April, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Last Samurai ‘Springs’ Upset in Oaklawn H.

Arkansas' own Willis Horton celebrated yet another big-race success right in his backyard, as Last Samurai (Malibu Moon) re-rallied at the fence beneath veteran reinsman Jon Court and ran away late to cause a 12-1 upset in Saturday's $1-million GII Oaklawn H.

Drawn two in a field reduced to seven by the early scratching of Thomas Shelby (Curlin), Last Samurai had good speed from the inside and shared the lead with second choice Plainsman (Flatter) under the wire for the first time, as favored Fearless (Ghostzapper)–runner-up to the Horton part-owned Silver State (Hard Spun) last year–tracked the duo from out wide. Court, still thriving at the age of 61, took Last Samurai in hand as they turned up the backstretch, allowing Plainsman to edge to the front, but held his spot at the fence as the field reached the half-mile peg. Last Samurai appeared to be struggling three-eighths of a mile out, but–busily ridden by Court–was back into the bridle and on the attack inside of Plainsman, Fearless and 2021 GI Arkansas Derby hero Super Stock (Super Saver) on the swing for home. Vigorously ridden, Last Samurai began to get away at the furlong grounds and was punched out to score impressively. Fearless was up on the line to touch Plainsman out of second.

“He's been training really well,” said Court. “He's been fun to work with from the time the Hortons gave me the opportunity to work with Last Samurai. He's just been a joy in the mornings. As you may have noticed, I broke away from the pony because he's just so fun to ride in the morning. In the afternoon, he gives it his best effort and things set up perfectly for us and he was willing to take on the challenge. What a blast it certainly was.”

Fifth in last year's GIII Southwest S. and in the Arkansas Derby, Last Samurai took a Colonial turf allowance in August, but was only ninth in the Dueling Grounds Derby at Kentucky Downs the following month. The chestnut, a neck second facing his elders in the GIII Greenwood Cup over 12 furlongs Sept. 25, bested Super Stock in the Dec. 11 Poinsettia S. at this venue, but was seventh to Plainsman in the GIII Razorback H. Feb. 12 and a latest near-miss second to marathoner Lone Rock (Majestic Warrior) in this track's Temperence Hill S. going a mile and a half Apr. 3.

Pedigree Notes:

Already one of 129 worldwide black-type winners for the late Malibu Moon, Last Samurai becomes the 52nd to succeed at the graded or group level and is his 20th male to do so.

A stakes winner and third in the GII Molly Pitcher S., Lady Samuri was sold for $130,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November Sale, then was knocked down to Stonestreet for $280,000 in foal to Union Rags at KEENOV the following fall. The mare is the dam of four winners from as many to the races, a number that also includes Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}), who upset the Apr. 2 Bourbonette Oaks and worked Saturday towards an expected appearance in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 6 (see related story).

A $37,000 KEESEP buyback turned $175,000 OBS March breezer (:10 1/5), Last Samurai has a 2-year-old half-sister by Good Magic. After being given a year off, she foaled a filly by Maclean's Music Mar. 20.

Saturday, Oaklawn Park
OAKLAWN H.-GII, $1,000,000, Oaklawn, 4-23, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.32, ft.
1–LAST SAMURAI, 117, c, 4, by Malibu Moon
1st Dam: Lady Samuri (SW & GSP, $150,553), by First Samurai
2nd Dam: Redeye Rain, by Instrument Landing
3rd Dam: Palms and Rain, by Giacometti
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($37,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP; $175,000 2yo '20 OBSMAR). O-Willis Horton Racing LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Dallas Stewart; J-Jon Kenton Court. $600,000. Lifetime Record: 15-4-3-2, $946,744. *1/2 to Candy Raid (Candy Ride {Arg}), SW, $191,400. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Fearless, 121, g, 6, Ghostzapper–And Why Not, by Street Cry (Ire). ($725,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP; $120,000 RNA 4yo '20 FTKHRA; $205,000 5yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Repole Stable; B-Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $200,000.
3–Plainsman, 121, h, 7, Flatter–S S Pinafore, by Street Sense. ($350,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP). O-Shortleaf Stable, Inc.; B-Joseph Minor (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $100,000.
Margins: 4, NK, 2. Odds: 12.90, 1.20, 2.40.
Also Ran: Super Stock, Beau Luminarie, Idol, Rated R Superstar. Scratched: Thomas Shelby.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Gulfstream Park: $200,000 Guaranteed Jackpot in Sunday’s Rainbow 6

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $200,000 for Sunday's program at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the fourth racing day in a row after a lucky ticketholder hit the jackpot for a $220,289 payoff a week earlier.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70% of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30% is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Sunday's Rainbow 6 sequence will span Races 5-10, kicked off by a mile maiden special weight race on turf that attracted a full field of 3-year-old fillies. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and Godolphin will be represented by first-time starter Ornamental, a homebred daughter of Medaglia d'Oro. George Weaver-trained Linda's Gift, a promising second in her recent debut, will have to overcome the No. 12 post position Sunday. Tom Proctor-trained Therearenorules had a troubled trip while finishing third, behind Linda's Gift, in her most recent start.

