Palm Beach Winner Could Land on Derby Trail

• By Claire Novak, 
• March 1, 2014 6:43 PM
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• Racing, Triple Crown, Southeast Region

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It isn't often that bettors find a Todd Pletcher-trained runner sent off at high odds, but on past performances alone, Gala Award didn't exactly figure to ace the $150,000 Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park March 1 (VIDEO).

The 3-year-old Bernardini   runner had just two starts under his belt and only one in 2014, a three-quarter-length maiden special weight score as the even-money favorite going 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream turf Jan. 20. In his previous outing, he finished second at 10-1 when making his debut at the same distance on the same surface at the South Florida oval Dec. 7.

Then again, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith went to a hefty $1,550,000 for the colt at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was bred in Kentucky by Bill Currin out of the Carson City mare Wilshewed, and is a half brother to grade I winner and sireStormello. He is also a half to My Best Brother, who took the 2012 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT).

When no one told Gala Award he was taking a big step up into graded stakes conditions, he enjoyed the stretch-out to 1 1/8 miles and rewarded his connections—and those who backed him at 8-1—with his debut graded stakes win.

"It is a big jump and I think it says a lot about his quality," Pletcher said. "He's been improving. His dirt works have improved a lot. I'm not going to rule out something like the dirt or the Blue Grass (gr. I). I think with today's effort he put everything in play and we'll see where we go from here."

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez kept Gala Award close to the pace set by 5-2 favorite Storming Inti, who led through fractions of :23.90, :48.25, and 1:11.42 before rolling into the stretch under Javier Castellano. Gala Award raced third in the three path and rallied to gain a slim lead inside the eighth pole after a mile in 1:34.57, then was all out to hold off the late charge of Mr Speaker. That rival, closing with a good run after being steadied in the early going, missed the victory by half a length. Storming Inti held a neck back for third.

"It was a perfect trip," Velazquez said. "He did everything that Todd said he would do. He said he'd place himself pretty forwardly and that I had to make sure to get after him a little bit early, because the horse that Javier was riding (Stormin Inti) was a fighter. When he gets there, he likes to hang a little bit, but he put in a good fight today."

"I'm very proud of this horse," Pletcher said. "It seems like he's been improving leaps and bounds over the winter. We felt like his maiden race was strong enough from a figure standpoint to take a shot and the mile and an eighth would suit him, and it worked out really well."

Gala Award paid $18, $8, and $4.60 while Mr Speaker brought $5.20 and $3.20. Storming Inti returned $2.80, while Pleuven,Can'thelpbelieving, My Storm Trooper, Cabo Cat, Morning Calm, So Lonesome, Patent, Smart Cover, and Two Jacks Wild completed the order of finish. Ring Weekend, entered for the main track only, scratched.

Gala Award has earned $123,180 in his three starts.  

No Catching Teen Pauline in Top Flight

• By Myra Lewyn, @MyraLewyn
• March 1, 2014 5:44 PM
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• Racing, Northeast Region

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Stonestreet Stables' homebred Teen Pauline put on another front-running show at Aqueduct Racetrack while rolling to a third straight win and first graded stakes victory in the $200,000 Top Flight Handicap (gr. II) March 1 (VIDEO). 

Intense Holiday Charges to Risen Star Victory

• By Claire Novak, 
• February 22, 2014 8:44 PM
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• Racing, Triple Crown, Southwest Region

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Starlight Racing's Intense Holiday finally got his graded score, and did so with a thrilling late run by a nose Feb. 22 in theRisen Star Stakes (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (VIDEO).

After a third in the Miller Lite Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) following fourths in the Remsen (gr. II) and Nashua (gr. II) and a fifth in the Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (gr. I) last year, Intense Holiday made a sweeping move off the turn and ground down longtime pacesetter Albano in the final furlong to take the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star.

