Horse Racing: Sat. Belmont's card (post #1134), NBC coverage begins at 4:30 pm ET

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 8, 2017

SARATOGA SALE: The Saratoga 2-day sale ended today and the fireworks came with consecutive hip numbers 44 and 45. The former, a son to Medaglia d' Oro, was auctioned for $900,000. The latter, a Curlin colt, sold for a cool $1,000,000 to a partnership including Mike Repole who co-founded Vitaminwater. Hip 186 sold for $1,000,000 on the second day, a colt from Orb. Hip 226 sold for $995,000 on the second day. The total yearling sales exceeded $24,000,000.

SARATOGA HANDLE TO DATE: $279,099,864 through 16 racing dates, up 5.6% from last year.

ILLINOIS' SIGNATURE DAY (Saturday): Entries will be posted once they are released later this week.

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August 8, 2017 (a typical light Tuesday)

Parx (Pennsylvania):

Philly seems to wait for Mondays and Tuesdays to produce healthy payouts. The $1 Pick 3 paid $4,167.60 and the $.50 Pick 4 more than $5,700 following race 8. The next race produced a $1.00 Pick 3 that paid $2,217.

Presque Isle (Pennsylvania):

Jeremy Rose won twice through four races tonight. He has been victorious five of his last 11 rides spanning three cards. Rose is also 8-for-23 (35%) this month at the track.

Finger Lakes (New York):

Following race 9, the $.50 Pick 4 paid over $17,000.

Soliloquy of a Dogge · Aug 9, 2017

Even the best laid plans...

Missed Arrogate at Del Mar and was shocked to find out that not only he didn't win but that he finished out of the money. What a shocking turn of events. Good news is I will still be seeing him at the Pacific Classic and the Breeders Cup though I guess. Hopefully he turns in better performances on those days.

And Songbird aiming for the Pacific Classic? I'd be shocked honestly.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 9, 2017

^ Welcome back.

August 9, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

The meet's leading rider Jose Ortiz won three races.
The $2 Pick 5 following the 10th race paid over $53,000.
The $2 Pick 3 neared $3,000 following race 6.
Joel Rosario defeated John Velazquez (runner up) in consecutive races including one in which he broke terribly but came on with a furious rally.
Javier Castellano/Todd Pletcher won the $100,000 feature race.
The opener was a steeplechase. Thoroughbred races 2 through 10 produced nine different trainers to the winner's circle.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

Trainer Keith Nations won three straight in which he was entered. One winner came with Ashley Castrenze and the other two with Victor Carrasco.
Paco Lopez won his lone ride of the day on board a 3-to-5. The gift was the exacta which paid $56 when a 25-to-1 came in place position.
The opener was won by a $70.20 winner.
Scott Spieth/Tim Ritchey (always and forever known as Afleet Alex's trainer) teamed to win races 2 and 3.

Prairie Meadows (Iowa):

An 11-year-old Nebraska bred (we learn something every day) named Doug is still running and finished second at 23-to-1 as the longest shot on the board in race 2. He ran for the 75th time.

Tillamook Fair (Oregon):

How is this remotely possible? A 13-to-1 and a 9-to-1 combined for a $22,380 quinella. Inquiring minds want to know.

Del Mar (California):

Rafael Bejarano won three times and is now tied for the second most wins at the meet. Bug Evin Roman has a 5-win advantage.
Vallestina (Flavien Prat/Michael McCarthy) won her maiden race by 17 1/2 lengths in a romp at Canterbury (Minnesota) back in June and is now 2-for-2 under a new jockey and trainer. A Florida-bred through Minnesota wins in southern Cal.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 10, 2017

August 10, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Whatever happened in that last race could require additional attention. Dylan Davis won and Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Rajiv Maragh followed. However, a "General Inquiry" was posted and after evaluation Maragh was elevated while Ortiz, Jr. was DQ'd to third. He was fined earlier in the week $3,000 for unprofessional behavior in a race involving Javier Castellano. He seemed to ride in an overly aggressive manner again today.
Trainer Todd Pletcher won three times. Chad Brown won twice. They were expected and likely will finish 1-2 in the standings for the meet when it concludes.
It looks as if New York handled roughly $12,000,000 for today's card. For a Thursday.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

Trainer Larry Jones won both races in which he entered including with a 1-to-9 shot.

Gulfstream (Florida):

Tyler Gaffalione had a natural hat trick again today winning races 8, 9 and 10. He won four races total. The kid is a star.

Arlington (Illinois):

Edgar Perez also had a natural hat trick and his $1 Pick 3 paid $383.50 with a $49 winner included.

Del Mar (California):

The sister to California Chrome just made a bettor very happy. The handicapper needed R Sunday Surprise, an 0-for-7 maiden with a 3% jockey riding, and got the strike of good fate. The $2 Pick 6 paid $190,433.80. The details are yet to be public but it appears the winning ticket was sold in Las Vegas. The previous time a huge jackpot was hit at Del Mar, the winning ticket was bet at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Suffolk Downs (Massachusetts):

Added two more racing dates to its original schedule of six: Sep. 30 and Oct. 1 will have live racing. The meet has been a success to date.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 11, 2017

August 11, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Stallwalkin Dude (Joe Bravo/David Jacobsen) won the feature race and is now 19-for-55 lifetime.
Paco Lopez, who snapped a 0-for-49 skid last week at the meet, won again and is now 2-for-54.
In that race won by Paco Lopez, trainer Mark Casse and his 1-for-44 mark at the meet (through today's races) was sent off the favorite.
In the sixth race, in a field of six, an oddity in that the Ortiz Brothers were sent off with the two longest shots on the board. Seeing one of them as the largest set of odds is strange enough. They finished 2nd and 5th. Ultimately, the horse has an input in the result, too.
Manny Franco was the only rider to repeat a win today. In the fifth, he brought home a $78.50 winner.

Gulfstream (Florida):

Rinse. Wash. Repeat. Tyler Gaffalione won three times today and his second consecutive natural hat trick which ended the race card today. An extraordinary performance.

Laurel (Maryland):

Bombs away in the finale (race 11). The winner was ridden by (roughly) 56-year-old Al Cortez who picked up the mount as a replacement rider. The $1 super paid over $26,000. The $2 Pick 4 returned close to $19,000. The $2 Pick 3 paid in excess of $6,500. There was an inquiry following the race as well. Much riding on the outcome.
In race 9, track handicapper Stan Salter touted a 17-to-1 shot ridden to victory by Feargal Lynch.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

Calvin Borel won twice. And he seems to be as popular as ever.

