August, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Mike Smith, Irad Ortiz To Ride At Kentucky Downs For The First Time In 2020

Kentucky Downs' deep jockey colony is getting even deeper for the six-date run of all-grass racing that offers among the richest purses in the world.

The RUNHAPPY Meet at Kentucky Downs kicks off on Labor Day, Sept. 7 and continues on Sept. 9, 10, 12, 13 and 16.

Kentucky Downs leads North America in average field size, and this meet figures to lead 2020 in the number of world-class jockeys riding those horses. The track will be the laser focus of American racing after Saratoga and Del Mar close on Labor Day, with New York's Belmont Park not opening until Sept. 18 and California's Santa Anita Park opening Sept. 19. Averaging $2 million a day in purses, Kentucky Downs is luring the most accomplished riders from New York and California along with the already deep Kentucky colony.

Nine of America's top 10 riders by 2020 purse earnings will be at Kentucky Downs (in order of purse ranking): Irad Ortiz, Joel Rosario, Tyler Gaffalione, Luis Saez, Ricardo Santana, Flavien Prat, Jose Ortiz, Javier Castellano and Florent Geroux. The top seven riders in victories at Saratoga heading into Thursday's racing are all confirmed for at least part of the meet.

“We already had one of the most talented riding colonies in the world, but this year it's going to be absolutely incredible,” said Ted Nicholson, Kentucky Downs' senior vice president and general manager. “It's not only our lucrative purses, but because we have averaged about 11 horses a race in recent years, there are lots of opportunities for riders instead of just a handful of jockeys dominating. At $2 million in average daily purses, you don't even have to win for coming here to be a profitable venture. Plus, jockeys tell me just how much fun it is to ride this course as a change of pace from always turning left around an oval.”

Among the top riders participating at Kentucky Downs for the first time will be Hall of Famer Mike Smith, two-time defending Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz, rising California star Umberto Rispoli and Joe Talamo, who relocated from California to Kentucky this year. In addition, Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Castellano, who between them have ridden only a handful of races at Kentucky Downs, will ride the entire meet after coming to Kentucky for Churchill Downs' rescheduled Derby Week.

After Saratoga's summer meet ends Labor Day, Irad Ortiz, two-time Kentucky Downs defending riding champion Jose Ortiz and Rosario will ride the remaining five days. Jose Ortiz, who will be riding for the fourth year at Kentucky Downs, said during last year's meet that he's been urging his brother Irad to fit Kentucky Downs into his annual circuit.

“He really wants to go,” said Jose Ortiz, who said Irad missed last year's meet because of a suspension for a riding infraction. “He said he'd like to ride the track. I was telling him how it is: Uphill, downhill, long stretch.”

Smith, who will ride at Kentucky Downs for the first time in his Hall of Fame career, is coming in for the Sept. 12 showcase Calumet Farm Day card to ride turf sprint standout Jolie Olimpica in the $500,000, Grade 3 Real Solution Ladies Sprint for trainer Richard Mandella, who likewise is running horses at America's most unique race meet for the first time.

Smith could ride additional days as his business dictates. Nominations to all Kentucky Downs' stakes closed Wednesday, Aug. 26.

“I'm excited about getting the opportunity to ride there,” said Smith, whose only prior visit to Kentucky Downs came in 2018 to sign posters commemorating his Triple Crown victory aboard Justify. “I've never ridden there. I love going over to Europe to ride, and the course at Kentucky Downs is so much of a European racetrack. I thought it was a beautiful track. It was my first time to see it in person and not just on TV. I thought I was back in Ireland or something.”

Rispoli, a two-time champion in his native Italy, started riding full-time in California this year after being based in Hong Kong. He's battling Flavien Prat for leading rider at this Del Mar meet. Prat, Del Mar's reigning summer titlist along with earning Santa Anita's winter-spring crown, will start riding at Kentucky Downs Sept. 9, with Rispoli at the track at least Sept. 12 and 13, their agents said.

Velazquez' only prior experience at Kentucky Downs was a pair of off-the-board finishes in 2018. His new agent, Ron Anderson, plans to change that.

“I'm anticipating winning some races with him — and Joel,” said Anderson, also the agent for Rosario, who rode three of five days at Kentucky Downs last year. “They've got to be on the right horse. If they're not, it's my fault.

“I think I've got action for both riders.”

Castellano rode at Kentucky Downs for the first time last year to great effect, with two wins and two seconds in five starts. “I'm looking forward to it,” he said of riding all six days this year.

