Cagliostro Collects First Stakes Win in Hanshin

Jun 30, 2024 Darren Rogers

Wathnan Racing’s 4-year-old colt Cagliostro pressed the pace three-wide down the backstretch, put away 8-5 favorite Extra Anejo in upper stretch and turned back a late run by Tumbarumba to win Sunday’s 71st renewal of the $279,875 Hanshin presented by JRA (Listed) at Churchill Downs, the featured race on closing day of the 43-day Spring Meet that showcased five stakes events.

Cagliostro, who broke through to collect his first stakes win, prevailed by one length and clocked one mile over a fast track in 1:34.87. Flavien Prat rode the winner for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Breaking from post seven in the field of nine older horses, Cagliostro tracked three-wide outside of pacesetters Zozos and Extra Anejo, who ran the first quarter mile in :23.09 and the half in :46.09. Zozos, the defending Hanshin champ, checked out just past the half-mile marker while in tight quarters down along the rail.

Cagliostro, who cut back in distance after running second to Highland Falls in the 1 1/8-mile Blame on June 1, put away Extra Anejo nearing the three-sixteenths pole and spurted clear in the stretch. Louisiana-bred graded stakes winner Tumbarumba put in his usual late charge but could not get to Cagliostro.

“He had a really strong performance today,” Prat said. “It was the first time I rode him and he’s a very talented colt and had a nice kick home.”

The first prize was $163,680 and hiked Cagliostro’s bankroll to $436,668 with a record of 3-4-1 in 11 starts.

“We thought the cut back in distance would really suit him today to keep him and Pyrenees separated from running against one another in the Stephen Foster,” DeVaux said. “It worked out very well with Pyrenees running second in the Foster. We’re very happy for our entire team and this ownership group.”

Cagliostro paid $10.44, $5.32 and $3.78 as the 4-1 third betting choice. Tumbarumba, ridden by Luis Saez, paid $6.94 and $4.80 at odds of 6-1. Raise Cain was another 1 ¾ lengths back in third under Luan Machado and paid $9.36 to show at odds of 20-1.

Three Technique, Charge It, Happy American, Extra Anejo, Frosted Grace and Zozos completed the order of finish. Best Actor and Injunction were scratched.

Cagliostro is a Florida-bred son of Upstart out of the Hard Spun mare A Rosefor Isabelle who was bred by Lance Colwell and Janice Clark.

POLITICALLYCORRECT WITH LAST-TO-FIRST DEMOLITION JOB IN BASHFORD MANOR

Politicallycorrect, who broke his maiden on May 30 at Churchill Downs in gate-to-wire fashion, showed a new dimension Sunday when the young colt rallied from last with an eye-catching sweeping wide move to easily win the 123rd running of the $217,215 Bashford Manor (Listed) for 2-year-olds by five lengths over Smoken Wicked on closing day of the 43-day Spring Meet.

Politicallycorrect clocked six furlongs over a fast track in 1:10.56. Jose Ortiz rode the winner for Turfway Park-based trainer Chris Davis and owners Walmac Farm (Gary Broad), Five Fillies Stable LLC (Brett Setzer) and Ryan C. Ritt.

It was a contested early pace in the field of a dozen juveniles as California invader and 2-1 favorite Bodacious emerged on top with Enduring Spirit and Spiralizer chasing through an opening quarter mile in :21.41. Politicallycorrect was last as the field entered the turn and that’s when Ortiz dropped his hands to let the colt run. In a blitz, Politicallycorrect circled the field from the outside and left the turn in contention after a half mile in :45.97. He grabbed the lead at the three-sixteenths pole and proved his superiority in this last-to-first demolition job.

“He was a little unsettled in the gate and then broke pretty slowly,” Ortiz said. “After that I just tried to let him relax as much as he could down the backside. He really kicked powerfully home. I think showing his versatility at a young age is very important. He was on the pace last time and today he came from the back. The extra distance wasn’t a problem at all.”

