monmouth park | 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).

The post ‘Rising Stars’ Rendezvous at the Jersey Shore appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

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.

The post Taiba Favored in Haskell appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Upstart’s Green Up Romps in Boiling Springs

Team Valor International's Green Up romped to an effortless victory in the Boiling Springs S. at Monmouth Park Sunday. The 3-2 shot was under a snug hold while setting fractions of :24.77 and :49.26 in a compact field of four. She skipped clear down the lane to score under wraps.

“My thought was just to go to the lead since she looked like the only speed in the race,” said winning jockey Paco Lopez. “Todd Pletcher told me to do whatever I felt comfortable doing. She jumped a little at the break and didn't break well, but I was able to get to the rail and make the lead pretty easily. I saw Joe Bravo [aboard runner-up Radio Days] pressing us at the three-eighths, but my filly had too much left. She was very strong after we were able to get away with a slow opening half and she just took off when [Radio Days] came to us. This is a very nice filly.”

Purchased privately by Team Valor following a runner-up debut effort at Churchill last May, Green Up was transferred to the barn of Todd Pletcher and returned to the races with a 6 3/4-length graduation at Gulfstream Mar. 13. Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' for that maiden victory, she added a four-length victory in an Apr. 21 Hallandale allowance last time out.

“She just shipped in this morning from Saratoga,” said Pletcher assistant Anthony Sciametta. “That's where she has been working. She's a nice filly. Even if the field had stayed intact, she would have been very tough to beat. Todd will make the decision on whether she goes to the GIII Monmouth Oaks or not. She's very talented.”

Green Up is out of an unraced half-sister to the dam of GIII Philip H. Iselin S. winner Just Call Kenny (Jump Start). Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

BOILING SPRINGS S., $95,000, Monmouth, 7-3, 3yo, f, 1m 70y, 1:40.93, ft.
1–GREEN UP, 116, f, 3, by Upstart
                1st Dam: Green Punch, by Two Punch
                2nd Dam: Green Jeans, by Green Dancer
                3rd Dam: Duds, by Ack Ack
($10,000 Ylg '20 EASOCT). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Team Valor
International, LLC; B-Althea Richards (VA); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-Paco Lopez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $130,760.
2–Radio Days, 117, f, 3, Gun Runner–Remembered, by Sky
Mesa. ($750,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Joseph Allen LLC; B-Hinkle
Farms (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III. $20,000.
3–Captainsdaughter, 118, f, 3, Midshipman–Joan's Rose, by
Service Stripe. O/B-Ocean View Stable (NY); T-Russell J. Cash.
$10,000.
Margins: 5 3/4, 3, 2HF. Odds: 1.50, 0.40, 21.30.
Also Ran: Alittleloveandluck. Scratched: Gina Romantica, Love to Run, Morning Matcha.

The post Upstart’s Green Up Romps in Boiling Springs appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Day 1 of HISA: Scratches Hard to Find, Lone Star Handle Plummets

Any worries that the first day under which horses had to be registered with the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority in order to compete would create chaos were squelched early on in the day Saturday when a number of tracks reported that not a single horse had to be withdrawn from a race due to the new rules.

The TDN sent out survey questions to a number of racing officials Saturday to determine how many, if any, horses had to be scratched because either the horses or their owners or trainers had not been registered with HISA. The TDN heard back from eight tracks–Gulfstream, Laurel, Belmont, Churchill Downs, Evangeline Downs, Los Alamitos, Monmouth and Charles Town. All eight reported that not a single horse at their tracks had to be scratched because of HISA's regulations.

The numbers may have been a pleasant surprise for the HISA team, which had told the TDN earlier in the week that they were prepared for some scratches.

“Since such a registration process has never existed at the national level before, it's unclear how many people and horses are or will be participating in racing come July 1,” a spokesperson told the TDN. “It should be noted that the universe of people expected to register is limited to the 24 states conducting covered horse races under HISA's authority.”

As of Friday night, the last chance individuals had to register themselves and their horses so that they would be eligible to race on Saturday, there were 27,074 covered horses and 24,147 covered persons. Through mid-week, 30,846 different horses had competed in the U.S. this year, but that doesn't mean that some 3,846 horses were not registered. A good number of the 30,846 runners may have been hurt and/or retired at some point in the year, meaning there was no need to register them.

There were also no reports of jockeys who weren't registered and therefore could not ride.

The news wasn't nearly as good out of Texas. The Texas Racing Commission has not complied with the Horse Racing and Integrity Safety Act, arguing that under Texas law only the commission has the authority to oversee racing. That led the commission to rule that the signal from the state's tracks cannot be sent out of state and that advance deposit wagering companies could not take betting on Texas races.

Predictably, that led to a massive decline in handle Saturday at Lone Star Park on the first day that its races couldn't be sent out of state. Lone Star ran a 10-race card on Saturday, June 25 and handled $1,771,138 or $177,113 per race. There was an eight-race card on Saturday and total handle for the day was $215,107, for an average of $26,888 per race.

The Lone Star meet concludes July 24, so it's unlikely that the decreased handle will affect purses in the short term, but that could change if the HISA-Texas Racing Commission standoff persists.

The post Day 1 of HISA: Scratches Hard to Find, Lone Star Handle Plummets appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post