April, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Going Global Back On Favorite Surface For Royal Heroine

Freakishly good in her first seven starts last year for Phil D'Amato, Irish-bred Going Global returns to her preferred surface as she heads a field of five older fillies and mares going one mile on turf in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

A winner of six out her eight stateside starts, all stakes, dating back to her U.S. debut in the Grade 3, six-furlong Sweet Life Stakes on turf Feb. 14, 2021, Going Global's wins included five graded victories, topped by the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf three starts back on Aug. 21.

A subsequent winner of the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at one mile on turf Nov. 6, she was the 4-5 favorite in the Grade 1 American Oaks, originally scheduled for turf, but in her first-ever try on dirt she never threatened while finishing sixth, beaten 15 ¼ lengths on a wet-fast surface going a mile and one quarter Dec. 26.

With a steady series of drills on Santa Anita's inner training track, which D'Amato's turf runners have utilized with a high degree of success, Going Global should be extremely tough at a distance she relishes.

Owned by CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz and Michael Nentwig, Going Global, who had one win from four Irish starts at age two, has two wins from three tries at a mile on turf and is 12-7-1-0 overall with earnings of $649,292.

Hronis Racing's Park Avenue, who tried turf for the first time and responded with the best race of her career, a 2 ¾-length score in a 1 1/8-mile turf allowance March 20, shortens up a furlong and rates a huge chance with Juan Hernandez riding back.

Trained by John Sadler and with a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure in-hand, Park Avenue, who was a distant second three starts back on dirt in the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes, is a solid 9-3-3-1 overall. A Kentucky-bred filly by Quality Road out of the Indian Charlie mare Remarkable, she seeks her first stakes win with earnings of $199,900.

D'Amato will also be well represented by upstart Irish-bred Excelerina. Winless in three starts in Ireland, she comes off a pair of sharp wins over the course at 1 1/8 miles, most recently a first condition allowance on March 11 and in her U.S. debut, a maiden special weight win on Feb. 6.

A 4-year-old filly owned by CYBT, Saul Gevertz and Michael Nentwig, Excelerina, who earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure in her allowance win, is 5-2-1-0 with earnings of $84,713.

Leonard Powell's 5-year-old French-bred mare Avenue de France, who closed much ground to finish sixth, beaten 3 ½ lengths in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at one mile on turf March 5, was third, beaten a half-length while finishing well two starts back in the Grade 3 Megahertz at one mile on grass and rates an upset chance in her third consecutive graded stakes try over the course.

“Last time, she was a bit too far back,” Powell said. “She closed, but too late. She had too much to do. I hope this time she's a bit closer to the lead. I still want her at the back of the field but not as far back as last time.

“She has a good quarter of a mile turn of foot and that's an asset. She made up about 12 lengths on the field (in the Buena Vista) but she couldn't make it all.”

Unbeaten in two starts in France at age two, Avenue de France is owned by Convergence Stable, Madaket Stables, LLC, Wonder Stables, et al. With an overall mark of 16-5-0-5, she has earnings of $170,562 and will be seeking her first graded stakes victory.

GRADE II ROYAL HEROINE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 12 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

Going Global—Umberto Rispoli—124
Excelerina—Mike Smith—120
Javanica—John Velazquez—120
Park Avenue—Juan Hernandez—120
Avenue de France—Drayden Van Dyke–120

Special early first post time for Saturday's Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day is at 12 noon with admission gates opening at 10 a.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Letter To The Editor: Dear Kentucky, You Might Need Bob Baffert

There is no doubt that Kentucky-bred Thoroughbreds are the most sought-after racing stock on planet Earth. For sprint and distance races on dirt, Kentucky bred horses simply excel; it's an undisputed fact.

That said, I see a challenge to Kentucky breeding supremacy looming on the horizon. As a consequence, you might wish to re-think your position with respect to Hall of Fame Trainer Bob Baffert.

Please hear me out.

We all know the story. That first Saturday of May 2021 Bob Baffert became the all-time winning trainer of the Kentucky Derby when Medina Spirit won the most recent edition of this outstanding American spectacle, indeed “The Greatest Two Minutes In Sports.”

