Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Making a ‘Connection’ in the Pocahontas

Hidden Brook Farm and Black-Type Thoroughbreds' Hidden Connection (Connect) marked her career unveiling in style, winning by a 7 ½-length margin going 5 1/2 panels at Colonial Aug. 17 and will try to add another notch to her belt in Saturday's 8 1/2-furlong GIII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs.

“She was really impressive that day when she broke her maiden,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “She's only had this one race under her belt, so it's a test going two-turns. The way she ran last time gives us confidence in her.”

Hidden Connection will be ridden by Reylu Gutierrez, who plans to ride the entirety of the September meet at Churchill Downs. Gutierrez, who was based at Colonial Downs this summer, rode Hidden Connection to her victory.

“She acts like she'll handle the extra distance just fine,” Gutierrez said. “I really like the post we drew [No. 9] and think she's ready for this test.”

Ontheonesandtwos (Jimmy Creed) will try to recapture some of the luster seen in her early races at Churchill Downs when she marks her return for trainer Norm Casse Saturday. Listed at 5-2 on the morning line, the chestnut kicked off her career with a score going five furlongs at the Louisville oval May 13 before finishing second to Behave Virginia (Unified) in the six-furlong Debutante S. Favored in her latest in the Aug. 8 GII Adirondack S. at 6 1/2 panels, she came home sixth.

“We're really pleased with the way she came back out of the Adirondack at Saratoga,” Casse said. “I think the track that day was pretty speed favoring and she made her run on the far turn but couldn't catch the leaders. We got her back to Churchill Downs where we know she loves this track and has some race experience beneath her.”

Majestic d'Oro (Speightster) came from off the pace in her career bow sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs at Indiana Grand Aug. 19 and ran off to win for fun, scoring by 5 3/4 lengths. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the chestnut gets the services of Martin Garcia while stepping up to graded company for the first time here.

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‘Rising Star’ Stellar Tap Returns in Iroquois

L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Stellar Tap (Tapit) wowed spectators with a TDN Rising Star-worthy performance at Saratoga Aug. 7 and will try to prove that it wasn't a fluke in Saturday's GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Downs. Out of a half-sister to GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten), the $250,000 KEESEP graduate showed early speed for trainer Steve Asmussen navigating seven furlongs in his debut and turned on all boosters late, drawing away to score by 5 1/4 lengths over Keepcalmcarryon (Union Rags), who won at that venue next out Aug. 26. With his debut victory, the grey gave his Hall of Fame trainer his North American record-breaking 9,446th career win. Stellar Tap arrived at Churchill Downs this past Tuesday from Saratoga. Ricardo Santana Jr. reunites with the colt Saturday.

Also facing winners for the first time off a win at the Spa is WinStar and Siena Farm's Major General (Constitution). Sent off as a part of a favored entry for the connections Aug. 21, he was on the engine through most of the 6 1/2-furlong event, and despite a few bumps along the way, held on for a neck victory. Accompanied by Luis Saez in his debut, the dark bay joins up with Javier Castellano this time. The Todd Pletcher trainee, who worked a swift five furlongs in 1:00.6 over Saratoga's Oklahoma track Sept. 11 (3/10), was scheduled to arrive in Kentucky Friday.

Offering a two-pronged attack here, Asmussen also saddles last-out winner Winchell Thoroughbreds' Guntown (Gun Runner). A closing third after a problematic start in his debut going seven panels at Ellis July 11, the half-brother to champion 3-year-old Filly Untapable (Tapit) and GISW Paddy O'Prado (El Prado {Ire}) rebounded to score by 4 1/4 lengths while adding a furlong at that venue Aug. 13. Tyler Gaffalione gets the call.

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Asmussen Hopes Stellar Tap Adds Another Memorable Win In Saturday’s Iroquois

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen arguably recorded one of the most memorable wins in his career when 2-year-old colt Stellar Tap broke his maiden last month at Saratoga to vault the 55-year-old conditioner past Dale Baird as North America's all-time leading trainer. Five weeks later, Stellar Tap is poised to tackle stakes company as the 3-1 favorite in Saturday night's $300,000 Iroquois (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

“We've been planning on that win for a long time,” Asmussen said. “It was better than anticipated. It was a wonderful moment with the entire family and we've relived it several times since.”

Owned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds, Stellar Tap broke his maiden by 5 ¼ lengths under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. The Tapit colt is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Gioia Stella, who is the half-sister to graded stakes winners Nereid and Sea Queen.

Also entered in the Iroquois is Stellar Tap's stablemate Guntown. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Guntown broke his maiden in his second start at Ellis Park. He is by the first crop of 2-year-olds from the former Asmussen-trained superstar Gun Runner.

“I couldn't be a bigger fan of Gun Runner,” Asmussen said. “I am surprised how good they are so soon. They trained really well in spring and continue to develop. Our colt Gunite, who won the Hopeful, took a couple of times to break his maiden. I do think it's a good sign the further they go, the faster they get.”

Saturday's 1 1/16-mile Iroquois kicks off the “Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve” and awards the Top 4 finishers 10-4-2-1 points for the first Saturday in May. The winner of the Iroquois will also get an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) on Future Stars Friday at the Breeders' Cup. The Breeders' Cup World Championships are scheduled to be held on Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar.