Club HÃpico de Santiago (Santiago, Chile):

A 10-year-old was entered in a race with 376 lifetime races (21 wins). Let that one sink in.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

The carryover pool begins at $760,000+.

http://www.woodbineentertainment.com/WOODBINE/BETTING/Pages/Jackpot-Hi-5.aspx

What is the Jackpot Hi-5?

The Jackpot Hi-5 is essentially a bet where the bettor must select the top 5 finishers in a race in the correct order, with one twist:

There is a full pool plus a JACKPOT CARRYOVER that will pay out if and when only one (1) single winning ticket exists.

If multiple winning tickets exist, 50% of todayâ€™s pool will be paid as a consolation, and the remainder will be added into the carryover pool. If no winners exist, the full pool will be added to the carryover for the next available pool. The carryover will continue to grow until a single ticket wins. This pool will be offered in the last race of every Woodbine Thoroughbred and Standardbred card of racing!

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 12, 2017

Saturday's two races broadcast on NBCSN will both be from Arlington (Illinois).

Saratoga has a Grade I in the FourStarDave in which John Velazquez has won nine times. Saratoga's card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/SAR/country/USA/date/08-12-2017

BEVERLY D STAKES (Grade I)

What: The winner qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
History: Inaugurated in 1987, European-breds had their 5-race win streak snapped last year.
When: Saturday, August 12, 2017, Race 10 of 12, 5:35 pm Central Time, 6:35 pm Eastern Time
Where: Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois
Distance: 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs)
Surface: Turf
Purse: $600,000
Runners (age, sex): Three-year-old and up. Fillies and mares.
Preview:
1. http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170810/arlington-trainer-block-excited-for-beverly-d-challenge
2. (biographies of horses) http://www.arlingtonpark.com/sites/default/files/u9531/Beverly D Profiles 2017.pdf
Television: TVG (24/7 horse racing channel). Live coverage on NBCSN from 6:30 pm ET - 7:30 pm ET.
Full card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/AP/country/USA/date/08-12-2017

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Trainer

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Morning Line Odds

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ARLINGTON MILLION XXXV Stakes (Grade I)

What: The winner qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
History: Inaugurated in 1981 when Hall-of-Famer John Henry won.
When: Saturday, August 12, 2017, Race 11 of 12, 6:19 pm Central Time, 7:19 pm Eastern Time
Where: Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois
Distance: 1 1/4 mile (10 furlongs)
Surface: Turf
Purse: $1,000,000
Runners (age, sex): Three-year-old and up. Open.
Preview:
Television: TVG (24/7 horse racing channel). Live coverage on NBCSN from 6:30 pm ET - 7:30 pm ET.
Full card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/AP/country/USA/date/08-12-2017

Post

| Horse (location bred) | Age/Sex | Jockey |

Weight

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Trainer

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Morning Line Odds

Note: #9 will not run. He has an injury.

Note: The Pizza Man is an Illinois legend. A state-bred with a lifetime mark of 35 17-3-3 and earnings in excess of $2,000,000. However, he has won just one of nine starts the last two years and last won in his home state in 2015 in this race. Last year he finished sixth in this race.

GKJ · Aug 12, 2017

Underrated day on the schedule here, especially given the quality of international talent. Often get a better field for the Arlington Million or Canadian International than you do the BC Turf.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 12, 2017

August 12, 2017

Arlington Park (Illinois):

Beach Patrol (Joel Rosario/Chad Brown) won the Arlington Million. Ridden in the past by Florent Geroux, a switch to Rosario proved successful. The colt was in the money 11 of 14 starts but had just three prior wins. He is also 2-for-2 at Arlington with both wins in Grade I races. Irish-bred Fanciful Angel (Daniel Muscutt/Marco Botti) finished second at 73-to-1 and paid $51.40 for place. He was the second highest odds on the board in a 12-horse field in his U.S. debut after 23 starts overseas. The $.10 superfecta returned $4,075.15 or $40,000+ for a successful $1 bet.
Dacita (Irad Ortiz, Jr./Chad Brown) won the $600,000 Beverly D. The Chilean-bred is 10-for-19 lifetime. There was a deadheat for second between the 4 and 5.
Strong performances from the East coast. Trainer Chad Brown won the two biggest purses on the card. Top East coast riders included the Ortiz Brothers and Joel Rosario who made their presences felt. The brothers collected three wins including one race in which they finished 1-2.
Jose Ortiz/Brian Lynch won the $400,000 Grade I Secretariat with Oscar Performance who is 96-0-0 lifetime. He excels in Grade I races with a perfect 3-for-3 mark and has earned $1.7 million in purse money.
Jose Valdivia, Jr. is on a roll. He had three victories, all in the early portion of the card. Going back to August 5, he has won 14 of 35 races (40%).
Miguel Mena won twice with 27-to-1 and 12-to-1 runners.
Corey Lanerie/Anthony Granitz teamed to win the third race with the longest shot on the board at 18-to-1.
Limestone, an Illinois-bred, ran for the 96th time and finished fourth at 36-to-1 and was part of a $1 super that paid $15,000+
Following the finale, the $.50 Pick 5 paid an astonishing $165,138.90. The $.50 Pick 4 returned $2,159.15.

Saratoga (New York):

37,000+ attendance and an intake of about $22,500,000 from all sources. A weather delay interrupted normal operations.
Top riders elsewhere today included the Ortiz Brothers and Joel Rosario.
The $2 Pick 5 after the fifth race paid $137,038. The $2 Pick 4 paid $19,789.
John Velazquez won three times, twice with Todd Pletcher training.
Mark Casse ended his skid with two wins. He improved his meet record to 3-for-49. He won the biggest race in the East when World Approval (ridden by Manny Franco) was victorious in the $500,000 Grade I FourStarDave.
Robby Albarado apparently moved his tack for a few days to the Spa and his lone ride resulted in a win in the ninth race. Mike Luzzi came in second with the longest price on the board. Albarado-Luzzi is not exactly the norm at Saratoga.
The two longest shots on the board in the opener finished 1-2.
Dylan Davis (33-to-1) nipped John Velazquez (9-to-5) in a head bob in a stretch duel that was exhilarating even for non-bettors. It was race 2. According to those in the know, Davis became a father mere hours prior to the race.
In race 3, the finish was as exciting when Jose Lezcano defeated Javier Castellano in a turf race. Two consecutive photos that were extraordinary.

Saratoga's numbers are booming (per DRF)

All-sources handle through Saturday was $342,506,638, a 10.6 perent increase over last year.

