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Society Man strolls into G2 Wood Memorial off strong maiden win

by NYRA Press Office

• Society Man strolls into G2 Wood Memorial off strong maiden win
• Super Chow prepares for G2 Carter; G1 Kentucky Oaks-hopeful Power Squeeze set for G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks
• Lonesome Boy likely for G2 Wood Memorial
• Evening News “50/50” to make headlines in G2 Wood Memorial
• Dual GSW Repo Rocks now trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr.; Kinetic Sky, Petulante nominated to G2 Carter
• Aqueduct Racetrack Week 13 stakes probables

West Paces Racing, GMP Stables and trainer Danny Gargan’s Society Man will give another try at his first stakes victory in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, a nine-furlong test for sophomores slated for April 6, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Wood Memorial is the final stop in New York on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding the top-five finishers a respective 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points towards the prestigious Grade 1 test on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

The son of Good Magic enters the Wood Memorial from a deep-closing graduation traveling a one-turn mile on March 9 here, rallying from 10 lengths off the pace to take command at the stretch call and draw clear to a three-length victory under Luis Rivera, Jr., who Gargan said will likely retain the mount in the Wood. The effort garnered a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The kid rode him good,” Gargan said of Rivera, Jr. “He sat back there and didn’t get in a hurry. He showed a nice turn of foot and opened up there and won pretty easy. His pedigree suggests two turns, so we don’t think distance will be a problem. We just have to hope he’s mature enough to run with these kind of horses.”

Society Man debuted with a distant off-the-board effort sprinting six furlongs in July at Saratoga Race Course ahead of a five-month respite. He returned with a game third-place effort in December here when stretched out considerably to nine furlongs and two turns for the first time, settling for show honors after a bumpy beginning and a five-wide bid in the stretch.

“The first time I ran him two turns, he needed a race. We had turned him out and gelded him, and he had a big gap in races,” said Gargan. “I thought he just needed one to get back running, and then we went ahead and took a shot in the Withers. We’ve always wanted to run him long.”

In the nine-furlong Grade 3 Withers in February here, Society Man again did not have a clean break and trailed in 8th-of-9 in the three-path with no strong response when asked to pick it up in the final turn.

“We expected him to run better in the Withers, but he broke in a tangle and never really got running,” said Gargan. “We have always liked him and he’s a nice gelding. We’re just taking another chance and seeing if he can move forward. If he can hit the board, it would be great.”

Society Man was reluctant to load into the gate in his latest start and has seen both of his two-turn efforts were hindered by poor breaks, but Gargan said he is confident the chestnut has improved on his gate skills in his morning schooling.

“He was pretty good the other day, so let’s hope he keeps getting better,” said Gargan. “A lot of the Good Magics can be a little feisty.”

Society Man had his first work since his win when covering a half-mile in 47.88 seconds on Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track in company with the stakes-placed Radio Red. Gargan said he was pleased with the effort.

“I wanted to get a good work this week,” said Gargan. “He’s a little bit chunkier and to get the distance, I want to get him tightened up. He had a strong work and then we’ll bring him back next week and go a little slower – 49 [seconds] or 48 and change.”

In addition to Society Man, Gargan will have even more to look forward to on April 6 as he sends out the well-regarded Dornoch in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on the heels of a win in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Dornoch, owned by West Paces Racing, R.A. Hill Stable, Belmar Racing and Breeding, Two Eight Racing and Pine Racing Stables, is a full-brother to last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and began his Kentucky Derby journey in New York with a thrilling nose score over next-out Grade 2 Risen Star winner Sierra Leone in the Grade 2 Remsen on December 2 at the Big A.

This year’s Remsen has proven to be a key race as half of the 10 starters have gone on to win stakes as sophomores. In addition to Dornoch and Sierra Leone, third-place Drum Roll Please captured the Jerome in January here; sixth-place Copper Tax won Laurel Park’s Private Terms on Saturday; and seventh-place Domestic Product won the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby on March 9. Additionally, ninth-place Le Dom Bro exited the Remsen to finish second in Gulfstream Park’s Swale and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

Gargan said he is appreciative of the opportunity to send out contenders in two Kentucky Derby preps.

