Month: August 2021

Del Mar: Thursday’s Pick Six Carryover At $1,645,118

Long-winded allowance horses will stretch out to a mile and three-eighths Thursday at Del Mar for a $74,000 allowance purse that will serve as the feature attraction on the day's eight-race card. It goes as Race 7 on the program and has lured eight runners to test their legs and lungs over the demanding 11-furlong distance.

Along with the feature, there will be an extra buzz to the day's card as the track's Pick Six Single Ticket Jackpot wager will be up for grabs once more this time with a $1,645,118 carryover to serve as extra incentive. The bet has carried forward for 16 straight racing days and its prize just grows more and more lucrative. If it is not “hit” on either Thursday or Friday of this upcoming week, it goes to TVG Pacific Classic Day on Saturday and that's a “mandatory” afternoon when all money in the pot gets paid out to those holding tickets with the highest number of winners.

The feature is an interesting betting affair with the likely favorite being an old pro named Ward 'n Jerry, a homebred 8-year-old gelding who races in the silks of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams. The Mike Puype-trained veteran has run the most races – 29 – won the most – 8 – and banked the most money — $474,759 – in the lineup.

There's little doubt that Ward 'n Jerry can get the trip. In eight of his last 12 outings he's run farther than the Thursday headliner, so the old boy has a lot of things in his corner. Leading rider Flavien Prat signs on the ride, so there's yet another thing in his favor.

Here's the full lineup for the feature from the rail out with riders: Bran Jam Stable and Firsthome Thoroughbreds' Big Buzz (Jessica Pyfer); Reddam Racing's Parsimony (Mario Gutierrez); Three Diamonds Farm's Ocean Atlantique (Trevor McCarthy); Alfred Pais' Margot's Boy (Juan Hernandez); Ward 'n Jerry; Karl Pergola's K P All Systems Go (Tyler Baze); Slam Dunk Racing or Nentwig's Rijeka (Joe Bravo), and Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Warren, Jr.'s Seven Charms (Kyle Frey).

First post on Thursday is at 2 p.m.

The post Del Mar: Thursday’s Pick Six Carryover At $1,645,118 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Favorites Look Tough To Beat In Wednesday’s Minnesota Oaks, Derby At Canterbury Park

There will be prohibitive favorites in both the Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Oaks Wednesday at Canterbury Park. Thealligatorhunter in the Derby and Star of the North in the Oaks are both 3-5 on the morning line and represent the best of the 3-year-old statebred crop in a pair of $100,000 stakes conducted at one mile and 70 yards on the main track. The 11-race card, billed as Made in MN Night, begins at 5:00 p.m. and also includes the $50,000 Wally's Choice and $50,000 Glitter Star Stakes for older Minnesota breds.

Thealligatorhunter and Star of the North have finished first in their seven collective races this season at Canterbury, however Thealligatorhunter was disqualified for interference and placed second in his most recent start.

Each won their July 14 six furlong Oaks and Derby prep races. Star of the North went gate to wire in the $50,000 Frances Genter Stakes as the odds-on choice, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. Thealligatorhunter took control of the Victor S. Myers Stakes mid-race and cruised home by four lengths. Ry Eikleberry rode Star of the North for trainer Francisco Bravo. Alonso Quinonez rode Thealligatorhunter for Tim Padilla. Both will be aboard again Wednesday.

The colt and filly tried a longer distance for the first time in one mile allowance races. Star of the North again led her field gate to wire, winning easily as the unchallenged 1-9 favorite on July 29. Thealligatorhunter faced a bit tougher task Aug. 1. He was bumped at the start before dueling throughout with the older Minnesota Miracle. At the sixteenth pole Thealligatorhunter shifted out, making contact and held a 3/4-length edge at the finish line, but was subsequently disqualified.

The Minnesota Derby is the sixth race on the card with a 7:40 post time and is followed by the Oaks.