Ontrack handle was $79,761,216, an 8.6 percent increase over last year.

Field size this year is 8.40 horses per race, compared to 8.07 last year.

Monmouth Park (New Jersey):

The Pick 6 Jackpot paid $46,000+.

Gulfstream (Florida):

Emisael Jaramillo had three wins.
Luca Panici began the day 2-for.2.
A horse named Ovetchkin Jagr (actual spelling) was out for the first time but scratched.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

Bug Jose Bracho won twice including one at 13-to-1 for trainer John Rigattieri who is a very good veteran east coast trainer. He is about 25% at the meet and 22% this year. It was the first time Rigattieri had the horse who entered 3-for-28. He has been training since the early 1970s and only has a stable of about 15 horses.
Ashley Castrenze won with an 8-to-1 and deserves a gold star, an A++ and a 5-star rating for the way she delivered and nipped the competition at the wire.
A Korean-bred was entered in one race.

Del Mar (California):

The Pick 6 was hit again, this time for $41,000+.
In the Grade II, $200,000 Best Pal, Run Away (Flavien Prat/Simon Callaghan) ran away from the field in a 3 1/2 length win. The 2 year-old colt is now 3-for-3 lifetime.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

Eurico Da Silva won four times and has been victorious in 10 of his last 28 starts. He was 8 4-1-2 today, seven times in the money in eight starts.
Pink Lloyd (Eurico Da Silva/Robert Tiller) won the $125,000 Shepperton Stakes, his fifth straight win and each in stakes. He has a magnificent mark of 10 8-1-0.
Sunday's carryover for the Jackpot Hi-5 starts at $779,000+.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 13, 2017

August 13, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Irad Ortiz, Jr. won four times including a natural hat trick starting in race 7. He rode two winners for Chad Brown.
The $2 Pick 5 paid $16,392.00.
John Velazquez is having a terrific meet after a terrible start. Of course, he is asked to drive mostly Cadillacs but he was ice cold early in the meet. He is currently third in wins and only behind the Ortiz Brothers. Irad has 31 wins (23%), Jose has 29 (19%) and Velazquez has 24 (26%).

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

Solid payouts for any successful betters as the afternoon progressed.
Race 5: $38.40 winner. $1 super paid over $9,000. $2 Pick 4 returned $1,568.40
Race 6: $44.00 winner. $9,815 for a $1 super. $1,443 for a $2 double. $5,806.40 $2 Pick 3.
Race 8: The Grade III Groupie Doll was won by Tiger Moth (Corey Lanerie/Brad Cox). The $2 Pick 4 paid $2,877.40.
Race 9: $61.20 winner. $1,381.60 for a $2 exacta. $4,980.20 for a $2 trifecta. $8,616.20 $1 super. The $2 Pick 4 paid $87,638.60. The $2 Pick 3 paid $4,423.40.

Gulfstream (Florida):

The $.20 Rainbow Six paid out $18,488.74. Carryover is $137,000+.
Second straight day Luca Panici won the opening race.
Leading riders by wins at the meet: Tyler Gaffalione (46), Edgard Zayas (39), Miguel Vasquez (32), Emisael Jaramillo (29) and Luca Panici (22).
Jockey Jorge Ruiz has an intriguing record in 103 races. He is 8-14-26. While his 8% winning percentage is low, the 47% in the money is adequate.
Tough weekend for Tyler Gaffalione who rode here Sunday and Saratoga Saturday. He was 0-for-15 and out of the money nine times: 15 0-3-3

Del Mar (California):

In the Grade III $100,000 feature, Skye Diamonds (Tiago Pereira/Bill Spawr) recorded her seventh win in her last nine starts 9 7-2-0. She is 16 9-4-0 but has found a resurgence with this jockey/trainer combo who have been together the last eight starts.
Kent Desormeaux won three races. He is fourth in wins (13) at the meet behind bug Evin Roman (22), Flavien Prat (20) and Rafael Bejarano (16). He is 20% in wins at the meet and 58% in the money. Excellent numbers.
Soul Streit, an Indiana-bred ridgling owned by Kirk Herbstreit, won a $60,000 maiden special weight race under Mike Smith and trained by Bob Baffert by about 5 lengths and under a hand ride. This was his debut performance. I would imagine the Del Mar Futurity could be on the horizon. Nyquist and American Pharoah won two of the last three futurities. It is a major stepping stone for 2-year-old runners as they advance into the next calendar year. The last Indiana-bred to run in the Kentucky Derby came in 1991 and none has won the race.

Emerald Downs (Washington):

In race 6, there was a $77.60 winner.
In race 8, the $200,000 Grade III Longacres Mile, apprentice Evin Roman had an $8.40 winner on board Gold Rush Dancer who won for the first time in 13 months. The colt is a Cal-bred who ran his first five races at Emerald Downs before running at four tracks and 12 races in California. He seems to enjoy Washington state going 3-2-1 in six career starts while 12 3-1-2 in Cali. Roman was pumped to say the least as he enjoyed his first career graded stakes victory.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

In race 4, a 14-to-1, 41-to-1, 10-1 and 11-to-1 produced a $1 super that paid $42,819.35. The $2 trifecta paid $11,027.
In the Grade III Seagram Cup stakes, the chalk delivered when Melmich (Eurico Da Silva/Kevin Attard) won.
The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover will begin at $830,945.

Vasilevskiy · Aug 14, 2017

Permian broke down in the Secretariat Stakes, and Will Buick got hurt.
Stupid choice to run him once again this season in a surface so quick with so many bends.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 14, 2017

^ I watched the replay and the horse seemed to have an awkward stride but Godolphin horses generally have regal reputations. Crossing the finish line seemed to be when the disastrous outcome occurred. A fractured vertebrae for the rider but no surgery required is what I read.

August 14, 2017

A typical light Monday of racing.

Saratoga (New York):

Jose Ortiz won three times including the opener in which the exacta returned a healthy $243 when the longest shot on the board, ridden by Jorge Robles, went off at 48-to-1 and finished second. Quick research shows that Robles has approximately 1,220 starts with all but two in Puerto Rico.
Irad Ortiz, Jr./Rudy Rodriguez combined to win the feature race. Ortiz, Jr. was named today as the Jockey of the Week in North America.
Chris DeCarlo, who doesn't get the chance to ride to many prime runners, snapped a skid of seven straight mounts not in the money with a third place finish on a 42-to-1 shot. Because of him, the tri returned nearly $1,000.
The $2 Pick 6 paid $44,797.

