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Medina Spirit Faces Older Horses Seeking Classic Berth In Saturday’s Awesome Again Stakes

Medina Spirit, upset first-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, will face older horses for the first time as an outstanding field of eight three-year-olds and up contest Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita. A Breeders' Cup “Win & You're In” Challenge Race qualifier, the winner of the Awesome Again will earn a fees-paid berth into the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Although a cloud of uncertainty continues to hover over the validity of the Derby result due to the fact the Kentucky Racing Commission has not yet issued a ruling on Medina Spirit's positive test for an excessive amount of the permitted steroid betamethasone, the Florida-bred colt by Protonico has gone on to finish third in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes May 15 and he comes off a sharp gate to wire score in the ungraded Shared Belief Stakes going one mile at Del Mar Aug. 29.

Entered but scratched by Bob Baffert out of last Saturday's $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, Medina Spirit stayed home and drilled a solid five furlongs Saturday in 59.80, fourth best of 59 at the distance. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., Medina Spirit, who was purchased for a bargain $35,000 at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' July Sale of 2-year-olds in training and older horses, has now amassed earnings of more than $2.3 million. With a win in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in his third start on Jan. 30 and three seconds from four starts at Santa Anita, Medina Spirit has an overall mark of 8-4-3-1.

An overachiever with an abundance of natural speed, look for regular rider John Velazquez to send Medina Spirit in a race that will unquestionably command the focus of the entire racing world.

John Sadler's Tripoli, an up and coming 4-year-old colt by Kitten's Joy, has the look of a “now” horse as he comes off a scintillating 1 ¼ length score going a mile and a quarter in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Aug. 21, a race in which he pressed the early pace en route to his third win from six starts this year. A maiden winner going 5 ½ furlongs on turf in his second start here on June 14, 2020, Tripoli will be making his second Santa Anita main track start on Saturday.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, Tripoli has had three recorded works since his Pacific Classic win, his most recent a five furlong drill at Santa Anita Sept. 26 in 1:00.20, which ranked sixth of 89 that morning. With his first career stakes victory in-hand, he'll again be ridden by Tiago Pereira.

Well beaten by Tripoli as the 2-1 favorite in the Pacific Classic, the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train, a forwardly placed winner of the Grade II San Diego Handicap two starts back on July 17, will try to bounce back with regular rider Juan Hernandez up. A close second five starts back in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 6, Express Train, who is owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, LLC, is 6-1-3-1 at Santa Anita and should bounce back with a much improved effort on Saturday.

C R K and Shirreffs will also send out the venerable but quirky 6-year-old gelding Midcourt, who will likely be forwardly placed in the early going.

Sent to San Luis Rey Downs over the summer, the Richard Baltas-trained Idol will be making his first start since rallying from off the pace to win the Santa Anita Handicap, which was his first stakes win. Lightly raced, this 4-year-old colt by Curlin has three wins from six starts and he's got a pair of local works to his credit for his return, a five furlong drill in 1:01.40 on Sept. 19 and six furlongs on Sept. 26 in 1:12 flat. Owned by Calvin Nguyen, Idol will be out to validate his Big 'Cap score and to make his way on to the Breeders' Cup Classic stage.

Tizamagician, who earned a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure while finishing second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Tripoli in the Pacific Classic, can be counted upon to be sent early as he again tries to employ gate to wire tactics with Flavien Prat up. Trained by Richard Mandella and owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, this 4-year-old colt by Tiznow is enjoying a terrific year with three wins and as many second from seven starts and 2021 earnings of $487,000.

THE GRADE 1 AWESOME AGAIN WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 10 of 11 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

Tizamagician—Flavien Prat—124
Midcourt—Edwin Maldonado—122
Express Train—Juan Hernandez—124
Stilleto Boy—Kent Desormeaux—118
Medina Spirit—John Velazquez—122
Azul Coast—Abel Cedillo—122
Tripoli—Tiago Pereira–126
Idol—Joe Bravo—124

The Awesome Again is one of five stakes to be run a blockbuster 11-race card Saturday. Special early first post time is 12:30 p.m. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Record-Setting Del Mar Meet Hits on All Cylinders

Ask David Jerkens, Del Mar's racing secretary, what he considers a key ingredient to the success of the coastal venue's latest summer season, which wrapped Monday, and his answer is a testament to the early bird.