Victory in the $400,000 event was the first for the 3-year-old son ofHarlan's Holiday since his maiden win for trainer Todd Pletcher last August at Monmouth Park. He earned 50 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), that number sending him to the top of the leaderboard with 53.

"In the very beginning he kind of slipped leaving there; it kind of scared him and he got up into the bridle," Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith said. He went on to describe how he had to alternately steady and hustle the colt throughout the 1 1/16-mile event while weaving his way through the 14-horse field.

"There's a lot of room to improve and a lot of room to grow...we didn't get to the bottom of him," he said.

Keen from the start after being fractious in the paddock, 5-1 shot Intense Holiday raced midpack in seventh while Albano struck the lead with overeager Delta Jackpot (gr. III) winner Rise Up in rank pursuit. Albano galloped through easy fractions of :24.30 and :48.14, and appeared poised to carry on despite the pressure through three-quarters in 1:13 flat. Meanwhile, Smith was shifting his mount to the outside, and followed Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) winner Vicar's In Trouble around the far turn.

The Lecomte winner put in a good run while favored at 2-1, but could not get to his front-running rival. It looked as if Intense Holiday would have to settle for second as he passed Vicar's In Trouble through a mile in 1:37.42, but then the bay colt really got rolling. He needed every bit of the remaining ground; the race was decided in the final stride with Intense Holiday nosing out Albano just in time. 

"We had this long final run here, that's the difference," Starlight's Jack Wolf said of how Intense Holiday found his graded stakes win. "I was at a bad angle and I didn't think we had (won it), but I'm glad I'm wrong."

Intense Holiday paid $12, $6, and $4 while carrying 116 pounds, while 14-1 Albano brought $12.20 and $6.80. The runner-up earned 20 points for his effort under jockey Kerwin Clark and is now third on the Derby list with 24, behind Besilu Fountain of Youth (gr. II) winnerWildcat Red at 50.

"I thought I was home at the sixteenth pole," Clark said. "He was still running. I looked over inside the eighth pole and didn't see anyone coming. I can't believe that horse came and got us, to be honest, because my horse never stopped one bit. It was disappointing, but it's what I wanted to see from him—improvement that sets us up for the big one."

Completing the order of finish were Vicar's In Trouble ($3.40), who was co-highweight at 120 pounds with Rise Up, Hoppertunity, Gold Hawk,Commanding Curve, Rise Up, Flat Gone, Son of a Preacher, Vigorish,Emmett Park, Interchange, and Xtra Luck. Bond Holder scratched due to an injury suffered earlier in the week (full story here), and also-eligible Teniente Coronel did not draw in.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and Haymarket Farm out of theUnbridled's Song mare Intensify, Intense Holiday was a $380,000 purchase when selected by agent Frank Brothers at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. His earnings now stand at $351,900 with a 2-0-1 record from seven outings.

"He was one of the best horses he wanted to buy (at that sale) and one of the last horses we bought, so blame it all on Frankie Brothers," Wolf said.

Onlyforyou Remains Unbeaten in Davona Dale

• By Jack Shinar
• February 22, 2014 5:27 PM
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• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Southeast Region

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Onlyforyou remained unbeaten with a front-running tally in the $200,000Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 22 atGulfstream Park as jockey Javier Castellano and trainer Todd Pletcher teamed for their fourth win on the program (VIDEO).

Even-money choice Onlyforyou was a little anxious in the gate and sprinted to the front in the 1 1/16-mile main track test for 3-year-old fillies. Vying on the front end with Aurelia's Belle, the Malibu Moon   miss beat back a challenge fromHouse Rules rounding the final bend to win smartly by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:43.71.

"She's got natural speed and we don't want to take that away from her," Pletcher said. "We let her break and see how she got to the first turn. She luckily broke well after misbehaving in the gate a little bit and was able to get to the position we wanted. (House Rules) ran a big race and put some pressure on her down the backside and she was able to keep finding a little more."

