win and you're in | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dr Post, Authentic Top Probables For ‘Win And You’re In’ Haskell Stakes

Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr. Post and Santa Anita Derby runner-up Authentic are among nine 3-year-olds listed as probable for the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 18, with two other sophomore runners possibly joining the field, director of racing and racing secretary John Heims and stakes coordinator Lynn T. Ott announced today.

If all nine go it will be the largest field for Monmouth Park's signature race since 2014, when there were also nine starters.

This year's 53rd edition of the Haskell offers the added inducements of points for the Kentucky Derby and a “Win and You're In” reward for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Monmouth Park is also putting up a $1 million bonus for any horse that sweeps the Haskell, the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Haskell is one of two Grade 1 races remaining for 3-year-olds prior to the Kentucky Derby, which has been moved to Sept. 5 from its traditional spot the first Saturday in May because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Breeders' Cup Classic is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Ancient Warrior, Ete Indien, Fame to Famous, Jesus' Team, Lebda, Ny Traffic and Sonneman are the other probables for the nine-furlong Haskell Stakes.

The connections of Modernist, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and Mystic Guide are also considering the Haskell Stakes.

If one or both of those decide to go it would mark the largest Haskell field since 11 started in the 1995 race.

Dr. Post, trained by Todd Pletcher, had won two of his first three career starts before finishing second to Tiz the Law in the Belmont Stakes on June 20.

Authentic, second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby to Honor A.P. on June 6, represents trainer Bob Baffert's attempt to win a record ninth Haskell. He has captured the race in 2015 (American Pharoah), 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Lucky), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Point Given).

Post time for Haskell Day is noon, with the Grade 1 United Nations also part of the stakes-filled card. The Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher and the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes are part of the undercard as well.

Details for Haskell Day tickets will be announced shortly.

The post Dr Post, Authentic Top Probables For ‘Win And You’re In’ Haskell Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Announces 16 Challenge Series Races For August

Headlined by two automatic qualifiers for the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and three “Win and You're In” starting positions at York's Ebor Festival in Britain, the Breeders' Cup today announced its August schedule of races as part of the 2020 Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge, now in its 14th year, is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid for a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year on Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

There will be 16 Breeders' Cup Challenge races in August, beginning on Aug. 1 with two races at Saratoga Race Course and one at Del Mar. Saratoga will host the 1 1/8-mile Whitney (G1), which will give the winner an automatic starting position into the 1 ¼-mile, $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, as well as the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign (G1), providing the winner with a “Win and You're In” for the 1 1/8-mile, $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1). Later that day at Del Mar, the second automatic berth into the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) will be awarded to the winner of the 6-furlong Bing Crosby Stakes (G1). The following day, Aug. 2, Del Mar will host its “Win and You're In” for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, the 1 1/16-mile Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1).

On Aug. 8, the first “Win and You're In” for a spot in the 7-furlong, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) will be on the line in the 7-furlong Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

One week later, on Aug. 15 at Saratoga, the winner of the 1 ¼-mile Alabama Stakes (G1), for 3-year-old fillies, will earn a free bid into the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. The Alabama will be televised live on NBC as a part of the “Breeders' Cup Challenge Series Win and You're In – presented by America's Best Racing.”

The scene will then shift to Europe for the next four Breeders' Cup Challenge races. On Aug. 16, France's historic racing venue, Deauville, will host the 1-mile Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le Buffard – Jacques Le Marois (G1), granting an automatic berth into the 1-mile, $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on turf.

On Aug. 19 in Great Britain, York Racecourse will open its Yorkshire Ebor Festival, which will be home to three Breeders' Cup Challenge Series races. On the first day of the meet, the 1 ¼-mile Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) will offer Europe's only free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. On Aug. 20, fillies and mares will be in spotlight for the 1 ½-mile Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1), with the winner awarded a free spot in the 1 3/16-mile, $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). A “Win and You're In” position for the 5 ½-furlong, $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) will be at stake the following day, Aug. 21, in the 5-furlong Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).

