two emmys | Horse Racing Free Tips

All Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Pays $93,103

Saturday's all-graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5, featuring top-caliber action from Saratoga and Arlington Park, paid $93,103 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $328,609.

Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., started the action when High Oak drew away for an impressive 4 1/4-length win in the $200,000 Grade 2 Saratoga Special presented by Miller Lite in Race 9. Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, High Oak won the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for juveniles in a final time of 1:16.53 under jockey Junior Alvarado. Off at 10-1, he returned $22.40 on a $2 win wager.

The remainder of the sequence featured all Grade 1 contests, commencing with the $400,000 Beverly D. for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up competing at 1 3/16 miles on the Arlington turf in Race 7. Even-money favorite Santa Barbara [$4], the winner of the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational last month at Belmont Park, posted a three-length win under rider Ryan Moore, who traveled from Europe for the mount. Conditioned by internationally acclaimed trainer Aidan O'Brien, Santa Barbara completed the course in 1:54.55.

In Saratoga's 10th race, Got Stormy bested males to win the $500,000 Grade 1 Fourstardave for 3-year-olds and up for the second time in her career. Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Got Stormy, the 2019 Fourstardave winner, bested Set Piece by 1 1/2 lengths under Tyler Gaffalione, hitting the wire in 1:33.09 for the one-mile inner turf contest. Got Stormy [$27] won at 12-1. Her sire, Get Stormy, won the 2010 edition of the Fourstardave.

The premier race day at Arlington – located in Arlington Heights, Illinois – closed the wager with the final two races, starting with Point Me By's 2 3/4-length win in the $300,000 Bruce D. for 3-year-olds going one mile on the turf in Race 8. The Bruce D., formerly known as the Secretariat, saw the Eddie Kenneally-trained Point Me By win as the favorite, returning $5.40. Luis Saez, who traveled from Saratoga for the card, piloted Point Me By to victory, notching a final time of 1:37.70.

Arlington's Race 9 concluded the sequence when Two Emmys edged heavy favorite Domestic Spending by a neck in a thrilling finish to the $600,000 Mr. D. for 3-year-olds and up competing at 1 1/4 miles on the turf. It was potentially the last running for the contest formerly known as the Arlington Million and renamed for long-time Arlington owner Richard Duchossois, honoring the 99-year-old World War II veteran. Two Emmys, trained by Hugh Robertson and ridden by James Graham, went gate-to-wire and put his nose on the wire at 2:03.34 to get the win.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Letters to the Editor: Jeff Thornbury On Arlington, James Graham

A little over 20 years ago, a young man from Ireland approached me about his wish to become a jockey in the United States. His name was James Graham. James impressed me so much with his dedication and work ethic that he soon was living at my home and galloping for me every day. His sweetheart, Lisa, joined him, they married, and Lisa became my treasured assistant trainer for a time. James showed tenacity and great athletic ability and became an apprentice rider.

He has always been the same every day; always sober, punctual, full of energy, and always full of fun. He has ridden for me and many others in a great career; racing in Kentucky, New Orleans, and Illinois. Arlington Park has always been a special place for him. I have watched him win (and lose) there over the years. I have enjoyed his antics and the rapport he has with the scores of kids that surround the winner's circle. He never fails to hand out as many goggles as he can while high-fiving with the crowd.

This past Saturday, Arlington ran its final “Million” weekend of races. The “Million” was reduced in purse size, but paid tribute to one of the finest men I have ever known in racing, Mr. Richard Duchossois. Those of us who have raced over the years at Arlington are heartbroken to see it parceled off, and this year any hope of saving it has evaporated. I first saw Arlington Park as a young kid while accompanying my father's partner, Dr. Robert Copelan, as he practiced there. I have always been in awe of its expanse and natural beauty, and the new grandstand is still one of the loveliest in the world. I have truly loved racing at Arlington.

The newly named “Mr. D Stakes” brought everything full circle for me. I watched my man James Graham take Two Emmys to the front, set a pedestrian pace down the backside, and sprint for home after they made the final turn to win this final Grade I stakes in typically cheeky fashion. This was the bright spot of the day for me and for many others, saddened to see racing end at this beautiful, heroic track. I was laughing at James's brilliant accomplishment, while crying at the same time, knowing that Arlington's time had come. Hats off to Mr. D., and hats off to James Graham for leaving us with a sweet taste we'll never forget.

