To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Pauline's Pearl
Bloodline of a star
But has she been a big fish
Among the minnows?

#2 – Maracuja
Big Gazelle form jump
Still puts her a rung beneath
The field's upper tier

#3 – Clairiere
Travel Column holds
A two-to-one advantage
Going head-to-head

#4 – Crazy Beautiful
Her only real dud
Came in last year's Breeders' Cup
Bad day? Class ceiling?

#5 – Pass the Champagne
Her talent's bubbling
Might be time to pop the cork
Make room on tickets

#6 – Travel Column
Starred in her last prep
And can win from anywhere
Sitting in first class

#8 – Moraz
Bred for the classics
Missing a killer instinct
Can't win without it

#9 – Coach
Like Belichick's Pats
She hasn't been a true threat
Since late October

#10 – Malathaat
Answered a big doubt
When she won outside New York
Ought to have a say

#11 – Will's Secret
Odds would cut in half
If the race were at Oaklawn
Alas, it is not

#12 – Search Results
No need to Ask Jeeves
She'll be in the lead Dogpile
Her chances Excite

#13 – Competitive Speed
Bears a fitting name
If she's in a one-turn race
Not a likely threat

#14 – Millefeuille
Her form lags behind
But her mornings are bullets
Mott might have her right

Prediction
Evenly-matched bout
Travel Column guts it out
Five, ten fill the tri

The post The Haiku Handicapper Presented By Form2Win: 2021 Kentucky Oaks appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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The streaking Baoma Corp homebred Beautiful Gift, a half-sister to the Chu Family's GIII Sunland Derby hero and Bridlewood Farm sire Chitu (Henny Hughes), graduated by a half-length at second asking in her previous trip to the post for Bob Baffert Oct. 23.

The rail-drawn Don Alberto homebred Moraz, an 11-length maiden winner second out in Arcadia Jan. 8, was third behind the sidelined Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) two starts back in the GIII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 6. Moraz's dam Malvinia (A.P. Indy), an $800,000 purchase at the 2013 FTKNOV sale, is a half-sister to the dam of Spendthrift stallion Temple City.

Godolphin homebred Javanica (Medaglia d'Oro), runner-up in four straight stakes tries, returns to her division after giving males all they could handle in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Feb. 13. She came up a neck short to favored Rombauer (Twirling Candy) that day, who returns in Saturday's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. The half-sister to recent The Very One S. heroine Antoinette (Hard Spun) makes her first start on dirt in the Oaks.

The post Santa Ysabel Rematch in Santa Anita Oaks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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In addition to first prize of $240,000, the Santa Anita Oaks winner will receive 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, with 40, 20 and 10 points to the next three finishers. The Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks will be run on Friday, April 30 at Churchill Downs.

Owned and bred in Kentucky by Baoma Corporation, Beautiful Gift broke her maiden two starts back on Oct. 23 at a flat mile and then rallied to nail Moraz on the money in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel at 1 1/16 miles here on March 7.

Ridden for the first time by John Velazquez, Beautiful Gift, a bay filly by Medaglia d'Oro out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift, was off at 3-1 and overcame significant trouble at the top of the stretch but surged late to get the win in an impressive effort.

While Moraz and Umberto Rispoli were able get first run, Velazquez had to wait for room and with a sixteenth of a mile to run, Beautiful Gift was somehow able to overcome a 2 ½ length deficit.

“She was full of run and I was trying to keep her from getting dirt in her face but when Rispoli pushed Joel (Rosario, aboard Kalypso) in, I had to take a hold of her,” said Velazquez. “But she was able to overcome it…By the time I got her to the outside, I got her rolling and I was hoping she would get there before the wire and she did.”

With two wins from three starts, Beautiful Gift has shown marked improvement for Baffert in her three prior starts and looms the horse to beat.

Owned and bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Moraz has been ridden in all four of her starts by Rispoli. By Empire Maker out of the A.P. Indy mare Malvinia, Moraz has routed in all of her races and she'll be making her fourth start of the meet on Saturday.

An 11 length maiden winner going one mile on Jan. 8, she was then third at the same distance in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 6. Off at 2-1 in the Santa Ysabel, she'll be trying a mile and one sixteenth for the second time as she tries to turn the tables on Beautiful Gift.

Trainer Eoin Harty will saddle Godolphin homebred Javanica, who comes off a solid second, beaten a neck by talented Rombauer when facing males going a mile and one eighth on synthetic Tapeta in the El Camino Real Derby Feb. 13 at Golden Gate Fields.

Including the El Camino Real, Javanica has now rallied from off the pace to run second in four consecutive stakes; the one mile turf Blue Norther here on Dec. 31, the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante at one mile on turf at Del Mar Nov. 28 and the seven furlong Glorious Song, run on Polytrack synthetic at Woodbine Oct. 17.

With a one mile maiden turf win at Arlington Park on Sept. 18 to her credit, Javanica, a bay filly by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Elusive Quality mare Shuruq, will be trying dirt for the first time in what will be her seventh career start.

With Mike Smith engaged to ride, Javanica could be a factor if she's able to handle the main track as well as she has turf and synthetic.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Soothsay rallied from off the pace to break her maiden first time out going six furlongs on Feb. 26 and will be ridden back by Flavien Prat as she stretches out. Owned by Claiborne Farm, Perry Bass, Ramona Bass and Adele Dilschneider, Soothsay is by Distorted Humor out of the Bernardini mare Spellbound.

