thoroughbred | Horse Racing Free Tips

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.

Source of original post

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.

The post Smooth Like Strait Tops Competitive Group In Frank Kilroe Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Versatile Maxfield Takes On Solid Local Contingent In Santa Anita Handicap

Undefeated in five starts, Goldolphin's homebred Maxfield, who has been installed as the 124 pound highweight, will ship in from his New Orleans base to head Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Handicap sponsored by San Manuel Casino. The Big 'Cap, which has attracted a field of eight older horses and will be run for the 84th time at the North American classic distance of a mile and one quarter, is also leg one in the inaugural $1 Million Wild West Bonus, which is comprised of the Big 'Cap, the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup May 31 and the Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 21. Any horse that's able to sweep all three stakes would bank a total of $1,870,000.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield, a 4-year-old colt by Street Sense, out of the Bernardini mare Velvety, rallied from far back to win the Grade III Mineshaft Stakes at a mile and one sixteenth by 3 ¼ lengths at Fair Grounds under Florent Geroux, who will be back aboard Saturday. A Grade 1 winner in his second start at age two in October, 2019, Maxfield has three graded victories to his credit and with the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic looming in November at Del Mar, “Max” will be getting his first taste of Southern California in the Big 'Cap.

Currently bedded down at Simon Callaghan's barn, Maxfield arrived at Santa Anita late Monday night according to Walsh, who is also here to accompany his stable star.

“There aren't a lot of Grade 1's for older horses this time of year,” said Walsh on Wednesday morning. “The timing is good for the horse, the mile and a quarter will be a good test. There were options at home (Fair Grounds in New Orleans) but this seemed like a good time to ship.”

Although he has rallied from far back in three out of his five starts, he pressed the pace en route to a 2 ½ length win in an ungraded stakes going 1 1/16 miles two starts back at Fair Grounds, demonstrating a versatility that further enhances his chances in the Big 'Cap.

When asked if he thought Maxfield would be as far back early as he was in his most recent start in the Mineshaft on Feb. 13, in which he was 11 lengths off the lead after the first half mile, Walsh responded: “No, he broke a little slow that day, there was a horse next to him that was acting up. We'll have to wait until the draw and take a look at the field, but he's been up close before and we'll just have to see where we want to be.”

Prominent among a solid local contingent is C R K Stable's Express Train, who comes of a huge 3 ¼ length win going a mile and one eighth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 30. Trained by John Shirreffs, Express Train, a 4-year-old colt by Union Rags, was second by 4 ½ lengths to potential superstar Charlatan going seven furlongs two starts back in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 and will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Juan Hernandez.

A $500,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Express Train sat close to the pace in the San Pasqual and will likely employ similar tactics as he stretches out a furlong on Saturday. With three wins and as many seconds from eight starts, he appears to be coming to his best as Shirreffs and C R K seek their first victory in “The Granddaddy of Them All.”

A well beaten fifth in the opening day Malibu, trainer Michael McCarthy's Independence Hall rebounded with a big third place finish going a mile and one eighth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park Jan. 23, a race in which he earned a Big 'Cap best last-out Beyer Speed figure of 104. A 4-year-old colt by Constitution, Independence Hall is owned by WinStar Farm, LLC, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables LLC and RKV Racing, LLC and will be making his fourth start for McCarthy in the Big 'Cap and will again get the services of leading man Flavien Prat.

Originally trained by Michael Trombetta, Independence Hall was a Grade 3 winner in his second start at Aqueduct at age two and his fifth and final start with Trombetta, was a well beaten fifth at 3-1 in the Grade 1 Florida Derby four starts back on March 28, 2020. With four wins from eight overall starts, he, like the rest of the field, will be trying a mile and one quarter for the first time on Saturday.

Third as the even money favorite in the San Pasqual Jan. 30, Idol, who shipped in from Churchill Downs to run a close second at 4-1 in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes Dec. 26, finished like a horse who should run better with added distance, which is further evidenced by a 5 ¾ length allowance win going 1 3/16 miles at Churchill three starts back on Nov. 8.

Trained by Richard Baltas and owned by Calvin Nguyen, this 4-year-old colt by Curlin has been ridden by eastern-based Gabriel Saez in his last four starts, but will be handled for the first time Joel Rosario in the Big 'Cap. With an overall mark of 5-2-2-1, Idol rates a big chance to spring an upset.