While both tracks were dark Monday, Woodbine and Gulfstream have large carryovers for their next days of racing.

Woodbine: $830,945.
Gulfstream: $137,077.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 14, 2017

ARROGATE:

Entries will be drawn Tuesday for Saturday's $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar. Arrogate vs. Accelerate.

Thus the Pacific Classic takes on added importance, not just as a “Win and You’re In” launching pad to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) over the same track and 1 1/4-mile trip, but as a crucial test of Arrogate’s frame of mind. Will we see the devastating Arrogate of the 2016 Travers (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic, and this year’s Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1)?

Perhaps Arrogate hadn’t gotten out of vacation mode for the San Diego, his first start since Dubai, where he became North America’s all-time richest Thoroughbred with more than $17 million in earnings. He’d been working sharply for his return, but at Santa Anita. He did not get a tune-up at Del Mar prior to the San Diego, so maybe he was still getting his bearings at the seaside.

Arrogate has had his game face on, however, in his trio of works at Del Mar since his San Diego flop. Coming right back with a bullet half in :47.20 on August 1, he motored seven furlongs in 1:25.20 on August 8, and polished off his preparation Monday. In all three, Arrogate worked by himself, offering more encouragement that he’s still got zest.

Only the heat of battle can confirm it. His head carriage coming out of the turn on Monday, and lead change, will provide fodder for those probing for vulnerability.

Entries for the Pacific Classic will close Tuesday morning, with the draw to follow later that afternoon (3:30-5:30 p.m. PDT) at the Brigantine Restaurant.

The Pacific Classic will give Arrogate a rematch with San Diego romper Accelerate, who was receiving nine pounds from him last time. Now Accelerate meets Arrogate at level weights, and at 1 1/4 miles, a far better scenario for the champion than the San Diego’s 1 1/16 miles.

http://www.brisnet.com/content/2017/08/arrogate-polishes-off-pacific-classic-preparations/

SONGBIRD:

What a beauty. It appears the dynamic Songbird could be facing Forever Unbridled and others in the $700,000 Grade I Personal Ensign on August 26. :popcorn:

Fox Hill Farms’ two-time champion Songbird (Medaglia d’Oro) will make her next start in Saratoga’s GI Personal Ensign S. on GI Travers S. day, Aug. 26, Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farms said Sunday. The 4-year-old filly breezed five furlongs in 1:01 flat Sunday morning at her summer base at Del Mar.

“We are definitely running,” said owner Rick Porter by phone. “I want to run at Saratoga. It’s my favorite track to run at, and I think it’s the right race for her anyway–the timing is right, the purse is right, and she’s run well there.”

The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee notched back-to-back wins at the Spa last summer in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks and the GI Alabama S. Songbird will likely meet a salty group of rivals in the Personal Ensign.

“We’re going to hook Forever Unbridled, Carina Mia, and whoever else is coming, so it’s not going to be a pushover race,” Porter said. “But according to Mr. Hollendorfer, she couldn’t be doing any better. She worked in 1:01 and they gave her a ‘breezing,’ which is pretty hard to get at Del Mar. Jerry said she went around the track like she was just jogging around.”

Songbird has won 13 of her 14 starts with earnings over $4.5 million. Her lone defeat came by a nose behind Beholder (Henny Hughes) in last November’s GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but the filly has bounced back with a pair of wins at the highest level in the June 10 GI Ogden Phipps S. and July 15 GI Delaware H.

http://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/songbird-given-green-light-for-personal-ensign/

================

Songbird has one blemish on her record, losing by a flared nostril to an older Beholder.

Overall record 14 13-1-0.

Her record by race track

Santa Anita (CA) 6 5-1-0
Del Mar (CA) 2 2-0-0
Saratoga (NY) 2 2-0-0
Belmont (NY): 1 1-0-0
Parx (PA) 1 1-0-0
Keeneland (KY) 1 1-0-0
Delaware (DE) 1 1-0-0

Her record by distance

6 furlongs 1 1-0-0
7 furlongs 1 1-0-0
1 mile (8 furlongs) 1 1-0-0
1 1/16 mile (8.5 furlongs) 7 7-0-0
1 1/8 mile (9 furlongs) 2 1-1-0
1 1/4 mile (10 furlongs) 2 2-0-0

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 15, 2017

The results of Tuesday's post position draw for Saturday's Pacific Classic at Del Mar:

1. Royal Albert Hall (GB) -- Corey Nakatani -- 30-1
2. Collected -- Martin Garcia -- 5-2
3. Accelerate -- Victor Espinoza -- 3-1
4. Sorry Erik -- Kent Desormeaux -- 30-1
5. Hard Aces -- Santiago Gonzalez -- 20-1
6. Donworth -- Mario Gutierrez -- 15-1
7. Curlin Road -- Flavien Prat -- 20-1
8. Arrogate -- Mike Smith -- 1-1

---------------------
An early preview on HorseRacingNation:

http://www.horseracingnation.com/bl...looks_to_win_again_in_the_Pacific_Classic_123

Accelerate [ML 3-1 - Hronis Racing - Lookin At Lucky â€“ Sadler â€“ Espinoza â€“ 12: 4-3-3 - $607,480] Accelerate has beaten Arrogate twice. Initially, in Arrogateâ€™s first career start and then more significantly in the San Diego Handicap. Accelerate has a perfect three for three record at Del Mar with his maiden victory as a three-year-old, the Shared Belief Stakes in his next start, and then the recent upset of Arrogate. He has never run beyond nine furlongs, so the mile and a quarter will test his limits. He did finish third behind Collected in the Precisionist. Questions abound for this son of Lookin At Lucky, but he is a contender if Arrogate is not back to normal. Perfect at Del Mar

Arrogate [ML 1-1 - Juddmonte - Unbridledâ€™s Song â€“ Baffert â€“ Smith â€“ 9: 7-0-1 - $17,102,600] On the surface, itâ€™s pretty simple, Arrogate is the top horse in the world. He is at his best going the mile and a quarter and no else in the field has won going the classic distance. His loss in the San Diego Handicap was strictly an anomaly and, thus, last yearâ€™s Three-Year-old Champion will stream roll this field as was expected all year long. It could very well be that easy.

However, it would not be fair to ignore the dismal performance of Arrogate in his last race. To me, it was and still is hard to conceive that Arrogate could be beaten that badly. Is it possible that there was more going on than the fact that he may not have been trained to be at 100% fitness? An Arrogate at 80% should have performed better than he did on July 22nd at Del Mar. Arrogate was sired by Unbridledâ€™s Song and his offspring usually show physical problems during their careers. There has been talk that Arrogate ran in the San Diego like he was not physically comfortable.

