May, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Mandella’s Cup Runneth Over With Memorial Day Weekend Runners At Santa Anita

Memorial Day weekend at Santa Anita could remind Richard Mandella of a Breeders' Cup in miniature.

The Hall of Fame trainer, winner of nine Breeders' Cup races including four of the eight at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, 2003, has 11 nominations to stakes races this holiday weekend starting this Saturday through Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.

He plans to run most of them, two in Grade 1 events on Memorial Day, Royal Ship in the Hollywood Gold Cup with Mike Smith and Dogtag in the Gamely under Umberto Rispoli.

Multiple graded turf stakes winner United goes in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham on Saturday with regular rider Flavien Prat. “He's doing great,” Mandella said of United, who won the Whittingham by a nose last May.

Winner of eight races with a bankroll surpassing $1.5 million, Mandella refers to the 6-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding as “a big pet” around the barn.

Soothsay, unbeaten in two starts including the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks, goes in next Sunday's Grade 2 Summertime Oaks. “She's doing real well,” Mandella said of the bay daughter of Distorted Humor.

Last but not least, Bombard seeks his first graded stakes win in Saturday's Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on turf.

“I hope we do the best we can,” Mandella said in anticipation of a successful and prosperous holiday.

Santa Anita presents seven graded stakes on Memorial Day weekend, three of them Grade 1 on May 31: the Hollywood Gold Cup for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a quarter; the Shoemaker Mile, a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Race on turf; and the Gamely for fillies and mares, thr3ee and up at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Next Saturday's features are the aforementioned Whittingham for 3-year-olds and up at 1 ¼ miles on turf, the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at seven furlongs, and the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 6 ½ furlongs on turf.

Next Sunday's headliner is the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at 1 1/16 miles. In all, seven lucrative stakes will be decided over the holiday weekend offering $1.6 million in purse money.

Mandella's four Breeders' Cup winners in 2003 were Action This Day (Juvenile), Halfbridled (Juvenile Fillies), Johar (dead-heat in Turf) and Pleasantly Perfect (Classic).

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Stars on Show at ParisLongchamp

There is some high-class action at ParisLongchamp on Monday, with the G1 Saxon Warrior Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary looking a wide-open affair containing a pair of TDN Rising Stars in Sibila Spain (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Harajuku (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). While the former is unproven in black-type company, the Niarchos homebred Harajuku comes here on the back of a defeat of the re-opposing Incarville (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the 10 1/2-furlong G3 Prix Cleopatre at Saint-Cloud at the beginning of May. Her trainer Andre Fabre has won this a record eight times and also saddles the Wertheimers' Mar. 11 Listed Prix Rose de Mai scorer and the Apr. 6 G3 Prix Penelope third Anasia (GB) (Intello {Ger}) and Lady Bamford's May 1 Saint-Cloud maiden winner Love Child (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

Yeguada Centurion's Sibila Spain started her career with a nine-length success in a debutantes race over this 10-furlong trip at Saint-Cloud Mar. 25 before following up at Lyon-Parilly Apr. 15. She has something to find with Al Shira'aa Farms' Apr. 11 G3 Prix Vanteaux winner Rumi (Fr) (Frankel {GB}) and Ecurie Waldeck's Apr. 18 G3 Prix de la Grotte scorer Cirona (GB) (Maxios {GB}), but this renewal looks poised for a potential improver given how little there is between all protagonists.

In the 11-furlong G2 Prix Hocquart, Australian Bloodstock's May 1 G3 Bavarian Classic winner Lambo (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}) squares up to Juddmonte's May 10 Saint-Cloud conditions scorer Media Stream (GB) (Frankel {GB}) while the G2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier sees The Aga Khan's Valia (Fr) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) return to the scene of her success in the G2 Prix Chaudenay and second in the G1 Prix Royal-Oak in October. Also on the card is the Listed Prix de Montretout over a mile, where Godolphin's G1 Dubai World Cup third Magny Cours (Medaglia d'Oro) reverts in trip after a sixth in the G1 Prix Ganay here May 2.

There is Classic action at Cologne with the G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen, or German 2000 Guineas, seeing Stall Lintec's Apr. 24 G3 Dr Busch-Memorial winner Best of Lips (Ire) (The Gurkha {Ire}) set the standard the day after the colt he beat in October's course-and-distance G3 Preis des Winterfavoriten, Sea of Sands (Ger) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), took the G3 Derby-Trial. If there is a lurker, it could be Gestut Hof Ittlingen's Markus Klug-trained homebred Sampras (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) who won his sole start impressively on the same Dortmund card in September that saw Best of Lips also break his maiden

Click here for the group fields.