However, a few days later it was discovered that Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone at a level of 21 picograms per milliliter of blood. Betamethasone is a regulated corticosteroid which is legal to use, but not allowed on race day. Baffert's lawyers have argued it was administered via a topical ointment, not an injection. (Was it given by Bob's veterinarian? We currently don't know.)

On June 3, Churchill Downs Inc. banned trainer Bob Baffert from entering any horses in races at any of its tracks for two years. Thus, Baffert-trained horses are ineligible to earn points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (both the Derby and Oaks)… and Bob is not allowed on CDI properties.

It's apparently your tracks, your rules.

And now this 90-day suspension for Mr. Baffert, which began Monday April 4.

I speak for no other horseplayers here, but to my thinking ALL of this feels like (over time) Kentuckians have developed a great jealousy of Mr. Baffert's Derby & Triple Crown success.

The Medina Spirit victory would have given Baffert seven Derby victories, one more than legendary Calumet Farm trainer Ben Jones' six. Folks, all Mr. Baffert has done is to stable, feed & nurture YOUR wonderful Kentucky bred horses, developing them to win more Kentucky Derbies than any trainer in history.

It truly feels like the Commonwealth of Kentucky has decided “if we can't beat him… we'll delete him.”

However, you might wish to rethink your position.

In reality, it may not be much longer until Kentucky Thoroughbred dominance in dirt sprint & distance races is severely challenged. In the not-too-distant future it's quite possible that Japanese-owned, bred, and trained horses will be winning Kentucky Oaks & Derby races those first Fridays & Saturdays in May… unless, of course, you somehow disqualify the Japanese from participation as well. You no doubt witnessed their two victories in last year's Breeders' Cup, along with four recent wins at the Saudi Cup in February of this year, as well as five more triumphs at the Dubai World Cup the last weekend of March.

The bottom line here is that you are going to need a top trainer such as Mr. Baffert to prevent this… otherwise, you'll soon find yourselves not only shocked, but likely depressed, as you s-l-o-w-l-y make your way back to your Ol' Kentucky Homes… lamenting the fact that your previously unbeatable Kentucky bred horses are not quite so invincible.

Be Healthy, Everyone.

God Bless the Thoroughbred!

Roger Schutt

Grass Valley, California

If you would like to submit a letter to the editor, please write to info at paulickreport.com and include contact information where you may be reached if editorial staff have any questions.

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Ken McPeek Talks Derby Hopefuls Tiz the Bomb, Smile Happy On Writers’ Room

Housing as many as three GI Kentucky Derby starters in his barn, trainer Kenny McPeek joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week Tuesday to discuss Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb)'s dirt prospects and potential summer European campaign, his plan for likely GI Toyota Blue Grass S. favorite Smile Happy (Runhappy) to run in all three Triple Crown races, his thoughts on the continuing phase-out of Lasix in American racing and more.

Tiz the Bomb, a dual stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile turf runner-up at two, bounced back from a seventh-place run in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. to sweep a pair of synthetic-track stakes at Turfway, and will head to Louisville after being considered for a start at Newmarket in the Apr. 30 G1 2000 Guineas.

“When we ran him in Florida, the colt didn't handle the Gulfstream surface and the kickback,” McPeek said. “That surface is a little bit different, it's deep, sand-based and he just didn't go for it. I sent him to Turfway to get his confidence back in the [John] Battaglia and that worked out. So the natural next step was the Jeff Ruby and he punched, and ran a super race. I actually felt like he would be a great horse to take over for the 2000 Guineas, and the undulation of Newmarket wasn't any harder or actually could be easier than his victory at Kentucky Downs [in the Kentucky Downs Mile S.]. But due to some logistics and technicalities, he's not going to go, and our next option is either a turf race at Churchill or the Kentucky Derby. I really think at this point, the horse probably deserves a chance.”

