H. Allen Jerkens S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weather Forces Cancellation Of Final Three at Gulfstream

Heavy rains and high winds combined with a forecast indicating that conditions would only worsen forced the cancellation of Saturday's final three races at Gulfstream Park outside of Miami.

The $100,000 H. Allen Jerkens S., which had already been transferred to the Tapeta track, has been rescheduled for Sunday, Dec. 24 and will be redrawn. The Christmas Eve program will also feature the running of the $125,000 Via Borghese S. for turf females.

Live racing is expected to resume Sunday at Gulfstream, with a first post of 12:10 p.m. ET.

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Stars Come Out To Play on Travers Day

It's a bit of Christmas in August Saturday at venerable Saratoga Race Course, which plays host to no fewer than five Grade I events for horses of all ages–on dirt and on turf–topped by the main event on the summer calendar, the $1.25-million GI Travers S. While the fields are short on numbers, they are long on quality, as three of the races have attracted reigning Eclipse Award winners, none of whom are anything close to a cinch in their respective heats.

Champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) has had a tumultuous first two-thirds of the season but has his chance to put it all behind him on Saturday. Having defeated future GI Kentucky Derby hero Mage (Good Magic) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Apr. 1, the $110,000 Keeneland September bargain was famously withdrawn on the eve of the Run for the Roses–for which he was likely to start favorite–and was first off a 71-day absence in the GI Belmont S. June 10. A highly creditable second to the race-fit Arcangelo (Arrogate), the dark bay exits a rough-and-tumble nose victory after surviving a lengthy inquiry in the GII Jim Dandy S. July 29. But here he is, a golden opportunity to cement his spot at the head of this year's sophomore class straight ahead.

“You're never going to make up for not getting to run in the Kentucky Derby,” Todd Pletcher told TDN's Mike Kane at Tuesday's draw. “But it would be, I suppose, some sort of consolation prize if we were able to win the Travers against the three Classic winners.”

Pletcher has been twice successful in the Travers, most recently with Belmont runner-up Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) in 2011.

The third of the Classic winners to whom Pletcher refers is National Treasure (Quality Road), who outlasted Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) and Mage to win the GI Preakness S. The $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad set a moderate pace when last seen in the Belmont, but gave way readily in the stretch to finish sixth. He looms part of the early pace equation with the outposted Curlin S. hero Scotland (Good Magic) and leaves from gate five with John Velazquez calling the shots. Blinkers come off for the Travers.

“I just got a text from Bob [Baffert] and he loves the post. I don't disagree with Bob too many times,” said Starlight Racing's Jack Wolf. “If he wants to take the blinkers off or put triple blinkers on, that's fine with me.”

Mage, who looks to become the first Derby winner to double up in the Travers since Street Sense in 2007, passed the Belmont and reportedly was underdone when nearly overcoming a wide trip to drop a narrow decision to Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. five weeks ago. Flavien Prat has been named to replace the injured Luis Saez.

Baffert was deep into his Hall of Fame career when sending out Arrogate to that stunning victory in the 2016 Travers, and the late stallion has a chance to join the fellow Travers winners Easy Goer, Birdstone and Bernardini as sires to account for a Travers winner of their own. Arcangelo's rise has been meteoric, as he progressed from a third-out graduation to victory in the GIII Peter Pan S. and an historic Belmont S. score for trainer Jena Antonucci. He makes his first start in 77 days Saturday, but that is of little concern to his connections.

“He's grown up so much and has gotten stronger and more professional over this little bit of a breather we gave him,” Antonucci said. “We're so thrilled to be here and blessed to do this. To have the opportunity to be here at this stage is amazing.”

Winchell Thoroughbreds looks to become the first owner since Ogden Phipps in 1989 and 1990 to score consecutive Travers wins. Disarm (Gun Runner), whose boom sire was a distant third to Arrogate seven years ago, was a troubled fourth in the Derby and won the GIII Matt Winn S. at Ellis June 11, but was a bit one-paced when fourth in the Jim Dandy. To that end, trainer Steve Asmussen tweaks the colt's equipment this weekend.

“We need to find more,” he said of the decision to add blinkers. “We aren't satisfied with the results of his last race and I think he's capable of more. This is our first step in trying to pull it out of him.”

'TDN Rising Star' and GI Toyota Blue Grass S. hero Tapit Trice (Tapit) tries to give his all-conquering stallion a second Travers winner in three years. Seventh in the Derby and third in the Belmont, he'll need to improve many lengths off his latest fifth in the Haskell.