Arrogate has breezed three times since his last race. First going four furlongs, then a week later at seven-eighths of a mile, and then most recently another four-panel breeze for his final preparation. â€œHe just cruised around there,â€ said trainer Bob Baffert. â€œWeâ€™re set (for the Pacific Classic).â€

Either way, Arrogate is likely to be very heavily bet, probably not to the extent of the .05-1 odds in the San Diego, but likely closer to .50-1. For betting purposes, it would be very tough to make a win wager under these circumstances. Others might think about trying to beat Arrogate. This just may be an intriguing race to enjoy without much betting on the small field beyond the multi-race offerings. Is Arrogate Still the Best Horse in the World?

==========================

NBCSN will air two races from Del Mar (California) beginning at 5:00 pm Pacific Time (8:00 pm Eastern Time) Saturday.

TVG Pacific Classic: The winner gets an invite to the Breeders' Cup Classic
Del Mar Handicap: The winner gets an invite to the Breeders' Cup Longines Turf which has been dominated by Europeans the last 10 years or so.

Once the cards are filled today or tomorrow, the complete roster of races for Saturday will be posted here.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 16, 2017

August 16, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Jose Ortiz won three more times and now leads his brother Irad 35-to-33 on top the most wins at the meet standings. He won the feature race on board March X Press (trained by Todd Pletcher) with a terrific finish. The filly is now 2-for-2 lifetime.
Robby Albarado won again today and boosted his meet mark to 11 3-2-2. In the money 64% of the time is outstanding.
Tyler Gaffalione improved his meet mark to 22 2-3-3 (2 wins in 22 starts) with a win in the finale, his only ride of the day. It ended his personal losing streak at 16 races (Gulfstream, which was dark today, and Saratoga combined).
The $2 superfecta paid $19,140 in race 4
Trainers Kiaran McLaughlin (2nd and 3rd) and Bill Mott (7th and 8th) each won twice and in consecutive races.
Trainers Nick Zito and Joe Sharp each had their first wins at the meet and both now stand at 1-for-21.
The trainer standings leaders are Chad Brown (24 wins) and Todd Pletcher (24 wins). Shock shock.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

An 0-for-47 maiden was sent off the favorite then failed to win for the 48th time. The 9-year-old gelding is a son of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet.
In race 7, a 12-year-old gelding bred in Texas was sent out for the 118th time. He was coming in off a win earlier this month.

Del Mar (California):

Joe Talalmo won three times including the $75,000 feature race with an Irish-bred for Neil Drysdale.
In that same race, a former Chad Brown-trained horse was now under the supervision of Bob Baffert. Very rare to see a Brown horse go to Baffert. Obviosuly, two of the best trainers in North America if not the world.
Flavien Prat, who won twice, is having a solid meet and is tied with bug Evin Roman with 22 wins on top the rider standings.
Phil D'Amato (12) and Doug O'Neill (11) are 1-2 in the trainer race.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 16, 2017

This was my daily review on August 2 about March X Press in her debut run:

If there was ever a case to feel mortified about cashing a ticket it was in the 10th and final race. Todd Pletcher with 2-year-old runners should almost always be considered. You have arguably the top East coast rider on board in Jose Ortiz. You have 5-to-1 odds. The only conceivable drawback is that it is the filly's maiden race and that can lead to unpredictability. Then again. March X Press missed the break badly, was bottled but then with a terrific maneuver by Ortiz went to the outside and shot like a cannon. When replays are made available, it will be posted here. A New York-bred in state company but she had quality turf breeding. $12.40 for the win. Run for cover.

Needless to say, I waited for today. And waited. Second career race for the filly was a $100,000 purse in a stakes race. And a morning line of 8-to-1 was beyond tempting though sent off at 5-to-2. March X Press was asked to give her all and she responded. Jose Ortiz and Todd Pletcher, the latter who is simply a master with 2-year-olds. Nicely done.

This is the performance of a future champ (video):

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – For a 2-year-old with limited experience, March X Press has shown the poise and demeanor of a veteran, qualities that served her well once again on Wednesday at Saratoga where she bulled her way between horses down the stretch to a half-length victory over Fairyland in the $100,000 Bolton Landing Stakes.

March X Press hit the starting gate and broke last in her career debut, overcoming that and a wide trip for a well-deserved maiden win here just two weeks ago. In the Bolton Landing, March X Press again came away a bit tardily, settled well off the pace of Fairyland, forced her way between horses while rallying near midstretch, then finished full of run to overtake the leader near the wire.

March X Press, a New York-bred daughter of Shanghai Bobby, is trained by Todd Pletcher for Golconda Stables. She completed 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm course in 1:01.69 under jockey Jose Ortiz and paid $6.80 as the tepid favorite.

“She showed a lot of courage for only her second start,” said Pletcher. “She broke really poorly first time out and it worked to her advantage so we didn’t want to change that running style today. She got away a little slowly again today and [Ortiz] rode her patiently. She had to push her way through a little bit, and she had an explosive turn of foot the last part. For a lightly raced filly to do that is impressive.”

http://www.drf.com/news/march-x-press-posts-gritty-win-bolton-landing-stakes

KirkOut · Aug 16, 2017

despite having lived in the Cap Region for 2 years now I've never been to the track. Going next weekend, looking forward to it. Love Toga in the summer.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 17, 2017

KirkOut said:
despite having lived in the Cap Region for 2 years now I've never been to the track. Going next weekend, looking forward to it. Love Toga in the summer.

^ Other than the potential for humidity and the overwhelming crowds, I have never heard of a bad experience at the Spa. Enjoy and if you choose give a summary of your experience. The meet is in in closing couple of weeks.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 17, 2017

Augsut 17, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Irad Ortiz, Jr. was the lone rider with multiple wins (2) and pulled within one victory of his brother Jose at the top of the rider standings this meet.
Nine trainers were victorious on the 9-race card including leading trainers Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher.
One trainer who is perhaps flying under the radar is Jason Servis who is at 42% for wins and 74% in the money. He has a mark of 8-4-2 in 19 starts. Only three trainers have more victories than Servis at the meet.

Arlington (Illinois):

Jose Valdivia, Jr. won three of the seven races.
The finale was a bomb with an $81.20 winner and a $1 exacta that paid $427.10. The $.50 tri was more than $1,500. The $.50 Pick 5 returned over $8,500.

