Churchill Downs – Early Times Mint Julep Handicap

Fillies and Mares on the Turf

Three stakes races on the Saturday night card this weekend at Churchill Downs with the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap getting top billing. The mile and one-sixteenth turf race drew a field of salty field of nine with six having either won or placed in a graded stakes race.

Bizzy Caroline kicks off the group from the inside post and is making her second start off a layoff after finishing a non-threatening third in late April. Last year she ran in five graded stakes with her best finish a win in the Grade 3 Regret over the Churchill turf. She will improve off her previous start, but could be one start short of her best.

Tapitsfly may be the class of the class in the Grade 3 field with a Grade 2 victory on her resume as well as a third in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley two starts back. Finishing behind Tapitsfly in the Jenny Wiley were Zagora and Aruna, who both came back to win their next start. Tapitsfly will be positioned ahead of Bizzy Caroline turning for home and even could be the early leader as there is really no true front-runner in the field.

Heavenly Landing won the Grade 3 Marshua’s River over the turf at Churchill Downs, but in winless in three starts since. She was behind Tapitsfly in both the Jenny Wiley and Distaff Turf Mile. She needs a fast pace to be at her best and will not get it on Saturday.

Others with black-type that will be up against the pace are Ravi’s Song, Grade 3 placed, and Snow Top Mountain, Grade 3 winner.

Hard Seven ships in from the west after back-to-back runs in Grade 2 races in Southern California. The Rock Hard Ten filly was third in both of those, which were at distances longer than the Early Times. An interesting note about Hard Seven is that she has been stabled on the grounds for a couple of weeks now and has been working well in the mornings. Jockey Leandro Goncalves may decide to steal the race and put her on the lead.

Of the three without a graded stakes win or placing the one with the most upside is the one making her stakes debut.

Warm Hugs exits an impressive score in an allowance race on the grass at Churchill, which kept her string of in-the-money finishes to start her career alive. In seven races she has two wins, four seconds and a third. Jockey Corey Nakatani, who is currently riding in New York, keeps the call and Corey is an excellent rider on the lawn. Up the ladder and into the winner’s circle?

Rounding out the field are Artemus Kitten and Joharmony with the race going to post under the lights at 9:39 ET.

Churchill Downs – Aristides Stakes

Grade 3 Sprinters go Six

One race prior to the Early Times on the Saturday card at Churchill Downs is the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes for three-year-olds and upward going six furlongs on the main track. A field of eight will line up for the race; let’s take a look.

Cash Refund when right is a very fast horse. He won an allowance race at Fair Grounds in January 2011 that would be good enough to win most Grade 1 races. Since then; however, his record is one win from seven starts so perhaps that big effort took all the starch out of the six-year-old gelding.

Two other horses in the field have speed figures which rival that of Cash Refund are Will’s Wildcat and Noble’s Promise.

Will’s Wildcat earned his huge number at Gulfstream Park over a sloppy and sealed track, but is also three-for-five at Churchill Downs. By Eurosilver, Will’s Wildcat exits a disappointing eighth place finish in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs in his last race, but the first two finishers in that race would be 1-9 here. Race winner Shackleford came back to run a huge race to win the Met Mile at Belmont and second place horse Amazombie was the Eclipse Award winning sprinter last year.

The best speed figure in the 20-start career of Noble’s Promise was in this race last year, but his form is similar to that of Cash Refund. In six starts since that huge race Noble’s Promise has only been able to muster two third place finishes. The one thing Noble’s Promise has going for him is that there does appear to be a lot of speed to set up his late kick.

Cash Refund and Will’s Wildcat will be near the pace as will Rothko and Whiskey Rebellion.

Whiskey Rebellion is the question mark in the race shipping over from Mountaineer after reeling off three straight wins. He is the only three-year-old in the field and it’s time for the connections to run with the big boys.

Rothko probably does his best running from just off the pace, but with the rail draw jockey Corey Nakatani may have to ask for speed to get early position. Two starts back the Arch colt was good enough to finish second behind The Factor in the Grade 1 Malibu, but then disappointed in the Grade 2 San Carlos. Nakatani was aboard for the Malibu run so it’s a positive that he takes the call.

Global Power, Riley Tucker and Good Lord complete the field. Of those three Riley Tucker rates best with a 23 in-the-money finishes in 41 career starts with earnings of over $667,000.

Post time for the Aristides, which is the start of the 50-cent pick-5, is 9:05 ET.

Hollywood Park – Californian Stakes

Game On Dude Returns

The feature race on Saturday at Hollywood Park is the Californian Stakes for three-year-olds and upward on the main Cushion track. The nine-furlong Grade 3 race drew a small field of five including Grade 1 winners Game On Dude and Morning Line.

Game On Dude returns to the races after a horrible trip to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup. On the strength of his 2011 campaign and his daylight victory in the Grade 2 San Antonio at Santa Anita in February, Game On Dude was expected to keep on going and motor through the $10-million race; however, the five-year-old gelding ran the worst race of his career.

It’s a positive sign that trainer Bob Baffert bring Game On Dude back after only two months and gets back to a track where he was second by a nose in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup last July. He is the pace of the race once again, but may have company on the front end.

Morning Line is the likely second choice on Saturday off his half-length victory in the Grade 2 Mervyn Leroy Handicap over the track in early May. It was his first start for trainer John Shirreffs after spending his first twelve starts in the Nick Zito barn.

Under Zito, Morning Line won four races in twelve starts including the Grade 1 Carter Handicap and Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby. Morning Line has drilled very well in the mornings in his attempt to win back-to-back races for the first time since September 2010.

Prayer for Relief and Kettle Corn finished second and third behind Morning Line in the Mervyn Leroy and come right back looking for the upset.

Prayer for Relief, the “other” Bob Baffert, ran very well in defeat and is stretching out to what looks to be his preferred distance. His wins last year in the West Virginia Derby and Oklahoma Derby were both at nine furlongs and gets strong as the race gets longer. Jockey Jose Valdivia had the mount for the Mervyn Leroy with Rafael Bejarano in Kentucky for the Derby day, but Bejarano is back.

Kettle Corn ranged up very well on the rail entering the stretch in the Mervyn Leroy, but could not match strides down the lane with the Morning Line and Prayer for Relief. He should be sharper in his second start off-the-layoff and won the Grade 3 Native Diver Handicap over this course and distance in December. He is a late threat in a race that should be run at a swift pace.

The final horse in the race is another that will need a fast run opening half. Uh Oh Bango was five and one-quarter lengths behind Game On Dude at Santa Anita in February then was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and fifth in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. It remains to be seen if synthetic is his best surface even though he is two-for-five over them. One of those wins was in a Grade 3 at Golden Gate with the other an allowance race at Hollywood Park. Mike Smith takes the mount on Saturday and is trying to duplicate his ride on Drosselmeyer when he beat Chantal Sutherland and Game On Dude in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Classic.

First post on the nine-race Saturday card at Hollywood Park is 4:00 ET with the Californian going as race eight, post time 7:30.

Golden Gate Fields – Campanile Stakes

Cal-bred Fillies on the Turf

It’s not graded, but there is an interesting stakes race at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday that is worth a look. The $100,000 Campanile Stakes for three-year-old fillies bred in California or sired by California-based stallions drew a field of seven and all are qualified to win.

The morning line favorite is Best Present Ever, who is one of two fillies shipping north from Southern California, for trainer Eric Kruljac. Best Present Ever has won back-to-back races in the southland, both of which were in the state-bred ranks. Three starts back she was second to Starry Skies and that foe went on to win her next start before losing by a nose in a Cal-bred stakes after that.

Best Present Ever is the best filly in the race and one to beat, but sometimes the best filly doesn’t always win. It wouldn’t be the first time that runners from So Cal have shipped to Golden Gate only to go home empty handed.

Warren’s Amber is the “other” filly making her home at Hollywood Park and in her only race on the turf she was third in an open starter allowance race at Santa Anita. Warren’s Amber exits the Melair, which was the race where Starry Skies lost by a nose. Jockey Aaron Gryder will have his pick of position breaking from the outside post.

Oh Molly Brannigan and Jewel Seeker look best of the local horses coming out of the $75,000 Golden Poppy Stakes in early May over the Golden Gate turf course.

Oh Molly Brannigan was second that day after setting the early pace and just fading at the end. It was her first lost around two turns and first time she had been headed since a race in late January. Oh Molly Brannigan is expected to get more heat this time with stretch-out sprinter Billie’s Bling drawn just to her inside and Mohanna Breeze, who is interesting at 8-1 on the morning line.

Mohanna Breeze was cold on the board in her debut, a six furlong synthetic sprint, but was then switched to two turns and the turf and responded like a good thing. She is bred for the turf and her trainer has been deadly this meet. Drawn in post three, Mohanna Breeze may be the speed of the speed and will need to get a good head start on Best Present Ever.

Carolina Grande, a closer stepping up in class, is the final filly in the race and her connections are hoping that there is a swift pace up front to set up her late kick. She has run against a couple of these fillies before, finishing fourth by two lengths to Jewel Seeker three back and second by a head to Oh Molly Brannigan three back.

Scheduled as race seven on the nine-race Saturday card at Golden Gate, post time is 7:15 ET.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – June 2

• Churchill Downs:  Early Times Mint Julep Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf
• Churchill Downs:  Aristides Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up, 6f
• Churchill Downs:  Winning Colors Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up f&m, 6f
• Hollywood Park:  Californian Stakes – G2, $150,000, 3yo & up, 9f
• Golden Gate Fields:  Campanile Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 8f turf
• Delaware Park:  John W. Rooney Memorial Stakes, $75,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf
• Evangeline Downs:  Ragin Cajun Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, 7f
• Louisiana Downs:  Honeymoon Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8f turf
• Louisiana Downs:  John Franks Memorial Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 8f turf
• Prairie Meadows:  Panthers Stakes, $60,000, 3yo f, 8f
• Prairie Meadows:  Prairie Mile Stakes, $60,000, 3yo, 8f

Sunday – June 3

• Hollywood Park:  Affirmed Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3yo, 8.5f
• Emerald Downs:  Auburn Handicap, $50,000, 3yo, 6.5f

Harness Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Friday – June 1

• Mohawk Raceway:  Casual Breeze Trot, $225,000, 3yo filly trot
• The Meadows:  PASS, $200,000, 3yo c&g pace

Saturday – June 2

• Hoosier Park:  Dan Patch, $200,000, 4yo & up open pace
• Mohawk Raceway:  Somebeachsomewhere, $300,000, 3yo open pace
• The Meadowlands:  NJSS, $150,000, 3yo c&g trot
• The Meadowlands:  NJSS, $150,000, 3yo c&g pace
• The Meadowlands:  NJSS, $150,000, 3yo filly pace
• The Meadowlands:  NJSS, $150,000, 3yo filly trot
• Yonkers Raceway:  Art Rooney, $300,000, 3yo open pace
• Yonkers Raceway:  Lismore, $150,000, 3yo filly pace

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Hollywood Park – American Handicap

Mr. Commons Returns

The feature race on Saturday at Hollywood Park is the Grade 2 American Handicap for three-year-olds and upward on the turf. The one-mile race drew a field of eleven including multiple Grade 2 winner Mr. Commons.

By Artie Schiller, Mr. Commons has been a terror on the turf. In eight career starts on the lawn he has four wins and three seconds. The only time he finished outside the top two was in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile last year.

The American Handicap is the first race for Mr. Commons since finishing second by a neck in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in early March. Willyconker got the better of Mr. Commons that day with no excuses for the favorite.

Mr. Commons will be tough to beat on Saturday if he brings his best, but he has yet to step foot on the Hollywood turf course and there are plenty of others looking for the upset.

The pace of the race is sure to be a lively one with front-runners Compari, Barney Rebel and Liberian Freighter.

Compari exits the Grade 3 San Simeon Handicap down the hill at Santa Anita and now stretches out to the mile distance where he is four-for-seven lifetime. Last year he made a similar move and finished fourth, beaten less than a length, in an allowance race at Hollywood Park. From the rail he is likely to be sent for the lead by jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Barney Rebel is on the improve for trainer Dan Blacker and has run two top races since shipping to the U.S. from England. In his stateside debut he found nine furlongs too far, but was an impressive winner when dropped to a mile. Drawn outside of Compari, jockey Eswan Flores has the option to press to stalk to pace.

Liberian Freighter is as game as they come with ten career wins and earnings of over $700,000. Half of his wins have come at Hollywood Park including the Grade 3 Inglewood Handicap last April. The seven-year-old gelding has not run since July of last year so may need a start off the bench.

Mobilized is another threat to the favorite, but needs to improve on his one-for-nine turf record. By Soul of the Matter, Mobilized has won two straight races including an uber-impressive seven and one-quarter length score in the state-bred Tiznow Stakes over the main track at Hollywood in late April. Jockey Garrett Gomez was aboard for the win two back and he will need to time his late run just right.

Rounding out the field are Wilkinson, Calimonco, Great Warrior, Tigah, Soul Candy and Venomous. Calimonco has tactical speed and should get first run on the front-runners while Tigah will improve in his second start off a layoff and was not disgraced in his fourth place finish behind Dubai You X Y Z.

First post at Hollywood Park on Saturday is 4:00 ET with the American Handicap off at 7:40 ET.

Churchill Downs – Louisville Handicap

Tahoe Lake and Simmard Meet Again

Turf marathon runners go to post in the feature Louisville Handicap on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The top two runners in the race are Tahoe Lake and Simmard, who finished second and third in the Grade 3 Elkhorn Stakes in late April at Keeneland.

Tahoe Lake got the better of his foe that day, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Simmard, but could not get to the winner, Point of Entry, who was winning his second race in a row. Tahoe Lake is not a win machine, two wins in thirteen starts; however, must be used in the exotics has he has been second or third eight times.

Simmard has the tactical advantage over Tahoe Lake in that he has more early speed, which will be on display Saturday. Harrods Creek looks to be the front-runner shipping back East for trainer Bill Mott and Simmard should find himself in a good position just off that rival.

The one negative about Simmard is that he has only two wins in his last twelve starts and goes a long way between wins. His gutsy nose victory over Newsdad in the Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream Park in late February may have taken its toll on the seven-year-old.

The first win of Tahoe Lake’s career was in July 2011 and came via disqualification when bothered by Cease, who coincidentally enough is back on the turf in the Louisville Handicap.

Cease has always been cut out to be a turf horse. He started his career over the synthetic surface at Keeneland then ran in back-to-back turf races at Churchill Downs. He was entered in a turf race at Saratoga, which came off the turf and was run on a muddy, sealed track, but Cease freaked. He won by an easy thirteen and one-half lengths and kept running well on the dirt that the connections did not want to go back to the dirt.

