Churchill Downs | Horse Racing Free Tips

Essential Quality, Mandaloun, Helium Among Kentucky Derby Runners Returning To Work Tab

Several locally based contenders from the recent $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) returned to the work tab Saturday and Sunday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trainer Brad Cox was not represented in this year's Preakness Stakes (G1) but his Derby duo of Godolphin's Essential Quality and Juddmonte Farms'' Mandaloun both recorded easy half-mile moves early Saturday morning. Essential Quality worked in :50.80 while Mandaloun breezed in :48.20.

Cox and Godolphin reported following the Derby that Essential Quality would be considered for the third jewel of racing's Triple Crown, the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 5. A next race option for Mandaloun is still to be announced.

Another Derby runner that recorded a Saturday work was D J Stable's $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner Helium, who cruised an easy half-mile in :48.80. Trainer Mark Casse's local assistant David Carroll reported the colt could target the $150,000 Matt Winn (G3) on May 29 at Churchill Downs.

One of the few horses to close significant ground into the pace of the Kentucky Derby was Bernard Racing, Tagg Team Racing, West Point Thoroughbredsand Terry Stephens' O Besos. The Orb colt worked a half-mile in :49.20 Saturday with jockey Marcelino Pedroza in the saddle. Trainer Greg Foley reported several options are being considered for the 3-year-old but a decision has not been made final.

On Sunday, M Racing Group's $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Like the King returned to the turf to work five furlongs in 1:02.40 under jockey Tyler Gaffalione with trainer Wesley Ward watching from the grandstand. Ward reported the son of Palace Malice could be considered for the $150,000 Audubon, run at 1 1/8 miles over the turf.

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At Age Seven, Arklow Picks Up Graded Win In Louisville

Grade 1 winner Arkow has aged well. The 7-year-old horse, who made his first start of the year, won Saturday's 84th running of the G3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs by one length over Red Knight in 2:27.13 – a stakes record for the 1 ½-mile turf marathon.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, Arklow was rated in 10th during the early stages of the three-turn race as Admiralty Pier dictated the pace and led the field of 14 older horses through splits of :23.70, :48.64, 1:14.24 and 1:39.78. Nearing the final turn, Arklow made a bold four-wide move to draw into contention. He grabbed the lead at the head of the stretch and turned back the late threat from Ked Knight.

Brad Cox trained the winner for Jerry Crawford's Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and Lynn Coneway's Estate of Peter Coneway.

The win was worth $84,630 and improved Arklow's career earnings to $2,750,746 with a record of 9-7-2 in 32 starts. It was his sixth career graded stakes victory. He won the G2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in his previous start on Nov. 27.

Arklow returned $4.60, $3.80 and $3 as the 4-5 betting choice. Red Knight, under James Graham, paid $7 and $5. Strong Tide, ridden by Marcelino Pedroza Jr., was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $8.60 to show. Ajourneytofreedom was another length back in fourth and was followed by Bakers Bay, Imperador (ARG), Fantasioso (ARG), Spooky Channel, Artemus Eagle, Jais's Solitude, Crafty Daddy, Admiralty Pier, Fighting Seabee and Monarchs Glen (GB).

Arklow is a son of Arch out of the Empire Maker mare Unbridled Empire, was bred in Kentucky by John R. Penn and Frank Penn.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a nine-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).

LOUISVILLE QUOTES, courtesy Churchill Downs press office

Florent Geroux, jockey of ARKLOW (winner): “He's such a warrior. He knows what he's doing and such a professional. When he comes into the paddock every race he's all business and shows a ton of versatility on the racetrack. I had him really relaxed and in a good spot early. With about five furlongs to go he started tugging hard and I had to go. I didn't necessarily plan moving that early but he was ready to go. Brad and his team did a great job with him to get him ready to go this distance in his first start off the layoff. I'm very thankful to the owners as well for letting me get on him. He's an incredible horse.”

Brad Cox, trainer of ARKLOW (winner): “He's such a professional. We had this race in mind for a while to get his campaign started and he ran a great effort to start his year.”

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Horseplayers Sue Baffert, Zedan Racing Over Medina Spirit Drug Test

Four horseplayers have filed a class-action lawsuit against trainer Bob Baffert and Medina Spirit's owner, Zedan Racing, over the results of the May 1 Kentucky Derby in which Medina Spirit finished first but now is in jeopardy of being disqualified after Baffert revealed the horse failed a post-race drug test.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California by 2012 National Horseplayers Championship winner Michael Beychok of Louisiana; Justin Wunderler of New Jersey (known on Twitter as frequent Baffert critic @SwiftHitter); Michael Meegan of New York; and Keith Mauer of California. They allege they were denied winning bets on the Kentucky Derby in amounts ranging from $100 to as much as $100,000 because of Baffert's “multiple and repeated acts of doping and entering horses into Thoroughbred races, including the Kentucky Derby” that the complaint said constitutes “racketeering activity” under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and laws of the state of California, where Baffert and his stable are based.

Their bets were placed on Mandaloun and other horses in various wagering pools, but were deemed losers when Medina Spirit crossed the wire first and was declared the “official” winner. Eight days after the Derby, Baffert revealed that the 3-year-old Protonico colt tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone and Churchill Downs issued a statement immediately suspending Baffert from racing at the Louisville, Ky., track while the matter is being investigated. While only stewards representing the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission may disqualify horses, the track's statement said Medina Spirit would be disqualified from his Derby win if a split sample confirms the presence of the drug.