Castellano, comfortably on top of the Gulfstream meet jockey standings, won his fifth race on the card in the Davona Dale. 

The only disappointment for Pletcher, who won his fourth Davona Dale, was that 3-1 second choice Stopchargingmaria didn't run better in finishing fifth.

House Rules, ridden by Alex Solis, finished second in the eight-horse field by half a length over Aurelia's Belle and Joe Rocco Jr.

Onlyforyou set fractions of :24.12, :47.23, 1:11.27, and 1:36.64.

Onlyforyou was trying two turns for the first time in her career after taking three sprints effortlessly to begin her career. Owned by Glencrest Farm, she was coming off a 2 3/4-length victory in the seven-furlong Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II)) in her stakes debut Jan. 25 at Gulfstream.

Pletcher said Onlyforyou hinted she might even go longer, though he said he hadn't decided on a next target.

"After she got by the wire she kind of pricked her ears a little bit like there might still be something left," he noted.

Bred in Kentucky by Elm Tree Farm and Popatop out of the Tactical Cat mare Erhu, Onlyforyou was a $115,000 Keeneland September yearling buy in 2012.

Onlyforyou boosted her career earnings to $308,100 and returned $4.20 $2.80, and $2.40. House Rules, game in defeat in his first start against winners for trainer Allen Jerkens, returned $4.80 and $3.40. The exacta was worth $21.20. Aurelia's Belle paid $4.20.

"It was a great effort the way she did it," Castellano said. "She set strong fractions at the beginning of the race and she was under pressure the whole race. She handled it so well."

Penwith was fourth, followed by Stopchargingmaria, Luna Santa, Abou, and Holiday Magic.

Of Stopchargingmaria's effort, Pletcher said, "She got a very wide trip into the first turn from post eight and coming off a layoff, I think that hurt her quite a bit."
 

Vinceremos Upsets Stablemate in Sam F. Davis

• By Ron Mitchell, 
• February 1, 2014 6:25 PM
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• Racing, Triple Crown, Southeast Region

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Todd Pletcher-trained Vinceremos dug in gamely in deep stretch to hold off a stiff challenge from his more highly-regarded stablemate Harpoon  to win the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) at Tampa Bay DownsFeb. 1 (VIDEO).

One of a record 42 early Triple Crown nominations for Pletcher announced earlier in the day Feb. 1, Vinceremos went off at 12-1 odds in the Davis as Harpoon was made the slight 9-5 second choice in the eight-horse field.

Jockey Edgar Prado settled  Vinceremos just off the lead taken byCousin Stephen out of the gate as Noble Cornerstone, the slight favorite, and jockey Kent Desormeaux broke poorly and race in last early. 

Cousin Stephen and Vinceremos were neck and neck through an opening quarter in :24.35 over a drying out track and got the half-mile in :48.77. As the field rounded the second turn, Vinceremos backed up to fourth before coming on again on the rail and held a short lead at the furlong marker. 

Meanwhile, Harpoon and Luis Saez, sixth after three-quarters of a mile, rallied while four wide entering the stretch and moved farther out to unleash a stirring stretch drive that just came up short.

Vinceremos completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:47.34, well off the track record of 1:42.83, and paid $26.80, $7.40, and $4.80. Harpoon was a nose back and paid $4.60 and $3.40, with Cousin Stephen three-quarters of a length back in third, returning $3.40. The order was completed by Matadoor, Asserting Bear, School On a Hill, Noble Cornerstone, and Imaginethaymom.

"He was relaxed and I was confident that he would be there for me when I asked," Prado said of the ride. "The pace picked up getting into the turn but I didn't want to use what we had that soon so I let them get away from us. Entering the stretch there was still room on the inside and he responded when I set him down. He was still going strong to the finish, but I knew it would be close."
 
