Honorable Miss (G2) Recap (7-24-19) - Winner: Minit to Stardom ($43.40)
Minit to Stardom seized control early in this six panel sprint for fillies and mares, and she kept on going in a 20-1 upset under Alex Cintron. The Louisiana-bred filly was just too fleet for her rivals on this day. My top choice Chalon edged Ours To Run for the place, and strong favorite Mia Mischief ended up 4th in a flat effort. Honey Bunny and Pacific Gale trailed.
New York Stallion Series Cab Calloway Recap (7-24-19) - Winner: Rinaldi ($8.10)
Rinaldi stretched out, controlled the pace, and won easily by 4-1/4 lengths in this state bred stakes affair for sophomore colts. The inner turf course was rated as good, and he completed his one mile journey in 1:36.28. Post time favorite Funny Guy chased the pace and was clearly second best in a solid effort. First time gelding Albie ended up a respectable 3rd in his first start since last fall. Dashing Dan was an even 4th, followed by Honorable Hero, Smooth Tales, Six percent, and Bettor Bank On It.
This nine furlong prep for the Travers (G1) was contested on a muddy (sealed) racetrack, which was deep and tiring. Looking At Bikinis was the solid favorite for Chad Brown, and he got out there and controlled the pace under Javier Castellano. Rowayton chased from 2nd, and went after the leader at the six furlong mark. The battle up front in the middle of the race helped set the table for Highest Honors and Endorsed. The former, also trained by Chad Brown, edged away from Endorsed in deep stretch to prevail by a length and a half. Endorsed ran a big race in his first try around two turns, and he was five lengths clear of Looking At Bikinis. Rowayton was a neck away from 3rd, and clear of disappointing 5th place finisher Intrepid Heart. Direct Order could not keep pace and was eased in the lane. The top two ran well enough to be considered for the Travers, and I think Endorsed has the most upside. He was my #1 ranked Derby contender when I started my list last September. He was injured after the Champagne (G1) and did not resurface until a six panel allowance win at Belmont June 23. He has an outstanding pedigree and should continue to develop for Kiaran McLaughlin.
Alfred G. Vanderbilt (G1) Recap (7-27-19) - Winner: Imperial Hint ($13.60)
1-2 favorite Mitole probably lost this race at the draw, and his grueling Met Mile (G1) run caught up to him. Strike Power took the race to the favorite right out of the box as expected, and Imperial Hint sat a dream trip on the outside of the dueling front runners. This race was decided very early. Imperial Hint was already in front at the half-mile mark, and he pulled away to a convincing 4-length tally under Javier Castellano. He stopped the clock in an unbelievably fast 1:07.92, and that was a new track record in an awesome performance! Diamond Oops emerged from the pack to finish a clear 2nd, and Mitole was best of the rest in 3rd. Firenze Fire made a brief move in the stretch before flattening out and settling for 4th, and following him across the line were Strike Power and Do Share. You can read the rest of this post at The Runaway Horse
Fast main track and firm turf course. One front running winner at one mile on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a dueling front runner at five panels, a stalker at one mile, and a dueling front runner at five panels.
No riding or training doubles on Wednesday.
Check out Today's Racing Digestfor handicapping products, analysis, and more! Ollie's Candy capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest.
The $2 Pick 6 pool was $122,534, and tickets with all six winners paid $1,925,20. The 5 out of 6 consolation payoff was $20.20. The single ticket jackpot carryover stands at $143,019.
Cougar II Handicap (G3) Recap (7-24-19) - Winner: Campaign ($3.40)
It was not easy, but Campaign wore down Itsinthepost to win by a length and a quarter. Rafael Bejarano got busy aboard the favorite much earlier than anticipated, and that was the key to victory. No way he catches Itsinthepost if he waits too long. The runner-up had a great trip and got first run, but could not quite go with the winner late. For the Top dueled on the lead and finished a distant 3rd in this dirt marathon. Morse Code chased and weakened, and Original Intent never got involved and was eased in the stretch.
July 24 Claims: Race 2 - Desert General ($8k, Molly J. Pearson), Twirling Tiger ($8k, Jack Carava)
DMR Full Card Highlights for Wednesday (7-24-19) DMR 5 RAYMUNDOS SECRET ($2.80) Double (races 4-5, $33.20) Pick 3 (races 3-5, $16.10) Double (races 5-6, $5.20) Pick 3 (races 4-6, $15.50) Pick 3 (races 5-7, $5.35) You can read the rest of this post at The Runaway Horse
It all started with the Belmont Stakes (G1).Tacituswas supposed to win the final leg of the Triple Crown. He looked like a slam dunk on paper, but a funny thing happened. He drew the outside post and raced wide throughout. That would not have been a deal breaker, except for the fact that the rail was golden, and upset winner Sir Winston was riding the good inside.
