G3 Hill Prince winner Third Coast points to G2 Jockey Club Derby

• G3 Hill Prince winner Third Coast points to G2 Jockey Club Derby
• Forever Young works a half-mile in preparation for G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic
• Phileas Fogg drills over Belmont training track in prep for G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic
• Scottish Lassie continues Breeders’ Cup preparations with five-furlong breeze at Belmont Park
• Mercury Marauder impresses with 11-length graduation on Saturday at Belmont

Glen Hill Farm’s Kentucky homebred Third Coast became the first graded winner for his Canadian Hall of Fame dam Marketing Mix with a prominent score in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Hill Prince, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Tom Proctor and piloted by Jose Lezcano, the Uncle Mo gelding was in prime position throughout the 1 3/16-mile inner turf route for sophomores, stalking the early foot of Bull Shoals before taking command at the quarter-pole and staving off the late charge of Caroline St. Beat to win in a final time of 1:54.93.

Third Coast won the one-mile Jersey Derby in May at Monmouth Park and followed with a frustrating 1 1/2-length sixth with an inside trip in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 4 at Saratoga Race Course. Blinkers were added for the Spa’s one-mile Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame on August 7 as Third Coast surged to a three-length lead through a 23.53 opening quarter-mile but weakened in the stretch run to land a 2 3/4-length fifth. The blinkers came off for the one-mile Gio Ponti with Third Coast a stalking second to set up a stretch out in distance for the Hill Prince.

Glen Hill Farm’s Craig Bernick said he was pleased to see Third Coast return to winning form.

“We always thought when he ran long, he would be a better horse,” Bernick said. “We had self-inflicted wounds this summer. He ran well in the Belmont Derby and if you watch the race, I actually thought he could have won but he was intimidated by horses, and he wouldn't go through.

“When Lezcano came back, he said, 'this horse didn't even run,'” Bernick continued. “So, we put blinkers on him, and he got speed crazy, so last race we took the blinkers off and hit the reset button.”

Bernick said Third Coast’s running style is a bit of an anomaly.

“We mostly end up with turf horses and usually you want to save ground, but this horse seems to be much more comfortable outside of horses,” Bernick said. “He's able to use his natural speed into the race and he's a much more comfortable horse one off the rail than he is on the inside.”

Proctor indicated that Third Coast will be pointed to the 1 5/16-mile Grade 2, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby on November 28 here. His assistant, Dalton Baird, noted Sunday morning that Third Coast had, “ate up every oat and is doing great.”

Marketing Mix, by Medaglia d’Oro, was purchased by Glen Hill Farm for $150,000 at the 2009 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, Marketing Mix banked in excess of $2 million through a 21-10-5-1 record topped by Grade 1 scores in the 2012 Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita Park and the 2013 Gamely at Hollywood Park. She made two appearances in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita, finishing a three-quarter length second to Zagora in 2012 and a 1 1/2-length fifth to Dank in 2013.

Bernick said it was special for Marketing Mix to win the Gamely in her seasonal debut in 2013, scoring by a head under Hall of Famer Gary Stevens.

“That was always a huge race and so many really good horses won it,” Bernick said. “That was probably the most fun because I think most rational people would have retired her after her 4-year-old year, but we enjoy racing our horses and it was very gratifying to win a Grade 1 in her first race of the year.”

Third Coast is the fifth and most recent foal of Marketing Mix to race and is her biggest money earner thus far with $252,985 in the bank. Previously, her most notable progeny was the 5-year-old Into Mischief mare Wrigleyville, who closed out her career with a win in the Lady Canterbury in June at Canterbury Park while in foal to Oscar Performance.

“Her first four foals had been very moderate horses. We got Wrigleyville to win a stake at Canterbury when she was pregnant,” Bernick said. “This horse [Third Coast] has won a couple stakes this year. I don't know why, but it took her a long time to get going.

“Usually, mares are good at the beginning, and their later foals are not so good, but this mare has been the opposite,” he continued. “This horse [Third Coast] is a gelding and hopefully he'll be around for a long time to come. It's nice to see her have a nice one. The family normally gets better with age and hopefully this horse does, too.”

Bernick noted that Marketing Mix has a yearling filly by Justify and is back in foal to Life Is Good.

Glen Hill Farm, Proctor and Lezcano teamed up to win the Saturday opener at Belmont with Hullabaloo Ray Ray, a 2-year-old Jackie’s Warrior colt acquired for $250,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale.

Hullabaloo Ray Ray earned a 78 Beyer for a good second on debut to $500,000 OBS purchase Dargham in September at Saratoga. The talented chestnut went to post as the odds-on favorite in Saturday’s 6 1/2-furlong sprint and did not disappoint, drawing clear to a 4 1/4-length score in a final time of 1:15.27.

“I thought his first race was good but there was one better that day,” Bernick said. “Our horses generally improve with racing so I was hopeful that if he ran the same race he'd win, but I was hopeful he would improve...I'm sure he did, that was a good race.”

Bernick said Hullabaloo Ray Ray has the potential to stretch out in distance being out of the winning Congrats mare Applauding - a full-sister to Starship Warpspeed, the dam of multiple Grade 1-winning multimillionaire Shedaresthedevil and this year’s Grade 1 DraftKings Travers-winner Leading Change.

