Triple Crown | Horse Racing Free Tips

Derby Future Wager Pool Two: Smile Happy Favored Among Individual Horses

With the Kentucky Derby still 15 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of “All Other 3-Year-Olds” closed as the 9-5 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW) and Smile Happy was the 8-1 second choice.

The pari-mutuel field for the first pool of the New Year has closed as the bettors' choice every year since the future wager was inaugurated in 1999.

Smile Happy, owned by Michael J. Mackin's Lucky Seven Stable and trained by Kenny McPeek, was the 3 ¼-length winner of the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs in November.

Other horses who attracted interest from bettors: McPeek's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) runner-up Tiz the Bomb (10-1); Champagne (G1) winner Jack Christopher (14-1); first-level allowance winner Chasing Time (17-1); and debut maiden winner Emmanuel (17-1).

Horses in order of the public's betting choice (with trainer, Pool 2 odds and $2 Win Will Pays): #24 “All Other 3-Year-Olds” (9-5, $5.80); #18 Smile Happy (McPeek, 8-1, $18); #19 Tiz the Bomb (McPeek, 10-1, $22.80); #10 Jack Christopher (Chad Brown, 14-1, $30); #1 Chasing Time (Steve Asmussen, 17-1, $36.40); #6 Emmanuel (Todd Pletcher, 17-1, $37.60); #15 Rattle N Roll (McPeek, 20-1, $42.60); #17 Slow Down Andy (Doug O'Neill, 20-1, $43); #13 Mo Donegal (Pletcher, 23-1, $48.20); #7 Epicenter (Asmussen, 24-1, $51.20); #14 Pappacap (Mark Casse, 24-1, $51.20); #23 Zandon (Brown, 25-1, $52); #8 Giant Game (Dale Romans, 28-1, $59); #5 Dash Attack (McPeek, 34-1, $70.80); #9 High Oak (Bill Mott, 38-1, $78.80); #4 Courvoisier (Kelly Breen, 39-1, $81.60); #11 Major General (Pletcher, 41-1, $84.40); #3 Commandperformance (Pletcher, 41-1, $85); #16 Simplification (Antonio Sano, 43-1, $89.60); #21 Varatti (Pletcher, 47-1, $97.40); #2 Classic Causeway (Brian Lynch, 51-1, $105.60); #20 Trafalgar (Al Stall Jr., 77-1, $156.60); #12 Make It Big (Saffie Joseph Jr., 85-1, $172.80); and #22 White Abarrio (Joseph, 171-1, $344.20).

Total handle for the Jan. 21-23 KDFW pool – the second of five scheduled wagering pools in advance of the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on Saturday, May 7 – was $361,209 ($273,712 in the Win pool and $87,497 in Exactas), up 12.2% from last year's $322,035 ($240,768 in the Win pool and $81,267 in Exactas).

The other Future Wager dates are set Feb. 11-13 (Pool 3), March 11-13 (Pool 4) and March 31-April 2 (Pool 5). The lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager will coincide with Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4 on March 11-13.

Visit www.KentuckyDerby.com/FutureWager for more information.

The post Derby Future Wager Pool Two: Smile Happy Favored Among Individual Horses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

California Shippers Enhance Big Field Expected For Jan. 29 Southwest At Oaklawn

A dozen horses remained under consideration early Sunday afternoon for the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds Jan. 29 at Oaklawn, racing secretary Pat Pope said.

Post positions will be drawn Monday for the Southwest, along with two other stakes races Jan. 29 at the Hot Springs, Ark., track. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby points races, offering 17 to the top four finishes (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Dash Attack, Barber Road, Ignitis, Vivar and Barber Road, the 1-2-3-5-7 finishers, respectively, in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 1 are expected to return for the Southwest. The one-mile Smarty Jones was Oaklawn's first Kentucky Derby points race.

The Southwest is expected to attract two shippers from Southern California – one for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert (Messier or Newgrange) and one for trainer Doug O'Neill (Slow Down Andy).

