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Blitzkrieg, Espinoza Steal The Show In Santa Anita’s American Stakes

With a solid work under his belt and a post position advantage, trainer Doug O'Neill's Blitzkrieg was hustled to the lead and made every pole a winning one as he took Sunday's Grade III, $100,000 American Stakes by one length at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza, the 5-year-old gelding by War Front got a flat mile on turf in 1:33.46.

In his second Santa Anita start since running in four races in Dubai over the winter, Blitzkrieg broke from post four and enjoyed a half length advantage on speedy Bolo, who broke from the far outside, into the Club House turn.

Although he set brisk fractions, Blitzkrieg was never headed as he opened up 1 ½ lengths on Bolo into the far turn and he was large and in charge, leading by two lengths turning for home and was never challenged while holding classy Bowies Hero at bay late.

“His last work was phenomenal,” said Leandro Mora, assistant to O'Neill, who was returning from New York. “He went six furlongs, on his own, in 58 and four (fifths) and galloped out in 1:12. He worked so good, we were tempted to put him back on the dirt, but we stuck to the plan and I'm glad we did. I told Victor that with Bolo drawn way outside, let's go and I think maybe we can steal it. He's back no question. This is the horse we thought we had all along.”

Well beaten at 57-1 in the Grade I Shoemaker Mile (turf) at Santa Anita on May 25, Blitzkrieg was off at 7-1 in a field of nine 3-year-olds and up and paid $16.80, $7.80 and $4.60.

Owned by R3 Racing, LLC and Calara Farms, Blitzkrieg, who was claimed for $25,000 11 starts back in January, 2019, got his second graded stakes win and now has six wins from 21 career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, he has earnings of $388,097.

“The pace was pretty quick, but he was doing it so easy,” said Espinoza. “For me, every time I ride a horse like him with speed, I like to just sit up there and have fun.”

A two-time Grade I winner who had been away since running fifth in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Mile Nov. 2, Bowies Hero was in high gear late under Umberto Rispoli, finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Sharp Samurai. Off at 6-1, Bowies Hero paid $6.40 and $3.80.

A multiple graded stakes winner who had been idle since Aug. 18, Sharp Samurai, who was attentive to the pace throughout under Abel Cedillo, dead heated for third with his stablemate Souter and paid $2.40 to show.

Souter, ridden by Evin Roman, was off at 72-1 and paid $8.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.02, 46.42, 1:10.03 and 1:21.66.

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Baffert Unveils Another Flashy Into Mischief Filly

Hall of Famer Bob Baffert sent out ‘TDN Rising Star’ Gamine to a jaw-dropping victory in Belmont’s GI Acorn S. Saturday, and unleashed another talented 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief Sunday evening in the form of PROVOCATION (f, Into Mischief–Meadow Breeze, by Meadowlake). The $350,000 OBS April pick-up (:20.3) was bet early and often as if the race had already been run off of a strong series of local works (see May 29, 6f, 1:12 3/5, 1/8 via XBTV). Away at 3-5, the bay zipped away to take command while a bit off the rail through splits of :23.05 and :45.99. Second time starting stablemate and $1-million weanling Himiko (American Pharoah) gave game chase into the lane, but Provocation was still in cruise control as she reported home some two lengths to the good in 1:16.93. Out of the Grade I-winning juvenile Meadow Breeze, Provocation is a half to ‘TDN Rising Star’ Magic Star (Scat Daddy), GSW, $180,670; and Royal Copy (Bodemeister), GISP, $138,725. Meadow Breeze was acquired for $150,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November sale while carrying Royal Copy–the same year her half-brother Overanalyze (Dixie Union) annexed the GI Arkansas Derby. Meadow Breeze’s now 2-year-old colt by Runhappy was a $475,000 KEESEP yearling. She produced an Uncle Mo filly Feb. 17. Sales history: $160,000 yrl ’18 KEESEP; $350,000 2yo ’19 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0
O-Speedway Stable LLC. B-Betz/DJ Stables/CoCo/Burns/Magers (Ky). T-Bob Baffert.

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Red King Records First Stakes Victory In San Juan Capistrano

Third in the race a year ago, Red King took center stage in the 81st renewal of the Grade III, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as he forged by odds-on favorite Ward 'n Jerry at the top of the stretch en route to an impressive 4 ¼ length win under Umberto Rispoli. Trained by Phil D'Amato, Red King, a 6-year-old horse by English Channel, navigated the marathon mile and three quarters on turf in 2:46.67.

Breaking from the top of Santa Anita's legendary Camino Real Turf Course, Red King was unhurried early and was fifth, about nine lengths off of dueling leaders Kershaw and Ward 'n Jerry. Fifth, but only five lengths back as the field angled up the backside, Red King moved into third, about 2 ½ lengths off the leaders midway around the far turn and wheeled three-deep turning for home, from where he inhaled Ward 'n Jerry approaching the furlong pole.

“Growing up here in LA, this was always one of my favorite races as a kid,” said D'Amato. “I remember I used to stand on the apron way past the wire and watch them come home in this race, just so I could take it all in. It's an amazing race and it's really cool to win it.

“My horse won his last race and that picked his confidence up. It looked like maybe the favorite moved a little soon and Umberto was in the right spot.”

