HRN Video Race of the Week: Elusive Quality Stakes from Belmont Park

Jarrod Horak analyzes the 2017 Elusive Quality Stakes from Belmont Park for Horse Racing Nation.

Thunder Road Stakes featuring BOLO: Today's Racing Digest Video Analysis

Jarrod Horak analyzes the 2017 Thunder Road Stakes for Today's Racing Digest. Bolo is the morning line favorite. 

Santa Anita Park Report with Horses to Watch (April 20-23)

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 20

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on a speed favoring dirt oval (6.5f, 8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner down the hill, a downhill presser, and a downhill stalker (rail at 20 feet).

Joe Talamo rode the early double.

Jill Madden coasted to a wire job maiden win as the heavy favorite in the fourth (Mcl-30k, 8f) but Warrior Vixen is the horse to watch. The latter stalked moderate splits, gained 2nd at the 6f mark, and pulled well clear of the rest (show finisher 9+ back) while cutting into the winning margin in the lane. She can graduate next time with a similar effort.

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 21

Fast main track and firm turf course. Three wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8.5f, 6, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a patient runner at 12f, and a downhill stalker (rail at 10 feet).

Tyler Baze booted home a pair.

County Lineman raced wide throughout and ended up an okay 3rd as the favorite (beaten 1.5 lengths) in the flat mile turf opener for the productive Bejarano/Cerin team.

Chocolate Coated did well to rally for the place in the hillside finale after a slow start under Stevens. Kenda was the perfect trip stalk/pounce winner as the chalk from the outside post while Chocolate Coated broke from the difficult inside post and was clearly second best.

Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 22

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on a speed favoring dirt oval (5.5f, 6.5f, 9f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill closer (last-to-first), a stalker in the 14f San Juan Capistrano, a stalker at 9f, and a pace prompter in the 6.5f Mizdirection.

Martin Garcia and Bob Baffert teamed up for two wins including Collected in the G2 Californian. Richard Baltas saddled two turf winners including Inordinate in the G3 San Juan Capistrano.

Incredible Luck ran a winning race in the seventh (MSW, 9T). He dueled on the lead and fought hard throughout but eventual winner Marckie’s Water sat a perfect stalking trip and ran him down under Bejarano. The top two were well clear of the rest.

Collected was much the best in the G2 Californian but Follow Me Crev did well to rally for the place on the speed favoring surface. They may meet again in the Gold Cup at SA.

Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 23

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 7f, 8f, 7f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at 9f and two downhill stalkers (rail at 20 feet).

Rafael Bejarano booted home a pair. Peter Miller saddled two winners including razor sharp downhill specialist Stormy Liberal in the Siren Lure.

Patentar got back to his winning distance and beat stakes winners Frank Conversation and Up With the Birds in the grassy nine furlong opener. He was my top choice based on his strong Today’s Racing Digest numbers earned in his last SA victory at 9f. 

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Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders: Battalion Runner, Gormley, Irap, and Mal...

Check out this free Kentucky Derby 2017 report from Today's Racing Digest - https://todaysracingdigest.lpages.co/kentucky-derby-contenders-preview/

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Arkansas Derby Recap

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 came to a dramatic end on April 15 and 2-year-old champ Classic Empire threw his hat back into the ring with a victory in the Grade I Arkansas Derby.

Classic Empire was the Derby winterbook favorite but lost some of his luster in a flat show finish in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. He came out of that race with a foot abscess and was forced to miss his next scheduled start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Things went from bad to worse when he refused to work twice during the month of March and reportedly had a problem with his back. Trainer Mark Casse said no mas and sent him to Winding Oaks Farm to recharge his batteries. He finally came out of his funk and worked four times without incident.

Fast forward to the Arkansas Derby and Classic Empire settled in midpack from post 2 and rumbled down the middle of the track to beat Sunland Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money by a 1/2 length, followed closely by Lookin At Lee, Sonneteer, and Malagacy. The top five finishers were separated by a couple of lengths in an ugly stretch run and the BSF came back a mediocre 94.

Classic Empire had every right to lose the Arkansas Derby but the champ stood up and refused to bend. He should be fitter now but can he come back in three weeks and run the race of his life in the Derby after everything that has happened to him this year? He has a very tough task ahead of him.  

