Tag: Horseplayers

The $200,000, Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes has been run since 1979 and some very good sprinters have won the race over its 43 year run. Seven line up for this year's edition on Saturday at Santa Anita Park, including 9-year-old C Z Rocket, a multiple graded stakes winner who has banked over $2 million but who has not won a stakes race in more than two years.

Spirit of Makena won the G3 San Carlos Stakes when last seen in March and if not for a head defeat last summer might be bringing a perfect four-for-four career record into this race. Howbeit won the G2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship last fall over the track but has finished fourth in four straight races since then.

Forbidden Kingdom was considered a top 3-year-old in 2022 following wins in the G2 San Vicente Stakes and G2 San Felipe Stakes but after a poor effort in last year's G1 Santa Anita Derby cut back to sprinting, most recently finishing second behind Spirit of Makena in the San Carlos.

Desmond Doss won the Bertrando Stakes, for California bred horses only, in 2021 and 2022 and hopes to improve off a fourth place effort three weeks ago when returning from eight months off. Positivity has yet to win a stakes race in 17 starts but did miss by a nose in the Cary Grant Stakes (for California bred horses) in 2021 and he is making his second start following more than a year away from the races.

Midnight Mammoth rounds out the field, cutting back in distance from nine to seven furlongs following a third place effort in the G2 Californian Stakes five weeks ago.

Top contenders:

Positivity appears very capable of posting the upset in this race and he will likely be ignored as a contender by many bettors because he has not won a race since October of 2021. That should not deter us from wagering on this horse who is likely to improve markedly in his second race following 13 months away from the track. Positivity began his career winning twice, the first of the two at Santa Anita nearly three years ago this week. He then won the Graduation Stakes in career start number two and then entered the Golden State Juvenile Stakes (at the seven furlong distance of the Triple Bend Stakes) in the third race of his career, finishing second, before stretching out to a mile and one-sixteenth and running poorly (sixth) in the Los Alamitos Futurity. Following four poor efforts, three of them routes, Positivity returned to sprinting and to seven furlongs and won decisively by five lengths in the summer of 2021 earning a then career-best 104 Equibase® Speed Figure. Two races later he finished second in the California Cup Sprint Stakes with a 105 figure. Positivity was then sent to Dubai in the winter of 2022 where he did not run well in three races. Returned to the states and given 13 months off from March of 2022 until April 22 of this year, Positivity finished third in the Kona Gold Stakes with a 99 figure he can certainly improve upon, particularly as he is returning to his favorite distance of seven furlongs. Additionally, with Forbidden Kingdom being an absolute need-the-lead type and with Midnight Mammoth having the same style and drawing the rail, Positivity should have a fast pace to close into and could get up in time to win this year's Triple Bend Stakes.

Spirit of Makena might be four-for-four if not for a defeat by a head last summer in the second start of his career. That also happened to be his only try around two turns. He has a perfect record in one-turn races, including a win in the San Carlos Stakes in March at Santa Anita. He won one month earlier in his 2023 debut, earning a career-best 113 figure which is the best earned by any horse in this field in the past two years. With a sharp five furlong morning drill coming into the race and the ability to stalk the pacesetters in third or second in the early stages, Spirit of Makena should be a tough competitor in this race.

C Z Rocket had won five stakes races, three of them graded stakes, up to the time he entered the gate in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last November but he was disregarded by many bettors at 30 to 1 odds as he had only an allowance level win in 2022. The old veteran proved many wrong as he rallied from fifth to make the lead with an eighth of a mile to go before finishing second, and clearly so, behind Elite Power. Rested four months, C Z Rocket finished second in February in a stakes level allowance race then traveled to Dubai and finished eighth in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Back in the states for his next start just two weeks ago, C Z Rocket perked up for a second place finish with the same 99 figure Positivity earned in his only start this year. With that nice effort as a foundation and having earned 107 and 109 figures last year in his two best efforts, including when second in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, C Z Rocket can't be ruled out as a contender in this field.

Honorable mention goes to Forbidden Kingdom, who is likely to be one of the top betting choices based on his second place effort in the Malibu Stakes in December at the distance of the Triple Bend, and his runner-up effort behind Spirit of Makena in the San Carlos Stakes when last seen in March, in which Forbidden Kingdom earned a 100 figure which is just on par with many others and not dominant among this field if repeated. Forbidden Kingdom is a need-the-lead type who has been in front after a quarter mile in every one of his 10 career starts, but who has only won three of those, the last of which was in March of 2022. Particularly in his last three races Forbidden Kingdom ran evenly or lost ground in the last eighth of a mile, which shows he is susceptible to being passed late in this race as well.

