As promised, here are my thoughts and picks for the major Kentucky Oaks undercard races today at Churchill Downs. So far, five races have been run. Julien Leparoux is having a magnificent day, with three wins and a second from four mounts. Wow. . .
Race 6: La Troienne Stakes (gr. III)
Last year, this race marked the second start of the season for 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who ended up being beaten a nose by the previously unheralded Unrivaled Belle. As we all know, Unrivaled Belle went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at the end of the year.
Unrivaled Belle is back again this year to try and win this race for the second consecutive time. Once again, she will be facing an Eclipse champion, for Blind Luck is also in the race.
Here are the entries:
1 Quiet Giant
2 Miss Luan (Scratched)
3 Seeking the Title
4 All Due Respect
5 Stage Magic
6 Ravi’s Song
7 Blind Luck
8 Unrivaled Belle
9 Absinthe Minded
As we all know, Blind Luck won last year’s Kentucky Oaks en route to honors as Champion three-year-old filly of 2010. Although she is the slight morning line favorite over Unrivaled Belle, she is by no means a lock to win. She has finished second in five consecutive races since winning the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) last August, including a loss to Unrivaled Belle in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic. The long homestretch here at Churchill Downs should help her chances today, but she may have lost a step since last year.
Unrivaled Belle may also be vulnerable. She has only raced once since the Breeders’ Cup, finishing a distant third in the grade III Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park. It was obvious that she needed the race, and she should be sharper today, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Ravi’s Song looks like a filly who may be peaking at the right time. She’s 2-for-2 this year with strong victories in the Pelleteri Stakes and the New Orleans Ladies Stakes. If she gets a good trip, she may be good enough to pull off an upset.
Calvin Borel will be on the 30-1 shot Stage Magic. Just sayin’. . . :)
My picks are:
1 Ravi’s Song
2 Blind Luck
3 Unrivaled Belle
J.R.’s picks are:
1 Absinthe Minded
2 Unrivaled Belle
3 Blind Luck
Race 7: Edgewood Stakes
The 1 1/16th mile Edgewood Stakes on the turf has drawn a fascinating field of three-year-old fillies, some of which were at one time pointing for the Kentucky Oaks. Here are the entries:
1 Gaya (Scratched)
2 Diva Ash
3 Subpoena
4 Bonita Star
5 My Phil Temper
6 Smart Sting
7 Niji’s Grand Girl
8 Sassy’s Dream
9 My Redbyrd
10 Holidaysatthefarm (Scratched)
The morning line favorite is Smart Sting, who is undefeated in two starts. She broke her maiden on October 23rd last year going a mile on turf at Woodbine, then didn’t race again until March 16th. In a one-mile turf allowance race at Gulfstream Park, she rallied strongly to win by 1 ½ lengths in 1:34.95. She should be sharper in her second start of the year and looks like a legitimate favorite.
Bonita Star is the second choice. Although decisively beaten in her last start, the grade II Providencia Stakes at Santa Anita, she impressively won an allowance race two starts back and should find today’s competition easier.
Niji’s Grand Girl should not be tossed either. Last time out she rallied strongly to finish third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) behind a pair of Kentucky Oaks in Daisy Devine and St. John’s River. Prior to that, she finished third in the Florida Oaks, a head in front of Kentucky Oaks starter Her Smile. With sufficient pace to chase, she could rally for victory.
The lightly-raced Diva Ash could also contend. After breaking her maiden first time out on February 23rd sprinting five furlongs, she stretched out to a mile and a sixteenth and finished a strong second behind Naples Bay.
My picks are:
1 Smart Sting
2 Niji’s Grand Girl
3 Diva Ash
J.R.’s picks are:
1 Niji’s Grand Girl
2 Bonita Star
3 Smart Sting
Race 8: Eight Belles Stakes (gr. III)
A field of ten fillies has been entered in the seven furlong Eight Belles Stakes, led by graded stakes winner Pomeroys Pistol and Arienza, a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri.