The five-year-old War Chant gelding may have finished double digits behind the winner in his last, but there are no Wise Dan’s in this field and Cease is worth a play at 7-2 on the morning line.

The interesting long shot in the field is Rescue Squad from the Shug McGaughey bard. Rescue Squad has run like he wants to stretch out to this marathon distance and note that one of his best races came at eleven furlongs on the turf at Aqueduct. He was good enough three years ago to be second in a Grade 3 at Keeneland and run fifth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby behind The Usual Q.T., Battle of Hastings and Acclamation.

Joinem, mount of Calvin Borel, and 20-1 long shots Depeche Chat and Derby Kitten complete the field.

Post time for the Louisville Handicap on Saturday is 5:25 ET and is the third leg of the late pick-4, which starts in race eight.

Arlington Park – Arlington Matron

Fillies and Mares Roll Nine on the Polytrack

The only non-graded stakes race on the turf on Saturday is the Grade 3 Arlington Matron for fillies and mares, three-years-old and upward on the Polytrack. The nine-furlong race drew a field of seven; let’s take a look.

The morning line favorite at 2-1 is Upperline for trainer Michael Stidham. Upperline may go shorter than 2-1 when the gates open as she just won the Grade 3 Bewitch on the turf at Keeneland and is four-for-eight on synthetics in her career. She also has two wins and a second in four starts at Arlington Park. The only time she did not run in the money over the track was in this race last year.

Second choice on the morning line is Kathmanblu, who could be the pace of the race. She was second to Pachattack, who won the 2011 Arlington Matron, in the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland in her last race and was clear of the third place mare by two and one-half lengths.

If jockey Corey Lanerie decides to take his mount just off-the-pace then 6-1 morning line Hooh Why may be the front-runner. She has won two straight races over the turf at Tampa Bay Downs and is just as good, if not better, on a synthetic surface. She has run 29 times with seven wins, seven seconds and six thirds over synthetics at Woodbine, Keeneland, Presque Isle Downs and Arlington Park.

La Gran Bailadora and Ariana D are the mid-priced mares on the morning line and both would appear to need the race of their life to win. La Gran Bailadora at least has experience at the nine furlong distance with a second and a third, including second in this race last year, but she is a closer that may not get an ideal pace. Ariana D is also a closer, but she has done her best running around one-turn.

The long shots are 10-1 Sea Level Drive, who just finished fourth behind Kathmanblu and La Gran Bailadora, and 30-1 Hemera, who is most likely to finish last. Although horses trained by Gennadi Dorocheko have been known to outrun their odds, just ask the Louisiana Derby field.

The Arlington Matron, post time 5:16 ET, kicks off the late pick-4 on Saturday at Arlington Park, which also includes the $100,000 Arlington Classic.

Arlington Park – Arlington Classic

Three-Year-Olds go to the Turf

The majority of racing fans across the country are glued to this year’s Triple Crown with I’ll Have Another looking for the first series winner since 1978, but those owners and trainers with turf three-year-olds are looking to the Mid-America Triple at Arlington Park, which kicks off on Saturday with the Arlington Classic.

A field of ten will line up for this year’s edition of the Arlington Classic with Silver Max the solid 9-5 morning line favorite.

Silver Max has won three straight races and four straight on the turf. In those four turf wins he has yet to be behind a horse at any call and will once again be out winging on the front-end. Silver Max will be dropping in class after runs against graded stakes competition and anywhere close to his last two will win the Arlington Classic.

Silver Max is quick, but so is Hero of Order, who is likely to be sent from the rail. Hero of Order was the 109-1 upset winner on the Louisiana Derby in April and may actually be a better horse on the turf.

Should Hero of Order put any pressure on the favorite then sitting the trip will be Sachem Spirit and Street Serenade.

Sachem Spirit comes in off back-to-back victories on the turf at Fair Grounds and Keeneland and worked a bullet four furlongs on the Churchill turf in preparation for the run on Saturday. Street Serenade broke his maiden in his last start over the synthetic surface at Keeneland under a masterful front-running ride by James Graham. Willy Martinez takes over the mount for Graham, who moves to Najjaar.

Najjaar as well as All Stormy, North of Never, No Spin and Monastic are the closers in the race, all hoping that someone goes with the favorite.

Najjaar returns to the turf, where he began his career, after six straight races on synthetic and dirt. He has no early speed where as the other closers will at least be in a good early position.

The speed figure earned by All Stormy in his last is second best in the field, which was earned in an allowance race against three-year-olds and upward on the turf at Hawthorne. The workout by All Stormy on May 19 suggests that the Stormy Atlantic colt has retained his edge.

North of Never is another like Najjaar with no early speed and may be better at longer distances. No Spin has a win and a second in two starts on the turf and fits well back against straight three-year-olds. He has experience over the Arlington turf course as does Monastic.

Monastic is a colt that has promised more than delivered so far in his six race career, which is saying something because he does have two wins and two thirds. Of course he has been favored in all of those six starts and seems to always find himself in trouble. Shane Sellers takes the call for trainer Tom Proctor and if Sellers can get him to settle early then Monastic may be the biggest danger to Silver Max.

The biggest danger; however, may not be good enough to upset the in-form front runner. The winner of the Arlington Classic will be looking forward to the other two races in the Mid-America Triple, the American Derby and Secretariat Stakes.

Post time for the Arlington Classic is 5:48 ET.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – May 26

• Hollywood Park:  American Handicap – G2, $150,000, 3yo & up, 8f turf
• Churchill Downs:  Louisville Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3y o & up, 12f turf
• Arlington Park:  Arlington Matron Stakes – G3, $150,000, 3yo & up, 8f
• Arlington Park:  Arlington Classic Stakes, $125,000, 3yo, 8.5f turf
• Indiana Downs:  Shelby County Stakes, $84,000, 3yo & up f&m, 6f
• Indiana Downs:  William Henry Harrison Stakes, $84,000, 3yo & up, 6f
• Charles Town:  It’s Binn Too Long Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, 4.5f
• Evangeline:  Opelousas Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 8f turf
• Sunray Park:  Aztec Oaks, $85,000, 3yo f, 6.5f
• Prairie Meadows:  Wild Rose Stakes, $60,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f
• Prairie Meadows:  Jim Rasmussen Memorial Stakes, $60,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f

Sunday – May 27

• Hollywood Park:  Great Lady M Stakes, $70,000, 3yo & up f&m, 6f turf
• Emerald Downs:  Seattle Handicap, $50,000, 3yo, 6.5f
• River Downs:  Green Carpet Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, 8.5f turf
• Sunray Park:  Dine Stakes, $85,000, 3yo, 6.5f

Monday – May 28

• Hollywood Park:  Gamely Stakes – G1, $250,000, 3yo & up f&m, 9f turf
• Hollywood Park:  Los Angeles Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up, 5f
• Lone Star Park:  Lone Star Park Handicap – G3, $300,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f
• Golden Gate Fields:  Berkeley Stakes – G3, $100,000, 4yo & up, 8.5f
• Calder:  Memorial Day Handicap, $75,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f
• Finger Lakes:  George W. Barker Handicap, $50,000, 3yo & up, 6f

No related posts.

Pimlico – Preakness Stakes

I’ll Have Another Attempts the Double

Saturday’s feature race at Pimlico and across the country is the 137th running of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes. The second jewel of the Triple Crown drew a field of eleven including the first and second place finishers from the Kentucky Derby, I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister.

To everyone’s surprise Bodemeister, not Trinniberg, came up as the front-runner in the Kentucky Derby. T he Empire Maker colt set some of the swiftest fractions in Derby history and opened up in the stretch, but could not hold on late as I’ll Have Another ran him down.

While Bodemeister was carving out the fractions, I’ll Have Another was sitting the trip. He broke well from post 19 and was able to drop in early behind the group that went to the front. Jockey Mario Gutierrez gave his mount an outstanding ride and collared Bodemeister in the final stages.

It was an excellent Derby and could come down to the two California based horses once again. This time Bodemeister won’t have any Trinnibergs to deal with and may just keep on going. I’ll Have Another, drawn outside, won’t be far away and will be in a position to pounce turning for home. It could be a very similar stretch drive to the Derby.

The Preakness is not a field of two; it’s a field of eleven, so let’s check out the top choices to upset the favorites.

Four other horses; Went the Day Well, Creative Cause, Daddy Nose Best and Optimizer, are also coming out of the Derby and are hoping to turn the tables. Optimizer looks like the least likely of the foursome to even hit the board. His best races have been on the turf and synthetic, which he is bred for, and was twelve lengths back in the Derby and 20 lengths behind Bodemeister in the Arkansas Derby. Daddy Nose Best was the wise guy horse in the Derby, but had a troubled trip and split the field. Jockey Julien Leparoux looks for vindication after a tough ride in the Derby with Union Rags, but will be closing in a race with little pace.

Went the Day Well, fourth in the Derby and like many others had a rough trip, is looking to do something his stablemate, Animal Kingdom, could not do last year and that is win the Preakness. Went the Day Well made up almost eight lengths on Bodemeister in the Derby down the stretch after being 17th in the early stages. Jockey John Velazquez will have put his mount closer if he wants to win on Saturday.

Creative Cause was fifth in the Derby after flattening out in the stretch and some would say he ran just as fast as the winner due to his wide trip. However, the replay shows that both Creative Cause and I’ll Have Another were virtually side-by-side turning for home and it was I’ll Have Another that kicked clear, not Creative Cause. Not including the easy score in the Norfolk as a two-year-old, Creative Cause has lost his two turn races by three lengths, a nose and a length. His lone win was by three-quarters of a length suggesting that the Giant’s Causeway colt just does not want to pass horses. He is always in a great spot, but may have bit of a hang in him.

The new shooters to the Triple Crown are Tiger Walk, Teeth of the Dog, Pretension, Zetterholm and Cozzetti. Tiger Walk and Cozzetti are closers that are going to need help. Zetterholm has some early speed, but has been facing NY-breds at Aqueduct. Pretension won the Canonero II over the Pimlico strip two weeks ago, which came after a ninth place finish in the Illinois Derby and fifth place finish in the Gotham.

Teeth of the Dog may have more upset in the group off of his third place effort in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. True, the first two finishers Gemologist and Alpha finished nowhere in the Derby, but it was the first start for Teeth of the Dog off a two month layoff and was the first start against winners. He was able to win a maiden race at Gulfstream Park wire-to-wire and if any horse could pressure Bodemeister early, it’s Teeth of the Dog. He may just hold on for a spot in the tri or superfecta. Beating Bodemeister and I’ll Have Another; however, is a whole other story.

Post time for the Preakness on Saturday is 6:18 ET and is the end of the guaranteed $1-million pick-4 pool, which starts with the James W. Murphy Stakes on the turf and includes the Grade 3 DuPont Distaff and Grade 2 Dixie stakes.

Pimlico – Dixie Stakes

Casino Host Headlines the Grade 2 Race

One race prior to the Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday is the 111th running of the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes for three-year-olds and up on the turf. The nine-furlong race drew a field of eleven led by recent Grade 2 winner Casino Host.

Casino Host comes in to the Dixie off of back-to-back scores including the Grade 2 Marvin Muniz Handicap at Fair Grounds. In the Muniz, Casino Host stalked the early pace from a wide position then made a late run to win by a half-length. Prior to that he won a first level allowance race at Gulfstream Park, which was his first win since breaking his maiden in March 2011.

In between victories Casino Host was knocking heads with some of the best three-year-old turfers in the country. In one start, the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs, he finished a length behind Air Support, who is also in the Dixie.

After the Virginia Derby win Air Support was put on the bench before coming back to the races at Keeneland last month. In the allowance race the Smart Strike colt finished five lengths behind race winner Al Khali. It looked to be the perfect comeback race and he should put forth a top effort on Saturday.

One of the concerns for both Casino and Air Support will be the pace of the race as it did not come up with a lot of speed. Avenida Paseo won an allowance race on the dirt at Parx two starts back and is bred for the turf, but has yet to run in any stakes race during his twelve race career. Trend exits a pair of second place finishes in two Grade 3 races at Gulfstream Park and will be sitting close. That leaves the six-year-old Giant’s Causeway horse Straight Story as the most likely pace-setter.

Of course there is a caveat with Straight Story in that he has not run since winning the Grade 2 Autumn at Woodbine last November. The good thing is; however, that he has won off the layoff before including a similar seven month layoff last year. Jockey Ramon Dominguez is an outstanding jockey when on a turf front-runner.

Hudson Steele and Humble and Hungry finished first and second in the Henry Clark Stakes over the Pimlico turf and both are proven at this class level. Hudson Steele was second to Straight Story in the Grade 3 Ft. Marcy last year while Humble and Hungry won the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf at Churchill Downs in November.

Completing the field are Vanquisher, Boxeur des Rues, Smart Bid and Forte Dei Marmi. Smart Bid is a good horse, but may be a horse-for-course at Fair Grounds. Forte Dei Marmi might be the best of the long shots and could surprise at a price. His speed figures are in par with the favorites.

Post time for the Dixie, race eleven, is 6:18 ET.

Hollywood Park – Marjorie J. Everette Handicap

Zazu Returns to the Races

Saturday’s feature race at Hollywood Park is the Marjorie J. Everette Handicap, which was previously known as the Milady Handicap. The historic race has been won in the past by fillies and mares like Zenyatta, Azeri, Paseana, Bayakoa, Adored and A Gleam.

Looking to follow in those footsteps is Zazu, who is making her first start as a four-year-old after an awesome three-year-old campaign. Last year, Zazu won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes, Grade 2 Hollywood Oaks, and Grade 1 Lady’s Secret with in-the-money finishes in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch. Saturday is the start of what could be an even better season, but it is just the start

Include Me Out and Ellafitz exit the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita in mid-March and will have a conditioning edge on Zazu.

In the Santa Margarita, Ellafitz was sent off as the 4-5 post time favorite; however, Include Me Out had upset on her mind and ran right by the favorite like she was stuck in the mud. She may very well have been as the track came up sloppy for race day.

Back to Hollywood Park and it may be advantage Ellafitz. Include Me Out did break her maiden at Del Mar, but has done most of her running over the dirt track at Santa Anita. Ellafitz, on the other hand, loves the Cushion track as is evident by her win in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap last December. It was that race that started a three-race win streak, which was stopped with the loss at Santa Anita.

Ellafitz also has a pace advantage over her rival as she appears to be the only true front-runner on a track that has been speed friendly this meet.

After the top three the other fillies will be hard pressed to crack the trifecta.

Caelis won an allowance race over the track last month and could be one to follow up the class level. Her trainer, Peter Miller, is having an excellent meet, hitting at a robust 31%.

