Elliott awaits first Kentucky Derby mount aboard Right to Party

• Elliott awaits first Kentucky Derby mount aboard Right to Party
• Solitude Dude targets G1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun
• Pashmina taking shot in G1 Kentucky Oaks
• And One More Time points to G1 Just a Game off Listed Plenty of Grace score
• Multiple stakes-placed Sounds Like a Plan back in action in salty Friday allowance

As the son of multiple Grade 1-winning jockey Stewart Elliott, Christopher Elliott grew up around horse racing’s brightest lights. Now, he is set for one of the sport’s biggest stages, as he’s slated to ride the Ken McPeek-trained Right to Party in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs.

Elliott was born on April 19, 2006, almost two years after his father nearly captured the Triple Crown aboard Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness ahead of a shocking second to upset winner Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes. Despite that loss, the 8-for-9 Smarty Jones remains one of racing’s most beloved horses, with his Hall of Fame bio beginning, “was the horse everyone fell in love with.”

“I’ve watched that Kentucky Derby 1,000 times or more, as well as the Preakness and Belmont. I’ve watched those races since I could watch TV,” said Elliott. “Now, I still can’t believe I’ll be in it. It feels amazing. I’m very fortunate and really appreciate Kenny McPeek, the owner and the whole team, for keeping me on the horse. So young into my career, I have the opportunity to go to the Derby.”

Elliott punched his Derby ticket aboard Chester Broman, Sr.’s Right to Party in the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino, on April 4 at Aqueduct Racetrack. There, he rallied the son of Constitution from 11th-of-12 through the half-mile to nose out Ocelli for second, 1 1/4 lengths behind the victorious Albus.

Right to Party secured 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the nine-furlong runner-up effort, adding to 15 that he picked up for a third with Elliott aboard in the local one-turn mile Grade 3 Gotham, enough to make the gate for the “Run for the Roses.”

“I was really happy with the Wood performance. That late run is what he’s shown ever since he ran first time out,” Elliott said. “That second was by a nose, if we were to run third, we wouldn’t have made it, so it was huge to run second. He’s continuing to improve and I like the distance. The more distance, the better.”

Elliott, who grew up riding the pony on his family’s farm in New Jersey, said it wasn’t replays of his father’s Kentucky Derby winning ride that sparked his interest in officially becoming a jockey, but instead a day at Del Mar watching in person.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. When I was maybe around 14 years old, my dad won two stakes on a card at Del Mar and that was what kind of lit the spark for me,” Elliott said. “I want to thank my Dad, my uncle Richard Bracho, who is also a rider, and everyone who supported me. Sarah Davidson was the first trainer to give me a job. There are a lot of people I’d like to thank.”

On April 21, 2024, two days after his 18th birthday, Elliott made his first career start aboard Ru Mor Starter and crossed the wire 3 3/4 lengths in front in a maiden claimer at Lone Star Park. Agent Jose Santos, Jr. was tuned in and immediately reached out to team up.

“I watched his first race because everyone in Texas loved Chris because of how good of a kid he is,” said Santos, Jr. “I knew him and his family well, the Texas racing community is a tight-knit group, so I locked in on his first race and I thought he did a beautiful job. I messaged him on Instagram right when he crossed the wire, he called me 20 minutes later, hired me and we’ve been together ever since.”

Santos, Jr. is the son of Hall of Fame jockey Jose Santos, who piloted New York-bred Funny Cide to wins in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness before a Triple Crown denial by Empire Maker in the Belmont – one year before Smarty Jones followed a similar trajectory.

“This is a very cool connection and I was actually around for those races,” said the 31-year-old Santos, Jr. “Chris wasn’t born yet, but my Dad was competing in those races against his. I remember my seat for Smarty Jones, as well as Funny Cide, obviously. We grew up having that as the standard, so we are both very adamant that this is where we want to be in life one day.”

Added Elliott, “I’ve talked to his Dad many times, and it’s cool because his Dad was 2003 and mine was 2004, back-to-back. We [Santos, Jr. and I] have an apartment about five minutes from Belmont Park. We talk every day and are really good friends, in real life, not just business wise. He does a really good job.”

Though he did make one start in August 2024 at Saratoga Race Course, Elliott began riding full-time on The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) the following month during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet. He posted a 154-14-10-21 record that year on the circuit, and last year surged to a NYRA ledger of 755-73-82-105 with $5.4 million in earnings – good for a nomination as Eclipse Award Outstanding Apprentice.

