August, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

McKinzie’s Shot At Alysheba Repeat Among Headliners On Kentucky Oaks Undercard

Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman's McKinzie will attempt to become the first repeat winner of the Alysheba when he takes on seven rivals in Friday's Grade 2 event.

The Alysheba is one of six graded stakes on Friday's 13-race program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern) and is headlined by the 146th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). The Alysheba will go as the day's 10th race with a 4:15 post time.

Also on the program is the 65th running of the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by TwinSpires.com (GII) for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the main track, the 36th running of the $300,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank (GII) for 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the turf and the 26th running of the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII) for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the grass.

Trained by Bob Baffert, McKinzie romped to a 4 ¾-length victory in last year's Alysheba. Fifth in the Metropolitan Handicap (GI) going a mile in his most recent start, McKinzie will be ridden Friday by Mike Smith and break from post position two.

Looming as the top challenger to McKinzie is Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards. Runner-up in the Whitney (GI) in his most recent start and a winner of three of five starts in 2020, By My Standards is trained by Bret Calhoun and will be ridden Friday by Gabriel Saez and break from post position six.

The field for the Alysheba, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Silver Dust (Adam Beschizza, 120 pounds), McKinzie (Smith, 118), Owendale (Florent Geroux (118), Hence (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118), Mr Freeze (Manny Franco, 123), By My Standards (Saez, 123), Title Ready (Corey Lanerie, 118) and Bodexpress (Javier Castellano, 118).

Witham Thoroughbreds' homebred Four Graces, riding a three-race win streak, headlines of field of seven for the Eight Belles.

Scheduled as the day's eighth race, post time for the Eight Belles will be 3:05.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, Four Graces has won four of five career starts and has posted Grade III in her past two starts in the Beaumont at Keeneland and the Dogwood at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux, who has been aboard for all of Four Graces' victories, will ride Friday and break from post position 8.

The field for the Eight Belles, from the rail out with riders and weights, is: Mundaye Call (Florent Geroux, 118 pounds), Never Forget (Javier Castellano, 118), Extra Effort (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118), Purrfectly Claire (Brian Hernandez Jr., 118), Sconsin (James Graham, 118), Perfect Happiness (Rafael Bejarano, 118) and Four Graces (Leparoux, 120).

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gainesway Stables' Sharing, winner of the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) at Santa Anita last fall and the Tepin at Churchill Downs in her 2020 debut, tops a field of eight for the Edgewood.

The Edgewood will go as the day's ninth race with a 3:40 post time.

Trained by Graham Motion, Sharing will be making her first start since finishing second in the Group I Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. Manny Franco has the mount Friday and will break from post position three.

The field for the Edgewood, from the rail out with riders and weights, is: In Good Spirits (Miguel Mena, 118 pounds), Hendy Woods (John Velazquez, 118), Sharing (Franco, 118), Lucky Betty (Declan Cannon, 118), Outburst (GB) (Tyler Gaffalione, 120), Pranked (James Graham, 118), Mariafoot (FR) (Florent Geroux, 118) and Walk In Marrakesh (IRE) (Javier Castellano, 118).

Diamond Oops, making his return to the grass for the first time since finishing second in last fall's Shadwell Turf Mile (GI), and Grade II winner Bound for Nowhere head a deep field of 14 grass sprinters and one also-eligible in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint.

The Twin Spires Turf Sprint will go as the day's 13th race with a 6:20 post time.

Owned by Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, DP Racing and Patrick Biancone Racing, Diamond Oops is a three-time graded stakes placed runner on dirt to go with his grass success. Trained by Patrick Biancone, Diamond Oops will be making his first start since June and be ridden by Florent Geroux out of post position one.

Bound for Nowhere, owned and trainer by Wesley Ward, won the 2018 Shakertown at Keeneland at the 5 12/2-furlong distance and finished third beaten a neck in this year's edition July 11 in his most recent start.

Julio Garcia has the mount and will break from post position four.

The field for the Twin Spires Turf Sprint with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Diamond Oops (Geroux, 121), Wellabled (Manny Franco, 121), Real News (Joe Talamo, 121), Bound for Nowhere (Garcia, 121), Extravagant Kid (Tyler Gaffalione, 121), Tell Your Daddy (Brian Hernandez Jr., 121), Smart Remark, Rafael Bejarano, 121), Just Might (Colby Hernandez, 121), Jazzy Times (Miguel Mena, 121), Carotari (Julien Leparoux, 121), Fielder (Paco Lopez, 121), Chaps (Corey Lanerie, 121), Tiger Blood (Ricardo Santana Jr., 121) and Chief Cicatriz (James Graham, 121). Also-Eligible: High Crime (Javier Castellano, 121).

The post McKinzie’s Shot At Alysheba Repeat Among Headliners On Kentucky Oaks Undercard appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Monomoy Girl Takes On ‘Bisou Upsetter Vexatious In Friday’s La Troienne

Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group and Bethlehem Stables' Monomoy Girl, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2018, headlines of a field of eight for Friday's 35th running of the $500,000 La Troienne presented by Oak Grove Racing & Gaming (GI) at Churchill Downs.

The La Troienne, for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, is one of six graded stakes on Friday's 13-race program that begins at 11 a.m. (all times Eastern) and is headlined by the 146th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI). The La Troienne will go as the day's 11th race with a 4:50 p.m. post time.

Also on the program is the 17th running of the $400,000 Alysheba presented by Sentient Jet (GII) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the main track, the 65th running of the $300,000 Eight Belles presented by TwinSpires.com (GII) for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs on the main track, the 36th running of the $300,000 Edgewood presented by Forcht Bank (GII) for 3-year-old fillies going a mile on the turf and the 26th running of the $250,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint presented by Sysco (GII) for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the grass.

