June, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Pegram To Receive Chairman’s Award From Thoroughbred Owners Of California

Mike Pegram has been selected by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) to receive the 2022 Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, also known as the Chairman's Award. The award is presented annually to recognize outstanding contributions and service in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Among former recipients are some of the most prominent names in California racing, including Mace Siegel, John Harris, Bob and Beverly Lewis, Jerry and Ann Moss, and Clement Hirsch.

Pegram served on the TOC board from 2010 to 2019 and as Chairman of the Board from 2012 to 2016. During his tenure as chairman, he successfully steered the organization through tumultuous times, leaving TOC in a strong operational and financial position. He was incredibly committed to the future of our racetracks, our purse structure, and the health of our sport.

In 2010, TOC successfully supported passage of SB 1072, which provided for a takeout increase with all of the additional revenue going to purses. Over the next several years, Pegram led the board in fending off attacks from within the industry to repeal or modify the legislation, standing firm in his commitment to protect the 1072 purse contributions, which have since provided tens of millions of dollars in much needed purses to California horsemen.

Widely known for being one of the friendliest and most fun-loving horsemen in the sport, Pegram credits much of his success in racing to the fact that he put his trust in long-time trainer Bob Baffert, who Pegram supplied with many of the trainer's biggest stars.

Pegram has campaigned many outstanding runners, including champions Real Quiet and Silverbulletday, and Dubai World Cup winner Captain Steve. He has also campaigned many graded stakes runners with his two longtime partners, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, including champion sprinter Midnight Lute, champion Lookin At Lucky, Cave Rock, Hoppertunity, Pretty N Cool, Midnight Lucky, Fiftyshadesofhay, Executiveprivilege, and Coil.

“Mike is an exceptional leader who continues to make a lasting impact on both this organization and California racing,” said TOC Chairman Gary Fenton. “His dedication, hard work, and commitment are an inspiration to all of us, and we are proud to honor him with this well-deserved award.”

Pegram will be recognized at TOC's Southern California Annual Meeting at Del Mar on Aug. 12.

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Santa Anita Brings Down Curtain On Hollywood Meet With 1 3/4-Mile San Juan Capistrano

In search of his third consecutive graded stakes win, trainer Michael McCarthy's Offlee Naughty heads Santa Anita's traditional closing day feature on Sunday, the Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about a mile and three quarters over the Camino Real Turf Course. With its traditional hillside start, a field of six three year olds and up will compete in the 84^threnewal of the San Juan, a race best remembered for its 1966 running when legendary Hall of Fame jockey John Longden went out a winner at age 59 aboard Canadian-bred George Royal, who prevailed by a nose over Plaque, who was ridden by Hall of Famer Bobby Ussery.

A one-length winner when ridden by John Velazquez of the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at a mile and a quarter on turf two starts back on April 8, Offlee Naughty rallied from far back under Umberto Rispoli to take the mile and one half turf Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes by a 1 ¼ lengths May 13, earning the same 97 Beyer Speed Figure that he did in the Whittingham.

Although a lack of pace could be a concern, Offlee Naughty, a 5-year-old full horse by Flashback, out of the Offlee Wild mare Acting Naughty, is nonetheless at the top of his game and should be tough to beat.

Owned by James and Donna Daniell, Offlee Naughty is three for six over the Santa Anita turf and he should relish the mile and three quarter distance. With an overall mark of 17-5-1-1, he has earnings of $370,645.

Richard Mandella's Brazilian-bred Planetario, who rallied to be a solid second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Offlee Naughty in the San Luis Rey, is a horse on the improve who will be making his third North American start on Sunday.

A two-time Group 1 stakes winner in Brazil, Planetario, a 5-year-old full horse, is another that should relish the stretch out from a mile and one half to the mile and three quarters of the San Juan Capistrano. An even fifth in his U.S. debut going a mile and one eighth on turf here on June 22 of last year, he earned an 87 Beyer and got a 95 Beyer off the bench in his second place finish in the San Luis Rey.

Owned by his breeder, Red Rafa Stud, Inc., Planetario, who will be ridden back by Hector Berrios, has five wins from 10 overall starts as he seeks his first North American stakes victory.

McCarthy will also saddle the 4-year-old Irish-bred filly Duvet Day, who faces males for the first time since running a close second going six furlongs on turf in her Irish debut 15 races ago on June 18, 2021.

