Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cazadero Bids For Third Straight In Saratoga Special

A field of 11 juveniles will look to make their star turn in Friday's 114th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite going six furlongs over the main track at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Rich in history, the Saratoga Special has been a launching pad for eventual champion horses dating all the way back to 1907 when Hall of Famer Colin won the event en route to an undefeated 15-for-15 career. In 1914, Regret won the Saratoga Special before becoming the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby the following year. Other prominent winners of the historic race include champions Morvich (1921), Blue Larkspur (1928), Top Flight (1931), Whirlaway (1941), Native Dancer (1952), Nearctic (1956), Bold Forbes (1975), Conquistador Cielo (1981), and Favorite Trick (1997).

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will attempt five victories in the Saratoga Special when saddling Cazadero, who is the lone starter in the field with a graded stakes triumph.

Owned and bred by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables, the bay son of Street Sense won the Grade 3 Bashford Manor on June 27 at Churchill Downs in his most recent start, which came after an 8 3/4-length romp on debut at the Louisville oval.

Cazadero has gotten acclimated to the Oklahoma training track, recording three works including a three-eighths bullet in 37.60 seconds on August 2.

Asmussen and Stonestreet teamed up to win the 2010 Saratoga Special with Kantharos, who also entered the race off a first-out Churchill maiden win followed by the Bashford Manor.

“Its nice to have a couple of races under his belt heading into a race like this at Saratoga,” said Asmussen's chief assistant Scott Blasi. “He came in very well-respected and hasn't done anything wrong yet.”

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. will retain the mount from post 6.

Asmussen also will saddle Jackie's Warrior, a bay son of Maclean's Music who won on debut on June 19 at Churchill Downs defeating next out winner and fellow Saratoga Special aspirant Therideofalifetime.

Owned by J. Kirk Robison, Jackie's Warrior registered an 81 Beyer for the effort, the same number that stablemate Cazadero recorded in his career debut.

“It was a very impressive maiden special weight at Churchill. Fast times and talented horses as well,” Blasi said. “With these babies you just have to get some experience in them and hope that they continue to move forward.”

Jockey Joel Rosario will be aboard from post 10.

Trainer Christophe Clement will attempt a seventh stakes win of the meet when saddling Momos for Ironhorse Racing Stable and Secure Investments.

The son of Distorted Humor was an impressive 6 ½-length winner in his Saratoga career debut on July 18.

“He's coming back a little quick with three weeks in between races,” Clement said. “I could have trained for the [Grade 1, $250,000 Runhappy] Hopeful [on September 7] going seven-eighths at the end of the meet, but this is the best of the choices, so to speak. I just would like to keep him going short in a stakes on dirt and this was the logical one. He seems to be very fast, so why change something that is working?”

Jockey Manny Franco retains the mount from post 7.

Stephen Fidel's Therideofalifetime boasts the highest career speed figure when registering an 85 Beyer in his second start when romping to an 8 ¼-length win at Keeneland on July 11.

Trained by Ignacio Correas IV, the chestnut colt is by Candy Ride and the first progeny out of the stakes-winning Proud Citizen broodmare Cosmic Evolution.

Jockey Jose Ortiz will pilot Therideofalifetime from post 9.

Breeze Easy's Roderick will attempt to mimic a sensational 8 ¼-length win on debut as he breaks from the far outside for trainer Wesley Ward.

The son of Into Mischief garnered a 73 Beyer for the win in the five-furlong maiden on June 21 Belmont Park, where he defeated next-out winner Zippy Baby.

A $550,000 purchase from last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Roderick is out of the Cherokee Run mare Cayala and is a full-sister to graded stakes winner One Liner. He comes from the same family as Grade 1 winners Daredevil and Albertus Maximus.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. returns aboard Roderick and will attempt a third Saratoga Special victory.

Trainer Antonio Sano sent out eventual multimillionaire Gunnevera to a 2016 Saratoga Special victory and will attempt to do the same with Magic Stables' Papetu, who breaks from post 1.

Like Sano's previous Saratoga Special winner, Papetu also is a chestnut son by Dialed In and arrives off a five-length maiden triumph at Gulfstream Park en route to an allowance optional claiming win on July 5 at the South Florida oval.