In other Derby news, Cloud Computing, currently ranked 20th on the Kentucky Derby points list, worked at Belmont Park on April 22 and trainer Chad Brown said that he will skip the Derby and point to the Preakness Stakes. According to Brown, he lacked the seasoning (only 3 starts) to run in the Derby. Untrapped moves up one spot to #20 and is now in the Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Todd Pletcher is still undecided about the Derby status of Malagacy. He is concerned about the ten furlong distance.

Battle of Midway was acquired privately by Don Alberto Stable and WinStar Farm earlier this week. Jerry Hollendorfer will remain his trainer and Flavien Prat will ride him in the Derby. He worked 5f in 1:00.60 at Santa Anita Park on April 22.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-22-17)

#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING

#2 - Gunnevera

#3 - McCraken

#4 - Irish War Cry

#5 - Battalion Runner

#6 - Girvin

#7 - Practical Joke

#8 - Gormley

#9 - Classic Empire

#10 - Irap

#11 - Patch


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards 

Santa Anita Park 2017 Spring Meet Recap (April 14-16)

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 14

Fast main track and firm turf course. Four wire-to-wire winners on a speed favorite dirt oval (7f, 5.5f, 8f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner down the hill, a stalker at one mile, and a downhill closer (rail at 30 feet).

Martin Pedroza booted home a pair.

Cupid’s Beau did not have much of a shot from off the pace (bumped, squeezed start) as the favorite in the maiden claiming sprint finale. She did well to rally for the show under Bejarano and might graduate next time.

Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 15

Fast main track and firm turf course. Five wire-to-wire winners on another speed favoring dirt oval (6.5f, 6f, 6f, 6f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were two front runners at one mile and a dueling front runner down the hill (rail at 30 feet).  

Tiago Pereira and Martin Pedroza both booted home a pair.

Allaboutmike was fractious at the gate, made a nice outside middle move to get into the top three, and flattened out to finish 4th in the eighth race. That was his first SoCal start for Miller and he can go better next time. Whiskey Ginger was up for the show in the same race after blowing the break in his debut for Gallagher.  

Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 16

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (7f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were two stalkers at one mile, a patient runner at nine furlongs, and a patient runner at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Flavien Prat booted home the early double.

Zenyatta’s son Ziconic seems to have found a home on turf and is going to get there one of these days. He broke inward and slow and made a nice sustained run to to finish 3rd (beaten 1/2 length for everything). He can run all day for Shirreffs.  

Aristocratic looked good dusting Bobby Abu Dhabi in the San Pedro for sophomore sprinters. They are both decent runners.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders: Irish War Cry, Gunnevera, and Classic Empire

Kentucky Derby 2017 is just two weeks away and in this video I take a look back at the productive Holy Bull Stakes featuring Irish War Cry, Gunnevera, and Classic Empire.

HRN Handicapping Video of the Week: Charles Town Classic featuring Stanford and Imperative

Californian Stakes 2017 with Collected Cupid: Today's Racing Digest Video

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Arkansas Derby Preview

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 makes one final stop at Oaklawn Park on April 15 and 2-year-old champion Classic Empire tries to get back on track in the Grade I Arkansas Derby.

Everything has gone wrong for Classic Empire since he won the BC Juvenile last fall. In the ensuing five months, he ran once and finished a flat 3rd in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park and came out of that race with a foot abscess, which forced him to miss the Fountain of Youth Stakes.

He refused to work twice last month and trainer Mark Casse took him to the farm to get him in the right frame of mind. He has been working without incident recently and needs a big effort on Saturday. In the last 5+ months, he only has one race and nine workouts.

Rebel Stakes winner Malagacy drew post 12 and will likely stalk the pace. Todd Pletcher’s undefeated sophomore still has stamina questions to answer.

One Liner was supposed to represent the Pletcher barn in the Arkansas Derby but his final work was unsatisfactory and he is off the Derby trail.

If the two Arkansas Derby favorites fail to fire, there are many quality horses ready to jump up and shine including Conquest Mo Money, Lookin at Lee, Petrov, Rockin Rudy, Silver Dust, and Untrapped.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-15-17)

#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING

#2 - Gunnevera

#3 - McCraken

#4 - Irish War Cry

#5 - Battalion Runner

#6 - Girvin

#7 - Practical Joke

#8 - Gormley

#9 - Classic Empire

#10 - Irap

#11 - Patch


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards 

Ben Ali Stakes Video Analysis from Keeneland

In this handicapping video, Jarrod Horak analyzes the 2017 Ben Ali Stakes from Keeneland. 

