July, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jose Ortiz’ Perfect Ride Helps Technical Analysis Upset Lake George; Brown Goes 1-2

With four of the nine entrants in Friday's $150,000, Grade 3 Lake George Stakes at Saratoga, trainer Chad Brown still managed to surprise bettors with a 7-1 winner in Technical Analysis. He also sent out 12-1 second-place finisher Fluffy Socks. Brown sent out his third straight Lake George winner, and fifth overall.

Klaravich Stable's Technical Analysis was given a perfect ride by jockey Jose Ortiz, pushing the frontrunning favorite along early and getting the first jump on her late to win by about 1 1/2 lengths. The 3-year-old Kingman filly, now a three-time winner from five lifetime starts, completed the mile over the firm turf in 1:36.61.

The 5-2 favorite at post time, frontrunning Jouster broke on top as expected under Luis Saez. but Ortiz hounded him early with Technical Analysis. Navratilova was also up close heading into the clubhouse turn.

After pressing Jouster through a first quarter in :23.53, Ortiz took a strong hold on Technical Analysis to drop back to third at the rail behind Navratilova. Jouster pulled away to lead by almost three lengths down the backstretch, marking the half-mile in :47.93, but Ortiz was riding confidently after he was able to settle Technical Analysis off the bridle.

Rounding the far turn, Ortiz let Technical Analysis move up into contention, then he angled out into the stretch and gave the filly her cue. He managed to get the jump on his rivals and Technical Analysis pulled away quickly, holding on late to win by 1 1/2 lengths at the wire.

Stablemate Fluffy Socks closed from last to be second, while Tobys Heart filled out the trifecta. Runaway Rumor finished fourth.

Bred in Ireland by Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, Technical Analysis is out of the winning Sea the Stars mare Sealife. Seth Klarman gave $258,109 for the filly at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling sale. Third on debut, Technical Analysis broke her maiden at second asking. After a five-month break the filly came right back to win an allowance race at Belmont, but a tough trip over “good” turf in the G3 Wonder Again saw her fade to finish sixth.

Overall, Technical Analysis has won three of her five career starts for earnings just shy of $200,000.

“Technical Analysis was in a very good spot up front,” Brown said after the race. “It looked like some of my horses in the rear might not be firing, so it was really up to her at that point and I thought Jose [Ortiz] gave her an outstanding ride.

“From the first turn where she was pulling a little bit, he let her have her head to exiting the first turn when he dropped in, looked behind, and got a nice spot covered up. Finally, we had a horse to our outside and he waited for that horse to get fatigued before he moved outside cleanly. I thought it was a really smart move. I was very appreciative for his ride.

“Going into this race, I thought these four horses were even. I couldn't have picked between them. She was 9-1 when they loaded in the gate. I hope that some of my loyal fans here that have been losing the first week got some money back.

“The cutback helped a lot. You know you're going to get more pace with the cutback and that's really what she needed to get her off the bridle down the backstretch where there's a good strong pace to run at. She'll pull on a slow pace. That was part of the thinking of cutting her back. We always have thought of her as one of our better horses in this division last year. It's nice to see her achieving some of those goals we set forth over the winter when we mapped out her campaign.”

“I think she always wanted to do this – run a mile,” said Ortiz. “We were trying to stretch her out being a 3-year-old for the Belmont Oaks. I told Chad, and he agreed with me, at this time it's probably not her thing and we need to cut her back. She's too antsy early and pulls a lot.

“Today, cutting back to a mile, I could let her run to the first turn and she came back to me nicely. She relaxed very well behind the horses and I knew it was just a matter of time. I knew we were going to separate and that's what I wanted. I wanted Jouster [No. 5] not to walk in front of me.”

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Monmouth Park Stewards Suspend Two Jockeys For Using Riding Crop During Race

Two jockeys received five-day suspensions and $500 fines for violating the New Jersey Racing Commission's riding crop rule stating the crop can only be used “when necessary to control the horse to avoid injury to the horse or rider.”

The two cases are as different as night and day.

Jockey Carlos Eduardo Lopez, who recently came to the United States from Uruguay, was sanctioned for his ride aboard Venezuelan Talent in the seventh race at Monmouth Park on July 11. Kevin Witte, agent for Lopez, said the rider admitted that he “got caught up in the moment” and used the crop to encourage his mount when he was fighting for the lead in the stretch. Venezuelan Affair was overtaken in deep stretch by Emirates Affair, finishing second by a length.

“He only speaks Spanish, but he was told before the race he could not use the whip but that he had the choice to take it with him for protection,” Witte said. “He apologized and will accept the suspension.”

