June, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Palace Pier Leads LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings; Domestic Spending Ranked Third

Following his performance in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1), Palace Pier (GB) [125] leads the fourth edition of the LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021.

LONGINES World's Best Racehorse Rankings Leading Horses click here for complete rankings
Rank	Horse	Rating	Trained
1	PALACE PIER (GB)	125	GB
2	NATURE STRIP (AUS)	123	AUS
3	DOMESTIC SPENDING (GB)	122	USA
3	MISHRIFF (IRE)	122	GB
3	MYSTIC GUIDE (USA)	122	USA
6	ADAYAR (IRE)	121	GB
6	ADDEYBB (IRE)	121	GB
6	EDUARDO (AUS)	121	AUS
6	ESSENTIAL QUALITY (USA)	121	USA
6	GRAN ALEGRIA (JPN)	121	JPN
6	PYLEDRIVER (GB)	121	GB

With his 1 ½-length victory in the Lockinge, Palace Pier improved his rating to 125 from 121 and is now two-for-two in 2021. He came into the race off of his winning seasonal debut in the bet365 Mile (G2), which he won by eight lengths. Palace Pier is expected to race next in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) during Royal Ascot.

Additionally, Domestic Spending (GB) [122] joins Mishriff (IRE) [122] and Mystic Guide (USA) [122] in the third position after winning the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1) by 2 ¾ lengths. His first start of the year came in May when he dead-heated for first in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes (G1).

There is now a six-way tie for the sixth position following a number of impressive performances around the world. In England, Adayar (IRE) [121] won the Cazoo Derby (G1) by 4 ½ lengths, and Pyledriver (GB) [121] defeated Al Aasy (IRE) [120] by a neck in the Coral Coronation Cup (G1). In the United States, Essential Quality (USA) [121] took the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) by 1 ¼ lengths, while in Japan Gran Alegria (JPN) [121] won the Victoria Mile (G1) by four lengths.

A number of horses are also equally rated at 120, making them co-12th in the latest rankings. In addition to Al Aasy, newcomers include Shahryar (JPN) [120], who defeated Efforia (JPN) [120] by a nose in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (G1); Snowfall (JPN) [120], who romped home in the Cazoo Oaks (G1) by a record 16 lengths; St Mark's Basilica (FR) [120], who won the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (G1) by 1 ¾ lengths; and Zaaki (GB) [120], who joins the rankings following his victory in the Channel 7 Doomben Cup (G1), which he won by seven lengths.

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O’Brien Runners On Ascot Comeback Missions

Joseph O'Brien's Group 1-winning juveniles Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) and Pretty Gorgeous (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) will attempt to get back in the winner's enclosure at Royal Ascot next week.

Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's Thunder Moon stamped himself as a leader of his generation in the autumn with a victory in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. and a third in the G1 Dewhurst S., but disappointed when last of 14 in the May 1 G1 2000 Guineas.

“Thunder Moon obviously disappointed at Newmarket, so we've put a line through that run,” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily Podcast. “We had an eye on the Irish Guineas but when the ground looked like it was going to be soft, which it was, we rerouted to go to Ascot and his preparation has gone well.”

Of the colt's Guineas performance, O'Brien added, “Nothing really came to light other than the fact he got very upset pre-race; we didn't have much of an excuse. He's been well since. Unfortunately these things happen and we've just put a line through it. There's always the possibility [that he hasn't trained on] but his work has been nice at home. He's always been a sharp worker and his work has been good in preparation for this race. You never know until they do it on the track and that is where it matters.”

Thunder Moon will have the chance to redeem himself in the G1 St James's Palace S.

“I think it's a suitable race, a relatively easy mile compared to The Curragh–it's certainly easier than that, so it looks a good race for him,” O'Brien said. “I think he goes there with an outside chance, certainly a good chance if he can get back to his best form.”

John Oxley's G1 Fillies' Mile winner and Cartier champion 2-year-old filly Pretty Gorgeous finished seventh, beaten 3 1/2 lengths, in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in the lone start thus far of her 3-year-old campaign. She holds an entry in next week's G1 Coronation S.

“She's done really well,” O'Brien said. “It was well documented we didn't have the smoothest of runs with her but I was pleased with her at The Curragh, I was pleased with her comeback run and I'm excited to get her out again. I think her ideal ground is the easy side of good, but she's proven effective on all surfaces. I'm happy enough with the ground for her.

“I feel good with the Ascot team, we might not have any outstanding chances but we have some nice chances. I think Pretty Gorgeous might be our best chance going over there. I'd be very pleased if we can get one on the board.”

The post O’Brien Runners On Ascot Comeback Missions appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Maters N Taters A Big Hit In William Henry Harrison Stakes

Maters N Taters has long been a favorite among local fans due to his name. Now, he just got a little more popular with an upset victory in the 18th running of the $75,000 William Henry Harrison Stakes at Indiana Grand.

