Month: May 2023

The Haiku Handicapper Presented By FanDuel Racing: 2023 Kentucky Derby

Time to analyze the 2023 Kentucky Derby field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.

To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Hit Show
Lost a brutal bob
But proved he could take a punch
Post draw does him in

#2 – Verifying
Who needs a rider?
Could be a fun summer horse
Holding stock for now

#3 – Two Phil's
Blue-collar hero
will dominate state derbies
Over the summer

#4 – Confidence Game
Valentine's candy
Was on discount at Walgreen's
The last time he ran

#5 – Tapit Trice
Would it be cliché
To say he's my Belmont horse?
Will be gaining ground

#6 – Kingsbarns
Why'd it take so long
For a final-prep winner
To land a jockey?

#7 – Reincarnate
Hit the wall last out
Started with *Name Redacted*
This isn't his spot

#8 – Mage
Looked clear at Gulfstream
Must resolve his gate issues
To factor again

#9 – Skinner
Thrilling So-Cal tilt
A California third
Won't make a dent here

#10 – Practical Move
SCRATCHED

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#11 – Disarm
He did just enough
To make it into the gate
C's don't get Derbies

#12 – Jace's Road
Two races this year
Lost by combined 19 lengths
Nah, I think I'm good

#13 – Sun Thunder
Here's a game – don't cheat
Name the best Sun Thunder race
Go ahead…I'll wait

#14 – Angel of Empire
Flawless Oaklawn prep
If he's got one more level
This could go through him

#15 – Forte
Was his Gulfstream surge
A display of his resolve
Or tank-emptying?

#16 – Raise Cain
Moves up in the mud
He'll pass a few in the stretch
But far from enough

[Story Continues Below]

#17 – Derma Sotogake
Doesn't need the lead
But if he sets cruising speed
He might just draw off

#18 – Rocket Can
That Holy Bull win
Feels like a lifetime ago
Small exotic threat

#19 – Lord Miles
SCRATCHED

#20 – Continuar
SCRATCHED

#21 – Cyclone Mischief
Constantly around
Never in a headline spot
Also-ran fodder

#22 – Mandarin Hero
Nearly shocked the world
In American debut
Save a place for him

#23 – King Russell
Surprise! He's running.
Could be a fun Preakness horse
In too deep today

Prediction
With a well-placed trip
Angel of Empire wins it
Then five, twenty-two

The post The Haiku Handicapper Presented By FanDuel Racing: 2023 Kentucky Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Milers’ Delight In Tokyo

The G1 NHK Mile Cup has attracted a field of 18 3-year-old milers, none better credentialed than morning line favourite Dolce More (Jpn).

Racing for Three H Racing Company, the Rulership (Jpn) colt was undefeated at two, where he parlayed his G3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup victory into a sparkling win in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. at Hanshin in December. Named the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt, he is on a retrieval mission, as he lost his unbeaten tag to Eeyan (Jpn) (Silver State {Jpn}) in the G2 New Zealand Trophy going out too quickly first up at Nakayama in April.

“He was leading out in the New Zealand Trophy last time, but the pace was a bit too quick in the backstraight and it became difficult for him to maintain his lead at the end, so he eventually had to settle for seventh place. Since that race, things have gone smoothly with him, and he's been working well uphill with stablemate Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune),” said trainer Naosuke Sugai.

That rival has now won three in a row since cutting back to 1600 metres and will have Keita Tosaki at the controls from gate six. “He drew inside in the New Zealand Trophy, but he started well and wanted to get on with things and had plenty of room turning for home,” said trainer Daishi Ito of Eeyan. “He was driven out well in the closing stages to go on and win. Even though he hasn't won at Tokyo, he ran well enough there on his debut, and I don't see a problem with the course.”

A group winner at two and three, Obamburumai (Jpn) (Discreet Cat) enters this test coming off a victory in the 1600-metre G3 Arlington Cup at Hanshin. Trainer Keiji Yoshimura said, “He got into the race well last time, and although I wasn't sure about how he might finish off, he came with a good late run and caught the others just before the line. Thinking about Tokyo with him, this kind of run seems to suit him.”

Adding some intrigue is Keio Hai Nisai S. runner-up From Dusk (Bolt D'Oro), who was third in the Listed Crocus S. in January. The Susumu Fujita runner breaks from stall one. He will be making his first start since a trip overseas to run ninth in the G3 Saudi Derby in Riyadh in February.

The post Milers’ Delight In Tokyo appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Triple Crown Winner Justify’s 2023 Southern Hemisphere Stud Fee Announced

It has been confirmed that Justify will stand for AUS$77,000 (US$69,916) including GST this season. Australia's current leading first crop sire produced his fourth winner from only ten starters with a smart debut victory from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Scentify at Warrnambool this morning.

Justify's exploits this season are highlighted by Annabel Neasham's Group 2 winner Learning To Fly, one of the most talented two-year-olds in the country, as well as Peter Moody's unbeaten Stakes winning filly Legacies who indicated Group 1 ability when winning the Anzac Day Stakes by almost 5 lengths.

Coolmore Australia's Colm Santry stated that, “Due to popular demand, we look forward to welcoming Justify back to Australia this season at a fee that we believe represents great value for breeders. All the leading breeders throughout the country want to use him and he will cover a select book of mares. Coolmore's confidence in Justify has been well documented and it hasn't taken long for his progeny in Australia to hit the ground running, just like they did in the Northern Hemisphere. He currently sits on top of the first season sires table by a significant margin and he looks set to be the first shuttle stallion to be crowned champion first-crop sire since More Than Ready.

“High-class, Danehill-free stallions are few and far between in Australia and it is particularly encouraging that Justify has already proven to be extremely effective with Danehill blood,” Santry continued. “Learning To Fly is out of a Fastnet Rock mare, Legacies is out of a Danehill Dancer mare and Scentify is out of an All Too Hard mare. The indication from trainers is that everything that they are doing as two-year-olds is a bonus, so we expect that this is only the tip of the iceberg for him which is very exciting.

“Breeders that use him this season look set to capitalize on the unbelievable quality of mares that he has covered. His second crop yearlings sold for $1.4 million, $750,000, $700,000, $700,000 etc. and they were out of Sunlight, Invincibella, Nakeeta Jane and Champagne Cuddles, so there is no shortage of quality stock coming through.”

The post Triple Crown Winner Justify’s 2023 Southern Hemisphere Stud Fee Announced appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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