juan hernandez | Horse Racing Free Tips

Mackinnon Takes Zuma Beach For Third Consecutive Victory

It's on to the Breeders' Cup for Doug O'Neill-trained Mackinnon as he accelerated powerfully off the turn for home and took Sunday's $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Mackinnon got one mile on turf in 1:33.80. With the Zuma Beach being his third win in a row at the trip, it's on now to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Mid-pack, about six lengths off the lead at the half mile pole, Mackinnon saved ground at the rail around the turn, idled into third position at the top of the lane and blew by eventual runner-up Silver Surfer and early pacesetter Thirty Four Coupe in deep stretch in a huge effort.

“He's getting better every race,” said Hernandez, who has now ridden him in his last four races. “He broke good, there was little speed, and he felt a little tired on the right side, so he changed leads to the right side. That's why I had to check a little bit and decided to stay inside and save ground and make one run.

“He came with a huge run today…He's improved a lot because the last couple of times I rode him, I had to work a little hard in the stretch with him. Today, I asked him a little and after that, he just took off again.

A winner of Del Mar's Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6, Mackinnon was off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of 10 juveniles and paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.40.

“We didn't get the most ideal trip,” said O'Neill. “He was a little green early but Juan said once we got the first half mile behind us, he settled nicely. And as you could see, he finished up real well. If he comes out of this in good shape, it's on to the Breeders' Cup.”

English-bred Silver Surfer appeared to take control in upper stretch, but was no match for the winner. Off at 5-2 with Flavien Prat, Silver Surfer paid $3.20 and $2.60 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths clear of Picota.

Ridden by John Velazquez, English-bred Picota was off at 17-1 and paid $5.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.33, 46.08, 1:09.85 and 1:21.90.

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Flavien Prat Heads Jockey Colony For Santa Anita’s Autumn Meet

With Southern California kingpin Flavien Prat heading the charge, a full complement of world class jockeys is set to compete throughout the course of Santa Anita's upcoming 16-day Autumn Meet, which is set to open on Friday, Oct. 1. A total of four stakes, three of them Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifiers, will headline a nine-race program, with first post time at 1 p.m.

Prat, a 29-year-old native of Malun, France, is enjoying yet another tremendous year, having just won the riding title at the recently concluded Del Mar Summer Race Meet. Although based in Southern California, Prat has ridden in major stakes throughout the country in 2021 and he currently ranks fourth among North American jockeys with earnings of more than $16.8 million.

A triumvirate of talented riders, Juan Hernandez, Abel Cedillo and Umberto Rispoli, should again figure prominently in the Autumn Meet standings. Hernandez and Cedillo, former leading riders at Golden Gate Fields, finished two-three at Del Mar, while Italian native Rispoli, regarded as one of the circuit's top turf riders, checked in fourth. (Hernandez and Rispoli rank 12th and 14th nationally, with respective earnings of $7.8 million and $7.5 million).

Legendary Hall of Fame jockeys Mike Smith, Victor Espinoza and Kent Desormeaux are again set to call Santa Anita home beginning next Friday and they'll all be aboard Breeders' Cup hopefuls throughout opening weekend.

“Jersey Joe” Bravo, who relocated to Southern California this past summer, enjoyed a solid summer at Del Mar, finishing fifth in the standings, and he adds considerable depth to a strong jockey colony. Regarded as California's best “gate rider,” Edwin Maldonado is enjoying perhaps the best year of his career and he figures to have plenty of live mounts throughout the 16-day stand.

Brazilian-born Tiago Pereira, who notched his biggest North American win aboard Tripoli in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 21, along with Mario Gutierrez, Geovanni Franco, Kyle Frey, Tyler Baze, Ricky Gonzalez, Drayden Van Dyke and Jose Valdivia, Jr., all comprise a deep pool of journeyman talent that fans and horsemen can readily embrace.

Jessica Pyfer, a recent graduate of Azusa Pacific University, continues in her quest to be named America's Eclipse Champion Apprentice Jockey for 2021, while fellow “bug” riders Diego Herrera, Emily Ellingwood and Alexis Centeno all form a solid group of apprentice talent.

A great deal of anticipation surrounds next Friday's Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, named in honor of retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, as it marks a return to Santa Anita's Camino Real Hillside Turf Course. For 3-year-olds and up, the Eddie D will be contested at about 6 ½ furlongs and will likely attract a full field of 10 or 12 runners.

