Mario Gutierrez | Horse Racing Free Tips

Venetian Harbor Makes It Look Easy In Monrovia

Classy Venetian Harbor, in her first start since well beaten in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7, seized immediate control and drew off to win Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita by 3 ½ lengths, her third graded stakes victory and first on turf. Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden for the first time by Mario Gutierrez, Venetian Harbor got 6 ½ furlongs on grass in 1:15.06.

Breaking from post position seven in a field of eight fillies and mares, Venetian Harbor sped to the lead while pressed by well fancied Superstition to her outside as well as Nasty and Never for Money, who tucked in just behind in the run to the far turn.

With a one length advantage a quarter mile out, Venetian Harbor opened up turning for home and won in-hand in a tremendous effort.

“I had the opportunity to work her in the mornings, so I already knew a lot about her,” said Gutierrez. “I knew she carried the speed, that was never the question. I just let her break and right away, try to not ask her too much, she did the rest. She put herself in the race, after that, it was just wait for the time to kick home and she got the job done.”

A winner of the G2 Raven Run Stakes going seven furlongs on dirt two starts back at Keeneland Oct. 17 and a winner of Santa Anita's G2 Las Virgenes Stakes at one mile in her third career start, Venetian Harbor was the narrow 2-1 favorite over Superstition and paid $6.40, $3.60 and $2.60.

Owned by Ciaglia Racing, LLC, Highland Yard, LLC, River Oak Farm and Domenic Savides, Venetian Harbor, a 4-year-old filly by Munnings out of the Street Cry mare Sounds of the City, is now 9-4-4-0 and with the winner's share of $120,000, increased her earnings to $633,400.

“She ran the way we thought she would,” said Baltazar Marroquin, assistant to Baltas, who was out of town on Saturday. “Yes, we expected her to go to the lead. She's run against some of the best fillies and Mario has worked her a couple of time, so he knows her.”

Next to last around the far turn, Contantia swung six-deep turning for home and was clearly second best in a big effort. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Constantia was the third choice at 5-2 and paid $3.40 and $2.20.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Superstition emptied out chasing the winner and had to settle for third money while beaten 1 ½ lengths by Constantia. Off at 2-1, Superstition paid $2.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.48, 44.96 and 1:08.79.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. There is a mandatory payout in Sunday's 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six, with the total pool expected to approach $3 million.

The post Venetian Harbor Makes It Look Easy In Monrovia appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

With Goat In Tow, North County Guy Ships To Santa Anita, Captures Unusual Heat Turf Classic

Content to sit well off the early pace, North County Guy wheeled four-wide at the top of the stretch en route to a hard-earned neck victory in Saturday's $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by Richard Baltas and ridden by Mario Gutierrez, North County Guy, a 6-year-old gelding by The Pamplemousse, got a mile and one eighth in 1:46.34 on firm turf.

Presented by City National Bank, the Unusual Heat Turf Classic is part of the CTBA's lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.

With 70-1 longshot Cono winging on an uncontested early lead, North County Guy was a distant fifth, about 20 lengths off the lead with a half mile to run. As Cono stopped mid-way around the far turn, the entire field moved into contention, with North County Guy about three lengths off the lead at the top of the lane.

Favored Acclimate and Tyler Baze hit the front at the quarter pole, while North County Guy had about two lengths to make up with a furlong to run and he was equal to the challeng. After striking the front he held off the late charge of longshot Heck Yeah.

A second condition allowance winner at today's distance two starts back on Oct. 9, North County Guy was well beaten in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at a mile and one half Nov. 27. Off at 4-1 in a field of 11, North County Guy paid $10.40, $6.40 and $4.00.

Owned by Nancy Messineo and Bruce Sands, North County Guy, who is out of the Unusual Heat mare Warmth, notched his first stakes win and improved his overall mark to 28-6-7-5. With the winner's share of $110,000, he increased his earnings to $366,647. He was bred in California by Edward C. Allred.

“He was training really good and obviously we had to put the money up to make him eligible,” said Baltas. “He's been running against open but we saw the $200,000 mile and an eighth which is his distance, so we did it.

