HORSE RACING

[Lumi]

HORSE RACING
TODAY AT SANTA ANITA PARK

By Richard Eng

Post Time 1 p.m.

Race 1 - 6 furlongs, Purse $20,000, Maiden claiming $40,000, 3-year-olds

Guerrero Negro - Ran much improved last time in his first with blinkers on; one step improvement would crush these.

Cherokee Sun - Ran evenly in debut, now Mark Tsgalakis adding blinkers on; could improve a lot, little or not at all.

Long Shot - Bettingonthefly

Race 2 - 6 furlongs, Purse $10,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up

Saxophone - Old guy trains fast, runs fast, keeps cashing paychecks; bullet workout off a 2-month hiatus.

A Royal Tizzy - Sliding down the claiming ladder to this career low class; like that Rafael Bejarano remains loyal.

Long Shot - Lardog

Race 3 - 1 mile (turf, rail at 30 feet), Purse $48,000, Allowance, Fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Lady Alex - She is 2-for-2 wins over grass; Cal-bred filly is still eligible for this open company condition.

Woman Warrior - Been running in an out in her last 4 turf starts; her pattern suggests an "in" effort tonight.

Long Shot - Real Fancy Runner

Race 4 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $16,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

Big Jay - Beaten favorite returns off a 3-month hiatus; tactical speed to sit a nice trip around 2-turns.

Licoricewhip - Tepid chalk in a challenging affair; his last race, if repeated, puts him right there.

Long Shot - Jade Ruler

Race 5 - 6 furlongs, Purse $10,000, Claiming $8,000, 4-year-olds and up

Bilo - Speedball figures to run off an hide early; at this bottom class level, he'll be awful tough to catch.

Abalanche - Huge class drop off a 3-month hiatus; Rafael Becerra takes the blinkers off and adds Victor Espinoza.

Long Shot - Swiss Ski

Race 6 - 1 1/16th miles, Purse $45,000, Maiden special weights, 3-year-olds

Ziggy's Stardust - If you're a David Bowie fan, you know where this name came from; should handle the 2-turn test.

Line of David - Garrett Gomez draws perfect to sit a trip and save all the ground; gets the best out of the colt late.

Long Shot - Brace Yourselves

Race 7 - 7 furlongs, Purse $46,000, Allowance, 4-year-olds and up

Mobilized - Dead late closer in a race full of early speed; Rafael Bejarano had choices but opted to ride here.

Total Bull - Part of a potential prolific speed duel; Garrett Gomez likes to take back, may not have a choice.

Long Shot - Patriotic Soldier

Race 8 - 7 furlongs, Purse $15,000, Maiden claiming $25,000, 4-year-olds and up

Prince Novetti - Bit long in the tooth, but showed enough to attract Rafael Bejarano; like the turn back in distance.

Tale the Truth - Speedball draws the rail, the shortest trip home; simple tactics for smokin Joe Talamo.

Long Shot - Delago

Best Bet - Mobilized (race 7)

Santa Anita Thursday - Picks/Winners/Mutuels, 15/4/$20.60; Long Shots, 8/1/$8.00; Best Bet, 1/0/$0

Santa Anita Totals - 442/116/$750.40; Long Shots, 221/35/$382.00; Best Bets, 27/10/$44.80

SIMULCAST PICK OF THE DAY - #8 Bernie The Maestro (5/2) in race 8 at Gulfstream Park. For scoring purposes, we'll make a hypothetical $2 win, place and show bet, $6 total. On Thursday, Deuces Takem ran out at Tampa Bay. Stats - 26/17/$105.90

 

[Lumi]

RICHARD ENG: Stakes results will be telling

RICHARD ENG: Stakes results will be telling

RICHARD ENG: Stakes results will be telling
The Sunshine Million races last week at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita were good ones to bet. However, the tracks are offering stakes races Saturday that are far more important in national scope.

Gulfstream will run the Turf Handicap (Grade I), Donn Handicap (Grade I) and Suwannee River (Grade III). Santa Anita has the Las Virgenes (Grade I), Robert B. Lewis (Grade II) and Strub (Grade II). Horses exiting these stakes will be heard from all year.

For example, the 2009 Lewis produced the winners of the Arkansas Derby (Papa Clem), Santa Anita Derby (Pioneerof the Nile) and Wood Memorial (I Want Revenge).

This year's Lewis has just as much potential, headed by two sons of sire Tiznow -- Tiz Chrome and American Lion. Tiznow won the Breeders' Cup Classic twice, so the pedigree is strong for his sons to handle the Kentucky Derby distance of 11/4 miles.