THE GRADE 2 SANTA ANITA OAKS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 6 of 12 Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. Moraz—Umberto Rispoli—124
2. Brilliant Cut—Abel Cedillo–124
3. Soothsay—Flavien Prat—124
4. Javanica—Mike Smith–124
5. Beautiful Gift—John Velazquez—124

Special early first post time on Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day, this Saturday, is at 12 noon. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Beautiful Gift, Moraz Square Off Over Oaks Points At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Although she encountered unexpected trouble a quarter mile out, Baffert's Beautiful Gift, the “Other Baffert” in pari-mutuel parlance, was able to mount a furious rally through the lane and get up to nail Michael McCarthy's Moraz by a short head in the Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes, an important steppingstone to the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 3 at the Arcadia, Calif., track.  Ridden by John Velazquez, Beautiful Gift got a mile and one sixteenth in 1:44.83.

With Baffert's 3-5 favorite Kalypso showing the way to the far turn, Moraz was closing in, just a length back to her outside while Beautiful Gift sat third at the rail, about 1 ½ lengths off the lead.  Approaching the quarter pole, Moraz appeared to have gained the advantage and Beautiful Gift, full of run, was poised to come through at the rail, but instead had to wait and swing three-deep at the top of the lane, allowing Moraz to hold a seemingly insurmountable 2 ½ length lead with just a sixteenth of a mile to run.

“She was full of run and I was trying to keep her from getting dirt in her face but when Rispoli (Umberto, aboard Moraz) pushed Joel (Rosario, aboard Kalypso) in, I had to take a hold of her,” said Velazquez.  “But she was able to overcome it…By the time I got her to the outside, I got her rolling and I was hoping she would get there before the wire and she did.”

Idle since breaking her maiden at a flat mile on Oct. 23, Beautiful Gift, who was one of three Baffert entrants among a field of four sophomore fillies, was off at 3-1 and paid $8.00 and $3.80 with no show wagering.

“I didn't think Johnny was going to get there and all of a sudden that mare kicked in and (Beautiful Gift) is really (good).  We gave her some time.  She got really light on us.  The further the better for her.  I didn't think she got there until I saw the super slow mo, but I'm just happy that they ran well…It's nice to get these fillies, it's all I have for the Oaks, so it's fun.”

A daughter of Medaglia d'Oro, owned and bred by Baoma Corporation, Beautiful Gift is out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift.  With two wins from three starts, the winner's share of $60,000 boosted  her earnings to $99,600.

The second choice at 2-1, Moraz finished 2 ¾ lengths in front of Kalypso and paid $3.20 to show.  Baffert's third entrant, Heels Up, was last throughout and was distanced by nearly 26 lengths at 16-1.

Baffert, whose top rated Derby hopeful Life Is Good ran away with Saturday's Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, now has nine stakes wins and 21 overall victories at the current Winter/Spring Meet, putting him first in both categories.

Beautiful Gift will receive 50 qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, which will be run on April 30.  The second, third and fourth place finishers will receive 20, 10 and five points respectively.

Fractions on the race were 23.95, 48.13, 1:12.69 and 1:38.21.

The post Velazquez Gets Beautiful Gift Up In Final Yards Of Santa Ysabel appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to be awarded to the winner, the Santa Ynez takes on added significance as America's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies looms on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Saturday's second, third and fourth place finishers will receive 20, 15 and five points respectively.

Third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Kalypso in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes here on Feb. 6, trainer Michael McCarthy's Moraz will likely go as the second choice in the Santa Ysabel, which will be her fourth career start. A recent mile and one sixteenth maiden winner at Golden Gate Fields, McCarthy's A Real Hero will be a longshot with Flavien Prat aboard.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC and Rockingham Ranch, Kalyspo, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Brody's Cause, out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Cove, broke her maiden going six furlongs four starts back in the ungraded Anoakia Stakes on Oct. 18 and then showed the way prior to running second, beaten 1 ½ lengths going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 5.

Off at 4-5 in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes going seven furlongs on Jan. 3, Kalypso pressed the pace and prevailed by 1 ¾ lengths. Subsequently second as the even money favorite going one mile in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 6, she was no match for Richard Mandella's Moonlight d'Oro, who rallied powerfully through the lane to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.

Although second twice at two turns, Kalypso, who will be making her seventh start, retains the services of Joel Rosario and is strictly the horse to beat on Sunday.

Owned by her breeder, Don Alberto Corporation, Moraz, who was a dazzling 11 length maiden winner going a flat mile two starts back on Jan. 8, kept to her task in the Las Virgenes when beaten 1 ¾ lengths by the top selection and her connections are hoping she has enough upside to turn the tables.

By Empire Maker out of the A.P. Indy mare Malvinia, Moraz will be making her fourth start and be handled by regular rider Umberto Rispoli.

Bet down to 3-5 as she stretched out to a flat mile in her second start on Oct. 23, Baoma Corporation's homebred Beautiful Gift stalked the early pace and rallied gamely for a half length win. By Medaglia d'Oro out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift, Beautiful Gift also appears to have ample upside and will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.

Baffert's Heels Up, who has been idle since running third in the 6 ½ furlongs Dezi Arnaz Stakes Nov. 14 at Del Mar, will be stretching out for the first time in what will be her fourth start. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Heels Up, a daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Tale of the Cat mare Tale Untold, will likely be forwardly placed under Drayden Van Dyke, who will be aboard for the first time.

THE GRADE 3 SANTA YSABEL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 9 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

1. A Real Hero—Flavien Prat—120
2. Beautiful Gift—John Velazquez—120
3. Heels Up—Drayden Van Dyke—120
4. Kalypso—Joel Rosario—120
5. Moraz—Umberto Rispoli—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Baffert-Trained Kalypso Headlines Sunday’s Oaks Prep At Santa Anita Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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