At the Gate - Saturday

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At the Gate - Saturday

It was d?j? vu all over again, as the rains came at Saratoga, washing five races off the turf on Friday.

We had made it through the first two days of the meet with just two races taken off the turf, but yesterday reminded me of last year, where the weather wrecked the opening week of racing.

The weather forecast for Saturday is looking better, although there still likely is going to be some give to the turf, which was labeled ?yielding? yesterday morning before the races were taken off the turf.

All three of the Triple Crown race winners will be in action this weekend, and today?s $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at the Spa has been completely overlooked by today?s $750,000 West Virginia Derby (G2) and Sunday?s $1.25 million Haskell Invitational; (G1). Advertisement


Mine That Bird will be the first Kentucky Derby winner to venture to Mountaineer Park, and is the 4/5 morning line favorite in the West Virginia Derby.

His main rival with be Big Drama, who looks on paper to be the lone speed in the race.

Tomorrow at Monmouth Park, Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird will meet up in the Haskell.

Standing in their way is recent Tom Fool (G2) winner Munnings.

Rachel Alexandra is the 4/5 morning line favorite and is coming off a rousing 19 ? length victory in the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Her last three starts against fillies produced a combined winning margin of nearly 50 lengths, and she certainly showed she could handle the boys by winning the Preakness.

She has won 9 of her 12 career starts and the Monmouth Park main track just looks like it should suit her perfectly.

She will be tough to beat, but it?s tough to like her odds, which will be close to 3/5.

If she gets upset, it may come from Munnings, who has looked awesome winning his last two starts, earning Beyers of 110 and 111 wining the Woody Stephens and Tom Fool.

The feature at the Spa today is the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1), which drew a field of ten fillies and mares including last year?s Breeders? Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Forever Together.

I am hoping the turf course dries out by this afternoon and I am looking for an upset with Criticism, who will be dangerous if she shakes loose early.

The 11-race card at the Spa kicks off at 1:00 ET.

The West Virginia Derby has a 5:43 ET post and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net.


Here is today's opener from Saratoga to get our day off to a good start:

SAR Race 1 Clm $20,000 (1:00 ET)

#7 Malibu Moonshine 4/1
#1 Untopable 8/1
#10 Targe 6/1
#2 Commodore Way 4/1

#7 Malibu Moonshine drops in for a $20K tag after a third place finish last out against $35K claimers. He makes his third start of his current form cycle and his third since the Jacobson barn claimed this guy for $35K three back. Two back he checked in fifth against Alw-3 optional claimers, a tough spot. The winner of the race was Coal Play, who came back to win the Salvatore Mile (G3) in his next start with a 109 Beyer. The seven year old has a pair of wins at today's distance and looks like the barn found a good spot here.

#1 Untopable draws the rail and figures to be the early pacesetter. Last out he set the early fractions and weakened to finish sixth for a $30K tag at Del Park. Two back this guy won against Alw-2 optional claimers off a three-month break. The Klesaris barn has been selective running here the past couple of years, going 3 for 7 last year and already picking up a win here on Thursday with a Del Park shipper.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,2,7,10
TRI: 1,7 / 1,2,7,10 / 1,2,5,7,9,10

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Mountaineer Park:

MNR Race 8 West Virginia Derby (G2) (5:43 ET)

#4 Big Drama 8/5
#2 Mine That Bird 3/5
#1 Soul Warrior / #1a Sunday Sunrise 15/1

#4 Big Drama comes into the race off a sharp win in a two-turn seven-furlong stake at Charles Town and owns the top last out speed fig. The colt beat a decent field in that race. The runner up Bunker Hill is a multiple stakes winner and third place finisher Russell Road is a Chuck Town specialist who went into that race having won six of nine career starts. Those two are not in the same class as the Kentucky Derby winner, but it looks like the colt has the tactical edge in this racer, which looks like a match race. The colt owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and if he shakes loose early he may be tough to catch in this spot.

#2 Mine That Bird is making his first start since running third in the Belmont Stakes (G1). The gelding made a three wide move to take over the lead but it may have been premature and he ended up third and beaten three lengths. He was second two back to Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness. The filly came back to trounce fillies in the Mother Goose (G1) by 19 ? lengths. He might end up with too much to do as they turn for home here. Of the ten races run at nine furlongs over the main track here, horses on or close to the lead won six.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 8/5 or better.
EX: #4 over #2
TRI: no play

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 10 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) (5:47 ET)

#4 Warriors Reward 3/1
#3 Kensei 5/2
#5 Charitable Man 4/1
#1 Saratoga Sinner 6/1

#4 Warriors Reward was the beaten chalk in the Dwyer (G2) last out at 4/5 and I was completely mystified by Borel?s ride in the race. The colt stumbled coming out of the gate, was far out of it the first six furlongs and I thought maybe the jock was taking a nap on the colt. The colt made a mild late run to finish third but clearly, he has more to give, and hopefully we will see it here. The colt was a head shy two back in the Northern Dancer (G3), his first start after popping a 113 Beyer beating up on Alw-1 company three back. The colt will appreciate the extra ground and the two turns here and I think Borel will make amends to my bankroll here.

