The 5-2 morning-line favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) leads the way for the 3-year-olds after defeating GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) by 1 3/4 lengths in Monmouth Park's GI TVG.com Haskell S. July 22. He will look to follow in the hoofprints of his leading sire Candy Ride, who won the Pacific Classic in 2003.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has won the Pacific Classic four times–Beholder (2015), Pleasantly Perfect (2004), Gentlemen (Arg) (1997) and Dare and Go (1996).

“He had us dreaming pretty high and still does,” Mandella said of the Pin Oak Stud colorbearer.

Geaux Rocket Ride has drawn the rail for the second straight race. “Just happy to be there,” Mandella said.

The Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was the beaten favorite in the Haskell, finishing third while making his first start since capturing Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. Jan. 28.

Skinner (Curlin), a strong third in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8, was forced to sit out the Kentucky Derby with an elevated temperature. He resurfaced with a useful second-place finish in the Los Alamitos Derby July 8.

The field of 11 also includes: 2021 Pacific Classic winner Tripoli (Kitten's Joy); this year's GI Santa Anita H. winner Stilleto Boy (Shackleford); and four runners out of the local prep GII San Diego H.–Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) (1st), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (2nd), Defunded (Dialed In) (4th) and Tripoli (fifth).

“It's an evenly matched, highly competitive field,” Tripoli's trainer John Sadler said. “You can make a case for a lot of different horses, so it should be a good race; nice mix of 3-year-olds and older horses.”

Del Mar's stacked 11-race program also includes: the 'Win and You're In' GII Del Mar H. (Longines Turf) and GIII Green Flash H. (Turf Sprint); the GII Del Mar Mile S., led by the streaking GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Exaulted (Twirling Candy); and the GIII Torrey Pines S., highlighted by the return of GISW 'TDN Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin).

Jockey Club Gold Cup Day at the Spa…

A field of eight will line up for Saratoga's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., a 'Win and You're In' for the Classic.

Rattle N Roll (Connect), a winner of three straight graded races earlier this term, was freshened following a second-place finish in the GI Stephen Foster S. July 1. The 9-5 morning-line favorite has posted five straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

Despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Stephen Foster, Proxy (Tapit)'s 5-year-old campaign also includes wins in the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 22 and GIII Monmouth Cup S. July 22 and a close second in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 4. The Godolphin homebred has drawn the rail in the 1 1/4-mile feature.

“We knew from early on that he had a lot of talent and that's why we were so ready to give him all the time he needed and let him mature mentally and physically to where he's at now and it's really paying off,” trainer Mike Stidham said.

McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of Saratoga's GII Glens Falls S. Aug. 3, headlines a field of four entered for the 'Win and You're In' GII Flower Bowl S.

Dazzling Blue (Into Mischief), second behind the ill-fated Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) in the GIII Victory Ride S. July 8, is the one to beat in the five-deep GII Prioress S.

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes a pair of deep fields for the GIII Big Ass Fans Music City S. and GIII Mint Millions S., both held at Kentucky Downs.

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Away smoothly for Juan Hernandez, the $77,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling was taken hold of and sat third as Lamplighter Jack (Fed Biz) came across from his high draw to set the pace while prompted by fellow outside Flavius (War Front). Clocking that pair on the backstretch run, Exaulted was waited with into the final half-mile and was nudged along three wide around the far turn while zeroing in on the leaders. Lamplighter Jack called it a day, leaving Flavius along up front for a stride or two entering the stretch, but Exaulted rolled up to lead approaching the eighth pole and came home gamely to score nicely. Irideo (Arg) (Easing Along) weaved his way through traffic to be second at 41-1, while favored Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}) was short of racing room when the real running was about to begin and did well to be third.

“This horse has been improving every race,” said meet-leading rider Hernandez. “He is always in a good position. He broke really sharp today and I took him back. At the three eighths, I asked him to pick it up and it was time to go. I passed a horse to get the lead and he didn't let other horses pass him.”