“There was lots of enthusiasm–I could go way back to March, when my phone was ringing with questions regarding our 'Ship & Win' program,” said Jerkens, of a particular bait, now into its 11th year, used to hook out-of-state runners. “I just felt that buzz around Del Mar earlier than normal.”

All told, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club injected over $750,000 into purses through the program, which this year offered an “engagement” bonus of $4,000 on top of 50% and 40% purse supplements. These tweaks paid dividends.

Participation grew from 104 horses in 2020 to 181 this year, with the majority owned and trained by Southern Californians.

“It's usually over 70% of the total number of horses who stay in California,” Jerkens said, of the program retention rate.

Beyond Ship & Win, Jerkens applauded local participation at the entry box, which helped bolster another useful barometer of success–field size. This year's per-race average of 8.45 horses saw a slight uptick over last year's commendable average of 8.36.

“That's amongst the highest in the country,” said Jerkens. “And so, we're thrilled on this end.”

The track set a daily average wagering record of $18.38 million–an increase over last year's former record of $17.32 million, according to a press release Monday.

The handle for the meet totaled $569.98 million for 31 days of racing. The 2020 total handle of $467.60 million constituted 27 days of racing.

“The racing product was strong and extremely competitive throughout the season,” said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president, who explained that the numbers were still being crunched as to breakdown between on-track and ADW wagering.

As for attendance, COVID restrictions–especially at the start of the meet–make any comparison with prior years one of “apples and oranges,” said Rubinstein.

“We knew attendance was not going to be at previous levels,” said Rubinstein. “But we wanted to open things responsibly and really focus on our core racing customers. And the feedback that we got on big days–opening day, Pacific Classic day–our core customers were really happy.”

The facility also cemented its reputation as one of the safest tracks in the country. According to California Horse Racing Board data, there were three training-related equine fatalities, and one racing, during the meet.

“For the last three years, Del Mar has ranked as the safest major racetrack in North America, and our record in 2021 is in line with those previous results,” said Rubinstein.

Of the slew of showy performances at Del Mar this summer, Flightline (Tapit)'s demolition job Sunday ranks a top award contender.

“He's just so exciting–I want to talk about how wonderful he is,” said trainer John Sadler, of the twice-raced colt. “I've had a lot of top horses and this one looks like the top of the top. I'm going to be measured by how we go about it, but he's unbelievable.”

Morning training has been largely geared around “getting him to relax,” said the trainer.

“He's so brilliant, has so much ability, it's just getting him to save energy,” Sadler said. “I was reading the clockers' reports before his first race, they said, 'well, we wish he would relax a little bit more.' And I thought, 'well, we've never let him run in the morning.'”

It's “tempting” though, Sadler added. “When you have a Porsche, you want to step on the gas, but we want to save the gas.”

Sadler said he won't be “baited” into pinpointing a next race just yet for the colt, owned by a partnership that includes the Hronis brothers, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm and Woodford Racing.

“He's so brilliant and so fast, you have to protect him from getting ahead of our scheme,” said Sadler. “We'll get him back on the track on Thursday at Santa Anita and see where we are.”

Flightline wasn't the only headline-making Sadler runner this summer. Tripoli (Kitten's Joy)'s win in the GI TVG Pacific Classic made it a third win in four years for the Sadler-Hronis Racing trainer-owner combination.

“He worked yesterday before I left [Del Mar]. Went a nice half in 48:4,” Sadler said of Tripoli. “We'll get him up to Santa Anita and see if he'll run in the [GI] Awesome Again or train him up to the Breeders' Cup.”

Because the Pacific Classic was a Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup, held this year at Del Mar Nov. 5-6, Tripoli's connections have breathing space in the run-up.

“We're in a good spot,” Sadler said. “He's got a really nice pattern. He's running better all the time.”

Del Mar will return to action Wednesday, Nov. 3 to kick-start the track's 15-day Bing Crosby Season. This offers a brief racing aperitif before the two-day Breeders' Cup championship begins.

Rubinstein explained that construction has already started on the quarantine barn for the international runners, and in early October, the track will begin work on the corporate hospitality furniture of the two-day festival.

“Come October, the place will start to have the Breeders' Cup purple feel to it,” Rubinstein said. “We're very excited.”

