santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes

A lights-out winner of his last two starts, Jungle Racing LLC's homebred Straight Up G appears a standout versus five sophomores going 1 1/16 miles in Saturday's $200,000 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

One of five California Cup Day races on a 10-race program, the Cal Cup Derby will be center stage as Straight Up G and his rivals attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Art Sherman-trained California Chrome, who used the 2014 Cal Cup Derby as a springboard to glory in the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies as well as the 2014 Preakness Stakes.

Like California Chrome, the Richard Baltas-trained Straight Up G, a bay colt by red hot sire Straight Fire, out of the Sky Mesa mare Gidget Girl, comes off a big win versus statebreds in the one mile King Glorious Stakes run at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12.

Owned and bred by sports talk icon Jim Rome and his wife Janet's Jungle Racing, Straight Up G debuted as an even money favorite going 5 ½ furlongs here on Oct. 9, but finished a disappointing fourth. Subsequently off at 4-5 in a six furlong maiden special versus Cal-breds on Nov. 21 at Del Mar, he aired by 5 ¼ lengths, earning a lofty 80 Beyer Speed Figure.

Off at 2-1 in the King Glorious, he led throughout in a thoroughly dominant performance, winning by 3 ½ lengths over Finneus, who he will again face on Saturday while earning a 75 Beyer.

With Ricky Gonzalez back to ride for a third consecutive time, Straight Up G appears headed for the deep waters of the Kentucky Derby Trail should he replicate his performance in the King Glorious on Saturday.

A gutty half length winner of the seven furlong Golden State Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 5, Finneus, a California-bred colt by Stay Thirsty, was off as the 9-5 favorite in the King Glorious, but he could never threaten Straight Up G, finishing second by 3 ½ lengths. Well beaten three starts back in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes here on Oct. 1, Finneus, who will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez, will be trying two turns for the third time. Devoid of early speed, his chances would be enhanced should there be a fast pace.

Bred by Terry Lovinger, trained by Walther Solis and owned by Lovingier, Mohammed Naseer Fasihuddin and Amanda Navarro, Finneus, who is out of the Ghostzapper mare My Fiona, is the leading money earner in the field with $266,366 from an overall mark of 7-2-3-1.

A sharp two length allowance winner going 5 ½ furlongs on synthetic Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields Dec. 31, the O. J. Jauregui-trained Highland Ghost will face statebred company and go two turns for the second time in what will be his eighth career start. Quick from the blocks, this chestnut colt by 2017 Santa Anita Handicap winner Shaman Ghost could prove bothersome early to Straight Up G.

With a solid last-out Beyer of 74 to his credit, Highland Ghost is owned by his breeder, Highland Yard, LLC and is 7-2-2-1 overall with earnings of $69,506.

THE $200,000 CAL CUP DERBY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 3 of 10 Approximate post time 1 p.m. PT

Highland Ghost—Flavien Prat—124
Sippin N Kissin—Abel Cedillo—124
Fast Draw Munnings—Drayden Van Dyke–124
Finneus—John Velazquez—124
Straight Up G—Ricardo Gonzalez—124
Agador Spartacus—Tyler Baze–124

First post time for a 10-race card, which will include a total of five California-bred or sired stakes on California Cup Day, Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m.

The post Rome Homebred Straight Up G Towers Over California Cup Derby Foes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Santa Anita Kicks Off Friday’s Stronach 5 Wager

Turf races from Santa Anita Park and Gulfstream Park, two competitive maiden events, and a low 12-percent takeout highlight Friday's Stronach 5.

The popular wager will feature races from Santa Anita, Gulfstream, and Golden Gate Fields.

The sequence starts off at 4:33 ET with Santa Anita's third race, a $75,000 maiden event for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs. The nine-horse field includes first-time starters from trainers John Sadler, Michael McCarthy and George Papaprodromou. Loma Vista makes her second start for trainer Philip D'Amato after a sixth-place finish on the turf against maiden special weight company in October.

The second leg of the sequence shifts to Gulfstream and the ninth race, an allowance optional claiming event at 5 ½ furlongs for fillies and mares. American of Course enters off a third-place finish against similar after a four-month layoff for trainer Kathleen O'Connell. Rakasa goes out first off a claim for trainer Aubrey Maragh who is 25-percent off a claim. Domineer also goes out first off a claim for trainer Jose D'Angelo, who is 31-percent off a claim.

Golden Gate's third race is next, a maiden event for fillies and mares at six furlongs with a field of nine going to post. Leading trainer Jonathan Wong sends out Feel This Moment, fifth in her debut Dec. 11. Here Comes Ralphie takes a drop in class for trainer Steve Sherman. The filly makes her first start since March and comes into the race off a 'bullet' work. Lady Skywalker gets blinkers on, Sugar Plum has blinkers off.

It's back to Santa Anita for Race 4, a 1 /8-mile turf event for $50,000 maiden claiming 4-year-olds and up. Nothngoodcomseasy goes out for trainer Doug O'Neill. The son of Medaglia d'Oro lacked room when finishing fifth by three lengths on the turf Nov. 7. Street Ruckus gets back on the turf where he finished fourth, beaten two lengths, in October. Vladimir Cerin trains. Hulk, 0-for-3 on the turf, gets John Velazquez in the saddle for trainer Jeff Mullins. World Cruiser goes out for trainer Eddie Truman after a second-place finish on the turf in November at Del Mar.

