ELMONT, N.Y. – Cleber Massey’s Blamed, a 5-year-old Blame mare bred in Maryland by Sagamore Farm, has been retired.
“She’s gone home to the farm and has been retired,” said Hall of Famer trainer Bill Mott.
Blamed finished third last out in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap on September 6 at Saratoga.
The multiple graded-stakes winner posted a career record of 17-9-3-1 with purse earnings of $618,065 led by wins in the 2018 Grade 3 Comely at the Big A and the 2019 Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park.
Multiple graded-stakes winner Tacitus, trained by Mott for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms, continues to train forwardly at Saratoga in preparation for the Grade 1, $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10.
Mott said Tacitus will look to secure his first career Grade 1-win in the 10-furlong test which offers a berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland.
“That’s our plan,” said Mott. “He stayed in Saratoga to train up to it.”
In July, Tacitus captured the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont adding to a ledger that includes wins in last year’s Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and Grade 2 Wood Memorial at the Big A.
The Tapit grey, out of Eclipse Award-winner Close Hatches, boasts a record of 13-4-4-2 with purse earnings in excess of $2.9 million.
Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Channel Maker, a 6-year-old English Channel chestnut, continues to flourish after winning the Grade 1 Sword Dancer last out on August 29 at the Spa.
In victory, the Canadian-bred gelding matched a career-best 108 Beyer first achieved in his 2018 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational score.
Mott said Channel Maker will next make his fourth start in the Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch, a 12-furlong turf marathon which is slated for October 3. Channel Maker’s previous Joe Hirsch efforts include a sixth in 2017 and a second last year when a half-length back of Arklow.
“It was a good run from him last out,” said Mott. “Hopefully, he can repeat it.”
Goldophin homebred Endorsed, a 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt, finished second to Spinoff last out in the nine-furlong Alydar on August 8.
With four wins and three seconds from 11 starts, Mott said he might point Endorsed to the Grade 2, $150,000 Kelso Handicap on October 3 to attempt a first career stakes score.
Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Chaleur worked a half-mile in 49.05 Sunday on the Belmont dirt training track in preparation for Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Noble Damsel at one-mile on the Widener turf.
“She went nicely on the dirt this morning. She’s pointed to the Noble Damsel,” said Mott.
The 4-year-old Dansili bay earned a 92 Beyer last out when second to probable Noble Damsel rival Feel Glorious in the 1 1/16-mile Perfect Sting on August 14 on the Saratoga turf.
LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable’s maiden Repo Rocks, who got loose in the paddock ahead of Saturday’s sixth race at Belmont, is in good order. The 2-year-old Tapiture colt, bred in Virginia by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin III, was a $70,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
“He’s fine,” said Mott. “He had a nice tour of the barn area and was back on the track training this morning.”
Press Release Photo: Blamed winning the 2018 Comely Stakes G3 at Aqueduct under jockey Julien Leparoux as her girth comes undone. Credit: NYRA/Coglianese Photos