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Tripoli, Mishriff Join Top 10 In Breeders’ Cup Classic Rankings

Knicks Go, winner of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and the Whitney (G1), stayed atop the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, while two of last week's Breeders' Cup Challenge Series winners, Tripoli and Mishriff (IRE), moved into the top 10. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings is a weekly poll of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). This year's Longines Breeders' Cup Classic will be run at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 6 as the final race of the 38^th Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The 5-year-old Knicks Go, owned by Korea Racing Authority and trained by Brad Cox, received 307 votes, maintaining the top spot for the third consecutive week. Godolphin's 3-year-old Essential Quality, winner of the Belmont Stakes (G1) and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), is in second place with 273 votes. Also trained by Cox, Essential Quality is expected to run in this Saturday's Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old Maxfield, also owned by Godolphin, is in third place with 254 votes. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Maxfield earned a free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic when he won the Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in June.

Three-year-old Hot Rod Charlie, owned by Boat Racing, Gainesway Stable, Roadrunner Racing and William Strauss, and trained by Doug O'Neill, is in fourth place with 204 votes.

Hronis Racing's 4-year-old Tripoli jumped into the top 10 for the first time off a sparkling win in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. The victory gave Tripoli an automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Trained by John Sadler, Tripoli is in fifth place with 125 votes.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska dropped one spot to sixth place with 107 votes. Letruska, trained by Fausto Gutierrez, has won four of five starts this year, including the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont Park and the Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Prince A A Faisal's 4-year-old Mishriff was another “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic last week when he captured the Juddmonte International (G1) on turf at York Racecourse in England. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mishriff, who is in seventh place with 95 votes, also won the Saudi Cup (G1) and the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1) this year.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing's 4-year-old Silver State slipped two spots, from sixth to eighth place, with 70 votes. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Silver State won his first four races of 2021 before finishing third in the Whitney. George E.

Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.'s 4-year-old Max Player, also trained by Asmussen, dropped from eighth to ninth place with 63 votes. Max Player won the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in July.

Another runner moving into the top 10 for the first time is the undefeated 3-year-old Life Is Good. Owned by CHC Inc and WinStar Farm, Life Is Good won both the Sham Stakes (G3) and the San Felipe Stakes (G2) before being sidelined with an ankle injury in the spring. Now back in training, Life Is Good is in 10^th place with 58 votes.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 24, 2021*

Rank	Horse	Votes	First-Place Votes	Previous Week
1	Knicks Go	307	20	1
2	Essential Quality	273	5	2
3	Maxfield	254	4	3
4	Hot Rod Charlie	204	1	4
5	Tripoli	125	0	0
6	Letruska	107	0	5
7	Mishriff (IRE)	95	3	17
8	Silver State	70	0	6
9	Max Player	63	0	8
10	Life Is Good	58	0	13

*Note – The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 ¼ miles on the main track, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 11. A list of voting members can be found here.

In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

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Sadler Reveling In Third Pacific Classic Win

TVG Pacific Classic upset winner Tripoli ($15.00) was asleep in his stall at mid-morning. Trainer John Sadler was inclined to leave the 1 ¼-length winner over Tizamagician undisturbed, calling it a “good sign,” while reflecting on what was a third TVG Pacific Classic victory for Sadler and Hronis racing in the last four years.

“I'm in the latter part of my career and when you can win these big races, I feel very blessed,” Sadler said. “I'm not that old, I'm 65, but I've been around a long time and I don't feel like I'm in the middle part of my career, whether there's two, five or 10 years left to go.”

As a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 6, Tripoli is now assured a spot in the champion-making race Sadler and Hronis won in 2018 with Accelerate.

Campaign planning for Tripoli going forward will be put on hold at least temporarily.

“We'll see how Rock Your World runs next Sunday ($100,000 Shared Belief Stakes), they might be candidates for the same race,” Sadler said. “(Tripoli) could run once (before the Classic) or… whatever.”

For the stable of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, the momentum of victories by Forbidden Kingdom (4^th race, $10.60) and Subconscious (5^th, $13.60) didn't carry over to the stakes. Tizamagician led for the first mile of the 1 ¼-mile Classic before yielding to Tripoli and his Royal Ship, the second wagering choice at just under 3-1, was a no-factor seventh.

“A pretty good day, you're never going to complain if you win two races on the day,” said Gary Mandella, deputizing for his father. “We had a really good second in the Classic with Tizamagician, but Royal Ship is a bit of a mystery. We don't know what went on with him except maybe the year has been a little bit tiring on him. We'll listen to him and figure him out. He'll tell us what to do.”

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