Triple Crown | Horse Racing Free Tips

Impressive Smarty Jones Winner Caddo River Back On The Work Tab At Oaklawn

Caddo River returned to the work tab Friday morning at Oaklawn, breezing an easy half-mile in :50.60 in preparation for an anticipated start in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds March 13 at Oaklawn.

The work was Caddo River's first since a record-setting 10 ¼-length victory in the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 22, Oaklawn's first of four Kentucky Derby points races.

Caddo River breezed before the first surface renovation break under exercise rider Gustavo Abrego and recorded splits of :12.80 for his opening eighth of a mile, :26 for a quarter-mile and :38 for 3 furlongs, according to clockers, before galloping out 5 furlongs in 1:03.

Brad Cox trains Caddo River, a son of Hard Spun, for breeder/owner John Ed Anthony of Hot Springs. Anthony has won the Rebel a record five times.

Cox is scheduled to send out champion Essential Quality in the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 15 at Oaklawn. The 1 1/16-mile Southwest is Oaklawn's second of four of Kentucky Derby points races. The series concludes with the Rebel and $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 10.

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New York-Bred Eagle Orb Gets Another ‘Chance’ On Kentucky Derby Trail

Like a pitcher getting in a quick bullpen session before an important start, E.V. Racing Stable's Eagle Orb made a final preparation for Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Withers for sophomores, posting a three-furlong blowout in 37 seconds flat on Thursday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

Eagle Orb, trained by Rudy Rodriguez, is listed at 10-1 on the morning line for the nine-horse Withers, which offers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points to the top-four finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 1.

The Withers will mark the first time Eagle Orb will contest at nine furlongs after making two starts at a mile, which resulted in runner-up efforts in the Sleepy Hollow against fellow New York-breds as a juvenile in October at Belmont and a second to Withers-rival [and 3-1 favorite] Capo Kane last out in the Jerome on New Year's Day that also offered up 10-4-2-1 points.

“We're going to see if he wants to go that far,” Rodriguez said. “I don't know if he can, but we want to give him that chance and hope for the best. We've been thinking about it and hopefully it's the right move.”

Bred by Barry Ostrager, Eagle Orb is 2-3-0 in six career starts with earnings of $183,100. The son of Orb won his first start at Aqueduct, closing his 2-year-old year with a 2 3/4-length score in the Notebook over a track labeled good on November 14 before returning to earn blacktype over a muddy track in the Jerome.

Eagle Orb drew the outside post with Jorge Vargas, Jr. in the irons.

“I think he's a pretty honest horse. He tries,” said Rodriguez. “I don't like the post that much. I wish I drew inside, but we'll try to put him in the race early and hope for the best.”

Repole Stable's stakes-veteran Backsideofthemoon will also run this weekend at the Big A for Rodriguez, with the 9-year-old son of Malibu Moon entered for a nine-furlong allowance tilt in Sunday's Race 7.

Backsideofthemoon ran fourth in the Jazil in his seasonal bow on January 23 under jockey Jose Lezcano. Rodriguez said he's hoping for a better start, which was the recipe for success when he led a six-horse field gate-to-wire to win the Queens County going the same distance on December 19 at Aqueduct, earning a career-best 106 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He looked like he came back pretty good,” Rodriguez said. “We're running him right back because I don't think he ran his race last time. Jose Lezcano said he tried to break before the gate and when it opened, he hit it pretty hard. When that happens, he kind of stumbled a bit and he wasn't really in it that day, so we're going to give him another chance.”

Backsideofthemoon will pick up the services of meet-leading rider Kendrick Carmouche on Sunday, drawing post 6 as the 6-5 morning-line favorite.

Rodriguez said Michael Dubb's Pete's Play Call is doing well following a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Toboggan on January 30. The 8-year-old Munnings gelding made his first graded stakes appearance in his 47th career start

“He came back pretty good, so we'll take it easy for a couple of days and then see in the next week or two what the next possible spot will be,” Rodriguez said.

