Brisnet.com Triple Crown Throwdown: Shared Belief

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN’s Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins.

DeRosa – Haskell Result – Longshot Jesus’ Team was fourth. Bankroll: $4960.

Shared Belief S. – The Shared Belief could provide needed points to Cezanne and lagniappe to Honor A. P., so we’ll go with the horse who actually needs the points to compete in the GI Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve. There’s more to it than that, of course, as Cezanne has both a tactical (front-end) and weight (-6 pounds) over his chief rival in what has become a compact field. Selection: #6 Cezanne (7-2).

Sherack – Haskell Result – Not exactly how you want to see a 3-5 shot win, but Authentic just hung on for a narrow decision after having a pretty easy time of it up front. Bankroll: $3425.

Shared Belief S. – With the expected late scratches of a couple of contenders, this can turn into an oddly run race for the remaining field of four. That being said, it’s awfully hard to make a case against who I firmly believe is the best 3-year-old in the country, even at a short price. Selection: #5 Honor A. P. (8-5). 

DiDonato Haskell Result – How in the world did they let Authentic get so loose? Dr Post always seemed under a ride and settled for third. I was a little surprised to see them choose the Haskell over Runhappy Travers given his grindy style, and would expect him to run a bit better at Churchill, though not sure he can beat the top few. Bankroll: $5125.

Shared Belief S. – I don’t see Honor A. P. losing this race and, given the current contest standings, there’s no real reason for me to try and get creative. Looking forward to the heavyweight match-up between him, Tiz the Law and Art Collector in Kentucky. Selection: #5 Honor A. P. (8-5).

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Weekend Lineup: Whitney Leads ‘Win And You’re In’ Races At The Spa

Historic Saratoga Race Course will feature three Grade 1 events on Saturday, led by the $750,000 Whitney at 1 1/8 miles with an automatic berth to the Breeders' Cup Classic on the line. The card is bolstered by the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff; and the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial for 3-year-olds sprinting seven furlongs. The card will be broadcast on Saratoga Live beginning at 1 p.m. ET on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

TVG will be live on site this weekend at Del Mar covering a loaded weekend of racing that includes two Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races – the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes and the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes as well as the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes which will serve as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby in September.

Fans of international racing can also tune in to TVG to watch racing from Goodwood Racecourse in England. Coverage begins at 5:30 a.m. PT/8:30 a.m. ET on Saturday.

NBC Sports presents three hours of live horse racing this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, highlighted by the $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes.

Saturday August 1

3:28 p.m.—$500,000 Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Reigning champion older dirt female Midnight Bisou, the No. 1-ranked horse on the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, will seek a 14th graded stakes victory when she aims to defend her title in the Personal Ensign. Midnight Bisou, a dark bay 5-year-old daughter of Midnight Lute, has put together a sensational record of 21-13-5-3 with purse earnings of $7,371,520. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Midnight Bisou will attempt to be the first horse to score back-to-back Personal Ensign triumphs since John C. Oxley's champion Beautiful Pleasure did so in 1999-00. This year, Midnight Bisou has sustained her winning form, displaying an inside-closing effort in the inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup in February and last out won the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs by 8 ¼ lengths.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR080120USA5-EQB.html

5:30 p.m.—$100,000 Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

In a season of unusual happenings, Saturday's Shared Belief Stakes fits right in. The 3-year-old feature – which has drawn six runners – breaks new ground in that it is the first time a Kentucky Derby prep race has been conducted at the seaside oval in its 81-year history. Heading the lineup is Honor A.P., the No. 2 ranked horse on the NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Poll, who comes into the race off a tally in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on June 6. Honor A.P. was second in the San Felipe at Santa Anita in his race prior to that and has been training forwardly at Del Mar for his prep. Mike Smith, who has handled Honor A.P. in all four of his starts so far, once again has the call Saturday.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR080120USA2-EQB.html

5:31 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks at Monmouth Park on TVG

With the top six finishers back from the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks on July 4, as well as fourth-place Acorn Stakes finisher Lucrezia, the Monmouth Oaks field has several accomplished fillies. Dream Marie, off her second-place finish to Project Whiskey in the Delaware Oaks, where she was beaten a half-length, certainly fits. Dream Marie signaled her arrival as a potential stakes winner after winning a $50,000 starter allowance at Gulfstream Park in December, following that up with a win in a $75,000 optional claimer on January 20 and a second on May 15 in the Hollywood Wildcat.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/MTH080120USA11-EQB.html

5:42 p.m.—$750,000 Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS1

A field comprised of five millionaires – including three horses in the top 10 of the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll – will make up a talented group of older horses assembled for the 93rd running of Saturday's Whitney going 1 1/8 miles. Trainer Al Stall, Jr. saddled subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion Blame to victory in the 2010 Whitney off a four-race win streak. This year, the conditioner sends out red-hot Tom's d'Etat, who also arrives at the race off similar form with four straight wins. Owned by Gayle Benson's G M B Racing, the 7-year-old son of Smart Strike enters the Whitney off graded stakes triumphs in the Grade 2 Fayette on October 26 at Keeneland, the Grade 1 Clark on November 29 at Churchill Downs and the Grade 2 Stephen Foster on June 27 at Churchill Downs. Tom's d'Etat also leads all Whitney entrants with three victories at the Spa. As a 3-year-old, he broke his maiden at third asking by four lengths and won an allowance optional claiming event by nine lengths the following year. Last season, he was a one-length winner of the Alydar.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR080120USA9-EQB.html