Papetu has trained forwardly heading into his graded stakes debut having recorded a half-mile drill over the main track at Gulfstream Park West in 47.60 seconds.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Papetu.

Completing the field are Hold the Salsa [post 2, Dylan Davis], Garoppolo [post 3, Luis Saez], Caramel Chip [post 4, Luis Cardenas], Pickin' Time [post 5, Javier Castellano], and Market Alert [post 8, Jose Lezcano].

The Saratoga Special is slated as Race 9 on Friday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Debut Winner for Nyquist in New York

6th-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 8-2, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.77, ft.
LADY LILLY (f, 2, Nyquist–Miss Inclined {MSP, $184,451}, by Pulpit) raced out to take an early lead, showing the way through initial splits of :22.48 and :45.82. In the clear turning for home, the $280,000 KEESEP yearling appeared to be home free, but despite getting leg-weary in the final sixteenth, the 9-5 choice held on for a neck victory over the oncoming Mo Dean (Uncle Mo). The winner’s freshman sire, Nyquist, was registering his third winner, following Gretzky the Great’s maiden special weight win minutes earlier at Woodbine. Miss Inclined, a half sister to dual graded stakes winning Rush Bay (Cozzene), produced a colt by Will Take Charge last season followed by a Liam’s Map filly this term. Sales history: $280,000 Ylg ’19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $39,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Phoenix Thoroughbred III; B-Mueller Thoroughbred Stable, Ltd. (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Echo Town Puts It All Together In H. Allen Jerkens

L and N Racing's Echo Town, a tough-luck runner-up against a familiar cast of rivals last time out, swept to the lead on the far outside and powered down the center of the track to earn his first career stakes triumph in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 36th running of the seven-furlong Jerkens for 3-year-olds was the third of five stakes, three of them Grade 1, worth $2 million in purses on a spectacular 12-race Whitney Day program highlighted by Improbable's victory over Tom's d'Etat in the 93rd renewal of the historic Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney for 3-year-olds and up, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Also on Saturday's card were the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets for older females, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff where champion Midnight Bisou was upset as the 1-5 favorite by Calumet Farm's Vexatious; the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green for older turf horses; and the $200,000 Caress for older female turf sprinters.

Echo Town's drama-free triumph in 1:22.53 over a fast main track under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen came three hours after the same duo finished ran second with Midnight Bisou and had the outcome confirmed by a steward's inquiry following the jockey's objection.

A bay son of champion sprinter Speightstown that went unraced at 2, Echo Town had alternated wins and losses through his first six starts this year, capturing his January 18 debut at Fair Grounds and a March 13 open allowance at Oaklawn Park. Second by a head in the six-furlong Bachelor in April, he stretched out to seven-eighths for the first time last out, the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on June 20 at Belmont Park, where he overcame some early trouble to be second behind No Parole, the Jerkens' 2-1 favorite.

“It was great to see him put it all together when it matters so much on this stage. He ran solidly here. He ran really well into the Woody Stephens, but I thought the timing of this race was better,” Asmussen said. “He's run hard all year. He's run consistently all year. Now, he will be noticed.”

No Parole, seeking his third consecutive victory, found himself in familiar front-running fashion pressed by Grade 1 winner Eight Rings through a quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds and two-time Grade 3 winner Mischevious Alex after a half in 45.31. Tap It to Win, last seen running fifth behind Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20, moved up into a contending position with the leaders on the turn from his far outside post while Echo Town remained unhurried in fifth.

“He broke really sharp today and when the dirt started hitting him in the face, he was jumping a little bit but he was really comfortable,” Santana said. “I took him outside and he gave me a nice kick at the end. He was traveling really well. I knew there was plenty of speed today and I just wanted to sit behind the speed. I'm really happy with the horse.”

The top three turned for home together when No Parole along the rail began to drop back, leaving Mischevious Alex and Tap It to Win in a duel. Santana put Echo Town in a drive midway around the far turn, tipped furthest outside once in the straight and came with a steady run to catch the leaders and surge past for a 3 1/2-length victory. Tap It to Win, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, held off Echo Town's late-running stablemate Shoplifted by a half-length for second.

