zuma beach stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

It's on to the Breeders' Cup for Doug O'Neill-trained Mackinnon as he accelerated powerfully off the turn for home and took Sunday's $200,000 Zuma Beach Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Mackinnon got one mile on turf in 1:33.80. With the Zuma Beach being his third win in a row at the trip, it's on now to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

Mid-pack, about six lengths off the lead at the half mile pole, Mackinnon saved ground at the rail around the turn, idled into third position at the top of the lane and blew by eventual runner-up Silver Surfer and early pacesetter Thirty Four Coupe in deep stretch in a huge effort.

“He's getting better every race,” said Hernandez, who has now ridden him in his last four races. “He broke good, there was little speed, and he felt a little tired on the right side, so he changed leads to the right side. That's why I had to check a little bit and decided to stay inside and save ground and make one run.

“He came with a huge run today…He's improved a lot because the last couple of times I rode him, I had to work a little hard in the stretch with him. Today, I asked him a little and after that, he just took off again.

A winner of Del Mar's Juvenile Turf on Sept. 6, Mackinnon was off as the 6-5 favorite in a field of 10 juveniles and paid $4.40, $2.60 and $2.40.

“We didn't get the most ideal trip,” said O'Neill. “He was a little green early but Juan said once we got the first half mile behind us, he settled nicely. And as you could see, he finished up real well. If he comes out of this in good shape, it's on to the Breeders' Cup.”

English-bred Silver Surfer appeared to take control in upper stretch, but was no match for the winner. Off at 5-2 with Flavien Prat, Silver Surfer paid $3.20 and $2.60 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths clear of Picota.

Ridden by John Velazquez, English-bred Picota was off at 17-1 and paid $5.60 to show.

Fractions on the race were 22.33, 46.08, 1:09.85 and 1:21.90.

The post Mackinnon Takes Zuma Beach For Third Consecutive Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Irish-bred Ebeko rallied through the lane for a hard fought nose victory in Sunday's $100,000 Zuma Beach Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., as leading trainer Peter Miller continued to hold a red-hot hand. Ridden by Ricardo Gonzalez, Ebeko, in his second stateside start, got one mile on turf in 1:36.55.

Breaking from post position four in a field of seven juveniles, Ebeko was much closer to the pace today than he had been in his one mile turf U.S. debut at Del Mar on Sept. 7. Fourth, about two lengths off of dueling leaders a quarter mile out, he swept four-wide turning for home and was just up as he narrowly outdueled Bob Baffert's Tarantino to the wire.

“This is a very nice colt…He gives you his all,” said Gonzalez. “The first time, we were in the 10-hole, so we just kind of made one run and he had just come from Europe. It's different now that he's been here. He puts himself in the race and finished really strong.”

A fast finishing second, beaten one length by today's race favorite Big Fish, Ebeko was off as the third betting choice at 3-1 and paid $8.80, $4.80 and $3.40.

Owned by Altamira Racing Stable, CYBT, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig, Ebeko, who was one for three in his native Ireland, provided Miller with his meet leading fifth stakes win and his eighth win overall. With the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $106,430 and improved his overall mark to 5-2-2-0.

“We've been on an incredible run,” said Miller by phone from his home in Cardiff. “We've won with our last four, just everything is falling into place right now. I thought Ricky rode an incredible race. We knew this horse was doing well and Ricky saw that the pace was pretty slow, so he had him closer today.

“To be honest, there's no doubt in my mind that he could've won much easier today if we didn't have the new rules…I'm just being honest…We're definitely going to look at the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile Turf on Nov. 6 at Keeneland) with this horse. He deserves it and we're looking forward to going.”

Ridden by Tiago Pereira, Tarantino laid second throughout and lost a heartbreaker while finishing three quarters of a length in front of Cotopaxi. The actual second choice at 3-1, Tarantino paid $4.80 and $4.00.

Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Cotopaxi made the lead a furlong out, but had to settle for third money, a neck in front of Caisson. Off at 6-1, Cotopaxi paid $4.20 to show.

Big Fish, the 2-1 post favorite with Victor Espinoza, appeared poised to make a run at the top of the stretch, but flattened out through the drive to finish fifth.

Fractions on the race were 23.66, 48.42, 1:13.10 and 1:24.92.

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