Horse Racing Free Tips

Wellington Wonder Jumps From Maiden Win To Dominate First Lady Stakes

It was finally time for Wellington Wonder to shine. Fresh off her maiden-breaking win in her last start, the Warrior's Reward filly blasted by her opponents for a dominant win in the 18th running of the $100,000 Indiana First Lady Stakes Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Indiana Grand.

Trained by Michelle Lovell, Wellington Wonder started her journey from post five in the seven-filly lineup for jockey Alex Achard. Race favorite Copper Nickel and Rodney Prescott along with Nothingbutflowers and DeShawn Parker moved out for the lead, challenging each other for the top spot. Wellington Wonder opted to sit outside of Mintchocolatechip and Tommy Pompell, gapping several lengths off the top two.

Down the backstretch, Serena Beck and Emmanuel Esquivel made a big move around Wellington Wonder and Mintchocolatechip in pursuit of the leaders, catching up with the top two around the final turn of the one mile and 70-yard race. Wellington Wonder began moving up midway through the turn and at the top of the stretch, had a perfect shot to take control of the field. She continued to increase her advantage, winning by six and one-quarter lengths at the finish in 1:44.48. Serena Beck finished second over Dontyouremember and Jermaine Bridgmohan for third.

“She just keeps improving, she's always there,” said Achard, who has ridden the Wellington Wonder in all six of her career starts. “Today was a tough race. She doesn't like the dirt in her face. When the seven (Serena Beck) went by us, we gave up going with her because I knew that wasn't what was best. She is just consistent and gave me everything she's got. She is something special.”

A surprise to bettors, Wellington Wonder paid $22.20, $6.80, $3.80 across the board. It was her second win in four starts for 2020 for owners Jerry Romans, Charlie Spiring and Zoom and Fish Stable Inc., who purchased her from the Swifty Farm consignment as a yearling at the Fasig Tipton Sale in Kentucky for $25,000.

“This is a great group of friends that own this filly,” said Lovell, who is based at Churchill Downs with 20 horses. “They bought her at the sale. We have taken our time with her. We gave her the winter off, not because there was anything wrong, but because she is a big filly and we wanted to take our time because she's Indiana bred. We wanted to get her ready for Indiana and the summer stakes races. She's the only Indiana bred I have in my barn.”

Wellington Wonder earned her first stakes win in the effort. It also marked the first career stakes victory for Achard, who has been riding stateside for the past two years after relocating to the United States from his native France.

“I'm so happy for Alex,” added Lovell. “When he first got here (Midwest), I saw him win for someone else and thought he could really ride. He has always liked this filly and he knows her really well. She only has one big stride and he knows how to time his move. He works so hard, so I'm glad to see him get his first stakes win.”

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Maximum Security Rises To The Top Of Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Fresh off his front-running victory in last Saturday's TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar, 4-year-old Maximum Security has taken over the No. 1 position from 3-year-old Tiz the Law in the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The 1 ¼-mile Classic, scheduled to be run on Nov. 7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., is the climactic race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 13. A list of voting members can be found here.

Maximum Security, owned by Gary and Mary West, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, garnered 267 votes. Trained by Bob Baffert, Maximum Security won the Pacific Classic by 3 lengths over Sharp Samurai to improve his record to 3-for-3 this year, which includes wins in the inaugural Saudi Cup and the San Diego Handicap (G2). Maximum Security was tied for the No. 1 spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings with Tom's d'Etat in the third week.

Tiz the Law (256 votes), now in second-place, is preparing for the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (G1) after his dominant win in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1). On Sunday (Aug. 23), Tiz the Law, who won the Belmont Stakes (G1), breezed five furlongs in 59.47 over Saratoga's main track for trainer Barclay Tagg.

GMB Racing's Tom's d'Etat (213 votes), trained by Al Stall Jr., drops from second to third place. Prior to his third-place finish in the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, Tom's d'Etat won the Oaklawn Mile and the Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs.

WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing's Improbable (192 votes), retains fourth place. The 4-year-old chestnut son of City Zip, also trained by Baffert, earned a “Win and You're In” automatic starting position into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic with his 2-length victory in the Whitney.

Kentucky Derby contender Art Collector (105 votes) jumped from seventh to fifth-place. Owned by Bruce Lunsford and trained by Tom Drury Jr., the 3-year-old son of Bernardini is undefeated in four starts this year, including victories in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and the Ellis Park Derby.

W.S. Farish's 4-year-old Code of Honor (98 votes) remains in sixth place. Trained by Claude R. “Shug” McGaughey III, Code of Honor, a chestnut son of Noble Mission (GB), won the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park in June, and was recently fourth in the Whitney.

Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards (97 votes) drops from fifth to seventh place. Trained by Bret Calhoun, the 4-year-old By My Standards, finished second in the Whitney last time out, after winning the New Orleans Handicap (G2) and the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

Bloom Racing, Madaket Stables and Allen Racing's 5-year-old mare Midnight Bisou and

Juddmonte Farms' 4-year-old Tacitus are tied in eighth place with 74 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou, who moved up from ninth place, captured the “Win and You're In” Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, and finished second as the odds-on favorite in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (G1).