As for Smile Happy, a no-doubt Derby contender who will make just his second start as a 3-year-old in Saturday's Blue Grass after a runner-up effort in the GII Risen Star S., McPeek said, “This is a really special colt. I've been sitting on this horse like a keg of dynamite for months now. I didn't want more than two preps going into the Kentucky Derby. I think the [Derby qualifying] points he got in Louisiana will more than likely get him in. I want to see him run well in the Blue Grass, obviously, and being a Lexington boy, it's always fun to win the Blue Grass. I didn't want to over-race this horse this winter. I really sat on him for a reason, because I think he's a horse that can handle the progression of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. And you've got to have some juice in the tank for those races. If you're already a little tired or you've overdone it going into those three races, obviously your horse is going to be taxed. But he could set up really well for those.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, XBTV, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers reacted to Secret Oath (Arrogate)'s valiant but losing performance in the GI Arkansas Derby, the beginning of Bob Baffert's 90-day suspension and the latest shenanigans surrounding banned trainer Wayne Potts. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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TDN Kentucky Oaks Top 10 for Apr. 7

The GI Longines Kentucky Oaks will be overshadowed by the GI Kentucky Derby, but maybe that shouldn't be the case. The Oaks is absolutely loaded, perhaps the deepest in many years. In any other year, Secret Oath (Arrogate), Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), Kathleen O. (Upstart) or Adare Manor (Uncle Mo) would be an obvious heavy favorite. This year, a horse like the undefeated Kathleen O. might be third choice in the wagering at, say, 7-2 or 4-1. After a busy Saturday last week, which included Secret Oath's third-place finish against the boys in the GI Arkansas Derby, it will be another busy week for fillies eyeing the Oaks, kicking off with Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland. Saturday's action will include the GIII Gazelle S. at Aqueduct and the GII Santa Anita Oaks.

1) SECRET OATH (Arrogate–Absinthe Minded, by Quiet American) O-Briland Farm; B-Briland Farm, Robert & Stacy Mitchell (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas. Lifetime Record: GSW & GISP, 7-4-0-2, $590,167. Last Start: 3rd GI Arkansas Derby. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 60.

After his filly failed to win the Arkansas Derby, trainer Wayne Lukas confirmed that Secret Oath will go next in the Kentucky Oaks. That's the right call. She needed to win the Arkansas Derby to warrant a start against males on the first Saturday in May. Though she didn't win, she turned in a terrific performance when facing the boys. Once she wound up last and wide down the backside, she was in trouble. An eye-catching middle move took her all the way to second position in the stretch, but she couldn't sustain her bid. Afterward, Lukas said that jockey Luis Contreras will keep the mount for the Oaks. Based on her solid performance in the Arkansas Derby and all the hype she garnered for her three dominant efforts before that–most of it justified–she'll probably be the favorite in the Oaks. It's been 32 years since Lukas has won this race. It would have been a better story had she gone in the Derby, but it will be hard not to root for the Coach to pull this one off.

2) KATHLEEN O. (Upstart–Quaver, by Blame) O-Winngate Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd. & Bridlewood Farm (KY); T-Shug McGaughey. Sales History: $8,000 wlg '19 KEENOV; $50,000 ylg '20 OBSOCT; $275,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 4-4-0-0, $379,730. Last Start: 1st GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. Next Start: GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GP, Apr. 2. KY Oaks Points: 150.

What a nice filly. She's 4-for-4 and has been visually impressive in each of her starts, the most recent being the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks. It wasn't a tough race and the only horse in there that possibly could have beaten her was Goddess of Fire (Mineshaft), who finished second. But she did everything right…again. She sat back early, started rolling approaching the far turn and then ran away from the competition in the stretch to win under a mild drive.

“She has strong power at the finish,” winning rider Javier Castellano said. “I like the way she did it today, nice and easy with a strong finish. She has a lot of potential. I think she's going to be fun in the future.”

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey has done a masterful job bringing her along. Her first three Beyer numbers were, in order, a 67, a 78 and then an 85. That raised the question as to whether or not she was fast enough, but that was put to rest when she improved again and ran a 98 Beyer in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. Going into this weekend, that's the fastest number among all the fillies eyeing the Oaks. Can she improve some more? Yes. Does she have to improve to win the Kentucky Oaks? Maybe not.

