October, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Santa Anita Derby Winner Rock Your World Returns To Turf In Sunday’s Twilight Derby

Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World will return to turf as he figures prominently in a very competitive field of 11 sophomores going a mile and one eighth in Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. Sunday is closing day of the track's 16-day Autumn Meet and there will be mandatory payouts in all exotic wagers, including the popular 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot, which if there is no single ticket winner on Saturday, could produce a total pool that could reach $5 million. Special early first post time is at 12:30 p.m.

Trained by John Sadler, Rock Your World, who won his first two starts on grass here last winter, transitioned to the main track for the first time in his third start, the Santa Anita Derby on April 3 and he responded with a resounding 4 ¼ length win over eventual Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

From there, it was downhill, as Rock Your World was distanced in the Run for the Roses May 1, finishing 17th, beaten 24 ¼ lengths and was then run off his feet in the Belmont Stakes, finishing 22 lengths behind Essential Quality while running sixth. Freshened by Sadler, Rock Your World, who was bred by Hall of Fame conditioner Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie, came back to run a big second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Medina Spirit in the one mile Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 29 when reunited with Umberto Rispoli, who hadn't ridden him since victorious in the Santa Anita Derby.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC and Talla Racing, LLC, Rock Your World is by Candy Ride out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker. A winner while forwardly placed of the one mile turf Pasadena Stakes in his second start on Feb. 27, Rock Your World sat a close third early to the top of the lane and kicked on nicely through the lane under Rispoli in an effort that suggests he does not need the lead in his return to grass on Sunday. The leading money earner in the field with $611,600, Rock Your World has three wins and a second from six starts.

Under a picture perfect ride from Joe Bravo, California-bred None Above the Law saved ground, idled patiently around the far turn and kicked through at the rail to take a roughly run Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at a mile and one eighth on turf Sept. 4. Second, beaten a neck over the course here at Santa Anita in the mile and one eighth Snow Chief Stakes four starts back on June 19, this gelding by Karakontie has shown ample versatility and gameness over 14 starts for Peter Miller, posting a 6-2-1 record.

Owned by Downstream Racing, LLC, None Above the Law has won four stakes over three different surfaces, two at Del Mar and a pair at Golden Gate Fields and he has earnings of $454,060.

Trainer Jeff Mullins' Irish-bred Zoffarelli, fresh off a couple of rough trips on turf at Del Mar, needs only clear sailing to have huge chance in the Twilight Derby. Second, beaten a nose going a mile and one sixteenth in his U.S. debut in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap Aug. 8, he was “pinballed late” in a huge effort. Subsequently sixth, beaten two lengths by None Above the Law after lacking room in a field of 13, Zoffarelli looms large indeed with Drayden Van Dyke riding back.

Owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal, Zoffarelli has a 9-2-5-0 mark with earnings of $110,825.

Third, beaten a head as the 8-5 favorite by Zoffarelli two starts back in the Grade 3 La Jolla, Bob Baffert's Hudson Ridge was a much troubled ninth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths, as the 9-5 favorite in the Del Mar Derby when ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat. Severely pinched at the rail in the run out of the mile and one eighth chute at Del Mar, Hudson Ridge became rank and then had nowhere to go a furlong from home.

A winner of the ungraded Cinema Stakes at a mile and one eighth on turf four starts back here on May 23, Hudson Ridge will hope for clear sailing on Sunday with Prat back aboard. A bay colt by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah out of the Galileo mare Shell House, Hudson Ridge is owned by Double L Racing and Natalie J. Baffert. With two wins and as many seconds from eight starts, he has earnings of $143,440.

A pair of recent turf allowance winners, the John Shirreffs-trained Beyond Brilliant, an impressive gate to wire winner going a mile and one sixteenth at Del Mar Sept. 6 and Richard Mandella's Subconscious, who although he stayed on his left lead through the lane, kicked nicely for home to win by 1 ¼ lengths going a flat mile on Oct. 2, are both up and comers who figure to stay out of trouble.

THE GRADE 2 TWILIGHT DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 10 Approximate post time 4:45 p.m. PT

Flashiest—Abel Cedillo–124
Subconscious—Juan Hernandez—124
Zoffarelli—Drayden Van Dyke—124
Hudson Ridge—Flavien Prat—124
None Above the Law—Joe Bravo—124
Wooton Asset—Mike Smith- 124
Cathkin Peak—Jose Valdivia, Jr.—124
Rock Your World—Umberto Rispoli—124
Jungle Cry—Kyle Frey—124
Beyond Brilliant—Kent Desormeaux—124

Sunday's 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot will be comprised of races five through 10. With a mandatory payout and the possibility of a total Rainbow Six pool of $5 million, approximate post time for Sunday's fifth race is 2:30 p.m. PT.