The Stronach 5 will conclude with Gulfstream's 10th race, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for 4-year-olds and up with a $35,000 claiming tag. The field of nine includes Alley Oop Johnny, who goes out first off the claim for trainer Mike Maker after a fourth-place finish on the turf Dec. 2 at Aqueduct. Stakes winner Archer Road goes second time out after a two-year layoff. Leading trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. sends out Hail to the Chief, third in his last two starts by less than two lengths against similar company. Stirling Drive will go out first time off the claim for trainer Dany Gargan after a third-place finish in November at Del Mar.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Santa Anita Race 3: (9 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:33 ET, 1:33 PT
Leg Two –Gulfstream Race 9: (9 entries, 5 ½ furlongs) 4:42 ET, 1:32 PT
Leg Three –Golden Gate Race 3: (9 entries, 6 furlongs) 4:59 ET, 1:59 PT
Leg Four – Santa Anita Race 4: (8 entries, 1 1/8-mile turf) 5:04 ET, 2:04 PT
Leg Five –Gulfstream Race 10: (9 entries, 1 1/16-mile turf) 5:14 ET, 2:14 PT

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

The post Santa Anita Kicks Off Friday’s Stronach 5 Wager appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: Jan. 3-10

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public and where.

California
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/07/2022
Licensee: Andreas Psarras, trainer
Penalty: $500
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Andreas Psarras, who started the horse House of Targaryen, who finished fifth in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park Oct. 10, 2021, is fined $500.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Board rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations–Expires 01/07/23) pursuant to rule #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of rule #1843(a)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances), and rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substance–Methocarbamol 4.7 NG/ML [Class 4]).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/08/2022
Licensee: Keith Desormeaux, trainer
Penalty: $400
Violation: Late registration of Lasix
Explainer: Trainer Keith Desormeaux is fined $400.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1845 (Authorized Bleeder Medication–late registration) of Miss Everything in the eighth race Jan. 7, 2022, at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/08/2022
Licensee: Abel Cedillo, jockey
Penalty: $500
Violation: Excessive riding crop use
Explainer: Jockey Abel Cedillo is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1688(b)(7) (Use of Riding Crop–more than two times in succession during a race–first offense in the last 60 days) during the third race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 7, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/09/2022
Licensee: John Velazquez, jockey
Penalty: $500
Violation: Use of riding crop in post parade
Explainer: Jockey John Velazquez is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1688(b)(3) (Use of Riding Crop–during post parade–first offense in the last 60 days) while warming up for the first race Jan. 7, 2022–at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/09/2022
Licensee: Tyler Baze, jockey
Penalty: $1,000
Violation: Excessive riding crop use
Explainer: Jockey Tyler Baze is fined $1,000.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times–third offense within the past 60 days) during the second race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 8, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 01/09/2022
Licensee: Mario Gutierrez, jockey
Penalty: $750
Violation: Excessive riding crop use
Explainer: Jockey Mario Gutierrez is fined $750.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times–second offense within the past 60 days) during the eighth race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 8, 2022.

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Two In A Row: Red-Hot Flavien Prat Again Voted Jockey Of The Week

For the second week in a row, Flavien Prat earned the title of Jockey of the Week with 10 wins including two graded stakes victories. The honor, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

It is almost becoming the norm that has Flavien Prat winning races in double digits for the week. He began the racing week at Santa Anita on Friday, winning claiming races for trainers Jeff Mullins and Richard Mandella, plus an Allowance Optional Claiming race for Michael McCarthy.

On Saturday with mounts in six races, Prat won the third race, a claiming contest, for trainer Phil D'Amato. Trainer Bob Baffert then gave a leg up to Prat on Under the Stars in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez for 3-year-old fillies. Off as the favorite in the field of six and breaking from the rail, Under the Stars took pressure from her rivals but started to take control on the far turn to post an impressive 3/4-length win for the seven furlongs in 1:22.51.

“I thought it was a good run,” Prat said. “There was pressure all the way around. The one hole was not the best place, but she overcame that.”

Prat also won the last race on the card, a Maiden Special Weight for trainer Simon Callaghan.

On Sunday's nine race card, Prat won Maiden Special Weight races one and three for trainer Phil D'Amato.

He was next aboard Zero Tolerance for trainer Ruben Alvarado in the G3 Las Cienegas for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up. Breaking from the far outside in the field of seven, Zero Tolerance followed the favorite Hear My Prayer. Gaining the advantage at the top of the stretch, Zero Tolerance held off a late challenge from Tapwater and Joe Bravo to win by a head in 1:13.26 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the downhill turf course.

“She can be a little on her toes sometimes, but she was relaxing well today and when it was time to make a move, she responded well,” said Prat who was riding the 4-year-old for the fourth time.

With the win, Prat collected his sixth stakes of the young meet. Prat followed the stakes win with a victory in the 8th race, a Starter Allowance, for trainer Leonard Powell.

Prat's weekly statistics were 17-10-2-0 for total purse earnings of $470,320. Prat was leading jockey for the week in total and stakes purse earnings. He is currently the leading rider at Santa Anita with 21 wins.

Prat outpolled jockeys Kendrick Carmouche who also won 10 races for the week, Javier Castellano who won a stakes race at Aqueduct, Dylan Davis also with a stakes win at Aqueduct and Alfredo Juarez, Jr. who won a stakes race at Sunland Park.

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