richard mandella | Horse Racing Free Tips

Del Mar Closes Out Meet On Sunday With Pair Of Graded Races

'TDN Rising Star' and $950,000 Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Sale grad, GSW Prince of Monaco (Speightstown), headlines the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on Sunday, as the Southern California meet closes its gates on another summer racing season.

Aiming for his 17th trophy in this race is Bob Baffert and the Hall of Famer not only has the aforementioned colt, winner last out of the GIII Best Pal S. at Del Mar and who is installed as the morning-line favorite at 2-5, but he also sends Mirahmadi (Into Mischief) to the post.

A $1.05-million Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by the ownership consortium of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert E. Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan, who are also involved with Stonestreet Stables in Prince of Monaco, Mirahmadi will look to rebound from being summarily disqualified and placed fourth after wavering down the stretch against maidens in what was his third start Aug. 26 at Del Mar.

Wearing the same silks as the morning-line favorite, Tim Yakteen trainee Rothschild (Uncle Mo) fetched $700,000 at the same Keeneland sale as his undefeated stablemate. The bay colt flashed early speed when he broke his maiden in his second career race by 5 1/4 lengths at Del Mar Aug. 25.

Also on the graded slate is the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf which features a number of hopefuls. Pin Oak Stud's Boltage (Bolt d'Oro) took to the grass at second asking when the 'TDN Rising Star' earned that honor by 5 1/4 lengths Aug. 24 at Del Mar. The Richard Mandella trainee will face off with Amerman homebred Endlessly (Oscar Performance), who was sharp on debut in Solano Beach July 30 for trainer Mike McCarthy. Flying under the radar is WSS Racing's Osage Creek (Speightster).

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Ready to ‘Geaux’ for Labor Day Weekend

A trio of highly regarded sophomores will take on their elders in a fantastic renewal of Saturday's GI FanDuel Pacific Classic S. at Del Mar, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 5-2 morning-line favorite Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) leads the way for the 3-year-olds after defeating GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) by 1 3/4 lengths in Monmouth Park's GI TVG.com Haskell S. July 22. He will look to follow in the hoofprints of his leading sire Candy Ride, who won the Pacific Classic in 2003.

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella has won the Pacific Classic four times–Beholder (2015), Pleasantly Perfect (2004), Gentlemen (Arg) (1997) and Dare and Go (1996).

“He had us dreaming pretty high and still does,” Mandella said of the Pin Oak Stud colorbearer.

Geaux Rocket Ride has drawn the rail for the second straight race. “Just happy to be there,” Mandella said.

The Bob Baffert-trained 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) was the beaten favorite in the Haskell, finishing third while making his first start since capturing Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S. Jan. 28.

Skinner (Curlin), a strong third in the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8, was forced to sit out the Kentucky Derby with an elevated temperature. He resurfaced with a useful second-place finish in the Los Alamitos Derby July 8.

The field of 11 also includes: 2021 Pacific Classic winner Tripoli (Kitten's Joy); this year's GI Santa Anita H. winner Stilleto Boy (Shackleford); and four runners out of the local prep GII San Diego H.–Senor Buscador (Mineshaft) (1st), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (2nd), Defunded (Dialed In) (4th) and Tripoli (fifth).

“It's an evenly matched, highly competitive field,” Tripoli's trainer John Sadler said. “You can make a case for a lot of different horses, so it should be a good race; nice mix of 3-year-olds and older horses.”

Del Mar's stacked 11-race program also includes: the 'Win and You're In' GII Del Mar H. (Longines Turf) and GIII Green Flash H. (Turf Sprint); the GII Del Mar Mile S., led by the streaking GI Shoemaker Mile S. winner Exaulted (Twirling Candy); and the GIII Torrey Pines S., highlighted by the return of GISW 'TDN Rising Star' Faiza (Girvin).

Jockey Club Gold Cup Day at the Spa…

A field of eight will line up for Saratoga's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S., a 'Win and You're In' for the Classic.

Rattle N Roll (Connect), a winner of three straight graded races earlier this term, was freshened following a second-place finish in the GI Stephen Foster S. July 1. The 9-5 morning-line favorite has posted five straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

Despite a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Stephen Foster, Proxy (Tapit)'s 5-year-old campaign also includes wins in the GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 22 and GIII Monmouth Cup S. July 22 and a close second in the GI Santa Anita H. Mar. 4. The Godolphin homebred has drawn the rail in the 1 1/4-mile feature.

“We knew from early on that he had a lot of talent and that's why we were so ready to give him all the time he needed and let him mature mentally and physically to where he's at now and it's really paying off,” trainer Mike Stidham said.

McKulick (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of Saratoga's GII Glens Falls S. Aug. 3, headlines a field of four entered for the 'Win and You're In' GII Flower Bowl S.