Here are the entries:
1 Arienza
2 Home Sweet Aspen
3 Pomeroys Pistol
4 Holiday Flair
5 Mysterious Chimes
6 Formal Plan
7 Honey Chile
8 Victoria’s Wildcat
9 Angelic Zapata
10 Dr. Diamonds Prize
I see this race as a two-horse battle between Pomeroys Pistol and Arienza. The former had a great meet at Gulfstream, winning the Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) over Dancinginherdreams and R Heat Lightning and placing in both the Old Hat Stakes (gr. III) and Davona Dale Stakes (gr. II). She should be able to work out a perfect trip from gate three.
Arienza has raw talent – no doubt about it. She broke her maiden going six furlongs at Oaklawn, then dominated in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event at the same track. Entered in the grade II Fantasy Stakes against Kentucky Oaks favorite Joyful Victory, she ran well to finish second but was no match for Joyful Victory, who won by 7 lengths. Arienza will likely have to be sent for the early lead to avoid getting trapped along the inside, but she may just have the talent to overcome her poor draw.
Holiday Flair has won two straight races going six furlongs on the dirt at Gulfstream Park and should be right in contention. Honey Chile ran second to the magnificent filly Turbulent Descent in the Beaumont Stakes (gr. III) last time out and could also be in the mix. Home Sweet Aspen broke her maiden last time out at Santa Anita and may be improving fast.
My picks are:
1 Pomeroys Pistol
2 Arienza
3 Home Sweet Aspen
J.R.’s picks are:
1 Home Sweet Aspen
2 Pomeroys Pistol
3 Holiday Flair
More selections to come!
-Keelerman
Showing posts with label Arienza. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arienza. Show all posts
Friday, May 06, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
JOYFUL VICTORY: Kentucky Oaks Favorite?
Should Joyful Victory be the Kentucky Oaks favorite?
Yes.
I hope that you were able to watch the Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) this afternoon at Oaklawn Park, for I have the suspicion that the winner is on her way to numerous grade I victories. The winner was Joyful Victory, a gray or roan filly by Tapit out of the Wild Again mare Wild Lucy Black.
Only four horses were in the race, but it was a solid field. Joyful Victory was the favorite at 0.60-1, based off of her stunning victory in the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) last month. The second choice was the undefeated Arienza, a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri. She had impressively won her first two races and was expected to provide Joyful Victory with a stiff challenge.
However, Joyful Victory had other ideas.
With Mike Smith aboard, Joyful Victory broke well and settled into third position rounding the first turn. Up front was Explosive Disco, who was hugging the rail well under Jon Court. Arienza was sitting in second, perhaps three or four paths off the rail. Holy Heavens, runner-up in the Honeybee, was last of all.
A fast pace ensued, during which Arienza moved closer to Explosive Disco and Joyful Victory closer to Arienza. Joyful Victory was a bit rank down the backstretch, begging to be let loose. But Mike Smith got her to settle, and she remained content to track the leaders approaching the far turn.
With three furlongs to go, Arienza made a sudden bid to take the lead. But Joyful Victory was surging up three wide, and as the field turned for home the two favorites were stride for stride on the front end.
For a few brief moments, it appeared as though the two fillies would battle to the wire. But then Joyful Victory put Arienza away, powering away under a hand ride in the stretch to win by seven lengths. Arienza narrowly held second over Holy Heavens.
Several things in this race struck me as fascinating. First off, Joyful Victory stuck very close to the rail on the first turn. Secondly, the ease at which she blew past Arienza was astonishing. She seems to have a very quick turn of foot, which could prove very useful in the Kentucky Oaks. Secondly, she ran straight and true in the homestretch, drifting very little if at all. Although the final time (1:44.74) and her final sixteenth (:7.11) were nothing remarkable, it must be noted that Oaklawn's racing surface rarely turns in blazing fast times.
In conclusion, it appears as though R Heat Lightning, the heavy favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, will at least have someone to reckon with in Louisville.
-Keelerman
Yes.
I hope that you were able to watch the Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) this afternoon at Oaklawn Park, for I have the suspicion that the winner is on her way to numerous grade I victories. The winner was Joyful Victory, a gray or roan filly by Tapit out of the Wild Again mare Wild Lucy Black.
