September, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Santa Anita’s Clockers’ Corner Reopens To The Public Ahead Of Autumn Meet

With horsemen now preparing for Santa Anita's 2021 Autumn Meet opener on Friday, Oct. 1, Clockers' Corner, the track's popular breakfast destination located at the top of the stretch, has reopened to the public seven days a week.

Replete with a revised breakfast menu that offers something for everyone, Clockers' Corner is open each day from 5 to 10 a.m. An iconic gathering point for horsemen and fans for many decades, Clockers' Corner provides attendees with an up-close look at morning training both on the main track and inner training track with the majestic San Gabriel Mountains serving as a backdrop.

Accessible via Gate 8 off of Baldwin Ave., admission is free to Clockers' Corner and ample seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

Families are welcome as attendees have an opportunity to interact with some of the top jockeys and trainers in America, many of whom make Clockers' Corner a part of their daily routine.

In addition to a complete breakfast menu that includes coffee, tea and juices, track programs and Daily Racing Form are also offered for sale each racing day.

Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meet, which concludes on Oct. 31, will feature a number of Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifiers over the first two weekends, including the Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah and three other stakes on what figures to be an outstanding opening day program.

A prep for horses considering the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, which honors retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, marks a return to Santa Anita's iconic Camino Real Turf Course on opening day as 3-year-olds and up will sprint about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf.

First post time throughout the 16-day run, with the exception of Oct. 2, will be at 1 p.m. (First post time for a 10-race card that will include five stakes on Oct. 2 is at 12:30 p.m.)

For additional information regarding Clockers' Corner and Santa Anita's upcoming Autumn Meet, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Santa Anita’s Clockers’ Corner Reopens To The Public Ahead Of Autumn Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Lone Rock Will Try To Sustain Hot Streak In Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational

Flying P Stable's graded stakes-winner Lone Rock has won his last four starts and will look to extend his streak as part of a six-horse field in Saturday's $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational for 4-year-olds and up competing at 1 5/8 miles over the Belmont Park main track.

The race's second-ever edition, slated as Race 4, is one of three stakes on Saturday's 11-race card, highlighted by the Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, for 3-year-olds going 1 1/2 miles on the Widener turf, in a “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar while also serving as the final leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series for males; and the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational for sophomore fillies going 1 3/8 miles on the inner turf. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

Lone Rock has been a force in his 6-year-old campaign, winning five of his six starts for trainer Robertino Diodoro and seven of his last eight overall. His only non-win still resulted in a runner-up effort in the Temperence Hill in March at Oaklawn Park, which preceded victories in a pair of 1 1/2-mile contests in the Isaac Murphy Marathon in April at Churchill Downs followed by a dominating 11 1/4-length score in the Grade 2 Brooklyn presented by Northwell Health on Belmont Stakes Day June 5 over Big Sandy that netted Lone Rock a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Lone Rock registered a four-length win in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone on August 5 at historic Saratoga Race Course and will once again contest a marathon distance in running 13 furlongs. After spending the summer stabled at Saratoga, Lone Rock returned to Belmont and breezed four furlongs in 48.26 seconds over the main track on Saturday.

“He's doing great, He had a real good work this past weekend and he's just a monster right now,” Diodoro said. “He's training great, looks great and he's filled out over the past few months. We just have to keep him happy and healthy.”

The Majestic Warrior gelding will attempt to go 2-for-2 at Belmont, drawing post 4 with Ramon Vazquez, who has been aboard for all four wins in the streak, back in the irons.

“Ramon is one of the most underrated riders there is,” Diodoro said. “He has soft and quiet hands and this horse likes that. He puts him in position early, lets him do his thing and I think that's what this horse likes.”

Repole Stable and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Moretti ran on turf for the first time in 15 career starts last out, finishing seventh in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on August 28 at Saratoga.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will now move the 5-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro back to the more familiar main track, where Moretti racked up victories in the 2020 Flat Out and Birdstone at Belmont.

No stranger to long distances at Belmont, Moretti ran third in the Grade 2 Brooklyn and followed with a fourth-place effort in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 2 Suburban over a sloppy and sealed track on July 3.

After two starts at Saratoga – finishing third in the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone on August 5 before his foray to grass in the Sword Dancer – Moretti will return to Belmont, breaking from post 5 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. set to ride.

Empty Tomb, claimed for $80,000 out of a third-place finish in a 1 1/8-mile contest on August 7 at the Spa, will make his first start for owner John Grossi's Racing Corp and trainer Robert Falcone, Jr.

The 5-year-old son of Speightstown is 4-4-5 in 20 career starts and will be making his first stakes appearance since running sixth in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Stephen Foster in June at Churchill Downs for then-conditioner Mike Maker. Empty Tomb will be seeking his first career stakes win, exiting from post 3 with Luis Saez picking up the mount following a successful Saratoga meet in which he won the Angel Cordero Jr. riding title.

Locally Owned, who like Lone Rock is owned by Flying P Stable, will return to stakes company for the first time in seven starts. The gelded son of Distorted Humor has finished in the money in two of his four starts since trainer Tom Morley took over the training duties after Locally Owned as claimed for $40,000 out of a seventh-place finish in February at Fair Grounds.

