Robert LaPenta

On paper, it appeared that Paramount Prince (Society's Chairman) had many things going for him heading into the 164th King's Plate at Woodbine. Trained by Mark Casse, who is one of only a handful of individuals who has been honored by both the U.S. and Canadian Hall of Fames, the chestnut was benefitting from the services of another Canadian stalwart in Patrick Husbands. Not to mention he is owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, the latter well-known for having campaigned the likes of a trio of Classic winners--2019 Preakness...

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-18, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:11.29, my, 1 1/2 lengths. COREY AND QUINN (f, 3, Uncle Mo--Youcan'tcatchme {Ch. Female Sprinter-Can, MGSW, $425,710}, by The Daddy) debuted as the 7-5 favorite here and after yielding the front up the backstretch to Spun Special (Hard Spun), the bay filly took over the lead around the far turn. With a sixteenth left, she found more to turn back a charge from La Girvina (Girvin) to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Out of an extended female family which includes GI Kentucky Oaks...

The New York Gaming Commission has suspended Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher 14 days and fined him $2,000 after a horse he trained tested positive for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone during a 2022 race at Saratoga. Via text message, Pletcher said he is appealing the penalty. He declined to comment further. The Paulick Report was first with the story. The horse in question, Capensis (Tapit), was the even-money favorite in the 10th race at Saratoga on July 30, 2022 and finished sixth. He is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners,...

Robert LaPenta, e Five Thoroughbred Racing and Madaket Stables' Kalik (Collected) took control of Saturday's GII Pennine Ridge S. in the first sixteenth of a mile, was beautifully rated from the front by Irad Ortiz, Jr. and had enough in the tank to hold off 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) and Godolphin's Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the stepping-stone to the GI Belmont Derby in five weeks' time. In so doing, he was becoming the second graded stakes winner in the space of 15 days...

1st-Gulfstream, $70,000, Msw, 3-17, 3yo, 1mT, 1:34.64, fm, nose. KALIK (c, 3, Collected--Coronation Street, by Street Cry {Ire}) began his career in a Sept. 16 Belmont at Big A maiden special over the main track which yielded 'TDN Rising Star' Signator (Tapit) and next-out winner Warman Road (Unified), finishing last in that field. The Triple Crown-nominated chestnut was moved to the turf and stretched out to 1 1/16 miles Oct. 23 at the venue, and came a much improved second to next-out stakes-winner Bat Flip (Good Magic). Opening his sophomore...

Our series featuring notable success for European sires in North America, with this week's highlight being the victory of Grade I winner Shantisara (Ire) (Coulsty {Ire}) in the GII Hillsborough S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Robert LaPenta's Shantisara is no stranger to the winner's circle, and the 2021 GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. heroine secured her first victory since 2021 with a 1 1/4-length triumph in the Hillsborough S. on Saturday (video). Now a 5-year-old, the mare was bred by Oliver Donlon, and sold...

5th-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 7-2, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 1:39.94, fm, 5 lengths. CAPENSIS (c, 3, Tapit--Tara's Tango {GISW, $806,004}, by Unbridled's Song), the $2-million topper at the covid-impacted 2020 Keeneland September sale, began repaying his powerful ownership group's investment Saturday with a dominant debut win on the grass. A bit chilly on the board at 5-1 having had all his recent preparations at Saratoga, the handsome grey was somewhat sluggish early and settled in second last off the inside. Ridden along on the turn for home, he got going in earnest...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 5th-BEL, $90k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, 3:03p.m. ET Carrying the weight of a princely $2 million KEESEP price tag as well as a host of well-known co-owners which includes breeders Stonestreet Farm, Capensis (Tapit) will be unveiled in this spot for trainer Todd Pletcher. Out of GI Santa Margarita S. winner Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song), he's half to fellow multi-million purchase Alexander Valley (Medaglia d'Oro)--a $2,150,000 buy at KEESEP by Godolphin. Capensis comes into the race off a bullet four furlong move over Saratoga's turf...

Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta's Miles D (Curlin) may have earned a trip to the G1 Saudi Cup in February with his victory in Saturday's Discovery S. at Aqueduct. "I'm not one to send my horses to other continents to run. I like to stick to my circuits. But that race has been on my mind with the right style of horse," trainer Chad Brown said. "This might be the kind of horse that fits for me trying one of those races. Although he's had a couple of hard races,...

3rd-AQU, $74k, OC45k/N2X, (S), 3yo/up, 1m, post tme: 1:19 p.m. ET NICKY THE VEST (Runhappy), sidelined since running his record to a perfect two-for-two with a runaway score versus state-breds in the Gander S. Feb. 14, returns to action at the Big A Thursday. The New York-bred, forced to miss the GII Wood Memorial S. due to a knee chip, faces seven rivals in a state-bred optional claimer with first-time Lasix in his comebacker. Both of his previous wins came over this same track and trip. "He had trained like...

2nd-Belmont, $90,000, Msw, 6-12, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.94, ft, 2 1/4 lengths. MILES D (c, 3, Curlin--Sound the Trumpets, by Bernardini) made a single visit to the races last season, a well-bet and close-up fourth at Aqueduct Oct. 11, in an event that has turned out to be no ordinary maiden. Next-out 'TDN Rising Star' and Smarty Jones S. winner Caddo River (Hard Spun) was runner-up to Godophin's Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and a half-length better than Greatest Honour (Tapit), who would go on to annex the GIII Holy Bull S....

Nicky the Vest, an impressive debut winner in December at Aqueduct, proved that no effort was no fluke with an authoritative romp in the New York-bred Gander S. Sunday at the Big A, becoming the first black-type winner for Claiborne Farm's Runhappy (by Super Saver) in the process. Unveiled as an 11-2 proposition against Empire-bred foes over track and trip Dec. 18, the $110,000 OBS October grad shook off some early pace pressure and kicked away to a 3 1/4-length score. Hammered late to go off as the clear favorite...