Politicallycorrect’s triumph was worth $130,320 and increased his bankroll to $199,320 with a perfect record in two starts. His debut win came in a 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight that he won by 1 ¼ lengths while leading all the way.

“This horse has been training great over the Tapeta at Turfway and it really translated to the dirt,” Davis said. “Showing multiple dimensions as a young horse is so impressive. I told Jose that the way this horse is built that he should have no issues settling if he needs to. That’s what ended up happening and you can really tell that two-turns shouldn’t be a problem for him going forward.”

A $175,000 purchase at this year’s OBS March sale, Politicallycorrect is by Violence out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Heron Watch. He was bred in Kentucky by St. George Farm LLC.

Politicallycorrect returned $16.62, $9.68 and $6.88 as the 7-1 fourth betting choice. Smoken Wicked, under Brian Hernandez Jr. at 32-1, paid $22.98 and $11.62. It was another 3 ¾ lengths back to 6-1 Ivan the Great in third, who paid $5.70 to show under Antonio Fresu.

Mo Hair Sam, Conquering Cat, Bodacious, Spiralizer, War Tax, Enduring Spirit, Moneyline, Happyflyer and 7-2 second betting choice Heat completed the order of finish. Vinegar Hill was scratched.

First run in 1902, the Bashford Manor is named for the former Louisville Thoroughbred breeding and racing farm that dominated the American racing scene in the early 1900s. George J. Long, a wealthy foundry owner, purchased Bashford Manor Farm in 1887 and developed his Thoroughbred operation that provided him two Derby wins as an owner, 1892 (Azra) and 1906 (Sir Huon), and three as a breeder, 1892 (Azra), 1899 (Manuel) and 1906 (Sir Huon). In addition, Bashford Manor also won the Kentucky Oaks in 1894 (Selika) and 1915 (Kathleen). The original Wilder family owned Bashford Manor. The Wilders were direct descendants of Lord Baltimore, whose English home was also called Bashford Manor. Long died in 1930 and the farm was eventually sold in 1973 to make way for the development of a mall complex, fittingly named Bashford Manor, that formally closed in 2003.

VODKA WITH A TWIST REFRESHING WINNER OF $225,000 DEBUTANTE

Vodka With a Twist broke alertly and led every step of the way for a convincing three-length win over So There She Was in Sunday’s 123rd running of the $218,750 Debutante (Listed) for 2-year-old fillies on closing day a Churchill Downs.

Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat ran six furlongs over a muddy track in 1:10.58 for owners Philip Shelton’s Medallion Racing, Omar Aldabbagh and William Strauss.

Breaking from post 6 in the field of seven fillies, Vodka With a Twist opened a quick 1 ½-length advantage over her rivals as she zipped the first quarter mile in :21.51 and the half in :45.47. Southern California invader So There She Was chased throughout and was second best.

“We broke really fast out of the gate and she showed a lot of natural speed today,” Prat said. “Going this far for the first time she handled it really well and she was able to take her speed all the way to the wire.”

The victory was worth $136,520 which increased Vodka With a Twist’s earnings to $209,320 with record of 2-0-0 in three starts. Prior to her Debutante triumph, Vodka With a Twist broke her maiden at Churchill Downs on May 17 by one length.

Vodka With a Twist paid $4.62, $2.92 and $2.42 as the 6-5 favorite. So There She Was, under Antonio Fresu at odds of 2-1, returned $3.50 and $2.72. Fortuna Mia, at 18-1 with Luis Saez up, was another five lengths back in third and paid $4.56 to show.

It was another two lengths back to Glee in fourth, who was followed by Adeera, Daisy Duke and La Marinera.

Vodka With a Twist is a daughter of Thousand Words out of the Sky Mesa mare Bourbon and a Kiss. She was bred in Kentucky by Pillar Property Services Inc., and purchased as a yearling at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton October Sale for $2,500.

