July, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Life Is Good Headlines Star-Studded Saturday of Racing

Holiday weekends are often synonymous with exciting race cards and this Fourth of July weekend is no exception with a dozen graded events on tap Saturday that include some of racing's best. The highlight of the day's action is the return of 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who is making his first start back since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26 in Belmont's GII John A. Nerud S.

A dominant winner of last year's GII Kelso H. and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and this term's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S., Life Is Good spent some time at WinStar after his return from Dubai and has been breezing steadily at Belmont for Pletcher since Memorial Day weekend. Flavien Prat climbs aboard the fleet-footed bay for the first time Saturday.

“Flavien has proven he rides really well in any occasion,” said Pletcher, who indicated this race is a prep for the GI Whitney S. “There might be some similarities to Flightline (Tapit) and Life Is Good, but we'll have a talk about the horse a little bit. He's got kind of a quiet touch, so that should suit him well.”

While Life Is Good will certainly be the heavy favorite, there is one member of this five-horse field who could give him a run for his money. Godolphin homebred Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) kicked off 2022 with a trio of seemingly effortless victories in the GIII Fred Hooper S., GII Gulfstream Park Mile and GI Carter H. He received a 114 Beyer Speed Figure for that win, which trumps Life Is Good's best figure of 110 in the Pegasus. The bay enters this off a third-place finish behind unbeaten sensation Flightline in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile June 11 and Jose Ortiz takes over the controls from Junior Alvarado, who will be riding for trainer Bill Mott in Kentucky.

The Nerud certainly looks like a match race between these two formidable foes as Repo Rocks (Tapiture), Harvard (Pioneerof the Nile) and War Tocsin (Violence) are overmatched to say the least.

Also on tap at Belmont Saturday is the GIII Dwyer S. for sophomore colts. The regally bred Charge It (Tapit) looks to rebound in this cutback in trip after a poor effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, where he finished 17th. The 'TDN Rising Star' was a green, but good second in the GI Curlin Florida Derby in April and the Run for the Roses may have just been too much too soon. You can count on Pletcher to have the colt ready to roll in this softer spot and his back-to-back bullets on the local training track affirm that. With the colt's regular rider Luis Saez at Churchill Downs for Americanrevolution (Constitution), the Hall of Famer calls on his right-hand man John Velazquez to take over the reins.

Chad Brown has an intriguing runner in the Dwyer in Peter Brant's Nabokov (Uncle Mo). The $775,000 KEESEP buy earned his diploma at this oval when extended to two turns last time in his second start May 15.

Cox Holds Strong Hand at Churchill

Churchill Downs also offers a pair of intriguing graded events and Brad Cox has a strong chance to take both. He sends out Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun (Into Mischief)–who is making his first start since a well-beaten ninth in the G1 Saudi Cup–in the GII Stephen Foster H., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' event. The colt was promoted to first via DQ in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Haskell Invitational S. last year and crossed the line first in the GIII Louisiana S. in January. Cox also saddles Caddo River (Hard Spun) off a trio of optional claimer scores.

Olympiad | Coady

That pair face some stiff competition from New York in Olympiad (Speightstown) and Americanrevolution (Constitution). The Bill Mott-trained Olympiad is a perfect four-for-four this season, topped by wins in the GIII Mineshaft S., GII New Orleans Classic and GII Alysheba S. Meanwhile, Americanrevolution, who shares the same connections as Life is Good, looks to return to winning ways. Capturing the GI Cigar Mile Dec. 4, the chestnut spent six months on the shelf and was a disappointing fourth in his return in the track-and-trip Blame S. June 4.

The GII Fleur de Lis S. attracted just five distaffers, but two of them are Grade I winners. Cox sends out Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil), whose trio of Grade I wins includes the 2020 GI Kentucky Oaks. The bay was run down last time by this field's other top-level scorer Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) in this venue's GI La Troienne S. May 6. That Stonestreet homebred ran back in the local Shawnee S. June 4, finishing fourth as the heavy favorite behind She's All Wolfe (Magna Graduate).

Sprinters Star at Gulfstream

Female sprinters get a chance to secure a spot in the Breeders' Cup Saturday at Gulfstream in the GII Princess Rooney S., a 'Win and You're In.' Champion Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) won this event last term en route to a victory in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint and she will be heavily favored to defend her title. Winner of the GII Azeri S. earlier this year, the chestnut was third behind champion Letruska (Super Saver) and last-out GI Ogden Phipps S. winner Clairiere (Curlin) in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 23.

Her biggest competition will come from claim-to-fame Glass Ceiling (Constitution), winner of the GIII Barbare Fritchie S. and GIII Distaff H. The bay enters off a third to Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 10.

Male sprinters get a chance at graded glory in Hallandale too in the GIII Smile Sprint S. The race will go through GI Woody Stephens S. winner Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music), who makes his first start since finishing seventh in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen S. Mar. 26.