“It will be fun to have a horse in the Blue Grass and one in the Wood on the same day,” said Gargan. “It’s not easy. I’ve been in the Wood once with Tax and he ran well [runner-up in 2019], so it would be really cool if this horse can run well.”

In the sophomore filly division, Gargan welcomed back stakes-winner Ringy Dingy to his barn at Palm Meadows earlier this winter. The Dialed In chestnut, owned by Peter J. Callahan and James Reiley McDonald, was last seen finishing a distant seventh in the Grade 2 Demoiselle on December 2 here. She returned to the work tab in mid-February and most recently covered a half-mile in 49.95 on March 18.

“She’s doing really well,” said Gargan. “We haven’t picked a race yet for her and she was turned out all winter. She is working well and is probably a month away from running. I wouldn’t be surprised if we spot her up there in New York.

“I was hoping she’d get a lot bigger, but she’s got a lot mentally better. We’re hoping the time off will help her. She was named Ringy Dingy for a reason,” Gargan added, with a laugh.

Ringy Dingy was an impressive 6 1/4-length winner of Delaware Park’s White Clay Creek on October 13. She was a $200,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the multiple stakes-placed Touch Gold mare Wind Caper, making her a full-sister to the multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Defunded.

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Super Chow prepares for G2 Carter; G1 Kentucky Oaks-hopeful Power Squeeze set for G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks

Lea Farms’ Super Chow completed his second breeze back Friday off of a score in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap as he prepares for the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses on April 6, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Jorge Delgado, Super Chow covered a half-mile in 49.21 seconds solo over the Belmont dirt training track with regular rider Madison Olver up. Delgado said he was pleased with the work which followed a half-mile breeze last week in 51.21.

“With the race two weeks out, I wanted to see where we were at and the horse is really good,” said Delgado. “This was the tune up for the race, Olver was very happy with the horse and the gallop out. There is a 99 percent chance that we will run.”

The Florida-based conditioner made the trek north this week to see Super Chow in-person.

“I found the horse in very good shape. Probably better than ever,” Delgado said. “He’s been getting better with every race, and everyone is happy around him.”

The 4-year-old Lord Nelson dark bay is unbeaten in his two starts this year, both Grade 3s at Aqueduct, winning the six-furlong Tom Fool by 1 1/4-lengths on March 2 after a 4 1/4-length score in the Toboggan going the Carter’s distance on February 3.

“He did seven furlongs in the [Toboggan] when the track was a little bit slower than it is right now,” Delgado said. “He has been maturing and relaxing more now, so seven-eighths is going to be a good distance for him.”

The $75,000 purchase at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, out of the Warrior’s Reward mare Bonita Mia, is a full brother to stakes winner Princess Indy.

Super Chow boasts a lifetime record of 17-8-4-4 with $686,900 in earnings.

Lea Farms’ Power Squeeze also worked Friday, breezing a solo half-mile in 50.77 over the Gulfstream Park dirt as last preparations for the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks on March 30, which offers 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

The Union Rags chestnut is 17th on the Oaks qualifying board with 20 points earned through a victory in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs on February 10.

“She’s just getting better and better every week. We are really excited about her future, we believe the further she goes, the better,” said Delgado. “This is going to be a tough field but a good test for us. I like the fact that she can relax and doesn't necessarily have to go with the frontrunners considering the long distances.”

The score around two-turns in the one mile and forty yard Suncoast came off a victory in the one-turn mile Cash Run under Irad Ortiz, Jr. over the Gulfstream dirt on January 1. Power Squeeze graduated at third asking in October at Delaware Park, then was given a three-month break before her sophomore debut in the Cash Run.

“After she won at Delaware Park, she has been more forward. When she won with Irad up in the Cash Run, she showed a different style, being closer, wanting to go from the get-go, but Irad took a hold of her and made a move when needed,” Delgado explained. “Then last time she was close too, so she’s getting smarter about what she needs to do to win.”

Power Squeeze will exit the inside post in rein to Daniel Centeno in Saturday’s test and Delgado said that hitting the board could be enough to put his filly into the Kentucky Oaks.