Del Mar (California):

The $1 Pick 3 returned more than $1,500 to start the day.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 18, 2017

ILLINOIS LEGEND THE PIZZA MAN HAS BEEN RETIRED! http://www.drf.com/news/pizza-man-retired-ankle-chip

He just wasn't the same runner as in the past. He provided many thrills for the local crowd. My note from before last week's Arlington Million:

Note: The Pizza Man is an Illinois legend. A state-bred with a lifetime mark of 35 17-3-3 and earnings in excess of $2,000,000. However, he has won just one of nine starts the last two years and last won in his home state in 2015 in this race. Last year he finished sixth in this race.

August 18, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Many scratches on the card which was atypically disappointing.
Jose Ortiz won the first and last races today to move ahead in the jockey standings by three over his brother. He was 8 2-3-2 today (2 wins in 8 starts).
The team of Angel Arroyo and Robertino Diodoro won twice. That wasn't expected.
The $2 Pick 6 paid approximately $15,000.
Todd Pletcher, who won twice, finished second and third in a race of 2-year-olds. Can't win 'em all but 2nd and 3rd is a nice consolation. Pletcher also moved ahead of rival Chad Brown by two wins atop the trainer standings for this meet.

Monmouth Park (New Jersey):

Delirium was the emotion for some after Race 9. $723.40 for the exacta, $4,137,80 for the trifecta (both based on $2 bets), $5898.60 for a $1 super, $.20 Pick 6 paid more than $4,000, $2 Pick 5 paid $64,000+, $2 Pick 4 paid $13,329.80 and the $2 Pick 3 produced $3,301.20.

Gulfstream (Florida):

Roger Laurin, who only trains three horses, had his first win in 2017 in his 12th start. Laurin trained Triple Crown runner Chief's Crown back in 1985 and his father trained a horse named Secretariat who supposedly made a name for himself. Laurin has been training since the 1950s, is 81 years of age and was born in Quebec. He won today with a 22-to-1 shot ridden by bug Abimael Medina who won his first career race in March. Great story!
Trainer Gerald Bennett, based in Tampa Bay, is struggling with a 1-for-47 record.
The $.50 Pick 5 returned over $27,000.
The $.20 Pick 6 returned over $21,000.

Laurel (Maryland):

Trainer Lacey Gaudet needed to hit the board. She accomplished that today with her three starters as she went 1-2-0.
Race 2: A $501 exacta with 17-1 and 45-1 on top the ticket.

Belterra (Ohio):

In race 2, the exacta returned $1,186, the $.50 tri was $2,810.50, the $1 super paid over $32,000 and the double was $592.60. 24-1, 40-1 and 22-1 topped the ticket.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

In the fifth race, a 30-1 morning line was sent off at 13-1 and is now 3-for-3 lifetime at Ellis with his third straight win. Hindsight is 20/20.
A $2 pick 3 paid an incredible $15,000+ following race 7 and that included one favorite winning.

Del Mar (California):

The $.50 Pick 5 paid over $15,000.
The $2 Pick 6 paid over $60,000.
From Steve Anderson at the DRF (https://twitter.com/DRFAndersen): There is a carryover of $258,780 in Del Mar pick six for Saturday on a day with a mandatory payout. New money could surpass $1.3m.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

The Hi-5 carryover will start at $899,000+ for Saturday.

Preds Partisan · Aug 18, 2017

Au revoir, The Pizza Man, you won me lots of cash.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 19, 2017

^ It has been punned many times but he delivered.

WINX:

Australian runner Winx won for the 18th consecutive time.

Winx left no one in doubt about her champion quality, winning Saturday's Bob Ingham Warwick Stakes, but she left them in the dark about how quick she actually went.

What wasn't supposed to be a close finish turned into real contest from the time Winx missed the start by five lengths.

At that point she smashed the Longines timing system and by the straight she looked ready to break the hearts of the big crowd.

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/hors...aight-20170819-gxzxlj.html?platform=hootsuite

==========================

SARATOGA, SATURDAY (feature race: The Alabama Stakes)

David Grening of the DRF reports this morning that the first two races on the card are off the turf. Rain was in the area yesterday. The other turf races remain as scheduled.

The Alabama Stakes today at Saratoga is a handicapper's dream. What a fantastic race to study and analyze. Grade I's usually have a star runner and often times people will play to beat the favorite but not here.

The Alabama is race 9 and post time is 5:40 pm ET. New York's complete card for today: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/SAR/country/USA/date/08-19-2017

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 19, 2017

NBCSN is expected to air two races from Del Mar. The Pacific Classic will be preceded by the Grade II Del Mar Handicap which is also a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're in" race. The broadcast will begin at 8:00 pm Eastern Time/5:00 pm Pacific Time.

DEL MAR HANDICAP (presented by the Japanese Racing Association) (Grade II)

What: The winner gets an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Longines Turf.
History: First run in 1937, this race was won in 2016 by Ashleyluvssugar and the prior two years by Big John B, both of whom are entered in 2017.
When: Saturday, August 19, 2017, Race 7 of 11, 5:13 pm Pacific Time
Where: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, California
Distance: 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs)
Surface: Turf
Purse: $250,000
Runners (age, sex): Three-year-old and up. Open.
Preview: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...rainees-back-on-grass-for-big-del-mar-weekend
Television: TVG (24/7 horse racing channel). Live coverage on NBCSN from 5:00 pm Pacific Time until 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (8:00 pm ET - 9:00 pm ET).
Full card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/DMR/country/USA/date/08-19-2017

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$1 MILLION TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC STAKES (Grade I)

What: All eyes will be on Arrogate as he tries to recover from an uncharacteristic performance in his last race. The winner qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
History: Inaugurated in 1991, California Chrome and Beholder made headlines the last two years.
When: Saturday, August 19, 2017, Race 8 of 11, 5:45 pm Pacific Time
Where: Del Mar Racetrack, Del Mar, California
Distance: 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs)
Surface: Dirt
Purse: $1,000,000
Runners (age, sex): Three-year-old and up. Open.
Preview: http://www.espn.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/20370254/arrogate-seeks-redemption-pacific-classic
Television: TVG (24/7 horse racing channel). Live coverage on NBCSN from 5:00 pm Pacific Time until 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (8:00 pm ET - 9:00 pm ET).
Full card: http://www.drf.com/race-entries/track/DMR/country/USA/date/08-19-2017

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=================

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...tvg-to-air-90-minute-pacific-classic-telecast

