santa anita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Earls Rock Shortens Up, Wins Baffle Stakes At Santa Anita

A lights-out maiden winner going a flat mile on turf in his U.S. debut Jan. 9, Irish-bred Earls Rock cut back in distance and further enhanced his status as an up-and-coming star with an impressive three-quarter length tally in Friday's $75,000 Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by Phil D'Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Earls Rock rallied from off the pace to cover 6 ½ furlongs on turf in 1:16.15.

Breaking from his number two post position in a field of nine sophomores, Earls Rock was an unhurried sixth, about six lengths off speedy Mac Daddy Too heading into the far turn. Midway around the turn, Prat began to make up ground and split horses turning for home, just to the outside of the pacesetter.

Although eventual runner-up Beer Can Man loomed ominously three-deep, Earls Rock was up to the challenge in the final furlong and won going away in a manner that suggests he's a colt of considerable quality.

“The distance was a bit of a question mark, it was a little short for him,” said Prat, who was also aboard for the one mile maiden win. “But he relaxed well behind horses and when I asked him to go, he really cut.”

Second in his career debut Sept. 4 in Ireland, Earls Rock was off as the 4-5 favorite and paid $3.80, $3.00 and $2.60.

“This is about as short as he wants,” said D'Amato. “The jock rode a tremendous race. He was very patient and the way he split horses, it made all the difference.”

Owned by Anthony Fanticola, Earls Rock, who is by Fascinating Rock, out of Ajaadat, by Shamardal, is now two for three and with the winner's share of $49,320, more than doubled his earnings to $91,099.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez and trained by Mark Glatt, Beer Can Man, who was attentive to the pace throughout, finished 3 ¼ lengths in front of Mac Daddy Too. Off at 6-1, Beer Can Man paid $5.00 and $3.60.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Mac Daddy Too was off at 26-1 and paid $5.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 23.06, 45.77 and 1:10.12.

The Baffle win gave Prat a triple on the day, while D'Amato collected his second win.

The post Earls Rock Shortens Up, Wins Baffle Stakes At Santa Anita appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Stronach 5: Three Winning Tickets In Friday’s Wager Return $43,099 Each

There were three winning tickets in Friday's popular Stronach 5, each worth $43,099.40.

The Stronach 5 featured three turf sprints, races from Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields, and an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

Friday's sequence began with Gulfstream's seventh race and Putman ($14) winning the five-furlong turf event. The second leg, Laurel's ninth race of the afternoon, was won by Extra Medium ($6), providing leading trainer Claudio Gonzalez his fourth winner on the program.

Things turned a bit more interesting when the Stronach 5 headed west. The third leg of the sequence, Santa Anita's third race, was won by Sensemaker ($24.20), who drew in off the also-eligible list and then withstood a steward's inquiry, The fourth leg of the sequence, Golden Gate's third race also produced a double-digit winner in Jimmy Blue Jeans ($20.40).

The Stronach 5 wrapped up with Gulfstream's ninth race and 5-2 shot Mai Ty One On ($7.80) upsetting 6-5 favorite Yes I Am Free.

Friday's races and sequence

· Leg One – Gulfstream Park 7th Race: Putman $14

· Leg Two –Laurel Park 9th Race: Extra Medium $6

· Leg Three –Santa Anita Park 3rd Race: Sensemaker $24.20

· Leg Four –Golden Gate Fields 3rd Race: Jimmy Blue Jeans $20.40

· Leg Five –Gulfstream West 9th Race: Mai Ty One On $7.80

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 Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

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 Stronach 5: Three Winning Tickets In Friday’s Wager Return $43,099 Each appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Sophomore Pair From Baffert’s Bench Top Seven-Furlong San Vicente

With varsity aces Life Is Good and Medina Spirit awaiting their next call to action, Bob Baffert goes to his expansive bench Saturday with Freedom Fighter and Concert Tour in Santa Anita's Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

It will be the first start in five months for Freedom Fighter, a son Violence, who led throughout his debut race at Del Mar last Aug. 1, winning the five-furlong dash by a head as the 1-2 favorite.