Under Morley's care, Locally Owned bested optional claimers by a half length going 1 1/16 miles over Big Sandy on April 30. Following an off-the-board finish in May at Belmont going a one-turn mile, Locally Owned finished second in a 1 1/8-mile off-the-turf contest on July 25 at Saratoga before running eighth last out on the same track on September 5.

Jockey Dylan Davis will pick up the mount in breaking from the outermost post 6.

Knights R B Stable's Mo Gotcha crossed the wire second in his start two weeks ago but was elevated to first when Candy Tycoon was disqualified. Trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul claimed Mo Gotcha for $40,000 out of that contest, and the 5-year-old Uncle Mo gelding will now make his first start for his new connections in his first-ever stakes appearance in his 21st career start overall.

Jalon Samuel will be aboard Mo Gotcha for the first time, exiting post 1.

Robert Amendola's Chris and Dave has finished on the board in his last nine starts spanning four different trainers. The now 8-year-old Bluegrass Cat gelding has been a popular claiming horse and has done well for current conditioner Mertkan Kantarmaci, who saddled Chris and Dave to a second-place finish in a one-mile off-the-turf optional claimer on July 3 at Belmont before he ran third in a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming race that was also taken off the turf on July 25 at Saratoga.

Kantarmaci, who has won four straight NYRA “Under 20s Claiming Challenges,” will see Manny Franco take over as jockey for Chris and Dave, drawing post 2.

The post Lone Rock Will Try To Sustain Hot Streak In Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Creative Flair, Harajuku Add European Flair To Saturday’s Jockey Club Oaks Invitational

Godolphin's Creative Flair and Flaxman Stable's Group 3 winner Harajuku will invade from across the pond when taking on five American-based contenders in Saturday's second running of the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational going 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf at Belmont Park.

The Jockey Club Oaks Invitational is the final leg of the filly division of the NYRA's Turf Triple series for 3-year-olds, which also consists of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational and Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational. Its male counterpart race, the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational, also is scheduled for Saturday's 11-race card.

Trainer Charlie Appleby enjoyed success shipping Godolphin-owned Althiqa to New York this season, capturing the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game at Belmont Park and Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga.

For the Jockey Club Oaks, Appleby sends out Creative Flair, who was a last-out third in the Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational in her North American debut. The daughter of Dubawi, who was off a step slow, saved ground under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith down the backstretch, angled several paths wide just past the quarter pole and finished third, beaten two lengths.

“The race didn't ever really set up for her. She jumped a little slowly and got a little bit of a knock,” said Appleby assistant Chris Connett. “The team wanted her to sit a bit closer to the pace than she ended up being and it just didn't pan out. She's had a nice break and seems fresh and well and ready to run a big race for us.”

Creative Flair was a three-time winner in England at distances ranging from seven furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. She ventured outside England for the first time when a close third in the Group 3 Prix Chloe on July 18 at Chantilly in France.

Connett said Creative Flair is arriving at Saturday's test in good order following her Saratoga effort.

“She traveled back to Newmarket with the rest of the team and had an easy week to 10 days before coming back to full training,” Connett said. “She clearly showed the right signs for Charlie to aim her back here. She's travelled well and I'm really happy with her. All systems go for Saturday.”

Connett said the wide, sweeping turns at Belmont should suit Creative Flair.

“I think this course will help any of the European horses in the race that are used to a slightly more galloping type track,” Connett said. “Hopefully, with a longer straight and ideally sitting a little closer, it should really help.”

An Irish homebred, Creative Flair is out of the Shamardal mare Hidden Gold, whose dam Melikah is a half-sister to the late internationally acclaimed stallion Galileo and 2009 Cartier Horse of the Year Sea the Stars.

Jockey Jamie Spencer ships stateside to pilot Creative Flair from post 1.

Flaxman Holdings' Harajuku will look to give France a second Jockey Club Oaks triumph, after Edisa shipped to capture the inaugural edition in 2019.

Trained by Andre Fabre, the bay daughter of Deep Impact captured the Group 3 Prix Cleopatre on May 1 at Saint-Cloud going 1 5/16 miles over next out Group 1 winner Incarville. She arrives off a narrow fourth in the Group Prix de la Nonette on August 23 at Deauville.

An Irish homebred, Harajuku is out of the Galileo mare Phaenomena, who is a full-sister to Group 1-winner Nightime – the dam of 2020 Cartier Horse of the Year Ghaiyyath and Grade 1-winner Zhukova.

Jockey Stephane Pasquier, who guided Wonderment to a runner-up effort in the inaugural Jockey Club Oaks in 2019, ships from France to engineer the trip from post 7.

[Story Continues Below]

The Chad Brown-trained pair of Higher Truth and Shantisara are two of five other American-based contenders looking to defend their home turf.

Owned by Mike Ryan, Jeff Drown and Team Hanley, Higher Truth is the only filly to compete in all three legs of this year's filly division of the Turf Triple series. The daughter of Galileo was beaten by margins of less than a length in both the Belmont Oaks and Saratoga Oaks. After running third beaten a half-length to Santa Barbara in the Belmont Oaks, she missed by three-quarters of a length to Con Lima in the Saratoga Oaks, finishing second.

