Phil D'Amato | Horse Racing Free Tips

Say The Word To Join D’Amato’s Kentucky Stable At Churchill Following Elkhorn Win

Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm's Canadian champion Say the Word, winner of Saturday's Elkhorn Stakes (G2) by 1½ lengths at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., was scheduled to head to Churchill Downs in Louisville on Sunday and join the rest of trainer Phil D'Amato's Kentucky string.

The victory in the 1½-mile Elkhorn by the 6=year-old son of MoreThan Ready was the second graded stakes triumph at the distance for Say the Word. The other came last year in the Northern Dancer Turf (G1) Presented by Pattison at Woodbine.

The Churchill stakes schedule has the $125,000 Louisville (G3) going 1½ miles on the turf slated for May 15, a race that could attract Elkhorn runner-up Channel Cat and fourth-place finisher Fantasioso (ARG).

“He showed signs that he was going to run a good one,” trainer Jack Sisterson said of Calumet Farm's Channel Cat, whose effort Saturday produced his best result since winning the Bowling Green (G2) in 2019 while racing for Todd Pletcher. “He had not trained that well coming into a race since we have had him.”

Sisterson mentioned after the race that the $750,000 Manhattan (G1) at 1¼ miles on June 5 might be a possibility but noted Sunday morning, “if we take the conservative route, we may do that (the Louisville).”

Bloom Racing Stable and I. C. Racing's Fantasioso rallied from last in the field of eight, finishing less than a length out of second place in his U.S. debut.

“He came out of the race well, and I was very happy with his race,” trainer Ignacio Correas IV said. “The plan is to go on to the Louisville.”

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Saez Guides Say The Word To Elkhorn Stakes Victory

Say the Word, a Grade 1 winner of the Northern Dancer Stakes for trainer Gail Cox at Woodbine last year, picked up his first victory since being transferred to California-based Phil D'Amato in Saturday's Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland racecourse in Lexington, Ky.

Ridden by Luis Saez, the 6-year-old son of More Than Ready defeated another 6-year-old turf veteran, Channel Cat, by 1 1/2 lengths while covering 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.26 on a course labeled “good.” Crafty Daddy finished a neck back in third, with Fantasioso fourth in the field of eight older horses.

Say the Word, who on Thursday was named champion turf male in Canada's Sovereign Awards, paid $7.20 as second wagering choice behind 2-1 favorite Tide of the Sea.

Say the Word raced in mid-pack in the early going as Tide of the Sea set the pace. He made a wide move running down the backstretch, reaching contention at the quarter pole, then drawing off late for the victory.

Bred by Sam-Son Farm, Say the Word joined D'Amato's stable after Mark Martinez bought into the horse from Sam-Son late last year in the name of his Agave Racing Stable. He ran three times for D'Amato prior to the Elkhorn, finishing third in the G2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar, 11th in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park and second to United in the G3 San Luis Rey at Santa Anita.

The win was the sixth for Say the Word in 29 career starts. He was produced from the Giant's Causeway mare Danceforthecause.

Post-race quotes:

Luis Saez (winning rider of Say the Word): “He just found a good spot (on the backstretch), and he picked up the bridle. I didn't want to let him go too early, so I tried to relax him. When we came into the straight (on the run to the finish), he was pretty good. He took it away, and he won the race.”

Josh Flores (assistant to winning trainer Phil D'Amato, who is based at Santa Anita in California): “The only instructions I gave to Luis was just get him to settle early. For a second we were a little concerned when he picked up the bridle on his own. Luis did a great job to get him to settle. Down the lane, the horse really dug in and put up a good fight.”

Corey Lanerie (rider of runner-up Channel Cat): “We were forwardly placed right behind the favorite (Tide of the Sea). The eventual winner was right on my hip and I just could not hold him off. My horse ran great. Going a mile and a half, the pace might have been a little quicker than I thought we would be going, but he handled it the whole way.”

Jack Sisterson (trainer of Channel Cat): “He ran a very good race. We were optimistic going in to this race. We backed off since his last race (fifth in Jan. 23 William L. McKnight-G3 at Gulfstream Park). We decided to point to the Elkhorn here at Keeneland – this is home for him. If horses could talk, he was telling us he was going to run a big race. It was good to see him run back to the form he had when he was trained by Todd Pletcher.”

On Channel Cat's next race: “We might look at something like the Manhattan (G1 at Belmont Park June 5) or the United Nations (G1 at Monmouth Park July 17). I think he is better than a Grade 3 horse.”

