Tag: santa anita

United Returns For Title Defense In John Henry Turf Championship

One of the top turf horses in the nation over the past three years, Richard Mandella's United is back to defend his title in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship as he heads a strong field of 13 three-year-olds and up going a mile and one quarter.

Dating back to his win in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes in July of 2020, United has settled into an eight-race pattern in which he's won every other start. With a close fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 21 coming on the heels of a neck victory in the Eddie Read on July 24, Mandella is hoping the win-lose-win pattern holds on Saturday.

Ridden by Flavien Prat in all but two of his 18 starts with Mandella, United will again be partnered with French-born superstar in the John Henry as he readies for a third try in the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.

In an old school move, Mandella had United blow out three furlongs this morning in a bullet 36.40. Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, United is a 6-year-old gelding by Giant's Causeway. With five wins from 11 starts over the Santa Anita lawn, including a head defeat in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf, United is 21-9-4-1 overall with earnings of $1,693,549.

In what will be his fourth start for Peter Miller, Neptune's Storm comes off a close fourth place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile and although he's in good form, he'll be trying a mile and one quarter for the first time. Second, beaten a half length as the 4-5 favorite in the Grade III American Stakes at one mile on turf three races back on June 20, this 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding took the one mile turf restricted Wickerr in gate to wire fashion two starts back on July 18.

Owned by CYBT, Saul Gervertz, Lynn Goetz, Michael Nentwig and David Weiner, Neptune's Storm is a two-time graded stakes winner with earnings of $936,485 from an overall mark of 22-7-4-6.

In his first start for trainer Michael McCarthy, Chilean-bred Master Piece rallied from far off the pace to finish second, beaten a half length in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf and would benefit greatly from some fast early fractions on Saturday.

Front-running California-bred Acclimate tired late to finish a close third in the Del Mar Handicap, his lone start since winning the marathon Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at a mile and three quarters on turf here June 19. Trained by Phil D'Amato, this 7-year-old gelding by Acclamation, who was a close second in the 2019 John Henry, appears at the top of his game and could pose an elusive target with Ricky Gonzalez back aboard.

THE GRADE 2 JOHN HENRY WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 11 of 11 Approximate post time 5:30 p.m. PT

  1. Award Winner—Kyle Frey—126
  2. Camino Del Paraiso—Abel Cedillo—124
  3. Neptune's Storm—Florent Geroux—124
  4. United—Flavien Prat—126
  5. Ready Soul—John Velazquez–122
  6. Acclimate—Ricky Gonzalez—124
  7. Master Piece—Drayden Van Dyke—122
  8. Count of Amazonia—Victor Espinoza—122
  9. Media Blitz—Juan Hernandez—122
  10. Red King—Joe Bravo—122
  11. Cupid's Claws—Mike Smith—122
  12. Friar's Road—Umberto Rispoli—122
  13. K P All Systems Go—Tyler Baze–122

The John Henry is one of five stakes on Saturday's 11-race card with post time at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

 

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Dr. Schivel Chasing Fifth Straight Victory In Santa Anita Sprint Championship

Unbeaten in three tries at six furlongs and in search of his fifth consecutive win, trainer Mark Glatt's Dr. Schivel heads a solid field of six 3-year-olds and up in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

With defending champ C Z Rocket and sharp horses such as Flagstaff, Eight Rings, Vertical Threat and Colt Fiction all rating big chances, the Santa Anita Sprint Championship figures to provide players with ample value.

A game neck winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes going six furlongs at Del Mar July 31, Dr. Schivel, a 3-year-old colt by Violence, has defeated older horses in his last two starts, including a second condition allowance two starts back on June 18 at Santa Anita. A winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in his final start at age two, Dr. Schivel, who is owned by Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, seeks his third career Grade 1 victory and rates top billing.

In what will be his third start of the year, Dr. Schivel, who has won four out of six career starts, was trained through his 2-year-old campaign by Luis Mendez.

Glatt will also send out top sprinter Collusion Illusion, a Grade 1 winner at age three who was in need of his most recent start in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf Aug. 22. Idle since a close third to top colt Charlatan in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes here Dec. 26, Collusion Illusion was never a factor in the Green Flash but he figures to run much better on Saturday. Owned by Dan Agnew, Jerry Schneider, Rodney Orr and MyRacehorse, this 4-year-old Twirling Candy colt gets a nice outside draw and he'll be ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez.

The leading money earner in the field with more than $1.4 million, Peter Miller's C Z Rocket, who finished second in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien Stakes Aug. 28 and a close third in the Grade 1 Crosby July 31, was favored in both races and is without a doubt regarded as one of the nation's top sprinters.