Only four horses were in the race, but it was a solid field. Joyful Victory was the favorite at 0.60-1, based off of her stunning victory in the Honeybee Stakes (gr. III) last month. The second choice was the undefeated Arienza, a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri. She had impressively won her first two races and was expected to provide Joyful Victory with a stiff challenge.
However, Joyful Victory had other ideas.
With Mike Smith aboard, Joyful Victory broke well and settled into third position rounding the first turn. Up front was Explosive Disco, who was hugging the rail well under Jon Court. Arienza was sitting in second, perhaps three or four paths off the rail. Holy Heavens, runner-up in the Honeybee, was last of all.
A fast pace ensued, during which Arienza moved closer to Explosive Disco and Joyful Victory closer to Arienza. Joyful Victory was a bit rank down the backstretch, begging to be let loose. But Mike Smith got her to settle, and she remained content to track the leaders approaching the far turn.
With three furlongs to go, Arienza made a sudden bid to take the lead. But Joyful Victory was surging up three wide, and as the field turned for home the two favorites were stride for stride on the front end.
For a few brief moments, it appeared as though the two fillies would battle to the wire. But then Joyful Victory put Arienza away, powering away under a hand ride in the stretch to win by seven lengths. Arienza narrowly held second over Holy Heavens.
Several things in this race struck me as fascinating. First off, Joyful Victory stuck very close to the rail on the first turn. Secondly, the ease at which she blew past Arienza was astonishing. She seems to have a very quick turn of foot, which could prove very useful in the Kentucky Oaks. Secondly, she ran straight and true in the homestretch, drifting very little if at all. Although the final time (1:44.74) and her final sixteenth (:7.11) were nothing remarkable, it must be noted that Oaklawn's racing surface rarely turns in blazing fast times.
In conclusion, it appears as though R Heat Lightning, the heavy favorite for the Kentucky Oaks, will at least have someone to reckon with in Louisville.
-Keelerman
Sunday, April 03, 2011
TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN ---- April 2nd, 2011
The first of the final Kentucky Derby prep races were run last weekend. They were the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), Vinery Spiral Stakes (gr. III), and the Sunland Derby (gr. III)
All were won in upset fashion, launching many new Derby contenders into the picture.
Pants On Fire, Nehro, Twice the Appeal, and Animal Kingdom all turned in marvelous performances that were not expected. Pants On Fire and Nehro completed a monster-sized exacta payoff in the Louisiana Derby. Animal Kingdom was the second choice in the Spiral, but the ease at which he won was not expected. Twice the Appeal wore down Astrology to win the Sunland Derby at the impossible odds of 25-1.
Here are recaps of all the best racing action from last weekend.
LOUISIANA DERBY (gr. II)
As mentioned before, Pants On Fire and Nehro completed a monstrous exacta in the Louisiana Derby, crossing the wire 1-2 while separated by a neck at odds of 6-1 and 36-1. A $2 exacta paid $459.
Pants On Fire turned in a remarkable performance indeed. Running as a coupled entry with his more heralded stablemate Nacho Business, the colt was sent up to run on the outside in second under rider Rosie Napravnik. The pair set a moderate pace, with Nehro racing third along the rail and heavily favored Mucho Macho Man fourth on the outside.
Approaching the homestretch, Pants On Fire took the lead from longshot Liondrive and kicked clear. But Mucho Macho Man and Nehro were closing in. Mucho Macho Man drew even at the eighth pole, but was unable to sustain his bid. Then Nehro started closing rapidly along the inside. But Pants On Fire held on at the finish, closing his final eighth in a sharp :12.68 to win the $1,000,000 race. Nehro finished a half-length clear of Mucho Macho Man, who finished third despite losing a shoe at the start of the race.
Elite Alex, the second choice, closed from far back in last to finish fourth. He ran his last three-eighths of a mile in roughly :35 seconds, which is very impressive. He and Nehro will run in the Arkansas Derby a couple of weeks from now in order to try and secure the necessary graded earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field.