Delaware & Canada Also Offer Graded Action

Sophomores will be in the spotlight at Delaware Park Saturday with the GIII Delaware Oaks and GIII Kent S. Ruthless S. winner Shotgun Hottie (Gun Runner) looks like the one to beat. The bay receives Lasix for the first time off a third-place finish in Aqueduct's GIII Gazelle S. Apr. 9.

The GIII Kent S. features 3-year-old colts on the grass and the likely favorite is Harrell Ventures' Main Event (Bernardini), winner of the Cutler Bay S. He was last seen finishing ninth in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill May 7. He faces Brad Cox runner Tommy Bee (Medaglia d'Oro), who was second in a trio of listed stakes.

Woodbine hosts four graded events Saturday: the GIII Selene S. for 3-year-old fillies, the GIII Marine S. for sophomore colts, the GII Nassau S. for older fillies and mares, and the GII Highlander S. for older male turf sprinters. Jonathan Thomas could win both the sophomore events with Catiche (Arrogate) in the Selene and Fuerteventura (Summer Front) in the Marine.

Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), winner of this venue's GII Bessarabian S., faces SW & MGSP Crystal Cliffs (Fr) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and GSW Plum Ali (First Samurai) in the Nassau. The Highlander is topped by the Wesley Ward-trained Bound for Nowhere (The Factor), a two-time winner of the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland.

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Appleby Expects to see ‘Sharper and Tighter’ Hurricane Lane at Saint-Cloud

Last season's first two from the G1 Irish Derby-Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–will meet once more in what promises to be an informative G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday.

Hurricane Lane, who just snared Lone Eagle in the Irish Derby 12 months ago, went on to finish a gallant third in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Well-beaten on his return in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes, Hurricane Lane is reported to be much sharper ahead of the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, according to his trainer Charlie Appleby.

He said, “There's a bit of rain forecast, so it looks like being on the slower side of good for sure. Any quicker and it might have raised concerns.

“I'll be honest, I was pleased with his run post-race (at Ascot). Pre-race I was confident that we'd got his level of fitness up there but turning four he's done very well physically, and he's certainly tightened up for the run, that's for sure.

“William (Buick) was happy with the way he travelled, he went through his girths and stayed on at the pace that we all saw.”

Appleby added, “What we've seen since the race is a sharper, tighter model. Some might ask if 15 days is enough time between runs, but 15 days was always our plan–the Hardwicke and then the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and what we saw last year was he thrives on his races.

“He went to the Derby, Irish Derby and then Grand Prix de Paris last year and that was probably his most impressive victory, so he thrives on his racing and we're very happy.”

Appleby has made no secret that his season revolves around another crack at the Arc, with one more run somewhere else before that.

“This is a horse that we're working back from the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He ran a solid race in it last year. We know he's happier in slower conditions and in the first week of October it is likely to be that,” he said.

“He'll have one more prep run before the Arc and whether that will be in Ireland, England or France, we'll make that decision closer to the time.”

Lone Eagle has a few more questions to answer. After his great run at the Curragh he was last of five in the G1 King George in which he picked up an injury. He was also beaten on his comeback at Goodwood.

Now jointly trained by Freddie and Martyn Meade, the former told Sky Sports Racing, “He had some of the best form in the book last year and he's done well. We're really excited to see him run again.

“It was very important to get that run into him, as he showed last year in the (Sandown) Classic Trial. He then came out and ran really well in the Cocked Hat S.

“I think we're in a good spot with him and I think he's earned his place. It's a very tough race, but it fits well in the calendar for a few people's plans. It's by no means easy, but hopefully we're entitled to be there.”

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Piassek’s Plays: Saturday Stakes Action at Delaware Park

In his regular gambling blog, John Piassek presents his top picks for the upcoming weekend in horse racing, offering betting options at different budget levels. Piassek’s Plays is brought to you by Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).

Nassau Next For Ed Walker’s Group 1 Winner Dreamloper

Ed Walker has earmarked the G1 Nassau S. at Goodwood for Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) as she bids to put a below-par effort behind her in the G1 Pretty Polly S. at the Curragh.

Dreamloper started her season in fine form with high-profile victories in the G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket before beating the boys in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan.

While she couldn't land a blow in the Pretty Polly on Derby weekend at the Curragh, better is expected from Dreamloper when she gets her desired conditions.

“It was bad ground, it was just too soft for her,” said Walker, reflecting on the disappointing Curragh run.

“She got set alight early on, so she was a bit keen on bad ground over further than she had gone before.”

He added, “She didn't run badly but I think it was probably a warmer race than the d'Ispahan, it was a good race, the Pretty Polly, and the Nassau will be even stronger.

“She'll need to step up to win the Nassau but I wouldn't be surprised if she does, especially if it's her ground.”

Walker also has a Group 1 target for the 4-year-old filly Primo Bacio (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), who finished third behind Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. at Royal Ascot, and will now be aimed at the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket.

“She ran a really good race and I think she'll come a lot for that,” Walker said. “I was very, very pleased with her, she's had an interrupted prep into that race and a few respiratory infections.

“It was a last-minute call to go there and she did us proud. I think she'll come on a lot for it and that's why we're prepared to have a shot at the Falmouth next month, that's the plan with her.”

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