Maters N Taters has tactical speed. The question was whether he could clear the front out of the gate from an outside post in the six-furlong event. The 4-year-old Indiana sired son of Santiva quickly put those questions to rest as jockey Eddie Perez had him on the lead just a few steps out of the gate. Oscar PQ and Alex Achard went with the leader early from the inside, but by the turn, he had backed off as Maters N Taters crossed over to the rail to lead the way.

Around the turn, the field began to bunch up as they prepared to show their best stride in the stretch. Race favorite Double Tuff and Jesus Castanon led the pack behind Maters N Taters, but just could not gain any ground on the leader. Late in the race, it was clear Maters N Taters would be victorious over the sloppy surface, scoring the win by two lengths in a time of 1:09.78. Double Tuff finished second over Stop Hammertime and Joe Ramos for third.

Maters N Taters paid $44.20 and gave trainer Anthony Cunningham and owner Salvador Villalobos their first career Thoroughbred stakes win. The pair are prevalent in Quarter Horse racing in Indiana with Villalobos serving as Cunningham's assistant trainer in the powerhouse barn of Indiana Quarter Horses.

“We bought this horse and one other Thoroughbred and a Quarter Horse off of Ron Brown last year when he said he was retiring,” explained Cunningham. “Sal (Villalobos) deserves all the credit with this horse. He has done all the work with him.”

Villalobos has worked for Cunningham for the past 10 years. Each winter, he returns to Mexico to spend time with family before rejoining Cunningham at Indiana Grand for the racing season. Cunningham, who hails from Michigan and has a farm in the Wolverine State, travels back and forth between the two destinations and relies heavily on Villalobos for his expertise in the shed row at Indiana Grand.

“This particular horse stays here,” added Cunningham. “He has a little attitude and can be tough to be around at times. Sal has done a great job with him.”

The game plan as a longshot in the race worked out as planned. With early speed, Perez and Cunningham decided early on that would be their strategy.

“The plan was to make the lead and they let me take the lead easy today,” said Perez. “He's got tactical speed and we wanted to use that to his advantage.”

It was also tactical to utilize Perez aboard Maters N Taters. Perez, a multiple Graded Stakes winning jockey with more than 2,500 career wins, knows the horse well and knows how to ride him.

“Eddie (Perez) has ridden this horse for a long time for Ron (Brown),” explained Cunningham. “That's why we put him up.”

Maters N Taters is nearing $200,000 in career earnings. It was his fourth career win and his second stakes victory, scoring a win in the $100,000 Crown Ambassador Stakes as a two-year-old for Brown. Perez has been aboard for all four of his career wins in 18 outings.

Cunningham is currently ranked second in the leading Quarter Horse trainer standings yet again in 2021. Although he does have a few Thoroughbreds in his barn and has dabbled in Thoroughbreds in recent years, his main focus is on Quarter Horses.

“It's a big deal to me to win a Thoroughbred stakes race because it is hard to do,” added Cunningham. “Thoroughbreds are a whole different ball game. I'm just fortunate I have a good horse and a great team behind me. Everyone worked hard to get this horse here today.”

One person that has had the faith in Maters N Taters for a long time is breeder Dr. Crystal Chapple and her husband, Michael Phelps. They were also trackside for the race and in the winner's circle to greet the horse they raised at their farm.

“Maters N Taters is the first horse that Michael (Phelps) was ever down on as the breeder,” added Chapple. “It's really been something for us to watch him do so well over the years.”

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Shy Money Cashes In Wednesday’s Shelby County Stakes

Shy Money got nearly all the cash in the 19th running of the $75,000 Shelby County Stakes on Wednesday at Indiana Grand. The win marked the first stakes victory for owner Paul King, who is also the breeder on the grey Unbridled Express 4-year-old filly.

With earlier rain saturating the track and more rain lurking in the vicinity, Shy Money joined eight other females on the track for the Shelby County Stakes, which began the inaugural season of Thoroughbred racing at Indiana Grand. Ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel, Shy Money began her journey from post four and was in the lead down the backstretch, followed closely by race favorite Hungarian Princess and Sammy Bermudez.

In the stretch, Hungarian Princess began to make a move for the front spot and a battle ensued. Shy Money stood her ground and was able to fend off Hungarian Princess, just a 3-year-old, at the finish line for the win by a nose in 1:10.35 over the sloppy surface. Sentimentaljourney and Jermaine Bridgmohan finished third.

The second choice in the race, Shy Money paid $7.40 for the win. It was her third straight win and her fourth in five career starts. Aaron West trains the Indiana sired filly for King, who was trackside to accept his first stakes trophy. King is relatively new to the business, purchasing his first horse in 2017. King and West began with Shy Money late last fall as a three-year-old with two starts in Indiana. They gave her the winter off and brought her back to the racetrack in mid-April.

“She (Shy Money) has a big heart,” said West, who has trained several Indiana champions in recent years, including Marina's Legacy. “We are going to give her a break, now. She is undefeated sprinting, so we will keep her at that distance.”

Shy Money increased her career bankroll to more than $110,000 with the win. It was her first attempt in stakes action, and she is now three for three at the five-furlong distance.

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