NYRA photo Photo

Hunting Horn and Magic Wand all set for battle in Man o' War

by NYRA Press Office

• Bourbon War breezes five furlongs for G1 Preakness
• Brown barn leading the way at Belmont spring/summer meet
• Always Shopping puts in final preparation for Black Eyed Susan; Coal Front on schedule for Met Mile
• Enjoy Mother's Day at Belmont Park
• G3 Soaring Softly probables

Trainer Aidan O'Brien sends a pair of top contenders in Saturday's Grade 1, $700,000 Man o' War for owners Michael B. Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith, including Group 1-placed Hunting Horn and Magic Wand, a Group 2-winning daughter of Galileo.

The well-traveled duo cleared quarantine on Thursday morning and enjoyed a brief training session on the Belmont Park dirt training track with Aaron Smullen aboard Hunting Horn and Yvonne Zuercher piloting Magic Wand.

T. J. Comerford, traveling assistant to O'Brien, said it was good for the pair to stretch their legs after making the trip to New York from Shannon Airport in County Clare, Ireland.

"This morning they walked for half an hour or more in the barn. Once released from quarantine, we came out to the training track and went seven furlongs trotting in the wrong direction and then turned around and cantered for a lap past the winning post. They both looked well," said Comerford.

Hunting Horn will leave from the inside post in Saturday's 1 3/8-mile test over the inner turf with jockey Michael Hussey aboard, while the filly Magic Wand will leave from post 5 under Wayne Lordan.

"The colt has a great draw in one, but I'd suppose it's how you use it. You'd have to jump smart," said Comerford. "The filly has drawn well in five. She has loads of traveling done and is very experienced. She's well heartened.

"We've got two good draws. Magic Wand is a top class filly and Hunting Horn is running well," continued Comerford. "We've got two live chances and they won't be far away."

Saturday's Man o' War Racing Festival also includes the local prep for the Belmont Stakes, the Grade 3, $300,000 Peter Pan for sophomores at 1 1/8 miles; a pair of Grade 3 contests for fillies and mares with the $200,000 Beaugay at 1 1/16 miles on the grass and the $200,000 Vagrancy for main-track sprinters; as well as the $150,000 Runhappy for sprinters 4-years-old and up.

America's Day at the Races will provide live coverage of the Man o' War Racing Festival from 4 - 5 p.m. ET on FS2, with coverage extended to 7:30 p.m. on MSG+.

*      *     *

Bourbon War breezes five furlongs for G1 Preakness

On a crisp Thursday morning under mostly cloudy skies, Bourbon War put together his final preparations for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Preakness on May 18 at Pimlico with exercise rider Jose Mejia aboard for the journey.

Owned by Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable, the 3-year-old son of Tapit breezed over a fast main track at Belmont Park going five furlongs in 1:01.67 in company with stakes-placed stablemate Carlino.

"I thought it went great," trainer Mark Hennig said following the work. "He was a little aggressive. We put those short-cup blinkers on him to make him more aggressive and I sent him off with Carlino. I think he was just being sharp. He got away from Carlino early and basically just kind of maintained that margin.

"It wasn't quite how I wanted to draw it up," continued Hennig. "I thought they would be right together, but I can understand that Bourbon War was a little more amped up. Carlino likes to come from the clouds."

Bourbon War was second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth - won by eventual Grade 1 Kentucky Derby runner-up Code of Honor - and was on the outside looking in for the Run for the Roses.

With a Kentucky Derby start out of reach, the initial plan with Bourbon War was to race in this Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Peter Pan, but Hennig altered course and decided to give the horse a shot at the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

"I watched the Derby and kept on top of all the developments through the week," Hennig said. "Omaha Beach isn't part of the scene, Haikal isn't part of the scene. If Omaha Beach runs in the Derby and wins by 10, maybe we'd go a different direction, but the way it unfolded, the Florida horses ran superb and we felt like we deserved to be competitive with those horses, as we were all winter."

In his most recent effort, Bourbon War was a late-closing fourth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park. He will race in the Preakness off of a seven-week layoff, which does not concern Hennig.

"He's been doing great," Hennig said. "We've been through seven weeks between races with him before. He doesn't need a whole lot, so we don't need to do too much now."