TVG's TVG Pacific Classic Special can be seen on DirecTV 602, Dish Network 399, Comcast-XFINITY, U-Verse 1971 and many more. New York area viewers can watch on MSG Plus. Additionally, TVG programming can always be streamed at TVG.com/live and on OTT streaming service DirecTV Now.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 19, 2017

August 19, 2017

Gulfstream (Florida):

It was an exceptional day to be a bomb player today.
Race 12: The $.20 Rainbow Pick 6 paid $259,573. The $2 Pick 5 paid $6,920 for those who hit 4 out of 5 races. $2 Pick 4 was a remarkable $62,168.
Race 10: A deep 13-horse field. $39.80 winner, $2 Penta paid $119,157.20. The $2 double paid $889.80.
Race 9: $132.60 winner, $1000.80 exacta, $3873.00 trifecta (based on $2 bets), $21,000+ $1 super, $2 Pick 3 for $77,212.00. $2 Double returned $5649.40. Those last two figures are mind-blowing.
Race 8: $59 winner, $659.60 exacta, $7663.00 trifecta (based on $2 bets), $18,000+ for a $1 super. $2 Double paid $871.20. $2 Pick 3 paid $2868.20.
Luca Panici won another opener. He was 7-to-2 going into the gate and came out 8-to-5. A win is a win but that change reduces the joy from the moment.
Miguel Vasquez was 11 3-3-1 with mounts in each race but the finale. In addition to his three victories, he placed in each of his last three races.

Saratoga (New York):

40,971 people in attendance. Estimates of $24,000,000 bet from all sources.
The $2 Pick 5 paid $819,374.
Race 10: Even losing paid off. The $2 Pick 5 returned $13,131 for hitting 5 of the 6 races. The $2 Pick 4 paid $14,992.
Race 9: The Grade I Alabama Stakes was won by Elate (Jose Ortiz/Bill Mott) at 4-to-1. Good race for the winners as she opened it up in the stretch. Drayden Van Dyke visited from California and finished second. Tyler Gaffalione visited from Florida (his lone ride of the day) and finished third.
Race 7: $44.20 winner, $14,788 for a $2 Pick 3. $620.00 double. The winning connection was none other than John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher... at 21-to-1! Chastise is now 2-for-2 lifetime with Johnny V. riding and 0-for-2 otherwise.
Once again, what is it about Eric Cancel and finales? He doesn't win often but finales seem to be a magnet for him.
John Velazquez and Javier Castellano each won twice. No trainer had multiple wins.
A subpar day for Chad Brown who was 8 0-2-1 including one race in 5th at Woodbine.
Jockey leaders: Jose Ortiz (39), Irad Ortiz, Jr. (35) and John Velazquez (28).
Trainer leaders: Todd Pletcher (28), Chad Brown (25) and Kiaran McLaughlin (11).

Monmouth (New Jersey):

Chris DeCarlo left New York for the day, where he doesn't get many mounts, and was 2-1-0 in 4 rides. He paid $10 in the middle in his place position. Most importantly, he won the $100,000 Grade III feature race on board Tricky Escape (trainer Lynn Ashby) a 5-to-1 shot. When DeCarlo wins, the world is a happier place.
Jason Servis won here and Delaware today. Going back to August 12, the trainer is 11 5-2-1 covering Delaware, Saratoga and Monmouth combined.

Finger Lakes (New York):

$2 Pick 4 paid $16,080.
In race 3, bridge jumpers met with disaster when the 1-to-9 failed to hit the board. The show prices were $23, $13.40 and $39.80.

Laurel (Maryland):

Make that consecutive days with winners for Lacey Gaudet who had starters in just one race and prevailed with a $28.80 winner.

Thistledown (Ohio):

Maybe the play of the day in the $200,000 Lady Jacqueline. Money'soncharlotte (Paco Lopez/Kelly Breen) combined for the $7 win. Not a bad return.

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

A $2 Pick 4 paid $44,856 after race 5 and the largest winner was only at 7-to-1.

Arlington (Illinois):

There were only 10 jockeys listed on the card. Illinois racing is hurting and needs fixing. Such a beautiful track.

Del Mar (California):

About 23,000 in attendance. Approximately $25,000,000 bet through all sources.
Race 6: Moonshine Memories (Mike Smith/Simon Callaghan) won her debut. The filly is a $650,000 purchase.
Race 7: In the 78th running of the $250,000 Grade II Del Mar Handicap, Hunt (Flavien Prat/Phil D'Amato), an Irish-bred won at 3-to-1, the third smallest price in a 13-horse field. The two French-breds finished second and third. Defending champ Ashleyluvssugar didn't have much spark.
Race 9: Collected is secured a bid in the Breeders' Cup Classic (November 4 at Del Mar) with a win in today's Grade I $1,000,000 Pacific Classic. Early indications are that Arrogate, who finished second, is expected to run in the Classic but likely without any preps though that could change depending on how he trains according to Baffert. Collected, who received a career best 112 Beyer Figure, may race one more time before running in the Classic again depending on how he trains the next few weeks. Collected is now 11 8-1-0 and has won four in a row all under Martin Garcia and trained by Bob Baffert. In his last seven races, he has six wins with the only loss an abysmal 10th place finish in the Preakness Stakes. Perhaps more indicative is a record of 9 8-1-0 on non-wet surfaces (he is 0-for-2 on wet tracks).
Race 10: In the $300,000 Grade I Del Mar Oaks, Eastern U.S. stalwarts as Dream Dancing (Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse) had the 6-to-1 winner.

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

Conquest Panthera (Patrick Husbands/Mark Casse) won the Grade II $175,000 feature race with an 8-to-1 shot, the third longest shot on the board. Calgary Cat suffered a cardiovascular event following the race. Sickening news.

Northlands (Edmonton, Canada):

The $.20 Super High Five jackpot paid $61,306 which made it the third highest pay out in North America for Saturday, behind only the six figure returns at Gulfstream and Saratoga.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 20, 2017

August 20, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

The $100,000 feature race was won by Jose Ortiz/Barclay Tagg. Ortiz and Manny Franco each won twice.
Trainer Chad Brown is on a 12-race losing streak and trails Todd Pletcher by three wins heading into the last two weeks of the meet.
Trainer Steve Asmussen won twice today and upped his meet mark to 6-for-41. He is too good of a trainer to be where he was in the standings.

