Oaklawn | Horse Racing Free Tips

Concert Tour, Caddo River Head 3yo Worktab Saturday

Heading the likely cast of contenders in the Apr. 10 GI Arkansas Derby, undefeated Concert Tour (Street Sense) worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 under Juan Ochoa at Santa Anita Saturday morning.

“He went great; he looked fantastic,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He couldn't have looked any better. He just cruised around there in a minute and change.”

Taking over as top dog in the Baffert barn following the injury of Life Is Good (Into Mischief), Concert Tour a perfect three-for-three this season, including wins in the GII San Vicente S. and GII Rebel S.

Also working ahead of the Arkansas Derby, Caddo River (Hard Spun) breezed a half-mile in :48 after Oaklawn's first surface renovation break under Fernando De La Cruz. Caddo River, working with stablemate Joe Frazier, who credited with the same time. Clockers had the Brad Cox-trained duo galloping out five panels in 1:00, six furlongs in 1:13 and 7/8ths in 1:27.60.

A homebred for John Ed Anthony, Caddo River was a record-setting 10 1/4-length winner of the Smarty Jones S. Jan. 22 before finishing fifth in the Rebel.

Also at Oaklawn, Rebel sixth Keepmeinmind (Laoban) breezed after the second renovation break under regular rider David Cohen. Keepmeinmind went five furlongs in 1:00 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.60, according to clockers. The colt is expected to make his next start in either the Arkansas Derby and GII Blue Grass Stakes Apr. 3 at Keeneland and a decision on the colt's next start is expected by Monday.

“If it's the Blue Grass, he's going to miss a little bit of serious training, shipping over there and stuff,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “I gave him a stiff work today. If we run him next weekend, he's not going to be doing a whole bunch from now until then. We'll jog him, little easy gallop. If he stays here for the Arkansas Derby, then we'll probably come back next weekend with a real easy half.”

Prepping for this season's Classics on the West Coast, a host of sophomore's posted their final major works ahead of next weekend's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Saturday's worktab included GII San Felipe S. third Dream Shake (Twirling Candy), who went five furlongs in :59.80 and Roman Centurian (Empire Maker), second in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. and fourth in the San Felipe, who negotiated the same distance in 1:00.40 for Simon Callaghan. San Felipe fifth-place finisher The Great One (Nyquist) worked six furlongs in 1:14.20 for Doug O'Neill. The Louisiana bred finished runner up in last season's GII Los Alamitos Futurity.

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Borels Chasing First Stakes Win As A Team At Oaklawn

Less than a week after teaming for their first Oaklawn victory, Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel and his wife, trainer Renay Borel, seek their first in a stake in Saturday's $150,000 Nodouble Breeders' for Arkansas-bred colts and geldings, 3 years old and up, at six furlongs.

Renay Borel is scheduled to send out two horses, including defending champion K J's Nobility in the Nodouble, which honors the 1968 Arkansas Derby winner, the country's two-time champion older horse (1969 and 1970) and leading Arkansas-bred money winner in history ($846,749).

Last Sunday, Calvin Borel recorded his first victory of the meeting, and first for his wife in Hot Springs, aboard Jack Van Berg. Renay Borel, a former exercise rider for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, inherited a small string of horses after Calvin Borel's older brother, Cecil, retired – again – from training following a runner-up finish by K J's Nobility in the $165,000 Arkansas Breeders' Championship Stakes last May at Oaklawn. Renay Borel had been Cecil Borel's assistant. Jack Van Berg was her second victory of the meeting and fourth overall.

“Everything's going good,” Renay Borel, 33, said Wednesday morning. “Take it one day at a time.”

Owned by Carson McCord of Hot Springs, K J's Nobility will break from the rail Saturday in search of his first victory since last year's Nodouble. The 7-year-old gelding exits a flat fifth-place finish as the favorite in a March 12 state-bred allowance sprint under Calvin Borel, his regular rider.

“I think it was because of the freeze,” Renay Borel said, referring to Oaklawn losing 11 days of training (Feb. 12-22) to severe winter weather. “I think the freeze had a lot to do with it. It kind of set us back a little bit. I kind of look at that race more as a little tune-up race, more than anything. So, if everything goes according to plan, I believe he'll be tough, regardless. It doesn't matter what post position he's in.”