"That was really amazing. It looked like he was dropping back and was done for the day, and all of a sudden there he was," said assistant trainer Ginny DePasquale. "Then (Pletcher's other trainee, Harpoon) came running on the outside. A dead heat would have been perfect. You never know when they are going to step up to the plate and (Vinceremos) obviously did at the right time."

A 3-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile  —Kettles Sister (by More Than Ready  ), Vinceremos was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall and races for WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables. Consigned by Dapple Stud to the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale, the colt was purchased by Oregon Bloodstock for $140,000. Pinhooked into the 2013 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale, the Davis winner was acquired by Twin Creeks for $340,000.

Randy Gullatt, racing manager for co-owner Twin Creeks Racing Stables, said: "Edgar didn't want to make the lead too quick with him because he wants to wait on other horses. If he has a target, Edgar says he digs in, and you just have to be patient and not make the lead too quick. He said he could have gotten away from him on the turn, but he had to wait on those other horses to get by so he had a target. It was a great job on Edgar's part. We're learning about him every time. I would think the Tampa Bay Derby is the next logical race and if he is doing well, that would be Todd (Pletcher's) choice."

By earning $120,000 of the $200,000 purse (there was an additional $50,000 for which Florida-breds qualified), Vinceremos improved his bankroll to $153,600, with two wins and a second in three lifetime starts. The colt finished second at Gulfstream Park in his career debut and broke his maiden going a mile as the 3-2 favorite at Gulfstream Jan. 4.

With the victory, Vinceremos qualifies for the "Tampa Bay Downs Million Dollar Bonus" in which $1 million will be awarded the owner of any horse winning the Davis, the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), and the May 3 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). The Davis last year was part of newly created "Road to the Kentucky Derby" points system, with Falling Sky being awarded 10 points. The Davis was dropped from the Derby points scheme this year, with the Tampa Bay Derby worth 50 points.

In the race previous to the Davis, Niall Racing's Please Explain took charge turning for home to draw off for a six-length triumph in the Suncoast Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The Kentucky-bred daughter ofCurlin   ridden by Julien Leparoux for trainer Tom Proctor, sat just off the pace and saved ground to get into contention down the backside before making her winning move as the 3-2 favorite in the eight-horse field.

Final time for 1-mile-and-40-yards over a drying out Tampa Bay track was 1:44.94. Finishing second was Nesso, with Light Bringer third.

The victory improved Please Explain's record to 2-2-1 from five starts, with earnings of $78,200.

Onlyforyou Takes Command in Forward Gal

• By Claire Novak, 
• January 25, 2014 4:07 PM
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• Racing, Southeast Region

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Glencrest Farm's Onlyforyou was away alertly at the start and took command of the $200,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II)Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, going wire-to-wire as the 3-10 pick over five 3-year-old fillies to preserve her undefeated record (VIDEO). 

Permitted to go immediately to the lead by jockey Javier Castellano, the bay daughter of Malibu Moon   secured a good rail spot and clipped through early fractions of :22.65 and :45.33 while prompted by Aurelia's Belle, the only runner who seemed poised to provide a challenge about half a length back as the field turned for home.

Aurelia's Belle ranged up on the outside coming off the turn while failing to switch leads, but Onlyforyou hit another gear and skipped away down the stretch through three-quarters in 1:09.77. She won by 2 3/4 lengths under a confident hand ride from Castellano, finishing the seven-furlong test on a fast track in 1:22.50.

"I didn't expect her to be on the lead, but she was so sharp today," Castellano said. "She did it so easy and broke on top. The way she did it was impressive. When the other horse (Aurelia's Belle) came to her, she took off again. I like the way she did it today."

Onlyforyou, from the barn of trainer Todd Pletcher, returned $2.60, $2.20, and $2.10 while Aurelia's Belle brought $3.40 and $2.40 at 6-1.Resistivity was third, bringing $2.40, while My Dear Regina nosed outFlash Encounter for fourth. Stately Defence completed the order of finish.