Lopez will be suspended from July 24-July 28, inclusive.

Carlos Montalvo plans to appeal the suspension and fine he received for his ride aboard M I Six, winner of the first race at Monmouth Park on July 11. Montalvo claimed in a hearing with Monmouth Park stewards that he used the whip to prevent M I Six from bolting on the turn – something the gelding's exercise rider said happened during morning training. According to the Equibase chart, Montalvo struck M I Six three times with the crop as the gelding was drifting out on the turn.

The New Jersey Racing Commission prohibits its stewards from talking to the media, referring all inquiries to the office of the New Jersey attorney general, which oversees the commission. The commission has obfuscated when asked to explain what types of situations would warrant acceptable use of the riding crop for safety.

The sanctions against Montalvo suggest the stewards are saying either a horse drifting out and with a history of bolting does not merit use of the riding crop, or they believe Montalvo and those who testified on his behalf at the hearing – including the exercise rider – are being dishonest.

M I Six was entered in a race earlier this week at Parx but was listed as a vet scratch.

Attorney Drew Mollica, who represented Montalvo at the stewards' hearing, will handle his appeal. His suspension is scheduled to run from Aug. 24-Aug 28, inclusive.

Stewards have scheduled a hearing next week with Flavien Prat to consider sanctions for his ride aboard Hot Rod Charlie in the Grade 1 tvg.com Haskell Stakes on July 17. Hot Rod Charlie finished first but was disqualified and placed last after drifting in without clearance after passing Midnight Bourbon in mid-stretch. Midnight Bourbon clipped the heels of Hot Rod Charlie and stumbled badly, unseating Paco Lopez. Neither horse nor rider was seriously injured.

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Read Contender Award Winner Thriving In Southern California Weather

Relocating to California has proven to be a good move for Award Winner, a 5-year-old son of Ghostzapper bred and owned by John and Jerry Amerman and trained by David Hofmans.

Four starts at Santa Anita since shipping in from the Midwest produced runner-up results in January and February and a victory in March, all at the allowance level, then an upset victory in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham on May 29.

Prior to his recent back-to-back victories, Award Winner was winless in nine starts dating back to May of 2019.

What happened?

“When he got out here, I think he really liked the firm turf,” Hofmans said. “I think that's what really helped him more than anything else. I don't think he likes anything soft.”

Award Winner, with a record of four wins in 17 lifetime starts and earnings of $328,474, will be sent out seeking third straight win and a second straight Grade 2 score in Saturday's $250,000 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar. At 1 1/8 miles on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course, it's a furlong shorter than the Whittingham but over the firm grass footing that the gelding seems to relish.

“He's coming into this race really well, but it's a tough one,” Hofmans said. “Dropping back in distance is not to our advantage. I would prefer to go farther, but the only longer race here is the Del Mar Handicap, which is another month away.

“I'm kind of hoping he can rate like he did in his last race and then finish. He's a free-running horse who likes to be up close. I'm just a little cautious because a mile and an eighth might be a little short for him.”

Award Winner was campaigned in the East and Midwest by trainer Brian Lynch through September of last year and moved to Hofmans' stables at Santa Anita in January. Hofmans trained Award Winner's dam, Devine Actress, for the Amermans.

“He came in in good condition,” Hofmans said. “But I think that maybe he didn't like the weather back there or something because when he got here he just started gaining weight and getting better and better.”

The field from the rail with riders and morning line odds:

Vintage Print (Adam Beschizza, 20-1)
United (Flavien Prat, 5-2)
Say the Word (Mike Smith, 3-1)
Count Again (Joe Bravo, 5-1)
Award Winner (Juan Hernandez, 8-1)
Smooth Like Strait (Umberto Rispoli, 9-5)
Restrainedvengengence (Tyler Baze, 10-1)

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GISW Kimari to Bypass Honorable Miss

Trainer Wesley Ward said he will skip Wednesday's GII Honorable Miss S. with Ten Broeck Farm's Kimari (Munnings). The 4-year-old has not run since capturing the GI Madison at Keeneland Apr. 3. According to Ward, the filly wasn't showing the energy she previously had shown during morning training.

“She's doing well, just not quite as good as she was previously, so I thought we should err on the side of caution,” Ward explained. “We did some X-rays and according to Dr. [Luis] Castro, she was perfect. But visually, she wasn't quite kicking the same way she had. We gave her a break because she ran such a big race at Keeneland. When I lead her over there, I would want her to 100%.”

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