jerry robb | Horse Racing Free Tips

Street Lute Wings To Victory In Stormy Blues

The silks jockey Xavier Perez wore said it all – Lucky 7.

Despite an awkward start while breaking from the outside post, Street Lute won her seventh stakes race when she gamely drove around the field to win Sunday's $100,000 Stormy Blues at historic Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

Trained by Jerry Robb and ridden by Xavier Perez, Street Lute covered five furlongs on the main track in :58 for her seventh stakes win and eighth career win in 11 starts.

The 13th running of the Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies capped a 10-race program featuring five stakes worth $475,000 in purses. Both the Stormy Blues and $75,000 Ben's Cat Stakes for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up were moved from the grass to the main track and kept at five furlongs. Horses scratched from the Stormy Blues included two from the barn of Wesley Ward, Wink and Amanzi Yimpilo.

After Street Lute broke awkwardly at the start, Proper Attire, beaten on the turf in the Hilltop Stakes last out, went to the front with Malibu Beauty in pursuit. But as those two entered the turn, Perez began moving Street Lute. Past Beautiful Grace, past Prodigy Doll, Street Lute drove down the center of the stretch gamely passing Malibu Beauty and then Proper Attire for victory number seven.

“To be honest I thought it was kind of over,” said Lucky 7 owner Joey Lloyd. “But when I saw her coming down the final homestretch I knew she has the heart, bigger than this world. My heart was in my throat, but as soon as I saw her coming down the stretch right outside [Proper Attire], I knew she was going to catch her.”

Stormy Blues was one of the top 2-year-old fillies of 1994 whose four wins in six starts that year included the Grade 1 Matron Stakes, Grade 3 Sorority Stakes, and Grade 3 Selima Stakes, the latter at Laurel Park in Laurel, Md. Trained by late Hall of Famer Scotty Schulhofer, she finished third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

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Six-Time Dirt Stakes Winner Street Lute Tries Turf In Pimlico’s Stormy Blues

Lucky 7 Stables' Street Lute, already a six-time stakes winner on the dirt, is set make her turf debut as part of a field of 13 entered in Sunday's $100,000 Stormy Blues at historic Pimlico Race Course.

The 13th running of the Stormy Blues for 3-year-old fillies and the fourth renewal of the $75,000 Ben's Cat for Maryland-bred/sired 3-year-olds and up, both sprinting five furlongs, are among four scheduled turf stakes on a 10-race program. They are joined by the $100,000 Prince George's County at 1 1/8 miles for 3-year-olds and up, and $100,000 Searching for females 3 and older at 1 ½ miles.

Rounding out Sunday's stakes action is the $100,000 Shine Again for fillies and mares 3 and up sprinting six furlongs on the main track. Part of the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship (MATCH) Series, it features undefeated multiple stakes winner Chub Wagon facing off against Anna's Bandit, Hello Beautiful and Dontletsweetfoolya, who have combined to win 29 races, 18 stakes and more than $1.37 million in purse earnings.

First race post time is 12:40 p.m.

Even as his young stable star has piled up wins on the dirt, trainer Jerry Robb has been waiting for a grass opportunity for Street Lute, a chestnut daughter of Street Magician out of the Midnight Lute mare Alottalute bred in Maryland by Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Bowman and Dr. Brooke Bowman.

“She's bred for grass top and bottom. Just off her breeding alone, I'd be shocked if she didn't take to it. She's got just a ton of natural ability,” Robb said. “I definitely want to try the grass if we have it, or I can go for the mud if we don't.”

Street Lute won the 5 ½-furlong Small Wonder last fall at Delaware Park over a sloppy track while all her other races have come over fast surfaces including victories in the 2020 Smart Halo, Maryland Juvenile Filly Championship and Gin Talking and 2021 Xtra Heat and Wide Country during a five-race win streak, all at Laurel Park at six or seven furlongs.

Third when stretched out to a mile for the March 13 Beyond the Wire at Laurel, Street Lute exits her first off-the-board finish when sixth following a troubled trip in the six-furlong Miss Preakness (G3) May 14 at Pimlico on the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) undercard, her graded-stakes debut.

Street Lute has had one timed breeze since the Miss Preakness, going three furlongs in 36.20 seconds June 5 at Delaware Park, the fastest of 22 horses. Regular rider Xavier Perez – who earned his 1,000th career win Monday at Delaware on Robb-trained In the Loop – climbs back aboard from Post 10 in a field of 13 that includes main track only entrant Malibu Beauty.

“Her last race she broke horrible, got pinched back and had no shot. Plus, it was a tough spot,” Robb said. “I'm looking for her to bounce right back.”

Trainer Wesley Ward, in England for the upcoming Royal Ascot meet, entered a pair of stakes winners in Wink and Irish-bred Amanzi Yimpilo. Stonestreet Stables' Wink, Group 3-placed in France last fall, was a front-running winner of the five-furlong Melody of Colors on the Gulfstream Park turf March 20. Last time out, the Midshipman filly ran last of nine after dueling for the lead in the May 8 Mamzelle.