Since being claimed for $62,500 out of a win at Aqueduct on November 27, Pete's Play Call won the Gravesend on January 2 and finished a half-length back to American Power in the Toboggan.

“He's been very consistent since last year with [previous trainer John] Toscano and continues to be that going along, so just to have him in the barn is good, because we don't have a lot of horses who train better than him,” Rodriguez said.

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Weekend Lineup: Road To The Kentucky Derby Continues Through Tampa, Aqueduct

The Road to the Kentucky Derby resumes on Saturday with the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct Racetrack and Grade 3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs both offering qualifying points to the top-four finishers points on a 10-4-2-1 scale toward the first Saturday in May.

Both the Withers and the Sam F. Davis will both be showcased on the NYRA-produced “America's Day at the Races” program along with races from Oaklawn Park and other tracks. Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, the show will air from 2-6:30 p.m. ET on FS2 on February 6.

Racing from Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park, and other tracks will be shown on TVG all weekend as part of their usual comprehensive coverage.

Saturday, Feb. 6

2:36 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park on TVG

La Signare (FR) is slated for a return to Gulfstream Park for Saturday's Suwannee River, and trainer Brendan Walsh couldn't be more pleased to bring the well-traveled 6-year-old mare back to the site of her last stakes win. The French-bred mare captured the Sand Springs last March before clashing with some of the best turf fillies in the country during the rest of a 2020 racing season that concluded with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl Stakes at Belmont Park.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/GP020621USA6-EQB.html

3:30 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

A field of 12 older horses are expected for Saturday's 35th running of the Tampa Bay Stakes headed by Sole Volante, last year's Sam F. Davis Stakes winner, and Grade 2-winning 4-year-old colt Fancy Liquor. Sole Volante is trained by Patrick Biancone and will make his seasonal bow having most recently finished sixth in the Tropical Park Derby on Dec. 26. Fancy Liquor is trained by Michael Maker is seeking his first win since taking the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes last September.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM020621USA8-EQB.html

4:03 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Richard Mandella's impressive recent maiden winner Moonlight d'Oro and Bob Baffert's graded stakes winning Kalypso headline a field of five sophomore fillies going one mile in Saturday's Las Virgenes Stakes, which offers 10 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points to the winner. The 4-5 favorite in her first try at two turns, Moonlight d'Oro pressed the early pace and drew off to a solid three length win going a flat mile on Dec. 13 at Los Alamitos under Flavien Prat, who will ride back in the Las Virgenes. A $620,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Moonlight d'Oro finished a close second as the 3-5 favorite in her five furlong debut last August and was then third, beaten 1 ½ lengths going six furlongs on Nov. 7.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA3-EQB.html

4:25 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on TVG and FS2

Trainer Todd Pletcher will be packing a one-two punch in pursuit of a fourth Withers victory, sending out maiden-winners Overtook and Donegal Bay, both of which will be making their respective stakes debut. Owned by Repole Stable, St. Elias Stable, Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith, Overtook graduated going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 20. The son of Curlin was 10 lengths behind the pace before making a six-wide move around the far turn, making up considerable ground in the stretch to secure a two-length triumph while recording a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/AQU020621USA8-EQB.html

4:36 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

In what appears to be a wide-open affair on turf, recent arrival Masteroffoxhounds and well-accomplished California-bred Acclimate figure prominently among six older horses in Saturday's San Marcos Stakes. Originally scheduled to be run Jan. 30, the San Marcos was moved to this Saturday to avoid heavy rains and will be contested for the 69th time. Trained by Richard Baltas, Masteroffoxhounds began his career at age two in Ireland and managed one win from six starts on the Emerald Isle before making his U.S. debut on Nov. 7. A non-threatening seventh in a one-mile turf allowance, Masteroffoxhounds came back win going away by 4 ¼ lengths in a 1 3/8-miles turf allowance Nov. 28.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA4-EQB.html

4:32 p.m.—$175,000 Grade 3 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG

Heading the field for the 22nd edition of the Endeavour Stakes are 4-year-old filly New York Girl, an Irish-bred who won her first start in the United States on Dec. 31 at Gulfstream, and Counterparty Risk, a game second in the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. New York Girl is trained by Mott and will be ridden by Junior Alvarado. Chad Brown conditions Counterparty Risk, who will be ridden by John Velazquez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM020621USA10-EQB.html

5:02 p.m.—$250,000 Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on TVG and FS2

Nova Rags, who won the Pasco Stakes on Jan. 16, and Candy Man Rocket, a runaway winner of a maiden special weight sprint on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream, give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott a formidable pair of contenders in Saturday's Sam F. Davis Stakes. Mott may have rival trainer Todd Pletcher to beat. Pletcher, who has won a record six Sam F. Davis Stakes, will go for No. 7 with Donegal Racing's colt Millean and St. Elias Stables' Known Agenda, who finished third in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/TAM020621USA11-EQB.html

6:14 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A pair of impressive first time maiden winners, Bob Baffert's Concert Tour and Eric Kruljac's The Chosen Vron, head a field of six sophomores going seven furlongs in Saturday's San Vicente Stakes. Under a snug hold early, Concert Tour could not have been any more impressive on Jan. 15, as he drew out to a 3 ½ length win going six furlongs in a manner that suggested he should relish more distance. A California-bred gelding by Vronsky, The Chosen Vron was very quick from the gate in his 6 ½ furlong debut Dec. 27 and he was much the best among nine statebred rivals as the 2-1 favorite, winning off by 6 ¾ lengths under John Velazquez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA7-EQB.html

6:46 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Fresh off a Grade 2 win sprinting and in the money in 26 out of 40 lifetime starts, Tom Kagele's 7-year-old Hembree heads a field of eight older horses going one mile on turf in Saturday's Thunder Road Stakes. Claimed for $62,500 out of a one turn mile win two starts back on Nov. 19 at Churchill Downs, Hembree rallied for an authoritative three quarter length score going 6 ½ furlongs on turf in the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes here on Jan. 1. Trained by Peter Miller, Hembree is a two-time graded winner.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA020621USA8-EQB.html

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Free Equibase PP’s For All Races On America’s Day At The Races

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, continues Saturday with stakes action from Oaklawn Park, Santa Anita Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Aqueduct Racetrack.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will air from 2:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Eastern on FS2, including a pair of important Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will send out top contenders Overtook and Donegal Bay in the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers [Race 8, 4:25 p.m.] at the Big A, which offers 10-4-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.

A talented field of nine for the nine-furlong Withers includes Jerome-winner Capo Kane and promising maiden winner Risk Taking for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

Tampa Bay Downs has four stakes on offer on their Festival Preview Day card, led by the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis [Race 11, 5:02 p.m.], also offering 10-4-2-1 qualifying points for the first Saturday in May.

A wide-open field for the 1 1/16-mile test features Candy Man Rocket, who earned a field-best 85 Beyer Speed Figure in a last-out maiden win at Gulfstream Park for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Mott will also be represented by stakes winner Nova Rags, who arrives off a score in the seven-furlong Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs. The Pletcher-trained Known Agenda, looking to rebound from a third in the Remsen at the Big A, will have the services of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

Also on tap Saturday at Tampa is the Grade 3, $175,000 Endeavour [Race 10, 4:32 p.m.]at 1 1/16-miles on the turf for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up; the Grade 3, $175,000 Tampa Bay [Race 8, 3:30 p.m.] for 4-year-olds and up on the turf and the $150,000 Suncoast [Race 9, 4:02 p.m.], a main track route for sophomore fillies.

Stakes action from Santa Anita Park will include the Grade 2, $200,000 San Marcos, a 10-furlong turf test for 4-year-olds and upward; and the Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomores featuring the stakes debut of the promising maiden winner Concert Tour.

Leading the action at Oaklawn Park is the $150,000 King Cotton [Race 8, 5:40 p.m.], a six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up led by graded-stakes winner Flagstaff for trainer John Sadler.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 64,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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