The complete order of finish was:
1 Pants On Fire
2 Nehro
3 Mucho Macho Man
4 Elite Alex
5 Machen
6 Wilkinson
7 Left
8 Nacho Business
9 Majestic Harbor
10 Le Mans
11 Mavericking
12 Liondrive
My picks were:
1 Mucho Macho Man
2 Elite Alex
3 Machen
4 Nacho Business
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Nehro
2 Mucho Macho Man
3 Majestic Harbor
4 Elite Alex
VINERY SPIRAL STAKES (gr. III)
Animal Kingdom and Decisive Moment ran terrific races in the Vinery Spiral Stakes. Unfortunately, heavily favored Positive Response did not.
One must give a great deal of credit to Animal Kingdom, who has never finished worse than second in four starts and has proven to be a very talented runner. But I believe that Decisive Moment ran the best race.
Quickest out of the gate were Decisive Moment and Positive Response, and both colts were sent to the lead. However, they were not alone. Son of Posse and Preachintothedevil were right there with them.
The opening quarter mile was run in :23.57, with Positive Response on the lead by a length. Decisive Moment was sitting in third, pressing the hot pace while four wide. That is not at all an easy thing to do.
Where was Animal Kingdom? Dead last, 6 ¼ lengths off the lead.
The first half-mile was run in an extremely testing :46.56. Positive Response was still on the lead, but Decisive Moment was poised to take the lead at any moment.
Suddenly, things began to change rapidly. Positive Response began to tire. Decisive Moment and Son of Posse took over the lead. Animal Kingdom was gearing up for his late run.
Into the homestretch Decisive Moment kicked clear of Son of Posse and opened up a decisive lead. But Animal Kingdom was bearing down on the outside; his sights set on victory. The two staged a thrilling duel down the homestretch, with Animal Kingdom eventually getting the upper hand and drawing away to a 2 ¾ length triumph. The final time was 1:52.32.
True, Decisive Moment was fairly beaten. But he nearly overcame the impossible – that is, setting a fast pace while wide and winning the race. Finishing second after that kind of a trip is no easy feat!
Interestingly, Decisive Moment is already at Churchill Downs preparing for the Kentucky Derby.
Here are the complete results:
1 Animal Kingdom
2 Decisive Moment
3 Twinspired
4 Beachcombing
5 Taptowne
6 Preachintothedevil
7 Son of Posse
8 Positive Response
9 Thirtyfirststreet
10 Glint
11 Rescind the Trade
My picks were:
1 Positive Response
2 Decisive Moment
3 Animal Kingdom
4 Taptowne
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Positive Response
2 Rescind the Trade
3 Thirtyfirststreet
4 Animal Kingdom
SUNLAND DERBY (gr. III)
Twice the Appeal had no chance in the Sunland Derby. He was 25-1. Yet, somehow, he managed to wear down Astrology in deep stretch to win the $800,000 event by 1 ½ lengths. In doing so, he stamped himself as a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender.
Reserved off the pace in the early stages, he made a bold run after a half mile to reach contention with three-eighths of a mile to go. He confronted Astrology at the top of the stretch and the two engaged in a thrilling duel. But it was obvious passing the eighth pole that Twice the Appeal had the upper hand. He drew off in the final strides to win decisively under Christian Santiago Reyes.
The full results were:
1 Twice the Appeal
2 Astrology
3 Ruler On Ice
4 It’s My Party
5 Beer Meister
6 Nacho Saint
7 Fusa Code
8 R Skydiver
9 Supreme Ruler
10 Behold de Buy
11 Sinai
My picks were:
1 Sinai
2 Astrology
3 Beer Meister
4 Nacho Saint
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Nacho Saint
2 Sinai
3 Astrology
4 Supreme Ruler
HANSEL STAKES
Ghost Is Clear, coming off of a dismal performance in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, rebounded nicely as the favorite in the Hansel Stakes at Turfway Park. Far off of the pace in the early going, he rallied furiously in the final strides to win the six furlong event by a neck in 1:10.78.