Bay colt Tiz Chrome, trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Las Vegans Terry Lanni and Bernie Schiappa, has easily won both career starts, so the sky is the limit. Saturday's race comes on the third anniversary of his foal date. Bay colt American Lion won the seven-furlong Hollywood Prevue for trainer Eoin Harty his last time out Nov. 21.

The Las Virgenes will showcase possibly the best 3-year-old filly in the country in Blind Luck. Her narrow loss to She Be Wild in the BC Juvenile Fillies cost her an Eclipse Award.

Last year's Strub field was so deep that two-time Eclipse Award champion Gio Ponti finished fifth behind Cowboy Cal. The most promising 4-year-old in this year's Strub is another Baffert trainee, Misremembered. His best career races came on dirt at Hoosier Park and Churchill Downs, which is hosting this year's Breeders' Cup.

At Gulfstream, the Donn is headed by the mercurial Quality Road. The talented colt's bad behavior at the starting gate of the BC Classic caused him to be scratched. He loves Gulfstream, though, having won three major stakes at the Hallandale, Fla. track.

? WINSLOW HOMER SIDELINED -- Winslow Homer and Piscitelli were both injured in the recent Holy Bull at Gulfstream and have been declared out of the Kentucky Derby.

The loss of Winslow Homer really hurts because his Holy Bull victory hinted at exceptional ability. The race was run over a dirt track, so critics can't blame the injuries on any synthetic surfaces this time.

 

[Lumi]

OAKLAWN BECKONS RACHEL, ZENYATTA WITH HEFTY PURSE

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- The stage is set for the first ladies of racing. Now all Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta have to do is show up.

Oaklawn Park threw some serious money at the two champion females, who have yet to meet, enticing them with a $5 million purse for the Apple Blossom on April 3 -- a race that would be one of the most anticipated in years.

Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were unbeaten last year, beating males and females. Rachel Alexandra was the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years; Zenyatta became the first female to win the Breeders' Cup Classic. Rachel Alexandra beat Zenyatta for Horse of the Year.

Oaklawn president Charles Cella said the owners of both horses are receptive to the idea but have made no commitments.

"This is an event of a lifetime," Pat Pope, Oaklawn's racing secretary, said Thursday. "We're going to do everything to bring them to the state."

The Apple Blossom purse would be 10 times greater than usual for the race. If the meeting fails to materialize -- at a track where both horses have raced -- the purse reverts to $500,000.

If both horses enter, the field would be restricted to 10 fillies and mares, 4 years old and up. Regardless, the distance has been increased from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8.

Rachel Alexandra, a 4-year-old filly, was 8-0 last year, including the Preakness and two other wins against male horses.

Zenyatta had been set for retirement after capping a 14-0 career in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November. But now the mare is back to race as a 6-year-old and might run in the Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita on March 13.

 

[Lumi]

At the Gate - Friday

At the Gate - Friday

At the Gate - Friday

There are now $5 million reasons for Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra to show up in Hot Springs, Ark. in April.

Oaklawn Park President Charles J. Cella announced Thursday that Oaklawn Park will increase the purse of the April 3 Apple Blossom (G1) to $5 million provided champions Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta both start.

That is an increase from last year where the purse was $500,000 for the race.

The race was a handicap in previous years, the name has been changed to the Apple Blossom Invitational, and the distance has increased from 1 1/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles to help lure the two super females.

Cella said the connections of both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra have ?embraced the idea.?

Zenyatta is in training and her next start will come March 13 in the Santa Margarita Handicap, and trainer John Shirreffs said the Apple Blossom was already on the radar for her second start of the year.


Rachel Alexandra is in light training at Fair Grounds, and it is reported that she is not ready for a race. She has not started since last September.

There is a stake on the same day at Fair Grounds, and I am sure the track would be happy to accommodate her in a prep somewhere in that timeframe.

Both have won at Oaklawn Park, and now it may just be a matter of the two stars staying happy and healthy over the next two months.

A showdown in April would certainly get the industry jump started, and would sure give the sport plenty of momentum going into the first Saturday of May.

Keep your fingers crossed.



Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Alw $42,000N1X (12:30 ET)
#6 Dubai Rainbow 8/1
#1 Ricoriatoa 3/1
#8 Came East 5/2
#4 Charlott Humor 7/2

Analysis: #6 Dubai Rainbow was a sharp winner at Penn last out and finally earned his diploma in his 12th try. The colt did not beat a very tough group, but two back he did come within a neck in a runner up finish behind repeat winner Cannon, who beat Alw-1 foes in his next start at Philly on Jan. 9. With his maiden score coming at Penn he may not get much respect in here, although he earned decent figs on the left coast. He is in a sharp barn with Hushion and we should catch a fair price.