Laurel (Maryland):

The summer meet ended and the track is dark until the autumn meet commences on September 8.
Victor Carrasco won the rider's title.
Jevian Toledo won four of his 10 starts including the early and late doubles on what is his 23rd birthday,

Ellis Park (Kentucky):

In a $75,000 Juvenile race, Robby Albarado got off Ten City and rode Dak Attack for Dale Romans to victory. Albarado was 2-for-2 on board Ten City, trained by Kenny McPeek, and 1-for-1 on Dak Attack entering the race. The pair finished 1st and 3rd split by an 81-to-1 shot which paid $54.60 to place.
In the 9th and final race, 11-1, 43-1 and 11-1 topped the ticket which returned over $11,000 for the trifecta. Gostisbehere, the third place horse, finished third for the 4th time in six career races. The $1 super was $18,000+. The $2 pick 4 paid over $7,000.

Gulfstream (Florida):

In the first race, there was a $48.20 winner and the tri paid over $5,300.
In the final race, there was a $33.40 winner and the tri paid over $3.800. The Pick 5 paid over $34,000. The Pick 4 paid close to $10,000.
Leonel Reyes, Luca Panici, Tyler Gaffalione and Emisael Jaramillo all won consecutive races. They combined to win eight of the 12 races.
And when even the track announcer is caught off guard and surprised. Gotsomemojo shot out like a load on fire and needed every inch to a thrilling climax.

Canterbury (Minnesota):

A major card involving Minnesota breeding. There were six stakes races.
McLean Robertson trained two of the four stakes races in which he was entered. Robertson was 7 2-1-2 on the day. One of his winners paid over $25. The man knows how to train a horse.

^ McLean Robertson at Oaklawn and Delaware has been a profitable wager when he has shipped but he is also very successful in his home state. Now he is getting some much deserved ink on DRF:

Trainer Mac Robertson extended his own record in the Minnesota Festival of Champions when sending out a pair of winners Sunday in the annual celebration of statebreds at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn.

Robertson now has won 30 races in the 24-year history of the Minnesota Festival after heavily favored Honey’s Sox Appeal won the first Thoroughbred stakes of the day and True West pulled an 11-1 upset in the last one.

All 11 Sunday races were restricted to horses bred in Minnesota and contested over a fast main track or turf rated good. Six were Thoroughbred stakes, with the balance of the card filled out by three overnight races and two stakes for Quarter Horses.

http://www.drf.com/news/honey’s-sox...ertson-bookend-wins-minnesota-festival-stakes

Del Mar (California):

Blackjackcat (Kent Desormeaux/Mark Glatt) proved lucky at 8-to-1 to win the $200,000 Del Mar Mile Handicap. It was the gelding's third consecutive win. Second and third went to Vyjack and Om, respectively. Vyjack has earned about $1.5 million in 31 starts and is now 7-years-old. Om beat American Pharoah in August of 2014 and is on an 8-race losing streak with a career mark of 18 5-5-5 (15 out of 18 in the money. He is 0-4-3 in his last 7 which shows he is always there but never there.
In the sixth race, the top four were at odds of 30-1, 7-2, 40-1 and 25-1 with the 2-1 nowhere to be found. The double returned $1,453. The $.50 tri paid over $1,140. The $1 Pick 3 paid close to $3,000. The $1 super paid over $41,000. The $62 winner was ridden by none other than Flavien Prat, the meet's leading rider.
St. Patrick's Day has received much hype being American Pharoah's full brother. He finished second in his debut today, race 9. Flavien Prat rode, Bob Baffert trained. The 2-year-old colt went off 2-1, the third smallest odds on the board. Zatter (Rafael Bejarano/Bob Baffert) won and oddly enough is owned by Zayat Stables who owned American Pharoah. Baffert once again had another of his horses steal the show at least temporarily. Buzz about the 2018 Kentucky Derby has been circling.

^ Re: St. Patrick's Day, Zatter and Bob Baffert:

Baffert was encouraged by the effort from both colts, as they finished well ahead of well-regarded Jungle Warfare.

"Pharoah's brother ran a really (good race)," Baffert said. "And Pharoah needed his first race so badly. He's the kind of horse—he'll get so much more out of (racing). I don't see him getting beat next time out. ... Zatter is a nice horse too, and they've been working together pretty well. I was impressed by both."

Prat also said he expects a step forward from St Patrick's Day in his next start.

"He ran a good race," Prat said. "It was a good try, but it was the first time. He should improve next race."

Baffert said the next step for Zatter will likely be the Sept. 4 Del Mar Futurity. He also didn't rule out a run by St Patrick's Day in the closing-day feature at Del Mar, a move he made with American Pharoah as a maiden in 2015 after his debut loss earlier in the summer meeting. American Pharoah won the Futurity by 4 3/4 lengths, the first of his eight grade 1 wins.

"You've got to get (these 2-year-olds going). We needed to run them today, because the Futurity is coming up," Baffert said. "We'll wait until next week (to decide), but Zatter will be in it. I don't know (about St Patrick's Day). It depends on how they come back and work."

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-ra...er-in-debut?utm_source=BHTW&utm_medium=social

Woodbine (Toronto, Canada):

The $400,000 1 1/2 mile feature race was won by Channel Maker (Rafael Hernandez/Bill Mott).
The Grade II $$175,000 Sky Classic was won by Can'thelpbelieving (Joe Bravo/Graham Motion) who is an Irish-bred.
Leading rider and certainly one who is on a roll, Eurico Da Silva did not ride today.
When the track re-opens Wednesday the Super Hi-5 carryover will be more than $960,000.

MiamiScreamingEagles · Aug 21, 2017

August 21, 2017

Saratoga (New York):

Jose Ortiz won five of his eight rides on the 9-race card. I mentioned earlier in the summer that Javier Castellano's streak of four straight Eclipse Awards for Outstanding Jockey may come to an end this year with Ortiz the prime competition. Five wins anywhere is spectacular but at the Spa is simply astonishing. He won the finale with a $17 winner and none of his victories was on a favorite. Ortiz leads his brother Irad by nine wins atop the meet standings.
Bug Katie Clawson, who made her first visit to the Spa yesterday, had a favorite in one race but lost to Ortiz. She rides in the Kentucky-Indiana circuits mainly.
Luis Saez won the first two races. He is now tied for fifth at the meet with 18 wins.

Delaware Park (Delaware):

Scott Spieth had a natural hat trick early in the card.

Mountaineer (West Virginia):

Luis Rivera had a natural hat trick to begin the card and Wilkin Ortiz also scored three wins. Rivera rode earlier in the day at Thistledown (Ohio) and won one of his four races there. Combined at the two tracks, he was 10 4-1-3 (4 wins in 10 starts, 8 of 10 in the money).

Horse Racing: Sat. Belmont's card (post #1134), NBC coverage begins at 4:30 pm ET

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