Love Theway You are was second in the Santa Margarita and may have found her best surface, sloppy and sealed. She won’t get that on Saturday. Suzettes Friends looks totally out-classed making her first start since last August for trainer Rafael DeLeon.

Kayce Ace is a full to Grade 1 winner Colonel John; however, she has always promised more than delivered. The best thing going for her is that she is three-for-five at Hollywood Park and jockey Martin Garcia may send his mount early to battle with the Baffer-trained Ellafitz. If he does it will set the race up very well for Include Me Out and Zazu.

The Marjorie L. Everette Handicap goes as race ten on the eleven-race card with a post time of 7:30 ET.

Arlington Park – Hanshin Cup

Grade 3 Runners on the Polytrack

The Arlington Park feature race this weekend is the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup for three-year-olds and upward going one mile on the Polytrack. The race drew a field of ten led by the morning line choices Lonesome Street and Havelock.

Lonesome Street comes into the Hanshin off a win in the Grade 2 Commonwealth Stakes over the synthetic surface at Keeneland. In the Commonwealth, Lonesome Street sat well off the early pace before making a late run and won going away. It was his first win in five tries over a synthetic surface with his best running coming on the turf.

At Arlington Park the one-mile distance is around one turn, which will suit the favorite just fine. Jockey James Graham takes the mount for trainer Mike Maker, who have teamed up to be a perfect three-for-three at Arlington Park over the last year.

Havelock has a similar running style as Lonesome Street as they both like to come from off the pace. The five-year-old gelding is also similar to Lonesome Street in that his best running has also been done on the turf. In last year’s Hanshin, Havelock finished third, beaten three and one-half lengths.

The biggest threats to the top pair are the runners with experience over the Arlington Park main track, Ioya Bigtime and Gleam of Hope, both a perfect two-for-two over the surface.

Iowa Bigtime, 10-1 on the morning line, must find better after losing three straight including his last by over 20 lengths. Even though he is two-for-two at Arlington Park, both of those wins came in off-the-turf allowance races. The positives are that he goes back to winning trainer Chris Block and has thrown two bullet workouts since his last race.

Gleam of Hope just won over this course and distance and has the tactical speed to be close. Throw out the dirt races and the City Zip gelding has won four of twelve starts with two seconds and two thirds. New jockey Channing Hill may have him near what appears to be a slow pace.

Achaemenes and San Antone look like the two runners that could make the lead with both exiting a common race at Keeneland. That race was at nine furlongs, but Achaemenes won this track and distance with a front-runner score last September.

San Antone is also one-for-one at Arlington Park with his win coming around two turns from just off the pace last August. Rosemary Homeister Jr. takes over the mount for James Graham and will look to keep the colt’s impressive synthetic record intact. In five starts San Antone has four wins and a second.

Scotus and Taptowne have each won back-to-back races with Scotus the preferred of the two. Taptowne has one win in nine starts over the synthetic surface at Keeneland and Turfway Park while Scotus is one-for-three with two seconds over the synthetics.

Fast Alex, unproven over the surface and has only won once in his last nine starts, and long shot Free Fighter complete the field.

The Grade 3 Hanshin goes as race nine on the Saturday card with a post time of 6:08 ET.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – May 19

• Pimlico: Preakness Stakes – G1, $1,000,000, 3yo, 9.5f
• Pimlico: Dixie Stakes – G2, $300,000, 3yo & up, 9f turf
• Pimlico: DuPont Distaff Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f
• Pimlico: Gallorette Handicap – G3, $150,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf
• Pimlico: Maryland Sprint Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up, 6f
• Pimlico: James W. Murphy Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 8f turf
• Pimlico: Chick Lang Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 6f
• Hollywood Park: Marjorie J. Everett Handicap – G3, $150,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f
• Hollywood Park: Railbird Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo f, 7f
• Arlington Park: Hanshin Cup Stakes – G3, $150,000, 3yo & up, 8f
• Prairie Meadows: Bob Bryant Stakes, $60,000, 3yo f, 6f
• Prairie Meadows: Gray’s Lake Stakes, $60,000, 3yo, 6f
• Charles Town: It’s Only Money Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 4.5f
• Delaware Park: Joseph French Memorial Stakes, $50,000, 4yo & up, 8.5f
• Evangeline Downs: Tellike Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 5f turf

Sunday – May 20

• Hollywood Park: Fran’s Valentine Stakes, $70,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8f turf
• Emerald Downs: Governor’s Handicap, $50,000, 3yo & up, 6.5f

Harness Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Friday – May 18

• Harrah’s Chester: PASS, $200,000, 3yo c&g trot
• Tioga Downs: NYSS, $120,000, 3yo c&g trot

Saturday – May 19

• Pocono Downs: PASS, $200,000, 3yo c&g pace
• Vernon Downs: NYSS, $120,000, 3yo filly pace

No related posts.

Churchill Downs – Unbridled Sidney Stakes

Five Furlong Turf Dash

The feature race on Saturday at Churchill Downs is the $68,000 Unbridled Sidney stakes for fillies and mares, three-years-old and upward on the turf. The five-furlongs sprint drew a field of ten led by the graded stakes-placed filly Honey Chile.

Honey Chile comes into the Unbridled Sidney out of a good second place finish in the Grade 3 Whimsical over the synthetic surface at Woodbine. In that race she set the pace before being caught late. The Whimsical was at six furlongs so the drop to five will help. What won’t help is the post position. Going five furlongs on the turf at Churchill breaking from post ten is not ideal.

The mare that may have got the best of the post position draw was Platinum Exchange for trainer William Hickey. The five-year-old was off from November 2010 until April of this year, but came back a winner. She sped to the early lead in a turf sprint at Keeneland and never looked back, drawing off to win by just under two lengths.

In her come back race Platinum Exchange ran approximately two lengths faster than the fillies and mares in the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes two days later. Out of that race four come back for the Unbridled Sidney.

The runners returning Saturday did not fare very well in the Giant’s Causeway with Smartys Emperoress having the best finish, which was sixth, beaten five lengths. Wild About Marie was eighth with Extravaganza ninth and Grand Illumination tenth. Of the four Wild About Marie looks like the best candidate to rebound.

In eight turf sprint starts Wild About Marie has five wins and a second. Prior to the Giant’s Causeway the worst finish for the mare by Wildcat Heir was sixth in a Grade 3 race at six furlongs at Woodbine. She may be a better suited to five and one-half furlongs, but will be running late on Saturday. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan will have to work out a trip from the rail.

Of the new shooters in the race Palazzo Bay deserves a long look first off the claim for trainer Michelle Lovell. Her record on the turf is not spectacular with one win in ten starts, but the five-year-old Rahy-mare is always there at the finish. She has been second or third five times with her last two defeats being by a neck and one length. The majority of those races have been at five and one-half furlongs over the Fair Ground turf and an interesting note is that in four of her last five she had the lead at the five furlong point. She should get a great stalking trip under jockey Leandro Goncalves, who is hitting at a robust 38% this meet.

Rounding out the field are Helen Belen, Eur O So Bad and Yournotthebossofme.

Scheduled as race eight on the ten-race card with a post time of 4:25 ET.

Calder Race Course – Champali Stakes

Another Five Furlong Turf Dash

Over 1,000 miles away and an hour later Calder Race Course in Florida will put on their feature five furlong turf sprint for three-year-olds and upward. The Champali goes to post at 5:26 ET and drew a full field of twelve with three on the also-eligible list.

The biggest question mark in the race and perhaps the horse to watch is Amor de Palacio from the stable of Marty Wolfson. Amor de Palacio, a mare taking on the boys, is a perfect twelve-for-twelve in his career with eleven starts in Panama and one in Venezuela.

Even though she has run in South America her story began in Florida, where she was bred. She has a steady work tab dating back to March 12, but has been entered and scratched a couple of times. She entered and scratched from a stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs on April 7 then was entered and scratched from an allowance race at Calder on April 20. Both times were trainer scratches so this may have been the best place to start for the connections.

The five-year-old mare was done no favors at the post position draw when she drew the rail, which unlike Churchill Downs, is not the place to be going five furlongs on the turf at Calder. Another question mark for Amor de Palacio is that she has never run on the turf and is taking on several with turf sprint wins.

Wild About Tiffany, a filly taking on the boys, is first on the list with a turf sprint win having won twice in six starts around one turn. Her last win came against $25,000 claimers so this will be a big step up in class for the four-year-old.

Western Prospector finally broke through with his first win on the turf in seven career starts in his last race and it was an impressive effort. Trainer David Fawkes saw fit to claim the six-year-old gelding for $62,000 and Western Prospector could start favored on Saturday. Three starts back he was second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the $75,000 Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs.

Freewest, yet another mare facing the boys, also comes off an authoritative victory, drawing off to win by four lengths at five furlongs over the Calder turf course. The five-year-old mare has been in-the-money in five of six career starts on the turf. Drawn outside of Western Prospector she will be pushing the early pace.

The other two with turf, sprint wins are Dream of Atlantis and Musical Flair, but both need to make up significant lengths on Western Prospector. Dream of Atlantis was five and three-quarter lengths behind the favorite at Gulfstream Park with Musical Flair four and one-half lengths back in the Turf Dash.

The Champali Stakes is race eleven on the twelve-race card and is the third leg of the late pick-4, which also includes the In Summation and French Village stakes.

Hollywood Park – Laz Barrera Stakes

Four Go Seven

The feature race on Saturday at Hollywood Park is not going to win any type of record for field size, but it’s a very competitive four-pack.

The 7-5 morning line favorite is the Bob Baffert-trained and Pegram, Watson or Watson-owned Drill. The three-year-old Lawyer Ron colt has an interesting set of past performances in his ten-race career.

Last July Drill came to the races with a lot of tout and went to the gate in his debut as the even money favorite. Things; however, did not go so well and he finished eighth, but Drill came back to break his maiden then win the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and was second in the Grade 1 Norfolk. After that is when things got interesting.

Baffert shipped Drill to Churchill for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he had a rough trip and was tenth, beaten 18 lengths. Instead of regrouping Baffert sent Drill to Delta Downs and a try in the $1-million Delta Jackpot. First after a half mile translated to a seventh place finish. His 2011 was still not done and was brought back to run at Hollywood Park in the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. A ninth place finish there and Baffert decided to drop him back into a couple of sprint races and finally got the third career win in mid-February in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. Finally satisfied, Baffert gave him a break, but it did not last long.

Two months after winning the San Vicente over American Act by a nose Drill came back and finished second as the 3-5 favorite in the $98,000 Northern Spur at Oaklawn Park. That brought his career record in route races to five starts with no wins and two seconds. Good thing the Laz Barrera is seven furlongs.

Baffert also has the rail runner, Gun Boat, but let’s first get to the 8-5 second choice American Act.

After the nose defeat to Drill in the San Vicente trainer Jack Carava decided to test his gelding around two turns, but that did not go so well. Of course he was also facing Creative Cause and Bodemeister in the San Vicente and those two are pretty good three-year-olds.

Carava gave American Act about a six week break before entering him in the Harry Henson stakes on the turf at Hollywood Park. With overnight rains the Henson was washed off the turf and put on the main track, which was no problem for the gelding; the problem was the turn.

American Act absolutely blew the turn coming for home (it’s a must-watch replay), but jockey Rafael Bejarano did not panic and kept riding to the wire. Bejarano could have high-fived the crowd on the apron, but was about to get up by a nose over perfect trip Senor Rain. New jockey Garrett Gomez will have his hands full as Bejarano lands on Gun Boat.

Gun Boat was the “other” Baffert runner in his maiden race and won by a head at long odds. Baffert then put him in the Del Mar Futurity and was only a length behind Drill. Gun Boat then took some time off and finally made a return to the races in late April. His allowance race last month was the perfect return race and he may find himself on the lead Saturday in what certainly looks like a race that will be won by the best ride.

Boompa is the final horse in the race and he broke his maiden in his debut last month at Santa Anita for a trainer who does not win with very many debut runners. He may be one to watch, but is up against it in the Laz Barrera.

Post time for the Grade 3 race is 5:03 ET and is carded as race three on the day. First post at Hollywood Park on Saturday is 4:00, which starts the 50-cent pick-5.

Delaware Park – Winter Melody Stakes

2012 Opening Day Feature

This Saturday is opening day for the 2012 Delaware Park meet with the Winter Melody Stakes headlining the card. The $50,000 mile and one-sixteenth race drew a field of six; let’s take a look.

The morning line favorite at 8-5 is the Tony Dutrow-trained Bahama Bound, who is making her second start for the trainer. In her first race for Tony the Empire Maker-mare ran a very good third in the Grade 2 Top Flight Handicap over a muddy, inner dirt track at Aqueduct. She was beaten just under five lengths by Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky, who came right back to score in the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap.

Prior to coming to her current barn, Bahama Bound was under the care of Juan Carlos Guerrero, who claimed her from a win at Delaware Park. In three starts at Delaware the five-year-old mare has one win, one second and one third. She is the class of the race and the one to beat.

The second and third choices on the morning line are She Be Classy and Brushed by Love.

She Be Classy is making her first start since last October for trainer Graham Motion and absolutely loves the Delaware Park surface with three wins in four starts, which is not what Motion had originally intended.

Last year She Be Classy ran four times at Delaware Park and all four were originally scheduled for the turf. Odd thing is that her worst run in the four starts was the only race that remained on the turf. In the other three races she won for fun by a combined nine and three-quarter lengths. She is likely to be sitting just off the pace of Brushed by Love, Zesty Brew and North Freeway.

Brushed by Love is also making her first start since last October, but unlike She Be Classy is not that fond of the Delaware Park track. In four starts in the First State, Brushed by Love only has one win and that came in a six furlong maiden special weight race. Her other two career wins both came in one-turn mile races at Laurel Park.

Zesty Brew and North Freeway are the two pace-setters with North Freeway the most likely to get the lead. The four-year-old Jump Start filly is coming off of nine straight sprint races, where she has all of her seven lifetime wins. In four starts at the distance of the Winter Melody, North Freeway is winless. It’s also interesting to note that she is trained by Ton Dutrow, who may have entered her to ensure a good early pace for Bahama Bound.

Zesty Brew has never been better since being shipped south from Canada. The six-year-old mare was winless in ten starts in 2011, but has won four of five this year for her trainer Stephanie Beattie, who is a very good trainer. She won the 2011 training title at Penn National and campaigned Grade 2 winner No Advantage. Over the past year Beattie is hitting at a 27% clip.

Bahia Beach, who has done most of her running at Charles Town, and long shot Ms Vanenzza complete the field.