“In my opinion, I think this will be her best race ever. But finishing one-two in the Gulfstream Oaks would have us in contention,” Delgado said. “I’m focused one day at a time to get her in the best shape for Saturday and we will go from there.”

Out of the stakes-winning Awesome Again mare Callmethesqueeze, Power Squeeze was a $90,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in training. She has banked $188,650 through a record of 5-3-1-0.

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Lonesome Boy likely for G2 Wood Memorial

Trainer Hugo Padilla said he is still deciding between the nine-furlong Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino or the seven-furlong, Listed $150,000 Bay Shore for promising sophomore Lonesome Boy.

The Washington-bred Nationhood bay drew off under Adam Bowman to win by 6 3/4-lengths last out in the City of Brotherly Love, going one mile and 70 yards on March 5 at Parx. The victory earned a career-best 78 Beyer Speed Figure, improving upon a third at the same distance versus allowance optional claiming on February 19.

“Looking at the way he’s performing, he’s doing everything right. I love the distance for the Wood Memorial. I know the competition will be tough but I like my chances,” said Padilla. “Most of all, I like the distance, he can go with the frontrunners. He went 22 last time in the first quarter and just kept on going.”

In addition to his strong recent form around two turns, Lonesome Boy won at the Bay Shore distance by 1 1/2-lengths versus starter optional claiming company on January 28 at the Big A. Padilla said it was better than it looks on paper because it was another 10 lengths back to third of the 10 horse field.

“I prefer the distance for the Wood Memorial. I think that is where we are going to go, this is a chance that who knows when we will get again,” said Padilla. “He’s still learning, he’s still green, but I think he is a much better horse when stalking the pace. I think the Wood Memorial is the best spot for him.”

Padilla said the Parx-based Bowman, who has piloted nine of Lonesome Boy’s 10 starts, will retain the mount.

“Owner John Parker is very loyal. He wants to stick to his people and Adam Bowman has been amazing to us, he knows the horse like the back of his hand. He will absolutely stay on the horse,” Padilla said. “Mr. Parker is an amazing person, an amazing owner. This is his dream, have a nice horse to compete in the big ones.”

Out of the Atta Boy Roy mare Atta Girl Pearl, Lonesome Boy is 10-3-2-2 lifetime with $126,444 in earnings.

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Evening News “50/50” to make headlines in G2 Wood Memorial

Travin Stables’ Evening News, an 8 1/4-length allowance winner last out at Turfway Park, is under consideration for a Road to the Kentucky Derby start in either the nine-furlong Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino [100-50-25-15-10] on April 6 here or the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3, $400,000 Lexington [20-10-6-4-2] on April 13 at Keeneland.

Trained by Michael Pino, the Nyquist colt has posted a close second and a romping win, both over the Turfway synthetic, since being haltered for $50,000 from a fourth-out graduation in January sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs on January 18 at the Florence, Kentucky oval.

“There's a race in Kentucky I'm considering, so it's a 50-50 possibility. We're still weighing it out," Pino said. "He's in Kentucky right now, but we're considering all our options."

Pino credited owner Vincent Puglisi of Travin Stables for finding the promising colt out of the Bernardini mare Prieta, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Pants On Fire.

"I've claimed some nice horses, but I have to give the owner the credit on that one. He liked the breeding and wanted to look at him. He's a good-looking horse, so we took a shot," Pino said. "He's a classy-looking horse and well made. He still has a lot to prove, but he has the presence of a good horse."

A $300,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, Evening News launched his career with Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. He was off the board in his first two starts, trying the Ellis Park dirt in his August debut and a subsequent Churchill Downs turf attempt in November. The dark bay improved markedly when third in a one-mile maiden claiming event in December at Turfway before breaking his maiden.

Evening News was a pacesetting second on debut for his new connections in February, landing one length back of the Brad Cox-trained Tennessee, a $1.2 million purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

Last out, with Luan Machado up, Evening News made every pole a winning one in a one-mile allowance around two turns, covering the distance in 1:37.90 to register a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pino said he is hopeful that Evening News can transfer his improved form over synthetic to dirt.