#3 Kensei was a smart winner of the Dwyer, finishing 3 ? lengths ahead of our top pick. The colt really got a good trip, tracking the early pace while saving ground, took charge at the quarter pole and edge clear late. Two back he ran third to the very good Munnings, who returned to win the Tom Fool (G2) in his next start and will take on Rachel Alexandra on Sunday in the Haskell. The colt owns a solid pace profile throughout and just looks better each time Asmussen sends him to the track.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 3/1 or better
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 3,4 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,7

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.

Saratoga
R1: #1 Untopable 8/1
R2: #7 Jove 12/1
R3: #8 Toque 12/1
R3: #5 Brave Soul 15/1
R5: #9 Miro 10/1
R5: #5 Blackberry Road 10/1
R6: #6 Dublin 10/1
R6: #11 Hockley 8/1
R7: #11 The Roundhouse 10/1
R7: #2 Broad River 8/1
R8: #11 Stormy Relations 8/1
R11: #6 Liscarroll 8/1
R11: #5 Actor?s Groove 15/1

Good luck today!

 

[Lumi]

Saratoga Special - Saturday

Saratoga Special - Saturday

Saratoga Special - Saturday

For the first time this meet Saratoga will play host to two stakes worthy of the Saratoga Special but we won?t be talking about the G2 Jim Dandy in this space. To read about that event, as well as the G2 West Virginia Derby and G1 Haskell, CLICK HERE for my Weekend Stakes Roundup. For now, I?ll focus on the $500,000 G1 Diana for fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles over the Mellon Turf Course.

Yesterdays? heavy rains up at the Spa made for a soft turf course and I doubt the course will be in any better condition for the Diana. Thankfully, a majority of the ten scheduled to go postward have had some degree of success over wet turf courses. Let?s start with defending Diana and Breeders? Cup F&M Turf winner Forever Together.


Since Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard switched her to the turf in May of 2008, Forever Together has won five of eight grass starts and finished second or third in the other three while earning over $2 million in the process. In last years? Diana, Forever Together was last early before unleashing a powerful late rally to win by ? of a length over a course labeled ?good.?

In all, she has won three of five over wet turf courses including her seasonal bow in the G2 Jenny Willey at Keeneland. Last out she was second over a yielding Belmont strip in the G1 Just A Game where she encountered a good deal of trouble in the stretch. Regular rider Julien Leparoux has the mount from the outside post 10.

The other millionairess in the field, and a mare that has seen her share of Forever Together in the past year or so, is the Christophe Clement trained Rutherienne. A ten time winner from 19 lifetime starts, Rutherienne has finished behind Forever Together three times in her career and looks to turn the tables on her foe in the Diana. She was second in the Jenny Willey to start the year before shipping up to Woodbine to win the G2 Nassau over a ?good? turf course, her first win in over a year. Alan Garcia rides from post 3.

Clement will also saddle Carribean Sunset in the Diana from post 6 with Ramon Dominguez aboard. Carribean Sunset shipped down to Philly Park to win a $200K stakes in her latest and appears to do her best work over firm courses though she did start her career overseas.

Tom Albertrani sends out the probable controlling speed in the Diana, multiple graded stakes winner Criticism. Three for four on the lawn this season, including wins in the G2 La Prevoyante and Sheepshead Bay Handicaps, her lone defeat came in the G3 Orchid going 1 ? miles over a ?good? turf course. Last out she was second in the off-the-turf New York Handicap run over a muddy main track at Belmont. Javier Castellano rides from post 5.

My Princess Jess comes into this off third place finish in the Just a Game where she raced very wide before making a late rally. Earlier this season she won the G3 Beaugay at Aqueduct over a ?good? course and also won last years? G2 Lake George at the Spa over a ?soft? course. She?ll break from post 7 under Cornelio Velasquez.

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will send out a pair of longshots in Mushka and Indescribable. Mushka was second in the Sheepshead Bay two back before a third place finish in the G2 Dance Smartly at Woodbine last out. John Velazquez rides from post 1. Indescribable has won two of four starts on the grass, including a win in the G3 Cardinal to close out her season last year over a ?yielding? course at Churchill Downs. Kent Desormeaux has the call from post 4.

Quiet Meadow, second in a pair of Monmouth stakes including the G3 Eatontown two back for trainer Chad Brown will break from post 2 under Jose Lezcano. Kiaran McLaughlin will send out Colina Verde from post 8 under Robby Albarado. She?s yet to duplicate the form she sported at the beginning of her career down in Brazil where she won the first four starts of her career over wet turf courses. Finally, Tejida will break from post 9 under Corey Nakatani for trainer Michael Matz. Tejida missed by a neck in the G3 All Along at Colonial Downs last out.

