HRN Video Feature Race of the Week: Grade II Mother Goose Stakes from Belmont Park

My HRN handicapping video for July 1 is the Grade 2 Mother Goose Stakes from Belmont Park. Contenders include Lockdown, Vexatious, Lights of Medina, and Unchained Melody. 

Ohio Derby video analysis featuring Girvin, Irap, Untrapped, and Sorry Erik

The $500,000 Ohio Derby regained graded status (Grade 3) in 2017 and four Kentucky Derby also-rans are part of the field including LA Derby winner Girvin and Blue Grass hero Irap.


 

Summertime Oaks 2017: Saturday Santa Anita Video for Today's Racing Digest

My Santa Anita Saturday video for June 17 is the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks from Santa Anita Park.

Belmont Stakes 2017 Video Preview

Check out my video preview of the 2017 Belmont Stakes for Today's Racing Digest. 

HRN Video of the Week: Grade 1 Manhattan from Belmont Park

The turf feature on the Belmont Stakes 2017 undercard is the Grade 1 Manhattan with Beach Patrol, Divisidero, and World Approval.

Preakness Stakes Video Recap + Belmont Stakes 2017 Preview

Check out my Preakness recap/Belmont Stakes preview video below.

Shoemaker Mile 2017 video analysis featuring Heart to Heart, What a View, Farhaan, and Bal a Bali

Check out my video analysis of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile featuring Heart to Heart, What a View, Farhaan, and Bal a Bali.

Santa Anita Park Recaps (May 18-21, May 25-29)

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 18

Fast main track and firm turf course. All five dirt races were won by front runners or dueling pace prompters (4.5f, 6f, 6f, 8f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner one mile, a front runner at nine furlongs, and a stalker at one mile (rail at 20 feet).

Flavien Prat booted home two flat mile turf winners.

Ismelucky went on my watch list after TRD clockers gave her the thumbs up going into her May 4 debut (clearly second best). In today’s second race, she dueled inside and pulled clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths as the 2-1 second choice. Post time favorite Mondaymorningblues found trouble more than once (steadied turn, tight inside midstretch) under Maldonado in an uncomfortable 4th place debut (missed 3rd by nose, 4.5 lengths clear of rest). She can go better next time for Miller.

Check out The Runaway Horse for free picks, news, Triple Crown 2017 updates, full card reports, and more!

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 19

Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at one mile, a downhill closer, and two stalkers at one mile (rail at 30 feet).

Rafael Bejarano and apprentice Evin Roman both booted home a pair.

Two of my three watch horses scored on May 19. I played Sheza Milky Way on April 9 and was impressed with her late burst. She came back to win today’s opener as the favorite. I thought Incredible Luck ran a winning race on April 22 (did all pace dirty work, finished 2nd). This time, he comfortably tracked Particlacelerator and inched clear by 1-1/4 lengths as the strong favorite. My third watch horses did note fare as well. Whiskey Ginger blew the break and was up for 3rd in his April 15 bow. In today’s sixth race, he was a bit slow to begin, pulled hard to stalk the pace, and weakened to finish 6th under Bejarano.

Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 20

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (8f, 6f). The winning turf course running styles were a front runner at one mile, a stalker at nine furlongs, a closer at ten furlongs, and a patient runner at one mile.

Rafael Bejarano, Flavien Prat, and Joe Talamo each booted home a pair. Phil D’Amato saddled two winners including Ransom the Moon in the G2 Kona Gold.

A couple of my watch horses ran today beginning with Smokey Image in the Crystal Water. I like how he came again for the show March 31. In today’s opener, he stalked fleet flat mile turf specialist What a View and lost 2nd late in an okay effort at 12-1.

My other watch horse, Ransom the Moon, ran to his sharp works in a big sprint win on April 30 and had earned quality TRD all-weather numbers at WO prior to that. In today’s G2 Kona Gold, he settled nicely in 6th and powered home by 2-1/2 lengths at 7-2 for Prat/D’Amato.

Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 21

Fast main track and firm turf course. Only one wire-to-wire winner on the card and that was Moon Kitty (5.5f) under Evin Roman’s aggressive handling. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at nine furlongs and patient runner Moonless Sky (placed first via DQ) in the Fran’s Valentine (rail at 10 feet).

Hat trick for Kent Desormeaux. Apprentice Evin Roman booted home a pair.
JARROD HORAK'S SANTA ANITA PARK REPORT (May 25-29)

Thursday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 25

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two front running winners on a speed favorite dirt oval (6f, 4.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a presser at ten furlongs, a downhill dueler, a patient runner at one mile, and a patient midpack stalker at nine furlongs (rail at 20 feet).

Flavien Prat booted home a pair. Peter Miller saddled two winners and both looked good (Te Amo Mamo, Avicci).

Saudi Chroma was a $360k purchase for Doug O’Neill/Zedan Racing Stables. In today’s second race, she went straight to the front and won under a hand ride at 5-2. Her stablemate Tyfosha outworked her recently and is tentatively scheduled to debut on June 8.

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more!

Friday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 26

Fast main track and firm turf course.

Edwin Maldonado and Flavien Prat both guided him two winners. Peter Miller saddled two more winners.

Allaboutmike went on my watch list on April 15 after he 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 in today’s finale, he was sent to the lead under Maldonado and kept on going at 4-1.

Saturday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 27

Fast main track and firm turf course.

Irad Ortiz Jr. rode two winners including Lady Eli in the Grade I Gamely. Jerry Hollendorfer saddled two winners.

The pace figured to be hot in the Grade I Gold Cup and Cupid was in the right place throughout for Bejarano/Baffert. Follow Me Crev was the unlucky runner-up. He was bumped at the start by Baffert chalk American Freedom and that incident cost him valuable lengths early. He was parked eight lengths behind eventual winner Cupid and made up more than half of that deficit. Things could have gotten very interesting in the stretch with a clean beginning.


In other stakes action, red-hot gelding Stormy Liberal won the Grade III Daytona by a measured neck over Ambitious Brew.

Avenge, making her first start in 6+ months, looked like the controlling speed on paper but classy mare Lady Eli never let her get away and held off a late bid from Goodyearforroses. Mokat was training well but was in a bit too deep. She is a flat mile specialist and can bounce back if she shows up in a softer spot at eight furlongs next time.

The pace was took quick for Enola Gray (held best of 4 speed horses) and she faded out of the superfecta late in the Grade II Monrovia. 2016 Gamely winner Illuminant wisely cut back in distance and steered clear of Lady Eli. Prat gave her a great ground saving ride in the stretch and she beat longshot Coniah by a 1/2 length. Sharp downhill specialist Anita Partner was on the scene late in 3rd. 

Sunday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 28

Fast main track and firm turf course. Five front running winners on the speed favoring dirt oval (6,5f, 6.5f, 6f, 5.5f, 5.5f)

Hat trick for hustling apprentice Evin Roman.

The top four finishers (Ashleyluvssugar, Frank Conversation, Syntax, Liam the Charmer) in the Grade II Charles Whittingham saved ground at some point but post time favorite Itsinthepost was not so fortunate. He went up four wide to stalk the pace under Tyler Baze and raced wide throughout. He was the fifth horse on the line and Texas Ryano was a neck behind him and had a wide trip from post 10.

Monday SANTA ANITA PARK Recap: May 29

Fast main track and firm turf course. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (6f, 5f). The winning turf course running styles were a downhill stalker, a patient first timer breaking from the rail down the hill, and a stalker at nine furlongs (rail at 10 feet).

Joe Talamo booted home a pair including Marckie’s Water in the Snow Chief. Richard Baltas saddled two turf winners (Del Mar Ann, Marckie’s Water).

It is not easy for a first timer to win from the rail down the hill but Meadowsweet ran to her strong works and got up on the line under Mike Smith to nip She’sashocker.