"I was impressed with that race. We have to hope that he dirts and on pedigree he should, but you never know until you try it," Pino said. "I'll work him back this week depending on the weather, and I'll probably take him over to Keeneland and work him on the dirt.

"I was impressed with the way he just punched away [last out] - he came home fast,” added Pino. “He has the makings of a good horse, so we'll see how it works out.”

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Dual GSW Repo Rocks now trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr.; Kinetic Sky, Petulante nominated to G2 Carter

Double B Racing Stables' dual Grade 3-winner Repo Rocks, last seen finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap in June at Belmont Park for trainer Jamie Ness, is now with conditioner Rick Dutrow, Jr.

The 6-year-old Tapiture gelding worked three-eighths in 38.26 seconds Friday over the Belmont dirt training track in his first breeze back since the Met Mile.

“We’ve had him two or three weeks and I like him. He was at Dave Cannizzo’s farm. He looked good [in his work]," Dutrow, Jr. said. "He’s getting himself back in the swing of things. If things go his way every day, [he’ll run in] six weeks I would be guessing. He should be ready to run a big race then if every day is like what it has been since he’s gotten back. There’s nothing in mind, just tomorrow. I don’t know him or how long it’s going to take to get him ready – six weeks seems normal for him starting out the way he looks now.”

Repo Rocks has thrived over the Big A main track, taking the Grade 3 Toboggan and Stymie last year along with a runner-up effort to Doppelganger in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets. He romped to a 5 1/4-length score in the Grade 3 Westchester in May traveling a one-turn mile at Belmont ahead of his Met Mile try.

Bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III, Repo Rocks, out of the Not For Love mare Hawaiian Love, boasts a record of 36-9-7-6 for purse earnings of $803,371.

Dutrow, Jr. has nominated both Kinetic Sky and Petulante to the seven-furlong Grade 2, $300,000 Carter presented by NYRA Bets on April 6 at the Big A. Both horses contested the one-turn mile Listed Stymie last out on March 2 over a sloppy and sealed Aqueduct main track as Kinetic Sky posted a nose score over Quality Chic with the wide-running Petulante a half-length back in third.

Dutrow, Jr. said Kinetic Sky, who boasts a pair of runner-up efforts against winners at Keeneland, may head back to Kentucky after notching his first career stakes win last out.

“I want him to win his next race. As far as that goes, there’s a few races here and a few races in Kentucky. Naturally, I want to pick the easiest and best spot for him," Dutrow, Jr. said. "He likes Keeneland and has run big there twice. He likes it here, so it’s all about who he matches up with again, so we’ll try to get him in the lightest field with the most money. I don’t think [one turn] matters to him. I think it just matters who he lines up against in a race.”

Kinetic Sky breezed a half-mile in 48.23 Friday over the Belmont dirt training track.

Owned by Sanford J. Goldfarb, Alan Kahn, David Tanzman and Steven Speranza, the 6-year-old Runhappy horse has banked $598,768 through a 27-7-8-7 record.

Lugamo Racing Stable's Petulante, a 5-year-old Arrogate grey, won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile in June for his former conditioner Victor Barboza, Jr. He returned from a nearly nine-month layoff to finish a good third in the Stymie under Manny Franco on debut for Dutrow, Jr.

Petulante worked a half-mile in 49 flat Friday over the Belmont dirt training track.

“I’m just thrilled with him and he’s been training even better since [the Stymie]," Dutrow, Jr. said. "I think he’s coming up to a race. [The Stymie sets him up] very good. He ran huge off the bench. He ran on a track he’s never been over before, a jock that’s never ridden him before, a trainer that’s never had him before. It’s just all good stuff, man. He showed up. He’s a very nice horse.”

Petulante, out of the graded stakes-placed Uncle Mo mare Auntjenn, has banked $254,555 through a 7-4-2-1 ledger.

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Aqueduct Racetrack Week 13 stakes probables

Saturday, March 30

Listed $150K Excelsior

Probable: Curbstone (Tom Morley), Kuchar (Rudy Rodriguez)

Possible: Laughing Boy (David Jacobson), Quality Chic (Jacobson)