“Those are mile and a quarter dirt horses, so I think he'll stretch out. Jackie's Warrior was a Champion sprinter but there's a lot of stamina on the damside,” Bernick said.

The next open dirt stakes for 2-year-olds at Belmont is the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen presented by Twinspires on December 5 with 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points on the line.

Bernick indicated he would prefer to target a more gradual step up in distance.

“This horse ran six [furlongs] and then 6 1/2-furlongs. I don't think it would be right to run the horse nine furlongs in his next race. I hope there's an allowance race that pops up and he can run in that,” Bernick said.

The connections will look to continue their good run of form on Wednesday here with Kentucky homebred Geneva Lake, a 2-year-old colt out of their multiple stakes-winning Florida homebred War Front mare Summering.

Geneva Lake finished seventh in both starts thus far in 1 1/16-mile maiden routes over firm Spa turf. In Race 4 on Wednesday, he will cut back to six furlongs over the inner turf and exit post 3-of-8 with regular pilot Jose Lezcano in the irons.

“He acts like a really quiet horse in the morning and then he gets on the racetrack, and he comes alive and he's pulling and running really impatiently - rank and unprofessional. It surprised us because he doesn't act that way,” Bernick said. “We'll run him shorter in the hope that the pace will be fast, they'll outrun him, and he'll learn how to settle a bit and finish.

“We were going to geld him after his second start and Tom said, ‘let's just see if we can run him one-turn one time and maybe that will help him,” he added. “He's fit and ready it's just whether he can act professional on the track.”

Geneva Lake’s second dam is dual graded stakes-winner Wishing Gate, while his third dam is dual graded stakes-winner Rich in Spirit – both Wishing Gate and Rich in Spirit are Glen Hill Farm homebreds.

Additional news, notes, advances and recaps are available at: https://www.nyra.com/belmont/news/.

For more information about the new Belmont Park, visit NewBelmont.com. 

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Forever Young works a half-mile in preparation for G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic

Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young, the reigning Japanese Horse of the Year and Champion OIder Dirt Horse, posted a half-mile breeze in 51 4/5 seconds over the main track Sunday at Belmont Park in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 31 at Keeneland.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, the 5-year-old Real Steel horse returned to the work tab for the first time since capturing the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18 here.

Forever Young, with assistant trainer Yuki Araki in the irons, stepped onto the main track at 6:45 a.m. and was caught by NYRA Clockers through splits of 13 4/5 and 38 flat. The breeze was a sharp step up from an open gallop here last Sunday over the main track.

Araki said with inclement weather forecast later today and during the week, he gave Forever Young more rein to work.

“I decided to breeze a little bit stronger than we planned before. It’s good,” Araki said.

Last year, Forever Young captured the Nippon TV Hai at Funabashi in Japan exactly one month before capturing the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. This year, Forever Young has spent considerably more time in the U.S., arriving in New York on September 7 to prepare for the Jockey Club Gold Cup – winning that event comfortably while racing for the first time since a runner-up effort in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup on March 28 at Meydan Racecourse.

Although Forever Young went straight from the barn to the main track this morning, Araki has utilized much of the Belmont Park property, including the Tapeta pony track, dirt training track and inner Tapeta track to help build up the horse and keep him fresh.

“Compared to last year, this is a totally new challenge,” Araki said. “We figured out how to use [him] here and he is doing really well, so far. This morning the breeze out was pretty impressive. I checked the video. Good movement.

“When I asked him, he reacted really well and showed a turn of foot – a little bit, but I asked only a little bit. He’s following our orders well. He’s done well,” Araki added.

Forever Young cooled out in his customary fashion since arriving in New York with multiple laps along the treelined horse path adjacent to the main track before bath time and a pick of grass.

Forever Young, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, has made 16 starts across 10 racetracks in four countries, posting additional top-flight scores in back-to-back editions of the $20 million Saudi Cup in 2025-26 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, and the 2024 Tokyo Daishoten in his native country, where he is undefeated through six efforts.

Araki said Forever Young will breeze again here next Sunday before shipping to Kentucky on October 20 to complete his final preparations at Keeneland, which will likely include a work, with jockey Ryusei Sakai aboard, in company with Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint contender American Stage. The stablemates also worked a half-mile together last year at Del Mar on the Wednesday before the Breeders’ Cup.

“At Keeneland – planning to do an even pace [open gallop] same thing we did last week on Saturday or Sunday,” Araki said. “We will do the final breeze out on Wednesday, with jockey – and probably we will bring American Stage and do it together.”

Forever Young has banked in excess of $32.3 million through a 16-12-1-3 record.

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Phileas Fogg drills over Belmont training track in prep for G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic

Jupiter Stable’s dual Grade 2-winner Phileas Fogg got back to work on Sunday over the Belmont Park dirt training track for conditioner Gustavo Rodriguez, covering five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.60 under jockey Kendrick Carmouche. The work was his second since finishing a pacesetting fourth in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 18 here.

