fair grounds | Horse Racing Free Tips

Minnesota-Bred Charlie’s Penny Upsets the Silverbulletday

A dominant debut winner on the Arlington synthetic Sept. 17, Charlie’s Penny was fourth to Souper Sensational next out in Woodbine’s Glorious Song S. a month later. Capturing an optional claimer on the dirt at Churchill Nov. 28, she was third in this venue’s six-panel Letelier Memorial S. Dec. 19.

Stretching out to two turns for the first time here, Charlie’s Penny was away alertly and established herself in third, running off the fence through glacial early fractions. Three wide exiting the bend, the gray motored clear in the lane to register a decisive victory in the Silverbulletday.

Charlie’s Penny is the fourth stakes winner for her sire Race Day and the second out of her dam, following Mom’s Red Lipstick. The winner is the second foal out of Sweet Lorraine, who has since produced a juvenile filly by Munnings and was bred back to Munnings this spring. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

SILVERBULLETDAY S., $150,000, Fair Grounds, 1-16, 3yo, f,
1m 70y, 1:43.80, ft.
1–CHARLIE’S PENNY, 122, f, 3, by Race Day
                1st Dam: Sweet Lorraine, by Warrior’s Reward
                2nd Dam: Twin Appeal, by Successful Appeal
                3rd Dam: Gemini (Arg), by Tough Critic
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Lothenbach Stables Inc (MN);
T-Chris M. Block; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $94,500.
Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-1, $173,890. *Full to Mom’s Red
Lipstick, SW-USA, SP-Can, $103,779.
2–Souper Sensational, 122, f, 3, Curlin–Kateri, by Indian
Charlie. ($725,000 Ylg ’19 FTSAUG). O-Live Oak Plantation;
B-Newtownanner Stud (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. $30,000.
3–Moon Swag, 122, f, 3, Malibu Moon–Yara, by Put It Back.
($150,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP). O-King, Brad, Cone, Jim, Bryant,
Scott, Kirby, Stan and Kirby, Suzanne; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC
(KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $15,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 3/4, HF. Odds: 9.20, 1.80, 49.10.
Also Ran: Sun Path, Littlestitious, Barista. Scratched: Divine Comedy, Minute Waltz, Princess Theorem.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Laurel Park Winter Carnival: Sunshine And A Derby Prep

It may be a light weekend for graded stakes, but there are no fewer than 23 non-graded stakes from coast-to-coast on Saturday, including the Winter Carnival Day card at Laurel Park, Sunshine Day for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park and California Cup Day for Cal-breds or California-sired runners at Santa Anita.

Fair Grounds in New Orleans has a 13-race card with six stakes in all, two of them graded, including the G3 Lecomte, a qualifying points race for the G1 Kentucky Derby. Aqueduct offers the 150th running of the Ladies Handicap, and Tampa Bay Downs presents the Pasco and Gasparilla for 3-year-olds and 3-year-old fillies, respectively, that may have designs on official Derby and Kentucky Derby points races down the road at the Oldsmar, Fla., track.

The action at Laurel gets under way at 12:25 p.m. (all times Eastern) with a nine-race card featuring six consecutive stakes beginning with the Geisha (Race 3, 1:23 p.m.) for older fillies and mares going one mile. The stakes finale at Laurel is the inaugural running of the Spectacular Bid for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs, where a field of nine will go postward.

Winter Carnival Day entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexLRL011621USA-EQB.html

Gulfstream Park's 12-race program starts at 11:45 a.m. ET, with the Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf Stakes kicking off the stakes action in the eighth race at 3:15 p.m. The stakes that follow consecutively are the Sunshine Classic, Sunshine Sprint and Sunshine Turf.

Sunshine Day entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP011621USA-EQB.html

California Cup Day has 10 races including five stakes for state-bred runners. First post is noon locally (3 p.m. ET) and the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf gets the stakes going in the day's fourth race at 4:30 p.m. ET. Field sizes throughout the day are large, with 105 horses entered in the 10 races.

Cal Cup Day entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexSA011621USA-EQB.html

Here's a quick look at the graded stakes

Saturday, Jan. 16

5:23 p.m. ET – $125,000 Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds

Wells Bayou, the G2 Louisiana Derby winner in 2020 in front-running fashion, makes his first start in the G3 Louisiana Stakes since finishing a well-beaten fifth in a division of the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn last May 2. Will he be ready to fire his best off the layoff? Blackberry Wine figures to be breathing down the neck of Wells Bayou and comes off a sharp score in allowance company at Fair Grounds Dec. 13, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure in the process. Silver Prospector will be running late in this 1 1/16-mile main track race.