A first condition allowance winner going a flat mile on turf May 24, Red King was off at 7-2 and paid $9.80, $4.80 and $2.60.

Owned by Little Red Feather Racing Gordon Jacobsen and Philip Belmonte, Red King, who is out of the A.P. Indy mare Youre Speeding, picked up his first ever stakes win and his sixth win from 27 career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, he now has earnings of $278,115.

“It was my first time going from the top of the downhill and … it is beautiful,” said Italian native Rispoli, who was also riding Red King for the first time. “The grass is amazing, it's a really good track. It's been a long time since I've gone so far in a race because in Europe, we used to go quite enough every day. But it was a good feeling, obviously you need a horse like that.”

Siberian Iris, the lone female in the lineup, rallied from far back for the place, finishing three quarters of a length in front of Ward 'n Jerry. Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke Siberian Iris was off at 7-1 and paid $6.20 and $3.20.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Ward 'n Jerry tired badly late and at 3-5, paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.21, 46.66, 1:10.66, 1:37.53, 2:04.62 and 2:30.47.

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Midnight Bisou, Serengeti Empress Set To Battle In Fleur de Lis

Bloom Racing Stable, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 2019 Champion Older Female Midnight Bisou is set to return against Joel Politti's speedy 2019 Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) winner Serengeti Empress in Saturday's 45th running of the $200,000 Fleur de Lis (GII) at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

For the sixth year in a row, the 1 1/8-mile Fleur de Lis is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” stakes event, which means the winner will be guaranteed a berth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

The Fleur de Lis – which means “Flower of the Lily” and honors the French symbol that is incorporated into the city of Louisville's Flag – will be run as Race 9 at 5:15 p.m. (all times Eastern). It will be televised live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.

Midnight Bisou (20-12-5-3—$7,250,000), trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, has been nothing short of spectacular throughout her 20-race career. The now 5-year-old mare began her career on the 2018 Road to the Kentucky Oaks with victories in the $200,000 Santa Ynez (GII), $100,000 Santa Ysabel (GIII) and $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks (GI) with previous trainer Bill Spawr. Midnight Bisou finished third behind Monomoy Girl in the 2018 Kentucky Oaks (GI).

Under the care of Asmussen, Midnight Bisou reeled off victories in the $250,000 Mother Goose (GII), $1 million Cotillion (GI), $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic (GIII), $350,000 Azeri (GII), $750,000 Apple Blossom (GI), $700,000 Ogden Phipps (GI), $150,000 Molly Pitcher (GIII), $700,000 Personal Ensign (GI) and $300,000 Beldame (GII).

Earlier this year on Feb. 29, Midnight Bisou was beaten just three-quarters of a length by Maximum Security in the inaugural $20-million Saudi Cup, which featured a field of 14 at 1 1/8 miles in the world's richest horse race at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

“Her training before we went to Saudi was just mindboggling,” Asmussen said. “It's just like it is now. We still wonder how she's able to do it so easily and so consistently. Her works at Churchill have been beautiful. I was very tempted to run her in the (June 13) Ogden Phipps and leaving She's a Julie for the Fleur de Lis. I feel like with what she's done – traveling to Saudi, taking on older boys and everyone knows the trip she got and knows the circumstances … how do you have an adjective for what she is and what she means to racing? Coming back, the next race isn't the goal for this year. The Breeders' Cup is. She is arguably the best horse in the world.”

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith will be in the irons from post No. 5.

Serengeti Empress, the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Oaks, will attempt to get the jump on Midnight Bisou as the Tom Amoss trainee will likely be the speed of the race from post 4 under Joe Talamo.

“We have all the confidence in the world of our filly,” Amoss said. “We know how she likes to go and that's to be on the lead. It's a tough matchup against a champion but the way our horse has prepared for this race has us very confident she'll put in a great performance.”

Serengeti Empress (15-6-3-1—$1,732,853) led every step of the way in last year's Kentucky Oaks. The daughter of Alternation's 3-year-old campaign included a narrow runner-up effort in the $500,000 Test (GI) and third-place finish in theLongines Distaff. In her 4-year-old campaign, Serengeti Empress was a convincing 6 ¼-length winner of the March 14 Azeri (GII).

The Fleur de Lis field also will include Jay Em Ess Stable's multiple Grade III winner Go Google Yourself (20-7-5-3—$640,959), Abbondanza Racing, Mark DeDomenico and Medallion Racing's stakes winner Motion Emotion (14-3-5-0—$454,196), Debby Oxley's recent Shawnee Stakes runner-up Chocolate Kisses (13-3-3-2—$310,910), Calumet Farm's three-time winner Red Dane (Ity) (27-3-3-4—$181,644) and Farfellow Farm's multiple graded stakes placed Another Broad (17-4-3-2—$332,605).

The Fleur de Lis field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Go Google Yourself (Brian Hernandez Jr., Paul McGee); Another Broad (John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher); Chocolate Kisses (Declan Carroll, Mark Casse); Midnight Bisou (Smith, Asmussen); Red Dane (Corey Lanerie, Charlie LoPresti); and Motion Emotion (Julien Leparoux, Richard Baltas).

All horses will tote 120 pounds except Midnight Bisou and Serengeti Empress who will carry 124.

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