“I had a perfect trip. I broke on the outside and let him get his position going into the turn. I gave him his head but the other horse passed him easily. He put in a good run,” Velazquez said. “I think he's probably best going a flat mile. Today, he ran a really good race but because we had such a bad post, I had to let him burn a little bit so we could save a little ground into the turn.”

It was 1 1/2 lengths back to 28-1 long shot Captain Bombastic in fourth, followed by Sonneman, Mischevious Alex, Eight Rings, Hopeful Treasure, No Parole, Three Technique and Liam's Pride.

In giving both Asmussen and Santana their first career Jerkens victory, Echo Town returned $16.40 for a $2 win bet.

Purchased for $100,000 at Keeneland's 2018 September Yearling Sale, Kentucky-bred Echo Town earned $165,000 for the victory to push his career bankroll to $375,320.

Live racing returns Sunday to Saratoga to wrap up the second full week of the summer meet with a 10-race program featuring the $100,000 Birdstone for 4-year-olds and up going 1 ¾ miles in Race 9 at 5:46 p.m. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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Speightstown Colt Scores Breakout Win in Jerkens

L & N Racing’s Echo Town (Speightstown) registered his first win at the highest level with a 7-1 upset in Saratoga’s GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Saturday. The bay raced in mid-pack early as recent GI Woody Stephens S. hero No Parole (Violence) doled out a first quarter in :22.67 with MGSW Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) pressing from second. Mischevious Alex turned up the heat on No Parole as the half went in :45.31 and Tap It to Win (Tapit) ranged up menacingly on their outside turning for home. Echo Town swung out four wide turning for home and swiftly inhaled the top three in mid-stretch, charging clear to a dominant 3 1/2-length victory. Tap It to Win held second and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Shoplifted (Into Mischief) completed the trifecta. Favored No Parole faded to ninth.

“He ran an excellent race,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’s extremely significant winning the Allen Jerkens. Ricardo [Santana] did a great job with him today. I think the timing for him was better going into today than the Woody Stephens, and he showed it today. I thought 22 and 3 was soft for this group. I thought Echo Town ran the race of his life and Shoplifted, who was second in the [GI] Hopeful last year here obviously likes this track.”

The Hall of Famer continued, “It was great to see him put it all together when it matters so much on this stage. He ran solidly here. He ran really well into the Woody Stephens, but I thought the timing of this race was better.”

A debut winner at the Fair Grounds Jan. 18, Echo Town was third next out at Oaklawn Feb. 23 and returned to winning ways in the slop there Mar. 13. Missing by a head in the Bachelor S. in Hot Springs Apr. 25, he captured a Churchill Downs sprint May 25 prior to his effort in the Woody June 20 at Belmont.

Pedigree Notes:

Echo Town is the 18th Grade I victory for his sire Speightstown, as well as the 56th graded winner and 113th black-type scorer for the WinStar stallion. Out of GSW Letgomyecho, the winner is a half to Grade III victor J Boys Echo and GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song). The 18-year-old mare is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Burrow (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $200,000 OBSAPR buy; a yearling filly by Gun Runner; and an American Pharoah filly born May 8 of this year.

Saturday, Saratoga
H. ALLEN JERKENS S. PRESENTED BY RUNHAPPY-GI, $300,000, Saratoga, 8-1, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.53, ft.
1–ECHO TOWN, 120, c, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Letgomyecho (GSW, $136,200), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo
3rd Dam: Kashie West, by Sir Ivor
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star’ ($100,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-L & N
Racing LLC; B-Betz, Betz, Burns, CHNNHK Thoroughbreds,
Magers, CoCo Equine & R (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen;
J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-1,
$375,320. *1/2 to Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song), GSP,
$253,478; J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSW, $377,543. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tap It to Win, 120, r, 3, Tapit–Onepointhreekarats, by
Medaglia d’Oro. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL);
T-Mark E. Casse. $60,000.
3–Shoplifted, 120, c, 3, Into Mischief–Shopit, by Yes It’s True.
‘TDN Rising Star’ ($525,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $800,000 2yo ’19
FTFMAR). O-Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables, LLC & LNJ
Foxwoods; B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $36,000.
Margins: 3HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 7.20, 3.65, 18.50.
Also Ran: Captain Bombastic, Sonneman, Mischevious Alex, Eight Rings, Hopeful Treasure, No Parole, Three Technique, Liam’s Pride.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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