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG011621USA10-EQB.html

6:49 p.m. ET – $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds

Trainer Michael Stidham appears to have a strong one-two punch in this G3 Kentucky Derby points race (note that none of the 11 starters will be treated with race-day Lasix in accordance with the eligibility rules for Derby points). Proxy has won two straight at Fair Grounds for Stidham, and this Tapit colt was produced from Panty Raid, winner of the G1 American Oaks on turf and the G1 Spinster on dirt. His other Lecomte runner is Manor House, an upstart gelding who won his debut at Laurel in December by 12 1/4 lengths. Both showed speed and there are several others in the lineup who could make things very competitive on the front end. That could set things up for the stretch-running colt Midnight Bourbon from the Steve Asmussen barn.

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/FG011621USA13-EQB.html

Sunday, Jan. 17

6:30 p.m. ET – $100,000 Astra Stakes at Santa Anita

Racing fans will get a glimpse of Santa Anita's famous hillside turf course as the nine fillies and mares in the 1 1/2-mile Astra Stakes begin their journey on that course, cross over the main track, then travel once around the turf oval. Quick, the 5-2 morning line favorite trained by John Sadler, has just one victory from eight starts since being imported from England. Second choice Altea, a French-bred formerly trained by Chad Brown but switched to Michael McCarthy prior to her last start in the Dec. 27 Robert J. Frankel (G3), is 1-for-19 in the U.S. since importation from France. Neither inspires great confidence. Avenue de France does like to win, but two of her three career victories from eight starts were in France. She comes off an allowance win for Leonard Powell and might be the “now” horse.

https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA011721USA7-EQB.html

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Mandaloun Looks to Do Juddmonte Proud in Lecomte

The same week that Juddmonte Farms’ owner and founder Khalid Abdullah passed away, the legendary outfit has a chance to take a step toward its long-sought first GI Kentucky Derby win when undefeated ‘TDN Rising Star’ Mandaloun (Into Mischief) goes postward as a likely favorite in the GIII Lecomte S. Saturday at Fair Grounds. The race kicks off the Louisiana oval’s three-race Derby prep schedule, to be followed by the GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby.

Hammered down to 11-10 favoritism debuting Oct. 24 at Keeneland, the homebred was ninth with a quarter-mile to go and encountered sustained traffic before finding daylight inside the eighth pole and charging to get up, earning his diploma and a ‘Rising Star’ badge to boot. The bay backed that call up with a much less eventful allowance/optional claiming score Nov. 28 at Churchill. He shows five local works for this stakes and two-turn bow, capped by a half-mile move in :48 3/5 (16/100) Jan. 9.

“He’s trained very well at Fair Grounds since we got here,” trainer Brad Cox told the Fair Grounds notes team. “We’ve always felt he was cut out to be a two-turn horse based on his physical make-up and how he trains. It shows how much talent he’s got to be able to win his first two races at sprint distances and now we’re going to do what we’ve thought he’s wanted to do all along, and that’s go long.”

Mandaloun’s task was made harder by drawing the 10-hole in the 11-horse group. Two horses who do have route experience as well as graded stakes placings as juveniles fared better when pulling the inside two posts and figure as major contenders.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ rail-drawn Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) followed up a 5 1/2-length maiden victory Aug. 22 at Ellis with a strong effort to be second after making a wide, early move into a fast pace in the GIII Iroquois S. Sept. 5 at Churchill. Unable to make a dent when finishing a well-beaten third in the GI Champagne S. Oct. 10 at Belmont, the $525,000 Keeneland September buy has been freshened since then and displays a trio of sharp five-furlong local breezes.

One stall to his right will be West Point Thoroughbreds and William Sandbrook’s Arabian Prince (Cairo Prince). Pulling a 12-1 upset on debut in a Churchill off-the-turfer Sept. 2, the $235,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga purchase was fourth when trying to close into a slow pace in the Street Sense S. Oct. 25 in Louisville and completed the trifecta at 13-1 in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. there Nov. 28.

“He’s a beautiful horse and this is the next step, so we’ll see how he fits,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “He’s improved every time out, and we’re hoping for another progression Saturday. We’d like to save some ground and use the long stretch to our advantage. He’ll come running late.”

A pair of promising runners from the Mike Stidham barn figure to have a say as well. Godolphin’s well-regarded Proxy (Tapit), a neck second when unveiled in a rained-off Monmouth heat Oct. 24, the homebred triumphed in frontrunning fashion here Nov. 26 and repeated in an allowance Dec. 19.