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Brown Prepares Miles D For Travers, Prat To Ride

Trainer Chad Brown said Peter Brant's Miles D will race in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 28 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where he will be ridden by jockey Flavien Prat.

Second to Dynamic One in the Curlin last out on July 30, a race named after his multiple champion-producing sire, Miles D broke his maiden by 2 ¼ lengths off seven month's rest going a one-turn mile on June 12 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

In his debut on October 11 at Belmont Park, Miles D was a close fourth behind subsequent stakes winner Caddo River and multiple graded stakes winner Greatest Honour. The winner of that event, Speaker's Corner, defeated winners on Saturday.

Miles D breezed a half-mile Saturday in :50.04 over the Saratoga main track.

“He's going to have to take a big step forward in the Travers, but he's training well,” Brown said.

On Saturday, Brown sent multiple Grade 1-winner Domestic Spending to Arlington Park for the Grade 1 Mister D., a race formerly known as the Arlington Million. Sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite, the consistent son of Kingman tracked slow fractions set by Two Emmys and closed late to finish second beaten a neck behind the pacesetter.

Domestic Spending, owned by Klaravich Stables, secured three Grade 1 victories entering the Mister D. when capturing the Hollywood Derby on November 28 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., and arrived at nearly six month's rest to dead heat with Colonel Liam in the Bourbon Turf Classic on May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. From there, he conquered the Manhattan on June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“I'm not sure if I'm going to train him up to the Breeders' Cup or not, we'll get him back home and see how he's doing,” Brown said.

Jeff Drown's New York-bred maiden winner Key Point won on debut going six furlongs on August 12 over the Spa main track. The son of Into Mischief registered an 82 Beyer for the victory.

“We're going to see how he comes out of the race and get him back under tack, but so far so good. We'll point to something at Belmont,” Brown said.

Brown sent out a handful of horses for turf works over the Oklahoma training turf on Sunday morning, including Rockemperor, who went a half-mile in :48.60 seconds in company with Flighty Lady.

Brown said Rockemperor, second to Cross Border in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 31 last out, will point to the $600,000 Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational on August 28.

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Two Emmys Too Good For Domestic Spending In Mr. D At Arlington

In a day filled with laments for the last of Arlington's biggest race cards, the race formerly known as the Arlington Million, renamed the Mr. D. in honor of former track owner Richard Duchossois, saw a surprise ending for the day's slate of graded stakes, with longshot Two Emmys going wire to wire in the Grade 1 turf stakes.

Two Emmys, a gelding by English Channel, comes into the Mr. D. with wins at the allowance and claiming levels, his best graded stakes showing a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., and the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes at Arlington last month. In the Mr. D., Two Emmys, with jockey James Graham grabbed the lead early, with Bizzee Channel and Strong Tide behind him. Chad Brown trainee Domestic Spending, the race's favorite, lingered in fourth, with Flavien Prat aboard. Controlling the pace throughout the first half of the race, Two Emmys still held on to a one-length lead six furlongs in after setting fractions of :26.12 for the first quarter, :52.43 for the first half, and 1:16.64 for the three-quarters.

Into the final turn, Bizzee Channel challenged Two Emmys, with Prat on Domestic Spending gearing up for a move in the stretch. Bizzee Channel could not stay with the leader, falling back as Prat and Domestic Spending started their closing kick. Two Emmys had plenty left in reserve, holding off the closing Brown trainee to win by a half-length. Glynn County was third, with Space Traveller in fourth. Bizzee Channel, Armory, Zulu Alpha, and Strong Tide rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/4-mile Mr. D. Stakes was 2:03.34. Find this race's chart here.

Two Emmys paid $56.20, $9.80, and $5.80. Domestic Spending paid $2.40 and $2.10. Glynn County paid $8.00.

Bred in Kentucky by Tottenwood Thoroughbreds, Inc., Two Emmys is by English Channel, out of the Buddha mare Miss Emmy. Co-owned and trained by Hugh Robertson, the 5-year-old gelding is also owned by Wolfe Racing. Consigned by Vinery Thoroughbreds, Two Emmys was sold for $4,500 to Hugh Robertson and Wolfe Racing at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With his win in the Mr. D. Stakes, Two Emmys has two wins in six starts in 2021, for a lifetime record of 4-7-0 in 16 starts and $545,708 in career earnings.

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