Yesterday and today: July 2 racing highlights
Trainer Phil Schoenthal and jockey Feargal Lynch are all smiles after Inspired Flight won. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From Staff Reports
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: INSPIRED FLIGHT TAKES DEEP MAIDEN EVENT
With bettors almost entirely focused on Sagamore Farm homebred Riley’s Choice, there wasn’t much money left over to put on horses like Inspired Flight.
No one told Inspired Flight that she was 13-1, however, and the Maryland-bred daughter of Orientate ran like the high-quality runner her connections believe she is, battling to a one-length score in a five furlong maiden contest replete with flashy pedigrees at Laurel Park Friday.
Under a hustling ride from Feargal Lynch, who won three consecutive races on the card, Inspired Flight broke alertly and soon scooted up along the inside to take the lead from Mountain Hawk. Inspired Flight maintained a short lead around the bend, but Mountain Hawk seized command in the lane and appeared to be en route to the win. But Inspired Flight battled back to put that rival away and earn the victory in 59.58 seconds. Late running Party Boat nipped Mountain Hawk late to get the place spot.
It was a field full of first starters — all nine runners were making their debuts — with intriguing pedigrees. Riley’s Choice, who finished fifth at 7-10, is by Distorted Humor out of 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf champion Shared Account. Friesan Gal, who finished sixth, is a Friesan Fire filly who is a half-sister to local stakes winner Lexington Street. And Rum Go, who finished eighth, is a half-sister to promising four-year-old Casual Cocktail.
Inspired Flight is out of the winning Not for Love mare I Love to Fly and was bred by Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds LLC. She was bought for $33,000 as a yearling by D. Hatman Thoroughbreds.
[su_divider top=”no” style=”double” size=”9″]BY THE NUMBERS
- HANDLE:
- Charles Town: $801,579
- Laurel Park: $1,685,029
- Monmouth Park: Canceled after seven races
- Penn National: $871,107
- CLAIMS:
- Charles Town: 1
- Laurel Park: 2
- Monmouth Park: 5
- Penn National: 2
- MULTIPLE WINNERS
- JOCKEYS
- Feargal Lynch, 3 wins at Laurel
- Guillermo Rodriguez, 2 wins at Charles Town
- Gerald Almodovar, 2 wins at Charles Town
- Arnaldo Bocachica, 2 wins at Charles Town
- JOCKEYS
LOOK AHEAD: TODAY’S RACING
- Tracks in action today: Delaware Park, Parx Racing, Laurel Park, Monmouth Park, Penn National, and Charles Town.
- Monmouth Park hosts the Grade 3 Salvator Mile today, with Eddie Plesa trainee Mr. Jordan the slight 8-5 morning line favorite. Todd Pletcher trainee Comfort is 2-1. Check out Shore Bets to see who aspiring announcer John Piassek likes in here, and why.
- The top race on the Laurel Park card today is the eighth, a second allowance going 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. Koala Queen (9-5) is favored and deservedly so; the Arnaud Delacour-trained daughter of Lonhro has two wins from four starts and was beaten just over two lengths when sixth last out in the Hilltop Stakes over Preakness weekend. One of her Hilltop rivals came back to win in stakes company. Forest Boyce will ride; she and Delacour are hitting at a 35 percent clip. Delacour’s other runner in here, Hidden Treat (3-1), has done her best running at sprint distances in her brief, five race career — but her pedigree screams distance. She was a good third last out in the Stormy Blues at Pimlico.
- Gary Capuano trainee Elusive Joni (4-1) made her first turf try a winning one at Pimlico last out, and the Colonel John filly is a logical contender in today’s seventh at Delaware, a $36,000 allowance going five furlongs on the turf, and will have hot rider Brian Pedroza (32 percent) in the irons. Lightly raced Christophe Clement trainee Sanctifica (7-5) — a five-year-old mare with just six career starts — is favored after a pair of third-place finishes at Gulfstream this spring. Gabriel Saez is up.
