Breeders' Cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weekend Lineup: Pacific Classic, Fourstardave Highlight Racing Action

Three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races are on tap for August 22 at Saratoga and Del Mar. The Pacific Classic at Del Mar is an automatic qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic, while the Del Mar Handicap offers a fees-paid entry to the Breeders' Cup Turf. At Saratoga, the Fourstardave Handicap is a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

The Pacific Classic and Del Mar Handicap will both be televised live on TVG as part of their comprehensive coverage of racing at Del Mar. In addition to Del Mar, TVG will also be broadcasting racing from Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park, Golden Gate and more all weekend.

The Fourstardave will be shown on NYRA's “Saratoga Live” telecast on FS2. “Saratoga Live” will be shown on either FS1 or FS2 through Sunday. For the complete “Saratoga Live” broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

Friday August 21

9:07 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar on TVG

K M N Racing's Sneaking Out, a 4-year-old filly with a strong resume, a Hall of Fame trainer and Del Mar's leading rider set to climb on board, is a solid favorite for the 49th edition of the Rancho Bernardo Handicap. Sneaking Out has been first or second in nine of her 11 starts. She's won a pair of stakes, most recently capturing the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos to push her bankroll to $431,441.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082120USA9-EQB.html

Saturday August 22

2:29 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on TVG

Warrior's Charge, fourth in the Grade 1 Met Mile in his last start and a close-up fourth in the 2019 Preakness Stakes, heads a compact field of six for the 85th edition of the Iselin, the feature on a 14-race card. A 4-year-old son of Munnings, Warrior's Charge launched his 2020 campaign with a win in the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn on February. 17. He followed that by finishing second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap before being beaten just two lengths in the Met Mile at Belmont Park on July 4 in his last start.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH082220USA5-EQB.html

5:46 p.m.—$400,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Gary Barber's Got Stormy will take on reigning champion turf female Uni (GB) as she looks to defend her title in the 36th running of the Fourstardave at Saratoga Race Course. Trained by Mark Casse, Got Stormy will seek to become the first back-to-back winner of the Fourstardave since two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan scored back to back victories in 2012-13 and will look to end a streak of four straight losses. Eclipse Award-winner Uni, one of four runners for trainer Chad Brown along with Raging Bull (FR), Valid Point and Without Parole (GB), will attempt to replicate her form from last year when making her second start of 2020. Uni, who was third in last year's Fourstardave, rounded out the trifecta as the favorite in her seasonal bow in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 27 at Belmont Park, where she finished 3 ½ lengths behind stablemate Newspaperofrecord.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082220USA9-EQB.html

6:05 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar on TVG

The Green Flash Handicap leads off a banner day of racing at Del Mar offering five stakes worth a total of more than $1-million. Topweighted in the Green Flash at 123 pounds – and the morning line favorite at 5-2 – is Del Secco DCS Racing's Sparky Ville, a multiple-stakes winning Candy Ride (ARG) gelding who already has a win at the session on the five-panel layout that he'll run on Saturday. Mike Smith rode the 4-year-old to a photo-finish tally on July 26 and has the call back Saturday. Jeff Bonde trains the chestnut Kentucky-bred who can claim purse earnings of $321,312.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082220USA3-EQB.html

6:36 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Seven 3-year-old fillies will match strides at in the 43rd edition of the Torrey Pines Stakes. Topping the group in the one-mile testing will be Bamford or Tabor's Uncle Mo filly Harvest Moon. The bay Kentucky-bred, who races out of the barn of trainer Simon Callaghan, has only started three times and never run versus stakes competition, but appears to have found a spot right in her wheelhouse in the Torrey Pines.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082220USA4-EQB.html

8:06 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at Del Mar on TVG

L N J Foxwoods' United will strut his stuff in the oldest stakes on the shore oval's roster, which is also a “Win and You're In” program that grants its winner a guaranteed entry with fees paid in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf. United, who has banked $1,253,549 during a career that has seen him win six of 14 starts including a three-for-three run in stakes this year, scored most recently in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar on July 26.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082220USA7-EQB.html

9:06 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at Del Mar on TVG

Eleven 3-year-old fillies will test their mettle over nine furlongs on the Del Mar turf course Saturday in the Del Mar Oaks. The likely favorite in the highly sought lawn test is Gary Barber's Laura's Light, a daughter of Constitution who has won five of her seven lifetime starts, including a last-out tally in one-mile Del Mar's San Clemente Stakes on grass July 25.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082220USA9-EQB.html