Purchased as a yearling for $110,000 at Keeneland in September 2019, Wink debuted last June with a 1 ¼-length maiden special weight triumph at Belmont Park and was immediately stepped up to stakes company, winning the Colleen at Monmouth Park. Both victories came in gate to wire fashion.

From there, Wink and stablemate Campanelle traveled to France, where she ran second by a length in the Prix d'Arenberg (G3) at Longchamp Sept. 3. Two weeks earlier, Campanelle gave Ward his third career win in the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville.

“She went over there to accompany Campanelle and she ran really, really good. It wasn't really a plan to race there but to bring her there for the other filly. There was a race there and now she's got graded-stakes placing. She led every jump but the last little bit, so she ran a real credible race there,” Ward said. “She's well-traveled, so right after the race we brought her home and gave her some time.”

Victor Carrasco has the call on Wink, who drew outside Post 13.

Susan Moulton, Marc Detampel and CJ Thoroughbreds' Amanzi Yimpilo ran seventh in the Mamzelle to open her 2021 campaign. By No Nay Never, a French Group 1 and American Grade 3 winner also trained by Ward, she won two of three starts at 2 including a head triumph in the 5 ½-furlong Speakeasy last fall at Santa Anita.

“She kind of lost it there on her comeback race day. She kind of got real hot and was worked up a little bit and just was sweating,” Ward said. “We've worked on that a little bit, brought her over a couple times to Churchill to breeze on the grass and she just got completely over that. I think she just had the nervous jitters coming back and I really look for her to run a big race.”

A $300,000 yearling purchase in September 2019, Amanzi Yimpilo breezed four furlongs in 48.80 seconds June 6, the fastest of eight horses, and will get the services of jockey Mychel Sanchez from Post 9.

“We paid dearly for her. She's by a sire that I trained … so I'm responsible for her success and failure. I want to keep moving forward with her. I think she's really going to turn out to be a nice filly. We gave her all time off this winter and she's a good, fresh filly,” Ward said. “I just think that first race was a throwout based on how she was acting that day.”

Beautiful Grace, Catching the Wind, Door Buster and What a Trick all enter the Stormy Blues off wins. Multiple stakes-placed Honey Pants, fifth by three lengths in the one-mile Sweetest Chant (G3) Jan. 30 at Gulfstream, ships in from New York for trainer Christophe Clement, while Kentucky-based Ben Coleman brings in April 10 Cheryl S. White winner Prodigy Doll. Can't Buy Love, Proper Attire and Whiskey and Rye – who finished behind Street Lute in the Gin Talking, Xtra Heat and Wide Country – complete the field.

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Pimlico: $708,857 Rainbow 6 Jackpot, $115,038 Late Pick 5 Carryover When Racing Resumes Friday

Live racing returns to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., on Friday, May 28, to kick off Memorial Day weekend with the Maryland state-record 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot carryover having swelled to $708,857.82 after going unsolved during Sunday's program.

Three of six horses were live to take down the jackpot heading into Sunday's ninth-race finale, won by Ran Char ($27.20). A total of $120,537 was bet into the popular multi-race wager, which began with a carryover of $670,306.25 from Saturday. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $19,275.78.

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.

Introduced in Maryland April 2, 2015 on opening day of Pimlico's spring meet, the Rainbow 6 had its previous state record carryover reach $345,898.33 spanning 31 racing programs before being solved by one lucky bettor for a life-changing $399,545.94 payout April 15, 2018 at Laurel Park. The winning ticket was purchased through Maine off-track betting.

Post time for the first of nine races Friday is 12:40 p.m. The Rainbow 6 spans Races 4-9 and includes the featured eighth race, an entry-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs on the main track. Among the field are Palatial Times, most recently fifth in the Chick Lang (G3) May 15 at Pimlico; recent Pimlico allowance winners Heir Port and Cry No More; Exculpatory, a dramatic March 5 debut winner at Laurel Park that was fifth last out May 11 at Parx; and Subject to Change, a 4 ¾-length debut winner May 15 at Charles Town.

There will also be carryovers of $115,038.40 in the 50-cent Late Pick 5 (Races 5-9) and $5,876.76 in the $1 Super Hi-5 (Race 2). Tickets with four of five winners in Sunday's Late Pick 5 each returned $559.90.

In addition to Friday, Pimlico will also host live race cards Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30 as well as a special Memorial Day holiday program Monday, May 31.

Bandits Warrior Honors Sister with Debut Triumph Sunday
Following in the family tradition of her 11-time stakes-winning older half-sister, Anna's Bandit, No Guts No Glory Farm's Maryland homebred Bandits Warrior sprinted to a decisive 2 ½-length debut victory Sunday at Pimlico.

Stable rider Xavier Perez was aboard for breeder, owner and trainer Jerry Robb as Bandits Warrior ($9.80) broke running from Post 4 in the 4 ½-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies. The winning time was 52.59 seconds over a fast main track.

“That's my baby right there. She was born on our farm, and we are so thrilled,” Robb's wife, Gina, said. “You can't be any happier. She's done everything right.”

