NBC | Horse Racing Free Tips

Collmus Steps in for Denman at Del Mar

Larry Collmus, who stepped up to pinch hit for Del Mar's longtime caller Trevor Denman during the height of the COVID 19 crisis in 2020, will take over for the recently injured Denman for the majority of the track's upcoming fall race meet starting Nov. 3. Denman, 68, suffered a herniated disc in his back earlier this week after a fall at his home in Minnesota. Collmus, who will cover the Breeders' Cup for NBC at Del Mar, will take over calling duties at Del Mar though closing day Nov. 28, with the exception of three days (Nov. 12-14) when he'll be on a previously planned holiday.

“I have never missed a day's racing in 50 years and now I have had to miss racing two years in a row because of the virus and this freak accident,” Denman said. “I am devastated, but this is completely out of my control.”

Del Mar will call on John Lies to handle the three days that Collmus will be away.

The post Collmus Steps in for Denman at Del Mar appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NBC Sports Plans Three Live Telecasts Of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Races

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” comes to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky for a blockbuster weekend of top Thoroughbreds competing for final automatic berths in the Breeders' Cup World Championships with three live telecasts on NBCSN. The action begins on Friday, Oct. 8 (5-6 p.m. ET) featuring the $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) and continues, on Saturday, Oct. 9 (5-6 p.m. ET) with the $750,000 Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) headlined by Order of Australia (IRE), winner of last year's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1). Saturday's program will also include the $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1). The weekend concludes on Sunday, Oct. 10 (4:30-6 p.m. ET) with the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1), led by the nation's top older female Letruska.

The three programs mark the 10th, 11th, and 12th telecasts this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The television series, which concludes on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Keeneland with the JPMorgan Jessamine Stakes (G2) (NBCSN 4-5 p.m. ET), leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6, which will be shown live on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage for all three telecasts feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Ahmed Fareed, analyst Randy Moss, and handicapper Matt Bernier. Reporters Britney Eurton and Nick Luck will be on-site at Keeneland.

A field of 12 has been entered for Friday's 1 1/16-mile Darley Alcibiades, for 2-year-old fillies, with the winner receiving an automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The Albaugh Family Stables' Juju's Map is the 5-2 morning line favorite off her commanding 5 ½-length maiden victory at Ellis Park on Sept. 3. Trained by Brad Cox, Juju's Map will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post one. Breaking from the outside post 12 is Jim McIngvale's Runup. A daughter of 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Runhappy, the Laura Wohlers-trained Runup won the Sorority Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on Sept. 6 for her second victory in three starts. Runup will be ridden by Joseph Ramos. Trainer Kenny McPeek has won the Alcibiades five times. On Friday, he sends out Milam Farm's Penny Saver, who broke her maiden by a widening 9 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs on Sept. 24. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount, breaking from post 10.

A “Win and You're In” berth in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will be awarded to the winner of the $250,000 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (G2), which will be run prior to the Darley Alcibiades. Paradise Farm Corp. and David Staudacher's Special Reserve, a winner of four races this year, leads the seven-horse field. Trained by Mike Maker and ridden from post six by Joel Rosario, Special Reserve finished second in Keeneland's Commonwealth Stakes (G3) in April, then won the Maryland Match Series Sprint Stakes (G3) at Pimlico, and the Iowa Sprint Stakes at Prairie Meadows, prior to finishing second in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga on July 31. Griffon Farms and Michelle Lovell's homebred Just Might has won his last four races. Trained by Lovell, Just Might comes into the race off a frontrunning victory in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes at Churchill Downs on Sept. 18. Just Might will be ridden by Colby Hernandez from post four.

Saturday's card at Keeneland is headlined by the Keeneland Turf Mile, which drew an outstanding field of 13 bidding for an automatic starting position in the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1). Order of Australia returns to Keeneland where last year he came off the also-eligible list to win the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at 70-1. Trained by Aidan O'Brien for owners Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Anne Marie O'Brien, Order of Australia won the Romanised Minstrel Stakes (G2) at The Curragh in Ireland in July, and was second in the prestigious Prix de Moulin de Longchamp (G1) in his most recent start on Sept. 5. John Velazquez has the mount from post 10.

Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I's Ivar (BRZ) is the defending Turf Mile Champion, winning the 2020 race at 14-1. Trained by Pablo Lobo, Ivar finished fourth in last year's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. In his lone start of 2021, Ivar finished sixth in the Old Forester Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 1. Joe Talamo has the mount, breaking from post six. Trainer Mike Maker has entered three runners, including Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's Somelikeithotbrown, who won the Dinner Party Stakes (G2) at Pimlico in May and has finished second in his last two starts, the Wise Dan (G2) at Churchill Downs and the WinStar Mint Million Stakes (G3) at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 6. Joe Ortiz will ride, breaking from post 13.

Saturday's co-feature is the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, and the winner receives an invitation to the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1). Among the 13 entered, Phoenix Thoroughbred's Double Thunder has won three times in four stats for trainer Todd Pletcher, including the Bashford Manor (G3) at Churchill Downs and the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sept. 5. L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Stellar Tap broke his maiden at Saratoga on Aug. 7 and gave Steve Asmussen his 9,446th victory, setting the all-time mark for most wins by a trainer. Stellar Tap, ridden from post three by Ricardo Santana Jr., will try to improve upon his fifth-place finish as the even-money favorite in the “Win and You're In”' Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Sept. 18.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska has had a sensational year, winning five of six races, and is expected to lead Sunday's Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, which is a “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska gained a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Distaff when she captured the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in June. She also captured two more Breeders' Cup Challenge races, taking the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs and the Personal Ensign (G1) at Saratoga. Juddmonte's Bonny South finished just a half-length behind Letruska in the Personal Ensign. The 4-year-old filly won Keeneland's Baird Doubledogdare Stakes (G3) in April.

Also on Sunday, the 1 1/16-mile Castle & Key Bourbon Stakes (G2) on turf will give the winner an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1). Among the expected starters is Silverton Hill's Red Danger, who won the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 9 for trainer Bryan Lynch, and Phoenix Thoroughbred's Tiz the Bomb, winner of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile Stakes on Sept. 6 for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The post NBC Sports Plans Three Live Telecasts Of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

NBS Sports To Present Live Coverage Of Kentucky Downs’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” comes to Kentucky Downs tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 11 on NBC from 5-6 p.m., with live coverage of the $1 million FanDuel Turf Sprint Stakes (G3) and the $1 million Calumet Turf Cup Stakes (G2).

Saturday's program marks the sixth telecast this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, to be held Nov. 5-6 on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Ahmed Fareed, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Britney Eurton and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Kentucky Downs.

The FanDuel Turf Sprint Stakes, to be run at 6 furlongs, gives the winner a free berth into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1). The race is headlined by the outstanding 5-year-old mare Got Stormy, who is seeking her second Breeders' Cup Challenge Series win this year. Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, and trained by Mark Casse, Got Stormy secured a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1) when she defeated male rivals in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14. A 12-time winner, Got Stormy finished second in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile and was fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Tyler Gaffalione will ride Got Stormy from post nine.

LRE Racing and JEH Racing Stable's 5-year-old Casa Creed, trained by Bill Mott, already earned an automatic starting position into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint when he captured the Jackpocket Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on June 5. In his most recent start, Casa Creed finished third in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 14. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount breaking from post seven. Breeze Easy's 7-year-old gelding Imprimis won last year's race by a neck and earned a free berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Trained by Joe Orseno, Imprimis got caught in traffic on the turn for home in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and finished 13th. This year, Imprimis won the Janus Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, and was fourth in the Troy Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on Aug 6.

The past two winners of the Calumet Turf Cup Stakes ― Arklow and Zulu Alpha ― are among 12 horses entered for the 1 ½-mile race, with the winner gaining a free starting position into the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), which will also be run at 1 ½ miles. Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the Estate of Peter Coneway's 7-year-old gelding Arklow won last year's race by 1 ¼ lengths. Trained by Brad Cox, Arklow has one win in three starts this year, taking the Louisville Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 15 for his ninth career victory. Arklow will be ridden from post 5 by Florent Geroux. Michael Hui's ulu Alpha, won the 2019 Turf Cup by 1 ¾ lengths, and finished third behind Arklow in last year's renewal. A leg injury prevented Zulu Alpha from running in last year's Breeders' Cup. This year, the 8-year-old gelding, trained by Mike Maker, has been winless in two starts, registering a seventh-place finish last time out in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park. Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Zulu Alpha from post 11.