The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase® Speed Figures, is Desmond Doss (106), Howbeit (106) and Midnight Mammoth (105).

Win Contenders:

Positivity
Spirit of Makena
C Z Rocket

Note: For any exacta tickets played, consider Forbidden Kingdom for the second (runner-up) position.

Triple Bend Stakes – Grade 2
Race 8 at Santa Anita
Saturday, May 27 – Post Time 7:30 PM E.T.
Seven Furlongs
Four Year Olds and Upward
Purse: $200,000

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Woodbine's highly anticipated turf racing season is set to get underway this Saturday afternoon (May 27).

A total of three turf races are carded Saturday for the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course. The Inner Turf, which will host its fifth year of racing this season, is set to open soon.

“I think everyone, horse people and fans, look forward to the start of turf racing,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “We have two beautiful courses and the races are always competitive.”

The first turf contest of the season is carded as Race 4 and will see a field of seven go six and a half furlongs in an Allowance Optional Claiming event. The next turf event is Race 6 and features a sizeable field of 12 fillies and mares going six and a half furlongs in an Optional Claimer. The afternoon's final race over the E.P. Taylor Turf is Race 8 and has a field of nine Allowance Optional Claiming fillies and mares running a mile and a sixteenth.

Attard will send out four-year-old Trizzel Trazzel in Saturday's sixth race. The filly's lone victory to date came over the Woodbine turf last September.

“Hopefully, we can have a strong start and carry that throughout the turf season,” said Attard.

Trainer Katerina Vassilieva is also excited to get the turf season underway.

“The turf courses at Woodbine are world renowned and beautifully maintained,” said Vassilieva. “I've got some good grass runners in my barn and I'm looking forward to having them back on that surface. Our barn kicks off the opening of the turf with the start of Witch Hazel who runs this Saturday (Race 4).”

Woodbine's turf racing season is headlined by the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile, Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes and Grade 1 Summer Stakes on Saturday, September 16. The famed Grade 1 Canadian International also returns to the calendar for 2023, taking place with the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on Sunday, October 8.

Post time for Saturday's card of live racing is 1:10 p.m.

For the latest information and updates, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB or @WoodbineComms on Twitter.

The post Woodbine Launches 2023 Turf Season This Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday featuring races from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs.

The Cross Country Pick 5 requires bettors to pick the winner of five select races from tracks across the country. The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country with each week featuring a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5, boasting a low 15 percent takeout, offers sequences with races from Belmont Park and partner tracks across the country.

Saturday's sequence kicks off in Race 9 from Churchill Downs at 4:55 p.m. Eastern as a field of nine sophomore fillies sprint six furlongs over the main track in an optional-claimer topped by debut maiden winner Fogo Island.

Trained by Paulo Lobo, the Speightstown dark bay rallied from seventh to graduate by 1 3/4-lengths in a six-furlong sprint over the Turfway Park synthetic on March 31. She will be tested by the Andrew McKeever-trained Charriere, who earned a co-field-best 80 Beyer Speed Figure in her second out graduation over next-out runner-ups Blame Day and Lady Dreamer in January at Fair Grounds Race Course; and the well-bred Daniel Leitch trainee Zapple, who is out of the multiple stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Miss Red Delicious – a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire Lady Apple.

Action switches to Belmont [Race 9, 5:12 p.m.] for the second leg as a field of seven 3-year-olds and up test their stamina over 11 furlongs on the inner turf led by a pair from trainer Mike Maker in Inflation Adjusted and Fighter in the Win.

Inflation Adjusted, a 4-year-old Hard Spun colt, boasts a record of 12-4-2-2 that includes a pair of 1 1/16-mile turf scores in October at Belmont at the Big A, while Fighter in the Win, a Creative Cause 4-year-old, will try for his first turf win in his sixth attempt. Opposition will be provided by New York-bred veterans Danzigwiththestars for conditioner Dominick Schettino and multiple stakes-winner Hold the Salsa for trainer Lisa Lugovich.

The middle leg returns to Churchill Downs [Race 10, 5:26 p.m.] for the $225,000 Keertana, a 12-furlong turf marathon for older fillies and mares led by graded-stakes winner Sparkle Blue for trainer Graham Motion.

The 4-year-old daughter of Hard Spun won the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Valley View in October at Keeneland before finishing a close third in the 10-furlong Grade 1 American Oaks in December at Santa Anita. She enters from a sixth-place finish in her seasonal debut in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Modesty on May 5 at Churchill.