Bred in Kentucky by Elm Tree Farm and Popatop out of the Tactical Cat mare Erhu, Onlyforyou tallied a maiden victory at Aqueduct RacetrackNov. 10, an allowance score at Gulfstream Dec. 15, and her first graded stakes score in the Forward Gal, all good for earnings of $188,100. She was a $115,000 purchase from the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale on a ticket signed by Phase II Thoroughbreds when consigned by Elm Tree Farm.

"It kind of speaks for itself," Pletcher said. "Any time you have one win three in a row to start their career, it's not very many of them that do that. She's a filly that has always impressed us in her training. She's a beautiful filly, big, scopy, good-looking filly that has tactical speed. It's been a pretty straightforward introduction so far.

"She's trained like she'll run further, and she was able to relax a little bit in her first two starts so she's not one-dimensional even though she won on the lead today. That's pretty much it on the calendar here for sprints, so if we're going to run back at Gulfstream we're going to have to stretch out.

"I guess the Davona Dale is on Feb. 22. We'll have to see how we feel about that."

Record Sixth Eclipse for Pletcher

• By Jack Shinar
• January 18, 2014 9:30 PM
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Todd Pletcher's deep bench of top quality runners sometimes make it difficult to gauge his accomplishments when compared to those of other trainers. But in 2013, he was in a league of his own, and voters awarded him with his record sixth Eclipse Award.

The 46-year-old Dallas native bettered a pair of Hall of Fame conditioners, Bob Baffert and Bill Mott, to earn the honor for the first time since 2010.

With his sixth selection, Pletcher broke a tie with the late Bobby Frankel (1993, 2000-03), who earned five Eclipses since the award was created in 1971. Pletcher also won four consecutive Eclipse Awards from 2004-07 in addition to 2010.

Pletcher was the runaway winner in total purse earnings during 2013 with $25.2 million, the third time in his career he topped the $25 million mark. Baffert was second, nearly $10 million behind Pletcher, who led that category for the eighth time.

He also led in graded stakes wins with 48 (Baffert was second with 28) and was tops in grade I triumphs with 13. Pletcher won with 224 of his 946 starters, a 24% strike rate, and his runners finished in the money 57% of the time.

Though blanked in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, Pletcher's 3-year-old filly Princess of Sylmar had a championship-caliber season with grade I victories in the Beldame, Alabama, Coaching Club American Oaks, and Kentucky Oaks.

His other major wins during 2013 came with Eclipse finalist Palace Malice, who captured the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Verrazano   (Haskell, Wood Memorial), Cross Traffic (Whitney Handicap), Graydar  , (Donn Handicap), and Havana (Champagne), another Eclipse finalist. Pletcher also coaxed grade I wins out of Capo Bastone in the King's Bishop,Overanalyze   in the Arkansas Derby, and We Miss Artie in the Breeders' Futurity.

The votes below represent only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities, NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers And Broadcasters:

Todd Pletcher, 183; D. Wayne Lukas, 21; Jerry Hollendorfer, 9; Bill Mott, 7; Charles LoPresti, 6; Shug McGaughey, 6; Bob Baffert, 5; Steve Asmussen, 3; Chad Brown, 2; Kathy Ritvo, 2; Ollie Figgins, 1;  David Jacobson, 1; King Leatherbury, 1; Dale Romans, 1. Voter Abstention, 1.

Fierce Boots Stamps Busanda Stakes Upset

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• January 4, 2014 6:42 PM
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• Racing, Kentucky Oaks, Northeast Region

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Fierce Boots took the lead coming out of the gate and was never headed as she rolled to a two-length upset of favoredFlipcup in the $100,000 Busanda Stakesfor 3-year-old fillies Jan. 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack (VIDEO).

Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Fierce Boots towed the field of eight through moderate fractions of :24.44 for the opening quarter-mile, :48.93 for the half, and 1:14.87 for three-quarters. She straightened for home ahead by two and went on to complete the one mile, 70 yards over the inner track in 1:46.62.