Plenty Of Talent On the Travers Undercard

The elite-level action kicks off with the GI Forego S., a five-horse affair that shapes more like a match race. Juddmonte's Eclipse-champion sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) has very much lived up to his name and carries an eight-race winning streak into the seven-furlong test. To make it nine on the trot, he'll have to once again run down Gunite (Gun Runner), who appeared every ounce a winner in a sloppy renewal of the GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. July 29, only to be run down in the last couple of jumps. The latter was in receipt of just two pounds last month in the handicap, but is critically four pounds better off this time around (124-118).

Elite Power and Gunite threw down in the Vanderbilt | Sarah Andrew

Whereas the two older sprinters should boss the Forego, the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. looms a much more competitive affair, where a case could be made for at least five of the six entrants.

David Aragona has tabbed 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line off his victory in the GI Woody Stephens S. downstate June 10, but so open is the Jerkens that Drew's Gold (Violence,) who endured his first career defeat that day, is the 12-1 outsider. New York Thunder (Nyquist) turned in a Shancelot-esque effort in winning the GII Amsterdam S. by 7 1/2 lengths July 28 to remain unbeaten in four starts, while Fort Bragg (Tapit) drops back in trip off a nose success over subsequent Jim Dandy runner-up Saudi Crown (Always Dreaming) in the GIII Dwyer S. July 1. Even Verifying (Justify) cannot be ruled out, as tries a sprint trip for the first time since debuting victoriously here over six furlongs 366 days ago. The half-brother to Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) gutted it out in the GIII Indiana Derby July 8.

A pair of former champions lock horns in the GI Ballerina S., a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in early November.

Goodnight Olive (Ghostapper) was making her graded stakes debut in last year's Ballerina and went on to best Caramel Swirl (Street Sense) by 2 3/4-lengths en route to a victory by a similar margin over champion 'Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in the Filly & Mare Sprint. Easy winner of the GI Madison S. on seasonal debut in April, the dark bay was an unlucky third behind Matareya (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Derby City Distaff May 6 and just managed to stave off Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) in the GII Bed O'Roses S. June 17. The latter would go on to frank the form in the July 23 Twin Bridges S. at Ellis.

Echo Zulu is perfect in her two runs this season at four, a 5 3/4-length tally in the May 29 GIII Winning Colors S. followed by a 7 1/4-thumping of Dr B (Liam's Map) in the GII Honorable Miss H. here July 26.

The GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. offers a fees-paid berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Turf and, really, what's not to admire about the evergreen Channel Maker (English Channel)? A winner of nearly $3.9 million in a career spanning 54 starts to date, horse racing's version of Cal Ripken, Jr. makes a mind-boggling sixth consecutive appearance in the Sword Dancer, including a front-running 5 3/4-length score in a soft-turf renewal in 2020. The chestnut doesn't appear to be slowing down either, as he exits a two-length defeat of Verstappen (War Front) in the GII Bowling Green S. July 30, a race marred when favored Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) clipped heels and fell.

Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Westerberg's Stone Age (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) was a one-paced third in last year's GI Saratoga Derby and now calls New York home for trainer Chad Brown. Runner-up to Rebel's Romance in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, the dark bay was beaten a long way from home when last seen in the Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar this past February.

Soldier Rising (GB) (Frankel {GB}) was beaten a length into third by then-stablemate Gufo (Declaration of War) in this event last year and was runner-up in the GI Man O'War S. and GI Manhattan S. this spring. He arguably took the worst of it in the Bowling Green and can rebound at a hint of a price here.

Breeders' Cup Berth Up For Grabs In Pat O'Brien

The seven-furlong GII Pat O'Brien S. offers its winner a spot in the field for the GI BigAss Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile up the road at Santa Anita and has drawn a field of 11 that lacks a true standout.

Though still eligible for a second-level allowance, Anarchist (Distorted Humor) was runner-up in the GIII San Simeon S. down the hill in Arcadia Mar. 5 and filled the same spot in the GIII Kona Gold S. on the dirt Apr. 22 before shipping into Woodbine to salute in the May 14 GIII Jacques Cartier S. Second to Elite Power in the GII True North S. June 10, he missed by a head to the outstanding Cal-bred The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) in the GI Bing Crosby S. July 29.