#1 Ricoriatoa cuts back to a sprint after dueling for the early lead, opened up on the far turn and ran out of gas in the stretch in a fourth place finish. Three back he beat $60K claimers going seven furlongs and two back was sixth in the slop in a race in which the top two finishers came back to win next out, the winner Mt. Glittermore earning a 97 Beyer beating Alw-3 optional claimers, then running second in the Paumonok. He makes his second start off a two month break and the barn is 22% winners moving runners from route to sprint.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,4,6,8
TRI: 1,6 / 1,4,6,8 / 1,4,6,7,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 Personal Girl S. (3:49 ET)
#1 Salt Water Reign 6/1
#5 What a Pear 8/1
#3 Silvercup Baby 4/1
#2 Motor City Mama 8/1

Analysis: #1 Salt Water Reign prompted the early pace and weakened to finish fifth last out against Alw-2 optional claimers and cuts back to one turn here. The mare has done her best running sprinting and makes her third start off the bench for the Klesaris barn that is 39% winners (with a +ROI) moving horses from route to sprint. She handles the inner 4 of her 5 career starts coming over the surface.

#5 What a Pear is 4 for 5 in her career on the inner and two of those were open stakes last year. Last out she tracked the early pace and tired to finish fourth against a tougher group than she faces today. Blinkers are added to the mix today and she figures to move forward off her latest. Worth a look if we catch most of the 8/1 ML.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,2,3,5
TRI: 1,5 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5,8

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct
R1: #6 Dubai Rainbow 8/1
R2: #4 Royal Vessel 20/1
R6: #10 Windy Jo 15/1
R7: #5 Tsavorite 8/1
R8: #5 What a Pear 8/1
R8: #2 Motor City Mama 8/1
R9: #3 Whateverittakes 15/1

 

[Lumi]

Post Experts Pick the Winners

Post Experts Pick the Winners

Post Experts Pick the Winners

 

[Lumi]

Aqueduct Analysis
Post Time: 12:30 p.m. All horses appear in post position order

 

[Lumi]

Through the binocs

Through the binocs

Through the binocs

Ah, the joys of handicapping winter racing in New York: Today's third race, for maidens 4-years-old and up at six furlongs, drew field of five. Four haven't raced in at least eight months; the other was beaten 20 lengths, finishing last of 10 at 109-1, in his Dec. 31 debut.

Ramon Dominguez booted home three winners yesterday and Gabe Saez won a pair; favorites went 6-for-9.

THIRD RACE: Following an $8.70 chalk double, 2-5 Shine Upon was the third heavy favorite of the day. Making her first start for Mike Hushion since winning her debut by four lengths as the 3-2 choice on Nov. 21, Shine Upon chased pace set on daylight lead by 3-1 Valuable Lady, launched her bid on the turn, cruised to the front top of stretch and kicked clear. Northern Warrior, at 53-1, finished well to catch Valuable Lady for second.



FIFTH RACE: Longshot players were licking their chops as 29-1 End of the Gulch, beaten 18 lengths in both his first two starts, launched bold move heading into the turn to go after dueling leaders, 17-1 Fast Spender and 3-2 Ave. of the Pines. After Fast Spender called it quits, Ave. of the Pines and End of the Gulch turned for home together, with End of the Gulch striking the lead under Orlando Bocachica top of stretch. But Ave. of the Pines, hot-riding C.C. Lopez up, battled back along the rail and prevailed in a long drive.

EIGHTH RACE: Longshot players were licking their chops again. Hookin the Goods, 97-1 under triple bug boy Antonio Lopez, gunned to daylight lead, tracked by 11-1 Jabbar, who collared Hookin the Goods around far turn to take command. Jabbar, David Cohen up, led by daylight mid-stretch and looked home free, but 3-5 favorite Bearursa kicked in through final furlong under Dominguez and went right by Jabbar for handy score.

PICK SIX

Winning numbers: 4-5-7-1-3-6

7 winners each receives $2,877

149 consolation (5 of 6) winners paid $50.50

No carryover

 

[Axle]

As always, thanks for your posts.... :thumb:

 

[Lumi]

Always happy to help !

Not always remembering to go to every page :shrug: :142smilie