"She broke well, so I put her on the lead," said Ortiz. "She went very relaxed and just kept trying."

It was the first stakes victory for Fierce Boots, who is owned by celebrity chef Bobby Flay and trained by Todd Pletcher. The bay daughter of Tiznow  , who fetched $200,000 at the Keeneland sales in September 2012, came from off the pace to break her maiden in August at Parx Racing in her second start. She was most recently finished fourth in a first-level allowance/optional claimer Dec. 5 at Aqueduct.

"She hadn't gone to the front in the past, but she'd been more rank lately and we thought it would be a good idea to let her settle in where she wants to be," said Pletcher's assistant, Byron Hughes. "Todd thought two turns would suit her."

Fierce Boots was bred in Kentucky by Jamm Ltd. She is out of the Wild Again mare Shop Again.

Sent off at 8-1, Fierce Boots returned $19, $7.20, and $4.40 and earned $60,000 to nearly triple her bankroll to $94,036. Overall, she is 2-0-0 from five starts. With the victory, she received 10 points towards a possible berth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 3 at Churchill Downs, a race won last year by Busanda victress Princess of Sylmar.

Runner-up Flipcup ($3.60, $2.60), who took the East View Stakes for New York-breds last time out, was another two lengths ahead of Fleet of Gold ($4.20). Following her in fourth was Ketel Twist, with Alpaca Fina, Camille Claudel, Spanish Gold, and Derek's Girl completing the order of finish.
 

Caixa Eletronica Dies in Training Collision

• By Blood-Horse Staff
• January 4, 2014 1:24 PM
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• Racing, Northeast Region

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Caixa Eletronica, a popular four-time graded stakes winner, died as the result of injuries he suffered in a training accident Jan. 4 that also claimed the life of loose horse Six Drivers at Belmont Park.

The collision occurred at approximately 8 a.m. as Caixa Eletronica was galloping on the training track. The 9-year-oldArromanches collided with Six Drivers, who was running loose after unseating his rider behind the starting gate. Caixa Eletronica suffered a skull fracture in the incident, and Six Drivers suffered a neck fracture. Both horses died immediately as a result of their injuries, according to Dr. Anthony Verderosa, chief examining veterinarian for New York Racing Association.

Caixa Eletronica hit his best stride after he was claimed by trainer Todd Pletcher for $62,500 on behalf of owner Mike Repole in 2011. With Repole and Pletcher, Caixa Eletronica won seven stakes, including the 2011 Westchester Stakes (gr. III), and the 2012 Charles Town Classic Stakes (gr. II), True North Handicap (gr. II), and Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III). 

"It's a terrible day for racing," said Repole. "For any horse, it's horrible. When you hear it's Caixa Eletronica, it's magnified."

"Like I've said time and time again, to me (Caixa Eletronica) was everything that was good about the game," Pletcher said. "You take a horse from a modest beginning and literally get to the pinnacle of racing. He showed up every time. It's just heartbreaking."

Overall, Caixa Eletronica was 23-9-11 in 69 starts, with more than $1.8 million in earnings. In his final start, he finished fourth in the 2013 Fall Highweight Nov. 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack. In 2013, he won the four of nine starts including the Duck Dance Stakes at Belmont.

"He was such an iron horse," said Repole. "For him to pass away like this makes no sense. I told Todd, 'If this horse ever gets a pimple on his rear, I'll retire him.' Todd said, 'I wish my 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds were super sound like this horse.'"

Caixa Eletronica's exercise rider, Carlos Castro, was taken to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. for evaluation. Six Drivers' rider, Julio Pezua, suffered no apparent injuries. 

Jeffrey Tucker's Six Drivers had not won in four career starts. The 4-year-old Sunriver gelding closed out his 3-year-old season with a runner-up finish in a Dec. 27 maiden claiming race at Aqueduct.