Brickyard Ride (Clubhouse Ride) was a short-priced third in the San Simeon before validating 4-5 favoritism in the Kona Gold with a half-length defeat of Anarchist. The 6-year-old entire was a well-beaten third to The Chosen Vron in the state-bred Thor's Echo S. May 28 and cuts back to a sprint after rounding out the trifecta when trying to wire the field in the GII San Diego H. July 29.

A miniature version of Channel Maker, C Z Rocket (City Zip) tries the O'Brien for a fourth straight time at age nine. Victorious in 2020 when also second in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, he rounded out the exacta again in 2021, but was a slow-starting eighth last year. The bay ran on some to be fifth in the Crosby and gets blinkers back on Saturday.

The Estate of the late Jerry Moss is represented by the lightly raced homebred Sir Atticus (Gormley), winner of a 6 1/2-furlong allowance July 21 for which he earned a competitive 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

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Essential Quality Leads Runhappy Travers Breezers

It was a busy morning at Saratoga for 3-year-olds headed towards next Saturday's $1.25-million GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga, headed by GI Belmont S. hero and reigning champion juvenile Essential Quality (Tapit).

The 'TDN Rising Star,' ridden by leading jockey Luis Saez, worked outside of stablemate Bonny South (Munnings) and the duo covered five furlongs in 1:01.58 (10/18). The Godolphin homebred was caught in fractions of :11.40, :23.22 and :47.81 before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:15 flat. Juddmonte's enigmatic Bonny South is also scheduled to race on Travers Day as she is expected for the GI Personal Ensign S.

“He seems to be a little more forward leading up to this race than he was in the Jim Dandy,” said trainer Brad Cox. “We've tried to sharpen him up the last few weeks and I feel like we have mentally. He's ready to go. Luis was super excited with how he worked. His last two works were better than his first two leading up to the Jim Dandy, so I feel like we have a horse who is every bit as good as we were leading into the Jim Dandy; maybe even better.”

The progressive Masqueparade (Upstart), a last-out third to Essential Quality in the July 31 GII Jim Dandy S., breezed a half-mile in :48.11 (16/41) under the watchful eye of trainer Al Stall, Jr., who believes there is improvement to come for the GIII Ohio Derby victor.

“With the shipping, I only worked him twice from the Ohio Derby to the Jim Dandy,” Stall, Jr. said. “When we got up here we noticed the track was a little deeper than it was in the past or at least it seemed that way. I think he got a little bit out of that race and it should help him for this race.”

Keepmeinmind (Laoban), who did everything short of win the Jim Dandy after being outbattled to the wire by the champ, tuned up for the Travers with a half-mile breeze of his own in :47.55 (7/41).

“He went very good,” said trainer Robertino Diodoro. “He was doing it nice and easy all on h is own and with a strong gallop out once again. Touch wood, everything is on schedule. This was easy as could be and I thought Dennis did a good job because he's not an easy horse to slow down.”

Trainer Ken McPeek, who sent out Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) to work five furlongs in 1:00 flat at Oklahoma (2/38) for the Personal Ensign, also oversaw the final pre-Travers hit-out for GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. winner King Fury (Curlin), who worked five-eighths of a mile on his own in 1:01.13 (17/38) over the same surface. Runner-up to Masqueparade and a nose better than Keepmeinmind in the Ohio Derby, the son of the late former 'TDN Rising Star' Taris (Flatter) was a latest 10th in the GI Saratoga Derby Invitational on the turf Aug. 7.

“It was a solid breeze. We caught him in a minute,” McPeek said. “It was a nice solid maintenance breeze. The horse can run all day. He's coming into the race great. I think a mile and a quarter will be right up his alley. If he jumps to another level, I think we're good. The turf race was probably a bad idea in hindsight.”

Dynamic One (Union Rags) and Miles D (Curlin), the respective one-two finishers in the July 30 Curlin S., also got in their final major work Saturday. With Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, Dynamic One covered four furlongs in :50.67 (115/144) over the training track, while Miles D, who will try to give Chad Brown a maiden Travers success, stopped the clock in 1:01.16 (19/38) for five panels, also over the Oklahoma surface.

Life Is Good On Edge For Jerkens…

'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief), unraced since an eight-length romp in the GII San Felipe S. in early March, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.61 (10/38) as he readies for his comeback test in next Saturday's GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at the Spa.

Now under the care of Todd Pletcher, the $525,000 Keeneland September yearling was completing his fifth breeze at Saratoga since being transferred from trainer Bob Baffert.