Back in the U.S., three Breeders' Cup Challenge races will be held on Aug. 22. Saratoga will host the 1-mile Fourstardave (G1), earning the winner a free spot in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile. Del Mar will host two Breeders' Cup Challenge races: the 1 ¼-mile TVG Pacific Classic (G1) for the year's sixth automatic berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, and the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap – presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2), a “Win and You're In” for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

On Aug. 23, the second “Win and You're In” for the 5 ½ -furlong, $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) will be offered at Deauville in the 6-furlong Darley Prix Morny (G1) for 2-year-olds.

The month of Challenge Series races will close with two events on Aug. 29: the 1 ½-mile Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga for a free berth into the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, and the 7-furlong Pat O'Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, which offers an automatic starting position into the 1-mile, $2 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

As part of the enhanced benefits to horsemen competing in the series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees and guarantee a starting position in a corresponding Championships race for winners of all Challenge races. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards, and those rewards must be used in the year they are earned.

Breeders' Cup also will provide a $10,000 travel allowance for starters within North America that are stabled outside of Kentucky, and a $40,000 travel stipend to the connections of all Championship starters from outside of North America.

The post Breeders’ Cup Announces 16 Challenge Series Races For August appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Announces Challenge Series Races for August

Headlined by three automatic qualifiers for the $7-million GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and three “Win and You’re In” starting positions at York’s Ebor Festival in Britain, the Breeders’ Cup announced its August schedule of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races Wednesday.

There will be 16 Breeders’ Cup Challenge races in August, beginning Aug. 1 with two races at Saratoga Race Course and one at Del Mar. Saratoga will host the GI Whitney S., which will give the winner an automatic berth into Classic, as well as the GI Personal Ensign S., providing the winner a spot in the starting gate for the $2-million GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Later that day at Del Mar, the second automatic berth into the $2-million GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint will be awarded to the winner of the GI Bing Crosby S. The following day, Aug. 2, Del Mar will host its “Win and You’re In” for the Distaff, the GI Clement L. Hirsch S.

The rest of the August schedule with corresponding Breeders’ Cup events are as follows: the Aug. 8 GI Ballerina S. at Saratoga (Filly & Mare Sprint), Aug. 15 GI Alabama S. at Saratoga (Distaff), Aug. 16 G1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in France (Mile), Aug. 19 G1 Juddmonte International S. at York in Great Britain (Classic), Aug. 20 G1 Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York (Filly & Mare Turf), Aug. 21 G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. at York (Turf Sprint), Aug. 22 GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga (Mile), GI TVG Pacific Classic (Classic) and GII Del Mar H. (Turf) at Del Mar, Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Morny at Deauville (Juvenile Turf Sprint), Aug. 29 GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. at Saratoga (Turf) and GII Pat O’Brien S. at Del Mar (Dirt Mile).

The post Breeders’ Cup Announces Challenge Series Races for August appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Equibase Analysis: Pirate’s Punch Could Lead All The Way In Stephen Foster

The Grade 1, $500,000 Stephen Foster Stakes brings together a field of eight quality horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic division, each hoping to earn an automatic spot into the gate for the November 8 running of the race at Keeneland, just 75 miles down the road from Churchill Downs.

Leading the field in terms of accomplishments is Tom's d'Etat, winner of the Grade 1 Clark Stakes, the fall version of the Stephen Foster. Since the Clark, Tom's d'Etat won the Oaklawn Mile Stakes in his only start of 2020 and although third in last year's Foster he is the one to beat on paper. Owendale is among many who have top stakes credentials, having won the Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs last month after finishing second to Tom's d'Etat in the Clark last fall.

Another strong contender is By My Standards, who has a perfect three-for-three record this year including the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap last month in his most recent race. Silver Dust is no slouch either, having led late in the Blame Stakes last month and coming up a neck short in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes last summer at this nine furlong distance while winning the Grade 3 Mineshaft Stakes and Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes in between.

Pirate's Punch finished third in the Mineshaft, as well as third in the Grade 3 Super Derby last summer and may have an edge in the pace department as the only horse who likes to lead early in the race. Multiplier won the Grade 3 Illinois Derby in 2017 at the distance of the Stephen Foster and proved he belongs with these when coming up a neck short in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March. Fearless makes his stakes debut off an eye-catching rally from last of 11 to win an allowance race last month at Churchill Downs. Alkhaatam rounds out the field, having won his last two dirt starts, noting however he finished 11th of 12 in last year's Foster.