Claimed by McCord for $25,000 in July 2018 at Indiana Grand, K J's Nobility has bankrolled $451,354 in a 33-race career.

Renay Borel is also scheduled to send out her first career Oaklawn winner, Bebop Shoes, for McCord in the Nodouble. Bebop Shoes was a sharp March 7 state-bred allowance winner in his last start.

“It's up to the owner whether she wants to run him in the Nodouble or not,” Renay Borel said. “Personally, I believe he fits. He's doing really good; training like a beast. We'll see.”

Renay Borel has never had a stakes starter since saddling her first horse in the fall of 2019. Calvin Borel has 52 career Oaklawn stakes victories and Jack Van Berg marked his 971st victory overall in Hot Springs. He was Oaklawn's leading rider in 1995 and 2001. Pat Day (a record 1,264) and Larry Snyder are the only riders in Oaklawn history with 1,000 career victories.

“We're going to try like hell,” Calvin Borel, 54, said with a laugh when asked about reaching 1,000. “Taking it day by day.”

As for Cecil Borel, the remaining members of Team Borel said he's living on Lake Fork Reservoir, about 70 miles east of Dallas. It's billed the premier trophy largemouth bass lake in Texas.

Cecil Borel, who has a history of heart problems, initially retired from training in August 2014 to care for his ailing wife, Debbie, a former Oaklawn racing official who died Jan. 1, 2015. Borel came out of retirement at the 2019 Oaklawn meeting, recording his first victory in approximately 4 ½ years with K J's Nobility in a state-bred allowance sprint that April. Borel, citing health issues, stepped away from training in the fall of 2019 (Renay Borel recorded her first career victory after inheriting his handful of runners) before returning as the trainer of record for the 2020 Oaklawn meet. Borel was 66 when he saddled K J's Nobility in the Arkansas Breeders' Championship Stakes.

“I don't know if there will be another comeback,” Renay Borel said. “You'll have to get ahold of him and ask him if that's what he wants to do right now. I believe he's having fun fishing.”

Known as an exhaustive caretaker, Cecil Borel authored a sparkling 7-2-3 record from just 17 starters last year at Oaklawn. Renay Borel has six horses at Oaklawn and is off to a solid start in 2021, with two victories and a third from nine starts at the meeting through Sunday.

“I learned everything from him,” Renay Borel said. “I try to keep my schedule the same as what he would do. You don't fix something that's not broke.”

The projected nine-horse Nodouble field from the rail out: K J's Nobility, Calvin Borel to ride, 118 pounds, 7-2 on the morning line; Captain Don, Walter De La Cruz, 118, 5-1; Glacken's Ghost, Alex Canchari, 123, 10-1; Tempt Fate, Joe Talamo, 123, 5-2; Bebop Shoes, Elvin Gonzalez, 123, 6-1; Reef's Destiny, David Cohen, 118, 15-1; J. E.'s Handmedown, Francisco Arrieta, 115, 10-1; Man in the Can, David Cabrera, 118, 9-2; and Bandit Point, Kelsi Harr, 118, 6-1.

Probable post time for the Nodouble Breeders' Stakes, the 10th of 11 races, is 5:52 p.m. (Central). Racing begins Saturday at 1 p.m. Weather permitting, the infield will be open.

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America’s Day At The Races Telecast Features Pair Of Kentucky Derby Preps

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air coverage both Saturday and Sunday showcasing stakes action from Aqueduct Racetrack, Oaklawn Park, Turfway Park and Gulfstream Park.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast Saturday from 2:30-7:30 p.m. Eastern, with coverage for the first half hour on FS2 before shifting to FS1 from 3-4:30 p.m. FS2 will pick up coverage from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Saturday's broadcast will air stakes action from all four tracks, led by the Grade 1, $750,000 Florida Derby in Race 14 at 6:40 p.m. as one of 10 stakes on Gulfstream's program. The Kentucky Derby prep race, offering 100-40-20-10 qualifying points to the top-four finishers, will see Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert send out Spielberg, the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. The Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity winner is second coming off a runner-up effort to reigning juvenile champion Essential Quality in the Grade 3 Southwest at Oaklawn Park. Greatest Honour was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite, entering off wins in the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in his last two starts.