“I just wanted to ride as many good horses as I could and get the opportunities to win big races. That’s it,” Elliott said. “I’m just taking it day by day, trying to learn from every race. You can always learn something every day.”

Elliott, who became a journeyman in July, notched NYRA stakes wins last year in the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way aboard Sunday Boy, as well as the Listed $150,000 Tempted [Shilling], the $150,000 Joseph A. Gimma [Sweet Montreal], the $150,000 NYSSS Spectacular Bid [Friend Ofthe Devil] and the $150,000 Rick Violette [Leon Blue].

“On and off the track, Chris is just a really nice dude,” said Santos, Jr. “He’s proven his professionalism in New York. Everyone knows how hard it is for apprentices in New York when they lose their bug, most often they move to other circuits, but I believe his hard work will keep him in New York for the long term.

“The Derby mount didn’t happen overnight, he had to put in a lot of work to get there,” Santos, Jr. continued. “He had to gain Kenny’s trust and show up in the big moments. We’re super excited for this. It is an awesome opportunity.”

Right to Party holds a 4-1-1-2 record, making all four starts at Aqueduct and featuring a second-out graduation going a one-turn mile in January with Reylu Gutierrez up. Elliott was aboard for the chestnut’s other three outings, including a third on debut behind next-out Gotham-winner Iron Honor and next-out winner Crossingthechannel.

“He was still a little green in the Wood, figuring things out, but he’s learning quickly,” Elliott said. “I like the horse, he’s got a lot of talent.”

The same can be said of the 20-year-old rider, who will look to write a story of his own under the Twin Spires.

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Solitude Dude targets G1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun

Chris Fountoukis’ Solitude Dude picked up his fourth win from five career starts with a two-length score as the 1-9 mutuel favorite in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Bay Shore, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The winning effort, which garnered a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, sets up Solitude Dude for a start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun, also at seven furlongs for sophomores on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. and piloted by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, the Yaupon colt is usually on the engine but was fractious in the gate and broke last-of-four before settling into a stalking trip behind Time to Roll, whose own gate antics may have set off Solitude Dude.

Solitude Dude was initially tracking from the rail but was able to tip out three-wide to stalk Time to Roll, who also moved out a path through a half-mile in 44.80 seconds over the fast main track. Solitude Dude rallied wide through the turn under urging from Castellano and took command approaching the eighth pole to secure the win under a drive in a final time of 1:23.

“He was the big favorite, so you're hoping he'll get it done,” Joseph, Jr. said via phone after the race. “He got a bit restless in the gate after the horse that ran second acted up and then he reacted. That was a bit uncharacteristic for him.”

Joseph, Jr. said Castellano made a smart call to stalk Time to Roll, who added blinkers under Jaime Rodriguez.

“The other horse had speed, and Javier did the right thing to take him back and let him relax,” Joseph, Jr. said. “At the quarter-pole, it looked briefly like he [Time to Roll] might get away but in a few strides, he had put the race away. Overall, a workmanlike performance and it sets him up well for the Woody Stephens.”

Solitude Dude romped to prominent sprint wins in each of his first three outings in Florida, taking stakes scores in the Inaugural in December at Tampa Bay Downs by eight lengths and the Listed Swale in January at Gulfstream Park by 3 3/4-lengths. He suffered his first defeat when stretched out to 1 1/16-miles for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in February at Gulfstream where he held a narrow lead at the stretch call but settled for third behind Kentucky Derby hopefuls Commandment and Chief Wallabee.

Joseph, Jr. indicated the connections wanted to give Solitude Dude one shot going long in a Derby prep.

“He wanted to give it one try in the Fountain of Youth and he did run well but after that, thankfully, he said we could cut him back. We'll stay at one turn for the foreseeable future,” Joseph, Jr. said. “I feel he's the best one-turn horse [in the division right now] - obviously, there’s some other one-turn horses coming through the ranks.”

Joseph, Jr. said Solitude Dude may benefit down the road from the stalking tactics learned in the Bay Shore.

“He's versatile. As much speed as he has, he's very push button. He can go; he can sit. [Yesterday], he needed his versatility,” Joseph, Jr. said. “That's a good thing to have especially going seven-eighths where some races can go a fast pace the whole race. He has options and doesn't need the lead.”

Joseph, Jr. indicated Solitude Dude, who reportedly sustained a cut on a front ankle in the Bay Shore, will remain in the Empire State to train up to the Woody Stephens.

“It's seven weeks to the Woody Stephens so it doesn't make sense to bring him back to Florida right now,” Joseph, Jr. said. “We'll keep him at Belmont for a few weeks and then ship him up to Saratoga in mid-May.”