Special early first post time on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Churchill’s ‘Stars Of Tomorrow I’ Card Features Street Sense, Rags To Riches Stakes

Trainer Dale Romans' promising duo of Iroquois Stakes (Grade 3) third-place finisher Red Knobs, along with impressive maiden winner Howling Time, top an ultra-competitive field of nine 2-year-olds that were entered in Sunday's ninth running of the $200,000 Street Sense at Churchill Downs.

Sunday's 17th annual “Stars of Tomorrow I” program, which features all 2-year-old races, kicks off the 21-day Fall Meet. First post is 1 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 1 1/16-mile Street Sense shares the Sunday spotlight with the $200,000 Rags to Riches, which will also be run at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies. The Street Sense was carded as Race 10 at 5:36 p.m. while the Rags to Riches will go as Race 5 at 3:03 p.m.

Inaugurated in 2005, Churchill Downs' “Stars of Tomorrow” programs have helped launched the careers of numerous graded stakes winners, including more than 50 future Grade 1 winners led by Horse of the Year champions Gun Runner (2017) and Rachel Alexandra (2009), Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (2010), Kentucky Oaks winners Rachel Alexandra (2009), Believe You Can (2012) and Monomoy Girl (2018), Preakness winners Shackleford (2011), War of Will (2019) and Swiss Skydiver (2020), Belmont winner Creator (2016) as well as 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic and 2013 Stephen Foster hero Fort Larned and 2013 champion 3-year-old Will Take Charge.

Albaugh Family Stables' Howling Time, a 2-year-old son of Not This Time, broke his maiden on Sept. 25 at Churchill Downs by 1 ½ lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight contest. The $200,000 purchase from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale stopped the teletimer in 1:10.15 to earn a stout 91 Brisnet Speed Rating. Howling Time will be ridden by Joe Talamo from post position No. 6.

Meanwhile, his stablemate, Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's Red Knobs, was only defeated by one-length in the $300,000 Iroquois to Major General and Tough to Tame. The chestnut son of Union Rags broke his maiden this summer at Ellis Park by an impressive 6 ¼ lengths. He'll be ridden by James Graham from post 9.

Among the other top contenders in the Street Sense field are Silverton Hill's Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint winner Red Danger; Paradise Farms Corp., Skychai Racing and David Staudacher's Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile runner-up Kiss the Sky; Lucky Seven Stable's Ellis Park Juvenile runner-up Lucky Boss; and Daniel Alonso's 10 ½-length maiden breaker Skippylongstocking.

The complete field for the Street Sense from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Guntown (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen); Luni Sima (Adam Beschizza, Jack Sisterson); Skippylongstocking (Tyler Gaffalione, Saffie Joseph Jr.); Red Danger (Julien Leparoux, Brian Lynch); Kiss the Sky (Corey Lanerie, Mike Maker); Howling Time (Talamo, Romans); Lucky Boss (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Sport Pepper (Florent Geroux, Kerry Zavash); and Red Knobs (Graham, Romans).

The Street Sense and Rags to Riches both serve as the local prep races to the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and $400,000 Golden Rod (G2), respectively, as part of the “Stars of Tomorrow II” program on Saturday, Nov. 27.

After Sunday's opener, live racing will be conducted on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule with dark days on Mondays and Tuesdays. Most race days feature 10 live races. There will be 11 on Sunday's opener plus a trio of Saturdays: Nov. 6, 13 and 20. Twelve-race cards are scheduled over the final four days, Nov. 25-28.

Meanwhile, Susan Moulton's nine-length maiden winner Sandstone, along with Sekie and Tsunebumi Yoshihara's 7 ¼-length debut hero Yuugiri, headline a compact field of five 2-year-old fillies that were entered in Sunday's ninth running of the $200,000 Rags to Riches at Churchill Downs.

The Rags to Riches, run at 1 1/16 miles, will go as Race 5 of 11 with a post time of 3:03 p.m.