Having run big numbers in his first three starts, Exaulted broke his maiden in optional claiming company in February 2021, but that proved his lone victory from 11 tries on the dirt to go with third placings in the GII San Carlos S. and GII Triple Bend S. The bay switched to the grass this past January, winning allowance tests at a mile Jan. 2 and Feb. 5 before accounting for Irideo in the GIII American S. Apr. 2.

Pedigree Notes:

Exaulted is an eighth Grade I winner for Lane's End's Twirling Candy and is one of five winners out of a half-sister to GIII Arlington-Washington Lassie S. victress Wonderlandbynight (Sky Mesa). The latter's half-sister Ada Clare (Forest Wildcat) is the dam of five winners–four of which are by Twirling Candy–including the stakes-placed Big Boy Candy. Gilded Time, who was represented by GII Triple Bend S. winner Spirit of Makena (Ghostzapper) May 27, is now the broodmare sire of nine worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winners. Gilded Miracle passed away in 2019 at the age of 15.

Monday, Santa Anita
SHOEMAKER MILE S.-GI, $503,000, Santa Anita, 5-29, 3yo/up, 1mT, 1:34.08, fm.
1–EXAULTED, 122, h, 6, by Twirling Candy
1st Dam: Gilded Miracle, by Gilded Time
2nd Dam: Onemiracleatatime, by Gulch
3rd Dam: Katie Love, by Manila
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($77,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '18
FTSAUG). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Jack Swain (KY); T-Peter
Eurton; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $300,000. Lifetime Record:
15-5-3-4, $603,660. Werk Nick Rating: F.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Irideo (Arg), 122, g, 7, Easing Along–Infiltrada (Arg), by
Footstepsinthesand (GB). O/B-Pozo de Luna (Arg); T-Marcelo
Polanco. $100,000.
3–Hong Kong Harry (Ire), 124, g, 6, Es Que Love (Ire)–Vital Body
(Fr), by Gold Away (Ire). (£185,000 RNA 4yo '21 GOFFLN;
85,000gns 4yo '21 TATAHI). O-Scott Anastasi, Jimmy Ukegawa
and Tony Valazza; B-Amarath Business Management (Ire);
T-Philip D'Amato. $60,000.
Margins: HF, 1, 1. Odds: 3.10, 41.70, 1.60.
Also Ran: Il Bellator, Cabo Spirit, Du Jour, Gold Phoenix (Ire), Balnikhov (Ire), Salesman (Ire), Flavius, Lamplighter Jack.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Entered off a pair of 93 Beyer Speed Figure efforts–a career high–against allowance and optional claiming company respectively, Exaulted earned 9-5 second choice honors for his first graded-stakes race since contesting the GII Triple Bend S. last May. Sent to the front after a sharp beginning from the middle of the gate, the bay was outsprinted to the lead by Bob and Jackie (Twirling Candy) to his inside as the field passed the wire for the first time in the one-mile event. Positioned just off that rival's hip up the backstretch through an opening quarter in :22.71, Exaulted stayed in that stalking spot as the top pair raced a few lengths ahead of favored Du Jour (Temple City) and Earls Rock (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}) who raced together in third and fourth. With a slight cue from jockey Juan Hernandez, the 6-year-old began to eat into the margin into the far turn, grinding away until the pair was head and head at the top of the stretch. The field swung out four wide for the battle to the wire but Exaulted had plenty left, pulling clear as 13-1 shot Irideo (Arg) (Easing Along) closed in behind him to be a non-threatening second.

“We just kind of ran out of options,” said winning trainer Peter Eurton.  “He wasn't running as well as a 5-year-old…[something] just wasn't right, so I think as a last resort we thought we'd give him a try on the grass.  I think [spacing] is the key for him with a long year.  He is big, he's heavy…(Juan Hernandez) is just phenomenal, this guy. [He] is riding with no fear, he just so confident in his abilities and it shows you right there and in many other [cases].”

“We broke a little slow because he kind of moved before we broke, but it worked out fine,” added Hernandez. “The other horse went and I just stalked him and I was just really confident in him.  He was in the bridle and around the three eighths, I thought I had a lot of horse.