By Mosler, Bandits Warrior was never threatened posting splits of 23.50 and 46.64 seconds. She put away Tessa P midway around the turn when the 6-5 favorite attempted to mount a challenge, then kept late-running Buy the Best at bay through the stretch.

“She's been breaking good out of the gate but she's never been asked to run in the morning,” Perez said. “Before the race, we wanted to keep her face clear. She's been doing everything good coming out of the gate in the morning. As soon as she popped out of the gate with her head in front I moved on her a little bit to get to the lead and by the three-eighths pole she took it.

“She started playing with her ears and when [Tessa P] came to her a little bit, I just let her open up a little bit and smooched at her,” he added. “What you saw inside the sixteenth pole when [Buy the Best] to make a run, she broke again and pulled away from her a little bit.”

Perez, also the regular rider for Anna's Bandit and fellow multiple stakes winner Street Lute, proudly patted the neck of Bandits Warrior three times as they approached the wire. It was the 995th career victory for Perez.

“She's got a long way to go to do what Anna has done, but she showed that she's got her bloodline,” Perez said. “I'm proud of her. I'm proud of all my kids. They're all my kids. I'm fortunate to be able to ride every day for Jerry in the morning and I'm blessed to be able to be in the winner's circle for him.”

Bandits Warrior is out of the No Armistice mare Onearmedbandit. West Virginia-bred Anna's Bandit, a 17-time winner of $782,655 in lifetime purses from 36 starts who is nearing her 7-year-old debut after more than 10 months away, also won in her unveiling – May 6, 2016 at Laurel Park – beating two of her stablemates in the process.

“She probably trains a little better than her sister,” Robb said of Bandits Warrior. “Her sister, when she won her first start, surprised everybody. I think we had three in the race, we bet on the other two and she won by [6 ¾]. She just never showed anything in the morning. This one, she showed good works in the morning.”

Buy the Best, among five first-time starters in the field of seven, was 4 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Cabra Chica. Mama G's Wish, another Robb-trained homebred, was fourth with Tessa P fifth.

“I think [Bandits Warrior is] a little better-looking filly than Anna was as a baby. When Anna got off the trailer as a baby I said, 'Put her back on.' True story,” Robb said. “She just didn't look the part, but she grew into it,” Robb said. “This filly does everything right. I wasn't sure how fit she was, but she ran big. And fast. So, we're happy.”

Notes: Five-pound apprentice Charlie Marquez doubled Sunday aboard Rockstar Girl ($7.60) in Race 1 and Dancing Til Dusk ($4.80) in Race 3 … Perpetrate ($100.80) edged Order for Porky to spring a 45-1 upset in Race 5, a 1 1/16-mile starter-optional claimer on the grass that marked the season debut of 2019 Maryland Million Turf winner Mr. d'Angelo. Unraced since finishing fourth in defense of his win last fall, Mr. d'Angelo got squeezed out of the gate and trailed the field early before making a belated run to be fourth … Robert D. Bone's Eastern Bay ($5.20), exiting a third in the April 24 Frank Y. Whiteley, swept to the lead at the top of the stretch and edged clear for a three-length victory over Whiskey and You in Race 8, a fourth-level optional claiming allowance for 3-year-olds and up. Winner of the Polynesian and second by a nose to Laki in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3) in 2020, Eastern Bay ran six furlongs in 1:10.78.

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Judge’s Ruling Condemns Maryland Commission’s Hearing Procedures

Howard County Circuit Court Senior Judge Lenore Gelfman released a ruling on Feb. 9 that condemned the Maryland Racing Commission's hearing procedures over a lack of due process, the right to a fair and impartial hearing, reports The Racing Biz.

The case before Judge Gelfman was that of the Jan. 18, 2020 Geisha Stakes at Laurel, in which the winner, Artful Splatter, veered out into the path of the oncoming Anna's Bandit, who finished second. Stewards ruled no change in the order of finish, and Jerry Robb, trainer and co-owner of Anna's Bandit, appealed that decision with the MRC.

A hearing was held on Feb. 27, 2020, in which the commission upheld the stewards' decision. Robb's attorney, Lorraine Lawrence-Whittaker, filed an appeal with the circuit court alleging that the MRC hearing was flawed.

Judge Gelfman concluded that “the hearing before the MRC did not adequately protect Petitioner against the deprivation of one of his most essential and foundational rights,” that of due process.

Both the petitioner and the stewards are represented by counsel in these hearings, as is the Maryland Racing Commission. However, Judge Gelfman found issue with the fact that the MRC's counsel, Eric London, has also been presiding over the hearings.

“This court notes that Counsel for the MRC interjected himself repeatedly, leading to the conclusion that he, not the MRC, was the decision-maker,” Judge Gelfman wrote. “Counsel's participation and manner in the hearing deprived Petitioner of due process,” she said.

As for Robb's case, that has been remanded to the MRC for a new hearing.

The Racing Biz reports that the first hearing since the court's ruling was held on Feb. 25, and MRC chairman Emmet Davitt presided.