Post time for the opener on Saturday at Delaware Park is 1:15 ET with the Winter Melody off at 4:45, which ends the pick-4 that starts in race five.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – May 12

• Churchill Downs: Unbridled Sidney Stakes, $68,000, 3yo & up f&m, 5f turf
• Calder Race Course: Champali Stakes, $55,000, 3yo & up, 5f turf
• Calder Race Course: In Summation Stakes, $75,000, 3yo, 6f
• Calder Race Course: French Village Stakes, $75,000, 3yo f, 6f
• Hollywood Park: Laz Barrera Memorial Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo, 7f
• Delaware Park: Winter Melody Stakes, $50,000, 4yo & up f&m, 8.5f
• Golden Gate: Alcatraz Stakes, $75,000, 3yo, 8.5f turf
• Lone Star Park: Texas Stallion Stakes, $100,000, 3yo, 8.5f
• Lone Star Park: Texas Stallion Stakes, $100,000, 3yo f, 8.5f
• Prairie Meadows: John Wayne Stakes, $70,000, 4yo & up, 6f
• River Downs: Tomboy Stakes, $50,000, 3yo f, 8.5f turf

Sunday – May 13

• Hollywood Park: Round Table Stakes, $70,000, 4yo & up, 12f turf
• Emerald Downs: Hastings Handicap, $50,000, 3yo & up, 6f

No related posts.

Churchill Downs – Kentucky Derby

Twenty Three-Year-Olds in the Run for the Roses

The feature race at Churchill and across the country on Saturday is the 138th running of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby for three-year-olds going ten furlongs. It’s a deep field so let’s dive right in.

Going by post position the first contender is jockey Calvin Borel’s mount Take Charge Indy. His pedigree would suggest that the Churchill Downs surface will be his favorite and with Borel on the A.P. Indy colt is likely to start at less than his 15-1 morning line. Breaking from post three with closers around him expect Borel to get good position early on the rail.

Union Rags drew right next door in post four and that may not be ideal for the big colt. Union Rags is a runner that needs to be outside other horses. He does not have a big turn of foot, he just keeps on running. If he gets stopped at any point during the race then his chances to win are gone. From post four jockey Julien Leparoux is going to need to get out at some point, but in a field of 20 it will be difficult. In the Florida Derby he only had seven others to contend with and did not get out until too late.

Dullhan breaks from post five and that is okay because the half-brother to 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird will go right to the tail of the field. His jockey, Kent Desormeaux, is no stranger to the Kentucky Derby winner’s circle having won the race three times. Dullahan was fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over the Churchill track and will love the ten furlongs. The only question will be if Desormeaux can time his run just right.

The morning line favorite Bodemeister drew post six and will likely go off as the post-time favorite for trainer Bob Baffert. Bode is coming off a dominating win in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and will try to follow in the footsteps of fellow Arkansas Derby to Kentucky Derby winners Smarty Jones. Super Saver ran second in the 2010 Arkansas Derby en route to winning the Kentucky Derby and others that ran well in both the Arkansas and Kentucky Derby’s include Curlin, Afleet Alex, Victory Gallop and Grindstone.

Creative Cause has yet to run a bad race in his eight-start career with four wins, two seconds and two thirds. He is coming off a game defeat to I’ll Have Another, who is also in the Derby and drew post 19. Both Creative Cause and I’ll Have Another are 12-1 on the morning line and both deserve a long look. I’ll Have Another may have more upside to him, but you can’t separate the two.

Daddy Nose Best is the “wise-guy” horse leading up to Kentucky Derby 138 putting in spectacular works in the mornings. He appeared to be a turf/synthetic horse leading up to his run in the Sunland Derby, but finally proved his ability on the dirt, which should have come as no surprise given his breeding. His sire, Scat Daddy, won the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and his dam sire, Thunder Gulch, won the 1995 Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby, Belmont and Travers. Garrett Gomez picks up the mount and will have the colt in a great position turning for home.

Hansen’s connections breathed a sigh of relief during the post position draw after Daddy Long Legs drew the one hole, which left Hansen in the advantageous fourteen post. Hansen will not have a horse break directly to his outside with the break in the starting gate and is drawn outside the other speed. If he can rate as well as he did in the Gotham then expect a big effort for the nearly white son of Tapit.

That brings us to this writer’s top pick Gemologist, who has been at number two in the Bet America Kentucky Derby Top 15 since its debut last year. Gemologist is a perfect two-for-two at Churchill Downs including a win in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and his win in the wood was better than looked. The margin may have only been a neck, but Alpha was never getting by. Gemologist will have the run of the race from post 15 and can keep his perfect record intact and provide trainer Todd Pletcher his second Kentucky Derby win.

Some other notables in the race are Alpha, second in the Wood and won the Grade 3 Withers, Prospective, winner of the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby, Went the Day Well, winner of the Grade 3 Spiral for the same connections as last year’s Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, and El Padrino, winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star. Also don’t leave out Done Talking in the trifecta and superfecta plays. The Broken Vow colt will do his best running late in a field loaded with speed and his only bad run was in the Grade 3 Gotham over a good inner track at Aqueduct.

Rounding out the field are Daddy Long Legs (30-1), Optimizer (50-1), Rousing Sermon (50-1), Trinniberg (50-1), Sabercat (30-1) and Liaison (50-1). My Adonis (50-1) is on the also eligible list with scratch time scheduled for Friday morning.

A lot can happen between now and Saturday so keep coming back to Bet America for any late updates and final picks on all the races.

Post time for the Kentucky Derby is 6:24 et.

Churchill Downs – Turf Classic

Grade 1 Turf Runners

One of the best races on the day leading up to the Kentucky Derby is the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic going nine furlongs on the turf. The $500,000 race drew a field of eleven with the entrants combining for a total of 62 wins and earnings of over $6.5-million.

Last year Get Stormy was able to dictate his own pace on the firm turf course leading gate-to-wire in the Turf Classic, but he may have some company this year on the front end. Little Mike’s 2012 campaign has not been as spectacular as his 2011 was and comes in to the Turf Classic off a fourth place finish as the even money favorite in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf at Gulfstream Park. Little Mike needs the lead to be at his best and from the rail will be out winging on the front end.

Turbo Compressor has run lights out in two starts this year with a third place finish on the dirt in the Sunshine Millions Classic and a win in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in his last. In the Sunshine Millions he was third behind Mucho Macho Man, who won his next start and is expected to start favored in the Alysheba at Churchill on Friday, and Ron the Greek, who came back to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. He is a front-runner that will be pushing the early splits under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

The horses that will be sitting just off the pace in the Turf Classic are Slim Shadey, Doubles Partner, Brilliant Speed and Papaw Bodie.

Slim Shadey has won two of four starts in the U.S. and was defeated a head by Bourbon Bay, who came right back to win his next race, in his last start, the Grade 2 San Luis Rey. Slim Shadey’s last three races were at ten or twelve furlongs so it remains to be seen if the shorter nine furlongs will be ideal.

Doubles Partner is coming off a third place finish in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland behind Data Link and Turallure. Both those rivals are in the Turf Classic and will be positioned behind Doubles Partner in the early stages. Doubles Partner is two-for-three over the Churchill turf course and beat Data Line and Little Mike in the Canadian Turf two starts back.

Brilliant Speed and Papaw Bodie are drawn outside in the field and will need a good trip from that spot. Brilliant Speed has a win at nine furlongs and was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf over the surface last year. Papaw Bodie also has a win at nine furlongs and was second in the Grade 2 Marvin Muniz Jr Handicap in his last start.

Turallure and Data Link are the before mentioned closers in the field and both ran very well in the Makers 46 Mile. Data Link got the better of the field that day and the Shug McGaughey barn is firing with all of their starters recently. He is a must use as is Turallure, who will be better fit in his second start off the layoff. Two of the best races of his career, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, have come at Churchill Downs.

Boxeur des Rues will likely be the longest shot on the board with Al Khali rounding out the field. Al Khali won an allowance race at Keeneland nicely in his last start, but in a similar sequence last year was eighth in the Turf Classic.

Post time for the Turf Classic is 4:44 ET.

Churchill Downs – Humana Distaff

Sassy Image Looks to Repeat

The second leg of the late pick-4 on Saturday at Churchill Downs is the Grade 1 Humana Distaff for filly and mare sprinters. The seven furlong race drew a field of nine led by last year’s race winner Sassy Image and the BC Filly and Mare Sprint winner Musical Romance.

Sassy Image came into the race last year off of three straight loses including two by a combined 32.5 lengths. However; those races were not a Churchill Downs where the filly had previously been three-for-four. Sassy Image ran the best race of her life in the Humana Distaff last year and she went on to win the Winning Colors over the track as well as the Grade 1 Princess Rooney at Calder.

The Princess Rooney win was spectacular. She was left at the gate, but jockey Mike Smith did not panic and she came with a huge late move to get up by a neck. Trainer Dale Romans then shipped her to Saratoga where she bore out around the turn and finished last. Off since then Sassy Image returns to her favorite track with a set of bullet workouts behind her.

Musical Romance is also very fond of the track having won the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The Florida-bred was second behind Sassy Image in last year’s Princess Rooney and is three-for-five at seven furlongs. Her win in the BC came after a prep at Keeneland, which is how the connections enter this year’s Humana Distaff.

The pace of the race this year is an interesting one with no true front-runner in the field. Historically the Humana Distaff has been won from off-the-pace, but Mildly Offensive may be able to break that trend. She has been first or second at the second call in all her races and jockey Joel Rosario is one to take advantage of a race with little to no pace. She is the pick to take the wire-to-wire in an upset.

The other California-based mare in the race is Switch, who is returning for her first start since finishing second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. In two starts at Churchill Downs the Quiet American mare has two seconds. New rider Mike Smith will let her roll late.

Should Mildly Offensive not make the lead then Fantasy of Flight may take up the early running. She is better sitting off the pace, but from post two jockey John Velazquez may be forced to put her in the early mix. Her sire, Tiznow, loved the Churchill Downs surface.

Groupie Doll exits an easy three-length win in the Grade 1 Madison in her last start and has won at Churchill in the past. She is very versatile with wins on her past performances from both on and off-the-pace.

Magical Feeling, Salty Strike and Hot Summer round out the field and each of the fillies are good in their own rights, but they have yet to be competitive in Grade 1 races. Salty Strike is four-for-five at Churchill with her biggest win coming in the Grade 3 Dogwood at one mile last June.

The filly and mare sprinters head to the post at 3:49 ET.

Churchill Downs – Distaff Turf Mile

Marketing Mix and Daisy Devine Headline

The start of the Derby day late pick-4 on Saturday is the Distaff Turf Mile, which drew a field of ten. The top two fillies in the Grade 2 race is Marketing Mix and Daisy Devine, who are both coming off of impressive wins at Keeneland.

Marketing Mix made her first start since November last month in an allowance race over the turf at Keeneland. She was coming off an impressive 2011 campaign that included wins in the Grade 3 Pucker Up and Grade 2 Mrs. Revere. She was also second to the European-shipper Together in the Grade 1 QEII Cup.

In the allowance race, Marketing Mix was sent off as the 3-2 favorite and was never in danger of losing. Her rivals, which included last year’s Queen’s Plate winner Inglorious, came up to her entering the stretch, but Marketing Mix was game and won by a measure length and a quarter. She will improve in her second start off the layoff and will need a top effort to defeat Daisy Devine.

Daisy Devine has won four straight races since being switched to the turf and is coming out of a win in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley over the Keeneland turf course. She can either be on the lead or just off and jockey James Graham is deadly with turf front-runners.

Everyone looks to defeat the favorites on big days so let’s check out the other contenders.

Tapitsfly and Heavenly Landing were third and fourth behind Daisy Devine in the Jenny Wiley and will need to improve. The last two wins for Tapitsfly came at Gulfstream Park while Heavenly Landing won an allowance race over the Churchill turf in November.

Hooh Why drew post two and is entered in a race at Tampa Bay Downs on Friday, but if she goes here expect her to set the early pace. She has won three of seven races overall on the turf including two of her last three.

Aruna was second in the Distaff Turf Mile behind Aviate, but was nearly four lengths behind Daisy Devine in the Jenny Wiley. Of course that was probably due to jockey Ramon Dominguez being too patient with the mare in the early stages while Daisy Devine was carving out easy fractions. With a better pace Aruna will be back on her game.

La Reine Lionne was five-for-nine last year with all her wins in allowance races and on the step up to stakes-company in her last two she has been second and third by a combined length. She runs close to the pace and will get first run if and when the front-runners fade.

Hungry Island was third behind Marketing Mix and was seven wide coming into the stretch. Here is another Shug McGaughey-trainee that might be a must use solely based on that. She needs a very fast pace to be at her best and the mile distance may be too short.

Completing the field are long shot Annabel Lee and City to City. City to City has a pair of Grade 2 wins on her resume, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer does not ship to Churchill to just run around the track and she does get a top turf jock in Corey Nakatani, but the feeling is that the California-based turf fillies are a cut below their East coast counterparts.

Of course that may have just put City to City in the winner’s circle. Find out when the Distaff Turf Mile goes to post at 2:59 ET.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – May 5

• Churchill Downs: Kentucky Derby – G1, $2,000,000, 3yo, 10f
• Churchill Downs: Turf Classic – G1, $500,000, 4yo & up, 9f turf
• Churchill Downs: Humana Distaff – G1, $300,000, 4yo & up f&m, 7f
• Churchill Downs: Distaff Turf Mile – G2, $200,000, 4yo & up f&m, 8f turf
• Churchill Downs: Churchill Downs Stakes – G2, $400,000, 4yo & up, 7f
• Churchill Downs: Turf Sprint Stakes – G3, $125,000, 4yo & up, 5f turf
• Hollywood Park: Mervyn LeRoy Handicap – G2, $150,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f
• Hollywood Park: Senorita Stakes – G3, $100,000, 3yo f, 8f turf
• Hollywood Park: Cool Frenchy Stakes, $70,000, 3yo & up, 5f
• Hollywood Park: Golden Poppy Stakes, $75,000, 3yo, 8.5f turf
• Pimlico Stakes: Cananero II Stakes, $75,000, 3yo, 8.5f
• Beulah Park: Babst / Palacios Memorial Handicap, $50,000, 3yo & up, 6f
• SunRay Park: SunRay Park and Casino Handicap, $50,000, 3yo, 8f

Sunday – May 6

• Hollywood Park: Time to Leave Stakes, $70,000, 3yo & up f&m, 5f

No related posts.

Churchill Downs – Derby Trial Stakes

Is Bourbon Courage for real?

Churchill Downs opens up this weekend and the feature race is the Grade 3 Derby Trial on Saturday. The one-mile, one-turn race drew a field of eleven with Bourbon Courage the colt to beat.