Fast forward to the Jim Dandy, and Tacitus found a way to lose again. This time, he stumbles badly at the start and almost tosses jockey Jose Ortiz. He miraculously recovers and almost beats Tax.See my full Jim Dandy recap below.
My Kentucky Derby (G1) top choiceGame Winnerfinally made it back to the races on July 13, and he easily disposed of three overmatched rivals in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3). This was nothing more than a public workout, and the 2-year-old champ did his best work in late stretch. That race should set him up perfectly for the Travers (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on August 24.
Also on July 13,Mr. Moneycaptured his third straight grade three race in the Indiana Derby. He has obviously never been better, and his tactical speed is a big weapon. The Travers is being considered, but he is more likely to go in the West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Park on Aug. 3. The latter race just makes more sense. He most likely wants nothing to do with grade one foes at a mile and a quarter.
Maximum Securitygot back on the beam in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park on July 20. He got his revenge on King for a Day, and he gamely turned away Baffert trainee Mucho Gusto. The top two were well clear of show finisher Spun to Run. Everfast was 4th, followed by King for a Day and Bethlehem Road. The Travers might be next for the winner, but his steady numbers are not getting any better, and he sure did not look like he would thrive at ten furlongs. Mucho Gusto is consistent and improving, but he seems to have distance limitations. There was not much depth to this race.
Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) Recap (7-27-19) - Winner: Tax ($11.00)
Let’s just get this out of the way right now. No disrespect to Tax, but Tacitus was best in this race, and I am not saying that because he was my top pick. Actually, Tacitus was also best in his prior start in the Belmont Stakes (G1). In the Test of Champions, he was hung out to dry from the outside post while the winner was perched on the golden rail. In the Jim Dandy, he had a terrible stumble and lost all chance at the start. Tax was the early leader but War of Will surged to the front and showed the way for much of the opening six furlongs. The Preakness (G1) champ threw in the towel in short order and Tax took over in the lane and looked home free, but Tacitus emerged along the inside and made a race of it in deep stretch. Tax was traveling slightly better and prevailed by a bit less than a length. Tacitus ran a monster race to finish a clear 2nd, and Global Campaign was an okay 3rd. Laughing Fox edged War of Will for 4th, and Mihos trailed. One horse I absolutely did not like in this race was War of Will. He just has not improved from a numbers standpoint since January.
Jarrod Horak’s Top 5 Three-Year-Old Males (7-28-19)
#1 - OMAHA BEACH - Rebel/Arkansas Derby hero returned to work tab at Del Mar July 23.
#2 - GAME WINNER - Nice effort in Los Al Derby (G3). Had first Travers work July 27.
#3 - TACITUS - Belmont/Jim Dandy runner-up needs racing luck in Travers.
#4 - MAXIMUM SECURITY - Bounced back in Haskell (G1). Possible for Travers.
#5 - CODE OF HONOR - Dwyer (G3) return was outstanding. Travers is next.
Article by Jarrod Horak Photo by Josh Chicorelli You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Triple Crown 2019 page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Salespage.
It is time to update the 3-year-old filly top five list. Guarana, my top ranked filly heading into last weekend's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), stretched out in that event and ran her record to a perfect 3-for-3, but she was not nearly as impressive around two turns. Does she retain the #1 spot?
Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) Recap (7-21-19) - Winner: Guarana ($2.50)
Guarana could not have been more impressive in her first two wins around one turn, including the Acorn (G1) at Belmont. This nine furlong affair was her longest test to date, and she was the controlling speed. The Chad Brown trainee was never headed and got the job done by a length, but she did not dominate this event. She was never seriously threatened but it appears as though she has distance limitations. Point of Honor ran a big race to land the place. She was wide from the outside post and rallied from last in the compact 5-horse field. This race served its purpose as a prep for the Alabama (G1), and she figures to love ten furlongs. Off Topic was best of the rest in 3rd, and Champagne Anyone pressed the pace and weakened to 4th in her first start since the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Boxwood trailed.
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Sophomore Fillies (7-27-19)
#1 - POINT OF HONOR - Exits strong 2nd in CCAO (G1). She is the one to beat in Aug 17 Alabama (G1).
#2 - DUNBAR ROAD - Mother Goose (G2) winner breezed 5f at Saratoga July 27. Goes next in Alabama.
#3 - GUARANA - Acorn (G1) & CCAO (G1) winner is 3-for-3. Might have distance limitations.
#4 - BELLAFINA - 6-time graded stakes winner goes next in Saratoga's Test (G1) Aug 3.
#5 - SERENGETI EMPRESS - Triple graded winner 2nd in Acorn (G1). Test is next target. Article by Jarrod Horak You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Fab 5 Fillies page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Salespage.
