Chocolate Gelato

When the Fasig-Tipton July Sale of Selected Yearlings catalogue came out, Tony Ocampo admitted it was exciting to see Grade I winner Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), a graduate of his Rose Hill Farm, on the cover. It was not until a few weeks later, when the Fasig-Tipton July Selected Horses of Race Age Sale catalogue came out with Stilleto Boy (Shackleford) on the cover, that Ocampo realized the operation had completed a rare double. "I didn't know it was going to happen," Ocampo said. "The yearling catalogue came out earlier...

ELMONT, NY - A pair of stakes races, led by the featured GII Wonder Again S. for 3-year-old fillies on grass, will raise the curtain on the three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival Thursday afternoon. Repole Stable's Spansive (Karakontie {Jpn}) will put her perfect two-for-two record on the line for Todd Pletcher while making her stakes debut in the eight-deep Wonder Again. Trainer Chad Brown will have three chances for his fifth Wonder Again win. He will saddle 5-2 morning-line favorite Revalita (Fr) (Recoletos {Fr}), a rallying second in the GII...

Interpolate continued sire Into Mischief's wonderful weekend of wins, as the $300,000 FTSAUG purchase ran on nicely down the Aqueduct stretch to notch her first black-type victory for the red-lettered 'KS' of Klaravich. After a debut fourth behind Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke) by 12 1/4-lengths Aug. 14 at The Spa, the bay filly broke her maiden Oct. 14 during the BAQ meet when she edged away from Royal Poppy (Classic Empire). Trainer Chad Brown then shipped her to Pennsylvania for the Parx Futurity Jan. 3, a race over a sloppy...

LEXINGTON, KY -  Mike Repole is heading into Breeders' Cup weekend with 'Uncle Mo' on his side. After fulfilling a lifelong dream by running one-two in the GI Belmont S. with the recently retired and Spendthrift-bound Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) and Nest (Curlin)--one of Repole's seven Grade I victories on the year--the momentum has continued to build for the native New Yorker's stable ahead of this year's Championships at Keeneland. 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) and Chocolate Gelato (Practical Joke), two of the bigger names on the 'Future Stars Friday'...

Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor and Westerberg's Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), undefeated in four prior starts at Keeneland, worked five furlongs in 1:03.80 as he completed his preparations toward defending his title in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. "Sometimes when you come up to a big event like the Breeders' Cup, you can get a little nervous and try to overdo things," said trainer Wesley Ward. "But we are just sticking with the plan." Also working Friday for Ward was Stonestreet Stables's 'TDN Rising Star' Love Reigns...

Todd Pletcher, this week's Green Group Guest of the Week on the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland, has 12 Breeders' Cup wins, a total that figures to be on the rise next month. Pletcher said he will have at least eight horses running in the Breeders' Cup, a group headed by his dynamic duo of Nest (Curlin) and Malathaat (Curlin) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, Forte (Violence) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Annapolis (War Front) in...

While life may provide only a handful of certainties, trainer Todd Pletcher showing up with a powerful battalion of runners on Breeders' Cup Day can be counted on to be one of them. The 2022 renewal of the World Championships, slated for Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland, is shaping up to be no different. Since the beginning of the month, the Hall of Famer has annexed seven Grade I or Grade II races, highlighted by Life Is Good (Into Mischief), winner of the Oct. 1 GI Woodward S. Undefeated in four...

The dams of four Grade I winners, including a pair of 2-year-olds that will be among the favorites for the juvenile dirt races at the upcoming Breeders' Cup meeting at Keeneland, are among the initial supplemental entries to The November Sale to be held at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks Sunday, Nov. 6. Trophy Girl (Warrior's Reward) will be offered by Denali Stud as hip 302. The 9-year-old mare, selling in foal to dual Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality, is the dam of Blazing Sevens (Good Magic), third behind recent GI Claiborne...

Repole Stable's CHOCOLATE GELATO (f, 2, Practical Joke--Special Treat, by Candy Ride {Arg}) put in a strong turn run and wore down game pacesetter You're My Girl (Overanalyze) to prevail in Sunday's GI Frizette S. at Belmont at the Big A. The 8-5 favorite settled for third at 55-100 in her Saratoga opening day unveiling July 14, but returned a month later to atone and romp by 8 1/2 lengths, good for a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. She stopped the clock in 1:38.57 in the slop Sunday. Sales history: $165,000...