The graded-stakes placed Miss Yearwood, a good third in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational in September at Belmont at the Big A, has made her last two starts at this distance including an allowance score last out at Keeneland for trainer Ian Wilkes. Sinfiltre, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, has won her last two starts, including a 12-furlong allowance score last out on April 16 over the Keeneland green.

The penultimate leg returns to Belmont [Race 10, 5:44 p.m.] with an overflow field of New York-bred fillies and mares sprinting seven furlongs over the Widener turf course in a competitive maiden special weight.

The Christophe Clement-trained Loon Cry has hit the board in all three career starts, including a close second in a six-furlong turf sprint in April at Aqueduct. Autumn will look to make amends for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey after clipping heels and falling at odds of 4-1 on debut in the same April race as Loon Cry. The Joe Sharp-trained first-time starter Three Cups Full, by Pioneerof the Nile, is out of the multiple graded-stakes winning New York-bred mare Flipcup, who posted wins on dirt and synthetic as well as hitting the board six times in turf tests.

The sequence closes out at Churchill [Race 11, 5:58 p.m.] with a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight over the main track for 3-year-olds and up that drew a field of 11 featuring the Rodolphe Brisset-trained Mullikin.

The Violence dark bay, a $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, has finished second in both starts and earned a 93 Beyer last out traveling seven furlongs at Keeneland. A pair of first-time starters are likely to attract attention including the Lobo-trained Cusp, a $725,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase, who is a half-brother to multiple graded-stakes winner Travel Column; while the Brad Cox-trained Paddington, by Curlin, is out of the multiple graded-stakes placed Pulpit mare Sea Island, who is a full-sister to 2007 Grade 2 Peter Pan-winner Sightseeing.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence will be available for download at https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/cross-country-wagers.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, May 27

Leg A: Churchill Downs, Race 9 – AOC (4:55 p.m. Eastern)

Leg B: Belmont Park, Race 9 – ALW (5:12 p.m.)

Leg C: Churchill Downs, Race 10 – $225K Keertana (5:26 p.m.)

Leg D: Belmont Park, Race 10 – NY-bred MSW (5:44 p.m.)

Leg E: Churchill Downs, Race 11 – MSW (5:58 p.m.)

The post Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5 Features Racing From Belmont, Churchill appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There will be six-figure carryovers in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 and $1 Jackpot Super Hi-5 wagers when live racing returns to historic Pimlico Race Course Thursday.

Post time is 12:25 p.m.

The all-stakes Rainbow 6 anchored by the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, went unsolved during the last live race day May 20, resulting in a carryover of $360,855. Thursday's sequence spans Races 3-8, beginning with a wide-open claiming event for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

Race 4 is a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies sprinting 4 ½ furlongs that drew a field of nine including a pair of first-time starters from Preakness Meet-leading trainer Brittany Russell – Kellan, a daughter of Divining Rode, and the Connect filly Tina Tina Tina. The narrow 5-2 favorite is Buckin' Great, second as the favorite in her May 5 debut at Laurel Park.

Uncle Ernie, exiting back-to-back seconds in stakes races for Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness winning trainer John Servis, is the 9-5 favorite in Race 5, a third-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs. Among his foes are 2021 Fall Highweight (G3) winner Hopeful Treasure, multiple stakes winner Witty and eight-time career winner Borracho.

Race 7 is a second-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up scheduled to sprint five furlongs on the grass. Live Fire has raced four times on the turf with three wins, all coming at five-eighths. Doctor Jeff is the 5-2 program favorite, having run third last out as the favorite in a six-furlong turf dash May 4 at Aqueduct. Zyramid owns two straight victories including a win at the course and distance last fall.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out only when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 60 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 40 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

The Jackpot Super High Five comes in Race 6, a six-furlong maiden claiming sprint for 3-year-olds. Ten were entered led by 3-1 morning-line favorite Pay Zone, who will break from the far outside and add blinkers following a fourth against older horses in a 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight April 15 at Gulfstream Park for trainer George Weaver.

Launched April 1 on opening day of Laurel Park's spring meet, the Jackpot Super High Five takes place in Race 6 every live race day. In the Jackpot Super High 5, the jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with each of the first five winners in exact order. On days when there is no unique ticket, 50 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with all five winners while 50 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

If there is no ticket will all five finishers in exact order, the entire pool will be carried over to the next day's Jackpot Super High Five.

The post Six-Figure Carryovers In Thursday’s Rainbow 6, Jackpot Super High Five At Pimlico appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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