The suit was also filed on behalf of “all others similarly situated,” more specifically, “All Kentucky Derby bettors who would have won their bets and winnings had Medina Spirit been properly prohibited from competing in the Kentucky Derby…or competed without the aid of an illegal drug.”

Betamethasone is a legal therapeutic medication used to treat various maladies in horses but its presence is not permitted at any level in post-race drug tests. Baffert first claimed the horse or test sample were contaminated with betamethasone and days later said the positive test may have been caused by a prescription ointment, Otomax, that includes betamethasone as an active ingredient. Baffert said the ointment was used to treat dermatitis after Medina Spirit raced in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

In addition to allegations that Baffert violated the federal RICO Act through an enterprise with Zedan Racing “engaged in activities affecting interstate commerce,” the plaintiffs also claim they and the class members were defrauded by a “misrepresentation” by Baffert in November 2020 after a series of medication violations that he was retaining Dr. Michael Hore to “ensure rule compliance” for his stable. A news report earlier this week claims that did not happen.

The plaintiffs are asking the suit to be certified by the court as a class action case and seeking damages that include monetary relief for attorney fees and other expenses, injunctive relief “enjoining the Baffert defendants from engaging in any further racketeering acts,” Imposition of “reasonable restrictions” on Baffert's future activities in Thoroughbred racing, payment to the plaintiffs and class members for money they would have won “but for the illegal doping of Medina Spirit,” plus treble and punitive damages.

Craig Robertson, attorney for Baffert, said the lawsuit was “completely frivolous and without legal merit.”

Read the complaint here

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Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 from Belmont, Churchill Downs An All Turf Affair

The New York Racing Association will host an all-turf Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, May 15, in partnership with Churchill Downs.

Live coverage will be available with America's Day at the Races on FOX Sports. 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.

The sequence kicks off at Belmont Park in Race 8 at 4:50 p.m. Eastern as a loaded field of New York-bred fillies and mares 3-years-old and up look to graduate in a 1 1/16-mile test on the Widener turf course. Trainer Jorge Abreu will saddle a pair of top contenders in second-time starter Acushla and debutante Dixie Kitten.

Chris Larsen's Acushla debuted with a closing fourth traveling 1 1/16-miles on the Big A turf on December 11 in a state-bred maiden special weight. Racing from last-of-12 and 13 lengths back, the Tiznow bay rallied to finish fourth, defeated 3 1/2-lengths by Mendham. Bloodlines Racing Partnerships' Dixie Kitten, a dark bay daughter of Kitten's Joy, wintered at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida before shipping to New York where she has breezed three times at Belmont Park. Manny Franco has the call aboard Acushla from post 6, while Dixie Kitten will exit post 7 under Jose Lezcano.

Action switches to Churchill Downs in Race 9 [4:55 p.m.] for a 5 ½-furlong allowance optional claiming sprint featuring an overflow field of fillies and mares 3-years-old and up. Trainer Mike Maker sends out Foxxy Belle [post 5, Tyler Gaffalione], whose two-race win streak came to an end last out when seventh in the Unbridled Sidney, a Churchill Downs turf sprint on April 29. She will be tested by a talented field that includes Ghosting Kim [post 7, James Graham], riding a two-race win streak in turf sprints; and seven-time winner Lady of Luxury [post 9, Mitchell Murrill].

In Race 10 [5:52 p.m.] from Belmont, a field of 11 sophomore filly turf sprinters will contest at seven furlongs on the Widener turf in the Grade 3, $100,000 Soaring Softly. The Christophe Clement-trained duo of Hit the Woah [post 5, Junior Alvarado] and Bye Bye [post 11, Eric Cancel], will look to fend off the accomplished multiple stakes winner Tobys Heart [post 6, Manny Franco] for trainer Brian Lynch.

In the penultimate leg, the Grade 3 Louisville [Race 11, 5:58 p.m.] at 12 furlongs on the Churchill Downs turf, a field of 14 older horses is led by the Brad Cox-trained multiple graded stakes winner Arklow. The 7-year-old son of Arch, who captured the 2019 Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont, has banked in excess of $2.6 million and will make his seasonal debut out of post 10 under Florent Geroux.

Closing out the sequence in Race 11[ 6:22 p.m.] at Belmont Park is a field of 10 state-bred maiden claimers sprinting six furlongs on the inner turf. Panster [post 9, Junior Alvarado], a first-time gelding trained by Clement, looms large on the drop after facing state-bred maiden special weight company in his first three starts. Accomplished turf rider Jose Lezcano retains the mount on Tempesta for his seasonal debut from post 10.

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, May 15:
Leg A: Belmont Park-Race 8 (4:50 p.m.)
Leg B: Churchill Downs-Race 9 (4:55 p.m.)
Leg C: Belmont Park- Race 10, Grade 3 Soaring Softly (5:52 p.m.)
Leg D: Churchill Downs-Race 11, Grade 3 Louisville (5:58 p.m.)
Leg E: Belmont Park-Race 11 (6:22 p.m.)

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