September, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Santa Anita: State-Of-The-Art Paddock Video Boards To Greet Fans Beginning With Autumn Meet Opener

Fans will be greeted by a pair of all-new state-of-the-art paddock video boards beginning on opening day of Santa Anita's 19-day Autumn Meet, Friday, Sept. 29. The meet will be highlighted by the 40th annual two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships, which Santa Anita will be hosting for a record 11th time on Nov. 3 & 4.

Manufactured by US-based Daktronics, a worldwide leader in LED displays, the video boards each measure nine feet tall by 16 feet wide and will significantly enhance the on-track experience for both fans and horsemen.

While the previous paddock video boards had a pixel pitch of 15mm, the new boards provide much higher quality viewing, with a finer 6mm pixel pitch.

First installed and operational in 2012, the paddock video boards have become a popular component of Santa Anita's overall audio/video presentation, enabling fans to watch races live while enjoying the track's picturesque Paddock Gardens area.

To view time-lapse of installation click here. For additional information regarding the 2023 Autumn Meet and the two-day Breeders' Cup Championships on Nov. 3 & 4, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Early Speed Would Benefit Rattle N Roll In Lukas Classic

Multiple graded stakes winner Rattle N Roll spent the majority of the summer based at Saratoga for trainer Kenny McPeek but has now made his return to Churchill Downs and will attempt to round back into form in Saturday's $500,000 Lukas Classic (Grade 2).

Tabbed as the 7-5 morning line choice in the 1 1/8-mile Lukas Classic, Rattle N Roll finished a disappointing sixth four weeks ago in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga.

“He was just a bit flat in that race,” said jockey Brain Hernandez Jr., who's been aboard Rattle N Roll for 17 of his 20-career starts. “The race shape didn't help him much, either. There wasn't a whole lot of speed and he never really made up any ground. He ran a little bit like this earlier in the year (in the New Orleans Classic) where he just seemed to need the race.”

Owned by Lucky Seven Stables, Rattle N Roll reeled off three consecutive victories following the March 25 New Orleans Classic (G2). His win-streak started at Keeneland where he was victorious in the Ben Ali (G3). One month later, Rattle N Roll vanned to Pimlico where he defeated Speed Bias by a scant nose in the Pimlico Special (G3). McPeek opted to run Rattle N Roll back on just two weeks rest but the move proved successful when he won the Blame (G3) at Churchill Downs.

“There looks to be some speed in the Lukas Classic,” Hernandez said. “That should definitely benefit him and the return back to Churchill should help as well.”

Rattle N Roll arrived back to Louisville on Tuesday from upstate New York. The 4-year-old son of Connect drew post No. 4 in the Lukas Classic.

Saturday's 10th running of the Lukas Classic will go as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. Saturday's stellar program from Churchill Downs also will feature the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) – a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” event for the Dirt Mile (G1) – and the $200,000 Jefferson Cup. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Here is the Lukas Classic field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Happy American (James Graham, Neil Pessin, 8-1);
Clapton (Cristian Torres, Summers, 6-1);
Warrant (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 8-1);
Rattle N Roll (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 7-5);
Trademark (Martin Garcia, Vicki Oliver, 12-1);
Blue Devil (Ricardo Santana Jr., Jeff Hiles, 20-1);
Whelen Springs (Jose Ferrer, Lindsay Schultz, 12-1);
Five Star General (Corey Lanerie, Grant Forster, 15-1); and
Americanrevolution (Tyler Gaffalione, Todd Pletcher, 5-2).

Fans can wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated. The Lukas Classic, along with every race from Churchill Downs, is broadcast on FanDuel TV and the FanDuel TV+ app.

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Rebounding Zozos Should Be ‘Tough’ In Saturday’s Ack Ack

Multiple stakes winner Zozos will attempt to keep his perfect 2-for-2 record in races carded at one mile when he competes as the heavy 6-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's 31st running of the $400,000 Ack Ack (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Barry and Joni Butzow, Zozos has won five of seven starts after trainer Brad Cox cut the 4-year-old son of Munnings back in distance following his 10th-place finish in the 2022 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Zozos has won three of five starts in 2023 including a three-length romp in the Hanshin Stakes at Ellis Park.

In his last start, Zozos set the early fractions in the 1 1/16-mile Iselin (G3) at Monmouth Park but gave way to finish fourth to Whelen Springs, who is entered in the Lukas Classic (G2).

“He just didn't fire last time,” jockey Florent Geroux said. “He's run well at Churchill and he'll be tough if he can return to how he ran this spring.”

The Ack Ack goes as Race 9 of 11 with a post time of 4:58 p.m.

The field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Seize the Night (Jon Court, Jade Cunningham, 12-1);
O Besos (Tyler Gaffalione, Greg Foley, 7-2);
Three Technique (Rafael Bejarano, Jason Cook, 3-1);
Stage Raider (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux, 6-1);
Zozos (Geroux, Cox, 6-5);
Skyro (James Graham, Brian Lynch, 10-1); and
Caddo River (Declan Cannon, Wayne Lukas, 15-1).

The Ack Ack is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race for the Dirt Mile (G1). The winner will receive an all entry fees-paid berth to the Nov. 4 Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.

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Apprentice Axel Concepcion Suspended 30 Days For ‘Extremely Careless’ Riding Which Resulted In Equine Fatality

The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission has suspended apprentice jockey Axel Concepcion for 30 calendar days due to his actions in race seven at Delaware Park on Sept. 21, according to a ruling posted on the Association of Racing Commissioners International website.

Concepcion, 18, was aboard Backwoods Boogie for trainer Mary Eppler in the starter optional claiming race. Concepcion and Backwoods Boogie broke from the far outside stall in the field of 11, scheduled for one mile on the turf course.

The stewards found that Concepcion was “extremely careless in failing to control his mount, Backwoods Boogie, leaving the starting gate, impeding several horses, and causing the horse Trumpence to fall, which resulted in a fatal injury to Trumpence.”

The race was immediately suspended and declared no contest, due to the fallen horse.

Concepcion, a native of Puerto Rico, has ridden 169 winners from 840 starters in 2023, and won the leading rider title at the Laurel Park Spring Meet earlier this year.

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