August, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Smooth Like Strait Returns in LaJolla

Cannon Thoroughbreds homebred Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute), winner of last year’s GIII Cecil B. DeMille S. during this track’s Bing Crosby meeting last December, returns to the seaside oval as the likely favorite in Sunday’s GII LaJolla H. The race is the middle leg of Del Mar’s 3-year-old turf series which concludes with the GII Del Mar Derby over nine furlongs Sept. 6.

Disappointing when no better than fourth as the 13-10 favorite in the Eddie Logan S. at Santa Anita Dec. 29, the bay colt was a pacesetting runner-up to Hariboux (GB) (Havana Gold {Ire}) in the Feb. 29 Pasadena S. The form of that race was franked when Hariboux doubled up in the Cinema S. in June, while Smooth Like Strait took his show to Churchill for a handy success in the May 23 War Chant S. Third home that day was Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid), who has since added a pair of black-type scores, including Keeneland’s GIII Transylvania S. July 12.

Smooth Like Strait carries top weight of 124 pounds, as does Eclipse Award-winning juvenile Storm the Court (Court Vision), who makes his turf debut in the LaJolla. On the fringes on the Triple Crown trail this season, the bay was third to Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. in March and filled the same spot behind Dean Martini (Cairo Prince) when last seen in the GIII Ohio Derby June 27. He is bred to handle this surface switch, as his sire was the upset winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, while his dam sire Tejano Run–perhaps best known for his runner-up effort in the 1995 GI Kentucky Derby–defeated the likes of Sandpit (Brz) (Baynoun {Ire}) in the GIII Fort Harrod S. at Keeneland on the grass the following season. Storm the Court breezed five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar July 26 in an easy 1:02 flat around the dogs in the company of his Grade III-placed stablemate Royal Act (American Pharoah).

Kanderel (Candy Ride {Arg}), bred on the cross over Storm Cat responsible for the likes of Horse of the Year Gun Runner and champion Shared Belief, among others, defeated Ajourneytofreedom (Hard Spun) by a head in the June 13 Alcatraz S. at Golden Gate, but proved he could class up here with a solid runner-up effort to the very talented Hit the Road (More Than Ready) in the restricted Oceanside S. over a mile July 10.

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Streaking Art Collector on Display in Runhappy Ellis Park Derby

All eyes will be on Art Collector (Bernardini) as he looks to go four-for-four on the year and punch his ticket to Louisville in Sunday’s $200,000 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby.

After airing over subsequent GIII Indiana Derby hero Shared Sense (Street Sense) in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs June 13, the Bruce Lunsford homebred followed up with another impressive performance capturing Keeneland’s GII Toyota Blue Grass S. July 11, his second straight victory with a triple digit Beyer Speed Figure.

“I’m just hoping for a good clean trip more than anything,” trainer Tom Drury, Jr. said. “We want this race to be a stepping stone for the next one. I’d love to see him go down there and get a good, clean, easy trip wherever he may finish and then be able to move forward from that race.”

A full field will be standing in the way of the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/8-mile contest, which offers GI Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 50-20-10-5.

Dean Martini (Cairo Prince), claimed by Tom Amoss for $50,000 three starts back in his maiden breaker at Churchill Downs in May, posted a breakthrough victory in the GIII Ohio Derby last time June 27.

The aforementioned Shared Sense, 6 1/2 lengths adrift Art Collector in Louisville, delivered as the 5-2 favorite with a three-length decision in Indiana last time. He will have to work out a trip from post 12, however.

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Son Of Discreet Marq Debuts For Ballydoyle

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Today’s Observations features a newcomer for the Coolmore/Moyglare Stud partnership.

2.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT
TIGNANELLO (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) represents a partnership between his breeder Moyglare Stud Farm–whose silks he sports–and Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor and debuts for the Ballydoyle stable. Out of the 2013 GI Del Mar Oaks winner Discreet Marq (Discreet Cat), who was bought by Moyglare for $2.4-million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky 2014 November Sale, the April-foaled bay is one of a clutch of newcomers to take the eye here including Jim Bolger’s homebred New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), a son of the dual group winner Maoineach (Congaree) who took the G3 Round Tower S. on her debut.

