Jack Christopher | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Rising Stars’ Rendezvous at the Jersey Shore

The 'second season' for this year's crop of 3-year-olds–both boys and girls–gets underway in earnest with the running of the $1-million GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park for the males and the GI CCA Oaks about 2 1/2 hours earlier at Saratoga. And intriguing matchups between the top two morning-line choices loom in each of the nine-furlong tests.

Zedan Racing Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) was made the narrow 7-5 Haskell favorite by oddsmaker Brad Thomas and was utterly brilliant in his first two career starts, winning his Mar. 5 debut by a wide margin for Bob Baffert before belying his relative inexperience to take out the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 9 after being switched to the barn of Tim Yakteen. Somewhat surprisingly sent out the 5.80-1 second-elect in the GI Kentucky Derby, the $1.7-million Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream purchase retreated to finish a well-beaten 12th after racing in a prominent position early on.

The chestnut is now back with Baffert, who certainly knows his way to the Monmouth winner's circle, having won the Haskell on nine previous occasions. Can Taiba add to the record?

“We know he's lightly raced but I feel he's doing really well,” Baffert said. “I wanted to watch him train. I wasn't really convinced he was going to the Haskell. He breezed really well. He's a big, strong heavy horse who won't light it up in the mornings, but I was surprised what he did first out [to breeze]. I let him dictate if he was ready or not. I wasn't going to throw him into the deep end of the pool.

“I would have liked an extra week with him,” Baffert admitted. But he's doing really well. He has speed and he doesn't get tired. The two turns won't be a problem for him. The Kentucky Derby was a tall order for him. I don't know what happened in the Derby. I wasn't around. The Haskell is a great race and there are some really good horses in here. I hope the horse shows up.”

Even if he does fire his best shot, he will be made to work for it given the presence of undefeated 'Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings), who could well jump the Haskell favorite. Perfect in four trips to the post, the bald-faced chestnut was the likely choice in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last year after gliding home much the best in the GI Champagne S., but was sidelined by injury on the eve of the race. Winner of the GII Pat Day Mile first off the seven-month hiatus May 7, he stormed home to take the seven-furlong GI Woody Stephens S. by double digits June 11, earning some high praise from his trainer.

“This horse is an exceptional talent,” Chad Brown said following the Woody Stephens. “This is my 15th year of training and I've never had a dirt horse with this much pure brilliance. He reminds me a lot of Ghostzapper when I worked for Bobby Frankel. He's a brilliant horse that can probably run any distance.

“Everybody wants to have horses like this–horse of a lifetime– including me.”

The Haskell serves as a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland the first weekend of November.

An equally inviting battle is in the cards at the Spa, where Secret Oath (Arrogate) and Nest (Curlin), both winners of important Grade Is and each exiting a run against the boys in a Triple Crown race, go head to head in the CCA Oaks. Mike Kane has our detailed preview.

UN Highlights Haskell Undercard…

The first three home in the June 11 GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. at Belmont renew acquaintances in the GI United Nations S. Tribhuvan (Ire) (Toronado {Ire}), who led every step of the 10 furlongs at Belmont, looks to join the likes of English Channel, Presious Passion and–going back to the days when the race was held as the Caesars at Atlantic City–Sandpit (Brz) as back-to-back winners of the race. Stablemate Adhamo (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) has a gap of 3 1/2 lengths to bridge, while Gufo (Declaration of War) should find Saturday's mile and three-eighths journey more to his liking. The two Grade Is anchor a run of five consecutive graded events, beginning with the GIII Monmouth Cup–where Brown fields the two market leaders–continuing with a contentious renewal of the GIII WinStar Matchmaker S. and concluding with GISW Search Results (Flatter) getting a fair bit of class relief in the GIII Molly Pitcher S.

In Other Action…

In Saturday's GII Connaught Cup at Woodbine, one of two steppingstones to the GI Woodbine Mile in September, 'TDN Rising Star' Shirls Speight (Speightstown) will have to overcome gate 14 and 13 other rivals, including last year's 1-2 finishers Avie's Flatter (Flatter, gate 13) and Olympic Runner (Gio Ponti, gate 12). The road to the GI Del Mar Oaks begins with the GII San Clemente S., where Phil D'Amato saddles four European imports, led by Bellabel (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}), who makes her first start since thumping her competition in the Jan. 2 Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita. Saratoga also stages the GIII Caress S. in which defending champion Caravel (Mizzen Mast) faces a challenge from 'TDN Rising Stars' Star Devine (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Tobys Heart (Jack Milton) as well as the progressive Bout Time (Not This Time).

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Taiba Favored in Haskell

GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner) was given the morning-line nod from post postion two at odds of 7-5 in the 55th GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. Saturday at Monmouth Park. The nine-furlong centerpiece of the summer meeting at the Jersey Shore offers the winner a fees-paid berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 5.

It was a little more than three years ago that Maximum Security (New Year's Day) won the Haskell on a day where temperatures soared so high during the early afternoon that the race was delayed until late in the evening. The heat is on again this weekend, with forecast highs in the low to mid 90s. Trainer Bob Baffert is back in action following his three-month suspension and is hopeful he's shipped across the horse who can give him a record-extending 10th victory in the Haskell. Mike Smith, aboard Authentic (Into Mischief) in 2020, has the call.

“I don't think about records,” Baffert said. “I just think about sending a good horse there and I've sent some really great ones. I hope this guy is the same type of horse I've been bringing up there. We know he's very talented. He has to break well. Then it's going to be up to Mike.”

