santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Baffert-Trained Kalypso Headlines Sunday’s Oaks Prep At Santa Anita Park

Bob Baffert's well accomplished Kalypso heads a field of five sophomore fillies going a mile and one sixteenth in Sunday's Grade 3, $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita. Baffert will also be represented by Baoma Corporation's Beautiful Gift as well as Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Heels Up in a race that Baffert has won a record five times.

With 50 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to be awarded to the winner, the Santa Ynez takes on added significance as America's biggest race for 3-year-old fillies looms on April 30 at Churchill Downs. Saturday's second, third and fourth place finishers will receive 20, 15 and five points respectively.

Third, beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Kalypso in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes here on Feb. 6, trainer Michael McCarthy's Moraz will likely go as the second choice in the Santa Ysabel, which will be her fourth career start. A recent mile and one sixteenth maiden winner at Golden Gate Fields, McCarthy's A Real Hero will be a longshot with Flavien Prat aboard.

Owned by David Bernsen, LLC and Rockingham Ranch, Kalyspo, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Brody's Cause, out of the Malibu Moon mare Malibu Cove, broke her maiden going six furlongs four starts back in the ungraded Anoakia Stakes on Oct. 18 and then showed the way prior to running second, beaten 1 ½ lengths going 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 5.

Off at 4-5 in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes going seven furlongs on Jan. 3, Kalypso pressed the pace and prevailed by 1 ¾ lengths. Subsequently second as the even money favorite going one mile in the Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 6, she was no match for Richard Mandella's Moonlight d'Oro, who rallied powerfully through the lane to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.

Although second twice at two turns, Kalypso, who will be making her seventh start, retains the services of Joel Rosario and is strictly the horse to beat on Sunday.

Owned by her breeder, Don Alberto Corporation, Moraz, who was a dazzling 11 length maiden winner going a flat mile two starts back on Jan. 8, kept to her task in the Las Virgenes when beaten 1 ¾ lengths by the top selection and her connections are hoping she has enough upside to turn the tables.

By Empire Maker out of the A.P. Indy mare Malvinia, Moraz will be making her fourth start and be handled by regular rider Umberto Rispoli.

Bet down to 3-5 as she stretched out to a flat mile in her second start on Oct. 23, Baoma Corporation's homebred Beautiful Gift stalked the early pace and rallied gamely for a half length win. By Medaglia d'Oro out of the A.P. Indy mare Sea Gift, Beautiful Gift also appears to have ample upside and will be ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.

Baffert's Heels Up, who has been idle since running third in the 6 ½ furlongs Dezi Arnaz Stakes Nov. 14 at Del Mar, will be stretching out for the first time in what will be her fourth start. Owned by Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, Heels Up, a daughter of Twirling Candy out of the Tale of the Cat mare Tale Untold, will likely be forwardly placed under Drayden Van Dyke, who will be aboard for the first time.

THE GRADE 3 SANTA YSABEL WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 9 Approximate post time 2 p.m. PT

A Real Hero—Flavien Prat—120
Beautiful Gift—John Velazquez—120
Heels Up—Drayden Van Dyke—120
Kalypso—Joel Rosario—120
Moraz—Umberto Rispoli—120

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

The post Baffert-Trained Kalypso Headlines Sunday’s Oaks Prep At Santa Anita Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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TVG’s Weekend Coverage Features Coast-To-Cost Kentucky Derby Preps

Kentucky Derby points will be on the line Saturday as some of California's top three-year-old prospects go to post in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) from Santa Anita and TVG will have live coverage of the Kentucky Derby prep race as well as the $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), one of the premier races for older horses.

Todd Schrupp, Christina Blacker and Britney Eurton will be anchoring the coverage from California with expert analysis and interviews while Mike Joyce and Simon Bray will contribute to the broadcast from home. The featured $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap (G1) has drawn a field of eight of the top older horses in the country including the undefeated Maxfield who will put his five-win streak on the line for trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Florent Geroux.

Kentucky Derby points will be available the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2) which will offer 50-20-10-5 qualifying points to the top four finishers. Trainer Bob Baffert will saddle two of the seven contenders including Life is Good, a bay son of Into Mischief who notched his first stakes victory with a win in the Sham Stakes (G3) in January. Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith will be aboard.

The road to the Kentucky Derby will continue through Florida and TVG's Gabby Gaudet will be reporting live from Tampa Bay Downs as the track holds its marquee event – the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), the centerpiece of the twelve-race card. Trainer Bill Mott will send out Candy Man Rocket, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) to square off against eleven rivals in the Kentucky Derby prep race, which offers 50-20-10-5 qualifying points to the top four finishers. The card will also feature four other stakes races, three of which are graded including the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) for sophomore fillies.

