July, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jesus’ Team, Sole Volante Reunite Sunday In Gulfstream’s City Of Dania Stakes

A lot has happened since the last time Jesus' Team and Sole Volante clashed at Gulfstream Park 13 months ago. Jesus' Team went on to become multiple Grade 1 stakes-placed while competing against some of the best horses in the world, while Sole Volante went on to run in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1).

The two 4-year-olds will reunite in Sunday's $60,000 City of Dania at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., a mile overnight handicap in which Jesus' Team will carry 127 pounds, nine pounds more than the horse that had defeated him in a stakes-quality optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream June 10, 2020.

While acknowledging the disparity in weight assignments, trainer Jose D'Angelo is willing to accept the challenge for Jesus' Team first start since Grupo 7C Racing Stable's color-bearer finished sixth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) March 27.

“I think he's come along very good. He is good and sharp. I think it is a good spot for him coming off a layoff,” D'Angelo said. “I know he has to carry a lot of weight, but I think it is not a big deal.”

Jesus's Team won a $25,000 claiming race in his first race after winning a $35,000 maiden claiming race and first race after being transferred to D'Angelo. The son of Tapiture finished second, beaten by three-quarters of a length by Sole Volante, in his next start before eight consecutive stakes races. D'Angelo and Jesus' Team hit the road to face the best company in the country for the rest of the year and faring extremely well. The Kentucky-bred colt went on to finish third in the Preakness (G1) and Jim Dandy (G2) before finishing second behind Knicks Go in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland.

“For me, it was amazing. Jesus represents to me the best horse I've trained,” said D'Angelo, who was the leading trainer in Venezuela before venturing to South Florida in 2019. “He gave me the best moments of my life, professionally speaking. When you come to this country. You see all the big horses and big trainers. To have a horse that has the ability to take you there with him, it was amazing.”

Jesus' Team returned to Gulfstream to capture the Claiming Crown Jewel in his final start of 2020 before making his 2021 debut in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), in which he again finished second behind Knicks Go. Unfortunately, the D'Angelo trainee seemed to lack the same competitive spirit in Dubai.

“The race was not a good race for him. The horse wasn't training very good in Dubai,” D'Angelo said. “Sometimes that happens, and you never know.”

After enjoying some rest and relaxation and putting on some weight, Jesus' Team has produced a series of strong breezes at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, in preparation for the City of Dania.

Samy Camacho is scheduled to ride Jesus' Team for the first time since his second-place finish behind Sole Volante last year.

Patrick Biancone-trained Sole Volante will be seeking his first win in five starts since his decision over Jesus' Team last year. The son of Karakontie went on to finish off the board in the Belmont and Derby before a couple of uneventful efforts on the turf. Following a four-month break, he raced evenly to finish fourth in a mile optional claiming allowance on the main track May 22.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Andie Biancone's gelding had established himself as a Triple Crown prospect early last year when he won the Sam Davis (G3) and finished second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2)

Luca Panici has the return mount on Sole Volante, who will be equipped with blinkers for the first time.

Harold Queen's Noble Drama, a multiple stakes winner and fan favorite at Gulfstream; Rodney Lundock's Pro Quality, who was just a neck behind Noble Drama; Lawson Racing Stables' I'm a G Six, an impressive winner of a mile optional claiming allowance last time out; Willow Lane Stable Inc.'s Highestdistinction, who is slated to make his 2021 debut Sunday after winning his last two starts of 2020; and IAB Stables and Walter Fralick's Quenane, a veteran campaigner with 14 career wins; round out the field.

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Belmont: Saturday’s Pick 6 Features Carryover Of $54,191

Saturday's Pick 6 will be bolstered by a $54,191 carryover as the multi-race wager went unsolved on Friday at Belmont Park.

The $1 Pick 6, implemented at the current 48-day Belmont spring/summer meet, returned $433 to bettors who selected 5-of-6 winners correctly.

Friday's Pick 6 sequence kicked off in Race 4 as Bourbon's Hope [No. 1, $11.60] graduated at first asking in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for New York-bred juveniles. Joel Rosario engineered the winning trip for trainer Charlton Baker.

Jose Lezcano captured the next two legs with April Antics [No. 9, $6] scoring in Race 5 in a state-bred maiden claiming sprint for conditioner James Ryerson and Dreams of Tomorrow [No. 8, $4.60] proving to be much the best for Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey in an off-the-turf optional-claiming mile in Race 6.

Three Jokers [No. 2, $7.30], with Jose Ortiz up, captured a 1 1/16-mile state-bred optional-claiming event in Race 7 ahead of the day's biggest upset when Dancingwthdaffodls [No. 7, $46.20] rallied down the center of the track under Dylan Davis in Race 8 to win an off-the-turf optional claiming event for conditioner Eduardo Jones.

With the Pick 6 carryover already secured, Giggle Factory [No. 9, $9.90] took command past the furlong marker to win the off-the-turf nightcap by open lengths in a one-turn mile claimer for jockey Junior Alvarado and trainer Tom Albertrani.

Featuring a $1 bet minimum and 15 percent takeout, the Pick 6 wager requires bettors to select the first-place finisher of six designated races on the card. A total of 75 percent of the full pool, minus takeout, will be distributed to bettors who select the first-place finisher of all six races. A consolation payout of 25 percent of the net pool will be distributed to tickets selecting 5-of-6 winners.