9:36 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Champion Maximum Security, the fourth-ranked horse on the latest NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, headlines the track's marquee event – the Pacific Classic. The son of New Year's Day, bred by owners Gary and Mary West, who have added partners to his ownership group in Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, will take on five rivals in the mile and a quarter for 3-year-old and up and he'll have Abel Cedillo in the irons. Cedillo rode the bay to a hard-fought nose victory in the San Diego Handicap here on July 25 in his first start in five months and first under the care of trainer Bob Baffert. The 4-year-old carried topweight of 127 pounds that day but, under the weight-for-age conditions of the “Classic,” he – and all the other runners – will go postward with 124 pounds Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082220USA10-EQB.html

Sunday August 23

5:18 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

Trainer Chad Brown will enter Sunday's Diana at Saratoga Race Course loaded for bear, saddling two former Breeders' Cup winners in Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie (IRE) as he looks to win the race for a fifth consecutive year. Sistercharlie has captured the last two runnings for Brown and will look to achieve a three-peat in headlining the six-horse field. The now 6-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie (IRE) won the 2018 Eclipse Award as champion turf female for a campaign that included her first Diana victory as well as scores in that year's Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, Grade 1 Beverly D. and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Sistercharlie's stablemate, Rushing Fall, is a five-time Grade 1 winner, including last out when she outkicked Jolie Olimpica by three-quarters of a length to repeat in the Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland. The winner of the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf is already Grade 1-winner at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5, including the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR082320USA8-EQB.html

9 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Del Mar Mile Handicap at Del Mar on TVG

Grade 1 winner Mo Forza makes just his second start of 2020 when he heads up a field of 11 in the Del Mar Mile Handicap. Trained by Peter Miller, Mo Forza concluded his 2019 campaign with four straight victories, including a triumph at Del Mar in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby. The son of Uncle Mo has not started since running ninth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes at Gulfstream Park on January 25.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR082320USA9-EQB.html

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Battaash Digs Deep To Defend His Title In Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes

Battaash showed true Champion qualities as he battled both the elements and a worthy adversary in Que Amoro to successfully defend his Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes title at York. The victory earned Battaash an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint this fall at Keeneland.

The sprinting sensation had blown everyone and everything away this season, and in truth was yet to be properly challenged on a racecourse in 2020. It was a different story Friday at a rain-soaked York as he was forced to engage in a battle down the Knavesmire.

It had looked to be going similarly to his two previous victories this season, with the Hamden Al Maktoum-owned sprinter cruising up to head the pace-setting Que Amoro with two furlongs left to run. It appeared as if that was that until Que Amoro began to dig in and it was clear she was not going down without a fight.

A battle then ensued in the final stages, and as admirably as Que Amoro fought, Battaash always seemed to find an answer. The Charlie Hills trainee managed to hold that rival at bay as the line came, giving Jim Crowley an incredible four-timer on the day.

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TVG Pacific Classic: More On The Line For Maximum Security Than $500,000 Purse, Breeders’ Cup Berth

Maximum Security, a winner of nine of 11 starts and nearly $12-million in purses, a remarkably talented and unfortunately star-crossed colt, a runner who – despite his enviable record – is looking to reestablish himself as the big dog on the American racing scene, gets his chance to do just that at Del Mar near San Diego, Calif., on Saturday when he headlines the track's headliner on a five-stakes afternoon — the Grade 1, $500,000 TVG Pacific Classic.

The son of New Year's Day, bred by owners Gary and Mary West, who have added partners to his ownership group in the European trio of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, will take on five rivals in the mile and a quarter for 3-year-old and up and he'll have Abel Cedillo in the boot for the run. Cedillo rode the bay to a hard-fought nose victory in the San Diego Handicapat Del Mar on July 25 in his first start in five months and first under the care of trainer Bob Baffert. The 4-year-old carried top weight of 127 pounds that day but, under the weight-for-age conditions of the “Classic,” he – and all the other runners – will go postward with 124 pounds Saturday.

The TVG Pacific Classic offers all the monetary and prestige advantages of a $500,000 Grade 1 race, but it also provides a notable plus in that it is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, meaning its winner gets a guaranteed entry into its designated race, one with all fees paid. In this case that race is the $7-million Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run on Saturday, November 7, at Keeneland in Lexington, KY.