“Going seven eighths is a tough distance,” Baffert said, “but he's quick and he's had good works. He broke his maiden first out and then we had to back off him, but he's doing well.”

Freedom Fighter, who will be ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, has amply displayed his readiness with a series of recent breezes, including three bullet works, the most recent a five furlong move from the gate on Jan. 28 in 59.60, handily, the fastest of 70 drills at the distance.

Concert Tour was no secret as a debut winner going six furlongs on Jan. 15. The son of Street Sense owned and bred by Gary and Mary West was in hand late as the even-money favorite, scoring by 3 ½ lengths under Joel Rosario who is back aboard Saturday.

Baffert will be seeking to add to his record of 10 San Vicente victories, having captured his first in 1997 with eventual Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm.

Subsequent triumphs were posted by Exploit (1999), Kafwain (2003), Fusaichi Rock Star (2005), Too Much Bling (2006), The Factor (2011), Drill (2012), Shakin It Up (2013), Lord Nelson (2015) and Nadal last year.

Meanwhile, individual Kentucky Derby Future Book favorite Life Is Good worked four furlongs Monday in 48.80, breezing.

“He looked really good and he's doing everything right,” said Baffert, who confirmed the Sham Stakes winner will make his next start in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes March 6, adding, “We've got a long way to go.”

The San Vicente, race seven of 10 with a 12 noon first post time: Freedom Fighter, Drayden Van Dyke, 5-2; The Chosen Vron, Mike Smith, 5-2; Uncle Boogie, Abel Cedillo, 12-1; Found My Ball, Mario Gutierrez, 3-1; and Concert Tour, Joel Rosario, 8-5.

The Chosen Vron blew out four furlongs Wednesday in 48.20 for trainer Eric Kruljac. Mr. Impossible was scratched.

The post Sophomore Pair From Baffert’s Bench Top Seven-Furlong San Vicente appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Six Go Postward in Delayed San Marcos

A field of six, led by Acclimate (Acclamation) and Masteroffoxhounds (War Front), goes postward in the GII San Marcos S. Saturday at Santa Anita. The 1 1/4-mile turf race had originally been scheduled for Jan. 30, but was pushed back to avoid the winter rainstorm which hit Arcadia a week ago.

Rockingham Ranch's Masteroffoxhounds will be making his third stateside appearance in the San Marcos. The bay colt, a maiden winner in Ireland last summer, was seventh going one mile in his U.S. debut last November. He powered home to a 4 1/4-length victory in a 1 3/8-mile optional claimer at Del Mar Nov. 28 in his most recent start.

Acclimate won the 2019 GIII San Juan Capistrano S. and GII Del Mar H. and was second over the San Marcos course and distance in that year's GII John Henry Turf Classic. He made only one start in 2020, finishing fourth in the Nov. 27 GII Hollywood Turf Cup, and he was third as the 9-5 favorite in his 2021 debut while facing fellow Cal-breds in the nine-furlong Unusual Heat Turf Classic S. Jan. 16.

“It's a rather quick comeback for Acclimate, but I had this race in the back of my mind for him,” said trainer Phil D'Amato. “It was hard to pass up $200 grand against Cal-breds [in the Unusual Heat], but at the same he's coming back at a distance he prefers [in the San Marcos]. I always had this race planned for him, if he came out of the Unusual Heat in good shape, and he really has, so we'll look to wheel him back going a mile and a quarter.”

D'Amato will also saddle Salvator Mundi (Artie Schiller) in the San Marcos. Claimed for $40,000 at Keeneland in September of 2019 has won twice in seven starts since for D'Amato. The 5-year-old gelding was most recently third in a one-mile optional claimer at Santa Anita Jan. 8 and he will be making his third stakes appearance Saturday.

“He's just kind of learning where he needs to be placed to be most effective,” D'Amato said of Salvator Mundi, who stalked the pace before weakening to finish sixth in the GII John Henry Turf Classic last September. “I think he merits another chance at a 1 1/4 miles for sure, the way he's come out of that race.”

The post Six Go Postward in Delayed San Marcos appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post