Tacitus, trained by Bill Mott, won the Suburban Stakes (G2) by 8 ¾ lengths at Belmont Park. He is expected to run next in the Woodward (G1) at Saratoga on Sept. 5.

CRK Stable's 3-year-old Honor A. P. is now back in the top 10, rising from 11th place last week. Trained by John Shirreffs, Honor A. P., winner of the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 Saturday (Aug. 22) at Del Mar in preparation for the Kentucky Derby.

R.A Hill Stable and Gatsas Stables' Vekoma (46 votes), winner of both the Runhappy Carter (G1) and the Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), dropped out of the top 10 and is now in 11th place.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 26, 2020*

RANK	HORSE	TOTAL VOTES	FIRST-PLACE VOTES
1	Maximum Security	267	13
2	Tiz the Law	256	11
3	Tom's d'Etat	213	4
4	Improbable	192	0
5	Art Collector	105	0
6	Code of Honor	98	0
7	By My Standards	97	0
8	Midnight Bisou	74	0
8	Tacitus	74	0
10	Honor A. P.	67	0

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

In the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

The 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be televised live on NBC.

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Old Friends Announces Online Auction Of Premier Racing Memorabilia

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility based in Georgetown, KY., today announced plans for a landmark online auction series that will feature treasured pieces from one of the foremost private collections of racing memorabilia in the United States.

The auction series is a collaboration between Old Friends and the estate of Julie Albright, a longtime racing supporter and collector, and will be highlighted by original saddle cloths, collectible stallion halters, farm, training, and race-worn horse shoes, tickets, programs, and much more from some of America's most accomplished equine athletes. A portion of the sale proceeds will benefit the non-profit organization.

The first in the series of online auctions will launch on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 pm (EST) and sales will be offered weekly throughout the fall via the Old Friends eBay store. Click here and choose Special Memorabilia Sale on left. (Note: pages will not be live until 6 pm Sunday)

Thoroughbred heroes represented include: popular stakes winners Lava Man, Lost in the Fog, and Medaglia D'Oro; noted stallions Giant's Causeway, Scat Daddy, and War Front; classic winners Afleet Alex, Empire Maker, Fusaichi Pegasus, Giacomo, Jazil, Point Given, and Rags to Riches; and Breeders' Cup champions A.P. Indy, Azeri, Curlin, Da Hoss, Kona Gold, Silverbulletday, and Unbridled.

Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity presented by the collaboration.

“We are very excited that we are able to offer such incredible memorabilia from some of the greatest racing moments of the last 20 years,” Blowen said. “Like many non-profits, 2020 has been a challenging year for us. But this online auction series presents an opportunity to finish strong. We owe that to our residents.”

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Keeneland To Offer Drive Thru Betting On Kentucky Oaks, Derby Days

Keeneland's Drive Thru Betting will be open Friday, Sept. 4 and Saturday, Sept. 5 to accept wagers on the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and all the races on those two days from Churchill Downs.

Drive Thru Betting will be located behind the Keeneland Entertainment Center, which can be accessed via Gate 1 at Man o' War Boulevard. All patrons will complete a health screening and temperature check at Gate 1.

Keeneland will not be offering any other Oaks or Derby events except for Drive Thru Betting.

Click here for more information.

Here are additional details about Drive Thru Betting:

Kentucky Oaks Day – Friday, Sept. 4

· Drive Thru Betting will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Six windows will be available.

· Advance wagering for the Kentucky Derby full card and Oaks/Derby Double will be available.

· First post at Churchill is 11 a.m. Post time for the Oaks is 5:45 p.m.

· Full-card simulcasting programs are $4 each.

· A limited number of Kentucky Oaks souvenir programs will be available for $5 each.

· The Official Kentucky Derby Program will be available at noon for $6 each.

Kentucky Derby Day – Saturday, Sept. 5

· Drive Thru Betting will be open from 7 a.m. until the Derby post time (7:01 p.m.). Eight windows will be available.

· First post at Churchill is 11 a.m.

· Full-card simulcasting programs are $4 each.

· Official Kentucky Derby Programs are $6 each.

Keeneland Select always open

Fans also may wager on all the racing action from Churchill online through Keeneland Select, which enables players to watch and wager on racing from tracks around the world. Users earn lucrative rewards and support Keeneland's mission to invest in Thoroughbred racing. A portion of Keeneland Select's profits are reinvested in the sport through increased purses, fan development, player development and more. Click here for more information.

Red Mile simulcasting is available

At Red Mile, the historic harness track near downtown Lexington where Keeneland offers simulcast wagering, advance wagering on the Oaks and Derby cards begins Thursday, Sept. 3 at approximately 11:45 a.m.

Simulcasting is available on the second floor only. There is no reserved seating, and seating will be first come, first served. Seating is extremely limited due to social distancing guidelines, and all patrons must wear masks.

Parking and admission are free.

On Friday, Sept. 4, wagering on the Oaks card and advance wagering on the Derby card begins at 10 a.m.

On Derby Day, wagering at Red Mile will open at 10 a.m.

On both days, players who want to wager and leave will be able to “Park and Bet” by making their wagers trackside.

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