Bourbon Courage was overlooked in his debut, going off at odds of just over 15-1, but ran more like a 1-15 shot. He broke running, hit the lead between the quarter and half pole then drew off to win by an easy four and one-quarter lengths.

After a big debut trainer Kellyn Gorder gave the Lion Heart colt a bit of a break, entering him in an allowance race in late March. This time Bourbon Courage was sent off as the 3-10 odds-on favorite and won by six and three-quarter lengths.

This will be his first start against graded company while many of his foes have already tested the stake waters.

It’s possible that Bourbon Courage will not be the post-time favorite and that is due to the entry of the Bob Baffert colt Paynter.

According to some in the know, Paynter is the best three-year-old in the Baffert barn. That is a little hard to believe since he has the probable morning line favorite for the Kentucky Derby, Bodemeister, but the expectations are high for Paynter.

The only horse in the race with a graded stakes win is Motor City and that win came at Churchill Downs at one mile, the same conditions as the Derby Trial. After winning the Iroquois last October, Motor City has only started one other time, running a disappointing eighth in the Grade 3 Swale at Gulfstream Park.

The colt will need to improve if he is to compete on Saturday, but it is not surprise Churchill Downs is his favorite track as his sire is Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.

After the top two contention runs deep. Trainer Dale Romans entered four led by Saint of Saints and a pair of California-shippers also fit in the wide-open race.

Saint of Saints only has a maiden win to his credit, but the speed figure earned in his two races are on par with the other contenders in the Derby Trial. He didn’t get the best of the draw with post three, but is likely to be inside speed.

When trainer Jerry Hollendorfer ships to Churchill Downs bettor need to pay attention. He has won some of the top races under the twin spires and gets jockey Garrett Gomez in the irons. Nonios will be making his first start on the dirt, but being by Pleasantly Perfect out of a Touch Gold mare, the colt should handle the track just fine.

Hierro is the other California shipper, but unlike Nonois, Hierro has experience at Churchill. In November of last year the Hard Spun colt broke his maiden by an easy five and one-quarter lengths. The winning jockey that day Julien Leparoux gets the re-ride and will be dangerous for top connections.

Rounding out the field are Tarpy’s Gal, The Black, Quick Wit, Seve and Stealcase. The Black is likely to take a lot of action based on his jockey, Calvin Borel, who can never be counted out at Churchill Downs.

Post time for the Grade 3 Derby Trial is 9:39 ET and is the start of the late pick-4.

Lone Star Park – Texas Mile

Grade 3 Dirt Milers

The feature race on Saturday at Lone Star Park is the 16th running of the Grade 3 Texas Mile. A field of ten will line up for the stakes with Canonize the 2-1 morning line favorite.

Canonize has only stepped foot out of California once in his 13-race career and that was not a good trip to Keeneland. In the Grade 3 Phoenix in 2010 he finished sixth, beaten just under six lengths. In California; however, his race record is solid and since he has been switched to dirt it has been even better.

Trainer Ron Ellis started the career of Canonize in 2009 and was rewarded with three wins in eight starts with several good runs in Grade 3 races. Then came a layoff of a year and the gelding did not come back as well, but there was still fight in the old warrior.

After the Hollywood Park meeting ended the connections kept him in training and he flourished over the conventional dirt at Santa Anita. He won a seven-furlong allowance race then was fourth behind The Factor, Sway Away and Amazombie in the Grade 2 San Carlos before winning the Santana Mile over the track in his last.

Endorsement is the second choice on the morning line and he too is no stranger to a long layoff. After taking the Grade 3 Sunland Derby in 2010 the Distorted Humor colt was off nearly 21 months before coming back to the races in December of last year.

Since his return Endorsement has three runs with a win and two seconds. His last race, where he won by a geared down two and one-quarter, was his best since the Sunland Derby and with another move forward will be tough to beat.

The pace scenario in the Texas Mile is an interesting one. Endorsement won his last on the lead, but does not need the lead to be at his best. Canonize races close to the pace, but he too does not need the lead. There are; however, several horses that do need the lead to run well.

Lydia’s Last Step has not won a race from off-the-pace since November 2010 in a sprint race at Zia Park. Class-wise the five-year-old gelding cannot win, but he will impact the race.

Hurricane Ike and Coyote Legend are two horses that are front-runners that have the ability to win the Texas Mile.

Hurricane Ike is coming out of a second place finish in a seven-furlong sprint race over the Polytrack at Keeneland and is likely to improve second off the layoff. He is not a synthetic horse so the switch back to dirt will move him up. Note that he has three wins in five career starts at one mile.

Coyote Legend loves the track at Lone Star and is also a mile specialist. He has run eight times at Lone Star with four wins, one second and two thirds. At one mile the five-year-old gelding has two wins and a second in three starts. The connections are glad that no Al Stall horse is entered as his last two runs in non-state-bred stake races have been second place finishes to horses trained by Stall.

Moonshine Mullin and Omniscient are the two that can hit the board if the pace is extremely hot and the favorites are too close to it with Fifteen Love, Get in Da House and Oak Motte completing the field.

The Texas Mile goes as race eight on the nine-race card with a post time of 5:51 ET.

Golden Gate Fields – San Francisco Mile

Grade 3 Turf Milers

Saturday’s third graded stakes race comes from Golden Gate Fields with the 63rd running of the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile. The turf race drew a full field of eleven with three Southern California shippers looking to upset the northerners.

The first of the So Cal shippers is Jeranimo, who drew the rail. Jeranimo is coming out of the best races in the field with ten straight graded races including the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, Grade 1 Pacific Classic and Grade 1 Eddie Read.

Even with the class the mile distance still poses a problem for the six-year-old. He has run five times at the distance with only one victory on the resume. Of course that did come in the Oak Tree Mile over a top colt in Mr. Commons.

Worth Repeating and Calimonco are the others shipping north and both probably need their best to compete on Saturday. The only win for Worth Repeating in his last ten was in the 12-furlong main track Tokyo City stakes. Calimonco won a small stakes race in his last, but has yet to finish in front of Jeranimo in two starts against that foe.

Usually it seems that when a horse from Southern California ships up north that they are going to win with ease, but the locals in the San Fran Mile will not go down without a fight.

Sanger Silver is winless in three starts on the turf in his career, but he has won two straight with decent speed figures and will be one of the pace setters.

Hudson Landing has won two straight as well on the Tapeta surface at Golden Gate; however, his turf record is the complete opposite of Sanger Silver. The five-year-old gelding has won five of fifteen starts on the turf including three of four at Golden Gate.

Live Sundays is also winless on the turf, but he has a second and two thirds that make him playable on Sunday. He has won seven of 23 lifetime races for earnings of over $300,000. Aaron Gryder picks up the mount from Russell Baze and will be stalking the pace from the outside.

With what appears like to be a lot of speed signed on Jeranimo looks to have a ready-made pace scenario for his late-run. He is not the only horse hoping for a hot pace as Gallant Son from the outside post will also be doing his best running late. Gallant Son was second in this race last year. The only concern is post position 11.

Photo Shopped, Positive Response, Dunmore East and Mr. Candy Bar complete the field.

Post time for the San Francisco Mile is 4:15 ET and goes as race seven on the nine-race card.

Hollywood Park – Snow Chief Stakes

California-breds at Hollywood Park

Saturday is Gold Rush day at Hollywood Park with eight stakes races for California-bred or sired horses totaling over $1-million in purses.

The two $300,000 races on the day are the Melair Stakes for three-year-old fillies and the Show Chief Stakes for three-year-olds. Going as race eight on the day the Show Chief gets top billing.

A field of ten will line up for the nine-furlong affair and contention runs deep.

Corner Office drew the rail and can win if he runs the same race he did three starts back. In that race, which was his maiden breaker, Corner Office sat off the early pace, but hit the lead coming into the stretch and won going away. Since then; however, he has not fared as well finishing third on the turf and fourth in a state-bred allowance.

Finishing second in the Corner Office maiden breaker was Dylan Donnelly, who will be looking to break his maiden in the Snow Chief. The Mike Mitchell-trained gelding has been favored in his last three starts, but has yet to put it all together. He may actually not be favored on Saturday and could be a good price.

The fourth place horse in that same maiden race was Teraad, who came right back to break his maiden in a turf mile race in his next start before finishing seventh in his last start. Teraad is likely to make the early running under jockey Russell Baze.

The race should have a pretty spirited rush for the front with Teraad going as well as stretch-out sprinters D’ Obsession, Real Conundrum, Oh Righty and Suances Candy.

Suances Candy may be the quickest of them and is coming off a maiden score on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita. Drawn in post nine jockey David Flores will have plenty of options when they break from the gate.

That leaves stalker Unusual Heatwave and closers Bench Light and Stoney Fleece.

Unusual Heatwave makes her first start on a synthetic surface since his maiden race at Del Mar after running seven straight times on the turf. The Unusual Heat’s run well on the turf, but they also run very well at Hollywood Park. Jockey Rafael Bejarano is likely to be sitting the trip just off the speed.

Bench Light did not enjoy the dirt nor the sprint in his last, but still needs to step up his game to compete in the Snow Chief.

Stoney Fleece drew post ten and has won two of three career starts on the synthetic surface at Del Mar. With post ten jockey Joel Rosario will break then angle over to save ground. As long as Rosario can time his ride Stoney Fleece will have a lot to say about the outcome.

First post on Saturday is 4:00 ET with the first state-bred stakes in the Warren’s Thoroughbred in race 2. The Snow Chief goes to post at 7:40 ET and is the second leg of the late pick-4, which also includes the Tiznow and NTRA Stakes.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Saturday – April 28

• Churchill Downs: Derby Trial Stakes – G3, $200,000, 3yo, 8f
• Lone Star Park: Texas Mile – G3, $200,000, 3yo & up, 8f
• Golden Gate Fields: San Francisco Mile Stakes – G3, $150,000, 4yo & up, 8f turf
• Hollywood Park: Snow Chief Stakes, $300,000, 3yo, 9f
• Hollywood Park: Melair Stakes, $300,000, 3yo f, 9f
• Hollywood Park: Tiznow Stakes, $125,000, 4yo & up, 7.5f
• Hollywood Park: B. Thoughtful Stakes, $125,000, 4yo & up f&m, 7.5f
• Hollywood Park: Grey Memo Stakes, $70,000, 3yo & up, 7f
• Hollywood Park: Warren’s Thoroughbreds Stakes, $70,000, 3yo & up f&m, 7f
• Hollywood Park: NTRA Stakes, $60,000, 3yo & up, 6.5f
• Hollywood Park: Alphabet Kisses Stakes, $60,000, 3yo & up f&m, 6.5f
• Calder: Calder Oaks, $100,000, 3yo f, 8.5f turf
• Hawthorne: Illinois-bred Stakes Day, 6 races, total $625,000 purses
• Pimlico: Henry S. Clark Stakes, $75,000, 3yo & up, 8f turf
• Sunray Park: Jack Cole Handicap, $110,000, 3yo & up, 8f
• Turf Paradise: Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby, $50,000, 3yo, 8.5f

Sunday – April 29

• Hollywood Park: Wilshire Handicap – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8f turf

Related posts:

1. Players Edge Newsletter – April 6, 2012
2. Players Edge Newsletter – April 13, 2012
3. Players Edge Newsletter – April 20, 2012

Keeneland – Lexington Stakes

Castaway Looks to Rebound

The Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday was shaping up as a good stakes for three-year-olds who were not on the Kentucky Derby trail, but when entries were drawn it suddenly became a race that could produce a starter for this year’s run for the roses.

Castaway right now has $162,000 in graded earnings, which puts him at 25 on the earnings list. With $120,000 to the winner Castaway would move in to the top 20. First things first though, Castaway must improve off his effort in the Sunland Derby.

Off his run away win in the Southwest, Castaway was sent off as the favorite in the Grade 3 race at Sunland Park, but got caught up in a speed duel and was fried, offering nothing for the stretch drive. It was the worst effort of his career since finishing tenth in a maiden race at Santa Anita in November.

By Street Sense, Castaway has every right to bounce back into form and run well over the Polytrack at Keeneland. Street Sense used it twice en route to his wins in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Kentucky Derby in his two and three-year-old seasons.

Castaway also drew post seven, outside of the other speed, which should come from Morgan’s Guerrilla and Johannesbourbon.

Morgan’s Guerrilla is an interesting horse that with a win could make the derby field if others in front of him come out. He was last seen finishing second in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby won by probable Kentucky Derby long shot Done Talking.

The connections of Morgan’s Guerrilla are no strangers to the winner’s circle at Keeneland as it is the same owner/trainer combination that brought us the 40-1 upset winner of the 2010 Blue Grass Stakes, Stately Victor.

Johannesbourbon exits a win in his debut at Turfway Park in which he took the lead at the half-mile pole then drew off to win by almost ten lengths. The second place horse came back to win in style at Keeneland on Wednesday.

Should the top choices not fire then there are several other options in the Lexington that make sense.

Summer Front is undefeated in his three turf starts with his last win coming in the $100,000 Dania Beach stakes at Gulfstream Park in mid-December. It’s interesting that the colt makes his season debut in this race, but they could have their eyes on the American Turf Stakes on Derby day at Churchill Downs.

Golden Ticket comes out of the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby where he was second, beaten less than a length, to Prospective. Prospective came back to disappoint in the Blue Grass last weekend and trainer Ken McPeek has only one win in twenty starts this meet.

Holiday Promise may be finding his best stride and may be overlooked in the wagering even though the Harlan’s Holiday colt is trained by Todd Pletcher. Holiday Promise was second in the Grade 3 Spiral in his last race to Went the Day Well, who is a contender for this year’s Kentucky Derby. Holiday Promise also has fired two excellent workouts at Keeneland since that race.

News Pending and Gold Megillah are the final two horses, but did not draw well in posts ten and eleven. Both horses are turfers that could run very well over the synthetic surface.

Long shots Skyring, Hammers Terror and All Squared Away complete the field.

Scheduled as race nine on the ten race-card, post time for the Lexington on Saturday is 5:13 ET.

Calder Race Course – Miami Mile Handicap

Grade 3 Turf Milers

The feature race on Saturday at Calder is the Grade 3 Miami Mile Handicap for three-year-olds and upward going one mile on the turf. The $125,000 race drew a full field of twelve with two on the also-eligible list.

The morning line favorite, and a lukewarm one at that, is Mutual Trust at 3-1. The four-year-old colt is making his third start in this country after an excellent career in France. He started his racing campaign with four straight victories including the Grade 1 Prix Jean Prat over Zoffany and Strong Suit. Then he finished a pole behind Immortal Verse and Goldikova last August before shipping to the U.S.