Pedigree Notes:

A $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling back in 2018, Exaulted becomes the 18th graded-stakes winner for his sire, GI Malbiu S. winner Twirling Candy who had a strong week in the sales ring at OBS March last month, with a colt selling for $1 million and a filly bringing $900,000. This is the female family of GSW Rogue Romance (Smarty Jones) and MGSP Tizbig (Tiznow). Gilded Miracle, herself a half-sister to GSW Wonderlandbynight (Sky Mesa), has not produced a foal since 2019.

Sunday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN S.-GIII, $100,500, Santa Anita, 4-2, 4yo/up, 1mT, 1:33.65, fm.
1–EXAULTED, 120, h, 6, by Twirling Candy
          1st Dam: Gilded Miracle, by Gilded Time
          2nd Dam: Onemiracleatatime, by Gulch
          3rd Dam: Katie Love, by Manila
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN.
($77,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $200,000 Ylg '18
FTSAUG). O-C R K Stable LLC; B-Jack Swain (KY); T-Peter
Eurton; J-Juan J. Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record:
MSP, 14-4-3-4, $303,660. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Irideo (Arg), 124, g, 7, Easing Along–Infiltrada (Arg), by
Footstepsinthesand (GB). O/B-Pozo de Luna (ARG); T-Marcelo
Polanco. $20,000.
3–Bob and Jackie, 124, g, 7, Twirling Candy–Fateer, by
Eskendereya. ($190,000 4yo '20 KEENOV). O-Calvin Nguyen
and Joey C. Tran; B-Zayat Stables, LLC (KY); T-George
Papaprodromou. $12,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, NK. Odds: 1.90, 13.50, 10.30.
Also Ran: Du Jour, Earls Rock (Ire), Vanzzy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO,
sponsored by TVG.

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Originally run at Hollywood Park, the Triple Bend will be run for the 70th time on Saturday as a field of five older horses will compete at seven furlongs.

In a wide open affair, Bob Baffert's Eight Rings and Peter Eurton's Exaulted would both also appear to have big chances.

Owned by Jerome S. Moss, Lambeau, a 5-year-old full horse by First Samurai, was off at 16-1 in a second condition allowance on April 10 and he led every step of the way to win by one length when ridden for the first time by Edwin Maldonado, who rides him back in the Triple Bend. A winner of three out of his seven starts, Lambeau is untested at the trip and level, but has never been better.

A runaway winner of the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at age two in September, 2019, Eight Rings has been idle since well beaten in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes going seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 1. With an outstanding work tab to his credit, Eight Rings will be ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat in what will be his seventh career start.

A 4-year-old colt by Empire Maker out of the Pure Prize mare Purely Hot, Eight Rings is owned by Coolmore Stud, Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables, LLC, SF Racing, LLC and Starlight Racing.

Third, beaten four lengths by runaway winner Brickyard Ride in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs March 6, Exaulted rates a huge chance and will be ridden for the first time by Abel Cedillo. A 4-year-old colt by Twirling Candy, out of the Gilded Time mare Gilded Miracle., Exaulted is owned by C R K Stable and has trained well since the San Carlos, evidenced by a pair of bullet five furlong works on May 8 and May 15.

THE GRADE 2 TRIPLE BEND STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 9 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

1. Exaulted—Abel Cedillo—120
2. Lambeau—Edwin Maldonado—120
3. Shooters Shoot—Umberto Rispoli—120
4. Magic On Tap—Juan Hernandez—120
5. Eight Rings—Flavien Prat—120

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

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Recent seven-furlong allowance winner Exaulted steps into stakes company for the first time, 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court tries a new game, recent California-bred stakes winner Brickyard Ride, lightly raced Tigre Di Slugo and reformed claimer Loud Mouth all rate good chances in a race devoid of a dominant favorite.

An impressive gate to wire winner of the G3 Native Diver Stakes going a mile and one eighth two starts back on Nov. 21, Extra Hope, who is trained by Richard Mandella, never threatened while sixth in the G2 San Antonio at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 26 and will be sprinting for the first time since running a close third to highly rated sprinter Flagstaff in the ungraded seven furlong Damascus Stakes on Nov. 2, 2019.