Other horses expected to be entered Monday include Dec. 18 Oaklawn maiden special weights graduate Call Me Jamal for trainer Mike Puhich and lightly raced Osbourne for trainer Ron Moquett of Hot Springs. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has 21 of the 103 nominees, is scheduled to have at least one starter in the Southwest, Pope said.

“I see 10 for sure, with the possibility of a dozen,” Pope said. “And we're hoping the plane is scheduled to fly in here.”

A flight carrying five Southern California-based horses for Saturday's stakes tripleheader, including two for Baffert and two for O'Neill, is scheduled to arrive Tuesday in Arkansas, Pope said.

Baffert has dominated Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby prep series the last decade, notching 17 victories since 2010. He has won the Southwest four times.

Messier won the $100,000 Bob Hope Stakes (G3) Nov. 14 at Del Mar before finishing second behind Slow Down Andy, beaten a length, in the $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) Dec. 11 at Los Alamitos to close 2021. Newgrange is unbeaten in two career starts, including the $100,000 Sham Stakes (G3) Jan. 1 at Santa Anita.

Because Baffert has been suspended by Churchill Downs, his horses are ineligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The suspension stems from a possible medication violation involving his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

Slow Down Andy has won 2 of 3 starts overall, with his only loss a runner-up finish in the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes Nov. 5 at Del Mar. The seven-furlong race was restricted to California-breds. O'Neill and breeder/owner J. Paul Reddam campaigned Slow Down Andy's sire, 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.

Dash Attack collected 10 points for his victory in the Smarty Jones to remain unbeaten in two career starts for trainer Kenny McPeek. Barber Road (John Ortiz), Ignitis (D. Wayne Lukas), Vivar (Brad Cox) and Ben Diesel (Dallas Stewart) are all seeking their first stakes victory.

Osbourne will be making his local debut after finishing second in the $400,000 Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 17 at Remington Park in his last start. Osbourne, who has raced three times, is a gelded son of 2014 Southwest winner Tapiture.

Post positions also will be drawn Monday for the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters. The Martha Washington is Oaklawn's first of three Kentucky Oaks points races. Like the Southwest, it offers 17 points (10-4-2-1) to the top four finishers toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Oaks, the country's biggest prize for 3-year-old fillies.

Expected Martha Washington entrants include unbeaten Como Square for Cox, Grade 1 winner Eda (Baffert), multiple stakes winner Optionality (Asmussen), powerful Dec. 31 allowance winner Secret Oath (Lukas) and stakes-placed Tonito's (O'Neill).

Eda and Tonito's finished 1-3, respectively, in the $300,000 Starlet Stakes (G1) Dec. 4 at Los Alamitos. Eda is also ineligible to collect Kentucky Oaks points because of Baffert's suspension by Churchill Downs.

The six-furlong King Cotton field is expected to be headed by Grade I winner Collusion Illusion for trainer Mark Glatt and track record holders Hollis (Ortiz) and Nashville (Asmussen).

Collusion Illusion won the $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) in 2020 at Del Mar. Hollis set Oaklawn's 5 ½-furlong mark (1:02.17) in a Dec. 10 allowance race. Runner-up Nashville set Keeneland's 6-furlong track record (1:07.89) in the $125,000 Perryville Stakes for 3-year-olds in 2020 at Keeneland.

The post California Shippers Enhance Big Field Expected For Jan. 29 Southwest At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Mandella Has Forbidden Kingdom Back On Track For San Vicente

Absent from the races two months, Forbidden Kingdom, a $300,000 son of 2015 Triple Crown king American Pharoah, returns in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

“He grabbed a quarter in his last race,” Richard Mandella said, alluding to the G3 Bob Hope at Del Mar on Nov. 14. “It was a bad one and it took a while to heal up, but he's back in good shape now.”