Here's the field for the 30th edition of the TVG Pacific Classic from the rail out with riders and morning line odds:

C R K Stable's Midcourt (Victor Espinoza, 7/2); Hronis Racing's Higher Power (Flavien Prat, 3-1); Parque Patricios Racing Stables' Mirinaque (Tiago Pereira, 10-1); Estate of Sharon Alesia and Burns Racing's Dark Vader (Umberto Rispoli, 12-1); Maximum Security (even), and Red Barons Barn and Rancho Temescal's Sharp Samurai (Juan Hernandez, 8-1).

The TVG Pacific Classic is Race 10 on Saturday's 11-race program, the premier offering of five Graded stakes on the card. It has a $300,000 winner's share.

Maximum Security finished first in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified and placed 17th in the world's most famous race. Then this year he again finished first, this time in the world's richest race — $20-million Saudi Cup — only to have his purse money put on hold because of issues with his previous trainer and allegations of the use of drugs on his horses. The horse surely does his share with the running; he could, however, use a bit of racing luck besides.

Higher Power won this TVG Pacific Classic last year and will be a stout threat to repeat on Saturday. The 5-year-old horse by Medaglia d'Oro shows a record of five firsts and a bankroll of more than $1.5 million to his credit.

Midcourt gave Maximum Security a ferocious tussle in the mile and one-sixteenth San Diego 'Cap last month. He's a multiple-stakes winner, including the Native Diver at Del Mar last fall.

Sharp Samurai is switching from grass to dirt to try his luck Saturday. The 6-year-old gelding by First Samurai has won eight races and more than $800,000, but only shows three dirt starts from 20 total outings.

Mirinaque is a South American by way of Argentina making his U.S. bow Saturday. He was a four-time winner in his native land, among them a pair of Group 1 races.

Dark Vader will be looking for his first stakes win in the TVG Pacific Classic. He's a 5-year-old horse by Tale of Ekatai.

First post for Saturday's big program is 2 p.m.

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Sistercharlie Chasing Historic Three-Peat In Grade 1 Diana

Trainer Chad Brown will enter Sunday's Grade 1, $500,000 Diana at Saratoga Race Course loaded for bear, saddling two former Breeders' Cup winners in Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie as he looks to win the race for a fifth consecutive year.

The 82nd running of the Diana for older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the Mellon turf course will see Brown attempt his sixth win in the prestigious race, for which he has conditioned the previous four winners after first earning a victory with Zagora in 2011.

Sistercharlie has captured the last two runnings for Brown and will look to achieve a three-peat in headlining the six-horse field. The now 6-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie won the 2018 Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Female for a campaign that included her first Diana victory as well as scores in that year's Grade 1 Jenny Wiley, Grade 1 Beverly D. and Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

After ending 2018 with three straight Grade 1 wins, the Irish-bred owned by Peter Brant started 2019 with three additional victories against the highest caliber, defeating Rushing Fall by 1 ¾ lengths to repeat in the Diana before winning the Beverly D. again and adding a three-quarter length triumph in the Flower Bowl in October at Belmont Park.

All seven of Sistercharlie's North American wins have come in Grade 1s. With 10 career wins in 16 starts, she also counts a Group 3 win in the 2017 Prix Penelope in France among her accomplishments.

Sistercharlie is one of just six repeat Diana winners, joining Forever Together [2008-09]; Glowing Honor [1988-89]; Shuvee (1970-71]; Tempted [1959-60]; and Miss Grillo [1946-47]. The race, which had its first running in 1939, has never seen a horse win three straight.

“That would be an amazing accomplishment,” Brown said.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, aboard Sistercharlie for the two Diana wins, will go for three straight, breaking from post 5.

Sistercharlie's stablemate, Rushing Fall, is a five-time Grade 1 winner, including last out when she outkicked Jolie Olimpica by three-quarters of a length to repeat in the Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland. The winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf is already Grade 1-winner at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5, including the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Owned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, Rushing Fall is 10-2-0 in 13 career starts, with her only off-the-board finish coming when fourth in the Grade 1 First Lady last October at Keeneland. The More Than Ready mare has registered triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in four of her last five starts, notching identical 103 figures for winning last year's Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park and running second in the Diana. She also matched that figure in her two starts this year, winning both the Grade 3 Beaugay on June 3 at Belmont before besting an eight-horse Jenny Wiley field.

