May, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tahoma is First Winner for Justify

West Coast Stables' Tahoma (c, 2, Justify–Madera Dancer, by Rahy) became the first winner for his Triple Crown-winning sire with a two-length victory at Santa Anita Sunday. The chestnut colt, sent off the 4-5 favorite, tracked the pacesetters four wide through an opening quarter in :22.21. Still four wide, he rolled up to take a narrow advantage at the top of the lane, completed the half-mile in :47.01 and drew away inside the final sixteenth for a facile victory. Salta (Carpe Diem) was second and Eagles Landing (Competitive Edge) was third.

“We had high expectations and we feel this colt has a lot of upside,” said Leandro Mora, assistant to winning trainer Doug O'Neill. “We train these babies pretty much like Brian Mayberry used to when I worked for him 30 years ago. We do not over-train a horse for these type of races. This colt has a lot of ability and I feel really confident about his future.”

Tahoma, a $160,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase by bloodstock agent Dennis O'Neill, is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Legends of War (Scat Daddy).

“Dennis bought this horse and he has the eye of an eagle,” Mara said. “He provides us with so many nice horses. Doug is on his way back from Maryland, but he's on his phone and he knows we won.”

Doug O'Neill trained Legends of War to a win in the 2019 GIII Franklin-Simpson S. at Kentucky Downs.

Madera Dancer produced a colt by Nyquist this year.

2nd-Santa Anita, $68,902, Msw, 5-22, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :53.89, ft, 2 lengths.
TAHOMA (c, 2, Justify–Madera Dancer, by Rahy) $160,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $40,200.
O-West Coast Stables, LLC; B-Hunter Valley Farm, Fergus Galvin & Golden Vale Farm (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. *1/2 to Legends of War (Scat Daddy), GSW-USA, GSP-Eng, $491,240.

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Five Join Rich Strike On List Of Probable Starters For Belmont Stakes

With the $1.5-million Belmont Stakes (G1) set for June 11, the New York Racing Association has released a list of likely starters as well as several possible for the third jewel of the Triple Crown.

The list of six probables for the 1 1/2-mile classic is topped by upset Kentucky Derby winner (G1) Rich Strike, trained by Eric Reed.

Bypassing the Belmont are Early Voting and Epicenter, the respective winner and runner-up of the Preakness Stakes (G1).

The other likely starters are Preakness Stakes third-place finisher Creative Minister (Ken McPeek), Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher Mo Donegal, Kentucky Derby sixth-place finisher Barber Road (John Ortiz), Peter Pan Stakes (G2) winner We the People (Rodolphe Brisset), and Peter Pan runner-up Golden Glider (Mark Casse).

Among four listed as possible starters are Sir Barton Stakes winner Ethereal Road (D. Wayne Lukas), Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Nest (Pletcher), Preakness fifth-place finisher Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph Jr.), and Peter Pan fourth-place finisher Western River (Brisset).

The Belmont anchors nine graded stakes on the June 11 card, including the $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1).

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What’s In a Name? Late September, Nostalgic, Marital Bliss

Churchill Downs, $80,418, Msw, 5-20, 2yo, 4 1/2f, :52.05, ft, 1/2 length.
LATE SEPTEMBER (c, 2, Munnings–Hello Maggie May {MSW, $264,687}, by Lemon Drop Kid) O-Dew Sweepers LLC; B-Coteau Grove Farms, LLC (LA); T-George R. Arnold, II

A number one song in America in the long hot summer of 1971 had these very first two lines: Wake up, Maggie, I think I got somethin' to say to you/It's late September and I really should be back at school.

The song was called “Maggie May” and made mullet-haired, raspy-voiced co-author Rod Stewart a world star.

It has only been fifty years or so, and now the young Churchill Downs winning colt LATE SEPTEMBER connects in his name with mama HELLO MAGGIE MAY–for audiences old and new, domestic and international (he may go to Royal Ascot). The connection is canny and sort of bittersweet, like the end of a summer. The song “Maggie May” was, after all, the story of a difficult and probably ill-fated sentimental journey of two runaways–one very young, the other not so much.

GAZELLE S.-GIII, $250,000, Aqueduct, 4-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/8m, 1:50.41, ft. 1–NOSTALGIC, 118, f, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro 1st Dam: Been Here Before (SP), by Tapit. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Jose L. Ortiz.

The name of Grade III winner NOSTALGIC contains an elegant reference to her dam BEEN HERE BEFORE.

Marital Bliss, c, 3, Unified–True Bliss, by Yes It's True. Horseshoe Indianapolis, 4-27, 1m, 1:41.07. Lifetime Record: 3-1-0-1, $28,580. B-Sally J. Andersen (FL). *$70,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $130,000 2yo '21 EASMAY

This is a brilliant name: marital bliss should really be unified and true bliss–yes, it's true.

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Haskell Tickets Go On Sale May 28

Tickets for the TVG.com Haskell S., Monmouth Park's showcase race, will go on sale Saturday, May 28, starting at 11:30 a.m. The 55th edition of the $1-million race for 3-year-olds, to be held Saturday, July 23, headlines a stakes-filled card that includes the GI United Nations, the GIII Monmouth Cup, the GIII Molly Pitcher, the GIII WinStar Matchmaker and the Wolf Hill. First race post time on Haskell Day is noon.

All tickets for Haskell Day (except for the Dining Club Buffet and Lady's Secret Cafe) may be purchased on seatgeek.com/Monmouth or by visiting the reserved seating booth on the second floor of the Grandstand any live racing day. General admission on Haskell Day is $20.

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