Higher Truth will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 2.

Shantisara, owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Robert V. LaPenta, will see an increase in ground after making the grade in the Grade 3 Pucker Up at nine furlongs on August 14 at Arlington Park. The daughter of Coulsty made her second start in North America in the Pucker Up, which was her first victory on grass. Previously campaigned in France by trainer Frederic Rossi, Shantisara won twice over the all-weather surface at Chantilly and Marseille in her final two starts of last year.

Jockey Flavien Prat will ride from post 6.

Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey will give third-out maiden winner Baby Blythe a considerable jump in class following a seven-length romp on August 14 in a 1 3/16-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga.

Owned by Donald and Donna Adam's Courtlandt Farms, the daughter of American Pharoah displayed a devastating turn of foot around the far turn of her maiden score, going from a close fourth to in front by 5 ½ lengths at the next point of call. Third on debut in December at Aqueduct, Baby Blythe did not race until July 24 when sixth to subsequent stakes-winner Rastafara.

“Distance won't be an issue with her. She has a great turn-of-foot and had a half-sister [Family Way] who won going 10 ½ furlongs at Kentucky Downs,” McGaughey said. “She probably needed her second race since she hadn't run in so long. We got it in her and next time she won.”

Jockey Luis Saez, fresh off a riding title at Saratoga, will ride Baby Blythe from post 3.

Completing the field are Augustin Stables' Be Up [post 4, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], a two-time winner for trainer Jonathan Thomas, and Kaleem Shah's Madone [post 5, John Velazquez], a dual graded stakes winning West Coast invader for trainer Simon Callaghan.

The Jockey Club Oaks Invitational is slated as Race 9 on Saturday's 11-race card, which also features the $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational at 12 furlongs on turf in Race 10; as well as the $300,000 Grand Prix American Jockey Club Invitational at 13 furlongs on the main track in Race 4. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.

The post Creative Flair, Harajuku Add European Flair To Saturday’s Jockey Club Oaks Invitational appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

John Shear, Dan Smith Among Honorees At 2021 NTWAB Awards Dinner

John Shear, who retired from his post as Santa Anita Park's paddock guard this year at age 100, will be honored along with retired Del Mar publicist Dan Smith, Turf writer Lenny Shulman and radio personality Steve Byk during the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters' 61st annual Awards Dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

The NTWAB Awards Dinner is the organization's only fundraiser and a portion of the proceeds of the event are used toward scholarships for prospective racing journalists and to support other Thoroughbred industry charities. The NTWAB Awards Dinner returns to its traditional date on the Breeders' Cup Week calendar after a one-year hiatus and will be held at the iconic Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar in Del Mar, California.

Shear will be honored with the Mr. Fitz Award for typifying the spirit of racing. During his time with Santa Anita Shear was entrusted with keeping horses and patrons safe, and famously risked his life in that endeavor 10 years ago at age 90 to put his 5-foot, 115-pound body between a loose horse and a child – resulting in multiple fractures. His value to racing was so much more, as one of the most recognizable employees who interfaced with fans on a daily basis, his warm smile and familiarity with regulars making him incredibly popular. He worked in that capacity for nearly 60 years, retiring this past summer.

Smith, who served more than 40 years as full-time director of media relations at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, will be honored with the Joe Palmer Award for meritorious service to racing. Smith was at the forefront of Del Mar's innovations that not only attracted new fans, but also enhanced the experience of traditional customers, while always putting the racing product front and center. Prior to his career in media relations, Smith covered racing and other sports for the Los Angeles Times. Prior to his retirement in 2021, the Dan Smith Press Box was christened at Del Mar.

Shulman, the features editor at BloodHorse magazine for 20 years and the author of four books including “Justify: 111 Days to Triple Crown Glory,” will be honored with the Walter Haight Award for career excellence in Turf writing. Shulman also wrote “Ride of Their Lives,” a look at the troubled lives of some jockeys, and two novels, “Long Way From Home” and “Points.” Shulman began his career as a sports reporter at the Oneida (New York) Daily Dispatch after graduating from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Communications.

Byk, the host of the popular “At the Races with Steve Byk” show on SiriusXM, will be honored with the Jim McKay Award for career excellence in broadcasting. Byk's five-day-a-week news magazine has become a must-listen for many industry participants and fans. Byk began writing about racing in 2002, eventually developing DerbyTrail.com. He joined 'At the Races and Beyond' on Sirius in 2005 and took over the show in 2007.

Tickets for the NTWAB Awards Dinner, which can be purchased through EventBrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-national-turf-writers-broadcasters-awards-dinner-tickets-172321537357), are $80 for NTWAB members and Breeders' Cup credentialed media and $100 for non-members and guests. Invitations will be mailed to NTWAB members, and non-members can request an invitation by contacting Jessie Oswald at jboswald68@gmail.com.

The post John Shear, Dan Smith Among Honorees At 2021 NTWAB Awards Dinner appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post