Trained by Brad Cox, Monomoy Girl has won five Grade I races in her career that has produced more than $3 million in earnings. Two of her biggest victories came at Churchill Downs where she won the 2018 Kentucky Oaks and the 2018 Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI).

Winner of the Ruffian (GII) in her most recent start, Monomoy Girl will be ridden in the La Troienne by Florent Geroux and break from post position eight.

Among the competition lined up to face Monomoy Girl is defending champion She's a Julie and Vexatious, who upset Midnight Bisou in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (GI) on Aug. 1.

Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim and Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing and Madaket Stables' She's a Julie notched her second Grade I victory in the Ogden Phipps at Belmont in June. Trained by Steve Asmussen, She's a Julie will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and break from post position six.

Calumet Farm's Vexatious, fourth in the 2017 Kentucky Oaks in her lone main track try at Churchill Downs, was second in the Ruffian to Monomoy Girl before winning the Personal Ensign. Trained by Jack Sisterson, Vexatious will break from post position two under Tyler Gaffalione.

The field for the La Troienne, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Horologist (John Velazquez, 120 pounds), Vexatious (Gaffalione, 123), With Dignity (Julien Leparoux, 118), Saracosa (Martin Garcia, 118), Risky Mandate (David Cohen, 118), She's a Julie (Santana Jr., 123), Lady Kate (Javier Castellano, 118) and Monomoy Girl (Geroux, 123).

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StableDuel Launches #PlayRaceAdopt Campaign To Raise Awareness And Money For Retired Racehorses

StableDuel, Thoroughbred racing's newest game, has declared September its “Aftercare Month” and has teamed up with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP). With two initiatives, the exciting brand wants to shine a light on the owners of off-track-Thoroughbreds (OTTB) and their horses and raise money within the StableDuel app for both organizations.

Beginning Sept. 1, owners of OTTBs are invited to share a picture or video of their Thoroughbred on social media showcasing “something cool” they do with the hashtag #PlayRaceAdopt. They will then be entered to win a prize pack from the three organizations including a saddle pad, riding clothing and more. Two winners will be selected and announced each week.

StableDuel's normal brand slogan of #PlayRaceWin is built around its players, the game and Thoroughbred racing. However, for the entirety of the industry, it's important to show that when the horses complete their careers on the racetrack, they go on to become great partners for owners all over the world, whether it be in a competitive capacity or as a hobby pet. StableDuel thought a great way to showcase that aspect of the sport is through the brand altered hashtag of #PlayRaceAdopt.

“We are so excited to partner with StableDuel this month and to introduce their innovative approach to racing/gaming to a new audience. For so many equestrians who ride off-track Thoroughbreds, the love and admiration they have for the breed either stems from an interest in racing or is the catalyst for it. StableDuel's user-friendly approach provides a fun and affordable way for fans to learn and experience more about the sport,” said Jen Roytz, Executive Director of the Retired Racehorse Project.

In addition to the social media contest, the StableDuel app will offer a weekly contest that will raise money for both organizations. Each Sunday, players can enter the Charity Contest with a $5 entry and play the popular game to win the usual cash prizes and StableDuel will donate its proceeds to each charity. The more players, the more entries, the more money to aftercare.

“StableDuel is passionate about giving back to the industry that our business is built on and we know during tough times, organizations have had to cancel many of their normal “money raising” events. We are excited to do our part and help bring attention and money to aftercare,” said Bri Mott, Director of Marketing at StableDuel.

StableDuel sponsored the “Best Turned Out Horse Awards” at the Preakness in 2019 supporting the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

“We're once again happy to partner with StableDuel and we are grateful for their support of the TAA. We hope this initiative can celebrate off-track Thoroughbreds while showing how much fun it is to play the races,” said Stacie Clark, TAA.

For more information visit the StableDuel website: www.stableduel.com/playraceadopt

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Max Player Works and Mr. Big News Added to Derby Line Up

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.’s Max Player (Honor Code) put in his final work ahead of Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby with an easy half-mile in :49.80 (26/50) Monday morning at Churchill Downs. The colt put up splits of :12.40 and :24.40 and galloped out in 1:02.80.

“He’s continuing to do well,” Steve Asmussen, who has taken over training duties from Linda Rice, said. “I’m extremely excited about how he’s going to run in the Kentucky Derby. I love how he looks going over the racetrack. His attitude is really good. He came in with a really good attitude and was moving really well. That has stayed the same.”

Max Player won the GIII Withers S. for the New York-based Rice in February and is coming off third-place efforts in the June 20 GI Belmont S. and Aug. 8 GI Travers S. He will be making his first start for Asmussen in the Derby.

“The reason he is here is to give him time to acclimate to the track and the surroundings to hopefully make up the difference,” Asmussen said. “He’s been third to Tiz the Law in his last two races. That horse is the deserving favorite and a tall task. You only have one chance to run in the Derby and we just wanted to do everything we could to give him his best chance.”

Allied Racing Stable’s Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway) has been added to the field of Derby contenders. Fifth in the Feb. 15 GII Risen Star S., he won the Apr. 11 Oaklawn S. and is coming off a sixth-place effort in the July 11 GII Toyota Blue Grass S.

“I know we don’t have some of the numbers like Tiz the Law, Art Collector and Honor A. P., but this horse is improving,” said owner Chester Thomas. “I think he is absolutely going to love the distance and will make a big run late.”

Trained by Bret Calhoun, Mr. Big News will be ridden by Gabriel Saez in the Derby. He worked five furlongs in 1:04.40 (2/2) at Churchill Downs Sunday.

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