Gulfstream Park has twelve races on the schedule for Saturday and TVG's Caleb Keller will be trackside with insight and analysis throughout the card which features three stakes races including the $75,000 Hutcheson Stakes, a six-furlong contest that has an esteemed list of winners including Holy Bull and More Than Ready.

Aqueduct will host the $300,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) on Saturday as the featured race on the ten-race card. The race has drawn a field of eight Triple Crown hopefuls including Freedom Fighter who has shipped to the East Coast for trainer Bob Baffert after a runner-up effort in the San Vicente Stakes (G2). Manuel Franco will be aboard the son of Violence. The Gotham Stakes (G3) will offer 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top four finishers.

In addition to racing from Santa Anita, Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park, TVG will be featuring racing from Fair Grounds, Oaklawn and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

The post TVG’s Weekend Coverage Features Coast-To-Cost Kentucky Derby Preps appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Variables Make Santa Anita’s San Carlos Intriguing Handicapping Challenge

Jay Em Ess Stable's graded stakes winning Extra Hope will cut back in distance off of five consecutive routes as he heads a field of nine older horses going seven furlongs in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

Recent seven-furlong allowance winner Exaulted steps into stakes company for the first time, 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court tries a new game, recent California-bred stakes winner Brickyard Ride, lightly raced Tigre Di Slugo and reformed claimer Loud Mouth all rate good chances in a race devoid of a dominant favorite.

An impressive gate to wire winner of the G3 Native Diver Stakes going a mile and one eighth two starts back on Nov. 21, Extra Hope, who is trained by Richard Mandella, never threatened while sixth in the G2 San Antonio at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 26 and will be sprinting for the first time since running a close third to highly rated sprinter Flagstaff in the ungraded seven furlong Damascus Stakes on Nov. 2, 2019.

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Samantha Siegel, Extra Hope is a striking 5-year-old horse by Shanghai Bobby out of the Tiznow mare Lotsandlotsofhope. A respectable fourth in his only other try at seven furlongs, the G3 Bob Hope Stakes in November, 2018, Extra Hope will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who has guided him to a pair of victories in his last three starts.

A sharp 2 ¼ length allowance winner on Feb. 12, C R K Stable's Exaulted has the look of a “now” horse and looms dangerous with Mike Smith back aboard for trainer Peter Eurton, who will also be represented by Storm the Court. Second to Derby A-Lister Nadal in his 6 ½ furlong debut four starts back on Jan. 19, 2020, Exaulted appears ready to show his best in what will be his initial stakes assignment.

Winless in nine starts since taking the 2019 Breeder's Cup Juvenile at odds of 45-1, Storm the Court showed the way early in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream and gave a good account of himself while finishing seventh, beaten just 3 ½ lengths at 1 3/16 miles. Although winless since Nov. 1, 2019, Storm the Court ran a huge second, beaten three quarters of a length two starts back under John Velazquez in the G2 Mathis Brothers Mile (turf) on Dec. 26 and seems a solid fit running out of his own stall again with Velazquez back aboard.

Owned by Exline-Border Racing, LLC, David Bernsen, LLC, Susanna Wilson and Dan Hudock, Storm the Court, a 4-year-old colt by Court Vision, has trained in impressive fashion for Eurton as he cuts back in distance. With a pair of bullet works to his credit since the Pegasus, his most recent drill was a solid half mile in 47.60, best of 84 at the distance, this past Sunday.

Owned and bred in California by Alfred Pais and trained by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride, fresh off a 3 ¼ length smasher in the Cal Cup Sprint going six furlongs on Jan. 16, is at the top of his game and could prove an elusive target on the lead with apprentice Alexis Centeno back aboard. Although it was against statebreds, Brickyard Ride, a 4-year-old colt by red-hot sire Clubhouse Ride, earned a lofty 99 Beyer Speed figure in the Cal Cup Sprint and is a razor-sharp horse ready for his first graded stakes assignment.

A winner of three out of his last four starts, two of those in open company, Brickyard Ride will be ridden for the fifth consecutive time by Centeno as he stretches out to seven furlongs for the first time. Out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, he's 12-6-0-2 overall with earnings of $260,277.