“Another very impressive breeze with a tremendous gallop out,” Pletcher said. “He seems to do things effortlessly. He's impressive to watch and it should have him ready to go in what is a demanding task going seven-eighths in a Grade 1 off a layoff. He seems to be training extremely well.

“I would argue that today was his best work of all, particularly the gallop out,” Pletcher continued. “I had him out the mile in 1:39 and one under a motionless rider. He has a good foundation of fitness.”

Mike Smith, aboard in each of Life Is Good's three previous starts, will be in from California for the ride.

Letruska Signals Readiness for Personal Ensign…

Pro-tem divisional leader Letruska (Super Saver) went five furlongs in a bullet :59.02 (1/18) over the Saratoga main track Saturday morning as she looks for her sixth win in her last seven starts in the GI Personal Ensign S. next weekend.

With Ortiz, Jr. in the saddle, the 5-year-old clicked off fractions of :12, :23.20 and :35.20 before pulling up six furlongs in 1:12 flat.

“Normally, she is a horse who likes to work fast and she worked well today,” said trainer Fausto Gutierrez. “The idea was to feel full of horse and she's a horse that is ready to run.”

Letruska, who celebrated her true coming-out party when winning the GIII Shuvee S. at Saratoga nearly a year ago, accounted for the aforementioned Bonny South by 2 3/4 lengths in the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont June 5 and exits a 5 3/4-length thrashing of her rivals in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill June 26.

Spa Breezes…

GI Forego S.

Chance It (Currency Swap), 4f, :48.12 (18/41)
Mind Control (Stay Thirsty), 4f, :49.52 (57/144)
Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief), 4f, :48.48 (24/41)

GI Personal Ensign S.

Graceful Princess (Tapit), 4f, :48.95 (28/144)

GI H. Allen Jerkens S.

Drain The Clock (Maclean's Music), 4f, :47.47 (6/41)

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New Faces in Ashford’s Stud Barn

Coolmore’s Ashford Stud welcomes a trio of new stallions to their program for the upcoming season. Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) and Echo Town (Speightstown) will start off their stud career at the Versailles, Kentucky-based farm, while Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) will stand his first year in the States since relocating from Coolmore’s headquarters in Ireland after spending two seasons there.

Today we sat down with Adrian Wallace to discuss their two first-season sires.

Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), $20,000

Very few racehorses have had a rollercoaster of a career comparable to that of Maximum Security’s.

So when asked if there was one thing that people should remember about the frequent headliner, Wallace said, “The thing to remember most about Maximum Security was that he never gave up. He was tenacious. Every race he ran, you never knew when the bottom was going to come. And almost invariably, he was the horse that came out the victor. We saw it in a whole host of great races at three and four. He was tough, he was tenacious and he was dominant.”

A late May foal and homebred for Gary and Mary West, Maximum Security won on debut at two in a maiden claimer at Gulfstream before taking the 3-year-old male division by storm last year, winning the GI Florida Derby, GI Haskell Invitational S., GIII Bold Ruler H., GI Cigar Mile H. and of course, crossing the wire first in the GI Kentucky Derby.

“I think what makes the horse unique is that he’s so, so tough,” Wallace said. “He’s a true rags-to-riches story. It’s no secret that he started in the basement ranks of racing and ascended to the hierarchies.”

After winning his division’s Eclipse Award, Maximum Security made his 4-year-old debut a winning one as he crossed the globe for the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup. Transferred to the barn of Bob Baffert soon after, the bay continued the winning streak in the GII San Diego H. and GI Pacific Classic S. But despite the less-than-ideal circumstances surrounding his transfer during his 4-year-old season, Wallace said he believes there is no denying the colt’s dominating campaign.

“Nobody will ever forget that day in Saudi Arabia when Maximum Security secured the inaugural running of the Saudi Cup against what can only be described as an absolute heroine of a mare in Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute),” Wallace said. “That stretch drive looked like it was never going to end, but after a battle with her he managed to prevail and then, after such an arduous trip to Saudi Arabia, come back to California under the tutelage of Bob Baffert to win the Pacific Classic, which is a sire-making race.”

Maximum Security retired this year with earnings of almost $12.5 million and ran in the money in all but two of his 14 career starts.

“When you look at his body of work, whether it’s four Grade Is or five Grade Is, this horse was utterly, utterly dominant,” Wallace said. “This horse took his tracks with him all over the world. He danced every dance and is an absolute champion in our eyes, and most people’s eyes. I think he’s a horse whose future is very, very bright.”