Although there's no doubt Tom's d'Etat leads the field in terms of having earned field high 116 and 118 Equibase Speed Figures in similar races, Pirate's Punch may have a significant edge in terms of early speed that could help him to post the upset. Winner of four races from 14 starts, Pirate's Punch was most impressive in two of his last four efforts when winning by five and by 11 and one-half lengths, respectively. In both cases, Pirate's Punch established the lead and got very brave to be well in front when the field turned for home, giving no horse a chance to make up any ground. It may also be that Pirate's Punch can take back and sit off the pace as well. This is evidenced by his last effort where he rallied from fifth to get within a neck of the leader with an eighth of a mile to go, before being out finished but only beaten a half-length and a neck for the win.

Getting the two post position in the Foster, as well as the services of Hall-of-Fame jockey Mike Smith, I believe the tactic will be to go for the lead from the start, especially since the only horse inside of Pirate's Punch in the gate (Fearless) usually drops back and closes from far back. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind Pirate's Punch has the breeding to win this grade 1 race and to run well at one mile and one-eighth. Using STATS Race Lens to look at the history of other foals of the dam, I note both were exceptional, with combined earnings of $2.1 million. One of those was Girvin, winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes. As such, I'll take Pirate's Punch to get the lead from the opening of the gate and never look back in this year's Stephen Foster Stakes.

Tom's d'Etat doesn't need much talking up, if any, in terms of being a strong contender to win this race. Winner of 10 races from 16 dirt starts, Tom's d'Etat proved himself last summer at the distance when winning the Alydar Stakes at Saratoga with a career-best 118 figure. Two races later, Tom's d'Etat duplicated the feat with a victory in the Grade 3 Fayette Stakes at the same distance, earning a 116 figure. Winning the Clark Stakes in November at Churchill Downs with a 113 figure led to a four and one-half month layoff. Returning as if he had never been away, Tom's d'Etat earned a 113 figure winning the Oaklawn Mile Stakes in April. Having proven capable of winning off a layoff, there's no problem with the two and one-half months off since his last race and as he's won five or eight races at the distance including three of his last four, there is nothing to knock about this talented horse. Although he rallied from sixth and eighth, respectively, in his last two race, Tom's d'Etat raced closer up in second in the early stages of the Fayette Stakes so it is entirely possible Pirate's Punch will not get the easy early lead I envision and in that case it's very likely Tom's d'Etat will earn his 11th career win in this race.

By My Standards has really blossomed as a four year old, winning in his 2020 debut by six lengths then taking two straight grade stakes. Winner of the Louisiana Derby at the distance of the Foster last March as a three year old, By My Standards had already proven to be one of the top of his class but after a poor 12th place effort in the Kentucky Derby, the colt went on the sidelines. Given time to mature, he did just that with a win around two-turns off a nine month layoff with a 102 figure, then two races later he earned a career-best 106 figure in the Oaklawn Handicap at this mile and one-eighth distance. Showing he's fit as a fiddle with a half-mile workout one week ago that was the 11th best of 113 on the day and with it likely he has improving to do, By My Standards could really put his mark on the division with a win in this race and by doing so, stamp his name as one of the horses to strongly consider this fall in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

I could make the case for any of the other five entrants in this race as their best efforts could be good enough to win. These horses, and their best Equibase Speed Figures, are Alkhaatam (105), Fearless (99), Multiplier (109), Owendale (108) and Silver Dust (114).

Win Contenders:
Pirate's Punch
Tom's d'Etat
By My Standards

Stephen Foster Stakes – Grade 1
Race 10 at Churchill Downs
Saturday, June 27 – Post Time 5:47 PM E.T.
One Mile and One Eighth
Four Year Olds and Upward
Purse: $500,000

The post Equibase Analysis: Pirate’s Punch Could Lead All The Way In Stephen Foster appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post