A winner of three of his six lifetime starts, all sprinting, Tigre Di Slugo comes off a troubled second place finish as the 2-1 favorite in the six furlong Cal Cup Sprint, but retains the services of Joel Rosario, who guided this lightly raced 6-year-old California-bred gelding to a sharp six furlong allowance score versus open company two starts back on Nov. 27. Owned by Slugo Racing, Tiger Racing, Inc. and his trainer, Mike Puype, Tigre Di Slugo rates a huge chance in his first graded stakes assignment.

Trained by Steve Knapp, the venerable California-bred Loud Mouth has won three out of his last four starts, most recently a game head victory in a second condition allowance at six furlongs here on Jan. 30, earning a career-best 93 Beyer Speed figure. A 5-year-old California-bred horse by Boisterous, Loud Mouth took the statebred Cary Grant Stakes three starts back in his only start at seven furlongs on Nov. 22 at Del Mar. Owned by Thomsen Racing, LLC, Loud Mouth was claimed 16 starts back for $40,000 on July 20, 2019 and is 24-7-0-2 with earnings of $306,110.

GRADE II SAN CARLOS STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 11 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT

Storm the Court—John Velazquez—120
Extra Hope—Juan Hernandez—122
Major Cabbie—Flavien Prat—120
Manhattan Up—Tiago Pereira—120
Strongconstitution—Florent Geroux—120
Brickyard Ride—Alexis Centeno—120
Loud Mouth—Abel Cedillo—120
Tigre Di Slugo—Joel Rosario—120

First post time for an 11-race card that will include three other graded stakes, is at 12 noon. All of Santa Anita's races are offered free of charge at santaanita.com/live and fans can wager at 1^st.com/bet. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Smooth Like Strait Tops Competitive Group In Frank Kilroe Mile

In what may be the best betting race of the day, trainer Michael McCarthy's Smooth Like Strait heads a deep and competitive field of 10 older horses in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) at Santa Anita.

A winner of the opening day Mathis Brothers Mile on Dec. 26, Cannon Thoroughbreds' homebred Smooth Like Strait is a head away from three consecutive graded stakes wins and merits top billing in a close call over recent lights-out Grade 3 winner Hit the Road.

With a strong local contingent in place, the Kilroe has also attracted five quality eastern shippers, headed by Chad Brown's Flavius, Todd Pletcher's Social Paranoia and Mark Casse's Ride a Comet.

Forwardly placed in nearly all of his races, Smooth Like Strait pressed the early pace set by Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court in the Mathis Brothers Mile and went on to a solid three quarter length win at odds of 4-5. With Umberto Rispoli at the controls, Smooth Like Strait won three graded stakes last year, dating back to the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap five starts back on Aug. 9.

A gem of consistency, this 4-year-old colt by Midnight Lute out of the Flower Alley mare Smooth as Usual, has been favored in seven out of his last eight starts, including a narrow defeat two starts back in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 28 at Del Mar. With three wins and a second from five tries at one mile on turf, Smooth Like Strait is 12-6-2-1 overall with earnings of $577,823.

Idle since winning the restricted one mile turf Oceanside Stakes July 10, trainer Dan Blacker's Hit the Road unfurled a tremendous stretch run to take the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes over the course by 3 ¾ lengths and left little doubt he has tremendous upside. With a career-best 99 Beyer Speed figure in hand, Hit the Road, a 4-year-old colt by More Than Ready, seeks his fourth consecutive win on Saturday.

Owned by D K Racing, LLC, Radley Equine, Inc., Taste of Victory Stables, Rick Gold and Dave Odmark, Hit the Road, who had been ridden in his last three starts by Rispoli, will get the first time services of Florent Geroux, as Rispoli, in a very tough call for him and his agent Scotty McClellan, sticks with Smooth Like Strait. With five wins from seven starts at one mile on turf, Hit the Road is five for eight overall with earnings of $254,751.

Second, beaten three quarters of a length at 5-2 in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar Nov. 28, Juddmonte Farms' homebred Flavius would be flattered by a fast Kilroe pace with Flavien Prat aboard for the first time. Two for three in Ireland, this 6-year-old full horse by War Front has one win from six stateside starts, which came in a one mile turf ungraded stakes three starts back at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7.

Fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths at 9-1 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at 1 3/16 miles Jan. 23, millionaire Social Paranoia, who will be ridden for the first time by Abel Cedillo, is unbeaten in three tries at one mile on turf and rates an upset chance as he makes his second Grade 1 appearance at age five.

A winner of his last four starts, three of them in graded stakes, Ride a Comet, a 6-year-old full horse by Candy Ride, will be reunited with Drayden Van Dyke, who last rode him four starts back, when he orchestrated a come-from-behind victory in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2, 2018.

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