Tag: santa anita park

Neptune’s Storm Returns From Layoff In Sunday’s American Stakes

With runaway leading rider Flavien Prat engaged, the Richard Baltas-trained Neptune's Storm, idle since Sept. 7, will garner plenty of attention as he heads the Grade 3, $100,000 American Stakes at one mile on turf this Sunday at Santa Anita. For 3-year-olds and up, the American has attracted a wide open field of six.

Hall of Fame conditioner Neil Drysdale, who is winless in 36 starts at the current meet, has a big shot to get off the schneid with Majestic Eagle, who won the 2019 American and will be ridden on Sunday by Mario Gutierrez.

With two wins from his first seven starts when trained by William Morey, Neptune's Storm blossomed in the care of Baltas, winning his first start for him, the ungraded Singletary Stakes at one mile on turf, on April 28, 2019. A winner of the Grade 2 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park eight starts back on Oct. 5, 2019, Neptune's Storm notched his second graded stakes win three races back by taking the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on June 14, 2020.

Subsequently third, beaten one length by classy United in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes July 26, Neptune's Storm went to the sidelines following a fourth place finish in an ungraded one mile turf stakes Sept. 7, 2020 at Kentucky Downs.

A 5-year-old gelding by Stormy Atlantic, Neptune's Storm has a pressing style that has enabled him to avoid trouble and has resulted in a total of 10 finishes in which he has run first, second or third dating back to his win in the 2019 Singletary.

Owned by John Rochfort, Saul Gevertz, Lynn Gitomer, Mike Goetz, Michael Nentwig and Daniel Weiner, Neptune's Storm is 19-6-3-6 and is the leading money earner in the field with $848,085.

Second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths in his first start of the year, the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on turf May 29, Majestic Eagle, who had been idle since Nov. 28, should improve with the race under his belt and a return to a route of ground. A game neck winner of the 2019 American, Majestic Eagle, a 6-year-old gelding by Medaglia d'Oro, is 11-1-4-1 at one mile on turf.

Owned by Rave Green Racing, Majestic Eagle brings an overall mark of 28-3-7-3 and earnings of $340,541.

THE GRADE 3  AMERICAN STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 11 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

  1. Tiz Plus—Trevor McCarthy—122
  2. Restrainedvengence—Tyler Baze—124
  3. Neptune's Storm—Flavien Prat—122
  4. Border Town—Mike Smith—122
  5. Majestic Eagle—Mario Gutierrez—122
  6. Sash—Juan Hernandez—122

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Warren’s Showtime Rates Big Chance In Sunday’s Wilshire

In a race laden with early speed, the Craig Lewis-trained Warren's Showtime rates a huge chance to get up in time going a flat mile on turf in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Wilshire Stakes at Santa Anita. For fillies and mares three and up, the Wilshire has attracted a solid field of eight distaffers, the majority of whom appear to be in top form.

Among the speed contingent, Phil D'Amato's Leggs Galore will try to once again pose an elusive target on the lead, while John Sadler's comebacking Stella's Star is a dedicated deep closer who will get the services of leading rider Flavien Prat.

Owned and bred in California by Ben and Sally Warren, Warren's Showtime is winless in five starts at the current meet, dating back to a close third going a mile on turf in the opening day Lady of Shamrock on Dec. 26. Favored in three out of her five outs, Warren's Showtime ran one of her best races in finishing second, beaten three quarters of a length by Leggs Galore as the 3-5 favorite in the one mile turf Fran's Valentine Stakes on May 9.

With an abundance of speed signed up for the Wilshire, Warren's Showtime could get the assist she needs to turn the tables on Leggs Galore and notch her second graded stakes win. By Clubhouse Ride out of the Grade 1 stakes winning Affirmative mare Warren's Veneda, Warren's Showtime has been a gem of consistency, posting an overall mark of 19-6-2-9, with earnings of $637,431.

A winner of five consecutive turf sprints prior to tasting defeat at 6-5 in the one mile turf Mizdirection Stakes two starts back on April 17, Leggs Galore bounced back with a tremendous effort in the Fran's Valentine as she held a two length advantage virtually throughout en route to posting a career-best 96 Beyer Speed figure as she held Warren's Showtime safe by three quarters of a length.

A 4-year-old California-bred filly by Bayern that is owned by her breeder William Sims, Leggs Galore will no doubt be intent upon replicating her Fran's Valentine score under regular rider Ricky Gonzalez. A three-time stakes winner, Leggs Galore, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Cashing Tickets, has six wins from nine starts and will be facing graded stakes competition for the first time.

Idle since May of 2020, Irish-bred Stela Star closed much ground to be second, beaten a half length by Warren's Showtime in her U.S. debut, the one mile turf China Doll Stakes, two starts back on March 7, 2020. Subsequently off as the 9-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes May 30, 2019, Stela Star was 14 lengths off the lead after the first half mile and flew to be second, beaten a neck by multiple stakes winner Laura's Light.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Inc., Stela Star, a 4-year-old filly, was a Group 3 winner in Ireland and no doubt has a huge future in front of her. With Prat engaged, she may be able to overcome the layoff and improve upon her overall mark of 6-2-2-0.

