September, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘I Have Been Crazy Before’: St. Lewis Shoots For Another Big Upset With 50-1 Modern Era In Pennsylvania Derby

In the days leading up to the 43rd running of the Grade 1, $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby, trainer Uriah St. Lewis has heard the talk.

And, to be honest, he's heard it before.

He has absolutely no chance to win the race.

When St. Lewis, who has been training at Parx since 1987, hears that, he smiles.

“Everyone is talking, saying I'm crazy,” St. Lewis said Friday morning at his barn on the Parx backstretch.

Crazy because he is running a horse in the Derby named Modern Era, who is 50-1 on the morning line and is winless in eight career starts. Then, more grins from St. Lewis.

“I have been crazy before with Discreet Lover,” he said. “I have been crazy before with Informative.”

A little history lesson here. St. Lewis won the 2018 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park with Discreet Lover, who was 45-1. St. Lewis rocked the tote board at Monmouth Park in 2021 when he won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile with 79-1 Informative.

Of course, for every blockbuster win, there might have been 20 losses. Or more. But know this: St. Lewis is not afraid to take a shot. Never has been, never will. For his career, he has 439 wins in 6,995 starts.

He wants to be a player in the biggest games. And here he is.

“Sometimes, you've got to be crazy to win it,” he said, still smiling. “If you don't buy a lottery ticket, you can't win. I bought my ticket.”

Modern Era, a son of Honor Code is owned by St. Lewis' Trin-Brook Stable. He isn't getting many second looks heading into the Derby although he is coming one of his better efforts, a third in his last start at Monmouth.

Early in his career, Modern Era was walking the shedrow at St. Lewis' Parx barn and endured one of the more bizarre injuries horse racing has seen. Modern Era got startled for an unknown reason and ended up smashing a barn window with his right back leg.

St. Lewis said it took a month before a piece of glass could be removed. Daily soaks with Epsom salts did the trick. They also cost the colt seven months before he could return to the races.

St. Lewis, originally from Trinidad, bought him for $50,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-old sale.

He isn't scared to run him in the premier event at his home track.

“We've got to get by Bobby (Baffert, who has the favorite in Reincarnate),” St. Lewis said. “There are a whole bunch of them in here … Brad Cox (Saudi Crown). But, hey, if you aren't in there, you don't have a chance.”

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‘It’s A Huge Honor’: Jessica Paquette Prepares For Historic Race Calls At Parx

Jessica Paquette has weathered plenty in her almost year on the job at Parx Racing. She's handled the ups and downs, learning the craft as the track announcer at the suburban Philadelphia racetrack that Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million betPARX Pennsylvania Derby and strong supporting card.

Now she's ready for another type of weather when the blast of a tropical storm hits the area Friday night and Saturday.

“The first race I called was at Suffolk Downs after a tornado and T.D. (Thornton, the track's regular announcer) was stuck in traffic,” said the 38-year-old Paquette, who cut her teeth in racing at the East Boston oval before gigs at Sam Houston Race Park, Colonial Downs and now Parx. “It's pretty fitting that I called my first race in a tornado and this one could be in a tropical storm. It's kind of poetic, but maybe it's me.”

Paquette, who jokes that she's been called the “Lady Announcer,” will make history Saturday as the first female to call a Grade 1 stakes in North America. She'll call the $1 million Cotillion at 5:20 p.m. ET and the 43rd running of the Pennsylvania Derby at 6:10 p.m.

“First and hopefully not the last,” Paquette said. “It's a huge honor to get even get the tiniest footnote in the history books of the sport that we've all come to devote our entire lives to. The thing with working in racing, it isn't just what we do, it's who we are. Our entire sense of self gets woven into it.”

Paquette worked as the paddock host and analyst for the last two Pennsylvania Derby Days and took the full-time announcing job Nov. 15, 2022. She admits it's been a rocky road learning the craft, while receiving plenty of positive feedback from her peers and others involved in the Thoroughbred industry.

A lifelong racing fan and equestrian from New England, Paquette feels up to the challenge of the job on a day-to-day basis and on Pennsylvania racing's biggest day.

“The good thing is I'm a fundamentally anxious person, so I'm always probably like a 7 1/2 on a scale of 1 to 10. This has really benefited me horse showing as well. I don't really get more anxious. I'm just always sort of anxious. But I want to do a good job on a bottom non-winners-of-two-lifetime as much as I do on a big day. The preparation remains the same and I'm a big believer in control what you can control. And in this case, I can control how prepared I am, my attitude and how I react to things.”

