August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

All Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Pays $93,103

Saturday's all-graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5, featuring top-caliber action from Saratoga and Arlington Park, paid $93,103 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $328,609.

Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., started the action when High Oak drew away for an impressive 4 1/4-length win in the $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite in Race 9. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, High Oak won the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles in a final time of 1:16.53 under jockey Junior Alvarado. Off at 10-1, he returned $22.40 on a $2 win wager.

The remainder of the sequence featured all Grade 1 contests, commencing with the $400,000 Beverly D. for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up competing at 1 3/16 miles on the Arlington turf in Race 7. Even-money favorite Santa Barbara [$4], the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational last month at Belmont Park, posted a three-length win under rider Ryan Moore, who traveled from Europe for the mount. Conditioned by internationally acclaimed trainer Aidan O'Brien, Santa Barbara completed the course in 1:54.55.

In Saratoga's 10th race, Got Stormy bested males to win the $500,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave for 3-year-olds and up for the second time in her career. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Got Stormy, the 2019 Fourstardave winner, bested Set Piece by 1 1/2 lengths under Tyler Gaffalione, hitting the wire in 1:33.09 for the one-mile inner turf contest. Got Stormy [$27] won at 12-1. Her sire, Get Stormy, won the 2010 edition of the Fourstardave.

The premier race day at Arlington – located in Arlington Heights, Illinois – closed the wager with the final two races, starting with Point Me By's 2 3/4-length win in the $300,000 Bruce D. for 3-year-olds going one mile on the turf in Race 8. The Bruce D., formerly known as the Secretariat, saw the Eddie Kenneally-trained Point Me By win as the favorite, returning $5.40. Luis Saez, who traveled from Saratoga for the card, piloted Point Me By to victory, notching a final time of 1:37.70.

Arlington's Race 9 concluded the sequence when Two Emmys edged heavy favorite Domestic Spending by a neck in a thrilling finish to the $600,000 Mr. D. for 3-year-olds and up competing at 1 1/4 miles on the turf. It was potentially the last running for the contest formerly known as the Arlington Million and renamed for long-time Arlington owner Richard Duchossois, honoring the 99-year-old World War II veteran. Two Emmys, trained by Hugh Robertson and ridden by James Graham, went gate-to-wire and put his nose on the wire at 2:03.34 to get the win.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

The post All Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Pays $93,103 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Lynch Prepares Red Danger, Toby’s Heart For Kentucky Downs Starts

Promising juvenile Red Danger has already competed twice during the Saratoga meet, running fifth in his debut on July 17 sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Moved to turf for his start on August 11, the Orb colt rallied from fifth to display a strong closing kick in winning the 5 1/2-furlong contest by 1 1/4 lengths.

Lynch said Silverton Hill's Red Danger will use that Saratoga experience to step up to stakes company next out at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky. Red Danger had been training in the Bluegrass State at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., before setting up a show at the Spa in early July.

“He stepped up like we needed him to the other day and now we'll look at one of those 2-year-old stakes at Kentucky Downs,” Lynch said. “We're very happy with how he did it and his time at Saratoga set him up nicely for his next steps.”

The news wasn't as positive for Amerman Racing's graded stakes-winner Gift List, who was working her way back from one setback before needing a chip removed last week, postponing her return to the track.

“We had another little hiccup with her,” Lynch said. “She had a small chip removed and she's going to be laid up for a little bit. She'll be back in the fall, hopefully.”

Gift List has not run since finishing third in the Grade 3 Wonder Again on June 3 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. as the 3-year-old Bated Breath filly worked her way back after recovering from pneumonia and combating colic.

On August 6, Gift List breezed four furlongs in :54.20 seconds on over Saratoga's Oklahoma turf training track. Lynch's original goal was to get her ready for the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks going 1 3/8 miles on September 18 at Belmont, but those fall plans have now been placed in a holding pattern.

After earning black type in the Wonder Again over a Belmont turf rated good, Gift List was slated for a potential next-out start in the first leg of the Turf Triple with the $700,000 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks on July 10 followed by the $700,000 Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 8.

Instead, she likely will have to skip the Turf Triple series entirely, curtailing the momentum she generated to start 2021 when she ran second, a half-length back to Jouster, in the Grade 2 Appalachian in April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., before winning the Grade 2 Edgewood by 4 1/2 lengths going 1 1/16 miles in April at Churchill Downs. That winning effort netted a personal-best 88 Beyer.

[Story Continues Below]

Toby's Heart, who ran third in the Grade 3 Lake George on July 23 going one mile on the Saratoga turf, was listed as a probable for Saturday's $200,000 Grade 2 Lake Placid for sophomore fillies going 1 1/16 miles but instead will opt for the $500,000 Music City at 6 1/2 furlongs on Sunday, September 12 at Kentucky Downs.