Forbidden Kingdom has been working smartly, as a bullet six furlong move in 1:12.40 at Santa Anita on Jan. 10 attests.

Bred by Spendthrift Farm which owns a share of the chestnut colt along with MyRacehorse, Forbidden Kingdom won his debut race at Del Mar last Aug. 21, then was third as the 9-5 favorite in the Speakeasy on turf at Santa Anita Oct. 1.

Forbidden Kingdom has had eventful trips in all three of his races, drifting out, getting bumped and stumbling, respectively.

Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard in all three starts, retains the mount.

The San Vicente is a race that could lead to the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

San Vicente is one of three stakes Saturday and one of six next weekend at The Great Race Place.

With Horse of the Year favorite Knicks Go and the brilliant Life Is Good set to meet in the G1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Saturday at Gulfstream Park, fans will be treated to a huge day of bicoastal racing at both Gulfstream in South Florida and at Santa Anita.

Ten graded stakes will be offered between the two venues with first live race post time for a nine-race program at Santa Anita 12:30 p.m. PT.

Complementing the San Vicente on Saturday are the G3, $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs for 4-year-olds and up and the G3, $100,000 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf for older fillies and mares.

Sunday's attractions are the G2, $225,000 San Marcos Stakes for older horses at 1 ¼ miles on turf, and two $75,000 events, the Lady of Shamrock Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies and the Baffle Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on turf for 3-year-olds.

The post Mandella Has Forbidden Kingdom Back On Track For San Vicente appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Sharp Maiden Winner Early Voting Gearing Up For Stakes Debut In Withers

Klaravich Stables' highly-regarded Early Voting took another step forward on Sunday morning when logging a half-mile work over the Belmont training track in preparation for the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers on Feb. 5 at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The Chad Brown-trained son of 2021 leading freshman stallion Gun Runner completed the four-furlong move in 49.41 over a fast main track with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard. The breeze was his third work following a career debut maiden victory on Dec. 18.

“He worked really well this morning. Jose was aboard and I was very happy with the work,” said Brown's Belmont-based assistant Dan Stupp.

Breaking his maiden at a one-turn mile, Early Voting stayed in the clear down the backstretch under Ortiz while battling with two other runners up front. He fended off a late rally from Matt Doyle to win by 1 1/2 length, registering a 76 Beyer.

Early Voting appears to be taking a similar path to that of stablemate Risk Taking, who captured last year's Withers following a maiden score.

“I thought Risk Taking was a more forward training horse,” Stupp said. “With Early Voting, you can see the ability, but he's a little green acting. He had a lot to learn and grow up, he had some physical maturing to do, but his first race moved him up quite a bit. Mentally, he's still a work in progress but you can definitely see the progression off that maiden win. I'm excited to see him run back.”

Other probable candidates for the nine-furlong Withers, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, include Courvoisier, Constitutionlawyer, Cooke Creek, Noneedtoworry, Smarten Up and Un Ojo.

Early Voting, bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, is out of the unraced Tiznow mare Amour d'Ete – a half-sister to 2004 Champion Sprinter and prolific sire Speightstown and a full-sister to millionaire Irap. All are out of 1995 Canadian Champion Juvenile Filly Silken Cat. Early Voting was purchased for $200,000 from the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency.

Also on the work tab Sunday for Brown was Klaravich Stables' Default Protection, who went a half-mile in 50.01 over the Belmont training track. It was the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road's second work since a second-out maiden victory on January 2 which she won by 12 1/2 lengths.

“I thought the work was great, just a maintenance half. Jose was on for the work, he rode her last time,” Stupp said. “It was a very good work, exactly what you would want to see. I wanted to see her work today and then get with Chad. She ran a great race to break her maiden over a wet track. I thought she got a lot of good experience out of that race, so we weren't surprised she moved forward. By watching her train, she's got potential to step up.”

The post Sharp Maiden Winner Early Voting Gearing Up For Stakes Debut In Withers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post