As soon as the New York Racing Association announced the delayed start to Belmont's fall meet, Kiaran McLaughlin got to work securing business for Kentucky Downs. McLaughlin left his long-time training career in April to become the agent for Saez. The jockey rode two days at Kentucky Downs in 2018, including winning Dueling Ground Derby with Channel Cat, and one day last year. He'll be riding the final five days this year.

“It just made too much sense to go,” McLaughlin said. “It's an opportunity to ride for some very nice purses, and we're not missing anything at Belmont.”

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Flatter Hymn Answers All The Questions In Governor’s Stakes

There were several question marks arriving along with Flatter Hymn into Indiana. The thee-year-old son of Flat Out had two career starts, both wins at Charles Town. He had never raced outside of his home base, much less around two turns, but the good-looking gelding silenced all question marks with an impressive victory in the 18th Running of the $100,000 Governor's Stakes Wed. Aug. 26 at Indiana Grand.

Starting from the outside post eight, Flatter Hymn was one of the first to contend for the lead with Indiana Grand's leading jockey DeShawn Parker aboard. The duo sat along the outside of Chipofftheoldblock and Alex Achard through the early stages of the one mile, 70-yard event. In the turn, it appeared that the late closers might be too tough to tackle as Mai Tai's Gem and Santo Sanjur along with race favorite Two Last Words and Fernando De La Cruz moved up into position.

In the stretch, Flatter Hymn came alive and got back into contention for the lead, getting the advantage in the last few strides to win by one and one-quarter length over Mai Tai's Gem. Two Last Words finished third.

“I had trouble getting him to settle,” said Parker. “I was trying to get him to relax at first. He actually backed off at one point, but he seemed to get a breather and then he came right back and hit another gear. He gave me everything he had. He didn't have a bit of trouble with two turns.”

Flatter Hymn was the third choice on the board, paying $8.60, $4.00, $3.00 across the board. Bred by Sugarland Thoroughbreds of Indiana, the sophomore gelding is owned by Everett Novak's New Farm, who purchased him as a yearling for $30,000 from the Fasig Tipton Mid Atlantic Eastern Fall Sale in Maryland. Jeff Runco trains.

Runco is the longtime leading trainer at Hollywood Casino Charles Town. He is once again leading the standings in 2020 and has amassed more than 4,300 career wins. The Graded Stakes winning trainer mainly focuses his stable in West Virginia, but when the stakes opportunity came up for Flatter Hymn, he decided to send him to Indiana and reconnected with Parker.

“I used to ride a lot for Jeff (Runco) when I was out at Mountaineer,” said Parker. “I even went over to Charles Town to ride for him some. I talked to him on the phone about this horse and he told me both times, he got in trouble in his last races. I watched his last race, and he was in trouble at the top of the stretch, and there, once you get in the stretch, it seems like only a few jumps and you are at the wire. For him to get out of trouble and go on and win in that start was really impressive.”

Flatter Hymn returns to West Virginia as a stakes winner and a near-$100,000 winner. He keeps his record perfect with three wins in three starts. Flatter Hymn was unraced at two.

“When Jeff (Runco) decided to nominate this horse to the stakes, he gave us a call,” said Ricky Giannini, who oversees Brad Cox's Stable at Indiana Grand. “He shipped in a few days ago with Jeff's assistant just for this race. We actually sent a West Virginia bred to Jeff a few weeks ago for a race, so we just traded horses for a little bit.”

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Wellington Wonder Jumps From Maiden Win To Dominate First Lady Stakes

It was finally time for Wellington Wonder to shine. Fresh off her maiden-breaking win in her last start, the Warrior's Reward filly blasted by her opponents for a dominant win in the 18th running of the $100,000 Indiana First Lady Stakes Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Indiana Grand.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, Wellington Wonder started her journey from post five in the seven-filly lineup for jockey Alex Achard. Race favorite Copper Nickel and Rodney Prescott along with Nothingbutflowers and DeShawn Parker moved out for the lead, challenging each other for the top spot. Wellington Wonder opted to sit outside of Mintchocolatechip and Tommy Pompell, gapping several lengths off the top two.

Down the backstretch, Serena Beck and Emmanuel Esquivel made a big move around Wellington Wonder and Mintchocolatechip in pursuit of the leaders, catching up with the top two around the final turn of the one mile and 70-yard race. Wellington Wonder began moving up midway through the turn and at the top of the stretch, had a perfect shot to take control of the field. She continued to increase her advantage, winning by six and one-quarter lengths at the finish in 1:44.48. Serena Beck finished second over Dontyouremember and Jermaine Bridgmohan for third.

