of his last:

TROPHY CHASER broke well, sat in tracking mode just off the leader, collared MONEY COME at the three eighths pole, steadily widened advantage then shook reins and opened up entering the stretch, hustled up and shown the whip, left the field behind, sharp time and powerful performance.

Trophy Chaser earned his spot in the winner’s circle, breaking his maiden in easy fashion, demolishing this herd by an impressive 15 lengths.

Twirling Candy, the sire of Trophy Chaser, was a multiple graded stakes winner that was competitive in sprint and route races up to nine furlongs. During his racing career, he compiled a 7-1-1 record in 11 starts with $944,900 in career earnings.

On November 29, 2009, Twirling Candy won his first and only start as a two-year-old in a seven-furlong sprint at Hollywood Park. As a three-year-old, he returned to racing in May and during that year he compiled a 4-0-0 record in five starts including wins in the Oceanside Stakes, Del Mar Derby (G2) and Malibu Stakes (G1).

At the age of four, Twirling Candy was 2-1-1 in five starts including wins in the Strub Stakes (G2) and Californian Stakes (G2).

Trophy Chaser has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile®, but his Behavior Index could potentially make him competitive in this race. A recent bullet workout could have him ready to run another good race.

Honorable mention goes to Code of Honor (6-1) and Endorsed (7-2). Code of Honor has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’s the second-best bred colt in his race. However, he’ll need to take another step forward to earn graded stakes honors.

Endorsed has a B Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he’ll need to take another step forward.

*****

A total of 35 races comprise the Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road to the Kentucky Derby and there three races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2018/2019 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Game Winner, 10, Bob Baffert, $360,000

2. Cairo Cat, 10, Ken McPeek, $86,490

3. Tight Ten, 4, Steve Asmussen, $67,900

4. Gunmetal Gray, 4, Jerry Hollendorfer, $60,000

5. Rowayton, 2, Jerry Hollendorfer, $96,000

6. Pole Sitter, 2, Brad Cox, $17,950

7. Tobacco Road, 1, Steve Asmussen, $51,150

8. Jefe, 1, Keith Desormeaux, $18,000

EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer

1. Mohawk (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien

2. Japan, 10, Aidan O’Brien

3. Sydney Opera House (GB), 4, Aidan O’Brien

4. Mount Everest (IRE), 4, Aiden O’Brien

5. Cape of Good Hope (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien

6. Power of Now (IRE), 2, M. O’Callaghan

7. Sovereign (IRE), 1, Aiden O’Brien

8. Victory Command, (IRE), 1, Mark Johnston