The Debutante was first staged in 1895 and is one of Churchill Downs’ most storied races.

WALKATHON LIVES UP TO NAME IN $175,000 ANCHORAGE STAKES

Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC’s 5-year-old homebred mare Walkathon lived up to her name when she went straight to the front, set soft early fractions and spurted home with plenty of energy left to turn back a late run by Forever After All and win Sunday’s third running of the $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes by a half-length at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr. for trainer Ian Wilkes, Walkathon covered over 1 1/8 miles on “good” turf in 1:49.69 to collect the third stakes victory of her career. She defeated McKulick (GB) to win the 2002 Regret (Grade III) at Churchill Downs as a 3-year-old. Earlier this year, she prevailed in the $150,000 Endeavour (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Walkathon stepped out to lead the cast of seven fillies and mares through slow fractions of :24.18, :49.54 and 1:14.01 with 8-5 favorite Heavenly Sunday stalking about 1 ½ lengths behind and Forever After All tracking in fourth. Walkathon was well in hand leaving the final turn as Heavenly Sunday attempted to apply pressure. She was roused by Hernandez in deep stretch and held sway from Forever After All’s late charge.

“It was just a perfect trip,” Hernandez Jr. said. “I was able to really let her relax on the lead and let her do her thing. It was fairly straightforward of a trip for a really nice mare.”

Walkathon paid $8.10, $4.94 and $3.06 as the 3-1 second betting choice. Forever After All, at 7-2 under Adam Beschizza, returned $4.78 and $2.64. Heavenly Sunday, ridden by Florent Geroux, was another 1 ½ lengths back in third and paid $2.36 to show.

Be My Sunshine, Personal Best, Embrace Me and Tower Bridge completed the running order. Fast as Flight and Misread were scratched.

Walkathon improved her record to 5-3-1 in 16 starts and the $105,836 first prize jumped her earnings to $582,360.

She is a daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Stroll mare Walkabout and was bred in Kentucky by her owner Janis R. Whitham.

“You’ve got to be proud of her,” Wilkes said. “She always shows up and runs hard. She definitely handled the mile-and-an-eighth stretch out well. Brian rode a great race just letting her really relax and wait on her. We’re going to enjoy this win today and then I’ll talk to the Whithams to make a plan going forward.”

The Anchorage honors the suburb of Louisville, a heavily shaded city in eastern Jefferson County, Ky.

RAGING TORRENT RETURNS FROM CALIFORNIA TO TAKE $175,000 MAXFIELD

Mark Davis’ Southern California invader Raging Torrent broke fast from the gate and turned back late challenges from Otto the Conqueror and World Record to determinedly win Sunday’s third running of the $173,700 Maxfield Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths.

Breaking from the outside post in a compact field of five 3-year-olds, Raging Torrent set fractions of :22.37, :44.65 and 1:09.22 before stopping the teletimer in 1:22.04 over a “good” track with Antonio Fresuup for trainer Doug O’Neill.

“He’s a very fast horse and around the far turn I was able to let him relax a little bit,” Fresu said. “At the quarter-pole, I was able to ask him again and he really fought hard the entire stretch to not let another horse by.”

Previously, Raging Torrent won a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs by 8 ¼ lengths in the seven-furlong race immediately after the Kentucky Derby. He shipped back to Kentucky from his Santa Anita base to score his first stakes victory Sunday.

“It’s just a beautiful day being able to win a stakes race at Churchill Downs,” O’Neill said. “On Derby Day, Antonio Fresu said that the track was a little quicker than it was today. In today’s race Antonio was able to give him a nice mid-race breather and I think that really made the difference. He’s very versatile whether it be dirt or turf.”

Raging Torrent, the even-money favorite, paid $4.16, $2.90 and $2.24. Otto the Conqueror, who surged late for second as the 3-1 third betting choice with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle, returned $4.02 and $2.50. World Record, at 5-2 with Flavien Prat up, was another half-length back in third and paid $2.34. Carbone was fourth and Hold My Bourbon was fifth. Lucky Jeremy and This Is Uscar were scratched.