In his first start in the country he went off as the 4-5 post-time favorite in the Grade 3 Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream Park, but faded to finish sixth. He then took just over a month off and came back with an even poor performance, finishing seventh in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf.

If he regains his three-year-old form then he will be very tough to beat, but that is a big “if.”

Fourth choice on the morning line at 6-1, but the pick here may be Za Approval from the Christophe Clement barn. Za Approval is on the up-and-up making his third start this year after a win and a second in his previous two.

The Ghostzapper-gelding has two of three races dating back to September 2011 and his only loss was to Corporate Jungle, who came right back to win a stakes race at Gulfstream Park. Look for Za Approval to be putting in his best stride late.

The second, third and co-fourth choices on the morning line are Yummy With Butter, Monument Hill and Upgrade.

Yummy With butter has won seven of his 36 career races with earnings of almost $600,000. The eight-year-old gelding is making his first start over the Calder turf and note that his only wins in his last eleven starts both came at Monmouth Park.

Monument Hill drew worst in the field with post twelve and is 5-1 on the morning line. He has been to post 16 times in his career and has yet to be worse than third. He was third in the Grade 3 Appleton with a troubled trip behind Corporate Jungle in his last and would have been the long shot pick if not for the post.

Upgrade has been in the money in 13 of his 15 career starts on the turf, but only has four wins. He is too is making his first start over the Calder lawn and is looking to win his second straight race after taking an allowance at one mile at Gulfstream Park.

Of the horses with experience on the Calder turf Ducduc looks best. He has two wins and a second in five starts at Calder and is coming off a good run in a starter allowance at Gulfstream Park. He does get tested for class on Saturday, but is one to use in the exotics.

Imperial Czar and It’s Never to Late fit; however, they are stuck on the AE-list and would have the outside posts if they draw in.

Rounding out the field are Sette E Mezzo, Chinglish, Decisive Moment, Perfect Footprint, Tannersville and Numb Lips.

Post time for the Miami Mile Handicap on Saturday is 5:07 ET.

Santa Anita – Santa Barbara Handicap

Grade 2 Filly and Mares on the Turf

Two graded stake races on the Saturday card at Santa Anita with the Grade 2 Santa Barbara Handicap getting first billing. Seven fillies and mares go ten furlongs on the turf; let’s take a look.

Almost the entire field is coming out of the Grade 2 Santa Ana at Santa Anita including the race winner Vamo A Galupiar from the Neil Drysdale yard.

Vamo A Galupiar started her racing career in her native Chile winning three of four racing including a Grade 1 at one mile. Her last start in the country was a fast closing second in another Grade 1.

Since coming to this country the Proud Citizen-mare has run four times with two wins and two out-of-the-money finishes. If the pattern holds true then expect the mare to regress.

Of the others in the race that are back to upset the favorite Hard Seven finished closest, but that was a huge effort at nearly 70-1. Camelia Rose was actually the post-time favorite in the Santa Ana, but perhaps made the lead too soon and got run over late and finished fifth.

It’s possible that Camelia Rose ran into the popular “Euro-bounce” after she was second by a nose in her U.S. debut. Prior to that run she won two of eight in France. The negative is that her last win came as a two-year-old in a mile race in August 2010.

The two fillies that are not coming out of the Santa Ana are Glowing Spirit and Capital Plan, who are two of the three entrants with a win at ten furlongs.

Glowing Spirit is the likely pace-setter under jockey Victor Espinoza for trainer A C Avila. The Brazilian-bred filly makes her third start off a layoff and will try to take them as far as she can.

Capital Plan is likely to be sitting second with the jockey switch to Brice Blanc. Capital Plan won a ten furlong turf race at Santa Anita last October from off-the-pace, but has been closer to the pace in her last four starts.

Should the pace be extremely fast then give the edge to Vamo a Galupiar and Cambina, who is the other filly with a win at the distance.

Cambina was two and one-half lengths behind Vamo a Galupiar is the Santa Ana and will be making her third start off the layoff. Half of her six career wins have come at Santa Anita and picks up Rafael Bejarano in the irons.

Bauble Queen is the final filly in the race and has every right to win as well. The Santa Ana was her first start off a short layoff and note that her last and best career win came in a similar second off-the-layoff.

The other graded stakes on Saturday is the Grade 2 San Simeon Handicap on the downhill turf course for older horses. Stay tuned for the BetAmerica Blog for analysis of the San Simeon.

The Santa Barbara goes as race nine on the Saturday ten-race card with a post time of 7:38 ET.

Hawthorne – Sixty Sails Handicap

Arena Elvira Looks for Six Straight

On to Hawthorne where the fillies and mares take center stage in the 34th running of the Sixty Sails Handicap. The nine-furlong race drew a field of seven led by Arena Elvira.

Arena Elvira is not the morning line favorite, which is a bit odd given her recent race record. She has won five straight races including a Grade 3 at Aqueduct and a Grade 2 at Churchill Downs. She was off from November until mid-March, but came back with a game victory in a stakes race at Tampa Bay Downs.

The best part about the Ghostzapper-mare is that she takes her race track with her. Of her eight career wins seven of them have come on different tracks. She has won over both the inner and regular dirt courses at Aqueduct, Belmont, Churchill Downs, Gulfstream Park, Saratoga and Tampa Bay Downs.

The morning line favorite is Juanita, who in contrast has not won in her last four starts and was beat over four lengths by Arena Elvira in the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs. Not sure exactly why she is favored, but it may have something to do with her four-length second to Horse of the Year Havre de Grace in her last.

Juanita is a front-runner and there does appear to be a lot of pace in the race.

Afleeting Lady breaks from the rail and was second, beaten a neck, to Arena Elvira in her last start, the Falls City in late November. That was her first attempt against graded stakes company and she could need one off the layoff.

She’s All In breaks from post two and was a head off the pace in the Grade 3 Azeri at Oaklawn Park in her last. She has yet to win a race outside of the Oklahoma-bred ranks since September 2011.

Beloveda could get the run of the race breaking from post three. Two starts back she made the lead after a half, but she appears to do her best running when sitting just off the pace. She may be rounding into a top effort and was just two and one-quarter lengths behind Awesome Maria in a Grade 3 at Gulfstream Park.

Love and Pride is another front-runner and she only knows one way to go. Even though trained by Todd Pletcher, Love and Pride is going to be a long shot on Saturday.

One Last Dance and Distorted Love are the two longest shots on the board and are both stretch-runners. One Last Dance has yet to prove herself on regular dirt while Distorted Love is winless in her last nine.

It certainly looks like Arena Elvira is favored to win her sixth straight race, but you probably won’t get anywhere near the morning line of 4-1.

Post time for the Sixty Sails Handicap is 6:40 ET.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – April 21

• Keeneland: Coolmore Lexington – G3, $200,000, 3yo, 8.5f
• Keeneland: Giant’s Causeway, $100,000, 3yo & up f&m, 5.5f turf
• Santa Anita: Santa Barbara Handicap – G2, $150,000, 3yo & up f&m, 10f turf
• Santa Anita: San Simeon Handicap – G3, $100,000, 4yo & up, 6.5f turf
• Calder: Miami Mile Handicap – G3, $125,000, 3yo & up, 8f turf
• Hawthorne: Sixty Sails Handicap – G3, $200,000, 3yo & up f&m, 9f
• Pimlico: Dahlia Stakes, $75,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8f turf
• Prairie Meadows: Golden Circle Stakes, $60,000, 3yo, 6f
• Beulah Park: Howard B. Noonan

Sunday – April 22

• Keeneland: Ben Ali Stakes – G3, $150,000, 4yo & up, 9f
• Santa Anita: San Juan Capistrano Handicap – G2, $150,000, 4yo & up, 11f turf

Related posts:

1. Players Edge Newsletter – April 6, 2012
2. Players Edge Newsletter – April 13, 2012
3. Players Edge Newsletter – April 27, 2012

Oaklawn Park – Arkansas Derby

Baffert’s Dynamic Duo Headlines the Field

There are three graded stake races on the Saturday card at Oaklawn Park with the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Arkansas Derby the feature. A field of eleven will line up for the nine-furlong race with the Bob Baffert uncoupled entry of Secret Circle and Bodemeister the ones to beat.

Of the two Baffert trained horses Secret Circle is the more accomplished. The Eddington colt has run six times in his career with five wins and a second. His only loss was in the Grade 3 Sham in early January at Santa Anita.

After the Sham, Baffert shipped his top three-year-old east to Oaklawn Park to run in the Grade 3 Southwest, which he won, and the Grade 2 Rebel, which he also won. The concern for Secret Circle going into those races was distance, but he proved everyone wrong. The nine furlongs of the Arkansas Derby may be secondary on the concern-list come Saturday. First may be his stablemate.

Bodemeister has only run three times in his brief career, but the three races have been outstanding. He was second in his debut to a loose on the lead winner going five and one-half furlongs then stretched out to a mile and dominated the eight-horse field. After that win he was thrown to the wolves and was game in defeat in the Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita. The horse that beat him, Creative Cause, came right back to be a good second in the Santa Anita Derby and is expected to be one of the favorites for this year’s Derby.

Both Bodemeister and Secret Circle have their eye on a run in the Kentucky Derby, but Bodemeister must finish first or second if he is to jump up inside the top 20 on the graded earnings list.

An interesting aspect about the race is both colts have early speed. Secret Circle has learned to rate in his last two races, but is now drawn inside of Bodemeister, who drew post eleven. Also the blinkers go off of Bodemeister and new pilot Mike Smith takes the call.

Should the two create a fast pace, and they could be joined by the Todd Pletcher-trained Stat or the New Mexico shipper Isn’t He Clever, then look out for Najjaar and Optimizer, who both finished behind Secret Circle in the Rebel.

Optimizer finished second and Najjaar finished sixth, but let’s start with Najjaar. By Jazil, the colt is bred to run all day long and he came into the Rebel off of back-to-back wins at Oaklawn, but was hopelessly left and trailed the field by twenty lengths during the early stages. Jockey Calvin Borel just waited and waited then turned him loose and he made an eye-catching run on the outside to finish sixth. The gallop out was awesome and the extra sixteenth of a mile will suit him very well.

Optimizer also ran on late in the Rebel and that was the first good race he had ever run on the dirt in five previous starts. Could the two late-running horses have looked better because everyone else was fading or are they legitimate threats to the Baffert horses? That will be a tough question to answer when handicapping the race.

Rounding out the field are Cozzetti, Jake Mo, Atigun, Sabercat and Raconteur. Sabercat is still a top prospect and will run in the Kentucky Derby, but his run in the Rebel was atrocious. Yes it was a prep race, but how cranked will he be when the goal is the next race?

Post time for the Arkansas Derby on Saturday is 6:45 ET.

Keeneland – Blue Grass

Hansen Morning Line Favorite

Keeneland’s Saturday card is one of the best cards one can find this weekend across the country with the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, Grade 2 Commonweath, Grade 3 Shakertown and the feature of the day, the Grade 1 Blue Grass for three-year-olds.

All eyes in Lexington and throughout the world will be on the flashy nearly-white colt breaking from post four. Hansen has done little wrong in his career with four wins and a second in five career starts. His only loss came on a sloppy, sealed track at Gulfstream Park in late January to Algorithms.

Hansen will be returning to a synthetic surface, which he ran on at Turfway Park en route to a maiden win by over twelve then a stakes win by over thirteen. The one-time front-runner showed a new dimension in his last race, the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct, when he stalked the early pace from the outside.

Hansen didn’t get any help with the draw for the Blue Grass with post four, but there are a couple of horses inside of him that could gun for the lead. Heavy Breathing drew the rail and is coming off a third place finish in the Grade 3 Spiral at Turfway Park after winning his first two starts at Gulfstream Park.

Those looking to beat the favorite will look to Prospective, Dullahan, Holy Candy and Howe Great.

Prospective exits a game win in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and horses that run well over the Tampa track often out run their odds at Keeneland. He is likely to be taken off the pace by jockey Luis Contreras and will be making his run late.

Howe Great and Dullahan just ran one-two in the Grade 3 Palm Beach over the turf at Gulfstream Park with Howe Great very impressive in victory. Howe Great broke his maiden on the dirt and is three-for-three on the turf so the synethic surface should not pose a problem. Breaking from post ten Howe Great is likely to stalk the early pace and will get first run on the closers.

Dullahan runs for the same connections as Paddy O’Prado and won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity over the Keeneland track last October. The Even the Score colt will need some pace up front, which he should get, as he does his best running late.

Holy Candy is another closer in the race and may have the most potential in the group. It hasn’t been easy to catch front-runners on the Santa Anita track this meet and Holy Candy should know. He tried twice to do just that, but couldn’t. Then in his last start he was behind a slow early pace and was set up to finish second again. Then the Candy Ride colt found a new gear and powered away to win by over three.

Ever So Lucky would be one of the contenders, but is a little behind the eight ball going in to the Blue Grass. The Indian Charlie colt was a dominant winner of his debut then finished second behind Gemologist in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs last year. Since; however, he has missed some training time and has only made one start, which was a disappointing third in the seven furlong Swale at Gulfstream Park. He needs to win the Blue Grass to even make the Derby field.

Hero of Order deserves a mention after upsetting the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby at odds of 109-1. He does have a previous race over the Keeneland surface and has run well on turf. He will be part of the early pace, which is setting up to be very fast.

It certainly will aid the chances of Prospective, Dullahan and Holy Candy.

Gung Ho, Russian Greek, Politicallycorrect, Midnight Crooner and Scatman complete the field.

The Blue Grass goes as race eleven on Saturday with post time at 6:18 ET.

Charles Town – Charles Town Classic

$1-million on the line in West Virginia

The Saturday stakes don’t stop around dinner time they continue through the night with the fourth running of the Charles Town Classic.

The nine-furlong race, which is around three turns, drew a full field of ten with three on the also-eligible list. The Gulfstream Park shipper Tackleberry was installed as the 3-1 morning line favorite.

Tackleberry is no stranger to the bull-ring track at Charles Town after running in the Classic last year. In that race Tackleberry was in front for a half, but could not keep pace and faded to finish fourth. He is back this year off a different schedule, which may be to his benefit. Last year the Classic was near the end of a long stretch of races without a break. This year the Classic will be his second start off the nearly year layoff.

Uh Oh Bango is the second choice on the line at 4-1 off of his third place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. Prior to that he was third in the Grade 2 San Antonio behind Game On Dude and won the Grade 2 San Pasqual. The outside post does him no favors around the compact track and jockey Aaron Gryder will have to work out a trip from there.

After the top two Tres Borrachos, Pants On Fire and Caixa Electornica are less that 10-1 on the line with Mister Marti Gras, Skipshot, Duke of Mischief, Norvsky and Redding Colliery all at 10-1 or higher.