“He's at San Luis Rey, he has the outside den and has a goat,” Baltas added. “If he doesn't have the goat and he's not outside he runs the stall so it's kind of funny, he comes up here in the van with the goat. We just try to keep him happy.”

Heck Yeah, a three-time stakes winner at age three who seemed to have found new life on synthetic Tapeta with Golden Gate Fields-based trainer Steve Sherman, rallied to boldly to miss by a diminishing neck under Drayden Van Dyke. Off at 21-1, he paid $17.40 and $8.40.

Acclimate, the 9-5 favorite, paid $3.20 to show while finishing a half length in front of Ward 'n Jerry.

Fractions on the race were 22.31, 44.76, 1:09.18 and 1:34.36.

The post With Goat In Tow, North County Guy Ships To Santa Anita, Captures Unusual Heat Turf Classic appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

California-Bred Play Chicken All Heart In King Glorious At Los Alamitos

Play Chicken, a 13-1 outsider, held off Moving Fast, another longshot at 16-1, to win the $100,000 King Glorious Stakes Sunday, the final day of the Los Angeles County Fair Winter meet at Los Alamitos in Cypress, Calif.

Under jockey Mario Gutierrez, the son of Square Eddie and the Distorted Humor mare Smoove was reserved just off the pace, gained the advantage with an eighth of a mile to run and held sway by a neck in the race for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California.

The win was the third in the King Glorious for Gutierrez, owner-breeder J. Paul Reddam's Reddam Racing LLC and trainer Doug O'Neill. They teamed to win back-to-back runnings with Found Money (2015) and Ann Arbor Eddie (2016).

Making his first start in blinkers, Play Chicken completed the mile in 1:38.10 and returned $29, $10.60 and $7.80. He's now won twice in three races and earned $94,000. He broke his maiden at the King Glorious distance on turf in his debut Oct. 17 at Santa Anita.

“I thought it was great,'' said O'Neill assistant Stephanie Murray. “He showed a lot of heart. He was very gutsy, couldn't have asked for him to do anymore. We just wanted to play the break and see how the race unfolded.

“It was kind of his (Gutierrez) decision from the get go, so I think Mario gets all the credit.''

Moving Fast, who drew into the race from the also eligible list after the scratch of Positivity (he ran in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity Saturday), rallied after breaking last in the field of 10 to outfinish 15-1 shot Club Cal by a half-length. He paid $11 and $7.20 after his initial race in blinkers while the show price on Club Cal, a four-length maiden winner two weeks earlier in his Los Alamitos debut, was $5.80.

Mister Bold, the 19-10 favorite and the pacesetter, wound up fourth, a nose in front of 2-1 second choice Good With People. Tacoflavoredkisses, From the Get Go, Ascot Storm, Wedding Groom and Govenor's Party completed the order of finish.

The post California-Bred Play Chicken All Heart In King Glorious At Los Alamitos appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Rider Reflections: Jockeys Miss Fans, Morning Workouts In Unusual Del Mar Season

The summer of racing at Del Mar in 2020 has been, to put it mildly, unlike any other.

Jockeys, for example, have done their jobs wearing the mandatory accessory of a face mask in addition to the customary helmet, goggles and safety vest. That said, they're still working at Del Mar, a place unlike any other.

So, out of curiosity, a number of the members of Del Mar's colony were asked two questions: 1.) What has been the toughest part of being at Del Mar this summer? And 2.) What has been your favorite part of being at Del Mar this summer?

The answers, in alphabetical order.

BRICE BLANC – Toughest: “The first two weeks around here, when we were dealing with some of our riders and the COVID, was worrying. But since then, things are better. But you've got to deal with all the things surrounding our situation. You've got to be adapting all the time. What's difficult for me is to ride with the mask. I had broken my nose years back and have some sinus issues, so I do my share of breathing through my mouth. It's hard to breathe through your mouth with a mask. But we adapt. Most of the stuff is minor.”

Favorite: “The usual here at Del Mar. It's just a great place to be. It is one of my favorite summertime places to go racing. Deauville (in France) and Saratoga (in New York) and Del Mar. They're the big three of summer locations. It's very different at Del Mar this year without people; sort of like we're naked. But it's still Del Mar and that's a good thing.”