Following his win in last year's Sprint Championship, C Z Rocket went on to finish second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7. With a 5-2-2-1 mark this year, it would appear this 7-year-old City Zip gelding is still at the top of his game as he points to another Breeders' Cup appearance on Nov. 6.

Owned by Tom Kagele, Altimira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables, LLC and Gary Barber, C Z Rocket, who was claimed for $40,000 at Oaklawn Park 12 starts back on April 30, 2020, has an overall mark of 28-11-4-3 as he seeks his first Grade 1 win.

A close third in Del Mar's Pat O'Brien Stakes, John Sadler's reliable Flagstaff, who was second, beaten a head by C Z Rocket in last year's Santa Anita Sprint Championship, has run extremely well in six starts this year, including a win three starts back going seven furlongs in the Grade I Churchill Downs on May 1. Owned by Lane's End Racing and Hronis Racing, LLC, Flagstaff, a 7-year-old gelding by Eclipse Champion Sprinter Speightstown, is 21-7-6-4 overall with earnings of $1,035,585.

Winless in six starts since taking the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes here in September, 2019, Bob Baffert's Eight Rings will be making his fourth start of the year on Saturday. Second, beaten a neck by Dr. Schivel two starts back in the Grade 1 Crosby, he finished a decent fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths, in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien on Aug. 28. Owned by Coolmore Stud, Madaket Stables, LLC, Starlight Racing, et al, this 4-year-old Empire Maker colt will hope to step forward on Saturday.

THE GRADE 2 SANTA ANITA SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST ORDER

Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

  1. Dr. Schivel—Flavien Prat—122
  2. Vertical Threat—Abel Cedillo—122
  3. Colt Fiction—Geovanni Franco—122
  4. C Z Rocket—Florent Geroux–124
  5. Flagstaff—Joe Bravo—126
  6. Collusion Illusion—Juan Hernandez–122

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is one of five stakes on an 11-race program Saturday, with special early first post time at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Going To Vegas Will Try To Maintain Her Momentum In Rodeo Drive

Fresh off the biggest win of her career and in search of her third consecutive victory, the Richard Baltas-trained Going to Vegas heads an evenly matched field of nine fillies and mares three and up going a mile and one quarter on turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the Rodeo Drive winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.

A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Goldencents, Going to Vegas comes off a rousing 2 ¼ length win going a mile and one eighth on turf in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar Sept. 4, a race in which she pressed the early pace and kicked clear through the lane as the 9-5 favorite.

Owned by Abbondanza Racing, LLC, Medallion Racing and MyRacehorse, Going to Vegas has a win and a second place finish from two tries at a mile and one quarter. Claimed for $50,000 12 starts back on June 12, 2020, she's banked $242,400 this year from five starts and has overall earnings of $454,151. With an overall mark of 21-6-8-2, she'll be seeking her first Grade 1 victory.

Second in her last four starts, including the John C. Mabee on Sept. 4, LNJ Foxwoods' homebred Dogtag has two wins and three third place finishes from five starts over the Santa Anita lawn and she has a win and a second from two tries at the Rodeo Drive distance. A 5-year-old mare by War Front, she's trained by Richard Mandella and will be ridden by Joe Bravo.

LNJ Foxwoods will have another homebred, Luck, in the Rodeo Drive lineup fresh off a most impressive U.S. debut going a mile and one sixteenth on turf in a first condition allowance Aug. 7 at Del Mar. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Kitten's Joy, Luck won two out of her four starts in France before joining the barn of Richard Baltas this past summer. Ridden to victory by Umberto Rispoli at Del Mar, she'll be handled by Flavien Prat on Saturday and she has the look of a filly very much on the improve.

Trainer Leonard Powell's 4-year-old French-bred Neige Blanche, a winner of the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes here three races back, comes off an ungraded stakes win going a mile and three eighths on turf at Del Mar Aug. 14 and would be well served by a fast early pace. Owned by Madaket Stables, LLC, Marsha Naify, et al, she'll be ridden back by Juan Hernandez.

THE GRADE 1 RODEO DRIVE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

  1. Dogtag—Joe Bravo—122
  2. Fast Jet Court—Drayden Van Dyke–124
  3. Neige Blanche—Juan Hernandez—124
  4. Going to Vegas—Umberto Rispoli—124
  5. Rideforthecause—Mario Gutierrez—122
  6. Crystalle—Abel Cedillo—122
  7. Magic Attitude—John Velazquez—124
  8. Luck—Flavien Prat—122
  9. Red Lark—Mike Smith–122

The Rodeo Drive is one of five stakes on an 11-race card Saturday with first post time at 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Going To Vegas Will Try To Maintain Her Momentum In Rodeo Drive appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Hurricane Ida Behind Him, Eddie D At Santa Anita In Spirit For Stakes In His Honor

Eddie Delahoussaye turned 70 on Sept. 21.