Sandstone, a daughter of Street Sense, broke her maiden on Oct. 3 at Churchill Downs over a “sloppy” surface. The Kenny McPeek-trained filly covered the one-mile distance in 1:37.43 and earned a 90 Brisnet Speed Rating.

Two weeks prior to Sandstone's open-length maiden score, the Rodolphe Brisset-trained Yuugiri cruised to a decisive victory. The homebred-daughter of Shackleford completed the six-furlong maiden special weight contest in 1:09.55 and earned a 95 Brisnet Speed Rating.

Brian Hernandez Jr. will have the return mount on Sandstone from post No. 3 while September Meet leading rider Tyler Gaffalione will pilot Yuugiri from post 4.

The Rags to Riches field also includes Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Scott Akman, Nehoc Stables, Paul Braverman and Magdalena Racing's Pocahontas Stakes (G2I) runner-up Mama Rina; Joe Sharp's Ellis Park Debutante third-place finisher Manasota Sunset; and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Jessamine Stakes (G2) fourth-place finisher Dressed.

Here's the field for the Rags to Riches in order of post position (with jockey and trainer): Manasota Sunset (Ricardo Santana Jr., Sharp); Mama Rina (Julien Leparoux, Kenny McPeek); Sandstone (Hernandez, McPeek); Yuugiri (Gaffalione, Brisset); Dressed (Florent Geroux, Catalano).

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Tapit Son of Zaftig Charges to Rising Stardom

Wertheimer and Frere homebred ZATIP (Tapit), a son of Grade I winner Zaftig (Gone West), turned on the after burners late to become the second 'TDN Rising Star' of the day at Keeneland Thursday afternoon. Off slow in his turf sprint unveiling at Laurel Oct. 1, he rallied to be fifth and was given a 5-1 chance in this switch to the main track over a wet surface. Drawn in post 11 of 12, the chestnut was hustled away from the stalls this time by James Graham and went straight to the front, contesting the pace alongside Coffee With Alex (Quality Road) through a :22.98 opening quarter and :46.08 half-mile. The pair turned for home together and continued to battled down the lane, but Zatip kicked it into high gear in the final sixteenth, charging clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Jego (Uncle Mo) made a late run to take second from Coffee With Alex. Zatip is the 48th 'TDN Rising Star' by perennial leading sire Tapit.

Wertheimer and Frere purchased GI Acorn S. victress Zaftig for $1.4 million in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She produced a full-brother to the winner named Rugbyman, who was also tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' for these connections and finished second in the Easy Goer S. She is also the dam of SW & MGSP Spinoff (Hard Spun). The 16-year-old mare has not produced a foal since Zatip. Zaftig is a daughter of fellow Grade I winner Zoftig (Cozzene), who also produced GISW Zo Impressive (Hard Spun), dam of MGSW Souper Tapit (Tapit).

7th-Keeneland, $84,000, Msw, 10-28, 2yo, 7f, 1:28.44, wf,
4 1/2 lengths.
ZATIP, c, 2, Tapit
1st Dam: Zaftig (GISW, $408,700), by Gone West
2nd Dam: Zoftig, by Cozzene
3rd Dam: Mrs. Marcos, by Private Account
Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $52,240. O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. *1/2 to Spinoff (Hard Spun), SW & MGSP, $451,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree, or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Plainsman, Wondrwherecraigis Square Off In Sunday’s Bold Ruler

Shortleaf Stable's two-time graded stakes winner Plainsman will make the trek back to the Empire State when taking on a field of eight assembled for Sunday's 45th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Bold Ruler Handicap for 3-year-olds and upward going seven furlongs at Belmont Park.

The Bold Ruler headlines Sunday's card, which will also include two divisions of the $100,000 Pumpkin Pie at seven furlongs over Big Sandy for fillies and mares.

Due to significant rainfall from a coastal storm that impacted Long Island Tuesday and Wednesday, a trio of turf stakes initially slated for Sunday – the $150,000 Zagora, a 12-furlong test for fillies and mares; the $100,000 Chelsey Flower at 1 1/16-miles for juvenile fillies; and the $100,000 Awad at 1 1/16-miles for juveniles – have been re-scheduled for the following weekend.

The Awad will be brought back on Friday, November 5 for a stakes-laden card that will also feature the $100,000 Atlantic Beach at six-furlongs on turf for juveniles; the $150,000 Tempted at one-mile over Big Sandy for juvenile fillies; and the $200,000 Ticonderoga, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for state-bred fillies and mares which was re-scheduled from Saturday's Empire Showcase Day card.