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Tarnawa Impresses In Give Thanks Repeat

Brushing aside some talented 3-year-olds for a repeat success in Saturday’s G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks S. at Cork, The Aga Khan’s Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) served notice that she will be a force to be reckoned with in any company in 2020. Settled in mid-division on the rail by Oisin Orr, the 8-1 shot travelled easily and when switched delivered a strong effort down the outer to swamp the smooth-going 11-10 favourite Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) at the two pole. Quickly settling the issue, the homebred who also took the G3 Blue Wind S. at Naas last May and G2 Blandford S. at The Curragh in September was impressive in the way she kept that G1 Irish Oaks runner-up safely at bay to score by 1 3/4 lengths. The third in that Classic, Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was 3 3/4 lengths away in third. “She cruised into it nicely,” Orr explained. “I thought they went a good gallop all the way and she quickened up and won well.”

Since turning three, Tarnawa has suffered just three reversals with two of those coming on visits to England. Only 11th in the G1 Epsom Oaks last June and ninth in the G1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot in October, the chestnut will have to banish those memories if taken across the Irish Sea this term. The manner of her defeat of one of the country’s leading middle-distance 3-year-olds suggests she has improved and Kris Weld was on hand to say, “That was very pleasing-we were hopeful coming here as it had been the plan to start back today. I think she’s a very good filly-not many win three group races as 3-year-olds and I felt that was slightly overlooked in the lead-up to the race. We have no real plan-we’ll work from here. She didn’t show up at Ascot on her last start last year, but hopefully we can go back there.”

Tarnawa, who becomes the first dual winner of this, was also extending trainer Dermot Weld’s record of seven wins since it was inaugurated in 2003. She is the first foal out of the dual listed scorer Tarana (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who was also third in the G3 Curragh Cup and is a daughter of the Listed Galtres S. winner and G3 Noblesse S. third Tarakala (Ire) (Dr. Fong). This is also the family of the G3 Princess Royal S. winner Tashtiya (Ire) (Shergar {GB}), the G3 Prix Messidor scorer Tassmoun (Kalamoun {GB}) and the G1 Prix Royal-Oak hero and G1 Prix du Cadran runner-up Tiraaz (Lear Fan), as well as the precocious G1 Phoenix S. heroine Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}). Tarana’s unraced 2-year-old gelding by Fastnet Rock (Aus) is named Tazaral (Ire).

Saturday, Cork, Ireland
IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF GIVE THANKS S.-G3, €76,700, Cork, 8-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 12fT, 2:35.78, gd.
1–TARNAWA (IRE), 137, f, 4, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Tarana (Ire) (MSW & GSP-Ire, $141,525), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Tarakala (Ire), by Dr Fong
3rd Dam: Tarakana, by Shahrastani
O-H.H. Aga Khan; B-His Highness the Aga Khan’s Studs S.C. (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Oisin Orr. €39,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-2-2, $344,739. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cayenne Pepper (Ire), 127, f, 3, Australia (GB)–Muwakaba, by Elusive Quality. (195,000gns Wlg ’17 TATFOA). O-Mrs S Kelly; B-G. H. S. Bloodstock & J C Bloodstock (IRE); T-Jessie Harrington. €13,000.
3–Passion (Ire), 127, f, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Dialafara (Fr), by Anabaa. (800,000gns Ylg ’18 TATOCT). O-Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith; B-Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O’Brien. €6,500.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 8.00, 1.10, 2.75.
Also Ran: Snapraeceps (Ire), Nan Yehi (Ire), Elizabethofaragon (Ire), Heliac (GB), Loveisthehigherlaw (GB), Getawiggleon (Fr). Scratched: Bolleville (Ire), Traisha (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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