Most recently second, beaten a neck as the 6-5 favorite in the mile and one half turf Santa Barbara on April 30, Duvet Day will be ridden back by leading man Juan Hernandez. A winner of the ungraded Astra Stakes at a mile and one half on turf three starts back on Jan. 21, Duvet Day is owned by Cedros, Jane Bacharach and Richard Schatz. With an overall mark of 15-3-4-2, she has earnings of $210,313.

Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano with jockeys and weights in post position order

Race 5 of 12 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

Offlee Naughty—Umberto Rispoli—126
Duvet Day—Juan Hernandez—119
Birth of Cool – Joe Bravo – 122
Opry – Edwin Maldonado – 126
Planetario—Hector Berrios—126
Rimprotector – Kyle Frey – 122

First post time for a 12-race card on Sunday, which is also closing day of the Hollywood Meet at Santa Anita, is at 12 noon with admission gates opening at 10 a.m.

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Queen Ofthe Temple Faces Four In Possibly Perfect At Santa Anita

Fresh off victory at a mile and one half on turf, trainer Dan Blacker's Queen Ofthe Temple rates a big look as she cuts back to a mile and one quarter on grass in Sunday's $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. With a Father's Day early post time of 12 noon PT, the Possibly Perfect, which has attracted five fillies and mares three and up, is part of a 12-race closing day card and will serve as a supporting feature to Sunday's main event, the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes.

Ridden for the first time by Joe Bravo and off at 2-1, Queen Ofthe Temple was attentive to the pace in the mile and one half Santa Barbara Stakes on April 30 and was up to win in a three-horse photo. With Bravo back aboard, the 5-year-old mare by Temple City, who is three-time graded stakes placed, seeks her first graded win in what will be her 14^th career start with Bravo back aboard.

Owned by Radley Equine, Inc., Roger Featherston, Rick Gold and Tony Maslowsky, Queen Ofthe Temple is out of the Read the Footnotes mare Queeenameina. With two wins, four seconds and a third from nine tries over the Santa Anita lawn, she's 13-2-6-3 overall with earnings of $237,840.

A winner of last year's Possibly Perfect and idle since running seventh in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes here on Oct. 8, trainer Leonard Powell's French-bred Neige Blanche is the class of the field with earnings of $542,780. With four wins and two thirds from 10 starts over the course, Neige Blanche has six stakes wins, four of them graded, from an overall mark of 21-9-0-4.

With regular rider Juan Hernandez committed to ride Phil D'Amato's Buzz of New York, Neige Blanche, who is owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Laura DeSeroux, Marsha Naify and Mathilde Powell, won last year's Possibly Perfect in gate to wire fashion and will be ridden for the first time by Diego Herrera.

Most recently fourth, beaten just a head by second place finisher Queen Ofthe Temple in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes at a mile and one quarter on turf March 12, Irish-bred Buzz of New York enters the Possibly Perfect fresh and will be reunited with Juan Hernandez, who last rode her to a one mile turf allowance win two starts back on March 5.

Although the Possibly Perfect will be just her second stateside stakes assignment, Buzz of New York has been very consistent for D'Amato, finishing in the money in 10 out of her 12 local starts—winning three of them.

A 5-year-old mare, Buzz of New York is owned by Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal. With all three of her wins coming in combination with Hernandez, Buzz of New York rates a big chance with an overall mark of 18-3-5-3 and earnings of $228,677.

$100,000 Possibly Perfect with jockeys & weights in post position order

Race 1 of 12 Approximate post time 12 p.m. PT

Zeyaraat – Geovanni Franco – 122
Queen Ofthe Temple- Joe Bravo —126
Buzz of New York—Juan Hernandez—124
Neige Blanche – Diego Herrera – 126
Australia Mia—Umberto Rispoli—126

Special early first post time on Sunday, closing day, is at 12 noon with admission gates opening at 10 a.m.

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Haskell Preview Day, Bed o’ Roses Comprise Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, featuring action from Belmont Park and Haskell Preview Day at Monmouth Park.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, offers sequences with races from Belmont Park and partner tracks across the country.

Saturday's sequence kicks off in Race 10 at 4:44 p.m. Eastern from Monmouth Park with the $150,000 Pegasus, a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomores led by a pair of top contenders for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in Kingsbarns and Classic Catch.