“They both seem to be training very well and coming into the race the right way. There are some nice horses in the race, so it looks like another great edition of the Diana,” Brown said.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, a two-time Diana winner, will be in the irons from post 3.

R Unicorn Stable's Call Me Love has come close to breaking through since arriving in the United States this year from her native Europe. The English-bred filly made her first North American start in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Beaugay, running third behind the Brown-trained Diana duo, before running fourth in the Grade 2 New York just three weeks later at 1 ¼ miles over the Belmont turf.

Cutting back to 1 1/16 miles, Call Me Love was second by a neck to fellow Diana contender Starship Jubilee in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa on July 25 at Saratoga over firm turf. Clement said Sunday's distance, along with the possibility of inclement weather, could be the key if she wants to win for the first time since her last race in Europe in the Group 2 Premio Lydia Tesio in November in Italy.

Since the Ballston Spa, Call Me Love has breezed three times over the Oklahoma turf training track at Saratoga, including a four-furlong work in 49.11 seconds on Sunday.

“She's been training great. Not OK. Great,” Clement said. “I think the distance suits her well – a mile and a sixteenth to a mile an eighth is good for her. There might be some rain in the forecast and she's run well on softer turf before, so we're ready to go.”

Joel Rosario will ride from the inside post.

Alex G. Campbell, Jr.'s Mean Mary is undefeated as a 4-year-old, starting 3-for-3 after ending her sophomore campaign with a victory against optional claimers in December at Gulfstream Park. In 2020, the Graham Motion trainee has racked up three straight graded stakes wins, taking the Grade 3 La Prevoyante at 1 ½ miles over Gulfstream Park's turf before winning the 1 3/8-mile Grade 3 Orchid at the same track in March.

Returning off a three-month respite, the Scat Daddy filly recorded a career-best 101 Beyer for her 5 ¼-length win in the Grade 2 New York at 1 ¼ miles on June 27 at Belmont, giving her four straight victories overall.

Motion said he is anxious to see how Mean Mary handles a slight cut back as he looks towards the Grade 1, $2 million Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf contested at 1 3/16 miles in November at Keeneland.

“She's been pointing to this race for a long time,” Motion said. “With the Breeders' Cup, I need to find out if she can handle these shorter distances. She certainly did before we started running her at these longer races, but not at this level. She's trained really well for this race and hasn't really missed a beat. It'll be a small but solid group of horses she's facing.”

Since running fifth in her debut in September at Laurel Park, Mean Mary has won five of six, with her second-place effort against allowance company in November at Aqueduct Racetrack marking the lone race that didn't end with a winner's circle visit.

“I'd be lying if I told you I always knew she was going to be this caliber. She's been a progression,” Motion said. “I think she really enjoys it. She gets out there and is just galloping.”

Luis Saez, aboard for her wins during the current streak, will return, drawing post 6.

Motion will also send out the 5-year-old veteran Secret Message, who ran fourth in last year's Diana and is coming off a third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Perfect Sting on August 14 at the Spa.

Wheeled back a week later, Motion said the Hat Trick filly, who started her 2020 with a victory in the Grade 3 Mint Julep going 1 1/16 miles in May at Churchill, has showed good energy leading into a return engagement.

“The fact that she's a big, robust filly, we felt she could handle a quick turnaround,” said Motion, who has saddled five second-place finishers in the Diana. “It's not going to be an oversized field and we feel like she's been doing really well. She really ran the last quarter-mile last weekend and really sprinted home. She sprinted home as fast as anyone.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will pick up the mount from post 2.

Blue Heaven Farm's Starship Jubilee also enters Sunday on a four-race winning streak, with all those efforts against stakes company for trainer Kevin Attard. The 7-year-old veteran is the field's most experienced entrant, compiling an 18-5-3 record in 36 starts.

Last out, Starship Jubilee bested Diana rivals Call Me Love and Sistercharlie to win the Grade 2 Ballston Spa by a neck, building on her win in the Grade 2 Hillsborough in March at Tampa Bay Downs. The daughter of Indy Wind is 4-for-4 this year, adding scores in the Grade 3 Suwannee River and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf this winter at Gulfstream.

Jose Ortiz will pick up the call from post 4.

The Diana, Sunday's featured race, is slated as Race 8 on the nine-race card, which offers a first post at 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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