Raging Torrent, a son of Maximus Mischief out of the Violence mare Violent Wave, improved his record to 3-1-2 in nine starts. The $107,200 first prize boosted his career earnings to $317,400. He was bred in Kentucky by Rodney J. Winkler and Alfonso Mazzetti.

The Maxfield Stakes is named in honor of Godolphin’s eight-time winning horse. Maxfield was a two-time Grade I winner and won his career finale in last year’s $750,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) at Churchill Downs.

HANSHIN QUOTES

Flavien Prat (jockey, Cagliostro, winner): “He had a really strong performance today. It was the first time I rode him and he’s a very talented colt and had a nice kick home.”

Cherie DeVaux (trainer, Cagliostro, winner): “We thought the cut back in distance would really suit him today to keep him and Pyrenees separated from running against one another in the Stephen Foster. It worked out very well with Pyrenees running second in the Foster. We’re very happy for our entire team and this ownership group.”

Brian Lynch (trainer, Tumbarumba, runner-up): “Every single time he runs, he runs his heart out. He did it once again today. He just tries so hard and has been a string of bad luck the last couple races running second.”

BASHFORD MANOR QUOTES

Jose Ortiz. (jockey, Politicallycorrect, winner): “He was a little unsettled in the gate and then broke pretty slowly. After that I just tried to let him relax as much as he could down the backside. He really kicked powerfully home. I think showing his versatility at a young age is very important. He was on the pace last time and today he came from the back. The extra distance wasn’t a problem at all.”

Chris Davis (trainer, Politicallycorrect, winner): “This horse has been training great over the Tapeta at Turfway and it really translated to the dirt. Showing multiple dimensions as a young horse is so impressive. I told Jose that the way this horse is built that he should have no issues settling if he needs to. That’s what ended up happening and you can really tell that two-turns shouldn’t be a problem for him going forward.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey, Smoken Wicked, runner-up): “He’s going to be a really nice horse. He’s still learning and ran a good race today. He’s just starting to figure it out.”

DEBUTANTE QUOTES

Flavien Prat (jockey, Vodka With a Twist, winner): “We broke really fast out of the gate and she showed a lot of natural speed today. Going this far for the first time she handled it really well and she was able to take her speed all the way to the wire.”

Antonio Fresu (jockey, So There She as, runner-up): “I was asking her nearly the entire race. She started to get her stride late down the stretch but it was a little bit late. She ran a good race.”

ANCHORAGE QUOTES

Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey, Walkathon, winner): “It was just a perfect trip. I was able to really let her relax on the lead and let her do her thing. It was fairly straightforward of a trip for a really nice mare.”

Ian Wilkes (trainer, Walkathon, winner): “You’ve got to be proud of her. She always shows up and runs hard. She definitely handled the mile-and-an-eighth stretch out well. Brian rode a great race just letting her really relax and wait on her. We’re going to enjoy this win today and then I’ll talk to the Whithams to make a plan going forward.”

MAXFIELD QUOTES

Antonio Fresu (jockey, Raging Torrent, winner): “He’s a very fast horse and around the far turn I was able to let him relax a little bit. At the quarter-pole I was able to ask him again and he really fought hard the entire stretch to not let another horse by.”

Doug O’Neill (trainer, Raging Torrent, winner): “It’s just a beautiful day being able to win a stakes race at Churchill Downs. On Derby Day, Antonio Fresu said that the track was a little quicker than it was today. In today’s race Antonio was able to give him a nice mid-race breather and I think that really made the difference. He’s very versatile whether it be dirt or turf.”

Tyler Gaffalione (jockey, Otto the Conqueror, runner-up): “The horse did everything right today but the speed never backed up. We just ended up being second best.”