ABEL CEDILLO – Toughest: “The whole coronavirus situation. Dealing with all the things we have to deal with. We all do it, though, so you do it. Tougher might be dealing with the horses. Some of them run, some of them don't. Sometimes they have a bad day. But I try my best every time and hope for the best.”

Favorite: “I think my favorite down here is the beach. My little boy loves the ocean and I love taking him down there for walks. We really enjoy Del Mar for that.”

VICTOR ESPINOZA – Toughest: “Dealing with the coronavirus business. I missed opening day at Del Mar because of it. I missed opening day! I never thought it would happen, but it did this year. That was hard.”

Favorite: “Everything about Del Mar. It's where I want to be. It's why I come to the races. Everything I want is here. It is just great to win races at Del Mar.”

RUBEN FUENTES – Toughest: “For me, it was not being able to work horses in the morning. That was very tough, not being able to get to know them and get to understand them a little before they raced, especially with the 2-year-olds.”

Favorite: “We got to run. We're very lucky to have a job and be working. A lot of people don't right now.”

RICKY GONZALEZ – Toughest: “Not being able to work horses.”

Favorite: “Winning and meeting new people.”

MARIO GUTIERREZ — Toughest: “I don't think there's anything tough about riding here. Same racetrack; same gate; same horses to ride. It's all good. I'm happy to be here and racing.”

Favorite: “I'm glad to be racing and having the chance to compete and make some money. I'm very happy that the people on the backside are able to work and take care of their families. Racing at Del Mar is a good thing.”

JUAN HERNANDEZ — Toughest: “The toughest part for me has been keeping up with the competition. It's tough here. I was here in 2012 and it's a much different room. Very competitive. And, of course, the whole business of 2020. Everyone feels that. But what are you going to do? You follow the rules and hope for better times.”

Favorite: “My favorite part of being here is the incredible horses. I've been riding some very good horses. And I'm enjoying being around these other riders. They're friendly and they're very good, so it's giving me a chance to learn from them.”

TIAGO PEREIRA – Toughest: “Dealing with all the virus issues. Being careful about everything. I take showers before and after everything. I have a 4-year-old daughter and I must be very careful around her. We all have to do it; the masks, all of it. But that's how it is.”

Favorite: “I like being at Del Mar and riding here. One of my favorite places. I like the beach for my daughter. We go down there during the week and play. She likes the ocean. We go up to the quite section, up above Dog Beach. Not many people up there and we can just have fun.”

FLAVIEN PRAT – Toughest: “I definitely miss the fans. Del Mar has always been all about having people around having fun. It's kind of sad not to see anybody.”

Favorite: “Just being able to ride, have a job and do something we love to do. There's a lot of people who can't right now.”

UMBERTO RISPOLI – Toughest: “I can't share all the winners and the good meeting with owners, fans and family.”

Favorite: “Enjoying the summer, the beach and good times with my family and friends and having the chance to win a lot of races.”

MIKE SMITH – Toughest: “I think the toughest overall has not been seeing any fans here. Del Mar is a social place. A place where people come to party and have fun. Not this year. It's sad. It kind of takes the gas out of your balloon. For me personally, the protocols (travel restrictions for riders) have been tough. I'm a 'traveling' jock. I'd have been at Saratoga several times already. I think the protocols have probably cost me three Grade Is.”

Favorite: “My favorite part is just being here. I love Del Mar. I want to end my career here. I love California and I especially love Del Mar.”

DRAYDEN VAN DYKE – Toughest: “Having to be part of 2020 and the whole coronavirus thing. Plus all the other stuff going on in the country right now. The Black Lives Matter thing. It's a very unsettled time for the country. It's hard for a lot of people.”

Favorite: “My favorite part of being at Del Mar is being at Del Mar. Right here 'where the turf meets the surf.' I've been riding some good horses and winning some big races. What's not to like about it all. How can you have a frown on your face when you're in San Diego?”

The post Rider Reflections: Jockeys Miss Fans, Morning Workouts In Unusual Del Mar Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post