Dazzling Blue (Into Mischief), second behind the ill-fated Maple Leaf Mel (Cross Traffic) in the GIII Victory Ride S. July 8, is the one to beat in the five-deep GII Prioress S.

Saturday's graded stakes action also includes a pair of deep fields for the GIII Big Ass Fans Music City S. and GIII Mint Millions S., both held at Kentucky Downs.

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Friday’s Racing Insights: Miss Temple City’s First To Race Hits The Turf

1st-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, f, 5fT, 6:00 p.m.
PERSIA (War Front), making her juvenile debut for breeder Ramona Bass and her son Perry, is the first offspring to race out of Miss Temple City (Temple City), who posted two of her three career Grade I wins against the boys. Purchased by Steve Young for $2.5 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2017, Miss Temple City is a full-sister to GSW Pricedtoperfection, herself a $775,000 FTKNOV grad. Trained by Richard Mandella, Persia will have the services of Hector Berrios.

Also entered is SF Racing homebred Gerwig (Kitten's Joy), who counts GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Bobby's Kitten and MGSW Camelot Kitten as full-brothers. SF paid $350,000 for dam Celestial Woods (Forestry) in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at FTKNOV in 2018 The chestnut filly will be ridden by Ramon Vasquez for trainer Tim Yakteen. TJCIS PPs

1st-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2fT, 1:10 p.m.
Robert and Lawana Low import Irish Gent (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) heads to the post in Saratoga's lidlifter, who they purchased at the Goffs September Yearling Sale for $479,645 after he sold as weanling for $147,155 at Goffs the previous November. The dark bay is the first to race for dam Indigo Butterfly (Fr) (Le Harve {Ire}), a half-sister to English SW & GSP So Will I (GB) (Inchinor {GB}) and to Group 2 winner Sand Vixen (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), the dam of GIII Saratoga Oaks and G2 Cape Verdi S. heroine With the Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). TJCIS PPs

5th-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:26 p.m.
Tornado Road (Quality Road), a $1.15-million Keeneland September buy last year for BC Stables, debuts for D. Wayne Lukas with Tyler Gafflione in the irons. The dark bay colt's dam has produced two winners from three other foals to race, including GIII Dogwood S. victress and 'TDN Rising Star' Carribean Caper (Speightstown). Tornado Road's extended female family includes Horse of the Year A.P. Indy (Seatlle Slew) and champion older horse Lemon Drop Kid (Kingmambo). TJCIS PPs

6th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 6 1/2, 8:37 p.m.
Back out at Del Mar, another first to the races homebred will be making her debut in Amerman Racing's Smell the Coffee (Arrogate). Produced by GI Longines Just a Game S. heroine Coffee Clique (Medaglia d'Oro), who is a half-sister to MGSW Admission Office (Point of Entry), the David Hofmans trainee will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez. TJCIS PPs

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Saturday Insights: Into Mischief Filly Looks To Swipe Saratoga Debut

6th-SAR, $136.5K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 2:31 p.m.

With some bullet works under her belt at Saratoga (Aug. 23, 3f, :36.00, 1/11), $475,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase SHOP LIFTING (Into Mischief) heads to the post for Team Spoor for her debut. The bay filly's dam GI Personal Ensign S. heroine Miss Shop (Deputy Minister) is a half-sister to the dam of GISW Power Broker (Pulpit) dam and GSW Trappe Shot (Tapit). She also produced GIII Miss Grillo S. winner Tin Type Gal (Tapit). Trained by Tony Dutrow, she will be ridden by Jose Ortiz.

“I don't know what's going to happen–American Pharoah lost the first time–but I have my opinion, and that is, looking at her, you think, 'Wow,'” Dutrow said. “If you told me she was a 5-year-old, I wouldn't even question it. When I see her out there on the racetrack, it's like few can do. I firmly believe that she's a nicer kind and time will tell just how nice.”

Also entered for her bow is Lady de Berry (Practical Joke), who sold to Leigh Bloodstock at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale for $185,000 and then went for $270,000 at the OBS March Sale. The Chad Brown trainee's dam Tortuga Lady (Thunder Gulch) is a full-sister to GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Invisible Ink. She is responsible for SW Princess Arabella (Any Given Saturday), whose own daughter Tapella (Tapit) foaled GII Golden Rod S. hero Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief). TJCIS PPS

4th-DMR, $82K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 6:34 p.m.

Del Mar cards a juvenile race of its own as Sense (Street Sense) is the lone first timer in the two turn field. The Richard Mandella trainee is out of GII La Canada S. winner Spellbound (Bernardini), who counts GIII Dwyer S. victor Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) as a half-brother. Sense is himself a half-brother to GII Santa Anita Oaks champ Soothsay (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPS

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