THE PLAY
Forever Together won?t be much of a price but I think she?ll have a pretty easy time of it in here. So, let?s make a $1 trifecta part wheel using Forever Together with Rutherienne, Indescribable and My Princess Jess with All for $24. Then make a $1 superfecta part wheel using Forever Together with Rutherienne, Indescribable and My Princess Jess with Rutherienne, Indescribable and My Princess Jess with All for $42. Total plays cost $66. Good luck!!!!!!

 

[Lumi]

Weekend Stakes Roundup

Weekend Stakes Roundup

Weekend Stakes Roundup

The summer racing scene is really starting to sizzle with the recent openings of both Del Mar and Saratoga and it figures to get even hotter this weekend with a trio of stakes for three-year-olds that will feature all three Triple Crown event winners.

The action begins with a twin bill on Saturday as G1 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird headlines the G2 West Virginia Derby while seven other three-year-olds will look to start grabbing headlines with a win in the G2 Jim Dandy up at Saratoga. Let?s start at Mountaineer Park.

Installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite, Mine That Bird will be making his first start since the ripple Crown in this $750,000 event going 1 1/8 miles. Mine That Bird raced in relative obscurity before bursting onto the scene with an improbable 6 ? length upset of this years? Run for the Roses.

In the Preakness, the fact that Calvin Borel jumped ship to ride Rachel Alexandra garnered more headlines than his awesome late rally that left him just a length short in the Preakness while finishing second under Mike Smith. With Borel back aboard, Mine That Bird was sent off as the 6-5 chalk and was given a horrendous ride by Borel.

Mine That Bird was much closer to the pace than he was in his tow prior starts, made a premature move to the front on the turn then lost a place battle to Dunkirk as he tired slightly through the stretch. Making Borel look even worse was the fact that eventual winner Summer Bird employed the tactics usually used by Mine That Bird to win the Belmont. Amazingly, Borel has once again taken off Mine That Bid, leaving trainer Chip Woolley to reach out for Smith once again. They?ll break from post 2.

The only colt with a remote chance of beating the ?Bird? is Big Drama, and he?d have to do it with his speed. Trainer David Fawkes took blinkers off Big Drama for the first time in the Preakness where he dueled briefly with Rachel Alexandra before finishing fifth. With the blinkers back on last out, Big Drama won a $250K stakes at Charlestown from off the pace going seven furlongs. Still, one would have to believe that he?ll be back on the lead, if not awful close to it, in here under Eibar Coa from post 5.

Trainer Steve Asmussen will send out the entry of Soul Warrior and Sunday Sunrise in the West Virginia Derby. Soul Warrior will be making his third start off a layoff in here having finished second in the Iowa Derby last out. Miguel Mena rides from post 1. Sunday Sunrise will be ridden by Corey Lanerie from post 4 and has won just twice from ten starts with a last place finish in the G2 Dwyer his most recent effort.

Woodbine shippers Awesome Rhythm and Monty?s Best round out the field. Awesome Rhythm, winner of a minor stakes over the synthetic course up in Canada will break from post 3 for trainer John Ross with Jimmy McAleny aboard while Monty?s Best will be seeking his third consecutive win for trainer Reade Baker and jockey Eurico DaSilva. Last year, Monty?s Best was second in the G3 Iroquois at Churchill over conventional dirt behind multiple graded stakes winner Capt. Candyman Can.

Immediately following the W.V. Derby, Dwyer winner Kensei will lead six others to the gate for the $500,000 Jim Dandy going 1 1/8 miles. After finishing second in the G3 Derby Trial and third in the G2 Woody Stephens, Kensei took advantage of a great trip under Edgar Prado in the Dwyer and parlayed it into a rousing 3 ? length win in his first start over a mile. Another solid trip from post 3 appears to be in the cards in what will be this colts? first start around two turns.

Charitable Man makes his first start since finishing fourth in the Belmont for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Two starts back in the G2 Peter Pan, Charitable Man sat a perfect trip to win by almost 4 lengths. Last year, Charitable Man broke his maiden at first asking over this course. Regular rider Alan Garcia returns from post 5. McLaughlin will also saddle last out allowance winner Flat Bold with Ramon Dominguez aboard from post 2.

Convocation and Warrior?s Reward, second and third in the Dwyer are back for another crack at a making a name for themselves in the Jim Dandy. Convocation finished well to get the place after breaking his maiden two back while Warrior?s Reward stumbled badly at the start, basically losing all chance for a win as the 4-5 chalk. Kent Desormeaux will ride Convocation for trainer Jimmy Jerkens from post 7 while Calvin Borel will pilot Warrior?s Reward for Ian Wilkes from post 4.