The Oklahoma barn area at Saratoga Race Course opened to licensed trainers and staff on Wednesday with training on the Oklahoma scheduled to begin Monday.

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Pashmina taking shot in G1 Kentucky Oaks

Red White and Blue Racing’s Pashmina was second in Aqueduct Racetrack’s Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle on April 4 and will now take a shot in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Rob Atras, the sophomore daughter of Constitution breezed a solo half-mile in 47.97 seconds on Friday over the Belmont Park dirt training track. It was her first breeze back since her pacesetting 1 1/4-length defeat to Always a Runner in the nine-furlong Gazelle, which offered the top five finishers a respective 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points.

“She worked really good on Friday,” Atras said. “The track was a little quick, the clocker said. I didn’t think she was moving that fast, but they got her in 47 and four. I was impressed with the way she did it. Her energy and everything is good, she came out of it well. As of right now, we’re planning to leave for Churchill on Tuesday.”

The bay filly was previously third and fourth in the Untapable and Silverbulletday, respectively, going one-mile and 70 yards at Fair Grounds Race Course, ahead of a third to Bottle of Rouge in the one-mile Sunland Park Oaks on February 15 at its namesake track.

“The Gazelle was kind of the race we’ve been looking for from her,” Atras said. “We always thought she was a nice filly. She had some troubled trips, so we were looking for this type of effort. We were thrilled, obviously it is tough to get beat, but I believe the winner is a legit Oaks contender. That at least puts us in the mix. If everything goes well from here to Oaks Day, we are planning on running.”

Always a Runner, an unbeaten 2-for-2 for five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, breezed a half-mile in 49 seconds flat on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track with maiden winner Point of Reference.

The Gazelle winner is campaigned by Douglas Scharbauer and her Kentucky breeder, Three Chimneys Farm. She was a $1.05 million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase and is out of the Grade 2-placed Malibu Moon mare Always Carina, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-winner Structor – both trained by Brown.

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And One More Time points to G1 Just a Game off Listed Plenty of Grace score

Live Oak Plantation’s And One More Time received a career-best 92 Beyer Speed Figure for her pacesetting score in Friday’s one-mile turf Listed $150,000 Plenty of Grace at Aqueduct Racetrack, and is now likely to target the one-mile Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game presented by Resolute Racing on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course.

“She came back good, and it was good to get her back winning,” said her dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. “The plan is to aim her for the Grade 1 race at Saratoga.”

The 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach is already a Grade 1 winner after taking Woodbine’s Natalma by a neck as a juvenile. She was then away from the races for one year before returning victoriously at the Toronto oval ahead of a head second to Destino d’Oro in the Listed Tropical Park Oaks in December at Gulfstream Park. She finished off-the-board in her next two outings in Florida – both won by Destino d’Oro – before heading north to Aqueduct for her return to the winner’s circle.

“She was a really good horse at two, and she got hurt and it took her a long time to come back,” Casse said. “When you’re at the top of the game, it takes a while to get back there, but I think she is now. She’s very adaptable. If there’s no pace, she can be on the lead, and if there’s pace, she’ll be right off of it. She’s a talented horse, and I think she has room to get better.”

And One More Time, a $750,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Honor D Lady out of the Blame mare Complicated. 

Casse also provided updates on several of his top trainees, including D. J. Stable’s reigning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Nitrogen, who recently finished second to the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Claret Beret in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 11 at Oaklawn Park.

The Medaglia d’Oro bay stalked in mid-pack 1 1/2 lengths off the pace under regular rider Jose Ortiz and tipped out in the turn to be seven-wide into the lane as she made her rally, but Claret Beret got the jump on her and drew off to victory. Nitrogen equaled her career-best 97 Beyer for the effort.

“She came out of her race great,” Casse said. “She ran her race, and she equaled her best number, it’s just the horse of Saffie’s freaked. She was just better than us that day. Our filly ran a good race, and Jose was funny when he came back from the race. He said he could have been on Rachel Alexandra and wouldn’t have run down the winner.”

Casse said Nitrogen will now point to the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford at nine furlongs on dirt on June 5 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.

On May 1, Casse will be represented by Counting Stars and Search Party in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, and one day later, by Silent Tactic in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. Last year, Casse finished seventh in the Derby with Sandman and ninth in the Oaks with La Cara.

Casse said he is pleased with both of his Oaks prospects as he searches for his first garland of “lilies for the fillies.”