A son of 2013 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner New Year’s Day (Street Cry {Ire}), Maximum Security is out of the winning mare Lil Indy (Anasheed), who sold for $1.85 million at last year’s Keeneland November Sale. The mare is a half-sister to GI winner and stakes-producing sire Flat Out (Flatter), as well as stakes winner Our Best Man (Runaway Groom).

“He’s got a deep pedigree,” Wallace said. “At $20,000 dollars, he really does provide great value and a great record for a lot of breeders in 2021.”

Wallace spoke on what he’s heard from the new stallion’s visiting breeders.

“He’s a lovely, easy mover with a great neck and shoulder and a lovely hip,” he said. “People have been struck by how good of a mover he is when they’ve come to see him. He’s a horse that looks like he’s almost a sprinter type. A lot of people have commented that it’s amazing that the horse was able to carry his distance as far as he did. So he looks like a horse that’s going to put in quite a lot of speed in his mares. Being a son of a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, you’d expect a fair amount of precocity. I think physically, he will add a lot of precociousness to his stock.”

Echo Town (Speightstown), $10,000

Echo Town, a ‘TDN Rising Star’ and this year’s winner of the GI H. Allen Jerkens S., will stand his first season for $10,000.

With the ongoing success Munnings has displayed at stud in the past years, led most recently by a trio of Grade II-winning sophomore fillies in Venetian Harbor, Bonny South and Finite, Ashford was more than willing to add another son of Speightstown to their roster.

In fact, Wallace notes that Echo Town has a one-up on Munnings as he kicks off his stud career.

“Echo Town achieved what Munnings couldn’t do,” he said. “Echo Town is a Grade I winner, whereas Munnings himself placed in Grade Is. It’s no word of lie to say Speightstown is probably one of the most sought-after stallions in the world. Four sons of Speightstown, including Munnings, have sired Grade I winners, so he’s proving himself to be a sire of sires as well.”

Wallace added that Echo Town fits the bill physically as well.

“Echo Town is a horse that’s going to appeal to a lot of breeders,” he said. “Physically, he’s going to be very easy to breed to and suit a wide array of broodmares. He is all quality-a lovely head, great neck and shoulder to him. He’s a very easy mover. He’s a horse that’s medium sized, not too big, but he’s going to push enough size into a mare and he’s going to put a lot of quality into them.”

The three-year-old bay is out of the Menifee mare Letgomyecho, winner of the GII Forward Gal S. He is a half-brother to three other stakes horses, including GIII Gotham S. winner J Boys Echo (Mineshaft) and GIII-placed Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song).

Wallace said the plan will be to draw up Echo Town’s book as reflective of what has already proven successful for the sire line.

“Basically, what we’re going to try to do is get him to those bloodlines with which Speightstown and Munnings have been successful. Munnings has been very successful with daughters of Tapit in siring Bonnie South and Finite. Echo Town will suit A.P Indy-line and Tapit-line mares, as well as mares from the Deputy Minister line. Pedigree-wise, he fits a wide array of broodmares.”

A $100,000 Keeneland September purchase for L&N Racing, Echo Town earned his ‘Rising Star’ badge at first asking this year, breaking his maiden by 2 ½ lengths going six furlongs at Fair Grounds for Steve Asmussen.

After adding two more wins at Oaklawn Park and Churchill Downs and finishing a close second in the Bachelor S., Echo Town ran second to No Parole (Violence) upon his graded stakes debut in the GI Woody Stephens S.

He followed that effort by defeating the same rival along with several other top graded stakes contenders in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Presented by Runhappy.

“The Allen Jerkens, being a stallion-making race in itself having produced the likes of Tale of the Cat, Hard Spun and More Than Ready, is obviously a very prestigious race to win at Saratoga,” Wallace said. “He showed a lot of speed that day, and when push came to shove at the top of the stretch, there was no doubt really which horse was going to win. He scooted clear to win by almost four lengths with a good time. He was all speed and brilliance.”

Wallace said that Echo Town has had a positive reception from breeders already.

“All the breeders that have come to see him have liked him,” he said. “He’s priced at $10,000, which I think for a lot of breeders if you’re looking at sons of Speightstown, given Munnings’ recent success and the fact that he is now fully booked, if you’re looking at that line, I think Echo Town is the right way to go.”

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