In the event there are no tickets with six winners, there will be a carryover of 75 percent of the net pool into the next day of the meet with the remaining 25 percent of the net pool distributed as a consolation payout to tickets selecting the first-place finisher in the greatest number of races on the card. On carryover days, the Pick 6 is offered with a 24 percent takeout.

The $1 Pick 6 replaced the Empire 6, a jackpot style wager featuring a $0.20 bet minimum first offered in August 2019 at Saratoga Race Course.

Saturday's Pick 6 kicks off in Race 6 at 3:34 p.m. Eastern and includes the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational in Race 7; the Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride in Race 8; and the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational in Race 9. First post on Saturday's 11-race card is 1 p.m. Eastern.

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Laafy Tops Final Day Of Tattersalls July Sale

The Tattersalls July Sale came to a close with continued vibrant trade which saw a further two lots sell for 100,000 guineas or more and a remarkable clearance rate of 98 percent. The turnover of 12,301,300 guineas is the fourth-highest in the sales history whilst the median was a record-equalling 12,000 guineas.

Laafy, a 5-year-old gelding by Noble Mission from the Freemason Lodge Stables draft of Sir Michael Stoute, was the top price on the final day of the Tattersalls July Sale, realizing 105,000 guineas to the bid of trainer Mark Campion.

Campion, who was stood with his son Arthur, selected the 5-year-old as a jumping prospect.

“He is a very nice horse. Arthur spotted him and said 'Dad you need to come and look at this horse.' He is going jumping and is a very nicely rated horse, he has plenty of ability. We will get him home, the team can take a look at him and we'll make a decision about what to do next, see how he settles in. He is a lovely big horse and we have a small team to own him,” said Campion Sr.

Laafy was offered with a Timeform rating of 113. Through his career he has won four races on all sorts of ground and over distances ranging from 1 mile and 2 furlongs to 1 mile and 6 furlongs. He has prize-money earnings of £77,666.

The promising King Triton, who had a Timeform rating of 88p, attracted spirited competition with the winning bid of 100,000 guineas struck by trainer Grant Tuer.

The well-bred gelding is by Invincible Spirit out of Nada, an unraced half-sister to Dubawi. The 3-year-old was consigned by Roger Varian's Carlburg Stables and has now run three times, winning in good style on his most recent start in a mile maiden at Thirsk.

“He has been bought for owner Edward Ware,” revealed Tuer. “I had a horse for him earlier this season, we won a couple and sold him on and this is to replace him. I liked the form of King Triton's maiden win, it has worked out well. Hopefully we can progress into some nice mile and (1 1/4-mile) races this summer. We will probably try and go to the Ebor meeting, there's a mile handicap for three-year-olds.”

At the conclusion of the 2021 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony commented;

“The Tattersalls July Sale has long been recognized as Europe's premier midsummer sale and this week's impressive set of figures have yet again confirmed its status. Perhaps more importantly than figures alone, it has also been a sale with a real sense of business returning to something resembling normality. We cannot make meaningful comparisons with last year's abbreviated and COVID-ravaged July Sale, but this year's sale has produced a level of trade that compares very favorably with both the 2019 and 2018 renewals and crucially has yet again achieved a remarkable clearance rate in excess of 90 percent.

“Even in a sale of genuinely vibrant trade from start to finish the penultimate session stood out with an extraordinary 100 percent clearance rate driven by strong domestic demand mixed with the sort of international participation which has been so encouraging considering the widespread travel restrictions which are still in place. Significant consignments from some of the world's leading owner/breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates have been as popular as ever and buyers from all over the world have continued to make full use of the Tattersalls live internet bidding platform as well as telephone bidding through our team on the ground. All the signs now suggest that we can look forward to returning almost to normal for the forthcoming Tattersalls August Sale and for the market – leading Tattersalls yearling sales which begin at Park Paddocks with the new Somerville Yearling Sale on Sept. 7.”

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Millennium Farms To Evolve Operations To Focus on Racing

Millennium Farms' owner Ro Parra, with over 26 years in various segments of the industry, is returning to a focus on racing that will include a small, select broodmare band. This will result in the halting of boarding services at Millennium Farms before the September Sale at Keeneland.

“While we have enjoyed the challenge of a full-service operation – including standing stallions a few years back – my real passion has been and will always be racing,” said Parra. “That's where I started in the game back in 1996. With a small group of quality mares and racing stock, hopefully we can return to having a top racing stable that can compete at the highest levels, as we have in the past. We hope to make this transition over the next 12 to 24 months.”

Millennium Farms' partnership in Buckland Sales with Zach Madden will continue as well.

“Zach has done a great job in a highly competitive marketplace to build a successful and respected sales agency,” continued Parra. “Our presence for our clients at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton this fall with a robust consignment is a testament to Zach and the bright future for Buckland Sales.

“Jay Ted Neel, our general manager, will oversee the transition over the next six months and will be relocating to Oklahoma with his family at the end of the year,” Parra continued. “He will be retained as a consultant after he relocates.”

Millennium Farms will continue to operate, but not as a boarding facility. Bobby Miller, another industry veteran, will stay involved supervising the farm following the transition.

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