Bourbon War has sported blinkers for his last several works and will wear them in the Preakness. Hennig said that he expects Bourbon War to sit a little closer to the front this time.

"Hopefully [he'll be] midpack, a little closer than he's been," Hennig said. "I don't want to try to make up all that ground by the quarter pole. I think the blinkers will put him where he needs to be. The pace dictates where he needs to be a lot of times. When he ran in the allowance race, he wasn't that far back. Last time, he ended up getting shuffled back and that had a lot to do with it turning for home."

A solid effort from Bourbon War in the Preakness could result in a start in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 8 - the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"We wouldn't rule out anything," Hennig said. "We have a lot of clients involved that own a piece of the horse that are New Yorkers and they'd love to see him run in the Belmont. But it's all one step at a time."

Bourbon War has won two of his five career starts when breaking his maiden at first asking over the main track at Aqueduct on November 14. Two starts later, he defeated winners over the main track at Gulfstream Park.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will have the mount for the Preakness.

Bred in Kentucky by Conquest Stables, Bourbon War is the first foal out of Grade 1 winner My Conquestadory and was purchased for $410,000 from the 2016 Keeneland November Mixed Sale.

Also breezing for Hennig on Thursday morning was Courtlandt Farm's graded stakes winner Strike Power, who went a half-mile in 49.09 seconds with Hall of famer John Velazquez aboard. The son of Speightstown emerged off of an eight-month layoff last time out on April 25 when taking a Gulfstream Park allowance race by five lengths.

Hennig stated the Grade 2, $250,000 True North on June 7 is a possibility for Strike Power.

"Johnny worked him for us this morning and worked him well. I just told Johnny to sit on him and go a half in 49 or whatever he wanted to do. Something easy, because we got a ways to that race if we want to go there," said Hennig.

Following a highly impressive maiden victory last month at Gulfstream Park, Lee Lewis' Bernin' Thru Gold will seek a triumph against winner's in Friday's eighth race going one mile over the Belmont Park main track.

Third time was the charm for the sophomore son of Bernardini, who broke his maiden in wire-to-wire fashion and drew off to win by an astounding 15 ¾ lengths.

"He's got a lot of quality," Hennig said. "I was disappointed in his first race at Gulfstream. He kind of lunged up at the start, got left behind the field and never recovered. But last time he left there running and I was really pleased with his effort."

Bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, Bernin' Thru Gold is out of the Seeking the Gold broodmare Lochnivar's Gold, who also produced two-time stakes winner Mei Ling.

Henning also saddled another impressive third-out maiden winner, Reddam Racing's Cash Offer, who broke her maiden on April 27 at Belmont Park by 12 ½ lengths.

The daughter of Shackleford began her career out west with Doug O'Neill and made her career debut on July 4 at Los Alamitos, where she was fifth. The same race produced eventual Grade 1 winner Bellafina. Cash Offer was transferred to Hennig and made her debut for the trainer on March 22 at Aqueduct, where she was second.

"She's a nice filly that they sent from California," Hennig said. "She needed her first out race here and came back strong after. She's doing well so far."

The New York-bred Cash Offer is out of stakes winner Monono.

*      *     *

Brown barn leading the way at Belmont spring/summer meet

Chad Brown, a three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, will be a key player in Saturday's Man o' War Racing Festival with Separationofpowers lined up for the Grade 3 Vagrancy; Competitionofideas and Homerique in the Grade 3 Beaugay; and Focus Group in the featured Man o' War.

Brown enjoyed a tremendous Saturday at the races on Kentucky Derby Day, winning three graded turf stakes including the Grade 1 Turf Classic with Bricks and Mortar and the Grade 2 American Turf with Digital Age at Churchill Downs, as well as the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay with Santa Monica and the Grade 3 Fort Marcy with Olympico at Belmont.

The undefeated Digital Age, an Irish-bred son of Invincible Spirit owned by Klaravich Stables, made his first two starts at Tampa Bay Downs graduating on January 19 in a one-mile turf maiden and following up with a head score in the Columbia over the same surface and distance.

On Saturday, with Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, Digital Age rallied from eighth at the half-mile mark to win by three-quarters of a length over the well-regarded A Thread of Blue.