Three Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” stakes, the Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah, the Grade 2, $200,000 Chandelier and the $100,000 Speakeasy will provide their respective winners with fees-paid berths in corresponding stakes over the two-day Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar Nov. 5 & 6.

For additional information on Santa Anita's upcoming Autumn Meet, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Pinehurst Wins Runhappy Futurity On Del Mar’s Closing Day

Pinehurst scooted to the front in the seven-furlong Runhappy Del Mar Futurity Monday, then just kept on scooting all the way around to score a handy 4 1/2-length triumph in the 74th edition of the seaside track's Grade 1, $300,000 2-year-old championship race.

It was closing afternoon for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's 82nd summer season in Del Mar, Calif., and it ended as many have over the past 25 years, with trainer Bob Baffert saddling the winner of the Futurity. This time was No. 15 for the Hall of Fame conditioner who has shown an affinity with young horses that few other trainers can even think of.

Another Hall of Famer, old pro Mike Smith, rode Pinehurst and nursed him through quick fractions of :22.09, :44.77, 1:10.17 and a final of 1:23.55. It was Smith's first stakes score of the summer and his first in the Futurity.

Finishing second was Lovingier, Fasihuddin or Navarro's Finneus, who had a half length on Downstream Racing's American Xperiment.

“When we ran last time, he stumbled pretty badly coming out of there, but he still made the lead,” said Smith. “So I knew he was plenty quick. We beat a horse that day (August 1) named Enbarr and I knew they were real high on him. So I figured I was sitting on a good horse. When you ride for Bob (trainer Baffert), you ride with confidence. He puts so much foundation under them and they all come running. So glad I got to win a stakes at Del Mar; and best to do it with a Grade 1.”

Pinehurst won a first prize of $180,000 for his efforts and, added to the $42,000 he was awarded for his maiden victory at Del Mar on Aug/. 1, he now shows a bankroll of $222,000. He's a bay colt by Twirling Candy who cost $385,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale. Pinehurst was bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. He races for SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm LLC.

Pinehurst paid $10.00, $5.40 and $4.00 across the board. Finneus returned $18.00 and $7.80 and American Xperiment paid $5.00.

Earlier in the card, ERJ Racing and Kenney's Mackinnon outran eight rivals in the $102,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf, finishing the mile on the grass in 1:36.24.

The winner was handled by Juan Hernandez and is trained by Doug O”Neill.

Finishing second was Aiden Butler's Thirty Four Coupe, just a nose ahead of Sierra Racing or Sterling Stables' Silver Surfer.

“He broke his maiden (here July 31) in a manner that we were hoping this day would come but you never know,” said O'Neill. “So much credit to the owners being so patient and Juan (Hernandez) being so patient with this colt. I was a little bit concerned as the race unfolded. I knew that (Optimising) was the X-factor. I knew he was in from Europe and had been working well and had great connections and was in a great spot. But when Juan called on MacKinnon and he responded I started smiling. If he stays injury free the ($1 Million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5) is the goal.”

Mackinnon earned $60,000 for his win and increased his bankroll to $117,860. As the 8/5 favorite he paid $5.20 $3.40 and $240. Thirty Four Coupe returned $14.60 and $7.00, while Silver Surfer paid $3.20.

Mackinnon is a chestnut colt by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Mackinnon and jockey Juan Hernandez win the Del Mar Juvenile Turf

In the track's Pick 6 Single Ticket Jackpot wager, the “mandatory payout” pool reached $5,153,316 and rewarded 8,238 ticket holders with $561.74 each.

Racing will resume at Del Mar on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The track will host its second Breeders' Cup Championship on November 5 and 6.

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Prat On Track To Win Del Mar Jockey Crown, Race For Second Heating Up

Flavien Prat is scheduled back from a winless two-day trip to Saratoga with seven scheduled mounts on today's 10-race program, among them The Great One for Doug O'Neill in the $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes which features Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

Prat, who has four summer riding titles, solo or shared, in the last five years, starts the last six days of his title defense with an eight-win margin over Juan Hernandez and Abel Cedillo (34-26).

With Prat expected to hold on, the race for second could prove to be most interesting. Hernandez (26 for 158) and Cedillo (26/165) are three ahead of Umberto Rispoli (23/141).

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