Tres Borrachose and Pants On Fire drew best with posts one and four. Tres Borrachos just ran fourth behind Nates Mineshaft, who came back to win his next start, at Fair Grounds. Pants On Fire finished behind Nates Mineshaft in that next race. Both horses are expected to race near the front as is stretch-out sprinter Caixa Electronica, who is also entered in a race at Aqueduct on Friday.

Dueke of Mischief won last year’s Charles Town Classic, but has not won a race since then. He will need a big reversal of form to compete on Saturday night.

Norvksy is an interesting runner shipping east from California for trainer Donald Warren. The six-year-old gelding won at nine-furlongs around the bull-ring Fairplex track in California so he should have no troubles navigating the Charles Town turns. He has tactical speed and should get a good pace up front.

Redding Colliery is also entered in the same race as Caixa Electronica is so check the scratches to see if they will run. Redding Colliery was third in the race last year and made the lead coming into the stretch before being run down late. With a more patient ride he may have won.

The Classic is race twelve on the thirteen-race card with a post time of 10:30 ET. It is the last leg of the $50,000 guaranteed pool pick-4, which starts with the Webb Snyder stakes and includes the $250,000 inaugural Robert Hilton Memorial and the $200,000 Sugar Maple.

Santa Anita – Las Cienegas Handicap

Mizdirection Takes on Unzip Me

With all the Grade 1’s and million-dollar races going on this weekend the Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita may get overlooked, but it’s one of the best races on Saturday.

The Grade 3 downhill turf race only drew a field of six, but it’s a deep field. The fillies and mares in the race have combined for 46 wins and earnings of over $2.1-million.

Headlining the field is the ultra-race mare Unzip Me, who will be making her twelfth career start on the Santa Anita hillside turf course. In her previous eleven races she has seven wins, one second and one third. She is now six and perhaps not the runner she once was, but she can still compete with the best.

Mizdirection may be headed for Unzip Me like statistics coming into the race off of back-to-back-back victories, two of which came down the hill. Mizdirection has only finished worse than second once in her career, which was in the Grade 2 Raven Run on the Polytrack at Keeneland last year.

The two have run against each other in the past with Mizdirection getting the better of her in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes in early January. Mizdirection won that race from off-the-pace under jockey Garrett Gomez, but now David Flores takes the call. Flores is likely to put the Mizzen Mast-filly on the lead and will make Unzip come and catch her.

Broken Dreams has beat Unzip Me in the past and has a win over the course in the Grade 3 Ken Maddy last September. The Las Cienegas will be the second start of her off a four month layoff so expect improvement off the sixth place finish in her last. She is another closer looking for someone to put some pressure on Mizdirection.

Teroda may be the filly to do that with Martin Garcia taking over the mount for jockey Joel Rosario. Teroda has not run since winning an allowance race over the course in mid-February and has two wins in five starts down the hill. She was second, beaten just a half length, to Unzip Me in the Wishing Well in late January.

Saanneen and La Nez round out the field and both are coming off long layoffs. Saanneen has not run since June 2011 and has two wins and two seconds in four starts on the downhill course. La Nez beat Saanneen over the course in the Irish O’Brien in 2011 and has not run since April 2011. She is also entered in a race at Turf Paradise.

Post time for the Las Cienegas on Saturday is 7:07 ET.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – April 14

• Oaklawn Park: Arkansas Derby – G1, $1,000,000, 3yo, 9f
• Oaklawn Park: Oaklawn Handicap – G2, $350,000, 4yo & up, 9f
• Oaklawn Park: Count Fleet Sprint Handicap – G3, $200,000, 4yo & up, 6f
• Oaklawn Park: Northern Spur, $100,000, 3yo, 8f
• Keeneland: Toyota Blue Grass – G1, $750,000, 3yo, 9f
• Keeneland: Jenny Wiley – G1, $300,000, 4yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf
• Keeneland: Commonwealth – G2, $175,000, 3yo & up, 7f
• Keeneland: Shakertown – G3, $100,000, 3yo & up, 5.5f turf
• Charles Town: Charles Town Classic – G2, $1,000,000, 4yo & up, 9f
• Charles Town: Robert Hilton Memorial, $250,000, 3yo, 7f
• Charles Town: Sugar Maple Stakes, $200,000, 4yo & up f&m, 7f
• Charles Town: Webb Snyder Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 4.5f
• Calder: Calder Derby, $150,000, 3yo, 8.5f
• Pimlico: Primonetta Stakes, $75,000, 3yo & up f&m, 6f

Sunday – April 15

• Keeneland: Beaumont Stakes – G2, $150,000, 3yo f, 7f
• Sunland Park: Sunland Park Handicap, $100,000, 3yo & up, 9f
• Santa Anita: Santa Lucia Stakes, $70,000, 4yo & up, 8.5f

Related posts:

1. Players Edge Newsletter – April 6, 2012
2. Players Edge Newsletter – April 20, 2012
3. Players Edge Newsletter – April 27, 2012

Santa Anita – Santa Anita Derby

Ten in the So Cal Kentucky Derby Prep

Four stakes races, three graded, on this Saturday’s card at Santa Anita with the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby headlining them all. The $750,000, nine-furlong race drew a field of ten led by the winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe, Creative Cause.

Creative Cause is the most accomplished three-year-old on the west coast and is looking to pad his resume with a win in the Santa Anita Derby en route to a start at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby. The Giant’s Causeway-colt has won four of seven races and has never been worse than third.

He is the class of the race and the one to beat, but this is still a horse race and there is a bounce factor and he will be racing without blinkers for the first time.

If it’s a stakes race for three-year-olds one cannot analyze a race without considering the Bob Baffert charge and this year the Hall-of-Fame trainer sends three looking to upset the favorite.

Liaison is the most accomplished of the trio with three wins including the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood Park last December. He hasn’t done much in two starts since then, but is making his third start off the layoff and the added sixteenth of a mile should help. He must prove; however, that he can be as effective on dirt.

Blueskiesnrainbows broke his maiden in the claiming ranks then won a starter allowance before finishing third behind Fed Biz and Consulado in his last. He steps was up in class and wouldn’t be mentioned if not for his trainer.

Paynter is the least accomplished of the three with only a maiden win on the resume, but stable-rider Martin Garcia has the mount and he is likely to take him straight to the lead. By Awesome Again out of a Cee’s Tizzy mare, Paynter should be able to get the distance.

The likely second choice in the wagering will be I’ll Have Another, who is coming off an upset victory in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis in early February. He was sent off at odds of 43-1, stalked the early pace then drew off down the stretch to win by almost three. Jockey Mario Gutierrez may need to use his mount early as I’ll Have Another is drawn inside of Paynter.

Holy Candy just broke his maiden in career start number four, but may the most potential in the field. He has been favored in every single race and even though he only has one win, he has run four winning races. The problem for Holy Candy is that he is a closer on a track that does not always play fair. If he gets a good pace to run at and is put in a good spot turning for home then Holy Candy has the ability to run by them all.

Longview Drive, sixth in the Southwest at Oaklawn Park, Senor Rain, winner of an allowance sprint at Santa Anita, Midnight Transfer, third in the San Felipe, and Brother Francis, two seconds and two thirds in four starts, complete the field.

Of the four Brother Francis may be the long shot to use underneath. He has yet to win, but was second in the Grade 3 Prevue and third in the Grade 1 Cash Call Futurity at Hollywood Park. His debut was on the dirt and that was a fast-closing second in a sprint race.

The 75th running of the Santa Anita Derby goes to post at 5:30 ET on Saturday and kicks off the pick-6 that also includes the Grade 3 Providencia, Grade 2 Potrero Grande and American Beauty stakes.

Hawthorne – Illinois Derby

Graded Earnings on the Line

The Illinois Derby is not considered as strong a Kentucky Derby prep race as it once was, but there there is $300,000 on the line to the winner, which basically guarantees a spot at Churchill.

This year’s Illinois Derby drew a field of fourteen, with three on the also-eligible list, led by morning line favorite Currency Swap.

Currently Swap is the lone graded stakes winner in the field having won the Grade 1 Hopeful over a sloppy Saratoga track last September. He was off from then until mid-March when he was a distant second to Gemologist in an allowance race. Gemologist currently ranks number two in the BetAmerica Top 15 and is expected to start as the favorite in Saturday’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Distance will be a concern for the favorite, but it won’t be for the Todd Pletcher-trainee Our Entourage. Last year Mike Repole had both Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty on the Derby trail and this year Our Entourage is looking to one-up his former stablemates. Our Entourage was fifth in the Grade 2 Remsen last November and fifth in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland last October.

Pretension and Hakama are the third and fourth choices and both have a similar up close running style. The only two wins for Hakama came in gate-to-wire fashion while Pretension has wins from a length off the pace after a half-mile.

It certainly looks there will be a lot of pace for the nine-furlong race, which helps several in the field.

Romancing the Gold won his last race from just off the pace, but that was with a slow pace. Three starts back he won from eight lengths back at the first call and has a very patient rider in Irad Ortiz in the irons.

Saturday Launch makes his second start on the dirt and first since his debut in July 2011. Since then he has run on synthetic and turf with a closing style that would play well in the Illinois Derby. He is cross-entered for a race at Keeneland on Friday so be sure to check the late scratches.

Done Talking is 20-1 on the morning line and that is probably due to his tenth place finish in the Grade 3 Gotham a month ago. Prior to that he won back-to-back races before finishing fourth, beaten a length, in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct.

Z Rockstar was sixth in the Southwest won by Secret Circle, who came right back to score in the Rebel, and has a speed figure that would be good enough to win the Illinois Derby. In his prior races he didn’t appear to want to pass horses, but he won by open lengths in his last and may have turned the corner.

Ring It Up, Skyring, Fastestwhogetspaid, Frankie Is Rock, Morgan’s Guerrilla and Slamit round out the main body of the field with Explain, Arm Force and Defiant Flyer stuck on the AE.

Post time for the Illinois Derby on Saturday is 6:46 ET.

Keeneland – Ashland Stakes

Three-Year-Old Fillies on the Poly

This weekend’s feature race at Keeneland is the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes for three-year-old fillies. This Saturday’s running is the 75th time the eight and one-half furlong race will be run.

A field of seven will line up for the race with Stephanie’s Kitten installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite for trainer Wayne Catalano.

Stephanie’s Kitten is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who are no strangers to the winner’s circle at Keeneland. They are always at or near the top of the owners standings during the meet and they can start off their 2012 on a winning note.

Stephanie’s Kitten has not run since winning the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill last May, but she was an easy winner of the Grade 1 Alcibiades over the Keeneland track last year and if she is ready to roll off the layoff she will be tough to beat.

After Stephanie’s Kitten the race opens up as all of the other six fillies are between 4-1 and 8-1 on the morning line.

Heart of Destiny and Karlovy Vary just ran against each other in an allowance race over the grass at Gulfstream Park with Karlovy Vary getting the better of her foe, but on the line Heart of Destiny is favored.

It’s possible that Heart of Destiny is a tick below her rival due to the second place finish to Stephanie’s Kitten in the Alcibiades last year. Also the one win of her career was in her second start and the Ashland will be her second start off a layoff.

Karlovy Vary; however, has yet to run on a synthetic surface with four runs on the turf and one on the dirt. Her dirt run was atrocious and she has two works over the Keeneland track. She could be dangerous and must not be overlooked.

Hard Not to Like was three lengths behind Stephanie’s Kitten in the Breeders’ Cup and won three of four starts on the turf at Woodbine. More than likely she trained over the Polytrack at Woodbine and is by a sire who did not mind the synthetics.

Lotta Lovin has won three straight at Turfway Park and could be a cut below the others on class, but she looks like a synthetic specialist. Another synthetic specialist is Dixie Strike from the Mark Casse barn. The Dixie Union-filly has four starts over the Poly at Woodbine with two wins and two seconds.

Goldrush Girl is 8-1 on the morning line and if she goes off at that price may be worth a bet. The Political Force-filly is coming off a game win in an allowance race over the main track at Gulfstream Park and two back finished third to Zo Impressive and the next-out winner In Lingerie.

Last year Goldrush Girl started two times at Keeneland with a win and a second. Also her maiden victory was in her third start and the Ashland will be her third start off the layoff. Win or lose she will outrun her odds.

Post time for the Ashland on Saturday is 4:45 ET.

Santa Anita – Providencia Stakes

Three-Year-Old Turf Fillies

Another one of the graded stake races at Santa Anita on Saturday is the Grade 3 Providencia going nine furlongs on the turf. The $150,000 race drew a field of seven led by China Doll Stakes winner Lady of Shamrock.

Lady of Shamrock ran a very impressive race in the China Doll. She was seven lengths off the early pace then made a run to get within a length after half then won going away. That win brought her career record on the turf to three wins in five starts. The added furlong in the Providencia only helps her late-running style and the pace should be just as quick.

Indigo River was the pacesetter in the China Doll and is likely to be out winging on the front-end again. That was her first start around two-runs and it did not appear she wanted any part of a route race. Her previous two wins were both on the downhill turf course and may be best as a late-running sprinter.

Killer Graces, Charm the Maker and Ms Pianist are all making their first start on the turf after runs on the dirt and synthetic. Ms Pianist looks least likely of the three based on her resume, but do note that her sire More Than Ready has been an outstanding turf-sire.

Killer Graces and Charm the Maker were knocking heads against the best three-year-old fillies on the Kentucky Oaks trail, but both have disappointed in their last. Killer Graces is a Grade 1 winner having won the Grade 1 Starlet at Hollywood Park. Charm the Maker was second in that race and was third in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf at Santa Anita last October.

Both fillies have the right to improve on the switch to turf. Killer Graces probably needs to be put in the race early and the slower turf pace may suit her well. Charm the Maker is by Empire Maker out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, which should make the switch to turf an easy transition.

Byrama came to the U.S. for the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Simon Callaghan and finally put it all together in her third start with a win down the hill. In her stateside debut she was third behind Lady of Shamrock in the Blue Norther. New jockey Garrett Gomez should have the English-bred filly in a good spot turning for home looking.

Island Paradise is a ridiculous 12-1 on the morning line, but has just as much claim on the top spot as the favorite does. The Irish-bred filly made two starts over the synthetic track at Kempton in England then came over and was a good third in the Grade 3 Miesque last November. She was bet down to 5-2 in that race and now off the layoff is nearly four and one-half times that price. With a string of good workouts coming in to the race on Saturday she is one to watch.

