November, 2020 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nitrous Ends Drought With Opening-Day Thanksgiving Classic Victory At Fair Grounds

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC's Nitrous settled just off a torrid speed duel, kicked clear off the far turn, and held off the late run of favored Manny Wah by 1 ½ lengths to win the Opening Day $125,000 Thanksgiving Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.

Breaking alertly under Adam Beschizza, Nitrous was fifth of six early but just four lengths off a 21.52 pressured first quarter set by defending champion Bobby Wicked One, who was pressed from the outside by Landeskog. Landeskog quickly put Bobby's Wicked One away on the backside but Nitrous was quick to pounce. The 4-year-old son of Tapit opened up off the far turn, and easily held off the late run of the Manny Wah in a final time of 1:09.78 for six furlongs. It was another half length back to Mr Money Bags in third.

With a career record of 18-4-3-2, Nitrous increased his bankroll to $547,796.

Nitrous had faced some of the sprint division's best for trainer Steve Asmussen during a nine-race losing streak, while more than holding his own. He won for the first time since taking Oaklawn Park's Bachelor in April 2019. Asmussen's assistant Scott Blasi was on-hand to saddle the winner, and liked what he saw early on.

“I was pleased when I saw the two horses hook up, and the two behind them seemed to put some pressure on them as well,” Blasi said. “I thought Adam (jockey Beschizza) had him in a great spot early. Once he got him outside where he likes to run, he finished up well.”

Beschizza, who won two on the day, was pleased the race played out how it looked on paper, which hinted that both Bobby's Wicked One and Landeskog would set hot and contested fractions.

“We knew Bobby's Wicked One was the main speed in the race and he usually sets pretty good fractions,” Beschizza said. “The two of them were going at it early, so I was happy with my position early on. It was perfect for him, as he likes a scrap, and once he set his eyes on the leader, I don't think there was going to be much getting by him. I'm sure he won't be done with his winning ways throughout the meet.”

Nitrous was beaten just a nose in Belmont's Woody Stephens (G1) in June 2019 and entered off a close third, beaten just a head, in Pimlico's October 3 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash (G3). Blasi thinks that the best is yet to come.

“I thought his last race was really good at Pimlico, he was unlucky not to win that day,” Blasi said. “He seems to be rounding into form, we always thought a lot him and look forward to him improving off this.”

Landeskog and Bobby's Wicked One tired from their early exploits and finished fourth and sixth, respectively, and were split by fifth place finisher Tringale.

Racing resumes Friday at 1:00 p.m. CT with a nine-race card.

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No Reversal By Ontario Government; Woodbine Meet Officially Over

Woodbine Entertainment provided the following update on the 2020 Thoroughbred meet:

Despite efforts to gain approval from the government of Ontario to safely complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet, we have made the decision to officially cancel the remainder of the season.

“While I am extremely disappointed we are not able to complete the 2020 Thoroughbred meet, what we achieved this year in face of significant adversity is quite remarkable,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “I have been around horse racing my entire life and I can proudly say that I have never seen the industry come together as it did throughout this year.

“Together, we were able to develop, implement and follow strict COVID-19 Prevention Protocols that allowed us to be the first sport to return to competition in Canada since the shutdowns in March,” said Lawson. “We safely resumed racing in early June and ran almost 100 racing cards, more than 900 races, and the majority of our stakes schedule, including the 161^st running of The Queen's Plate.

“We hope the government of Ontario has gained a better understanding of our business and appreciation of our safety record in operating live racing without spectators.”

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Envoutante Draws Clear From Bonny South To Win Falls City

Three Chimneys Farm and Walking L Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old filly Envoutante led every step of the way in a powerful six-length win over 4-5 favorite Bonny South in Thursday's 105th running of the $200,000 Falls City (Grade 2), the traditional Thanksgiving Day fixture for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Envoutante ran 1 1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:49.11 – the fastest Falls City since Silent Eskimo's stakes record of 1:48.85 in 1999.

Breaking from the rail in the field of eight fillies and mares, Envoutante went right to the front and dictated a modest pace of :24.25, :48.95 and 1:13.21 while maintaining a half-length advantage over Our Super Freak, who was followed early on by Market Rumor, Bonny South, Smooth With a Kick, Cash Out, Another Broad and Over Thinking. Leaving the far turn, Envoutante was met by the pressers but she had plenty left and widened her advantage to easily draw away in the stretch.

“It was my first time on her for a race but I've worked her and worked against her before, too, with (Preakness Stakes winner) Swiss Skydiver,” said Hernandez, who also won the 2015 Falls City aboard Ahh Chocolate. “She really kicked away from the field today and was very dominant. At the three-eighths pole I got her into the bit again and she just kicked away. Riding for Kenny is easy and he didn't really give a lot of instructions. When the gates opened, she put herself into a great spot.”

Envoutante was the 5-2 second betting choice and paid $7.20, $3.20 and $3. Fair Grounds Oaks (GII) winner Bonny South, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $2.60 and $2.20. Another Broad was another 3 ½ lengths back in third under Ricardo Santana Jr. and paid $5.60.

Our Super Freak, Smooth Wick a Kick, Over Thinking, Market Rumor and Cash Out completed the order of finish. High Regard was a late scratch.

Envoutante won the $100,000 Remington Park Oaks (G3) in her previous start on Sept. 27 and placed third behind Speech and Venetian Harbor in the $400,000 Ashland (G1) in July. The Falls City was her first race against elders.

“She was 1-for-1 at Churchill coming into this race,” said McPeek, who collected his first Falls City win. “We were very confident by the way she was working in the mornings and hoping she was going to put it together in the afternoon. She's worked against Swiss Skydiver and has really done well in her training. She's done a lot of traveling this year and got her graded stakes win in the Remington Oaks so winning another one was very special.”

With the Falls City win, Envoutante improved her record to 9-4-1-2. Thursday's $120,280 first prize jumped her earnings to $336,028.

Envoutante is a dark bay or brown daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Bluegrass Cat mare Enchante. She was bred in Kentucky by Jumping Jack Racing LLC.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Friday with the popular day-after Thanksgiving card highlighted by the 146^th running of the $500,000 Clark (GI) for older horses.

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$91,481 Carryover In Friday’s Stronach 5: Video Analysis By Tullock And Tukker

There's a $91,481.74 Stronach 5 carryover awaiting bettors this Black Friday.

The popular wager, with an industry-low 12-percent takeout, will feature three races from Laurel Park and two from Gulfstream Park West. The five-race sequence will kick off at approximately 3:20 with the seventh race from Laurel Park.

Maryland Jockey Club hosts and analysts Tim Tullock and Naomi Tukker take a closer look at Friday's Stronach 5 and look at a couple longshots to include in your wager, including 8-1 shot Seany P in leg two, 12-1 shot Henry's World in leg three, and Cornetta's Choice in leg four.

Stronach 5 Video:

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One – Laurel Park 7^th Race: (9 entries, 7 furlongs) 3:20 ET, 12:20 PT
Leg Two –Laurel Park 8^th Race: (11 entries, 6 furlong) 3:50 ET, 12:50 PT
Leg Three –Gulfstream Park 8^th Race: (9 entries, 6 ½ furlongs) 3:58 ET, 12:58 PT
Leg Four –Laurel Park 9^th Race: (14 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:20 ET, 1:20 PT
Leg Five –Gulfstream West 9^th Race: (14 entries, 1-mile turf) 4:27 ET, 1:27 PT

You can also catch The Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, at InTheMoneyPodcast.com. It's also available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

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