6:18 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

A rematch featuring the superfecta of last month's Grade 1 Woody Stephens will highlight another high-caliber contest, with No Parole looking to propel his 3 ¾-length victory into more glory in Saturday's H. Allen Jerkens Memorial. No Parole, owned by Maggi Moss and Greg Tramontin, is unbeaten going one turn, registering a perfect 4-for-4 ledger in sprints. Overall, the Tom Amoss trainee has won 5-of-6 starts, including his gate-to-wire win in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens on June 20.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR080120USA10-EQB.html

6:50 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on FS2

Grade 1-winning veterans Channel Maker and Sadler's Joy, who together have combined to earn more than $4.7 million in purses during their lengthy careers, will attempt to put the brakes on frustrating losing streaks Saturday in the Bowling Green on the inner turf. Channel Maker has gone winless in nine starts since his neck victory in the Grade 1 Man o' War in May 2019 at Belmont Park, also contested at the Bowling Green distance. Most recently, he finished fourth by a length after pressing the pace into the stretch of the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan on July 4 at Belmont. Sadler's Joy earned his lone career Grade 1 victory in the 2018 Sword Dancer at Saratoga. The 7-year-old gelding capped his 2019 campaign by winning the Grade 3 Red Smith last November at Aqueduct, but has gone winless in four tries this year.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SAR080120USA11-EQB.html

9:30 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar on NBCSN and TVG

The Bing Crosby appears likely to have nine starters Saturday when the venerable sprint stakes will be run for the 75th time. Multi-millionaire McKinzie was slated to head up the Crosby field for this go-round, but trainer Bob Baffert has called an audible and indicated he'd rather run him later in the meet at seven furlongs in the Pat O'Brien Stakes on August 29. Stepping up to fill the role of favorite in the Crosby is Fashionably Fast, a 5-year-old gelding who is just what his name indicates. The son of the late Lucky Pulpit has won six of his last seven starts, each time using his exceptional speed to make or stalk the pace. His last outing – the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes over seven panels at Santa Anita on June 7 – saw him run a sharp second to McKinzie.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR080120USA10-EQB.html

Sunday August 2

9:30 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on TVG

Three Grade 1 winners are slated to start in the six-horse field of fillies and mares assembled for the Clement L. Hirsch. Ce Ce, winner of the Grade 1 Beholder Mile and Apple Blossom Handicap this year, comes in off a third-place finish behind fellow Hirsch entrant Fighting Mad in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita on May 31. Hard Not to Love, who took the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes last December, was second in the Santa Maria while Ollie's Candy seeks her first victory since taking last year's edition of the Clement L. Hirsch.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/DMR080220USA10-EQB.html

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Collusion Illusion Takes on Elders in Bing Crosby

The lightly raced sophomore Collusion Illusion (Twirling Candy) will try to give his elders a run for their money Saturday in Del Mar’s GI Bing Crosby S., a “Win and You’re In” event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint S. Opening his account with a pair of wins, including the GII Best Pal S. last summer, he was pulled up when trying two turns in the GI American Pharoah S. in September. Returning May 17, he scored a decisive victory in a six-panel optional claimer at Santa Anita and repeated that performance in the GIII Lazaro Barrera S. there June 20.

Fashionably Fast (Lucky Pulpit) won six straight races, including four Cal-bred stakes over the winter. The chestnut enters this off a second-place finish behind MGISW McKinzie (Street Sense) in the GII Triple Bend S. last time June 7. McKinzie was the morning-line favorite in this event at entries, but it was announced he would be scratched Wednesday.

Dual Grade III winner Law Abidin Citizen (Twirling Candy) takes a crack at the highest level here. Victorious in the GIII Longacres Mile H. last August, he was fourth I the GII San Carlos S. Mar. 7 at Santa Anita and missed by a hand behind stakes winner Ax Man (Misremembered) in an Arcadia optional claimer May 16 and won a 6 1/2-panel event there last time June 14.

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Honor A.P. Faces Off With Baffert Duo in Shared Belief

Honor A.P. (Honor Code) looks to add more GI Kentucky Derby points to his collection in Saturday’s Shared Belief S. at Del Mar. An impressive second-out graduate when extending from six panels to a mile at Santa Anita in October, the $850,000 FTSAUG buy was runner-up to recent GI Haskell Invitational S. victor Authentic (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 7. The dark bay turned the tables on that rival last time with a decisive score in the GI Santa Anita Derby June 6.

Bob Baffert had three set for this test, but undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ and GIII Los Alamitos Derby winner Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo) has been re-routed to the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 8 instead. That leaves Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) and Cezanne (Curlin) to represent the Hall of Famer. Opening his account with a trio of wins, including the GII Los Alamitos Futurity and GIII Robert B. Lewis S., Thousand Words was fourth in the San Felipe and faded to 11th in the Oaklawn S. Apr. 11. Given a brief freshening, the $1-million KEESEP buy ran second to his stablemate in the Los Al Derby last time.

Cezanne puts his undefeated record on the line here. A debut winner sprinting in Arcadia June 6, the $3.65-million FTFMAR topper captured a one-mile event at Los Alamitos last time July 2.

Also a defecting from the field is Santa Anita Derby fourth-place finisher Anneau d’Or (Medaglia d’Oro), who will instead contest the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby. Kiss Today Goodbye (Cairo Prince) rounds out the now four-horse field. Breaking his maiden at fifth asking at Santa Anita Feb. 22, he was 10th last time in an optional claimer there May 17.

 

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