The complete results were:
1 Ghost Is Clear
2 Philippe
3 Getaway Guy
4 Banjammer
5 Devil Train
6 Gonna Tell Momma
7 Chasing Moonlight
8 Big Albert
9 Murjan
My picks were:
1 Philippe
2 Chasing Moonlight
3 Getaway Guy
4 Ghost Is Clear
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Chasing Moonlight
2 Ghost Is Clear
3 Philippe
4 Murjan
OTHER RACE RESULTS
March 26th
• The six furlong Prima Donna at Oaklawn went almost exactly as expected. Odds-on favorite Gran Lioness went straight to the lead and held off all challengers to win the event by 1 ¼ lengths. Second choice Garnet Crystals ran on well for second, finishing seven lengths clear of third choice Lady Giacamo. The final time was 1:11.01. Gran Lioness, who set a fairly quick pace, still managed to close her final eighth in :12.70.
• Turfway Park’s Bourbonette Stakes (gr. III) turned out what looks like a serious Kentucky Oaks candidate. Summer Soiree, the 3-2 favorite, went to the lead and drew off in the stretch to win by 10 ¾ impressive lengths. She was never really challenged, and stopped the clock for the one-mile event in 1:38.75. Harlan’s Ruby ran second.
• Bind, who broke his maiden with a triple-figure Beyer speed figure, made his second career start in a one-mile and seventy yards allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds. Sent off at 1-10, he was rank in the early going while three to four wide. He took the lead around the far turn and led by 1 ½ lengths passing the eighth pole. Then he lost. Prime Cut, the second choice at 5.60-1, wore him down in deep stretch to win the race by three-quarters of a length. He stopped the clock in 1:41.20, just a fifth of a second off the track record set in 1936. Wow!
• The Rushaway Stakes, a mile and a sixteenth stakes race at Turfway Park on the undercard of the Spiral Stakes, just may turn out a Triple Crown contender or two. Swift Warrior, sent off as the second choice, went straight to the lead and kicked clear in the stretch to win the race in 1:45.73. Crimson China, the favorite, came from far, far back to finish second, beaten two lengths after trailing Swift Warrior by six passing the eighth pole.
March 27th
• Arienza, a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, was the 1-2 favorite in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event at Oaklawn. Sent straight to the lead, she never looked back en route to a decisive 2 ½ length victory. She wo with great ease, and closed her final eighth in a remarkable :12.19. It appears as though stakes victories could be in her future.
March 31st
• A one-mile allowance race at Oaklawn Park yielded interesting results. Commander, third behind Alternation and Elite Alex in an allowance optional claiming race in January, won the event in impressive fashion. Boxed in with nowhere to go on the far turn, he extracted himself from traffic under Calvin Borel to win the race by three-quarters of a length in 1:38.22.
April 2nd
• R Heat Lightning stamped herself as the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) next month when she drew off under a hand ride to win the Florida Oaks (gr. II) by 8 ¼ lengths. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, she was caught very wide on the first turn, but it didn’t affect her performance whatsoever! Island Sand finished second, followed by Salary Time. The previously undefeated It’s Tricky finished third.
-Keelerman
All were won in upset fashion, launching many new Derby contenders into the picture.
Pants On Fire, Nehro, Twice the Appeal, and Animal Kingdom all turned in marvelous performances that were not expected. Pants On Fire and Nehro completed a monster-sized exacta payoff in the Louisiana Derby. Animal Kingdom was the second choice in the Spiral, but the ease at which he won was not expected. Twice the Appeal wore down Astrology to win the Sunland Derby at the impossible odds of 25-1.
Here are recaps of all the best racing action from last weekend.
LOUISIANA DERBY (gr. II)
As mentioned before, Pants On Fire and Nehro completed a monstrous exacta in the Louisiana Derby, crossing the wire 1-2 while separated by a neck at odds of 6-1 and 36-1. A $2 exacta paid $459.
Pants On Fire turned in a remarkable performance indeed. Running as a coupled entry with his more heralded stablemate Nacho Business, the colt was sent up to run on the outside in second under rider Rosie Napravnik. The pair set a moderate pace, with Nehro racing third along the rail and heavily favored Mucho Macho Man fourth on the outside.