Although a well beaten sixth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Jan. 23, Coastal Defense lends credible depth to the Big 'Cap field for trainer Dale Romans. Currently based at Gulfstream, this 5-year-old full horse by Curlin was a close fourth in a pair of Kentucky Stakes two and three starts back—the Grade 1 Clark at Churchill Downs on Nov. 27 and the Grade 2 Fayette at Keeneland Sept. 27. Owned by Albaugh Family Stables, LLC and the Helen K. Groves Revocable Trust, Coastal Defense is stretching out a furlong off of three consecutive races at a mile and one eighth and can employ a stalking or off-the-pace style when ridden for the first time by John Velazquez.

THE GRADE 1 SANTA ANITA HANDICAP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 4:30 p.m. PT

Independence Hall—Flavien Prat—120
Maxfield—Florent Geroux—124
Kiss Today Goodbye—Mike Smith—119
Coastal Defense—John Velazquez—116
Express Train—Juan Hernandez—123
Idol—Joel Rosario—119
Tizamagician—Drayden Van Dyke—119
King Guillermo—Abel Cedillo–116

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

The post Versatile Maxfield Takes On Solid Local Contingent In Santa Anita Handicap appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘Straight Six Will Suit Him Perfectly’: Walsh Planning Dubai Trip With Turf Sprinter Extravagant Kid

Irish-born U.S. trainer Brendan Walsh is ready to head back to the Dubai World Cup meeting, which should inspire all potential competitors to take notice. From his lone starter on the world-renowned card, the 24-time graded/group stakes winner has a victory with Plus Que Parfait in the 2019 $2.5 million UAE Derby (G2) to show for it. The former Godolphin employee looks to bring one of America's top turf sprinters back to his old stomping grounds in the form of DARRS Inc.'s Extravagant Kid for the Group 1 $1 million Al Quoz Sprint over a straight six furlongs.

“He's never ran a bad race and when he really shows up, he's right there,” Walsh said. “In the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (on Nov. 7), he was only beaten a length or so after a horrendous draw—14 out of 14—and going wide the whole way and lost a tone of ground. He's one of those horses who no matter the company he's in, he holds his own. He's done it on turf and dirt and it's always been in the back of my mind that he'd be a good horse to bring to Dubai. He's getting on in age and I think this is a good time to go.”

In his 50th start, Extravagant Kid he will hope to break a case of seconditis (runner-up in five of his past six efforts) while seeking his 15th career tally. He will also look to cure the bridesmaid status of American runners in the grass dash.

Over the past 10 runnings, his compatriots have done well, but fallen short of victory. California Flag and Green Mask were third in 2010 and 2015 and Long On Value was a brutal nose second in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, Americans finished second and third; Stormy Liberal and Conquest Tsunami in 2018 and Belvoir Bay and Stormy Liberal in the following edition.

“The straight six will suit him perfectly,” Walsh continued. “It'll be very interesting. I don't plan on doing anything with him to get him used to it once he's there. I think the novelty of something different in the race will help the horse. He's very smart and I'm waiting for him to one morning actually start talking to me—he's that intelligent. He's also tricky to ride and we always try to change things up to keep him interested. I think the travel, being in Dubai and the straight six furlongs might just work.”

A strong closer with enough tactical speed to make his own luck, the dark bay nine-time stakes winner ran a superb race in the aforementioned Breeders' Cup against some of the world's top turf sprinters. Breaking well from the outside post, he raced in mid-pack—between four- and six-wide throughout—before grinding his way past five horses to a fourth-place run, beaten two half-lengths and a head by Glass Slippers, Wet Your Whistle and Leinster. Finishing astern him that day were the likes of Got Stormy, Wildman Jack and Imprimis.

“I think he can operate from wherever,” Walsh explained. “He's never too far away. He's got a really high cruising speed, so I don't think he'll be too far back on a straight course. We'll see how the race is set up and where he's drawn and come up with a plan from there, but normally he's a horse who sits a few lengths off the lead and comes running.”

Walsh looks forward to hopefully making the trek to Dubai in person, but such is reliant on his obligations with his burgeoning stable that includes one of the nation's top-rated horses, Maxfield, and the highly exciting sophomore Prevalence. Both are owned by Godolphin, with the former running this Saturday in the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

“He's a horse who gets your heart going, that's for sure, and he has all the talent in the world,” Walsh said of the former. “He's doing well and this will be a good test for him over 10 furlongs.”

His attention will thereafter shift markedly toward Dubai and hoping his Extravagant Kid flourishes in the land of excess.

“Dubai has a place in my heart and it always will,” the 47-year-old conditioner concluded. “It will be nice to have a horse who can come out there and compete again. We had a great time last time, but it's always great when you win. They always put on a great show and take care of you. It'll be a pleasure to come back.”

The post ‘Straight Six Will Suit Him Perfectly’: Walsh Planning Dubai Trip With Turf Sprinter Extravagant Kid appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post