Time flies.

Seems like yesterday the Hall of Fame member and Louisiana native was roaring down the stretch at Santa Anita to capture another thrilling victory in a photo finish, or winning the Kentucky Derby back-to-back, on Gato Del Sol in 1982 and Sunny's Halo in 1983.

Delahoussaye is one of only seven jockeys to register consecutive triumphs in 147 editions of the Run for the Roses, the others being Isaac Murphy, Jimmy Winkfield, Ron Turcotte, Calvin Borel, Victor Espinoza and John Velazquez.

Arguably one of the most popular jockeys ever to ride at Santa Anita, Eddie D as he is known among racing aficionados, has been honored at The Great Place by having one of Friday's stakes races named for him.

The $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, for three-year-olds and up, marks a return to Santa Anita's unique hillside turf course at about 6 ½ furlongs, that venue having not been used since March 2019.

The Eddie D is one of four opening day stakes, three of them graded, including the Grade 1 American Pharoah for 2-year-olds at a mile and 1 1/16 miles and the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes for two-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Although not graded, for good measure there's the $100,000 Speakeasy Stakes for two-year-olds at five furlongs on turf.

The latter three are Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” Challenge events giving the winner a fees-paid berth in their respective Breeders' Cup races Nov. 5 and 6 at Del Mar.

Due to Covid 19 both last year and this, and Hurricane Ida, a deadly and destructive Category 4 hurricane that ravaged Louisiana a month ago, Delahoussaye will miss being on hand to present a trophy to the winning connections of the Eddie D for the second year in a row.

But he and his family, wife Juanita, sister Rose Anne and daughter Mandy, who has special needs, escaped serious harm from the second-most damaging and intense hurricane ever to strike Louisiana.

“We got lucky,” Delahoussaye said by phone from his home in Lafayette. “People on both sides of us got hit the worst. We were right in the middle and had winds and rain, but nothing serious. Baton Rouge and most of the coast lines really got blasted.”

Meanwhile, Juanita and Mandy, now 46, are recovering from ailments unrelated to Ida, but otherwise, “Everything's OK. We're just getting older.

“I'm doing all right but Mandy's been sick for over a year,” said Delahoussaye, a Hall of Fame member since 1993 who retired early in 2003 with 6,384 victories after suffering head and neck injuries in a spill at Del Mar on Aug. 30, 2002. “She's still not 100 percent so we've been going through a lot with her, and Juanita had a rotator cuff operation six weeks ago, but she's getting better. I'm lucky my sister and I are healthy to help out.”

Eddie is still “fiddling around” with more than a visceral involvement in the bloodstock business and is a relatively new member of the Louisiana Racing Commission.

“A partner and I have a mare and Juanita and I have another mare, with some babies coming in,” Delahoussaye said. “One's in training right now and another we're putting in a two-year-old in training sale. I've been on the racing commission for about a year, so it all keeps me busy.”

Eddie still maintains contact with his Hall of Fame peers periodically as well.

“I talk with Chris (McCarron) once in a while, and I spoke with Alex (Solis) a couple months ago,” Eddie said. “He was in Florida with Jose Velez, so we got to chattin'.

“I talk to Pat Day once in a while but I haven't talked with Laffit (Pincay Jr.) lately. Usually, I do that once a year, but since the pandemic, I haven't talked to him at all the last two years.”

As to racing's future, what with members of the medical field, politicians and lawyers seemingly in the news as much if not more than the horses, Delahoussaye maintains a wait-and-see attitude.

“The way things are right now, with bad tests and so forth, that needs to be cleaned up,” he said with a hint of acuity. “They should reconsider the use of therapeutic medication being measured in picograms and nanograms which are so small it's almost out of a horse's system. Either we do with it or we do without it.

“If you do without it completely, we won't have racing, because let's face it: football players, baseball players, they all use therapeutic medicine. As long as it's not a stimulant to enhance performance and it's just to help them do what comes naturally, it should be used.

“Get rid of the clenbuterol that enhances their performance. Lasix is a diuretic and is not an enhancer, yet they want to do away with that.

“There are a lot of smart people out there and a lot of science. They can put their heads together and do it right.”

The Eddie D, race seven: Gregorian Chant, Juan Hernandez, 4-1; Caribou Club, Drayden Van Dyke, 6-1; Mesut, Umberto Rispoli, 12-1; Charmaine's Mia, Flavien Prat, 10-1; Law Abidin Citizen, Abel Cedillo, 5-1; Chaos Theory, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1; Lieutenant Dan, Geovanni Franco, 7-2; Whisper Not, John Velazquez, 6-1; and Snapper Sinclair, Joel Rosario, 4-1.

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