“He’s like a big, immature kid who is still learning with racing,” Stidham said. “Last time when he won, he was a little green about switching leads coming down the lane, but once he leveled off, he drew away at the end, so we were pleased with that. We were deciding whether to run him back in this race or wait for a race like the Risen Star. We felt like he’s a big, healthy, strong colt and we thought the experience of running would do him more good than working three of four more times waiting for the Risen Star.”

Newtown Anner Stud’s Manor House (Upstart) gets a class test after pummeling Laurel maidens by 12 1/4 lengths Dec. 12.

“This is just the beginning for him,” Stidham said. “We really didn’t know what we were running against [at Laurel], but he showed a tremendous amount of talent that day and he’s done nothing but train exactly the same since the win, so, he’s definitely moving forward. We are anxious to see him run against winners and see what he can do.”

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Saturday’s Insights: Expensive Sophomores Kick Off Careers at Fair Grounds

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

4th-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 2.29 p.m. ET

A number of freshly minted sophomores who were pricey sales horses kick off their careers in this six-panel maiden, led by Tom Durant’s RUN CLASSIC (Runhappy), a $475,000 OBS purchase (:20 3/5) and the highest-priced juvenile to sell by his sire. Trainer Bret Calhoun sends him to post, where he will have to face former $650,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling Constituency (Candy Ride {Arg}). The CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm runner, who is conditioned by Dallas Stewart, is out of stakes-placed Zermatt (Tiznow) from the family of Breeders’ Cup champ and MGISW Rushing Fall (More Than Ready). They’ll both have to get by Susan Moulton’s Gunner Paul (Exaggerator), a $150,000 OBS buy (:10 2/5), whose year older half-sister, Merneith (American Pharoah), ended 2020 with a listed stakes win at Keeneland on Breeders’ Cup Saturday before a third in the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita. Gunner Paul hails from the barn of Wayne Catalano. On the also-eligible list is OXO Equine’s Koolhaus (Nyquist), a $600,000 Keeneland November weanling whose dam is a half-sister to champion Lady Eli (Divine Park) and MGSW Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex). He’s one of two Brad Cox entrants in the field. TJCIS PPs

OSCAR PERFORMANCE HALF-BROTHER DEBUTS

4th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, post time: 1:10 p.m. ET

PERFORMING ARTS (Dansili {GB}), a half-brother to four-time Grade I winner and promising young sire Oscar Performance (Kitten’s Joy), makes his debut for trainer Brian Lynch. The Amerman homebred is also a half to millionaire Oscar Nominated (Kitten’s Joy). Jose Ortiz is booked to ride. Courageously (Quality Road), a $625,000 KEESEP yearling purchase by John Oxley, showed speed and reported home third behind impressive next out Dania Beach S. hero Kentucky Pharoah (American Pharoah) in his debut over course and distance Dec. 19. Trainer Mark Casse adds Lasix this time. Alexander Valley (Medaglia d’Oro), the second-most expensive horse to switch hands when bringing $2.15 million from Godolphin at the 2019 KEESEP sale, switches to grass following a well-beaten sixth on debut for Bill Mott Dec. 12. He is the first foal out of GISW Tara’s Tango (Unbridled’s Song). TJCIS PPs

SOPHOMORES SLUG IT OUT IN TWO-TURN ALLOWANCE

8th-Fair Grounds, $55K, Alw/Opt. Clm., 3yo, 1 1/16m, post time: 4:25 ET

About 2 1/2 hours prior to the running of the GIII Lecomte S., a field of 10 3-year-olds take in this allowance test that could toss up a starter or two for races like the GII Risen Star S. and GII Louisiana Derby over the next couple of months. MANOR HOUSE (Upstart) was one of two in the field whose connections toyed with the idea of the Lecomte before setting for this obviously softer spot. The Florida-bred has one previous start to his credit, a 12 1/4-length, gate-to-wire romp going Laurel’s one-turn mile Dec. 12, good for a 76 Beyer Speed Figure. The Newtown Anner colorbearer looks to have held his form with a pair of strong local breezes on display. Angkor (Anchor Down) was a well-backed graduate first time out, scoring by four lengths at Churchill Nov. 1, and got valuable two-turn experience when missing by a dirty nostril in Louisville Nov. 22. Gagetown (Exaggerator), a two-length debut winner sprinting at Churchill in November, stretches out off a solid runner-up effort behind the talented Quick Tempo (Tapizar) in the Dec. 19 Sugar Bowl S., while Beep Beep (Tapizar), who was also cross-entered in the Lecomte, tries a distance of ground, having raced away to a 3 1/2-length victory on his seven-furlong Churchill debut Nov. 29. TJCIS PPs

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