Breeders' Cup Win and You're In | Horse Racing Free Tips

Smooth Like Strait Likely Favorite In Monday’s ‘Win And You’re In’ Shoemaker Mile

Cannon Thoroughbreds' consistent Smooth Like Strait heads a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in Monday's Grade 1, $300,000 Shoemaker Mile, one of three Grade 1 stakes on a nine-race Memorial Day program at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the nominated winner of the Shoemaker Mile will be entitled to an automatic entry to the 2021 Breeders' Cup Mile Turf, to be run at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Smooth Like Strait, a four-time graded stakes winner on turf, will face stiff competition, headed perhaps by Phil D'Amato's Say the Word, who was supplemented at a cost of $6,000.

A 4-year-old colt by Midnight Lute, Smooth Like Strait comes off a pair of neck defeats—a third place finish in the G1 Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on May 1 at Churchill Downs and in the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita on March 6.

A three-quarter length winner of the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile three starts back on Dec. 26, Smooth Like Strait, dating back to his 2 ½-length win in the G2 La Jolla Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 9, has been favored in six of his last seven starts, all graded stakes, and he's won three of them.

With regular rider Umberto Rispoli back aboard, Smooth Like Strait, who earned a best last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 100 in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, is 14-6-3-2 overall with earnings of $753,823.

An impressive 1 ½-length winner of the G2 Elkhorn Stakes going 1 1/2 miles over a soft turf at Keeneland April 17, Say the Word was second, beaten three quarters of a length two starts back going the same distance here in the G3 San Luis Rey Stakes on March 20.

A 6-year-old Ontario/Canadian-bred gelding by More Than Ready, Say the Word, who will be cutting back to a flat mile for the first time since Sept. 1, 2019, will be making his fifth start for D'Amato on Monday. With Flavien Prat engaged, he's well-spotted for owners Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm.

A G1 winner in his final start at Woodbine Race Course on Oct. 18, Say the Word brings an overall mark of 29-6-3-5 and earnings of $609,292 to Monday's Shoe Mile.

GRADE 1 SHOEMAKER MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS

IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 9 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Next Shares—Trevor McCarthy—122
Smooth Like Strait—Umberto Rispoli—124
Crossfirehurricane—Mario Gutierrez—122
Restrainedvengeance—Tyler Baze—122
Raymundos Secret—Juan Hernandez—124
Whisper Not—Geovanni Franco—122
Say the Word—Flavien Prat—124

First post time for a nine-race card on Monday is at 1 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Gran Alegria Earns Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Berth With VIctoria Mile Score

Sunday Racing's 5-year-old mare Gran Alegria (JPN) dominated Sunday's 1-mile, US$2.1 million Victoria Mile (G1) on turf at Tokyo Racecourse, surging to the front in the final furlong to post a 4four-length win over longshot Rambling Alley (JPN). With this victory, Gran Alegria earned an automatic starting position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

Trained by Kazuo Fujisawa and ridden by Christophe Lemaire, Gran Alegria, a bay daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) out of the Tapit mare Tapitsfly, won her fifth career Group 1 race. The odds-on favorite in the 18-horse field, Gran Alegria completed the mile in 1:31 over a course listed as good to firm.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Gran Alegria to start in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Breeders' Cup also will provide a minimum travel allowance of US$40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

Tapitsfly, Gran Alegria's dam, won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

Breaking from stall six, Gran Alegria settled in mid-division around 10^th place from the front-runner Christie (JPN). Taking an outer route turning the corners, Gran Alegria made a bid from around the 400-meter pole and promptly took the lead over 7-1 second-choice Resistencia (JPN) 200 meters from the finish. Gran Alegria further accelerated with a powerful drive to the wire.

“She was very strong as we had all expected,” commented Lemaire, who won his 38^th JRA Group 1 race and his 1,400^th overall victory in Japan. “She's not a very good starter so we settled in mid-division, but she raced in good rhythm. After I took her to the outside entering the lane, she showed a remarkable response and geared up on her own. She showed that she's at a different level than her competitors and will probably win more G1 titles going forward.”