Not far behind him on the morning-line at 3-2 is undefeated MGISW 'Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings), who will be in stall seven of eight. The flashy chestnut tries two turns for the first time Saturday off a good-looking score in the GI Woody Stephens S. June 11. Trainer Chad Brown looks for a second Haskell, having saddled Good Magic (Curlin) to win in 2018.

The rest of the field is as follows: Cyberknife (Gun Runner), post 1, 6-1; One Time Willard (Micromanage), post 3, 30-1; Howling Time (Not This Time), post 4, 10-1; King of Hollywood (Palace Malice), post 5, 30-1; White Abarrio (Race Day), post 6, 5-1; Benevengo (Gormley) post 8, 20-1.

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Early Voting to Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY- Klaravich Stables's GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) was shipped from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course Sunday and will run in the GII Jim Dandy July 30.

Trainer Chad Brown announced that Early Voting will go in the Jim Dandy with stablemate Zandon (Upstart), rather than face another stablemate, unbeaten Jack Christopher (Munnings) in the GI Haskell S. July 23. Brown is aiming all three of his graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colts for Saratoga's signature race, the $1.25-million GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 27. He waited until after Early Voting's work Saturday at Belmont Park before deciding whether the colt would go to Monmouth Park with Jack Christopher in a Grade I contest or come to Saratoga and have a race over the track before the historic Travers.

“Jack Christopher looked great this morning, he looks ready to go for the Haskell and at the end of the day I'm going to run two horses in one race and one on the other,” Brown said. “I'd rather only run the one in the Haskell and I just didn't see the benefit of putting Early Voting in a larger field against a really fast horse, what it might do to him five weeks out from the Travers.”

In the Jim Dandy, for decades the local prep for the Travers, Jeff Drown's Zandon will be making his first start since finishing third in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7. He won the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. April 29.

Early Voting gave Brown his second Triple Crown race win in the Preakness May 21. In 2017, Brown brought his Preakness winner Cloud Computing back in the Jim Dandy.

Jack Christopher, co-owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Ibister, Coolmore Stud and Peter Brant, extended his record to 4-0 with a smashing 10-length victory in the seven-furlong GI Woody Stephens June 11. The nine-furlong Haskell will be his first race beyond one mile and his first around two turns.

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Pletcher and Brown Stars Highlight Saratoga Worktab

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown were both quite busy Saturday morning at Saratoga, working some of their respective stables' top stars. GI Belmont S. runner-up Nest (Curlin) turned in her final breeze Saturday morning before her rematch with Secret Oath (Arrogate) July 23 in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said the filly “worked really well” after she covered five furlongs in company with champion Corniche (Quality Road) in 1:01.44 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. on the main track.

Secret Oath and Nest ran one-two in the GI Kentucky Oaks. They then jumped into the Triple Crown series with Secret Oath finishing fourth in the GI Preakness S. and Nest running second to stablemate Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the Belmont. Secret Oath and Nest could also meet in the GI Alabama Aug. 20.

Nest is a member of Pletcher's battalion of runners headed to graded stakes at Saratoga. Life is Good (Into Mischief) breezed a half-mile in :49.49 on July 15 for the GI Whitney S. Aug. 6. Americanrevolution (Constitution), runner-up in the GII Stephen Foster, and Dynamic One (Union Rags), winner of the GII Suburban, are on course for the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup Sept. 3.

Pletcher said that Charge It (Tapit) will train up to the GI Runhappy Travers Aug. 27. In his first start since a 17th-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby, the Whisper Hill Farm homebred crushed his competition in the GIII Dwyer S. July 2 at Belmont Park, winning by 23 lengths.

“It's the first time I've ever watched a race at Belmont and actually looked at that Secretariat pole as they were coming to the finish line,” Pletcher said. “It was like, 'wow'. He's a horse that we've thought a lot of from the beginning. He showed he's still a little green in the Florida Derby and displaced his palate in the Kentucky Derby, so I think we're starting now to get it all together. From a talent perspective, he is as good as good as anyone in the crop, if he can just continue to mature.”

Jeff Drown's Zandon (Upstart) worked a half-mile in :49.69 Saturday in preparation for his scheduled start in the GII Jim Dandy July 30.

The Jim Dandy, the local prep for the Travers, will be Zandon's first race following his third-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby May 7.

Meanwhile, Brown's two other graded stakes-winning 3-year-old colts, GI Preakness S. star Early Voting (Gun Runner) and the unbeaten Jack Christopher (Munnings) worked at Belmont Park. Jack Christopher is headed to the GI Haskell Invitational S. next weekend at Monmouth Park. Brown has not yet made the call on whether Early Voting will go in the Haskell or the Jim Dandy.

“I'll decide in the morning,” Brown said. “I'll see how all the horses come out before I make a decision.”

Brown was pleased with the way Zandon handled the breeze.

“The horse worked super,” he said.

Zandon's work under veteran exercise rider Kriss Bon was his first at Saratoga this summer and satisfied a couple of goals.

“Just to get him to stretch his legs,” Brown said. “He's been working along down at Belmont. I freshened him up after the Derby. I'm really pleased with him. He put some weight on. He really looks better than ever right now. I have just given him a little bit of a breather from the racing end of it anyway. Our plan was just to get him over the track and get him a good feel for it and he couldn't have went any better.”

Despite his strong performance in the Derby, Zandon was never a possibility for the Belmont because Brown said he doesn't consider him a mile and a half horse. But Brown is confident that he will be sharp off a nearly three-month break between races.

“Just knowing the horse, he'll run good, fresh,” Brown said. “I can just see it in his training. The way he's matured, the way he's worked gives me a lot of confidence that he will be ready to go.

Early Voting worked four furlongs in :49.25 and Jack Christopher was timed in :49.80 for the same distance.

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