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Sky Racing World: 3-Year-Olds Storm Into Pennsylvania

There may be up to half an inch of rain expected on Saturday at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Penn., but the track's biggest card of the year awaits with $1 million purses on the line for 3-year-olds of both genders.

The Pennsylvania Derby drew a field of 11 led by Bob Baffert-trained Reincarnate, while the Cotillion drew nine entrants led by Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous for trainer Brendan Walsh.

The Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion headline Saturday's card that also includes the $400,000, Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs; the $300,000 Parx Dirt Mile Stakes for 3-year-olds and up; the $250,000 Grade 3 Turf Monster Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at five furlongs on the turf; and the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles.

The card also features a pair of $150,000 events for Pennsylvania-bred and sired 2-year-olds in the Imply Stakes and Prince Lucky Stakes; and the $100,000 Plum Pretty Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Alphabet Soup Stakes for Pennsylvania-bred 3-year-olds and up.

Also on Saturday are the G3 Noble Damsel Stakes at Aqueduct, and a trio of listed stakes on tap for Churchill's Downs After Dark card.

On Sunday, a field of thirteen 3-year-olds will contest the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3), the headline event of 10 races at Remington Park on a program that also includes the Remington Park Oaks (G3) and six other stakes.

Saturday

4:35 p.m. – Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing

The six-furlong Gallant Bob drew a field of 10 for the 2023 edition, led by G3 Chick Lang Stakes winner Ryvit for trainer Steve Asmussen. The son of Competitive Edge will be looking to find his way back to the winner's circle after two off-the-board finishes.

Second choice on the morning line is Damon's Mound for trainer Michelle Lovell. The son of Girvin won the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes at Charles Town last out, and may be regaining the form that saw him win the G2 Saratoga Special as a juvenile.

Third choice is Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee Nautical Star, who broke his maiden at Gulfstream in February before finishing ninth after a bad start in the G1 Florida Derby. The Dixie Chatter colt returned from a four-month layoff to win an allowance race at Gulfstream over seven furlongs on Aug. 18, and could be formidable if he can get a clean trip.

Gallant Bob Entries

5:20 p.m. – Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing

Pretty Mischievous looks to move a step closer to the 3-year-old filly championship for 2023 when she takes on eight others in Saturday's $1 million Cotillion. Pretty Mischievous drew post three and was installed as the 2-1 favorite. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous comes into the Cotillion with three consecutive Grade 1 victories. The daughter of Into Mischief upset the Kentucky Oaks at odds of 10-1, won the Grade 1 Acorn five weeks later at Belmont Park, and added the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga Race Course after Maple Leaf Mel broke down in the final strides.

Trainer Ken McPeek sends out Grade 1 winner Defining Purpose, the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. The daughter of Cross Traffic won the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks two starts back at Horseshoe Indianapolis and finished third, beaten 5 ½ lengths, last time out in the Grade 1 Alabama. Seventh in the Kentucky Oaks, Defining Purpose scored a 20-1 upset of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes in early April at Keeneland Race Course.

Trainer Doug O'Neill ships 5-1 third choice Ceiling Crusher in from Southern California for the Cotillion. The California-bred daughter of Mr. Big exits a six-length victory in the Grade 1 Torrey Pines Stakes Sept. 2 at Del Mar. She's won four of five starts, all as the favorite, by a combined 39 lengths, and drew post three for the Cotillion.

Occult, winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks last time out; and Hoosier Philly, a Grade 2 winner at 2 who topped leading 3-year-old Wet Paint two starts back in the Monomoy Girl Stakes at Ellis Park, are co-third choices at 6-1. Grade 3 Iowa Oaks runner-up Imonra, Cathryn Sophia winner Foggy Night, Saratoga allowance winner and Wilton Stakes runner-up Just Katherine, and Cathryn Sophia third Majestic Creed complete the field.

Cotillion Entries

6:10 p.m. – Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing

Bob Baffert will be looking for his record fifth victory when he sends out favored Reincarnate in the 43rd running of Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby. Reincarnate was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the Pennsylvania Derby, despite drawing the far outside post in the field of 11. The son of Good Magic last raced July 8 when he won the Los Alamitos Derby gate-to-wire by 2 1/2 lengths.