The Iroquois was carded as Race 9 with a post time of 10:11 p.m. The first of 11 races will begin at 6 p.m. The other stakes events on the evening's program are the $300,000 Pocahontas (G3), $400,000 Locust Grove (G3), $300,000 Open Mind and $275,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society.

The complete field for the Iroquois from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds): Tough to Tame (Sophie Doyle, Chris Davis, 20-1); Lucky Boss (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 10-1); Roger McQueen (Adam Beschizza, Larry Rivelli, 10-1); Strike Hard (Leonel Reyes, Matthew Williams, 10-1); Magnolia Midnight (Corey Lanerie, Dallas Stewart, 12-1); Stellar Tap (Santana, Asmussen, 3-1); Red Knobs (James Graham, Dale Romans, 20-1); Major General (Javier Castellano, Todd Pletcher, 4-1); Guntown (Tyler Gaffalione, Asmussen, 9-2); Husband Material (Florent Geroux, Jimmy Toner, 15-1); and Bourbon Heist (Joe Talamo, Ian Wilkes, 9-2).

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's Iroquois Stakes entrant Major General and Pocahontas runner Goddess of Fire arrived to Churchill Downs from New York around 4:30 a.m. Friday. Jockey Javier Castellano is scheduled to be in Louisville on Saturday for the riding assignments.

The Pocahontas is a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” for the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The 1 1/16-mile race is carded as Race 8 at 9:39 p.m.

The complete Pocahontas field from the rail out (with jockey, trainer, morning line odds): Code for Success (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver, 20-1); Goddess of Fire (Castellano, Pletcher, 6-1); Mama Rina (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek, 12-1); Ontheonesandtwos (Ricardo Santana Jr., Norm Casse, 5-2); Majestic d'Oro (Martin Garcia, Brendan Walsh, 8-1); Kneesnhips (James Graham, Tom Amoss, 8-1); Miss Chamita (Gregory Romero, Michel Doualhy, 30-1); Hidden Connection (Reylu Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun, 9-2); Lemieux (Tyler Gaffalione, Mark Cassse, 10-1); and Joyrunner (Joe Ramos, Laura Wohlers, 10-1).

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All-Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Belmont, Churchill, Woodbine

The New York Racing Association Inc. (NYRA) will host an all-stakes Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring action from Belmont Park, Churchill Downs and Woodbine Racetrack.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

Saturday's sequence will kick off with a pair of Turf Triple series events from Belmont beginning with the $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational in Race 9 at 5:14 p.m.

The Jockey Club Oaks, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, features European invaders Creative Flair and Harajuku taking on five American-based contenders led by the Chad Brown-trained duo of Higher Truth and Shantisara.

The $1 million Jockey Club Derby Invitational [Race 10, 5:45 p.m.] for sophomores at 12 furlongs, features Grade 1-winner Bolshoi Ballet, who captured the Grade 1 Belmont Derby here for trainer Aidan O'Brien in July.

Providing steep opposition in the “Win and You're In” qualifier to the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Turf in November at Del Mar are recent Group 2-winner Yibir, a Godolphin homebred trained by Charlie Appleby; and Belmont Derby runner-up Tokyo Gold conditioned by Satoshi Kobayashi for owner-breeder Teruya Yoshida.

The middle leg will feature the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile [Race 10, 6:12 p.m.], contested at one turn on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course and featuring a trio of runners from Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in March to the Arch, Olympic Runner and Ride a Comet. The Brown-trained Raging Bull, who was placed third in the 2019 Woodbine Mile, will look to add a fourth Grade 1 win to his ledger. The winner will receive a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile.

The sequence will conclude with a pair of 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 events for 2-year-olds from the evening card at Churchill Downs both offering “Win and You're In” berths to the Breeders' Cup in November at Del Mar led by the Pocahontas for juvenile fillies in Race 8 at 9:39 p.m.

A talented field includes James McIngvale's Joyrunner, a Gun Runner chestnut, who is perfect in two starts at Indiana Grand for trainer Laura Wohlers. Hidden Connection, condition by Bret Calhoun, garnered a field-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure in a 7 1/2-length debut romp sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs at Colonial Downs, while the Norm Casse-trained Ontheonesandtwos will look to make amends following an off-the-board effort in the Grade 2 Adirondack at Saratoga.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will saddle a pair of top juveniles in Stellar Tap and Guntown in the Iroquois [Race 9, 10:11 p.m.] to conclude the sequence.

Stellar Tap, a $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Tapit, romped by 5 1/4-lengths on debut sprinting seven furlongs on August 7 at Saratoga. Guntown, by Gun Runner and purchased for $750,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, graduated at second asking in a one-mile maiden special weight at Ellis Park.

The improving Roger McQueen, by Unified, was a last out winner of the Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile for trainer Larry Rivelli, garnering a 70 Beyer in the seven-furlong sprint. Roger McQueen was a $530,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle $420,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase Major General, a dark bay son of Constitution, for his stakes debut following a first-out win sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs in August at the Spa.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, September 18:
Leg A: Belmont Park-Race 9, Jockey Club Oaks (5:14 p.m.)
Leg B: Belmont Park- Race 10, Jockey Club Derby (5:45 p.m.)
Leg C: Woodbine -Race 10, G1 Woodbine Mile (6:12 p.m.)
Leg D: Churchill -Race 8, G3 Pocahontas (9:39 p.m.)
Leg E: Churchill-Race 9, G3 Iroquois (10:11 p.m.)

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