Approaching the homestretch, Pants On Fire took the lead from longshot Liondrive and kicked clear. But Mucho Macho Man and Nehro were closing in. Mucho Macho Man drew even at the eighth pole, but was unable to sustain his bid. Then Nehro started closing rapidly along the inside. But Pants On Fire held on at the finish, closing his final eighth in a sharp :12.68 to win the $1,000,000 race. Nehro finished a half-length clear of Mucho Macho Man, who finished third despite losing a shoe at the start of the race.
Elite Alex, the second choice, closed from far back in last to finish fourth. He ran his last three-eighths of a mile in roughly :35 seconds, which is very impressive. He and Nehro will run in the Arkansas Derby a couple of weeks from now in order to try and secure the necessary graded earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field.
The complete order of finish was:
1 Pants On Fire
2 Nehro
3 Mucho Macho Man
4 Elite Alex
5 Machen
6 Wilkinson
7 Left
8 Nacho Business
9 Majestic Harbor
10 Le Mans
11 Mavericking
12 Liondrive
My picks were:
1 Mucho Macho Man
2 Elite Alex
3 Machen
4 Nacho Business
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Nehro
2 Mucho Macho Man
3 Majestic Harbor
4 Elite Alex
VINERY SPIRAL STAKES (gr. III)
Animal Kingdom and Decisive Moment ran terrific races in the Vinery Spiral Stakes. Unfortunately, heavily favored Positive Response did not.
One must give a great deal of credit to Animal Kingdom, who has never finished worse than second in four starts and has proven to be a very talented runner. But I believe that Decisive Moment ran the best race.
Quickest out of the gate were Decisive Moment and Positive Response, and both colts were sent to the lead. However, they were not alone. Son of Posse and Preachintothedevil were right there with them.
The opening quarter mile was run in :23.57, with Positive Response on the lead by a length. Decisive Moment was sitting in third, pressing the hot pace while four wide. That is not at all an easy thing to do.
Where was Animal Kingdom? Dead last, 6 ¼ lengths off the lead.
The first half-mile was run in an extremely testing :46.56. Positive Response was still on the lead, but Decisive Moment was poised to take the lead at any moment.
Suddenly, things began to change rapidly. Positive Response began to tire. Decisive Moment and Son of Posse took over the lead. Animal Kingdom was gearing up for his late run.
Into the homestretch Decisive Moment kicked clear of Son of Posse and opened up a decisive lead. But Animal Kingdom was bearing down on the outside; his sights set on victory. The two staged a thrilling duel down the homestretch, with Animal Kingdom eventually getting the upper hand and drawing away to a 2 ¾ length triumph. The final time was 1:52.32.
True, Decisive Moment was fairly beaten. But he nearly overcame the impossible – that is, setting a fast pace while wide and winning the race. Finishing second after that kind of a trip is no easy feat!
Interestingly, Decisive Moment is already at Churchill Downs preparing for the Kentucky Derby.
Here are the complete results:
1 Animal Kingdom
2 Decisive Moment
3 Twinspired
4 Beachcombing
5 Taptowne
6 Preachintothedevil
7 Son of Posse
8 Positive Response
9 Thirtyfirststreet
10 Glint
11 Rescind the Trade
My picks were:
1 Positive Response
2 Decisive Moment
3 Animal Kingdom
4 Taptowne
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Positive Response
2 Rescind the Trade
3 Thirtyfirststreet
4 Animal Kingdom
SUNLAND DERBY (gr. III)
Twice the Appeal had no chance in the Sunland Derby. He was 25-1. Yet, somehow, he managed to wear down Astrology in deep stretch to win the $800,000 event by 1 ½ lengths. In doing so, he stamped himself as a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender.
Reserved off the pace in the early stages, he made a bold run after a half mile to reach contention with three-eighths of a mile to go. He confronted Astrology at the top of the stretch and the two engaged in a thrilling duel. But it was obvious passing the eighth pole that Twice the Appeal had the upper hand. He drew off in the final strides to win decisively under Christian Santiago Reyes.