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Powell Sees Residual Value In Santa Anita Record $150,000 Claim

Trainer Leonard Powell made a Santa Anita record claim of $150,000 Saturday for Nimbostratus, a 3-year-old French-bred filly that won the third race at six furlongs on turf by a neck under Abel Cedillo in 1:09.28.

The previous Santa Anita record of $125,000 was made in 1997. There have been three claims this meet for $100,000 at the Arcadia, Calif., track.

Claimed from trainer Peter Miller, the filly's new owner is Mathilde, wife of Leonard, who comes from an accomplished family of horsemen and as a youth in France rode as an amateur on both the flat and over jumps.

A bay daughter of Wootton Bassett out of the Invincible Spirit dam Bahama Spirit, Nimbostratus was third in the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 14, won an overnight race by a nose on March 6 and was last of 10 in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes on May 1.

She has won three of 10 career races, breaking her maiden in Ireland on July 3, 2020.

“She has residual value as a broodmare,” said Powell, a 44-year-old native of Deauville, France. “That was the main reason for claiming her. We have no immediate plans (for her next race).

“We'll see how she comes out and find the best possible spot for her.”

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Hardin Brothers Bring Passion For Racing To Churchill Downs Stable Gate

Donnie and Ken Hardin are hard to miss when backside employees enter the Churchill Downs Stable Gate each morning. The brothers, who work on the security team, bring their passion of horse racing and the spirit of their father with them to each shift at the Louisville, Ky., track.

“Churchill Downs stands for everything I love,” Ken simply stated.

The Hardins' faces light up every time a new horse racing star enters the stable gate or when they get the opportunity to tell a story about horses that strike up memories of their father. The Stable Gate office is filled with horse racing memorabilia and different photos where all of the employees, not just the Hardins, can share personal stories. One specific photo of Churchill Downs' all-time leading jockey Pat Day brings back memories of the Hardins' late father, Charles, every time they enter the office.

“I was about 14 years old when Pat Day won the (1992) Kentucky Derby (aboard Lil E Tee) but I remember it well,” Donnie said. “My dad was taken back by the legendary jockey's humble demeanor after his big accomplishment. I learned a lot from that.

“The next spring Churchill Downs had an autograph session featuring Pat Day. At the time, I collected sports trading cards, including jockey cards. I had acquired his card with his famous photo with his arms raised in victory following his Derby win. Knowing that my dad loved the picture, I gave it to him. We went to the track the day of the autograph session and I had Pat sign a commemorative coffee cup and my dad had him sign the card. My dad said, 'Pat, it's a pleasure to meet you.' Day replied, 'Thank you, the pleasure is all mine.' And he signed the card. It was the only autograph my dad ever got in his life.”

Charles Hardin passed away in 2009.

“We feel his spirit when we are on the grounds,” the Hardins said. “We both sort of take on his personality, like he is with us and always smiling. We carry that with us and try to share those good feelings with every interaction we have.”

The Hardin brothers grew up in South Louisville and both attended Iroquois High School. Their first time at Churchill Downs was in 1985. They had tickets in their family's box on Kentucky Oaks Day.

“The first time I was ever on the backside of Churchill Downs it was in 1987,” Donnie said. “I was 10 years old and got to see the Derby favorite, Demons Begone. I got to feel that Derby week excitement on the backside and it's always stuck with me.”

The Hardins have endless stories. Their favorite horses include Secretariat, Swale, Risen Star and Justify.

“Secretariat is the king. The first thing our father ever taught us about horse racing was about 'Big Red,'” Donnie said. “Kentucky Derby 110 was one of my first Derby memories. I was 7 years old at the time and Swale won. I thought he was the most amazing creature alive. He went on to finish off the board in the Preakness and won the Belmont Stakes. … I think that's where my emotional and sentimental connection to horse racing began.”

In 2018, Ken was diagnosed with cancer. He went through radiation for 29 straight days at 7 a.m. but never once missed a day of live racing at the Fall Meet.

Just a few months ago, Ken went to a follow-up doctor's appointment for his cancer. He brought a horseshoe worn by Kentucky Derby winner Authentic and one worn by Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Shedaresthedevil – two symbols for good luck.

His doctor said he was now 100% cancer free.

“The everyday excitement is what we love about Churchill Downs,” Ken said. “From meeting people from all different cultures with so many personalities and the amazing workers on the front and backside. Those who work under the Twin Spires have a special sprit about them. It is home. We take our jobs very seriously but Donnie and I will forever be reliving a great part of our childhood when we are here.”

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