Tenth pick Rambling Alley hugged the rail in 11th eying Gran Alegria on the outside. The 5-year-old dark bay swung to the outside entering the lane and chased the race favorite persistently until the wire, nailing Magic Castle (JPN) in her last stride for a runner-up effort. Fifth choice Magic Castle saved ground, around ninth, inside Gran Alegria, met traffic at the top of the stretch but showed sustaining speed and passed the tenacious Resistencia 100 meters out. Although overtaken by fast-closing Rambling Alley just before the wire, Magic Castle held off the rest of the field to complete a 1-2-3 finish by filly and mares sired by Deep Impact.

Gran Alegria, the 2020 Best Sprinter or Miler in Japan, became the first horse to win all three of the JRA's G1 mile titles for 4-year-olds and up, which included her Yasuda Kinen and Mile Championship titles last year. Her other two G1 victories were the 2019 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas, 1,600m) and last year's Sprinters Stakes (1,200m).

Now 8 of 12 lifetime, Gran Alegria, bred by Northern Farm, came into Sunday's race off a fourth-place finish in the 1 ¼-mile Osaka Ha (G1) at Hanshin on April 4 over a yielding course.

Lemaire won his third Victoria Mile. He captured the 2017 race on Admire Lead (JPN) and aboard the brilliant champion Almond Eye (JPN) last year.

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‘Alegria’ Books Breeders’ Cup Berth With Victoria Mile Score

Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) put her stamp on the G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo on Sunday, a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. The 2020 Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler was winning her fifth Group 1 race when drawing off to win by four lengths over the good to firm ground.

Bet down to 30 cents on the dollar, Gran Alegria perched in midfield as Christie (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) set a demanding tempo. Beginning to make inroads toward the front inside the final 600 metres, the Sunday Racing colourbearer burst to the head of affairs at the 150-metre mark and quickly distanced herself by an astonishing four lengths. Rambling Alley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was second, a neck ahead of Magic Castle (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who was a like margin to the good of Dirndl (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}).

“She was very strong as we had all expected,” commented jockey Christophe Lemaire, who won his 38th JRA Group 1 race and his 1,400th overall victory in Japan. “She's not a very good starter so we settled in mid-division, but she raced in good rhythm. After I took her to the outside entering the lane, she showed a remarkable response and geared up on her own. She showed that she's at a different level than her competitors and will probably win more Group 1 titles going forward.”

A winner of the 2019 G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas, Gran Alegria ran second in her 2020 bow, the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen last March, but then rattled off three Group 1s on the bounce-the June 7 Yasuda Kinen, the Oct. 4 G1 Sprinters S. and the G1 Mile Championship. Named the 2020 Japanese Champion Sprinter/Miler, the now 5-year-old mare ran fourth in the G1 Osaka Hai on Apr. 4.

Pedigree Notes
One of 48 Group 1 winners for her late supersire, Gran Alegria also has the second highest tally of top-level victories of Deep Impact progeny with five behind just Gentildonna (Jpn) (7). To date, the former Shadai Stallion Station supremo has sired 175 black-type winners 142 of them at the group level. In addition to Gran Alegria, he is also responsible for Japanese listed winner and group-placed Arusha (Jpn), who is also out of a Tapit mare. Tapit's daughters have produced five Grade/Group 1 winners among 43 black-type winners.

One of two winners from two foals to race for her dam, Gran Alegria is the star offspring of the late Listed Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress Tapitsfly (Tapit), who would go on to win both the GI Longines Just a Game S. and GI First Lady S. as a 5-year-old. Knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.85 million at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November Sale, Tapitsfly's first foal is Gran Alegria after being barren in 2015.

