Del Mar Fall Meet 2016 Rewind (Dec 1-4)

The 2016 Del Mar fall meet has come to an end. I will take a few weeks off to recharge the batteries and my full card analysis will resume at Santa Anita Park on Dec 26...Happy Holidays!

Thursday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 1

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Thursday. There was one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6f). The winning turf course running styles were a closer at one mile and a stalker at five furlongs (rail at 24 feet).

Fernando Perez booted home a pair.

Friday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 2

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Friday. Three wire-to-wire winners at one mile on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at five furlongs, a closer at one mile, and a patient runner at eleven furlongs.

Kent Desormeaux guided home three turf winners. Bill Morey saddled three winners and Kent D rode two.

Saturday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 3

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Saturday. Only one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (6.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a patient runner at 8.5 furlongs, a front runner at five furlongs, a patient runner at nine furlongs, and a stalker at one mile.

Javier Castellano and Martin Pedroza both booted home a pair. Bob Baffert saddled two winners.

Sunday DEL MAR Recap: Dec 4

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Sunday. Two wire-to-wire winners at 6.5 furlongs on dirt. The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at five furlongs, a front runner at one mile, a dueling front runner at nine furlongs, a stalker at one mile, and a closer at one mile.

Kent Desormeaux and Irad Ortiz Jr. both booted home a pair. Edgar Prado and Graham Motion teamed up for two turf wins including Miss Temple City in the G1 Matriarch.

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Remsen/Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes recap

Three of my exceptional eleven Kentucky Derby 2017 contenders were in action last weekend including Kentucky Jockey Club hero McCraken.

McCraken ran his record to 3-for-3 at Churchill Downs and picked up ten Derby points en route to a 9th-to-1st (1.25 lengths clear) score in the Kentucky Jockey Club. He ran down game early runner Wild Shot and garnered an 86 BSF. Warrior’s Club headed Uncontested for the show.

At the Big A on Saturday, Mo Town got the jump on No Dozing (wide throughout from post 9) to take the G2 Remsen by 2.5 lengths (86 BSF). The winner did nothing wrong but the 2-3 finishers might be worth following. Takaful, 3rd after setting the pace, was making just his second career start and first around two turns for McLaughlin. He went fast early, rated kindly on the lead in the middle, and came up empty in the lane (beaten 6 lengths).  

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 12-4-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Beach Bum

#6 - Royal Mo

#7 - McCracken

#8 - Klimt

#9 - Takaful

#10 - Theory

#11 - Silver Assault


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

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards

Handicapping video of the week: G1 Matriarch with Miss Temple City

Miss Temple City takes on eleven rivals in Sunday's G1 Matriarch at Del Mar and she will break from the far outside post. Is the Keeneland specialist a lock or can someone jump up and bite her?

Del Mar 2016 Fall Meet Rewind (Nov 24-27)

With one week to go in the Del Mar 2016 fall meet, Peter Miller won't stop saddling winners and jockey Drayden Van Dyke surged with a riding triple on Friday and a stakes double on Saturday. 

Thursday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 24
Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Thursday. Four wire-to-wire winners on dirt (7f, 8f, 6f, 5.5f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at one mile, a closer at five furlongs, and a stalker at eleven furlongs (rail at 18 feet).

Norberto Arroyo Jr. booted home three winners. Peter Miller saddled three more winners and Arroyo rode two.

Friday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 25

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

Hat trick for Drayden Van Dyke.

You can read the rest of my Del Mar Report at The Runaway Horse...

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Remsen/Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Preview

My top ranked Kentucky Derby 2017 contender Mastery made short work of his four rivals in last weekend’s Grade III Bob Hope at Del Mar.

Just like his winning debut, Mastery was in complete control throughout and easily swatted away seasoned CA-bred sprinter California Diamond. Pace frequently makes the speed figure and since there was none the final number came back a modest 86. We will learn much more when the Baffert trainee stretches out in the G1 CashCall Futurity at Los Al on Dec 10.

In the $1 million Delta Jackpot, post time favorite Gunnevera got pace help as expected in an easy last-to-first triumph over dueling early runner Hot Sean. The winning BSF came back 87 and since there was a contested pace it would have been nice to see a higher final number.

There are two Derby points races on the docket for Nov 26 beginning with the Grade II Remsen at Aqueduct. Much like the G3 Bob Hope, we have a flashy debut winner (Takaful) taking on a seasoned rival with stakes experience (No Dozing). There are other contenders in the 10-horse field but it would take a big effort to knock off the aforementioned dynamic duo.

At Churchill Downs, a dozen juveniles take center stage in the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and all eyes are on undefeated McCraken. The well-bred colt should get more than enough pace help and looks tough to deny.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 11-26-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Classic Empire

#3 - Three Rules

#4 - Gormley

#5 - Takaful

#6 - Beach Bum

#7 - Klimt

#8 - Theory

#9 - Royal Mo

#10 - Silver Assault

#11 McCraken

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

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards

Del Mar 2016 Fall Meet Rewind (Nov 17-20)

The 2016 Del Mar Fall Meet is in full swing and hot trainer Peter Miller finished out the second week with two wins on the 19th and three more on the 20th.

Thursday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 17

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Thursday. Two wire-to-wire winners on dirt (5.5f, 8f). The winning turf course running styles were a stalker at 8 furlongs, a front runner at one mile, and a stalker at 8.5 furlongs (rail at 24 feet).

Fernando Perez and Flavien Prat both booted home a pair. Richard Baltas saddled two flat mile turf winners.

Friday DEL MAR Recap: Nov 18

Fast main track and firm turf course at Del Mar on Friday. Just one wire-to-wire winner on dirt (8f). The winning turf course running styles were a  patient runner at one mile, a dueling front runner at five furlongs, and a stalker at one mile (rail at 24 feet).

Drayden Van Dyke booted home a pair.

Marckie’s Water (even 4th in 8th race) ran much better on turf second time out (stalked inside, edged for 3rd).

You can read the rest of my Del Mar Report at The Runaway Horse...

Kentucky Derby 2017 Update: Delta Jackpot/Bob Hope Preview

A couple of graded stakes races on Nov. 19 could have Kentucky Derby 2017 implications beginning with the Grade III Bob Hope at Del Mar.

My brand new top ranked Derby contender Mastery is the strong 4-5 favorite in the Bob Hope. He looked outstanding throughout in his six furlong debut and is expected to target the CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos in December if everything goes well at Del Mar on Saturday.

There appears to be plenty of early pace in the Grade III Delta Jackpot and if that scenario plays out on the racetrack, watch out for stretch runners Gunnevera and J Boys Echo.

Jarrod Horak’s “Exceptional Eleven" Kentucky Derby 2017 Contenders (Updated 11-18-16)

#1 - MASTERY

#2 - Not This Time

#3 - Classic Empire

#4 - Three Rules

#5 - Gormley

#6 - Takaful

#7 - Beach Bum

#8 - Klimt

#9 - Theory

#10 - Royal Mo

#11 - Silver Assault

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

* Churchill Downs photo by Stacy Edwards