Calumet Farm's homebred Channel Cat has a Grade 1 victory this year, taking the Man o' War Stakes at Belmont Park on May 8. Channel Cat, a 6-year-old son of 2007 Breeders' Cup Turf winner English Channel, is trained by Jack Sisterson, and will be ridden from post three by John Velazquez.

The post NBS Sports To Present Live Coverage Of Kentucky Downs’ Breeders’ Cup Challenge Races appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Challenge: NBC Sports To Present Live Coverage From Saratoga On Saturday

The “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” returns this Saturday, Sept. 4 on NBCSN from 6-7 p.m. ET from Saratoga Race Course with live coverage of the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the $600,000 Flower Bowl (G1).

Saturday's program marks the fifth telecast this year in the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing” on NBC and NBCSN from some of North America's most iconic racetracks. The series leads to the 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, to be held Nov. 5-6 on NBC and NBCSN. The complete series TV schedule can be accessed here.

NBC Sports' coverage will feature commentary and discussion from its International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., led by host Britney Eurton, and analysts Randy Moss and Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey, who won 15 Breeders' Cup races including five victories in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Reporter Laffit Pincay and handicapper Matt Bernier will be on-site at Saratoga.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup, which had been run at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack since 1919, and the Flower Bowl, which had been held at Belmont since 1978, will be run at historic Saratoga Race Course for the first time. The Jockey Club Gold Cup winner will gain an automatic berth into the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, and the winner of the Flower Bowl will earn a free berth into the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Run at 1 ¼ miles, the Jockey Club Gold Cup drew a six-horse field and is led by Wertheimer and Frere's Happy Saver, who won his first five races before finishing third in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in his last start on July 3. The 4-year-old son of Super Saver concluded a 4-for-4 first season of racing when he won the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont last year for trainer Todd Pletcher, who opted to bypass the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland and point to a 2021 campaign.

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbred Corp.'s Max Player upset Happy Saver in the Suburban and received a free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 4-year-old Max Player, who ended a six-race losing streak in the Suburban, is 3-for-10 lifetime.

Don Alberto Stable's Forza Di Oro, a winner four times in six starts, easily captured his lone start of the year in a local allowance optional claiming race on July 21 for trainer Bill Mott. A son of 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Speightstown, Forza Di Oro won Aqueduct's Discovery Stakes (G3) in November before going on an extended layoff. The Estate of James J. Coleman Jr.'s Chess Chief won the New Orleans Classic Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans in March for trainer Dallas Stewart.

The Flower Bowl, run at the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf distance of 1 3/8 miles, is headlined by George Krikorian's War Like Goddess. The 4-year-old daughter of 2007 Breeders' Cup Turf winner English Channel has won two straight graded stakes at 1 ½ miles for trainer Bill Mott, and also won the Orchid Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park in March at 1 3/8 miles. War Like Goddess is 5-for-6 lifetime and enters off an easy win in the Aug. 7 Glens Falls Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, in which she unleashed a devastating turn of foot that saw her go from last-to-first while looping the field through the far turn.

Trainer Chad Brown has won the Flower Bowl six times and will look to add to that mark with Peter Brant's My Sister Nat (FR) and Alpha Delta Stables Great Island. My Sister Nat finished second, defeated by a head, in the Flower Bowl last year before running ninth in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland. Seeking her first win this year, My Sister Nat finished second in the Glens Falls. Great Island is two for three this year, winning the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes at Monmouth Park in her most recent start on July 17. Brant also has an international starter in the race with American Bridge (GB). Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, American Bridge won the 1 1 /4-mile Premio del Giubileo (G3) by 2 ¼ lengths at Milan on June 27.

The post Breeders’ Cup Challenge: NBC Sports To Present Live Coverage From Saratoga On Saturday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post