“They’re both good. We kept everyone out at Oaklawn and they just arrived [at Churchill] on Saturday morning,” Casse said. “We probably plan on breezing them on Wednesday or Thursday, an easy half-mile.”

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Counting Stars enters from a dominant 5 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2 Fantasy at Oaklawn on March 27, and has won 4-of-7 career starts, including additional stakes wins at Oaklawn last year in the restricted Astral Spa and Year’s End. She began the year with an uncharacteristic off-the-board finish in the Listed Martha Washington, but rebounded with a close second to Explora in the Grade 3 Honeybee and her win in the Fantasy.

Tracy Farmer’s Search Party gave Casse the exacta in the Fantasy when finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind Counting Stars for her first graded placing. She previously posted a neck victory in the aforementioned Martha Washington where she made her stakes debut off a six-length graduation at fifth asking at the Hot Springs oval.

“I’m excited. I think we have a legitimate chance and it’s a wide-open Oaks,” Casse said. “Both fillies are doing well and I think they’ll like the added ground. Counting Stars has a little more speed and will be up closer to the pace. Search Party is a little more in need of pace, and I think that’s something we’ll see.”

Casse also hopes to land his first Kentucky Derby victory with John C. Oxley’s Silent Tactic, who won Oaklawn’s Grade 3 Southwest in February ahead of a nose second to Class President in the Grade 2 Rebel and a four-length runner-up effort to likely Derby favorite Renegade in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

“He’s another that we feel runs his best race when there’s some pace, which there hasn’t been so much of in his last two races, but there’s very few Derbies that don’t have pace,” Casse said. “He’s just continued to get better and better. His last race was maybe one race that he didn’t progress, and for him to be competitive, he’s got to move forward. We’re doing all we can and he’s good, so now we just need some luck.”

On the May 2 Derby undercard at Churchill, Casse will be represented by Gary Barber’s in-form My Boy Prince in the Grade 2, $500,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint going 5 1/2 furlongs. The 5-year-old Cairo Prince gelding was last seen earning a lifetime-best 100 Beyer for a dominant 1 1/4-length score in the Grade 2 Shakertown on April 4 at Keeneland. His other two starts this year were a neck third in the Listed Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint in January and a neck victory in the Turf Dash in February at Tampa Bay Downs.

“He’ll run back at Churchill, and he’s tough,” Casse said. “He was impressive [last out].”

Casse said future plans for My Boy Prince could include the Grade 1, $500,000 Jaipur on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, a race he finished second in last year to Ag Bullet.

***
Multiple stakes-placed Sounds Like a Plan back in action in salty Friday allowance

Club Sixty Five Racing’s Sounds Like a Plan has been away from the races for six months, and returns Friday amid a stacked field in Race 4, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf optional claimer for state-bred 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Horacio De Paz, the multiple stakes-placed Twirling Candy 4-year-old was last seen finishing third in the state-bred Mohawk in October over Friday’s distance on the inner turf, attending the pace and battling on gamely to finish a half-length back of Slapintheface, who was a head better than Itsallcomintogetha. The effort came just two weeks after his lifetime-best performance in a one-length state-bred optional claiming score in wire-to-wire fashion that garnered a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sounds Like a Plan has hit the board in 7-of-10 starts, including an open-company stakes placing when a neck third in the local Woodhaven going one-mile last April. He was gelded during his time away from the races, and returned to the work tab in early March at Niall Brennan Stables in Florida before heading to New York a few weeks later.

The talented gelding brings a strong resume to the overflow field of 11, but will face a formidable foe in the form of dual Grade 1-winner Spirit of St Louis [post 9, Manny Franco], who returns to state-bred company for the first time since winning the 2024 Mohawk here for five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

The field also includes the streaking Iron Max [post 10, Edgard Zayas] for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, turf stakes-winner Leon Blue [post 4, Dylan Davis] for conditioner Melanie Giddings, and dual turf stakes-placed Smooth Breeze [post 1, Jaime Rodriguez] for trainer Jorge Abreu.

De Paz admitted the race came up a bit tougher than he would have liked, but Sounds Like a Plan is in fine order.

“He’s doing so good, and when I first saw the race, I thought, ‘this is a great spot’ – then you see who else shows up,” De Paz said, with a laugh. “It’s like a stakes race, but this is a nice horse and he’s very honest. We’ll see what happens. A mile and a sixteenth is fine for him.”

Ricardo Santana, Jr. has been aboard for seven of Sounds Like a Plan’s 10 starts, and returns to the irons from post 6 on Friday.