January, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Frankie Dettori Doubles On Opening Night Of Dubai World Cup Carnival

The Longines World's Best Jockey Frankie Dettori will be riding in the UAE through March, and recorded victories in the final two of seven races on opening night at the Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday.

Dettori piloted Godolphin's Land of Legends to win the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort for trainer Saeed bin Suroor, and Equilateral to win the listed Dubai Dash for trainer Charlie Hills.

“I've been watching this horse for the last three years,” Dettori said of Equilateral. “What he likes is a very fast, slick, five furlong track. Sometimes the English tracks are too demanding for him, but this is tailor-made for him.”

“I'm really enjoying my time here, maybe because I'm running out of years but I'm trying to taking it all in. Most people are locked in their houses doing nothing, and at least I get to do what I love. I am going to stay here in the united Arab Emirates until Super Saturday.”

Thursday's highlight was the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1. Won in inspired fashion by Nasir Askar's Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained Military Law in a perfectly executed stalk-and-pounce trip, the 1600m (one mile) test set the stage for what could be an exciting season for middle-distance dirt racing in the region.

Piloted by Antonio Fresu, the son of Dubawi broke alertly and settled well on the rail behind favourite Capezzano, who set strong fractions under Mickael Barzalona. Waiting patiently for that rival to show any signs of resignation, the bay 6-year-old pounced on the opportunity when it presented itself at the top of the lane, asserted and then held off late-closing Dubai Creek Mile (Listed) winner Thegreatcollection, as well as Burj Nahaar (G3) winner Salute the Soldier to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:36.42. The same margin separated second and third, with Capezzano capsizing into seventh of 11 starters.

An invitee to the subsequently cancelled 2020 Dubai World Cup (G1), Military Law won for the fifth time in 11 starts and landed his second stakes after The Entisar (Listed) 13 months ago. Bred in England, he is a half-brother to the dam of G1 winner French King and was in the care of John Gosden until mid-2019, winning half his first six starts for breeder Qatar Racing. He was sold to Askar at Tattersalls July 2019 for $144,641.

“He has been training really well in the morning and I got a very good feeling in the last couple of gallops,” Fresu said. “Today he travelled really well, probably because he is fresh, so he travelled very well into the race and when I asked him to go, he really picked up well. Now we need to see after this. He has an entry into Saudi and otherwise the option is going to be (the Al) Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and (Round) 3 and then Dubai World Cup.”

One race prior, the first of three Group 2 races took place in the nine-furlong Singspiel (G2) on turf, named for the only horse to win both the Japan Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1) and won the past three years by owner Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor. This year, the team started favourite Military March, who had the services of Frankie Dettori, but said charge never appeared to get involved (finishing eighth) as late-running Lord Glitters trounced foes with a rush under Adrie de Vries.

Breaking slowly and sitting near the tail of the field, the veteran Group 1 winner closed resolutely between horses in the lane for trainer David O'Meara, winning going away by three lengths at the end and leaving a sea of Godolphin blue in his wake. Charlie Appleby's 2020 Zabeel Mile (G2) winner Zakouski closed well to be second 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bin Suroor-trained Dream Castle, winner of this in 2019. The final time was a spritely 1:46.82 for the same nine furlongs over which the Lord Glitters was third to the great Almond Eye in the 2019 Dubai Turf (G1).

The globetrotting 8-year-old winner was victorious for the eighth time in 33 starts and in his third country. A Royal Ascot winner of the Queen Anne (G1) in 2019, the big grey son of Whipper has competed in top company in France, England, America, Canada, Dubai and Bahrain.

“He missed the kick a bit, but I didn't want to push any buttons early, he can be very keen,” De Vries said. “The pace was good enough just to leave him there. He did things so quickly, I thought I had a long way to make up, but half way through the straight I was sure to win. They ran at a good pace, which helped me a lot. After this, I can't see any reason not to go back (to the Dubai Turf) and he is a bit older now and with a little sun on his back, he should return to his old form.”

The post Frankie Dettori Doubles On Opening Night Of Dubai World Cup Carnival appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Second Chances: Everesting

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar.

Everesting (c, 3, Frosted–If Not For Her, by Not For Love) stamped himself as one to watch following a better-than-it-looked fifth-place finish on debut behind 'TDN Rising Star' Annex (Constitution) going two turns over the Gulfstream lawn Jan. 16 (video).

The gray's worktab included a pair of bullets at trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s Palm Meadows base, led by a four-furlong breeze in :47 (1/74) Jan. 9.