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Samantha Siegel, Extra Hope is a striking 5-year-old horse by Shanghai Bobby out of the Tiznow mare Lotsandlotsofhope.  A respectable fourth in his only other try at seven furlongs, the G3 Bob Hope Stakes in November, 2018, Extra Hope will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who has guided him to a pair of victories in his last three starts.

A sharp 2 ¼ length allowance winner on Feb. 12, C R K Stable's Exaulted has the look of a “now” horse and looms dangerous with Mike Smith back aboard for trainer Peter Eurton, who will also be represented by Storm the Court.  Second to Derby A-Lister Nadal in his 6 ½ furlong debut four starts back on Jan. 19, 2020, Exaulted appears ready to show his best in what will be his initial stakes assignment.

Winless in nine starts since taking the 2019 Breeder's Cup Juvenile at odds of 45-1, Storm the Court showed the way early in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream and gave a good account of himself while finishing seventh, beaten just 3 ½ lengths at 1 3/16 miles.  Although winless since Nov. 1, 2019, Storm the Court ran a huge second, beaten three quarters of a length two starts back under John Velazquez in the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile (turf) on Dec. 26 and seems a solid fit running out of his own stall again with Velazquez back aboard.

Owned by Exline-Border Racing, LLC, David Bernsen, LLC, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock, Storm the Court, a 4-year-old colt by Court Vision, has trained in impressive fashion for Eurton as he cuts back in distance.  With a pair of bullet works to his credit since the Pegasus, his most recent drill was a  solid half mile in 47.60, best of 84 at the distance, this past Sunday.

Owned and bred in California by Alfred Pais and trained by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride, fresh off a 3 ¼ length smasher in the Cal Cup Sprint going six furlongs on Jan. 16, is at the top of his game and could prove an elusive target on the lead with apprentice Alexis Centeno back aboard.  Although it was against statebreds, Brickyard Ride, a 4-year-old colt by red-hot sire Clubhouse Ride, earned a lofty 99 Beyer Speed figure in the Cal Cup Sprint and is a razor-sharp horse ready for his first graded stakes assignment.

A winner of three out of his last four starts, two of those in open company, Brickyard Ride will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Centeno as he stretches out to seven furlongs for the first time.  Out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, he's 12-6-0-2 overall with earnings of $260,277.

A winner of three of his six lifetime starts, all sprinting, Tigre Di Slugo comes off a troubled second place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the six furlong Cal Cup Sprint, but retains the services of Joel Rosario, who guided this lightly raced 6-year-old California-bred gelding to a sharp six furlong allowance score versus open company two starts back on Nov. 27.  Owned by Slugo Racing, Tiger Racing, Inc. and his trainer, Mike Puype, Tigre Di Slugo rates a huge chance in his first graded stakes assignment.

Trained by Steve Knapp, the venerable California-bred Loud Mouth has won three out of his last four starts, most recently a game head victory in a second condition allowance at six furlongs here on Jan. 30, earning a career-best 93 Beyer Speed figure.  A 5-year-old California-bred horse by Boisterous, Loud Mouth took the statebred Cary Grant Stakes three starts back in his only start at seven furlongs on Nov. 22 at Del Mar.  Owned by Thomsen Racing, LLC, Loud Mouth was claimed 16 starts back for $40,000 on July 20, 2019 and is 24-7-0-2 with earnings of $306,110.

GRADE II SAN CARLOS STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 11  Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

1. Storm the Court—John Velazquez—120
2. Extra Hope—Juan Hernandez—122
3. Major Cabbie—Flavien Prat—120
4. Manhattan Up—Tiago Pereira—120
5. Strongconstitution—Florent Geroux—120
6. Brickyard Ride—Alexis Centeno—120
7. Loud Mouth—Abel Cedillo—120
8. Tigre Di Slugo—Joel Rosario—120

First post time for an 11-race card that will include three other graded stakes, is at 12 noon.  All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1^st.com/bet.  For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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