“I loved what I saw, and Kendrick was very happy with the way he worked,” Rodriguez said. “Everything is good and if he stays healthy, we are going [to the Breeders’ Cup]. The way he worked today, I love what I saw.” 

Carmouche has ridden the 6-year-old Astern gelding in eight of his last 10 starts, including back-to-back editions of Saratoga Race Course’s 10-furlong Grade 2 Suburban presented by Subourbon Life, and said he likes what he sees from the classy gelding.

“He did everything perfect,” Carmouche said. “He just galloped around there. He feels pretty much the same [as this summer] – nothing has changed and he’s on go, I just think we got an unlucky racetrack last time with how deep it was. Gustavo is going to have him nice and right and hopefully we can win.”

On hand for the work was owner Steve Shapiro, who claimed Phileas Fogg for $62,500 out of a turf optional claimer in July 2024 at Saratoga. 27 months later, Phileas Fogg has banked more than $1 million, and Shapiro believes his once-in-a-lifetime horse is worthy of a chance at the World Championships.

“I’m very excited,” Shapiro said. “It’s been busy getting ready for it. I have to put up $150,000, but I wouldn’t be putting it up if I didn’t think he had a chance. We think his last race was throw-out because of the deepness of the track. He’s got to be 100 percent if we’re going to go, but as of now [that’s the plan]. The workout today was great and everyone was happy with it. He’s been a money machine, and we’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Rodriguez said Phileas Fogg will remain at Belmont for the bulk of his remaining preparations, including tentative plans for another work next Sunday.

“We’re going to work him two more times and then ship him the 26th if everything goes according to plan,” said Rodriguez, who will make his first start in a Breeders’ Cup event. “It’s a big race, and if he runs his race, he’s as good as them. That’s why we want to take a shot.”

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Scottish Lassie continues Breeders’ Cup preparations with five-furlong breeze at Belmont Park

Dual Grade 1-winner Scottish Lassie has posted three breezes over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on October 31 at Keeneland, most recently covering five furlongs in 1:00 flat on Saturday.

Trainer Jorge Abreu said he put dual graded stakes-placed Nelson Avenue and maiden-winner Big Handsome as a team in front, and had Scottish Lassie track behind and pass them in the latter part of the breeze.

“She breezed really, really well and went right by them,” said Abreu. “She had a good, strong gallop-out and I’ve been pretty pleased with her. She’s been doing everything easy and smooth.”

Co-owned by Abreu with Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish and Corms Racing Stable, the 4-year-old McKinzie bay has one win from three starts this year, all at Saratoga Race Course. She won her seasonal bow in dominant fashion with an 8 1/2-length romp sprinting seven furlongs against optional claiming company in June, and followed with runner-up efforts to likely Breeders’ Cup rival Fully Subscribed in both the Grade 2 Shuvee in July and Grade 1 Personal Ensign last out on August 29.

“She’s been doing good, I just think the last race she was feeling a little tired,” Abreu said. “She’s got no excuses this time. She’s training well, she’s healthy, and she looks great.”

Scottish Lassie looks to make amends for a missed opportunity at last year’s Breeders’ Cup when she made the trip to Del Mar for the Distaff, but was withdrawn four days before the race due to a small issue. That brought an end to a stellar sophomore season that was highlighted by a 15 1/2-length trouncing of the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks last July at the Spa.

Abreu said Scottish Lassie will ship to Keeneland on the 17th and is expected to have one work there ahead of the Distaff.

“I want to get her a breeze over the track, so her final work will be there,” Abreu said. “I’m looking forward to it. She’s giving me all the right signs, so that’s all I can ask for.”

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Mercury Marauder impresses with 11-length graduation on Saturday at Belmont

LJSS Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Adelphi Racing Club and Final Turn Racing Stable have a bright future to look forward to with juvenile filly Mercury Marauder, who dazzled with an 11-length debut graduation sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Trained by Tom Morley, the daughter of first-crop Florida sire Roadster was professional from post 3-of-6 under Edgard Zayas, stalking in fourth early on the inside before angling four-wide in the turn around a trio of rivals and drawing off powerfully to complete the course in 1:16 flat.

“She’s fine today, ate up last night, and she’s a quiet little filly who’s fairly unassuming in the barn,” Morley said. “I thought she was very professional yesterday. Roadster is off to a great start and has been having winners all over.”

Bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, Edward Wiest and William Terrill, Mercury Marauder was purchased for $275,000 at this year’s OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She is out of the winning Trippi mare Alotofappeal, a prolific producer whose other progeny include dual graded stakes-placed Talk Logistics, Grade 3-placed Epona’s Hope and the Morley-trained Schivarelli, stakes-winners King Cab and B C’s Train, and stakes-placed Big Rings and Sonoma Crush.

“It’s a pedigree that were very aware of, especially having had Schivarelli, and what a mare she’s been for Ocala Stud,” Morley said of Alotofappeal. “There’s one more behind her, a full-sister [to Mercury Maraduer].”

Morley said he plans to savor this win before making any further plans with Mercury Marauder.

“No plans yet,” he said. “That was a little bit of a surprise, so we’ll assess her over the next week or two and come up with a plan after that.”