Off at odds of 12-1, he hopped at the start after exiting from post nine and was bumped by a rival one to his inside. Edgard Zayas got him over and secured a two-wide journey around the clubhouse turn. Sixth without cover and ready to roll through a half-mile in :47.30, Everesting began to launch with a flashy, three/four-wide blitz on the far turn and led his nine rivals as they cornered for home. He began to get leg weary in the stretch, however, and ran out of gas in the final furlong to finish fifth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths.

The impressive, come-from-behind winner Annex stopped the timer for the one-mile distance in 1:34.93 and earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. Everesting was assigned a respectable 74.

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, Everesting RNA'd for $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and later brought $110,000 from Cash is King, LC Racing and John Fanelli after breezing an eighth in :10 2/5 out of the Cary Frommer consignment at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Everesting's page is one that Cash is King's frontman Chuck Zacney is certainly familiar with.

Hailing from the first crop of Frosted, he is the first foal out of the three-time winner and stakes-placed mare If Not For Her. The 10-year-old is a half-sister to MSW & MGSP Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), GSP First Mondays (Curlin) and a full-sister to the winning dam of MSW & GSP Monday Morning QB (Imagining).

Like Everesting, the 2018 GIII Smarty Jones S. third-place finisher First Mondays and last November's GIII Discovery S. runner-up Monday Morning QB have also carried the green-and-white colors of Cash is King.

Everesting's third dam produced blowout 2009 G1 Dubai World Cup hero Well Armed (Tiznow).

“I thought he ran a really good race,” Zacney said. “It was a quick time. It certainly was a sweeping move and I think he's going to get a whole lot out of it. Our intent was probably for a dirt race, but unfortunately one was not quite there yet, so we decided to try the turf. Saffie made the comment that he was breaking a little slow from the gate [in the morning], so he thought the turf race would help him a little bit more. We were quite pleased with the effort. It's certainly going to help him going forward.”

Anything in mind yet for Everesting's next start?

“Nah, we'll figure that out still,” Zacney said. “He's going to work a week from this Saturday on the 30th, and we'll go from there. I think the intent probably will be a mile or a mile and a sixteenth on the dirt. We'll have Saffie tell us what's best for him.”

Previous standouts featured in 'Second Chances' include: GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner and Royal Ascot G2 Norfolk S. runner-up Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags), GII Los Alamitos Futurity winner and MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), and MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

The post Second Chances: Everesting appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Best Bets: Pegasus World Cup and Oaklawn Picks

America’s Best Racing and handicapper (and avid gambler) Monique Vág team up to provide horseplayers with their best bets of the weekend. Vág will identify her top picks as well as at least one longshot play of the weekend, a nice opportunity to swing for the fences on a win bet or to take a shot with a show bet. She also will occasionally look for strong exacta plays for the weekend or try to spot a nice opportunity for other wagers. This Weekend's Bets

Colorado Casinos

Colorado is a state rich in history and environment. From cosmopolitan cities like Denver or Vail to smaller municipalities, there is a fresh-air, get-outside appeal to every activity in Colorado. It is a state famous for bike-laden residents going to and from their various destinations as well as its world class skiing.

However, not to be too far outdone by its westerly neighbors, residents of the state love the Colorado casinos. There are a number of Colorado casinos dotting the state, with most run by Native American tribes, which offer a perfect day indoors.

Black Hawk, Colorado probably has the largest concentration of Colorado casinos. One of the largest casinos in Black Hawk is the Black Hawk Station Casino, with its offering of more than 900 slot machines and roughly eleven different table games. This Colorado casino also features live entertainment.

The Colorado Central Station Casino is next in line with more than 800 slot machines, several dining options and more. There are also table games and a cozy coffee shop on the premises.

Slightly smaller, but just as entertaining is the Mardi Gras Casino, featuring 700 slot machines and several table games.

Still trolling around Black Hawk, there is also the Golden Gates Casino, a smaller operation with about 250 slot machines and a sole dining option. This would be ideal for those who want an evening of gambling, with the flash and noise of larger Colorado casinos.

Moving over the Central City, Colorado casinos like the Famous Bonanza, with more than 200 slot machines, a restaurant and more or the Doc Holliday Casino with at around 209 slot machines, table games and more.

Not to be outdone, there are also several dog-racing tracks scattered around Colorado. One of the larger-scale operations is the Post Time Greyhound Park, a dog-track in Colorado Springs, featuring a restaurant, among other amenities. The Cloverleaf Kennel Club is another dog-track, this one located in Loveland, also featuring dining options, race books and more.

There are numerous other small-scale casinos around the state, most of which feature slot machines in the hundreds, various table games and a host of amenities. Dining options are usually plentiful at most Colorado casinos, with restaurants offering delectable specialties for casino visitors. Colorado casinos also offer variety; entertainment and fun for those who love to gamble, whether professionally or for something unusual and interesting to do in their spare time.