The full results were:
1 Twice the Appeal
2 Astrology
3 Ruler On Ice
4 It’s My Party
5 Beer Meister
6 Nacho Saint
7 Fusa Code
8 R Skydiver
9 Supreme Ruler
10 Behold de Buy
11 Sinai
My picks were:
1 Sinai
2 Astrology
3 Beer Meister
4 Nacho Saint
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Nacho Saint
2 Sinai
3 Astrology
4 Supreme Ruler
HANSEL STAKES
Ghost Is Clear, coming off of a dismal performance in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, rebounded nicely as the favorite in the Hansel Stakes at Turfway Park. Far off of the pace in the early going, he rallied furiously in the final strides to win the six furlong event by a neck in 1:10.78.
The complete results were:
1 Ghost Is Clear
2 Philippe
3 Getaway Guy
4 Banjammer
5 Devil Train
6 Gonna Tell Momma
7 Chasing Moonlight
8 Big Albert
9 Murjan
My picks were:
1 Philippe
2 Chasing Moonlight
3 Getaway Guy
4 Ghost Is Clear
And J.R.’s picks were:
1 Chasing Moonlight
2 Ghost Is Clear
3 Philippe
4 Murjan
OTHER RACE RESULTS
March 26th
• The six furlong Prima Donna at Oaklawn went almost exactly as expected. Odds-on favorite Gran Lioness went straight to the lead and held off all challengers to win the event by 1 ¼ lengths. Second choice Garnet Crystals ran on well for second, finishing seven lengths clear of third choice Lady Giacamo. The final time was 1:11.01. Gran Lioness, who set a fairly quick pace, still managed to close her final eighth in :12.70.
• Turfway Park’s Bourbonette Stakes (gr. III) turned out what looks like a serious Kentucky Oaks candidate. Summer Soiree, the 3-2 favorite, went to the lead and drew off in the stretch to win by 10 ¾ impressive lengths. She was never really challenged, and stopped the clock for the one-mile event in 1:38.75. Harlan’s Ruby ran second.
• Bind, who broke his maiden with a triple-figure Beyer speed figure, made his second career start in a one-mile and seventy yards allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds. Sent off at 1-10, he was rank in the early going while three to four wide. He took the lead around the far turn and led by 1 ½ lengths passing the eighth pole. Then he lost. Prime Cut, the second choice at 5.60-1, wore him down in deep stretch to win the race by three-quarters of a length. He stopped the clock in 1:41.20, just a fifth of a second off the track record set in 1936. Wow!
• The Rushaway Stakes, a mile and a sixteenth stakes race at Turfway Park on the undercard of the Spiral Stakes, just may turn out a Triple Crown contender or two. Swift Warrior, sent off as the second choice, went straight to the lead and kicked clear in the stretch to win the race in 1:45.73. Crimson China, the favorite, came from far, far back to finish second, beaten two lengths after trailing Swift Warrior by six passing the eighth pole.
March 27th
• Arienza, a daughter of 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, was the 1-2 favorite in a one-mile allowance optional claiming event at Oaklawn. Sent straight to the lead, she never looked back en route to a decisive 2 ½ length victory. She wo with great ease, and closed her final eighth in a remarkable :12.19. It appears as though stakes victories could be in her future.
March 31st
• A one-mile allowance race at Oaklawn Park yielded interesting results. Commander, third behind Alternation and Elite Alex in an allowance optional claiming race in January, won the event in impressive fashion. Boxed in with nowhere to go on the far turn, he extracted himself from traffic under Calvin Borel to win the race by three-quarters of a length in 1:38.22.
April 2nd
• R Heat Lightning stamped herself as the likely favorite for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) next month when she drew off under a hand ride to win the Florida Oaks (gr. II) by 8 ¼ lengths. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, she was caught very wide on the first turn, but it didn’t affect her performance whatsoever! Island Sand finished second, followed by Salary Time. The previously undefeated It’s Tricky finished third.
-Keelerman
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