Lexington Stakes Video Analysis from Keeneland

In this handicapping video, Jarrod Horak analyzes the 2017 Lexington Stakes from Keeneland for The Runaway Horse.

Grade 3 Los Angeles Stakes Video Analysis for Today's Racing Digest

In this handicapping video for Today's Racing Digest, handicapper Jarrod Horak analyzes the 2017 Los Angeles Stakes from Santa Anita Park. 

Santa Anita Park Recap with Horses to Watch for April 6-9

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 6

Fast main track and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a patient downhill runner, a dueling front runner down the hill, and a pace presser at 9f (rail at 30 feet).

Tyler Baze and apprentice Evin Roman both booted home a pair. Michael Machowsky saddled two winners.

Sharp Samurai looked good winning the optional claiming turf route feature.

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: April 7

Fast main track and firm turf course. One dueling front runner scored at 6f on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a closer at one mile, and a midpack stalker at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Norberto Arroyo Jr. and Rafael Bejarano both booted home a pair. Mark Glatt saddled two winners.

Smitten Kitten smartly earned her diploma in the fourth race and was claimed for $50,000 by sharp trainer Bill Spawr.

You can read the rest of my Santa Anita Park Report at The Runaway Horse...

Arkansas Derby 2017 with CLASSIC EMPIRE Malagacy: Today's Racing Diges...

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Wood Memorial, Blue Grass, SA Derby Recap

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 featured three big prep races on April 8 and Irish War Cry bounced back with a sharp victory in the Wood Memorial from Aqueduct.

Irish War Cry was content to track post time favorite Battalion Runner and was always moving sweetly under Rajiv Maragh. He pulled clear in the stretch and earned a 101 BSF.

It was a two-horse race throughout and Battalion Runner was clearly second best over Cloud Computing.

In a stunning Blue Grass Stakes outcome, longshot Irap earned his maiden win over Practical Joke and McCraken. The winning BSF was 93 and the top three finishes will all move on to the Kentucky Derby.

Gotham winner J Boys Echo and Tampa Bay Derby hero Tapwrit turned in disappointing efforts in the Blue Grass but both have enough Derby qualifying points in their connections opt to run on the first Saturday in May.

The SA Derby (88 BSF with slow final 3/8ths) was a mad 5-horse scramble in the stretch and Gormley got up late over Battle of Midway, Royal Mo, Reach the World, and Iliad. The latter pair do not have the necessary Derby points and Royal Mo is on the bubble. 

The final Derby prep is the Arkansas Derby on April 15 and it figures to have major implications on the final points standings. I will be back next week with a video preview of Oaklawn Park’s showcase event.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-9-17)

#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING

#2 - Gunnevera

#3 - McCraken

#4 - Irish War Cry

#5 - Battalion Runner

#6 - Girvin

#7 - Practical Joke

#8 - Gormley

#9 - Classic Empire

#10 - One Liner

#11 - Irap


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards 

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Blue Grass, SA Derby, Wood Memorial Preview

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 is barreling down to the wire with three big prep races this week beginning with the Wood Memorial from Aqueduct.

It would not be a Derby prep without a Todd Pletcher contender and he has morning line favorite Battalion Runner for the Wood Memorial. The lightly raced $700k purchase owns early pressing versatility and will try to hold off Irish War Cry, Cloud Computing, and Mo Town.

The Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland features the undefeated McCraken in a race without much pace. If the favorite stubs his toe, look for Tapwrit (Pletcher), J Boys Echo, and Practical Joke to pounce, and look out if Wild Shot sneaks away early!

Finally, the SA Derby is a wide open 13-horse cavalry charge with Iliad the tepid morning line favorite. The chalk might not want to go nine furlongs and if that is the case look for a real scramble in the stretch.  

You can find my SA Derby Video Play on my Free Picks page at The Runaway Horse.

Last week, Always Dreaming upended Gunnevera and company in the Florida Derby to become the latest in a long line of Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders for trainer Todd Pletcher. He looked good winning and has captured his last three route races by a combined 20 lengths!

State of Honor held on for 2nd in the Florida Derby and flattered the Tampa Bay Downs stakes form of McCraken and Tapwrit.

Gunnevera drew poorly and did not get the right setup but I was hoping he would finish a little better. He ended up an okay 3rd and should get more pace help on the first Saturday in May.