Other Gulfstream stakes on the broadcast include the Grade 2, $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks in Race 12 at 5:17 p.m. Trainer Kenny McPeek will try to win the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks qualifier [100-40-20-10 points] for the second straight year, looking to follow Swiss Skydiver's 2020 win by sending out Crazy Beautiful for the 1 1/16-mile contest.

Aqueduct will have six of its 10 total stakes shown on the broadcast, highlighting NYRA's New York Claiming Championship series that offers a total of $620,000 in purses. The New York Claiming Championship is open to horses which have started for a prescribed claiming price in 2020-21. The series, each named after some of the most popular claiming horses to run at the Big A, features races at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 3/8 miles.

The Big A televised stakes will start with the $55,000 Kelly Kip for 4-year-olds and up going six furlongs in Race 4 at 2:50 p.m. Following in order will be the $45,000 Belle Gallantey for older fillies and mares going seven furlongs in Race 5 at 3:20 p.m., the $70,000 Peeping Tom for 4-year-olds and up at 6 1/2 furlongs in Race 6 at 3:52 p.m., the $60,000 More To Tell for older horses going a one-turn mile in Race 7 at 4:24 p.m., the $60,000 Sis City for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at one mile in Race 8 at 5 p.m., the $75,000 Stud Muffin for older horses competing at a marathon 1 3/8 miles in Race 9 at 5:34 p.m., and the $45,000 Dads Caps in the 10th-race finale for 4-year-olds and up going seven furlongs at 6:10 p.m.

Turfway Park will have three consecutive stakes broadcast, starting with the $150,000 Kentucky Cup Classic for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles in Race 9 at 5:10 p.m. Race 10 will offer up the $150,000 Bourbonette Oaks for sophomore fillies going one mile at 5:45 p.m.

Stakes action at the track will conclude with the Grade 3, $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks, also a 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifier. Hush of a Storm, the winner of the John Battaglia Memorial, is 3-for-3 over the Tapeta track at Turfway. Gretzky the Great, the Nyquist colt, is a Grade 1 winner, having captured the Summer for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.

Oaklawn will see nine Arkansas-bred 3-year-olds and up going six furlongs in the $150,000 Nodouble Breeders' in Race 10 at 5:52 p.m.

As an additional programing note, live coverage of the Group 1, $12 million Dubai World Cup airs Saturday at noon Eastern on FS1. The field for the 25th renewal of the Dubai World Cup is headlined by multiple graded stakes winner Mystic Guide and will include a collection of standout runners from around the world.

Coverage of the Dubai World Cup undercard, featuring six stakes races, will air live from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on FS1. The 'Golden Hour' telecast, featuring live coverage of the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Group 1 Dubai World Cup, will air from noon-1 p.m., Eastern on FS1. Coverage of the Dubai World Cup card on FS1 is presented by Star Guitar.

Sunday's coverage will run from 1:30-6 p.m. on FS2, highlighted by Aqueduct's $100,000 Haynesfield for New York-bred 4-year-olds and up going a one-turn mile.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 65,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Warrior’s Charge Makes His 2021 Debut In Thursday Allowance At Oaklawn

If Warrior's Charge wants to stick around for major stakes race next month at Oaklawn, he'll have to make his case Thursday for co-owners Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables and trainer Brad Cox.

The multiple graded stakes winner will make his 2021 debut in the eighth race, a one-mile allowance for older horses that carries a hefty $107,000 purse. The speedy 5-year-old son of Munnings hasn't started since finishing eighth in the $100,000 Ack Ack Stakes (G3) Sept. 26 at Churchill Downs.