Saturday, Tokyo, Japan
VICTORIA MILE-G1, ¥204,960,000, Tokyo, 5-16, 4yo/up, f, 1600mT, 1:31.00, fm.
1–GRAN ALEGRIA (JPN), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Tapitsfly (MGISW-US, $1,495,503), by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Flying Marlin, by Marlin
                3rd Dam: Morning Dove, by Fortunate Prospect
O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Kazuo Fujisawa;
J-Christophe Lemaire. ¥108,820,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 3yo
Filly-Jpn, Ch. Sprinter-Jpn, Ch. Miler-Jpn, 12-8-1-1. Werk Nick
   Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rambling Alley (Jpn), 121, m, 5, Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Blooming Alley (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S.
                2nd Dam: Princess Olivia, by Lycius
                3rd Dam: Dance Image (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥43,092,000.
3–Magic Castle (Jpn), 121, f, 4, Deep Impact(Jpn)
                1st Dam: So Magic (Jpn), by Symboli Kris S.
                2nd Dam: Xua (Ire), by Fairy King
                3rd Dam: Bold Starlet (GB), by Precocious (GB)
O-Shadai Race Horse; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥26,546,000.
Margins: 4, NK, NK. Odds: 0.30, 74.20, 13.70.
Also Ran: Dirndl (Jpn), Shigeru Pink Dia (Jpn), Resistencia (Jpn), Danon Fantasy (Jpn), Des Ailes (Jpn), Maltese Diosa (Jpn), Christie (Jpn), Sound Chiara (Jpn), Red Belle Deesse (Jpn), Ria Amelia (Jpn), Terzetto (Jpn), Smile Kana (Jpn), Affranchir (Jpn), Pourville (Jpn), Iberis (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart & video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Draw Favours Gran Alegria in Victoria Mile

Having run with credit when fourth trying the 2000-metres for the first time in the G1 Osaka Hai last month, champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) returns to a much more manageable trip as the warm favourite for the G1 Victoria Mile at the Fuchu Racecourse in Tokyo. The race serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar in November.

After taking down the colours of 2020 Victoria Mile heroine and former Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) for a female 1-2 in the G1 Yasuda Kinen over this course and distance last June, the daughter of US MGISW Tapitsfly (Tapit) bested future G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint winner Danon Smash (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Sprinters' S. (1200m) in October. The bay closed out a magnificent season with an eye-catching success in the G1 Mile Championship and, having passed on the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, was first-up in the Osaka Hai, in which easy underfoot conditions blunted her otherwise stinging late run and she could do no better than a meritorious fourth to the unbeaten Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). She is drawn nicely in gate six, with Christophe Lemaire back in the boot.

“The horse is calm and has done what I expected,” commented trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. “Last time the distance and the ground went against her, but she still ran pretty well. She'll be back at Tokyo and over a mile, where she's had success.”

Terzetto (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) carries the Silk Racing colours same as Almond Eye and is the 1600-metre doppelganger of Lei Papale. Five-for-six in her career, with her only defeat coming over 10 furlongs, the bay has won four on the trot, including a fast-finishing tally against the boys in the G3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy going this distance at Nakayama Apr. 3.

“She's looked good in training, moving well, and she displays her natural ability,” said trainer Shoichiro Wada. “It won't be easy against the strong horses here, but she handles challenges well, and it will be interesting to see what she can do. She'll be going into the race in good condition.”

Terzetto is out of a half-sister to Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), recent winner of the G1 FWD QE II Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.

Des Ailes (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), a daughter of 2014 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and Prix de Diane winner Avenir Certain (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), found the Oaks distance of 2400 metres a task too tall last season, but has found her niche over shorter trips and enters this return to Group 1 company off a neck defeat of Magic Castle (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the se-restricted G2 Hanshin Himba S. going the metric mile Apr. 10.

Resistencia (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}), an unlucky runner-up in the Takamatsunomiya Kinen at the end of March, fits with these on class, but drew miserably in stall 18 and is accordingly double digits in the market

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