Florida Derby front runner Three Rules slowly faded and lost a 3-horse battle for 3rd (ended up 5th). His stamina was always in question and now we have the definitive answer. He does not have enough qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby and will probably show up in shorter stakes races late this year.

Girvin beat Pletcher trainee Patch in the LA Derby but the winning BSF was only 91. The aforementioned duo are both lightly raced and have plenty of upside but are not fast enough to win a race like the Kentucky Derby.

Local Hero stalked, pounced, and weakened to finish 3rd in the LA Derby. He has 30 Derby qualifying points but does not have the stamina to go a mile and a quarter.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-8-17)

#1 - ALWAYS DREAMING

#2 - Gunnevera

#3 - McCraken

#4 - Practical Joke

#5 - Battalion Runner

#6 - Tapwrit

#7 - Irish War Cry

#8 - Gormley

#9 - Classic Empire

#10 - Iliad

#11 - Girvin


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards 

Santa Anita Derby 2017 Video Analysis for Today's Racing Digest: Kentucky Derby 2017 Prep Race

The 2017 Santa Anita Derby is a wide open prep race for Kentucky Derby 2017. Iliad is the tepid morning line favorite but there are many other contenders in the 13-horse field.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Prep Race Video: Wood Memorial with Battalion Runner

Can trainer Todd Pletcher win another Kentucky Derby 2017 prep race? Well, he has Wood Memorial morning line favorite Battalion Runner ready to roll at Aqueduct on April 8.

Santa Anita Park Recap: March 30 - April 2

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: March 30

Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill stalker, a midpack stalker at 9f, and a front runner at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Phil D’Amato saddled two winners.

Passion for Papa ran a winning race in the finale but fell a head short. She dueled and held a one-length lead for much of the running only to get tagged on the line by well-back first timer Magical Lucy (claimed by O’Neill). It was 4.5 lengths back to the show finisher.   

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: March 31

Fast main track and firm turf course. No wire-to-wire winners on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at one mile and a stalker at one mile (rail at 30 feet).

Rafael Bejarano and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair. Jerry Hollendorfer saddled three winners and Prat rode two.

Smokey Image (third race) stalked, dropped back, and came again for the show in his first start in 8+ months (stakes quality allowance sprint). He could look much improved next time.  

You can read the rest of my Santa Anita Park Report at The Runaway Horse...

HRN Handicapping Video of the Week: G2 Blue Grass Stakes featuring McCraken

Kentucky Derby 2017 prep race: Santa Anita Derby with ILIAD: Today's Rac...

Kentucky Derby 2017 Prep Race Video: Florida Derby + Louisiana Derby

This week's Kentucky Derby 2017 prep race video features a sneak peak at the Florida Derby with Gunnevera and the Louisiana Derby with Girvin.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Florida Derby + Louisiana Derby Preview

The road to Kentucky Derby 2017 is in high gear this week with a pair of important nine furlong preps starting with the G2 Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds.

Risen Star hero Girvin is the one to beat in the LA Derby. The patient runner is lightly raced and on the improve. Local Hero is the one to catch, Guest Suite is the one to fear late, and Patch tries to give trainer Todd Pletcher another Derby prep victory.

The Florida Derby features impressive late running Fountain of Youth winner Gunnevera but he must overcome a difficult outside draw and a potentially challenging pace scenario. FOY show finisher Three Rules might get brave if able to shake loose early and Always Dreaming might be able to step up and play ball in the big leagues for Pletcher. 

You can view my Florida Derby/LA Derby video preview at the bottom of this blog post.

The two Derby preps last week (Spiral Stakes + Sunland Derby) hardly got the heart pumping.

First up was the Spiral Stakes on March 25 and former claimer Fast and Accurate earned an 82 BSF for his upset win. There was nothing behind him and his speed figure was below par in the slowest derby prep yet.

The Sunland Derby was contested on March 26 and Hence got a 93 BSF for his off the pace victory. There was not much behind him and his speed figure was okay at best.

El Areeb came out of his March 29 workout at Laurel Park with a knee injury and is expected to miss six months. 9th place Rebel finisher Royal Mo drops out of the Top 11.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 4-1-17)

#1 - GUNNEVERA

#2 - McCraken

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Practical Joke

#5 - Battalion Runner

#6 - Tapwrit

#7 - Irish War Cry

#8 - Gormley

#9 - Classic Empire

#10 - Iliad

#11 - Always Dreaming


You can read my entire Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders update blog at The Runaway Horse.

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards