Winning Colors Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Trio of Grade Ones Highlight Holiday Stakes Action Monday

Santa Anita will play host to three Grade I races, while Grade III action features the return of a champion at Churchill Downs and a talented Louisiana-bred attempting to make the grade at Lone Star Park during holiday stakes action Monday.

The GI Shoemaker Mile S. at Santa Anita is set to be the first of 41 Breeders' Cup Challenge series races in North America this year. A field of 11 goes postward seeking the winner's share of the $500,000, as well as an automatic berth in the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile, which will be held over the same course in November.

Trainer Phil D'Amato saddles three in the race, including morning-line favorite Hong Kong Harry (Ire) (Es Que Love {Ire}), who was a three-time graded winner in California last year. He was fourth behind reopposing stablemate Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) in the Mar. 4 GI Frank Kilroe Mile before heading east for a runner-up effort in the May 6 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.

Gold Phoenix, who was 10th in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf, returned from his win in the Kilroe Mile to finish fourth when stretched to 1 1/4 miles for the Apr. 8 GII Charles Whittingham S. last time out. Unbeaten in two tries at a mile on grass, Gold Phoenix will be reunited with Japanese sensation Kazushi Kimura, who has been aboard for his last two starts and will fly in from his Toronto base for the ride Sunday.

Rounding out the D'Amato trio–who were all plundered from Europe to find graded success in the U.S.–is Balnikhov (Ire) (Adaay {Ire}), who was seventh in the Kilroe Mile before getting up in the last jump to win the Apr. 29 GIII San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate in his most recent start.

Both Gold Phoenix and Balnikhov represent the red-hot Little Red Feather partnership, which won four stakes last weekend.

An hour before the Shoemaker Mile, seven older fillies and mares head postward at Santa Anita for the GI Gamely S. Trainer Michael McCarthy will saddle morning-line favorite Queen Goddess (Empire Maker). The 5-year-old raced last year for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and her breeder TOLO Thoroughbreds and, after selling for $1.525 million at Fasig-Tipton last November, returned for the partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Gary Barber to win the GIII Robert J. Frankel S. last December. She added a win in the GIII TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream in January and returns to the West Coast following a sixth-place effort in the Apr. 15 GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland.

D'Amato has two chances in the nine-furlong Gamely, with School Dance (Animal Kingdom) and Macadamia (Brz) (Hat Trick {Jpn}) in the line-up.

The GI Gold Cup concludes the Grade I action at Santa Anita Monday. Trainer Bob Baffert holds a strong hand in the 1 1/4-mile race with Country Grammer (Tonalist) and Defunded (Dialed In) appearing to tower over the six-horse field. Country Grammer, second in the Feb. 25 G1 Saudi Cup, will look to get back on track following a seventh-place effort while attempting a defense of his title in the G1 Dubai World Cup at Meydan in March. Defunded had to settle for third after setting the pace over this track and trip in the Mar. 4 GI Santa Anita H., but returned to the winner's circle with a three-length tally in the Apr. 22 GII Californian S. last time out.

In other graded stakes action across the country, champion Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) makes her return to the races in the GIII Winning Colors S. at Churchill Downs. Champion 2-year-old filly of 2021, the 4-year-old has been off since finishing second in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint last November at Keeneland.

Touchuponastar (Star Guitar) looks for his seventh straight victory in the GIII Steve Sexton Mile S. at Lone Star Park. The Louisiana-bred, trained by Jeff Delhomme, will be making his first start outside state-bred company. The 4-year-old's toughest competition might be the Mike Maker-trained 7-year-old Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro), who won a pair of one-mile graded events at Gulfstream this past winter.

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Sconsin Using Overnight Stakes As ‘Final Hurdle’ Before Grade 1 Ballerina

Lloyd Madison Farm's multiple graded stakes-winning filly Sconsin has not traveled very far from her own stall throughout her 12-race career but trainer Greg Foley is hoping with a successful result in Saturday's $110,000 Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs, the four-time winner can ship to Saratoga for the $500,000 Ballerina Handicap (Grade 1).

“Churchill is home, we always prefer to run our horses out of their own stall and her track record here all made this race very attractive,” Foley said. “We had a tentative summer plan for her by working backwards from the (Aug. 28) Ballerina and so far she's handled everything we've thrown at her with flying colors. The Roxelana is the final hurdle before we have to go on the road.”

Sconsin, a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Include, recorded three of her four lifetime victories beneath the Twin Spires including a convincing 3 ¼-length score in last month's $150,000 Winning Colors (G3). She finished second to top filly and mare sprinter Gamine in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Saturday's 6 ½-furlong Roxelana is carded as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. (all times Eastern). The program will get underway at 12:45 p.m.

The complete field for the Roxelana from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):

Shesomajestic (Joe Talamo, Michelle Nihei, 20-1)
Miss Mosaic (Colby Hernandez, Ben Colebrook, 12-1)
Four Graces (Julien Leparoux, Ian Wilkes, 7-2)
Bell's the One (Corey Lanerie, Neil Pessin, 7-5)
Sconsin (Tyler Gaffalione, Foley, 1-1)
Jungle Juice (IRE) (Adam Beschizza, Anna Meah, 30-1).

Fans can catch the Roxelana, along with the entire 11-race program, on “America's Day at the Races.” The action is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. on Fox Sports 2. Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

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Sconsin Rallies From Off The Pace To Capture Winning Colors

Taking advantage of fast early fractions, Tyler Gaffalione allowed Lloyd Madison Farms IV LLC's Kentucky homebred Sconsin to settle off the early pace, then swung out at the top of the stretch to pass the early leaders and draw off to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3, $150,000 Winning Colors Stakes on Saturday evening at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

A 4-year-old daughter of Include, Sconsin covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:08.80 and paid $4.20 as the second choice among the five older fillies and mares contesting the Winning Colors. Pacesetter Rising Seas held second by a half length over 3-5 favorite Frank's Rockette, who got away slowly and then rushed up to contest the pace. Headland, who stumbled badly coming out of the gate, finished fourth, with Tipsy Gal fifth. Bayerness scratched.

The victory was the fourth in 12 starts for Sconsin, whose only previous stakes victory also came at Churchill Downs in the G2 Eight Belles Stakes last Sept. 4. She was coming off a second-place finish to champion female sprinter Gamine in the G1 Derby City Distaff on Kentucky Derby day, May 1.

Rising Seas and Corey Lanerie jumped out to the early lead after the slow start by multiple graded stakes winner Frank's Rockette, who was ridden by Florent Geroux. Rising Seas went the opening quarter mile in :21.72 and was under pressure from Frank's Rockette around the far turn through a half mile in :44.55. Tipsy Gal was three wide and also putting pressure on the top two while Sconsin sat fourth, saving ground behind the top three until Gaffalione swung her to the outside at the top of the stretch.

After passing the furlong pole in :56.48, Sconsin quickly pulled away to the victory.

The Winning Colors Stakes, named for the D. Wayne Lukas-trained filly who won the 1988 Kentucky Derby under jockey Gary Stevens, was inaugurated in 2004.

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Sconsin Wheels Back To Face Short Field In Winning Colors

Lloyd Madison Farms' Grade 2 winner Sconsin along with Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' seven-time winner Frank's Rockette top a compact field of six filly and mare sprinters that entered Saturday's $150,000 Winning Colors (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs.

The Winning Colors, run at six furlongs, is the featured event Saturday night for Downs After Dark – Country Saloon presented by Budweiser. The evening features 11 races, live music, line dancers and more. First post is 6 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the featured Winning Colors goes as Race 5 at 7:57 p.m. Also on tap Saturday night is the $110,000 Keertana Overnight Stakes, run at 1 ½ miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up. The Keertana is slated as Race 9 at 10:11 p.m.

Sconsin exits a gallant effort behind top sprinter Gamine in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) on Kentucky Derby Day. The 4-year-old homebred daughter of Include was victorious in last year's $300,000 Eight Belles (G2) for trainer Greg Foley. Through 11 starts, she's recorded three wins, three seconds and one third with stout purse earnings of $453,512.

Sconsin drew post No. 4 in the Winning Colors and will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Chief among Sconsin's main rivals in the Winning Colors is the speedy Frank's Rockette. The multiple graded stakes-winning daughter of Into Mischief started her 4-year-old season with a victory in the $150,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn and finished second to Edgeway in the $250,000 Carousel. Frank's Rockette has been nearly flawless in her 13-race career with seven wins and five runner-up efforts. Her only off-the-board finish came in last year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) against colts and geldings.

Florent Geroux will ride the Bill Mott trainee from post 2.

The complete field for the Winning Colors from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Rising Seas (Corey Lanerie, Ben Colebrook); Frank's Rockette (Geroux, Mott); Tipsy Gal (Colby Hernandez, Dallas Stewart); Sconsin (Gaffalione, Foley); Bayerness (Brian Hernandez Jr., Cherie DeVaux); and Headland (Martin Garcia, Steve Hobby).

Wagering is available online at www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday evening calls for mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 80s.

General admission to Downs After Dark is $12 and it includes a reserved seat on the first floor and official program. No one under the age of 18 will be admitted to the track unless they are accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Limited premium dining packages are available starting at $69 per person. Outdoor-third floor box seats are on sale for $27 per person. Reserved seating can be purchased online at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.

Bal Mar Equine LLC's multiple stakes winner Dalika leads a field of 10 fillies and mares that were entered in Saturday night's $110,000 Keertana Overnight Stakes, run at 1 ½ miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Keertana is carded as Race 9 with a post time of 10:11 p.m.

Trained by Al Stall Jr., Dalika has six victories in her 20-start résumé with solid purse earnings of $404,005. In her last victory, the 5-year-old mare won the $100,000 Al Stall Memorial at Fair Grounds, named in memory of Stall Jr.'s father. Other stakes wins on her ledger are the $75,000 Blushing K.D. and $184,000 One Dreamer.

Miguel Mena has the call from post No. 10.

The complete field for the Keertana from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Naomi Broadway (BRZ) (Joe Talamo, Paolo Lobo); First Course (Drayden Van Dyke, Vicki Oliver); Ya Beauty (GB) (Julien Leparoux, Eric Reed); Temple City Terror (Adam Beschizza, Brendan Walsh); Pass the Plate (Rafael Bejarano, Paul McGee); Tweety Show (Julie Burke, Ron Isbell Jr.); Sursum Corda (Corey Lanerie, Ian Wilkes); Delta's Kingdom (Florent Geroux, Bill Mott); Cambeliza (James Graham, Arnaud Delacour); and Dalika (GER) (Mena, Stall).

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