Brown said he is pointing the improving colt, who garnered a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in victory, towards the first leg of the Turf Trinity - the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational slated for July 6.

"He's been really consistent. We've always liked him and he has a good, strong finishing kick. We're going to try to get him eventually to the Belmont Derby. He'll probably go next in the Pennine Ridge [G3, $200,000]," said Brown.

The recently launched Turf Triple Series offers $5.25 million in purse money with the Turf Trinity and Turf Tiara seeking to attract the best 3-year-old turf runners in the country.

"It's a great idea, especially for someone like me who has a lot of turf horses," said Brown.

Brown sent out Turf Tiara contender Newspaperofrecord on May 3 at Churchill for her seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Edgewood. The previously undefeated daughter of Lope de Vega, who won the Grade 2 Miss Grillo and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in a stellar juvenile campaign, set a strong pace from the inside post in the 1 1/16-mile Edgewood, but was caught by Concrete Rose finishing 2 3/4-lengths back in second.

Brown said he expects a stronger effort from the talented bay next out.

"She just got tired. I didn't have her fit enough to do that. She should be good now," said Brown. "I don't think she needs the lead. Given the pace scenario and her post position, we decided to just go out there. In hindsight, I just didn't have her ready to set such demanding fractions and still finish against a really good filly that beat her. I'll make the proper adjustments for her next start."

The first leg of the filly Triple Tiara, the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks is also on July 6 as part of the Stars and Stripes Racing Festival.

Santa Monica, a 6-year-old daughter of Mastercraftsman owned by R Unicorn Stable, rallied last-to-first under a sharp ride by Joe Bravo to take the Sheepshead Bay on Derby Day at Belmont.

Brown said Santa Monica is slated to make her next start in the Grade 2, $600,000 New York on June 7 as part of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

"She ran really well. She'll be pointed to the New York Handicap. She came out of the race good," said Brown.

Brown is currently leading the Belmont spring/summer meet in both wins [7] and earnings [$471,712] and he'll look to add to those impressive stats with Rushing Fall and the returning Fog of War.

Rushing Fall, a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, has won seven of eight starts, her only loss coming, by a neck, in the Grade 3 Edgewood last year. The talented bay made her seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 13 at Keeneland, going gate-to-wire for her third career Grade 1 win.

"She's doing fine and pointing towards the Just a Game," said Brown.

The Grade 1, $700,000 Longines Just a Game, a one-mile turf test, is one of eight Grade 1 tilts on Belmont Stakes Day, June 8.

Peter M. Brant's undefeated Fog of War, a 3-year-old War Front colt, enjoyed an abbreviated juvenile campaign winning a maiden turf sprint on debut before shipping north to win the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine, where he overcame a troubled trip to rally past eventual multiple graded stakes winner War of Will for a three-quarter-length score.

Fog of War breezed eight times at Palm Meadows over the winter and had his second breeze on the Belmont main track on Tuesday covering four furlongs in 49.09 seconds.

Brown said the colt will target the $100,000 Paradise Creek, a seven-furlong turf stakes for straight 3-year-olds on March 25 at Belmont.

"He's doing well. He'll make his first start back in the Paradise Creek," said Brown. "He wintered really well. He had sore shins last year, so I had to stop on him but he's good now. He's a nice horse."

*      *     *

Always Shopping puts in final preparation for Black Eyed Susan; Coal Front on schedule for Met Mile

Graded stakes winner Always Shopping posted her final major work heading into next Friday's Grade 2, $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico Race Course, breezing four furlongs in 49.75 seconds on the Belmont training track Thursday morning.

"She's doing very well," said conditioner Todd Pletcher. "I thought she looked good this morning and she seems to be training very consistently. As of right now we're on schedule for next Friday's Black-Eyed Susan."

Posting her fourth workout since winning the Grade 2 Gazelle on April 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack, the homebred daughter of multiple graded stakes winner Awesome Again out of multiple graded stakes placed Stopshoppingmaria for owner Repole Stable didn't break her maiden until winning her fourth start, and first at two turns going 1 1/8 miles in the Busanda on February 3.