Drop of Golden Sun won the 2020 Wally's Choice racing gate to wire in the 1 1/16 mile stake, defeating Cinco Star, the morning-line favorite in this year's rendition, by four lengths. The two met July 14 when Cinco Star closed to win the Ralph Strangis Stakes. Quinonez will ride Drop of Golden Sun while Roimes Chirinos, who left Shakopee in late July to ride in New Mexico, returns for the mount on Cinco Star for trainer Mac Robertson.

Chirinos also is named on Ready to Runaway, the favorite in the Glitter Star who won this stake in 2019 and 2020 for owner John Mentz and trainer Robertson. The consistent 5-year-old mare has 11 wins and three second-place finishes from 14 starts at Canterbury. Mentz claimed her as a 3-year-old for $25,000 and since she has won nine races including seven stakes, and $390,185 in purses for the Lakeville owner. Ready to Runaway's earnings racing at Canterbury of $400,675 is the fourth largest sum in the history of the Shakopee racetrack.

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Hopeful Could Be Next For Defend

The connections of Defend (American Freedom), a romping winner in his Aug. 5 debut at Delaware Park, have yet to pick out his next race, but they aren't afraid to tackle a tough spot, including the GI Hopeful S. It's clear to see why.

“His race was phenomenal. It looked like he was on cruise control,” Susan Montanye said of his debut. Montanye bought the colt as a yearling and still owns a small percentage in partnership with Nick Sanna.

Montanye was among the first to discover his potential talent. She bought the colt in October of his yearling year, paying just $16,000 for him at OBS. She then entered him into this year's Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic 2-year-old sale, where he RNA'd at $72,000. Shortly after the sale, she sold a majority interest in the horse to Sanna, who sent the horse to trainer Cal Lynch.

Early on, Lynch also saw that there was some talent there.

“My son, Anthony, had him at Fair Hill and he was very keen on him,” Lynch said. “We worked him on the Tapeta there and he worked really well over it. I brought him to Delaware and worked him out of the gate and he worked really well. We loved the way he went and thought he did everything right. He was very professional. For a young horse, he had a great mind and that's what sets him apart. I never breezed him super fast. He does everything easily.”

Sent off at 4-1 in his debut, Defend went right to the lead and soon sprinted clear of his seven rivals. Under wraps through most of the stretch run, he won by eight lengths and covered the 5 1/2 furlongs run over a fast track in 1:04.27. The race was split and the other half went in 1:06.68. Defend earned a 75 Beyer figure.

Lynch is optimistic that Defend will be even better in his next start.

“We were optimistic that he would run a good race,” he said. “He had trained really well. So we thought he'd run well. But I don't think I've ever taken a 2-year-old over there for their first start and thought they were really ready or cranked. He surprised us a little bit, but we knew he was talented.”

Defend's win was just the latest for the Airdrie stallion, American Freedom, who has gotten off to a fast start with his first crop. He's had five 2-year-old winners so far, including American Bound, a filly who won a maiden special weight race at the Keeneland spring meet. The list also includes American Sanctuary, who, after breaking his maiden at Prairie Meadows, came back to finish second in the Prairie Gold Juvenile S., also at Prairie Meadows.

With his horse having a promising pedigree and coming off an impressive win, it's no surprise that Sanna's phone has been ringing from prospective buyers. Lynch said that, for now, his owner prefers to enjoy what he has.

“We are getting calls,” Lynch said. “Nick Sanna is a good sport and he really likes him. He wants to take a ride and see where it leads. He's had some good horses over the years but nothing like this.”

In the meantime, Sanna and Lynch will try to figure out what's best for their horse. It looks like he can handle a race like the Sept. 6 Hopeful, but that would mean taking on divisional leader Wit (Practical Joke). After breaking his maiden by six lengths, Wit won the GIII Sanford S. by eight lengths.

“The Hopeful is a logical spot, but we're just going to see how he trains,” Lynch said. “He worked good Saturday. After another couple of works we will decide. We always let the horse dictate things. The Hopeful is a spot we'd like to go in. There are a bunch of other2-year-old dates for him. I'm not sure we want to go up there and take on Wit. But it's a definite possibility.”

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