Mott-trained Overcooked, a daughter of Into Mischief who brought a winning bid of $475,000 at the 2020 Keeneland sale, is scheduled to make her debut in Race 7, a six-furlong maiden special weight event for fillies and mares. Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Spirit of Power, a daughter of Lord Nelson, is also slated to debut.

Rohan Crichton-trained Brit's Candyman, who finished third in the Texas Glitter last time out, returns in Race 9, the featured five-furlong optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds on turf. Reynaldo Yanez-trained Capture the Time is rated as the 5-2 morning-line favorite on the strength of a dominating maiden score. Kelly Breen-trained Due Vini, a son of Treasure Beach, is scheduled to make his turf debut while coming off a promising second on the main track.

There will be a Super Hi-5 carryover of $7,480.20 heading into Sunday's program.

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Channel Maker Returns To Winner’s Circle With Elkhorn Triumph In Stakes Record Time

Channel Maker, a former U.S. and Canadian champion, halted a seven-race winless skid when drawing clear late and holding on to capture the $350,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2) Saturday at Keeneland.

Luis Saez guided the 8-year-old son of English Channel to a 1 ¼ length triumph over Another Mystery, who was gaining on the winner in the closing stages but had to settle for second.

Bemma's Boy was a half length back in third in the field of eight older runners. Favorite Two Emmys finished seventh after setting the pace for the first half mile.

Channel Maker finished 1 1/2 miles in 2:27.10 on firm turf, eclipsing the previous stakes mark of 2:27.84 established by African Dancer in 1999. The victory marked his first return to a winner's circle since taking the 2020 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Two Emmys sprinted to the lead out of the gate with Channel Maker sitting right off his flank through fractions of :25.13, :49.53, and 1:14.05 through six furlongs.

Going into the far turn, Tiberius Mercurius moved through an opening to the inside of Two Emmys to quicken the pace to reach the mile in 1:37.91. Channel Maker joined the top two with a three-wide move, surged to the front turning for home, and was never threatened in the run to the wire.

“He's pretty tricky, but I rode him a couple times before and learned a lot from him,” Saez said after the Elkhorn win. “He used to run on the lead, but we decided last night to take him a little from behind, so the key today was to break and let the 3 horse (Two Emmys) go because we knew that was the speed in the race. So I sat right there at his shoulder, and when we came to the top of the stretch it was all about him.”

Channel Maker, who is trained by Bill Mott, had not raced since finishing fifth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) last November at Del Mar. He came into Saturday's race having previously raced on the Keeneland turf course, finishing third in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Turf.

With the Elkhorn win, Channel Maker's record improves to 8-6-5 from 44 lifetime starts and earnings of $3,595,576. He was the U.S. champion turf male of 2020 and landed Canada's Sovereign Award as champion 3-year-old male in 2017.

An Ontario-bred out of the Horse Chestnut mare In Return, he was bred by Tall Oaks Farm and is campaigned by Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, R. A. Hill Stable, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing

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Scalding Keeps Winning Momentum Going In Ben Ali At Keeneland

Scalding grabbed command off the home turn, opened a commanding lead in the stretch, then held back fast-closing Dynamic One to capture the $300,000 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) Saturday at Keeneland.

A 4-year-old son of Nyquist, Scalding won by 1 ¼ lengths with Javier Castellano aboard and covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.30 on a track rated as fast. He earned a fourth consecutive win after tallying three straight in Florida for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Proxy finished 1 ¾ lengths behind Dynamic One, who rallied resolutely from last in the seven-horse field, but could not get to the winner. Favorite Warrant checked in fourth.

Castellano had Scalding ideally positioned close to the early pace in the three path in fourth, then fifth, as Mighty Heart sprinted to the lead and laid down the opening quarter mile in :23.72. Cowboy Diplomacy took charge through a half mile in :47.71 before Mighty Heart put his head back in front as six furlongs went in 1:12.54 and Scalding advanced into striking position.

On Castellano's cue, Scalding put away the front-runners in early stretch and opened up a convincing lead, then easily held off the runner-up.

“I like the way my horse did it today,” Castellano said. “He broke not too sharp, but (he put me in) the place to keep track of those two horses in the lead, and he made a little sweeping move. I liked the way he finished. I really like the horse. I followed this horse since he started. (Trainer) Shug (McGaughey) did a really good job, and I thank Shug and all the owners for the opportunity to ride the horse. I'm glad we got it done today.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. said he had a great trip aboard Dynamic One.

“I had a decent pace in front of me,” he said. “He did everything right. I kind of waited a little longer than I wanted to. It was a good effort.”

Scalding, who returned $12, came into the Ben Ali off a breakthrough stakes win in the Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.

Owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods, Scalding improved to 4-1-0 from six career starts while boosting his lifetime bankroll to $306,150.

Bred by Godolphin and Cobalt Investments, Scalding is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Hot Water.

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