THE GRADE 3 WILSHIRE STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

  1. Quiet Secretary—Jessica Pyfer—122
  2. Brooke—Umberto Rispoli—122
  3. Gidgetta—Mario Gutierrez—122
  4. Querelle—Trevor McCarthy—122
  5. Warren's Showtime—Juan Hernandez—124
  6. Leggs Galore—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
  7. Stela Star—Flavien Prat—122
  8. Ippodamia's Girl—Joe Bravo—122

The post Warren’s Showtime Rates Big Chance In Sunday’s Wilshire appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Veteran Acclimate Headlines Saturday’s Marathon San Juan Capistrano At Santa Anita

Fresh off a big second at a mile and one quarter on turf, trainer Phil D'Amato's Acclimate heads a field of six going a mile and three quarters on turf in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at Santa Anita. A traditional closing day feature for decades, the iconic San Juan will be run for the 81st time on the penultimate day of Santa Anita's 78-day Winter/Spring Meeting and will feature a traditional hillside turf start.

Also meriting major consideration are fellow California-bred gelding Ward 'n Jerry, a recent winner of a two starter allowance marathons on turf and Red King, a runaway winner of last year's San Juan Capistrano who most recently finished a half length behind the top selection in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes on May 29.

A 7-year-old California-bred gelding by Acclimation, out of the Boundary mare Knows No Bounds, Acclimate opened up by three lengths after the first half mile in the Whittingham and ended up second, beaten a head by the David Hofmans-trained Award Winner, when ridden for the first time by Ricky Gonzalez.

Juan Hernandez, the meet's second leading rider, will take over for the first time on Saturday. Acclimate, who took the 2019 San Juan Capistrano running in gate to wire fashion in combination with the now-departed Martin Garcia will be making his second appearance in the San Juan. Owned by the Ellwood Johnston Family Trust, Timmy Time Racing, LLC and Ken Tevelde, Acclimate was bred in-part by the Johnston family's Old English Rancho. A two-time graded stakes winner he is 24-6-4-4 and has earnings of $497,872.

Head and head for the early lead in last year's San Juan, Ward 'n Jerry ended up third, beaten five lengths by Red King. An 8-year-old gelding by Lucky Pulpit, Ward 'n Jerry appears on edge for trainer Mike Puype, as he rallied for a sharp head victory in a mile and one quarter starter allowance on Feb. 20 and stretched out to a half length score in a mile and one half turf starter allowance March 20.

Owned and bred in California by Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams, Ward 'n Jerry, who is out of the Dehere mare Tamarack Bay, will be ridden for the fourth consecutive time by leading man Flavien Prat and will no doubt take some beating on Saturday. With an overall mark of 27-8-2-4, he has earnings of $468,259.

A 4 ¼ length winner of last year's San Juan and a close third in the 2019 running, Red King, who got the jump on highly accomplished United in taking the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap five starts back on Aug. 22, has plenty of class and the return services of regular rider Umberto Rispoli. A 7-year-old full horse by English Channel, Red King would relish a fast pace as he seeks his second San Juan win in what will be his third appearance.

Owned by Little Red Feather Racing, Gordon Jacobsen and Phillip Belmonte, Red King, who is 32-7-4-9 with earnings of $471,755, is trained by meet-leader Phil D'Amato, who holds a 46-42 edge over Peter Miller with three days remaining.

THE GRADE 3 SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 11 of 11 Approximate post time 6:00 p.m. PT

  1. Lure Him In – Edwin Maldonado – 122
  2. Red King – Umberto Rispoli – 124
  3. Ward 'n Jerry – Flavien Prat – 122
  4. Acclimate – Ricardo Gonzalez – 122
  5. Pillar Mountain – Joe Bravo – 122
  6. Astronaut – Victor Espinoza – 122

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McCarthy To Start Rideforthecause, Go Big Blue Nation In Possibly Perfect Stakes

Go Big Blue Nation and Rideforthecause, two campaigners with similar come-from-behind running styles, will represent trainer Michael McCarthy in Sunday's $75,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at 1 ¼ miles on turf.

Both are coming out of the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes on May 8, where Rideforthecause was beaten a nose by Neige Blanche and Go Big Blue Nation was fourth, 2 ½ lengths behind her stablemate.

“Rideforthecause has a bit of a class edge (on Go Big Blue Nation),” McCarthy allowed, alluding to her last five races being graded events.

“She was unlucky to get beat last time (getting out-bobbed), but they're both training well. They have similar styles but the distance seems to suit both of them.”

Rideforthecause, a five-year-old Candy Ride mare owned by Alpha Beta Delta Stables, was fourth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine last Oct. 18 and won the Grade 2 Canadian at the Toronto track last Sept. 12.

The Possibly Perfect will be only the third stakes start in 16 races for Go Big Blue Nation, a four-year-old daughter of 2011 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom owned by Cannon Thoroughbreds, LLC.

The Possibly Perfect is named for the multiple Grade 1 winner that won 11 of 18 starts with two seconds and four thirds, earning $1,377,634 in the early and mid-1990's, when trained by the late Bobby Frankel.

As to Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner and third-place Grade 1 Belmont Stakes finisher Rombauer, McCarthy said, “He's doing very well. He's in light training right now but we have nothing being considered for his next race.”

The Possibly Perfect will be presented as the ninth race on Sunday's card. The field includes Lady Noguez, Kent Desormeaux, 20-1; Go Big Blue Nation, Flavien Prat, 5-2; Dogtag, Umberto Rispoli, 9-5; Dynapower, Tiago Pereira, 50-1; Neige Blanche, Juan Hernandez, 3-1; Catch the Eye, Abel Cedillo, 15-1; Rideforthecause, Mario Gutierrez, 4-1; and Kuora, Trevor McCarthy, 10-1.

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