Teen Pauline, Lion D N A Win Aqueduct Stakes

• By Jack Shinar
• January 1, 2014 4:59 PM
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• Racing, Northeast Region

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Teen Pauline and Lion D N A rang in the new year with stakes victories atAqueduct Racetrack Jan. 1.

Under Irad Ortiz Jr., 4-year-old Teen Pauline took the lead coming out of the gate and never looked back as she cruised to an easy 4 3/4-length victory over three opponents in the $95,000Affectionately for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the inner track (VIDEO).

A few races later, Lion D N A, with C.C. Lopez aboard, ran down Baby J andFantasy of Flight in deep stretch to capture the $98,000 Interborough Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs by half a length on the inner dirt. Five-year-old Lion D N A was making her stakes debut.

Teen Pauline set soft fractions of :24.49, :49.21, and 1:14.04 with Street Secret, Centring, and Royal Lahaina in pursuit. Edging away on the far turn, the 4-year-old Tapit   filly swung into the stretch with a 3 1/2-length lead and was never challenged while timed in 1:45.64 on a fast track.

"She was supposed to be on the lead; she broke good and I got the lead easily," Ortiz said. "She relaxed pretty good and was ready today. I just tried to wait as long as I could because she was very relaxed the whole way. When I asked her, she picked it up. I was just the passenger today."

Favored Centring (6-5) closed to finish second under Rajiv Maragh, followed by Royal Lahaina and Street Secret. Welcome Guest was scratched.

The victory was the first in a stakes for Teen Pauline, a Stonestreet Stable homebred who set a Saratoga Race Course track record of :56.53 for five furlongs in her 2-year-old debut. She finished fourth in her first two starts of 2013 after being moved to trainer Todd Pletcher, and then posted a record of 1-1-1 in three starts on the turf.

Switched back to dirt, she finished third in the Comely Stakes (gr. III) Nov. 30 at Aqueduct in her most recent start.

Teen Pauline, out of the Carson City mare Effectual, returned $8 and $3.20. Overall, she is 3-1-3 from nine starts and has amassed $281,300. Centring paid $2.50. There was no show wagering.

In the Interborough, Lion D N A was able to get a clean stalking trip in third toward the inside behind 123-pound top weight Baby J, who led Fantasy of Flight through fractions of :23.30 and :46.86. As the field of five approached mid-stretch, Lion D N A closed in readily when asked by Lopez while three-wide. They got the lead in the final 70 yards or so to score by half a length in 1:11.88 (VIDEO).

"We got off just OK," Lopez said. "I was quickly outrun, so I said, 'All right, there's only five horses. I'll just bide my time, stay on the fence and hope to work out a trip.' When I came off the elbow, I eased out, and she came running."

Fantasy of Flight, ridden by Ortiz, took the runner-up spot by half a length over Baby J and Cornelio Velasquez. Delightful Quality, the 8-5 choice, rallied mildly in the stretch for fourth, and Miss Mischieftrailed. Five Star Momma and P J's Superego scratched.

Lion D N A was the 5-2 second choice while toting 116 pounds. The bay mare is a daughter of Lion Heart–Too Many Holes, by Touch Gold, trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith. Pat Greco bred the winner in Illinois.

She was claimed by her current connections for $35,000 out of a third-place finish in an allowance/optional claiming race Aug. 30 at Saratoga.

"(The owners) liked the way she looked. Gary Aisquith called me last night and said the filly had a very good chance. All the credit goes to them," Rodriguez said after his third win on the card. "She's a nice filly. We got lucky."

The victory was the seventh in 27 tries for Lion D N A, who was coming off a victory in a starter allowance/optional claiming event Dec. 13 at Aqueduct. She has banked $275,898 in her career.

The winner paid $7.90, $4.20, and $3.20. Fantasy of Flight returned $4.90 and $3.20. Baby J paid $3.40.