The Chelsey Flower will be brought back on Saturday, November 6 for a bumper card that includes the Grade 3, $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap at nine furlongs for fillies and mares; the $100,000 Stewart Manor at six furlongs on turf for juvenile fillies; and the $200,000 Mohawk, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for state-breds 3-years-old and up initially slated for Empire Showcase Day.

The Zagora will return for the Sunday, November 7 card – Closing Day of the Belmont fall meet – joining the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua at one mile for juveniles.

Plainsman, trained by Brad Cox, captured the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct during his sophomore campaign in 2018 over graded stakes winner Title Ready and Belmont Stakes runner-up Gronkowski. The 6-year-old Flatter bay arrives at the Bold Ruler off a sharp one length triumph in the Grade 3 Ack Ack on October 2 at Churchill Downs, recording a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Sporting an accomplished ledger of 25-8-6-3 with a field-best bankroll of $729,207, Plainsman has won four of his last five starts all over different ovals. Following an allowance optional claiming score on April 15 at Oaklawn, he upped his game to stakes level with victories in the Jim Rasmussen on June 4 at Prairie Meadows and the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial five weeks later at Indiana Grand Race Course.

Plainsman boasts a record of 3-1-0-1 over Big Sandy, including an allowance score in September 2018.

“He's been doing great after the Ack Ack. He seems to like the track up at Belmont, so it made sense to ship him up for this spot that's a little easier,” Cox said. “We're taking things one race at a time, but he's been in great form this year and has always proven to be versatile.”

Carrying 123 pounds as the field high weight, Plainsman will break from post 3 under Joel Rosario.

Trainer Brittany Russell will saddle graded-stakes placed Wondrwherecraigis, who captured the restricted Tale of the Cat in August at Saratoga two starts back.

Owned by Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables, Wondrwherecraigis crossed the wire first last out in the Grade 3 Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash on September 18 at Pimlico, but was disqualified to second-place for drifting out into Jalen Journey at the sixteenth-pole.

In addition to his Saratoga stakes victory, Wondrwherecraigis was a two-time allowance optional claiming winner this year at Pimlico.

“He's had a good year, especially winning at Saratoga,” Russell said. “Many of us could argue that he deserved to stay up in his last race. It was a bummer because the horse deserved a graded stakes win. Hopefully, this time around, he can show that he belongs in a graded stakes.”

Luis Saez, who piloted the 4-year-old Munnings gelding to victory in the Tale of the Cat, will be back aboard from post 7. He will carry 120 pounds.

Gold Square's Wendell Fong [118 pounds] arrives off a nearly seven-month respite while making his debut for trainer Chad Summers. The 5-year-old son of Flat Out was second in the Grade 3 Tom Fool on March 6 at Aqueduct where he made up considerable ground in the stretch to finish 3 ½ lengths behind winner Chateau. Wendell Fong was victorious in his 2021 commencement, capturing the Fire Plug on January 16 at Laurel Park.

Breaking from post 5, Wendell Fong will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

Red Oak Stable homebred Bal Harbour [118 pounds] will attempt to overcome a 17-race losing streak for trainer Gregg Sacco. Although winless since capturing the Gio Ponti in November 2018 at Aqueduct, Bal Harbour has consistently made good showings at a high level the past few years, adding nine graded stakes placings since his last coup.

Manny Franco will ride Bal Harbour from post 2.

Completing the field are Lil Commissioner [post 1, Kendrick Carmouche, 117], Drafted [post 4, Dylan Davis, 116], Continuation [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 116], and Amatteroftime [post 8, Paco Lopez, 116].

The Bold Ruler honors the 1957 Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old, who captured 11 of his 16 starts that season, including the Wood Memorial, Flamingo, and Preakness Stakes. Bold Ruler built a larger legacy as a stallion and is still regarded as one of the most prolific sires of the modern North American thoroughbred. In addition to siring 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, Bold Ruler went on to become a prolific sire-of-sires. American Classic winners such as Seattle Slew, Foolish Pleasure, Dust Commander, Cannonade, Spectacular Bid, Swale, Risen Star, A.P. Indy, Bernardini, Rags to Riches, Orb and Tonalist are all direct paternal descendants of Bold Ruler.

The Bold Ruler is slated as Race 7 on Sunday's nine-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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