3) ECHO ZULU (Gun Runner–Letgomyecho, by Menifee) 'TDN Rising Star' O-L and N Racing LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/ Ramsby (KY); T-Steve Asmussen. Sales History: $300,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, MGISW, 5-5-0-0, $1,720,000. Last Start: 1st GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 130.

An undefeated champion and she may not be the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks, which tells you what an incredibly strong group this is. There is so much to like. She was brilliant last year and is in the hands of Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. She has never lost. But…How good was her comeback race? That is the question. For the first time in her career, she had to work for the win, beating Hidden Connection (Connect) by just a nose as the 1-10 favorite. The Beyer number was not great–the 88 was the slowest of her career. So, there are two schools of thought: 1) She has not improved from last year and it will catch up to her in the Oaks; 2) Asmussen didn't have her at all cranked up for her 3-year-old debut, she learned how to fight in the Fair Grounds race, and will run much better in the Kentucky Oaks. Which will it be?

4) ADARE MANOR (Uncle Mo–Brooklynsway, by Giant's Causeway) O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Town & Country Horse Farms, LLC & Gary Broad (KY); T-Tim Yakteen. Sales History: $180,000 ylg '20 FTKFEB; $190,000 RNA ylg '20 FTKSEL; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-2-1-0, $56,600. Last Start: 1st GIII Las Virgenes S. Next Start: GII Santa Anita Oaks, SA, Apr. 9. KY Oaks Points: 0.

She's been out of sight and out of mind since winning the GIII Las Virgenes by 13 lengths all the way back on Feb. 6 for then trainer Bob Baffert. But, let's not forget, that was a huge performance and it earned her a 94 Beyer. Baffert elected to give her some time off afterward and gear up for this Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks. With Baffert's suspension pending, she's been in the barn of new trainer Tim Yakteen for about two weeks. Last Saturday, Yakteen sent her out for a five-furlong work in 1:00.20. The trainer change shouldn't be a concern. Baffert did most of the heavy lifting to get her to this point and Yakteen is perfectly capable. She could easily win the Santa Anita race in a blowout fashion, which would mean she'd come to Churchill Downs as hot as any horse on this list. She has no points because Baffert trainees weren't eligible to earn points in any of the preps. She'll likely need to run first or second Saturday to make it in, but that shouldn't be a problem.

5) NEST (Curlin–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) O-Repole Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Michael House; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $350,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: GSW, 4-3-0-1, $265,000. Last Start: 1st Suncoast S. Next Start: GI Central Bank Ashland S., KEE, Apr. 8. KY Oaks Points: 20.

Another horse we haven't heard from in a while, Nest is the 2-1 morning line favorite for Friday's Ashland at Keeneland. She is the deserving favorite, but it's not an easy spot as the competition includes the very fast Happy Soul (Runhappy) and the Brad Cox-trained Interstatedaydream (Classic Empire), an 8 1/4-length allowance winner on Mar. 13 at Oaklawn. Trainer Todd Pletcher has really taken his time with this filly. After she beat a very good field in the GII Demoiselle on Dec. 4, she didn't show up again until besting some tomato cans in the Feb. 12 Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. That race proved little. For her, the Ashland is the real test, and should she win it, she'll be yet another horse who might have been favored in any other year only to go off at 5-1 or 6-1 in this year's Oaks.

6) HAPPY SOUL (Runhappy–Cowgirl Lucky, by Stephen Got Even) O-Gayla Rankin; B-Harris Training Center, LLC (KY); T-Wesley Ward. Sales History: $50,000 ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: MSW, 4-3-1-0, $238,500. Last Start: 1st Dixie Belle S. Next Start: Next Start: GI Central Bank Ashland S., KEE, Apr. 8. KY Oaks Points: 0.