Kingsbarns, by Uncle Mo, captured the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March at Fair Grounds to complete a three-race win streak ahead of a 14th-place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby where he attended the pace before fading.

Classic Catch, by Classic Empire, won a nine-furlong optional-claimer in March at Gulfstream Park ahead of a rallying fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 8 at Aqueduct Racetrack. He enters from a distant fourth-place finish on May 13 at Belmont in the nine-furlong Peter Pan which was won by next-out Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets winner Arcangelo.

Challengers include multiple stakes-winner Howgreatisnate for trainer Elizabeth Dobles and the Jorge Duarte, Jr.-trained Subrogate, who graduated impressively in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on May 6 at Belmont.

The second leg will see a field of eight fillies and mares travel 1 1/16-miles over the turf in the Grade 3 Eatontown [Race 11, 5:12 p.m.] topped by a strong pair from four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown in Consumer Spending and Gina Romantica.

Consumer Spending won 2-of-4 starts last year, taking the Memories of Silver at the Big A and the Grade 2 Wonder Again at Belmont ahead of a closing third in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational. She made her seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 7 at Belmont Park, finishing second to stablemate Marketsegmentation, who exited that effort to win the Grade 1 New York on Friday here.

Gina Romantica, who will make her seasonal debut, closed out a four-win campaign last year by taking the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in October at Keeneland. The 4 year-old Into Mischief bay, who made her first four starts over the main track, also captured the restricted Riskaverse in August at the Spa. A talented group includes the oft-prominent Scottish Star for Pletcher; graded-stakes winning closer Surprisingly for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey; and the multiple graded-stakes placed Vergara for conditioner Graham Motion.

Action switches to Belmont for the middle leg with the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses [Race 9, 5:19 p.m.], a seven-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares highlighted by the reigning Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive.

The Brown-trained Goodnight Olive, a 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare, went 4-for-4 last year topped by Grade 1 wins at seven furlongs in the Ballerina Handicap at Saratoga and the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland. She won her seasonal debut in the Grade 1 Madison in April at Keeneland but was thwarted last out in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff on May at Churchill Downs, settling for third when boxed in by returning rival Wicked Halo, who completed the exacta behind Matareya.

A compact field of five includes the aforementioned multiple Grade 2-winner Wicked Halo for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and Caramel Swirl, who rallied to victory last out in the Grade 3 Vagrancy for Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott.

Action shifts back to Monmouth for the final two legs, starting with a wide-open field of 10 3-year-olds and up in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile [Race 12, 5:40 p.m.] featuring the seasonal debut of the Brown-trained Artorius.

The 4-year-old Arrogate colt was an impressive winner of the restricted nine-furlong Curlin last summer at the Spa before coming up empty when sixth in the Grade 1 Travers. Butch Reid, Jr. will send out graded stakes-winner Ridin With Biden for his first appearance since finishing last-of-12 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park. A diverse field includes the multiple stakes-placed pair of Empty Tomb and Far Mo Power, who will look to make the grade on the Jersey Shore.

The sequence concludes with the Grade 3 Monmouth [Race 13, 6:08 p.m.], a nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds and up featuring the Brown-trained multiple Grade 1-winner Tribhuvan.

The 7-year-old Toronado gelding, who will make his seasonal debut, captured the 2021 Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth and added the Grade 1 Manhattan to his ledger last year. Tribhuvan finished fourth in his United Nations title defense which was won by stablemate Adhamo. A compact field of six includes the streaking Never Explain, who has won his last three starts for McGaughey topped by a last-out half-length score in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Dinner Party at Pimlico. Another threat to Tribhuvan is last year's deep-closing Grade 1 Hollywood Derby-victor Speaking Scout – the Motion trainee will need some pace to develop if he is to arrive on time.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the best way to bet every race of the Belmont spring/summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, June 17

Leg A: Monmouth Park, Race 10 – Pegasus (4:44 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Monmouth Park, Race 11 – G3 Eatontown (5:12 p.m.)

Leg C: Belmont Park, Race 9 – G2 Bed o' Roses (5:19 p.m.)

Leg D: Monmouth Park, Race 12 – G3 Salvator Mile (5:40 p.m.)

Leg E: Monmouth Park, Race 13 – G3 Monmouth (6:08 p.m.)

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