The Providencia kicks off the late pick-4 on Saturday, which also includes the Grade 2 Potrero Grande and $75,000 American Beauty stakes.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – April 7

• Santa Anita: Santa Anita Derby – G1, $750,000, 3yo, 9f
• Santa Anita: Providencia Stakes – G2, $150,000, 3yo f, 9f turf
• Santa Anita: Potrero Grande Handicap – G2, $150,000, 4yo & up, 6.5f
• Santa Anita: American Beauty Stakes, $75,000, 4yo & up f&m, 8f turf
• Hawthorne: Illinois Derby – G3, $500,000, 3yo & up, 9f
• Keeneland: Central Bank Ashland – G1, $500,000, 3yo f, 8.5f
• Oaklawn Park: Bachelor Stakes, $75,000, 3yo, 6f
• Pimlico: Mister Diz Stakes, $75,000, 3yo & up, 5f turf
• Tampa Bay Downs: Ocala Breeders’ Sale Sophomore, $75,000, 3yo, 7f
• Tampa Bay Downs: Hilton Garden Inn Sprint, $75,000, 4yo & up, 6f
• Tampa Bay Downs: Turf Distaff, $75,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8f 70f turf
• Tampa Bay Downs: Vinery Turf Classic, $75,000, 4yo & up, 9f turf
• Tampa Bay Downs: Stonehenge Farm South Sophomore Fillies, $75,000, 3yo f, 7f
• Tampa Bay Downs: Dayton Andrews Dodge Sophomore Turf, $75,000, 3yo, 8.5f turf

Sunday – April 8

• Gulfstream Park: Wait a While Stakes, $60,000, 3yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf

Related posts:

1. Players Edge Newsletter – April 13, 2012
2. Players Edge Newsletter – April 20, 2012
3. Players Edge Newsletter – April 27, 2012

Gulfstream Park – Florida Derby

Union Rags takes on El Padrino

Saturday’s feature race at Gulfstream Park is the Grade 1, $1-million Florida Derby for three-year-olds. The nine-furlong race drew a field of nine led by the top three-year-old in the country, Union Rags.

Union Rags is currently at the top of the BetAmerica Kentucky Derby Top 15 and will stay there with a win on Saturday. He has run five times in his career and is only a head short of being a perfect five-for-five. Of course that was in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile when he had a four-wide trip.

The Dixie Union-colt is coming out of perhaps his most impressive victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth over the track last month. The margin of victory was not equal to his wins in the Grade 1 Champagne or Grade 2 Saratoga Special, but it was the way in which he cruised up to the leaders then effortlessly drew off to win by four. It was the first start since the BC in November and if he improves as expected then Union Rags will be very tough in the Florida Derby.

Of course races are not run on paper and Union Rags will have a tough customer to beat in the Todd Pletcher-trained El Padrino, who is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds.

In the Risen Star, El Padrino was sent off as the 4-5 post-time favorite and ran a game race, prevailing by a nose over Louisiana Derby bound Mark Valeski. Pletcher decided to keep his top three-year-old at Gulfstream Park to face Union Rags and what may be an easier shot at graded earnings.

Post position draw would favor El Padrino having drawn post eight with Union Rags in post six. Jockey Javier Castellano can stalk the favorite or if the pace is too slow then he can open up the race before Julien presses the button on Rags.

The probable third choice in the wagering is the regally-bred Take Charge Indy from the Patrick Byrne barn. Take Charge Indy was supposed to run in the Tampa Bay Derby, but was scratched when they drew post ten. Now off since late-January the colt will need a top effort off the layoff to split the top pair. He is a candidate to run well in the Derby, but may be up against it on Saturday.

Three other runners; Fort Loudon, News Pending and Neck ‘n Neck, also exit the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and will be running for the minor placings. Z Camelot may be the pace of the race for trainer Dale Romans, who is also the trainer of News Pending. Remember last year Romans almost upset the apple cart in the Florida Derby with long shot, front-runner Sir Shackleton.

The final two colts in the field are Bartolome and Reveron. Reveron was third in the Grade 2 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and would be a candidate for the lead, but takes the blinkers off for the first time in his six-race career.

The Florida Derby is part of the Gulfstream Park Saturday card, which includes the Grade 3 Rampart, Grade 3 Orchid, Grade 3 Appleton, Grade 3 Skip Away and Grade 2 Gulfstream Oaks.

Post time for the Florida Derby is 5:40 ET.

Gulfstream Park – Gulfstream Oaks

Grace Hall Looks to Rebound

One race before the three-year-old colts and geldings go to post in the Florida Derby the three-year-old fillies get their shot in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. A field of eight will line up for the nine-furlong Grade 2 with Grace Hall the filly to beat.

Grace Hall was 4-5 in the Grade 2 Davona Dale late last month and was expected to get back in the winner’s circle after a second to My Miss Aurelia in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November, but Yara had other plans and was able to run down the favorite and win by a neck.

In the Davona Dale, Yara was 64-1 and put in the best race of her career. Of course if she duplicates that effort she will be right there, but the feeling is that there will be a regression while Grace Hall will improve.

Grace Hall has run five times in her career going in to the race on Saturday with three wins and two seconds. She won the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga last September and is the class of the Gulfstream Oaks field. The Empire Maker-filly drew post two last time which may have forced the hand of jockey Ramon Dominguez, but now new jockey Javier Castellano can break and stalk the pace from the five-hole. She filly Javier may end up stalking is the filly that poses the biggest danger.

Zo Impressive has been just that in her two career starts. She won her debut race at odds of 11-1 by over six lengths then came right back to score by four and one-half in an allowance race. The allowance race was a one-turn mile so the added distance and two turns will be new to her. Adding to her appeal is that both the second and third place fillies in the allowance race came back to win their next start.

The most impressive thing about Zo Impressive may be her breeding. She is by Grade 1-winner Hard Spun out of a mare, Zofting, that was also a Grade 1 winner.

Captivating Lass and The Cat’s All That finished third and fifth in the Davona Dale and Captivating Lass could be a long shot option to upset the top two. Captivating Lass makes her second start off the layoff and keeps high percentage jockey John Velazquez in the irons.

Hearts of Red and Emma’s Encore have won back-to-back races and are moving up in class for their first start against stakes company. Hearts of Red has the advantage with a win around two-turns on her resume.

And Why Not is the new face in the race making her first start since a second place finish to the multiple stakes winner On Fire Baby in the Grade 2 Pocahontas at Churchill Downs in October. She is a stone-cold closer and while the distance of the race suits her the pace may not. With a good run here she may be one to watch in the Kentucky Oaks.

Post time for the Gulfstream Oaks is 5:03 ET and is the start of the pick-4, which also includes the Florida Derby and Grade 3 Orchid stakes for fillies and mares going twelve-furlongs on the turf.

Fair Grounds – Louisiana Derby

Larry Jones Duo Tops the Field of 14

The Sunday card at Fair Grounds this weekend is one of the best across the country. There are seven stake races overall with the last three being Grade 2’s. The feature on the day is the $1-million Louisiana Derby for three-year-old colts and geldings.

This year’s renewal drew a full field of 14 with one coupled entry and it’s the coupled entry that is expected to be the post-time favorite.

Headlining the two is Mark Valeski, who is coming off of a game effort in the Grade 2 Risen Star. It was the first stakes race and first around two-turns for the Proud Citizen-colt, but he responded well and just fell a nose short to the highly regarded El Padrino. Valeski has come back to work a bullet five furlongs since that race and will be tough to beat.

Stablemate Mr. Bowling also ran in the Risen Star and was the more accomplished of the two colts, but did not run a step and finished eleventh, beaten over 14 lengths. Expect an improved effort from the colt, who will break from the gates right next to Mark Valeski in posts seven and eight.

Shared Property, Z Dager and Afford are the others coming out of the Risen Star with Z Dager the preferred of the three. Z Dager was second behind Mr. Bowling in the Grade 3 LeComte then was third in the Risen Star. The Steve Asmussen trainee will need to make up five lengths on Mark Valeski if he is to compete for the win on Sunday.

Cigar Street and Comisky’s Humor are interesting plays with experience over the Fair Grounds track. Comisky’s Humor will try to step way up in class and take his speed two-turns for high percentage trainer Ron Faucheux while Cigar Street comes in the best speed figure in the group.

Cigar Street was highly regarded in his debut as he was sent off as the 2-1 favorite, but had a troubled trip and finished fifth. No worries though and he make his next start a winning one, drawing off by just under fourteen lengths in wire-to-wire fashion. He may be the front runner, but nine furlongs in only his third start in a Grade 2 may be asking a bit much of the colt.

The top new shooters to the Fair Grounds in the Louisiana Derby are Windsurfer, Finnegans Wake and Rousing Sermon.

Windsurfer goes for the mighty Todd Pletcher stable and is making his fourth career start and first outside of the maiden ranks. On speed figures he needs to step up, but Pletcher is the man who can do it.

Finnegans Wake comes out of a third place finish to Hansen in the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct while Rousing Sermon exits a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Felipe at Santa Anita. Both colts are closers on a closers-track with what should be a decent pace up front.

Rounding out the field are Fire Alarm, Flashy Sunrise, Arm Force and Hero of Order.

The Louisiana Derby goes as race ten on the fourteen-race card with post time scheduled for 5:55 ET. It is the last leg of the $150,000 guaranteed pool pick-4, which starts in race seven and includes the New Orleans and Marvin H. Muniz Memorial Handicaps.

Santa Anita – Santa Anita Oaks

The Rematch Between Eden’s Moon and Reneesgotzip

The Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks is the feature race on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, but with the short field and short prices on Eden’s Moon and Reneesgotzip it was carded as the fourth race. Only a field of five was drawn for the Oaks with two fillies only having maiden victories on their resume and Willa B Awesome, who just finished six and one-half lengths behind the top two in the Las Virgenes.

With that said the way to wager on the Santa Anita Oaks is to play the 50-cent Pick-5, which starts in race 1, post time 3:30 ET.

The first is a maiden claiming race for three-year-olds going five and one-half furlongs on the main track. Patriotic Lion, Dutch Courage and Deejenerit are the speed figure plays but are a combined 0-for-18.

Zander, Givimaway and Lightning McQue will be competitive with improvement and check the tote board for first-time-starters Chicago Hero and Divorce Ahead.

Race two is a maiden special weight for Cal-bred or sired fillies and mares on the downhill turf course and drew a full field of twelve.

The fillies to watch are both drawn on the outside with Zanbo making her second career start and first since December for trainer Mike Puype and Best Present Ever from the Eric Kruljac barn. Best Present Ever makes her second start off the layoff and gets Garrett Gomez in the irons.

Angel’s Moon is drawn outside of her pace rival and is coming off a solid second place finish down the hill in mid-February. Saturday Nite Wish is the aforementioned pace rival and from post four jockey Martin Pedroz may gun her to the lead. Lil Swiss Echo is the wacky upsetter in the race making her second start for trainer Vladimir Cerin and top apprentice rider Eswan Flores.

Four-year-olds and upward go six and one-half furlongs in race three and Siempre Mio looks like the one to back dropping in class for trainer Doug O’Neill. The gelding’s jockey does not win often on this circuit so tread lightly.

Others to use are Blake, third in his last start and is making his second start off a layoff, and Goux Would Do, who just broke his maiden by nine and one-quarter lengths.

Race four is the Oaks, leaving the finale race five, which is another down the hill turf race.

Husband’s Folly looks to be the horse to beat making his third straight start at this class level. He was one length back in his last and with another step forward can win under jockey David Flores.

Warren’s Dr. Yang has a win down the course in open claiming company. Star Nicholas will be flying late for Joel Rosario, who is riding very well lately. Nofty is an interesting horse shipping south for Gary Mandella. Garrett Gomez takes the right and Nofty was second over the course last year.

He Flies a Banner and Titian are going route-to-sprint, which plays very well down the hill.

The pick-5 has been a great wager at Santa Anita this meet and the Saturday one looks very strong and even with the short prices in the Oaks it will pay well.

Thoroughbred Racing Action

Weekend Stakes Action

Great racing action from across the country this weekend.  Watch these races all on BetAmerica.com.

Saturday – March 31

• Gulfstream Park: Florida Derby – G1, $1,000,000, 3yo, 9f
• Gulfstream Park: Gulfstream Park Oaks – G2, $300,000, 3yo f, 9f
• Gulfstream Park: Rampart Stakes – G3, $150,000, 4yo & up f&m, 9f
• Gulfstream Park: Orchid Stakes – G3, $150,000, 4yo & up f&m, 12f turf
• Gulfstream Park: Appleton Stakes – G3, $100,000, 4yo & up, 8f turf
• Gulfstream Park: Skip Away Stakes – G3, $100,000, 4yo & up, 9.5f
• Gulfstream Park: Sir Shackleton Stakes, $60,000, 4yo & up, 6.5f
• Fair Grounds: Fair Grounds Oaks – G2, $500,000, 3yo f, 8.5f
• Fair Grounds: Bayou Handicap, $100,000, 4yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf
• Fair Grounds: Crescent City Oaks, $75,000, 3yo f, 8f 70y
• Fair Grounds: Red Camelia Stakes, $60,000, 4yo & up f&m, 8.5f turf
• Santa Anita: Santa Anita Oaks – G1, $300,000, 3yo f, 8.5f
• Santa Anita: Echo Eddie Stakes, $200,000, 3yo, 6.5f
• Santa Anita: Evening Jewel Stakes, $200,000, 3yo f, 6.5f
• Oaklawn Park: Rainbow Stakes, $50,000, 3yo, 6f
• Oaklawn Park: Rainbow Miss Stakes, $50,000, 3yo f, 6f
• Pimlico: Shine Again Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f
• Turfway Park: Fairway Fun Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f

Sunday – April 1

• Fair Grounds: Louisiana Derby – G2, $1,000,000, 3yo, 9f
• Fair Grounds: New Orleans Handicap – G2, $400,000, 4yo & up, 9f
• Fair Grounds: Mervin H. Muniz Memorial Handicap – G2, $400,000, 4yo & up, 9f turf
• Fair Grounds: Duncan F. Kenner Stakes, $150,000, 3yo & up, 6f
• Fair Grounds: Crescent City Derby, $75,000, 3yo, 8.5f
• Fair Grounds: Costa Rising Stakes, $60,000, 4yo & up, 8.5f
• Fair Grounds: Bayou St. John Stakes, $60,000, 4yo & up, 5.5f turf
• Santa Anita: Sidd Finch Stakes, $70,000, 4yo & up, 8f turf
• Oaklawn Park: Arkansas Breeders’ Stakes, $50,000, 3yo & up, 8.5f

Related posts:

1. Players Edge Newsletter – March 2, 2012
2. Players Edge Newsletter – March 16, 2012
3. Players Edge Newsletter – March 23, 2012