Now undefeated in two stakes starts at nine furlongs, Pletcher said he is looking forward to running her again at the same distance in the Black-Eyed Susan.

"We always felt that she'd be better stretching out going two turns with her pedigree and she's proven that so far," said Pletcher. "We know it won't be easy, but it's nice heading into the race knowing she's 2-for-2 at the distance."

The 4-year-old Life's a Parlay,who earned graded stakes honors for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias winning the Grade 3 Excelsior on April 6 at Aqueduct, also breezed Thursday morning, working five furlongs in 1:01.25 on the training track.

Satisfied with the work, Pletcher said he was still considering options on where he might run next.

"We have a couple of options to decide on I'll talk with the ownership group before moving forward," said Pletcher. "Among those are the [Grade 3] Pimlico Special [May 17] and the [Grade 3] Salvator Mile [Monmouth Park, May 25.]"

Multiple graded stakes winner Coal Front, who cleared quarantine and returned to Pletcher's home base at Belmont Park after winning the Group 2 Godolphin Mile on March 30 at Meydan Racecourse, posted his first work back breezing four furlongs in 50.88 seconds on May 3 and remains on target for a start in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Mile on Belmont Stakes Day, June 8, Pletcher said.

"Everything has gone really, really smoothly since coming back," said Pletcher. "We've got our eye on the Met [Mile], so we'll see how things continue to progress but that's kind of what we're thinking. The division looks tough, but you'd expect nothing less from a race like the that."

Following a victory in the Top Flight Invitational last month at Aqueduct, Pletcher will send Another Broad back to her home state of Maryland for the Grade 3, $150,000 Allaire duPont Distaff on May 17 at Pimlico.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Elayne Stables and Brian Martin, the daughter of Include was a three-time winner at Laurel Park before being privately purchased and transferred to Pletcher from former trainer Michael Trombetta.

"She's doing well," Pletcher said. "She came out of her last race in good order so we're looking forward to [the Allaire duPont Distaff]."

Bred in Maryland by Fitzhugh, Another Broad is out of the stakes winning and graded stakes placed Deputy Minister broodmare Dynamic Deputy - a full-sister to graded stakes winner Star Minister.

Pletcher also indicated that fellow Aqueduct stakes winner Clint Maroon would point for the Grade 3, $200,000 Pennine Ridge on June 1 over the Belmont Park turf course. The 3-year-old son of Oasis Dream won the Woodhaven on April 20 over the Ozone Park turf after a pair of victories over the grass at Gulfstream Park in the winter.

*      *     *

Enjoy Mother's Day at Belmont Park

Mother's Day weekend at Belmont Park is filled with an array of events to celebrate mom and family.

The 'Breakfast at Belmont' program returns on Mother's Day weekend, beginning Saturday, May 11 thorough Mother's Day, Sunday May 12 where racing fans can enjoy a buffet breakfast in the Belmont Café and watch horses train on the main track, beginning at 8 a.m. Admission to the 'Breakfast at Belmont' buffet is $15 or adults and $7.50 for children under the age of 6.

Dining in the Garden Terrace on Mother's Day is also available on Sunday with a special buffet lunch in Belmont Park's magnificent restaurant overlooking the racecourse. Enjoy gourmet offerings while taking in breathtaking views of the finish line and Winner's Circle. The first 500 moms to arrive for lunch will also receive one long-stemmed rose. The cost is $65 per person and $32.50 for children 12 and under. Children 5 and under are charged $10.

In Belmont Park's spacious backyard a special Mother's Day-themed Family Adventure Day will take place from noon-4 p.m., where kids can visit the "Mom Appreciation Station" and make mom a special card or charm. Arts and crafts tables and other activities for kids will take place as well.

*      *     *

G3 Soaring Softly probables

Saturday May 18: Grade 3, $100,000 Soaring Softly

Probable: Abyssinian (Wesley Ward), Entirely (Jonathan Thomas), Eyeinthesky (Mark Casse), Fancy Dress Party (Ben Colebrook), Fangirl (John Terranova), Feel Glorious (Christophe Clement), My Galina (Jorge Abreu) Possible: Fashion Faux Pas (Arnaud Delacour), Introduced (Jorge Duarte, Jr.)