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With Limited Fans Back On Track, Santa Anita Records Best Derby Day Handle Since 2007

With fans returning on a restricted basis this weekend for the first time in over a year, 8,246 on-track attendees at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., witnessed a tremendous day of racing on Saturday, as the 84th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby highlighted a 12-race program that produced all-sources pari-mutuel handle of $24,282,400 — the largest Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day handle since 2007.

The Runhappy Derby, which was carded as Saturday's eighth race, was taken by Hronis Racing and Talla Racing's Rock Your World, who was making only his third start and his first on dirt. Trained by John Sadler and ridden in gate to wire fashion by Umberto Rispoli, the 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride powered to a 4 ¼-length victory over Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit and paid $12.40 to win.

Bred in Kentucky by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie, Rock Your World picked up 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and will thus try to become the 19th horse to exit the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and go on to win the Run for the Roses on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

The Grade 2, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, carded as race six, went to the Richard Mandella-trained Soothsay, who made a bold move heading into the far turn under Flavien Prat and prevailed by a half length over Baffert's Beautiful Gift. Owned by Claiborne Farm, Perry Bass II, Ramona Bass and Adele Dilschneider, Soothsay paid $10.40 to win and she collected 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, which puts her in the gate for the “Filly Derby” on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

While Sadler collected his second Runhappy Santa Anita Derby victory, Mandella won the Santa Anita Oaks for the fourth time in his Hall of Fame career.

With three wins, two of them in stakes, Phil D'Amato moved to the top of the trainer standings as he leads Baffert by a 29-28 margin.

Riding sensation Flavien Prat bagged four wins on the afternoon, all of them in stakes, and he opened up an incredible 30-win advantage over Juan Hernandez in the jockey standings, 80-50, through 45 racing days.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. With no walk-up admission, fans are encouraged to visit santaanita.com/open, to purchase reserved seating. Santa Anita continues to offer all of its races free of charge at santaanita.com/live.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Charmaine’s Mia Holds Off Dogtag In Royal Heroine For Third Consecutive Stakes Win

Consistent Charmaine's Mia rung up her third consecutive graded stakes victory of the meeting as she led gate to wire in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., winning by a half length. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Charmaine's Mia got a mile on turf in 1:33.76.

Breaking from post position three, she held a one-length advantage over Laura's Light heading into the first turn and was in control thereafter, but was all-out to hold off the late run of Dogtag, who simply ran out of real estate.

A one-length winner of the G2 Buena Vista Stakes over the course on Feb. 20, Charmaine's Mia, a 5-year-old mare by top sprinter The Factor, was off as the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10.

Dogtag, trained by Richard Mandella and idle since a fifth Aug. 2 at Del Mar, rallied well and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of consistent Warren's Showtime. Off at 6-1, Dogtag paid $4.80 and $3.20.

California-bred Warren's Showtime put in her customary solid stretch run, but was third best under Juan Hernandez. Off at 5-1, she paid $2.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.59, 46.02, 1:09.86 and 1:21.72.

Post-race quotes:

FLAVIEN PRAT, CHARMAINE'S MIA, WINNER: “For some reason she's really good out there. She always leaves really fast and she relaxed down the backside and responded when it was time to go. I was hoping she would break like she did and take advantage of it otherwise, I would probably sit and get her to relax. She's really brave and she was training really hard. It's great to have family here and fans.

UMBERTO RISPOLI, DOGTAG, SECOND: “She went phenomenal, I mean she was out for a long time to come back in a good race like that, and the winner I think she's a very classy good filly. Flavien broke off and put a good pace on it, and then she give him the kick at the quarter pole. Actually, my plan was to just track him from close, but my filly from way off she break a little bit slower than usual. I got a good trip because I'm just right behind Raymundos Secret and you know, the winner, but at the same time, Flavien has that kick, and that advantage at the top of the stretch took that away from me. Probably if I track him from close, it would probably be a different story, I don't know if I can get him, but definitely I can give him more hard time, as much as I do.”

PHIL D'AMATO, CHARMAINE'S MIA, WINNER: “Flavien got her out beautifully and he rated her perfectly. Once he shot out of there like a rocket, he made her relax and he had enough to hold off Dogtag.” (What's next?) “We are looking at a Grade 1 race here at Santa Anita about five or six weeks down the road.”

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