Saudi Crown, trained by Brad Cox, is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The son of Always Dreaming has been idle since a gutty second-place finish behind Forte in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 29. He was also second in the Grade 3 Dwyer May 21 at Belmont Park. He will be ridden by Florent Geroux.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle Magic Tap, the 5-1 third choice on the morning line. The lightly raced son of Tapit will be making his stakes debut in the Derby after winning an allowance race by a neck at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 13. Magic Tap, who will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, has two wins and two seconds in his four career starts, all of them this year.

Scotland,trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, will attempt to build off his sixth in the Grade 1 Travers Aug. 26 at Saratoga Race Course as he makes his first start since with regular rider Junior Alvarado. He is the 6-1 fourth choice on the morning line.

Il Miracolo (8-1) comes into the Derby after winning the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes Aug. 22 at Parx for trainer Antonio Sano.

Gilmore was fourth in the Grade 2 Amsterdam July 28 at Saratoga and then won an allowance at the Spa Aug 30. The Brendan Walsh-trained son of Twirling Candy is 10-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who rode him in his first start nine races ago.

Dreamlike, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, is 10-1 on the morning line and is coming off a pair of Saratoga races. The son of Gun Runner broke his maiden July 14 and was fifth in an allowance Aug. 13. Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride.

Completing the field are Daydreaming Boy, conditioned by Parx trainer Louis Linder and to be ridden by Dexter Haddock, who was third in the Smarty Jones; West Coast Cowboy, who was second in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby and is from the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr. and keeps rider Tyler Conner; Crupi, also from Pletcher, won an Aug. 18 allowance on a muddy track at Saratoga; and maiden Modern Era from the barn of Parx regular Uriah St. Lewis, who will be making his stakes debut after eight maiden starts.

Pennsylvania Derby Entries

Sunday

8:48 p.m. – Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park

Thirteen 3-year-olds drew into the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3); the field is the largest for the Oklahoma Derby since 14 started in the 1 1/8-mile race in 2014.

Hit Show has been made the morning-line favorite at 3-1 odds and will leave the gate from the outside post 13. Trained by Brad Cox, Flavien Prat will ride. Hit Show won the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct on Feb. 11 before running second in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April. He eventually finished fifth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and then fourth in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes. Hit Show most recently was fifth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes in July at Saratoga in upstate New York.

West Virginia Derby (G3) winner Red Route One is the second choice on the morning-line at 7-2 odds. Trained by Steve Asmussen, he will be guided by Joel Rosario. The colt by Gun Runner, owned and bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds, was second in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park in February. Red Route One was fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and then eighth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) before scoring in West Virginia. Red Route One competed in the Dueling Grounds Derby (G3) at Kentucky Downs at 1 5/16 miles over turf on Sept. 3, finishing eighth in his most recent start.

Oklahoma Derby Entries

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Lookin At Lucky Accounts For Top Sellers On Penultimate Day at Keeneland September

Coolmore's Lookin At Lucky was responsible for the top-selling colt and priciest filly as the Keeneland September Sale reached its second-last day of trade Friday afternoon in Lexington.

Robert Clay's Grandview Equine signed for a pair of seven-figure yearlings–colts by Into Mischief and Curlin–during the select Book 1 and 2 sessions early last week, and the operation remained focused on the task at hand all the way through Book 6, going to $120,000 for hip 3910. The Apr. 27 foal was consigned to the sale by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa, which acquired the stakes-winning Vast (Lea) for $210,000 with this colt in utero at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. A half-sister to MSW & GSP Sower (Flatter), the chestnut colt hails from the family of stakes winners Cease (War Chant), Total (Forest Wildcat) and Mucho (Blame).

Hal and Patti Earnhardt, whose recognizable 'NO BULL' silks were carried aboard two-time Eclipse Award and five-time Grade I winner 'TDN Rising Star' Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie), purchased the session's top filly, hip 3831, for $85,000. The Apr. 5 foal is out of the winning Roadbug (Quality Road), whose granddam Diplomat Lady (Forestry) won the 2005 GI Hollywood Starlet S. Hip 3831 was prepared for the sale by Eaton Sales.

The auction house reported sales on 187 yearlings Friday for gross receipts of $3,060,600, good for an average of $16,367 and median price of $11,000. Those numbers were down by 5.7% and 26.7%, respectively, from last year's figures. With Saturday's 12th and final session remaining, 2,579 yearlings have sold for $391,710,300, down 2.8% from 2022. The cumulative average of $151,885 was essentially static when compared to last year, while the median declined by 6.3% to $75,000.

For full results, visit www.keeneland.com.

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