Saratoga Sinner showed promise earlier in the season before being sidelined after his upset score in the G3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream back in late January for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Julien Leparoux rides from post 1. Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito will send out longshot Miner?s Escape for the first time since finishing last in the Belmont. John Velazquez will ride from post 6.

On Sunday, superfilly Rachel Alexandra will be going for her fourth straight G1 victory, eighth consecutive overall and second against the boys when she tackles six colts in the G1 Haskell Invitational at beautiful Monmouth Park going 1 1/8 miles.

The superlatives and adjectives are beginning to dwindle when it comes to one of the best fillies the Sport of Kings has seen in a while. Her G1 Kentucky Oaks win by a record 20 ? lengths over six inferior fillies was sensational and made many wonder if she belonged running the following day in the Kentucky Derby.

Her Preakness win, a gutsy gate to wire effort in which she held off late rallies by Mine That Bird and third place Derby finisher Musket Man, was the stuff that dreams are made of, with what seemed to be all of Baltimore heralding the filly as she returned to have her win picture taken.

Last out in the G1 Mother Goose, she was less than a second off the track record set by the immortal Secretariat while breaking the margin of victory mark set by the incomparable Ruffian when she waltzed home by 19 ? lengths in a sizzling 1:46 1/5 despite being geared down in the final furlong or so.

Asmussen has worked Rachel Alexandra four times up at Saratoga since her last start and appears to be ready to fire another bulletin the Haskell under regular rider Calvin Borel. They?ll break from post 6 and have been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite.

The Todd Pletcher trained Munnings is second choice on the morning line at 3-1 and would likely be an overwhelming favorite based on his last two starts if not for the presence of the superfilly.

In his second start of the season two back, Munnings rallied from off the pace to win the seven furlong Woody Stephens by 5 ? length on the Belmont Stakes undercard over an accomplished field of sprinters. In his next start, Munnings tackled older horses for the first time and made a strong move up the rail on the far turn to score a 2 ? length victory in the G2 Tom Fool, again going seven furlongs.

The Haskell, however, is 1 1/8 miles around two turns, unchartered territory for Munnings. His lone try going a distance of round was in the G1 Breeders? Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita last fall, but that was over the synthetic ProRide surface which Munnings didn?t seem to care for. Though he has plenty of questions to answer, there is no doubting his ability and he appears to have the best chance of any at toppling Rachel Alexandra. John Velazquez rides from post 4.

It?s unusual for a G1 Belmont Stakes winner to be the third choice on the morning line at 7-2 but that?s exactly what?s happening to Summer Bird in here. In just the fifth start of his career, Summer Bird exploded in deep stretch to take this years? ?Test of the Champion? by almost three lengths under a masterful ride by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux last out when adding blinkers for the first time.

Trainer Tim Ice decided to send his charge up to Monmouth about a month ago from his Louisiana Downs base and it appears to have done wondered as Summer Bird has trained extremely well in the days and weeks leading up to the Haskell. The one problem Summer Bird might face is Monmouth Park?s history of being a speed favoring/front running style course that could compromise his solid late kick.

An intriguing longshot in the Haskell is Papa Clem. After winning the G2 Arkansas Derby and running fourth in the Kentucky Derby, Papa Clem through in a Preakness clunker when finishing sixth. After a brief freshening from trainer Gary Stute, Papa Clem came back east for the Long Branch, the traditional Haskell prep at Monmouth.

In the Long Branch, Papa Clem broke slowly and stumbled at the start before finishing third. Perhaps with a better trip and a race over the course under his belt, Papa Clem could wake up at a price in here. Elvis Trujillo, who was aboard for the first time in the Long Branch, has the return call from post 3.

Long Branch winner Atomic Rain has won three of 10 career starts, with all of his wins coming over the Monmouth Park strip. Purchased by the powerful Godolphin Stable after the Long Branch, Atomic Rain was entered in the Haskell despite being plagued by some foot problems earlier this week. Joe Bravo rides from post 5.

The Haskell field is completed by a couple of minor stakes winners. Iowa Derby winner Duke of Mischief hails from the David Fawkes barn and will break from post 1 under Eibar Coa. The Derek Ryan trained Bunker Hill will add blinkers for the Haskell and break from post 7 under Kendrick Carmouche. Bunker Hill won the Continental Mile at Monmouth last year.

THE PLAY
I think Charitable Man is going to run a big one in the Jim Dandy and stamp himself as a big player as far as the rest of this year and next is concerned. Bet $30 to win on Charitable Man and make a $1 trifecta part-wheel using Charitable Man with Warrior?s Reward and Convocation with All for $10. Also make a $2 trifecta box using Charitable Man, Warrior?s Reward and Convocation for $12. Total bets cost $52. Good luck!!!!