“It's obviously the starting point for the year,” Clay Sanders, a founding partner in Ten Strike, said Tuesday morning. “Probably not exactly the distance or race we wanted, but if we could get a stake race at Oaklawn the two options were the Oaklawn Mile or the Oaklawn Handicap. If we want to consider the Oaklawn Handicap, we didn't want to run him not having a prep race. Going a mile and an eighth off the bench is pretty tough. We'll give him a start and kind of see where he is fitness-wise. He's not 100 percent cranked, but we'll see where we're at.”

The $400,000 Oaklawn Mile is April 10. The $1 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) is April 17.

Warrior's Charge was among Oaklawn's leading two-turn older horses last year after winning the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at 1 1/16 miles and finishing second in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Following a subpar performance in the Ack Ack, Warrior's Charge was sent to Florida horseman Paul Sharp for a break. Sharp's farm is the go-to vacation spot for horses connected to noted bloodstock agent Liz Crow, who is also Ten Strike's stable manager. Ten Strike privately purchased then-unraced Warrior's Charge from his breeder, Al Shaquab Racing, after Crow watched the horse train at McKathan Brothers Training Center in Florida.

In 12 career starts, the consistent Warrior's Charge has compiled a 5-1-3 record and bankrolled $836,310. Warrior's Charge also finished fourth in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) – beaten 2 ½ lengths – in 2019 and fourth in the $500,000 Met Mile (G1) – beaten two lengths – July 4 at Belmont Park. Warrior's Charge faded to eighth in the Ack Ack after dueling through a demanding :44.85 half-mile.

“We think he was a little over the top, as far as he'd been in training for over a year,” Sanders said. “Obviously, we wanted to go to the Breeders' Cup with him. Obviously, off that result we didn't feel confident going into the race and even at that point, we didn't know Brad had Knicks Go. Exit an allowance race and then kind of showed himself (winning Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile). Probably in hindsight, it (Ack Ack) wasn't the right spot because it was a one-turn race and there was a ton of speed in the race. He went out crazy fast and just didn't have anything left in the tank. Brad had kind of mentioned after the race that he wasn't training as sharply as he was earlier in the year. We wanted to give him a break there so we would have at least some shot of making Oaklawn.”

Warrior's Charge rejoined Cox's Fair Grounds division in January and has had seven published workouts there since Feb. 5, including three 5-furlong moves this month. Warriors Charge arrived Monday in Hot Springs.

“We'd liked to have made the Essex or the Razorback, but time just got a little short on us and didn't get him ready in time,” Sanders said.

The Razorback and Essex are two major local steppingstones to the Oaklawn Handicap, a race Cox said he covets. Cox has never won the Oaklawn Handicap.

Memphis, Tenn.-based Ten Strike offers fractional ownership on its syndicate side (founding partner Marshall Gramm and Sanders are the claiming arm) and “probably 35 to 38” have a share in Warrior's Charge, Sanders said. The majority of the owners are from Arkansas, Sanders said, meaning a victory in the Oaklawn Mile or Oaklawn Handicap would be a big deal for them, too.

“But then you include family and spouses and friends – you saw the winner's circle for the Razorback,” Sanders said. “It gets pretty big pretty quick in Arkansas.”

Sanders, a Mountain Home, Ark., native, said adding a Grade 1 victory to the resume of Warrior's Charge is a goal this year since it would boost his value as a stallion prospect.

“The tricky part with this horse is that probably a mile and a sixteenth is like his optimal distance,” Sanders said. “They don't have any Grade 1's at a mile and a sixteenth, so a mile and an eighth is probably at the tail end of his. But it wouldn't even be crazy at maybe a mile and a quarter, if he could get out on a slow pace, some of these five-horse fields, maybe he could walk the dog on the front end. Those are the things we'll kind of explore.”

In addition to the Razorback and powerful front-running maiden- and first-level allowance victories at the 2019 Oaklawn meeting, Warrior's Charge (via disqualification for stretch interference) captured the $200,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) Aug. 22 at Monmouth Park.

Warrior's Charge is the 8-5 program favorite Thursday, with Florent Geroux named to ride from post 6. Also entered are Mailman Money, My Sixth Sense, Home Base, Guest Suite and Final Jeopardy.

Probable post time is 4:40 p.m. (Central).

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