Finally, her big test. Happy Soul drew post six for the Ashland, a race that will go a long way toward deciding her future. We know she can run. She won her last three starts by a combined 26 1/4 lengths. But those were all held at a six furlongs or shorter and her sire was an Eclipse Award-winning sprinter. Having to stretch out to 8 1/2 furlongs for the Ashland will pose a huge test. Is she a Kentucky Oaks horse or a horse who belongs in sprint races? Coming off a win in the Dixie Belle S., where she completed the first quarter in :21 1/5, she should go right to the lead in the Ashland and play a game of catch-me-if-you-can. We know Jim McIngvale will be rooting for her.

7) HIDDEN CONNECTION (Connect–C J's Gal, by Awesome Again) O-Hidden Brook Farm & Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-St. Simon Place (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. Sales History: $49,000 RNA wlg '19 KEENOV; $40,000 ylg '20 KEESEP; $55,000 RNA 2yo '21 OBSAPR; $85,000 2yo '21 OBSOPN. Lifetime Record: 5-2-1-0, $399,525. Last Start: 2nd GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 57.

If someone other than the big three or four is going to win the Oaks, it may just be this filly. She's been a little up and down in her career. She looked like a star in the making when winning the GII Pocahontas S. by 9 1/4 lengths last September, but then was outrun in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She followed that with a fourth-place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. That made it look like she wasn't quite good enough to compete against the very best, but then she rebounded with a big effort in the Fair Grounds Oaks to almost pull off the upset against Echo Zulu. The good Hidden Connection will have to show up for her to have any chance in the Kentucky Oaks, but there's every chance that can happen.

8) VENTI VALENTINE (Firing Line–Glory Gold, by Medaglia d'Oro) O-NY Final Furlong Racing Stable & Parkland Thoroughbreds; B-Final Furlong Racing Stable & Maspeth Stable (NY); T-Jorge Abreu. Lifetime Record: MSW & GSP, 4-3-1-0, $366,250. Last Start: 1st Busher Invitational S. Next Start: GIII Gazelle S., AQU, Apr. 9. KY Oaks Points: 54.

No matter how she fares this weekend, she figures to be double-digit odds in the Kentucky Oaks. Again, that tells you just how strong this field looks to be. A New York-bred who kicked off her career with back-to-back wins against state breds, including one in the Maid of the Mist S., the best race of her life was the only one she lost. She gave Nest the fight of her life when finishing second, beaten only a neck, in the GII Demoiselle. She followed that with a seven-length romp in the Busher Invitational. The New York route to the Kentucky Oaks is not always the strongest, but this one should emerge as the biggest threat among that contingent.

9) YUUGIRI (Shackleford–Yuzuru, by Medaglia d'Oro) O/B-Sekie Yoshihara & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY); T-Rodolphe Brisset. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $543,610. Last Start: 1st GIII Fantasy S. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 114.

This daughter of Shackleford makes the list after winning the GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn. Would she have won if Secret Oath were in there? Probably not. She finished third behind Secret Oath, beaten 9 1/4 lengths, in the GIII Honeybee S. in her prior start. Most likely, she benefitted from the Fantasy being an easy spot. She did show a lot of talent when breaking her maiden, winning by 7 1/4 lengths back in September at Churchill. But she failed to back that up when a distant second, beaten 10 3/4 lengths, in the Rags to Riches S. Has earned her way into the Kentucky Oaks, but hard to see her being a major factor in that race.

10) SHAHAMA (Munnings–Private Feeling, by Belong to Me) 'TDN Rising Star' O-KHK Racing; B-SF Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Todd Pletcher. Sales History: $425,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: GSW-UAE, $223,670. Last Start: 1st G3 UAE Oaks. Next Start: GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, May 6, Churchill Downs. KY Oaks Points: 50.

Not sure what to make of this filly, who is unbeaten in four starts, but has never raced outside of Dubai. Also notable that since her last start, in the Feb. 18 GIII UAE Oaks, she has had only one listed workout. That was a four-furlong breeze in :49.10 on Apr. 1 at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher. You can't blame her connections for giving the Kentucky Oaks a try, but this is not the sort of year where a mystery horse out of Dubai can win it. Would have to be something super special to pull this off.

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