“She just keeps improving, she's always there,” said Achard, who has ridden the Wellington Wonder in all six of her career starts. “Today was a tough race. She doesn't like the dirt in her face. When the seven (Serena Beck) went by us, we gave up going with her because I knew that wasn't what was best. She is just consistent and gave me everything she's got. She is something special.”

A surprise to bettors, Wellington Wonder paid $22.20, $6.80, $3.80 across the board. It was her second win in four starts for 2020 for owners Jerry Romans, Charlie Spiring and Zoom and Fish Stable Inc., who purchased her from the Swifty Farm consignment as a yearling at the Fasig Tipton Sale in Kentucky for $25,000.

“This is a great group of friends that own this filly,” said Lovell, who is based at Churchill Downs with 20 horses. “They bought her at the sale. We have taken our time with her. We gave her the winter off, not because there was anything wrong, but because she is a big filly and we wanted to take our time because she's Indiana bred. We wanted to get her ready for Indiana and the summer stakes races. She's the only Indiana bred I have in my barn.”

Wellington Wonder earned her first stakes win in the effort. It also marked the first career stakes victory for Achard, who has been riding stateside for the past two years after relocating to the United States from his native France.

“I'm so happy for Alex,” added Lovell. “When he first got here (Midwest), I saw him win for someone else and thought he could really ride. He has always liked this filly and he knows her really well. She only has one big stride and he knows how to time his move. He works so hard, so I'm glad to see him get his first stakes win.”

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Maximum Security Rises To The Top Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Fresh off his front-running victory in last Saturday's TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, 4-year-old Maximum Security has taken over the No. 1 position from 3-year-old Tiz the Law in the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 1 ¼-mile Classic, scheduled to be run on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is the climactic race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

Maximum Security, owned by Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, garnered 267 votes. Trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security won the Pacific Classic by 3 lengths over Sharp Samurai to improve his record to 3-for-3 this year, which includes wins in the inaugural Saudi Cup and the San Diego Handicap (G2). Maximum Security was tied for the No. 1 spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings with Tom's d'Etat in the third week.

Tiz the Law (256 votes), now in second-place, is preparing for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (G1) after his dominant win in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1). On Sunday (Aug. 23), Tiz the Law, who won the Belmont Stakes (G1), breezed five furlongs in 59.47 over Saratoga's main track for trainer Barclay Tagg.

GMB Racing's Tom's d'Etat (213 votes), trained by Al Stall Jr., drops from second to third place. Prior to his third-place finish in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, Tom's d'Etat won the Oaklawn Mile and the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs.

WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing's Improbable (192 votes), retains fourth place. The 4-year-old chestnut son of City Zip, also trained by Baffert, earned a “Win and You're In” automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic with his 2-length victory in the Whitney.

Kentucky Derby contender Art Collector (105 votes) jumped from seventh to fifth-place. Owned by Bruce Lunsford and trained by Tom Drury Jr., the 3-year-old son of Bernardini is undefeated in four starts this year, including victories in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and the Ellis Park Derby.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor (98 votes) remains in sixth place. Trained by Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III, Code of Honor, a chestnut son of Noble Mission (GB), won the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park in June, and was recently fourth in the Whitney.

Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (97 votes) drops from fifth to seventh place. Trained by Bret Calhoun, the 4-year-old By My Standards, finished second in the Whitney last time out, after winning the New Orleans Handicap (G2) and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou and

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus are tied in eighth place with 74 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou, who moved up from ninth place, captured the “Win and You're In” Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, and finished second as the odds-on favorite in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (G1).

Tacitus, trained by Bill Mott, won the Suburban Stakes (G2) by 8 ¾ lengths at Belmont Park. He is expected to run next in the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 5.

CRK Stable's 3-year-old Honor A. P. is now back in the top 10, rising from 11th place last week. Trained by John Shirreffs, Honor A. P., winner of the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 Saturday (Aug. 22) at Del Mar in preparation for the Kentucky Derby.

R.A Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma (46 votes), winner of both the Runhappy Carter (G1) and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), dropped out of the top 10 and is now in 11th place.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 26, 2020*

RANK	HORSE	TOTAL VOTES	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	Maximum Security	267	13
2	Tiz the Law	256	11
3	Tom's d'Etat	213	4
4	Improbable	192	0
5	Art Collector	105	0
6	Code of Honor	98	0
7	By My Standards	97	0
8	Midnight Bisou	74	0
8	Tacitus	74	0
10	Honor A. P.	67	0

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

In the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be televised live on NBC.

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