Owned by Terry Hamilton, Lynch and Gary Barber, Toby's Heart won the 5 1/2-furlong Limestone Turf Sprint in April at Keeneland over a course labeled good. Stretched out to seven furlongs, the Jack Milton filly ran fifth in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly in May at Belmont but responded by running second in the Tepin contested at the Lake George distance on June 26 at Churchill Downs over firm ground.

After heading back to Kentucky, Lynch said there is a possibility Toby's Heart will return to Belmont for the fall meet.

“She's doing really well and we're looking forward to cutting her back in distance a little bit and having a crack at the big pot down there and then see what our options are,” Lynch said.

Toby's Heart breezed a half-mile in :51.50 Sunday on the Oklahoma training turf.

The post Lynch Prepares Red Danger, Toby’s Heart For Kentucky Downs Starts appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Following Sea May Target H. Allen Jerkens Stakes At Saratoga

Spendthrift Farm's general manager Ned Toffey said Following Sea remains under consideration for the $500,000 Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on August 28 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The talented son of champion medication-free stallion Runhappy was elevated to second via disqualification last out in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 17 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

In his second start, Following Sea was a decisive 5 ¾-length winner on April 10 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., before defeating winners on June 3 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Since the Haskell, Following Sea has recorded two breezes over the Saratoga main track for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, most recently going a half-mile in :49.22 seconds on August 14.

“We'll see. Obviously, the Jerkens is coming up tough,” Toffey said. “He's clearly a very talented horse. He's working really well. We'll put our heads together with Todd and see which way we want to go. We certainly have an eye on the Jerkens, but it will be very tough for a horse that still has his conditions. We'll see how his next work is, talk to Todd and go from there.”

A Kentucky homebred, Following Sea is out of the stakes-placed Speightstown mare Quick Flip.

The post Following Sea May Target H. Allen Jerkens Stakes At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Central Banker Cementing His Place Among New York’s Elite Sires

Central Banker has been on a steady ascent among New York's stallion ranks since entering stud in 2015, and he's halfway toward his goal of making it all the way to the top this season.

With 7 1/2 months of 2021 in the books, the 11-year-old son of Speightstown is currently New York's leading sire by earnings by a comfortable margin, with 79 runners making a combined $2,653,913. The next closest is Big Brown with $1,659,689.

If he should finish the season at the top of the New York sire standings, it would complete a climb up the charts that saw him finish second to Big Brown last year, third to Big Brown and Freud in 2019, and 10th in 2018 with just his freshman crop.

John McMahon, farm manager for McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, said the key to Central Banker's success was being the right horse at the right time for the New York program, in terms of the profile of his foals and the types of races available where they excel.

This is evident in the stakes runners that Central Banker has put on the track. He is currently New York's leading sire by 2021 stakes winners, with three. Much like the earnings race, he was second among Empire State sires by stakes winners in 2020 and third in 2019.

“He's a very consistent stallion,” McMahon said. “They run well at six furlongs on the dirt, and they tend to run early. There's a lot of races written that they tend to be very competitive in.”

Whether Central Banker tops the sire list this year or not, he is in a prime position to continue being at or near the top of the standings for years to come.

His first crop came out blazing, easily claiming New York's freshman sire title, and finishing fourth nationally in the 2018 freshman race, behind just Cross Traffic, Goldencents, and Cairo Prince.

That group was led by Bankit, who made $329,625 in his juvenile season. Bankit's form has remained consistent into his 5-year-old season in 2021, which includes stakes wins at Belmont Park and Laurel Park, and most recently, a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup Stakes.

Breeders responded to Central Banker's leading freshman year by packing his book with 130 mares for the 2019 breeding season. He was then New York's second-most active stallion in 2020, with 114 mares visiting him.

The cycle of popularity for a young stallion tends to reach its apex in the first couple years, then drop off in the next two as breeders wait to see if his first foals will be competitive runners. It was a boon to have the breeders come back after his strong freshman season, but many never left. Central Banker has yet to cover less than 76 mares in a season.

“I think McMahon of Saratoga is good at putting a foundation of mares underneath a stallion,” McMahon said. “The important thing is you have a good foundation of mares behind you, and (farm owner) Joe McMahon has a really keen eye for getting good mares and creating a good infrastructure of breeders to help move a stallion along. It's not a one-man show. It's people in our region who own mares, it's people out of our region who own mares. We're all reaping the rewards of a program which is geared toward helping a young stallion get a foothold. We're in the right state at the right time with the right horse.”

Having so many foals on the ground and at the track is a critical part of Central Banker's success, but McMahon said what makes it all work is the stallion making use of those numbers with an assembly line-like uniformity.

“They're very consistent physically, so you know what you're getting into as a breeder when you breed to a horse like Central Banker,” McMahon said. “He tends to put size on a smaller mare and tends to take a bigger mare and put a little more body into her.

“I've never had a bad hind leg on a horse, never had a club foot,” he continued. “There are some things that are just automatic throw-outs when you're looking at horses, and he never has them.”

The post Central Banker Cementing His Place Among New York’s Elite Sires appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post