Legends of the Track: Frankie Dettori: Magnifico, Victory Gallop's Stephen Foster triumph, Thorpedo Anna, Sierra Leone Return to Work Tab + Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast!
Monday Edition - June 24th, 2024 (Edition 126)
Good Morning!
Saturday’s Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs will be the 25th anniversary of Victory Gallop's victory in perhaps the greatest performance in the race’s history.
Victory Gallop is always going to be remembered for one of the most dramatic moments in horse racing history—spoiling Real Quiet's Triple Crown bid with a thrilling late rally down the stretch. But there's so much more to his story. Victory Gallop had an illustrious career beyond that iconic race.
Today, we're also looking back at the extraordinary 36-year career of Frankie Dettori, the Italian jockey who has captivated the UK since his arrival in 1987. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey three times (1994, 1995 and 2004) and rode the winners of 287 Group 1 races including 23 winners of the British Classic Races. His most celebrated achievement was riding all seven winners on British Festival of Racing Day at Ascot Racecourse on 28 September 1996. Frankie is renowned for his flying dismount, which he admits he stole from the legendary jockey Ángel Cordero, Jr.
Meanwhile, Australian speedster Asfoora has made headlines by triumphing in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot. Trainer Henry Dwyer is looking forward to an exciting summer, with plans to compete at Goodwood, York, and possibly even a run in America.
What am I listening to? The Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
Finally, today’s Trivia Question: Can you name the British racetrack that was converted into a full circuit of about 2 miles and a half furlong, making it the longest continuous flat racing circuit in Europe? Think you know the answer? Drop it in the comments!
Riders up!
Steve
Legends of the Track:
Recalling Victory Gallop's Stephen Foster triumph
Photo - Eugene Viti @eviti_viti
By Brian Zipse
Before Birdstone, there was Victory Gallop.
The best race of early summer, this year’s Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs promises to be another strong renewal. Saturday’s edition will be the 25th anniversary of Victory Gallop's victory in perhaps the greatest performance in the race’s history.
With Northern Dancer, Mr. Prospector, Halo and Hoist the Flag all prominently in his bloodlines, the Canadian-bred was born to run, although it might not have looked that way when the bay colt made his debut at Delaware Park in the summer of 1997. Finishing fifth in that 5-furlong maiden race, it would remain the only poor race of his career.
As we soon learned, Victory Gallop needed that first race for trainer Mary Eppler. The son of the hickory runner Cryptoclearance also needed more distance. With a romping win 13 days later at Laurel Park, the career of a champion was off and running.
Two stakes victories at Colonial Park were followed by a late-running second-place finish in a sloppy edition of the Laurel Futurity to close out his juvenile season. A winner of three of five starts at 2, he was privately purchased and transferred to the barn of Elliot Walden.
Beginning his sophomore campaign in Arkansas, Victory Gallop won the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby to start his season. Still, he was somewhat ignored in the 1998 Kentucky Derby, being let go at odds of 14-1.
That proved to be a mistake as he flew down the Churchill Downs stretch under rider Alex Solis to finish second by a diminishing half-length to Real Quiet.
Read the full article at horseracingnation.com
Watch the thrilling 130th Belmont Stakes - Right on the heels of coming up short for the Triple Crown with Silver Charm, Bob Baffert was back with another shot in Real Quiet. In mid-stretch, it seemed like the drought between Triple Crown winners was over. It came down to the closest of photos with the nod going to a resolute, closing Victory Gallop.
Legends of the Track:
Frankie Dettori: Magnifico
Relive the remarkable 36 year career of Frankie Dettori as the Italian takes his final rides in Britain before moving his tack to the USA.
Read the full article at youtube.com
What am I listening to?
Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
Jason looks back at the weekend including his trip to Gulfstream Park, the Ohio Derby, and much more!
Listen to the Jason Beem Horse Racing Podcast
Saratoga:
Thorpedo Anna, Sierra Leone Return to Work Tab
Thorpedo Anna wins the Acorn Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Thorpedo Anna posted her first work since her victory in the June 7 Acorn (G1).
Nader Alaali, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks, and Magdalena Racing's dual-grade 1 winner Thorpedo Anna posted her first breeze since capturing the June 7 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
The current leader of the 3-year-old filly division following her Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Acorn triumphs, Thorpedo Anna worked a half-mile in :49.25 June 22 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga.
Trained by Kenny McPeek, the Fast Anna filly had lost her front right shoe during the run into the first turn of the Acorn, and the conditioner subsequently noted the foot was a little tender after the race.
"She did a maintenance half-mile by herself, easy stuff. We've got four weeks until she runs. Keeping her in routine, she is probably 95 to 100 percent for the Coaching Club if everything goes right," said McPeek. "We will evaluate the race and see about the Alabama or Travers next."
The $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), contested over 1 1/8 miles for sophomore fillies, is July 20 at Saratoga.
Read the full article at bloodhorse.com
Racing Overseas:
Dwyer eager to extend Asfoora party through the summer
Goodwood and York on the radar, with autumn campaign also on the cards.
Henry Dwyer is looking forward to further British outings at Goodwood and York this summer after his Australian speedball Asfoora’s triumph in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The five-year-old was beaten into fourth on her UK debut in Haydock’s Temple Stakes last month, but raised her game to become the sixth Australian-trained winner of Tuesday’s five-furlong Group One.
Dwyer and his connections enjoyed a week-long party at the Berkshire circuit and while he is shortly jetting home, his star mare is staying put, as she looks to continue her European adventure in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, the Nunthorpe at York and potentially the Prix d l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp.
Dwyer said: “We had a pretty late night and a big party in London. We’ve been here all week and it’s been similar each night, so I’m looking forward to 24 hours on the plane to myself!
“It was unexpected, which made it a little bit less stressful before the race, and after the race it was just surreal. It was satisfying and exciting.”
Of Asfoora, he added: “She’s going to have two weeks in the paddock now as we’ve got six weeks between now and Goodwood. She came through Ascot really well, she’s nice and bright and in good shape.
“We’ll probably head to Goodwood, then York and then maybe France and America, we’ll see what happens.
“The grand final was meant to be the Nunthorpe, but she’s got the job done already, so whatever happens now is a bonus.
Read the full article at attheraces.com
Where on Earth?
Can you name the British racetrack which was converted into a full circuit of about 2m ½f making it the longest continuous flat racing circuit in Europe?
To find the answer visit Steve’s Twitter/X page and scroll through the comments
Riders Up!
Best, Steve